1746
Lucy Terry
Background
This poem, written by Lucy Terry is believed to be the oldest known work of literature by an African American and is the only known work by Lucy Terry. It describes an attack on two white families by Native Americans. The incident occurred in an area of Deerfield called “The Bars”, which was a colonial term for a meadow.
The poem was preserved orally and not published until 1855, in Josiah Gilbert Holland’s History of Western Massachusetts and is thought to have been composed around the year 1746. No other works of the author’s survive.
August ’twas the twenty-fifth,
Seventeen hundred forty-six;
The Indians did in ambush lay,
Some very valient men to slay,
The names of whom I’ll not leave out.
Samuel Allen like a hero fout,
And though he was so brave and bold,
His face no more shall we behold.
Eleazer Hawks was killed outright,
Before he had time to fight,—
Before he did the Indians see,
Was shot and killed immediately.
Oliver Amsden he was slain,
Which caused his friends much grief and pain.
Simeon Amsden they found dead,
Not many rods distant from his head.
Adonijah Gillett we do hear
Did lose his life which was so dear.
John Sadler fled across the water,
And thus escaped the dreadful slaughter.
Eunice Allen see the Indians coming,
And hopes to save herself by running,
And had not her petticoats stopped her,
The awful creatures had not catched her,
Nor tommy hawked her on her head,
And left her on the ground for dead.
Young Samuel Allen, Oh lack-a-day!
Was taken and carried to Canada.[1]
