HISTORY
-OF-
JfiARNSTABLE ^UNTY,
MASSACHUSETTS.
1620
I I I
1637-
1686
III .
1890
Edited by
SIMKON L. DEYO.
Special Contri'butors:
Hon. Charles F. Swift,
Capt. Thomas Prince Howes,
Rev. N. H. Chamberlain,
E. S. Whittemore, Esq.,
JosiAH Paine,
Prof. S. A. Holton,
Charles Dillingham,
Prof. John H. Dillingham,
James Gifford,
George N. Munsell, M. D.,
Judge James H. Hopkins,
Joshua H. Paine,
Rev. Thomas Bell,
F. A. Rogers, M.D.
ILLUSTRATED
1890.
Reprinted by -
HIGGINSON BOOK COMPANY
148 Washington Street, Post OfBce Box 778
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INTRODUCTION.
In presenting to the people of Barnstable county this history, it is
hoped that it will meet with the favorable reception which the earnest
and conscientious labors of its compilers merit. It will be seen by an
examination of the work that nine important chapters, besides many
other valuable articles in it, were prepared by well-known citizens of
the county, and it is believed that their names will be considered a
guaranty that every reasonable eflfort has been made to secure accu-
racy in the many details which constitute a history.
Names of the special contributors appear in the work, but oppor-
tunity is taken here to return thanks for the generous response with
which requests for information have also been met by the clerks of
the different towns, ofiBcers of societies, editors, clergymen and others
who were in possession of special information that was desired.
Particular acknowledgement is due for the valuable assistance
of George E. Clarke, of Falmouth; Charles Dillingham, of Sand-
wich ; Calvin Burgess, of Bourne ; Ferdinand G. Kelley, of Barnsta-
ble ; Joshua C. Howes and Watson F. Baker, of Dennis ; Levi Atwood,
of Chatham ; Captain Alfred Kenrick and David L. Young, of Orleans ;
Simeon Atwood, of Wellfleet ; and to Mr. Clark, of Eastham, who care-
fully criticised and corrected the respective town manuscripts sub-
mitted to them.
The biographical sketches, for the most part, have been arranged
alphabetically at the end of the several chapters. The large number
of these sketches has necessitated as brief treatment as the circum-
stances would warrant. No pains have been spared to make this de-
partment accurate, and it is believed that it constitutes an interesting
portion of the work, which will increase in value with the lapse of
years.
IV INTRODUCTION.
A new feature and one of interest, is a map showing the location
of the various Indian tribes and their villages, which were spread
over the Cape prior to its settlement by the whites. Another map,
in its proper place, will enable the reader at a glance to learn the
dates of settlement and incorporation of the respective towns, and as
a ready reference will be of great value. These maps were specially
drawn for this work by the editor.
While some unimportant errors may, perhaps, be found amid the
multitude of details entering into the composition of a work of this
character, it is believed that this result of the historians' labor will
be found as free from mistakes as a work of this kind can well be
made, and in behalf of these historians is asked the generous indul-
gence of those who may be disposed to criticise.
New York, June, 1890.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
TOPOGRAPHY AND OKOLOGY. PAGE
Location and Boundaries. — Geological Formation. — Contour of the Coast. — Surface
and Soil. — The Flora of the Cape. — Effect of the Landscape on the Character
of the Cape Men 1
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN HISTORY.
Origin. — Manners. — Customs. — Religion. — Cape' Indians. — Their Villages. — Their
Tribes. — Map. — Kindness. — Subjugation. — Decrease. — Extinction. — Legends.... 12
CHAPTER III.
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION.
Early Discovery of the Cape. — Explorations by Gosnold and Dermer. — The Pilgrims.
— The Mayflower in Cape Cod Harbor. — Explorations by the Pilgrims. — Com-
pact Signed. — Plymouth. — The Lost Boy. — Post at Manomet. — Great Storm. —
Declaration of Rights. — First Settlement of the Cape by the Whites. — Sandwich,
Barnstable, Yarmouth and Nauset. — Erection of County 20
CHAPTER IV.
CHARTERS, GRANTS AND INDIAN DEEDS.
Spanitih Claims. — Cabot's Discoveries. — Plymouth Company. — Council of Plymouth.
—The Pilgrims.— Patent of 1629-30.— Settlement of the Cape Towns and Pur-
chases from the Indians. — Charter of 1691 82
CHAPTER V.
CrVIL HISTORY AND INSTITDTIONS.
Basis of Civil Government. — Erection of the County. — Political History. — Council-
lors. — Senators. — Representatives. — Sheriffs. — Registers. — County Institutions.
— Federal Institutions. — Custom House. — Lighthouses. — Life Saving Service .. . 38
CHAPTER VI.
MILITARY HISTORY.
New England Confederation.— First Indian Troubles.— King Philip's War.— French
and Indian Wars.- The Revolution.— Shay's Rebellion.— War of 1812 62
VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
MIIJTABY HISTORY (concluded). PAGE
The cavil War.— The Election of Lincohi and the Fall of Sumter.— The first Call
for Three- Months' Men.— Response from the Cape Towns. — War Meetings. — Sub-
sequent Calls.— Bounties.-Enlistments.— Return of the Volunteers.— G. A. R.
Posts. — Monuments 8ft
CHAPTER VIII.
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION.
Packet Lines.— Mail Route and Stage Coaches.— Railroads.— Express Lines. — Tele-
graph and Cable Lines.— The Telephone Service 110
CHAPTER IX.
INDUSTRIAl. RESOURCES.
The Fisheries. — Coasting. — Shipbuilding. — Manvifacturing. — Saltmaking. — Agricul-
ture. — Cranberry Culture. — Summer Resorts. — Yachting 180
CHAPTER X.
THE SOCIETY OP FRIENDS.
General View of the Rise and Course of their Principles in BamBtable County.—
The Society in Sandwich.— Newell Hoxie.— The Society in Yarmouth.— David
K. Akin.— The Society in Falmouth.— The Dillingham Family 157
CHAPTER XI.
BENCH AND BAR.
The Judiciary of the County.— First Courts.- Formation of the Province of Massa-
chusetts Bay. — Revision of the Judiciary. — Courts of the Revolutionary Period.
—Early Magistrates.— Judges of the Court of Common Pleas.— Court of County
Commissioners.- Probate Courts.— Trial Justices.-The Bar of Barnstable County.
—Lawyers, Past and Present.- Law Library Association.- District Courts 19ft
CHAPTER XU.
MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Introduction.— Barnstable District Medical Society.— Sketches of Physicians, Past
and Present. — Medical Examiners 221
CHAPTER Xin.
LITERATTTEK AND LITEEARY PEOPLE. .
Early Writers.- Freeman's History of Cape Cod.— Other Local Works.— Poetry.—
Fiction.— Occasional Writers.- The Newspapers of Barnstable County 24&
CHAPTER XIV.
SANDWICH.
Location and Description.— Settlement and Early Growth.- List of Inhabitants in
1730.— Continued Advancement.— Firing the Woods.— The Town's Poor.— The
Revolutionary Period.- The Present Century.- Villages.— Civil History.—
Churches.— Schools.— Societies.— Cemeteries —Biographical Sketches 264
CONTENTS. Vll
CHAPTER XV. ,
BOUBNE. PAGE
Trading Post on Monument River. — Indian Hamlets. — Natxiral Features. — Land Pur-
chasee. — Settlement and Early Events. — Formation of the Second Precinct. —
Salt Works. — Shipbuilding. — Early Mills. — Ship Canal. — Erection of the Town
of Bourne. — Town Affairs. — Churches. — Schools. — The Villages and their Insti-
tutions. — Biographical Sketches 838
CHAPTER XVI.
BAENBTABLK.
Natiiral Features. — Early Industries. — Settlement. — Indian Lands and Names. —
Names of Settlers. — Incorporation. — Purchase from Indians. — County Road. —
Early Mills. — Common Lands. — The Revolution. — War of 1812. — Population. —
Schools. — Civil History. — Churches. — Cemeteries and Villages. — Societies. —
Biographical Sketches 864
CHAPTER XVU.
TAKMOUTH.
Location and Characteristics. — Settlement. — The Grantees and Early Settlers. —
Early Events and Customs. — The Revolutionary Period. — Division of the Town.
— War of 1812. — Subsequent Events. — Taverns and Hotels. — Churches. — Schools.
— Civil Lists. — The Villages, their Industries and Institutions. — Biographical
Sketches 468
CHAPTER XVm.
DENNIS.
Natural Features. — First Settlers of Nobscusset. — Incorporation. — Development. —
Industries. — Churches. — Cemeteries. — Schools.— Civil History. — The Villages,
their Industries and Institutions. — Biographical Sketches 607
CHAPTER XrX.
CHATHAM.
Natural Features. — Settlement. — Incorporation. — Early Town Action. — Town Poor.
— Town House.— Industries. — Ordinaries. — Lighthouses and Life Saving Sta-
tions. — MaU and Express Business. — Burying Grounds. — Present Condition. —
Chtirches. — Schools.— Civil History.- The Villages and their Institutions. —
Biographical Sketches 578
CHAPTER XX.
FALMOUTH.
Description. — Indians. — Settlement. — Incorporation. — Growth and Progress. — The
Revolution.— Early Industries.- War of 1812.— Civil War.— Subsequent Events
and Present Condition. — Civil Lists. — Churches. — Schools. — Cemeteries. — Vil-
lages. — Biographical Sketches 683
CHAPTER XXL
MABHFEE.
Location and Description. — Natural Feattires. — Early Events. — Incorporation as a
District. — Civil History. — Town of Mashpee. —Church tind Parish. — Schools. —
Mashpee Manufacturing Company. — Military Service. — Some Prominent Repre-
sentatives. — Industries. — Biographical Sketches 707
Vlll CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXn.
EASTHAH. PAGE
Territory of the Nausets.— Purchase of the Lands.— Settlement and Incorporation
of Nauset.— The Present Town of Eastham.— Natural Features.— Early Settlers.
— Urowth and Progress. — Industries. — Civil History. — Churches. — Burying
Places.— SchoolB.—Villages.— Biographical Sketches. 730
CHAPTEB XXm.
ORLEANS.
Orleans before its Division from Eastham. — Incorporation. — Natural Featut«s. —
Wreck of the Sparrowhawk.— Roads.- Early Settlers.— Various Events. —Indus-
tries.— Churches.— Cemeteries.— Schools.— Civil History.— Villages.— Biograph-
ical Sketches 747
CHAPTER XXrV.
• WELLFLEET.
Formation and Description.- Pioneers.- Early Town Action.— The Revolution. —
War of 1813.— The Fisheries.-Population.— King's Highway.— The Eastham
Line.— Town House.— ShipbuUding.— Town Records.— Life Saving Station and
Lighthouse.- Early Business Interests.- Wind Mills.— Civil History.— Schools. —
Churches.— Cemeteries.— Wellfleet Village.— South Wellfleet.— Biographical
Sketches 787
i CHAPTER XXV.
HABWIOH.
Incorporations-Description.— Natural Features.— Division of the Land.— The Set-
tlers.— The Fisheries.- The Salt Industry.— Cranberry Culture.— Religious Soci-
eties. — Official History.— Schools.— The Villages and their Various Institutions.
—Biographical Sketches 885
CHAPTER XXVI.
BREWSTER.
Incorporation.— Natural Features.— Purchase and Division of the Land. — The First
Settlers and their Families.— Industries.— Population.— The Militia.— Religious
Societies.— Villages.— Civil Lists.- Meteorological Condition.— Biographical
Sketches 891
CHAPTER XXVn.
TRURO.
Exploration by the Pilgrims.- Proprietors of the Pamet Lands.- Incorporation of
Truro.- Boundaries.- Natural Feanrres.— King's Highway.— Pounds.— Indns-
tries.- The Wreck of the Somerset.— The Revolution.— Oale of 1841.— Various
Town Affairs.— Civil History.— Churches.-Burying Grounds.— Schools.-Vil-
lages.— Biographical Sketches. 933
CHAPTER XXVin.
PROVINCETOWN.
Early Explorations.— The Pilgrims.— Location and Characteristics.- First Settle-
ment.— Incorporation. — Civil History. — Resources of the Town. — Banks. — Insur-
ance Companies.- Public Library.— Societies.— Churches.— Schools.— Biograph-
ical Sketches 951-1010
CONTENTS. IX
ILLUSTRATIONS. ''-
PAGE
Akin, David K Portrait of, facing 183
Akin, David K Late residence of, facing 181
Ames. Simeon L Portrait of, facing 419
Ancient Grave Stones Barnstable Cemetery 398
Attaquin, Solomon Portrait of, facing 715
Atwood.Levi ." " " 607
Atwood, Nathaniel E " " 895
Atwood, Simeon " " 813
Baker.EzraH " " 588^
Baker, Howes " " 686^
Baker, Joseph K " " 54ft
Baker, Nehemiah P " " 67?
Bass River Lower Bridge Precedes 558
Baxter, Edwin Portrait of, facing 64?
Bearse, Charles C
Bourne, Benjamin F.
Boy den, William E. . .
Brooks, Obed
Burgess, Nathaniel. . .
Burgess, Beth S Portrait of , foUows 850
Burgess, Seth S Residence of, precedes 861
Bursley, Daniel P Portrait of, follows 428
Bursley, Daniel P Residence of, precedes 428
Cahoon, Barzillai C Residence of, facing 681
Gaboon, Cyrus Portrait of, facing 866
Chapman, David S Portrait of , follows 54^
Chapman, Mrs. Sallie E Residence of, precedes
42-1
345
808
868
848
646
Chase, Albert Portrait of, facing 424
Chase, Job " " 868
Court House *^
Crosby, Albert Residence of, facing 915
Crosby, Isaac Portrait of, facing 916
Crosby, Nathan " " ^14
CroweU, Edward E " " 546
CroweU, Eleazer K " " 548
CrbweU, Joshua " " 549
Crowell, Luther " " 551
CroweU, Peter H Portrait of, follows 553
Crowell, Peter H Residence of, precedes 558
CroweU, Prince S Portrait of , facing 564
CroweU, Seth Portrait of 560
CroweU, Rev. Simeon Portrait of , facing 492
CroweU, Waiiam " " 556
X CONTENTS.
PAGE
Dexter House Woods Holl, facing 671
Dillingham, John H Portrait of, facing 195
Doane, Abiathar " " 874
Doane, George W., M.D " " 225
Doane, John " " 210
Doane, Nathaniel " " 870
Doane, Oliver Portrait of, follows 770
Doane, VtQentine, jr Residence of, facing 878
Doane Homestead Orleans, precedes 771
Drew, George P Residence of, facing 877
Edson, Nathan Portrait of , follows 428
Edson, Nathan Residence of, precedes 429
Eldridge, Levi Portrait of, facing 618
Freeman, Richard R " " 817
Friends Meeting House Sandwich 175
Friends Meeting House West Falmouth 191
Friends Meeting House . . Yarmonth 181
Fish, Joseph C Portrait of, facing 687
Fisk, David " " 45
Fisk, Uriah B Residence of, facing 558
Ginn, David R., M.D ' " 868
Ginn's Bazaar Dennis Port, facing 86$
Goss, Franklin B Portrait of, facing 481
Gould, Samuel H., M.D " " 280
Hamblin, Caleb O Portrait of, follows 690
Hamblin, Caleb O Residence of, precedes 691
Hamblin, John C Portrait of, facing 692
Harding, Hiram '. " " 618
Harding, Joseph C " " 617
Harriman, Judge Hiram P " " 212.
Headstones, Ancient. Barnstable 398
Hoi way, David N Portrait of, facing 811
Howard, Ezra C " " 356
Howes, Jerusha S Residence of, precedes 563
Howes, Joshua C Portrait of, facing 561
Howes, Levi " " 666
Howes, Moses Portrait of, follows 562
Howes, Thomas Prince Portrait of, facing 255
Howes, William F " " 564
Hoxie, Joseph " " , , 316
Hoxie, Newell " " 178
Hoiie, Susan F Residence of, facing 175
Hnlbert, Chauncy M., M.D Portrait of, facing 232
Incorporation Map 89
Indian Map 15
lyanough House '. 411 '
CONTENTS. xi
PAGE
Jones, Silas Portrait of, facing 695
Keith, Isaac N " " 43
Keith, Isaac N Residence of, facing 341
Kelley, Ferdinand G Portrait of, facing 438
KeUey, Stilhnan " <• 568
Kelley, Watson B " " 879
Kemp, Samuel W " " 818
Kenrick, Alfred " " 774
Kingman, Seth K " " 777
Leonard, Jonathan, M.D " " 235
Lighthouse, Ruins of Chatham 594
Lombard, David Portrait of, facing 948
Loring, Hiram " " 570
Lothrop, Freeman H " " 215
Lovell, UjTenuB A Residence of, facing 440
Lovell, George Portrait of, facing 441
Lower Bass River Bridge Precedes 553
Makepeace, Abel D Portrait of, facing 442
Marston, RuBseU " " 444
Matthews, David " " 496
Mingo, Walter R Residence of, facing 719
Munsell, George N., M.D Portrait of, facing 286
Nickerson, Frederick " " ' 919
Nickerson, Samuel M " " 625
NobscuBsett House Dennis, facing 155
Nye, David D Portrait of, facing 358
Nye, WilUam A Residence of, facing 339
Packard, William E Portrait of, facing 860
Penniman, Edward " " 742
Phinney, Abishia " " 700
Rogers, F. A., M.D " " 242
Salt Works, Ruins of South Yarmouth 143
" Sandy Side " Yarmouth Port, facing 479
Scudder, Judge Henry A Portrait of, facing 217
Sears, Barnabas (deceased) " " 499
Sears, Barnabas Residence of, facing 484
Sears, John K Portrait of, facing 500
Sears, Joshua Portrait of, follows 572
Sears, Mrs. Minerva Residence of, precedes 573
Sears, Nathan Portrait of, facing 574
Sears, Stephen " " 502
Sears Homestead ! South Yarmouth, facing 484
Settlement Map of Barnstable County 39
Shiverick, Asa Portrait of , facing 702
Simpkins, Nathaniel Stone " " 604
Simpkins Homestead Yarmouth Port, facing 480
Xll CONTENTS.
PAGE
SmaU, Zebiua H Portrait of, facing 886
Smith, Rufus •• " 627
Snow, Calvin " " 782
Soule, Thomas H., jr Hotel Hyannis 411
Sparrow, Benjamin C, Supt Portrait of, facing 59
Swett, James Portrait of, facing 828
" Tawasentha" Brewster, facing 915
Taylor, Elisha Portrait of, faqing 506
Taylor, Joseph << " 786
Tobey, F. B Hotel, facing 155
Tobey Homestead Dennis, facing 511
Young, Jonathan Portrait of, facing 786
HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY.
Location and Boundaries. — Geological Formation. — Contour of the Coast. — Surface and
Soil. — The Flora of the Cape. — Effect of the Landscape on the Character of the
.Cape Men.
THE peninsula forming the southeastern extremity of Massachu-
setts, and embraced within the present county of Barnstable, is
better known as Cape Cod. It extends easterly into the Atlantic
forty miles, thence northerly thirty-five miles to its extremity in north
latitude 42°, 4'.
The geographical name it bears was first applied in 1602, by Gos-
nold, to its most northern portion. Its position, contour and import-
ance early earned the sobriquet of " The Right Arm of Massachusetts,"
which it appropriately bears, having its shoulder, elbow, wrist and
hand symbolically poised over the deep, as if beckoning the dispirited
pilgrims to cross over and rest safely under the palm; and pointing
toward Plymouth, indicating the haven where should be planted the
seeds of civil and religious liberty that should bloom to the admira-
tion of the world. It has Plymouth county and Buzzards bay for its
western boundary. Vineyard and Nantucket sounds for its southern,
the ocean for the eastern, and Cape Cod bay for the northern boundary,
being twenty miles in width across the shoulder, tapering to eight
at the elbow, two at the wrist, and then widening to a hand.
Its geological formation has been hastily considered by scientific
writers, who have recorded various and varying conclusions — perhaps
facts — which may be modified by more minute researches in the future
light of science; but thus far the man who, after Agassiz, knows most
about the subject, says that a great interrogation point might be
appropriately set against the whole topic, to denote as yet an unan-
swered inquiry, but it is gratifying to know that a gentleman of the
United States Geological Survey spent the past year on and about the
Cape, from whose reports a valuable and more conclusive opinion will
1
2 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
in due time be published by the government. It is, however, conceded
that the Cape is wholly, or so far as yet determined, of drift; but some
of the strata may prove by future research to belong to the tertiary
or upper mesozoic, still there is no lithological or paleontological evi-
dence of any claim to a position below the first division of the last
glacial period. The depth of this drift was thought, by Professor
Agassiz, to be forty feet; but upon the extreme north end of the Cape
an artesian well was recently sunk 140 feet without touching stratified
rock, yet it is possible that the point at Provincetown, where this
well was sunk, may have been extended by sand deposits, and that
the body of the peninsula may have a different substrata, j^et unde-
termined as to its formation.
Another evidence of its glacial formation is seen in the well-defined
moraines with which the Cape abounds, the most marked being the
great central ridge. The Buzzards bay branch of the moraine com-
mences at the Elizabeth islands and extends in a northerly direction
along the east side of the bay to the town of Bourne, where it turns
easterly, continuing along the northerly side of the Cape into Orleans;
and Doctor Hitchcock defines the broken undulations of Truro and
Wellfleet as parts of a continuous moraine of a distinctive character.
From the morainic angle at Bourne, extending to the northward, is
the Plymouth moraine, of which only the southern continuation per-
tains to this county. Between Woods HoU and Bourne the moraine
presents an unbroken line of ridges, which is continued east as far as
Yarmouth, then we find this morainal ridge interrupted by gaps, and
in Brewster and Orleans losing the distinctive morainal characteristics
by the overwashing and overriding of water and ice.
The boulders deposited along and upon the Buzzards bay and east-
ern moraine are further evidence of glacial formation. That of Buz-
zards bay has this deposit of boulders on both sides, and on the east
and central they are more thickly strown on the northern face, except
in the town of Dennis, where they were deposited more along the
apex. Brought here in the glittering chariots of ancient icebergs —
those most wonderful, uncommon carriers — these huge masses of
Quincy granite, with others from perhaps north of Labrador, left
their failing vehicle as it weakened under the quiet influence of the
gulf stream — that other most wonderful of Nature's agencies — and so
here we find them extending into Orleans and more or less along the
top of the ridge the entire extent of the moraine; but the south slope
is comparatively free from those of any significance. Many are
deeply imbedded in the drift, and some are found within the salt
marshes. Some have well rounded forms, others are split, and still
others are eroded into weird shapes, bearing the seeming footprints of
man and animals on their upper surfaces. A large boulder in the
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. o
west part of Brewster is called Rent rock because of its peculiar dis-
memberment; another in Eastham is of suflBcient altitude to be of use
as a landmark for seamen; and the granite boulder of the town of
Barnstable has been perpetuated in history as the place of the first
town meeting and church service for the Puritan settlers. The hard,
blue clay vein which has been thought to underlie the upper Cape,
crops out near the great swamp on the bay side of Truro, and running
across that town in a northeasterly direction, forms the clay banks at
the Highland Light, where the bluflf shore bank of almost solid clay
rises over one hundred feet above the tide.
The contour of the Cape presents various indentations by bays and
harbors, with their intervening bars and points, which are more or
less changing yearly. Accompanied by the reader, let us pass around
its perimeter, commencing at the head of Buzzards bay. Nothing of
note is discernable here at the head of the bay, but two miles south
we find the mouth of Monument river, where the Dutch trading vessels
visited the post of the pilgrims; and around a point just below is Back
River harbor — one terminus of the proposed ship canal. Wenaumet
neck is a prominent peninsula extending into the bay, giving protec-
tion to Red Brook harbor on its south, which opens into Cataumet
harbor, between Bourne and Falmouth. The indentations along the
Falmouth coast on the bay are Wild harbor on the north and Hog
island two miles below. Quisset harbor is north of Woods Holl, from
which the coast runs irregularly southwest, terminating in Long neck,
enclosing Great harbor. The coast from the head of the bay to Woods
Holl is fringed with salt marshes of more or less extent, the Falmouth
shore being bold and sandy, with a distribution of boulders.
In our course along the Vineyard sound coast we find Little harbor
south of Woods Holl, where the buoy depot of the government is
located, and here we also find the boldest portion of the south shore
of the Cape. The various ponds and bays of the Falmouth coast run-
ning far into the town, have not suflBcient depth at their mouths to
form harbors until we reach Waquoit bay which, in high tide, is used
by vessels of light draught. Eastward, around the sandy shore of
Mashpee, is Popponesset bay, the dividing line between that town
and Barnstable — a bay used for small shipping and enclosing Little
and Great necks of Mashpee. Around the neck comprising that part
of Barnstable known as Cotuit we find on the east side, Cotiiit bay,
enclosing Oyster island and opening into Great bay, which is further
inland. New harbor. Squaw island and Hyannis harbor complete the
south coast of Barnstable in its circuitous course easterly, the latter
harbor opening into Lewis bay, which is safe and commodious, with
Point Gammon for its protection on the south. This coast is low and
sandy, undergoing frequent change, and Dog-fish bar has formed,
4 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
extending several miles eastward to opposite the Bass River harbor,
between Yarmouth and Dennis. The bays and coves of Bass river
form anchorage for fishing vessels, and the harbor at its mouth is
important. The bays along the coast of Dennis and Harwich are
inconsiderable, yet by the southward bend of Harding's beach on the
Chatham coast and the southwestern extension of Monomoy point
these towns have ample anchorage. East of the beach named is Stage
harbor, spreading its arms into the town of Chatham, all of which
have safe anchorage inside when the bar across the mouth is safely
passed at high water.
The elbow of the Cape, at Chatham, is perhaps subjected to more
changes from shifting sands than other points. New shores and bars
form and disappear by the action of the waters of the ocean and sound,
which are here at right angles. Monomoy, extending several miles
toward Nantucket, has been greatly enlarged by the filling of the salt
marsh along its western edge, and the southern extremity is gradually
extending by these accumulations, this beach now being several miles
in length and one-half mile or more in width. Through this beach, in
1807, when the first light was erected in Chatham, was an entrance for
vessels to a safe anchorage within, which has been since practically
destroyed. The Yarmouth Register of November 7, 1874, speaks of
the ravages of old ocean here as removing three-fourths of a mile in
length from Nauset beach, of its washing away in 1872 two hundred
feet in length of the government landing, and of further ravages in
1873, which necessitated the removal of government buildings and
private residences. The shore of Chatham is a sandy bluff on the
Atlantic coast until we reach Old harbor at North Chatham, where,
about the middle of the century, the sea broke through the outer
beach, reopened a former navigable channel, which, after a very few
years, was again filled with sand. The mouth of Pleasant bay, between
Chatham and Orleans, formerly admitted large vessels, which now
its shallowness precludes. Continuing north we pass the high,
unbroken, sandy beach of Orleans, arriving at Nauset harbor, where
navigation is also now impeded by drifting sands. Here was carried
far inland by storm the English vessel to whose passengers the people
of Plymouth gave aid. From this harbor northward along the east
shore of Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown the bold, sandy shore
is unbroken by bays until we reach Race Point neck. Passing the
islands and doubling Long Point neck, we find a harbor gradually fill-
ing with sand, although the government has made liberal appropria-
tions for its preservation, and the commonwealth has enacted penal
laws for the protection of the trees that lessen the ravages. In 1850
the legislature of the state called the attention of congress to the
continual drifting of the sand and the gradual abrasion of the
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 5
beach, which, if allowed to continue, must effectually destroy the
harbor.
The only considerable opening along the west coast of Truro is
East harbor, in the north part of that town, as we commence our sur-
vey southward on the west shore. In the south part, near Truro vil-
lage, at the mouth of Pamet river is a small harbor, and along the
coast of Wellfleet we find Duck harbor, but not until we have passed
the islands outside of Wellfleet harbor do we find anchorage for ves-
sels of any tonnage, and here in a land-locked haven. Wellfleet harbor
is the largest on the bay side of the Cape, having Duck and Black-fish
creeks emptying into it, both forming other harbors of lesser capacity.
Along the coast of Eastham we find some saltmar.<;h around the mouth
of Herring river and to the southward, but no harbors of importance.
The short stretch of Orleans situate on the bay has very small open-
ings at Rock harbor and Namskaket and a wide, sandy beach, which
is continued along the north coast of Brewster, with high uplands a
short distance inland. The mouth of another Herring brook near
Quivet creek presents the only indentation along the Brewster shore
beyond the small curvatures. Sesuet harbor and Nobscusset being
passed on the Dennis coast, we arrive at Bass hole, where, with a small
harbor, commences the salt marsh which fringes the short shore' line,
of Yarmouth, extending along the south side of Barnstable harbor
and terminating in the Great marshes. Sandy neck extends easterly
from Scorton, in Sandwich, nearly across the town of Barnstable, ter-
minating about one mile from the coast of Yarmouth, between which
points we find the mouth of the harbor. Along the only sea coast of
Sandwich we find Scorton neck, Scorton harbor. Spring hill, Sandwich
and Scusset harbors, with a low, marshy beach. Passing along the
short extent of beach belonging to the town of Bourne, which has no
indentations, we reach Peaked cliff, the northern terminus of the
boundary line between Plymouth and Barnstable counties, which line
passes southwesterly across the foot of Herring pond to the point from
whence began our journey of observation.
The peculiar position of the Cape, extending far out from the
general line of the Atlantic coast, greatly impedes and endangers
navigation, and this fact is intensified by the drifting sands which are
so constantly changing and re-forming shoals. Notwithstanding the
several lighthouses on its points, lightships on the outer bars, the
many carefully placed buoys and the constant vigils of the govern-
ment ofl&cials, the Cape and its vicinity, more than any other on the
Atlantic coast, is the dread of the mariner.
The consideration of the surface and soil of the county, than which
no physical features have been more changed, would naturally con-
clude this chapter. The condition of the Cape when first seen by
6 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Gosnold in 1602, was sandy shores, bluffs inland and thickly wooded.
The pilgrims, after anchoring in Cape Cod harbor, found " it was com-
passed about to the very sea with oaks, pines, juniper, sassafras and
other sweet wood." Here are the huge stumps whose trees a century
and a half ago gave reason for the locality name — Wood End, and
along the bay coast of Dennis and far out in the receding sands may
be seen the stumps and the 'remains of fallen trunks of giant trees,
black with decay; and no one knows how long they have been pre-
served by the saline qualities of the water, or when or how they were
felled. The coasts of other towns, to a greater or less degree, reveal
a similar condition of the primeval forests. That the entire Cape was
once a noble forest there can be little or no question.
The surface is diversified with undulations of varied heights and
depths— the uplands mostly covered with small pines and oaks, and
the depressions with ponds of fresh water, of which but few have a
a visible inlet or outlet. It is estimated that the area of the Cape
ponds exceeds thirty -seven thousand acres. The 174 more important
ones, containing over fifteen square miles, or about one-fourth the
total pond area, are noticed by name in the town chapters following.
Of these Bourne has fifteen, covering 356 acres; Sandwich seven, of
616 acres; Falmouth sixteen, 688; Mash pee six, 1,420; Barnstable
twenty-seven, 1,706; Yarmouth fifteen, 564; Dennis twelve, 441; Brews-
ter twenty-five, 2,093; Harwich ten, 435; Chatham thirteen, 280; Or-
leans five, 213; Eastham five, 223; Wellfleet six, 225; Truro five, 108;
and Provincetown seven ponds, aggregating 255 acres. The salt
ponds connected with the extensive line of coast, together with the
bays, the coves, and the small fresh water ponds without name and
almost without number, would greatly increase the area. Salt'
marshes fringe the coasts, the largest being the great marshes of
Barnstable. The reclamation of these has been advocated and the
experiment tried in every generation; and more than once has the
legislature granted corporate powers to those who thought the result
attainable. These marshes are flooded twice a day at high tide, and
when fairly green are as beautiful as a well-kept lawn. In time, as
the marshes gather, the soil becomes higher and firmer, the grass
finer, and the product is highly valued for the cattle, as salt hay. Of
these salt meadows a considerable portion has been converted to the
production of English hay by the generations of this century.
Even the surface of the Cape has undergone changes that hardly
seem credible. Captain Southack in 1717, who, as a government
agent, was sent out to search for the pirate ship Whida, wrecked on
the back side of the Cape, made a map of a channel across from sea to
sea as it then existed nearly on the line between Orleans and East-
ham; and on this channel he marked a whaleboat with this note:
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 7
"The place where I came through with a whaleboat, being ordered
by ye government to look after ye pirate ship Whida, Bellame com-
mander, cast away ye 26th of April 1717, where I buried one hundred
and two men drowned." It is generally accepted that this channel
was made by that gale, and the early records show that it required a
general turnout of the people and great labor to close it. Other low
and narrow places have been similarly changed by great storms.
During the severe storm of 1872, not only was a deep, wide channel
cut through the outer beach opposite the Chatham light, but the gov-
ernment property was washed out ninety feet inland to a depth of
thirty feet, unearthing a peat bog in which, around a large stump,
were the tracks of six human beings. George Eldridge, the hydro-
grapher, described these tracks as of different sizes and says that tufts
of coarse animal hair had been impressed into the clayey surface of
the soil near the stump, upon which were other tufts where the animal
had rubbed. The spot was soon again covered with drifting sands.
Of the fifteen towns comprising the county, Chatham and Province-
town are the most affected by the sands from wind and wave; but Or-
leans, Eastham, Wellfleet and Truro experience more or less of these
changes, and the upper towns are not entirely free from them. The
denuded knolls that generations ago were well timbered, have been
exposed to the ravages of heavy winds, blowing the finer and better
soil into the bogs and depressions, or into the salt marshes and har-
bors, thus perceptibly changing the surface. To save the harbors and
retain the soil, public and private efforts have been turned to planting
the uplands with forest trees, which labor is being crowned with suc-
cess.
The soil is diversified with portions alluvial and others diluvial,
and once the surface was richly covered with vegetable mould; but
the sand, cut adrift from its fibrous moorings and the long cultivation
of the virgin soil without the return of an honest equivalent, has
greatly reduced its fertility. It is still largely productive in every
way by later and better methods of compensating in some way for the
depreciation caused by successive crops, as is now practised in every
county where agriculture is successful. The upper towns of the Cape
have more or less loam and clay in their soils, which are consequently
stronger, while the lower towns have a lighter soil but as productive
under proper cultivation. About the creeks, marshes and swamps are
found rich deposits sufficient to make the entire county more pro-
ductive than are some so-called agricultural counties of the Common-
wealth. The later generations have learned this, and to a greater or
less extent are availing themselves of these superior advantages.
Hundreds of acres of valuable cranberry bogs, fine vegetable gardens,
and luxurious meadows have been redeemed within the last half cen-
8 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
tury, and hundreds more are resting in their native sloughs, waiting
for utilization by the application of the adjoining sand bank. These
improvements have only commenced, and the Cape, with its thousands
of acres of valuable lowlands and millions of tons of virgin sand, is
susceptible of still further development.
The clay vein of Truro, running across the Cape and cropping out
on the bay side near the Great swamp, is an exception to the general
character of the soil. The bank there is filled with pounds in which
the water lodges and is held by the firm clay.
The peninsular character of the Cape has distinguished it during
all historic time; but it is entirely plausible that in geologic time it
had a more continental character. Off the south shore of Barnstable,
where is now a channel two miles wide, separating Bishop and Clerk's
light from the land, was once a sheep pasture through which only a
small creek flowed, and within the period of our own colonial history
the Nantucket farmers cut fencing on an island seven miles off Chat-
ham,where now the rushing, restless tide has undisputed sway. Ram
island, where many of the present residents of Chatham have repaired
for frolic and berries, has gone down in the unequal strife and the
sullen sea sweeps over a spot where the Vikings dwelt eight cen-
turies ago — the spot which was still inhabitable when in 1620 Sir
Humphrey Gilbert noted it as Nauset island. If the physical charac-
ter of this peninsula has been thus modified by the Titanic war which
old ocean — so old and sc busy — has forever waged upon it, not less
important upon its animal and vegetable life has been the effect of
what Michalet, in his La Mer, calls the tyrannj' of the sea.*
Every Cape woodland shows the effect of this strife, and whole
forests have been bent by the prevailing winds. This fact, to wit, an
incessant struggle of elements, is the best type of the Cape life as it
has been and is, and is what has colored the Cape character.
The botany of the Cape is as unique as its geology. Here again
the sea has been master — yet also a conveyancer of beauty and fate
to the flowers. We may not pause here to divide the imported flow-
ers from those indigenous to our soil. The pilgrims were English-
men and long remained so. They, or their wives, brought here many
of the old English flowers: holley, Canterbury bells, lilacs, Aaron's
rod, box, bouncing Bettys', and above all " the Pilgrim rose," which
after all our modern horticulture, still abides as the peer of the best;
for the sea hightens color in the rose's petals as well as the maid's
cheek. But the sea has brought here more flower seeds than ever the
Mayflower and her sister ships since the landing at Plymouth.
*The remainder of this chapter is contributed by the Rev. N. H. Chamberlain of
Bourne, a native of the Cape, who has delivered a very popular lecture on the topic
here briefly considered. — Ed.
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 9
It may be stated in the rough, that the Cape flora is divided by its
central hill range into two great divisions; that the flowers on the
south side are more intimately connected with those in the latitude
of Norfolk, Va., than with their neighbors across the ridge, and that
the same or equal intimacy exists between the flora of the Cape, north
side, and that of the Bay of Fundy. The sea currents did it. Of
course the trailing arbutus or " May flower," as our people call it, is
the local flower of the Cape. This flower is found indeed, widely
scattered over the temperate zone, but here and in the Plymouth
woods it attains its maximum of purity and grace. For all fat garden
flowers necessarily lower their colors in these respects, to the wild
ones. They difl^er very much as a vestal does from an ordinary
woman of fashion. For if flowers be the smile of the good God, that
smile in flowers must be the noblest, which best symbolizes the lofti-
est virtues. Every traveler who had eyes to see, has remarked the
very delicate and spiritualized look and structure of nearly all the
flowers of the upper Alps; as if their very struggle for life with their
adverse circumstance had given them a higher life and form of
beauty. What the glacier and snow peaks are to the Swiss flowers,
that, as water also, the sea is to the Cape flowers. They have also
the strife for life and they too are made perfect through suffering.
The Cape Codder in his travels may pick " May flowers " in their sea-
son, in almost any wood of our zone, but he will miss not a little of
the Cape virginity and above all the circumstance of the Cape flower
itself — the grey mosses holding up its flower clusters a little toward
the sun — mosses which seem the fringe and raiment of eternity over
the eternal breast of Earth, mother of flowers and men — the cold sea
chill of the wind on shore; and as he holds her flowers to look at
them, his eyes cannot but wander far off to the Cape sea, grey, turbu-
lent, white crested, which like the voice of " the other world " breaks
in its mighty monotone upon the desolate shore.
Here lie the secret ties, which often unknown to him bind many a
Cape man to his province; sharp contrasts in scenery everywhere; the
sea in storm, and the inland lakes and ponds among the hills, with
their white strands circling their placid waters, where the sea birds
rest in their spring or autumn passage, north and south; the rude and
boisterous wind, and to-morrow the gentlest sunshine on the south
hill slope where the first violets and anemones appear; the ever
changing tides and the fixed hills, with the forest watching as a sen-
tinel who never leaves his post; and two forms of solitude — the soli-
tude of the sea shore and of the wilderness, so diverse at least in form
and yet both ministrants, in a religious way, to a sensitive nature.
He may enter the one only for seaweed and the other for a load of
cord wood, but his circumstance remains unique, whether he knows it
T-O HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
or not. This is why the Cape man abroad misses somewhat out of
the landscape. The rose is not the same elsewhere. The spring in
the Rocky mountains may show water as pellucid as any at a hill foot
here and the sand through which it throbs may be as white, but the
mosses at the brim and the ferns which mirror their fragility in those
" living waters " will not be there. It may be provincial for the Ice-
lander, the Switzer and the Cape Codder to hold, each, that his own
land is the fairest on which the sun shines, yet they each hold to it
and for much the same reasons. Their land is very much unlike any
other.
The scenery of the Cape is both unique and full of variety, circled
by the sea and the forest, for after all the sea is the great master
mechanician of the Cape landscape. It is hardly too much to say that
it has determined very largely the manners and the occupations, at
least of the old Cape Cod. " Life," says Emerson, " is by water
courses." It may be ventured to say that liberty is by the sea. Great
distances enfranchise; great altitudes enslave. "The Alps," .says
Longfellow, "are a poor place for a sad heart to go to." At Grindel-
wald or Lauterbrunnen one feels in the grey prison house of Eternity
and as naught. For two hundred and fifty years or so the sea has lain
open here to the venture of any man who dared it, and was and is, a
highway for him to the ends of the world. The majestic orbit of its
horizon has been ever tempting him to try what was beyond— to come
out of himself and become a greater self at sea or on shore. Of stock
which has no servile blood in it, the Cape man of the genuine breed
has become one of the most independent men on earth. His own will
runs even into a private burying ground for him and his.
As one face of this same independence is the man's curious self-
reliance. He will undertake, if the wages satisfy, to carve a bust of
Jupiter or oversee a factory where they manufacture moonshine.
Only he will be thrifty enough not to take any stock. He respects
the sea with which he struggles, and himself as well. He thinks he
knows how to rig and. sail a boat and is a very careful pilot at the
helm. If his wagon was in the mire he would never pray to Hercules
to help, until he had put his best shoulder to the wheel. But if there
was no start and he a religious man, he would then pray as lustily as
the best, and if he were not religious he would probably sit down
under a tree and smoke his pipe, revolving whether there was any
God or whether it would pay him to buy another cart.
Here lies the reason why so many Cape men have been successful
business men. Their youth was a struggle with the soil and with the
sea. They toughened with the toil, Spartan and frugal. When they
went among other men they were well armed with frugality and self-
reliance, and inferior men became as clay to their foresight and
dominancy.
GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 11
In much then that is formative in human character the Cape land-
scape has lent itself to make the Cape man free, self-reliant, frugal
and indomitable. It has bred in him pluck and luck. The obligation
he is under to his native province he is apt to fulfill by his life-long
affection for the Cape. The Cape colors him all his life, the root and
fiber of him. He may get beyond but he never gets over the Cape.
Make him a merchant at Manilla or Calcutta, a whaler at the North
Pole, a mate in Australian waters, a millionaire on Fifth avenue, a
farmer in Minnesota, and the Cape sticks to him still. He will feel
in odd hours to his life's end, the creek tide on which he floated
ashore as a boy, the hunger of the salt marsh in haying time, the cold
splash of the sea spray at the harbor's mouth, the spring of the boat
over the bar where he came home from fishing with the wind rising
on shore out of the grey night clouds seaward, the blast of the wet
northeaster in the September morning, when under the dripping
branches he picked up the windfall of golden and crimson apples, the
big flaked snow of the December night when he beaued his first
sweetheart home from singing school; and he will see in dreams, per-
haps, the trailing arbutus among its grey mosses, on the thin edge of
a spring snow bank, the bubbling spring at the hill foot near tide
water, the fat crimson roses under his mother's window, with a clump
of Aaron's rod or lilac for background; the yellow dawn of an Octo-
ber morning across his misty moors, and the fog of the chill pond
among the pine trees, and above all the blue sea within its headlands,
on which go the white winged ships to that great far off world which
the boy has heard of and the grown man knows so well.
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN HISTORY.
Origin.— Manners.— Customs.— Religion.— Cape Indians.— Their Villages.— Their Tribes.
— Map. — Kindness. — Subjugation. — Decrease. — Extinction. — Legends.
THE history of this county may be regarded as beginning with its
settlement by Europeans, or in those diplomatic relations
between their governments and the adventurers who sought to
control the prospective settlements within it ; yet we may concern
ourselves somewhat with a mention of those ill-fated Indians whom
the Puritans found here, and whose extermination as a people was so
speedily accomplished.
Scientists of every age and country have advanced ideas concern-
ing their origin ; but as they never had a written language the truth
of these propositions must remain in darkness. That they have been
called Indians since their existence became known is due to the fact
that ancient navigators supposed that America formed a part of the
East Indies.
Tradition, current among the Indians, throws little or no light on
their origin. They generally believed that they sprang from the
earth. In one tradition they have been represented as having
climbed up the roots of a large vine from the interior of the globe,
and in others as ascending from a cavern to the light of the sun. At
an early day some of the Indians still retained indistinct traditions of
crossing, a body of water to reach this land ; and others that they
originally dwelt in a land across a narrow lake where wicked people
dwelt, that the lake was full of islands, and they suffered with cold
while crossing. Curious remains are extant in various parts of the
country showing that the original dwellers here had rare mechanical
skill, which they had not lost by the allurements of a wild forest life.
These evidences, more especially confined to the western portion of
America, are a vindication of the theory that the land was first
peopled by the way of Behring strait ; also, that less civilized bands
■drove them east and south — or they, in themselves, became more in
love with forest life, scattering and multiplying until the whole land
was peopled. Some historians trace the Indians to the ten lost tribes
INDIAN HISTORY. 13
of Israel, some to the dispersion from Babel, some to the enterprising
Phoenician sailors, and others to the Carthagenians ; but of all these
theories, that of their coming from the Eastern continent across the
straits to North America seems the most acceptable. While their
race was distinct from all European peoples, in customs, personal
appearance and language, yet they closely resembled each other and
had many customs in common, although the several tribes found here
by the Europeans were more generally distinguished from each other
by the difference in their languages. Each tribe had a name for
whatever could be heard, seen or felt, and except these but few words
were used.
The same characteristics prevailed in the Indians on the Cape that
were found in other tribes, and if any difference existed in minor
peculiarities it would be logically attributable to climatic differences
and their habits of life and employments, varying with the food sup-
plies of mountain or valley, stream or seashore. Some were better
agriculturists than others, and raised more corn than their neighbors.
The Pilgrims found at Truro fifty acres under cultivation. The labor
of raising corn devolved upon the women, or squaws, for all tribes
concurred in the idea that labor was degrading and beneath the dig-
nity of a warrior. The women provided the wood, erected wigwams,
carried the burdens, prepared the meals, and even carried baggage
on the march.
A regular union between husband and wife was universal, but a
chief of sufficient ability to support such a luxury married, often,
more than one wife. The ceremony of marriage was very simple, and
differed in minor details in different tribes.
The education of the young warrior was in athletic exercises, to
enable him to endure hunger and fatigue, and to use arms efficiently.
In some families certain young were impressed with the tradition of
their people, which task devolved upon the old, who in turn had
received their knowledge from preceding ones.
The weapons were rude — stone hatchets, clubs, bows, arrows and
.spears. War was their delight, and their cruelties to enemies when
death was decreed were only equalled by their kindness when they
turned their tribal affection to the adopted ones.
They had a religion, primitive though it seems, that closely resem-
bled that of civilized nations. They believed in a great spirit, and
reverenced him ; believed he was everywhere present, knew their
wants, and aided and loved those who obeyed him. They had no
temples nor idols. They believed the warrior hastened to the happy
hunting grounds. They also had an evil spirit, which good Indians
should shun. The graves of their fathers were held in reverence, and
were defended with great bravery. To the restraints of civilization
14 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
they long showed an aversion, and were remarkably attached to their
simple modes of life.
Whether the differences in complexion, stature, features, customs,
religions, or any peculiarities, were caused by climate or any latitud-
inal separations, one thing seems conceded by historians — that they
were of one origin. Doctor Mather regarded them as forlorn and
wretched heathen ever since they first landed here ; and " though we
know not when or how they first became inhabitants of this mighty
continent, yet we may guess that probably the devil decoyed them
hither, hoping the gospel would never reach them to disturb or
■destroy his absolute empire over them."
There were several tribes on the Cape, and all evidence from the
colony records, from the time they were first visited by Europeans,
points to their remarkable friendliness to the whites and to each other.
An early instance of the white man's abuse of their confidence is
the shameless record of Thomas Hunt, who in 161fi, as a subordinate
left in command, of Captain John Smith's ship, kidnapped twenty-
seven of the natives, including seven from Nauset, to sell as slaves.
This act was not without precedent, and after it had been avenged
four years later upon some of the same crew, the Indian sense of just-
ice seems to have been satisfied. In their subsequent intercourse with
the pilgrims they performed acts of mercy that could only be expected
of true Christian disciples.
The Indians of the Cape, made up of several small tribes, were
among the thirty of New England yielding allegiance to Massasoit,
the chief of the Wampanoags, and after his death in 1662 to his son,
Metacomet, known in history as King Philip, or Philip of Pokanoket.
Of these the Nausets occupied the most prominent position, dwel-
ling on the territory now Eastham, their country including also
Brewster (Sauquatucket), Chatham (Monomoyick), Harwich (Potanum-
aquut), Orleans (Pochet), the neck in Orleans (Tonset), Wellfleet (Po-
nonakanet), Truro (Pamet), part of Truro and Provincetown (Mee-
shawn) and North Dennis (Nobscusset). The Nausets were also at
Namskaket, now Orleans, and about the cove that separates Orleans
from Eastham. In the northwest part of Yarmouth and around Barn-
stable harbor were Mattacheese and Mattacheeset; the south part of the
east precinct in Barnstable, Weequakut ; between Sandwich and Barn-
stable, Skanton ; Falmouth, Succonesset ; in Bourne, near Buzzards
bay, Manomet ; on Buzzards bay, Cataumet ; near Sandwich, Herring
pond, Comassakumkanit ; Pocasset, Pokesit; Mashpee, Massipee — and
this last body of Indians has long been the principal tribe of the
county, and once inckided Cotuit, the southwest part of Barnstable;
Santuit; Wakoquoet, part of Falmouth; Ashumet, in Falmouth, on west
line of Mashpee ; and Weesquobs, Great neck. The Indians on Nan-
INDIAN HISTORY.
15
16 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
tucket, Martha's Vineyard and Elizabeth islands were separate tribes,
in constant communication with the tribes on the Cape, and had their
own sachems. All these tribes had their sachems or sagamores, and
though owing fealty to the Wampanoags they could not be induced
by King Philip to join in the wars of 1675. The tribe at Manomet,
after their adhesion to the English, proveda defense and were faithful
to their friendship.
As an evidence of the friendship and hospitality of the Cape
Indians, it is said that when the ship Fortune in 1621 touched at Cape
Cod, the Indians carried word of her approach to the settlers at Ply-
mouth.
In 1622 the colonists were compelled to go to the Cape Indians for
corn. They sailed around the Cape, along southerly, anchoring in a
harbor at Chatham, and obtained eight hogsheads of corn and beans.
During that and subsequent years corn was obtained of the Indians
at Sagamore hill, Mattacheese, and other places on the north side.
For these purchases the Indians received trinkets and clothes.
Various facts are given that show a friendship beyond the hope of
gain. In 1630, when an English vessel was shipwrecked on the Cape,
those passengers who died from exposure were carefully buried in
the frozen earth to keep the bodies from wild beasts, the sick were
nursed to health and the survivors were conducted to Plymouth. The
incident of the lost boy — strayed from Plymouth and found among the
Nausets — when lyanough with his warriors assisted in the search,
and the Nauset sachem, Aspinet, so promptly delivered the boy to
the English, is another proof of their friendliness. The various kind
oflBces of lyanough upon the departure of the whites — the festival,
the filling of their rundlets with fresh water, and the taking the brace-
let from his neck and placing it upon the leader of the party — are mat-
ters of record in the pilgrim history.
Some of the natives were possessed of such an inherent love of
tinsel display that the bounds of Captain Standish's strict doctrines
were sometimes overstepped. In 1623, while the captain and his men
were at Mattacheese purchasing corn, they were forced to lodge in
the wigwams of the natives. Missing a few beads in the morning, he
ranged his men around the sachem's cabin and threatened to fall upon
the inmates unless the beads were returned. The offender was dis-
covered, restitution made, and a penalty for the offense was paid with
more corn.
In 1637, when the whites commenced the purchase of lands from the
Indians on the Cape, satisfaction was given by full returns of beads,
hoes, hatchets, coats and kettles ; but years later, as the number of
the Indians was diminished from various causes and the increase of
the whites was rapid, the natives could not see their best plantation
INDIAN HISTORY. 17
lands appropriated by others without a protest. Writing of this in
its relation to Yarmouth, Hon. C. F. Swift says: "The claims of the
Indians were paid in articles which, though of no great commercial
value, seemed to be prized by them. The Indians soon became pain-
fully aware that their transfer of the soil carried with it a degree of
vassalage far from agreeable to their ideas of personal independence.
