[63] John Williams, _The Redeemed Captive_. Compare Stephen Williams, _Account of the Captivity_, etc.
[64] The small stream at the mouth of which Williams is supposed to have preached is still called Williams River.
[65] Stephen Williams, _Account of the Captivity_, etc. His father also notices the incident.
[66] The name Macquas (Mohawks) is always given to the Caughnawagas by the elder Williams.
[67] The Iroquois are well known to have had superstitions in connection with sexual abstinence.
[68] Williams remarks that the Seminary had also been burned three years before. This was the fire of November, 1701. See "Old Régime in Canada," 451.
[70] The elder Dudley speaks with great warmth of Courtemanche, who, on his part, seems equally pleased with his entertainers. Young Dudley was a boy of eighteen. "Il a du mérite," says Vaudreuil. _Dudley to Vaudreuil, 4 July, 1705; Vaudreuil au Ministre, 19 Octobre, 1705._
[71] In 1878 Miss C. Alice Baker, of Cambridge, Mass., a descendant of Abigail Stebbins, read a paper on John Sheldon before the Memorial Association at Deerfield. It is the result of great research, and contains much original matter, including correspondence between Sheldon and the captives when in Canada, as well as a full and authentic account of his several missions. Mr. George Sheldon has also traced out with great minuteness the history of his ancestor's negotiations.
[72] The above is drawn mainly from extracts made by Miss Baker from the registers of the Church of Notre Dame at Montreal. Many of the acts of baptism bear the signature of Father Meriel, so often mentioned in the narrative of Williams. Apparently, Meriel spoke English. At least there is a letter in English from him, relating to Eunice Williams, in the Massachusetts Archives, vol. 51. Some of the correspondence between Dudley and Vaudreuil concerning exchange of prisoners will be found among the Paris documents in the State House at Boston. Copies of these papers were printed at Quebec in 1883-1885, though with many inaccuracies.
[73] Stephen W. Williams, _Memoir of the Rev. John Williams_, 53. _Sermon preached at Mansfield, August 4, 1741, on behalf of Mrs. Eunice, the daughter of Rev. John Williams; by Solomon Williams, A.M._ _Letter of Mrs. Colton, great granddaughter of John Williams_ (in appendix to the _Memoir of Rev. John Williams_).