Biographical sketch, personal and descriptive, of Sylvanus B. Phinney, of Barnstable, Mass., on his eightieth anniversary, October 27, 1888

BIOGRAPHY

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH,

PERSONAL AND DESCRIPTIVE,

SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY,

OF BARNSTABLE, MASS.,

ON HIS EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY,

October 2/, 18S8.

REPRINT FROM THE OLD COLONY RECORDS BY
RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

BOSTON:
RAND AVERY COMPANY, PRINTERS.

188S.

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COISrTEK"TS.

Introductory Letter from Rev. E. E. Hale 5

Preface 9

Biographical Sketch 13

Introductory Remarks 17

Tu^roTiiY Phixxey 18

Ax IXTERESTIXG ReLIC 20

Old Middlesex and the Old Coloxy 22

Persoxal Sketches 25

Isaiah L. Green 28

Official Letter to Major-Gen. Dearborn .... 29

Ax Old Document 31

Letter of Johx Adams 34

Valuable History 35

Letter of Amos Otis 36

Important Letter relating to the Fisheries 39

Speech of Major Phinxey at Hyannis, May, 1885 ... 41

President Grant's Visit to Barnstable in 1876 .... 47

HisToraCAL Letter 49

Speech of Major Phinney at Semi-Centennial of Faneuil-

Hall Market, 1876 55

The FnisT Cunard Steamer 58

Monument at Pi;ovincetoayn Gl

The First Landing of the Pilgrims 03

Monument to the Pilgrims 63

Cape Cod: Response of Major Phixxey 72

Kuw-ExiiLAND Excursk^nists to California in 1880 . . 74

A Pleasant Visit 84

Agricultup.al : Letter fi;«^.ai IMajor Phinxey 85

UxiTApaAN Conference : Address of Major Phinney . . 89

Valedictory 93

UsTTEODUCTOET LETTER

RoxBUBY, Sept. 26, 1888,

My dear Major Phinney, — I am very glad to hear that,
while you are strong and well, something is to be published
which we can call your " memoirs," or your " contributions
to the history of our time." Certainly your outlook upon-
that history has been a very curious one ; and when the ac-
count of the nineteenth century in New England is made up,
just what will be needed are such notes as you are able to
give, with regard to the marvellous changes which have passed
over New England since the year in which you were born.

I am glad to be permitted to say, in some part of the book,
that some of my earliest happy associations are connected
with you. I can remember, — what perhaps you do not re-
member, — what wonder and pleasure I had in tlie walks in
Boston, between the head of School Street and the corner of
State and Congress Street, when my little hand reached up
to take your hand, and when I should not have been permit-
ted to stray into the streets alone. Indeed, ni}^ first associa-
tion with a world larger than the nursery is connected with
" Sylvanus," as we used to call you in those days ; and from
that hour to this, the name "Sylvanus," and, strange to say,
the name "Sylvester," has always been to me a pleasant name.
I owe it to you, that I have always tried to make out the
popes of the name of Sylvester a better series of popes than
the general series which surrounded them. If any of tliem
take any comfort from my good opinion, they owe it to you.

I was glad to hear you say that your recollections of tlie
old "Advertiser" office were pleasant. My father was a man

6 INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

of his time ; indeed, in many respects he led the men of his
time, when they did not know that he was leading them. But
he had an attachment to the best of the old systems. In par-
ticular, he always believed in the system of apprenticeship.
I have heard him say a hundred times that he wanted to
have two or three apprentices in his office. " They are always
loyal," he said ; and that is true. The apprentices in his
employ have in many instances, notably in j^our own, grown
up to be leaders of the society in which they lived, honorable
and respected men. He always took a personal interest in
their fortunes, and in their after-life would speak proudly of
their having begun their training for life in his office.

It would be to go back a few years before you were in the
office, to tell the story which my mother was fond of telling,
of the work in which the " Advertiser's " report of the Con-
stitutional Convention of 1820 was finished. Mr. Webster,
Judge Story, Mr. Pickering, and other older men, leaders of
the convention, used to meet every evening, after the day's
work, in my mother's little parlor, in the house on Tremont
Street, where the new extension of the Parker House now
stands. My father was a member of the convention, and
practically was its reporter. They would write out and re-
vise their speeches there, and the apprentices from the office
would be in waiting to receive the slips of copy in the even-
ing. I have heard her say that she had rocked the cradle
with the baby in it, while she wrote from the dictation of
one or other of the gentlemen whom I have named. The
boys waiting for copy would sit at one side, with some book
which she had given them for their entertainment. When
the whole was over, and the convention record was printed
as a volume, she made a plum-cake for the office, and frosted
it, and dressed it with the old-fashioned cockle-shells which
you will remember as favorites among the "sugar-plums" of
that day. But she took out the printed mottoes which came
from the confectioners, and substituted passages from the
speeches of tlie leadei'S of the convention. This cake was
sent down to the office, to make a pleasant wind-up for the

INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 7

tediousness of the long " waits " as the daily reports went
into type.

In after-days, our home associations with Barnstable were
all connected with yourself. I dare say you have forgotten,
but I have not, that you and Mrs. Phinney interested 3'our-
selves in tlie ladies' movement for the completion of Bunker
Hill Monument, which began, I think, about tlie year 1835.
But indeed, my dear Major Phinney, you know perfectly
well, though you will be too modest to say so, that you have
interested yourself in every good thing which has been done
in the Old Colony from the time when the English took you
as a prisoner down to this present day.

Believe me

Very truly and affectionately yours,

EDWARD E. HALE.

PEEFACE.

According to an old legend, there was said to be a
fountain somewhere in the New World, that would impart
perpetual youth to all who should drink of its waters. An
old Spaniard set off in search of the same. It was supposed
to exist in one of the Bahama Islands. In the search he
accidentally discovered the coast of Florida, Avhich received
its name from the abundance of flowers with which its forests
were adorned. There is a great art in knowing how to make
our life, as it advances, more joyous and serene. The old
Norse vigor of our ancestors came largely in this way. Age
is the period for rest, retrospection. In the library of
Harvard College, with its more than three hundred thousand
volumes, our attention has been rej^eatedly called to the fact
of the large number of biographies and autobiographies of
distinguished individuals. None are read with greater avid-
ity than those of self-made men, who have risen to greatness
without even knowing or caring for greatness, — men who
have dared to speak and act according to their honest con-
victions, without the fear or favor of others. While, in many
cases, histories and biographies, written many years after the
events have taken place, are full of errors and mis-statements,
and therefore pushed aside, what has taken place and been
recorded under one's own eye is eagerly sought after.

During the long and eventful life of our distinguished
fellow-citizen, there are so many things of the greatest interest
to the public, that it is difficult to know where to begin or to
leave off.

As a journalist, he was deservedly among the first. As a
politician, he has done more to shape the opinions of this

10 • PREFACE.

section of the State than perhaps any other resident on the
Cape for the last half-century ; and he has held positions of
the highest trust and influence. Hje has been president and
director of a score of different organizations, such as banks
and railroads, and represented the people in the Constitu-
tional Convention in 1853 ; has been on committees of high
importance at Washington, and had immediate interviews
with Presidents and highest officials of the land.

During the recent war of the Rebellion he was always dis-
tinctly heard on the side of Union, loyalty, and humanity.
His residence, grounds, and surroundings are in perfect taste
and accord with the uniform cheer and hospitality which
reigns within his delightful home. In the church he has
been a pillar of strength, — giving liberally, not only of his
time and sympathy, but of his money. He has been the
prime mover in organizing the Cape Cod Conference of Uni-
tarian and other Liberal Christian churches in this section of
the Old Colony, and been continued as its president for the
past twent}" years.

A self-made man, never dismayed by obstacles, and he has
never been known to show the " white feather." As a critic
his pen has at times been cutting, no doubt, but he has met
the sharpest darts of his foes with the utmost equanimity and
charity. What might seem fulsome, in this connection, to
say of many another, in Ms case is simply justly his due.
What all men say of him, irrespective of party or social
position, must be true. "Vox populi, vox Dei."

In these days of transition and party revolution, it is
refreshing to know, here and there, of a man who has stood
firm to the associations and established rules of his early
manhood ; modifying and changing ever so much, it may
be, his methods, yet progressing ever in the line of his
deepest convictions and honest opinions from the very first.
His colors once nailed to the mast-head, 3'ou always know
where to find such a man. You may call him a Democrat of
the old school, but you will find him a pioneer and honored
leader with the new. None more zealous, in whatever party

PREFACE. 11

organization, in furthering the cause of human rights and
liberties.

In closing this brief and imperfect sketch, let me add sim-
ply Jean Paul's Richter's benediction : " May your life glide
serenel}' ; but if storms must convulse, or clouds darken, may
there be no more clouds than may glitter in the sunlight,
and no storms which tlie rainbow may not encircle ; and may
the Veiled One of heaven watch over your steps, and bring
ns to meet where clouds shall cease to darken, and storms to

convulse."

A. S. NICKERSOX.

BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY.

Major Sylvanus Bourne Phinney was born in Barn-
stable, Oct. 27, 1808, in the building now occupied by the
Sturgis Library. He is a Democrat, his first vote having
been cast for Andrew Jackson ; seventeen years president
and twenty-five years a director of the Hyannis National and
Yarmouth Banks ; for many years secretary of the Barnstable
Savings Institution, in the days of its prosperity, and in 1870
chosen president of the Hyannis Savings Bank ; was com-
missioned by Gov. Levi Lincoln as major of the First Regi-
ment Massachusetts Militia, at the early age of twenty-two
years, and served in the regimental reviews at Sandwich
and Falmouth in 1832 and 1833 ; represented the town of
Chatham in the Constitutional Convention of 1853 ; was the
Democratic candidate for Congress, and councillor of the
First District, and represented the First District in the Demo-
cratic National Conventions of 1814, 1853, and 1857, and,
upon a vacancy existing, received a majority of the votes of
the State Senate for councillor. The official returns of votes
for councillor in 1882 gave S. B. Phinney 9,922, being the
lara:est Democratic vote ever before cast in the First District.
He was appointed collector of the District of Barnstable by
President Polk, and held that office under the administra-
tions of Presidents Polk, Pierce, Buchanan, and Johnson.
During that time he disbursed for the Government hundreds
of thousands of dollars to the fishermen of Cape Cod, under
the Cod Fishing Bounty Act of 1819 ; was instrumental in
procuring from Congress an appropriation of $30,000 for

14 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

building the Custom House and Post Office at Barnstable ;
and raised by subscription a sufficient amount of money for
purchasing the grounds and building the Agricultural Hall
(Hon. William Sturgis sending him a check for $1,000 to aid
him in the work) ; was for some years president of the Barn-
stable County Agricultural Society, and represented the
society twelve years at the State Board of Agriculture.

During the war of the Rebellion he was appointed by Gov.
John A. Andrew a member of the " Committee of One Hun-
dred," and presented the Sandwich Guards, Company D, Third
Regiment Massachusetts Battalion, with a costly flag, upon
which was inscribed, " Our flag floats to-day not for party,
but for country." Hon. "William H. Osborne, in his History
of the Twenty-ninth Regiment, speaks of his unwavering
fidelity to the Union, and his determination to sustain the
National Administration in its efforts to crush out treason
and rebellion; and that the principal editorial column of
his paper was headed by these familiar lines : —

" And this be our motto, ' In God is our trust. '
And the Star-spangled Bauner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

On visiting that regiment at Fortress Monroe, in ]\Iarch,
18G2, Major Phinney was present at the memorable battle,
which occurred on the sabbath, between the ironclads " Moni-
tor " and " Merrimac."

When the Sandwich company was fully armed and
equipped for service, it was joined by Major Phinney ; and
he was on the march with Major Chipman, with full ranks,
through the streets of Boston, when the company embarked
in the steamer for Fortress Monroe.

Before the close of the war with Great Britain, in 1814,
Major Phinney was a passenger, with his father, on board a
packet sloop commanded by Capt. Howes, between Barn-
stable and Boston, and taken a prisoner when the packet
was fired into by the British frigate " Nymph," in Massa-
chusetto Bay, and afterwards boarded and burned with her
cargo. He has a cannon-ball fired by a British frigate during

BTOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 15

the war, whicli was lodged upon the Bacon farm, near his
own home.

Major Phinney received his education in our common
schools, and at an early age served an apprenticeship as a
printer in the office of the Hon. Nathan Hale, of the Boston
" Daily Advertiser." He was present at the laying of the
corner-stone of the Bunker-hill Monument at the time of
the visit of Gen. Lafayette to Boston.

The "Barnstable Patriot" was founded by Major Phinney,
the first number of which was published June 26, 1830.
He continued as its editor and proprietor for nearly forty
years. In 18o2 he married Eliza Cordelia Hildreth, the
daughter of Col. Jonathan Hildreth of Concord, Mass., by
whom he has living three sons married, and one daughter.
After Iiis wife's death in July, 1865, he mariied in October,
1866, Lucia Green, the youngest daughter of Hon. Isaiali L.
Green of Barnstable, who represented the Barnstable Dis-
trict in Congress and voted for the war of 1812.

iMajor Phinney is president of the Cape Cod (Unitarian)
Conference, a position he has held for nearly twenty years,
and has held for long years the office of vice-president of the
New-England Agricultural Society. He was an early pioneer
in the culture of the cranberry in Barnstable ; and has a
ten-acre lot of pine-trees planted from the seed thirty-five
years ago. of large and heavy growth.

Major Phinney's apprenticeshij) with Nathan Hale having
expired, he took charge of the " Barnstable Journal," the
first number of which was published by N. S. Simpkins, Oct.
10,1828. He continued in his employ until he established
tlie " Barnstable Patriot" in June, 1830. As foreman in the
"Journal" office during that time, he printed from stereo-
type plates two large editions of the English Reader. He is
a member of Fraternal Lodge of Masons, and of the Boston
Commandery Knights Templars. He was elected in 1875 a
trustee of Humboldt (Iowa) College, and in 1883 appointed
by Gov. Benjamin F. Butler to fill a vacancy on the Board
of Health, Lunacy, and Charity. Upon retiring from the
office of collector of the port in 1861, he received from his

16 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US JB. PHINNET.

personal friends a valuable tea-service of silver plate, lined
with gold. Tlie presentation was made at the Custom House.
The Boston press, in speaking of it, said that "We shall
have to ' go ahead ' a good deal faster than ' the law allows '
to get within hailing distance of the Major, who builds all
the railroads, improves the harbors, manages the agricultural
interests, and. Atlas-like, upholds Cape Cod on his govern-
ment-commissioned shoulders." During his long life he has
not lost his interest and devotion to the principles of the
Democratic party.

On the organization of the Cape Cod Central Railroad, he
was chosen clerk of the company ; and when the consolida-
tion took place between this road and the Old Colony Rail-
road Company, in 1872, he presided, at a large meeting of
the directors and citizens, at Masonic Hall, Hyannis, at the
presentation of a service of plate, by the directors and others,
to Ephraim N. Winslow, superintendent of the Cape Cod
road. The principal guests at the dinner were President
Onslow Stearns, Hon. C. F. Choate, William W. Crapo, Col. J.
T. Borden, Oliver Ames, S. N. Payson, George Marston, M. L.
Lincoln, William Cobb, Amos Otis, Dr. Pineo, C. F. Swift,
Dr. D. N. Stone furnishing a graceful poem. Upon the re-
tirement of Hon. Nymphas Marston from the office of judge
of probate. Major Phinney presided at a presentation of a
service of plate to that gentleman.

In 1862 he was chosen, at a citizens' meeting of the town
of Provincetown, to represent that town upon the subject of
the Fishery Treaty at Washington, when a hearing was had
by President Grant, the Secretary of State, Hon. Charles
Sumner, and the Massachusetts delegation in Congress.

The biographical sketches which are furnished in the
succeeding pages of this volume show that he has been largely
identified witli the business industries, as well as that of
politics, of this section of the State, for over sixty years, and
was, as early as July 9, 1853, notified by the Department
of State at Washington, of the difficulties relating to the
fisheries ; the letter of Gov. Marcy following in another
place.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 17

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

Before giving in greater detail an account of the ancestry
of Major Pliinney, together with important historical ref-
erences and documents preserved in Old Colony records,
which cannot well be left out, so close is the connection of
these events with our journalist of so many years, — these he
has kindly permitted us to peruse, and publish if thought
desirable, — we may call attention to one or two of the more
important- incidents or events in the treasury of useful in-
formation, which every lover of history will be glad to read :
such as the " First Landing of the Pilgrims at Province-
town," and of the proposed erection of a monument there
through his direct efforts and those of the Cape Cod Asso-
ciation ; also a letter from John Adams, addressed to Hon.
Isaiah L. Green, in December, 1808, which is liigldy charac-
teristic of " the old man eloquent ; " and the relic containing
the original signature of Gov. Hancock. The book closes
with liis sketch containing his valedictory address, after a
service of forty years with " The Patriot."