In 1656, Mashantampaigne, a sagamore, was brought before the court
on a charge of having stolen a gun. The court held the opinion that
the gun was his. He was also accused of having a chest full of tools
stolen from the English, and proudly delivered up his keys to Mr.
Prince, so that he might search his chest. Complaint was made by
John Darby that this sachem's dogs 'did him wrong among his
cattle, and did much hurt one of them.' These proceedings are
interesting as showing that the Indians, sixteen years after the settle-
ment, were completely under subjection to the colonial laws."
Would it be considered foolish in a poor Indian, whose sachem
had bargained and given possession to the lands of the tribe, if, when
he saw his hunting grounds trespassed upon, he should claim that he
had not been paid sufficiently for them ? This claim was often made,
of which one instance is referred to in our chapter of charters and
deeds.
The colonial laws, made soon after the settlement of the Cape, had
much to do with restraining the dissatisfaction or desire of revenge
in the breasts of those evil disposed. Fire arms were kept from them
and other enactments for mutual preservation were made by the
court at Plymouth. The parliament of the mother country afterward,
in 1649, passed acts for "promoting and propagating the Gospel
among the Indians;" but even the Indians asked " how it happened
that Christianity was so important, and for six and twenty years the
English had said nothing to them about it?" The Indians were
gradually brought under the white man's laws. In 1668, Francis,
sachem of Nauset, was fined ;^10 " for uncivil and inhuman words to
Captain Allen, at Cape Cod, when cast away." In 1673 the laws were
enforced to the extent that natives were worked for debt, drunken
ones fined and whipped, idle Indians bound out to labor, and for theft
were compelled to pay fourfold. While the poor Indians were taught
to heed the laws and religion of the colonists they were restricted in
their freedom — forbidden to visit Plymouth during court time, no
white was allowed to lend them silver money, and they were placed
under many other, to them, humiliating restrictions.
After the dawn of the last century their decrease was rapid. In
1685 Governor Hinckley reported nearly one thousand praying
Indians within the limits of Barnstable county, distributed as follows:
At Pamet, Billingsgate and Nauset, 264; at Monomoyick, 115; at Satucket
2
18 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTRY.
and Nobscusset, 121; at Mattacheese, 70; at Skanton, 51; at Mashpee,
141; at Manomet, 110; and at Succonesset, 72. He also says that be-
sides these there were boys and girls under twelve years of age,
three times as man}'. In 1698 the commissioners appointed to enu-
merate the Indians reported in the territory of the original Plymouth
colony — and all told— 1,290, and in 1763 but 905, of which Barnstable
county had 515; and in 1798 few lingered, except in Mashpee. The
last squaw of Yarmouth is well remembered by the oldest inhabitants
there as dwelling on the west bank of Bass river, on a portion of what
was once, in the better days of the tribe, the last reservation.
In 1889 Mr. Swift, in writing of Yarmouth, says: There are few
memorials or evidences existing of the former occupants of the soil,
save the shell heaps near the sea shore and the arrow-heads and stone
utensils thrown up by the passing plowshare of the husbandman, ^v-
ing evidence of their numbers before the advent of the white man on
these shores. Occasionally portions of an Indian skeleton are also
found here, but not in sufficient numbers to give evidence of any con-
siderable burial place. The last of these who died in considerable
numbers, about the time of the revolutionary war, were interred on
the eastern borders of Long pond in South Yarmouth, and a pile of
unhewn stone maxks the spot, on one of which is chiseled this inscrip-
tion:
On this slope lie buried
The last of the Native Indians
OF Yarmouth.
Their burial places, of which there are several others on the Cape,
have been preserved with a commendable degree of respect by the
people of the towns wherein they are located. Over the trail of the
swift-footed runner of that departed race now speeds the iron horse,
and their hunting grounds are now the sites of flourishing villages.
Their beautiful legends yet linger in the written pages of the
white man's lore, and the recurrence of the changes in nature is an
index to the unwritten traditions of the Indians. As the fogs creep
up from the sound, who can forget their explanation of the phenom-
enon ? The Mattacheeset idea was that a great many moons ago a
bird of monstrous size visited the south shore of the Cape, carrying
oflf pappooses, and even the larger children, to the southward. An
Indian giant named Maushop residing in those parts, in his rage
at the havoc, pursued the bird, wading across the sound to an hitherto
unknown island, where he found the bones of children in heaps
around the trunk and under the shade of a great tree. Wishing to
smote on his way back, and finding he had no tobacco, he filled his
pipe with poke — a weed used afterward by the Indians when tobacco
failed — and started across the sound to his home. From this mem-
INDIAN HISTORY. 19
orable event the frequent fogs in Nantucket and on and around Vine-
yard sound came; and when the Indians saw a fog rising they would
say in their own tongue, which rendered was, " There comes old Mau-
shop's smoke."
The Indians about Santuit pond had a legend that a great trout in
the South sea wished to visit that pond, and on his way plowed up
the land. He turned and wound along, avoiding the large trees and
high lands, and arrived at the pond. The water of the sea followed'
him and formed the present river. After a rest in the pond he tried
to return to the sea, but died from exhaustion, and the Indians cov-
ered the trout with earth. It has been called Trout Grave since, and
is yet so known in the neighborhood. The river yet flows, and the
mound where the legendary trout was covered is still plainly visible
on the bank of the river, just west of the residence of Simeon L.
Ames of Cotuit.
The Indians had no faithful records of their own times to portray
the virtues of their race; but if we look back to the period when the
white man's firewater was unknown, when the proud independence
which formed the main pillar of their moral fabric was unbroken,
then they were a people with as generous impulses, as lofty purposes
and as chivalrous deeds as paler men; but an irresistible power seems
to have decreed that another people— weaker, yet stronger— should
develop on their soil a higher civilization.
CHAPTER III.
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATIONS.
Early Discovery of the Cape. — Exploration's by Gosnold and Dermer. — The Pilgrims. —
The Mayflower in Cape Cod Harbor. — Explorations by the Pilgrims. — Compact
Signed. — Plymouth. — The Lost Boy. — Postat Manomet. — Great Storm. — Declaration
of Rights. — First Settlement of the Cape by the "Whites. — Sandwich, Barnstable,
Yarmouth and Nauset. — Erection of County.
THE history of Barnstable county, if made complete, is of more
interest than any other in the Bay state; for Cape Cod was first
discovered and first explored, and has sustained its prominence
from that early period to the present time. From public records and
the most authentic documents, with the carefulness that the import-
ance of the work demands, have been compiled the facts of the dis-
covery, exploration and settlement of Cape Cod.
The discovery of the Western Continent in 1492 was- the most
important event of modern times, and to Columbus and others who
followed him the historical monuments already erected will endure as
long as the earth itself. Traditions have credited Madoc, a prince of
Wales, with a prior discover}', in the Twelfth century; and several
historians have discussed the Norwegian claim to its discovery.
Eric emigrated from Iceland to Greenland, where he formed a set-
tlement in 986. In the year 1000, Lief, a son of Eric, with a crew of
men, sailed to the southwest, discovered land, explored the coast
southward, entered a bay where he remained diiring the winter, and
called it Vinland. In 1007 Thorfinn sailed from Greenland to Vin-
land, and the account of his voyage is still extant. From the evidence
of this voyage and others that followed, antiquarians have no hesi-
tancy in pronouncing this Vinland as the head of Narragansett bay.
This is the first tangible evidence of the coasting of the white man
along the shores of Cape Cod.
The first discovery by a European of which history can be given,
was by Bartholomew Gosnold, an intrepid mariner of the west of
England, who, on the 26th of March, 1602, sailed from Falmouth, in
Cornwall, in a small bark, with thirty-two men, for a coast called at
that time North Virginia. On the 14th of May he made land on the
eastern coast of Massachusetts, north of Cape Cod, and sailing south
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATIONS. 21
on the 15tli, soon found himself " embayed with a mighty headland,"
which appeared " like an island by reason of the large sound that lay
between it and the main." This sound he called Shoal Hope, and
near this cape, within a leagfue of land, he came to anchor in fifteen
fathoms, and his crew took a great quantity of cod fish, from which
circumstance he named the land Cape Cod. The captain with four
others went on shore here, where they were met in a friendly way by
Indians. This, Bancroft confidently asserts, was the first spot in New
England ever trod by Englishmen.
May 16, 1602, Gosnold and his crew coasted southerly until he
came to a point where, in attempting to double, he found the water
very shoal. To this point he gave the name of Point Care; it is now
called Sandy point, and is the extreme southeastern part of Barnstable
county. Breakers were seen off Point Gammon, the southern point
of Yarmouth.
On the 19th of May Gosnold sailed along the coast westward, sight-
ing the high lands of Barnstable and Yarmouth, and discovered and
named Martha's Vineyard. From off this island he sailed about the
24th of May, and spent some three weeks in cruising about Buzzards
bay. It has been believed that he and his men took up their abode
on Cuttyhunk, traded and held friendly relations w,th Indians; but it
must have been very brief, for on the 18th of June he sailed from
Buzzards bay by the passage through which he entered, and arrived
at Exmouth, England, July 23, 1602.
In 1603 De Monts prepared for a voyage, and in 1604 arrived on
these western shores, exploring from the St. Lawrence river to Cape
Cod and southward.
In 1607 a settlement was attempted at Kennebeck by the Plymouth
Company, but the winter of 1607-8 being severe, and many dis-
couragements interposing, the survivors returned to England in the
following spring. ^
In 1614 Captain John Smith, the celebrated navigator, quitted the
colony of South Virginia and sailed along the coast, exploring
between Cape Cod and Kennebeck. He made a fine map * of the
country, which, upon his return to England, he presented to King
Charles, who was so well pleased with the resemblance to his own
England that he at once named it " New England." At this time the
new possessions were supposed to be an island. The same year Cap-
tain Smith returned to London, leaving a ship for Thomas Hunt to
command and load with fish for Spain.
In 1619 Sir Fernando Gorges sent Mr. Thomas Dermer to New
England. He found a pestilence had swept over the Indian popula-
*The celebrated Varazano map of 1518 is sufficiently noticed in the chapter on
Provincetown where its author mentions other early navigators. — E^.
22 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTV.
tion, and some villages were utterly depopulated. At Monomoyick
(Chatham) Dermer was recognized by an Indian who had been
abducted by Hunt, only escaping after receiving fourteen wounds at
the hands of the Indians, and after nearly all his boat's crew had been
killed — the result of the perfidy of Hunt and others.
While Walter Raleigh and his people made at Jamestown the first
permanent settlement in Virginia, and while the Dutch, following
Hudson's discovery of 1609, gained a foothold at New Amsterdam, it
seemed to be reserved to the religious exiles at Leyden to establish the
first permanent settlement in New England and lay the foundations
on which should be built the greatest nation of modern times. In
1608 they fled from England to Amsterdam, and thence to Leyden,
whence they finally embarked for the Western world.
In 1617 they meditated what was afterward accomplished, but not
until two years later were necessary preparations completed, and not
until July, 1620, was the first company of these 120 resolute emi-
grants in waiting to embark, August sixth, in the two small ships — the
Mayflower and Speedwell — at Southampton. The Speedwell proved
unseaworthy and was abandoned, thus reducing the number to 101
on board the Mayflower, which, after many delays, left Plymouth,
England, September 6, 1620. They intended to go to what was known
as Virginia, at or "near the Hudson river, of which, and the surrounding
country, Henry Hudson had given a glowing description. After many
boisterous storms, on November ninth they reached Cape Cod and
as their record said, "The which being made, and certainly known to
be it, we were not a little joyful." They bore south, but encounter-
ing the same shoals that had turned Gosnold, they returned north-
ward and doubled the Cape where now is Provincetown.
On the 11th of November, 1620, after a voyage of sixty-six days,
they found that neither their compass nor bible had failed them,, and
they anchored within the kindly shelter of New England's great right
arm, where many storm-tossed mariners have since sought refuge.
There, within the very palm of the hand, they recognized the hand of
Providence and kept as pilgrim Christians their first Sabbath in the
New World. The day they anchored, sixteen men, headed by Captain
Miles Standish, all well armed, went on shore to procure wood and re-
connoitre; and repairs upon their shallop were at once commenced, that
other and more extensive explorations might be made. The store of
fowl in the harbor was very great, and almost daily they saw whales.
" The bay is so round and circling, that before we could come to
anchor, we went round all the points of the compass." Their nar-
rative continues: " We could not come near the shore by three-quarters
of an English mile, because of shallow water, which was a great preju-
dice to us; for our people were forced to wade * * for it was many
times freezing weather."
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATIONS. 23
After solemnly thanking God, it was proposed that the forty-one
males who were of age should subscribe a compact, which was to be
the basis of their government. Had all the company been members
of the Leyden congregation they could have relied on each other
without imposing restraint; but there were many servants, and insub-
ordination had manifested itself the day before the Mayflower anchored
in the harbor.
Hon. Francis Baylies, in his history of New Plymouth, says that
this compact adopted in the cabin of the Mayflower " established a
most important principle, a principle which is the foundation of all
the democratic institutions of America, and is the basis of the
republic." At that dark day of despotism no pen dare write, or
tongue assert, that the majority should govern; but these .primitive,
discarded Christians, relying upon their Maker for strength and guid-
ance, discovered a truth in the science of government which had been
dormant for ages; and the principles given and implied in the com-
pact unanimously adopted by this little band of Christians — on a
bleak shore, in the midst of desolation and wintry blasts — to-day, in
all the complications and ramifications of our many branches of fed-
eral and state governments, are the happiest and leading character-
istics. The following is an exact copy of the compact:
" In the name of God, amen. We whose names are underwritten,
the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord, King James, by the
grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland king, defender of
the faith &c., having undertaken for the glory of God, and advance-
ment of the christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voy-
age to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do, by
these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and of
one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil
body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and further-
ance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof, do enact, constitute,
and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions,
and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and con-
venient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise
all due submission and obedience.
" In witness whereof, we have hereunder subscribed our names, at
Cape Cod, the 11th day of November, in the year of the reign of our
sovereign lord. King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the
eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, anno Domini 1620."
This compact was signed in the following order. We adopt the
idea of Mr. Prince, in his New England Chronology, Vol. I, p. 85, Ed.
1736, in giving the number of each family; also, in placing the * to
each who brought his wife, and italicizing every one who died before
the first of April, 1621:
24 ' HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
1. Mr. John Carver * 8; 2. Mr. William Bradford * 2; 3. Mr. Ed-
ward Winslow,* 6; 4. Mr. William Brewster,* 6; 5. Mr. Isaac Aller-
ton,* 6; 6. Capt. Miles Standish * 2; 7. John Alden, 1; 8. Mr. Samuel
Fuller, 2; 9. Mr. Christopher Martin* 4; 10. Mr. William Mulletis* 5;
11. Mr. William White* b\ 12. Mr. Richard Warren, 1; 13. John How-
land; 14. Mr. Stephen Hopkins * 8; 15. Edward Tilley* 4; 16. John
Tilley,* 3; 17. Francis Cooke, 2; 18. Thomas Rogers, 2; 19. Thomas
Tinker*^; 20. John Ridgdale,2\ 21. Edward Fuller * ^\ 22. John Tur-
ner, 3; 23. Francis Eaton,* 3; 24. James Chilton* 3; 25. John Crackston,
2; 26. John Billington,* 4; 27. Moses Fletcher, 1 ; 28. John Goodman, 1
2^. Degory Priest,!; 30. Thomas Williams,!; 31. Gilbert Winslow, 1
32. Edmund Margeson, 1; 33. Peter Brown, 1; 34. Richard Butteridge,\
35. George Soule; 36. Richard Clarke, 1; '37. Richard Gardiner, 1; 38.
John Allerton, 1; 39. Thomas English, 1; 40. Edward Dotey; 41. Edward
Leister.
The same day John Carver was chosen governor for one year, and
government was thus regularly established. The legislative and
judicial power was in the whole body, and the govemer became the
executive.
On the 15th of November sixteen men, well armed, went on shore
to explore while the shallop was being repaired; Captain Miles
Standish was leader. They found Indians, who fled at their approach.
They set sentinels and remained on the Cape over night — supposed
from the description to be near Stout's creek. They traveled south
from Dyer's swamp to the pond, in Truro. From the Great Hollow
they went south to the hill which terminates in Hopkins's cliff, north
side of Pamet river in Truro.
On the 27th of November, the shallop being ready, twenty-four men
went forth to explore; Captain Jones, of the May flower, 2:0.^ a few sea-
men joined the party, making thirty-four in all. They landed at Old
Tom's hill, went up the Pamet river, and after three days returned to
the ship, carrying corn from the storehouses of the natives.
December sixth another company set sail to explore the Cape, for
much anxiety was manifested as to where they should abide. They
first landed at Billingsgate point; the next day a portion went by boat
and others on shore southward through Eastham. They sailed along
the north coast of Cape Cod until Saturday evening, December ninth,
when they found a safe harbor under the lee of a small island, called
Clark's island from the master's mate, who was the first to land, in
Plymouth harbor. Sunday was duly observed with praise and thanks-
giving, and on Monday the 11th the harbor was sounded, the land
explored, and was deemed the best place for a habitation, and one
which the season and their present necessities should make them glad
to accept. That day they returned to the ship in Cape Cod harbor
with the report of their explorations.
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATIONS. 25
The question touching the place of settlement had been a vital
one, and some even yet thought it best to explore northward from
Plymouth before deciding; but upon the return of the second party
from Plymouth it was decided to fix their abode there; December
16th the ship sailed for this haven, which, owing to head winds, was
not entered till the 16th. Here a history of Barnstable county must
necessarily sever connection with them, only so far as their visits and
the settlement of a portion of them pertains to the Cape.
In the month of July, 1621, John Billington, a boy from the Ply-
mouth colony, was lost, for whom the governor caused inquiry to be
made among the Indians. He was found at Nauset (Eastham), where
he had been carried and kindly sheltered by the natives, who found
him wandering in the woods of Sandwich. A boat was dispatched to
bring the boy, but was compelled to anchor over night at Cummaquid
(Barnstable harbor). Here, lyanough, the sachem of this part of the
Cape, displayed a friendship that could well be denominated a reproof
for the acts of Hunt and others who had so unceremoniously taken
unbecoming liberties among the tribes of the Cape. He assisted in
the recovery of the boy, and promised his friendly adhesion to the
colony.
On the 13th of September, 1621, nine sachems subscribed an instru-
ment of submission to King James, and among them several of the
known Cape sachems; and for years before Barnstable county was
settled constant intercourse was kept up with the Cape by the Ply-
mouth colony. It became a necessity to often visit the Indian gran-
aries in times of dearth. In this intercourse with the tribes of the
Cape more or less jealousies and bickerings arose, in which, perhaps,
the whites were as much at fault as their Indian neighbors. One
instance: In March, 1623, Captain Standish entered Scusset harbor
for corn, and conceived the idea that a native of Pamet intended to
kill him, but he thwarted any plot, if one had been planned, by a
faithful watch. About this time a plot against the colony was sus-
pected, which was really an outgrowth of Captain Standish's former
suspicion, and resulted in the slaughter by the English of four prom-
inent sachems, the head of one of whom was borne to Plymouth and
set up on a pole over the fort. The news of such unwonted massacre
spread among the natives of the Cape, causing them to feel that no
confidence could be placed in those they had befriended, and that any
and every one was liable at any moment to become a victim of false
accusation, to swell the list of those who had fallen by such a spirit
of extermination. Several of the Cape tribes left their abodes, took
to the woods and swamps, contracted diseases, and many of the most
friendly sachems, including the venerable lyanough, miserably died.
As soon as the transaction mentioned in this paragraph was communi-
26 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
cated to Rev. Mr. Robinson, the leader and founder of the Ply-
mouth church, at Leyden, he wrote to the governor at Plymouth, beg-
ging them " to consider the disposition of their captain, who was a
man of warm temper;" also "he trusted the Lord had sent him among
them for good, but feared he was wanting in that tenderness of the
life of man, made after God's image, which was meet; and it would
have been better if they had converted some before they had killed
any."
The Cape was important to Plymouth, as touching ground for
trading vessels and additional pilgrims. In December, 1626, a ship
bound for Virginia was compelled to put in at the nearest point, and
ran into Monomoyick (Chatham) bay; here the vessel was wrecked,
and the beach was called thenceforward Old Ship. The Indians con-
veyed the intelligence of the disaster to Plymouth, in the meantime
caring for the unfortunates, and the governor hastened to dispatch a
boat with supplies, which were landed at the south side of the bay, at
Namskaket creek, whence it was not much over two miles across the
Cape to where the ship lay. The Indians carried the supplies across
to the suflFerers, and the goods from the broken-up vessel were subse-
quently transported to Namskaket and the crew conducted to
Plymouth.
In 1627 the colonists established a trading house at Manomet
(Bourne), on the south side of Monument river, to facilitate their
intercourse with the Narragansett country. New Amsterdam, and the
shores of Long Island sound. The trading post was not far from
Monument Bridge — the Indian Manomet being corrupted to Monu-
ment. By transporting their goods up the creek from Scusset harbor
and transferring them a short distance by land they reached the boata-
ble waters the other side of the. Cape. Governor Bradford says: " For
our greater convenience of trade, to discharge our engagements, and
to maintain ourselves, we have built a small pinnace, at Manomet, a
place on the sea, twenty miles to the south, to which, by another creek
on this side, we transport our goods by water within four or five miles,
and then carry them over land to the vessel; thereby avoiding the
compassing of Cape Cod, with those dangerous shoals, and make our
voyage to the southward with far less time and hazard. For the
safety of our vessel and goods we there also built a house and keep
some servants, who plant corn, raise swine, and are always ready to go
out with the bark — which takes good eflfect and turns to advantage."
This proved, as the governor said, an advantage. The first communi-
cation between the Plymouth colony and the Dutch at Fort Amster-
dam was through this channel. De Razier, the noted merchant,
arrived at Manomet in September, 1627, with a ship load of sugar,
linen and stuffs; and Governor Bradford sent a boat to Scusset harbor
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATIONS. 2T
to convey him to Plymouth. As this trading post was temporary, we
do not date the settlement of Sandwich at this time.
Still, with additions to their numbers, the sickness and exposures,
famine stared the Plymouth colony in the face often, and many
instances of calm resignation are recorded in its. early annals. One
who came to the governor's house with his tales of suffering, " found-
his lordship's last batch in the oven." A good man who asked a
neighbor to partake of a dish of clams, after dinner returned " thanks
to God, who had given them to suck of the abundance of the seas and
of the treasures hid in the sands."
Their first election of executive officers under their first charter was
in 1630, at which time the total population of the colony did not
exceed three hundred. There was no scramble for ofiBce, and in 1631
it was found necessary to enact that " if, now, or hereafter any person,
chosen to the office of governor refuse, he shall be fined twenty
pounds; and that if a councillor, or magistrate, chosen refuse, he shall
be fined ten pounds; and in case this be not paid on demand, it shall
be levied out of said person's goods or chattels." We must except
this one peculiarity from the many sterling principles implanted in
our government customs, but not censure our Puritan ancestors for
the departure taken by the present-day politicians in their unjust
scramble for office.
Governor Bradford thus describes a great storm, in the annals of
the colony:
August 16,1635. — "A mighty storm of wind and rain as none
living in these parts, either English or Indians, ever saw. It began
in the morning a little before day, and came with great violence,
causing the sea to swell above twenty feet right up, and made many in-
habitants climb into the trees. It took off the roof of a house belong-
ing to the plantation at Manomet, and put it in another place. Had
the storm continued without shifting of the wind, it would have
drowned some parts of the country. It blew down many thousands
of trees, turning up the stronger by the roots, breaking the higher
pines in the middle, and winding small oaks and walnuts of good
size as withes. It began southeast, and parted towards the south and
east, and veered sundry ways. The wrecks of it will remain a hun-
dred years. The moon suffered a great eclipse the second night after
it." The destruction on the Cape was even greater than on the main
land.
Since the simple compact of 1620 no constitution or other instru-
ment for the government of the colony had been made. The code of
Moses seemed to be paramount to any code of England. The power
of the church was superior. As trade expanded it was evident that
civil authorityj and not church censure, must extend its strong power
28 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
over the colony to. check the often recurring conflictions of trade
and growing selfishness of man's nature; therefore on the ISth of
November, 1636, the court of associates first set forth the following
declaration of rights — the first real one of the New World :
" We, the Associgites of New Plymouth, coming hither as free-bom
subjects of the state of England, and endowed with all and singular
the privileges belonging to such, being assembled, do ordain that, no
act, imposition, law, or ordinance, be made or imposed on us, at the
present or to come, but shall be made or imposed by consent of the
body of Associates, or their representatives, legally assembled, —
which is according to the liberties of the state of England."
Thus was established our present form of representation; and as
all rights of parliament to legislate for them were renounced, they
proceeded to provide for the emergency. It was enacted: " That on
the first Tuesday in June, annually, an election shall be held for the
choice of Governor, and assistants, to rule and govern the plantation."
The franchise was confined to those admitted as freemen, to whom
a stringent oath was prescribed. And they must be " Orthodox in
the fundamentals of religion " and " possessed of a ratable estate of
twenty pounds." The votes were to be given by person or by proxy
at Plymouth, and no person was to live, or inhabit, within the govern-
ment of New Plymouth " without the leave and liking of the Gov-
ernor and Assistants." A constable was to be elected who had power
to serve "according to that measure of wisdom, understanding, and
discretion as God has given you," and had power to arrest, without
precept, "all suspicious persons." Capital offenses were treason,
murder, diabolical converse, arson and rape.
At this date (1636) the only towns settled were Plymouth, Duxbury
and Scituate. The Cape was still the home of the same Indian tribes
who had been ruled, ostensibly, by the colony, and had maintained a
very friendly trade and seeming allegiance. But the year 1637 was
to see the first settlement by the whites upon the Cape.
April 3, 1637, a settlement was commenced at Sandwich, although
the plantation was not recognized as a town until two years later.
These persons were chiefly from Lynn (Saug^s), with a few from
Duxbury and Plymouth. The permit, or grant, must be given by the
general court, and the record was made that they "shall have liberty
to view a place to sit down, and have sufiScient lands for three-score
families, upon the conditions propounded to them by the Governor
and Mr. Winslow." These freemen had undergone the most rigid
oaths and examinations to obtain this permission, and very early Mr.
John Alden and Captain Miles Standish were sent to "set forth the
bounds of the lands granted there." They were to see that the qual-
ifications of " housekeeping " were strictly conformed to; and singu-
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATIONS. 29
larly enough it was found that Joseph Winsor and Anthony Besse,
at Sandwich, were disorderly keeping house — alone — and were pre-
sented to the court. While the growing settlements of the Cape were
under Plymouth government we find no flagrant transgressions of
their stringent laws — the whole code — from that forbidding, by heavy
punishment, " the inveigling of men's daughter, etc.," down to that of
"allowing no swine to go at large without ringing them."
As early as August,.1638, liberty was given Mr. Stephen Hopkins
to erect a house at Mattacheese and cut hay there to winter his cattle
— provided it do not withdraw him from Plymouth. Again permission
granted, September third, to Gabriel Weldon and Gregory Armstrong
to go and dwell at Yarmouth; and then it is said, " the people of Lynn
having established a settlement at Sandwich, an attempt was made
from the same quarter to establish another at Yarmouth." First in
the work was Rev. Stephen Batchelor, aged 76 years, who trav-
eled the distance from Lynn to the east part of Barnstable on foot.
The records show that this attempt failed from the difficulties that
attended it, and the next year other parties had the honor of first
erecting their cabins in the wilderness of the present Barnstable and
Yarmouth.
The Indian Mattacheese extended quite a distance within the
present limits of Barnstable, and among the many settlers of the sum-
mer of 1639 the territory of Barnstable, Yarmouth and Dennis became
settled. The northeastern part was called Hockanom, yet another
part of the ancient settlement was called Sesuet — since East Dennis.
The names of these grantees of Mattacheese are found in the chapters
of Barnstable and Yarmouth.
In this year, 1639, so many had migrated to the towns of Barnsta-
ble, Yarmouth and Sandwich, that they were invested with the rights
of towns and were each entitled to two delegates to an assembly for
legislation. In October of the same year the authorities at Plymouth
ordered a pound to be erected at Yarmouth, and established there a
pair of stocks. The stocks of that day, in which the petty offenders
were compelled to sit, were one of the mediums through which the
Plymouth court would impress a notion of its dignity upon any who
disregarded its authority.
In 1641 the active ministers of Barnstable, Sandwich and Yarmouth
were John Laythorpe [Lothrop], John Mayo, William Leverich, John
Miller and Marmaduke Matthews. These each bore the title of
Mister, that insignia of Puritan importance which at that time was
only applied to the learned and the wealthy.
The first assessment for the expenses of the general court was
levied in June, 1641, upon the eight towns then constituting the col-
ony. To produce ;^25, Plymouth was assessed £5, Duxbury £^, 10,
30 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Scituate £4, Sandwich £3, Yarmouth, Barnstable and Taunton each
£2, 10, and Marshfield £2.
In 1644 the project of removing the Plymouth government to
Nauset on the Cape was again agitated, and Governor Bradford and
others were sent to locate a site. They purchased lands of the sachems
of Nauset and Monomoyick, and permission was given to the Ply-
mouth church for a new location. A part of the church only removed,
-and in April the new settlement was commenced at Nauset. Secre-
tary Morton said of it, " divers of the considecablest of the church and
town removed." The prominent men who removed are noticed in the
history of Eastham.
In 1646 the Cape furnished two of the governor's assistants — Mr.
Thomas Prince of Nauset and Edmund Freeman of Sandwich — and
the towns were ordered by the general court to have a clerk to keep a
register of births, marriages and burials.
In 1647 progress was made in extending the Nauset and other set-
tlements, both on the territory between Eastham and Dennis, and
toward Provincetown. Prior to the settlement at Nauset, three years
before, all of the territory below Dennis was occupied by Indians; but
■during the year 1653 Brewster was settled. It would also seem that
the Cape had at least one mill at Sandwich, and that the miller was
presented, in 1648, for not having a toll-dish sealed "according to
order."
In 1651 quite a number of the best citizens of Sandwich, " for not
frequenting the public worship of God," were presented, and in 1652
Ralph Allen, sr., and Richard Kerby of Sandwich were presented
"""for speaking deridingly against God's word and ordinances." It
would seem by the fining of the citizens that already the Cape people
had commenced a move in the right direction, and would be worship-
ping God properly by not heeding such rules and tenets as had been
made by the rulers.
The most convenient road from Sandwich to Plymouth was laid
out in 1652, by order of the court to Mr. Prince and Captain Standish
to empanel a jury. This was done, and the highway began " at
Sandwich, leaving Goodman Black's house on the right hand, running
-across the swamp, over the river, and so on, in a nor-north-west line
falling upon Eel River." April 1, 1663, delegates were sent from
Barnstable, Eastham, Yarmouth and Sandwich to meet the court "to
conclude on military aflfairs." Sandwich furnished six men, Yarmouth
six, Barnstable six and Eastham three, for military purposes. In
1653 the first coined money of the New World was put into circu-
lation, and the historical pine-tree shilling was the veritable money
mentioned; it was coined by Massachusetts and was in circulation on
the Cape.
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATIONS. 31
These four towns, frequently mentioned, and being then the only
Cape towns incorporated, remained under the Plymouth government
until 1685, when that colony was divided into three counties — Ply-
mouth, Bristol and Barnstable. The growth in settlement was rapid,
as the Cape possessed its own local and peculiar advantages. Thus
the white man's presence, the white man's enterprise and the social
life which they implied gradually but surely took their permanent
place on the Cape, and the elimination of the red man as a factor in
human affairs here was rapidly accomplished.
CHAPTER IV.
CHARTERS, GRANTS AND INDIAN DEEDS.
Spanish Claims. — Cabot's Discoveries. — Plymouth Company. — Council of Plymouth. —
The Pilgrims.— Patent of 1629-30.— Settlement of the Cape Towns and Purcliases
from the Indians. — Charter of 1691.
BY virtue of the discovery by Columbus, followed by a grant from
the pope and a general treaty with Portugal, Spain made a claim
to the whole continent of America, excepting Brazil, which was
granted to Portugal in the treaty. This assumption excited the
cupidity and curiosity of other European powers, and expeditions of
discovery were at once fitted out by France and England. John Cabot,
in 1496, set sail from Bristol, England, with full authority to take pos-
session, in the name of the king, of all lands and islands he might
discover. He sailed to the present coast of New England, and under
the doctrine that newly discovered countries belong to the discov-
erers, England put forward a claim to extensive regions of North
America, a portion of which they subsequently settled; but the colon-
ization necessary to complete the title by discovery was delayed, and
eight years elapsed before the English made attempts to settle these
lands to which they had such a questionable right.
The first charter of Virginia, in 1606, contemplated the planting
of two colonies. The persons mentioned in the charter of the second
or northern colony were: Thomas Hanham, Raleigh Gilbert, William
Parker and George Popham, while others not mentioned were active
in the company. In 1607 futile attempts were made by this Plymouth
Company — the name given to the one for the settlement of northern.
Virginia — to plant a colony at the mouth of the Kennebec river.
The French also put forward a claim to certain portions of the New
England territory, and under a patent which France had granted to
De Monts, they made a settlement at Port Royal; but Argall, for the
English, burned it in 1613. Among these attempts to settle, under the
patents of royalty, it was seemingly destined that a feeble band of
persecuted religionists, providentally thrown upon its shores, should
make the first permanent settlement within the limits of the new
province.
CHARTERS, GRANTS AND INDIAN DEEDS. 33
The Virginia company having renewed their charter, in 1619 — the
first having been forfeited by the attainder of Sir Walter Raleigh — a
company was formed at London which applied for a similar grant of
the northern part of the so-called Virginia. This company, well
known in law and in history as the Council of Plymouth, was com-
posed of forty men, who had combined and engaged to invest money
in this new enterprise. After nearly two years' solicitation this com-
pany succeeded, November 3, 1620, in obtaining a charter from King
James I., which put that part of North America between the 40th and
48th degrees of north latitude, except " all places actually possessed
by any other Christian prince or people," into their absolute control.
This company was composed of the Duke of Lenox, Marquis of
Buckingham, Marquis of Hamilton, Earl of Arundel, Earl of War-
wick, Sir Fernando Gorges and thirty-four merchants, incorporated
as " The Council established at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for
the planting, ruling, ordering, and governing of New England, in
America." This company, although formed prior to the departure of
the Mayflower, did not receive from the crown the promised charter
until about one week before- that vessel had dropped anchor in Cape
Cod harbor. The occupants of the Mayflower, finding themselves out
of the jurisdiction of the Virginia company, under whose permission
they had expected to form their settlement, they entered into the
agreement in the cabin, as described in the previous chapter. The
Mayflower returned to England in the spring of 1621, and the Council
of Plymouth then learned that the pilgrims had formed a settlement
upon territory included within their charter. The council were quite
ready to take them under their protection, and the colonists were de-
sirous of receiving it, if a grant of territory could be procured. When
the Mayflower sailed from the Old World, many who came obtained
aid from Thomas Weston and others, called Merchant Adventurers.
This aid was to each man, or boy of sixteen, ;^10 for transportation
and outfit, which sum entitled the Adventurers to one-half interest or
share in all the lands, profits and labors of the person so aided for the
term of seven years.
The first patent for the pilgrims, as promised by the Council of
Plymouth, of which any record is given, bears date June 1, 1621. This
was obtained by John Pierce and his associates ostensibly for the in-
fant colony, but was never delivered. Its conditions were onerous;--
but in consideration that the pilgrims were hopefully settled, the same
individual sought another patent, in 1623, which would insure a
gfreater degree of success to his own selfishness. After two several
attempts to cross the Atlantic with the second charter in his posses-
sion, upon his return to England he was persuaded to relinquish it to
the council.
34 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
The pilgrims of 1620 received no patent for their lands until 1629-
30. The accrued indebtedness to the Merchant Adventurers at the
expiration of the seven years was ;^1, 800, which was assumed in 1627,
and bonds for payment given extending over a period of nine years.
The eight of the colonists who assumed the indebtedness were Gov-
ernor Bradford, Edward Winslow, Thomas Prince, Miles Standish,
William Brewster, John Alden, John Rowland and Isaac Allerton,
and to these persons a patent was issued by the Council of Plymouth
January 13, 1629-30, after three voyages by Mr. Allerton to England
for its procurement.
" The Council of New England, in consideration that Wm. Bradford
and his associates have for these nine years lived in New England,
and there have planted a town called New Plymouth, at their own
charges, — and now seeing that, by the special providence of God and
their extraordinary care and industry, they have increased their plan-
tation to near three hundred people * * * , do therefore seal a
patent to the said Wm. Bradford, his heirs, associates, and assigns of
all that part of New England on the east side of a line drawn north-
erly from the mouth of the Narraganset river and southerly of a line
drawn westerly from the Cohasset rivulet to meet the other line at
the uttermost limits of country called Pocanoket." A tract on the
Kennebec was also included. This grant comprised the entire Cape
with all prerogatives, rights, royalties, jurisdictions and immunities;
also marine franchises that the council had, or ought to have, with
privileges of incorporation by laws and constitutions not contrary to
those of England.
This, the first charter received giving the pilgrims any definite
territory, was granted to Mr. Bradford and his associates who had
bound themselves to pay the indebtedness of the colony. This patent
was missing for many years, and is said to have been found in 1741
among Governor Bradford's papers.
In 1640 the general court desired that William Bradford should
make to them a surrender of the charter, which he willingly did. In
Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation, page 372, these quaint words
of the instrument may be found:
"Whereas William Bradford, and diverce others ye first instru-
ments of God in the begining of this great work of plantation, to-
^eather with such as ye all adoring hand of God in his providence
soone added unto them, have been at very great charges to procure
ye lands, priviledges, & freedoms from all intanglements of grants,
purchases, and payments of debts, &c., by reason whereof ye title to
ye day of these presents remaineth in ye said William Bradford, his
heires, associats, and assignes: now, for ye better settling of ye estate
of the said lands (contained in ye grant or pattente,) the said William
CHARTERS, GRANTS AND INDIAN DEEDS. 35
Bradford, and those first instruments termed & called in sundry or-
ders upon public recorde, ye Purchasers, or Old comers; witnes 2,
in spetiall, the one bearing date ye 3. of March, 1639, the other in
Des: the 1, Ano 1640, whereunto the presents have spetiall rela-
tion and agreemente, and wherby they are distinguished from
other ye freemen & inhabitants of ye said corporation. Be it knowne
unto all men, therfore, by these presents, that the said William
Bradford, for him selfe, his heires, together with ye said pur-
chasers, doe only reserve unto them selves, their heires, and as-
signes, those 3 tractes of land mentioned in ye said resolution,
order, and agreemente, bearing date ye first of Des: 1640. viz. first,
from ye bounds of Yarmouth 3 miles to ye eastward of Naem-
schatet, and from sea to sea, cross the neck of land."
Two other tracts of land were also reserved, and the closing
words of the long document are: " In witness wherof, the said
William Bradford hath in publick courte surrendered the said let-
ters patents actually into ye hands & power of ye said courte,
binding him selfe, his heires, executors, administrators, and assignes
to deliver up whatsoever spetialties are in his hands that doe or
may concerne the same."
It was conceded that the Indians had a natural right or title in the
lands, which must be obtained by the settlers after the court had
granted them permission to establish a plantation. A verbal grant
from the Indians was at first considered sufficient, but subsequently
the title from the natives was passed by instruments, which were
legal in their form, whether they were understood by the natives or
not. Doctor Holmes in his annals quotes the words of Governor
Winslow, " that the English did not possess one foot of land in the
colony but was fairly obtained by honest purchase from the Indian
proprietors."
The first permission to settle on the Cape was given by the Ply-
mouth colony on the 3d of April, 1637, under which so-called grant
the first settlement at Sandwich was begun, and a committee was ap-
pointed to procure of the Indians a title to the lands. Grants were
given in 1639 for the settlement of Mattacheese — now Barnstable,
Yarmouth and Dennis. In settling these plantations a suitable loca-
tion was first purchased of the Indians; and subsequently, as occasion
required, deeds of adjoining territory were obtained. Reservations
were made for the Indians, provided that if they sell it be to the in-
habitants of the plantation; and, although all purchases were carefully
made by a committee appointed by court, misunderstandings arose
between the whites and Indians. In 1641, after purchasing of Ne-
paiton lands in Barnstable, other agreements were made to build for
him, " in addition to what said Nepaiton hath already had one dwel-
36 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ling house with a chamber floored with boards, with a chimney and
an oven therein."
A deed or receipt, probably written by Anthony Thacher, for
lands in Yarmouth, will acquaint the reader with the form used when
other claimants might appear : " Witnesseth these presents, that I,
Masshantampaigne, Sagamore, doth acknowledge that I have received
and had of Anthony Thacher, John Crow, and Thomas Howes, all and
every particular thing and things that I was to have for all and every
part and parcel of lands: * * * which said lands I sold to Mr. William
Bradford. I say I acknowledge myself fully satisfied and paid * *
and I do forever acquit the said Thatcher, Crow, and Howes. In witness
whereof, etc.. May 8, 1657." To this the sachem named made his mark
in presence of witnesses, who also signed the deed as such; and one or
more of these witnesses certified in 1674, before an ofiScer, that the sa-
chem "set his hand to it" and "he heard him own it." In similar form
and import were deeds or receipts given by lyanough and sachems
of the South sea Indians. In 1640 a grant for the settlement of Nau-
set, and subsequently one for Monomoyick, were obtained from the
Plymouth court. Deeds were obtained from the sachems Quason,
Mattaquason and George, and the towns of Eastham, Orleans, Well-
fleet and Chatham were subsequently organized. Falmouth and Har-
wich still later were purchased in the same manner. In 1660 a tract
of 10,500 acres was granted for the exclusive use of the Massipees, and
the following year a large tract was granted to Richard Bourne at
the west of the Massipee lands. The court gave grants for many
smaller portions of land during the growth of the towns on the Cape,
and in 1655, by order of the court, every town was required to pur-
chase a book in which all titles of land should be recorded. These
were called " proprietors' records," and were very essential prior to
the formation of the county and establishment of an office ior the
registry of deeds.
The usurpations of power by Andros in 1686, his declaration that
" Indian deeds were no better than the scratch of a bear's paw," and
his summons for the surrender of charters, occasioned alarm to the
coloni.sts of the Cape, as well as the main land. In 1690 the Rev.
Ichabod Wiswall and others from this colony went to England to ob-
tain a restoration of the old or solicit a new charter. The restoration
of the old was refused and a new one promised. The towns of Barn-
stable county paid their proportion of the expenses to obtain a new
charter.
The charter of October 7, 1691, granted by William and Mary,
united the colonies of the Massachusetts Bay, the province of Maine,
Acadia, and New Plymouth, including the Cape, into one province,
called the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. Four
CHARTERS, GRANTS AND INDIAN DEEDS. 37
of the twenty-eight councillors elected were to be from the former
New Plymouth, which gave to the Cape its representation, and in
1692 the new privileges were enjoyed after the arrival of Sir William
Phipps, the new governor, with the charter.
The only privilege reserved to the consolidated colonies by the
new charter was the right of choosing representatives by the people,
the crown reserving the right of appointing the governor, lieutenant
governor and secretary. From the first settlement of the Cape until
1692 this part of the colony of Plymouth bore its full share of priv-
ileges under the charters enumerated; and then, when included in the
Massachusetts charter, this county was ably represented in public
affairs and responsibilities. The governors were appointed by the
crown, during the existence of the last charter, until October 26, 1780,
when the federal constitution became the supreme law, vesting all
powers in the people and annulling all charters.
CHAPTER V.
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
Basis of Civil Government.— Erection of the County.— Political History.— Councillors —
Senators.- Representatives.- Sheriffs.— Registers.— County Institutions.— Federal
Institutions. — Custom House. — Lighthouses.- Life Saving Service.
THE desire for religious freedom possessed by our ancestors, not-
withstanding their peculiar inconsistencies as they seem to us of
the present day, established on a broad and comprehensive
basis the idea of civil liberty. Colonies were settled by churches, and
as such the religious body instituted the law and government. No
one could be a freeman and co-operate in the affairs of the church or
the body politic unless he was a church member; and under this rule
the church gave or refused him the right to settle. The tyranny of
the hierarchy drove the Puritans to this shore; this spirit, continued
by the Puritans, forced malcontents to found new plantations where
they could establish civil and religious liberty for themselves, and
this has thrown open to the land the gates of liberty, never to be
again closed. In 1636, when the trade of the original colony had con-
siderably increased and other plantations were about to be established,
the court of associates set forth the first declaration of rights, which
ordained that no act, imposition, law or ordinance should be imposed
on the colonists, at that or any future time, without the consent of the
body of associates or their representatives, legally assembled. Enact-
ments were made the same year regarding the election at Plymouth
of a governor and assistants by the freemen in person, or by proxy,
and the trial of important suits or offenses by jury. Religion was in-
tended to be the basis of both civil and ecclesiastical government; but
here in the remote wilderness these pilgrims first conceived and ex-
emplified the principle that the will of the majority shall govern — the
foundation of American liberty. In planting a church they founded
an empire.
The first and each succeeding plantation established upon territory
embraced in Barnstable county was composed of people imbued with
these principles, from which have arisen the present town govern-
ments.
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
39
In 1643 the towns then existing on the Cape as part of the Ply-
mouth colony were joined with others in the confederation of the
United Colonies of New England, which, with some slight changes,
was continued until 1685, when the charters of the several colonies
of the province were, in effect, vacated by a commission of King
James II. The spirit of confederation had taught the colonies to act
together when common dangers had menaced, and here was the germ
of the present national system, reserving to the towns their own local
government.
In the division of Plymouth colony into three counties — Plymouth,
Bristol and Barnstable — in 1685, the county of Barnstable was incor-
porated June second. The history of this county in its relation to the
European race may be dated from its first exploration; but its civil
history must be regarded as beginning with its incorporation in 1685.
Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth and Eastham had been previously
40 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
incorporated as towns; Falmouth, Harwich, Truro and Monomoy, soon
after made towns, were plantations assuming rights of self govern-
ment; and since the formation of the county, Mashpee has been in-
corporated, Wellfleet and Orleans set off from Eastham, Brewster
from Harwich, Dennis from Yarmouth, and Bourne from Sandwich.
Sippecan, or Rochester, was temporarily annexed to this county, but
was transferred to Plymouth county.
Barnstable was designated as the shire town, where a court house
was at once erected adjoining the old training ground on the south
side of the county road, and nearly opposite the site of the present
Baptist church in Barnstable village. The second court house was
erected in 1774, and after the completion of the present court house
it was purchased by the Baptist society, turned to face westward, and
remodeled to its present form, and since has been the Baptist church
of the village. The officers for the new county were appointed at its
incorporation, and the body corporate assumed its distinctive civil
jurisdiction over the same territory now comprising its more numer-
ous towns.
In 1691 the rights of general suffrage and more liberal local legis-
lation in the towns were guaranteed by the accession to the English
throne of William and Mary, who united the colonies and formed the
province of Massachusetts Bay. The powers of the towns were in-
creased, and the New England town system became a model for
municipal imitation, inaugurating a method of control over local
affairs that should regulate, like the governor of the engine, the entire
machinery of the government. The county, as a confederation of
towns with sovereign powers, is a concentration of these corporate
bodies, combining increased strength that shall comparatively more
advance the social and civil affairs of the body politic.
An attempt was made in 1734, by petitions in behalf of the lower
towns, to have the county divided and those towns set off as a distinct
county; but failing in this, the towns petitioned for the abolishment
of some of the courts annually held at the court house. In the civil
history of the county no bitter party strife has interrupted the har-
monious execution of its duly constituted powers, and especially may
this assertion be applied to its history since 1774. At that date the
term whig was given to those who were in favor of resisting the tax-
ations and aggressions of Great Britain; and to those who were will-
ing to acquiesce in the demands the name tory was applied. Among
other exactions Great Britain assumed the right to appoint the council,
and also gave the sheriff the right to appoint the jurors — rights be-
longing to and that had long been enjoyed by the body politic. This
aroused the indignation of many of the whigs of the upper part of
the county, who determined to prevent the September sitting of the
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 41
court of common pleas, and to this end hastened to Barnstable. The
concourse of people that had gathered on the way, and had been in-
creased by additions at the county seat, took possession of the grounds
in front of the court house to await the arrival of the judges to open
the court. When the judges appeared they were warned not to open
the session, not to assemble as a court nor do any business as such.
The people were assured by the judges that the jurors had beein
drawn from the boxes and the court was legal; but the people per-
sisted in their determined opposition and the session was not held.
Later, the military and civil officers of the county who held appoint-
ments under the king were requested to resign, with which request they
willingly complied. This spirit was abandoned soon after the declar-
ation of peace between the countries, as also were the names with
which the parties had stigmatized each other. The revolt of the col-
onies and their confederation enlarged the powers and increased the
strength of the existing corporate bodies, in the enjoyment of which
Barnstable county is no exception.
Soon after those stirring times a county building was erected on
the high ground just east of the Sturgis library building in Barnstable,
which contained rooms for the register of deeds and other county
officers, as the second court house was used for courts only. The
burning of this edifice during the night of October 22-3, lb27, was
the most serious calamity that has befallen the county. On the fly-
leaf or cover of volume 1 of the present records the following account
is written: " The first record of a deed in the county was made Octo-
ber 5, 1686, by Joseph Lothrop, Register. Previous to that the records
of deeds were made at Plymouth in the old Colony Records. Since
then 94 volumes had been filled. On the night of October 22, 1827,
the brick building erected some years before by the county, and
which was occupied by the clerk of the Judicial and Probate
Courts, and the Register of deeds for the county, was burned. One
volume. No. 61, of the record was .saved; ninety-three were burned
with a large number of deeds in the office." Besides the contents of
the register's office, volumes 29, 44 and 46 of the probate records, and
other valuable records and papers were destroyed. To remedy this
loss, and take measures for the erection of new buildings, an extra
term of the court of sessions was held January 16, 1828, which was
followed, March 10, by an act of the general court, making it " the duty
of the selectmen of each town to cause to be fairly recorded all deeds
for conveyance of any real estate or any interest therein, lying in
their respective towns, which shall be brought to them for the pur-
pose, and which shall bear date not more than forty years back and
have been recorded in the registry of deeds of the county before the
23d of Octobor last; the said books of record then to be deposited in
42 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
the office of the registry of deeds for the county," and to be as effectual
in law as the first records destroyed by the fire." As the result of
the act several volumes of records were accumulated, which, with the
rapidly increasing volumes of the usual registry, fill the available
space of the register's office.
In 1828 arrangements for the erection of the present court house
were perfected by the county, and in its erection the people have
taken the precaution to have each of its offices fire proof. It is a neat
and substantial stone building, with ample accommodations for all
courts and other business of the county. The first payment on the
contract for its erection was ordered by the county commissioners in
September, 1831, and the last in July, 1834. The historic bell, sold to
the county for the court house by the church in Sandwich, in 1763, is
preserved with care, and may be seen hanging from an arch in the
office of the clerk of the court.
The exact date of the erection of the first jail can not be deter-
mined. The loss of the records of the county has, without doubt, ex-
tinguished all recorded evidence, and the date cannot be determined
by tradition. In 1686 we find a court was called by proper authority
to consider the erection of a jail or place of confinement in each of
the new counties. Whenever erected it was a primitive concern, and
stood upon what is known as Jail -street, near the premises of Gus-
tavus A. Hinckley, Barnstable; and about 1820 the second was erected
near the first, and was a substantial stone structure, used as a iail un-
til 1878, when the material was utilized in the foundation of the en-
largement of the present court house. The present jail, in rear of
the court house, was erected in 1878, and the prisoners were trans-
ferred to it on the 16th of May, 1879.
Councillors.— This office was created by the charter of William
and Mary in 1691, and the following year, under Governor Phipps,
these officers were first elected. Of the governor's council four of the
number were elected from that portion of the province formerly
known as Plymouth colony, and of these two were chosen from this
county, and one other had formerly resided here. From the adoption
of the state constitution until 1840 the governor's council each year
consisted of nine persons, chosen by the legislature from those elected
as senators and councillors. By the Thirteenth amendment, promul-
gated in April, 1840, the nine councillors were for fifteen years chos6n
by the legislature from among the people at large, but the Sixteenth
amendment, promulgated in May, 1856, inaugurated the present sys-
tem, whereby the state is divided into eight districts, each of which
annually elects one of the councillors. Prior to 1855 Elijah Swift of
Falmouth, Seth Crowell of Dennis, Solomon Davis of Truro, and John
Kenrick of Orleans had been councillors, each two years. Barnstable
PBINT.
