The story of redemption Rock begins with terrible massacre. at Lancaster in which all the inhabitants were slain or taken captive by the Indians. Mary Rowlandson, wife of Rev. Joseph Rowlandson (who was in Boston at the time), and her three children were among those captured.

"On the 10th of February, 1675, came the Indians with great numbers upon Lancaster: their first coming was about sun-rising: hearing the noise of some guns, we looked; several houses were burning, and the smoke ascending to heaven... oh the roaring, and singing, and dancing, and yelling of those black creatures... which made the place a lively resemblance of Hell" wrote Mary Rowlandson.

The story of Mrs. Rowlandsons' captivity, and suffering at the hands of the Indians told through her won words is one of the classics of Colonial literature. For eight days she carried her wounded 6 year old daughter, Sarah, until the child died and was buried beside the trail near New Braintree, where a gravestone marks the place today. Her other children were removed from her and although she saw them briefly once or twice, she never knew if she would see them again.

The Indians took her through Princeton, Barre, Petersham, Northfield, and to the Connecticut River where they met King Philip - then on to Vermont and New Hampshire. She had little food, continually feared for her life, and suffered the taunts and beatings of the Indians. When they discovered she could sew, she fared somewhat better and even had the "honor" of making King Philip a shirt. A Bible given to her by one of the Indians (from another massacre) was her source of strength, and her account is extremely moving.

After four months of captivity and following several exchanges of letters between the Indians and Government Officials. Mrs. Rowlandson was brought back to Princeton and redeemed upon this rock for L20 and a gift of liquor. John Hoar, and English emissary from Boston brought this about, and though he was treated threateningly by the Indians, he and Mrs. Rowlandson made their escape to Concord and thence to Boston, where Mary was reunited with her husband - and not long after with her children.

In 1879, Senator George F. Hoar, a descendant of John, purchased the Rock and 1/2 acre of land from the Everett family of Princeton, and caused to be inscribed on the face of the huge boulder the following words:

One hundred yards west of Redemption Rock, near the old Indian trail, are the remains of the Everett Tomb. Legend has it that the bodies of the Elder Everett and his wife rested here in a standing position for 75 years before being removed to the Princeton North Cemetery.

In 1898 S. Hathaway published the "History of Redemption Rock" (see attachment below).

In 1930 the Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission placed a marker on the side of the road - Route 140 - near Redemption Rock.

The discrepancy in dates - 1675 and 1676 - is due to the fact that the Gregorian Calendar was not adopted till 1752. Previous to that time, the year began in March. Thus the destruction of Lancaster is recorded as February 10 1675-6.