We have now come to that time of terror and disaster to the
settlers - the uprising of the Indians, known as King Phillip's War. It can easily
be imagined how many anxious hours were passed by Edward and Sarah Bobet, so far removed
from the garrison stockade, with their large family of children. Judging by the
quantities of Indian relics found on his home farm it would seem that it was a peculiarly
favorite haunt of the Indians before Bobet bought it. Finally their position became
too dangerous to admit of further delay and being warned of the commencement of
hostilities, on June 25, 1675, they took refuge in the garrison at Taunton, leaving behind
the home which had been the fruit of so much labor in the wilderness. We must depend
upon tradition for the account of Edward Bobet's last hours. This tradition has been
so faithfully handed down from generation to generation and seems so fully confirmed by
his place of burial that there is no reason to disbelieve it. According to this
tradition Bobet returned to his house to secure some necessary article - perhaps the
cheese hoop, as the story says: he was accompanied by his dog in the thought that perhaps
warning of prowling savages would be given by it. He secured the needed article and
was on his way back to the fort when he became aware of his pursuit by Indians; he climbed
a tree and was effectually hidden, but his faithful dog disclosed his presence and his
life was the forfeit of his hazardous adventure. His grave is in a private yard,
near Berkley Bridge, and is thought to be the spot where he was killed. The spot was
marked by a bronze Memorial Tablet in 1911 - its cost being defrayed by small
contributions from his descendants, from all over the United States and Canada.
When he failed to return to the fort the searching party probably buried his
mutilated body where it was found and later the old headstone
was placed there, which is now in Historical Hall, it having been taken away from the
grave in after years and placed on a stone wall near by. This old stone reads:
"Edward
Bobbett
Kld
June, 1675."
This page was last updated on 10/05/00 14:59