18 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STL VAN US B. PHINNET.

TIMOTHY PHINNEY.

Timothy Phinney, the subject of this sT^etch, was the
father of Major Phinney. George Phinney, Esq., a 3'ounger
son, furnished in the columns of his paper, the Waltham
" Free Press," an interesting account of his long life. He
says : —

*•' On Friday, Sept. 28, 1883, there was a gathering of
relatives and friends at the old burying-ground just west
of the cliurch on Meeting-house Hill, in Barnstable, Mass., to
pay the last offices of respect over the mortal remains of one
who, a century ago nearly, was born a short distance from
this spot.

" He was born in Barnstable, June 13, 1784; was the son of
Deacon Timothy and Temperance (Hinckley) Phinney, both
of good old Pilgrim stock; on his father's side being a de-
scendant of John Phinne}^ who came over from England to
Plymouth some nine years after 'The Mayflower' touched our
shores. His mother was one of the descendants of Thomas
Hinckley of Barnstable, for years Governor of Pljanouth
Colony, and subsequently elevated to the same office after
the annexation of Plymouth to Massachusetts Colony. Dur-
ing his long life, extending beyond fourscore years and ten,
Deacon Phinney was prominent in civil and church affairs.
He held for a time the office of high sheriff of Barnstable
County, and was also chosen State senator. His grave and
dignified bearing is still among the recollections of some now
living, whose memories yet retain the picture of the high
pulpit with its sounding-board, the church official seated be-
low facing the audience, and the square pews, while they still
hear in imagination the bang of the hinge-swinging wooden

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 19

seats, raised for the convenience of a standing position during
prayer. To liim was given length of days, and the respect of
his townsmen, which he held to the close of life.

" The birth of his son Timothy took place only about seven
months following the evacuation, in November, 1783, by the
British, of the last position held on our coast, and several
years prior to the adoption of the present Constitution of the
United States. It is only necessary to refer to these dates
in order to realize the great age of one whose life, commen-
cing near the close of the Revolutionary war, was prolonged
to the present time, enabling him to note the unexampled
stride in population and wealth which a century had brought
about.

" Early in life Mr. Phinney married Olive Gorham Bourne
of Barnstable ; and from this union were born a large family
of sons a!id daughters, four of whom only are now living,
viz., S. B. Phinney of Barnstable, the oldest ohild; Mary
Bourne, wife of Josiah Walcott of Roxbury ; George Phinney
of Waltham ; and T. Warren Phinney of Bolinas, Cal.
A devoted wife and mother, she was likewise a woman of
marked character and decided religious principles."

20 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

AN INTERESTING RELIC.

ORIGINAL SIGNATURE OF GOV. HANCOCK, WHILE SELECTMAN
OF BOSTON IN 1775.

The foregoing is a remarkably well-executed fac-simile of
an ancient document, which is especially interesting to the
descendants of the Bourne family, presented to Major
Phiuney by Gustavus A. Hinckley, Esq., in March, 1887.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNE7. 21

The perusal of documents to which Gov. Hancock appended
his signature is always interesting to New Englanders, and
this certificate was written and signed while he was a mem-
ber of the honored Board of Selectmen of Boston.

Melatiah Bourne was born Nov. 14, 1722, baptized Oct. 4,
1724. He married Mary Bayard, an ancestor of the present
distinguished Secretary of State, and niece of Gov. Bow-
doin. His son, Capt. Sylvanus Bourne, was for many years
American consul at Amsterdam ; portraits of his children
taken in that city are in possession of Major Phinney. His
son Melatiah married Olive Gorham. Their children were,
Melatiah, Sylvanus, and Olive, the latter the mother of Major
Phinney.

The remains of Melatiah Bourne were entombed in the
cemetery adjoining the Barnstable Unitarian Church. Our
readers can judge of the high esteem in which he was held
in Boston, as a merchant engaged in business there for
man 3^ years, by the distinguished historical names attached
to the certificate.

The other children of Melatiah were Sarah and jMary.
He died after a long and painful illness, in September, 1778,
aged fifty-six. His monument informs us, that he " was a
gentleman wlio in public employ conducted himself with
great reputation to himself and honor to his country ; and in
the more private walks of social life exhibited those virtues
which have raised in the bosoms of those who knew him, a
monument that shall exist when this stone shall be mould-
ered to its native dust. In him the Christian graces shone
with peculiar lustre, and the plaudit of an approving con-
science was the summit of his ambition.

" Surely when men like these depart,
The cause of virtue deeply feels the wound."

The preceding are surely interesting historic reminiscences,
the publication of which seemed to be called for in connec-
tion witli that of the certificate.

22 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

OLD MIDDLESEX AND THE OLD COLONY, 1881.

OLD MEN AND OLD FARMS. — LONGEVITY OF SOME OF ITS

CITIZENS.

Editor of The Massachusetts Ploughman.

Dear Sir, — Your recent inquiries relating to the "Phin-
ney farm " in Lexington, Mass., and the longevity of certain
families in old Middlesex and Barnstable Counties, have led
me to furnish such particulars as have come under m}'- own
observation. Fifty ^-ears ago the farm of Elias Phinney,
Esq., of Lexington, in Middlesex County, was one of the
most celebrated in this State. Mr. Phinney was the first to
introduce among the farmers of New England the blooded
stock, and distinguished himself as one of the best agricul-
turists. More than thirty years ago, the Barnstable County
Society received some of his Jersey stock, which has proved
so valuable in Eastern Massachusetts. For many years Mr.
Phinney was a trustee of the State Agricultural Society.
His farm was in the south joart of Lexington, and brought
by him into a high state of cultivation. His farm, fruit-trees,
and stock attracted visitors from all parts of the country, so
that his scientific and practical knowledge of husbandry ex-
erted a wide influence over those engaged in that department
of industry. He was among the earliest in tliis State to
write and lecture upon the subject of agriculture, and many
of his opinions are even now often quoted and adopted. In
1825 he published an interesting account of the battle of
Lexington, in which he vindicated with great ability the
claims of the town of Lexington against certain pretensions
" set up by a few indiscreet men of Concord."

BIOGRAFHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 23

Mr. Phinney was appointed clerk of the Judicial Courts in
the County of Middlesex, in 1831, by the recommendation of
Chief-Justice Lemuel Shaw, which office he held until his
death. Benjamin Phinney, his father, purchased of David
Bent a farm in Lexington, of about a hundred acres, as early as
1786. He was then in feeble health, and soon after conveyed
it to his son Elias, who was indefatigable in his labors to
improve it. But few men did a greater work in improving
agriculture in all its departments. As an evidence of the
high esteem in which he was held by distinguished men of
that day because of his devotion to agriculture and horticul-
ture, let me mention one fact under my own observation. A
few years before his death, and while he was attending court
at Lowell, his house with all its contents, together with his
barn containing his agricultural implements, were destroyed
by fire. No sooner had the news reached the city of Boston,
than Col. Marshall P. Wilder, Chief-Justice Shaw, and the
Hons. Abbott and Amos Lawrence made up a purse of three
thousand dollars, and sent him a check for that amount.
This enabled him to re-build upon the old premises.

Benjamin Phinney lived to be ninety-nine years of age,
and resided with his son Elias until his death. The brother
of Benjamin, Deacon Timothy Phinney, resided in Barnstable,
and lived to be ninety-three years of age. He held the office
of sheriff, and represented this county in the State Senate.
Deacon Phinney had a son Timothy (the father of S. B.
Phinney), who married his second wife in Bridgeport, N. S.,
wliere he now resides. If he lives until the loth of June next,
he will be ninety-seven years of age. He enjoys good health,
and within a few weeks has written his son to know if he can-
not j:»ron/r6' a pe72sionf He says that during the war of 1812
he was mustered into a company at Barnstable to do military
duty, and marched to Harwich and frequently to Hyannis and
Falmouth, to defend those places against the attacks of British
vessels. Afterwards he was taken a prisoner, with his son,
onboard the British frigate "Nymph," in Barnstable Bay, and
the vessel burned. I'he papers were lost, the enrolment
burnt, and as yet no pension has been procured.

24 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNE7.

The longevity of this family is somewhat remarkable.
Nancy, one of the daughters of Deacon Phinney, married
Deacon John Monroe of Barnstable. She died in January
last, aged eighty-eight years. Deacon Monroe died in Febru-
ary previous, aged ninety-five years. His mother, Abigail
Monroe, the eldest daughter of Jonathan Parker of Roxbury,
Mass., was born Jan. 30, 1753, and died in Barnstable,
May 1, 1844, aged ninety-one years. Deacon Monroe was
generally and favorably known in this county as the treasurer
of the Barnstable Savings Institution for more than forty
years. George Phinney, Esq., a son of Timothy Phinney, a
somewhat younger scion, emigrated to Middlesex County, and
as editor and proprietor of the Waltham " Free Press " is
doing good service in promoting the cause of agriculture
through the columns of his paper. But j'ou will excuse my
prosy narrative. I was led to say this much for the readers of
your excellent paper, at your suggestion, believing that some
of them might be gratified to know how strong the ties that
existed between old Middlesex and this section of the State.

S. B. PHINNEY.

Barxstablb, Jan. 24, 1881,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANU3 B. PHINNE7. 25

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

Says a correspondent in the Boston "Commonwealth" in
September, 1882, "I have mentioned Major S. B. Phinney.
He is still a landmark of no minor importance. From our
earliest remembrance he was the one ' stalwart ' Democrat of
the town, ever present at conventions, ever to be consulted
on important occasions, and ever to be rewarded with political
favors if any were to fall worth taking. It will please many
old friends to know that he is now, at the age of seventy-
five, almost as active and sparkling as in his prime. Despite
his strong political bias, the Major was ever a public-spirited
citizen, interested in every thing that concerned the town or
the Cape. In centennial, agricultural, railroad, or patriotic
celebrations, he was ever put foremost ; and no man can say
that he did not discharge his duty to the fullest acce[)tance.
When he disposed of the ' Patriot ' newspaper, a few years
ago, it v/as thought he had closed, for good, his palitieal
career ; but it is said that even now hisi fellow Democrats
have some doubts of the orthodoxy of those sent to conven-
tions, uidess the jMajor himself presents to the caucus the list
of delegates. Barnstable's history could never be written
without recording the services of this versatile editor, farmer,
politician, and village Hampden ; and his fame goes down to
later generations, on a tablet in front of the custom-house,
from which we learn, that, while it was commenced under
the administration of James Guthrie, Secretary of the
Treasury, it was finished under that of S. B. Pliinney,
Collector of Customs, thus deservedly uniting two worthy
gentlemen in the same commemoration. The beautiful resi-
dence of Alajor Phinney occupies the site of the house of

26 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

Thomas Sturgis, a brother of Russell Sturgis the Boston
merchant, and was formerly occupied by Capt. Ira Bursley,
famous as the commander of a Boston line of merchantmen
to Liverpool, and later of a New- York line to the same port.
It would be difficult to find a more lovely spot, a more
hospitable house, or inmates more possessed of old-time grace
and kindness/'

The New-York "World" of the 27th April, 1885, in
connection with the Bartholdi colossal statue of Liberty,
then on its way from France, says, —

"A ringing letter comes from Major S. B. Phinney, of
Cape Cod, enclosing a check for seventeen dollars and fifty
■cents, contributed by a few liberty-loving citizens. Mr.
Phinney is an Old Colony patriot, and was present at the
reception given to Gen. Lafayette, on the occasion of the
laying of the corner-stone of the Bunker-hill Monument, in
1824.

" He comprehends the patriotic nature of the ' World's '
efforts in behalf of the pedestal, and a vigorous spread of
such healthy enthusiasm as this would soon complete the
work. It was the spirit engendered at Bunker Hill, and
nursed at Valley Forge, that levelled the Bastille, and gave
king-craft that never-forgotten lesson, there is no true sove-
reignty but that of honest manhood.

" It was the liberty-loving race that sent us Lafayette, that
now sends us this masterpiece of art wherewith to crown the
gateway of our complete Republic."

Says the Boston "Post," Nov. 9, 1886, "Major Phinney
came up from Barnstable to shake hands with President
Cleveland yesterday.

" More than fifty years ago he came to Boston to shake
hands with President Jackson.

" He gave at a public dinner, at that time, the following
sentiment : —

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 27

" ' President Jackson's visit to Boston. When the procla-
mation cast Daniel into the lions' den, no manner of hurt was
found upon him. But when the era of good feeling caught the
lion in Daniel's den, he like to have been killed with kindness.'

" Major Phinney has given his support to Democratic
principles through all that time, — for forty years as editor
of the Barnstable ' Patriot.' When Grover Cleveland was
nominated for President, no one in South-eastern Massachu-
setts gave him a more zealous and able support than he."

28 BTOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

ISAIAH L. GREEN.

Isaiah Lewis Green, of Barnstable, father-in-law of
Major Phinney, was one of the most distinguished men of
the Old Colony. He was the son of Rev. Joseph Green, and
born in Barnstable, Dec. 28, 1761. He graduated at Har-
vard College in 1781 ; was elected a member of Congress
from the Barnstable District in 1805-9, and again in 1811-13 ;
and appointed collector of the port of Barnstable by Presi-
dent Madison in 1814, which office he held for nearly twenty-
five years. He died in 1841, leaving a large family.

The Act of Congress, declaring war with Great Britain,
for which Mr. Green voted, passed the House of Represent-
atives by a majority of 79 to 49, and the United States Sen-
ate by a majority of 19 to 13. ^y the frequent impressment
of our seamen, and the injury done our commerce by Eng-
land, the war was considered unavoidable, and our State and
National Governments were prepared to support it with their
lives and fortunes ; and Barnstable District

" Resolved^ That the Hon. Isaiah L. Green, our Congres-
sional representative, has done nobly, and deserves well of
his country, and that he enjoys the confidence of his con-
stituents : therefore

" Resolved^ That we will support the Constitution and
Government of the United States against the invasion of
a foreign enemy, the intrigues of a domestic faction, or the
usurpation of individual States ; and that we have the fullest
confidence in the wisdom, firmness, and patriotism of the
President and Congress, of whose doings we cordially ap-
prove."

The Cape Cod historian, in reference to this war, says that

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 29

at no time was the warmth of party feeling abated during the
struggle. The Government sustained the Act of Congress,
and was sustained by the able and determined support of
Barnstable County, notwithstanding all the privations and
inconveniences that the war occasioned. During a portion
of the war the streets of Barnstable were filled with troops
from every portion of the county. The daughter of Capt.
Thomas Sturgis, who resided upon the homestead now occu-
pied by Major Phinney, near tlie old church in Barnstable,
presented one of the officers a beautiful regimental flag, with
neat and patriotic sentiments. In this connection, the follow-
ing letter of Mr. 'Green to Major-Gen. Dearborn of Boston,
calling for assistance by the aid of flying artillery, will be
read with interest.

OFFICIAL LETTER TO MAJOR-GEN. DEARBORN.

Collector's Office, Barnstable,
June 21, 1«14.

Sir, — I take the liberty to address you, and to state to
you the exposed situation of this town and its vicinity to the
depredations of the enemy, who are carrying on an unprin-
cipled and disgraceful kind of warfare on our sea-coasts.
We consider our danger much increased by the accumulation
of foreign merchandise brought into this district, in conse-
quence of the blockade, by neutral vessels. Within a few
days a valuable prize has arrived, and her cargo is now stor-
ing here ; add to this, a very large quantity of oil belonging
to the United States, brought from Nantucket for greater
safety, is now stored here.

We have no artillery, and our militia are not armed and
equipped as they ought to be. The selectmen will address
the Governor, requesting a supply of army and military
stores, but w^e have no expectation that he wall send any
troo[)s here. I have, therefore, as well in behalf of the pub-
lic interest, as for the safety of the inhabitants, conceived it
my duty to make you this representation, and to request that
if there is any disposable force of the United States at your

30 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

command, a small detachment may be immediately sent on
and stationed at this place. We conceive that as we are
liable to be attacked at so many different points, it is believed
that flying artillery would be the most eligible kind of force.

I am, sir, with much respect,

Your most obed't servt.,

ISAIAH L. GREEN, Coll.
Hon. Major-Gen. Dbarbobn, Boston.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 31

AN OLD DOCUMENT.

LETTERS OF MARK AND REPRISAL.