E. BIEH3TADT, N.
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 43
county has, since 1855, formed a part of the First district. The fol-
lowing named residents of this county have been members of the
executive council since the state was divided into councillor districts:
Charles F. Swift of Yarmouth, iu 1860; Marshall S. Underwood of
Dennis, in 1869-1871; Joseph K. Baker of Dennis, in 1875-1878.
The present councillor from this district is Isaac N. Keith* of
Bourne, who was elected in 1888 and re-elected in 1889. He is a lineal
descendant of Rev. James Keith, who came to America about 1660,
and was settled in the ministry at Bridgewater, where he labored
fifty-six years, and where he died in 1719, aged seventy-six. From
him are descended all who bear his family name in this country. The
family, which is a very ancient one, came originally from Scotland.
The following historical sketch is from the " Peerage of Scotland,"
published at Edinburgh in 1834. " This ancient family derived its
origin frjom one Robert, a chieftain among the Catti, from which came
the surname Keith. At the battle of Panbridge, in 1006, he slew
with his own hands Camus, general of the Danes; and King Malcom,
perceiving this achievement, dipped his fingers in Camus' blood and
drew red strokes or pales on the top of Robert's shield, which have
ever since been the armorial bearings of his descendants. In 1010
he was made hereditary Marischal of Scotland, and was rewarded
with a barony in East Lothian, which was called Keith-Marischal after
his own name." It should be said that Rev. James Keith was educated
at Marischal College. Aberdeen, an institution founded by one of the
family, George, fifth Earl.
The father of Mr. Keith was Isaac, who was born at Tamworth
Iron Works, N. H., July 13, 1807, and removed to Bridgewater, the
home of his ancestors, in 1814. He came to Sandwich in 1828, and
settled in West Sandwich, now Sagamore, in the town of Bourne,
commencing business therewith one Mr. Ryder, under the firm name
of Ryder & Keith, carriage manufacturers. Mr. Ryder retiring from
the firm in 1830, from that time until his death Mr. Keith conducted the
business under his own name, laying the foundation of the present Keith
Manufacturing Company. Mr. Keith was a prominent and estimable
citizen, always interested in the welfare of the town of his adoption.
He was married in 1829 to Delia B. Swift of Sandwich. He died April
8, 1870, leaving two daughters and two sons. The youngest is Isaac
N., the subject of this sketch, who was born November 14, 1838.
He was educated in the public schools of Sandwich. In 1858 he
learned the business of telegraphy, which he followed for two years;
was then chosen superintendent of the Cape Cod and Cape Ann dis-
tricts of the American Telegraph Company. September 7, 1865, he
* This sketch of Mr. Keith is by his friend and neighbor, Charles Dillingham. The
Councillor's home at Sagamore is the subject of an illustration in the history of that
village.
44 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
was married to Miss Eliza Frances Smith, daughter of Eben S. Smith,
Esq., of Provincetown. In October, 1867, he resigned his position
with the telegraph company and commenced with his father the busi-
ness of railway car manufacturing, of which he is now the sole
owner and general manager. In these days of labor troubles, his
relations with his employees have always been of the most pleasant
character. His sound judgment, business capacity and strict integrity
have secured to him a large property as well as the high esteem and
confidence of his fellow townsmen and business acquaintances. As
an evidence of this it may not be out of place to mention that when-
ever he has been presented to the electors of his native town he has
invariably run ahead of his ticket. Mr. Keith was twice elected to
the Massachusetts house of representatives, 1874 and 1875; twice sen-
ator from the Cape Senatorial District, 1886 and 1887; and in 1888 and
again in 1889 was elected one of the executive council from the First
Councillor district, which office he now holds.
If it ever be allowable to write of the living, what perhaps more
appropriately belongs to the province of the historian, it can truth-
fully be said of Mr. Keith, that the ancient motto of the family,
''Veritas Vincit," has never suffered violence at his hands.
Senators. — The constitution of 1780, providing that the senate
should consist of forty members, made Barnstable county- a district
entitled to elect annually one senator. By frequent re-elections six-
teen men only were elected within the first sixty years. Their names
and the term of service, with year of first election, were: 1780, Solo-
mon Freeman, Harwich, 19 years; 1788, Thomas Smith, Sandwich,
1; 1798, David Thacher, Yarmouth, 1; 1801, John Dillingham, Har-
wich, 6; 1804, Richard Sears, Chatham, 1; 1806, James Freeman, Sand-
wich, 2; 1808, Joseph Dimmick, Falmouth, 3; 1811, Timothy Phinney,
Barnstable, 1; 1813, Wendell Davis, Sandwich, 2; 1815, Solomon Free-
man, Brewster, 6; 1821, Elijah Cobb, Brewster, 2; 1823, Braddock
Dimmick, Falmouth, 3; 1826, Nymphas Marston, Barnstable, 2; 1828,
Elisba Pope, Sandwich, 4; 1831, John Doane, Orleans, 3; 1834, Charles
Marston, Barnstable, 6.
By the terms of the Thirteenth amendment to the constitution,
promulgated April, 1840, the county was for seventeen years entitled
to two seats in the state senate. They were occupied by the follow-
ing named persons, the number of years noted after each: 1841, Seth
Crowell, Dennis, 2 years; 1841, Charles Marston, Barnstable, 1; 1842,
Solomon Davis, Truro, 4; 1843, John B. Dillingham, Sandwich, 2; 1846,
Zeno Scudder, Barnstable, 3; 1846, Barnabas Freeman, Eastham, 2;
1848, George Copeland, Brewster, 2; 1849, John Jenkins, Falmouth, 2;
1850, Stephen Hilliard, Provincetown, 2; 1851, Zenas D. Basssett,
Barnstable, 2; 1852, Cyrus Weeks, Harwich, 2; 1853, James B. Crocker,
(ytat^
PRINT.
6 BrEHSTAOT,
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 45
Barnstable, 2; 1854, Robert Y. Paine, Wellfleet, 1; 1855, Sylvester
Baxter, Yarmouth, 2; 1855, Lewis L. Sellew, Provincetown, 1; 1856,
Alfred Kenrick, Orleans, 1; 1857, John W. Atwood. Chatham, 2.
By the Twenty-second amendment of May, 1857, the state was re-
districted, and Falmouth, Sandwich and Barnstable were joined with
Dukes and Nantucket counties to compose the Island district, while
the Cape district comprised Yarmouth and the nine towns below.
This apportionment existed until 1877, during which time the Cape
district was represented in 1858, 1859 by Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth;
1860, 1861 by Marshal S. Underwood, Dennis; 1862, 1863, R. H.Libby,
Wellfleet; 1864, 1865, Freeman Cobb, Provincetown; 1866, Reuben
Nickerson, Eastham; 1867, 1868, Chester Snow, Harwich; 1869-1871,
NathanielE. Atwood, Provincetown; 1872, 1873, Joseph K. Baker,
Dennis; 1874, 1875, Thomas N. Stone, Wellfleet; 1876, Jonathan Hig-
gins, Orleans.
The Island district was represented within this twenty years by
Barnstable county men as follows: 1861, 1862, Charles Dillingham,
Sandwich; 1863, 1864, Nathan Crocker, Barnstable; 1867, 1868, Eras-
mus Gbuld, Fal-mouth; 1869, 1870, George A. King, Barnstable; 1873,
1874, Francis A. Nye, Falmouth; 1875, 1876, Ezra C. Howard, Sand-
wich.
Since 1877 and until the present the three counties — Banstable,
Dukes and Nantucket — have composed the Cape district, which was
represented in 1877-1879 by John B. D. Cogswell of Yarmouth; 1880,
1881, by. Samuel Snow, Barnstable: 1882, 1883, Joseph P. Johnson,
Provincetown; 1884-1886, Howes Norris, Cottage City; 1887, 1888,
Isaac N. Keith, Bourne.
David Fisk of Dennis was elected in 1888 for the session of 1889,
and by re-election is the present senator. He is one of four brothers
of that family name residing in South Dennis, who are intimately
blended with the civil history of their native town, as well as the
county. Of his ancestors little is known beyond his grandfather, Nathan
Fisk, who settled during the last century in Dennis. His son Nathan,
born in 1801, married Polly, daughter of Eliphalet Baker, one of the
descendants of the large family of that name scattered over the Cape.
Their children were eight in number, four of whom survive: Uriah
B., Luther, David and Henry H. Fisk.
David Fisk was born May 6, 1838, at West Dennis, where hjs boy-
hood was passed in acquiring such an education as was obtainable in
the public and private schools, until the age of fifteen, when he went
to sea, before the mast. Several years were passed in ascending the
scale, and at the age of twenty-two he acted as master. In this capac-
ity he continued for a period of fifteen years, coasting and occasion-
ally making a voyage to foreign ports. In 1874 he retired and has
46 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
since acted as the agent for Fisk Brothers, in building vessels and in
other shipping business. He was married in 1860 to Mary E. Wixon,
who died leaving two daughters: Marion and Alice M. In 1886 he
married for his second wife, Mary E., daughter of Zeno Gage.
As soon as he was permanently retired from the sea he was chosen
by the republican party to serve as selectman, assessor, overseer of
the poor, and surveyor of the public roads, which duties he declined
after serving six years-. He also served Uis town in the school com-
mittee three years, commencing with 1875. His ability being appre-
ciated, he was, in the autumn of 1881, elected to a seat in the legisla-
ture, and re-elected in 1832. No happier tribute could have been paid
to him than his nomination by acclamation and the election in 1888 to
a seat in the senate and again in 1889 — the highest honor of his dis-
trict. His advancement has been as marked and he has been as suc-
cessful on land as on sea, every position being filled with that natural
energy and decision which inspires confidence in his ability.
He is liberal in his views in all matters of church and state, and is
endowed with a firm and lasting friendship. In his business and
official relations he is indefatigable in the discharge of every duty.
His social proclivities induced him to unite with the Masonic frater-
nity, and there, too, he has been elevated to the highest offices of the
lodge. In every position where he has presided or mingled in the
aflFairs of his fellow townsmen, the same firmness, tempered with jus-
tice, has characterized him, and his success is established.
Representatives. — After Governor Bradford was elected his ill-
ness in 1621 made it advisable that he have an assistant; this was
continued, and in 1624 five assistants were chosen. In 1633 the num-
ber was increased to seven, and not until the arrival of Andros was
this branch of the civil government discontinued.
The election of deputies by the towns, as soon as they were legally
incorporated, was a change to a representative form of government.
The first representative assembly met June 4, 1639, at Plymouth, to
which Sandwich, Yarmouth and Barnstable sent each two deputies.
This was an enlargement as well as division of the powers of the gov-
ernment, as in these deputies were conjointly invested powers which
heretofore had been exercised by the governor and his assistants only.
The extension of the settlements had created a necessity for delega-
ting power to deputies and representatives, and thus the present repre-
sentative form of government was inaugurated. The constitution of
1780 provided that towns already incorporated and having 160 ratable
polls or less, should be entitled to one representative, to be elected in
May of each year; and corporate towns containing 375 ratable polls,
two representatives. Under this provision the representatives of the
respective towns are given in the history of each, being considered as
town officers until 1857.
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 47
Since 1831 the legislative year begins the first Wednesday in Jan-
uary, by amendment Ten, promulgated May 11th of that year, the elec-
tions being held in November. The amendment of 1836, article Twelve,
changed the basis of representation, the census of ratable polls by
towns to be taken in May, 1837, and every tenth year thereafter. This
provided that each town of three hundred ratable polls might elect
one, and for every additional 450 polls, another representative might
be elected. By an equitable rule, towns having less than three hun-
dred polls were to be represented a portion of the ten years only; and
the reader may not expect to find the smaller towns represented every
year, while the larger may have more than one for a portion of the
time.
This arrangement was superseded in 1840 by article Thirteen of
amendments.which provided that the next decade should begin in 1841;
that the rate of representation be one for twelve hundred ratable polls
and two for thirty-six hundred. Under this rule the apportionment
of 1841 entitled each town of the county to one representative, except
the towns of Barnstable, Sandwich and Eastham, the first two to have
two each, and the latter only to have five within the ten years. This
rule of apportionment existed from 1841 to 1850, inclusive.
The apportionment of 1851 gave Barnstable two representatives
each year; Brewster one for seven years within the ten; Eastham for
four of the same period; and every other town one each year.
In May, 1857, article Twenty-one provided that the house of repre-
sentatives consist of 240 members, to be apportioned according to the
census of 1857, and the county commissioners were to district the
county at the beginning of each decade, after the legislature had as-
signed the number of representatives to the county. The same amend-
ment provided that the census shoiild again be taken in May, 1865,
and every tenth year thereafter, and the legislature should apportion
the representatives to the counties at the first session after the enume-
ration. This made a radical change in the system of apportionment,
and since the election of the representatives in the fall of 1857, they can
no longer be regarded as officers of the town, and are accordingly
noticed in the following lists. The county was entitled to nine rep-
resentatives by this act, and the commissioners divided the towns as
follows: The First district included Barnstable, Sandwich and Fal-
mouth, and was to elect three representatives; the Second included
Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich and Chatham, with three; the Third,
Brewster, Orleans and Eastham, one; and the Fourth, Wellfleet, Truro
and Provincetown, with two.
As each person elected represented the district in which he lived,
and the residence being indicated with the name, the following lists
are believed to be explicit as showing the district and years in which
each man served:
48 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
1858. Zenas D. Bassett, Barnstable; John A. Baxter, Barnstable; Paul
Wing, Sandwich; John W. Atwood, Chatham; Thomas Dodge, Chat-
ham; Luther Studley, Dennis; Ira Mayo, Orleans; Nathaniel E. At-
wood, Provincetown; Thomas H. Lewis, Wellfleet.
1859. Nathaniel Hinckley, Barnstable; John S. Fish, Sandwich;
William Nye, jr., Falmouth; Benjamin H. Matthews, Yarmouth;
James S. Howes, Dennis; Nathaniel Doane, jr., Harwich; Elijah Cobb,
Brewster: Daniel Paine, Truro; James Gifford, Provincetown.
1860. Ansel Lewis, Barnstable; Joseph Hoxie, Sandwich; William
Nye, jr., Falmouth; Benjamin H. Matthews, Yarmouth; James S.
Howes, Dennis; Edward Smalley, Harwich; Nathan Crosby, Barn-
stable; Simeon Atwood, jr., Wellfleet; James Gifford, Provincetown.
1861. John S- Fish, Sandwich; George W. Donaldson, Falmouth;
Ansel Lewis; Samuel Higgins, Chatham; John K. Sears, Yarmouth;
Edward Smalley, Harwich; Jesse Snow, Orleans; Lewis Lombard,
Truro; James Gifford, Provincetown.
1862. Asa E. Lovell, Barnstable; Zebedee Green, Sandwich, John
K. Sears, Yarmouth; Samuel Higgins, Chatham; George W. Donald-
son, Falmouth; Danforth S. Steel, Harwich; Sylvanus Smith, East-
ham; John P. Johnson, Provincetown; Benjamin Oliver, Wellfleet.
1863. Charles Marston, Barnstable; Elisha G. Burgess, Falmouth;
Zebedee Green, Sandwich; Isaac B. Young, Chatham; Marshall S. Un-
derwood, Dennis; Danforth S. Steel, Harwich; Truman Doane, Or-
leans; Smith K. Hopkins, Truro; Benjamin Oliver, Wellfleet.
1864. Charles Marston, Barnstable, E. G. Burgess, Falmouth; Ezra
T. Pope, Sandwich; Isaac B. Young, Chatham; M. S. Underwood,
Dennis; David G. Eldridge, Yarmouth; Sylvanus Smith, Eastham;
David Wiley, Wellfleet; Henry Shortle, Provincetown.
1865. Ezra T. Pope, Sandwich; Silas Jones, Falmouth; Simeon L.
Leonard, Barnstable; David G. Eldridge, Yarmouth; Joseph Hall,
Dennis; Solomon Thacher, Harwich; Tully Crosby, Brewster; Henry
Shortle, Provincetown; Amasa Paine, Truro.
1866. Isaac K. Chipman, Sandwich; Silas Jones, Falmouth; S. L.
Leonard, Barnstable; Edmund Flinn, Chatham; Joseph Hall, Dennis;
Solomon Thacher, Harwich; Truman Doane, Orleans; Freeman A.
Smith, Provincetown; Nathaniel H. Dill, Wellfleet.
The apportionment of 1865 for the next decade put Barnstable,
Sandwich, Falmouth and Yarmouth into the First district for three
representatives; Dennis, Harwich and Brewster composed the Second,
for two; Chatham and Orleans made the Third, for one; and the four
lower towns made the Fourth district, which was entitled to two rep-
resentatives, all to be elected in November, 1866. The several incum-
bents' names and year in which each was in oflBce stand thus:
1867. Isaac K. Chipman, Sandwich; George Marston, Barnstable;
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 49
Heman B. Chase, Yarmouth; Solomon Thacher, Harwich; Frederick
Hebard, Dennis; Edmund Flinn, Chatham; Nathaniel H. Dill, Well-
fleet; Jesse Pendegrast, Truro.
1868. Alvah Holway, Sandwich; Lemuel B. Simmons, Barnstable;
Heman B. Chase, Yarmouth; Samuel H. Gould, Brewster; Seth Cro-
well, Dennis; Ensign B. Rogers, Orleans: Henry Shortle, Province-
town; John H. Bangs, Eastham.
1869. Lemuel B. Simmons, Bam.stable; Francis A. Nye, Falmouth;
Alvah Holway, Sandwich; Samuel H. Gould, Brewster; Shubael B.
Kelley, Harwich; Ensign B. Rogers, Orleans; John C. Peake, Well-
fleet; Obadiah S. Brown, Truro.
1870. Francis A. Nye, Falmouth; Warren Marchant, Sandwich;
Henry Goodspeed, Barnstable; Shubael B. Kelley, Harwich; Joseph
K. Baker, jr., Dennis; Thomas Holway, Chatham; Joseph P. Johnson,
Provincetown; George T. Wyer, Wellfleet.
1871. Henry Goodspeed, Barnstable; J. B. D. Cogswell, Yarmouth;
Ezra C. Howard, Sandwich; Erastus Chase, Harwich; Joseph K. Baker,
Dennis; Thomas Holway, Chatham; Joseph P. Johnson; Provincetown;
George T. Wyer, Wellfleet.
1872. Ezra C. Howard, Sandwich; J. B. D. Cogswell, Yarmouth;
Nathaniel Sears, Barnstable; Erastus Chase, Harwich; Zoeth Snow,
jr., Brewster; Lot Higgins, Orleans; Jesse S. Pendergrast, Truro;
Reuben G. Sparks, Provincetown.
1873. J. B. D. Cogswell, Yarmouth; Nathaniel Sears, Barnstable;
Philip H. Robinson, Sandwich; David P. Howes, Dennis; Zoeth Snow,
jr., Brewster; Lot Higgins, Orleans; R. G. Sparks, Provincetown;
Thomas N. Stone, Wellfleet.
1874. Levi L. Goodspeed, Barnstable; Philip H. Robinson, Sand-
wich; Joshua C. Robinson, Falmouth; David P. Howes, Dennis; George
D. Smalley, Harwich; Solomon E. Hallett, Chatham; Henry Shortle,
Provincetown; Lewis Lombard, Eastham.
1875. Levi L. Goodspeed, Barnstable; Joshua C. Robinson, Fal-
mouth; Isaac N. Keith, Sandwich; George D. Smalley, Harwich;
Luther Fisk, Dennis; S. Eldredge Hallett, Chatham; Isaiah A. Small,
Provincetown; Edward W. Noble, Truro.
1876. Samuel Snow, Barnstable; Daniel Wing, Yarmouth; I. N.
Keith, Sandwich; Freeman Doane, Orleans; Isaiah Small, Province-
town; Noah Swett, Wellfleet; Elisha Crocker, jr., Brewster; Luther
Fisk, Dennis.
The relative decrease in population at the next decade left Barn-
stable county entitled to six representatives from 1877 to 1886, inclu-
sive. Six districts were formed, with one representative to each, the
first embracing Sandwich and Falmouth; the second Barnstable and
Mashpee; the third Yarmouth and Dennis; the fourth Harwich and
4
60 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Chatham; the fifth Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet; and the
sixth including Truro and Provincetown. The representatives dur-
ing this decade with the year of service were:
1877. Crocker H. Bearse, Falmouth; Samuel Snow, Barnstable;
Daniel Wing, Yarmouth; Abiathar Doane, Harwich; Noah Swett,
Wellfleet; Henry Shortle, Provincetown.
1878. Isaiah Fish, Sandwich; Asa Lovell, Barnstable; Thomas
Prince Howes, Dennis; Abiathar Doane, Harwich; Freeman Doane,
Orleans; Henry Shortle, Provincetown.
1879. Isaiah Fish, Sandwich; Asa Lovell, Barnstable; Thomas P.
Howes, Dennis; Rufus Smith, Chatham; Elisha Crocker, jr., Brewster;
Bangs A. Lewis, Provincetown.
1880. James E. GiflFord, Falmouth; Clark Lincoln, Barnstable;
Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth; Erastus Nickerson, Chatham; Jesse H.
Freeman, Wellfleet; Joseph P. Johnson, Provincetown.
1881. James E. Gifford, Falmouth; Clark Lincoln, Barnstable;
Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth; Watson B. Kelley, Harwich; Jesse H.
Freeman, Wellfleet; Atkins Hughes, Truro.
1882. Bradford B. Briggs, Sandwich; F. D. Cobb, Barnstable; David
Fisk, Dennis: Watson B. Kelley, Harwich; John A. Clark, Eastham;
Atkins Hughes, Truro.
1883. Bradford B. Briggs. Sandwich; F. D.Cobb, Barnstable; David
Fisk, Dennis; Clarendon A. Freeman, Chatham; Solomon Linnell 2d,
Orleans; Edward E. Small, Provincetown.
1884. Meltiah Gifford, Falmouth; Zenas E. Crowell, Barnstable;
Joshua Crowell, Dennis; Clarendon A. Freeman, Chatham; Solomon
Linnell, 2d, Orleans; Edward E. Small, Provincetown.
1885. Asa P. Tobey, Falmouth; Z. E. Crowell, Barnstable; Joshua
Crowell, Dennis; Ambrose N. Doane, Harwich; Tully Crosby, jr.,
Brewster; Benjamin D. Atkins, Provincetown.
1886. Charles Dillingham, Sandwich; Watson F. Hammond, Mash-
pee; George H. Loring, Yarmouth; Ambrose N. Doane, Harwich;
Isaiah C. Young, Wellfleet; Benjamin D. Atkins, Provincetown.
The present apportionment, made in 1886 from the census of 1885,
entitles the county to four representatives. The First district includes
Dennis and the six towns west of it, and elects two representatives.
Charles Dillingham, Sandwich, and George H. Loring, Yarmouth,
represented this district in 1887; A. R. Eldridge, Bourne, and Joshua
Crowell, Dennis, represented it in 1888 and 1889; and Nathan Edson,
Barnstable, and George E. Clarke, Falmouth, in 1890.
The second district, with one representative, includes the towns
of Harwich, Chatham, Brewster and Orleans. It was represented in
1887 by John H. Clark, Brewster; in 1888 by Joseph W. Rogers, Or-
leans; in 1889 by George Eldridge, Chatham; and in 1890 by Dr.
George N. Munsell, Harwich.
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 51
The lower four towns are embraced in the third district, which
was represented in 1887 by Isaiah C. Young, Wellfleet; in 1888 and
1889 by David Conwell, Provincetown; and in 1890 by Richard A.
Rich, of Truro.
Sheriffs. — William Bassett was the first sheriff of the county. He
was appointed under the charter. May 27, 1692. The successive in-
cumbents have been: From 1699, Samuel Allen; 1713, Shubael Gor-
ham; 1715, Joseph Lothrop; 1721, John Russell; 1731, John Hedge; 1734,
Shubael Gorham; 1748, John Gorham; 1764, Nathaniel Stone; 1775,
Enoch Hallett; 1788, Joseph Dimmick; 1808, James Freeman; 1816,
Wendell Davis; 1823, David Crocker; 1843, Nathaniel Hinckley; 1848,
Charles Marston; 1852, Daniel Bassett; 1853, David Bursley; 1856,
Charles C. Bearse; 1863, David Bursley; 1878, Levi L. Goodspeed; 1880,
Thomas Harris; 1884, Luther Fisk; 1890, Joseph Whitcomb, of Pro-
vincetown.
In 1720 Shubael Gorham was appointed " to be joint sheriff
with Mr. Lothrop." The office of "joint sheriff" and "sole sheriff"
are occasionally noted in the records of those years.
Registers of Deeds. — The early deeds were recorded at Plymouth,
but in 1686 Joseph Lothrop, as register for the new county, recorded
on the fifth of October the first deed at Barnstable. The succeeding
registers have been: William Bassett, John Thacher, Solomon Otis,
Edward Bacon, Ebenezer Bacon, Job C. Davis, Lothrop Davis, Fred-
erick Scudder, Smith K. Hopkins from 1874, Asa E. Lovell from 1877,
and Andrew F. Sherman from 1887.
County Institutions. — Associations for more effective work in
the church, and societies for the advancement of agriculture and
other arts, have been formed in the county during the present cen-
tury, of which the conference of the Congregational churches is the
oldest. This was formed October 28, 1828, for the promotion of a
closer union of its ministers and societies. No written constitution
was adopted until April 26, 1837, and of this a revision was made in
January, 1845. The pastors of the churches of the county^ also those
of Dukes county, with two lay members from each society, constitute
the membership. The meetings are held in different towns, accord-
ing to appointment, twice in each year.
The Barnstable Baptist Association was organized in 1832, embrac-
ing the societies of that faith on the Cape, and at Nantucket and
Martha's Vineyard. The association, consisting now of fifteen
churches, has a constitution for its government, and holds its sessions
at least annually, commencing on the second Wednesday in Septem-
ber in each year. Each church is allowed to send its pastor and four
lay members, called messengers. The officers are a moderator, clerk
and treasurer. To this association each church sends a communica-
62 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
tion containing an account of its condition and prosperity. The body
has certain powers of its own, and has for its object the promotion of
piety.
The Barnstable County Mutual Fire Insurance Company was char-
tered in March, 1833, and in August of the same year opened its prin-
cipal office at Yarmouth Port. The executive officers are the pres-
ident and the secretary, who is also treasurer. The presidents in suc-
cession, have been: David Crocker, Eben Bacon, Zenas D. Bassett,
David K. Akin and Joseph R. Hall. The first secretary and treas-
urer was Amos Otis, succeeded by his son, George Otis, and he, in
January, 1882, by Frank Thacher, the present incumbent. The career
of this institution has been uniformly successful. Careful manage-
ment has reduced the average net cost of insurance to one-third the
usual rates.
The Cape Cod Historical Society was organized at a meeting held
at the camp meeting grove in Yarmouth, August 5, 1882. Its object,
as stated in its constitution, is " the collection, preservation and dis-
semination of facts of local history." The fee for membership was
placed at two dollars, with a liability to assessment not exceeding one
dollar per year. For life members the fee is ten dollars, without any
additional charges. The annual meetings of the society are held on
the 22d of February, or the day of its legal observance. At these
meetings original papers are read, and discussions of historical sub-
jects are conducted. When practicable a summer meeting is held or
an excursion provided to some spot of historic interest. Three such
occasions have occurred during the existence of the society — one in
1883, when a clambake was served near the site of the ancient trad-
ing port of the pilgrims, at Manomet, when an address was delivered
by Hon. Thomas Russell, and appropriate speeches made by other
gentlemen. The following year the party visited Sandwich and
inspected the site of the Cape Cod ship canal. One year some fifty
members and their friends visited Plymouth and thoroughly explored
its historic sites, burial grounds and record halls, and the rooms of
the Pilgrim Society. Papers have been prepared and read at the
annual meetings of the society which are worthy of preservation in
a permanent form, and would make an interesting and instructive
volume. They were written by Josiah Paine, Thomas P. Howes,
E. S. Whittemore, Shebnah Rich, C. C. P. Waterman and Charles F.
Swift.
The officers of the society are: Charles F. Swift, president; Josiah
Paine, secretary; Samuel Snow, treasurer. These persons have held
their positions since the organization of the society. The follow-
ing are the additional officers in 1889-90: Vice-presidents, Thomas
P. Howes, Alonzo Tripp, Sylvanus B. Phinney, Ebenezer S. Whitte-
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 63
more, James Gififord, Jesse H. Freeman; executive committee, the
president, secretary and treasurer, and Joshua C. Howes and E. B.
Crocker.
On the fifth of May, 1843, pursuant to notice published in the two
newspapers in the county, a meeting was held at the court house in
Barnstable to take measures for forming a county agricultural society.
The project was greeted with a smile of incredulity on the part of
many who gauged the agricultural resources of the Cape by the
description of the witty scribbler, who said that it chiefly produced
" huckleberry bushes and mullein stalks." Those who assembled on
this occasion had a better appreciation of the situation and resources
of the county. They were called to order by Hon. John Reed of
Yarmouth, and Mr. H. C. Merriam of Tewksbury, who was a practical
agriculturist, made an address. Discussion ensued, and the organ-
ization of the Barnstable County Agricultural Society resulted there-
from. The following were the first oflBcers of the society: President,
Hon. John Reed of Yarmouth; vice-presidents, Clark Hoxie of Sand-
wich, and James Small of Truro; secretary, Charles H. Bursley of
West Barnstable; treasurer, Joseph A. Davis of Barnstable; trustees,
John Jenkins, Falmouth; Meltiah Bourne, Sandwich; Charles Sears,
Yarmouth; William Howes, Dennis; Enoch Pratt, Brewster; Obed
Brooks, jr., Harwich; Isaac Hardy, Chatham; John Doane, Orleans;
John W. Higgfins, Eastham; John Newcomb, Wellfleet; Joshua Small,
Truro; Thomas Lothrop, Provincetown.
A constitution was subsequently formed and sixty members were
soon enrolled. During the winter of 1844 an act of incorporation was
granted by the legislature, which was accepted by the society May 8th
of that year, and the office of corresponding secretary was added,
Frederick Scudder of Barnstable being chosen to that position. This
office was discontinued in 1861. The first exhibition and fair of the
society was held in the court house, at Barnstable, September 4, 1844.
It was a gratifying success, but the amount of premiums awarded was
only $146. These annual fairs were continued in Barnstable, except
in the years 1851, when Orleans was the place of meeting, and 1862,
when the fair was held at Sandwich.
In 1867-68 a lot of land was acquired at Barnstable, and on it a
building was erected for exhibition purposes, and a hall for public
meetings. This building and lot, with improvements on the same,
cost $4,268; $2,050 of which was paid by voluntary subscriptions. An
additional plot of land, valued at $260, was given to the society by
Messrs. Francis Bacon and James Huckins. The building committee
were: S. B. Phinney, Frederick Parker, S. F. Nye, James G. Hallet,
Elijah Cobb, John A. Baxter, and Obed Brooks, jr. George Marston
and Simeon N. Small were subsequently added, in place of Mr. Nye,
64 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
deceased, and Mr. Brooks, resigned. In the spring of 1862, this build-
ing having been destroyed in a severe gale and storm, a new one was
erected on the same site, largely by subscriptions in the county and
in Boston. This building was dedicated October 15, 1862, in an
address by Hon. George Marston. It has since been considerably
improved, and is in all respects well adapted to the wants of the
society.
The society has been the recipient of two donations to its perma-
nent fund. The late Captain John Percival left five hundred dollars,
the income of which is devoted to premiums to exhibitors. Mrs.
Ellen B. Eldridge has also given the sum of five hundred dollars, in
recognition of the interest which her late husband, Dr. Azariah
Eldridge, took in the affairs of the society, the income of which is
devoted to the same purpose. The late Hon. William Sturg^s of Bos-
ton presented the society the sum of twelve hundred dollars to cancel
the indebtedness incurred by the building of a new hall.
The officers of the society during the forty-seven years of its
existence have been as follows: Presidents — John Reed, chosen in 1848;
Zenas D. Basset, 1848; C. B. H. Fessenden, 1861; Charles Marston,
1852; S. B. Phinney, 1866; George Marston, 1869; Nathaniel Hinckley,
1864; Nathan Crocker, 1866; Charles C. Bearse, 1869; Levi L. Good-
speed. 1871; Charles F. Swift, 1873; A. T. Perkins, 1876; Azariah El-
dridge, 1878; John Simpkins, 1888 to present time. Secretaries —
Charles H. Bursley, 1843; George Marston, 1863; S. B. Phinney, 1859;
Frederick Scudder, 1862; George A. King, 1866; Charles F. Swift,
1867; Charles Thacher, 2d, 1871; F. B. Goss, 1876; F. P. Goss, 1879;
Frederick C. Swift, 1882 to present time. Treasurers — ^Joseph A.
Davis, 1843; Ebenezer Bacon, 1845; Daniel Bassett, 1863; S. P. Holway,
1868; S. B. Phinney, 1860; Walter Chipman, 1861; Frederick Scudder,
1867; Walter Chipman, 1868; Freeman H. Lothrop, 1876; Albert F.
Edson, 1882 to present time. Delegates to State Board of Agricul-
ture—George Marston, 1859; S. B. Phinney, 1862; John Kenrick. 1866;
S. B. Phinney, 1870; Augustus T. Perkins, 1879; Nathan Edson, 1882
to present time.
The officers for 1889-90 are: President, John Simpkins; vice-presi-
dents, John Kenrick and A. D. Makepeace; secretary, Frederick C.
Swift; treasurer, Albert F. Edson; executive committee, John Ken-
rick, James F. Howes, Nathan Edson, David Fisk, A. D. Makepeace,
James H. Jenkins, John Bursley, Ebenezer B. Crocker, James A. El-
dridge, Oliver Hallet, H. B. Winship, Alexander Walker, Samuel H.
Nye; auditing committee. Freeman H. Lothrop, Samuel Snow, G. A.
Hinckley; superintendent of hall and grounds, Russell Matthews.
The Cape Cod cranberry men have an organization, including
ninety-eight members, of which J. J. Russell of Plymouth is presi-
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 55
dent. All the other officers are residents of this county. Emulous
Small of Harwich, and Abel D. Makepeace of West Barnstable, are
the vice-presidents, and I. T.Jones is the secretary and treasurer. The
executive committee for 1890 consists of Calvin Crowell, Sagamore;
A. Phinney, Falmouth; G. R. Briggs, Plymouth; O. M. Holmes, Mash-
pee; James Webb, Cotuit; James S. Howes, East Dennis; and D. B.
Crocker, Yarmouth. The second annual meeting of this society was
held last year at Falmouth.
Federal Institutions. — Among the institutions in the county
belonging to and erected by the federal government, are the custom
house buildings,. lighthouses, and life saving stations. The collector,
deputies, keepers and crews employed in the various duties of these
necessary institutions are residents of the county, and our history
would be incomplete without their mention.
As early as 1749 a collector of excise was chosen for Barnstable by
the general court, and that harbor was then made, in a limited sense,
a port of entry. Joseph Otis was appointed naval offiicer for this
county November 27, 1776, and was succeeded February 6, 1779, by
William Taylor, and he by Samuel Hinckley. Thus far it had been
an affair of the state; but in 1789, while Samuel Hinckley was in office,
an act of congress made Barnstable the seventh of the twenty districts
or ports which that act established in Massachusetts for the collection
of duties. General Otis succeeded Mr. Hinckley by President Wash-
ingfton's appointment, and served until his death. His son, William
Otis, was collector from March 22, 1809, until the appointment of
Isaiah L. Green. Mr. Green had been member of congress three
terms, but had failed of re-election because of his vote in favor of the
war of 1812. The president, as his friend, appointed him collector
February' 21, 1814, an office which he held until succeeded by Henry
Crocker, April 1, 1837. The successive appointments have been as
follows: Ebenezer Bacon, March 23, 1841; Josiah Hinckley, April 1,
1845; S. B. Phinney, April 4, 1847; Ebenezer Bacon, June 10, 1849; S.
B. Phinney, April 1,1853; Joseph M. Day, July 1, 1861; Charles F.
Swift, November 12, 1861; S. B. Phinney, November 11, 1866; Walter
Chipman, special deputy, March 5, 1867; Charles F. Swift, March 17,
1867; Franklin B. Goss, July 8, 1876; Van Buren Chase, August 8,
1887: and Franklin B. Goss, August 1, 1889.
Prior to 1855 each collector had kept the office at his own place of
business, and that year the present custom house was commenced at
Barnstable.
The federal act of 1789 provided that Sandwich.Wellfleet, Chatham
and Provincetown should be ports of delivery in the Barnstable dis-
trict. In 1790 the shores and waters of the entire county were formed
into what has since been known as the Barnstable district. The re-
56 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
districting of the coast in 1799 enlarged the powers of the collector of
this port; but the unlading of foreign vessels here was not permitted
until the year 1809. That year delegates from the towns of the county
assembled, and by petitions to congress new privileges were obtained.
Until 1817 the collector for the district was the only government
officer empowered to act; but the act of March third, that year, gave
collectors authority to employ deputy collectors, with the approval of
the secretary of the treasury. These deputies have since been vested
with full powers at the respective ports for which they were appointed.
There are now in this district seven ports of entry, at each of which a
deputy is appointed. They are: Walter O. Luscombe, Falmouth; John
J. Collins, Barnstable; William Crocker, Hyannis; Henry H. Fisk,
Dennis; Erastus T. Bearse, Chatham; Simeon Atwood, Wellfleet;
Myrick C. Atwood and Robert M. Lavender, Provincetown.
No equal area of land presents to the navigator a more dangerous
coast, nor a greater perimeter, than this county; and probably no
coast presents to the sea-faring man more changes from drifting
sands. Surveys and soundings must be continually made, and charts
and directions are printed yearly for the safe navigation of the waters
around the Cape. Lightships — off Chatham and along the sound — are
manned and sustained by the government; and lighthouses and bea-
cons of various kinds have been erected on the coa.sts. As early as
1797 the town of Truro sold to the United States ten acres of land
upon which to erect the first lighthouse of the Cape. The lighthouse
stations of this county, now numbering seventeen, form a portion of
the Second Lighthouse district, and are situated as follows:
Wing's Neck light, near the head of Buzzard's bay, east side of the
entrance to Pocasset harbor, has been a government station for some
time. A lantern giving a white light, visible twelve miles, has been
displayed from the top of a white house with a red roof. A light-
house of the usual form is now being erected near by.
Nobsque light is situated on the knoll east of Little harbor, Woods
HoU. The tower is thirty-five feet high and contains a fixed white
light, with a red sector, and is visible thirteen miles. This station
has a fog signal — a bell struck by machinery. The signal is two strokes
of the bell in quick succession, followed by an interval of thirty sec-
onds.
Bishop & Clerk's light is on a ledge of the same name off Gammon
point, where still remains the tower of a former station. The tower
of the present lighthouse is forty-seven feet high, has a flashing white
light with intervals of thirty seconds, and is visible for thirteen miles.
It also contains a red sector, and a fog bell which is rung by ma-
chinery.
Hyannis light has a tower twenty-one feet high, and is situated on
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 57
the main land at the head of the harbor. The light is a fixed red,
visible nearly twelve miles.
Hyannis Beacon light is a framed building, containing a red light
visible nine miles. This is used in connection with surrounding lights
in giving courses for safe navigation.
Bass River light is just east of the mouth of the river of that name,
and is situated in West Dennis. It is a fixed white light in the tower
of the keeper's residence, and is visible Hi miles.
Stage Harbor light is situated on Harding's beach, at the entrance
of Stage harbor, Chatham. The tower is thirty-five feet high and has
a fixed white light that can be seen twelve miles at sea.
Monomoy Point light, on the south end of the beach of the same
name, is a fixed white light in a tower thirty feet high, and is visible
twelve miles.
Chatham light station is on the main land, in Chatham village. It
consists of two round towers, each forty-three feet high, placed north
and south, one hundred feet apart. In each is a fixed white light,
visible 14^ miles.
Nauset Beach light is in Eastham, on the ocean coast, and has three
towers, each eighteen feet high, ranging north and south, with a dis-
tance of 150 feet between. Each tower contains a fixed white light,
visible fifteen miles out on the sea. Abreast this light the tides divide
and run in opposite directions.
. Cape Cod light station — the Highland light — is on the east shore of
Truro, on a blue clay bank, 142 feet above the sea. The tower still
rises fifty-three feet higher, from which a fixed white light sheds its
rays twenty miles out to sea. A Daboll trumpet is used for a fog sig-
nal, which is a blast of eight seconds, with an interval of a half minute.
Vessels passing this light can communicate with Boston if the Inter-
national Code signals are in use on board.
Race Point light, situated on the northeast point of Provincetown,
has a tower thirty feet high, with a white light varied by flashes every
ninety seconds, which can be seen by mariners 12^^ miles at sea. It
also contains a steam whistle for fog signals.
Wood End light, on Wood End, near the entrance of Provincetown
harbor, is a tower thirty-four feet high, using a red, flashing light in
intervals of fifteen seconds. It is visible twelve miles.
Long Point light is on the eastern point of the peninsula that en-
circles the west side of Provincetown harbor, the square tower thirty-
four feet high being erected on the extreme point, southwest of the
entrance to the harbor. A fixed white light is used, which is visible
nearly twelve miles. A bell, run by machinery, gives the fog signal,
which is two quick, successive strokes, then one after half a minute,
followed by a longer interval.
58 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Mayo's Beach light is a round tower, twenty-five feet high, situated
at the head of Wellfleet bay. It has a fixed white light, visible over
eleven miles.
Billingsgate light station is on the island of that name, on the west
side of the entrance to Wellfleet bay. The tower is thirty-four feet
high, containing a fixed white light, visible twelve miles.
Sandy Neck light, on the neck at the entrance of Barnstable har-
bor, has a tower forty-four feet high, which contains a fixed white
light, visible to the mariner twelve miles out in the bay.
These stations are under the supervision of the Lighthouse Board
at Boston: but the keepers are generally residents of the Cape.
Not until 1848 was the beneficent plan of establishing life saving
stations seriously contemplated by the federal government. That
year, in August, Hon. William A. Newell, a member of the house of
representatives, portrayed in a speech the terrible dangers to naviga-
tion as presented by the coasts, and strongly urged the action of con-
gress to render assistance to vessels cast ashore. During the same
session a small sum was appropriated for surf boats and other appara-
tus for the New Jersey coast, which was to be under the supervision
of the Revenue Marine. More was appropriated at the next session,
and Captain Douglass Ottinger is said to have invented a life car for
the transportation of persons from a wreck through the surf to the
shore. In 1854 stations were erected along the ocean coast of Long
Island, and more public interest was manifested in securing well
equipped stations.
The occurrence of several very fatal disasters along the Atlantic
coast during the winter of 1870-71 revealed the fact that the service
was not only ineflBcient for want of more complete organization, but
must be extended to other portions of the coast. By the act of March
3, 1871, better facilities for saving life and property were furnished
to the first organized stations — two new stations were erected on the
coast of Rhode Island. By the act of June 10, 1872, the system was
extended to Cape Cod, and money was appropriated for the erection
of nine stations along its ocean shore. They were completed and fur-
nished with apparatus the following winter. The number of stations
on the Cape provided for by the act of 1872 was subsequently increased
to ten, and they are named and located as follows: Race Point, two-
thirds of a mile northeast of Race Point light; Peaked Hill Bars, 2i
miles northeast of Provincetown; High Head. 3i miles northwest of
the Highland light; Highland, nearly one mile northwest of the
Highland light; Pamet River station, 3^ miles sotith of the High-
land light, in Truro; Cahoon's Hollow, in Wellfleet, south of the
last; Nauset, If miles south of Nauset light; Orleans station, at East
y^'V^ ^^/^^<i'^'(py
ycJ^'myO-^-rri^
t'^l^C^l^'
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS. 59"
Orleans; Chatham, near the Chatham light; and Monomoy station,
2i miles north of the Monomoy light.
We have dated the life saving service from 1848; but the exten-
sion and reorganization of the service in 1871, 1872, marks the be-
ginning of the efficiency for which this branch of the public ser-
vice is justly distinguished. After congress had appropriated two
hundred thousand dollars, in April, 1871, the treasury department de-
tailed Captain John Faunce, of the Revenue Marine, to visit the sta-
tions already established, and ascertain their condition and needs..
His report showed the practical waste of the government money and
the utter uselessness of most of the stations. No discipline among
the men, no care for the preservation of apparatus, and no super-
vision of the stations, were evils which he pointed out. Several seri-
ous disasters served to call further attention to the service, and re-
sulted in the inauguration of the present system of districts with,
superintendents. Of the twelve districts in the United States, the
Second includes the entire coast of Massachusetts, of which Benjamin
C. Span-ow, of East Orleans, is superintendent. His selection and
appointment in November, 1872, was a part of the plan to prevent
the evils above mentioned, while extending the service under liberal
appropriations. He had been in the United States regular army from
1861 until November, 1864, in the engineer battalion, attached to the
headquarters of the army of the Potomac, and was a prisoner at
Belle Isle in the summer of 1862. He had taught public schools in
Eastham, and from 1861 had been successfully engaged in wreckings
When the war broke out he was at Phillips Academy preparing
himself for the legal profession. Since his birth, October 9, 1839,
he had, like his ancestors, resided at Orleans, where they had been
fully familiar with the scenes of shipwreck and disaster.
The success of Superintendent Sparrow in securing discipline and
eflBciency in this hazardous service, and his popularity among the
captains and crews of the stations under his official care, have retained
him to the present time. He is a worthy descendant of that Richard
Sparrow who came over in the ship Ann and landed at Plymouth, and
from whom those of the name on the Cape have sprung. Richard'
came to Eastham in 1650, bringing his only child, Jonathan', whose
last resting place is now marked by a stone in the first burial ground
of that town. His son by a second marriage with Hannah, daughter
of Governor Prince, was Richard', born March 17, 1-669. He married
Mercy Young (or Cobb), and died in Eastham in 1727, leaving seven
daughters and a son, Richard*. This only son married Hannah Shaw
in 1724, and died in 1774. Of their children three only grew to man-
hood and womanhood — Isaac and two daughters, one of whom mar-
ried Daniel Hamilton, whose son Paul was the first Methodist preacher
60 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
heard in Orleans. Isaac* was bom in 1725, and married Rebecca
, Knowles in 1747, to whom eight children were born — five daughters
and three sons, of whom Josiah' was the youngest. He married
Mercy Smith, of Chatham, January 11, 1782. Their nine children
were: Lydia, born October 19, 1782; Josiah, jr., born March 13, 1785;
Mercy, born May 28, 1788; Zerviah, born March 15, 1790; Samuel, born
November 8, 1792; Harvey, born November 14, 1795; Sarah, born
March 21, 1798; James L., bom June 2, 1801; and Hannah Shaw Spar-
row, the youngest of the nine, born January 1, 1806.
James L. Sparrow, father of the superintendent, married Sukey
Crosby, of Orleans, December 16, 1824. Their four daughters were:
Julia M., who ' died young; Anna E. (Mrs. Freeman H. Snow), Susan
M. (Mrs. Joseph K. May) and Sarah E., who died at eighteen. James
H., their oldest son, was a well known citizen of Cambridgeport, Mass.,
until his death there in 1880; William F. enlisted in the civil war and
was killed at Goldsboro, N. C, in December, 1862. Benjamin C, the
sixth child and youngest son, is the Superintendent Sparrow of this
sketch. He is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post, No. 141, G. A.
R., and has found time to serve his town on the school board more or
less for the past twenty-three years. His ability in the life saving ser-
vice was early recognized by his appointment on the board of experts
to examine new appliances and methods proposed for use by the de-
partment. This position he has held until the present time.
He was married to Eunice S., daughter of Moses O. Felton, Decem-
ber 25, 1866, and they have two children living — Susan F. and Joseph-
ine M. Mrs. Sparrow was a resident of Shutesbury, Mass., and was a
teacher here in 1864-1866. They reside upon the home farm in East
Orleans.
The life saving stations on the Cape are generally oflBcered and
manned by men residing in the towns where the stations are located.
Provisions have been made by the government for some compensation
in cases of death or disability while in this service; and still greater
liberality would be no more than a just recognition of the perils en-
countered by the courageous men. Year by year improvements have
been made in the buildings and apparatus. The selection of men by
ascertainment of health, habits, age and professional acquirement has
been enforced; thorough inspection of stations and exercise of the
keepers and men in the use of the apparatus and maneuvers of an es-
tablished drill have been regularly instituted, and a patrol system
practiced. The men are instructed in the most approved methods of
restoring the apparently drowned persons with whom they of ten come
in contact in their line of duty. A code of signals for day and night
has been devised, to enable patrolmen to communicate with stations,
whereby preparations for hasty assistance can be made: In fact the
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
61
appropriations by congress have been annually sufficient to render
this humane service efficient, rescuing hundreds of lives and saving
large amounts of property, as the following table fully demonstrates.
The Second district comprises the stations of the Massachusetts coast,
ten of which are on the Cape. The accompanying table contains the
statistics of the entire district. Of the number of vessels reported in
distress, those assisted by the Cape -stations are fully proportionate in
the comparison of its number of stations with those of the district.
Sao
r
CD
•SO
stimated
Value
Vessels.
stimated
Value
f Cargo.
stimated
Value
Property
Saved.
IS .
l-a
H "S
W o
W -g
o
1873
9
$72,900
$211,180
$228,006
74
74
1874
18
176,450
164,764
253,294
146
146
1875
14
345,000
135,450
220,450
112
97
1876
23
245,000
111,127
212,900
211
210
1877
21
234,300
129,506
160,050
158
157
1878
20
77,056
16,983
24,904
121
102
1879
26
90,290
66,700
112,575
128
124
1880
22
229,795
110,865
260,185
144
144
1881
23
95,270
42,202
96,325
122
122
1882
81
189,030
80,850
207,205
162
162
1883
26
266,805
51,405
283,255
168
168
1884
40
285,935
57,460
265,015
239
239
1885
41
217,230
139,600
265,480
242
242
1886
54
373,470
204,305
283,285
898
398
1887
40
696,250
217,420
854,010
136
138
1888
80
648,695
864,490
1,146,190
895
895
1889
55
874,655
;03,823
857,601
403
394
CHAPTER VI.
MILITARY HISTORY.
"New England Confederation. — Rrst Indian Troubles. — King Philip's War. — French and
Indian Wars.— The Revolution.— Shay's Rebellion.— War of 1812.
IN 1642 the attitude of the Indians, on the main land, created sus-
picions of hostility. The severe laws of the colony had been
rigidly enforced and the free instinct of the natives had been so
bridled as to cause a feeling of unrest. Their unfriendliness was too
apparent. The Plymouth colony resolved to raise thirty men for an
expedition against them. Firearms had prudentially been withheld
from them by order of the colony, and a force of this number was
thought to be formidable. The court was hastily called together,
September 7, Edward Dillingham and Richard Chadwell of Sand-
wich, Anthony Anable and John Cooper of Barnstable, and William
Palmer of Yarmouth being present. A company was formed with
Miles Standish, captain; William Palmer, lieutenant; and Peregrine
White, ensign. Edmund Freeman, Anthony Thacher and Thomas
Dimoc were appointed members of the council of war.
A confederation of a portion of the infant colonies of New Eng-
land was formed in 1643 for the promotion of union, offensive and
-defensive, in any difficulties with the Indians. This measure had
been contemplated for several years by those colonies, and this con-
federation, The United Colonies of New England, existed until
1686, when affairs were materially changed by the commission from
King James II. This first spirit of confederation, which became
later the basis of our national existence, having been perfected,
•orders were issued for every town within the jurisdiction of the
court to provide ammunition and arms, and be ready for prompt
action. Of the thirty men mentioned, eight were from the Cape —
Sandwich and Barnstable furnishing three each, and Yarmouth two.
