1630. Charles Emanuel (the Great), duke of Savoy, died; an ambitious prince and brave warrior.
1653. "This day," says Dugdalo, "the fair bell called Jesus's bell, at Litchfield, was knocked in pieces by a presbyterian pewterer, who was the chief officer for demolishing the Cathedral."
1659. The island of Montreal invaded by 1200 Indians, who burned all the plantations, and made a terrible massacre of men, women and children, upon whom they committed every barbarity. "Ils ouvrirent le sein des femmes enceintes," says Charlevoix, "pour en arracher le fruit qu'elles portoient, ils mirent des enfans tout vivants à la broche, et contraignirent les mères de les tourner pour les faire rôtir." They killed 1000 and took 26, who were afterwards burnt.
1680. John Wilmot, earl of Rochester, died; a dissolute English nobleman of the reign of Charles II, and the favorite companion of the king. He was a poet, and one of the greatest wits of the day.
1687. A party of French built fort Niagara.
1691. Richard Ingolsby, captain of an independent company, was sworn into the office of president of the council of New York, or as lieutenant-governor, on the decease of Sloughter, instead of the administration coming to Dudley, as of right it should.
1738. William Thomas, an English divine, died; distinguished as a man of letters and an antiquary.
1758. Louisbourg, which had been restored to the French by treaty, was again taken by the British under admiral Boscawen and lieutenant-general Amherst, and its fortifications have since been demolished.
1759. Ticonderoga abandoned by the French, and occupied by the British under general Amherst.
1766. Wallis, the navigator, sailed on his great voyage.