Part 7, the Wiser/Printer Family of the South Parish of Worcester

James Wiser, also known as Artimus James Wiser, was a Native American who lived in the South Parish of Worcester and answered the alarm to Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. He was a private in Captain Timothy Bigelow’s Company of minutemen and militia in the Colonel Artemas Ward regiment. He was also listed in Captain Jonas Hubbard’s Company, of Colonel Jonathan Ward’s regiment as a private. According to the muster roll dated August 1, 1775, James enlisted April 27, 1775, and served for three months and 15 days.  After the Battle of Lexington the militia, under the direction of Colonel Ward, held the British in Boston until additional British forces arrived in May and June.  

James was the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Printer) Wiser. He was born November 1, 1752, in Grafton.  He was named after his grandfather, James (1685-1713) who was credited with building the house at what is now 13 Bancroft Street in 1797, as noted in the “Historic Houses of Auburn” book. The only position recorded in town records that James held was fence viewer in 1781. His job was to make sure fences in the town were properly maintained to cut down on neighbors arguing and other difficulties with uncontained animals getting into gardens.

James’s great grandfather was James Quanohpohkit Rumney Marsh Wiser. According to the Native Northeast Portal, he was a member of a leading Natick family tribe at Medfield. He and his brother, Thomas, were scouts for the English during King Philip’s War, in 1675. He and his brother were used as guides for troops from the Mass. Bay Colony. James helped the English recruit the Praying Indians interned on Deer Island to spy on the Narragansett and Wampanoag to gain information on attacks to Lancaster. After the war, James returned to Natick. 

James Rumney Marsh Wiser’s father was John Awassamog, aka Sagamore John. He married Yawata (Abigail) and they were living in Medford when Awassamog converted to Christianity and followed the Reverend John Eliot, the overseer of the “Praying Towns” where tribes who converted to Christianity lived together.  James was well educated and a family leader. 

Artimus James Wiser’s mother was Sarah Printer who was born in 1717 in Grafton, and was the daughter of Ammi Printer, of Natick, Massachusetts.   In 1747, while living in Southborough, she married Benjamin Wiser.  The couple lived on Wiser’s farm in Worcester and raised five children, James, Benjamin, Hannah, Sarah, and Abigail.  Sarah died in Auburn in the winter of 1794 at age 77.

Her grandfather was James (Wawaus) Printer and was a Nipmuc leader from Hassanamesit, (Grafton). He is known for his work at the first printing press in the colonies. He helped produce the first Indian Bible in the Algonquin language. He also set the type for books like “Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.” He also served as an interpreter for Rev. Eliot, especially in translating the Bible. He worked on Indian Primers, Psalm books, and typeset Puritan missionary works to be used to Christianize Native Americans. James Printer worked as a typesetter for 16 years before King Philip’s War.  Sarah’s grandmother’s name was never recorded.

Sarah’s great-grandfather was Naoas who was a convert of Rev. Eliot and one of the leaders of the Christian Native church in Hassanamesit.  

Artimus James never married and died April 24,1811 and is buried in the Auburn Center Burial Ground with many of his family members. 

This article is made possible by the Auburn Historical Society & Museum, 41 South Street. The museum is open Tuesday and Saturday mornings 9:30-12:30 and may be reached at [email protected] or 508-832-6856. You may also visit: auburnhistoricalmuseum.org  or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnMuseum/  .

 Submitted by Helen Poirier