These men were each to be provided with a musket, firelock or
matchlock, a pair of bandoliers or pouches for powder and bullets, a
.sword and belt, a worm and scourer, a rest and a knapsack. Each
private soldier was to have eighteen shillings per month when in
• service. From this date was the establishment in the towns of mili-
MILITARY HISTORY. 63
tary companies, the training field, and other warlike measures. Barn-
stable, Sandwich and Yarmouth — then the only incorporated towns
on the Cape — at once formed military companies, and the two latter
towns provided places of safety for the women and children. The
exercises of training were always begun with prayer, and none could
belong to the company who were not freemen and of " good report."
The colony, with every town on the alert, awaited the development
of a struggle which arose in 1643 between Uncas and the Pequots,
who, with the Narragansetts, had agreed in 1637 not to make war
upon each other without first an appeal to the English. Uncas con-
ceived that an attempt had been made upon his life by a Pequot,
which resulted in a war between Uncas and Miantonomi; and the
latter sachem, although he could bring one thousand warriors to the
field, was defeated and taken prisoner by Uncas. The prisoner was
put to death by the advice of the commissioners, at their meeting in
Boston, in September of that year. The exasperation of the Narra-
gansetts was beyond control; they charged the English with a want
of good faith, and preparations were macje for hostile movements.
The Narragansetts resolved to secure the head of Uncas, and the
English resolved to defend him.
In addition to what had already been done, more men were raised.
This conflict would draw from the towns of the Cape in proportion to
the number of its people, as they were included in the confederation.
Massachusetts at once raised one hundred and ninety men, Plymouth
colony 40, Connecticut 40, and New Haven 30. The Plymouth quota,
under Captain Miles Standish, went as far as Rehoboth; but while
the English were advancing, the Narragansett sachems were iti Bos-
ton, suing for peace, which was granted, with the requirement of
heavy penalties and burdens. Thus closed the first Indian troubles
of the colony.
The December court of 1652 directed the several towns to send
deputies, April 1, 1653, " to treat and conclude on such military affairs
as may tend to our present and future safety." Variances had arisen
between England and Holland, and the lowering clouds of war, with
Indian cruelties, hung over the colony. Sandwich sent James Skiff ;
Yarmouth, Sergeant Rider and John Gorham; Barnstable, Lieutenant
Fuller and Sergeant Thomas Hinckley; and Eastham, which town had
now been incorporated, John Doane and Richard Sparrow. Sixty
men were ordered to be raised in this colony. Of these Sandwich,
Yarmouth and Barnstable were to furnish six each, and Eastham
three. Provisions were made for raising money for the further enlist-
ment of soldiers and procuring arms, and a certain number were to take
their arms to meeting on the Sabbath. In 1664 a deputation of " horse
and foot" was sent with a message to the Niantick sachem, and, to
64 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
make up a safe and formidable body as a guard, Sandwicli, Eastham
and Yarmouth furnished four men each, and Barnstable five, as their
quota. As yet no outbreak had occurred, but the threatening appear-
ances occasioned by jealousies necessitated continued readiness on the
part of the colonies. In 1655 troops of horse were required by the
court, and the proportion of the four towns of the Cape was three
each. In 1658 a military system was perfected, by which a small
standing army and the militia of the towns comprised the colonial
force.
A council of war was called at Plymouth in 1667, the confederation
apprehending danger from the Dutch and French — their common
enemies — and the Plymouth colony suspected the Indians, under
King Philip, whose " frequent assembling and various movements
indicated war." A commission of armed men met Philip at Taunton
soon after, who agreed to leave his arms with the English, as a security
that no war was in his heart. But this did not allay the suspicions nor
watchfulness of the colonies. The Indians of the Cape in 1671, and
again in 1674, pledged themselves, by their sachems, to fidelity. More
men were pressed into the service, of whom Barnstable and Sandwich
furnished ten, Yarmouth nine', and Eastbam five. But the same year
Philip entered into a treaty of peace, which for several years allowed
the colonies comparative quiet, and the men of the Cape towns to
return home to be in readiness when called.
In 1674 two Indians, one of whom was Philip's counselor, were
arrested for the supposed murder of another Indian found dead in
Middleboro pond. They were tried and executed by order of the
court. Philip regarded the execution as an outrage. Hostilities com-
menced. An army was soon in the field — 158 men from Plymouth
colony; 627 from the Massachusetts; and 315 from Connecticut. The
towns of Sandwich and Barnstable furnished sixteen each, Yarmouth
fifteen, and Eastham eight. Again, in December of the same year,
nearly as many men were required of these towns. Skirmishes suc-
ceeded, then a general war, which was disastrous to all concerned. The
Cape was only affected by the greatly increased expenses and the loss
of men. The Indians of the Cape remained neutral, and were considered
a defense to Sandwich and the towns below. In 1676 one reverse at
Rehoboth, early in the war, cost the Cape twenty men— Barnstable six,
Yarmouth and Sandwich five each, and Eastham four. The almost
entire command of Captain Pierce of Scituate — fifty men and twenty
Indians — was massacred, including the captain himself. The names
of the Barnstable men lost were: Samuel Child, Lieutenant Fuller,
John Lewis, Eleazur Cobb, Samuel Linnet and Samuel Boreman or
Bowman. 'We are unable to find the list from the other towns. The
Indians lost were Cape Indians, and only one was permitted to return.
MILITARY HISTORY. 65
The Indian Amos, who escaped, was of the Barnstable quota, and not
only fought bravely to the last, but practiced the usual strategy to
escape. He saw that the hostile tribe had blackened their faces to
distinguish themselves from the friendly Indians, and as a dernier
ressort he wet some powder, blackened his own face and passed through
safely.
Before the close of the year, seven hundred Indian warriors had
fallen, among them twenty-five sachems; and many deaths followed
from wounds. Many women and children were slain in the burning
of six hundred wigwams. Of the colonists, six captains and eighty
privates were slain and many wounded. In 1676 a new levy of men
from the towns was required. The quota from the Cape towns was:
Barnstable, thirty; Sandwich, twenty-eight; Yarmouth, twenty-six: and
Eastham, eighteen. All boys under sixteen years were required to join
the town guard. Three months later Barnstable was required to furn ish
sixteen pounds and fifteen men; Sandwich the same; Yarmouth four-
teen pounds and thirteen men; and Eastham ten pounds five shillings
and ten men. In July of the same year other heavy war rates were
levied on the towns.
August 12, 1676, King Philip, the deadly foe of the Plymouth col-
ony, fell; his head was brought to Plymouth, which occasioned a gen-
eral thanksgiving. From his death the extinction of his tribe may be
dated. The termination of this terrible war was of great importance
to the exhausted colonies, as during its active prosecution six hundred
of the best men had been lost and thirteen of the towns of the settlers
had been destroyed. The debts of the war fell heavily upon the early
towns of the Cape, and many years elapsed before they were liquid-
ated.
The policy of the colony toward the defeated Indians was so severe
that the Indians in the vicinity of Sandwich and Barnstable grew rest-
less, and prudence was required to restrain them, and especially to
hold them friendly to the English. The residence of Mr. Hinckley,
while be was abroad on public duties, was guarded, and at Sandwich
a guard was kept as a matter of safety and to prevent any communi-
cation between the friendly and hostile tribes. This condition of
affairs gradually disappeared; the Indians of the Cape continued
friendly in their relations; and although the four primitive towns of
this territory of which we write had suffered greatly in many ways,
the same people, with those of other towns, had many privations yet
in store.
French and Indian Wars. — In 1690 other troubles than those en-
gendered by the former usurpations of Andros were developing to
agitate the inhabitants of Barnstable as well as other counties. The
war with the French and their Indian allies was inevitable, and the
6
66 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Plymoutti colony must bear its proportion. It was ordered that men
be raised to go to New York and other places against the enemy; of
these Barnstable county was to send nineteen- — Barnstable five; Sand-
wich, Yarmouth and Eastham four each; and Monomoyick and Suc-
conessit one each. (As the two latter towns were soon after known
as Chatham and Falmouth, these names will be used.) But soon after
the county was pressed to furnish forty-six m:re men — Barnstable
twelve; Sandwich, Yarmouth and Eastham ten each; and Chatham
and Falmouth each two; also, the county was compelled to furnish
twenty-two Indians. The same year the county was taxed £452, 4s., 9d.
for the expenses of the war, and this additional burden was distrib-
uted among the towns, Barnstable paying the largest sum and Fal-
mouth the least. The full account of this campaign may be found in
Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts Bay.
The treaty of Ryswick in 1697 temporarily closed the seven
years of war, and permitted the inhabitants of the Cape towns to
resume for a short period their wonted avocations.
In 1702, during the reign of Queen Anne, difficulties again arose
between England and the French and their Indian allies. For
years this war continued, with all its horrors of Indian inhuman-
ities instigated by the French; and frequent requirements were
made upon the Cape towns for men and money; until, in 1713, the
peace negotiations at Utrecht again quieted the disturbing elements.
It was then estimated that for some years not less than one-fifth
of the inhabitants of the towns had been engaged in actual ser-
vice, while those at home had been subjected to constant fears and
alarms, as well as the most onerous pecuniary burdens.
In 1691, for the relief of the towns from the burdens of war,
and in the scarcity of currency, the court issued bills of credit and
made them current for the payment of all public and private
debts. In 1711, to still further relieve the people, a series of forty
thousand pounds was issued. These sinews of war perhaps tem-
porarily gave relief; but their depreciation in after years fell heavily
upon the soldiers who had received them for pay. In 1721 and
1727 the general court issued more of these bills to be loaned to
the towns, and which were sent to them in proportionate amounts.
These bills, when first issued, had been redeemed by the general
court until 1704, when their redemption was indefinitely postponed.
Their value slid down the scale of depreciation according to the
denomination of " old tenor," " middle tenor " and " new tenor," which
terms were applicable to the age or issue of the bills. In 1749 Eng-
land sent to Boston 215 chests, each containing three thousand dol-
lars in silver, also one hundred casks of copper — seventeen cart-
loads of the silver and ten of the copper — to redeem these bills.
MILITARY HISTORY. 67
The bills were paid at the treasury at the rate of forty-five
shillings in bills of the old tenor, or lis. 3d. in new tenor, for. one
Spanish dollar.
In 1744 another war between Great Britain and France was
commenced, and the Indians, through French influence and the
bounties for scalps, attacked some New England towns. Many per-
sons from the Cape were pressed into the service, many were taken
prisoners and many killed during a bloody war of nineteen years.
In 1745 the march against Cape Breton and the taking of Louisburg —
the Gibraltar of America — were events of great moment in the history
of those days. Colonel Graham's regiment did valiant service there.
The captains were Jonathan Carey, Edward Dimmick, Elisha Doane,
Sylvanus Cobb, Israel Bailey, Gershom Bradford and Samuel Lom-
bard. Wolcott's regiment of Connecticut forces had Captain Daniel
Chapman and Lieutenant Lothrop from the Cape. The French had
fortified Louisburg at a vast expense, and supposed it impregnable to
the assaults of any force. The ire of the French nation was so aroused
that in 1746 the largest armament that had yet been sent was de-
spatched to the New World under Duke d'Auville to recover Louisburg
and aid the Canadians and Indians in devastating and distressing the
New England colony. This armament of eleven ships of the line and
thirty smaller vessels of war, besides transports bearing three thou-
sand regulars, was reduced more than one-half by storms and losses,
while sickness carried off many more after the arrival, and the remain-
ing vessels one by one returned to France. The impressments by
the mother country for men from the towns were excessive during
these stirring events, and it is a matter of historical significance that
in 1749 Truro and other towns petitioned against the injustice, and
many towns denounced it an outrage. The feeling engendered on
the Cape by the unjust drain of its means and best men had not been
entirely forgotten a score of years later when, just prior to the revo
lution, the placing of other burdens was attempted.
The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1749 was hailed with joy by every
town, but in 1753 Great Britain charged France with a violation of
the treaty, and the preparations, for war were again made. In 1755
troops arrived from England, the colonies again raised their propor-
tion, and expeditions went against Fort Du Quesne and other vulner-
able points of the French possessions. To furnish men for this and
other expeditions of the previous year, the Cape towns had been sadly
depleted, and in 1768, when more soldiers were sent out for the re-
duction of Canada, one-third of its efficient men were in service. The
conquest led to the peace of Paris in 1763, and the concession to Eng-
land of Canada and other French possessions. Great Britain became
really the arbiter of the seas and of the New World. Those who sur-
68 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
vived the rigors of the northern winters, the confinement in prisons
and strife of battle were again allowed to seek their humble homes
and assist in bearing the burden of debts created by the demands of
the long war. The courage and strength of the people of the colony
were evident to Great Britain, and to most effectively secure a perma-
nent sovereignty over them seemed to be the desire of the parliament.
But the attempt to force the payment of a portion of her own debts
upon the colonists who had been made to suffer, and had been also
deeply burdened in her service, was the act that deprived the mother
country of the colonies which she so much desired to retain.
Revolutionary War. — In 1766 Great Britain, to relieve her treas-
ury, which had been depleted by successive wars, assumed the right
to tax her colonies in America. Of the taxes imposed, the stamp
act and that on tea were the most odious. The repeal of the
former in 1766 did not allay the indignation of the colonists. Peti-
tions and rembnstrances were of no avail, and the determination to
resist was increased by Great Britain's persistent assumption. In
1768 meetings were held in the several towns and resolutions passed
" that we will purchase no imported goods until the tax be repealed."
Powder houses were erected in some of the towns of the county and
other preparations of a warlike character were made. The presence
of soldiery in front of Boston in 1769 fanned the latent spark into an
increasing flame; and when in Marcn, 1770, in an affair near Faneuil
Hall, Boston, five of its inhabitants were shot down by the British,
the flames became irrepressible. In 1773 organizations called " Sons
of Liberty " sprang up in nearly every town, and strong resolutions of
resistance were passed. The last of the tea ships sent to these shores
was wrecked on Cape Cod and most of its cargo lost; but the knowl-
edge that it was the last, and that the entire cargo of tea was steeping
in ocean brine, did not dampen the determination of the patriots of
this county. Frequent meetings were held and the vote unanimously
taken " to resist the sale and use' of the article, if needs be, in blood
to our knees." The towns of the county have in their records many
earnest evidences of the zeal of the inhabitants. The subsequent
throwing overboard of 342 chests of tea in Boston harbor by patriots
disguised as Indians, and the many acts that led to the war for liberty,
are matters of a more general history.
In the acts of the entire colony in opposing the claims of Great
Britain, the people of Barnstable county acquiesced, and in many of
the most daring were foremost. In September, 1774, the residents of
Sandwich, joined by many from the towns west, marched to Barnstable
to intercept the sitting of the court of common pleas. This was not
only effectually accomplished, but the body of the people obtained
the names of the judges t© a promise that they would not accept of
MILITARY HISTORY. 69
any duties in conformity with the unjust acts of parliament, and that
if required to do any business contrary to the charter of the province
they would refuse. This uprising of the citizens of this county was
one of the first overt acts of the colony, and it was followed by re-
quests to military oflBcers to resign the commissions held under an
authority that would, if it could, reduce them to slavery and obedi-
ence. This request was generally acceded to by all who held military
and civil commissions in the county. While we cannot in our lim-
ited space give the entire proceedings of the daring acts, the patriots
who served as leaders and committees were: Simeon Wing, Nathaniel
Freeman, Stephen Nye, Zacheus Burge, Seth Freeman, Eliakim
Tobey, Joseph Nye 3d, Micah Blackwell, Josiah Haskell, Aaron Bar-
low, Joseph Otis, George Lewis, James Davis, John Crocker, jr.,
Nathan Foster, Thomas Sturgis, Solomon Otis, John Grannis, Elisha
Swift, Ebenezer Nye, David Taylor, John Chapman, -Joshua Gray,
Thomas Paine, Nathaniel Downs, Doctor Davis, John Doty, Daniel
Crocker, Ebenezer Jenkins, Eli Phinney, Lot Nye, Moses Swift, Dan-
iel Butler, jr., Daniel Taylor, Isaac Hamblin, Joseph Crowell, Ben-
jamin Freeman, John Freeman, Lot Gray, Job Crocker, Amos Knowles,
jr., Samuel Smith, David Greenough, Dr. Samuel Adams, Jonathan
Collins, Deacon Bassett, Richard Sears, Salathiel Bumpas and Mala-
chi Ellis.
Another Cape patriot — James Otis, jr. — arose in court, in 1761, at
Boston, where the legality of " the writs of assistance " was being
argued, and said: " I am determined to proceed, and to the call of my
country am ready to sacrifice estate, ease, health, applause and even
life." At the town meetings of the towns of the county it was voted
to oppose the tyranny of Great Britain at the risk of fortunes and
lives. Some of the citizens were not thus zealous in the cause, and in
the language of that day these were called tories. The Otis papers
and other histories give accounts of bitter altercations in some towns
of the county; but this fact did not defer the action or dampen the
zeal of those engaged in the cause. The peculiar position of the
county, topographically, its extended and exposed sea coasts, and the
consequent evil to their own shipping and fishery did not cause hesi-
tation in acts that tended to bring on the prolonged war. During the
blockade of Boston by the action of the port bill, the towns of this
county contributed liberally in money, wood and provisions to the
wants of the people of that city, and sustained them in all their reso-
lutions.
November 16, 1774, a county congress was held in Barnstable, at
which Hon. James Otis was chosen moderator, and Colonel Joseph
Otis clerk; Colonel Nathaniel Freeman, Joseph Otis, Thomas Paine,
Daniel Davis and Job Crocker were appointed a committee to com-
70 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
municate with other counties: and the same gentlemen, with Captain
Joseph Doane and Captain Jonathan Howes, were appointed as a com-
mittee to consider the public grievances and report at an adjourned
meeting.
But the time had arrived when the edict that " the country shall
be free " must be enforced by the privations of war. The happy fire-
sides and rural avocations must be exchanged for the stem duties of
a military life. Many noble deeds were performed in the struggle
that followed, which are, and ever will be, unrecorded; for no histo-
rian can give the people of the Cape their full meed of praise.
In 1775 the first din of battle was heard when General Gage sent
troops to Concord to destroy the stores of the provincials, and seven
hundred men along the road put to flight one thousand seven hundred
of his royal army. Then the couriers went out crj'ing, " the war is
begun." No one lives to remember the thrill of determination that
vibrated along the Cape to its extremity when that cry leaped from
town to town. The year was an active one in levying men for the
defense of the coast, and Major Hawley, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Gerry and
Colonels Ome and Freeman were appointed to report proper regula-
tions for minute men. Major Joseph Dimmick, with a sufficient force,
was commissioned to repair to Nantucket and other islands and arrest
those who were supplying the enemy with provisions. The defense
of the coast was entrusted to four companies; of Company 1, Nathan
Smith was captain; Jeremiah Mantor, first lieutenant; and Fortunatus
Bassett, second lieutenant; of Company 2, Benjamin Smith, captain;
Melatiah Davis, first lieutenant; and James Shaw, second lieutenant;
Company 3, John Grannis, captain; James Blossom, first lieutenant;
Samuel Hallett, second lieutenant; Company 4, Elisha Nye, captain;
Stephen Nye, jr., first lieutenant; and John Russell, second lieu-
tenant.
In January, 1776, General Washington called for six regiments of
728 men each, to be raised in the province, of which 260 men were to
be furnished by Barnstable county. The committee to direct this
duty in the county were Colonels Otis and Cobb. Barnstable and
Plymouth countiies together raised one entire regiment, of which
Colonel Carey of Bridgewater was commandant; Barachiah Bassett of
Falmouth, lieutenant colonel; Thomas Hamilton of Chatham, adju-
tant; and Nathaniel Hall of Harwich, surgeon mate. Still later, in
January, another regiment was called from the same source to go to
Canada. Many of these men were Mashpees, who made valiant
soldiers. On the 31st the militia of the county was divided into two
regiments and the general court appointed the officers; for the first,
including Barnstable, Sandwich, Yarmouth and Falmouth, Nathaniel
Freeman, colonel; Joseph Dimmick, lieutenant colonel; Joshua Gray,
MILITARY HISTORY. 71
first major; and George Lewis, second major; for the second, includ-
ing the towns of Harwich, Eastham, Chatham, Wellfleet, Truro and
Provincetown, Joseph Doane, colonel; Elisha Cobb, lieutenant colonel;
Zenas Winslow, first major; and Gideon Freeman, second major; Dim-
mick declined in favor of Colonel Enoch IJallett, and accepted the
position of first major in place of Gray, who declined.
The battle of Bunker Hill had been fought and war was at the
very door of the Cape. The general court ordered that all persons
save the merest portions of rags for the manufacture of paper, which,
by the action of the revolted colonies and the condition of affairs,
could not be otherwise obtained. In February, 1776, subscriptions
were opened to give all who had silver and gold the opportunity to
exchange the coin for bills, and Colonels Otis and Doane were ap-
pointed receivers for this county.
During the year General Washington required the court of the
colony to furnish a large quota of blankets for army use. The select-
men of the towns of the Cape were required by the court to assist in
gathering these blankets, and the sum of ^^190, 9s., was placed in the
hands of Captain Amos Knowles of Eastham for their purchase.
Again men were required; this call was for 203 men from this county.
Barnstable raised forty-five men. Sandwich, Yarmouth, Harwich and
Eastham, forty each; Wellfleet, eighteen; Chatham and Falmouth,
twenty-six each.
In March, 1776, during the most diligent action to supply the camps
of war with necessary supplies, the Cape, by its peculiar topography
and shoals, had another interposition of Providence by the casting
ashore at Provincetown of a sloop load of the enemy's goods; these,
with the transport load that was cast upon the beach the same month
at Truro, went far in relieving the needs of the army. The need of
coats, waistcoats and breeches was still felt, and Joseph Nye of Har-
wich was appointed to procure as many as he could in Barnstable
county.
July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was passed. This
was hailed with joy by all the colonies, and more especially on the
Cape, where public meetings had been held in June, in which the
people had pledged their property, honor and lives in its support.
Battle followed battle, and the tide of war drifted from Boston bar-
bor to the southwest. On the 10th of July one from every twenty-
five men liable to military duty was taken from Barnstable county,
and Joseph Nye of Sandwich, and Amos Knowles, jr., of Eastham
were appointed by the court to make the draft. The men were or-
dered to Rhode Island, and for their transportation Joseph Nye and
others were appointed to purchase sixty whale boats, to be delivered
at Falmouth or some convenient place on Buzzards bay. This draft
72 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
of men from the Cape was more severely felt than any former
ones of the war, for many were engaged on the sea and were enumer-
ated among those liable to do military duty.
The year 1777 opened with many privations to the people of the
county. The most of the, fishing vessels were rotting at the wharves;
the traffic was gone. The farmer might plant, but perhaps the next
draft would not leave him to harvest. But they hopefully looked to
the desired result. Those at home, not only on the Cape but through-
out the colonies, realized that those in the field and at Valley Forge
were also enduring hardships; and the vote of the town meeting was
" that the town will provide for the families of the absent." The
prison-ship inhumanity of the enemy was more severe upon the resi-
dents of the Cape than upon any other county, for a larger proportion
were in the naval service; but to the credit of these men history does
not reveal the name of one who preferred British gold or promotion
to the loathsome hold. The American privateers were continually
harassing the enemy by their success, having captured prior to 1777
nearly five hundred British vessels, for which the people of the Cape
were entitled to great credit.
The notes of war were heard along the Atliantic coast, and early
in 1777 the general court resolved to draft every seventh man in the
colony to complete the required quota. This was a serious blow to
this Cape, for it was ordered to make the draft from all over sixteen
years of age, at home and abroad. In June of the same year eighty-
eight more men were drafted from the county to proceed to Rhode
Island, and August 17th still more were ordered, with field pieces, to
protect Truro from the invasions threatened from British men-of-war.
The surrender of Burgoyne, October 22, 1777, caused rejoicings
througiout the land, and the court set apart a day for a general
thanksgiving. But the end was not yet. In April, 1778, the county
of Barnstable was required to furnish seventy-two more men; Yar-
mouth, fourteen; Barnstable, fifteen; Eastham and Harwich, twelve
each; Sandwich, eight; Falmouth, six; Chatham, Wellfleet and Truro,
five each, including officers. This had hardly passed when on June
12th this county was desired to send seventy-eight more men, also 605
each of shirts and pairs of shoes and stockings. Of these articles
Barnstable furnished eighty-two of each; Yarmouth, seventy-three;
Eastham, sixty-five; Harwich, sixty-four; Sandvrich, fifty-five; Well-
fleet, forty-five; Falmouth, forty-three; Truro, forty-two; Chatham,
thirty; and Provincetown, six. The penalty for any delinquency was
thirty pounds.
The drafts came so frequently that upon receipt of a letter from
General Otis as to the danger of the Cape from British hordes, in
which he said, " it is like dragging men from home when their houses
MILITARY HISTORY. 73
are on fire," the court in September ordered that "inasmuch as the
militia of the county have been and continue to be greatly harassed
by the appearance of the enemy's ships and the landing of troops in
their vicinity, the county be excused for the present from raising men
agreeably to the order of the Council." But this order of the council
applied to fifty men ordered to go to Providence; those already or-
dered were furnished. in the best possible manner.
Among the known disasters on the sea the shipwreck of the Gen.
Arnold, December 24, 1777, was one of the most distressing. This
vessel mounted twenty guns, with a crew of 105 men and boys. Captain
James Magee, commanding. In company with the sloop of war
Revenge, of ten guns, the Gen. Arnold sailed from Boston, ordered
south on duty. In the bay the vessels encountered a violent storm,
and the Revenge weathered Cape Cod and was saved; but the Arnold,
on December 25th, went ashore in Plymouth harbor, and nearly all her
crew perished from cold. Of those on board who perished the twelve
from Barnstable were: John Russell, captain of marines; Barnabas
Lothrop, jr., Daniel Hall, Thomas Caseley, Ebenezer Bacon, Jesse Gar-
rett, John Berry, Barnabas Howes, Stephen Bacon, Jonathan Lothrop,
Barnabas Downs, jr., and Boston Crocker, a negro servant. These
were all from the East parish.
Some good news was occasionally had in the shifting scenes of
war, as was seen by the wreck of the British ship Somerset, which was
stranded November 8, on the banks at Truro. The crew of 480 men,
under Colonel Hallett, were marched to Boston as prisoners of war.
In 1779, June 8th, more men were called for to re-enforce the conti-
nental army, and June 21st the county was again required to supply its
quota of shirts, shoes and stockings. The number of men to be
drafted was eighty-seven and the number of wearing apparel was
again 505. Colonel Enoch Hallett was to receive the clothing. The
reader may be surprised by the frequency of these draughts for men,
and the compulsion, with forfeiture, to supply wearing apparel; but
with the surrender of Burgoyne the war did not close. Lord Corn-
wallis was in the south with a still larger force, and the war was yet
in active progress. General Sullivan's expedition against the Six
Nations, the powerful confederacy of Indians of New York, was sent
out this year. The levies of men from the county of Barnstable were
only its quota of the whole number raised from the several colonies.
That these frequent drafts were all promptly met, even in this county,
could hardly be expected; but it is known that the record of the Cape
towns was no exception to others of the province in this relation.
The year 1780 dawned with many depressing circumstances. The
currency of the country had now depreciated to one-thirtieth of its
face value, and business eyerywhere was greatly impeded. In May
74 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
of this year, 187 men and a large quantity of beef were levied upon
the county. The burden of these demands, removing from the county
nearly all the able-bodied men and all the beef fit for food, may be
imagined. The beef demanded was 71,280 pounds— Barnstable, 16,-
510; Sandwich, 11,120; Yarmouth, 10,090; Chatham, 3,860; Truro,
3,680; Eastham, 7,250; Harwich, 8,250; Wellfleet, 3,620; and Falmouth,
7,800. This was followed in December by a demand for 156 more
men from the county — Barnstable, thirty-one; Sandwich, twenty-two;
Yarmouth, twenty-four; Eastham, seventeen; Wellfleet, eight; Chat-
ham, nine; Harwich, nineteen; Falmouth, seventeen; and Truro, nine.
Again in December of this year, the commonwealth's proportion of spe-
cific supplies for the army was 4,626,178 pounds of beef, of which Barn-
stable county was to supply 136,875 pounds. In lieu of beef at £3,
7s., 6d. per cwt., gjain could be substituted at the rate of seven shil-
lings per bushel for rye, five shillings for corn, three shillings for
oats and seven shillings for peas.
Would it surprise the reader to know that, under all these require-
ments, some of the towns of the various colonies should petition fbr
an abateinent of their levies? Would it be to the discredit of the
Cape towns to be compelled to seek relief? Harwich, Chatham, East-
ham and Yarmouth at this time asked for an abatement of the levies,
for they had not and could not procure the beef. In May, 1781, other
towns followed in similar petitions, and upon the refusal of any abate-
ment, found it impossible to comply. A meeting of delegates chosen
for the purpose was held at Barnstable, at which Dr. John Davis was
chosen to present to the general court the fact " the inequality of the
burdens of the Cape seem not to have been well considered hy the
government heretofore; that to pay taxes equal to those more favor-
ably circumstanced, and to be obliged to provide clothing in equal
proportion to others, besides the needs of the families of the soldiers,
was a suflBcient sacrifice without being enjoined to stand side by side
with agricultural towns in supplying beef for the army." But this
appeal to the court was not made until the commander-in-chief had
asked for another supply of beef, of which this county's quota was
56,489 pounds. •
The year 1781 was a deplorable one for the whole country, and at
the opening of 1782 the horizon was still darker. The condition of
the continental army was distressing. Baron Steuben wrote of his
command from Fishkill, May 28th: "Yesterday was the third day of our
army having been without provisions. The army could not make a
march of one day. The distresses have arrived at the greatest pos-
sible degree." General Greene, August 13th,wrote: " For three months,
more than one-third of our men, were entirely naked, with nothing
but a breech-cloth about them, and never came out of their tents; and
MILITARY HISTORY. 76
the rest are ragged as wolves. Our condition was little better in the
matter of provisions." This deplorable condition of affairs was not
confined to the army; destitution was everywhere in the colonies; and
in no place was it more severely felt than on the Cape. But to re-
plenish the ranks of the army, so depleted by sickness and mortality.
General Washington in March required one thousand five hundred
men for the Massachusetts line, of which the quota for this county
was thirty-six. The same month the state treasurer, having been
petitioned, was directed "to recall the executions issued, and to
stay future executions for two-thirds of the taxes, until further
ordered."
The darkness that precedes the dawn was exemplified by the con-
dition of the army and the provinces at the opening of 1783. Every
department of the forces and every town of the land was in most strait-
ened circumstances. But the dawn of peace — the full sunshine of lib-
erty — approached; at Versailles articles had been signed which ac-
knowledged the freedom and sovereignty of the colonies,- and April
19th General Washington proclaimed the cessation of hostilities. The
rejoicings of a happy people, after eight years of strife and suffering,
may be conjectured but cannot be described.
The war cost England one hundred million pounds sterling and
fifty thousand of her subjects, beside the loss of her much-coveted col-
onies. The colonies furnished during the period 288,134 men, of
which 83,242 were sent from Massachusetts, showing conclusively the
importance of this colony in the struggle for liberty.
The destitution of the colonies, and especially of the Cape, for sev-
eral years need not be recited. Not until 1790 did congress redeem
the bills that had been issued to pay the soldiers and carry on the war,
and then onlj' one dollar in coin was received for one hundred dollars
in bills. The collection of taxes from a people so prostrated caused
difficulties, of which the so-called Shay's rebellion, in 1786, was the
most important. This insurrection against the state government of
Massachusetts was occasioned by the discontent of certain persons
who arrayed themselves against the collection of taxes and debts. To
subdue this rebellion four thousand men, under the command of Gen-
eral Lincoln, were ordered into service; and then, not until a well-
directed fire into their Tanks; killing many, did the'insurgents conclude
to discontinue the unequal contest. A similar spirit of insubordina-
tion was exhibited in New Hampshire. The governor of Massachu-
setts, under date of November 27, 1786, issued a proclamation to the
sheriff of Barnstable county, directing him to promptly suppress all
indications of a rebellion against the laws, and to call upon the mili-
tary for assistance. As the residents of the Cape have ever been
among the most loyal to law and order, it is just to suppose that this
76 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
order of Governor Bowdoin was issued alike to the sheriffs of every
other county of the state; and this, considering the exigency of the
times, perhaps was the duty of the executive branch.
War OF 1812.* — After the restoration of peace, at the conclusion
of the revolutionary war, the French revolution took place and France
declared war against England. This war continued from 1793 until
the treaty of peace at Amiens in 1802. But this treaty was of short
duration, for England became so excited by the aggressive policy of
Napoleon that war was declared against France in May, 1803, and soon
all the European powers were again involved in hostilities. The
United States was almost the only power that preserved its neutrality.
Being thus at peace with the two great nations — England and France,
a flourishing commerce, unprecedented in the history of the country,
grew up in America, which produced a high degree of prosperity in
the commercial portions of the United States, and Barnstable county
received a remarkable touch of this new impetus given to sea going
business, as a large part of its citizens were engaged in maritime
pursuits.
But these favorable advantages were not long enjoyed by the citi-
zens of the United States, for Napoleon, in 1806, issued the famous
Berlin Decree, by which the British islands were declared to be in a
state of blockade, and all commerce, intercourse and correspondence
with them were prohibited. In consequence of such restrictions the
commerce of the United States with England was much embarrassed,
and was carried on at a risk of seizure. The British government, ag-
grieved by the Berlin Decree, put forth a retaliatory measure by which
American commerce received another damaging blow; to the effect
that all neutral vessels trading with France should be confiscated.
This order was followed by another in 1807, by which all trade in
French goods and the goods of other nations with which England was
at war, was entirely prohibited. Then followed an order by Napoleon
called the Milan Decree, by which every vessel of whatsoever nation,
that had been searched by an English vessel and had consented to be
sent to England, was to be considered as a lawful prize. By such acts
and measures on the part of England and France, a fatal blow was
aimed at American commerce, and the course pursued by the two
hostile nations was disastrous to the prosperity of this country.
The blockade of the European ports from Brest to the Elbe, de-
clared by Great Britain and not maintained by an actual naval force,
was by the United States government looked upon as a " paper block-
ade," and therefore of no avail, and any seizure made by British ves-
sels of American commerce was a palpable violation of the rights of
a nation occupying a neutral position in time of war. Owing to the
• By Joshua H. Paine, Esq., of Harwich.
MILITARY HISTORY. 77
dangers threatened to commerce by the " decrees " of France and the
" orders in council " of Great Britain, the United States government,
under Jefferson, laid an embargo on all exports from the United States,
the object of which was to retaliate on the position taken by France
and England in relation to commercial intercourse with these two
great powers of Europe. But the embargo became very unpopular
and worked very disastrously to the shipping interest of this country,
and in no other section was there greater suffering and prostration of
business than in the maritime industries of Cape Cod.
The embargo was repealed by congress in 1809, and was followed
by an act, called the "Non-intercourse law," by which all trade and
intercourse with France and England were prohibited. Neither the
embargo nor the non-intercourse law had any effect in causing the
British government to recede from the offensive position it had taken,
or France to revoke its " decrees," so fatal to American commerce., By
such obstinacy on the part of both nations, and in view of the threat-
ened outrages to American commerce, it was a question for some time
whether to declare war against France or England, but the persistency
of the British in intercepting American vessels and impressing British
seamen therefrom decided the question, and war was declared against
England by President Madison, June 19, 1812.
Hon. Isaiah L. Green, member of congress from the Barnstable
district, voted for the act declaring war, and appears to have been
sustained in so doing by the citizens of the district, as the follow-
ing preamble goes to show: " Resolved that the Hon. Isaiah L. Green,
our Congressional representative, has done nobly, and deserves
well of his country, and that he enjoys the confidence of his constit-
uents."
As a large part of the business of Cape Cod was upon the ocean, no
portion of the country would be subjected to greater deprivations and
inconveniences than Barnstable county by the operations of war, and
the people dreaded the issue; but still they considered it just, neces-
sary and unavoidable, and acquiesced in all measures of the general
government in its prosecution; being ready at all times to engage in
the defense of the country, both on sea and land, in order that those
rights for which the war was waged might be obtained.
Soon after the news had reached England that war had been de-
clared, British men-of-war began to hover around the New England
coasts. All communication by water with Boston and other commer-
cial ports on the New England coasts was cut off by British ships of
war cruising about the bay, and when at anchor they would send out
their barges to capture the small craft that might venture out in quest
of fish, or those that undertook to make a passage from port ta port
along shore.
78 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
The whole of Massachusetts bay was under complete control of the
British during the war, and no part of the state was more annoyed
and menaced than the several towns of Barnstable county. The
Spencer, of fifty -two guns, held possession of Provincetown harbor, and
was considered by the people of the Cape the " Terror of the Bay."
The frigate Nymph and the Bulwark, each carrying seventy-four guns,
guarded the shores of the upper Cape towns and also the Plymouth
coast, and proved to be quite vigilant in intercepting and destroying
navigation. The admiral's ship, Majestic, lay at anchor between Truro
and Provincetown, and it is said that the crew, for exercise in naval
training, would practice gunnery, having for a target an old wind mill
standing in Truro.
On the south shores of the Cape the Nimrod did much mischief by
frequent attacks upon vessels and boats that attempted to venture out
far from land, and the towns bordering on the sound were kept in
constant fear and trepidation by the oft repeated threats of her com-
mander to bombard and burn the " little villages by the shore."
The British privateer Retaliation, of five guns, cruised up and down
the sound, and was a gfreat annoyance to the small craft that sailed
" along shore." She was finally captured by Captain Weston Jenkins,
of the sloop Two Friends, while lying at anchor in Tarpaulin cove, and
was brought to Falmouth as a prize of considerable value to a brave
and determined crew of thirty-two men.
Notwithstanding the constant presence of British cruisers in the
bay and sound, quite frequently some bold and intrepid adventurers,
under the cover of night, would elude the vigilence of those armed
vessels and in their little craft would succeed in reaching a distant
commercial port, obtain a cargo, and return again to their place of
departure in safety. The great scarcity of corn which prevailed upon
the Cape during the war compelled some of the more daring captains
to run the risk of being taken by the enemy, and by discreet and
crafty maneuvering they would succeed in bringing a load now and
then from the southern ports, and necessarily it was sold at a very
high price. Several vessels and a number of large boats were, how-
ever, captured and destroyed, the enemy confiscating the cargoes and
setting the men found on board at liberty. The packet sloop plying
between Barnstable and Boston, commanded by Captain Howes, was
taken by the frigate Nymph, and with her cargo was burned. S. B.
Phinney of Barnstable, then a lad of six summers, a passenger with
his father, was on board at the time of the capture, but was soon set
at liberty. In many instances the crews of captured vessels were held
as prisoners subject to a ransom from their friends.
Commodore Raggelt, of the ship Spencer, made frequent demands
upon several of the Cape towns for payments of certain sums of money
MILITARY HISTORY. 79
to secure exemption from an attack, and to prevent the destruction of
property. The town of Brewster, being so harassed and threatened
by the enemy, paid four thousand dollars, the sum demanded. East-
ham paid one thousand dollars, but the other towns positively refused
to make any contributions. The people were determined to defend
the towns to the last extremity. Military companies were formed in
all parts of the county, and were in readiness at all times to march to
any point where the enemy might attempt to land. Committees of
safety were appointed in the most exposed towns, the duties of which
were to watch the movements of the British cruisers in the bay and
report at headquarters whenever any hostile demonstrations were
tnade. Alarm posts were established in all the towns, and a code of
signals fixed upon to give warning to the militia and " yeomanry of
the land " whenever the enemy appeared in view. Sentinels were de-
tached from the several companies to guard the shores.
In view of the exposed situation of the Cape to the depredations of
the enemy, frequent appeals were made to the state government for a
supply of artillery and other munitions of war. Collector Green of the
port of Barnstable, asked for a detachment of flying artillery and a sup-
ply of military stores, and Simeon Kingman, Esq., of Orleans, acting as
an agent of the town, went to Boston bearing a proposition, the substance
of which was that an artillery company would be formed if the gov-
ernment would furnish the necessary equipments. Both gentlemen
were unsuccessful in their efforts to obtain assistance from the state,
and it became very apparent that the Cape must furnish "its own pro-
tection, although Governor Strong, in his speech before the state sen-
ate and house of representatives, October 14, 1812, says: " We have in
this state several hundred miles of sea-coasts and more than one hun-
dred of the towns may be approached by the enemy's ships. * * *
It will be necessary that the whole militia should be armed and
equipped in the best possible manner and ready to march at the short-
est possible notice, and in case of invasion, that arms should be in read-
iness for every man who is able to bear them."
Not a large number enlisted to join the army on the northern
frontier from the Cape. Their services were required in protect-
ing their own homes. During the continuance of the war the' cit-
izens of Barnstable county able to bear arms were constantly on
the look-out, ready to spring to their guns whenever the alarm was
given of a threatened invasion, and they might with propriety, be
called "minute men," so ready and determined were they to beat
back the invading foe.
In the spring of 1813, Lieutenant Proctor opened a recruiting
ofl&ce in Harwich, and a number enlisted from that and adjoining
towns to join the army in the vicinity of the Lakes. On the fifth
80 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
of April, 1813, they departed for the seat of war on the northern
frontier. Great were the hardships and siifferings they endured on
their long march through the then unsettled portions of Massachu-
setts and New York. They joined the forces under General Brown
and were in the battles of Sackett's Harbor, Lunday's Lane, Fort Erie
and Bridgewater.
A number of men from the Cape entered the navy and did valiant
service. Two of the crew of the United States frigate Constitution
were Harwich men, when she captured the British frigate Guerriere.
The brig Reindeer, Captain Nathaniel Snow, of Truro, having a
crew mostly of Cape Cod men, sailed from Boston in the month of De-
cember, 1814, under letters of marque to cruise in the vicinity of the
Western islands and on the coast of Spain, to capture and annoy the
British commerce. They encountered a terrific gale in the Bay of
Biscay, and came very near being lost. Between the Western island
and the mouth of the English channel they captured six prizes. After
removing portions of the cargo, they burned the vessels. They fell
in with several other fleets of merchantmen, but as they were of su-
perior strength and under a strong convoy, they were obliged to with-
draw, and sailed for the harbor of Corunna, a seaport of Spain, in the
province of Galicia. Before the vessel was ready for sailing they re-
ceived the intelligence that peace had been declared between the
United States and Great Britain.
During the last year of the war the people of Barnstable county
experienced the greatest deprivations of the necessaries of life. The
intercourse between the states was so far interrupted that a small
quantity only of flour and corn could be obtained from the southern
ports, and the small amount that was in the market brought great
prices. Flour sold for eighteen dollars per barrel, and corn brought
$2.50 per bushel. It was almost impossible for vessels to reach the
West Indies and return in safety, consequently molasses and sugar
were very scarce. The good housewives, however, would improvise
a kind of molasses from cornstalks and pumpkins, which was quite a
good substitute for the real article, serving an excellent purpose in
the culinary department, besides making the wives of those days
doubly sweet to their lords, and each could say of his wife, with
Milton,
' • Love, sweetness, goodness in her person shined."
On account of the geographical situation of Cape Cod, projecting
about sixty miles out into the Atlantic ocean, and all the towns thereon
being approachable by water, no part of the country was more ex-
posed to the rapacity of the enemy than this portion of Massachusetts.
The inhabitants were in constant fear and trepidation during the war,
thinking that the foe might at any time land and devastate their homes.
MILITARY HISTORY. 81
As the British cruisers were most of the time in the eastern por-
tions of American waters, Cape Cod was in proximity to the scene of
several naval conflicts, and it was no uncommon sound for the people
to hear the heavy roar of artillery as it came booming over the bosom
of old ocean. The heavy cannonading of that celebrated naval duel
between the Chesapeake and Shannon, off Boston harbor June 1, 1813,
was distinctly heard by the people of Cape Cod.
The town of Falmouth was greatly harrassed by the British during
the war. A bombardment took place at one time by which the meet-
ing house and several dwelling houses were slightly injured. It is a
matter of wonderment that they did not entirely destroy the town,
as -it was so exposed to the range of their g^ns, and possessing as they
did a spirit of vandalism which manifested itself afterward in bom-
barding Stonington, Conn., burning the capitol at Washington, the
congressional library and other public buildings, besides destroying
private dwellings and storehouses.
A demand was made upon Orleans by the British for the payment
of a certain sum of money as a protection against the destruction of
property and for the safety of the inhabitants, but the insulting requi-
sition was peremptorily declined. On the 19th of December, 1814,
they attempted to land from their barges and put into execution their
oft-repeated threats. Their movements were quickly observed by the
citizens, an alarm was given and in a short time the militia of the town
was at Rock harbor, the place of operations. A lively encounter took
place and one or more of the invaders were killed. After a short skir-
mish they were repulsed and returned to their ship, which was at
anchor outside of the bar. The militia of the adjoining towns, on
learning that demonstrations. were being made at Orleans, started at
once for the scene of action, but did not arrive in season to take part
in the action. This little skirmish was styled the " Battle of Orleans,"
and about sixty years after the participants or their surviving widows
obtained, under an act of congress passed March 3, 1855, land war-
rants of 160 acres as a bounty, and a few were granted pensions under
an act of congress passed March 9, 1878, giving a pension to all sailors
or soldiers who were in any engagement during the war of 1812.
A report reached several of the Cape towns on the second of Octo-
ber, 1814, that the enemy were making preparations to land at Barn-
stable. The militia turned out in full force and soon were en route ior
the contemplated scene of action. No attack was made, however, and
the several companies returned to their homes after two nights' tarry
in camp at Barnstable.
The constant watchfulness and vigilance of the people were evi-
dently known to the British in their armed vessels as they hovered
about the bay, and it is highly probable that they would have landed
«
82 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
and done much miscliief, even devastated the Cape, had no resistance
been offered. But in repelling the invaders the defenders of the soil
bad the " vantage grounds," for had they attempted to land in force
at low tide the militia and citizens under arms could have easily kept
them at bay on the treacherous flats, from their fortified positions on
the shore, until the tide arose, when they would have been over-
whelmed by its flow, like Pharoah's army of old. To have landed at
high tide would have been equally as disastrous, for it would have
been very difficult for them to effect a landing from their barges in
any kind of military order in the face of such a determined opposition
as the militia and citizen soldiery presented.
The people of the Cape during the war maintained that spirit^ of
resistance to British tyranny which characterized the American people
all over the Union, and in the protection of the^r homes . displayed
patient endurance and zealous patriotism.
The downfall of Napoleon in 1814, caused by the allied powers of
Europe, put an end to the contest, and the principal causes of the war
between the United States and England were removed. The object
for which the war was waged having been gained, peace was effected
December 24, 1814, at Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, Austria,
and ratified by the United States government February 17th follow-
ing. Again, as Watson has it,
" The stars' and stripes, Columbia's sacred flag.
Like eagle's pinions fluttered in the breeze:
And the Red Lion, haughty Briton's emblem,
Discomfited, went howling back with rage,
To lair amidBt the white cliffs of Albion."
The news of peace was hailed with joy by the citizens of Barn-
stable county. Under its glorious sunlight a degfree of prosperity
soon manifested itself in all departments of business. The hardy
fishermen resumed their toils upon the waters without fear of molesta-
tion from armed cruisers. Commerce spread its white wings in pro-
fusion over the billows, and the industries of the land started up with
new life and increased vigor.
CHAPTER VII.
MILITARY HISTORY (Concluded).
The Civil War.— The Election of Lincoln and the Fall of Sumter.— The first Call for
Three-Months' Men.— Response from the Cape Towns.- War Meetings.— Subsequent
Calls.— Bounties.— Enlistments.— Return of the Volunteers. — G. A. R. Posts.- Mon-
uments.
THE news of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in April, 1861,
greatly affected and changed the feelings of the political parties
of the Cape; and when the surrender of the fort by Major
Anderson, on the 13th, was announced, the feeling was almost unani-
mous in favor of crushing the rebellion, the method remaining the
only party question. Of the citizens of the Cape large numbers were
engaged in various pursuits on the sea; but those at home recognized
the issue as inevitable and were at once determined in their action.
On the morning of Monday, April 15th, appeared the proclamation
of Abraham Lincoln, calling for seventy-five thousand men for three
months, to suppress the rebellion. Its effect was like an electric spark
in quickening the resolution and action of the men of this county.
The president's estimate was short of the necessities of the movement,
as the history of the war abundantly proved; but to his calm and judi-
cious patriotism a grateful nation has erected enduring monuments of
granite, and engraved his deeds upon lasting pages of history.
The first official act of this Commonwealth relating to the war was
the recommendation by Governor Andrew, in January, 1861, that the
adjutant general ascertain with accuracy the number of officers and
men of the volunteer militia of the state who would instantly respond
to any call of the president of the United States for troops. January
23, 1861, the legislature passed a resolution tendering to the president
the aid of the Commonwealth in enforcing the laws; and February 15th
an act was approved providing for the retention in service of all mili-
tia organizations then existing, and for the formation, " as the public
exigency may require," of other companies by the municipal officers '
of cities and the selectmen of towns. On April 3, 1861, the first ap-
propriation made by the legislature for war purposes was a sum of
twenty-five thousand dollars to equip two thousand soldiers for active
service. In May of that year the legislature, before its adjournment.
84 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
gave full power to the gfovemor and his council to issue scrip, or cer-
tificates of debt, in various sums not to exceed seven million dollars,
to be expended for the government; and gave authority to towns to
raise money by taxation for war purposes, for which the state would
reimburse them to a limited extent. Let such patriotism, manifested
thus early in -the Old Bay State, be forever on record for the benefit
of the present and unborn generations ! Her militia were first in the
field. On the 15th of April, 1861, a telegram was received from Sen-
ator Wilson at Washington, requesting twenty companies to be sent
to the national capital to act in defense of that city. The request was
immediately complied with by sending state militia, whose military
history is foreign to this chapter.
The first seven companies enlisted in the state under the call of
the president, which were subsequently the first mustered into the
service of the United States for the term of three years, were the
nucleus of what was actually the first, but misleadingly numbered the
Twenty-ninth Regular M. V. These seven companies were those of
Captain Chamberlain, raised in Lynn, April 18th; Captains Tyler and
Clarke, raised in Boston, April 19th; Captain Chipman, Sandwich,
April 20th; Captains Leach, Barnes and Doten, raised respectively in
East Bridgewater, East Boston and Plymouth, about April 20th. Thus
the Cape raised the fourth of the first seven companies enlisted in
Massachusetts within four days after the call.
With only a few hours' notice, a very large meeting was held Sat-
urday evening, April 20, at Sandwich, " to devise means and ways to
raise a company of troops for the defence of the* country." Theodore
Kern called the meeting to order, Dr. Jonathan Leonard was chosen
to preside, and E. S. Whittemore was chosen to act as secretary. Dur-
ing the fevening $626 was pledged toward a bounty for the men who
should enlist. A committee of nine was chosen to thoroughly canvass
the town and raise more bounty money— sufficient to pay twenty dol-
lars to each man. Three men were appointed to wait upon the gov-
ernor and oflFer the services of the company. On the sixth of May the
company were ready for commands from Governor Andrew, and on
the eighth proceeded to Boston. The election of officers of this com-
pany was presided over by the selectmen of the town of Sandwich,
and the following list of commissioned officers may be pointed to as
the first from Barnstable county: Charles Chipman, captain; Charles
Brady, first lieutenant; Henry A. Kern, second lieutenant; Alfred E.
Smith, third lieutenant; James H. Atherton, fourth lieutenant; and
the company adopted the name "Sandwich Guards." This company
was at once sent to Fortress Monroe, and formed Company D in the
Third regiment of the militia. In July, 1861, it was made part of the
Massachusetts Battalion, and in December of the same year was em-
MILITARY HISTORY. 86
braced in the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry. This valiant
company participated in the battles of Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mills, Peach
Orchard, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Centerville, South Mountain,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, and others.
The first special town meeting of Sandwich for war purposes was
held May 11, 1861, at which four thousand dollars was voted for the
support of the families of those who had enlisted, and five hundred
dollars to uniform the first company accepted from the town.
The town furnished, according to the report of its selectmen, 292
men for the army — exceeding the several quotas by two men. Twelve
of its men were commissioned officers. The money expended was
$33,081.99, besides $19,938.55 for state aid. The other towns of the
county also called special town meetings, or later ratified the action
of their selectmen.
Concerning Yarmouth's action, Hon. Charles F. Swift says: " The
part taken by the town in the war of the rebellion is briefly summa-
rized. Informal meetings were held during the summer and fall of
1861, in which material aid for the troops in the field was provided
for, volunteering encouraged and hospital supplies sent forward. May
2, 1862, the first legal town meeting was held. James B. Crocker was
chosen moderator, and a series of resolutions, presented by Charles F.
