We have to reach back into the history books written in the late 1800s to find the story of what it was like to be kidnapped in “the olden days.” No newspaper headlines, no negotiations between countries, and only a trickle of information down through the centuries to reveal the problems faced by settlers.

Ten years after the first Windham settler, Thomas Chute, had come to New Marblehead, about 20 or 30 Indians raided the settlement (according to historian Dole). A fight ensued between two local young men, William Bolton, age 16, and William Maxfield, and the natives. Bolton was captured and taken to Canada where he was sold to a French naval officer who kept him on a frigate to be his servant. While out to sea, the French ship was captured by an English frigate and taken to Boston. Bolton became the servant to an English Naval officer, Lieut. Wallace.

Meanwhile, Bolton was not forgotten back home where the 16-year-old was missed by his family. A captain of a coasting vessel from Portland heard of the trouble, and contacted the governor of Massachusetts asking for young Bolton’s release, which was granted, and Bolton returned to New Marblehead.

Several years later when Bolton had become a prosperous farmer and father of 11 children, he was in Portland one day and saw a bunch of boys annoying an old man, who couldn’t defend himself. Bolton chased the boys away and then realized he knew the older man – it was his former master, the Englishman, Lieut. Wallace, who was now homeless and destitute.

It’s written in history books that Bolton brought his former master home and cared for him until his death and gave him a Christian burial. Both Bolton and Wallace are buried in the old Smith Burying Ground near the first settlement. They died in the late 1700s; no headstones mark their graves.