Ix a recent issue of the Boston "Post" [the "Patriot"
says] is an interesting letter, written by Major S. B. Phinney,
introducing an old document found among the papers of the
late Isaiah L. Green, one of the most prominent men of our
county in his time. His father, grandfather, and great-grand-
father were clergymen ; and he was a graduate of Harvard
College, but did not follow in the footsteps of his ancestors
by adopting their profession. He was early in life elected to
Congress, and on being succeeded there by the late Hon.
John Reed, was appointed collector of this district by Presi-
dent Madison, his commission bearing date of March 4,
1814. He was the third collector of the district, having
succeeded William Otis ; and he was in turn succeeded by
Hon, Hemy Crocker in 1837. The portrait of Mr. Green, as
well as that of Mr. Crocker, and others of their successors,
have been procured by the present collector, and now adorn
the walls of the collector's office at the Custom House. Mr.
Green lived to be eighty j'ears of age. He died in Cambridge.
His eldest son, Dr. Joseph Green, died in New Jersey a little
more tha"!! a year ago ; another son, Isaiah L., died earlier in
life, while studying law in the office of the late Judge Warren
of New Bedford. Two children only of his family are now
living: Hannah Russell Green, and his youngest daughter,
Lucia G., the wife of Major S. B. Phinney.

[Correspondence of the "Boston Post."]

Barxstahle, Feb. 20, 1882.

TiiE enclosed letter, written by John Adams, has recently
been found among the private papers of the late Isaiah L.
Green of Barnstable, and will be read with interest by very

32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET.

many of the readers of the " Post." Mr. Green represented
this district in Congress as early as the year 1805, and gave
his vote for the war of 1812. Congress had previously laid
an embargo upon American vessels, and in no other section
was there greater suffering than in the industries of Cape
Cod. The fisheries was the vital, leading industry of Barn-
stable County ; and the impressment of our seamen, and the
injury done to our commerce, by Great Britain, was seriously
felt throughout New England. It was the sailor's rights for
which we were contending. Mr. Green conscientiously be-
lieved it to be the duty of our country to redress the wrongs
of England ; and although representing a district largely en-
gaged in commercial pursuits, he believed it to be his duty,
and did give his vote for the war, remarking at the same time
to a member of the House of Representatives seated by his
side, that " it had cost him his seat." He was not mistaken
in the sentiments of his constituents, for John Reed succeed-
ed him at the next congressional election, and continued to
represent this district for nearly a quarter of a century.
President Madison, however, did not forget the patriotism
of Mr. Green, and manifested his regard for this gentleman,
after hearing of his defeat, by causing him to be commis-
sioned as collector of the port of Barnstable, which he con-
tinued to hold under various administrations for more than
twenty years.

It was the younger Adams who had, in a great degree, the
conducting of the negotiations, but it was the father who
sent to Madison a ver}^ significant letter, in which he said he
would continue the war indefinitely "rather than give up
one iota of our rights to the fisheries.^' Eastern ^lassachu-
setts suffered by this war, in her commerce and fisheries, even
more largely than under the fishing treaty so ingioriously
entered into by our Government some eight years ago. Our
capital, now as then, is largely employed in commercial pur-
suits. After the declaration of the war of 1812, there was
scarcely a village in this county that could sustain itself in
the fisheries ; and our citizens built salt-works, and went into

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 33

the manufacture of salt by solar evaporation, which has been
continued until within a few years. This, for the most part,
was found an unprofitable investment, and the works are now
nearly all destroyed. The policy which has been adopted by
the Republican party, under the Treaty of Washington, has
been almost as ruinous. It is clearly shown that we cannot
successfully compete with the Provinces in free fish. The
admission of free fish into all parts of our country has already
built up an industry in the Provinces to the great detriment
of our own ; and those of our citizens who have not heretofore
favored a protective policy have come to the conclusion that
it is the duty of our Government to protect, at least, an
industry so hazardous as that of the fisheries. Vessels not
adapted to any other business have, in a great degree, been
lost ; and we are living on, hoping for a change in the admin-
istration, if not a change for the better.

I have been led to these remarks, Mr. Editor, by the letter
of Mr. Adams, which has so recently come to light, and be-
cause it calls so forcibly to mind the sufferings of so large a
number of her citizens who had their homes upon our shores,
and were constantly exposed to the aggressions of the Eng-
lish fleet.

Congress may well give some of its attention to au industry
so important as that of the fisheries. The annual products
of the fisheries, in fish, oil, and bone, in Massachusetts alone,
within a few years, amounted to near $17,000,00i). And yet
Congress, of late years, seems almost to have lost sight of
this fact, by giving to the Provinces the rights and privileges
so clearly belonging to our own citizens. John Adams clear-
ly foresaw the difficulties we were to suffer, as early as 1808
when in correspondence with Mr. Green, and that a war
would inevitably grow out of British aggressions. In 1807 a
British man-of-war had poured a broadside into an American
vessel, killing twenty men. The war finally came ; the year
1812 was an eventful one. Another embargo was laid in
April, and in June war was declared. In December the frigate
'" Constitution " captured the British frigate " Java," and in

34 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

June following the naval battle took place off Boston Harbor,
between the United States frigate " Chesapeake," under com-
mand of Capt. James Lawrence, and the British frigate " Shan-
non," in which the " Chesapeake " was captured, and Capt.
Lawrence mortally wounded. Not a few of the citizens of
Cape Cod distinctly heard the guns during this engagement.
The frequent landing upon our shores, and the reprisals levied
upon the towns, were cause for the constant alarm which was
felt. Many of the soldiers are living who continue to relate
the trying scenes which " tried men's souls " in those trying
times. The letter which follows has lain peacefully at rest
for nearly seventy-five years. As it was written some six
years before the burning of the Capitol at Washington, it is
interesting as coming from so celebrated a statesman as John
Adams. Yours very truly,

S. B. PHINNEY.

LETTER OF JOHN ADAMS.

QuixcY, Dec. 9, 1803.

Sir: I received yesterday, from the Post office, under your frank, the
nervous reply of Nine of our Representatives to certain Resolutions.
Having read it with pleasure I thank you for your politeness in sending
it to me. While it treats our State Legislature with ad the respect it
deserves, it is written with as much candor and moderation as perspicuity
and energy. The facts are fairly stated, and the conclusions are so ur-
gent that I know of but one answer that your antagonists can give, and
that is, " Repeal the Embargo, let us arm our ships, give us Letters of
]\Iark, and we will seek our fortune and fight our way. In the mean time
build frigates as fast as you can to protect and assist us, and we will
cheerfully pay Coast Rates, Stamp Duties, Land Taxes, and bear all other
burthens the war may produce." If I had not known by fifty years ex-
perience the enormous Gullet of Party, I should scarcely have believed
that a Majority of five hundred wise men of the East would have swal-
lowed such Large lumps as that " in the Embargo Laws only we are to
look for the cause of the public distress ;" and that in their repeal we
may look " for permanent relief."

But in a letter intended only to thank you for your civility I am not
about to trouble you with political discussions of which I presume you
have enough and to spare.

I am. Sir, respectfully your most humble servt.,

J. ADAMS.

The Hon. Isaiau L. Green, Esq., Member of Congress.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 35

VALUABLE HISTORY.

Editor Barxstable Journal.

Some twenty-four years ago I opened a correspondence
with Amos Otis of Yarmouth, who was well versed in the
history of Barnstable, and suggested to him the desirability
of publishing weekly, in the columns of my paper, his ample
store of historical knowledge, as "he seemed at that time to
be so largely a Hnk between the present and the past." He
at first hesitated, remarking that such a publication would
probably occupy a year or more. He finally consented to my
proposition, and the deeply interesting and useful articles
which he furnished extended over a much longer period than
he anticipated, and he did not live to complete the history. I
am now solicited by friends to republish this history, believ-
ing, as you have suggested, that it will be found of interest ;
the more so, as an intelligent gentleman of this town, who
has given much time and research to the subject, and who is
well qualified for the task, has under consideration a con-
tinuance and completion of the work, from the point to which
Mr. Otis carried it, thus furnishing a complete biographical
treasury of our ancient families not otherwise obtainable.
I will furnish copies of his papers for publication, which I
have carefully preserved, although it never occurred to me
that I sliould live to see its revival an accomplished fact.

I enclose herewith his letter of the loth of November,
1861, with No. 1 of his history, beginning with the family of
Thomas Allyn. I have preserved carefully this history as
originally furnished me by Mr. Otis. It is now the only
correct copy in existence, and I have copyriglited it for re-
publication. They will find it to their advantage to carefully
preserve all the copies, as important historical information

36 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

relating to very many of the families of the town of Barn-
stable has been promised for publication, that this history
may be carried forward to completion.

Respectfully yours, etc.,

S. B. PHlNNEr.

Barxstable, Dec. 26, 1886.

LETTER OF AMOS OTIS, THE HISTORIAN.

Yarmouth, Nov. 15, 1861.
To S. B. Phinney.

For several years past, I have spent much of my leisure
time in examining records and collecting materials for a
history of my native town. Old age is " creeping on," and
I find I have done little towards arranging the materials I
have collected. There are more difficulties to be surmounted
than the casual observer dreams of. Records have been
destroyed, lost, mutilated ; tradition is not to be relied on ;
and the truth can only be arrived at by diligent inquiry and
comparison of various records and memorials of the past. The
fact is, the writer of a local history finds himself environed
with difficulties at every step in his progress, and is compelled
to use such words as "perhaps" and "probably," much
oftener than good taste would seem to require. If the reader
would be satisfied with facts chronologically arranged, the
task woulfl not be so difficult; diligence and industry would
accomplish it. But something more is required. A dull,
monotonous array of facts and figures would soon tire and
disgust all, excepting perhaps a few plodding antiquarians
who are never happier than when poring over a black-letter
manuscript. The page to be made readable must be en-
livened with description, narratives, and personal anecdotes.
When writing history, I often feel that I am in the condition
of the children of Israel, when they were required by their
Egyptian taskmasters to make bricks without straw. Three
times I have written the first chapter of a history of the town
of Barnstable, and three times have I thrown the manuscript

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 37

into the fire. Progressing at such a rate, my head will be
whiter than it now is, before the last chapter is written.

M}^ friends are constantly urging me to do something, and
not let the materials I have collected be lost; and I have
decided to write a series of " Family Sketches," like those
of j\Ir. Deane, in his History of Scituate. These sketches,
though far from being accurate, are the most interesting
portion of his work. As a general rule, I do not intend that
each number shall occupy more than a column and a half.
To give a full history of some of the families, namely, that
of Hinckley, Crocker, Otis, Lothrop, Bacon, and others,
would require a volume. These will necessarily be longer;
but a sketch of some of the families need occupy only a few
paragraphs.

I shall write them in an alphabetical series, beginning with
the Allyn family. That there will not be a thousand mis-
takes and omissions in each, I would not dare to affirm ; but
there is one thing I will venture to assert: I can point out
more deficiencies in them than any other living man. I
desire, however, that persons having additional information,
or the means of correcting any error into which I may have
fallen, would communicate the same. I presume there are
many documents preserved in family archives which would
afford me valuable aid in the work I have undertaken, and
it would give me much satisfaction if the owners would loan
me the same or furnish copies.

In giving a genealogical account of the families, nearly all
the facts iu relation to the history of the town will have to
be given. In the Allyn family, I give some account of the
original laying-out of the town; in the Lothrop family, a
history of the First Church ; and in other families where the
ancestor was the leading man iu any enterprise, the history
of that work cannot well be omitted. In this manner nearly
all the principal events in the history of the town will pass
in review, and such consideration be given to them as time,
space, or opportunity will admit.

I nuike no promises; I claim no immunity from criticism.

-.)

38 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

I may get tired, before writing one-half of the proposed sixty-
columns, and it may be that the publisher will get sick of
his bargain, even before that time. To those who take no
interest in genealogy, I have only one remark to make.
My ancient friend and schoolmaster. Deacon Joseph Hawes,
would often say he was a skiptic ; that is, if he met with an
article in a book or newspaper that did not please him, he
" skipt over it."

I have one more suggestion to make. I would recommend
to those who do take an interest in these articles, to cut them
out and paste them into a scrap-book, leaving on each page a
wide margin for corrections, additions, and notes. To those
who take less interest in the matter, I would suggest that
they cut out the article in relation to their own families, and
paste at least the genealogical portion on the fly-leaf of their
family Bibles ; their grandchildren may take an interest in

the subject, if they do not.

AMOS OTIS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 39

IMPORTANT LETTER

RELATING TO THE FISHERIES.

Department of State, "Washingtok,
July 9, 1853.
S. B. PiiiXNEY, Esq.,

Collector of Customs, Barnstable, Mass.

Sir, — The President has learned with much surprise of
the excitement that exists among our fellow-citizens who are
interested in the fisheries off the coasts of British North
America, and that they are apprehensive of molestation dur-
ing the approaching fishing season. Relying confidently on
your intelligence and activity, he is persuaded that you will
use all the means in your power to diffuse a good understand-
ing amongst those engaged in the fishing interest. You will
warn them of the consequences of committing any unfriendly
act during the progress of the pending negotiations, as any
such act may postpone indefinitely the settlement of this
vexatious question, and the result would be likely, in any
event, to prove hazardous to themselves. Any armed re-
sistance on the part of the fishing vessels, either singly or
combined, would be an act of private hostility which can
never receive any countenance from this Government.

You will omit nothing whatever that your knowledge of
the circumstances may suggest, and which our good faith
towards a power with which we are, and desire to remain, at
peace, demands, to prevent any rash or illegal movements
intended or calculated to violate our obligations towards a
friendly foreign power and our colonial neighbors.

I have been directed by the President to invite your per-
sonal and prompt attention to this matter, and to assure you

40 BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. FHINNET.

that he places entire confidence in your active and judicious
exertions to soothe the present irritation of popular feeling,
excited in some instances, it is said, by unfounded reports of
alleged violation of our national rights. Every good citizen
should be solicitous to prevent any occurrence which may
further excite that feeling. No violation of the Colonial
local ^law should be attempted, and their civil autliorities
and other officers should have due respect paid to them
within their jurisdiction.

In case of insult to the American flag, or injury to our
fishermen, you will request them to transmit the particulars,
properly substantiated, to the Department of State, instead
of attempting to settle the difficulties themselves.

Our hardy and useful seamen may rest assured while en-
gaged in their lawful avocations, all over the world, that no
outrage or indignity which they may suffer will be permitted
to go unnoticed, but that they will be protected to the
utmost of its power by the Government of their country.

I am, sir, respectfully.

Your obedient servant,

WM. L. MARCY, Secretary of State.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 41

SPEECH OF MAJOR PHINNEY.

At a large meeting of the Barnstable County Democratic
Club, at Hyannis, in May, 1885, to the toast /)f "The Fisher-
ies of Cape Cod," President jMcLaughlin called upon Major
S. B. Phinney to respond, the members rising to their feet
and cheering him lustily. He spoke as follows : —

3Ir. President and Fellow Democrats of Cape Cod^ — It
affords me great pleasure to meet so many of my Democratic
friends here to-day, not only to celebrate a great Democratic
victory, but to take part in the organization of the " Barn-
stable County Democratic Club." Its objects are for political
and social purposes, but I may with propriety say we meet
more particularly to look after the fishing and commercial
interests of this section of South-eastern Massachusetts. In
this important movement, Mr. President, we have the zealous
co-operation of President Cleveland, who will stand by the
fishermen to restore their rights against the ruinous policy of
the Republican party. The fishery question with the citizens
of Cape Cod is a vital one, and through your instrumentality,
Mr. President, at a recent meeting of the Democratic County
Committee at Sandwich, the following resolution was adopted.
It contains the united sentiment of the Democracy of tliis
county.

" Resolved., That this meeting, in view of the ruinous effects
of the Treaty of Washington upon our fishing interests, and
the repeal of the cod-fishery bounty under Republican rule,
and by a Republican Congress, it is incumbent upon tlie
Democratic party of Bai'nstable County to labor zealously
wdth a Democratic Congress and a Democratic President to
restore to the fishermen this branch of industry which has so

42 BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PIIINNEY.

long been of great value to the commerce and marine of the
country."