Swift, adopted. These pledged the aid of the town to the govern-
ment, and recommended especially volunteering for the navy, as the
^special department of the service adapted to our people. July 2d, a
town meeting was held to procure enlistments, D. G. Eldridge, mod-
erator. Three years' men were offered one hundred dollars on being
mustered in and one hundred dollars when honorably discharged.
The town's quota was filled in a few days. August 14th a bounty of
$125 each was offered by the town to nine months' men. December 1,
1863, a meeting was called to aid in the enlistment of ' 300,000 more '
troops, Charles F. Swift, moderator. Oliver Gorham, N. C. Fowler,
David Matthews and (subsequently) Freeman Howes were appointed
a committe to co-operate with the selectmen in filling the quota. April
24, 1864, a meeting was held to aid in filling the town quota ' under
the two last calls of the President,' C. F. Swift, moderator. At this
meeting $125 was voted to each recruit, and June 1st it was announced
that the quota was filled, through the expenditure of two thousand
four hundred dollars by the citizens' committee. Under the last call
for troops citizens' meetings were held in July; $325 being offered for
recruits, and three hundred dollars paid to those who had furnished
substitutes. The collapse of the rebellion rendered further effort use-
less. Yarmouth furnished 250 men for the army and navy, five over
all demands. There were fifteen volunteer officers in the navy and
three pilots from this town. The expenditures of the town for war
86 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
purposes was $17,017, besides $3,692.10 voluntarily contributed by in-
dividuals, in all, $20,609.10. The sum of $4,514.71 was expended in
aid of soldiers' families."
Provincetown had the first special town meeting May 2, 1861, at
which strong resolutions were passed and ample provisions made for
the enlistment of troops. Several meetings were held during the war;
the contributions of the citizens for filling quotas were reimbursed,
and the town sent to the service fifty-seven men more than were
called. Three were commissioned officers in the service. The num-
ber reported by the selectmen was 247; but the number much exceeded
that. The whole amount of money raised was $37,462, and for state
aid, which was reimbursed, $7,368.24. It is also a fact that Province-
town paid to the families of volunteers double the amount reimbursed.
The ladies of the town organized, in 1862, a Soldiers' Aid Society,
which contributed $2,291.65 in money and clothing. The exposure of
this extreme portion of the Cape induced the government to erect
earthworks, which were garrisoned by a company of volunteers.
Barnstable commenced raising troops early, and held its first
special town meeting May 10, 1861. At this meeting liberal bounties
were offered, promises were made for the support of soldiers' families,
and money was placed at the disposal of the governor for the assist-
ance of the troops of the state. On the 21st of July, 1862, still stronger
resolutions of patriotism and aid were passed, and the bounties were
increased. The work of the selectmen and clerk was most arduous,
but was cheerfully accomplished. The number of men reported as
sent was 272 — thirty-five over and above all demands. The acting
adjutant general of the state reported that Barnstable had underrated
the number sent. Three of these men were commissioned officers.
The sum appropriated was $38,674.15, besides $19,662.93 for state aid,
which was refunded. The work of the Barnstable ladies was import-
ant. Three aid societies were organized — one each in its three largest
villages — which contributed the sum of $1,283, and many thousand
articles of clothing, bandages and luxuries.
Harwich showed the same earnest determination by calling a town
meeting May 10, 1861, at which resolutions were passed to place a
coast guard of one hundred men, and raise money to pay bounties for
the enlisting of troops. Several meetings were held during 1862 and
the bounties were increased; committees were appointed to recruit
men and assist the selectmen; and a very liberal appropriation of
money was made. In the meeting of November 7, 1866, the town
voted " that the selectmen treat all widows in town whose husbands
have fallen in the war, with especial benevolence, and, if they have
no house, see that they have a home outside of the almshouse." This
was very commendable. The town furnished 341 men — a surplus of
MILITARY HISTORY. 87
twenty-nine over all demands — of whom four were commissioned
officers. The sum raised during the war was $42,660.02, and $1] ,462.99
for state aid, which was refunded. The ladies of the several religious
societies sent many needed articles to the army hospitals.
The first town meeting of Brewster to consider war matters was
held May 21, 1861, which made liberal provision for the aid fund, en-
listing soldiers, and for the support of their families. Meetings were
called often during the continuance of the war and the selectmen were
always empowered to expend money in every manner for the interest
of the town in its relation to the common cause, and the care of the
families of absent soldiers. Brewster furnished 141 men for the war,
a surplus of seventeen; and expended $19,453.73, besides a large con-
tribution from liberal-minded citizens. The sum for state aid was
$4,356.23, which was refunded. An aid society by the ladies did much
good.
Wellfleet sent several men to Fortress Monroe in April, 1861, and
was rapidly enlisting a company when the first special town meeting
was called in May following. Bounties for those who had enlisted
and who might, were liberally provided; and a request was sent to the
governor for equipments for a full company. The meetings of each
succeeding year of the war increased the bounties, not forgetting the
needs of the soldiers' families. No officers were commissioned from
this town; but 221 men were furnished on the different calls, which
was twenty-five more than required. About $2,000 was contributed
by individuals and $18,324.67 was raised by the town for war purposes,
besides $1,138.73 for state aid, which was reimbursed. The ladies or-
ganized an aid society to work for the sick and wounded in hospitals.
At the expiration of the war the unexpended funds of the society were
given in aid of a monument for deceased soldiers.
In Chatham several citizens' meetings were held during the first
year of the rebellion, and every necessary action was taken for sup-
plying the town's quota of volunteers and the necessary funds for
bounties and soldiers' families. July 22, 1862, a town meeting was
held to reimburse the liberal contributions of the citizens and approve
of what the selectmen had already accomplished. The meeting voted
a monthly sum of eighteen dollars to each family of the men absent
on duty, which was six dollars a month more than was reimbursed by
the state. In February, 1863, the selectmen had borrowed on their
individual notes $8,000, which had been expended in bounties and
other necessary expenditures. At a meeting then held this town
promptly assumed the entire liability, arranged for meetings on every
Tuesday evening in furtherance of the cause, and appointed a com-
mittee to assist the selectmen. In 1866, after the close of the war, the
town voted to refund every citizen the money he had contributed and
88 HISTORY OF BARh'STABLE COUNTY.
pay every person who had furnished a substitute the money he had
necessarily expended. Chatham furnished 264 men, which was a sur-
plus of thirty-two; five were commissioned oflScers. The money ex-
pended was $27,611.69, and for state aid $6,487.42.
In Dennis, every action required for furnishing means and men
for the war was taken, during 1861, by the citizens and selectmen,
and not until July 26, 1862, did the town act in a corporate capacity;
then, under the president's call for three hundred thousand men, the
town appointed six gentlemen to act with the selectmen in recruiting
volunteers, and arranged a bounty of $260 each for former and future
enlistments. The reports of the action of the town during the war
are not as full as some of the others, but the result shows that Dennis
was not only very earnest in the good work, but could show a better
record at its conclusion. The reprorts of the town show that 220 men
were furnished for the war; but in the army and navy Dennis had
over 360. Every call of the president was promptly filled, and in the
final aggregate a surplus of forty -three men had been furnished. The
money raised and expended was $22,652.66, with $3,813.61 for state
aid, which the Commonwealth refunded as it did to other towns.
During the year 1861 the town of Eastham held no special meet-
ings in a corporate capacity, but its citizens and officers filled every
call for men, and furnished ample means for necessary expenses and
bounties. In 1862, July 28th, when the largest call of the war was made
for men, the citizens in a special town meeting voted full authority
for the action of the selectmen as well as provided for what had been
previously done. Meetings were held as often as necessary, money
was raised as needed, and the bounty for soldiers placed at $160. No
commissioned officers went from the town, but eleven men were sent
in excess of the quota. The number of men furnished was seventy-
seven; the money expended was $3,476.54; and the state aid fund was
$833.23.
In Falmouth, as in other towns, many of the best young men were
on the seas at the breaking out of the rebellion; but every require-
ment of men and money was fulfilled, with a surplus of ten men over
the quota. August 2, 1862, a special town meeting was held at which
a bounty of $125 was promised to every volunteer who was accepted by
the government and one hundred dollars when regularly discharged
from the service; to this private citizens added ten dollars for each
volunteer. Enlistments were rapid, and every subsequent demand
was as promptly met. Falmouth was compelled to enlist many from
outside, and furnished in all 258 men — 138 for the army and twenty
for the navy from its own citizens. The amount raised and expended
was $20,154.35 exclusive of the aid fund, which was $4,674.20. The
ladies of Falmouth furnished their share of aid to the soldiers in the
MILITARY HISTORY. 0»
field. This town, like others, had sacrifices that called for the con-
tinued aid and sympathy of its citizens; one case was where three
sons of a very poor citizen enlisted, and all were killed; one left a
wife and five small children, and upon the other two the aged parents
of the three valiant sons depended for support.
No corporate action of the town of Truro was taken during the
year 1861, but all quotas were filled by the officers and citizens until
July 25, 1862, when at a special town meeting their action was rati-
fied and expenditures refunded by the vote of the town. A bounty of
two hundred dollars was offered for nine-months' men, and the most
liberal provisions were made at each future meeting for the volun-
teers and their families. At a meeting, February 4, 1863, the town
voted to bring home the remains of Edward Winslow, the first of its
soldiers who had fallen; and that the widow and orphan children of
the deceased receive a gratuity of one hundred dollars. Through the
selectmen, assisted by proper committees, Truro furnished 144 men
for the war — an excess of fourteen over all demands. The fund ex-
pended was $4,786.10, and the amount sent to the state aid was
$2,328.21, which was refunded.
The preceding summary of the action of the several towns of Barn-
stable county is brief but reliable, and gives facts of which its citizens
may well be proud. The several selectmen of the towns in 1866 re-
ported 2,305 men as having been sent into the service; but the num-
ber must have been greater, as the percentage of men furnished
throughout the commonwealth was 9^ to every one hundred inhabit-
ants, and this county not only filled every quota but furnished an ex-
cess of 309 men. The total expenses of the towns aggregate the
enormous sum of $399,919.92, of which $90,934.84 was paid as state aid,
and mostly refunded.
The general court in 1863 made provision for reimbursing the
towns the bounties they had paid to volunteers enlisting under the
calls of the president of July and August, 1862, not exceeding one
hundred dollars for each volunteer. The assessors' report from Barn-
stable county show that bounties were paid to 532 men, a total of $84-
395.35 under those calls.
The legislature of 1864 passed an act, approved May 14th, which
provided for the enrollment of all able bodied male citizens of the
Commonwealth between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years.
The lists were made by the assessors and filed with town clerks July
1, 1864. Copies of these lists returned to the adjutant general show
133,767 effective men, in the state, liable to military duty. The state
was then divided into 249 districts, and the militia residents of each
district were organized as a company, and in December were ordered
to elect their captain. Sandwich was made District 45; Barnstable
90 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
and Falmouth, 46; Yarmouth, 47; Harwich, 48; Brewster, Dennis and
Chatham, 49; Eastham and Orleans, 50; Truro and Wellfleet, 51;
Provincetown, 52.
A few weeks before the call of October 17, 1863, for three hundred
thousand new troops, provision was made that the district provost
marshal, or their agents should receive fifteen dollars for each new
recruit, and twenty-five dollars for each re-enlistment; but from this
rule Massachusetts was, by request of Governor Andrew, excepted,
and these fees made payable to the selectmen of the several towns
who secured the enlistments. The amount paid to the several towns
under this arrangement was used exclusively to promote enlistments,
and the local recruiting officers received only a per diem allowance
while actually employed.
After the original call for a draft in Massachusetts, the selectmen
of the several towns filed sworn statements, showing the number of
men each town had furnished to the army prior to February 1, 1863.
The following list of names comprehends the men furnished by
Barnstable county during the years of 1861-1866, as reported by the
adjutant general of the state. We have classified with care the mus-
tering in of companies and regiments, and have especially arranged
the names by towns to better enable the reader to find those of any
particular locality when the number of the regiment is known. To
the names of those who died in the service from disease, prison life,
or were killed, the time and place are given.
THREE months' MEN.
Third Regiment, Militia, enlisted May, 1861. — Sandwich: Co. K,
Charles M. Packard, corp.; Howard Burgess, Sylvester O. Phinney,
William W. Phinney; Co. L, George H. Freeman.
Fourth Regiment, 1SQ\.— Falmouth: Co. F, George W. Washburn,
George S. Jones.
one hundred days' men.
Fifth Regiment, July, \SQ\.—Sandwich: Co. A, Joseph W. Phin-
ney, Corp.; Sands K. Chipman, Charles S. Clark, Alvin C. Howes,
Prince A. Phinney, re-enlisted in Twenty-fifth Infantry. And the
following were mustered in 1862: Yarmouth: Co. E, Jarius Lincoln,
jr., serj.; Edwin H. Lincoln, mus.; Charles P. Baker, Darius Baker,
George H. Baker, W. I. Baker, Watson Baker, Edwin Chase, Frederick
N. Ellis, Warren H. Ellis, Edmund H. Gray, Elam S. Marcarta, E. Dex-
ter Paine, David Snow, Franklin Thacher. Dennis: Co. E, Horatio
Howes, Corp.; Edmund Matthews, corp.; Sylvester F. Baker, John Con-
sidine, John W. Greenleaf, Hiram H. Hall, Jeremiah G. Hall, Joseph
MILITARY HISTORY. 91
W. Hall, Luther Hall, Edwin Howes, Henry F. Howes, George W.
Richardson, Peter B. Smalley. Barnstable: Co. E, Alfred C. Phinney,
died at Newbern, April, 1863; George E. Hopkins, Laurence Chase,
Isaac Coleman, Ebenezer Eldridge, Thomas R. Eldridge, Charles E.
Phinney, James P. Jones, Albert A. Kingsley, John Mansir, Allen
Marchant, Herman Oler, William Sharpe, Smith P. Slocum. Brewster:
Co. E, James F. Crosby, Enoch C. Jones, Joseph A. Myrick, Benjamin
F. Paine, Josiah W. Seabury.
Sixth Regiment, 1864. — Sandwich: Co. A, Joseph S. Corliss.
Eighth Regiment, \&Q\.— Harwich: Co. G, Alonzo F. Chase, Peter
B. Chase.
Twenty-third Regiment, 1862, enlisted for nine months. — Falmouth:
Co. L Sylvester Bourne, jr., William Jenkins, John A. Tobey.
Forty-second Regiment, 1861. — Yarmouth: Co. E, Eben Matthews.
NINE months' men.
Forty-third Regiments— Wellfliet: L. Bell, Solomon L. Haves, Ed-
mund B. Robinson. Chatham: Co. E, Charles M. Upham, prom. 2nd
lieut. in 1863; John W. Atwood, serg.; William H. Harley, Charles E.
Atwood, Francis Brown, Benjamin S. Cahoon, John W. Crowell,
Ephraim Eldridge, Cyrus Emery, Franklin D. Hammond, James S.
Hamilton, James T. Hamilton, Josiah J. Hamilton, David Harding,
Samuel H. Howes, re-enlisted Co. B, Second H. A.; Charles Johnson,
Horatio F. Lewis, Storrs L. Lyman, Andrew S. Mayo, Benjamin Rogers,
Francis B. Rogers, Joshua N. Rogers, George A. Taylor. Orleans:
Co. E, Joshua S. Sparrow, Joseph L. Kendrick, mus.; John W. Finn,
re-enlisted Co. D, Second H. A.; Jonathan S. Freeman, re-enlisted Co.
A, Second H. A.; Caleb Hayden, Sol. S. Higgins, Thomas R. Higgfins,
John M. Horton, Benjamin C. Kenrick, James W. Lee, Isaac Y. Smith,
killed Dec, '62; Simeon L. Smith, re-enlisted Co. A, Second H. A.;
Freeman Snow, re-enlisted Second H. A. Eastham: Co. E, George H.
Collins, Corp.; Alonzo Bearse, James G. Crowell, Albert F. Dill, Alvin
L. Drown, Daniel P. Hopkins, William W. Hopkins, Samuel Snow.
Harwich: Co. E, Charles G. Rodman, corp.; Luther Crowell, Winslow
Baker, W. H. H. Barrett, Thomas Y. Cahoon, David P. Clark, Joseph
Crabbe, John N. Dow, Alvards C. Ellis, Charles S. Freeman, Gideon
H. Freeman, David M. McVea, Thomas H. K. Parks, Joshua Small,
dis.; Charles E. Snow, no service. Provincetown: Co. E, James B. Cook,
David Cook, John Connelly, George Lockwood, re-enlisted Second H.
A.; John Powers, re-enlisted Second H. A.; William Sullivan, Thomas
K. Verge, Henry Young. Truro: Co. E, John A. Gross, John M.Carey,
John P. Crozier, Amasa E. Paine, Henry R. Paine, Jeremiah H. Rich,
Daniel P. Smith, Isaiah Snow. Dennis: Co. E, John S. Chase, Samuel
92 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Robbins, Ensign Rogers, re-enlisted Second H. A.; Edwin Tripp,
Francis M. Tripp, W. H. Young. Brewster: Co. E, Laurence Doyle.
Barnstable: George Eldridge, Owen Keeler. Co. K, Warren Cammett,
John N. Collier, corp.
Forty-fourth Regiment, 1862.— 7>«r^.- Co. A, James H. Killian,
corp. Wellfleet: Co. A, James M. Atwood, Daniel D. Smith, Daniel
W. Wiley; Co. G, Charles H. Holbrook. Brewster: Co. I, Benjamin
F. Bates, James R. Henry. Provincetoivn: Co. T, John L. Eldredge.
Forty-fifth Regiment, enlisted 1BQ2.— Barnstable: Co. D, Francis
Jenkins, serg.; Freeman H. Lothrop, corp.; Osttiond Amos, Charles E.
Bearse, Clarence W. Bassett, killed Dec, '62; George H. Bearse, died
at Newbem Jan., '63; Joseph P. Bearse, Nathan Hi Bearse, Henry C.
Blossom, E. W. Childs, Frederick W. Childs, Simeon C. Childs, Nelson
S. Crocker, Eliphalet Doane, David Fuller. James B. Hamblin, George
D. Hart, John B. Hinckley, Charles E. Holmes, Asa Jenkins, Alexan-
der B. Jones, Hercules Jones, Hiram Nye, Harrison G. Phinney,
Joseph Whytal, Thomas Williams, re-enlisted Second H. A.; Aaron
A. Young, died Jan., '6b, of wounds, at Newbem; Co.. I, Oliver
G. Appley, Levi A. Baker, Isaiah B. Linnell. Sandwich: Co. D, George
L. Haines, corp.; H. Chipman, corp.; Henry F. Benson, died of wounds,
Dec, '62, at Newbem; George H. Burgess, Joseph P. Chipman, Samuel
Chipman, Watson H. Fifield, John D. Foster, Henry C. Greene,
Thomas Hackett, Ezra Hamblin, Augustus Holway, Thomas E. Hol-
way, Nathaniel C. Hoxie, James T. Jones, Henry H. Knippe, Fred-
erick U. Lovell, Samuel. H. Lovell, William C. Riorden, Charles H.
Stimpson, Thomas O. Stimpson, Albert Wheeler, Stillman Wright.
Co. K, Thomas F. Holmes. Provincetown: Co. E. Joshua Ryder. Fal-
mouth: Co. H, Gilbert A. Bearse, Ansel E. Fuller.
Forty-seventh Regiment. — Sandwich: Co. F, Nathan B. Fisher.
Brewster: Gardner E. Wetherbee, died at New Orleans Feb., '63. . Or-
Jeans: Co. F, Azariah S. Walker. Yarmouth: Co. G, Joseph Bassett,
Benjamin Lovell, John E. Ryder. Provincetown: Co. 1, William W.
Smith, Corp.; Caleb D. Smith, mus.; George S. Cook, Alexander Gay-
land, Joseph P. Holland, George W. King.
ONE YEAR MEN.
Sixtieth Regiment, unattached one year men, mustered 1864. —
Yarmouth: Co. E, Charles H. Gorham, William Lewis. Falmouth: Ro-
land Fish. Barnstable: James G. Warren, 2d'lieut.; Phineas K. Clark,
serg.; William T. Baker, serg.; Leven S. Morse, serg.; John N. Mitch-
ell, Corp.; John E. Murphy, corp.; John Flood, Noah J. Lake, Daniel
D. Mitchell, William H. Munroe, Samuel P. Raymond, George W.
Richardson, John P. Sears, Abraham L. Teachman, Charles H. Tripp,
Stephen V. Weaver, Reuben Weeks.
MILITARY HISTORY. 93
THREE YEARS' MEN, LIGHT ARTILLERY.
First Battery, 1864. — Dennis: James Knowlan. Orleans: Timothy
Sullivan, John Wilson.
Second Ba.ttery. —Barnstad/e: John Hughes, mus., died at Vicks-
burg, July, '65; John Carroll, jr., George Craig. Truro: James Brown,
Ezra F. Folsom, died at Baton Rouge, May, '64; Cornel, us Gannon,
Charles Hamilton. Sandwich: George Lamberton. Orleans: Joseph
Moody, died in Louisiana, Jan., '65; Stephen F. Smith, died at New Or-
leans, Nov., '64.
Third 'BdXX.&xy.— East ham: Thomas Jones, trans, to Fifth Battery.
Fourth Battery, \%QA^.— Falmouth: William Dillingham. Yar-
mouth: James Fitzgerald. Sandwich: John Kelley. Dennis: Phillippi
Martyn. Barnstable: Jerry O'Keefe.
Fifth '2>'a.\XQxy .—Sandwich: Joseph B. Alton, Nathan Case.
Sixth Battery. — Falmonth: Horace H. George, trans. Province-
toivn: Andrew Byrnes, William Price, Thomas Leonard. Wellfleet:
Martin Curran. Brewster: Charles Emeley, James H. Richards, John
B. Whealin. Sandwich: Bradford Gibbs. Orleans: George Thomson.
Seventh 'QdXX.^ry.— Wellfleet: George H. Carmichael, Frank Cook.
Provincetown: Patrick Donnelly. Eastham: John Mahoney. Dennis.-
Patrick Sherlock.
Ninth Battery. — Sandwich: Edward Le Bum, mus. Dennis: George
F. W. Haines.
Tenth Battery. — Truro: Samuel Paine, corp. Dennis: Thomas
Smith. Barnstable: Alvin Thompson, Charles D. Thompson.
Eleventh Battery. — Yarmouth: Charles H. Weaver, corp. Prov-
incetown: James Giles, John J. Sampson.
Twelfth Battery.— Z'^www.- Alois Hoffman, Charles Lejeune, Henry
Leport, William Moore. Provincetown: William H. Wilkes, serg.; John
Boyle, Thomas Brown, A. Duke, Foster Fairbridge, William Larney,
William Olmstead, Robert Smith, James Wade, James Wilson. Brew-
ster: Timothy T. Hogan, Thomas King, Charles Linscott, Patrick
McGrath. Eastham: Henry Merrill.
Thirteenth Battery. — Eastham: Michael Cronin, corp.; Thomas
Carmody, Sylvester Shea. W^ir/Z/f^^/.- William Boyle. Harwich: George
Brown. Sandwich: Paschal Gon, William Taylor, trans, to navy. Fal-
mouth: Ezekiel B. Graves, died at New Orleans, Oct. '64. Barnstable:
Edward D. Sullivan.
Fourteenth Battery, 1864.— Barnstable: Alexander Baker, Peter
Brudle, Leander B. Cash, Simeon C. Childs, jr., died in hospital, Oct.
'64; Job F. Childs, Charles Damon, Henry Denney, Mat. Gannon,
Charles E. Holmes, Isaiah B. Linnell. Benjamin F. Nickerson; David
Nickerson. Sandwich: John J. Hart. Yarmouth: Jacob Olar. Har-
94 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
wick: Charles E. Riva. Brewster: David N. Rogers, died March '64.
Dennis: George Turner.
Fifteenth Battery, X^Q'i. —Sandwich: Eleazer W. Chase, Robert
Decker, George Hubbs, James Jackson, Benjamin Jones, John Mott,
Douglas A. Park, James A. Ross. Provincetown: Albion Coburn.
Sixteenth Battery, \m^.—Bar7istable: George W. Childs, William
Childs, jr., Benjamin F. Crosby, Adolphus Davis, Andrew C. Nicker-
son, Joseph H. Phinney. Eastham: Lewis Vasconi. Wellfleet: John
Wilson. Chatham: William Conners, trans, to Sixth.
HEAVY ARTILLERY, 1864.
First Regiment.— C/ia//iaw.- Co. A, David Keith. Orleans: Co. A,
Edward Laselle. Provincetown: Co. B, William T. Tolman; Co. F,
Thomas Marsdon. Wellfleet: Co. G, Daniel Gilmore. Eastham: Co. I,
William J. W. Yates. Unassigned and no record: Charles L. Harts-
home of Harwich, John Hart of Falmouth, Daniel Lovett and Thomas
Pepper of Wellfleet.
Second Regiment, 1863-1864. — Orleans: Co. A, Jonathan S. Tru-
man; Co. D, Alonzo R. Nelson, trans.; Co. H, Abraham Schuster.
Provincetown: George Lockwood, died at Newbern, Nov., '64. Co. M,
Patrick Drew; unassigned, William C. Reynolds. Harwich: Co. A,
George E. McCluskey, trans, to Seventeehth; Co. G, Robeirt Smith;
Co. I, Edward Pettis, to Seventeenth Inf.; William F. Morang; Co. H,
Horace S. Favor, corp. Chatham: Co. B, Samuel H. Howes, 1st serg.;
Co. M, Charles Dunbar. Barnstable: Co. B, William Fay, trans. Seven-
teenth Inf. Falmouth: Co. C, John Scheelds; Co. D, Michael Collins,
to Co. H; Co. E, Timothy Maloney, trans. Seventeenth Inf.; Co. G,
. Thomas Ryan, Frank E. Vamum, trans. Seventeenth. Wellfleet: Co. C,
William Upton; Co. E, John Welch; Co. F, Thomas Mahan; Co. I, Domi-
nick Basso, Frank Newber; Co. M, Michael GaflFney. Sandwich: Co.
E, Ephraim W. Fish. Brewster: Co. L, George Eldridge; Owen Keeler,
Patrick Riley, Thomas Tutman. Eastham: Co. M, Patrick McNamara.
Third Regiment, 1863-1864.— 6'r/^awj; Co. A, Nathaniel Trumans,
Corp., trans, to navy; Seneca O. Higgins, trans, to navy; Augustus
Mayo; Co. D, Joseph B. Higgins, trans, to navy; Co. L, John Harri-
son, serg.; Edward D. Wiggins, James A. Rowe, corp.; John Black,
James P. Johnston, Charles H. Meserve, John Wade; Co. M, Augus-
tus H. Moore, William Burrill, John B. Ewing; unassigned, Andrew
J. Quinlan. Barnstable: Co. B, Paul R. Crocker, John Hinckley; Co.
F, from Hyannis, Lawrence Chase, Thaddeus S.Clark, trans. to navy;
Gilbert Lewis, Lovett Lewis, James H. Wyer; Co. M, Michael Dor-
gan, serg.; James Coleman, corp.; William Boss, art.; Edward Leni-
han, Patrick Mahoney, George R. Marshall, James McLaughlin. Yar-
mouth: Co. B, Ziba Ellis, Asa Matthews; Co. K, William Onderdonk,
MILITARY HISTORY. 95
serg.; James M. Luzarder, Henry McGill, Daniel St. Clair. Falmouth:
Co. B, Ephraim W. Fish, Francis Marion, Albert C. McLane; Co. F,
Gilbert A. Bearse. Sandwich: Co. B, Seth F. Gibbs, Frederick A. Nor-
ris, William H. Dillon, Michael Gavan, Henry H. Manning; unas-
signed, James Collins, George W. Towns. Harwich: Co. B, Edward
T. Ryder, Charles D. Sherman, Alexander W. West. Brewster: Co. K,
Oscar Moore; Co. M, Daniel H. Elliott. Eastkam: Co. L, Matthew
Thompson. /'ww?«c<'/'ow«.- Co. K, Elisha B. Newman; Co. M, Thomas
Wells; unassigned, Duane Newell.
Fourth Regiment, 1864, one year men. — Sandwich: James H. Ather-
ton, 1st lieut. Provincetown: Co. I, Kendall W. Blanchard; Co. K,
Frank B. Libby. Orleans: Co. I, Enoch Wilson.
First Battalion, Heavy Artillery, three years, enlisted 1862-1864. —
Provincetown: Co. A, Alden Bass. Harwich: Co. B, James O. Stone,
serg.; Co. D, Charles S. Hartshorn, Edward G. Reed, Frank W. Sawin.
Orleajis: Co. C, Stillman Cole, Frank B. Taylor. Falmouth: Co. C, John
Hart.
CAVALRY REGIMENTS.
First Regiment, 1863-1864.— IVellpet: Co. B, Daniel Crillis; Co.
M, John R. Rose, trans. Co. H; Co. M, William R. Bryant. Dennis:
Co. C, Michael Murphy; Co. E, Carl Bartlett, died Andersonville,
Oct., '64; Robert Lampson, trans, to navy; Co. H, Michael Nennery,
Patrick O'Neil, Elois Paspartout. Barnstable: Co. D, Louis Bellow,
mus.; Co. L, Frank Fero, William Harrison, Patrick Murray, Frank
O'Donnell; Co. L, George Green, serg. Falmouth: Co. D, John Aus-
tin, Charles O. Witham. Sandivich: Co. G, Nathaniel H. Fisher, re-
enlisted; Co. K, William W. Phinney, serg., died in Co. K, Fourth
California; Henry H. Knippe, died at Andersonville, Aug., '64; Co. L,
Joseph K. Baker. Orleans: Co. K, John O'Hara, hos. stew.; Joseph H.
Luther. Provincetown: Co. H, Edmund Dubois. Yarmouth: Co. L Ol-
iver Lowell, trans, to Co. C.
Second Regiment, formed in 1864. — Provincetown: Co. A, Charles
H. Allen; Co. G, Peter Smith, James Guy, Peter Lines. Truro: Co.
C, Charles Goth, Joseph W. Hawman, Edward A. Wilson. Dennis: Co.
C, Henry Haase; Co. D, Thomas Jones; Co. K, Charles Johnson,
Henry Peel, Andrew Robertson, trans, to navy; Co. L, Michael Cur-
ran; unassigned, James Gafney, John Mason, Wilhelm Jones. Or-
leans: Co. C, Dean B. Nickerson, Frederick Wells, V. R. C; William
Winslow. Yarmouth: Co. C, George J. Pack, died Danville, Va.,
March, '65; John Slemp. Brewster: Co. C, Henry Smith; Co. L, Dan-
iel McDonald; unassigned, John Cleghorn, John Hammett, Henry
O'Neil. Falmouth: Co. C, William H. Bruce, serg.; unassigned, Jules
Gautier. Wellfleet: Co. G, Daniel M. Hall, died at Florence, Aug., '64;
96 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
unassigned, John Bamberg, Peter Hotz. Barnstable: Co. D, William
Emerson, Patrick H. O'Brien, John Smith, Nelson H. Willard. Sand-
wich: Co. I, William H. Morgan, died of wounds, Sept., '64; unas-
signed, Alfred Bolander, James Brown, William Brown, John Forrey,
trans, navy; William Long, to navy; Francis McKowan, William Pa-
gan, Joseph Smith, trans, navy; Charles Wilson, trans, to navy. Har-
wich: Unassigned, Alfred Balater, Charles Davis. Chatham: Frank J.
Jones. Eastham: John Banks, Albert Granville, John B. McLane,
trans, to navy; Henry Roberts.
Third Regiment, mustered 1862-1864.— Truro: Hezekiah P. Hughes,
2d lieut.; James A. Small, serg. maj.; Co. I, Samuel Knowles, corp,;
Thomas Lowe. Sandwich: William H. Harper, capt.; Hartwell W.
Freeman, 2d lieut.; Co. D, Harry N. Arnold, Henry Scandall; Co. E,
Cornelius Dean, Edward Hefiferman, killed at Fisher's Hill, Feb., '64;
Thomas Mason, James McKowen, prisoner of war; James McNulty
2d; Co. L, Angus McGinnis; unassigned, Richard Cole, Charles
Curtis, trans, to navy; John Fortune, Thomas Harding, trans, to navy;
Charles P. Temple, Henry E. Van Howarton, John Wagner, to navy.
Provincetown: Co. A, Raymond Ellerington, 1st lieut.; George Allen, 2d
lieut; William Sullivan, Corp.; James Cashman, David Cook, Franklin
Fine, Charles H. Marston, Dennis Seannell; Co. B, John Connelly,
Corp.; Paran C. Young; Co. I, William R. Carnes, Thomas J. Gibbons,
died at Port Hudson, Nov., '63; James Rivett; unassigned, Justice
Doane, George V. Williams. Barnstable: Co. A, Robert Gordon; Co.
C, Andrew P. Cobb, died at Sabine Pass, Jan., '63: James K. Ewer, V.
R. C; Levi White; Yartnouih: Co. A. Henry Gothard; Co. D, Ed-
ward Cummins; Co. M, David Sloan, John Locke; unassigned, Nich-
olas Maxwell, trans, to navy; Thomas Smith. Dennis: Co. B, Owen
Carroll; Co. H, James Hickey; unassigned, John Kelso, George
King, John Schmidt. Falmouth: Co. D, Cornelius O'Hearn; Co. H,
Heni-y J. Besse, died at New Orleans, Aug., '64. Wellfleet: Co. L John
Bennis, John Brimmen, to Co. A; Russell W. Gifford; unassigned,
George W. Douglass, Cornelius Kiley, Charles Lavelle, Joseph
Schwartz, John Wright. Orleans: Unassigned, Charles Baker, Albert
J. Banks, Thomas Clark, John Ford, Henry Forest, George Selby.
Fourth Regiment, Wo\.— Harwich: Co. A, Henry Eldridge, corp.;
Joseph Frost, serg.; Thomas Scott, Eustace Smith; Co. B, John A.
Hayes, Thomas Sheridan. Falmouth: Co. A, John R. Sweetland; Co.
E, Samuel Jessuron; Co. H. Patrick Coakley, George Smith, Peter
Johnson, George Kane, John Francis, Thomas Thibbs, William Fos-
ter, James A. Wallace. Orleans: Co. A, Webster Rogers, John W.
Walker, died Hilton Head, July, '64; Co. K, Charles Stuart. Province-
town: Co. A, John C. Singer, Cornelius McNamara. Dennis: Co. G,
James Crogan; Co. M, George Avery. Wellfleet: Co. D, Henry Hayes,
MILITARY HISTORY. 97
Michael Cregan; Co. H, James Booth, Francis Daval. Samuel F. Ma-
son, George Meyer; Co. L, Henry R. Cook, William Johnson; un-
assigned, John W. Clark. Barnstable: Co. F, Robert P. Stewart, serg.;
Co. G, Charles Hinton, Alexander Lucia; Co. K, John Lang; unas-
signed, Jacob Doolittle. Sandwich: Co. G, Alonzo B. Poor; Co. K,
William W. Phinney, serg.; Co. L, Solomon H. Jones, Ettien Morien,
Zeno Whiting; unassigned, James H. Holemon. Yarmouth: Co. G,
Abner Williams, Cyrus L. Williams; Co. H, Richard Massey, John
Smith; Co. M, Charles H. Lee. Chatham: Co. H, John Crawford; Co.
L, Cain Mahoney; Co. M, James De Wolver, corp.; Christian Boost.
Truro: Co. G. Walter A. Cook. ..
Fifth Regiment, 18M.—Provincetown: Co. A, Aaron J. Moore, serg.;
died at New Orleans, Sept., '65; John Franks, corp.; William Gardner,
Charles Stuart; Co. B,, Frank Manuel; Co. G, Charles Heatley, died
Fortress Monroe, July, '65; Co. H, Charles Williams; Co. M, Joshua
Hunt. Harwich: Co. A, John S. Matthews; Co. L, George Lyons.
Barnstable: Co. B, John Alden, Clark H. Northup, David R. Northup,
Co. E, Pardon K. Parker. George W. Wilson; Co. K, James Harris;
Co. L, William Taylor; Co. K, James Camrel, serg. Wellfleet: Co. L,
John Connor; Co. C, John Green; Co. G, John H. Mason. Dennis:
Co. D, John Collamore, William Jones, Zachariah Rogers. Falmouth:
Co. E, George C. Warren„ corp.; John Homager, James G. Mason.
Sandwich: Co. F, Charles Riley; Co. G, Richard Colwell; Co. H, Wil-
liam Brewster, William Brooks, accidentally shot March, '65.; Co. L,
Turner Richardson; unassigned, Robert Lee. Orleans: Co. H, John
Boggs, Frederick Collins, Levi Jackson, William St. John; Co. I, Nel-
son Merideth, Barney O'Brien, Frank Thornton, William Thomas.
Henry Tillman. Falmouth: E. J. Woods. Yarmouth: Co. H, James
Carter; Co. I, John Hawley, John Sweeney. Brewster: Co. L James F.
Oliver. Eastham: Co. K, Ira Smith.
INFANTRY.
First Regiment, \mi..— Sandwich: Co. C, Thomas Ball, dis.; Co. H,
James GafiFney, dis. Barnstable: Unassigned, George Adams, Charles
Brown, Peter Conley, Thomas Cramer, John Dorcey, Patrick Finnan,
John Lee, John Morris, trans, to Eleventh; John M. Reed, Samuel
Roche, Christopher Voux, James L. Wood.
Second Regiment. \%&\.r— Wellfleet: Co. A, Joseph Kratt, John
Moore; Co. B, John Kaumm, Henry Miller; Co. D, Daniel Daley,
transferred; Co. E, John Ford; Co. G, Edward Carrick, Charles
Foley, James Herrick; Co. H, James Short; unassigned, Bernhard
Bears, James R. Boyd. Eastham: Co. D, Charles A. Hatch. Chatham:
Co. E, Henry Smith; Co. G,' James Muir, Matthew Thompson; Co. 1,
Warner Smith. Provincetown: Co. F, Thomas Nangle; unassigned
7
98 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Thomas Alpin, Silas D. Andrew. Brewster: Co. G, Charles Dilling-
ham, died of wounds; Hans Anderson, trans, navy. Sandwich: Co. G,
George McNamara. Unassigned: Provincetowti: Thomas Brennan,
James Deay, Robert Kelley, William Stewart, Lewis Wright. Well-
fleet: Henry C. Brownson, John L. Carpenter, Thomas Clark, John
Cole, Thomas Day, Robert Dennis, John Earle, William McCluskey,
Bernard McKenty, John Murphy, George Peck, John Spencer, John
Stewart, John Sullivan, Thomas Wallace, James Welch, John Wilson.
Sandwich: Albion Clark, trans, to navy; James Collins, Eugene Mailey,
Charles Newins, trans, to navy; Henry Stephens, Charles Williams,
trans, to navy; George Williams, Henry Wohlert. Brewster: Henry
Peters. Chatham: Henry D. Phettiplace, William Williams.
Ninth ^G%xm&n\..— Wellflcet: Co. A, Hugh Slaven, killed May, "64.
Barnstable: Co. B, Jacob Hall. Dennis: Co. 3, Martin Kelly, James
McCoy; Co. E, Thomas J. Connor. Sandxvich: Co. C. James Kelly, to
V. R. C; Co. D, William Cleveland.
Eleventh Regiment, made up enlistments of the years 1861-1864.—
Sandwich: Co. A, George W. Reardon, serg.; unassigned, William
Lewis, trans, navy. Brewster: Co. A, John Maier. Truro: Co. A,
Thomas Martin; Co. E, Francis Cummings, died; Co. F, John Con-
nors, Hugh McDonald, Michael Sullivan; Co. G, Morris Walsh. Den-
nis: Co. A, John Wagner. Barnstable: Co. B, James Brady; Co. F,
Enoch Crocker, killed July, '61; Co. H, James Reid; Co. K, Richard
Roach. Provincetown: Co. C, James H. Griffin. Wellfleet: Co. C, Lewis
Johnson, killed Sept., '64; Co. H, Thomas Laws, corp.; William Ander-
son, Julius Barman, Charles Brown; Co. K, Charles Brooker; unas-
signed. Job Ireland, Elisha E. Myers, Peter Schneider. Eastham: Henry
CoUagan, trans, to navy.
Twelfth Regiment, 1863.— ZJf www.- Co. A, Thomas Anderson, trans,
to navy. Barnstable: Co. A, Samuel C. Bowen, died Oct., '64; Co. G,
Michael Lynch; unclassified, Thomas F. Crocker. Chatham: Co. A,
William Braddock; Co. H, Josiah C. Freeman, trans, to navy; William
Smith. Orleans: Co. A, John Cabe. Wellfleet: Co. A, Washington
Reed, trans, to Thirty-ninth; Co. K, William N. Atwood. Province-
town: Co. D, Michael Ragan, trans, to Thirty-ninth; Co. E, Henry A.
F. Smith, killed June, '64; Co. H, Thomas O. Sullivan, to Thirty-ninth;
Charles Uhlich, to Thirty-ninth; Co. L James Munroe, to Thirty-second.
Breii'ster: Co. E, John Cotter, trans, to Thirty-ninth. Truro: Co. H,
Francis Trainor; Co. K, Patrick Conway.
Thirteenth Regiment, 1863. — Truro: Co. A, John Francis, trans,
navy; Co. B, James Cushman; Co. I, Frank Oakley, to Thirty-ninth,
unassigned, John Williams. 2d. Yarmouth: Co. A, George Happleton,
trans, to navy; Co. E, Charles Forrest; 'Co. H, Manuel Silver; Co. I,
Isaac B. Crowell. killed at Bull Run, '62. Provincetown: Co. B, John
MILITARY HISTORY. 99
Allcock; Co. K, John Rogers. Barnstable: Co. B, John J. Gibson,
trans, to navy; Co. I, Albert F. Holmes, Davis P. Howard. Chatham:
Co. C, William H. Jones, trans, to Thirty-second; Co. H, Lewis Uhl-
rich, stayed twenty days; unassigned, James Tomlin. Eastham:
Co. C, George Brown, to Thirty-ninth; unassigned, Edward Young.
Falmouth: Co. D, John Brown, James Clemmens, trans, to Thirty-ninth;
Co. I, John Riley, 2d, trans, to Thirty-ninth. Dennis: Co. C, William
Case (or Chase), trans, to Thirty-second; Co. G, Charles Makill, trans,
to Thirty-ninth; Co. H, Henry Johnson, trans, to navy. Harwich:
Co. D, John Hughes. Orleans: Unassigned, Jacob Reactor.
Fifteenth Regiment, \m^.— Harwich: Co. A, Charles Ackerman,
trans, to Twentieth; Co. F. Albert H. Lawrence; Co. G,Herman Maier,
trans, to Twentieth. Yarmouth: Co. A, George Brown; Co. D, Wil-
liam Finch, died March, '64; Co. F, Richard Layton, trans, to navy;
Co. I, Charles W. Bean, William M. Triscott, trans, to Twentieth;
Co. K, Oscar S. Perry, trans, to Twentieth. Provincetown: Co. A,
William Bruce; Co. C, Peter Donnelly. Sandivich: Co. A, Wil-
liam R. Bryne; Co. C, John Donaldson; Co. H, Charles Raphael,
trans, to Twentieth; Co. K, John Warner, trans, to navy; unassigned,
John McCully, trans, to Twentieth. Eastham: Co. B, Henry Contz.
Dennis;: Co.C, Charles Campbell; Co. G, Patrick Murphy. Orleans: Co.
C, John H. Cowan, died from wounds May, '64. Chatham: Co. C, Peter
Dawson, trans, to Twentieth; Co. K, William Tell, to Twentieth.
Barnstable: Co. C, George S. Demier. Falmouth: Co. C, John H.
Diamond, trans, to Twentieth; Co. E, Charles Hubbard. Wellfleet:
Co. F, Henry Mack; unassigned, James McCauley.
• Sixteenth Regiment, \^Q^.— Provincetown: Co. D, James Dunn.
Dennis: Co. D, Thomas Swaney. Wellfleet: Co. I, Michael Jeff, died at
Andersonville, Oct., '64.
Seventeenth Regiment, 1864. — Harwich: Co. A, Jeremiah B. Hill;
Co. C, Lewis J. Morrill. Falmouth: Co. F, John Zahn. Provincetown:
Co. G, Orrin L. Torger. Breivster: Co. H. John Wall.
Eighteenth Regiment, \9,^%.— Orleans: Co. A, Michael Riley; Co.
K, James W. Gates, trans, to Thirty-second. Barristable: Co. B, Frank
Curtis. Truro: Co. B, Joseph Sullivan. Sandwich: Co. C, Persia B.
Hammond. Dennis: Co. D, Richard Williams, trans, to Thirty-second.
Provincetown: Co. G, Julius Shall, trans, to Thirty-second. Chatham:
Co. H, Charles H. Lyman. Brewster: Co. K, John Flaherty; unas-
signed, William Holland.
Nineteenth Regiment, 1861-1864.— Co. A, J. Frederick Aytoun,
sergeant. Provincctoivn: Co. A, John T. Small, 1st lieut.; Co. D,
William McDougal; Co. H. Edward Gallagher, Augfust Mengin.
Wellfleet: Co. C, Joseph Fry, to Twentieth; Co. E, James M. Harrison,
trans, to Twentieth; Co. F. Charles Leverence; Co. H, John Newer,
100 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
trans, to Twentieth. Truro: Co. A, Charles A. Brown, trans, to Twen'
tieth; Co. F, John Mack, trans, to Twentieth. Barnstable: Co. A,
Daniel Burns, trans, to Twentieth; Co. E, Frederick Jackson, Robert
P. Pike, killed Feb., '65; Co. F, Thomas Maher, corp.; Frank Lopez,
trans, to Twentieth; Edward Mulally, V. R. C; Co. H, John Boing.
unassigned, Patrick O'Neill, trans, to Twentieth; Charles Wilson.
Brewster: Co. A, Michael S. Burke, trans, to Twentieth; Robert A.
Johnston, died at Andersonville, Aug., '64; Co. E, Howard Lee; Co.
G, James Henry; Co. \, Charles H. Porter, William Smith, Edward
A. Ballou. Sandwich: Co. A, George Collins, trans, to Twentieth; Co.
B, Edward A. Dillon, corp., trans, to Twentieth. Dennis: Co. A, Charles
Trapp, trans, to Twentieth; Co. B, William Dow; Co. C, James T.
Beleer, George B. Bradley, Thomas A. Dow, trans, to Twentieth; Co.
K, Michael Smith; unassigned, Thomas O'Connor. Harxvich: Co.
B, William McGinnis; Co. D, Charles Ferguson, trans, to Twentieth;
Co. E, John McAnally; Co. F, Philip Morton, trans, to Twentieth; Co.
G, John McCue; unassigned, Henry Edwards, Edmund Graham. Chat-
ham: Co; C, William Barnes, trans, to Twentieth; Tanjoure Trelawney,
Simeon Tuttle; Co. F, John Anderson; Co. I, James Riley; unassigned,
John Tuttle. Falmouth: Co. D, William Hamilton, trans, to Twen-
tieth; Co. E, Nathan B. Jenkins, died Dec, '63; Co. F, Benjamin E.
Fogg, serg.; William Marshall. Eastham: Co. G, Albert Donavan.
Orleans: Co. E, Bernard Bertrand, Reynolds Montobang, Henry G.
Perry; unassigned, Peter Doland, William Smith. Yarmouth: Co. E,
Patrick Gillespie; unassigned, Charles Burnes, Alexander Howard.
Twentieth Regiment, 1862-1864.— //arze/iVr/t.- Co. A, Martin A. Bum-
pus, George H. Robbins; Co. H, Philip Morton; Co. I, Joseph Wilkin-
son; unassigned, Elbridge Axtell, Henry Taylor. Chatham: Co. A
George Foster; Co. D, William Barnes. Truro: Co. A, William Gib
bon; Co. B, William P. Miller, John Davis, trans, to navy; Co. H, Ed
ward Winslow, died of wounds, Dec, '62; Co. I, Henry Bolminster,
Dennis: Co. A. John Quinland; Co. H, Albert Paflfrath. killed June, '64
Falmouth: Co. A, Adrian Spear; unassigned, James Green. Sandwich:
Co. B, Frank B. Hall, James Harrington; Co. C, George Gatzens; Co,
F, Elisha M. Lord; Co. H, Andrew J. Lane, John McDonald, John
Wood: Co. I, Thomas Hollis, serg.; Benjamin Davis, killed Oct., '61
Thomas Davis, Peter McKenna, Terrence Murphy, V. R. C; Stephen
Weeks, Ezekiel L. Woodward, killed Dec, '62; unassigned, John Grif-
fith, David Kenney, Thomas McCarty, Stephen Semes. Shadrach F.
Swift. Eastham: Co. D, James L. Chalmer. Brewster: Co. D, Charles
H. Denton. Wellfleet: Co. D, Charles Stanwood; Co. F, Edward H.
Freudenberg. Barnstable: Co. E, James B. Wilson, killed May, '64;
Co. F, Robert Williams; Co. H, John Neary, Adolph Otto; Co. K, Wil-
liam Carney; unassigned, John Lang. Yarmouth: Co. K, George
MILITARY HISTORY. 101
Chase. Provincetown: Co. K, Thomas Cunningham. Orleans: Un-
assigned, James W. Bowman, Charles D. Hall, James Healey, Hugh
Quinn, George Ross.
Twenty-second Regiment, 1861-1864.- — Dennis: Co. B, John Fran-
cisco, trans, navy; Peter Martin, to navy; Joseph Ruse, to navy; John
Colfer. Chathatn: Co. C, Timothy Bulkley, trans, to Thirty-second.
Falmouth: Co. C, James H. Lashure. Barnstable: Co. C, Henry McKeon,
trans, to Thirty-second; John Williams, to Thirty-second. Brewster:
Co. C, Richard Ryon, trans, to Thirty-second. Harwich: Co. D, John
Sullivan, to Thirty-second; Co. G, William E. Bliss, to Thirty-second;
Thomas Green, Thomas H. Frampton, died of wounds, June, '64.
Sandwich: Co. K, Franklin R. J. Clark, William F. Clark; Co. E, Ed-
ward W. Holway, to Thirty-second. Truro: Co. E, James Fitzpatrick,
trans, to Thirty-second.
Twenty-third Regiment, \%%\-\%M.—Bar7istable: Co. D, James H.
Ayer. Sandwich: Co. F, Charles Dudley. Brewster: Co. G, Burgess
Bassett, Thaddeus Bassett, Henry Callahan, Isaac Freeman. Chatham:
Co. H, John McCluskey, died at City Point, 1864.
Twenty-fourth Regiment, \mi-'i^QA.— Sandwich: Co. A, Jesse H.
Allen, Benjamin Ewer, John F. Fish, died home Oct., '62; Philip J.
Riley; Co. B, Phineas Gibbs; Co. D, Elisha H. Burgess, corp.; Co. H,
James Dalton. Barnstable: Co. A, Erastus Baker; Co. C, John McFar-
lane; Co. I, Lemuel S. Jones, corp.: James H. Jones, re-enlisted;
Thomas W. Jones, re-enlisted; James Stevens. Dennis: Co. A,William
Page. Falmouth: Co. B, Joseph H. Swift; Co. E, William S. Washburn;
Co. F, Charles H. Roberts. Orleans: Co. C, Lewis Sanacal; Co. F, Al-
fred Knowles, serg., 2d lieut. Fifty-fourth; Clement Gould, Joshua
Gould, died in Boston, '64; Co. K, Bangs Taylor. Harwich: Co. D,
Frank Barnes, George W. Wartrous; same given for Yarmouth; Co.
H, Joseph C. Chase, re-enlisted in '64. Yarmouth: Co. D, Albert Taylor.
Brewster: Co. D, Andrew J. Winn. Truro: Co. F, Jesse Pendergast,
Corp.; Shubael A. Snow. Chatham: Co. G, Albert P. Wilkinson. East-
hatn: Co. K, James W. Smith, died at Newbem, '62. Wellfleet: Co. L
William Cross.
Twenty-sixth Regiment, 1864. — Barnstable: Co. A, John Burke; Co.
G, Humphrey Sullivan, corp. Provincetown: Co. K, Joseph Prestello,
re-enlisted and killed at Winchester; Joseph Fowler, William Frazer.
