Mary Goodenow

1673 - 1707  (33 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Mary Goodenow
  Born	15 Dec 1673	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  Gender	Female
  Biographical Information	On 18 Aug 1707, Miss Mary Goodnow and Mrs. Mary Fay and two of her children were gathering herbs in a meadow when they saw twenty or more Indian warriors stealthily approaching. They immediately ran for the fortified home of Samuel Goodnow. Mary Goodnow, being lame from birth, could not escape her pursuers. She gave up. This selfless action allowed Mary Fay, who was six months pregnant, and her children to reach the gate and close it before their pursuers could overtake them. There was only one man in the garrison at the time; the rest were at work in the field. The savages attempted to break through the enclosure, but were repelled by the heroic defenders inside. Mrs. Fay loaded the muskets, handing them to her male companion who was able to maintain constant fire upon the enemy. Hearing the gunfire, the men in the field returned and the enemy retreated. Mary Goodnow was seized and dragged into the woods. That same day, the Indians surprised and took two men who were laboring in the field: Jonathan Wilder, a native of Lancaster, and Daniel Howe of Marlborough. Daniel was able to escape by seizing a rifle from one of the Indians and breaking it over his head; Jonathan was killed. The next day Capt. Thomas Howe of Marlborough and about twenty men pursued the Indians. They were joined by another twenty or so men from Lancaster. They overtook the enemy, who now numbered thirty-six. A battle ensued in which two white men (John Farren and Richard Singeltary) and ten to twelve Indians died. The packs of the Indians fell into the hands of the whites. In one of them was the scalp of Miss Mary Goodnow. A few days later her mangled body was found and buried on the spot. In 1889 the Town of Northborough erected a monument in remembrance of Miss Goodnow at the location of her murder and burial.
  Died	18 Aug 1707	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  Siblings	4 siblings
  1. Thomas Goodenow,   b. 6 Dec 1672, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 1673, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  2. Samuel Goodenow,   b. 30 Nov 1675, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 12 May 1716, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  3. David Goodenow,   b. 12 May 1678, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 1680, Boylston, Worcester, Massachusetts
  4. David Goodenow,   b. 26 Feb 1704, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 16 Aug 1778, Boylston, Worcester, Massachusetts
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I9753	Nagel
  Last Modified	3 May 2012

  
  

  Father	Samuel Goodenow,   b. 28 Feb 1646, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 2 Aug 1722, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts  (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Mary Goodenow,   b. 1646, Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts ,   d. 4 Nov 1731, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts  (Age 85 years)
  Family ID	F902	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 15 Dec 1673 - Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts Died - 18 Aug 1707 - Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Mary Goodenow and Mary (Brigham) Fay Mary Goodenow and Mary (Brigham) Fay, my 1st cousin, 10 times removed. Perhaps my favorite story to have been uncovered so far

  
  

  Documents		The Hundredth Town. Glimpses of life in Westborough. 1717-1817 The Hundredth Town. Glimpses of life in Westborough. 1717-1817. By Harriette Merrifield Forbes 1856-1951. Published in Boston by Press of Rockwell and Churchill. 1889 This book is HIGHLY recommended! I like this book because it talks about the day to day happenings and the color of daily life. All the things that tend to get lost in history. it is 3.88M in size. Open above or right click here to download! The Hundredth Town. Glimpses of life in Westborough
  		History of Town of Marlborough History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1657 to 1861; with a brief sketch of the town of Northborough, a genealogy of the families in Marlborough to 1800, and an account of the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town. By Charles Hudson. Published by Press of T. R. Marvin & son, Boston MA. 1862. View this by clicking above or save by right clicking here (note the B&W version is searchable): History of Town of Marlborough History of Town of Marlborough B&W Note that the list of people whom I have associated these files with does not begin to cover all of the individuals discussed in this book.