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French & Indian Wars
King Philip's War
Re-enactment & Living History Group Portrayed
Soldiers of King Philip’s War - Queen Anne’s War
1675 - 1707
Benjamin Church’s Company Visited West Brookfield
Defending the Frontier
On Saturday, October 2, 2004 , members of Benjamin Church’s Company visited with the public and provided insights into warfare in the late 17th century. The event took place on the West Brookfield Common where the soldiers provided a small camp and displayed clothing, equipment, and weapons of the period of King Philip’s War and the late 17th century. You could speak with these “soldiers” and learn about frontier New England and the border wars of that period.
The members of Benjamin Church’s Company portrayed soldiers who served with this noted colonial leader during the period of King Philip’s War. Members of this recreated company provided information on the frontier warriors who defended such outposts as Brookfield during these troubled times.
Benjamin Church 1639-1718
Few names in pre-Revolutionary military history resound as loudly as that of Colonel Benjamin Church. Benjamin Church was a first generation colonist, born in Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1639. Opportunity abounded in the puritan colony, and Benjamin Church became a wealthy landowner, settling many new towns including Sakonnet (Little Compton , Rhode Island), and holding numerous civic offices. Church became a trusted and successful military leader. He went on to lead raids in both King William’s and Queen Anne’s Wars.
King Philip’s War - Benjamin Church’s Company - 1675
When full-scale warfare broke out among the natives and colonists in 1675, Church was called into service and served as a Captain of Infantry. He instructed his English soldiers to closely observe the fighting and scouting methods used by the natives. Church would become one of the most effective New England officers in leading long range scouts and raids after adopting Indian modes of fighting and tactics. Church’s exploits during the war are well known. He commanded mixed companies of natives and whites in this bloody War. One of Church’s Indian warriors (Alderman) killed the chief Metacomet, known as King Philip, in August of 1676.
Source: The Benjamin Church’s Company Pamphlet
For more information and additional research go to: www.snowshoemen.com