Departures of note

In 1756 Simeon Thayer volunteered for military service with a Rhode Island regiment, then joined Colonel Fry's Massachusetts regiment and served in Rogers' Rangers during three clashes with French‑allied Indians. He became a prisoner after the Siege of Fort William Henry on August 9, 1757, and survived the subsequent massacre of many British prisoners by pro‑French Indians.

A tomahawk‑armed Native seized Thayer by his under‑waistcoat and began dragging him toward a swamp; the garment tore, allowing him to flee. He joined another prisoner, whose companion was tomahawked to death while they were pursued. Thayer sprinted to Fort Edward, where the exertion on a hot day impaired his health and rendered him unfit for service for the remainder of the French and Indian War.