Canada Waite

Notes:

"[Canada Waite] was the child born in captivity to Benjamin Waite, the hero of the early days, who with Stephen Jennings made the perilous trip to Canada in the Winter to ransom captives taken in the memorable attack on Hatfield, Sept. 19, 1677." Daily Hampshire Gazette, 22 October 1972

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mcstayfamily/smith.htm

Canada married Joseph Smith about 1696. Joseph (son of John Smith and Mary Partridge) was born on 16 Nov 1670 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; died on 6 Feb 1750 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
The SMITH FAMILY GENEALOGY WEBSITE (http://clio.fivecolleges.edu/smith/sophia/family/gen1.htm) shows that they were the parents of 10 children.

1. Mary Smith was born on 24 Sep 1697 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; died on 9 Mar 1767.
2. Martha Smith was born on 19 Oct 1699 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; and died.
3. Benjamin Smith was born on 17 Nov 1701 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; and died.
4. John Smith was born on 16 Dec 1703 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; and died.
5. Sarah Smith was born on 14 Oct 1707 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; died on 17 Aug 1795 in Whately, Franklin County, Massachusetts.
6. Esther Smith was born on 2 Jun 1710 in Hampshire County, Massachusetts; and died.
7. Anna Smith was born on 22 Jun 1712 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; and died.
8. Samuel Smith was born about 1715 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; died on 20 Jul 1767.
9. Eleanor Smith was born on 9 Dec 1717 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; and died.
10. Joseph Smith was born on 21 Nov 1720 in Hampshire County, Massachusetts; and died.

Benjamin married Martha Leonard on 8 Jun 1670 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Martha was born on 15 May 1649 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of John and Sarah LEONARD. (James Albury; Chris Bird; Dave Graves).

Notes:

Married:
". . .the epitome of courage and selflessness. . ." By Meredith Boissy Donatello

My favorite ancestors are Benjamin Waite and his wife Martha Leonard Waite. Benjamin, "The Hero of the Connecticut Valley," was a courageous, loving, and capable man. When his wife and three daughters were taken captive during the Hatfield Indian Raid of September 19, 1677, Benjamin did not sit idly by but was determined to set his wife and children free or share their fate. He and another man faced the hostile French and Indians and pursued them until he returned with his family to Hatfield. During her captivity Martha gave birth to her fourth daughter, Canada Waite. Martha Leonard Waite, like her husband Benjamin, was extraordinarily courageous. She made a three hundred mile forced march to Canada while pregnant and managed to keep her three small children alive. This feat is so extraordinary because the Indians killed those captives, especially women and children, who could not keep up. This family is and was the epitome of courage and selflessness that is embedded in the American Spirit.

Source: http://www.newenglandancestors.org/

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Source: http://www.newenglandancestors.org/education/articles/NEXUS_eNews/76_p_659_677.asp