This resolution was a disturbing element, as it fully ex-
posed the Republican party in the blow which was directly
aimed at the most important industry of our citizens in the
repeal of the fishing bounty, and the ruinous policy of the
Treaty of Washington. Our sailors have valiantly stood by
the American flag on the land and on the sea for one hun-
dred years, and no sooner had the Republican party succeeded
to power, and got the control of every department of the
Federal Government, than the bounty to fishermen was at
once taken from them, and the greatest blunder of this or any
other government was perpetrated in enacting a clause in the
Treaty of Washington, which has done so much to sap the in-
dustry of Cape Cod in the destruction of the cod-fishery.
This treaty, as Mr. Secretary Fish had told us, had become
an administration measure. At a hearing before a Congres-
sional committee the statistics showed that the annual re-
ceipts in Massachusetts alone, of fish, oil, and bone, amounted
to more than $17,000,000 ! In every treaty which has been
made, the Republicans have treated this subject as of little or
no importance, and finally we were swindled out of $5,500,000.
And this was being done while Massachusetts was furnishing
twenty-five thousand men for the navy of the United States.
Everybody knows that our fishermen were indispensable to the
safety of our government. Gen. Sherman recognized their
importance when he said that it was a Cape Cod fisherman
whose knowledge of the Southern coast had saved his entire
fleet from shipwreck in the gale off Newbern, N. C. Tlie war
of 1812 crippled the fisheries to such an extent that a Demo-
cratic Congress relieved the fishermen by the bounty act,
which was passed as early as 1819. This was continued until
repealed by the Republicans. Barnstable County largely de-
pended upon her fisheries and the bounty, the loss of which,
since its repeal, amounts to more that $1,000,000. We are
now told by the Republican press that the fishermen were
anxious to be relieved of this burthen, and petitioned Con-

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNET. 43

gress to repeal it. Thev fail, however, in this connection, to
tell us of the promises made them, to warrant their continu-
ing this perilous business. But it is not forgotten that in
Gloucester alone, thirteen vessels belonging to the fishing
fleet went down in one gale, carrjang with them 143 men,
leaving 53 widows and 137 fatherless children. The
press undertake to blind the people by telling them that
this hazardous business needs none of our protection, as it
has been offset by the duty upon salt. This drawback to
the fishermen proved to be a troublesome matter to the
revenue officers, and it is now admitted not to be " quite
equal to the bounty." This, too, was one of the measures of
Republican administration. It is unjust to the fishermen to
say that the evasions and " subterfuge of the more unscrupu-
lous fishermen in the pursuit of their business " was an in-
ducement for them to " petition Congress for its repeal," and
rather than carry it on at such great odds a Republican Con-
gress granted their request. It was a " gratuitous insult to
their intelligence," for, when they were appealed to by a
prominent Republican official in this county, who wrote and
presented the petition, they were assured of its full equiva-
lent in another form. They would now have us believe it
was not a " question of politics ; " but everybody knows that
its repeal, and the gross blunders and ruinous measures grow-
ing out of the fishing treaty, were acts of the Republican
party. They had lost sight of the injunction of the elder
Adams, who believed that we should " continue the Revolu-
tionary war rather than give up our rights to tlie fisheries."
A full statement was made by our fishermen, setting forth
their grievances to a committee of Congress, in the hope that
they would get some indemnification ; but the answer to this
was that these measures had become administration measures,
that there was no relief, and they adopted the treaty. The
policy of the Democratic party, from the foundation of the
government, has been to foster and take care of tlie three
great leading industries of this country, — that of agriculture,
commerce, and the fisheries. Who was the father of the

44 BlOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF S7LVANUS B. PHINNEY.

American fisheries? Thomas Jefferson. Who first sent the
message to Congress as President, representing the value of
the American fisheries ? Thomas Jefferson. Who, as Secre-
tary^ of State, wrote the ablest article that ever has been writ-
ten upon this subject? Thomas Jefferson. Who has always
stood up for American commerce and the fisheries in the past,
when they had the power? The Democracy. Now let us,
as Democrats of the Jeffersonian school, come forward and
stand together, and restore these great industries to the
country. Don't be lulled into inaction ; but when Congress
meets see that it speaks as the legislative bodies used to speak
in 1775 and 1776. We have already seen that the Washing-
ton Treaty is like all other British treaties, — they got the
better of us. The object of the Democratic party is now to
build up from the ruins of the Republican party, and place it
where it stood in the days of Jefferson and Jackson, "as the
best and only security for free government." It is estimated
that the fisheries of New England employ thirty-seven thou-
sand men, and tliat the population of the United States sup-
ported by the fislieries exceeds half a million. The entire
population supported by the fisheries consume -^30,000,000 of
our agricultural products, and the New England fisheries pay
in local taxes about 83,000,000 on the capital employed in
them ; and yet our opponents undertake to deceive us by
the cry that this is a "dead issue," and that the Democratic
County Committee might as well have passed resolutions
against the "alien and sedition laws," as to attempt to stand
by the fishermen in their labors to restore their rights.

It is our duty occasionally to review the past. Our citizens
may well feel indignant that they should lose their rights,
and be compelled to pay so largely to promote the fisheries of
the Provinces. The result has been that the heaviest failures
ever known among our citizens have been the result of the
operation of this treaty. Pankruptcy and ruin have taken
place among those who have given a long life of labor to this
business. This has grown out of the Pepublican party
undertaking the experiment of legislating for the benefit of

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 45

foreign fishermen, instead of that of our own. England and
France foster and take care of their commerce and their fish-
eries. The Republican party has proved recreant to both.
The citizens of the United States are crippled in these im-
portant industries, and we are losing annually largely of our
men and our vessels, and unless a Democratic Congress does
its duty in restoring our commerce, it is feared we shall have
to give place to tlie rapid inroads of foreigners. There is
evidently a "tide in the affairs of men," and that tide was
clearly manifested in the last political campaign. Very many
of the clergymen who joined with Burchard in the religious
meeting held at New York are fully impressed with the
belief that there was an inspiration connected with his won-
derful address, and that he had been governed by an over-
ruling Providence.

Let me add, in coiiclusion, that with economy and perse-
verance we hope to recover from the terrible blow which the
commerce of this country has suffered. If nothing better can
be had, let us take the bill of Mr. Boutwell for the encour-
agement of ship-building. It is in the power of Congress to
furnish the required relief, both to commerce and the fish-
eries. With this we shall not so often have to ask ourselves,
" What is to be the future of Cape Cod ? " When the Re-
publican party came into power, there were only four districts
in the United States which exceeded Barnstable in the extent
of enrolled tonnage. These were New York, Boston, Phila-
delphia, and New Orleans. It then had an enrolled and
registered tonnage of 48,980. It had 548 vessels employed
in the coasting and fishing trade, 335 of which were engaged
in tlie fislieries alone, and a valued tonnage of 81,700,000, and
the product of the fisheries was valued annually at 81,271,000.
There were ten shipj'ards in this county, in wliich vessels
Avere built of from fifty to one thousand tcnis, and there were
employed more than two thousand laborers. These yards
are now all closed, and Mr. McKay, who was one of the most
extensive builders in New England, spoke of the ruinous
policy of this Government, and that England, by her liberal

46 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET.

policy, was enabled to build a " ship of one thousand tons,
nearly $20,000 less in the Provinces than it could possibly be
built in this country." He was forced to close his yard at
South Boston and discharge his men. And yet all these
grievances could not move a Republican Congress to relieve
the ship-building, which is so essential to the success of every
civilized country. So much of this is due to the action of
"old Bourbon" rubbish, that there is good reason to believe
that under a Democratic administration the rights of fisher-
men and commerce will be restored, realizing, as we do, that
more than fifty per cent has already been depreciated. Presi-
dent Cleveland will do much to guard the rights of com-
merce ; and I will close by proposing a sentiment, trusting
that he will save us from the poverty and ruin which the
Treaty of Washington imposed on us : —

"P]-esident Cleveland. A genuine inheritor of the prin-
ciples and patriotism of Andrew Jackson ; a • practical
business man ; a sound and independent politician. His
talents, industry, and unbending integrity have the unre-
served confidence of his friends, the respect of his political
opponents, and the unsolicited confidence of the Government.
The people have rewarded his merits."

BIOGRAFHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 47

PRESIDENT GRANT'S VISIT

TO BARNSTABLE IN 1876.

Considerable preparation had been made for the arrival
of the Old Colony train of cars at Barnstable, having on board
our honored President and several members of his Cabinet;
flags having been displayed throughout the village. Major
Phinney, having been selected to welcome him, said, —

Mr. President., — There is much relating to old Barnstable
that our people have cause to be proud of, and you will par-
don me for saying that there is no portion of the United
States wliere you have a stronger hold upon the hearts of
tlie people than here. Here was the home of Gov. Hinckley,
the first of the Governors after the separation of the Colonies,
nearly two centuries and a half ago. Here the distinguished
patriot and statesman, James Otis, who fired the Revolution,
was born. Here were reared many of the pioneers of the
Revolution. Here, upon Meeting-house Hill, were the first
soldiers mustered who reported themselves at headquarters in
Cambridge, as among the first of tlie pioneers of American
Independence. In the west part of this town is the First
Independent " Congregational Church^'' of that name in the
world. Shall I say, that when the Rebellion broke out, in
this and the adjoining town of Sandwich was raised the first
company within forty-eight hours after the news was received
that Virginia liad seceded ? This company was doing good
service at Fortress Monroe ; and I witnessed with them, on
that memorable Sabbath, the naval battle between the iron-
clads " ^lonitor " and " Merrimac." It is sad to say that but
seventeen of those brave boys who rallied at Sandwich lived
to be welcomed to their homes after the close of war. A

48 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

remnant of the flag, at that time presented to the company
with words of encouragement, is now unfurled before you.
All along our shores were found strong arms and brave hearts.
Gen. Sherman tells us that a Cape Cod pilot saved his
fleet from shipwreck, off the Southern coast, in one of the
most terrible storms ever experienced. That pilot, a native
son of Hyannis, you had an opportunity of greeting, among
other brave sailors, to-day. You have had an opportunity to
know that the barren shores of Cape Cod have been fortu-
nate in rearing men, and women too, who have always been
prompt to respond to your call and that of their country. In
closing, Mr. President, let me again thank you for the honor
which you have done us in the flying visit you have made to
the shores of Cape Cod, recognized as it is as the " right arm
of the Old Bay State."

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 49

HISTORICAL LETTER.

THE DAWN OF THE CENTENNIAL YEAR. — ITS OBSERVANCE
IN BARNSTABLE.

The historic old town of Barnstable made no extensive
arrangements to commemorate the advent of the centennial
year; but, when the supreme moment came, the church-bell
was rung, the old gun fired, the public buildings and numer-
ous private houses were illuminated, and the streets were
alive with enthusiasm.

There is good reason why our citizens should thus honor
the occasion. It was here the patriot James Otis was born, —
here upon Meeting-house Hill, where the first troops were
raised upon the news being received of the declaration of
war with England. Every thing relating to the early history
of this section of the Old Colony will be found interesting.
Plymouth has at last conceded that at Provincetown, Cape
Cod, was the first landing from "The Mayflower" of our
Pilgrim Fathers : there the first germ of civil government was
enacted ; there the first Governor was elected, and the first
child was born ; and, as Professor Palfrey said in his eloquent
address at the second centennial celebration at Barnstable in
1839, " For who is there that has not blood in his veins from
this our copious Barnstable fountain ? " And the occasion
leads me to refer to the address of Mr. Palfrey, because it
was so full of historical facts.

As early as July, 1621, Barnstable Harbor was visited by
a part}" of ten men from Plymouth, in a sliallop commanded
by Miles Standish. There were some English settlers here
as early as 1638: Thomas Dimmock at that time was ap-
pointed to exercise people in arms; and the llev. John

50 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNE7.

Lothrop emigrated from Scituate, arriving here in October,
1639. Mr. Lothrop died Nov. 8, 1653. By his will, he gave
his wife, Mr. Palfrey tells us, one house in Barnstable,
to his son Thomas another ; and to his sons John in Eng-
land, and Benjamin here, each a cow and five pounds ;
" Daughters Jane and Barbara," he says, " having had their
portion already."

The Colonists were not common men, and they did not
despair. All seemed against them ; but they had stout
English hearts and stout yeoman's hands, and the protection
of the availing prayers that went up from pious homes. At
length, by the blessing of the God of hosts, they triumphed.
But it was a triumph won at almost intolerable cost. Barn-
stable always bore her full share of the deeds and sufferings
of those days. As early as the spring of 1676, she was
called on for one-tenth part, and her share of the disburse-
ments of one period of the war is found to have been ex-
ceeded by only two other towns. At the time of the annex-
ation of Plymouth to Massachusetts, Thomas Hinckley of
Barnstable was governor of the former colony. He was a
native of England, where he was born in the year 1618.
He lived and died in the house which stood opposite to the
dwelling of the late Mr. Jabez Nye.

Two ministries of Rev. Mr. Russell and Mr. Shaw covered
the term of a complete century, within five y-ars. Rev.
Joseph Green of the East Parish died Oct. 4, 1770, and was
succeeded April 10, 1771, by Rev. Timothy Hilliard, who
after twelve years' service asked for his dismissal, and ended
his days as minister of the church in Cambridge. Within
the limits referred to, a son of Barnstable had done a work
and attained a glory scarcely equalled by any great name of
the American continent. On the 5th of February, 1725, in
a farm-house at Great Marshes, was born the pioneer of the
American Revolutions James Otis. As long as the question
shall be asked, " Whose ardent steps pressed on foremost
in that front rank in the great action of American Independ-
ence ? whose burning eloquence fanned the flame in this

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 51

nation's bosom, which never expires until the right is won,
or till there is no more martyr's blood to flow ? " history,
as Mr. Palfrey so beautifully says, will have to reply, " That
illustrious instrument was the Barnstable boy whom I have
named." His individual greatness came not the less natur-
ally for being attached to a long Barnstable ancestral line.

The family from which he sprang was of ancient consid-
eration in our town. John Otis, whose grandfather of the
same name had emigrated from England to this country and
become one of the first settlers of Hingham, was bom in that
place in the year 1657, and removed when a young man to
Barnstable, where he lived to attain the age of seventy years,
having for twenty 3'ears represented the town in the General
Court. His son James, commonly spoken of as Col. Otis,
born on the paternal estate in 1702, were not his fame
eclipsed b}^ that of his greater son, would fill a larger place
in history than he now does.

The great question which came to involve all that was
at issue between the mother country and the colonies was,
whetlier general search-warrants, called writs of assistance^
might legally be granted to officers of the customs, to give
tliem admittance to suspected houses ; it was powerfully
argued in the negative by Otis. What belongs to history
is the effect produced. " Otis," said President Adams the
elder, who was one of the delighted hearers, " was a flame of
fire." With a promptitude of classical allusions, a depth of
research, a rapid summary of historical events and dates,
and a rapid torrent of impetuous eloquence, he liurried away
all before him. American Indeptndence teas then and there
horn. In 1776 he grew up to manhood, and declared himself
free. The same venerable witness testified on another occa-
sion : " I do say, in the most solemn manner, that ]\Ir. Otis's
oration against writs of assistance breathed into this nation
the breath of life." In refei'ence to his services, some one
has said that "No spot in the country has made such a gift
to the country as the spot called Great Marshes in Barn-
stable."

52 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

There are many events which carry us back to the heroic
age of the nation. Among them was the impression made here
by the first news of the Lexington fight. Deacon Phinney
says, "Thursday, the 20th of April, was received the news of
the engagement between the Regulars and Provincials." On
the 21st, he says soldiers were mustered, and nineteen were
sent off, and adds that he believes these nineteen stout Barn-
stable farmers "reported themselves at Gen. Ward's head-
quarters at Cambridge as soon as Nature's vehicles could
bring them there." On Saturday, the old muskets of the
French war had been cleaned, the flints and cartridge-boxes
looked to, and blankets folded in the compact knapsacks by
the loving care of trembling hands.

Tuesday, the 25th of April, was town-meeting, to raise
money to buy guns, when three hundred pounds was voted
for a chest of arms and some ammunition. This will furnish
some idea of the state of mind in Barnstable at the begin-
ning of the Revolution. Money was liberally raised from
time to time to increase the bounty offered by the Common-
wealth for enlistments in the Continental service. The
naval war of the Revolution was, in a great measure, carried
on by private armed vessels. This is shown by the fact that
when the ill-fated privateer, the " Arnold," Capt. Magee,
which sailed on the 30th of December, 1778, from Boston,
went on shore at Plymouth the same night, in a snowstorm,
out of sixty-eight men of her company who perished, ten
we^-e from Barnstable.

I will close by making only a slight reference further to
the second centennial at Barnstable, which was so full of
interest. It is painful to notice the many changes which
so few years have wrought. Your Boston readers, where
there are so many of the descendants of Barnstable, will
scarcely credit the account that so many of their number
who took part with us in September, 1839, are no longer
among the living. I am induced to furnish you with the
names of some of the public men of that day who were in
Barnstable.

BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVANVS B. PIIINNET. 53

The orator of the occasion was Professor John G. Palfrey ;
Marslial, Henry Crocker ; Toastmaster and Toast Committee,
B. F. Hallett, Henry Crocker, Joshua Sears, and John L.
Dimmock ; others of the Managing Committee were Wil-
liam Sturgis, Francis Bacon, George Hallett, Thomas Gray,
Adolphns Davis, Horace Scudder, Robert Bacon, Benjamin
Kich, Benjamin Bangs, Benjamin Burgess, Matthew Cobb,
Prince Hawes, Daniel C. Bacon, and Thomas Thatcher.
Judge Nymphas Marston was President of the day. Gov.
Everett responded to the toast, "Plymouth and iMassachu-
setts Colonies," and charmed his hearers in his happiest
strain. His address at this time has often been spoken of
as one of his most eloquent.

