In the Devil's Snare

Those of you who know me well, know that I am reading at least 4 books at any given point.

Well, the latest addition to the reading rotation is In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, by Mary Beth Norton. [ISBN 0-375-40709-x]

As the title suggests, this book primarily focuses on the witchcraft nonsense. But, what has intrigued me are three references to my great-great-uncle Thomas Gardner in the discussion of King Philip's War (1675-6), which conflict Norton gives at least some credit for the collective paranoia:

Page 87:
Thomas Gardner ran a trading post at Pemaquid in 1675. He wrote Governor John Leverett of Massachusetts that Indian hostilities were the result of his government's confiscation of firearms, which the tribes used for hunting food. He warned the governor that the Wabanaki tribe would likely turn to the French for aid.

Page 88:
After the hostile Indians assaulted Falmouth in 1676, Thomas Gardner and the residents of Pemaquid fled to Monhegan Island. He wrote to authorities in Boston, requesting a ship to carry them away to safety.

Page 89:
Thomas Gardner gave three causes for Wabanaki hostility: (1) the influence of the Southern Algonquians, (2) a lack of gunpowder, and (3) English raids in Acadia led by William Waldron.

Pretty cool, huh?

Ok, anyway, back to the reading. I'll let the blogosphere know if I find any other relatives mentioned later in Norton's narrative.

Genealogical footnotes: Thomas (1618-1689) was the eldest son of Thomas Gardner, Sr. (1591-1674) of Salem, Massachusetts. I descend from a younger son, Richard Gardner (1626-1688) of Nantucket Island. Another son, Capt. Joseph Gardner (1629-1675) was killed while fighting the Narraganset in The Great Swamp Fight, another theater of King Philip's War.