From
thence we travelled, without any Thing worthy of Notice happening, 'till we
came to an Indian Town, about 20 Miles from Montreal. When we were about a
Gun's shot from the Town, the Indians made as many live Shouts as they had Prisoners,
and as many dead Ones as they had Scalps. The Men and Women came out to meet
us, and stripp'd me naked; after which they pointed to a Wigwam and told me to
run to it, pursuing me all the Way with Sticks and Stones.
Next Day we went to Montreal, where I
was carried before Governor Vaudreuill and examined. Afterwards I was taken
into a French Merchant's House, and there I lived three Days. The third Night
two of the Indians that took me came in drunk and asked for me; upon which the
Lady called me into the Room, and as I went and stood by the Door, one of them
begun to dance the War-Dance about me, designing to kill me; but as he lifted
up his Hand to stab me, I catch'd hold of it with one of mine, and with the
other knock'd him down, and then ran up Garret and hid. The Lady sent for some
Neighbours to clear the House of her Guests which they did. It was a very cold
Night, and one of the Indians being excessive drunk, fell down near the House
and was found in the Morning froze to death. The Indians came to the House, and
finding their Brother dead, said I had kill'd him; and gathering a number
together with their Guns, beset the House and demanded me of the Lady, saying I
should die the most cruel Death. The Lady told me of it, and advis'd me to hide
myself in the Cellar, under the Pipes of Wine; which I did. They searched the
House and even came down Cellar, but could not find me. The Lady desired a Frenchman
to tell the Indians That he saw me without the City, running away: they
soon took after me, every Way. The Merchant pitying my condition, cover'd me
with a Blanket and carried me in his Conveyance about five Miles, to a Village
where his Wife's Father lived, in order to keep me out of the Way of the
Indians. When the Indians that pursued me had returned, and could not find me,
they concluded that I was concealed by the Merchant; and applied to the
Governor that I might be delivered to them in order that they might kill me for
killing their Brother; adding, by way of threatening, that if I was not delivered
up to them they would turn and be against the French. The Governor told them he
had examined into the Matter, and found that I did not kill the Indian nor know
any Thing about it; but that he froze to Death. On this they said they would
not kill me, but would have me to live with them. The Governor then informed
them where I was, and they came and took me with them to Montreal again, and
dressed me in their Habit. 1
This incident
involving the two drunken Indians is so similar to an incident involving missionary
David McClure that it is remarkable indeed.
Once again, God providentially delivered Brown and his would-be murderer
suffered instead. The French merchant
and his wife deserve commendation for risking their lives and property in
defense of Brown’s life. We see God is
not finished with Thomas Brown yet!
On the 1st of May we set off to go to the
Mississippi, where my Indian Master belonged, and two other English Prisoners
with them. For several Days the Indians treated me very ill; but it wore off.
We went in Bark Canoes, 'till we came to Lake Sacrament [Lake George], the first Carrying-Place. We continued our Journey till we came to the
Ohio, where General Braddock was defeated. Here they took one of the Prisoners,
and with a Knife ript open his Belly, took one End of his Guts and tied to a
Tree, and then whipt the miserable Man round and round till he expired;
obliging me to dance, while they made their Game at the dying Man. 2
Those who deny
the truth of man’s complete depravity as a result of Adam’s fall have possibly
never read such accounts as those documenting Native American ritual tortures
and other such atrocities. That is not
to say that the Indians were “worse” than other cultures that had abandoned the
knowledge of God (Romans 1). They were
simply living out the inevitable results of their God-less worldview. Apart from God’s grace manifested in our
lives, we would torture and kill our enemies in much the same way. Thank God that Jesus Christ came to save us
from such an end as that!
From hence we set off to go to an Indian
Town about 200 Miles from the Ohio, where we arrived in 15 Days, and tarried
three. The third Night one of the Indians had a mind to Kill me; as I was standing
by the Fire he ran against me to push me into the Flames, but I jumped over,
and Escaped being burnt; he followed me round and round, and struck me several
Times with his Head and Fist; which so provoked me that as he was Coming at me
again I struck him and knock'd him backwards. The other Indians laugh'd, and
said I was a good Fellow.
The next day we set off for the
Mississippi, where we arrived the 23d of August, having passed over thirty-two
Carrying-Places from our leaving Montreal. When we came here I was ordered to
live with a Squaw, who was to be my Mother. I liv'd with her during the Winter,
and was employed in Hunting, dressing Leather, &c., being cloath'd after
the Indian Fashion.
In the Spring a French Merchant came a
Trading in Bark Canoes, and on his Return wanted Hands to help him; he
prevailed with my Mistress to let me go with him to Montreal. When we came
there, and the Canoes were unloaded, I went into the Country and liv'd with his
Wife's Father, and worked at the Farming Business for my Victuals and
Cloathing; I fared no better than a Slave. The Family often endeavoured to persuade
me to be of their Religion, making many fair Promises if I would. Wanting to
see what Alteration this would make in their Conduct towards me, one Sunday
Morning I came to my Mistress, and said, Mother, will you give me good
Cloaths, if I will go to Mass? She answered Yes, Son, as good as any in
the House. She did so, and I rode to Church with two of her Daughters; in giving
me Directions how to behave they told me I must do as they did. When we
came Home I sat at the Table and ate with the Family, and Every Night and
Morning was taught my Prayers.
Thus I lived 'till the next Spring, when my
Master's Son-in-Law, that bro't me from the Mississippi, came for me to return
with him, as he was going again there to trade. I refus'd to go, and applied to
the Governor. I was then put into Gaol [jail], where I tarried 5 weeks, living on Bread and Water and Horse-Beef.
When some Prisoners were going to be sent to Quebeck, in order to be transported
to Old France, I went with them. Here we laid in Gaol 6 Weeks. But happening to
see one of my Master's Sons, he prevailed with me to go back with him and work
as formerly; I consented, and tarried with him till the 8th of September. 3
Going to French
Catholic mass would have been a big deal in Brown’s day. Keep in mind there were fewer years separating
Brown from the Protestant Reformation than there are years separating us from
Brown’s day. Again, it’s hard to throw
stones at Brown without walking in his shoes.
What’s noteworthy is how the first French merchant he lived with was
rather kind and yet this second family was rather abusive of Brown. Through wounds and beatings, in jail and in
forced servitude, God has preserved Brown.
What will happen next? Stay tuned
to the blog!
Christ, not man, is King!
Dale
1) “A Plain
Narrativ of the Uncommon Sufferings and Remarkable Deliverance of Thomas
Brown,” The Magazine of History, Extra No. 4, Vol. 1 (New York, NY: William
Abbatt, 1908), p. 216-17.
2) Ibid., p. 217.
3) Ibid., p. 217-19.
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