Captain William Turner - Greenfield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 36.357 W 072° 36.716
18T E 695891 N 4719822
The Kiwanis Club of Greenfield has erected an historical marker at 390 Conway Street recounting the events leading to the death of Captain William Turner.
Waymark Code: WMPJHE
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 09/08/2015
Views: 3
During the King Philip's War, Captain William Turner led a counter offensive against the native Indians following the defeat of Captain Thomas Lathrop by Nipmuc warriors at the Battle of Bloody Brook on September 18, 1675. It what is known as The Battle of Turner's Falls, or the Peskeompscut massacre, he engaged and killed a large group of Indians fishing at the Great Falls of the Connecticut River in Gill, MA on May 19, 1676.
However, he did not plan for a retreat from the area. The local Indians, upon hearing gunfire, approached Captain Turner's position. The British troops began a disorganized retreat. The warriors pursued, caught up with the group lead by Captain Turner, and killed him.
An historical marker on Conway Street summarizes these events. It is inscribed:
CAPT
WILLIAM TURNER
A MILITARY COMMANDER DURING KING
PHILLIP'S WAR. CAPT. TURNER WAS KILLED
NEAR HERE IN A RETREAT AFTER LEADING
A MASSACRE OF INDIANS FISHING AT
THE GREAT FALLS OF THE CONN. RIVER
IN GILL ON MAY 19, 1676.
SIGN DONATED BY GREENFIELD KIWANIS CLUB