Spouses
Birth Date27 Feb 1615
Birth PlaceGlastonbury, Somerset, England
Death Date27 Jun 1689 Age: 74
Death PlaceDover, Strafford Co., NH
Memokilled by Indians
OccupationBlacksmith
Misc. Notes
Richard went with his father to Weymouth about 1654, and in 1662 settled at Dover, NH. He made his will before he left Weymouth, which is recorded in the Boston Probate Records. He was killed at Dover, on the Cocheco, by the Indians, 1689. His son Stephen was killed at the same time; his wife and child were taken captive and sold to the French in Canada.
The following are the facts concerning the attack and slaughter at Dover, resulting in the death of Richard Otis and 22 others, and the captivity of 29, stimulated with the thirst of taking revenge on Major Waldron for his seizure of their brethren thirteen years before...an event remembered by them with deep though silent resentment, a plan was laid by the Indians to surprise the settlement at Dover. In that part of the town which lies about the first Falls in the river Cochecho, were several garrisoned houses. The three on the North side were Richard Waldron's, Richard Otis', and John (or Elizabeth) Heard's. Waldron's was on the west side of the road just above the falls; Otis' on the east side about half way up to "Garrison Hill," and Heard's on top of the hill.
These garrisoned houses were surrounded with timber walls, the gates of which, as well as the house doors, were secured with bolts and bars. The neighboring families resorted to these houses at night for safety. Approaching the place with professions of peace, the Indians sent two of their squaws to each house to ask lodgings for the night, with the intention of opening the doors after the residents were asleep, and giving the signal by a whistle to the savages to rush in. The stratagem succeeded.
On the night of Thursday the 27th of June, 16889, in unsuspecting confidence the families retired to rest. When all was quiet, the gates were opened, and the signal was given. The Indians rushed into Major Waldron's house first, and though 80 years old, he with his sword kept them at bay until stunned by a hatchet. They then cut him to pieces and set the house on fire.
Otis' garrison met with the same fate. He was shot as he was rising up in bed, and his son Stephen and daughter Hannah were killed, the latter then two years old, by dashing her head against the chamber stairs. The wife and infant child [three months old] of Richard Otis, with the children of his son Stephen, and others, 29 in all, were carried captive to Canada, where they were sold to the French. They were the first English captives ever carried to Canada. Three daughters of Richard Otis by his first wife, then young, were also taken, but were re-captured in Conway by a company of men who collected and pursued them. It was the custom of the Indians to divide their prisoners into different parties, and to take them to Canada by different routes.
Heard's garrison was saved through the instrumentality of Elder William Wentworth. He was awakened by the noise of the barking of a dog, just as the Indians were entering, pushed them out, and falling on his back, set his feet against the gate and held it til he had alarmed the people. Two balls were fired through the door, but both missed him.
*NOTE: Richard’s parentage has not been definitively determined. Some records show him as the son of Stephen Otis and Margaret Elizabeth Streame.
Marr Date5 Nov 1677
Marr PlaceDover, Strafford Co., NH
Birth Dateabt 1638
Death Datebef 3 Mar 1676 Age: 38