That story will be brought to life on Saturday, June 13, in the town where it happened, a small event which overshadowed the horrors to come for the area known as Quaboag Plantation, events which will be observed throughout the year 2010.

The settlement known originally as Pynchon’s Plantation was established in 1660 on Pritchard’s Hill (now Foster Hill in West Brookfield.) Quaboag, a native American word, became the name of the area, encompassing what is now the Brookfields, Warren and New Braintree. The original settlement on Foster Hill was the scene of an Indian attack and three day siege in August, 1675. Wilder is the first to admit that where the event known locally as Wheeler’s Surprise happened, “until now a controversy,” is not the important issue, but the very fact that it did happen, precipitating a scene of terror in which a peaceable settlement on the hill became a central part of what has become known as King Philip’s War, a bloody conflict that witnessed the near destruction of the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colonies.

Captain Edward Hutchinson, accompanied by an escort of about twenty horsemen led by Captain Thomas Wheeler, Ephraim Curtis and three Indians friendly to the English to serve as guides and interpreters, were instructed by court order to arrange a meeting with the Nipmucks, to secure Nipmuck neutrality in an emerging conflict with the Wampanoag tribe. Despite warnings from the Indian guides, Hutchinson and the men proceeded, finally single file, into a funnel-like trap, confronted there by Indians with no peaceful inclinations. Within minutes, three men from Quaboag, and at least five other men lay dead or dying in the New Braintree location, near Winimussitt swamp or meadow. We know of this because Wheeler lived to write an account of the ambush and rout. Philip, son of the great chief Massasoit, was what we’d call a rabble rouser, Wilder believes. “He never seemed to do much of the actual fighting, but he was a marvel at inciting his followers to inflict horrible injury to the settlers. He feared for his tribe’s loss of land and autonomy over it; he disdained their greed for more and more land, and determined to drive them away. For twenty years he planned and perpetrated a reign of terror over New England’s early settlers.”

In the chaos that followed Wheeler’s surprise, the troopers fled back to the fortified house, gathered the nearly 100 residents of the burgeoning community into Ayres’ Tavern, and fought for their lives during a hair-raising three day siege. You may read of it in several books, or you might like to explore the Quaboag 350th web site.

The town of New Braintree is rich with history, much of it related to its early beginnings, its staunch patriots, and the fertile farmland so prized by its native inhabitants from eons ago and onward. It seems only fitting, the town’s historical society members say, that the first important event relating to its early settlers and native history should serve as the kick-off event in the Quaboag 350th anniversary observance to be held throughout the year in 2010. “It started here, where the huge Indian campground hosted other tribes and considered it home territory,” said spokesman Sara Hunt. “We thought we’d give it the full attention such an historically important event deserves by holding it this year.” And quite an event it promises to be. On Friday, June 12, reenactors of both Indians and English troops will set up at the town center. Visitors may witness craft demonstrations, military and native American encampments and activities throughout the day on Saturday. At 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Bob Wilder’s spellbinding talk on Wheeler’s surprise will be presented at the Historical Society’s 1939 Grade School, town center. This is the time at which he will unveil his latest surprise, a definitive display and discussion of exactly where and how the original event took place. A cartographer, he will have on display maps to show the how and why of it all, and a few artifacts discovered on the site to prove his points. At 1:00 p.m., a video tour of other proposed sites will be presented.

Another possible surprise may be forthcoming. Descendents of the original native American Quaboag residents may pay a visit, as they did last fall.

Then, at 3:00 p.m. the crowning achievement, a Wheeler’s surprise reenactment, with a free bus ride to the site from the town center. Both sides will be represented in the conflict.

At 5:30 p.m. there will be a cash bar and silent auction at the town hall, followed at 6:00 p.m with a barbeque dinner at the town hall.

Following the dinner and auction, there will be a slide show, presented by author Michael Tougias, speaking on the subject of King Philip’s War and Wheeler’s surprise.

All activities are free with the exception of the dinner, auction and cash bar. A limited number of tickets, at $20 per person, are available for the dinner and lecture. No tickets will be sold at the door; they will be available at Reed’s Country Store while they last, or by sending a check, payable to QHS350, to Quaboag 350th Committee, P.O Box 1112, New Braintree, MA 01531.