Sarah Strong (1656–1733), daughter of Elder John Strong (abt. 1610–1699) and Abigail Ford (1619–1688) married Joseph Barnard (1650–1695). Joseph Barnard was the first Town Clerk of Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assocation, Deerfield, MA, host a number of artifacts online. They write:
Like many people in New England, Joseph Barnard (1641–1695) of Deerfield, Massachusetts, kept an account book. In its pages Barnard recorded the goods, labor, and services he exchanged with his trading partners. Joseph served as Deerfield’s first town clerk and was considered a “prudent man.” Barnard’s account entries ended abruptly in 1695. He died after being wounded in an Indian ambush. Barnard and four other armed men were attacked on August 21 as they rode with sacks of grain to grind at a mill about three miles away. In his written report of the incident to the Governor, John Pynchon of Massachusetts called Barnard’s death “a Humbling providence, he being a very useful & helpful man in ye place so much under discouragement, & will ye more find & feel ye want of him.”Account Book of Joseph Barnard
Click the links below to see these interesting artifacts:
- Account Book of Joseph Barnard (2 pages high resolution)
- History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts (many pages, with illustrations)
- Deerfield Town Meeting (4 pages, 1728–1729, high resolution)
- A Biographical Memoir of the Rev. John Williams, the Deerfield Captive, with sketches of Early Indian Wars
I’m sure you’ll enjoy browsing through more of the digital library. Watch for the “See Also” links on the right side of each page.