[Illustration:  SAINT ANNE’S CHURCH, 1850.]

King Philip’s War broke out in 1675.  Wannalancet and the local Indians, faithful to the counsels of Passaconaway, took sides with the settlers, or remained neutral.  Between the two parties they suffered severely.  Some were put to death by Philip, for exposing his designs; some were put to death by the colonists, as Philip’s accomplices; some fell in battle, fighting for the whites; some were slain by the settlers, who mistrusted alike praying and hostile Indians.

During the following year, 1676, the able-bodied Indians of Wamesit and Pawtucket withdrew to Canada, leaving a few of their helpless and infirm old people at the mercy of their neighbors.  Around their fate let history draw the veil of oblivion, lest the present generation blush for their ancestors.  The Indians of those days, like their descendants, had no rights which the white men were bound to respect.

During the war the white settlers were gathered for protection in garrison-houses.  Billerica escaped harm, but Chelmsford was twice visited by hostile bands and several buildings were burned.  Two sons of Samuel Varnum were shot while crossing the Merrimack in a boat with their father.

In April, 1676, Captain Samuel Hunting and Lieutenant James Richardson built a fort at Pawtucket Falls, which, with a garrison, was left under command of Lieutenant Richardson.  A month later it was reinforced and the command entrusted to Captain Thomas Henchman.  This proved an effectual check to the incursions of marauding Indians.

[Illustration:  RUINS OF A CELLAR, BELVIDERE.]

When the war was over, Wannalancet returned with the remnant of his tribe, to find the reservation in possession of the settlers.  The tribe was placed on Wickasauke Island, in charge of Colonel Jonathan Tyng, where they remained until their last rod of land had been bartered away, when they retired to Canada and joined the St. Francis tribe.  Colonel Tyng and Major Henchman purchased of the Indians all their remaining interest in the land about Pawtucket Falls.

[Illustration:  OLD BUTMAN HOUSE, BELVIDERE.]

During the nine years of King William’s War, which followed the English Revolution of 1688, the people of Chelmsford and neighboring towns again took refuge in forts and garrison-houses.  Major Henchman had command of the fortification at the Falls.  August 1, 1682, a hostile raid was made into Billerica and eight of the inhabitants were killed.  August 5, 1695, fourteen inhabitants of Tewksbury were massacred.  Colonel Joseph Lynde, from whom Lynde Hill in Belvidere derives its name, was in command of a force of three hundred men who ranged through the neighboring country to protect the frontier.

The town of Dracut was incorporated in 1701.  It contained twenty-five families, and was set off from Chelmsford.