Hannah Duston

Location Description

Take exit 17 on I-93 and drive west for one mile on US-4. After crossing the river, you’ll spot a small Park and Ride lot on the left side of the road. Follow the footpath from the lot to the statue, crossing a railroad trestle to reach the island. If the Park and Ride lot is full, keep driving west on US-4 and take a left turn onto Harris Hill Rd/Tremont St., then another left onto Commercial St. This will bring you to the trestle where you can park and walk to the statue.

Bio

Hannah Duston was an American colonial woman born in Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1657. She is remembered for her role in the French and Indian War, in which she and her family were taken captive by Abenaki Native Americans. After several weeks in captivity, Duston managed to escape and killed ten of her captors, including women and children.

Duston’s escape and her killing of her captors made her a hero in New England, and her story was widely celebrated in the colonial press. She was seen as a symbol of bravery and resilience in the face of adversity, and her story was used as a rallying cry for colonists during the French and Indian War.

After her escape, Duston lived a quiet life with her family in Haverhill. She is believed to have had several more children and to have lived to the age of 75.

Hannah Duston’s legacy continues to be a subject of controversy, with some seeing her as a hero and others as a murderer. Regardless of one’s perspective, however, her story is an important part of American colonial history and remains a powerful symbol of the strength and courage of colonial women.

Monument Description

The 35-foot tall memorial stands at the site where the massacre took place, featuring a statue with an expression of determination. Holding a hatchet in her right hand and a bundle of scalps in her left.