Massecre rye 1691

Only a few broken stone markers remain at the site of the Brackett Lane Massacre in Rye, one of the series of NH seacoast Indian reprisals during the era of King Phillips War. Ten New settlers were killed, three were burned in their homes, and seven were captured and taken to Canada. The attack was at Sandy Beach, an earlier name for Rye, on September 29, 1691. The site on Saltwater Brook remains an open marshy area today across just off a rural residential road. Between 20 and 40 Native Americans reportedly came down the coast from York, Maine and attacked a group of settlers cutting hay. During a series of small attacks the Indians moved down Brackett Lane. Anthony Brackett was killed, several of his children were captured, and his home was burned during this raid. A girl, was kidnapped to Canada, grew up, and returned to Rye as an adult to reclaim a small portion of her family land. Miss Bernice Remick and her sister, Mrs. Francis Tucker, sold the land and deed of 42 acres on April 12, 1973 to the Rye Conservation Commission. It is now a public site and can be visited at 605 Brackett Road, Rye, N.H. Look for a small faded wooden sign. (For more info read Langdon Parson's History of the Town of Rye, published in 1905.

HOURS: Dawn to dusk
ADMISSION: Free to see
ADDRESS: 605 Brackett Road Rye, NH 03802
DIRECTIONS: The cemetery site is on Brackett halfway between Wallis Road and Washington Road. Both roads lead from beaches at the Rye Route 1A coast back to Rye Center.