Brewster: Co. G, William Borden, died at New Orleans.
Twenty-eighth Regiment, 1864. — Sandwich: In band, Michael Ball;
Co. B, George Waltern; Co. C, John McCabe, Thomas Wheeler, killed
at Bull Run; Co. D, Louis P. Paganuzzi, Bernard Woods; Co. H, John
Score, died of wounds; Charles Bolton, to navy; unassigned, Marcena
Ernest, Cheserg Jean, Thomas McMar-as. Falmouth: Co. A, Adolph
Arm, died in prison Nov., '64; Co. D, James Green, John Higgins.
102 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Brewster: Co. A, Abraham Berry, Benjamin Henshaw. to navy; John
Schules, to navy. Eastham: Co. A, Otto Brown; Co. G, Charles O'Toole,
killed at Spottsylvania, '64; John Lester. Dennis: Co. A, Henry Clark,
Edward Lunt, wounded; Co. C, William H. Branch; Co. D, Daniel
McDonald, William B. Riber; Co. E, Robert Lynch; Co. L Martin
Schwytz; unassigned, Thomas Burnie, John Swanson, to navy. Har-
wich: Co. B, Thomas Campbell, killed at Locust Grove, '64. Barnsta-
ble: Co. C, Ezra C. Baker; Co. F, Charles Miller. Truro: Co. D, Andrew
Jemmson, trans. V. R.C. Yarmouth: Co. E, Michael Collins. Orleans:
Michael O'Mara. Wellfleet: Unassigned, Charles S. Hurd, L. G. Pet-
erson, sent to navy; Pierre St. Souver.
Twenty-ninth Regiment, \^^\-\%M.—Sand%vick: Charles Chipman,
as captain, and made major, died of wounds, Aug., '64; Charles Brady
as lieut., and made captain; Henry A. Kern, and James H. Atherton,
2d lieuts.; Joseph J.C. Madigan, 1st lieut.; Thomas F. Darby, 2d lieut.;
George E. Crocker, mus.; Co. A, Albert N. Morin, serg.; Co. D. David
A. Hoxie, serg.; Edward Brady, serg.; William H. Woodward, serg.;
William Breese, corp.; George F. Bruce, corp., hos. steward; Benjamin
H. Hamblin, corp.; Christopher B. Dalton, mus.; George W. Badger,
G. A. Badger, James Ball, re-enlisted; Frank G. Bumpus, John
Campbell, Alfred Cheval, Patrick C. Clancy, John T. Collins, pro-
moted; James Cook; James Cox, Timothy Dean, Warren F. Dean,
Edward Donnelly, Joseph W. Eaton, Perez Eldredge, re-enlisted;
John Fagan, Benjamin Fuller, James Guiney, James G. B. Hayes, died
home July, '62; Allen P. Hathaway, Charles Harkins. Samuel N. Has-
kins, James H. Heald, died at Annapolis, Oct., '62; Michael Heslin,
Charles H. Hoxie, Zenas H. Hoxie, Samuel W. Hunt, Charles E. Jones,
accidentally killed Feb., '62; Martin L. Kern, jr., Patrick Long, died;
John McAlney, William McDermott, Patrick McElroy, Michael
McKenna, Peter McNulty, Isaac H. Phinney, Caleb T. Robbins, Peter
Russell, Philip Russell, William J. Smith, Freeman C. Swift, Joseph
Turner, James Ward, killed May, '64; John Weeks, died at Newport
News, '62; Francis Woods, James H. Woods, John Woods, William
H. Woods, died at Newport News, Jan., '62; Charles S. Wright; Co. G,
W. H. Perry, re-enlisted '64; Co. H, John Fogg. Eastham: Co. B,
Reuben Smith. Brewster: Co. C, Bernard Corkery, corp. Barnstable:
Co. D, David B. Coleman, corp.; Nathaniel C. Ford, David A. Hoxie.
Co._H, Henry A. Glines, killed at Petersburg, Sept., '64. Truro: Co. F,
Alfred Lunda. Dennis: Co. G, John Easey. Yarmouth: Thomas
Evans.
Thirtieth Regiment, \m\-\mA.—Bar?istable: Co. I, Hiram B.Ellis,
serg.; Jonathan Burt, corp., died at Baton Rouge, June, '62; Thomas
Taylor, re-enlisted. Falmouth:- Co. A, Braddock R. Chase, died at Ship
Island, May, '62. Brezvster: Co. B, Addison F. Brown. Provincetown:
. MILITARY HISTORY. 103
Co. F, Timothy Sweeney. Chatham: Unassigned, Enoch Hanson, Ed-
ward Hewitt. Harwich: Co. K, Ira Nickersqn, in the Thirty-first.
Thirty-second Regiment, 1861-1864.— 7>«r^.- Co. A, Elkanah Paine,
Corp.; Co. H, Anderson Rivers. Provincetown: Co. A, Henry Foster,
died in Virginia, Dec, '63. Wellfleet: Co. B, Geovanni M. Podesta; Co.
C, William W. Smith. Harwich: Co. D, Michael Barry; Co. G, James
Brannan; Co. H, Augustine Phillips; Co. M, William E. Bills. Yar-
?nouth: Co. D, Hezekiah Corliss; Co. I, John Toole. Orleans: Co. D,
Carl. A. A. Forde, Andrew Thompson. Dennis: Co. D, David Nicker-
son; Co. I, Charles Makill, William Branch, trans, to Twenty-eighth.
Barnstable: Co. H, George Brown. Chathatn: Co. I, Henry Bridge.
Thirty-third Regiment, 1862-1864.— C/^rt/^zw.- Co. A, William
White; Co. F, William Taylor. Provincetown: Co. A, Matthew Cava-
naugh. Dennis: Co. C, Henry H. Fish. Wellfleet: Co. E, James How-
ard, Edward Quinlan; Co. G, William Anderson, trans, to Second; Co.
I, Thomas Smith; unassigned, James Moran. Brewster: Co. I, John J.
Ryder, corp.; Alfred J. Twiss, trans. Orleans: Co. I, Thadeus C. Baker,
Corp.; Bangs S. Baker, Thomas Clark, Thomas Dolan, John M. Hamil-
ton, Thomas J. Monticello, James E. Studley, died at Alexandria,
March, '64. Eastham: Co. I, Nathan A. Gill, Peter Higgins, Henry T.
Morrison, died of wounds May, '64; Francis W. Penniman, died of
wounds July, '64. Sandwich: Co. I, William P. Kelley, wounded. Fal-
mouth: Co. K, Alvin N. Fisher, died wounds May, '64; Rufus F. Fisher,
killed at Lxjokout Mountain, Oct. '63. Harwich: Co. K, John C. Mum-
ford.
Thirty-fifth Regiment, \m2-\BQi:.— Harwich: George N. Munsell,
asst. surg; Co. A, Jeremiah Heylingburg, Gilman Hook Brewster:
Co. A, Hiram L. Eastman; Co. C, Bernard Corkery, transferred to
Twenty-ninth. Barnstable: Co. C, Andrew B. Gardner. Chatham: Co.
D, James Hambly, trans, to Twenty-ninth. Sandwich: John Mc-
Namara. Henry White of Falmouth was in the Thirty-sixth Regi-
ment.
Thirty-eighth Regiment, 1864. — Falmouth: Elijah Swift, 1st lieut.;
James M. Davies, com. serg.; Co. H, James N. Parker, serg.; William
H. BoUes, Corp.; William E. Davis, corp.; Benjamin L. McLane, corp.;
Reuben E. Phinney, corp.; George W. Swift, corp.; James H. Baker,
Silas R. Baker, Joseph A. Chadwick, Joseph B. Crocker, Andrew W.
Davis, Henry O. Davis, James M. Davis, trans, to non-com. staflF; John
W. Davis, Leonard Doty, Timothy F. Doty, Cornelius B. Fish, George
W. Fish, 2d, died Aug., '63; Jehiel Fish, died June, '63; Perry W. Fish,
Augustus E. Fisher, died of wounds, June, '63; Robert Grew, Charles
E, Hamblin, Bartlett Holmes, jr., Ezra S. Jones, died; Horace E. Lewis,
died; Walter T. Nye, died. Brewster: Co. E, James K. Ewer, jr.,
trans, to Fortieth. Wellfleet: Patrick O'Neil, died 1864. Sandwich:
Co. H, Naaman H. Dillingham, corp.
104 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Thirty-ninth Regiment, 1862. — Chatham: Edward Beecher French,
chap.; Co. A.Alvah Ryder, corp.; Benjamin Batchelder, wag., V. R. C;
J. N. Bloomer, Prince Eldridge, jr., Jas. Blanvelt, Daniel W. Ellis,
William A. Gould, Nathaniel Smith, Eric M. Snow. Harwich: Co. A,
Asa L. Jones, serg., trans, as lieut. to U.S. C. T.; Henry Smalley, Wil-
liam Field, Thomas E. Small. Barnstable: Unassigned, George W.
Grifl&ns. Truro: Frank Oakley.
Fortieth Regiment, \QQ2.— Barnstable: Joseph M. Day, capt., pro.
to major; James N. Howland, 2d lieut.; Co. E, Noah Bradford, 1st
serg.; William C. Gififord, serg.; Henry Goodspeed, trans, to V. R. C;
Eben N. Baker, corp.; Edwin W. Bearse, corp.; Cyrus B. Fish, corp.;
William D. Holmes, corp.; John P. Lothrop, corp.; Charles O. Adams,
Josiah A. Ames, Abijah Baker, Benjamin T. Baker, Obed A. Cahoon,
died at Beaufort, Nov., '63; Reuben F. Childs, Rudolphus E. Childs,
James Clagg, Charles W. Crocker, Isaac Crocker, William Dixon,
Melville O. Dottridge, Lorenzo C. Drury, Alvin B. Felker, George G.
Hallett, Joseph H. Holway, William P. Holmes, V. R. C; Edward
Hoxie, Philip Hughes, Leander .W. Jones, Stephen M. Jones, Wil-
liam S. Lambert, Milton J. Loring, Howard M. Lovell, Henry N. Ly-
ons, James Marchant, to V. R. C; Gilbert C. Nickerson, Winsor Nick-
erson, Solomon Otis, killed at Drury 's Bluff, May, '64; Samuel B. Otis,
died at Beaufort, Nov., '63; George Paine, Nathan A. Pitcher, died at
Folly Island, Nov., '63; John Q. A. Richardson, John G. Scobie, V. R. C.
Joseph C. Scudder, Harry A. Smith, V. R. C; James H. West, V. R. C;
John M. West, Artemas B. Young. Yartnouth: Co. A, Roland Lewis,
Corp.; J. C. Desilver. Co. E, John E. Young, corp.; Salmon C. Baker,
Freeman S. Cash, Charles H. Chase, Asa F. Crocker, V. R. C; David
Crowell, Timothy Foley, William G. Harrington, Benjamin H.
Matthews, George W. Ryder. Dennis: Co. A, Kelley Chase, jr., died at
Portsmouth, Oct., '64; Cyrus Hall, Enoch F. Hall, Russell S. Hall,
John G. Raynor. Brewster: Co. A, Edmund Crosby, died at Ander-
sonville, Sept., '64. Harwich: Co. A, Jonathan Gifford, died at Ander-
sonville, Aug., '64. Co. B, Charles Butler, Danford H. Chase, V. R. C;
James Dunn, V. R. C. Sandwich: Co. I, Patrick McMahan, serg.;
Abraham Healey, corp.; Barzilla Manamon, corp.; Nathan C. Perry,
Corp.; Rodman Avery, Watson Avery, died at Miner's Hill, Sept., '62;
Henry B. Baker, Thomas Ball, Luke P. Burbank, Benjamin F. Cham-
berlin, Abner Ellis, Charles E. Ellis, Nathaniel L. Ellis, died at Phil.,
July, '64; Thomas Ellis, died at Petersburg, Aug., '64.; Luther T.Ham-
mond, died at Beaufort, Dec, '63; James Harlow, James Hathaway,
V. R. C: John Huddy, John F. Johnson, Daniel V. Kern, Edward J.
Lawrence, died at Folly Island, Nov., '63; Ensign Lincoln, Charles H.
Little, George F. Lloyd, David Magoon, V. R. C; Seth T. Manamon,
William Manley, David Perry, jr., Henry Perry, John M. Perry, Sam-
MILITARY HISTORY. 105
uel Sampson, Charles E. Swift, Clark Swift, Dean W. Swift, died of
wounds; Francis H. Swift, Williata H. Swift, Willard Weeks, died at
Fortress Monroe, Jan., "64; Samuel J. Wood, died at Petersburg,
Aug., '64.
Fifty-fourth Regiment, 1863, \BQA.— Falmouth.— Co. B, Robert H.
Hurdle, died at Morris Island, May, '64; Co. H, Alfred F. Scott, died
at Beaufort, Feb., '64; Co. G, Peter Smith, trans, to Fifty-fifth. Barn-
stable: Co. D, Charles L. Ellis. Harwich: Co. E, William Broadwater.
Sandwich: Co. H, George H. Clark. Provincetown: Joseph Crooks,
trans, to Fifty-fifth. Eastham: Co. I, John A. Green, trans, to Fifty-
fifth.
Fifty-sixth Regiment, \B,M.— Yarmouth: Co. A, Albert Moran, died
of wounds received May, '64. Provincetown: Co. A, James G. Stone.
Co. E, James Drury, died at Millen, Ga. Co. F. John Hughes, corp.
Co. G, Charles Williams; Co. H, Jesse Freeman, jr., serg.; Thomas V.
Mullen, Corp.; Samuel G. Smith, corp.; Freeman A. Smith, mus.;
Michael Bennett. Charles W. Burkett, William H. Hammond, Solomon
R. Higgins, died at home, March, '64; John W. Hoben, killed Weldon
R. R., Sept., '64; Robert T. Hooten, Nathan S. Hudson, Joseph King,
died at Salisbury, Nov., '64; John C. Lunton, killed at Petersburg,
July, '64; William Mcintosh, Michael A. Parker, Samuel Pettis,
Reuben W. Rich, Taylor Small, jr., died at Danville, Va., Feb., '66;
John R. Smith, John E. Smith, died at Philadelphia, June, "64; Wil-
liam Soule, Eliphalet H. Weldon. Eastham: Co. C, George Broche;
Co. D, Stephen T. Foster, Henry H. West. Barnstable: Co. D, George
W. Childs, died of wounds, June, '64; William A. McLeod, John A.
Nicholson, died of wounds. May, '64; Co. H, John S. Lunt; Co. I,
Charles E. Miller, Emil Tellburn, killed at Petersburg, July, '64.
Wellfleet: Co. F, Charles Schmidt. Truro: Co. G, John Carroll, serg.;
Jacob Rock. Demiis: Co. G, Ansel Edmondson, corp.; William Gay,
Charles Girard, John J. Mahoney, Addington Miall, Co. H, Hugh
Riley; Co. I, John Artemas. Brewster: Co. G, John Broady. Sand-
wich: Co. K, John Murphy, died at home, March, '64. Falmouth: Co.
H., John Davis, corp.; William Bates, to V. R. C; Edward Harris,
James Hilton.
Fifty-eighth Regiment, 1864.— C/zaMaw.- Charles M. Upham, 2d
lieut., pro. capt., killed Cold Harbor, June, '64; William H. Harley,2d
lieut., pro. capt., killed Spottsylvania, May, '64; Co. H, Horatio F.
Lewis, 2d lieut.; Franklin D. Hammond, 2d lieut., killed at Petersburg,
June, '64; Co. A, Nathaniel B.Smith, serg., killed at Cold Harbor, June,
'64; Francis Armstrong, serg., died of wounds June, '64; Pliny F. Free-
man, serg.; George W. Hamilton, serg.; Samuel Hawes, jr., serg.;
Aaron W. Snow, serg.; Charles B. Bearse, John Bolton, killed at Cold
Harbor, June, '64; J-oshua H. Chase, Zabina Dill, died at Anderson-
106 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ville, Aug., '64; Nathan Eldridge, killed at Spottsylvania, May, '64;
Washington A. Eldridge, Stephen Ellis, Harrison F. Gould, Josiah F.
Hardy, Samuel Harding, Seth T. Howes, killed at Wilderness, May,
'64; Charles Johnson, Henry W. Mallows, Charles Mullett, Edwin S.
Nickerson, Benjamin F. Pease, Bridgeman T. Small, Albert E. Snow,
V. R. C; Zenas M. Snow, David G. Young, died in Virginia, May, '64.
Provincetown: Albion M. Dudley, pro. capt.; Co. A, Jeremiah Bennett,
killed at Cold Harbor, June, '64; Co. I, Albion N. Dudley. Harwich:
Co. A, Heman Chase, jr., 1st lieut.; S. B. N. Baker, made 1st lieut.
July, '65; Nathan Downey, 2d lieut.; David Kendrick, pro. lieut.
July, '65; Co. A, Charles W. Hamilton, Isaac L. Kendrick, David P.
Ryder, corp.; Albert F. Allen, Benjamin Bassett, Benjamin F. Bassett,
died of wounds June, '64; W. H. H. Bassett, died at Danville, Jan., '66;
George G. Burgess, Simeon Cahoon,died of wounds July, '64; Thomas
G. Cahoon, Elijah Chase, Francis L. Doane, was pri.soner; Solomon N.
Doane, died at Andersonville, Aug., '64; Alpheus Eldridge, died of
wounds June, '64; Cyrus Ellis, 2d; Moses A. Handy, pris.; Jahiel Jor-
don, died at David's Island, June, '64; Daniel Lenihan, Charles W.
Nickerson, George W. Nickerson, Warren Phillips, jr., Charles A. Rob-
bins, Ezra B. Ryder, Antonio Silver, Asa Simmons, Ebenezer Smalley,
died of wounds at home July, '64; Stephen Smith, wounded; George
S. Studley, Charles Tuttle, John B, Tuttle; Co. C, Everett W. Doane,
killed at Petersburg, April, '65; Moses Doane; Co. E, Jerry Slattery,
killed at Petersburg, April, '65; Co.G,HoraceB.Chase,corp.; Co. H, Wins-
low Baker, died at Salisbury, Dec, '64; Joseph Barstow, Henry Brown,
Joshua R. Burgess, died at Salisbury, Jan., '65; Francis S. Cahoon, Ed-
ward C. Chase, Isaiah Chase, 2d, died at Alexandria, June, '65; Thomas
B. Chase, Alvah B. Crabbe, died at Washington, June, '64; James B.
Doane, V. R. C; Alvan L. Drown, died at home Sept., '64; Jonathan
Small, Seth B. Wixon; Co. I, Joseph Loveland; Co. K, Edward Pender,
Alexander Purington; unassigned, Andrew Dolan. Barnstable: Co. K,
Henry C. Blossom, 1st lieut.; Co. A, James R. Blagdon, died of wounds
in Virginia, June, '64; George W. Cathcart, Charles G. Cook, died at
Andersonville, Feb., '65; Eliphalet Doane, killed Petersburg, June, '64;
Ebenezer Eldridge, killed at Spottsylvania, May, '64; Allen Marchant;
Co. C,W. N. Baxter, James Woodman; Co. D,William A. McDonald; Co.
E, Thomas Coleman, jr.; Co. H, James Pendergrass, died at Salisbury,
Dec, '64; Timothy Robbins, died at Salisbury, Dec, '64. Orleans: Co.
A, Samuel H. Everett, corp.; Co. F, Charles Clark; Co. H, Benjamin
Taylor; unassigned, William D. Miles. Bre-wster: Co. A, Samuel F.
Rogers, corp.; J. N. Allen, Barnabas G. Baker, died at Baltimore, March,
'65; George S. Eldridge, Samuel Maker, died at Fredericksburg, May,
'64; Reuben W. Ellis, Alonzo Rogers, jr.; Co. E, Lewis McClellan; Co.
G, Benjamin F. Wixon, died at Spottsylvania, May, '64. Yarmouth:
MILITARY HISTORY. 107
Co. A, James P. Atkins, killed at Cold Harbor, June, '64; Co. D, Walter
Hannaford, V. R.C.; Co. F, Samuel V. Bruen, George King, John V.
Seyton, Patrick Sullivan, George Thomas. Dennis: Co. A.John S.
Chase, Stephen R. Howes, died at Washington, June, '64; Salas N.
Kelley, Ansel L. Studley, died at home, Oct., '64; Co. F, Henry V.
Lord; Co. H, Freeman Hall, Amos C. Ryder, died of wounds
June, '64; Co. H, Amos F. Wixon, killed at Cold Harbor, June, '64;
Truro: Co. A, Enoch S. Hamilton, John L. D. Hopkins, died in Salis-
bury, Feb., '65; Benjamin K. Lombard, died at Andersonville, July,
'64; John C. Ryder, John Wilson. Eastham: Samuel Nickerson, jr.,
killed at Petersburg, Jan., '65; William Willis; unassigned, John
Brown, Edward Foss. Sandivick: Co. A, Timothy Taylor, John W.
Tinkman; Co. C, Roland G. Holway, died at Washington, Aug., '64;
Co. F, John Peterson; Co. H, Samuel W. Marvel, serg., died at Salis-
bury, Dec, '64; Co. K, John Leary. Wellfleet: Co. E, William Brown,
2d. James Gill.
Fifty-ninth Regiment, W,M.~Wellfleet: Co. C, Frank Leonard, Alex-
ander McDonald. Falmouth: Co. D, Edward McCarter, James Mc-
Carroll; Co. E, D.W. Mace. Yarmouth: Co. F, Morris Lewis; Co. G, Jean
M. Harmon, killed at Wilderness, May, '64. Sandwich: Co. F, Moses
Gerrom, John Hoffman, Charles Rheinhardt, Herman J. Smith, trans,
to Fifty-seventh. Orleans: Co. F, John Magee. Dennis: Garland S.
Seward, trans, to Fifty-seventh.
Veteran Reserve Corps, mustered in 1864. — Harwich: Josiah Ar-
mington, Robert Hanwell, William Harris, Charles Lang. Chatham:
Leroy Aumock, Michael Bourke, Henry Buschman, Edward Carey,
Edward G. Hall, William Hatfield, James McBride. William McDer-
mott, John Powers, Samuel Swartwout. Provincetown: Edward Bal-
lard, M. P. Brady, Joseph Brigham, William H. Isaac, William Laugh-
lin, Patrick McCarty, Alexander Meek, M. D., Henry A. Packard, Car-
los Guinn, George K. Richards, John T. Smith, James D. Vaughan.
Falmouth: Charles Broukee, James Daly, John Kennigh, George W.
Ryerson, Persaville W. Williams. Brewster: Michael Considine, Otis
Hemenway, Franklyn B. Murphy. Orleans: Matthew Delaney, James
Eagan, Daniel Finn, M. McDonald, E. G. Tuttle. Sandwich: George
W. Derby, D. J. O'Neil. Dennis: William Fink, Patrick McKeyes,
Lewis Rowland. Wellfleet: John J. Malone, V. A. Pickering, William
Schulter. Yarmouth: Patrick Sheridan. Eastham: Erastus Walker.
Regular Army mustered in 1864. — Sandwich: Addison H. Cutting,
into Nineteenth Infantry; William H. Wright, into sigfnal corps.
Brewster: Henry Hart, into engineer corps. Eastham: James Hennes-
sey, signal corps. Falmouth: John Manning, Third Art. Harwich:
Newell H. Miles, Eleventh Infantry.
The town of Barnstable is having made a careful manuscript
108 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
record of her soldiers, for preservation in her town archives. The
compiling, entrusted to Gustavus A. Hinckley, is to be finished in
1890. Other towns have revised their soldier lists since the publica-
tion of the adjutant general's report on which this chapter is based.
Besides those soldiers above mentioned the Fourth Regiment had
Neil Mcintosh, of Dennis, and James Colvin, of Harwich; the Seven-
teenth had William Fay and Frank Varnum; the Nineteenth had
Charles Davis, William Miles and Conrad Wilson; and in the Twen-
tieth, John H. Dimon was in Co. E; William Marshall was in Co. F;
John McCawley was in Co. G; and John McDonald in Co. H.
We have purposely omitted the records of desertions which the
official reports contain. They were largely from among the substi-
tutes enlisted from non-residents of the county.
In 1865, after the close of the war, the survivors of this body of
patriots returned to their homes and were received with every demon-
stration of honor and thankfulness. The ex-soldiers have continued
the memories and friendships of the war by the establishment of
Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic at Sandwich, South Chat-
ham, and Provincetown, to which the veterans of the surrounding
towns belong. These organizations are more fully mentioned in the
histories of the villages where located.
In grateful remembrance of fallen heroes, five towns have erected
monuments to their memory, Barnstable having the most elaborate.
It was erected at Centreville, dedicated July 4, 1866, being the first in
the state in point of time. Its cost was $1,050, the site being donated
by F. G. Kelley, and the beautifully proportioned pile of Concord
granite bids fair to stand forever. Upon the four faces of the shaft the
name, age and date of death of each of Barnstable's soldiers are deeply
carved — on the north, Thomas Coleman, jr., Enoch Crocker, Eliphalet
Doane, Ebenezer Eldridge, Josiah C. Fish, Cyrus B. Fish, Alfred C. Phin-
ney, and Shubael Linnell; on the west the names of Timothy Robbins,
Joseph C. Scudder, Martin S. Tinkum, Aaron H. Young and Nathan
F. Winslow. On this west face are also the names of James C. Crocker
and Anthony Chase of the navy. The south contains the names of
William L. Lumbert, Allen Marchant, Solomon Otis. Samuel B. Otis,
James Pendergrass, Albro W. Phinney, Nathan A. Pitcher, Andrew
P. Cobb and James A. Hathaway; and on the east face are those of
Clarence W. Bassett, George H. Bearse, James R. Blagden, Charles G.
Cook, Simeon C. Childs, Job F. Childs, Obed A. Cahoon and Horace
L. Crocker. The grounds around this monument are beautifully laid
out and well kept.
The people of Chatham have indicated their gratitude by the erec-
tion of a shaft on the corner of Main and Sea View streets. The deeply
engraved inscription, "Erected by the town to those who fell 1861-1865,"
MILITARY HISTORY. 109
surmounts the column, and on the east side are the names of Captain
Charles M. Upham, Lieutenant Franklin D. Hammond, David G.
Young, Benjamin F. Bassett, Zebina H. Dill, and Edwin S. Nickerson.
The west face bears the names of Captain William H. Harley, Ser-
geant Nathaniel B. Smith, Sergeant Francis M. Armstrong, Seth T.
Howes, Nathan Eldridge, John Bolton, and James Blauvelt.
Orleans, a few years after the war, erected on the square opposite
the town house a fine shaft surmounted by the life-size figure of a
soldier at parade rest. On the north face of the monument are the
names of James E. Studley, John M. Cowan, Joseph Moody, and Lewis
Eldridge; and on the south, Isaac Y. Smith, Joshua Gould, Freeman
A. Sherman and John W. Walker.
In 1866 the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society, assisted by the subscribers
to the war fund, erected a monument at Wellfleet in the burial ground
at the head of Duck creek. Upon the south square of the main shaft
are the names of William A. Holbrook, Daniel M. Hall, and Charles
R. Morrill; and on the north the names of those who died in the naval
service — Levi Y. Wiley, John Y. Cole, John D. Langley, and John N.
Langley. The monument, surrounded by an iron fence, stands adja-
cent to the highway.
Provincetown, at a cost of about $2,800, erected a fine monument
to the memory of her soldiers. The face bears this inscription:
Erected by the Town of Provincetown in 1867 m oratitcde to the memory
OF the fallen who sacrificed their lives to save their codntry during the
QREAT Rebellion of 1861-1885.
The right face has this inscription:
ARMY.
Thomas J. Gibbons.
GEOROt LOCKWOOD.
Henry A. Smith.
George E. Crocker.
Jeremiah Bennett.
Elkamah Smith.
Taylor Small, Jr.
John G. Lurten.
John W. Bobbins.
John R. Smith.
Solomon R. Hiogins.
Joseph King.
The inscription on the left face is:
NAVY.
JosiAH C. Freeman.
Samuel T. Paine.
William E. Tupper.
William H. Chipilan.
Asa a. Franken.
CHAPTER VIII.
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION.
By Hon. Charles F. Swift.
Packet Lines. — Mail Routes and Stage Coaches. — Railroads. — Ebcpress Lines. — Telegraph
and Cable Lines. — The Telephone Service.
THE methods of communication with the great centers of business
and intelligence serve to mark the progress of modern civiliza-
tion in a community. Travel on foot or on horseback between
the Cape and Plymouth, or Boston, was the primitive method when
such travel was imperative; but owing to the rude state of the roads,
the frequent necessity of fording streams, and the poorly constructed
bridges, this method of communication was resorted to only in cases
of extreme urgency. How great was the burden may be inferred from
the vote of the town of Yarmouth in 1701, when Mr. John Miller, the
representative elect to the general court, was allowed two extra days
to go and return, " in consequence of his age and the greatness of the
journey." The water, under such circumstances, was the element
which offered the greatest inducements to travellers on the score of
comfort and speed, if not for perfect reliability. Though advantage
was usually taken of transient vessels to procure passage to and from
Boston, it does not seem probable that regular lines, running on fixed
and stated days, were established much if any before the beginning of
the present century; and it was thirty or forty years more before the
business assumed anything like the proportions which it arrived at a
few years prior to the establishment of railroad communications. It
was probably somewhat later when stage coaches came into vogue,
and they, too, had to give way to the all-conquering steam cars.
The mode of travel by the packets was much better adapted to the
promotion of sociability and the cultivation of acquaintanceship than
our present rapid transit by rail. With twenty -five to fifty persons
crowded into the cabins and upon the decks of a small schooner, as
was often the case, there was frequent occasion to exercise the graces
of courtesy, self-forgetfulness and consideration for the convenience
of others. Men and women, thrown together under such circum-
stances, soon became sociable and communicative. All sorts of topics
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. Ill
were discussed, from original sin to the price of codfish. Experiences
were related and results compared. When these resources were ex-
hausted recourse was had to amusements, and not unfrequently the
younger and less rigid of the passengers would perhaps resort to a
game of checkers, or a quiet game of " old sledge," down in the hold
or the forecastle. Travel by packet was a great leveler of social dis-
tinctions — the squire, the village storekeeper, the minister or the
doctor being constrained to take up with the same fare as their more
humble neighbors, upon whom they were obliged to depend for some
degree of deference or courtesy. On the other hand, these important
personages often felt impelled to exercise a degree of condescension
to those with whom they were thrown in such intimate relations. A
good steward was a great acquisition to a packet, as much dependence
was placed by all who were not seasick upon the refreshments served
to the passengers. It is well known that a sea trip is a great sharp-
ener of the appetites of such as have any appetite at all, and it seems
almost incredible, in view of the gastronomic feats accomplished on
some of these trips, that a living business could be carried on under
such conditions for twenty-five cents per meal.
Great was the excitement on land when the packet was signaled in
the offing or back of the bar. The shores were swarmed long before
her arrival, the wharf was crowded, and scores of expert hands were
ready to catch the warp as it was tossed ashore from the approaching
vessel. Then came eager inquiries for " the news," and an exchange
of greetings between reunited friends, or words of regret because of
the non-arrival of others. In those days scores of men from the Cape
villages sailed from Boston, and this was the usual way of reaching
home after their return from voyages abroad. The passengers landed
and order restored on the cluttered decks, bulk was broken and the
freight briskly passed ashore. There were innumerable barrels, hogs-
heads, boxes, sides of beef, carcasses of mutton or pork, and jugs in
infinite variety, and not all of them filled with vinegar or molasses.
From the summits of the highest hills signals had been hoisted on
stafi^s to apprise the people on the south side that the packet was in.
Ample notice was given in the same way of her intended departure.
There was a good deal of rivalry between these vessels in the matter
of speed. The Barnstable, Yarmouth and Dennis packets, and those
from the towns below, used to put forth their best efforts to make the
quickest trips, and the regattas of modern times were anticipated by
these rival packet craft. A good many five dollar bills changed hands
on some of these occasions between the betting friends of the differ-
ent vessels. Commencing on the bay side — because that was the
scene of the greater portion of their achievements — and at Sandwich
— by reason of its being the oldest town in the county — it will be a
112 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
matter of general interest to trace the development, growth and ulti-
mate abandonment of the two channels of communication — the packet
and the stage coach.
Sandwich. — The first packet between Sandwich and Boston, of
which there is any data existing, was the Charming Betty, a sloop of
forty-five tons, built in 1717 by Thomas Bourne, and purchased by
Simeon Dillingham. Other packets, we know by tradition, plied be-
tween these ports, but their names have not been preserved. About
1825 the sloops Polly, Captain Roland Gibbs, and Splendid, Captain
Sewall Fessenden, were on this route, and Captain Charles Nye run
the Charles, which was built on the shore below the present town
house. Deming Jarves afterwards built, just below the glass works,
the sloop Sandwich (which was perhaps the first regular passenger
packet), also commanded by Captain Charles Nye. The Henry Clay,
built by Hinckley Brothers at West Sandwich in 1831-2, was com-
manded by Captain George Atkins. The sloop Sarah, commanded by
Calvin Fish, ran from the village with wood and passengers, and be-
tween these last two there was a sharp rivalry. The village people,
not satisfied with the sailing qualities of the Sarah, purchased the
schooner Nancy Finley, and the competition continued. About 1840
the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company purchased the schooner
Sarah, a fleet craft, also commanded by Captain Atkins. The village
people tried again, and bought the schooner Cabinet; Captain Roland
Gibbs commanded her, and afterward the sloop Osceola, a fast sailer.
The packeting business was in its glory just before the advent of
steam cars, in 1848. Competition was brisk and rates were cut from
one dollar to twenty-five cents per trip. Afterthe opening of the rail-
road the business began to decline. Captain Sears left the line and
took command of a brig in the freighting business. The Glass Com-
pany also took off its packet. The Wm. G. Eddie, Captain Stephen
Sears, ran" a few months, but was not remunerative. Early in the
fifties, Mr. Jarves had a disagreement with the railroad company as
to the rates of freight, and in conversation with Mr. Bourne, the super-
intendent, threatened to put a steamer on the route between the Cape
and Sandwich. Mr. Bourne, it is stated, remarked that " the acorn was
not yet planted to grow the timber for such a steamer." But the
steamer was built, and remembering the conversation, Mr. Jarves
named her the Acorn. She ran a few years, and was commanded by
Captain Roland Gibbs. But both steam and sailing vessels in the end
succumbed to the railroad as a means of communication with the out-
side world.
Falmouth.— The geographical position of this town rendered regu-
lar water communication with Boston impracticable. But in the early
and middle parts of the present century there was constant and regu-
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 113
lar communication with Nantucket, which was then a place of great
relative importance. Several vessels ran between Falmouth, East
Falmouth and Nantucket, with wood for the island, and all these craft
took passengers, particularly during the great local festival, " sheep-
shearing," when the natives and their friends from abroad held high
carnival together for a week! This intercourse continued after the
glory of sheep-shearing had departed, until the opening of steamboat
communication between Nantucket and the main land.
The first packet, of which any knowledge exists, running between
Falmouth and New Bedford, was a. large sail-boat owned and run by
Captain James Stewart about the year 1826. About 1827 the sloop
Henry Clay, Captain Ezekiel E. Swift, was put upon the route between
the two places, and ran for several years. Owing to increase of busi-
ness about the year 1834, another sloop, called the Swift, vjas built and
run by Captain Swift, formerly of the Henry Clay, which latter was
run by Captain John Phinney, both vessels running to and fro on
alternate days. In 1836 another sloop, the Temperance, was put on the
route and the Henry Clay was withdrawn. A few years later Captain
Swift retired, and was succeeded by Captain Oliver F. Robinson for
many years thereafter. Since the Woods Holl railroad was opened,
no direct line of packets has run to New Bedford from this town. But
daily and more frequent steamboat communication in summer is still
maintained between Woods Holl and New Bedford.
Regular communication was maintained between West Falmouth
and New Bedford by Captain William Baker of the packet sloop Nile,
with which for years he made tri-weekly trips from West Falmouth.
He and his craft were succeeded by Captain James D. Hoxie in the
sloop Peerless, with which the three round trips weekly were made
until the opening of the Woods Holl railroad.
Barnstable. — The town of Barnstable had in 1800 but a small
amount of .shipping, and it is not known that any regular packet line
was maintained here. In 1806 the schooner Comet, 105 70-96 tons bur-
then, commanded by Captain Asa Scudder, made frequent trips be-
tween Barnstable and Boston. At the time of the declaration of war
with Great Britain, in 1812, the sloop Independence, oi about thirty tons,
Captain Richard Howes, was running transiently as a Barnstable and
Boston packet. Before the close of the war, in 1814, on her return
passage from Boston, this vessel was fired into, boarded and burned
by the crew of the British frigate Nymph, having been set on fire with
her sails all standing. The captain and passengers were taken in a
barge to the frigate. Their names were: Richard Howes, John
Lothrop, David Parker, Timothy Phinney and his young son, Syl-
vanus B. Phinney, all of Barnstable. They were landed the day fol-
lowing near Boston light. The cargo, mostly groceries, belonged to
8
114 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Mr. Parker, one of the passengers, a trader at West Barnstable. The
frigates continued to annoy the packets on this coast until the close of
the war.
Several ship-yards were established in this town after the war.
Four of the most prominent packets between Barnstable and Boston —
the schooners Globe, Volant, Sappho and Flavilla — were built here by
Captain William Lewis. The sloop Freedom was also built at West
Barnstable, and ran as a packet to Boston a few years, commanded by
Captain Washington Farris. The sloop Science, Captain Joseph Huck-
ins, and schooner Globe, Captain Simpson, were of this line until
about the year 1826. In 1828-9 the sloop James Lawrence, Captain
Goodspeed, and schooner Volant, Captain Huckins, formed the regular
line to Boston. In 1831-2, the schooner Volant, Gorham, and the
sloops James Lawrence, Goodspeed, Betsey, Fish, and Velocity, Lewis,
ran to Boston. In 1833-4, the schooners Globe and Volant were in the
regfular line. In 1836 Captain Matthias Hinckley took charge of the
Globe, and Captain Thomas Smith of the Sappho, in this line.
At this period the travel by packets to Boston had largely in-
creased, and it was felt that the time had come for vessels of greater
speed. The sloop Commodore Hull of Yarmouth was considered the
fastest on the coast, and in 1838 Captains Matthias Hinckley and
Thomas Percival went to Sing Sing, N. Y., to contract for a new packet
to compete with her. The sloop Mail was the result, and many are
now living who remember the excitement which was created in the
race which took place from Barnstable to Boston, between those two
packets. With a strong southerly wind they left Barnstable bar, dur-
ing the forenoon. Running side by side as far as could be seen from
the shore, they made the passage in about six hours, the Mail having
passed into the dock at Central wharf not over three lengths ahead of
her rival. This slight victory was, however, believed to have been
accidental, as the Commodore Hull \f as considered the fastest sailer of
the two. Captain Percival made the passage with Captain Hinckley
to give him the advantage of his own experience.
In 1841 the Mail, Emerald and Sappho were of the line. In 1843
the steamer Express, Captain Sanford, ran a part of the year, taking
passengers between Boston, Plymouth, Barnstable and Provincetown.
In 1845 the Sappho and Mail continued their regular trips, and the
steamer Yacht, Captain Sanford, took the place of the Express. The
steamer Naushon, Captain Paine, was then making occasional trips from
Boston to Wellfleet and Provincetown. and less frequently to Yar-
mouth and Barnstable. In 1846-7 the sloop Emerald, Captain Joseph
Huckins, jr., and the Sappho and Mail comprised the regular line.
The Flavilla also made several trips, when not in the fishing business.
In 1860-1 the sloop Rough and Ready was added to the line, and in
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 116
1852-3-4 the Mail, Sapplw and Premium, Captain Arey, constituted the
line. During a portion of the season of 1864 the steamer Acorn, Cap-
tain Gibbs, was running between Boston, Sandwich, Yarmouth and
Provincetown. The excursions of the steamers, so frequently made,
did not destroy the business, for in 18f)7 the Mail, Captain Crocker,
Abby Gould, Captain Young, and schooner L. Snow, Jr., Captain Backus,
continued to run through most of the year. During the season the
il/az7made occasional trips to Boston, under the command of Captain
Aaron H. Young. The travel, however, had largely decreased, as the
railroad cars had commenced running. In 1858 the Mail, Captain
Young (which vessel had been changed into a schooner), and the sloop
Simon P. Cole, Captain Crocker, continued to run through most of the
season. In 1859 the Emerald vf&s sold, and in 1860 the fleet was re-
duced to the schooner Flora and the sloops Mail and Simon P. Cole.
In 1861-2-3 there was not a vessel running regularly between Barn-
stable and Boston, most of them having embarked in the coasting
trade from other ports, and in 1864 it was rare that a flag was seen
flying at mast-head from vessels at either of the three wharves at
Barnstable.
Yarmouth. — Probably before the commencement of this century
packets were running with more or less regfularity between Yarmouth
and Boston. Captains Job Crowell, Nathan Hallet, Prince Howes and
Ansel Hallet were the earliest packet masters of whom knowledge
now exists. Captain Ansel Hallet commanded the sloop Betsey for
some years after the war of 1812-16. He afterward sailed another
sloop called the Messenger, and lost his life in 1832. while laboring to
get her ready for sea. In swinging her around preparatory to start-
ing, the vessel grounded on a sandbar. Captain Hallet, while assist-
ing at low tide to dig beneath her in order to deepen the channel, was
crushed to death by the vessel rolljng over.
At Town Dock, Captain Thomas Matthews, sr., some sixty years
ago, ran the sloop Martha Jane between that part of Yarmouth and
Boston. Later Captain Isaac Hamblin commanded the sloop Emerald
on the same line. This vessel was afterward sold and put on the line
from Barnstable. The other wharf and landing was at " Lone Tree,"
a little to the eastward of the present Central wharf, which was built
in 1832. This year the sloop Flight was placed on the Boston route
under the command of Captain Edward Hallet, son of Captain Ansel,
and the captain's brother, Ansel, went a part of the time as his mate.
Captain Edward ran the /7t;^/i/ until about the year 1850, when she was
sold, and Captain Hallet retired from the business. From some time
in 1828 to 1836, Captain Paddock Thacher commanded the schooner
Commodore Hull, and at the latter date was succeeded by Captain
Thomas Matthews. In 1841 Captain Matthews built the schooner
116 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Yarmouth, the best planned and most convenient craft that ever en-
gaged in the business from this port.. Captain Matthews commanded
her until 1849, when Captain Nathaniel Taylor took charge and ran
her until she was sold. Messrs. H. B. Chase & Sons employed her for
several years as a coaster between Hyannis and New York and vicin-
ity. About 1860 Captain Ansel Hallet ran a packet sloop called the
Maria. After that he engaged in the same business with the schooner
Chas.B.Prijidle, from 1856 to 1860, though not in that employment all
the time. She was wrecked the latter year oflf Manomet, Plymouth.
Contemporary with the Flight and Yarmouth, from about 1841 to
1843, Captain Paddock Thacher ran the sloop Simon P. Cole. After
the sale of the Yarmouth, Captain Nathaniel Taylor commanded the
schooner Lucy Elizabeth from 1866 to 1859, when, in consequence of
injuries received on board, he gave up the command to Captain El-
kannah Hallet, who was in charge but a few months, being succeeded
by his brother Charles, who ran her two or three years, until she was
withdrawn. In 1862 Captain Edward Gorham, who had previously
run the schooner H. S. Barnes, with others purchased the schooner
North, of Dennis, which was run to Boston under the command of Cap-
tain Gorham, until the year 1870, when the North was disposed of, and
since that time there has been no Boston packet from this place, where
two or three were formerly well supported. An attempt to run a
small sioop after the withdrawal of the North, for certain kinds of
freight only, proved a failure.
Dennis and East Dennis. — There seems to be a good deal of evi-
dence that regular communication by water between this part of the
Cape and Boston commenced at an early date. In letters written as
early as 1739, now in the possession of Captain Thomas P. Howes,
reference is made to such channel of communication. In the latter
part of the last century Captain Nathaniel Hall was running a packet
— name unknown — from Dennis to Boston. Early in 1800 Captain
Jeremiah Hall commanded a packet between Dennis and Boston, and
was knocked overboard and drowned on a trip from the latter place.
In 1821 the sloop Sally was built in" the meadow below where Mr. S.
H. Nye now lives, and was launched and passed down the cove west of
the Bass Hole. She was twenty-eight tons burthen, and was mostly
owned by Captain Uriah Howes, who placed her on the route to Bos-
ton. She soon passed into the charge of Captain Ezra Hall, who ran
her as a packet until 1832. The sloop Heroine, commanded by Captain
Jeremiah Howes, sr., was put on the same route about the same time,
but was withdrawn sooner. The schooner North was built in Connec-
ticut in 1833, and commenced running under the command of Captain
Oren Howes, who had for some time previous commanded the Sally.
The North was for that day a fine craft, with ample accommodations,
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 117
and Captain Howes was a popular' and energetic commander. He gave
np his command in 1854, and was succeeded by Captain Isaiah Hall,
who had for some time been his mate. She continued on the route
until 1862, when she was sold to Yarmouth parties, being the last of
the Dennis packets.
The East Dennis packet trade was in early times kept up by tran-
sient vessels. It is stated that Mr. Edmund Sears, early in the cen-
tury, ran a Boston packet called the Betsey for a number of years.
Later, his two sons — Judah and Jacob — ran a packet schooner called
the Sally and Betsey, named for their two wives. Judah was nominally
the captain. This was previous to 1828. About that time Captain
Dean Sears ran a Boston packet schooner called the Eliza and Betsey,
and at the same time Captain Joseph H. Sears was running a sloop
called the Combine. In 1833 two new schooners, the David Porter and
the Combitie, were put on this line — the latter seeming to be a popular
name in this locality. The old ves5?els were withdrawn, and Captain
Dean Sears commanded the David Porter, and Captain Joseph H. Sears
the Combine. The former continued to run as a packet after all the
others had given up the business, and was not withdrawn until about
1874. She had, however, several masters. Captain Dean Sears left
packeting to command ships. Captains Constant Sears, Enos Sears,
Stillman Kelley (from 1840 to 1849) and Sears had charge of
her at various times. The Combine had a much shorter career as a
packet. Captain Joseph H. Sears also left her to take charge of ships
in the foreign trade, and to own in and manage them. It can be
truthfully said of the packet masters who for half a century or more
plied between the north side of the town and Boston, that they were
men of great activity, extraordinary skill in handling their vessels,
seldom meeting with accidents, and of undisputed integrity of char-
acter.
Chatham. — Communication between Chatham and Boston by sail-
ing packets was for. many years transacted via Brewster and Orleans,
especially the former. In the earlier times the freighting to and from
the city was in the fishing vessels after and before their summer voy-
ages were made, the trades-people being generally owners in these
craft. But more frequent and direct communication being needed,
the packets on the bay side were resorted to. There were two pack-
ets — the Cfiatliam and the Sarah — sailing from Brewster for several
years after 1830, which divided the patronage of the Chatham public.
They established a system of telegraphy, by means of flags and balls
hoisted on high points of land from one town to another, which indi-
cated the time of departure and arrival of these vessels. Conveyance
across the Cape was generally in open wagons, with baggage lashed
on behind. The farmers would leave the plough or scythe almost any
day to go to Brewster for passengers.
118 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
The first regular packet between Boston and Chatham was the
Canton, built about the year 1830, and run by Barzillai Harding. Sev-
eral Chatham people owned an interest in her, and while she did a
good freighting business the bulk of the travel continued to go by the
Brewster route. Other packets came on later — the John J. Eaton,
Captain Smith, Eunice Johnson, C. Taylor, 3d, P. M. Bonney, and others.
Two good vessels were usually running at the same time, and did a
profitable business carrying freight, until the railroad came down to the
Cape, when the business gradually declined. A vessel, about the time
of the Canton, ran between this place and Nantucket. The women
used to go over to the island every year with produce for barter.
From ten to fifteen small vessels for many years ran between Chat-
ham, New Bedford and New York and the intervening ports, carrying
fish, and returniug with produce, flour, grain and the like. For sev-
eral years prior to the opening of railroad communication, a regular
packet ran between Chatham and New Bedford.
Brewster. — The earliest packet between this place and Boston of
which there is any record, was the schooner Republic, commanded by
James Crosby about the years 1818-20. She used to land her freight at
a place on the shore called Point Rocks. Captain Crosby afterward com-
manded the sloop Polly, in the same business. • Captain Solomon Fos-
ter for several years ran a packet sloop called the Fame; Captain
Nathan Foster also commanded her. The breakwater and boat wharf
were built by the owners of the packets about the year 1830. Captain
John My rick commanded the schooner Chatham for many years, and
afterward the sloop Rough and Ready, up to the time of the advent of
the rail cars. The schooner Sarah was a contemporary of the Chatham
during most of the time she was on the route, and was commanded
most of the time by Captain Freeman H. Bangs. Both these vessels
were finely fitted for the accommodation of passengers, and they ab-
sorbed a large portion of the travel from Chatham and Harwich as
well as from Brewster and vicinity. Captain Nathaniel Chase also
commanded a small schooner called Eliza Kelley, som& time before and
shortly after the railroad opened. There has been no packet on the
route for several years.
Orleans. — The earliest Boston packet from this place, of which
there is any information, was a sloop of fifteen or twenty tons, Captain
Edward Jarvis, which was running in 1808, and had then been some
little time on the route. She had poor accommodations for passengers,
and seldom carried any except those who were in no hurry. Captain
Jarvis gave up his business in 1812, and was succeeded by a sloop
commanded by Captain Asa Higgins. He was succeeded by Captains
Abiel Crosby, Jonathan Rogers, Jonathan Crosby, Obed Crosby, Seth
Sparrow and others, but the names of their vessels are not now avail-
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 119
able. About 1820, the sloop De Wolfe, commanded by Captain Simeon
Higgins, who afterward became so famous as a hotel keeper and stage
coach contractor, ran on this line for a number of years.
Not far from 1825, the need of better facilities for transporting
their salt to Boston induced the manufacturers to encourage the con-
struction of two schooners, and the President Washington, Captain War-
ren A. Kenrick, and Lafayette, Captain Jesse Snow, were built to ac-
commodate the salt makers as "well as the general travelling public.
After a few years in command Captain Kenrick died and was suc-
ceeded by Captain Lot Higgins, and he, after a while by Captain
Joseph Gould and others. The decline of the salt business led to the
disposal of the two vessels and the substitution of .smaller craft. The
sloop Elizabeth, Captain Absalom Linnell, ran on this line several
years. Her successors were the .sloop Taglioni, Captain Benjamin
Gould, and the Harriet Maria, Captain Samuel N. Smith. The Harriet
Maria met with a serious accident on one of her trips in 1857. October
8th, in Boston harbor she was run down and sunk by the British
steamer Niagara. One of the crew, being entangled in the rigging,
was carried down and drowned before rescue was possible. The ves-
sel was afterward raised and repaired. She was the last of the Boston
packets, and continued on the route about two years after the cars ran
to the town.
Eastham. — Captain David C. Atwood may be regarded as the
pioneer of the packeting business between Eastham and Boston. In
1821 he procured a sloop of forty tons burthen called the Clipper, and
commenced the business. Before this time passengers were brought
by lumber vessels, which stopped at Boston both going and coming
from the eastward; also by fishing vessels, which usually made a trip
to Boston before and after the season's trip to their fishing grounds.
Captain Atwood was on this route several years. After him came the
NeT.v York, Captain Samuel Snow, which ran from Nauset harbor in
the summer, and Bay side in the spring and fall. At this time East-
ham manufactured about 30,000 bushels of salt. This rendered
packet vessels in good demand. A few years later the schooner
Young Tell was placed on the route by Captain Scotter Cobb, who was
in the business for many years. This was the first two-masted packet
Eastham had. Afterward Captain Cobb bought the Brewster packet,
Patriot. He was succeeded by his son, H. K. Cobb, who ran the A. C.
Totten for several years, and then built the Bay Queen, the largest and
best of all the Eastham packets, and also the last of them.
After the Young Tell was given up Eastham parties bought the
Yarmouth sloop Flight, the fastest sailer in the Bay. Not unf requently
these packets took from thirty to fifty passengers. No life was lost
nor any serious accident occurred in all this time, which is ample tes-
120 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
timony to the skill and judgment of the commanders of these vessels.