Then followed, in a deeply affecting manner, Chief-Justice
Shaw, to the toast, " Cape Cod ; " Hon. William Sturgis, to
the " Emigrants from Cape Cod." The remarks of Mr.
Sturgis were followed by a neat original Yankee song on the
towns and names of the Cape. Hon. Robert C. AVintln-op,
then Speaker of the House of Representatives, responded to
the toast of " The younger VVinthrop of Connecticut."
" The New England Guards " was responded to by Capt.
Bigelow, who many j^ears since occupied the bench so
worthily as our chief justice.

Toasts weie also responded to by other distinguished
gentlemen. Ex-Gov. John Henry Clifford, tlien one of Gov.
Everett's aides, gave : " Cape Cod. Her pine trees once fur-
nished to Massachusetts the device for her ilag. She has
retained the prouder distinction of furnishing through all
histor}' the truest hearts and the stoutest aims by which
the flag has been defended." To the " West Barnstable
Church," Uriah Crocker of Boston. These were followed by
toasts by Prince Hawes, Henry Crocker, Joseph A. Davis,
S. B. l^hinney, Adolphus Davis, and innumerable other
citizens of Cape Cod.

Interesting letters were read fi-om Judge Mellen of Maine,
Hon. Harrison Gray Otis of JJoston, Hon. Judge ])ewey,
George Hull; George Bancroft, Collector of Boston; Josiah

54 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

Quincj'-, President of Harvard College ; David Wilder, Treas-
urer of the Commonwealth ; and John T. Bigelow, Secretary
of the State. So much we take pride, as the sons and
daughters of Barnstable, in referring to as we enter upon the
centennial of 1876.

By one who has taken part in very much that has trans-
pired since the war of 1812.

S. B. PHINNEY.

Babxstable, Jan. 4, 1876.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 55

SPEECH OF MAJOR PHINNEY

AT THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE OPENING
OF FANEUIL HALL MARKET, AUG. 26, 1876.

I THANK you, Mr. Chairman, in behalf of your committee,
for the cordial invitation to be present at this fiftieth anni-
versary of the opening of Faneuil Hall Market. In response
to your call, I shall speak but briefly of what was transpiring
under my own eye, while a resident of Boston, between the
years 1823 and 1829. The events of that day are full of
interest; and while yourself, Mr. Chairman, Nathan Robbins,
Ebenezer Holden, and Harrison Bird are the only surviving
original occupants of the market, it became m}^ duty, as a
printer on one of the leading journals of that day, to take
note of what was transpiring, and we are here to verify the
fact that the stalls were well filled with the best products of
the fields, orchards, gardens, and cattle-markets of the rural
districts. Josiah Quincy was a constant visitor at the office
of the "Daily Advertiser" (where the first few years of
my boyhood were pleasantly occupied), in conference with
Nathan Hale upon great leading questions of that day; and
none excited more attention than the building of the Faneuil
Hall jMarket, and the series of articles which appeared in the
columns of that paper upon the subject of railroads. Neither
steamboats nor railroads had then entered Boston. iVIr. Hale
had upon the table in liis sanctum a miniature railroad, which
he took pride in exhibiting to your mayor and the merchants
of Boston, explaining the manner in which he believed they
might be made useful in the conveyance of heavy burthens
over the country, by horse-power, providing that steam-power

56 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY.

could not be successfully applied. Business men were in-
credulous, and did not believe they could be successfully
used as a means of public transportation. One of his friends,
a prominent merchant and capitalist, was led to remark
that " he thought it unfortunate that a man of such superior
intelligence as Nathan Hale should be engaged in such hum-
bugs ! "

The City Government finally became interested ; although
it was not until 1829, when the Council voted to send fifty-
five members to the Legislature, having in view the con-
struction of a railroad, and a rousing meeting was held in
Faneuil Hall, when it was resolved that it was, in the opinion
of Boston, important for this Commonwealth to construct a
railroad from Boston to the western line of the State, and
from Boston to Providence, the City Government to obtain
an Act to lake the stock to build to WoiCQ^ter:^ providing the
State did not want the whole !

The Legislature granted the charter to Worcester ; and
with a State tax of seventy-five thousand dollars, and its other
resources, it was believed the State debt would be discharged
in a few years. The keynote Avas then struck, and the capi-
talists of our country from that day to the present have been
making rapid strides. Even Cape Cod has been admirably
provided for, and your citizens can now take the Old Colony
Railroad to Provincetown Harbor, within a few rods of the
anchorage of " The Mayflower " in 1620 having on board our
Pilgrim Fathers.

But let me say, Mr. Chairman, that Cape Cod was having
her influence at the Hub fifty years ago. Following Mayor
Quincy, was the election of Harrison Gray Otis as mayor of
Boston in 1828. Mr. Otis's immediate ancestors were resi-
dents of Barnstable, where he resided during the siege of
Boston, and he was there when the news reached Barnstable
of the conflagration of Charlestown. He did not forget to
speak, while mayor, of the sensation of that town in that dis-
mal hour ; and believed, from impressions then made, that
every man capable of bearing arms was ready to rush to
death in defence of his country.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF S7LVANUS B. PHINNET. 57

Boston is distinguished for her excellent mayors ; and it is
not uncommon to find them claiming that the blood of our
Puritan fathers is still running in their veins. Gov. Everett,
when on a visit to Barnstable, at the centennial in 1839,
was gratified to find that his great-great-grandmother was
born in the nearest adjoining county. Many of the ablest
and best men in Boston emigrated from Cape Cod, and
began their career here in humble life. Let me name some
of those who were then taking an active part in every thing
that pertained to the growth and prosperity of your city.
Among the number were Chief-Justice Shaw, Professor John
G. Palfrey, Francis Bassett, B. F. Hallett, Prince Hawes,
George Hallett, Joshua Sears, Thomas Thatcher, David Sears,
Daniel C. Bacon, William Sturgis, Francis Bacon, Alpheus
Hardy, John L. Dimmock, Isaac Thatcher, Thomas Gray,
David Snow, Isaac Rich, Benjamin Burgess, Horace Scudder,
and later the Davises, Bangs, Bakers, Bearses, Nickersons,
Crowells, Crockers, Cobbs, and innumerable others, — an
emigration sufficient of itself to swamp any other section of
the country except Cape Cod. They became a power suf-
ficient to elect governors, and, if need be, to help on the
industries of Boston, even to take their mayor from the right
arm of the Old Bay State. Excuse my wandering, Mr.
Chairman. I will close by giving you : —

" Boston : God bless her !

" Where'er I roam, whatever realms to see,
My heart, uutrammelled, fondly turns to thee."

58 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

THE FIRST CUNARD STEAMER.

THE BARNSTABLE CENTENNIAL, AND ITS EXAMPLE.

^Rabnstable, Mass., July 21, 1880.

Since my communication to the " Post " of last week, relat-
ing to some of the events that were transpiring in Barnstable
and Boston fifty years ago, some of the city papers have
thought proper go back forty years to notice the arrival of
one of the Cunard Line of steamers on the 3d of June, 1840.
The arrival of the steamer " Unicorn," commanded by Capt.
Douglass, was an event of more than ordinary interest ; and
it was believed that the guns of the cutter " Hamilton,"
Capt. Josiah Sturgis, who saluted the steamer upon her
arrival, were heard at Barnstable. The papers brought by
her informed us that the difficulty between England and
Naples had been settled, that the French had made prep-
arations for removing Napoleon's bones from St. Helena, and
that the Russian army had experienced new disasters in Cir-
cassia, while the French had gained a victory in Africa, etc.
The whole country was delighted that Boston had been
enabled to open steam communication with Europe, and that
we should no longer be required to wait the receipt of foreign
news by the arrival of sailing v^essels, var3'ing from thirty-
five to forty-five days. The delight and enthusiasm were
universal, as was evinced at the large gathering at the dinner
given to Mr. Cunard, one of the proprietors of the steamer,
It may not be known to all your readers, that at this ban-
quet ladies were permitted to join in the festivity. But
the citizens of Boston took this occasion to follow the exam-
ple set them at the centennial celebration at Barnstable on

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 59

the 3d of September previous. During the summer of 1889,
a committee was chosen from this place, consisting of David
Crocker, S. B. Phinney, and Zenas D. Bassett, to confer with
William Sturgis, John L. Dimmock, and Joshua Sears, in
Boston, to make the necessary arrangements for celebrating
the centennial at Barnstable and the erecting of a pavilion to
accommodate at least twelve hundred persons to the dinner.
Capt. Sturgis declined to take part in the celebration, or to
act with the committee, unless arrangements were made for
ladies to dine with the company, and to join in all the fes-
tivities proper for the occasion. He believed the ladies had
a common interest in the celebration, and that they should
share in all or none. If they were excluded from the dinner-
table, they might with propriety let the gentlemen dance
alone, and then retire alone and indulge in " sweet or bitter
fancies, as they may chance to come." He specially desired
that it might first be tried at the banquet at Barnstable, and
let the motto from one end of the Union to the other be,
" Dine together and dance together, or dine alone and dance
alone." It is enough to say that this recommendation was
adopted unanimously by the committee, and more than four
hundred ladies, for the first time in the history of our Gov-
ernment, partook of a public dinner at Barnstable. It
proved, as Gov. Everett at that time took occasion to say,
one of the most interesting occasions it had ever been his
pleasure to attend. Capt. Sturgis was gratified with the
result, and closed his remarks at the table with the following
lines : —

" The world was sad, the garden was a w^ild,

Aud man the hermit sighed, till woman smiled."

This section of the State felt proud that the citizens of
Boston, at the Cunard dinner, should so soon have followed
the example set them by this town. Daniel Webster, George
Bancroft, and other eminent men spoke eloquently. It in-
spired them to be surrounded by so largo a number of ladies
as were present on this occasion ; and we remember that

60 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

Mr. Bancroft, among other beautiful things, said it seemed to
him that the introduction of steam had brought the Old
Country and the New so near together, that some quiet morn-
ing, on listening upon our shores, the busy hum of the artisan
might be distinctly heard upon the other side of the waters.
I have had occasion before to speak of the large draught
that has been made on the capital and enterprise of Cape
Cod ; and it would not have been any injury to Boston,
perhaps, if she had more frequently followed the example
set her by this Puritanic section of the Old Colony.

S. B. PIIINNEY.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNE7. 61

MONUMENT AT PROVINCETOWN, CAPE COD.

FIRST LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS.

At the annual meeting of the Cape Cod Association, held
in Boston in November, 1877, upon motion of Major S. B.
Phinney of Barnstable, a committee of three was appointed
to consider the feasibility of erecting a monument in honor
of the first landing of the Pilgrims in Provincetown, on
the 11th of November, 1620. The meeting believed that
Plymouth had enjoyed the honor and the glory long enough,
and that history should be set right by erecting a monument
at Provincetown, Cape Cod, where not only the first landing
was made, but where the first germ of civil and religious
liberty was planted- Hon. Alpheus Hardy and Major Henry
C. Brooks of Boston, and S. B. Phinney of Barnstable, were
appointed on that committee. At the suggestion of members
of the Association, Major Phinney afterwards caused to be
draughted by a skilful architect a plan of a monument, which
is now in his hands. It was designed to be of stone, some
seventy feet in height, and containing about eleven feet
space inside to admit of a stairway to a room in the tower
to answer the purpose of a lookout for pilots and others, and
a lighted clock that may be seen by vessels at niglit in any
part of our harbor. It was also intended that a storm signal
should be connected with it. Since that time, the General
Government has established a signal at the point originally
contemplated by the committee. They then procured of one
of the most extensive stone-builders in Boston an estimate of
the cost of constructing a monument from the plan sub-
mitted. Its cost was considered reasonable ; and with a view

62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET.

of getting our citizens interested, the whole was submitted
to a committee for further consideration.

It was found that the Association had no funds that could
be set aside especially for this purpose, but its members
believed that when earnest efforts were made by citizens of
the town and others, they could do much, individually, in
aiding to build it.

For the completion of the monument erected at Plymouth
in honor of the Pilgrims, the State Legislature appropriated
$10,000, and the members of the same body considered that
an example had been set for appropriating a suitable sum for
a similar purpose at Provincetown, when needed. The Cape
Cod Association has not forgotten the efforts of Chief Justice
Shaw and others in causing to be placed on the Town Hall a
suitable slab to commemorate the event, and there is good
reason to hope that a conference will soon be had, and such
a movement made by the committee as will guarantee its
success. It would certainly seem that the proposition of the
Cape Cod Association should be met, and that we should do
our part toward erecting this memorial shaft.

BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PUINNEY. 63

THE FIRST LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS.

So much interest had been manifested in the movement
to erect a monument in commemoration of the first hmding of
the Pilgrims at Provincetown, Cape Cod, that Major Phinney
furnished the Yarmouth "Register," in March, 1878, a com-
munication relating to the arrival of the " Mayflower," as
follows : —

MONUMENT TO THE PILGRIMS.

At the annual meeting of the Cape Cod Association, at
Boston, it was voted that a committee be appointed to con-
sider the feasibility of erecting a suitable monument on High
Pole Hill, Provincetown, to commemorate the first landing
of the Pilgrims at that place, Nov. 11, 1620. Since the
burning of the Town Hall at Provincetown, and the destruc-
tion of the marble slab placed there through the efforts of
Chief-Justice Shaw of Boston, nothing is left to commem-
orate the event ; and as it was at Provincetown the first
landing was made, it is important that the sons and daughters
of Cape Cod should see that a suitable monument is erected
to their niemory. The movement which has been inaugurated
by the Cape Cod Association, and at a public meeting of the
citizens of Provincetown, is a guaranty that it will be
accomplished.

There is so much connected with the first landinj after
the arrival of the " Mayflower " in Provincetown Harbor, of
a local as well as of a more public character, that a sketch at
this time will be found interesting, especially of their visit to
the shores of several of the towns in Barnstable County,
before any landing was made by the Pilgrims at Plymouth.

64 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

As history informs us, the final departure of the " May-
flower " from England was on the 6th of September, 1620 ;
and after several boisterous storms, they fell in with the land
called Cape Cod, Nov. 9, and reached the harbor of Province-
town Nov. 11. This was the first spot on the New-England
coast ever pressed by the footsteps of Englishmen, having
been discovered by Gosnold in May, 1602, who gave it the
name on account of the abundance of cod which he caught
in its neighborhood.

" Let us go in the imagination," said Gov. Everett, " and
look out upon this November scene. That single dark speck,
just discernible through the perspective glass on the waste
of waters, is the fated vessel. The storm moans through her
tattered canvas, as she creeps, almost sinking, to her anchor-
age in Provincetown Harbor : and there she lies, with all her
treasures, — not of silver and gold (for of these she has none),
but of courage, of patience, of zeal, of high spiritual daring.
So often as I dwell in imagination on this scene, — when I
consider the condition of the 'Maj^flower,' utterly incapable
as she was of living through another gale ; when I survey
the terrible front presented by our coast to the navigator,
who, unacquainted with its channels and roadsteads, should
approach it in the stormy season, — I dare not call it a mere
piece of good fortune that the genera,l north-and-south wall of
the shore of New England should be broken by this extraor-
dinary projection of the Cape running out into the ocean a
hundred miles, as if on purpose to receive and encircle the
precious vessel. As I now see her, freighted with the des-
tinies of a continent, barely escaped from the perils of the
deep, approaching the shore precisely where the broad sweep
of this most remarkable headland presented almost the only
point at which for hundreds of miles she could, with any
ease, have made a harbor, and this perhaps the very best on
the seaboard, I feel my spirit raised above the sphere of mere
natural agencies. I see the mountains of New England
rising from their rocky thrones. They rush forward into the
ocean, settling down as they advance, and there they range

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 65

themselves a mighty bulwark around the heaven-directed
vessel. Yes, the everlasting God himself stretches out the
arm of his mercy and his power in substantial manifestations,
and gathers the meek company of his worshippers as in the
hollow of his hand."

This harbor is completely landlocked, and is known as one
of the finest on the Atlantic coast. The "Mayflower"
anchored within half a mile of the end of Long Point.
Here the shore was found very bold, and the water deep.
And, for the first time in the world's historj', a social compact
was realized in practice. Before they left Holland it was
evident they expected "to become a body politic," using
among themselves civil government, and to choose their own
rulers, and, " on the 11th of November, in the year of our
Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France, and Ire-
land, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno
Domini, 1620," one hundred and one of the passengers of the
"Mayflower" prefixed their names to this compact, just that
number having sailed from Plymouth, England. On this
day they chose John Carver their governor for the first year.
The same day they set ashore some fifteen or sixteen men,
well armed, to obtain some wood (as they were out), and also
to see what the land was. The men appear to have been
landed on Long Point. It was tolerably well wooded with
oaks, pines, birch, juniper, etc. They returned on board at
night, without finding any person or habitation, having
loaded tlieir boat with juniper.

