Historic anniversary is ahead

I want to alert your readers to an important anniversary coming up next month. In 1675 and 1676, King Philip’s War raged throughout New England. On the evening of April 20 and the following day (April 21, 1676), 350 years ago, the Sudbury Fight raged.

About 500 indigenous warriors, mostly Nipmucs, besieged the town, burning the settlers’ houses, slaughtering livestock, and destroying stores. Most of the townspeople took refuge in the Haynes Garrison House, on Water Run, or the Goodnow Garrison House, on present-day Boston Post Road. A dozen men rushing from Concord to lend assistance were ambushed at the east end of the old Town Bridge (adjoining the Wayland Country Club on Old Sudbury Road), and most were slaughtered. A pitched battle raged all afternoon at Green Hill and Goodman’s Hill. The colonists held the top of Goodman’s Hill surrounded by the enemy fighters who set fire to the dry brush at the base of the hill.

The Sudbury and Wayland historical societies possess some research materials in their archives. You can find several informative videos on YouTube. You can read the full history of King Philip’s War in the book “Flintlock & Tomahawk” by Douglas Edward Leach. And several historical markers scattered across Wayland and Sudbury tell parts of the fascinating story. On April 21, 2026 I will stand among the ruins of the Haynes Garrison House on Water Run and imagine the scene, the clamor, and the smoke of that day 350 years ago on that spot.

Steven J. Liszewski