Moses Rice was born October 27th, 1694 in Sudbury, Massachusetts, a son of John and Tabitha Stone Rice. He married November 16th 1719 to Sarah Rice/King, daughter of Samuel Rice/King and Abigail Clapp. Sarah had been orphaned in 1713 when both of her parents died and Moses' father John Rice was made guardian of Sarah and her minor siblings. After her marriage to Moses and after the death of his father in 1719, Moses was named guardian of his wife's younger siblings.
Moses and his wife Sarah resided by 1722 at Worcester, Worcester Co, MA, opening a public house on the site of one afterwards kept by Capt. Ephraim Mower, and on which was subsequently erected the "United States Hotel." Moses was in the military in 1724 at Rutland under the command of Capt. Samuel Wright of Rutland on garrison duty with others from Worcester. He commanded a company of cavalry while he resided at Worcester. He and Sarah were the parents of seven children: Samuel, Abigail, Aaron, Dinah, Sylvanus, Tamar, and Artemas Rice.
In 1743, Moses was the first settler of a new plantation called Charlemont having purchased 2200 acres there. At this time, the location was one of the farthest western settlements in the wilderness and far from the established towns of Massachusetts. The nearest town was Deerfield, 22 miles away. In August of 1746, the Rices were warned that hostile Indians were approaching from the north. They fled to Deerfield for safety. Unfortunately, their home, crops, tools and everything they left behind were destroyed by the Indians. It was three years before the family returned and settled permanently.
By 1752, there were about a dozen families in Charlemont. Because Charlemont was a frontier settlement and vulnerable to attack, a series of fortifications and blockade houses were built for protection. They were not manned as heavily as they should have been according to several petitions made to the General Court. As the French and Indians continued to make attacks on the English settlements, the most outlying ones such as Charlemont were most at risk of attack.
In June of 1755, Moses and others were working in a meadow in the upper part of Charlemont near Rice's fort. A small group of Algonquin Indians were lying in wait, and attacked and ambushed the party. Captain Moses Rice was shot in the thigh, was severely wounded, and carried off into the woods where he was tomahawked and scalped. A young soldier, Phineas Arms who had been pacing the field with his musket and acting as sentinel was shot and killed outright. Titus King, a relative, and Moses' grandson 9-year old Asa Rice, who was riding a horse but was thrown off when the horse was spooked by gunfire, were both captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. Asa Rice was ransomed six years later and returned to Charlemont. King was eventually sent to France, then to England, and from there returned to his native town of Northampton.
Moses' youngest son, 20-year old Artemas Rice escaped after a hot pursuit and was able to make it to nearby Taylor's Fort. Later that day, Moses was found barely still alive. He was brought to his son's house but died later that evening.
Moses had previously written and collected a great amount of historical matter, comprising an account of many interesting events of which he had been a witness. Unfortunately, his manuscripts were destroyed by fire during one of the Indian raids.
Over 100 years later, in 1871, a great-great-grandson of Moses Rice (via Moses's son Samuel), Orlando B. Potter of New York, who by his industry and enterprise had become a millionaire, honored the memory of his ancestor by erecting a beautiful granite monument to mark his grave. In digging for the foundation of the shaft the remains of the slain men were found in a remarkable state of preservation. The skull of Rice showed the marks of the Indian tomahawk, and the fatal bullet fell from the bones of [Phineas] Arms as they were being examined. This bullet has been preserved at the Deerfield Museum.
Moses's wife Sarah continued to live on the Rice homestead with her son Aaron's family where she died in 1788 and was buried near her husband. Aaron and his wife Freedom French Rice are also buried here. The cemetery is located behind the old homestead (built in 1748) which is still standing. This later became the childhood home of famous writer Charles Dudley Warner during the years of about 1835-1844 and was revisited by him in his book "Being a Boy" written in 1877. It was also the subject of an historically-based fictional novel written in 1907 by Mary P. Wells Smith called "Boys of the Border" chronicling the Rice family and others in the early settlement of Charlemont. In 1989, the old Moses Rice homestead became the base of operations for Zoar Outdoor, a company currently offering zip-line and white-water rafting excursions on the Deerfield River.
