A Narrative of The Captivity of Mrs. Johnson; Containing An Account of Her Sufferings, During Four Years, With the Indians and French

Susannah Willard Johnson (1730 – 1810) has written the true story of her family’s captivity with the Abenaki Indians, and the French in Canada, in a manner which will linger in the mind of her readers for a long time.In A Narrative of the Captivity of Mrs. Johnson: Containing an Account of Her Sufferings, During Four Years, With the Indians and French, Susannah poignantly relates the raid on Charlestown by the Abenaki on August 30 – 1754. Captured with Susannah were her husband, James; their three small children; Susannah’s 14 year old sister; and two gentlemen neighbors. The following day, while being forcibly marched through the wilderness, Susannah gave birth to Elizabeth ‘Captive’ Johnson. Two months later, they were sold to the french, who held them until ransom could be arranged.Mrs. Johnson’s narrative gives us a woman’s perspective on the Abenaki people; the French Canadians; the wars; and the politics of a time in our past that people in the 21st century can hardly comprehend. As she tells her story, the reader gains a sense of the fear, horror, and sadness, intermingled with moments of joy, which the author experienced during her captivity.Mrs. Johnson’s publisher has included, at the end of the book, the sermons given at the death of both Mrs. Johnson, and her mother. As well, the reader will find the names of persons killed, and the number of persons taken by the Indians during the wars; and a series of letters written by, and to, members of the Johnson family.Further information on this fascinating woman will be found in the foreword provided by AlwaysWrite Ent. Many of the books offered by AlwaysWrite Ent. are provided exactly as the author presented them in their original format. All works have been entered, and edited by hand, and not merely scanned. They have been spell-checked, and punctuation corrected where necessary.