On Monday the 13th, they tell us, they went on shore to
refresh themselves, and the women to wash. On the 15th,
sixteen men set out in single file, with caution, every man
with his musket, sword, and corslet, under command of
Capt. j\Iiles Standish. They marched about a mile by the
sea, and espied five or six people, with a dog, coming towards
them : these proved to be savages. When they saw them
they ran into the woods, and whistled their dog after them.
When the Indians saw the Pilgrims, they ran away. They
were followed by their footprints about ten miles. The next

66 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

morning they could see their trace, and pursued them until
they came to a creek ; but they marched through boughs and
bushes without meeting them. As they had taken " neither
beer nor water with them, and only a few biscuit and Holland
cheese and a little aquavitse," they were getting hungry and
thirsty. They saw a deer, and came to a spring of water ;
and when they had refreshed themselves, they went to the
shore, and made a fire, that they might be seen from the ship.

In this vicinity, which is a portion of Truro, they found
fowl and deer, with a clear pond of fresh water. Here, too,
they found corn which had been planted by the Indians.
They went on farther, and found new stubble of which they
had gotten corn this year, and walnut-trees full of nuts. And
they found where a house had been, and four or five planks
laid together, and a ship's kettle which had evidently come
from Europe. They found also, by digging, a great new
basket full of Indian corn. It held three or four bushels.
They were in suspense what to do with it, but at length con-
cluded to take the kettle and as much of the corn as they
could carry away. Some time during the next year, the corn,
if not the kettle, was restored to the Indians. They saw
two canoes upon the shore, but returned that night back to
the fresh-water pond, making a great fire. In the morning,
they sunk their kettle in the pond, and trimmed their mus-
kets, and, in their attempts to return to their vessel, lost their
way. They marched some time in the woods, and at times
in water up to their knees, until they came near to their ship.
By shooting off their muskets, a boat was sent to the shore
for them. They returned weary, and delivered their corn to
be kept for seed. The weather became suddenly cold and
stormy, and brought to many colds and coughs, turning to
scurvy, and causing many to die.

On the 27th of November, they again set out in their
shallop with thirtj'-four men. The weather was boisterous,
and they rowed to the shore, making but little headway, and
landed at East Harbor for the night. It snowed and blowed
hard that night ; and some that afterwards died, it is said,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 67

took their death here. The next day they sailed to the river,
now known as Pamet River in Truro. They landed a part
of their men, and marched some four miles : the shallop fol-
lowed them. The next morning they got to the head of
Pamet River ; here they found the corn they left behind
them when they were there before. They digged a little
farther off, and found a bottle of oil, Indian wheat, and a bag
of beans: they found in all about ten bushels of corn, which
was considered sufficient for seed. This they considered a
part of God's providence, else they knew not what they
should have done, as they thought they never would have
seen a grain of it, except for their first journey to this place.
A portion of their people went home with the corn (some
that were sick), and the shallop was returned to them the
next day.

The next morning they came upon a broad and beaten
path, but it did not lead to the dwellings of the Indians as
they expected. They marched five or six miles farther on,
but could see no signs of people. They came to a place not
bigger than a grave ; and, digging, they found under, planks
and matting, a bundle of perfect fine red powder, and the
bones and skull of a man ; other articles were bound up in
a sailor's canvas cassock and a pair of cloth breeches. An-
other bundle was found, the same kind of powder in it, and
the bones and head of a little child. About the legs and other
parts of the child were found strings and bracelets of fine
white beads. They covered the corpse up again, taking
away a few things with them. While ranging, two of the
sailors by chance saw two houses which had been recently
occupied.

They entered the houses, and took out some things, but
dare not stay. The houses were made of sapling trees
bended, both ends stuck into the ground, with wrought mats,
the door made of a mat to open. The chimiiey was a wide
open hole ; in the top they had a mat to close this with when
tliey pleased : they could stand erect in them. About the
fire, they lay on mats. They found here wooden bowls, trays

68 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET.

and dishes, pots, baskets made of shell, also an English pail
or bucket : it had two iron ears, but no bail. There were
curiously wrought baskets and sundry other household stuff:
deer's heads recently killed, eagle's claws, baskets of parched
acorns, pieces of fish and of broiled herring. Some tobacco-
seed were also found, and other seeds unknown, with bundles
of flags, sage, bulrushes, and other materials to make mats.
The meaner wigwams were covered with mats made of bul-
rushes. Some of the articles found here were taken away.
Afterwards, Young's History informs us, full satisfaction was
given the Indians.

Some of the party were inclined to abide at this place, as it
had a convenient harbor for boats, and because it had corn-
ground ready for planting, and because Cape Cod was likely to
furnish good fishing ; and they had seen, before entering Prov-
incetown Harbor, several whales that in pleasant weather
would swim and play about them. These would furnish them
the best kind of oil and bone. But finally a company was
chosen to go out upon another discovery. Whilst some were
emplojed in this discovery. Mistress White was brought to
bed of a son. He was born on board the " Mayflower," and
called Peregrine, and was the first child born of English
parents in New England. He lived for many years in
Plymouth County, and died in Marshfield, aged eighty-three
years.

Wednesday, the 6th of December, it was resolved that
further explorations should be made ; and they again set
forth for that purpose. Capt. Standish, Master Carver,
William Bradford, Edward Wiuslow, John Tilly, John How-
land, Richard Wcirren, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward
Dotee, and two seamen — John Alderton and Thomas
English — were of the party. The weather was exceedingly
cold, and it was along time after they left the ship before they
could get clear of Sandy Point, — the end of Long Point.
The weather was so boisterous, that two of their number
became very sick. At length they got clear of this point by
hard rowing, and got their sails up, and followed the shore

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 69

for a long distance, until they came to what is now known
as Billingsgate Point in Wellfleet. As thej drew near the
shore in Eastham, they saw ten or twelve Indians. They saw
the smoke of the fire which the savages made that night,
four or five miles from them.

On the morning of the 7th they divided their company,
— eight in the shallop, the rest on the shore. They found
this nearly as good a harbor as Cape Cod, for a ship might
ride in five fathoms ; and the land was level, though not very
rich. Those on board the shallop found nothing encour-
aging, and returned. They saw that the Indians had struck
into the woods, by tiie side of a pond in Eastham. Here
they found corn had been planted that year, and the houses
of the Indians recently occupied ; but there was nothing left
but two or three pieces of old mats, and a little sedge. They
espied before nightfall several Indians, whom they called to
them. They proved to be friendly, and glad to see them.

On the morning of the 8th, after prayers, they tried their
muskets, and prepared for breakfast and a journey. Before
they got away, however, the Indians fired their arrows
among tliem. Capt. ^Miles Standish, having a musket with a
flint-lock, made a shot ; after him, one or two others. The
arrows wei'C fired by Indians behind trees. One of them
stood three shots of a musket, and after an extraordinary
yell tliey all went away. They were followed some distance
with the firing of muskets, that they might know they were
not afraid of them. By the noise, it was thought there
were not less than thirty or forty of them.

After tliey had given God thanks for their deliverance,
they took their shallop, and went on their journey. Having
a good wind, they sailed all that day, but saw neither creek
nor river to put into. Tlie distance along the coast from
Eastluim to the high bluff at jNIonument in Plymouth is
about lorty miles. They encountered a snowstorm an hour
or two after ihey left Eastham, whicli prevented their seeing
Sandy Neck, the entrance to Barnstable Harbor. If it had
not been for this, it is highly probable they would have

70 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET.

entered this harbor, and made their settlement there. In
this case Barnstable would have been the Plymouth ! In the
afternoon the wind increased, and, the sea being very rough,
the hinges of the rudder broke, and it was with difficulty
that the use of two oars would serve their purpose. Master
Coppin bade them be of good cheer, for, although near night,
he saw a harbor. It was the cove between the Gurnet and
Saquish Points, at the entrance of Plj'mouth Harbor. They
tell us that it pleased a Divine Providence that they fell
upon this place, where their shallop rode safe and secure that
night.

On the morning of the 10th of December, Saturday, they
landed and marched about upon what is known as Claris
Idand, just within the entrance of Plymouth Harbor, and so
called after the mate of the " Mayflower." They made a
rendezvous here for the day, but found no inhabitants. The
following day, Sunday, they rested ; and on Monday sounded
the harbor, and found it good for shipping. They then
marched into the land, and found cornfields and running
brooks, and otherwise presenting a favorable appearance ; and
returned to the "Mayflower" with good news to the rest
of their company. This is the ever-memorable day of the
landing of the fathers at Plymouth.

This was comforting news to the Pilgrims. They left the
" jNIayflower " in Cape Cod Harbor, the 6th, were three da3's
getting to Clark's Island in Pl3'mouth Harbor, and started
on their return to the ship about the 13th, and, going across
the bay, reached her on the 11th. They found that the day
after their leaving the vessel, Dorothy, the wife of William
Bradford, who was one of the party in the shallop, fell over-
board and was drowned.

Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers informs us
that on the fifteenth day of December, they weighed anchor
in Provincetown Harbor, to go to the place they had dis-
covered. They did not get across the bay until Saturday
the 16th, when they got safely into harbor. ^londa}" the
18th, they landed upon Clark's Island, which is the only

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 71

island in Plymouth Harbor. They landed in the "long
boat," manned with the master of the ship and three or four
of the sailors. They went along the coast seven or eight
miles, saw no Indians, but found where they had planted
corn. That night, becoming weary, they went on board
again.

The next morning being Tuesday, the 19th of December,
some went on land, and some in the shallop, to make further
discoveries. They found at the place visited the day before,
some three miles up, a very pleasant river. At full sea they
found that a bark of thirty tons might go up, but at low
water it was with difficulty they could go up in their shallop.
They took a liking to this place, and thought it best to
remain until they had more strength. That night they re-
turned on shipboard with resolution the next morning to
settle on some of the places about Plymouth Harbor.

So in the morning, Dec. 20, after calling on God for
direction, they came to the resolution to go ashore again, and
take another view of two places. After landing (believed
this day to be on Plymouth Rock), they came to the conclu-
sion to settle on high ground (which is on a hill facing the
harbor). From thence they could see far into the sea and
Cape Cod. In a clear day the white sand-hills of Province-
town may be distinctly seen from this hill. So there they
made their rendezvous for tlieir people, and about twenty the
next morning concluded to go ashore and build houses.

But Thursday morning, the 21st, was stormy and wet, and
they could not land. It was with difficulty that those
remaining on the shore could keep dry. About eleven
o'clock, the shallop went ashore with provisions, but could not
return, the gale was so strong ; and the " Mayflower " was
compelled to ride with three anchors ahead.

House-lots were finally laid out for nineteen families, not
on the hill, but in front of it on Leyden Street. Not until
January did they commence their labor of building their
houses. It was agreed that every man should build his own
house. They had to make mortar, gather thatch, and during

72 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

the month Edward Winslow says " they had completed seven
dwelling-houses." On the 17th of February, on account of
anticipated troubles with the Indians, they called a meeting
for establishing military orders, and chose Miles Standish
commander. During this month seventeen of their number
died. It was not until the 22d of March,^ 1621, that all of the
passengers were landed at Plymouth from the " Mayflower,"
when the weather had become fair and warm. During the
month of March thirteen more of their number died ; and in
all, during the three months previous, one-half of their com-
pany had perished, the greater part in the depth of winter
and for want of houses and other comforts ; at times two or
three died a day. The scurvy fell among the sailors, and
almost half of their number died before they sailed. But
spring finally came, and it put new life into the people,
though they bore their sad affliction with great patience ; and
on the fifth day of April, 1621, the " Mayflower " sailed from
Plymouth, and arrived in England the sixth day of May.
It is worthy of notice, that notwithstanding the hardships,
privations, and mortality among the Pilgrims after their
arrival at Provincetown the 9th of November, during the
winter months not one of them was induced to abandon the
enterprise and return home in the " Mayflower."

CAPE COD.

At the anniversary dinner at Faneuil Hall of the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery Company, the president proposed
a sentiment to : " Cape Cod. May its sands never run out,"
and called upon Major Phinney of Barnstable to respond.

He said he accepted the invitation to be present at the two
hundred and thirt^'-seventh anniversary, with more than usual
pleasure, that he might renew his thanks to this valiant corps for
the vakiablc services it rendered Cape Cod in the " daj-s that tried
men's souls." Early in the war of the Rebellion the Barnstable

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 73

County Agricultural Society invited the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company to do escort duty to the Governor, because of
their true patriotic spirit ; and we were made more than happy
when Gen. Tyler reported himself at Barnstable early on the
morning of the fair with good two hundred strong. The sensation
it produced in our quiet little village has not been forgotten. At
the sound of the bugle every man proved himself prompt and
courageous at the dining-hall, and the ladies complimented them
for the grace and dignity of their movements at the dance. The
presentation of a service of plate was then made to one of your
distiuguished members at Masonic Hall, which was crowded to its
utmost capacit3\ One of the antiquarians of your corps, more
brilliant than the rest, had discovered, after a diligent research of
the Old Colon}' records, that its members were lineal descendants
of old Barnstable. Those he believed who were not of direct
gcnealog}', and could not claim that they were born on Cape Cod,
it was found that their immediate ancestors were from old P)}'-
mouth in the vicinit}' of Hull ! "When our venerable guests took
up their line of march, it was to the tune of " The girl I left
behiud me."

Let me allude to the fact, Mr. Commander, that in 1G38, only
seventeen years after the landing of our Pilgrim Fathers in Prov-
incetown Harbor, the " Military Company of JNIassaehusetts," now
known as the "Ancient and Honorable Artillerj'," received its
charter from the Colonial Governor. From this was claimed its
Old Colony origin, and now it remains for you to initiate the first
step for erecting a monument to tlieir memory. And let it be
erected where the Pilgrims first landed, at Provincetown, Nov. 11,
1G20. The " Cape Cod Association " will join your command in
inaugurating this important work. Shall it be done? If so, we
will here and now invite our Governor to aid us in laying the corner-
stone, and report upon our doings at 3-our next banquet in Faneuil
Hall. I will close by offering the following sentiment: —

" The Ancient and Honorable Artiller}' Company. Distin-
guished for its martial spirit, its patriotism, and its love of liberty.
It was the soul of such a corps that has infused itself throughout
New England, and l)een so nobly transmitted from father to son
for more than two centuries."

74 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

NEW-ENGLAND EXCURSIONISTS

TO CALIFORNIA IN 1880.

The Ordway excursion party to the Far West was
absent over two months. It proved to be one of the most
enjoyable parties. As it was without a correspondent,
Major Phinney, at the request of the party, furnished the
Boston " Journal " with several communications, during their
absence. Among the number was the following : —

CALIFORNIAN EXCURSIONISTS.

Reno, Nev., April 22, 1880.

I COMMENCED a letter to the " Journal " at Laramie City,
but had no opportunity to complete it until the embargo at
this place, of the excursionists of New England en route for
California, has enabled me to do so. The party left Boston
on the evening of the 12th inst., and comprised 135 ladies and
gentlemen from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Con-
necticut, Rhode Island, — in fact, a New-England delegation,
— bound to the Golden Gate. I will not attempt a descrip-
tion of the beauties of the scenery along the route, to those
who were making the trip for the first time ; it is enough to
say that it was by many found perfectly wonderful. To
many, sight-seeing began before we reached Chicago or Coun-
cil Bluffs. The bridge across the Mississippi, to Omaha, is one
of the wonders of the age. After leaving Chicago over the
North-western Railway to Council Bluffs, we reach the Union
Pacific Railway, which is everywhere recognized as one of
the best-regulated institutions in this country. It has im-

BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET. 75

portant lines radiating from Omaha, and reaching points in
the West, North, and North-west. If I were about to describe
routes of travel and railroads admirably managed, they would
be those owned and operated largely by gentlemen of Massa-
chusetts, who are among the largest capitalists and have dis-
tinguished themselves as the most thorough business men
that New England has produced. These gentlemen are well
known to the readers of the " Journal." I cannot refrain,
however, from mentioning the names of some of the most
prominent, such as Elisha Atkins, vice-president of the Union
Pacific, F. L. Ames, Ezra H. Baker, the Nickersons, who are
often spoken of. And here I find myself among a large class
of the business men of the West, who know how to appre-
ciate the never-to-be-forgotten services of Oakes and Oliver
Ames of Massachusetts. They have not forgotten the oft-
repeated statement of a member of Congress, who was joined
with Oakes Ames on the Railroad Committee, who said that
the country owed to this gentleman the completion of the
Pacific Railroad, ten years in advance of the time it could
possibly have been constructed, except for his unceasing
labors. ]Mr. Ames had large wealth and indomitable energy,
and reall}- believed it was possible to construct a new world.
Congress hivd been hammering over the subject of the Pacific
Railroad nearly three years when he was elected to Congress.
As a member of the Railroad Committee, in his quiet busi-
ness manner he had large influence, and told the committee
that it was but right that Congress should appropriate money
for this great public enterprise, and conceived it to be the
duty of Congress to go where ])rivate enterprise would go ;
that he was prepared to take -'1^1,000,000 for the work, and
would be responsible for as much more, believing that the
business men of Boston were prepared to co-operate with
him.

