Here is the story of my ancestor, Elizabeth (Howe) Keyes, taken captive in 1692: Elizabeth How was b. 7/11/1675 in the eastern part of Marlborough, on the Boston Post Rd., between the village and “Wayside Inn” (immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), which was built by her cousin, David Howe. Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ward) How. Elizabeth’s headstone and that of Thomas are found in the Old Spring Hill Cemetery in Marlborough. The story of Elizabeth’s capture by Indians can be found in Historical Reminiscences of Marlborough. On July 18,1692, as a young girl visiting her sister, the wife of Peter Joslin of Lancaster, MA, the Joslin home was attacked by Indians. Upon his return from the field, Peter found his wife, three children and the widow Whitcomb “barbarously butchered by their hatchets, and weltering in their gore”. A contemporary chronicler wrote of Peter: “Thus was he stript naked and called to bitter weeping and lamentation.” Elizabeth was taken captive into Canada. She was engaged to Thomas at the time of her capture. Believing that Elizabeth would never return, Thomas took a solemn vow never to marry. Four years later she was redeemed by the Government. After her redemption, Elizabeth returned by way of the Saco River and was brought to Boston, where she told Royal Governor Phipps “that if she had been a beaver skin she would have been redeemed much earlier”! It is said that she kept certain Indian habits, such as sitting on the floor, for some years after her return from captivity. After their marriage 1/23/1699, Thomas and Elizabeth settled in Marlborough, MA. On 12/30/1718, Thomas Keyes was granted 70 acres at Shrewsbury, MA and removed from Marlborough shortly thereafter (History of the Town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, by A. H. Ward, 1847). Thomas d. 8/25/1742. Elizabeth d. 8/18/1764 at the age of 89.