The fare for passages was usually seventy-five cents each way, and the
time occupied for a run was from six hours to two days, according
to the wind and weather. Besides the passenger packets other ves-
sels, more especially designed for freighting, were for years on the
route. In 1824 Captain Jesse Collins purchased the sloop Algerine, the
first center-board vessel ever in these waters and a great marvel to all,
and placed her on the route from Nauset harbor most of the time, and
from the Bay the remainder, freighting salt to Boston at six cents per
bushel from the first landing and five cents from the latter. In 1836
parties in the south part of the town bought the schooner Combine, of
Dennis, for the same business, but she proved an unfortunate invest-
ment. The same fate befell the business here as elsewhere, upon the
advent of the railroad, although it held out with a little more tenacity
here than in the upper towns of the county. Some dozen years ago
there was also a packet running from Eastham to Provincetown.
Wellfleet. — It is not known that any regular packet ran between
this port and Boston previous to 1812-16. At the close of the war a
regular line was established, consisting of three sloops of from thirty
to forty tons burthen, viz.: Hannah, Benjamin Freeman, master; New
Packet, Joseph Higgins, master, and Mary, Joseph Harding, ma,ster.
In 1819 the Neiv Packet, on her trip to Boston, struck on Minot's Ledge
in a thick fog and immediately sunk, the captain and two of his crew
being saved. Two Methodist clergymen who were passengers were
lost. In 1820 Captain Higgins had the sloop Pacific built to take the
place of the New Packet. In 1826 the first schooner was built for this
route — the Swiftsure, commanded by Thomas Newcomb. She created
quite a sensation, and for a while took nearly all the passengers. In
1830 the schooner Herald, commanded by Henry Baker, was put on
the route. In 1835 was built the schooner Fremont, commanded by
Captain Thomas Newcomb, formerly of the Swiftsure. In 1836 was
built the schooner Merchant, Henry Baker, master. The Herald, pre-
viously commanded by Captain Baker, was in charge this year of
Captain Robert T. Paine, and had her berth at Blackfish Creek.
In 1847 were built the schooner Sophia Wiley, James Wiley, master,
and the Golden Age, commanded by Captain Robert T. Paine, lately of
the Herald. In 1853 and 1856 respectively, two larger schooners were
built — the Lilla Rich and Nelly Baker, commanded by Captains Richard
R. Freeman and Jeremiah B. Harding. These two packets, with the
Sophia Wiley and Golden Age running part of the time, constituted the
packet line of this place for about twenty-five years, when the failure
of the oyster planting business and the advent of the railroad rendered
it impossible to run them with profit. The schooner Freddie A. Hig-
gins, Noah S. Higgins, master, was built in 1882, and with the small
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 121
schooner /. H. Tripp, J. A. Rich master, brought there the same year,
constitute the present packet line between Wellfleet and Boston.
Truro. — It cannot be ascertained that there was any vessel en-
gaged in the packet business in this town prior to 1812, yet there can
be no reasonable doubt that there was some periodical connection be-
tween this place and Boston many years before. The first regularly
established packet of which there is authentic information was. the
pink, Comet, Captain Zoheth Rich. About 1830 the friends of Cap-
tain Rich built for him the schooner Postboy, " the finest specimen of
naval architecture and of passenger accommodation in the bay
waters." Her cabin :.nd furniture were finished in solid mahogony
and birdseye, and silk draperies. She was the favorite of the travel-
ing public and was thronged with passengers. Captain Richard Stev-
ens some years later ran successively the Young Tell, Mail and the
fine schooner Medina. With the deterioration of the town harbors,
the decline of the fishing business and the general suspension of the
regular industries of the town, the packeting business also fell into
decay before the day of steam cars.
Provincetown. — Though the leading commercial town on the
Cape, Provincetown did not become prominent as a community, nor
as a place of residence until some time after the war of 1812-15. During
that period, as in the war of the revolution, its harbor was a rendez-
vous of British men-of-war, and its local shipping was, of course,
annihilated. Probably about the year 1820, the sloop Truth — the first
Provincetown packet of which any knowledge exists — commenced
running between this port and Boston. She was owned by John Nick-
erson, who with his brother, ran her for several years. The sloops
Catherine and Packet followed after the Truth commenced, and were
for several years her contemporaries. The Catherine was commanded
by Joseph Sawtle, and was subsequently wrecked on the " back side."
Daniel Cook and afterward Jonathan Hill were the commanders of
the Packet. In 1827 Jonathan Cook bought, at Saybrook, Conn., the
sloop Louisa. She was regarded as a very fine craft and continued on
the route under the command of Captain Cook, and of his son, Charles
A. Cook, until about the year 1847. The latter afterward procured
the sloop Osceola and engaged with her in the business.
Not far from this time the schooner yacht Northern Light was
bought, and commanded by Captain Whitman W. Freeman, who ran
her to and from Boston, from March to December, three times each
week — something never before nor since accomplished by any craft.
In 1848 the Northern Light was sold to go to California, and was
wrecked and totally lost in the Straits of Magellan, on her voyage out.
Another vessel was bought for Captain Freeman — the schooner yacht
Oleata, a fast and trim craft; but she was soon sold to New Orleans
122 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
parties for a pilot boat. Afterward the sloop Sarah, and the Powhat-
tan. Captain Jonathan Hill, were some time on the route. About 1835
the schooner Long Wharf was placed on the route, commanded bv
Captain William Cook, and later, the schooner Melrose. She went on
a fishing- cruise some years later and was wrecked in Bay Chaleur.
The schooner Waldron Holmes was for some time a contemporary
packet with the Melrose. Following these, came the schooner Golden
Age from Wellfleet, which was commanded by Captain Nehemiah
Nickerson. She was wrecked off Wood End in 1866. In 1867 the
schooner Nellie D. Vaughan was procured for Captain Nickerson, and
she, too, was lost near Watch Hill, in 1888, during the latter part of
her career being in charge of Captain Joseph C. Smith.
The sailing craft have by no means had this business to themselves,
the steamers coming upon the route at different times and taking the
most lucrative portion of the traffic, and finally supplanting the pio-
neer class of vessels. About the year 1847 the steamer Naushon vras
placed on the route, running not only to Provincetown, but touching
other ports in the bay between here and Boston. She ran two seasons
and received a fair patronage. N. P. Willis; who was a passenger from
Provincetown on one occasion, wrote a very graphic and entertaining
account of the trip. The Naushon was followed by the steamer Acorn,
whose history has been already sketched. She was sold, in 1861, for
a blockade runner, and was run down by one of the national war ves-
sels, and was planted where she never came up, on the sands upon the
coast of North Carolina. In 1863, the commodious steamer, George
Shattuck, Captain Gamaliel B. Smith, commenced running, and contin-
ued on the route until 1874, when she was sold to run in a packet line
between St. John, N. F., and Quebec.^ In 1886, the steamer Longfellow,
Captain John Smith, commenced her trips between Provincetown and
Boston. She is a craft of about fiOO tons burthen, shapely, convenient
and well built, and serves the traveling public to the general satis-
faction, and has no competition in the business.
The Stage Coaches. — The transmission both of intelligence and
of individuals from one locality to another are so intimately connected
and so interwoven that we are constrained to consider the two
together. The earliest couriers known to the Cape were the swift-
footed Indians, who in 1627, when the Sparrow Hawk was wrecked at
Nauset harbor, carried the intelligence to Plymouth several days be-
fore the messengers sent by the captain of the shipwrecked vessel to
apprize the settlers of their distressing situation arrived there with
their message. The first express or mail of record on the Cape was
in 1654, when the governor of Plymouth colony paid John Smith for
carrying letters from Plymouth to Nauset. For nearly 150 years, the
dependence of private citizens for the transmission of letters was upon
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 123
such casual travelers as chance happened to throw in the way. But
the exigencies of the times required some system of more speedy com-
munication between different communities, and in 1775 the following
mail route was established from Cambridge, through Plymouth and
Sandwich, to Falmouth, once a week:
" Plan of riding from Cambridge to Falmouth: To set off from C.
every Monday noon and leave letters with William Watson Esq., post-
master at Plymouth, on Wed. 9 o'clock A. M.: then to Sandwich and
leave letters with Mr. Joseph Nye 3d, Wed. at 2 o'clock p. M.; to set ofiF
from S. at 4 o'clock and leave letters with Mr. Moses Swift, at Fal-
mouth, Thurs, at 8 o'clock a. m. To set off on his return Thurs. noon,
and reach Sandwich at 5 o'clock, and set off from thence at 6 o'clock
Friday morning and reach Plymouth by noon; to set off from Ply-
mouth Fri. at 4 P. M., and leave his letters with Mr. James Winthrop,
postmaster in Cambridge on Saturday evening."
The first United States mail between Barnstable and Boston com-
menced running in 1792, when John Thacher, of Barnstabe, contracted
with the government to perform the service, and made the first trip
October 1st of that year. Timothy Pickering was postmaster general,
and Jonathan Hastings postmaster of Boston. The post rider used to
start on horseback from Barnstable Tuesday morning, and arriving at
Plymouth in the evening, stopped in that town over night. The next
night he arrived in Boston at the sign of the Lion, on Washington
street, and delivered his mail to the postmaster. Starting from Boston
Thursday morning, he arrived in Barnstable on Friday night. The
mail was easily carried in one side of a pair of saddle-bags, and the
other side was devoted to packages and an occasional newspaper. For
his ser\-ice in carrying the mail the sum of one dollar per day while
in actual service was paid. Small as this amount is, there was a great
outcry at the extravagance of the government in this respect.
In 1797 a weekly mail route was established from Yarmouth to
Truro, the latter being regarded as an important town; but it was not
considered of consequence enough to continue the service to Province-
town. OfiBces were established all along the route between Yarmouth
and Truro. The next step in the progress of mail facilities was the
establishment in 1812-15 of a postal line twice each week, as far as
Yarmouth. Ebenezer Hallet was the post-rider, and the stirring news
from the seat of war was the moving cause of this enlargement of mail
facilities. In 1820 the mail was brought to Barnstable and Yarmouth
three times a week, through the influence of the large number of ship
owners a-nd ship captains resi'ding there. This arrangement continued
until June, 1837, when a daily mail was established to come as far as
Yarmouth. In the fall of 1854, soon after the establishment of rail-
road facilities, the mails were brought to Sandwich, Barnstable and
124 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Yarmouth twice each day, and following the progress of the railroad
to other towns in the county came the same postal facilities to the
towns which the railroad line reached. A daily mail from Yarmouth
to Orleans was established in October, 1847.
Postal communications with Provincetown are supposed to have
been opened soon after the commencement of the century. The first
postmaster is said to have been Orsimus Thomas, but the precise date
of his appointment is not known. The Massachusetts Register for
1808 gives the name of the postmaster at Provincetown as D. Pease.
When the mail, which was conveyed on horseback once each week,
was about to start from town, a man was sent around with a tin horn
to give notice of the fact. Samuel Thacher of Barnstable was the
first contractor so far as is now known. Mr. Thacher's mail was car-
ried in saddle bags holding about a peck. It was considered a dis-
tinction to have a letter in the mail. About 1820 a petition was in
circulation in the lower towns to have a mail twice a week, but many
refused to sign it, on the ground of expense, and because once a week
was often enough. In the winter the mail carrier used to carry on
one side of his horse a saw, and on the other a small axe, to clear away
obstructions after the snow storms, when it was found necessary to
cross the fields.
Mr. Thacher was succeeded by Joseph Mayo of Orleans. Mr.
Mayo used to take his mail to the Pamet river, Truro, on horseback.
Crossing the foot-bridge, he took another horse on the opposite side
and proceeded to Provincetown, returning by the same route. By
this plan he saved three miles each way through a sandy road. A
daily mail was established prior to 1847. Mr. Mayo was the first to
place a covered carriage on the route as far as Wellfleet, in 1838.
Succeeding Mr. Mayo, Myrick C. Horton was carrier and contractor,
and after him Simeon Higgins.
A stage-coach line, to transport passengers as well as the mails, was
first run near the close of the last century — according to the best evi-
dence obtainable, about the year 1790. This line ran at first from
Plymouth to Sandwich, and was by gradual steps extended toward
the extremity of the Cape. It had been established many years be-
fore William E. Boyden became the proprietor of the line, in 1820.
He commenced by starting from Sandwich early each morning, and
making a round trip between Falmouth and Plymouth. After a trial
of three months he was obliged to desist, and then made the trip from
Sandwich to Plymouth, and another carriage from Falmouth took the
mail at Sandwich for the former town.
In a few years a line was put on the route between Sandwich and
Falmouth. For many years these stages were run by mail contractors
Charles Sears and Enoch Crocker, the terminus of the route being at
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 125
the famous tavern, afterwards dignified by the appellation of hotel,
kept by the former person.
. The stage ride from the Cape to Boston was a two days' affair until
the opening of the railroad line to Plymouth, and was not resorted to
except in cases of extreme urgency, and at times when the state of
the weather rendered communication by the packets impracticable.
Many persons who had lived- to a good old age and had been all over
the world had never been to Boston by land. But among those who
had traveled this route existed many interesting, and in some respects
pleasurable, recollections of the trip. Starting from the Cape at early
dawn, the parties made up of men of all stations and degrees in the
social scale, the stage-coach was an equalizing and democratic institu-
tion. The numerous stopping-places along the route gave ample op-
portunity for the exchange of news and opinions and to partake of
the good cheer of the various taverns — for they had no hotels nor
saloons in those days. Cornish's, at South Plymouth, Swift's, at West
Sandwich, Fessenden's, at Sandwich, Rowland's, at West Barnstable,
Crocker's, at Barnstable, and Sear's, at Yarmouth, are pleasantly re-
membered by the old people of the present generation. A good meal
and a hot toddy, in the days before the temperance movement had
been inaugurated, left pleasant recollections of the place left behind,
and excited agreeable anticipations of the next one to come.
On the south side of the Cape, below Yarmouth, a postal route was
established to Harwich in the spring of 1804, Ebenezer Broadbrooks
being the first postmaster; and a few years later it was extended ta
Chatham, and offices opened in South Yarmouth and South Dennis.
Samuel D. Cliflford of Chatham carried the mails in 1826 and for
some time thereafter, on horseback. One route was from Yarmouth,
to South Dennis, West Harwich, Harwich, Chatham, and Orleans; the
other was from Yarmouth to South Yarmouth, Hyannis, Osterville,
Cotuit, South Sandwich, and Sandwich. Barnabas B. Bangs was the con-
tractor for carrying the mails to Provincetown, sub-letting from Orleans
to that place. The mail stages which were run on the south side of the
Cape from Yarmouth were driven by Jacob Smith, who was also a
contractor, and Calvin B. Brooks, who was a somewhat notorious
trader in horses, well remembered for his sharp remarks and his
rather sharp practices, making, nevertheless, few real enemies among
his victims. For the years before the advent of the cars, the contract-
or on the Chatham and Yarmouth line was Rufus Smith; from Yar-
mouth to Orleans, Simeon Higgins; and from that town to Province-
town, James Chandler, and afterward Samuel Knowles.
From Hyannis, (^entreville, and other shore villages to Sandwich^
Dea. James Marchant ran three trips per week, from 1836 to 1840. He
was followed successively by Eli Hinckley, Gorham F. Crosby and.
126 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
John F. Cornish. From Hyannis to Nantucket, from 1826 to 1830,
the mails were carried in a packet by Freeman Matthews. There-
after, for many years, until 1872, the mails and passengers were taken
by sailing vessels and steamer to Nantucket, the steamers being with-
drawn upon the opening of Woods Holl railroad.
Those veteran whips Nickerson and Howes continued to serve the
Chatham public until the opening of the railroad to that town, and
for nearly a year after the road was in full operation the old contract-
ors continued to run the mail carriage. With the retirement of
" Whit " and " Sim," by which names everybody knew these contract-,
ors, the last of the stages on Cape Cod were withdrawn, for the car-
riages which transport mails and passengers to and from Cotuit, Os-
terville and Centreville via West Barnstable, and Mashpee and vicinity
via Sandwich, do not resemble the old-time stages of the fathers, such
as the elders of this generation knew when they were girls and
boys.
The short lines between towns and from the central villages to
smaller ones, have frequently been found too minute for this general
chapter. These postal routes and mail lines will therefore be men-
tioned in the chapters devoted to the towns where the routes were
established and run.
Previous to the opening of the Woods Holl road, the Boston mails
were carried for many years by David Dimmock, of Pocasset, and
afterward by William Hewins. of Falmouth, the terminus of the line
after the opening of the Cape Cod railroad being at Monument (now
Bourne). A ferry was established from Falmouth to the Vineyard,
running daily, wind and weather permitting, during the twenty years
preceding the establishment of railroad and steamboat communica-
tions. The first grant was given a century and a half ago, to Joseph
Parker and others, and it was continued by their successors until quite
recent times.
After the construction of the Woods Holl branch, the only remain-
ing stages were the Chatham line, supplying that town and the inter-
mediate villages to Harwich, with their mails and passenger trans-
portation, and the Mashpee route, by which the villages of Mashpee,
South Sandwich and Greenville are supplied.
Railroad Lines. — Railroad communication to the Cape was
opened in 1848, by the extension of the line between Boston and
Middleboro, under the charter granted to the Cape Cod Branch Rail-
road Company, from Middleboro to Sandwich, a distance of twenty-
seven miles. The first board of directors of this line was -constituted
as follows: Richard Borden, Joshua B. Tobey, Philander Washburn,
P. G. Seabury, Nahum Stetson, Southworth Shaw, T. G. Coggshall,
Howard Perry, Clark Hoxie. Richard Borden was the first presi-
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 127
dent, and Southworth Shaw, clerk. The road was extended to Hy-
annis in 1854; the first passenger train commenced running May 19th
of that year. This extension was eighteen miles long and, including
the wharf at Hyannis and the equipments of the road, the cost of the
entire extension from Middleboro to Hyannis was $824,057.99. The
Cape Cod Central railroad was opened from Yarmouth to Orleans, a
distance of 18f miles, December 6, 1865. The first directors of this
road were: Prince S. Crowell, Joseph Cummings, Reuben Nickerson,
Joseph K. Baker, Truman Doane, Chester Snow, Elisha Bangs, Ben-
jamin Freeman and Freeman Cobb. Prince S. Crowell was president,
and Jonathan Young, clerk and treasurer. The next extension of
this road was to Wellfleet, twelve miles farther, December 28, 1870,
and from thence to Provincetown, fourteen additional miles, July 22,
1873. The "openings" of these sections were celebrated with great
demonstrations of rejoicing in the several towns to which they were
extended, as placing the communities of the Cape in more direct re-
lations to the outside world.
The consolidation of the Cape Cod branch and the Cape Cod Cen-
tral roads, in 1868, before the final extension to Provincetown, under
the name of the Cape Cod Railroad Company, was followed, in 1872,
by the union of the latter company with the Old Colony railroad —
the entire line, from Middleboro to Provincetown being known as the
Cape Cod division. The Woods Holl branch, seventeen miles in
length, between Buzzards bay and Woods Holl, was opened to travel
July 18, 1872. A branch line of seven miles, from Harwich to Chat-
ham, opened October, 1887, completes the railroad system of the
county. The steam cars now penetrate every town of the fifteen, ex-
cept Mashpee, gfiving our citizens two opportunities each day to go to
and return from Boston, during the entire year, and in some seasons
communications are maintained over portions of this division three
times each way daily. The first superintendent of the Cape Cod
branch was Sylvanus Bourne, of Wareham. He was succeeded by
Ephraim N. Winslow, with headquarters at Hyannis. Mr. Winslow
was succeeded by the present incumbent, Charles H. Nye, as assistant
superintendent of this division, who commenced service on the road
as conductor in 1857. Previous to that time, Mr. Nye had been iden-
tified with the beginning of the enterprise, having canvassed for
subscriptions of stock for the road as early as 1847-8, and actually
collecting the first money paid for subscriptions in the county.
There is no one living so intimately connected with the road from
its inception to the present time as Mr. Nye.
As the supplement to the mail postal arrangements, and as the
lastest feature in our postal system, came the postal car service, which
was introduced about the year 1855. Cyrus Hicks of Boston was the
128 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
first postal clerk and the only one at first, leaving Boston in the morn-
ing for Hyannis and returning in the afternoon. One mail pouch was
sufficient for the letters, and a limited number of pouches for the
newspaper mail, where now from eighty to 120 per day are required
for the newspaper mail alone. The service now consists of eight rail-
way postal clerks, two running entirely through each way between
Boston and Wellfleet on both the trains, and receiving and distribut-
ing the mails at every post office on the line and its connections. The
following are the clerks now in service on this route.- John W. Allen,
Joseph M. White, William W. Johnson, Henry O. Cole, Frank M.
Swift, George A. Roundy, S. Alexander Hinckley, T. Winthrop Swift.'
Express Lines. — When the railroad was extended to Sandwich in
1848, the Cape Cod Express was started by Messrs. Witherell & Boy-
den, proprietors. Mr. Witherell was thrown from a carriage and died
soon after from injuries received, when Nathaniel B. Burt formed a
partnership with Mr. Boyden, which continued until the death of the
former. In 1861, Rufus Smith, who had established a stage line be-
tween Yarmouth and Chatham, took the mails and express, which he
continued to transport until 1866, when the road was extended to Or-
leans, and Mr. Smith had an express privilege on the cars for his
mails, and furnished teams and stages for all the stations for passen-
gers, mails and express. In 1868, the Central having been purchased
by the Cape Cod Branch Railroad Company, the express business was
sold to Boyden, Burt and Smith, in equal parts. In July, 1877, the
New York & Boston Despatch Express Company were permitted to
cover the line, and after two and one-half years of competition, the two
concerns were united and are known as New York & Boston Despatch
and Cape Cod Express Company.
Magnetic Telegraphs, Cables, etc. — Telegraphic communica-
tion between the Cape and Boston was established in 1865. Two
companies were competitors for the privilege of occupying the field,
which before had been vacant. The Boston & Cape Cod Marine
Telegraph Company got a few weeks ahead in its construction, and
on September 28, 1855, the Yarmouth Register was enabled to publish
the news of the fall of Sevastopol, by telegraphic intelligence received
the night previous — a fact which was regarded by its readers with
wonder and incredulity. During the ensuing fall the line was ex-
tended to Chatham and Provincetown. The rival line, called the Cape
Cop Telegraph Company, was more especially under New York aus-
pices, and the patronage of the Associated Press. The first named
company, which had been operated by an association, was incorpor-
ated in April, 1856, and was organized at Barnstable June 24th of that
year. George Marston was the first president, Charles F. Swift, clerk
and treasurer, and John T. Smith, of Boston, superintendent. The
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION. 129
two telegraph lines were in a year or two consolidated, and this com-
pany was afterward absorbed by the all-devouring Western Union
Telegraph Company.
A telegraphic cable was early in 1856 extended from Nobsque
point, in Falmouth, to Gay Head, a distance of 3^ miles. August 18,
1856, a cable fourteen miles long was laid from Monomoy to Great
point, on Nantucket. Communication was transmitted to and from
Nantucket for a day or two, but the cable was either cut or broken by
the force of the channel, and after a short time abandoned. In 185t*,
Samuel C. Bishop, a gutta percha goods manufacturer, who made the
last named cable, laid another across Muskeget channel, and estab-
lished telegraphic communicationsbetweenEdgartown and Nantucket.
There were frequent obstructions, caused sometimes by imperfect in-
sulation, but oftener by vessels' anchors fouling with the cables, and
the attempts of Mr. Bishop were abandoned in 1861. Since that time
several abortive attempts to maintain cable communications with the
islands have been made by the existing telegraph companies, but,
from the causes heretofore mentioned, have been unsuccessful. Since
1887, congress having in that year made an appropriation to maintain
a cable from Woods Holl to Nantucket via the Vineyard, as an auxili-
ary of the life-saving service, and also permitting the receipt and
transmission of commercial messages, communication has, with occa-
sional interruptions, been maintained to the present time.
Telephone service to the Cape was established in 1882, when aline
was constructed and ofi&ces opened in West Barnstable, Osterville,
Hyannis, Cotuit, and Marston's Mills. The New Bedford system, as it
is called, was connected with the Cape the following year (1883), cov-
ering the territory above described, and also connecting with Sand-
wich, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Harwich Port, South Chatham,
Chatham, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, North Eastham, Wellfleet,
Truro, South and North Truro, Beach Point and Provincetown. M.
E. Hatch of New Bedford is the general manager.
CHAPTER IX.
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES.
The Fisheries. — Coasting. — Shipbuilding. — Manufacturing. — Saltmaking. — Agriculture.
— Cranberry Culture. — Summer Resorts. — Yachting.
AN important part of the history of any people is the resources
upon which their sustenance has depended and from which
their wealth may be derived. The reader already understands
that it was by hardy, practical Englishmen that this county was, for
the most part, first settled. Whatever may have been their taste, or
their training, the insular position of the place they adopted as their
home in the New World, rendered maritime pursuits both natural and
necessary. They knew before coming here that the Cape possessed
great fertility, and that agriculture might be successfully undertaken;
but when the home, the garden, and the meadow had been provided,
they naturally turned their attention to those vast and exhaustless
food supplies with which the surrounding waters so richly abounded.
Thus we find them in the first generations daring the perils of the
ocean which lay so invitingly around them, and which promised so
rich a reward to any who would undertake its conquest. The build-
ing of vessels must needs receive their early attention, and to this the
forests were in a large measure sacrificed; and almost in proportion as
the forests disappeared the productiveness of much of the lands de-
creased.
As their intercourse with the Dutch along the Hudson and Long
Island sound became more thoroughly established, the tendency was
to give more of their attention here to the various branches of
fishing; and by an exchange of products they found it less necessary
to cultivate the unfriendly soil. Thus the trend of affairs in the
county was steadily toward those maritime pursuits which for more
than two centuries since have been the characteristic and the pride of
Cape Cod. The love of adventure is hereditary, and if the fathers
caught codfish at the Grand banks, the sons were satisfied with nothing
less than taking whales in the Pacific. And as generation succeeded
generation their energy and enterprise increased until a portion of
the life of nearly every able-bodied man was passed upon the sea.
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 131
There were probably then no people in the New World whose em-
ployments were more varied, or whose resources were more widely
diversified than were those of the people who for the first century
occupied this Cape. Their fields gave liberal reward for their toil,
and on every hand were the still more productive waters of the sea.
Thus all those pursuits, which may be generally classed as fishing,
have been a perpetual, although a varying, fountain of wealth. The
superior advantages for fishing, which Provincetown offered in 1620,
were observed by the Pilgrims, and the practical whalemen among
them expressed their belief that with proper facilities they, from the
taking of whales alone, could have made a most profitable return for
the whole voyage. As early as 1666 the Plymouth court imposed
upon the Cape Cod fisheries a duty, for revenue only, with which a
public school was to be established, and with the proceeds of stranded
whales they oiled the machinery of church and state.
The codfishing on North American coasts received the attention of
Europe almost immediately after the Cabots' explorations. The
abundance of this fish in the immediate vicinity of the Cape has been
noticed, and is forever recorded in the name which the peninsula
bears. In 1622 the Plymouth Company complained to the king, of
thirty-seven English ships which had made successful fishing voyages
to the New England coast, whereupon all fishing, or Indian trading,
was prohibited on these shores except by license from the council of
Plymouth. The right to control this industry gave to the colony,
first, franchises for which they received ;^1,800 from the merchant
adventurers, and later those royalties and revenues, the collection of
which in the various towns the reader will hereafter notice. ' '
For a century and a half this branch of fishing grew in importance
and the extent of waters visited by the Cape fishermen included the
Bay of Fundy, the banks of Newfoundland, and the surrounding
straits. An idea of the extent to which the people of this country de-
pended upon this resource may appear from the following figures,
showing the annual average of five towns for the ten years preceding
the revolution. These figures are from Macgregor's tables, a standard
English authority: Chatham had thirty vessels of thirty tons each en-
gaged in the business and employed 240 men, taking 12,000 quintals.
Provincetown had four vessels of forty tons each, employing thirty-
two men, who took 16,000 quintals. Eighty men with ten vessels of
forty tons each, sailing from Truro, took 4,000 quintals. Wellfleet
had three vessels operated by twenty-one men who secured 900 quint-
als. Yarmouth had thirty vessels of thirty tons each, in which 180
men secured 9,000 quintals.
When the colonists in 1776 appealed to the uncertain arbitrament of
war, these maritime interests suffered most, but so promptly did they
132 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
resume their peaceable pursuits after the declaration of peace that the
averages of the four years, including and preceding 1790, are equal to
the yearly average for the decade preceding the war. Provincetown
had greatly increased her vessels and tonnage, sending out eleven,
with an average of fifty tons, in which eighty -eight men secured 8,200
quintals of cod annually.
The business of the cod fishermen has been a permanent and gen-
erally a profitable one, and their product has long been one of the
staple food-supplies of the world. Off every shore of the Cape more
or less are caught, but the greater supply is to the north and east.
The records of the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that in the census
year 1837 there were taken 134,658 quintals of cod by the fishermen of
Barnstable county. Of these Provincetown caught 61,400 quintals;
Orleans, 20,000; Truro, 16,620; Chatham, 15,500; Harwich, 10,000; Den-
nis, 9,141; Yarmouth, 4,300; Wellfleet, 3,100; Sandwich, 2,100; Eastham,
1,200; Brewster, 800; and Barnstable; the least, 267 quintals.
In 1845 Provincetown secured 20,000 quintals; Harwich, 14,200;
Dennis, 11,150; Chatham, 7,600; Truro, 6,250; Yarmouth, 6,195; Orleans,
3,500; Brewster, 2,400; Eastham and Wellfleet, each 2,000; and Fal-
mouth, 800 quintals.
The next decade showed Provincetown catching 79,000 quintals
annually; with Chatham next in order, taking 15,000; Wellfleet, 8,628;
Barnstable, 8,225; Harwich, 6,300; Yarmouth, 4,400; Orleans, 4,266;
Dennis, 1,200; Eastham, 300; and Falmouth, 250 quintals.
In the census year 1865 Provincetown reported a catch of 65,411
quintals, followed by Chatham, with 25,361; Harwich, 20,938; Dennis,
7,769; Barnstable, 1,938; Orleans, 1,350; Wellfleet, 1,200; Truro, 670;
Yarmouth, 500; and Eastham, 130 quintals.
In 1875 the Provincetown fleet reported for the census year 29,936
quintals; Chatham, 16,773; and Yarmouth, 62 quintals.
While other branches of fishing are common to all the towns of the
county, the cod fishing is more extensively carried on from Province-
town. In 1887 the Provincetown fleet took 120,000 quintals; in 1888
fifty -seven vessels, employing nine hundred men, secured 90,000 quint-
als; and the season of 1889 yielded but 50,000 quintals to the forty-
nine vessels and the eight hundred men employed. These latter fig-
ures indicate the least prosperous season which the fleet has had in
twenty years. In the early days of the business a crew consisted of
six or eight men, but larger vessels were found to be better, and dur-
ing the recent years schooners with twenty-five men each are more
generally in use. Their season at the Grand banks is usually from
April to September, and it has been expected that during this period
the fleet would secure two hundred quintals of fish for each man em-
ployed.
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 133
According to the state census of 1885, the cod fleets from Barn-
stable county took 18,134,539 pounds of fish. Provincetown took
16,801,060; Chatham, 756,009; Harwich, 415,160; Truro, 112,050; Or-
leans, 28,560; Dennis, 20,700; and Barnstable, 2,000 pounds.
The first people who pursued the whale fishery as a regular busi-
ness were the Biscayans, who carried it on with success from the
twelfth to the fourteenth century; although the Norwegians had
taken whales cast on the Shetland and Orkney coasts at a much earlier
period. The northern whale fishery was opened up by the Dutch and
English after their voyages of discovery, and as early as 1680 the
Dutch whale fishery reached its most prosperous state, employing then
260 ships and fourteen thousand sailors. Prior to this, houses pro-
vided with tanks and boilers for reducing the blubber and preparing
the bone, were established on the northern coast of Spitzbergen.
The American whale fishery was commenced at Nantucket, where
in 1672, James Lopar and John Savage were given a subsidy of land
and a third interest with the town in the business of securing the
whales which came to their shores. The people of Cape Cod had
become proficient in securing and utilizing the whale, and in 1690
Ichabod Padduck of Provincetown was considered an expert in meth-
ods of capturing the whale and extracting the oil. He went to Nan-
tucket, where his instructive descriptions of his successful methods
were dignified with the name lectures.
The more enterprising white settlers, assisted by the more vent-
uresome Indians, made trips in open boats beyond the sight of land,
and when a whale was killed, with such rude weapons as his size had
suggested, he was towed ashore, where the tedious process of securing
the oil was carried on. The blubber was conveyed on carts to " try-
houses," where in kettles the oil was extracted. Fifty years before
the revolution, Boston was exporting large quantities of whale prod-
ucts; and the towns of the Cape, and the court of Plymouth were col-
lecting revenues from the stranded whales found on their shores. The
introduction of larger vessels, equipped with apparatus for cutting up
the blubber, marked a new era in the industry, although a single
whale, producing 250 barrels of oil and 3,000 pounds of bone, made a
cargo for what was then called a good sized vessel, and the practice of
bringing the blubber to the " try -houses " on shore still prevailed.
The equipping of larger ships, with furnaces for rendering and
casks for storing the oil, marked a third epoch in the history of the
great whaling industry, and with facilities thus increased the fields of
operation were enlarged. In July, 1730, the North American whale-
men sent 9,200 tuns of oil and 154 tons of bone to England.
The whaling grounds at Davis' straits were first visited by whalers
in 1746; Baffin's bay in 1751; Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1761; eastern banks
134 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
of Newfoundland, 1765; Brazilian coasts in 1774. The introduction of
the New England product into the markets of England furnished a
motive to that government for granting its own seamen a large bounty
to stimulate the whale industry, and under that impulse the produc-
tion increased more rapidly than the demand, and thus the profits to
American whalemen were greatly diminished.
In 1771 Barnstable county had thirty-six vessels engaged in the
whale fishery. Of these, two were from Barnstable, employing thir-
teen seamen each, and for the four years preceding the revolution they
secured 240 barrels of oil each year; Falmouth equipped four vessels
of seventy-five tons each, and brought in 400 barrels annually; while
Wellfleet had thirty vessels, with a total tonnage of 2,600, employing
420 men, taking annually 4,600 barrels.
The war here interrupts the chain of statistics, which would cer-
tainly show that the industry was neglected during the struggle. It
was, however, soon revived, and in 1787-1789 this county had sixteen
whale vessels engaged, whose total tonnage was 1,120, and whose 212
seamen secured 1,920 barrels of oil annually.
Captain Jesse Holbrook of Wellfleet, who flourished in revolution-
ary days, was a skillful whaler, and in one voyage killed fifty-two
sperm whales. His great success obtained for him employment by a
London company for twelve years, teaching their employees his art.
After a checkered career he returned to Wellfleet in 1796, where he
subsequently died, aged seventy years.
The whalers' voyages, at first, scarcely taking them beyond sight
of their own ports, came later to be passages of thousands of miles,
requiring ten to fifty months, and sometimes longer, to complete.
The men who gained wealth or renown in this hazardous vocation
were the grave, persevering, sober men, who represented the best
blood of the Cape; and those venerable retired captains who, in their
advancing years, still remain in almost every Cape town, constitute
one of the most substantial elements of the population. In the histo-
ries of the towns in which they reside the reader may find record of
some thrilling adventures in the experience of Captains Nathaniel
Burgess, Silas Jones, Caleb O. Hamblin, N. P. Baker, Edward Penni-
man and others, which are illustrative of the life that whaleship
masters were obliged to lead.
Falmouth early became an important town in this business, and
from Woods Holl several ships were equipped and sent to the Pacific
and Arctic whaling grounds. The details of their voyages more fully
appear in the history of the town of Falmouth in this volume. The
business from the other whaling ports of the lower Cape was still
more extensive, but the details as given of the voyages from the port
of Woods Holl furnish a general idea of the whalemen's experiences,
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 136
and the decline of the industry there, may be a fair indication of when
and how rapidly the attention of the Cape people was turned to other
pursuits.
In 1834 Falmouth had six whale ships at sea, and in 1837 had nine,
the total tonnage of which was 2,823; in 1845 her vessels numbered
five, with an average tonnage of 315; in 1855 three whalers were re-
ported as securing $55,000 worth of oil. Provincetown, in 1837, had
only two whale ships out; in 1841 six vessels returned, bringing 1,065
barrels of oil; in 1843 sixteen vessels from here were on whaling voy-
ages; in 1845 twenty -six vessels, with a tonnage of 3,255, secured during
the census year $102,984 worth of oil; in 1855 seventeen vessels were
in the business, reporting $118,833 earnings for the year; in , 1865
twenty-eight vessels reported oil worth $312,017; and in 1885 the town
had only three vessels thus engaged. For the census year 1855 Or-
leans reported four vessels of 155 tons each, employing 125 men, and
securing oil to the amount of $19,250. Thus as the vocation became
less profitable, and its prosecution imposed greater hardships upon
those who followed it, the Cape people gradually dropped out of it or
went in those ships which later on still sailed from New Bedford.
Soon after the development of the cod fisheries, the taking of mack-
erel became a very important and lucrative vocation, and from the
first until the present moment it has, after the cod fishery, furnished
regular employment and a source of revenue to more of the people
than has any other branch of fishing. In the taking of these fish the
most scientific methods are employed, and the habits of the fish have
been most thoroughly and systematically investigated. Fishing for
mackerel with hook and line was for many years a regular employ-
ment, and the aged fishermen now maintain that a workman's share
was then worth more than one has averaged since the introduction of
methods requiring expensive outfits, in which, of course, capital has
come in for a larger relative share.
The most sweeping change made in the method of capture was the
introduction of the purse seine, by which whole schools of them may
be surrounded off shore, in any depth of water, and speedily trans-
ferred to the boats. Before this a similar seine had been used only in
shoal water, where the seine would sweep the bottom. These sweep
seines were usually two hundred fathoms long and three or four deep,
but since the deep-water seining has been found practicable, the seines
in use have been made somewhat longer and five or six times as wide,
and hundreds of barrels of mackerel are taken at a single draught.
This was a new idea in 1853, at which date it is said that Isaiah Baker
first practiced it successfully off the south shores west of Monomoy.
This wholesale taking of mackerel, although highly profitable to those
engaged in it, is now the generally assigned reason of the disastrous
136 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
decline of the business. Other causes have surely contributed to, and
possibly may have predominated in producing this result. The fish,
not less than the men who pursue them, are creatures with habits and
tastes which are continually changing, and coincident in time with
their decrease on the Atlantic coasts, is their appearance in unusual
numbers in other and distant waters.
Until within the last few years the annual migrations of the mack-
erel from south to north and return have been computed with cer-
tainty and relied upon "by the fleets pursuing them. Chiefly from
Wellfleet, but more or less from Dennis, Harwich and other towns,
the boats went south to meet the great schools of this erratic fish at
Chesapeake bay in March or April, and followed them in their season's
course as they skirted their feeding grounds along the Atlantic coast
as far northeast as the Bay of Fundy, and as late as September. Then
the fish began their return and were followed by the fleet until, oflf
Block island in November, the men usually began their own home-
ward journey. For the last two or three seasons the movements of
the mackerel have been less regular, and several vessels have made
the entire season in the vicinity of Block island. The belief that the
immense catches by the purse seiners were hazarding the future of
the business, has taken form as a law, now prohibiting their capture
by this method before the first of June in any year.
The people of every town have been more or less interested in the
mackerel fisheries. A regular inspection of all that is brought to port
is provided for by law, and the reports of the inspectors are filed as
public records. Some figures may indicate how widely and yet how
unequally the business is distributed.
In 1838 there were inspected at Barnstable, 1,843 barrels; at Chat-
ham. 84 barrels; at Dennis, 2,674; at Provincetown, 2,686; at Truro, 8,852;
and at Yarmouth, 655 barrels.
At this time the Wellfleet men were taking quantities of this fish,
but the absence of the name from the statistics quoted is accounted
for by the fact that the fish were packed at Boston.
The industry, although permanent, is fluctuating. In 1840 there
were inspected at Barnstable, 1,914 barrels; at Chatham, 240; at Dennis,
3,009; at Harwich, 60; at Provincetown, 2,086; at Truro, 2,790; at Well-
fleet, 3,912; and at Yarmouth, 1,387 barrels were inspected. In 1844
Wellfleet secured 9,700 barrels; Truro, 6,740; Dennis, 3,605; Yarmouth.
3,412; Barnstable, 2,400; Orleans and Provincetown, 1,000 each; Har-
wich, 650; Eastham, 550; and Chatham, 400. In 1854 the catch for
Wellfleet was 12,600 barrels; for Dennis, 11,036; Provincetown, 6,000;
Harwich, 5,700; Chatham. 3,000; Brewster, 1,500; Yarmouth, 1,217; Or-
leans, 800; Eastham, 750; and Barnstable. 465. In 1864 Wellfleet re-
ported 26,900 barrels; Provincetown, 19,395; Dennis, 8,799; Harwich^
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 137
8,343; Truro, 7,955; Chatham, 6,746; Orleans. 2,000: and Yarmouth, 250.
The censu.s of 1875 shows that the total catch of the preceding year
was 98,774 barrels, of which Provincetown received 46,173; Wellfleet,
35,817; Chatham, 8,342; Dennis, 6,000; Eastham, 1,082; Barnstable, 860
and Orleans, 511 barrels. In 1884 Wellfleet received 38,735 barrels
Provincetown, 32,066; Chatham, 10,765; Truro, 9,527: Dennis, 9,422
Harwich, 6,050; Brewster, 3,444; Sandwich, 2,178; Eastham, 1,762; Or-
leans, 166; Falmouth, 94; Yarmouth, 2; and Barnstable, 1 barrel. The
price has generally varied inversely and somewhat proportionately
with the supply, so that the fluctuations in quantity are greater than
in the current value of the catch.
For several years Wellfleet has been most extensively engaged in
t..e mackerel business, sending out in 1879 twenty-four vessels, which
brought in 9,348 barrels; in 1880, thirty vessels took 33,627 barrels; in
1881, thirty-one took 35,627; in 1882, twenty-nine, 32,860; in 1883,
thirty-four, 15,725; in 1884, thirty, 36,784; 1886, twenty-nine, 23,144;
1886, twenty-nine, 3,566; 1887, twenty-eight, 9,203; 1888, thirty, 4,832;
and in 1889 thirteen seiners and eight hookers took 1,690. The other
Cape ports making returns for 1889 are Provincetown, 1,697 barrels;
Dennis, 469; Harwich, 224; and Chatham, 17. The rapid decline during
the last four years has brought the business to its lowest point within
the past seventy-five years.
An interesting topic of thought and investigation is suggested by
the changes constantly going on in the demand for as well as the
supply of the various food products. This change through which one
generation comes to subsist upon foods which their ancestors did not
regard as wholesome, is continually tending to modify the industries
and the resources of the prodiicing classes, and here in the various
branches of fishing this tendency has been manifested. Scores of
kinds of fish once unknown are now sought for.
The facts concerning thfe bluefish furnish the most striking illus-
tration of this tendency. Middle-aged men well remember when this
fish was so little valued that those which were caught simply for
amusement became a drug on the market. In Wellfleet bay, for in-
stance, it was no unusual occurrence for a fisherman with only a hook
and line to take in a few hours a hundred bluefish of ten or fifteen
pounds each. Then such a fish would hardly bring ten cents in the
market; but people's tastes, continually changing, have within thirty
years put them among the favorite sea fish. They are taken in^eater
or less quantities off every shore of the county, and while their cap-
ture has been the source of royal revenues to the fishermen, it has
also long been a standard sport with pleasure seekers. The waters of
the sound are dotted, every season, with the sails of bluefishers. Con-
sidering the subject as the Yankee is prone to consider every subject,
138 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
it must be classed with the most profitable branches of the Cape fish-
eries, the principal quantity being taken in the fish weirs and with gill
seines in deep water. The people of Eastham have regarded it as their
chief source of income. Their weirs, now for a short time less profit-
able, have formerly yielded very handsome returns.
In 1884 nearly 587 tons of bluefish were landed in the town of
Barnstable, largely at Hyannis, for shipment by rail, and in every
town some were taken. In Eastham, 367,938 pounds; in Provincetown,
152,784 pounds; Dennis, 91,870; Bourne, 69,818; Wellfleet, 33,700; Chat-
ham, 31,065; Yarmouth, 30,806; Falmouth, 24,435; Truro, 23,002; Har-
wich, 18,827; Brewster, 17,820; Orleans,' 7,406; Sandwich, 6,000; and
Mashpee, 294 pounds. The market value then of the whole bluefish
catch for the county was more than two hundred thousand dollars.
The invention of the modern fish weir marked an important period
in the whole business of shore fishing, and began that controversy be-
tween the line and seine fishermen which, with more or less vigor, has
continued to the present. Individuals and corporations are engaged
on nearly every shore in the weir on trap fishing. The fish weir, or
trap, now modified to various plans and purposes, was first used by its
inventors on the shores of Long Island sound. AtMonomoy Point in
Chatham, where, about 1848, the first weir on these shores was set, at
Woods Holl where a very large business is still carried on, and off
the shores almost around the entire Cape, especially the lower towns,
this branch of enterprise has furnished a channel of investment for
large amounts of capital and employment to considerable numbers of
people, whereby both capital and labor have for the most part been
fairly rewarded.
Statistics have not been kept to show the methods by which fish
have been taken, but the trap fishing is relatively important. Prince
M. Stewart, of Woods Holl, says that he caught 80,000 scup in one trap
within one hundred days preceding Augxist 15th, and in one month
following caught thirty-two barrels with hook and line. These traps
sometimes serve a purpose for which they were not intended, as did
one off South Harwich in 1889, in which Cyrus Nickerson found en-
tangled a turtle reported as weighing half a ton.
In 1840 Massachusetts produced half of all the fish products of the
United States. At that date Provincetown had a thousand people en-
gaged in cod and mackerel fishing. Barnstable had $57,000 invested
in the fish business, and Dennis had $36,300. In 1850 Provincetown
led all the other Cape towns in the extent and value of its fish indus-
tries.
The fishing business as developed in this county has rendered com-
binations of -men and capital necessary, and from 1815 many such
combinations were incorporated by the state, with authority to improve
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 139
Streams, wharves and harbors. One company, incorporated in 1817,
had authority to open a canal from Nauset cove to Boat-meadow creek.
The Duck Harbor and Beach Company of Wellfleet; the Union Wharf
Company of Truro; the Skinnequits Fishing Company of Harwich;
the Central Wharf Company of Yarmouth; the Eastham Fishing Com-
pany; the Union Wharf Company of Provincetown; Rock Harbor
Fishing Company of Orleans; the Andrews Fishing Company of Har-
wich; the Herring River Company of Harwich; the Brewster Harbor
Company; the Orleans Fishing Company; the North Falmouth Fish-
ing Company; the Fish Wier Company of Orleans; the Boat-meadow
River Company of Eastham; and the North Wharf Company of Truro,
were incorporated prior to 1838, with special privileges.
The species of fish and the fish products which enter into the totals
of this great industry include items not even mentioned by name thus
far in this chapter. For the first nine monfhs of 1889 the Province-
town fishermen, not including the Grand bank cod-fishing fleet, brought
in fresh cod, 6,159,850 pounds; haddock, 5,258,759 pounds; halibut,
766,300 pounds; hake, 1,270,600 pounds; salt cod, 336,700 pounds; salt
herring, 2,700 pounds; frozen herring, 257,000 herring; cod oil, 19,845
gallons; dog liver oil, 5,670 gallons; fresh mackerel, 1,541 barrels; salt
mackerel, 1,743 barrels; fresh herring, 11,528 barrels; fresh porgies,
2,000 barrels; fresh flounders, 417 barrels; fresh butter fish, 75 barrels;
fresh albocaas, 310 barrels; fresh pollock, 15,400 pounds; total value,
$352,137.
The fishermen's resources are by no means limited to the food
fish. The waters abound in species not considered suitable for the
table, and these are made to serve some humbler purpose, and minis-
ter, through other channels, to the wealth and comfort of mankind.
The blackfish, a specie of whale, occasionally visits the shores of
Cape Cod bay. For a century past we find the record of their frequent
visitations at Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet, where they are se-
cured for their oil. They go in schools of old and young, numbering
hundreds, and are easily driven upon the beach at high tide, where
they are killed after the water recedes. Refineries for extracting their
oil still exist at Wellfleet and Provincetown. The males are some-
times thirty-five feet long, and the young are from five feet upwards.
An average of a barrel of oil is obtained from each. The remarkable
school of 1885, captured at Wellfleet, is further mentioned in the
chapter on that town.
The blackfish yields a valuable lubricating oil, and from porgies
or menhaden an oil is obtained which is available for adulterating
paint oils, while the bones and flesh fibre appear in the market as a
valuable fertilizer. With various additions the fish refuse becomes
the basis of fertilizers known in the markets by a great variety of
140 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
names. The fertilizer works at Woods Holl, about 1863, were in-
tended to utilize menhaden scrap, but were used for other purposes
after the supply of menhaden in the adjacent waters had diminished.
The use of fish as a fertilizer was well understood and largely prac-
ticed by the farmers in the old days. Food fish were so abundant
that their fields were kept fertile by the use of the surplus. Placing
one or more herrings in each hill of corn was a practice so general
that it was thought to hazard the food supply, and was accordingly
at one time prohibited by law. Other fish applied to the lands just
as they are taken from the waters are found to be of great utility.
Almost every stream on the Cape swarms with herring in the
spawning season. The right to take them was reserved by the origi-
nal proprietors as a common privilege when they reduced their com-
mon lands to individual ownership, and to-day the right to participate
in this branch of fishery'in any stream belongs equally to every free-
holder in the respective towns. Some of the towns lease this privi-
lege from year to year for a stipulated sum, thus realizing a revenue
for the general uses of the town. This, by reducing the taxes of the
town, spreads the benefit among the people in proportion to the valu-
ation of their property, and to protect the rights of those who have
but little taxable estate, most of the towns, in leasing the herring
rights, fix a minimum price at which each family may be entitled to
a supply for domestic uses from those who lease the privilege.
The supply of the various kinds of shell-fish has always been a
resource of considerable importance. Oysters, clams, quahaugs, scal-
lops, shrimps, and lobsters are the more abundant. The oyster, so
long a popular food, was found here by the first settlers, who made
them a staple article of diet. The great use which the Indians made
of shell-fish is evinced by the immense heaps of shells which now,
partially covered, are the best existing records of the location of their
principal settlements. The latter part of last century marked an
epoch in the oyster industry. Implements and methods employed in
taking them from the natural beds destroyed large quantities of the
small ones, and the legislation aimed at this reckless destruction came
too late. During this century the oyster business has consisted in
transplanting to grounds favorable to their development, oyster seed
from other localities. They have been common in Wellfleet bay,
where the once famous Wellfleet oysters were taken, in the coves of
Eastham, Orleans and Chatham, and on the shores of all the towns of
the upper Cape. In the palmy days of the Wellfleet oyster business,
forty or fifty sail of vessels were engaged each winter in transferring
the product to the Boston market.
The last state census shows that Barnstable county has 562^ acres
of oyster beds, which is more than two-thirds of all the grounds in
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 141
the state. Bourne, on its Buzzards bay front, has 168J acres, which is
nearly all the native beds of the county, and has also 124 acres of
planted beds. Barnstable has two acres of native and 249 of planted;
Chatham has ten acres of planted; Dennis three of planted; Mashpee
3J of planted; and Harwich has three acres of native beds. These
beds of native oysters are the only ones in Massachusetts, excepting
250 acres at Somerset, in Bristol county. This census report does not
notice the beds on the west of Waquoit bay, planted in 1877, where
F. C. Davis now has the only oyster beds in Falmouth, and has done
an increasing business during the last year. In the town histories of
Bourne, Barnstable, Mashpee, Chatham and Wellfleet, their cultiva-
tion by the various planters is noticed.
By that inexorable law of change and succession, the oyster and
the oysterman are, so far as these shores are concerned, slowly, but
surely, passing away. Their doom is the shifting sand, and the busi-
ness as a source of gain or general employment must be now regarded
as among the things that have been. The man who followed this
vocation has been made immortal in literature by Thoreau, in his in-
imitable description of the Wellfleet oysterman, and the oyster him-
self has made a pleasant and lasting impression, very near, if not
quite, upon the hearts of all who knew him.