Moses and his wife Sarah resided by 1722 at Worcester, Worcester Co, MA, opening a public house on the site of one afterwards kept by Capt. Ephraim Mower, and on which was subsequently erected the "United States Hotel." Moses was in the military in 1724 at Rutland under the command of Capt. Samuel Wright of Rutland on garrison duty with others from Worcester. He commanded a company of cavalry while he resided at Worcester. He and Sarah were the parents of seven children: Samuel, Abigail, Aaron, Dinah, Sylvanus, Tamar, and Artemas Rice.
In 1743, Moses was the first settler of a new plantation called Charlemont having purchased 2200 acres there. At this time, the location was one of the farthest western settlements in the wilderness and far from the established towns of Massachusetts. The nearest town was Deerfield, 22 miles away. In August of 1746, the Rices were warned that hostile Indians were approaching from the north. They fled to Deerfield for safety. Unfortunately, their home, crops, tools and everything they left behind were destroyed by the Indians. It was three years before the family returned and settled permanently.
By 1752, there were about a dozen families in Charlemont. Because Charlemont was a frontier settlement and vulnerable to attack, a series of fortifications and blockade houses were built for protection. They were not manned as heavily as they should have been according to several petitions made to the General Court. As the French and Indians continued to make attacks on the English settlements, the most outlying ones such as Charlemont were most at risk of attack.
In June of 1755, Moses and others were working in a meadow in the upper part of Charlemont near Rice's fort. A small group of Algonquin Indians were lying in wait, and attacked and ambushed the party. Captain Moses Rice was shot in the thigh, was severely wounded, and carried off into the woods where he was tomahawked and scalped. A young soldier, Phineas Arms who had been pacing the field with his musket and acting as sentinel was shot and killed outright. Titus King, a relative, and Moses' grandson 9-year old Asa Rice, who was riding a horse but was thrown off when the horse was spooked by gunfire, were both captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. Asa Rice was ransomed six years later and returned to Charlemont. King was eventually sent to France, then to England, and from there returned to his native town of Northampton.
Moses' youngest son, 20-year old Artemas Rice escaped after a hot pursuit and was able to make it to nearby Taylor's Fort. Later that day, Moses was found barely still alive. He was brought to his son's house but died later that evening.
Moses had previously written and collected a great amount of historical matter, comprising an account of many interesting events of which he had been a witness. Unfortunately, his manuscripts were destroyed by fire during one of the Indian raids.
Over 100 years later, in 1871, a great-great-grandson of Moses Rice (via Moses's son Samuel), Orlando B. Potter of New York, who by his industry and enterprise had become a millionaire, honored the memory of his ancestor by erecting a beautiful granite monument to mark his grave. In digging for the foundation of the shaft the remains of the slain men were found in a remarkable state of preservation. The skull of Rice showed the marks of the Indian tomahawk, and the fatal bullet fell from the bones of [Phineas] Arms as they were being examined. This bullet has been preserved at the Deerfield Museum.
Moses's wife Sarah continued to live on the Rice homestead with her son Aaron's family where she died in 1788 and was buried near her husband. Aaron and his wife Freedom French Rice are also buried here. The cemetery is located behind the old homestead (built in 1748) which is still standing. This later became the childhood home of famous writer Charles Dudley Warner during the years of about 1835-1844 and was revisited by him in his book "Being a Boy" written in 1877. It was also the subject of an historically-based fictional novel written in 1907 by Mary P. Wells Smith called "Boys of the Border" chronicling the Rice family and others in the early settlement of Charlemont. In 1989, the old Moses Rice homestead became the base of operations for Zoar Outdoor, a company currently offering zip-line and white-water rafting excursions on the Deerfield River.
