Biography
William Turner was born about 1623 in England. He married three times, 1) Frances ____, by whom he had eight children; 2) Mary _____ Pratt, widow of John Pratt; and 3) Mary_____, widow of Key Alsop. He emigrated to America on the ship 'Fortitude' in 1642. Turner settled in Dorchester, MA, and was appointed bailiff there in 1661. Later he moved to Boston, where he was persecuted for his Baptist beliefs and jailed. With the outbreak of King Philip's War there was a shortage of officers and soldiers. The governor released Turner in return for his recruitment of a company of men to fight the Indians. Turner was made captain of the company. In March, 1676, Capt. Turner and his men helped repel the Indian attack on Northampton, MA. This was one of several Indian raids on colonial settlements in March. Indian forces at Peskeompsut held a number of colonial captives and were planning the new spring offensive.
On 19 May 1676 Capt. Turner led 50 garrison troops, supplemented by 100 untrained
On 19 May 1676 Capt. Turner led 50 garrison troops, supplemented by 100 untrained
![Save to Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3a%2f%2fgreenerpasture.com%2fAncestors%2fDetails%2f233355&media=https%3a%2f%2fgreenerpasture.com%2fContent%2fancestorimages%2fgreenfield_ma_marker3.jpg&description=William TURNER - "...On 19 May 1676 Capt. Turner led 50 garrison troops, supplemented by 100 untrained local volunteers, on a daring dawn attack on the main Indian camps at Peskeompsut. They killed Sancumachu, the Pocumtuck sachem, and about two hundred other Indians of all ages. They also destroyed food supplies and forges the Indians needed for repairing weapons.
During a disorganized retreat Turner and thirty-six of his men were killed by the Indians..." findagrave.com){kind=small}
Death — 1676
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