Allen line: Richard Falley, more of a hero than I knew

One of the first blog posts that I wrote, over 6 years ago, told about our ancestor, Richard Falley Jr., who was captured by native Americans in the French and Indian War, held a prisoner in Canada, and then eventually released and returned home.  He was also a lieutenant at the battle of Bunker Hill in the American Revolution, and then, I thought, sent home to make rifles.  Well, he was much more than that. 

This is the body of a letter written by Russel Falley, his grandson on September 7, 1831, and printed in "Westfield, Massachusetts 1669-1969".  It gives us a lot mere detail about what actually happened to young Richard during the French and Indian War.  Enjoy this letter from our distant cousin.

"My grandfather (Richard Falley) was a native of the Isle Guernsey. When a young child he was going to school with some other children. They were delayed by some sailors on board a boat by the promise of presents and were put on board their vessel and brought to Boston where they were sold and my grandfather was brought up in the vicinity of Boston and Salem and at the business of husbandry.

He married Anna Lamb, she was a native of Dublin, Ireland and it has been said of her that she was very cheery in her temper and that she was a pious Christian. Some years after their marriage they removed to Westfield, Massachusetts. They had three sons and three daughters.My father, Richard Falley, 1; Samuel Falley, 2, Frederick the latter died young. The daughter, Elizabeth, 4, married Mr. William Ford. They had a numerous family and resided many years in Pittsfield, Mas, then removed to Vermont. Rachel, 5, married Mr. Hubbard. They resided in Pittsfield and had two sons and two daughters. Their eldest daughter married Mr. John Francis, Baptist preacher. The other daughter married Mr. Goodrich. The oldest son died of dysentery.

My father returned from the taking of Burgoyne and after visiting Daniel Hubbard of Pittsfield went to Lennox to visit his brother, Samuel Falley. His nephew, Daniel Falley accompanied him and slept with him one night and took from him the distemper which was fatal to him. Richard Falley had taken this disease in camp and observed in relating the account that the dysentery which he had was attended with a dreadful fever. The child returned and died soon after and Richard returned to Westfield and was soon restored. The youngest, who was born after the disease, was named after him. He lived to marry and died at about thirty, leaving a widow and some children. Sarah, 6, the youngest of Richard Sr, was diseased by reason of fits and died in 1804 aged fifty.

Richard Falley learned the blacksmith's trade, partly in Westfield and partly of Mr. Chapin in Springfield. In the interim of his business he went as a soldier against the French at Canada at Fort William Henry (in 1757). After a troublesome siege of a few days the garrison surrendered to the enemy. He was taken prisoner. He went a few miles to Lake George where the Indians with their prisoners slept. His repose, although a prisoner among savages, was refreshing and delightful on account of his being deprived of sleep for several nights by the confusion of the camp.

They crossed Lake George in bark canoes. From there to Lake Champlain they traveled loaded with both Indians and prisoners. Encamped there, the Indians gave themselves up to drunkenness. One under penalty of death must keep sober to watch the prisoners. He, too, indulged himself with the precious liquors. He would take a spoonful at at time at a short interval and would always give as much to the prisoners. By the extreme drunkenness of the Indians the lives of prisoners were endangered. When would commence the work of destruction, whether on man or beast, the whole drunken gang would unite and the victim was not left until he was hewn to pieces.

At this time a lady came daily in her coach with an attendant to visit the prisoners. Richard, at first cautiously lest the Indians should know his desire to leave them, begged the gentlewoman to buy him and the purchase was made. He with a number walked toward town. A little girl, unbought, was huddled with the company toward the gate. They hoped to have got her without the gate as she would have been safe from the Indians but her keeper missing her came running with the swiftness of the wind caught her and bore her back crying hideously to the great grief of her friends.

He was taken from Montreal to Quebec and put in prison and by eating dry food was sick. Through a hole in the well (wall?) of the prison he was enabled to get into an adjoining garden at night, by procuring fruit in this way he was cured, after being there a while he went on board a vessel with other passengers and went to Boston. On the voyage he had the small pox but lightly and soon got well. On arriving at Boston, he went to Westfield. His mother was so afftected at seeing him, although she had been informed of his safe arrival, that she swooned in his arms. He became a Christian early in life and constantly prayed with his family morning and evening and was a constant attendant in Divine Worship. He died at the age of sixty eight. He was a man nearly six feet in height of fine proportion and great strength.”

Richard's grandson's recollections of Richard's story are priceless.  They match closely with what we know of Fort William Henry and the subsequent taking and treatment of prisoners.  We can surely be proud of this man.  In another post, I will write about Richard Falley in the American Revolution.  That story, too, is richer than the few details I've known.

The line of descent, again, is:

Richard Falley Jr.-Margaret Hitchcock

Samuel Falley-Ruth Root

Clarissa Falley-John Havens Starr

Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott

Edith Knott-Edward Allen

Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook

Their descendants