Greenfield in Franklin County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Capt. William Turner
Town of Greenfield
| | 1753 | |
Photographed by Tony Farrick, December 27, 2012
1. Capt. William Turner Marker
A military commander during King Phillip's War. Capt. Turner was killed near here in a retreat after leading a massacre of Indians fishing at the Great Falls of the Conn. River in Gill on May 19, 1676.
Erected by Greenfield Kiwanis Club.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the King Philip's War 1675-1676 series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 19, 1676.
Location. 42° 36.357′ N, 72° 36.716′ W. Marker is in Greenfield, Massachusetts, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of Conway Street and Silver Street, on the right when traveling south on Conway Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 390 Conway Street, Greenfield MA 01301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Vietnam Veterans War Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Bird Hovey Block (approx. 1.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Women Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Town of Greenfield
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Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Also see . . .
1. Falls Fight Gravesite. In 1676, Captain William Turner of Boston led fifty trained militia, supplemented by one hundred untrained volunteers from surrounding communities (e.g. Hatfield, Hadley, Northampton). After numerous Indian raids on colonial towns, and the kidnapping and murder of numerous citizens, Capt. Turner decided to lead a surprise attack at sunrise on the Indian camps at Peskeompskut (Turner's Falls), Massachusetts. Under cover of darkness they successfully carried out the attack. However, during a disorderly retreat Capt. Turner and thirty-six of the colonials were killed by the Indians. (Submitted on May 6, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
2. Battle of Turner Falls - Wikipedia.
The Battle of Turner's Falls or Battle of Grand Falls; also known as the Peskeompscut-Wissantinnewag Massacre, was a battle and massacre occurring on May 19, 1676, in the context of King Philip's War in what is present-day Gill and Greenfield, across from Turners Falls on the Connecticut River. The incident marked a turning point in the war, and in the colonization of Algonquian lands by New England settlers.(Submitted on May 6, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2011, by Tony Farrick of Shelburne Falls, Ma.. This page has been viewed 1,910 times since then and 80 times this year. Last updated on May 6, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. Photo 1. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Tony Farrick of Shelburne Falls, Ma.. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
