300 years ago, in May of 1725, Capt. John Lovewell, of Dunstable, Mass. (today’s Nashua, N.H. area) and 34 rangers hiked to Pequawket Village (now Fryeburg) with retribution and financial incentives on their minds.  They arrived on Sunday, May 9th, though older history books say Saturday, May 8th because of the Sabbath being a holy day.  No sooner had they arrived on the banks of Pequawket Pond (now Lovewell’s Pond) they heard a lone gunshot nearby from a Pequawket Indian hunting for duck.  Lovewell and his men dropped everything, grabbed their muskets and fired shots. Chief Paugus and additional Pequawket tribesmen hurried to the scene.  A battle ensued.  Lovewell and 15 of his men perished.  Chief Paugus died as well along with an undetermined number of his men.  The Pequawkets who did survive gathered their families and made their way to Canada (New France) to seek protection from their ally, the French.

This is a brief account of the battle, which will be discussed at length on Saturday, May 17th, 7:00 PM, at Fryeburg Academy’s Leura Hill Performing Arts Center.  Dr. Steven Eames, retired history professor, and living history educator will speak on “The Clash of Cultures”.  He will be joined by Ken Hamilton, an expert on Algonquin-speaking tribes of the Northeast and living history educator.

Doors open at 6 PM.  The Burnurwurbskek Singers, a men’s drumming group from the Penobscot Nation at Indian Island near Old Town, Maine, will perform.  Members of the Mi’kmaq tribe will be selling their crafts and FHS will have artifacts on display in the lobby.  Refreshments will be served.

The Burnurwurbskek Singers

 

 

During the day at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds (Saturday 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM) aspects of colonial and and indigenous daily life will be presented.  Members of Harmon‘s Snowshoe Men will replicate an 18th century colonist’s campsite with musket demonstrations at 11 AM, 1 & 3 PM on Saturday and 11 AM & 1 PM on Sunday. 

There will also be representatives of the indigenous community displaying lean-tos which were part of campsites placed all along the Saco River for the local Pequawket people to use when fishing and hunting.

We are not celebrating the battle or reenacting it.  We are acknowledging the anniversary of a pivotal moment in our town’s history in an effort to educate the public of Fryeburg’s past.

We look forward to seeing you there!