His argument was sound and business-like, and Congress
finally appropriated such amount of money as was thought
necessary to complete the work. It is not necessary to say
that no white man had crossed the Rocky Mountains at that

76 BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

time (except it might be Gen. Fremont) ; and Congress, with
all its wisdom, could make no estimate within millions of
what was required to construct the road. If my memory
serves me aright, thirty thousand dollars a mile was appro-
priated to the foot, and eighty thousand dollars for its con-
struction over the mountains. The most skilful engineers
had not been able to make any reliable estimate of its cost.
Oakes Ames, however, persevered. He invested very much
of his hard-earned fortune in this work, and entered into a
contract of forty-three million dollars, not knowing whether
he and his friends would become bankrupt before its comple-
tion. To save themselves it was thought advisable to form
a close compact, by enacting, what became a bugbear to poli-
ticians, the law (passed in the State of Pennsylvania) known
as the Credit Mobilier. Before the road was constructed it
was found that Congress might have appropriated a few
thousands less than it did. Those of the members who voted
for it, and had taken sparingly of its stock and received
the dividends claimed, were denounced all over the country
(on the eve of important Congressional elections) as having
knowingly swindled the Government. But if no other man
living was proved to be strictly honest and conscientious,
tliat man was Oakes Ames. As well might the country have
abused Samuel Hooper and other members who voted for and
favored our present national banking system, and subscribed
largely to its stock. It is enough in this connection to say
that history will place the memory of Oakes Ames aright.
Here his labors are appreciated, and his friends will be grati-
fied to know that the press and the people of the West are
already agitating the question of the erection of a monument
to the memory of both Oakes and Oliver Ames. This
has had its origin among the pioneers of the West, largely
composed of New England men, who believe that the " sum-
mit of the mountains " at Sherman (named in honor of Gen.
Sherman, the tallest General in the service), that is over
eight thousand feet above the level of the sea, is tlie most
desirable point. One of the pioneers of this movement is

BTOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PBINNEY. 77

Col. C. W. Kitchen of Evanstown, Wyo., who is one of the
wealthiest and most enterprising gentlemen of the State.
The Desert House, of which he is proprietor, is along the line
of the road, and is considered the Delmonico of this region.
The dinner he furnished the Ordway party was equal to that
furnished the New England Society at their gathering a few
weeks since at New York. Gov. Head, Judge Sargent, and
a host of gentlemen from Massachusetts were prompt to
respond to a vote of thanks to this gentleman.

The entire region of country about the mountains is wild
and picturesque, and always repays the tourist. Your read-
ers, however, would not have tlie patience to follow me, even
if I had time to talk about the Ogden Canon, the Ogden
Valley, the Echo Canon, or the Salt Lake Valley ; of Castle
or Hanging Rock, Echo City, or the One-thousand-mile Tree
that tells the traveller that he has passed over one thousand
miles of railway from Omaha. Dashing along through Weber
Quarry, tlie mountains seem to have been dove-tailed togeth-
er ; but skilful engineers, aided largely by New England capi-
tal and indomitable energy, have triumphed over all, and a
connectincj line of railroad is now uniting^ the broad Atlantic
with the Pacific coast. But few attempt for the daily press,
or have time or inclination, to notice the miglity works of
nature on the line of the Union and Pacific Railroads. The
massive piles of worn and seamed rocks in their struggle
against the destroying hand of time are wonderful to behold.

The excursionists were heartily received at Salt Lake City,
or " Zion " as the Mormons term it ; and all tlie points of
interest were visited and greatly enjoyed, among them the
Mormon Church and the Tabernable. Gov. Head had a long
and interesting interview with Gov. Murra}' of Utah.

A zealous attempt is now being made by the Mormons to
increase their power, by taking large tracts of valuable lands
surrt)unding the city, with the view of settling all the foreign
emigrants that can be prevailed upon to take them ; and it is
believed by Gov. Murray that the aid of the Government will
sooner or later be required to put a stop to the unlawful

78 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

measures now being taken. Gen. Smith, in command at
Fort Douglas, issued the following : —

" Fort Douglis, Utah, April 19, 1880.
" Complimentary to the Hon. Natt Head, Hon. J. E. Sargent,
Rev. Mr. Herrick, Commodore Perkins, Major S. B. Phinney,
and party. Programme^ Fourteenth United States Infantry
Band: Gilmore's 'Columbia,' Operatic Pot-pourri, Bugle
Call Polka, Our Country and Flag, Galop, Wasatch."

Over one hundred of the party availed themselves of car-
riages, and visited the military post, and were heartily re-
ceived. Its location is beautiful, being situated on the base
of the mountains, about three miles from the cit}'. It over-
looks the city and the lake, and affords a fine view of the
country. The Mormons seemed delighted to meet so large
a delegation of the Puritanic stock from New England, and
some of our party were delighted to have at last reached
" Zion " !

I telegraphed you of the warm reception we received here

from the citizens of Utah, during the snow-storm and our

embargo. More anon, and excuse the hasty letter of an

excursionist from the

OLD COLONY.

San Fkancisco, April 28, 1880.

My last letter to " The Journal " was written at Reno,
Nev., while blockaded with snow. It was the purpose of
the excursionists to remain at Reno a few hours upon our
arrival at that place, so as to " double Cape Horn " hy d^aj ;
but providentially the unprecedented snow blockade detained
the party three days, thereby affording those who chose to
visit Carson and Virginia City an opportunity to do so.
About one-half of the party availed themselves of the oppor-
tunity to join in a thoroughly enjoyable day in beholding
the wondrous works of God and man, as exhibited in moun-
tains and in machinery, much of the way between Carson

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 79

and Virginia. " The hills, rock-ribbed and ancient as the
sun," were at our left, piled mountain high ; while at our
right the bed of the cauon, five hundred feet below us, or
the gently sloping mountain, gave us a panorama of wild and
enchanting grandeur. This rugged scenery not only gave us
great delight, but it gave us also a peep into the hearts of
the pioneers in this new country. Tired of the drowsy
humdrum of Eastern life, they came hither to grow up with
the country, and for the " almighty dollar," and either or
botli inducements have offered and still offer golden oppor-
tunities.

Virginia is a city built upon a hill, or rather upon the
south-eastern side of Mount Davidson, and has a popula-
tion of about seventeen thousand. The wealth of the
country hereabouts is hidden beneath the surface, and in
depths varying from a few feet to twenty-five hundred feet.
At this depth the rich mines of gold and silver have paid,
and will probably continue to pay, large dividends on the
enormous costs of machinery for hoisting the precious
metals, for the more ponderous engines for keeping the
mines at these low levels free from hinderances by water,
and for converting the valuable rocks into bars of gold and
silver.

Virginia shows well in the number of her national banks,
and her " faro banks ; " her public-school buildings, and her
dens of iniquity; her fine churches, and her glittering gam-
bling hells. And although she has an altitude of sixty-two
hundred feet, and is less than a quarter of a century old, her
everlasting hills are in archtcan time, and her rocks are of
the oldest sedimentary formations.

Through the thirty miles of continuous snowsheds, through
which we passed after leaving Reno for the Pacific coast
(save where loop-holes had been made by the crushing
weight of twenty or more feet of snovv^), we could see in the
construction of these sheds, and the interspersed tunnels
through the solid rock, where much of the vast sums of
money appropriated by Congress for the building of this
trans-continental road must have been used.

80 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

Soon after having passed the "summit," and almost before
we could reach it, we were whirled over the steel rails,
" narrow as the path to glory," by the attraction of gravita-
tion, although the brakes were set, and steam Avas shut off.
From snowsheds and tunnels to green grass and smiling
verdure we were transported, as it were, at a single bound.

The excursionists reached the Palace Hotel in this city, on
Thursday morning last, at two o'clock. San Francisco has a
population of over three hundred thousand, and is the most
important city on the Pacific coast of the American conti-
nent. The fortunate discovery of gold at Coloma, in 1848,
opened a new era for San Francisco, and from that event we
may date its rise to greatness. In public and private build-
ings, theatres, schools and churches, street-railroads, water
and gas works, wealth of individuals, and refinement, it ranks
with the first in the Union. Here the party will remain for
several daj^s ; then a journey will be made to the interior by
taking the Southern Pacific Railroad to Santa Clara Valley,
San Jos^, and other places along the line of the Southern
Pacific, where can be seen the princely residences of San
Francisco's prosperous merchants ; the United States Mint,
the largest in the country; seal rocks from the cliffs on the
Pacific coast, barren of every thing except seals, sea-lions,
etc., some of the seals weighing over two thousand pounds.
Here the highest peak is surmounted with a light-house,
three hundred feet above the water. Oakland and China-
town are among the attractions, and have been visited by
most of the visitors.

Ex-Mayor Bryant gave a reception in the parlors of the
Palace Hotel on Sunday evening to Gov. Head of New
Hampshire, Judge Sargent, N. "White, Major S. B. Phinney,
Dr. Ordway (who is the lion and the guide of the party), T.
L. Smith of Cambridge, and others of Massachusetts. Col.
Bryant lias been gentlemanly and attentive to all the Puritan
New England visitors.

A committee of arrangements was chosen at a preliminary
meeting of the excuriiouists, consisting of Judge Sargent,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PIIINNEY. 81

S. B. Phinney, T. L. Smith, W. P. Frost, E. H. Biigbee,
B. Lombard, and E. B. Knapp, to make arrangements for a
grand re-union of the party at the Palace Hotel to-morrow
evening. Speeches are expected from several gentlemen of
the part}^ resolutions adopted, and the ladies are looking
forward to the occasion with great interest. Gov. Head will
preside. After the re-union and general hand-shaking, dan-
cing, etc., there will be a separation of many of the party,
some of whom propose making excursions to other portions
of the State. This hotel has been crowded most of the week
by strangers from all portions of California, who have met
here to welcome their New-England friends. The weather
is delightful, and the party are pleased with the scenery
which gladdens the eye in every direction.

OLD COLONY.

Los Angeles, Cal., May 10, 1880,

The New-England excursionists are now, for the most
part, in a region of the country where the corn, wine, and
oil of the commerce of old abound, and where the pome-
granate, fig, orange, lemon, and other semi-tropical fruits
abound, and can be seen to perfection. It may not be unin-
teresting to the readers of the " Patriot," to have a letter
from one who has not forgotten his deep interest in all that
pertained to its welfare in days gone by.

The excursion has been full of interest, notwiHistanding
the weather has been unusually severe. The rains have
continued much later than usual. The air has been chilly,
and thus far May has been decidedly Eastern in its charac-
ter; but New Englanders are used to it. For the credit of
our " glorious climate," I wish it had put on a better face
before our arrival. Many of the party are known personally
to your readers, and I will attempt a brief sketch from tliis
beautiful country.

Cape Cod, the old Bay State, is largely represented by
representative men who are closely identified with all its
interests, and who understand its wants and claims, and

82 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

have not failed, when called upon both publicly and pri-
vately, to maintain its honor. Gov. Head represents New
Hampshire as its chief executive officer, and shows us that
the Granite State still continues to call its best men to its
highest offices. Ex-Mayor Bryant of San Francisco, whose
"limbs were made in New Hampshire," and whose wife was
born on Cape Cod, represents both sections. He has just
left the mayor's office, which he has occupied for two terms
with great ability and popularity, a second term being an
honor enjoyed by only one man before him, and that was
way back in prehistoric times. Being well acquainted with
Gov. Head and your correspondent. Mayor Bryant called
upon them the day of their arrival, and drove them to points
of interest in the city, to the magnificent residence of Charles
Crocker, Esq., who is as well known in the East as here for
his large wealth, his prominence in business, and in the man-
agement of the Pacific Railroads. Here the party were
cordially and handsomely entertained, and afterwards re-
ceived the same treatment at the spacious residence of
Mayor Bryant. Later in the week he entertained Gov.
Head and family, Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Phinney, and other
friends, to a dinner at his residence, which was full of enjoy-
ment. With the delicate food, pleasant wines, and lively
conversation, it was nearly twelve o'clock before the com-
pany rose. Mayor Bryant has displayed marked attention
to the New-England delegation, and they express their satis-
faction and delight with such a reception.

On the 3d inst., the party left San Francisco, and s oent
about ten days in visiting the southern part of the State,
Los Angeles, the Yosemite Valley, the Geysers, and other
places of interest. The Yosemite is the wonder of the ivorld^
and you may judge of its interest when I tell you that
hundreds are now visiting it, having to occupy six days of
hard stage travel from Merced in going and coming. It
presents one of the most charmingly picturesque scenes to
be found in this or the Old Countr}^ ; and not a day passes
that English gentlemen are not visiting this romantic valley.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 83

Close to the south-east stands the majestic " South Dome,"
45,000 feet in altitude above the lake. On the north and
west lie immense rocks that have been detached from the
tops of the mountains 3,000 feet above, and among these
grow a large variety of trees ; the circumference of several
I measured, and found them varying from 35 to 41 feet.
This valley was discovered by white men in 1851, first by
Major Savage. The most notable falls are the Ribbon, over
3,000 feet; the Upper Yosemite, over 2,600 feet; the Bridal
Veil, 950 ; the Nevada, 700 ; and others equally magnificent.
The "Cap of Liberty," 4,000 feet; El Capitan, 3,000; Sen-
tinel Rock, 3,000, and others equally wonderful ; but these
must be seen to be appreciated.

The " Old Colony " delegation have met with a large
number of residents in California who came from Cape Cod,
and are displa3'ing in business the intelligence and skill
which lead to fortune, and which distinguish the natives of
the Cape. We have met with several gentlemen who were
educated at Paul Wing's School in Sandwich, an institution
which, it may be said, has for generations been distinguished
by the eminence which its numerous graduates have attained.
Among the most eminent let me name Mr. William Bradford,
who has distinguished himself as one of the best artists in
this country. At his studio we witnessed some of the very
best paintings that have ever been taken of Yosemite A^'alley.

On the whole, the excursionists from the East have enjoyed
themselves higlily ; have not been disappointed, and come to
the conclusion that California is as good as represented.

One of the palace cars, containing a portion of the visitors,
will leave San Francisco the 18th inst. for ]3oston. After
reaching Clieyenne, they will visit the city of Denver, Pueblo,
taking tlie Sante Fe Railroad through Colorado and Kansas
to Kansas City, and thence to Council Bluffs and Chicago,
with the expectation of reaching home some time during the
first week in June.

Several of the party will stop over a day at Laramie City.
At this point a large number from New England are wend-

84 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

ing tlieir way to the " Black Hills," where valuable gold and
silver mines are said to have recently been discovered. At
Laramie many of the most industrious and intelligent of the
young men of Massachusetts have located during the past
few years, some engaged in mining, others largely engaged
in supplying cattle for the Chicago market. Mr. Bacon, a
descendant of Cape Cod, and a graduate of old Harvard, is
among the most successful, and is recognized as " cattle
king " of this section. He has made a pretty little fortune
the past two years. He was at his ranch, several miles from
Laramie, upon the arrival of the party, but will meet them
while homeward bound.

At Los Angeles the " Herald " designated the ladies of
the New-England party " as characterized by an air at once
intellectual and ethereal ; " and the gentlemen have found
no fault that they have carried the palm. But everywhere,
let me conclude by saying, the press has universally spoken
complinientarily of the representatives of the "sturdy stock
of New England." This was (as might be expected) grati-
fying to those at least of your friends from the

OLD COLONY.

A PLEASANT VISIT.

The Los Angeles " Journal " said : " We enjo3^ed a very
pleasant visit yesterday evening from Gov. Head of New
Hampshire, Messrs. S. B. Phinney of Massachusetts, and
E. B. Knapp of Skaneateles, N.Y. These gentlemen form a
part of the Eastern excursion party. Mr. Phinney was
a newspaper man in Massachusetts forty years ago, when
newspaperipg was in its infancy. Mr. Knapp is correspond-
ent of the Syracuse ' Journal.' It is a pleasure to meet with
such gentlemen, representatives of the sturdy stock of New
England."

BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 85

AGRICULTURAL.

