Lee Historical Society

LEGEND

On the evening of May 24, 1724 George Chesley was accompanying his fiancée, Elizabeth Burnham, home from a worship service at the meeting house, when they were attacked by American Indians. George was immediately killed, but Elizabeth was able to retrace her route toward the meeting house at least part of the way before collapsing over a large rock, where she bled considerably. Someone found her and attended to her, however she died four days later of her wounds. Thereafter, residents of the area noticed that her bloodstains kept returning to the rock on which she had lain, despite the ravages of storms and many seasons. It is said that she was the first person to be buried in the new cemetery; unfortunately her burial site was not marked. Eventually, the locally prominent Thompson Family, whose family plot was directly adjacent to the Meeting House, honored her memory by bringing the “bloody rock” into their plot, and erecting a fitting memorial for her there. Both the memorial stone and the “bloody rock” can be seen by climbing the stairs off Route 155A.

HISTORY
George Chesley was killed by Indians on May 24, 1724, as he was returning from public worship with Elizabeth Burnham, who was mortally wounded at the same time. A romantic tradition declares them engaged to be married, and a poem is still extant bewailing the fate of the youthful lovers. It is a pity to spoil so touching a romance, but the stern necessity of adhering to the truth compels the writer to say that if this was the George Chesley who built the garrison, he must have been at that time forty-five years of age, at least. This may not lessen our pity for the victims, but it certainly dispels the romance.
Elizabeth Burnham lived for four days after she was wounded. The Reverend Hugh Adams baptized her May 27th, the evening before her death, “at her penitent request.” That the reader may not be entirely cheated out of his romance, it should be added that the above account has become entangled with a more authentic story of a young Chesley of last century, who was engaged to a Miss Randall, of Lee. They were returning from meeting together, when they were slain by the Indians on the Mast Road. The rock on which the maiden fell is said to be stained with her blood to this day, but unfortunately it has been removed from its original position. This legendary rock is referred to in a ballad, published in the N.H. Republican of December 30, 1823:

“Twice fifty summers’ storm have beat
Relentless on that sacred place;
As many summers’ ardent heat;
But could not that red stream efface.”

Many of the details of this tale will be found in the book, “Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire” by Mary P. Thompson. We acknowledge the work as the source of the quotes in this article.

In the close-up photo below a faint red stripe can be seen running through the rock about 7 o’clock to 2 o’clock. This is the blood stain mentioned in the article. Submitted by Scott Bugbee.