Nathaniel LADD, I

  General Notes:

Notes from Warren Ladd: When a young man he removed to Exeter, NH. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. John Gilman, of Exeter, NH, who in 1679 "was appointed by the Crown on of the Council for the government of the Province of New Hampshire under Pres. John Cutts and Gov. Cranfield, and was later a delegate to the Assembly and Speaker of the House. Nathaniel Ladd thus became, by his marriage, a member of the leading family of that part of NH. He was implicated in Gove's rebellion against Gov Caufield, was arrested, and on Dec 6, 1683, "was examined before Barefoot, a judge of the special court for the trial of Gove and his associates, for treason, and entered into recognizance, with William and Charles Hilton as his sureties, in L100 for his good behavior and for his appearance at court when called for to answer to the charge of treason". We find no evidence that his case was ever called for trial. In the summer of 1690 an expedition was fitted out in MA with a contingent from NH, to protect the most western settlements, in which Nathaniel Ladd was one of the volunteers form Exeter, NH. On the 22 of Sept the party landed at Maquoit, near Cape Elizabeth, and soon fell into ambush, and in the fight which ensued were compelled to retreat to their vessels. These being aground, the Indians made a bold effort to take them, but after a hard fight they were repulsed, with a loss to the English of eight killed and twenty-four wounded. Of the last was Nathaniel Ladd, who died of his wounds at Exeter, NH Aug 11, 1691.

"The History of Exeter", written by Charles Bell, published in 1888: "Edward Gove of Hampton, who had been a member of the dissolved assembly, distracted by indignation and heated by strong drink, attempted to raise the standard of revolt. He succeeded, however, in enlisting only eight or ten young fellows in his own town and Exeter, who joined him probably in a spirit of adventure, fortified, perhaps, with the idea that they were thus championing the cause of the people. Gove, with his little following, armed with sword and pistol, appeared on horseback in the streets of Exeter, and rode to the sound of the trumpet, into Hampton where they were soon arrested and committed to prison for trial.

The hare-brained project never could have endangered the government for a moment, but Cranfield chose to regard it in the most serious light, and without delay issued a commission for a court to try the culprits. Through his attorney general he caused an indictment to be presented to the grand jury against them, for treason, the highest crime known to law. For this offense the prisoners, nine in number, were tried, with indecent haste, little more than a week after the acts complained of were committed; and, apparently, undefended, were found guilty; Gove of the entire offense of treason and the others of lesser offences. Gove was sent to England and imprisoned in the Tower of London for about 3 years, and then was pardoned and returned home.

The Exeter men concerned in this escapade were Robert, John and Joseph Wadleigh, sons of Robert Wadleigh, who was a member of the dissolved assembly, Thomas Rollins and John Sleeper and perhaps Mark Baker. They were all permitted by the governor to be set at liberty on giving security to keep the peace, except one of the Wadleigh's, who was detained in prison for more than one year afterwards by the govenor, apparently out of ill will for his father. Edward Smith and John Young, both of Exeter, had also been complained of as associated with Gove, but were not indicted. Nathaniel Ladd, likewise of Exeter, acted as the trumpeter to Gove's train, but when the others were captured, made his escape. It is probable that he remained
"perda" until after the trial. He put his mettle to a better use a few years later when he fought Maquoit against the hostile Indians, though he received his death wound there."

The battle mentioned above was a part of the King Phillip's War. Nathaniel participated in a battle that took place July 1691: An excerpt from the "History of Exeter" regarding Nathaniel's participation in the King Phillip's War..

"In the latter part of the succeeding month of July (1691), an expedition was sent to the eastward against the Indian enemy, under the command of Captain March and others, and landed at a place called Maquoit, near Casco, on the coast of Maine. They were attacked by great numbers of the enemy, and Nathaniel Ladd, an inhabitant of Exeter, who was in the expedition, received a mortal wound, of which he died on the eleventh of August, following."

  Burial Notes:

Old Burial Ground, Green St, Exeter, Rockingham, NH

Nathaniel married Elizabeth GILMAN, daughter of John GILMAN and Elizabeth TREWORGYE, on 12 Jul 1678 in Haverhill, Essex Co, MA. (Elizabeth GILMAN was born on 16 Aug 1661 in Exeter, Rockingham Co, NH, died on 2 Aug 1732 in Kingston, Rockingham Co, NH and was buried in Exeter, Rockingham, NH.)