Deep Snow in 1716

During this year (1716) three families were found of sufficient nerve and enterprise to pioneer the settlement of the town. These families were those of Benjamin Marsh, Elisha Johnson, and Nathaniel Johnson.

They built their cabins near the centre of the town, and spent there the winter of 1716-7. It proved a trying winter to them. It was the winter made memorable by the deep snow which fell the last of February, and wholly covered the cabins.

Elisha Johnson, whose cabin was located near the place now occupied by Mr. Samuel Prescott, had left his family the morning of the day the great snow commenced falling, for the purpose of obtaining some supplies in Marlborough.

He was seen on his way by a friendly Indian, who, when the storm had subsided, started on snow-shoes for the little settlement, and found the cabin of Mr. Johnson by the hole which the smoke from the fire-place had made through the snow. His family would doubtless have perished had it not been for the kind forethought of this friendly Indian. Mrs. Johnson said “no human voice ever sounded half so sweet as did that.”