Indian Stones

[1] The Indian Stones are located at a small roadside pullout in southern Reading, on the east side of Route 106 at its junction with Knapp Brook Road.

The granite slab is incised with the following in the upper lefthand corner: "- In 1918 - These stones were placed in their / present Position by a Descendant of - Captain / James Johnson"-and Susannah; his Wife."

Below that inscription is a slate stone with stepped shoulders, in which is carved "On the 31 st of August 1754, Capt James Johnson had / a Daughter born on this Spot of Ground, being / Captivated with his whole Family by the Indians."

"[2] On August 29, 1754, during the French and Indian War, a band of Native Americans made an attack on the Fort at Number 4 in Charlestown, New Hampshire, taking as captives members of the Johnson and Farnsworth families.

In 1799, convinced she had found the correct location, she hired a stonecutter to create the two slate markers, with the intent that one was to be placed at the birthplace, and the other at the nearby Native encampment site.

The left slate marker