At the annual cattle-show and fair of the Barnstable
County Agricultural Society in 1878, President Perkins read
the following letter from Major Phinney, whose term, as
member of the State Board, expired Dec. 31, 1879 : —

Barnstable, Sept. 12, 1S78.
Col. a. T. Perkixs.

Dear iSir, — At the close of my present term of office, I
shall have served this Society, as a member of the State Board
of Agriculture, twelve years, — nearly one-half the time the
Board has had existence. Thanking the Society, through
you as its President, for this mark of its confidence, I have
to ask that my name sluill not be used for re-election at the
next annual meeting.

I had tlie pleasure of attending the first meeting of the
Society, thirty-five 3'ears ago ; and how sad the reflection,
that, of the sixty-three per;-ons -who then signed the consti-
tution, seventeen only of that number are now living !

The Barnstable Count}^ Society, as is everywhere admitted,
has been invaluable in advancing the cause of agiiculture in
this section of the State. But few societies, enjoying the
bounty of the State, stand higher in the estimaticjn of prac-
tical farmers, and there is none furnishing a better record.
It was organized in a community where its citizens were
largely occupied in conniiercial pursuits, and it ]e(|uired long
years of labor to establibh for it the high position it now
holds. The result has been that sailors and shipmasters
have learned both to plough the ocean and the land. This
they have done successfully. It has now enrolled more than

86 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

four hundred members; and while Thanksgiving has been
handed down to us by the fathers, as the cherished and ever-
to-be-cherished " family festival," the Barnstable Agricultu-
ral Societ}'- is the great County Festival, in which all may
join, forgetting all party names and distinctions.

The delegate of the State Board who visited this Society
nearly twenty-five years ago was surprised to find so little
fruit on exhibition, and that our citizens took so little inter-
est in the welfare of the Society ; but he had discovered that
no portion of the world had succeeded in producing so large
a number of energetic men as the sandy Cape, and that our
strength did not lie so much in the depth and fertility of the
soil, as in the moral, intellectual, and physical superiority of
her citizens. Thanks to the energies of our people, but few
societies in this Commonwealth now exhibit at their annual
fairs better fruits and vegetables, and our cattle-pens have
shown equally valuable stock. One of the marked features
of improvement and usefulness is the interest which men
of leisure — retired shipmasters and others — have manifested
in agriculture and horticulture in this section of the Old
Colon}'. Some of their homesteads have been made model
farms, and become perfect gardens, containing, as they do,
some of the choicest fruits in Massachusetts.

To a large extent, the successful culture of the cranberry
had its origin from the liberal bounties offered b}' this Soci-
ety. The culture of this fruit has so largely added to the
wealth of the county, that it is now said to exceed in value
the amount of fresh fish annually marketed from its entire
coast. The clearing of swamp and peat lands, and salt-
marshes, also had its origin by the bounty of this Society.
These were numerous and unproductive, and thousands of
acres have been made to " blossom like the rose." Hundreds
of acres now under cultivation are estimated at more than
five hundred dollars per acre. There were marketed from
the several towns in this county, last year, 34,743 barrels of
cranberries, which were considered equal if not superior to
any grown in this country. At the low price of seven dol-

BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHTNNET. 87

lars per barrel they yielded to the cultivators the sum of
$243,201.

The Barnstable County Society was also the pioneer in the
planting of the forest-tree. Thirty years ago it awarded the
late Amos Otis and myself a liberal premium for the success-
ful cultivation of the pitch-pine. This was from the planting
of the seed ; and while so many at that time thought that only
our " children's children " would live to realize any benefit
from this experiment, thousands of acres of this planting may
now be seen with trees which girth more than a man's body.
The planting was, for the most part, on common, worn-out
lands, experience having shown that the light, sandy lands of
Cape Cod could be made profitable by the propagation of the
pitch-pine. Tlie increased value of the lands thus planted
in this county is estimated at more than two millions of
dollars I

Let farmers — the tillers of the soil, — even upon the bar-
ren shores of Cape Cod, take courage. Our children must
be taught that there is nothing menial in labor. It has been
well said that ours is a glorious government, but let us not
trifle v/ith it: there is really no nobleman but the laborer,
and the time is already upon us that he who does nothing
will be nothing.

Barnstable County abounds in large fresh-water ponds,
which is another of its characteristic features. This Society,
to its credit be it said, took early measures to encourage the
propagation of fish. In some of its waters there has been
planted the black bass, and this has so far proved a success,
that they are now taken from our ponds weighing over three
pounds. The propagation of this and other species of fish
afterwards engaged the attention of our State authorities,
and it has already proved a source of great revenue. This,
in brief, is something of what has been done by this Society,
in consideration of the bounty it has received from the State.
It cannot be denied that the money has been well expended;
and let us hope that it will not be withdrawn as has been
so often advocated bv those who take but little interest in

88 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

agriculture, or see but little of the advantages growing out of
our county fairs.

In conclusion let me say one word about the financial con-
dition of this Society. The Treasurer's report in 1859-60
shows that it was then free from debt. It will be remem-
bered that some of its contributors, who aided to build its
spacious hall, and purchased its grounds, were assured that it
sJiould be kept free from debt. The report of its treasurer in
1877 shows at that time a debt of '$1,500. To aid in freeing
the Society of this incumbrance, several plans have been pro-
posed. I was joined to a committee of three some two
years ago, with yourself, Mr. President, to see if funds could
not be raised by subscription, or otherwise, for its pa3'ment.
I regret to say that thus far we have not been able to
accomplish the object. I do not despair, however, that with
renewed effort upon the part of the committee it may yet be
done. But to do this, the Society must be united at each
returning season, and not divided into petty factions and
local jealousies.

Again thanking the Society for the assurance of its long-
continued confidence, let me say that I shall be found prompt
to respond to such call of the Society as may be required to
aid in continuing its usefulness as one of the best agricultural
institutions in the State.

Very respectfully yours, etc.,

S. B. PHINNEY.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 89

UNITARIAN CONFERENCE.

At the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anni-
versary of the First Parish Church in Sandwich, on the 28th
of September, 1888, the President, Major S. B. Phinney of
Barnstable, in calling the Conference to order, said, —

Delegates and Friends, — The First Parish Church in this
town has reached its two hundred and fiftieth birthday..
We congratulate all who are assembled here to celebrate
the grand anniversary. The old meeting-house, rudely con-
structed, with shutters for windows, and its thatched roof,
offers a striking contrast to the present beautiful edifice
erected on the site of the old building. The importance of
the work of your Parish Clerk and Committee, Messrs.
Charles Dillingham, Samuel Fessenden, B. G. Bartley, and
W. A. Nye, cannot be over-estimated ; and the able address
of your pastor, the Rev. O. B. Beals, will be handed down
with an unusual degree of interest to future generations. In
giving a brief historical sketch of tliis old parish, as the
records now preserved are quite limited, we will simply state
that only eleven persons formed its nucleus. Like many
other of our parishes whose origin dates to so great antiquity,
the struggle for existence even was fearfully hard. I'lie
expenses of the same, repairs and the like, were paid at one
time in merchantable Indian corn. The minister's salary
was by iio means a cynosure, as in these days. The minister
who received twenty-five dollars a year, and half the fish he
caught in the river which ran through the town in still later
times, was a prince in comparison. Your records tell of one
of your pastors who received for his salary a deed of land

90 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY.

simply, and the drift-whales which were washed up on the
shore ; still another, the benefit of pasturing his horse in
the old burying-ground. As far back as 1722, times were a
little better, and the minister had ninety pounds and the
use of the parsonage lands and meadows. Then we have
the account of reverses again, religious differences, and law-
suits, for a period of twenty or more years. In 1747 the
church and parish had another lease of prosperity. Four
hundred pounds per year was paid a graduate of Harvard
College, Rev. Abraham Williams, who proved efficient in
restoring peace and reconciling discordant factions.

In 1787 another graduate of Harvard College, Rev.
Jonathan Burr, furthered the good cause, and established the
academy in this town, which holds so high a position to the
present day. In 1808, in connection with other discords,
the religious strife for the separation of parish and church
increased, as a crisis of events. The Methodist Society was
incorporated in 1811; the Calvinistic Society, in 1813. By
legal technicalities the majority of the church retained the
church temporalities and records. The majority claimed to
be the ancient church, holding " that a church is a distinct
body from the parish, independent of it for its existence and
exercise of its rights." The claim was sustained by the
church councils, but was overruled by the court.

At the famous trial on the general issue subsequently
before the Supreme Court at Barnstable, by Chief-Justice
Parsons, the matter was settled according to the decision of
the court.

Members and friends of the Conference assembled to-day,
we congratulate you on the successful work thus far per-
formed under our Christian organization. Gov. Winslow
wisely sanctioned and instituted the grand movement in
Sandwich, two centuries ago, which we have but furthered as
loyal descendants of Puritan ancestry. To the ladies of this
Conference, in particular, we owe more than words can express.
Their zeal and example have made certain our success. In

BIOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNEY. 91

fact, we could never have reached any thing like the present
result of things without their sympathy, their deeper social
and religious contributions, their culture and refined sen-
sibilities. There is, we believe, no better educator in the
Church, no greater reformer in the land, than woman.

As regards Unitarian principles, "those who deny to this
sect the name of Christian show only their want of acquaint-
ance with its writing and its preaching. It is very easy to
make the charge of infidelity against a religious body, but to
intelligent minds those who make this charge only exhibit
tlieir own want of charity or knowledge. Men do not build
churches, hold public worship, support ministers, and spend
money in works which look exactly like Christian works,
and are just what other churches do which call themselves
Christians, while all the time they are infidels or atheists.
There are some absurdities so patent tliat they refute them-
selves, and bring confusion upon their propliets ; and to say
that Unitarians, wlio have churches in America and England
and France and Holland and Switzerland and Germany and
Austria, and have had them for hundreds of years, who pray
in Christ's name and sing hymns in his honor, and commend
his example, and repeat his characteristic works, — to say
that a sect of this kind is not ' Christian,' is one of the
absurdities tliat would be incredible if men were not foolish
enough to utter it. A similar utterance was that of those
Pharisees who ventured to say that Jesus could not be a
propiiet of God, because he did not keep the sabbath day in
their fashion. More sensible men at once answered them
that the acts of the healer and the words of the teacher
proved sufficiently tliat he was a prophet from God. There
were ' blind leaders of the blind ' in Jud;ca eighteen lumdred
years ago, and there are blind leaders of the blind in our
time. And there are no persons whom these words of Jesus
more accurately describe than those who deny the Christian
name to a religious body of whose ideas and principles they
are ignorant, which they take no pains to know, and wlio

92 BTOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNET.

only care to foster the illusion of those who know as little
of it as themselves.

" Now, no church has principles more distinctly defined,
more universally admitted, than the Unitarian Church. The
Episcopalian or Presbyterian or Baptist or Methodist bodies
cannot be surer of their ideas than the Unitarian. There
are certain principles on which all our churches, all our
ministers, all cur men and women, are agreed, which all and
our body recognize and magnify. The first of these prin-
ciples is the grand Protestant principle of the right of
private judgment. A second principle is, that no one can be
required or expected to believe contrary to reason. A third
is, that no man is infallible. A fourth is, that no creed can
contain the whole of our religion. A fifth principle of the
Unitarian Church is, that sincere faith is the only true faith.
A sixth and last principle is, that character is better than
profession of any kind, and that profession without character
is good for nothing. The cliaructer of a man tells what he
really believes, better than his words can tell this.

" The acts of a man, his general tone of thought and habits
of life, are the expression of his real creed. We look for his
belief at what he is, and not what he says he is. We
ask for better proof than any declarations specially made.
The creed is written in the life, and the world reads it from
the man's life."

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNET. 93

VALEDICTORY.

TO THE PATRONS OF THE BARNSTABLE "PATRIOT."

The connection of the subscriber with this journal — a
connection dating from its origin — closes with this present
number [Jan. 26, 1869].

It is with no ordinary emotion that we say thus much.
Forty years ago, save one, we were led to believe that the
time had come for establishing here an Independent Jour-
nal; one devoted to the interests of this peculiar locality,
Cape Cod, — her mercantile, fishing, and the less paramount,
though still of important consideration, agricultural and man-
ufacturing interests ; and above all, at that time, the free dis-
cussion, by her sects and parties, of religion and politics.
Against this last, the only channel of public communication
within her limits was then closed. Though discouraged in
the attempt by our best friends, — who with us felt the need,
but had little faith in our ability, and feared for our failure, —
we lauilched our bark with determination and trust, and flung
out our flag of " Free Trade and Sailor's Rights," " Free Dis-
cussion " to all parties and every interest and sect, and invited
all hands to come on board.

Though o])liged to contend against weighty and angry
odds, we made steady headway from the first ; and increas-
ing confidence in ourself was warranted by the public good-
will which gathered to our aid, and cheered us on to what,
years ago, we counted as absolute success. But the vicissi-
tudes of such a career! how great and how varied! How
gratifying and joyous, how sad, — oh, sometimes how sad ! —
even amidst success, is the forty years' life of an editor

94 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SYLVAN US B. PHINNE7.

and publisher in its current passing ! how indescribable the
retrospect from its close ! But the friendships we have made
and enjoyed through our regular calling, they have been and
remain a host, thank God ! The opponents political, with
whom we have exchanged the common, and sometimes un-
common, severities of our profession, we believe, with very
few, and those very insignificant, exceptions, have left nothing
rankling to disturb their good-will towards us ; and as for
the little enmities that may be still cherished by any, they
shall not disturb us. We grant a " general amnesty " to all.

What shall we say for those who, from the first, have so
nobly stood by us, in all parts of the county, helping us con-
tinually with their patronage and their generous favors, as
if they would every day say to us, " Go on, God prosper
you "? They are many, and they have our hearty thanks.

Those who have still more nearly and more constantly —
some of them in our earlier, and some in years later — stood
by and been as our right hand to us in our arduous duties,
— of these, one, the nearest and dearest, to whom we could
always turn, and on whom we could ever rely for editorial
aid and personal counsel, has fallen from our side by the way,
leaving us the loveliest example of a good life and an ever-
pleasant memory. Others still remain, and long ma}- they,
with life's best blessings around them, to receive our con-
stant, heartfelt gratitude.

We can but glance at the changes made by the lapse of the
period we speak of, in the aifairs of the community around
us and in the large public circle. The second-liand press and
old font of type with which we published the first " Patriot,"
loaned us by our old master, the Hon. Xathan Hale of blessed
memory, were brought to us by packet from Boston ; and
our paper to print upon, the first winter, was transported
therefrom upon stage-coach top. The railroad, years ago,
supplanted both packet and stage-coach. In our first num-
ber the necessity for a marine railway across Cape Cod at
Hyannis, or a canal at Buzzard's Bay, was seriously discussed.

BTOGRAPniCAL SKETCH OF STLVANUS B. PHINNEY. 95

Now the daily steam freiglit and packet coasters around the
Cape have put to rest all projects for crossing lots. The
increase in navigation and in thrift of our towns and vil-
lages ; the improvement in agriculture ; the great change in
the system of education, and the earnest public interest
awakened to it, — these all have had our constant advocacy.
And may we not claim that in the enlightenment of the pub-
lic sentiment, the diffusion of liberal ideas, the softening of
religious asperities, and the inculcation of Democratic prin-
ciples in the county, the " Patriot " has been pre-eminently
a pioneer and co-worker?

In the cause of our country, in contest with her foreign
foe, or, later, in that for her own unity and integrity, tlie
"Patriot" was ever true to its name and its professions.
And to tlie Democratic principles of government it has
given constant support with all the efficiency it could com-
mand.

With the editorial fraternity, far and wide, we have, with
scarcely an exception, ever been on the pleasantest terms,
and secured their constant courtesy and gratifying encour-
agement. To them we would extend our parting tliankful-
ness in sincerity. And, patrons of the " Patriot," ever so
ready witli your support, your good wishes, and your sympa-
thies, we cannot adequately express to you the mingled emo-
tions of gratitude and regret with which we take our leave
of these columns, the common ground on which we have
weekly met for so long a portion of our lifetime. God grant
that our recollections of the past may be mutually agreeable,
altogether, during the remainder of our lives !

Our successors are not strangers to the county nor to their
business, and we are gratified in the belief that they have
ability and determination to continue the "Patriot" — what
we have ever endeavored to make it — a valuable commercial
and family newspaper, still the advocate of good morals,
always o[)en to religious toleration. That the new editors
and proprietors will have the best interests of the community

96 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF STL VAN US B. PHINNEY.

at heart, and that, in their hands, the righteous cause of
Democratic conservatism will never suffer; thus believing,
we hopefully invite your continual patronage to the " Patriot,"
trusting in the future you will find it even more acceptable
and useful than hitherto.

S. B. PHINNEY.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES

THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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