William Longfellow is believed to be the first Longfellow who emigrated from England to America..sometime in the early 1680's. Many Longfellow ancestry researchers refer to him as "William the first."
In the Spring of 1689, war broke out in Europe between France and the League of Augsburg, a coalition of countries led by England. France wanted to launch a full-scale attack on the British colonies in America, especially New York. In 1690 the French sent troops to New England where they attacked and destroyed a number of villages, killing their inhabitants or taking them prisoner. New Englanders joined forces against New France.
On August 10, 1690 the British sent an expedition of 32 ships and some 300 men, including about 50 American Indians from the colony of Plymouth, to attack Quebec City. Only about 5 or 6 of the ships were actually warships. Most of the others were merchant or fishing vessels.
William Longfellow was on one of the ships. The contingent of ships reached Quebec City on October 16, 1690. When the French were ordered to surrender, the French sent a messenger with the now famous reply: "I will answer your general through the muzzles of my cannon and muskets." The New Englanders attacked Quebec on October 18, but were driven back. The ships turned around and headed back to Boston harbor.
Several storms were encountered on the return voyage and a number of ships were wrecked. Four of them, including the ship William Longfellow was on, never returned. It went down on October 31, 1690 at Cape Breton near Anticosti. All aboard drowned. William died at sea between Anticosta Island (Quebec) and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
William Longfellow is believed to be the first Longfellow who emigrated from England to America..sometime in the early 1680's. Many Longfellow ancestry researchers refer to him as "William the first."
In the Spring of 1689, war broke out in Europe between France and the League of Augsburg, a coalition of countries led by England. France wanted to launch a full-scale attack on the British colonies in America, especially New York. In 1690 the French sent troops to New England where they attacked and destroyed a number of villages, killing their inhabitants or taking them prisoner. New Englanders joined forces against New France.
On August 10, 1690 the British sent an expedition of 32 ships and some 300 men, including about 50 American Indians from the colony of Plymouth, to attack Quebec City. Only about 5 or 6 of the ships were actually warships. Most of the others were merchant or fishing vessels.
William Longfellow was on one of the ships. The contingent of ships reached Quebec City on October 16, 1690. When the French were ordered to surrender, the French sent a messenger with the now famous reply: "I will answer your general through the muzzles of my cannon and muskets." The New Englanders attacked Quebec on October 18, but were driven back. The ships turned around and headed back to Boston harbor.
Several storms were encountered on the return voyage and a number of ships were wrecked. Four of them, including the ship William Longfellow was on, never returned. It went down on October 31, 1690 at Cape Breton near Anticosti. All aboard drowned. William died at sea between Anticosta Island (Quebec) and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.