Befe, 5 6
to one washing tub, 2 earthen pots
& pail, 4 0
to wood for the winter season for the
year 1757, 1 6 8

Direct evidence to the helpless condition of the two families of French
Neutrals in Lancaster is given in a letter from the selectmen, dated
January 24, 1757, found in Massachusetts Archives, xxiii, 330:--

"and here Foloweth an account of the curcumstances, age and sexes of
those people, thare Is two famles Consisting of fifteen In Number, the
whole to witt. Benoni Melanso with his wife of about fourty four or five
years of age, and they have seven children thre Boyes and four Girlls,
the Eldest Girl about 17 years old, the boye Next about 15 years old,
Sickly. Can Do Nothing. ye Next Boy 12 years old. ye Next boy 10 years
old, and ye four Girles all under them Down to two years old, and the
woman almost a Criple....

The Name of the others Is Jefray--& his wife, he almost an Idot and
aboute 46 years old, ... they have four children 3 Boyes & one Girll. ye
Eldest Boye 10 yeares old & ye Rest Down to two years old.

"WM. RICHARDSON }
"JOHN CARTER } Selectmen of Lancaster."
"JOSHUA FAIRBANK}

Shortly after the date of the above, these unhappy people suddenly
disappeared from their habitation. Reckless with homesickness, they had
stolen away, and made a bold push for the sea, in the vain hope that on