Edward KNEELAND
Biography

(notes from Stillman F. Kneeland L.L.D.)

"Edward married Deborah Martin and continued to reside in Colchester until about 1769 when he took up a tract of land in Royalton, VT which he cleared and built thereon a substantial house for the bride of his eldest son, Joseph who was married in 1788. There was destined to be, however, a terrible awakening from the dream of happiness in that household. wo years after the marriage came the "Royalton Massacre" Edward, then broke down by sickness and hard work, aged before his time and his two sons, Joseph & Edward Jr., the latter, a youth of thirteen, were captured.

Hall, in his history of Eastern Vermont, referring to the massacre says; (pg 385); Advancing silently and with great caution, the Indians next entered the dwelling of Mr. Joseph Kneeland which was about a half a mile distance from Havens. Here they made prisoners of Kneeland and his aged father, also of Simeon Belknap, Giles Gibbs, and Jonathan Brown." Again, (at page 390) the same author speaking of the Indian retreat says; "Taking one of the prisoners named Kneeland, an aged man they sent him to the Americans with the information that they would put all the captives to death should an attack be made.

To Giles Gibbs and Joseph Kneeland the rage of the savages had already proven fatal. The former expecting that his friends would relieve him and his companions, had refused to march. He was afterwards found with a tomahawk in his skull. The latter was killed and scalped by the Americans.

As soon as the old man Kneeland had been sent to the camp of the pursuers, the Indians resumed their flight with the utmost expedition." Edward Jr was never recaptured. He was adopted by a chief and lived with him for eight years, following them in their wandering through Vermont and Canada, and at one time tramped all the way from the mouth to the source of the Connecticut. He became expert in woodcraft and in the use of the rude weapons of the Indians. After the death of the chief, he was sold, in Canada, to a Frenchman and permitted by him to return to his old home, where he married and became the head of a numerous family."

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