Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/242

Rh was captured by the Indians at Fitchburg, and from whom that city derived its name. A tablet to the memory of John Fitch may now be seen in Fitciiburg. Daniel Miles, born in Petersham in 1799, son of Joab, married Mary Curtis, of ^^'estminster, who was born in 1802. Both died in 1875. Daniel and Mary (Curtis) Miles had four children — namely, Daniel Curtis, Mary Jane, Ann Maria, and Nelson Appleton. The last named, in his interesting book, " Personal Recollections of General Nelson A. Miles," refers to his parents and ancestors as follows: —

" Physical and mental advantages were not the only ones for which 1 feel it a very pleasant iluty to render thanks to my honored parents. Simplicity of life, purity of thought and action, and high moral standartls were as character- istic of them as of their ancestors through many generations. My father, Daniel Miles, excelled in strength, resolution, boldness, antl the highest sense of honor. To the example of his sterling integrity, spotless character, and loyalty to country I owe whatever of aptitude I have possessed in meeting the stern realities of a somewhat tumultuous life in an exacting profession. My father's high qualities had been transmitted through five generations from the Rev. John Miles, a Welsh clergyman, who hail not only been a soldier of the Cross, but also a soldier of approved valor and conduct in the Indian wars.

" For many years he carried on a school 'for the teaching of granmiar and arithmetic, and the tongues of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, also how to read English and to write.' This ancestor's residence was strongly built, and when King Philip's War broke out, in 1675, it was fortified and became known as Myles's Garrison. There the colonial forces gathered at the first outbreak of Indian hostilities, anil the pastor became foremost in the defence of the settlement anil was chosen Captain. Having done valiant service in the war, he at the close resumed the duties of a country clergy- man. "His son Samuel graduated from Harvard College in 1684, and went to England soon after, where he took orders in the English church. Returning to Boston, Samuel Mdes became rector of King's Chapel in 1689, con- tinuing in this position for twenty-nine years. Oxfoid L'niversity conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1693. " My ancestors moved from Massachusetts to Pomfret, Conn. Thence they made a settle- ment at what is now the town of Petersham, in Central Massachusetts, when that was the extreme frontier. This settlement was at once abandoned because of the depredations of the Indians.

" My paternal grandfather, Joab, and great- grandfather, Daniel, were both soldiers of the Revolution.

[In " Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War," vol. x., the record of Joab Miles is as follows: "Sergeant, Capt. Wing Spooner's Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's regt.; engaged Aug. 21, 1777, travel to camp and home 180 miles; service at twenty miles per day, 9 days; company marched from Petersham to Bennington, Aug. 21, 1777, to reinforce army under General Stark; also, 1st Sergeant, Capt. Josiah Wilder's company. Col. Nathan Sparhawk's regt., commanded by Maj. Daniel Clap, entereil service July 4, 1778: discharged July 15, 1778; service 13 days at Rutland Barracks, company raised for 20 days' service; roll dated Templeton."

The records of Daniel Miles in the same volume, beginning with service from August 3, 1776, and ending with discharge in December, 1780, cannot all refer to Joab's father, who died, as above noted, in 1777.]

"I have often heard my father tell of the experiences of his father and grandfather — of their sudden departure for the field and of the hardships encountered by them and their comrades.

"My father, Daniel Miles, was born in Peters- ham, but moved in early life to Westminster, in the same county [Worcester], in the State of Massachusetts, where he engaged in farming and in the lumber business."

In referring to their mother General Miles says: "My mother, Mary Curtis, possessed traits of character similar to those of my father, and excelled in those which most adorn womanhood. It is not possible adequately to