French & Indian Wars

The French and Indian Wars was the American phase of a world wide, nine-years' war (1754-63) fought between France and Great Britain. It would determined the control of the vast colonial territory of North America.

The French and Indian War began over the specific issue of whether the upper Ohio River Valley was a part of the British Empire, and therefore open for trade and settlement by Virginians and Pennsylvanians, or part of the French Empire. Behind this issue loomed an infinitely larger one, however: which national culture was to dominate the heart of North America.

West Brookfield's Soldiers in the French & Indian War

List of soldiers buried in the Old Indian Cemetery

Buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, (Gilbert & Phipps)

Gilbert, Philip & Phipps, John, Lt.

Gilbert, Philip
Son of Thomas and Judith Goss; lived near Lake Wickaboag
Brother of John Gilbert, 2nd
Born: 9/10/1734; Died: 1/21/1814
Married: Martha Lamson on 1/11/1770
She was born: 1742; Died: 12/8/1813
Buried: Sec l S - Lot 42

In 1756, (French & Indian War) in the campaign against Crown Point and Niagara, Massachusetts raised an army of 7,000 men. A large number went from Brookfield. The descriptive roll of Captain Samuel Robinson's Co. at Fort Edward contains the name of Philip Gilbert, age 21, resident of Brookfield.

Phipps, John Lt.
Born: 1723
Married: Rachel Lincoln of Western (Warren)
Died: 1/10/1809; Buried: Sec l N - Lot 7
(also in the Revolutionary War)

Phipps was on the muster roll of Captain Jacob Abbott's Co. Aug 9, 1757, during the part of the French & Indian War known as the Great Alarm at Fort William Henry when Colonel Monroe had a force of 2,375 men and was attacked by 11,000 French and Indians. Relief was sent in 3 companies from Brookfield and vicinity. The companies were too late as Munroe was forced to surrender before help arrived.

In 1761-1763, a militia of 3,000 men was raised in Massachusetts. Three  companies were raised in Brookfield and John Phipps was an Ensign in the Second Company.

Lt. John Phipps, Pine Grove Cemetery