New Braintree in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Wheeler’s Surprise

1630 – 1930

Photographed by Roger W. Sinnott, May 24, 2011

1. Wheeler’s Surprise Marker

Inscription.
One mile to the southwest, off the North Brookfield Road, Edward Hutchinson’s company seeking a parley with the Nipmucs was ambushed by Indians August 2, 1675, and more than half were slain. Captain Hutchinson died from his wounds. Captain Thomas Wheeler was wounded but escaped.

Erected 1930 by Massachusetts Bay Colony-Tercentenary Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the King Philip's War 1675-1676, and the Massachusetts Bay Colony—Tercentenary Commission Markers series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1675.

Location. 42° 20.1′ N, 72° 6.825′ W. Marker is in New Braintree, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. It is at the intersection of Barre Road (Massachusetts Route 67) and Daniel Whitney Road, on the right when traveling north on Barre Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1314 Barre Rd, New Braintree MA 01531, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner

and in Greater

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Worcester.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Battle of New Braintree (approx. 1.4 miles away); Sarah P. Rowlandson (approx. 1.4 miles away); Entertainment & Industry (approx. 1.4 miles away); New Braintree Veterans Monument (approx. 1.4 miles away); Education – Business (approx. 1.4 miles away); Capt. Edward Hutchinson and His Company (approx. 2 miles away); Sgt. M.J. Ryder (approx. 3.1 miles away); Sgt. Joseph Illiscavitch (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Braintree.

Regarding Wheeler’s Surprise. In their King Philip’s War: The History and Legacy of America’s Forgotten Conflict (Contryman Press, 1999), Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias call this one of the war’s most devastating ambushes. Hutchinson and Wheeler had with them a mounted force of about 20 men and

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, June 26, 2026

2. Wheeler’s Surprise Marker

three friendly Indians as guides. While proceeding to the site of a prearranged meeting to discuss a treaty, they were set upon by about 200 Nipmuc warriors who, as Wheeler later wrote, “sent out their shot upon us as a shower of hail.”

Despite what the marker says, the exact location of the ambush is not known with any certainty (see, for example, Jeffrey H. Fiske’s 1993 book, Wheeler’s Surprise: The Lost Battlefield of King Philip’s War).

This ambush is commonly known as Wheeler's Surprise, because Capt. Wheeler wrote the history, despite Capt. Hutchinson leading the troops that day. Capt. Hutchinson died of his wounds on August 19, 1675 in Marlborough, Middlesex County, MA.

List of particpants:
Capt. Edward Hutchinson* of Boston, mortally wounded • Capt. Thomas Wheeler of Concord, wounded • Lieut. Simon Davis, Concord • Corp. John French of Billerica, wounded • Timothy Farley Billerica, killed • George Farley, Billerica • John Kitteridg, Billerica • James Patterson, Billerica • James Richardson of Chelmsford • John Fiske, Chelmsford • Edward Colburn, Chelmsford, killed • John Waldo, Chelmsford, wounded • Thomas Wheeler, Jr., of

Wider View Looking North image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger W. Sinnott, May 24, 2011

3. Wider View Looking North

Concord, wounded • Samuel Smedley, Concord, killed • Henry Young, Concord, mortally wounded • Benjamin Graves, Concord • John Buttrick, Concord • George Hayward, Concord • Simeon Haywood, Concord • John Hartwell, Concord • Zechariah Phillips of Boston, killed • Sydrach Hapgood of Sudbury, killed • John Bates of (unknown).

Brookfield Men: Sergt. Jon Ayres, Sergt. Wm. Prichard and Corp. Richard Coy were killed in the abuscade; Wm. Prichard, Jr. was killed at his father's house. James Hovey also killed.(from history of North Brookfield, pg.92)

*Capt. Hutchinson was son of Anne Hutchinson known for her role in the Antinomian controversy and expulsion from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . .
1. Wheeler’s Surprise. Wikipedi entry. (Submitted on May 27, 2011, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts.)

2. Tercentenary Commission. Original 1930 publication by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Tercentenary Commission, commemorating the 300th

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, June 26, 2026

4. Wheeler’s Surprise Marker

anniversary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. (Submitted on May 27, 2011, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts.)

3. Quaboag 350 - New Braintree Historical Society. As part of the 350th celebration of the settlement of the Quaboag Plantation, the town of New Braintree’s 350th Anniversary Committee held a series of Wheeler’s Surprise events. This included a reenactment of the ambush, a reenactors camp site, a video tour of the three possible locations of the battle, and a talk by Robert W. Wilder on the ambush. In that discussion, he concluded that he believes the site of the ambush is near the junction of Slein Road and McKay Road in New Braintree, based on historical first person reporting, topographical data, an understanding of historical water level variation and multiple supporting archaeological artifacts discovered in recent years. (Submitted on April 18, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)

4. An Account of Old Quabaug, Indian and English Occupation, 1647-1676.

Captain Thomas Wheeler's Narrative: A True Narrative Of the Lord's Providences in various dispensations towards Captain
Paid Advertisement

Edward Hutchinson of Boston and myself and those that went with us into the Nipmuck Country, and also to Quabaug, alias Brookfield. The said Captain Hutchinson having a Commission from the Honoured Council of this Colony to Treat with several Sachems in those parts, in order to the publick peace and myself being also ordered by the said Council to accompany him with part of my Troop for Security from any danger that might be from the Indians : and to Assist him in the Transaction of matters committed to him.

(Submitted on April 21, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2011, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 2,899 times since then and 174 times this year. Last updated on September 24, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. Photos: 1. submitted on May 27, 2011, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts. 2. submitted on June 27, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. 3. submitted on May 27, 2011, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts. 4. submitted on June 27, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.