Moses Rice was born October 27th, 1694 in Sudbury, Massachusetts, a son of John and Tabitha Stone Rice. He married November 16th 1719 to Sarah Rice/King, daughter of Samuel Rice/King and Abigail Clapp. Sarah had been orphaned in 1713 when both of her parents died and Moses' father John Rice was made guardian of Sarah and her minor siblings. After her marriage to Moses and after the death of his father in 1719, Moses was named guardian of his wife's younger siblings.
Moses and his wife Sarah resided by 1722 at Worcester, Worcester Co, MA, opening a public house on the site of one afterwards kept by Capt. Ephraim Mower, and on which was subsequently erected the "United States Hotel." Moses was in the military in 1724 at Rutland under the command of Capt. Samuel Wright of Rutland on garrison duty with others from Worcester. He commanded a company of cavalry while he resided at Worcester. He and Sarah were the parents of seven children: Samuel, Abigail, Aaron, Dinah, Sylvanus, Tamar, and Artemas Rice.
In 1743, Moses was the first settler of a new plantation called Charlemont having purchased 2200 acres there. At this time, the location was one of the farthest western settlements in the wilderness and far from the established towns of Massachusetts. The nearest town was Deerfield, 22 miles away. In August of 1746, the Rices were warned that hostile Indians were approaching from the north. They fled to Deerfield for safety. Unfortunately, their home, crops, tools and everything they left behind were destroyed by the Indians. It was three years before the family returned and settled permanently.
By 1752, there were about a dozen families in Charlemont. Because Charlemont was a frontier settlement and vulnerable to attack, a series of fortifications and blockade houses were built for protection. They were not manned as heavily as they should have been according to several petitions made to the General Court. As the French and Indians continued to make attacks on the English settlements, the most outlying ones such as Charlemont were most at risk of attack.
In June of 1755, Moses and others were working in a meadow in the upper part of Charlemont near Rice's fort. A small group of Algonquin Indians were lying in wait, and attacked and ambushed the party. Captain Moses Rice was shot in the thigh, was severely wounded, and carried off into the woods where he was tomahawked and scalped. A young soldier, Phineas Arms who had been pacing the field with his musket and acting as sentinel was shot and killed outright. Titus King, a relative, and Moses' grandson 9-year old Asa Rice, who was riding a horse but was thrown off when the horse was spooked by gunfire, were both captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. Asa Rice was ransomed six years later and returned to Charlemont. King was eventually sent to France, then to England, and from there returned to his native town of Northampton.
Moses' youngest son, 20-year old Artemas Rice escaped after a hot pursuit and was able to make it to nearby Taylor's Fort. Later that day, Moses was found barely still alive. He was brought to his son's house but died later that evening.
Moses had previously written and collected a great amount of historical matter, comprising an account of many interesting events of which he had been a witness. Unfortunately, his manuscripts were destroyed by fire during one of the Indian raids.
Over 100 years later, in 1871, a great-great-grandson of Moses Rice (via Moses's son Samuel), Orlando B. Potter of New York, who by his industry and enterprise had become a millionaire, honored the memory of his ancestor by erecting a beautiful granite monument to mark his grave. In digging for the foundation of the shaft the remains of the slain men were found in a remarkable state of preservation. The skull of Rice showed the marks of the Indian tomahawk, and the fatal bullet fell from the bones of [Phineas] Arms as they were being examined. This bullet has been preserved at the Deerfield Museum.
Moses's wife Sarah continued to live on the Rice homestead with her son Aaron's family where she died in 1788 and was buried near her husband. Aaron and his wife Freedom French Rice are also buried here. The cemetery is located behind the old homestead (built in 1748) which is still standing. This later became the childhood home of famous writer Charles Dudley Warner during the years of about 1835-1844 and was revisited by him in his book "Being a Boy" written in 1877. It was also the subject of an historically-based fictional novel written in 1907 by Mary P. Wells Smith called "Boys of the Border" chronicling the Rice family and others in the early settlement of Charlemont. In 1989, the old Moses Rice homestead became the base of operations for Zoar Outdoor, a company currently offering zip-line and white-water rafting excursions on the Deerfield River.
