Peskeomskut Massacre
- When
- 1676
- Where
- Peskeompskut
- Episodes
- 2
On May 19, 1676, Captain William Turner led a surprise attack on a Native encampment at Peskeompskut, resulting in a massacre near Turner's Falls in Gill, Massachusetts.
Episodes
- Encampment Gathering
Natives gathered at Peskeompskut for fishing and refuge during King Philip's War.
- Massacre at Turner's Falls
Turner's forces attacked the Peskeompskut encampment at dawn, killing many with bullets and swords.
Background and detail
Background. King Philip's War displaced many Natives to Peskeompskut by mid-May 1676. Warriors from various tribes gathered for fishing runs while peace talks with the Narragansett were in early stages. Turner's company was reduced to single men, boys, and servants after a recall.
The Attack. Turner and Lieutenant Holyoke gathered volunteers to attack the camp. On the predawn of May 19, they positioned themselves on high ground south of Mount Adams. They launched a surprise assault, killing many with bullets and swords, while others were swept over the falls or killed under rocks.
Aftermath. Turner's men retreated along their approach route. The group split, with most following Turner toward Green River Ford. Survivors later attacked Hatfield, and English scouts found evidence of torture and burning of Turner's captured men in June.
People involved
- William Turner · Captain leading the attack
- Samual Holyoke · Lieutenant participating in the attack
Sources
- Battle of Turner's Falls Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-20
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.