150. Worlds Colliding: Seizing Settlers in New England

This podcast episode of "Empire" discusses the 1704 raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts, focusing on the experiences of Reverend John Williams and his daughter, Eunice. The hosts detail the raid's historical context, including the ongoing conflict between France and England and the complex relationships between settlers and Native American tribes. The narrative follows the capture, brutal march to Canada, and the eventual fate of Eunice, who chose to remain with her captors, integrating into their culture and rejecting her family's attempts to reclaim her. A key takeaway is the revelation of Eunice's agency and the complexities of cultural assimilation during early colonial America. The episode highlights the fragility of early colonial settlements and the human cost of imperial conflicts.