“At the time of the Indian attacks on their settlement, an Indian who had surrendered to the people was treacherously murdered by this young Nathaniel Wilder and Daniel Hoar, who were tried, condemned and sentenced to be hung [sic]. In Oct. 1676, they presented a memorial to theGeneral Court, acknowledging the justice of their condemnation and asking for pardon. Their request was granted on condition that they should pay £10 each, one half to be given to the Indian who had prosecuted them, and also that they should pay the expenses of their imprisonment and trial. This was done and they were set at liberty.”118

Without any sense of irony, the Book of the Wilders goes on to say “Nathaniel was a brave man, an active, useful citizen, and a Captain the militia. This Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder…was killed by the Indians near the gate of his garrison on teh 10th day of August, 1704, early in the morning of the first onset. He was shot in the thight, of which he died the same day. The Indians killed off his cattle, six oxen, five cows, three calves, sixteen sheep, twelve swine, and burnt his barn and twelve loads of good English hay.118