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The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A Quaker physician from Spencer, Massachusetts, driving oxen to market in Rhode Island, was attacked at night near the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border. He fought off his assailants, injuring one and taking his beaver hat, then continued his journey.
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Collected from the News-Letter, Massachusetts-Gazette, Evening-Post, Boston-Gazette, Post-Boy, and Chronicle.
THURSDAY, December 15.
One of the Friends, who is a Practitioner in Physic at Spencer, was some Weeks ago, travelling from that Place to Rhode-Island, driving some fat Oxen to Market, as he was passing through a Wood in the Night, near the Line between the Massachusetts and that Colony, was attacked by a single Person, who suddenly started from behind a Tree, & struck the Doctor on the left Breast, a little below the Collar-Bone so violently as to fracture it, saying "Now I have got you." But as the Doctor had recovered himself a little, he said "Friend thou art mistaken;" and to convince him of his Mistake, gave him the full Strength of his right Arm with a Hand clinched at the End of it, on the fifth Rib of the left side, which brought his Antagonist to the Ground. As soon as he was well laid, another appeared advancing from the Bushes, whom the Doctor addressed in the following Manner, "Ah my Friend art thou coming! well come I am ready for half-a-dozen of thee; only keep thine Order and advance one at a Time." - But this Friend thought it best to retreat into a Wood with another or two. By this Time the Person that first attacked him began to muster, as if designed to follow the Example of his Comrades, to whom the Doctor said, "Friend hast thou not enough to make thee lie still!" and then he gave him three or four Blows as friendly as the first, and thrust him under a Log near the Road side, and bid him lie still, and not trouble honest Travellers again in the Night: and then went on with his Oxen: Next Morning, as he was a Physician, thought it best to return to the Place, as he did not know but his Friend would need his Assistance of another kind; but he found no Remains of his Friend only a Beaver Hat, which he took and brought to his Lodgings at Spencer, where the Owner may have it again, describing the Marks and paying the Cost.
A Friend to the Friends.
What sub-type of article is it?
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What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Near The Line Between The Massachusetts And That Colony
Event Date
Some Weeks Ago
Key Persons
Outcome
doctor's left breast fractured below collar-bone; attacker injured on fifth rib, knocked down, given additional blows, thrust under log; second attacker retreated; doctor took beaver hat
Event Details
Travelling from Spencer to Rhode-Island driving fat Oxen to Market, passing through a Wood in the Night, attacked by single Person from behind Tree who struck Doctor; Doctor fought back, knocked attacker down; second attacker advanced but retreated; Doctor subdued first attacker further and continued with Oxen; next morning returned, found only Beaver Hat which he brought to Spencer