Moses and his wife Sarah resided by 1722 at Worcester, Worcester Co, MA, opening a public house on the site of one afterwards kept by Capt. Ephraim Mower, and on which was subsequently erected the "United States Hotel." Moses was in the military in 1724 at Rutland under the command of Capt. Samuel Wright of Rutland on garrison duty with others from Worcester. He commanded a company of cavalry while he resided at Worcester. He and Sarah were the parents of seven children: Samuel, Abigail, Aaron, Dinah, Sylvanus, Tamar, and Artemas Rice.
In 1743, Moses was the first settler of a new plantation called Charlemont having purchased 2200 acres there. At this time, the location was one of the farthest western settlements in the wilderness and far from the established towns of Massachusetts. The nearest town was Deerfield, 22 miles away. In August of 1746, the Rices were warned that hostile Indians were approaching from the north. They fled to Deerfield for safety. Unfortunately, their home, crops, tools and everything they left behind were destroyed by the Indians. It was three years before the family returned and settled permanently.
By 1752, there were about a dozen families in Charlemont. Because Charlemont was a frontier settlement and vulnerable to attack, a series of fortifications and blockade houses were built for protection. They were not manned as heavily as they should have been according to several petitions made to the General Court. As the French and Indians continued to make attacks on the English settlements, the most outlying ones such as Charlemont were most at risk of attack.
In June of 1755, Moses and others were working in a meadow in the upper part of Charlemont near Rice's fort. A small group of Algonquin Indians were lying in wait, and attacked and ambushed the party. Captain Moses Rice was shot in the thigh, was severely wounded, and carried off into the woods where he was tomahawked and scalped. A young soldier, Phineas Arms who had been pacing the field with his musket and acting as sentinel was shot and killed outright. Titus King, a relative, and Moses' grandson 9-year old Asa Rice, who was riding a horse but was thrown off when the horse was spooked by gunfire, were both captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. Asa Rice was ransomed six years later and returned to Charlemont. King was eventually sent to France, then to England, and from there returned to his native town of Northampton.
Moses' youngest son, 20-year old Artemas Rice escaped after a hot pursuit and was able to make it to nearby Taylor's Fort. Later that day, Moses was found barely still alive. He was brought to his son's house but died later that evening.
Moses had previously written and collected a great amount of historical matter, comprising an account of many interesting events of which he had been a witness. Unfortunately, his manuscripts were destroyed by fire during one of the Indian raids.
Over 100 years later, in 1871, a great-great-grandson of Moses Rice (via Moses's son Samuel), Orlando B. Potter of New York, who by his industry and enterprise had become a millionaire, honored the memory of his ancestor by erecting a beautiful granite monument to mark his grave. In digging for the foundation of the shaft the remains of the slain men were found in a remarkable state of preservation. The skull of Rice showed the marks of the Indian tomahawk, and the fatal bullet fell from the bones of [Phineas] Arms as they were being examined. This bullet has been preserved at the Deerfield Museum.
Moses's wife Sarah continued to live on the Rice homestead with her son Aaron's family where she died in 1788 and was buried near her husband. Aaron and his wife Freedom French Rice are also buried here. The cemetery is located behind the old homestead (built in 1748) which is still standing. This later became the childhood home of famous writer Charles Dudley Warner during the years of about 1835-1844 and was revisited by him in his book "Being a Boy" written in 1877. It was also the subject of an historically-based fictional novel written in 1907 by Mary P. Wells Smith called "Boys of the Border" chronicling the Rice family and others in the early settlement of Charlemont. In 1989, the old Moses Rice homestead became the base of operations for Zoar Outdoor, a company currently offering zip-line and white-water rafting excursions on the Deerfield River.
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