Auction details
8:00 AM PT - Dec 10th, 2008
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Colonial America
Kidnapped by Indians in Massachusetts 1800, Book, "The Redeemed Captive Returning To Zion," by John Williams, an account of the 1703 kidnapping of Williams, his family and neighbors by Indians, who took them from Massachusetts to Canada, Fine. Full title: "The Redeemed Captive Returning To Zion, or a Faithful History of Remarkable Occurrences in the Captivity and Deliverance of Mr. John Williams, Minister of the Gospel in Deerfield, Who, in the Desolation which befell that Plantation, by an Incursion of the French and Indians, Was by them Carried Away, With his Family and his Neighborhood, Into Canada," 248 pages, 6.5" x 4", published in Greenfield, MA by Thomas Dickman. Contemporary calf covers with leather title label on spine. The covers and spine have worn corners and are complete, intact and well attached, the binding is tight, and all pages appear to be present, aside from the front and back end papers. A few pages have edge tears and the first signature is loose though still attached. This is the 6th edition as labeled on the title page, the first two editions being virtually unobtainable. Sabin says the date of printing for this edition is 1802, but the title page clearly states 1800. This is one of the most famous and most popular captivity narratives. Williams, a Harvard graduate in charge of the church at Greenfield, MA when it was attacked by Indians in 1703, was taken with others to Canada. His wife and two of his children were tomahawked on the way. "As a powerful picture of Indian cruelty, ranks next to the Rowlandson captivity narrative, published in 1682." - Howes. An historical sketch of Deerfield, MA has been added to this edition (pages 198- 220). An appendix, by John Taylor, chronicles other Indian attacks in the area from the 1720's to 1793 (pages 159-198). This edition also contains on pages 225- 248, an additional sermon by Robert Breck, delivered at Springfield in October 1775, "just one hundred years from the burning of the town by Indians." Howes W461. Sabin 104270. Evans 39104. Handwritten inside the front cover is "Price 3/10" apparently indicating 3 shillings 10 pence -- even though American Federal currency had been in circulation for several years. This is a rare early edition of this popular work. John Williams (1664–1729), American clergyman, was born in Roxbury, MA and graduated from Harvard in 1683. In 1686 he became the first minister at Deerfield, Massachusetts. During the great Indian massacre at that frontier town in February 1704, he and his family were taken captive. Two of his children were murdered, and his wife was killed on the long journey to Canada. In 1706 he and his surviving children (except one, who remained with the Indians) were released. Williams returned to Deerfield. The story of his adventures, "The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion" (1707), is one of the best known of the many accounts of Native American captivity. Early American will accept payment by check or credit card. ImagesClick on thumbnails to see larger images: 
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