The perennial clam, the abundance of which the Pilgrims made
the subject of thanksgiving, still abides as a blessing to their posterity.
He figures in all the affairs here except politics — at the church fair, at
the picnic dinner, in the menu of every well-regulated hotel, at the
rich man's feast, and at the poor man's board, he appears in various
guises. He and his hard-shelled cousin, the quahaug, are indigenous to
the sands of every shore. Here are 160 miles of shore line, greatly in-
creased by indentations of coves and bays, and almost throughout this
entire stretch of tide-water margins, these nutritious shell-fish are in
greater or less abundance.
The business of clam-digging calls for the minimum investment of
capital and the maximum employment of labor, hence it has ever fur-
nished employment and profit to many whose tastes or finances de-
terred them from embarking in other fishing enterprises. The old
saying that there is no royal road to learning is equally true of clam
digging. Any man or boy not necessarily well-dressed, and equipped
with a short-handled hoe and a pair of long-handled boots, is fully pre-
pared to make the business remunerative.
The various branches of the fishing business which accustomed the
boys to the sea was the great school whose graduates became the
master marines. Every product of the sea and of the soil made cargo
for the coasters, whose prosperity began so early in the Cape history,
and continued so late. Before the modem railway, this coasting busi-
142 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ness was of immense importance as an employment for capital and
labor. Almost every port had its craft of various tonnage engaged in
the carrying business. From the first the building of their vessels
was one of their staple industries, and long after the local supply of
material had been exhausted, ship timber was brought here, and the
brain and muscle of the Cape people converted it into cash through
the construction of staunch ships of no mean proportions. Since
yachting has been popular small craft have been built at several ports
in the county; but these enterprises, as well as the building of larger
vessels earlier, have been regarded as business enterprises of the
towns or villages in which they were carried on.
The records of the state bureau of labor statistics show that during
the five years preceding 1837 the total value of all craft built in the
county was $316,790. The census of the state since then gives the fol-
lowing figures: In 1845 Barnstable built fifteen vessels; Chatham, six;
Falmouth, eight; Orleans, six; Provincetown, 150, all small craft, and
Sandwich one vessel of four hundred tons, worth $15,000. The census
year 1855 gives Barnstable, fifteen; Chatham, fifteen; Harwich, forty;
and Provincetown seventy small craft. Dennis at this time had fifty
people employed, and built two vessels of 630 tons each, and Falmouth
one of 260 tons. In 1865 Barnstable reported four; Harwich fourteen;
and Provincetown nineteen small boats, built withing the census year.
At the close of the next decade it appeared that Barnstable was build-
ing ten small boats each year, and that Provincetown had built one
worth $11,420. The census of 1885 showed that Barnstable had built
in the preceding year seventeen vessels, worth $6,377; Bourne, three,
worth $4,000; Harwich, eight, worth $2,000, and Provincetown, thirty-
nine, worth $6,800.
Unless the building of boats be regarded as such, manufacturing
has received comparatively little attention in this county. Prior to
the revolution, however, the Cape people were largely engaged in the
manufacture of cloth. The families not only generally made their
own, but the Marston's and Winslow's were prominent in its manufac-
ture for commerce. In 1768 the best ladies of the county, as well as
gentlemen, were dressed in homespun, even to their gloves. Barn-
stable and Falmouth were the principal towns engaged in making
woolen goods. The glass factories at Sandwich, the brick works at
West Barnstable, and the pants factory at Orleans and Wellfleet, the
shoe factory at West Dennis, the guano works at Woods Holl and the
oil and fertilizer works at Wellfleet and Provincetown, are or have
been local enterprises, and will receive attention in the several village
histories.
In yet another way has the sea contributed to the wealth of Barn-
stable county. Here 350 gallons of its waters are found to contain
INDUSTRIAL RESOUKCES.
143
one bushel of salt. It was during the revolution that the first prac-
tical use was made of this fact. A bushel of salt in 1783 was worth
eight dollars, and its extraction by boiling was the child of their
necessity. The general court, six years before, saw fit to encourage
its manufacture by a bounty of three shillings per bushel. As the
diplomatic relations which led to the war of 1812 were unsettling
values, and salt was rising rapidly in price, works were erected in
various parts of the Cape, where salt was obtained by solar evapora-
tion. One company was incorporated in 1809, and in 1821 a Wellfleet
company was incorporated, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars.
Before the gradual decline of the business began, two million dollars
were at one time invested in salt works.
Many crude methods were employed, but at last a regular Cape
Cod salt works consisted of one or more wind mills for pumping the
water, and a series of pine-plank vats to receive it. These vats, usu-
ally nine inches deep and from twelve to twenty feet square, were
furnished with movable covers that their contents might be exposed
to the sun or shielded from the rain. Several plans of vats and cov-
ers were in use, each serving this general purpose. First, the covers
were made to slide to and fro on suitable ways; next, they were so
made as to be swung to and from their places; and finally this idea
was elaborated and the double revolving covers came into use. In
1803, John Sears, of East Dennis, proposed an improvement in vats
144 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
and covers, which for years bore the name of Sears' Folly. As the
process of evaporation progressed, which required weeks to complete,
the brine was conducted from the first vats, called water-rooms, into a
second range called pickle-rooms, where the lime was removed and
the crystals commenced forming. Then the brine was run into other
vats, called salt-rooms, where the crystalization went on until salt
could be raked out and placed in warehouses to dry.
The first public record regarding this industry, in details by towns,
is the state census of 1837; and since that time the number of people
employed, capital invested, bushels produced, number of establish-
ments engaged in its manufacture, and the value of the product, have
been ascertained for each state census.
Barnstable in 1837 had thirty-four establishments, producing an-
nually 27,125 bushels; in 1845, twenty-four, producing 21,000; in 1855,
eleven, producing 10,550; and in 1865, three, producing 3,382 bushels.
Brewster in 1837 had sixty different works, producing 34,500 bush-
els; in 1845, thirty-nine, producing 20,500; in 1855, seventeen, produc-
ing 5,000; and in 1865, twelve, producing 5,000 bushels.
Chatham had eighty plants in 1837, which produced 27,400 bush-
els; in 1846, fifty-four, producing 18,000; and in 1855, fourteen, pro-
ducing 3,300 bushels.
Dennis in 1837 produced from 114 establishments, 52,200 bushels;
in 1845, from eighty-five establishments, 34,600; in 1855, the town
produced 19,800 bushels; in 1865,twenty-three plants produced 15,-
275; and in 1885, one person made 300 bushels.
Eastham in 1837 had fifty-four establishments, that produced 22,-
370 bushels; in 1845. thirty-five produced 17,320; in 1855, twenty-eight
produced 13,722, and in 1865, the nine works made 4,575 bushels.
Falmouth in 1846 had forty-two salt-works, producing 24,600 bush-
els; in 1855, fifteen works made 9,000 bushels; and in 1866 the four
remaining plants produced 2,800 bushels.
Harwich had eight different salt works in 1837, and produced
4,000 bushels; half as many, in 1845, made 450, and in 1855 one indi-
vidual made 140 bushels.
Orleans had fifty plants in 1837, which turned out 21,780 bushels;
in 1845, forty-six establishments made 17,072; in 1856, nineteen plants
made 10,126; and in 1865, fifteen plants produced 4,740 bushels.
Provincetown had seventy-eight salt works in 1837, employing an
average of two men to each, and producing 48,960 bushels; in 1846,
seventy plants made 26,000 bushels of salt; in 1855, five plants made
2,304; and in 1865 the only remaining plant produced 200 bushels.
Sandwich, in 1837, had eight plants, producing 2,670 bushels;
and in 1845 the number and their product had diminished one
half.
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 145
Truro made 17,490 bushels of salt in 1837 at thirty-nine establish-
ments; in 1845 its twenty-five salt makers produced 11,515; and in
1855, fifteen works produced 5,078 bushels.
Wellfleet had thirty-nine of these works in 1837, which produced
10,000 bushels; in 1845 the twenty-eight works produced 6,000; in
1855, thirteen plants turned out 40,000; and in 18d5, five plants pro-
duced 7,000 bushels.
Yarmouth, which was long prominent in this industry, had fifty-
two plants in 1837, from which 365,200 bushels were produced; in
1845, sixty-five plants made 74,065 bushels; in 1855, forty-two plants
produced 27,650 bushels; in 1865, nineteen made 13,780; in 1875, three
plants only remained in operation in the town; and in 1885 the re-
maining one, operated by one man, produced but 1,200 bushels.
Glauber salts were at one time marketed, but the low price of that
article made its manufacture unprofitable, and it was thereafter al-
lowed to dissolve and pass into the bittern. This bittern or resi-
duum began to be utilized in the manufacture of carbonate and
calcined magnesia about the year 1850. The manufacture of Epsom
was continued at South Yarmouth until the year 1888 when, for
the first time in seventy-six years, the salt-mills along the shore
of Bass River ceased to revolve and the business of salt making was
discontinued. A view of these ruins is at page 143.
So generally have the villagers in the many hamlets of the
county made salt-making a part of their business that we have
classed it as a local enterprise, and in the several town histories
have given detailed accounts of the hundreds of these plants.
The increase in value of the pine for making the vats was a check
upon the business. The supply was largely from Maine, when
most of the works were built, and since the decline of the indus-
try much of the lumber in these salt works has been used in the
construction of dwelling-houses and other buildings. Between Hy-
annis and West Dennis, some of the vats, with their dilapidated
covers, yet stand, seemingly in memory of a departed industry
which gave employment to many and proved a blessing to the
localities in which it flourished.
The most ancient branch of induslry, and one not subject to the
dangers of the waves, is that of agriculture, in which the first settlers
engaged, and which is largely carried on at the present time. The
alluvial deposits of the north shore from Buzzards bay to Eastham,
where the first settlements of the Cape were made, were highly pro-
ductive; and history has recorded that Nauset was the granary of the
Pilgrims, years before the white man disturbed the virgin soil. The
cultivation of these lands, as soon as a spot could be cleared or the
fields of the natives obtained, was the natural labor of the pioneer.
10
146 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Wheat and corn were the principal productions for many years, but
the production of the former declined prior to 1700, because mildew
injured the crop for several successive years. The wheat product was
again increased during the first half of last century, but during this it
has ceased to be one of the productions of the county. Corn, rye, oats,
potatoes, and roots, in some towns, have long been and still are the
staple crops, but as the major part of the people now pursue more
lucrative avocations on the sea, the quantity of vegetable food re-
quired by the inhabitants is not grown within the county limits.
The hay of the salt meadows early induced the settlers to remove
here, and it has since been a staple, spontaneous product. English
hay was early sought as a product of the soil, and in its steady in-
crease has become one of the largest and most profitable of the field.
Sheep husbandry was an early industry of the county. The sheep
were allowed to run at large, ranging through the brush and woods
of the central portions of the Cape, and not until the commencement
of the present century did this branch of industry cease to be remu-.
nerative; and even later small flocks were kept, the product of which
found a place in the round of domestic economy. In the commence-
ment of the growth of sheep husbandry laws were enacted that no
sheep should be sold out of the colony, for the violation of which law
a heavy penalty was prescribed. Cattle raising has kept pace with
other branches of the business of the farm, and has always proved
remunerative. The increase in the number of cattle and horses has
been more rapid during the present century than previously, amount-
ing in 1879 to quite a quarter of a million of dollars. The average
area of the individual farms in this county is small, but in various
towns and during all the past generations records and tradition point
to the growing of profitable crops. Fertilizers of various kinds are
used, but in the use of the refu.se of the salt marshes and the fish, this
county possesses advantages over those inland; still, phosphates and
fertilizers are imported, the cost in 1880 being $4,623.
Fruit growing has received much attention, and not only have
many farms well-set, thrifty Orchards of varied fruits, but nearly every
home spot has its variety. The many orchards of one hundred years
ago still exist here and there over the county, and there are cases of
still greater longevity. The pear tree planted by Governor Prince in
Eastham, where he settled in 1644, lived two centuries, and has passed
away within the remembrance of middle-aged residents.
The last government statistics placed the number of Barnstable
county farms at 979, of which some are small and some are dairy
farms; but in the general products of field culture, when relatively con-
sidered with other New England counties, this is far from the bottom
of the column. The interest in the industry is evinced by the annual
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 147
fairs, and the important society for the advancement of agriculture
in its various branches, of which particulars may be found in Chapter V.
The branch of this industry now receiving the most attention and
from which the largest revenue is derived, is cranberry culture.
To the product of this berry a vast number of bogs and lowlands have
been transformed from a condition of seeming worthlessness to the
most valuable land of the county. These bogs for generations have
quietly rested on every farm of the Cape, there receiving the richness
of the .surrounding higher lands, while in themselves they were
accumulations of the most fertile vegetable mould — but useless to the
owner. The cranberry grew in these in a wild state, and until half
a century ago the fruit was carelessly passed as of no utility. Its
present appreciation by the civilized nations of both hemispheres is
another attesting circumstance of the change in tastes and customs
which so revolutionizes the industries of a people.
Much speculation and many conflicting statements are at hand re-i
garding the time, place, and circumstance in which this great industry
had its beginning on the Cape. At North Dennis, about 1816, one
Henry Hall owned a piece of low land on which wild cranberries
grew. Adjoining this were beach knolls, from which, after the cut-
ting of some small timber, the sand was blown upon the vines. This,
instead of injuring the berries of which he had made some use, was
found to greatly improve them as they sprang up through the lighter
parts of the sand covering; and thus is believed to have originated
the idea so fundamental in their successful cultivation. So little was
this fruit prized, even at its best, that it was many years before any
considerable use was made of this accidental discovery. In the mean-
time William Sears, now living, and his father Elkanah, set, at East
Dennis, some vines for their own use, and others in those vicinities
soon after followed the example; but no one thought of making any
commercial use of the berry. Benjamin F. Bee, of Harwich, says that
Isaiah Baker set a few square rods to cranberries, at West Harwich,
before 1840; but this experiment, whatever its date, shared the fate of
all that were made prior to 1847. In 1844 and 1845 Alvan Cahoon,
then sailing a vessel from North Dennis, saw the Henry Hall vines
and how they were improved by the sand covering, and in 1846 he set
eight rods to berries at Pleasant lake, in Harwich; and in 1847, the
now venerable Cyrus Cahoon prepared and set, at Pleasant lake, one-
fourth of an acre. These dates are fully authenticated, and mark the
period from which may be dated cranberry culture in Barnstable
county.
Several years elapsed before the business yielded anything like
profit to anyone. About the time the experiments were being made
at Pleasant lake, Zebina H. Small set a little plot at Grassy pond.
148 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
where he lost the four hundred dollars which he invested. Later, he
adopted a diflferent system from any then in use, and became a suc-
cessful grower, probably among the very first, in point of time, to
make the business profitable. In his biography, in the chapter on
Harwich, his early beginning in the culture of cranberries is noticed,
and diligent search among his accounts and records has not revealed
a more definite date than is there given. During his lifetime Mr.
Small was regarded by some as the original cranberry man of his
town, and unquestionably, was among the very first to experiment.
We have noticed with exact dates those early experiments at Pleasant
lake. A work on cranberry culture, written by Joseph J. White, pub-
lished in 1870 by Orange Judd & Co., contains a letter over Mr. Small's
name, under date of February, 1870, in which he says that his first
experiments were made in Harwich " twenty-five years ago." On the
site of these first experiments in the rear of Benjamin F. Bee's factory,
near Harwich Center, his son Emulous Small, now a prominent grower,
has a productive bog.
In 1852 or 1853, Nathaniel Robbins set a few, and afterward became
an extensive grower. His bogs in Harwich were not especially profit-
able, but he made a fair property as owner in other bogs. Jonathan
Small sanded a bog quite early at South Harwich near the shore,
where now is Deep Hole bog. Deacon Braley Jenkins of West Barn-
stable was the first to cultivate the berry in that part of the Cape,
having his bog on Sandy Neck outside the ancient Cummaquid
harbor.
While these primitive experiments were proving the wisdom of
some theories and the folly of others, the supply of berries was upon
the whole rapidly increasing, for in almost every portion of the Cape
were swamps available for no other known purpose.
Probably the men who brought the berry to the attention of the
public outside of the districts to which it was indigenous and created
a demand for it, were potent factors in the development of this in-
dustry. That change of taste which we have noticed as continually
going on, has brought this little waif of the swamp lands into notice,
and made it a favorite with the epicures of every country. Writers
who called attention to it also promoted the general interest. Rev.
Eastwood, of North Dennis, published a book on the cranberry and
its cultivation, which attracted the attention of the New Jersey men,
where the conditions for raising them were similar. In the book the
author informed his readers that William Crowell, now of North Den-
nis, then of Baker & Crowell, at 23 South street, New York, would
answer inquiries from any who intended to start in this enterprise.
From this and other causes their firm handled large quantities of the
cuttings of the vines which were sent to New Jersey to start the in-
dustry there.
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 149
The preparation of the bogs is in most instances a tedious and ex-
pensive process, costing, by the time the vines are started, from two
hundred to five hundred dollars per acre, and in some instances even
more. The usual method is to clear the land of bushes and stumps,
make the surface as level as practicable, and then cover with a layer
of sand to the depth of from three to eight inches. The vines are
then set out in rows, and soon cover the whole acreage uniformly.
As with all other crops, cranberries require constant care and atten-
tion to keep out undesirable growth. Ivy must be pulled out as soon
as it makes its appearance, as it spreads very rapidly when once
started. The same is true of grass and fern. After a few years the
vines become thick, making the berries ripen too slowly and difficult
to pick; this is remedied by putting on a layer of sand an inch or two
thick every few years. One method of resanding is to sand on the ice
when the bog is flowed in winter.
Every known variety is indigenous to the soil of the Cape, from
which the fruit receives an excellence so peculiarly marked as to
render the Cape Cod berries the most valuable in market. This
native fruit has been cultivated to its present perfection by trans-
planting and carefully cultivating the best-producing vines. No new
varieties, other than existed in their native beds, have been added to .
the list; but the selection of the most perfect vines and their develop-
ment under more favorable circumstances, has improved the pleasing
and profitable varieties which bear the names of those who prosecuted
the work. The Early Blacks, a standard variety, originated on lands
in Harwich belonging to Nathaniel Robbins, from whom all the men
who are said to have developed it obtained, directly or indirectly,
their first plants. The Howes vine originated in Dennis and was first
propagated by James Howes, who has sold hundreds of barrels of cut-
tings. The Sears vine, and the Smalle)' are other well-known varie-
ties. There are kinds that ripen sufficiently to pick during the last
week in August, but not until the first week of the following month
is the picking general, and this work gives lucrative emplo5inent to
men, women and children during a period of several weeks. To
hasten the tedious work of picking has been the study of inventive
minds and several hand machines have been introduced; but the per-
fection of the device and its introduction to general use has not yet
been accomplished.
The success of this industrial pursuit was scarcely assured when
natural enemies of the crop began to appear. The fire worm is the
most dangerous of the insect foes, and various means have been ap-
plied for his extermination. Flowing the bogs at the proper time
was first found to be a remedy, but this retarded the growth of the
berries and left them more liable to injury by early frosts in autumn.
150 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Again, some bogs could not be quickly submerged and a delay of
eighteen hours in checking the work of the worm at a critical time
decides the fate of the crop. Tobacco decoctions as a spray on the
vines have been used with good results. In 1889, Eleazer K. Crowell
of Dennis Port, an extensive grower, made experiments covering sev-
eral acres to which he applied as much as eighteen barrels of tobacco
decoction in a single day with a satisfactory result.
The distinguishing feature of this business is the large percentage
of the gross market price which comes to the people whose labor
produces them. From the laborers who prepare the bogs to the many
men, women and children who pick the berries, all classes find profit-
able employment and, except the freights and selling commissions, the
whole price of the fruit in market finds its way into the pockets of the
Cape people. The screening, sorting and cleaning the berries for the
market is no small amount of labor. Making the barrels and boxes
necessary for their shipment to market is another considerable indus-
try. Many growers make their own shipping cases, purchasing the mate-
rial from factories where it is prepared ready to put up, and there are
several shops in the county where these barrels and boxes are pre-
pared ready for sale.
Very handsome returns have generally been realized from invest-
ments here in the cranberry business. Several verified statements
are at hand showing a profit of over a hundred per cent, on the in-
vestment in a single year, and some of these reach 134 per cent.
Cyrus Cahoon of Pleasant Lake, whose age and observation fit him to
judge, fairly expresses the belief that the total investments in this
industry in Barnstable county since 1860 have yielded an average an-
nual return of thirty per cent., although this average includes some
recent years wherein some growers have made total failures.
In the census year 1855 there were 197 acres in the county, of which
Dennis had 60; Barnstable, 33; Falmouth, 26; Provincetown, 26; Brew-
ster, 21; Harwich, 17; Orleans, 8; Eastham, Sandwich and Yarmouth, 6
acres each, and Wellfleet, 2 acres. The next census by the state, in
1865, showed the total acreage for the county to be 1,074. Harwich
had become the leading town, having 209 acres; Dennis, 194; Brew-
ster, 136; Barnstable, 126; Provincetown, 110; Sandwich, 70; Falmouth,
68; Yarmouth, 40; Orleans, 38; Chatham, 27; Wellfleet and Eastham,
each 22; and Truro, 12 acres.
The state bureau of labor statistics records the production of cran-
berries in the county for the census year 1865 at 13,324 bushels, the
value of which was $36,815. The same authority places the crop of
1874 for the county at 44,031 bushels, of which Barnstable produced
10,019 bushels; Dennis, 8,637; Brewster, 6,198; Harwich, 6,600; Sand-
wich, 4,673; Falmouth, 4,438; Orleans, 1,128; Yarmouth, 845; Province-
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 151
town, 760; Eastham, 633; Wellfleet, 376; Chatham. 322; and Truro, 114
bushels. Since then the amount of the production has been stated in
barrels. The totals for the county, as determined from the shipment
records of the Old Colony Railroad Company, were 34,733 barrels for
1877, and 37,883 barrels for 1879. In 1880 they shipped 39,625 bar-
rels, and 26,500 barrels in 1883. In 1884 the crop was 27,246 barrels.
For 1886 the bureau of labor statistics furnishes the details by towns,
showing that each town in the county was producing this fruit, of
which Harwich, in the lead, marketed 12,180 barrels, and Wellfleet, at
the foot of the list, produced 143 barrels. The other towns in order
were: Barnstable, producing 8,509 barrels; Bourne, 8,094 barrels; Den-
nis, 6,030 barrels; Yarmouth, 6,000; Falmouth, 3,234; Brewster, 3,000;
Mashpee, 2,740; Sandwich, 2,389; Provincetown, 1,472; Orleans, 1,067;
Chatham, 1,000; Truro, 479; and Eastham, 471 barrels— a total for the
county of 55,898 barrels. These figures are from the producers' state-
ments, while the shipment records of the railroad company make the
total for the county 991 barrels less, a difference of less than two per
cent. The Old Colony figures for 1886 show the crop to have been
60,803 barrels; for 1887 to have been 63,476 barrels; for 1888 the crop
was 64,316, and for 1889 the gross shipments — the largest ever made
— reached 66,750 barrels.
The table shows the number of barrels or their equivalents shipped
in 1889 from the several stations, and gives an approximate idea of
the amount produced in the several towns. The West Barnstable and
Sandwich shipments include chiefly the crop of Mashpee.
Buzzards Bay 201
Monument Beach 141
Wenaumet 96
Cataumet 668
North Falmouth 736
West Falmouth 62
Falmouth 4,420
Woods Holl 170
Bourne 773
Bournedale '. . 1,681
Sagamore 3,371
Sandwich 5,800
West Barnstable 9,686
Barnstable 363
Yarmouth 4,735
Hyannis 3,349
South Yarmouth 2,968
South Dennis 5,993
North Harwich 3,930
Harwich 9,479
South Harwich 406
South Chatham 186
Chatham 680
Pleasant Lake 491
Brewster 6,286
Orleans 1,224
Eastham 189
North Eastham 33
South Wellfleet 66
Wellfleet 132
South Truro 68
Truro 13
North Truro 10
Provincetown 66
The area devoted to their culture in the several towns as recorded
by the local assessors for 1889, shows a total of 3,006i acres in the
county, valued at $589,639.00 as the basis of taxation. This area is
doubtless very nearly correct, but this valuation is not more than
152 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
two-fifths of the commercial value of these lands. The detail by-
towns are :
198^ acres in Bourne, valued at $35,684 00
131i " Falmouth, " 37,097 00
203i " Mashpee, " 66,160 00
135f " Sandwich, " 32,400 00
5491 " Barnstable, " 116,650 00
165i " Yarmouth, " 25,680 00
359ii " Dennis, " 71.870 00
600^ " Harwich, " 114,810 00
93f " Chatham, " 12,144 00
2o4 " Brewster, " 47,990 00
123i " Orleans, " 10,008 00
56 " Eastham, " 4,979 00
13f " Wellfleet, " 995 00
69i " Truro, " 3,754 00
. and 212i " Provincetown, " 9.618 00
This total for the county does not include the larger areas in
course of preparation, but not yet set with vines. Several individuals
and companies in the lower Cape are preparing to increase the acre-
age in those towns where, thus far, less of the fruit has been grown.
The biographical sketches of Abel D. Makepeace, of West Barn-
stable, generally known as the cranberry king; of Cyrus Cahoon and
Zebnia H. Small, of Harwich, and of E. K. Crowell, William Crowell
and Capt. Howes Baker, of Dennis, as they appear in the subsequent
chapters of this volume, and the personal mention of the other grow-
ers in the several towns, will throw more light upon their relation to
the origin and progress of this great industrial resource of South East-
ham, Mass.
The terms in which this county is generally referred to, and the
distinctive titles applied to the residents of it, have gradually given
those who have not known the territory or its inhabitants, the idea
that Cape Codders, the Cape and Cape Cod people were terms refer-
ring to a community different from the rest of New England, and
especially distinguished from the rest of the world. This idea is not
correct, even in general respects, because the residents of the county
have always, by land and sea, maintained business and social relations
as extensive with others as have any people. If, however, there be one
trait which, more than another, distinguish these families from others
of the East, it is that love of home which more or less characterizes
the dwellers of all islands and insular localities. This love of their
native place, and that reverence and respect for the character that
has been developed in it, seems to increase the longer they remain
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 163
away from it; and now that communication is so easy between the
East and West, each season witnesses the return to the Cape of those
who from it have gone to make their home in almost every state of
the Union. They find here something which, somehow, they forgot,
or failed to take with them when they went West; and so year after
year they come back to the scenes and circumstances of the old home,
" which father's grandfather built in 17 — and something."
That sensible practice, happily increasing among city people, of
checking themselves each year in the rush and hurry of business, to
take a vacation at the seaside, has already modified, to a great extent,
the resources and prospects of Cape Cod. Available building sites
for summer cottages are rapidly being occupied by those who build
more rr less elaborately and spend the larger portion of the year
here. This is especially true of Falmouth, where several people of
large means claim their residence. More than one-half of all the
taxes of this town are paid by four such families. These elegant
residences have been erected by the summer people almost through-
out the Buzzards bay side of the county, and down the Cape on either
shore; and on the higher lands as well, handsome residences beautify
the landscape. The most elaborate and expensive of all residences
in Barnstable county is Tawasentha, the new residence of Albert
Crosby, in Brewster, which is the subject of an illustration in the his-
tory of that town.
The salubrity of the climate, the remarkably even temperature,
and the opportunities for pleasure bring hundreds of strangers to
the Cape each season. Here are all the conditions to be looked or
hoped for at any seaside resort, and then here is that other element —
the hospitable good cheer of the New England home. The hotels are
good, but a large class of summer comers are those who choose the
farm house or the village home, where a view of the Cape life, as it
is, and the broad hospitality of the people are a stimulus to the
moral fibre of a man — not less to be desired, perhaps, than the brac-
ing, appetizing breezes which come to him from the ocean.
The visitors who choose hotel life find less accommodations than
the Cape should be able to furnish, and along this line the greatest de-
velopment in the immediate future is to be looked for and expected.
The tourist who hurriedly visits the Cape by rail gets the worst pos-
sible impression of it, for the railway was located to best accommo-
date the villages on either side, passing through the most barren and
uninviting lands between them. The traveler of the old stage-coach
days understood the country better. One can hardly find elsewhere
in the state so beautiful a drive as the south side coaches covered in
their trips from Sandwich through the pretty villages of Cotuit, Oster-
ville, Centerville, Hyannis, West and South Yarmouth, and over the
154 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Bass river lower bridge on through West Dennis, Dennis Port, West
Harwich, Harwich Port, South Harwich, West and South Chatham to
the flourishing village of Chatham.
Liberal sums are annually expended by the several towns to im-
prove the roads, and almost in proportion as the roads have been made
better has the summer business been increased. Falmouth has thus
far taken the lead in this respect, but each of the towns, especially in
the central and upper portions of the Cape, have charming drives,
where the impression is as though one were riding through some well-
kept park.
A Cape Cod man, now president of the largest bank in America, is
interested in a new hotel being erected on an elegant plan in Chat-
ham. At Monument Beach, on the site of the old Stearns House, a
new five-story hotel is nearly completed, and entirely around the point
on which it stands has been built a sea wall, having a circular sweep,
which bounds and protects the north and west sides of the grounds.
The house is of wood, with brown stone for veranda column founda-
tions, chimney caps and fireplaces. It contains eighty-nine guest
chambers, besides parlors, dining-rooms, kitchens, store-rooms, bath-
rooms, etc.
The Santuit House, at Cotuit, was built in 1860 by Braddock Cole-
man and run by him and his son James H. After being leased, the
Barnstable Savings bank sold it on a mortgage to Samuel Nickerson,
whose son-in-law, Charles N. Scudder, managed it two years, when it
passed in 1880 to its present owner, Abbie A. Webb. Mr. Webb re-
modeled it, bought the old Captain Alpheus Adams house, with other
adjoining property, and remodeled the whole, furnishing accommoda-
tions for one hundred guests. The Monument Club, at head of the
bay, has suitable buildings for comfort and recreation.
The Bay View House, the Redbrook House, and the Jachin are
beautifully located at Cataumet, on Buzzards bay. The locality has
many advantages as a-healthful resort, and is easily accessible by the
Woods Holl brahch of the railroad. Still further southward on the
bay, is Quisset harbor, a romantic spot in the southwest portion of
Falmouth. Ample accommodations are provided for guests. The
house is pleasantly situated on the high bank that encloses the har-
bor, which afifords safe sailing and successful fishing. George W.
Fish has been the popular proprietor for several years. On the sound,
at Falmouth Heights, Tower's Hotel was erected in 1871, and was en-
larged in 1875. Here also is the Goodwin Hou.se, a well-patronized
house, by Mrs. C. H. Goodwin. Menauhant, easterly of the Heights,
is also on the sound shore of Falmouth. This house is near the water,
is well protected on the land side by forests, and is a well-chosen lo-
cality. It was built in 1874 by Gideon Horton and Benjamin Angell
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INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. 155
who organized the Menauhant land company and built also some
cottages. In May, 1888, Floyd Travis, of Taunton, bought the hotel
property on which he has made many internal improvements. A
highway was laid out in 1889 connecting by the shore route with East
Falmouth,— reducing the distance from the railway station to 6i
miles.
The Hotel Falmouth, of Falmouth village, and the Dexter House,
at Woods Holl, are open during the entire year, but have a large
summer patronage. The Hotel Attaquin, of Mashpee, and the lya-
nough House, of Hyannis, also make a specialty of entertaining
summer boarders.
The Cotocheset House, at Wianno Beach, near Osterville, was built
by Harvey Scudder prior to 1869, and was owned by J. C. Stevens
from 1877 until its destruction by fire in 1887. The real estate at this
beach was largely owned by the Osterville Land Company. After the
fire the Cotocheset Company, a stock company, erected the present
fine hotel — still known as the Cotocheset House — which was leased by
the popular hostess, Mrs. Ames, who had managed the former hotel
eight years with remarkable success.
The Sea-View is beautifully located at Harwich Port, accommodat-
ing many summer boarders; and at Chatham the Travelers' Home has
been fitted up, giving a commanding view of the ocean and sound.
The hotels of the towns down the Cape are more or less patronized by
pleasure seekers, and to be added to these is the Giflford House of
Provincetown, open only during the summer. This house is pleasantly
situated on an eminence overlooking the harbor.
Prominent on the north or bay side of the Cape stands the Nobs-
cussett House, at Dennis. Situated on a bluff sixty feet above the
sea, the eye, from its cupola, sweeps a marine half circle of a twenty
mile radius, and a stretch almost as distant of picturesque landscape,
with meadow, hill, forest and crystal ponds. From every direction it
catches the ocean breeze, bringing with it " the breath of a new life —
the healing of the seas." There is, perhaps, no place on the Atlantic
coast that offers so many advantages for a summer's rest by the sea as
this spot. The hotel grounds cover one hundred and twenty-five
acres, with nearly three-quarters of a mile of sea front, furnishing ex-
cellent facilities for bathing, boating, fishing, and ample room for
rambling, croquet, lawn tennis and swings. Forty acres of these
grounds were set apart for whaling purposes in the early history of
the town, and for more than two hundred years the old " Whale
House " occupied the site on which the pavilion now stands.
An attractive feature is the pier extending into the sea eight
hundred feet, with a pavilion at the end, where it widens to fifty feet,
in a depth of twenty feet of water at high tide. With clams, lobsters.
166 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
fish in great variety, fresh from the sea, and all the vegetables of the
season, with rich cream and milk furnished daily from the adjacent
Tobey farm, the appetite, whetted by the sea air, is readily appeased.
The house is supplied with pure water from a never-failing spring,
while the drainage and sanitary arrangements are the best that mod-
ern science can suggest.
In 1885, the late Charles Tobey of Chicago, a native of Dennis,
purchased this property and greatly enlarged and beautified its ap-
pearance by adding to the hotel a front of four and a half stories,
building two cottages with twelve rooms each, a billiard room and
bowling alley with hall above, a pavilion, ice house and stable. The
grounds were improved by walks, driveways and flower beds. Re-
cently the present owner, Frank B. Tobey, of Chicago, also a native of
Dennis, has made extensive additions to the hotel, so that it now fur-
nishes accommodation for two hundred guests. Luther Hall, of Den-
nis, has charge of this property, assisted in the management of the
hotel by F. H. Pratt.
Generally, the several hotels mentioned in the histories of the vil-
lages through the county make special preparations to entertain the
summer people.
Not the least of the attractions of the Cape are the excellent facil-
ities for yachting. The retired shipmasters, as well as the pleasure-
seekers, own handsome yachts and engage in the sport. Regattas are
sailed each season at various points around the shore, under the aus-
pices of the Cape Cod Yacht Club, in which nearly every town is repre-
sented. The past summer has been marked by the several yacht races
at Buzzards Bay, Nobscussett, and along the sound, many of the visit-
ors having large and beautiful yachts for their private use.
CHAPTER X.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
By John H. Dillingham.
CCopyrtght, 1890.]
General View of the Rise and Course of their Principles in Barnstable County. — The
Society inSandwich. — Newell Hoxie. — The Society in Ytirmouth. — David K. Akin.
— The Society in Falmouth. — The Dillingham Family.
MINISTERS of the Society of Friends first made their appearance
in this county in the year 1657, ten years after the rise of the
society in England, chiefly under the ministry of George Fox.
These were Christopher Holder and John Copeland, who, having
landed at Rhode Island, proceeded soon to Martha's Vineyard. Their
religious ofi^erings being unacceptable to the governor of the island
and to Mayhew, the priest, an Indian was ordered to convey them
across the sound. They stepped upon the (now called) Falmouth
shore on the 20th of Sixth* month, 1657, and proceeded to the town of
Sandwich. There they found a number unsettled in their church re-
lations, doubtful of the propriety of stated preaching, and believing in
the duty of Christians without human ordination to exercise their own
gifts in the ministry. Thus the seed of what was nicknamed Quaker-
ism found a soil to some extent prepared. The spiritual doctrines
preached by Christopher Holder and John Copeland were hailed with
feelings of satisfaction by those who had found little food in stated
preaching or in forms of worship. Not less than eighteen families in
Sandwich were on record the next year as professing with Friends.f
This was not the first arrival of Copeland and Holder on New
England shores, but they were of the first cargo of Friends who suc-
ceeded in getting a foothold on New England soil, to propagate their
views of gospel truth. They had first arrived from London in Boston
* Now Eighth month, called August.
f " They have many meetings and many adherents; almost the whole town of
Sandwich is adhering towards them. . . The Sandwich men may not go to the Bay
[Boston colony], lest they be taken up for Quakers." — Letter of James Cud worth, a Puri-
tan, in 1658.
168 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
bay one year before, together with six fellow laborers in the same
cause. The.'5e arrived only two days after the sailing away of Mary
Fisher and Anne Austin, who had been the first of that society to come
to New England; and who, after five weeks' imprisonment, had been
sent to Barbadoes on the vessel in which they came. Now, these
eight other Friends appearing in place of the two just banished,
brought no small consternation to the minds of the authorities,
who had them imprisoned for eleven weeks, and subjected to many
hardships in jail, before they were shipped back to London.
The aged Nicholas Upshal, who had been touched by the suffer-
ings of Mary Fisher and Anne Austin as prisoners, and had given
them provisions, now raised his voice in protest against the treatment
of Quakers and the laws enacted against them. Banished from his
home in consequence, he proceeded southward in hope of finding
shelter at Sandwich. But the governor of Plymouth had issued a war-
rant forbidding any of the people of Sandwich to entertain him The
inhabitants of Sandwich, which even then began to appear as the
cradle of religious liberty for Massachusetts, were mercifully disposed
to ignore the governor's order summoning him to Plymouth. But
such was the pressure brought to bear on them by the governor,
that when spring-time came, they advised Nicholas Upshal to
seek refuge in Rhode Island. Succeeding in reaching the free
soil of Newport, doubtless there as during his sojourn in Sand-
wich, he served to prepare many minds for the reception of the
doctrines which he had learned in Boston through the per-
secuted Friends. The story of the old man's wrongs being a theme
of general conversation at Newport, an Indian chief was heard to ex-
claim, " What a God have the English, who deal so with one another
about their God ! "
It was while this topic was fresh that Robert Fowler's vessel, the
Woodhouse, arrived at Newport, landing six of the eleven Friends whom
he had brought from England, — the other five of his passengers having
disembarked at New Amsterdam (New York). Of the six who pro-
ceeded to Newport, Christopher Holder and John Copeland remained
there nearly a fortnight. No doubt the exiled Nicholas Upshal, who
had passed the preceding winter in Sandwich, had much conference
in Newport with these welcome brethren; and much that he could say
to them about the fields being ready for a harvest in Sandwich, may
have been instrumental in turning the course of Copeland and Holder
toward the Cape, by way of the Vineyard. But Copeland, in a letter to
his parents, names only the next station immediately in view: " Now
I and Christopher Holder are going to Martha's Vineyard in obedi-
ence to the will of our God, whose will is our joy."
It is requisite here that we should take a glance at the more dis-
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 159
tinguishing doctrines inculcated by the Friends * in order to under-
stand a little of their public, though invisible influence on the life of
the western half of the county, especially in Sandwich, Falmouth and
Yarmouth, where societies of them were early gathered and still re-
main. This influence has been due, not to their numbers, but to their
character. And their character, so far as it is the outcome of their
doctrines, is traceable to so much of the Spirit of Christ, not as they
have professed as a foundation doctrine, but as they have admitted
into their hearts to live by and obey.
As the immediate beginning of modern Protestantism sprang up
in the revelation livingly opened to Luther while performing a Rom-
ish penance, that " The just shall live by faith," so a similar be-
ginning of that more distinct testimony for the spiritual nature of the
Christian dispensation, as the second wave of the reformation, by some
* The first written declaration of faith, representing some of the leading doctrines
of Friends, is believed to be the following, issued by Christopher Holder, John Cope-
land and Richard Doudney, soon after the first visit of the two former in Sandwich.
It is dated: " From the House of Correction, the 1st of the Eighth month, 1657, in
Boston."
" We do believe in the only true and living God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all things in them con-
tained, and doth uphold all things that he hath created by the word of his power.
Who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past to our fathers by the
prophets, but in these last days hath spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath made
heir of all things, by whom he made the world. The which Son is that Jesus Christ
that was born of the Virgin; who suffered for our offences, and is risen again for our
justification, and is ascended into the highest heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of
God the Father. Even in him do we believe; who is the only begotten Son of the
Father, full of grace and truth. And in him do we trust alone for salvation; by whose
blood we are washed from sin; through whom we have access to the Father vrith bold-
ness, being justified by faith in believing in his name. Who hath sent forth the Holy
Ghost, to wit, the Spirit of Truth, that proceedeth from the Father and the Son, by
which we are sealed and adopted sons and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. From the
which Spirit the Scriptures of truth were given forth, as, saith the Apostle Peter, ' Holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' The which were written
for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come; and are profitable for the
man of God, to reprove, and to exhort, and to admonish, as the Spirit of God bringeth
them unto him, and openeth them in him, and giveth him the understanding of
them.
" So that before all men we do declare that we do believe in Grod the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit; according as they are declared of in the Scriptures; and the
Scriptures we own to be a true declaration of the Father, Son and Spirit; in
which is declared what was in the beginning, what was present, and waa to
come. » » « [The only doctrinal matter which follows is contained in
an exhortation to turn to the Spirit] that showeth you the secret of your hearts, and
the deeds that are not good. Therefore while you have light, believe in the light, that
you may be the children of the light; for, as you love it and obey it, it will lead you to
repentance, bring you to know Him in whom is remission of sins, in whom God is well
pleased; who will give you an entrance into the kingdom of God, an inheritance
amongst them that are sanctified."
160 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
denominated as Quakerism,* dates from the moment that George Fox,
after sore struggles and wanderings in search for the living truth,
heard the words as by a declaration from heaven, " There is one, even
Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition."
From that time, Jesus Christ, not only as " once offered to bear the
sins of many," but as the inspeaking Word of God and Mediator be-
tween man and the Father; the " true Light that lighteth every man
that cometh into the world "; the Leader, by the witness of his Spirt,
into all the Truth; and the practical "head over all things to his
church," even head over every individual exercise of true public and
private worship, — -has been the foundation of the system of doctrines
and testimony, which seemed to the early Friends clearly to proceed
from Christ by the witness of his spirit to their hearts.
They reverently owned the Holy Scriptures to be written words
of God, but were careful to observe them just as reverently in their
own confinement of the title " Word of God " to Christ himself. Sat-
isfied that the Scriptures were written by inspiration of God, they
dared to open or interpret their spiritual meaning under no other
qualification than a measure of that in which they were written.
Knowing that a prophecy of Scripture is of no private interpretation;
but, as it came not by will of man, no more can it be so interpreted;
and " as holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit," so in the light of the same Spirit must the sayings, as all the
other "things of the Spirit of God," be spiritually discerned; and,
when rightly called for, so declared to others.
Now, since " a measure and manifestation of the Spirit of God is
given to every man to profit withal," and " the grace of God which
bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching them," if they
will heed it, the essentials of life and salvation, God hath neither left
himself without a witness for Truth to every man's heart, nor man
any where with availing excuse. Since "sin is the transgression of
the law," and " all have sinned," all must have had the law, or evi-
dence of the divine will, — some in the Scriptures, and all mankind by
the Spirit, witnessing in their hearts against sin. " For where no law
is, there is no transgression." But by the inward witness of the Holy
Spirit, sin is disclosed to each man as sin; whereby Christ fulfills his
promise, if he should go away, to come again and " convince the world
of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment." And if under this con-
viction for sin there is a faithful repentance toward God, a saving faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ is imparted by the same Spirit (even to
such sincere penitents as may not have been informed of his outward
*A nickname, as in most cases ha,Dpens, more persistent than the adopted name,
and started by Greorge Fox's bidding a magistrate to " Tremble at the word of the
Lord."
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 161
history, yet they experience the spiritual mystery) to give us to feel
our transgriesson forgiven and iniquity pardoned, not for works of
righteousness that we may have done, but according to the Father's
mercy in Christ Jesus, who laid down his life, " the just for the un-
just," a " Propitiation for the sins of the whole world," that we " be-
ing reconciled by his death," may be " saved by his life."
Consistently with this adherence to Christ as the Word of God
" speaking to our condition," as we reverently wait on Him to know
his voice, no ministration but that of his spirit is needed, whether vo-
cally through the minister or " in the silence of all flesh," for the per-
formance of worship acceptable to God, — a worship which stands not
in words, or forms or emblems, but must be " in spirit and in truth."
Here no words of man are a part of worship, except under a fresh re-
quirement of the " Head overall things to his church "; whose charge
through the apostle Paul was, " If any man speak, let him speak as the
oracles of God; if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which
God giveth." Ministry, whether it be exhortation, teaching, praise or
prayer, under such immediate putting forth of Christ's Spirit, requires
no previous intellectual study or preparation; but may be exercised
according to the anointing and gift whether by learned or unlearned,
male or female. For " There is neither male or female: for ye are all
one in Christ Jesus." And the dispensation has been introduced when
the Spirit was to be " poured out on all flesh," and " your sons and
your daughters. — servants and handmaids — shall prophesy." (Acts ii:
17, 18). And Paul who forbade women to speak or teach in the church,
in the human sense of the word, was careful to tell how women should
appear wht . they should speak in the divine sense, — when they should
publicly pray or prophesy.
The Friends took note of the command of Christ: " Freely ye have
received, freely give," in its application to the ministry of the gospel.
Especially as, during the seasons of public worship, ministers in com-
mon with the flock were to " wait for a fresh anointing for every fresh
service," no sermons had to be prepared outside of the meetings in any
such way as to prevent ministers earning their own living, after the
example of the apostle Paul. Pastoral care, the watching over one
another for good, was the common duty of all the brethren. So, con-
scientiously unable to " preach for hire, or divine for money," and
concerned to avoid even the appearance of doing so, they brought
down upon themselves, chiefly by this one testimony against a " hire-
ling ministry," the most alarmed vituperation of the salaried clergy;
at whose instance the bulk of their persecutions thus most naturally
came.
Regarding the ceremonials of the Old Testament law as types, fig-
ures and object lessons of the spiritual life of the religion of Christ
11
162 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
■who was to come; and that he, when he said on the cross, " It is fin-
ished," became " the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth "; and that every outward ordinance of the former dis-
pensation was obsolete because fulfilled in Christ himself, the living
Substance, to whom all types and shadows that went before pointed ;
—they believed it to be his will that the spirit and not the forms of
those ceremonials, — the heavenly things themselves and not the im-
ages of those things, — should be maintained and cherished by living
experience. The Jewish rite of water baptism and the passover sup-
per, as outward observances, ended like all the others, with the Old
Dispensation, — the baptism of John as a prophet under that dispensa-
tion belonging there, while he with his master distinctly declared that
Christ's own baptism, under the incoming dispensation of " One Lord,
one faith, tf«,? baptism," should be the baptism of the " Holy Spirit and
of fire." Also that no obligation for the continuance of the last pass-
over supper, as an outward form, is found in any more definite com-
mand than this, — in the fuller sentence as quoted by Paul:— "This do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me "; — a condescension
to a formed habit, with the command resting on the spiritual side, —
the remembrance of him. The Friends taught, that inward submis-
sion to Christ's spirit as the bread of life and the wine to be drank
" anew with his disciples in his kingdom," is the table of communion
at which he would " sup with us and we with Him."
When the details of one's outward conduct or speech are referred
to his secret sense of the pure will of Christ in his heart, the consist-
ent attempt to carry out the light of truth into practice, must separ-
ate the servant of Christ from many ways and modes ol lose whose
chief guidance is the prevailing fashion and practice of the times. So
looking at pure and simple truth as a guide, the Friends could not ad-
dress to one individual the plural pronoun " you," — especially when
they saw that the use of it had its root in vanity, to flatter a person as
amounting to more than one; but they kept to the original thou and
thee in addressing an individual. This gave offense to magistrates,
confirming the Friends in their conviction that it " pricked proud
flesh." Regarding also the appellations Master (or Mr.), Mistress (or
Mrs.), Sir, Honorable, His Grace, Excellency, or Holiness, etc., as
springing from the root of pride in man, tending to feed the same, and
usually not founded in real truth, their spirit shrank from these and
all merely complimentary expressions and flattering titles, as incon-
sistent with the Spirit of Christ. Yet in the exercise of genuine
courtesy, William Penn testifies that George Fox was " civil beyond
all forms of breeding." They could find no spiritual warrant in mak-
ing obsequious distinctions between fellow-beings in what they termed
" hat-honor," and would retain their hats on their heads before king
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 163
and peasant alike. It also seemed to them beneath a Christian to bor-
row his names for days and months from heathen worship, as, to call
the fourth day of the week Woden's day or Wednesday, or recogniz-
ing y"?^«o'j right to be worshipped in what is now the sixth month, or
Augustus to be adored in the eighth. The Puritans felt the same
scruple about calling the first day of the week Sunday. Accordingly
Friends have observed the numerical names of days and months, as
Third-day, Fifth month, etc. Christ's command to " Swear not at all,"
seems to them imperative against swearing at all, whether in courts
of justice or elsewhere, with any manner of oath. And their sense of
his spirit as the Prince of Peace and the exponent of divine love, for-
bids in their minds any participation in war or retaliation, or capital
punishment. Plainness of dress, as of address, must follow from their
principles; and while they prescribed no form of garb as a rule, yet,
by ceasing to follow the changing fashions, they found themselves ere
long left behind in a garb peculiar to themselves; which, on finding it
served as a hedge against the spirit and maxims of the world, and
served as a visible testimony of their principles before the public,
Friends have even yet to some extent retained, in proportion to their
strenuousness for the original principles.
Such was the attempt of the " Friends of Truth," as they fre-
quently styled themselves, to get back out of the corruptions of the
church at large to first principles in Christ : or to represent what
William Penn, one of its noble converts, claimed to be "primitive
Christianity revived " ; — not a revelation of a new gospel, but "a new
revelation of the old gospel." Theirs was certainly not a .superficial
doctrine, and as it insisted on a corresponding practice, it could not
be expected to be popular ; or to escape that general misunderstand-
ing which exposed its adherents to persecutions. And as little general
openness for the understanding of it is found now, in the present day
of sensations, when entertaintnent is as much mistaken for worship, as
stated observances were formerly.
Barnstable county appears foremost in early Massachusetts history
as a representative, — imperfectly so, it is true, but most creditably for
the times, — of the spirit of religious toleration. In what other county
could such a church thus early and numerously have gained so firm
a foothold ? And what was the state of the community so preparatory
for the Friends' doctrine, that, within a year from the signal being
sounded by Holder and Copeland, a larger number of families in
-Sandwich gathered to the revived standard, than can be found pro-
fessing with Friends there now ?
The " ten men of Saugus " who began the settlement at Sandwich
in 1637, do not appear to have been imbued, as were their Puritan
neighbors whom they left behind, or the Puritanized successors of the
164 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Pilgrims whom they passed by at Plymouth, with determined zeal for a
theocracy, — or establishing on the Cape a church-state. Had they felt
most thoroughly at home in the intolerant sectarian atmosphere of
the Salem community, why did they separate themselves unto a dis-
tinct locality ? Religious, indeed, they evidently were,— but less tied
down to 'dogma, and of a freer spirit; adventurous enough to seek
new homes again ; and a little more liberal than the stayers behind
to take new scenes, new comers and new doctrines on their merits.
Dissensions were fermenting in the Sandwich church for several
years before the Friends appeared. Fines and penalties were imposed
on many who neglected or set at nought the stated worship. Some
professed to " know no visible worship." A growing movement in
favor of religious liberty and toleration, though strongly opposed by
the government, could not be set back. And for three years before
the arrival of Holder and Copeland, the stated pastorate of the church
in Sandwich had been discontinued. The pastor, William Leverich,
himself also said to be tinctured with toleration, found it expedient,
in consequence of the existing unsettlement, to leave the flock at
Sandwich in 1654 for Long Island. Yarmouth also was without a
pastor. And in 1659 we find the court still censuring the neglect of
some in Yarmouth to support the ministry. The people in both towns
are said to have become " indifferent to the ministry and to exercise
their own gifts." The doctrine of Friends had but to step in upon
this prepared ground and say that vocal ministry, and regulation
preaching at that, was not essential for worship in spirit and in truth ;
and all ministry spurious except that proceeding from the immediate
anointing of the Head of the church, whose messages could be de-
clared, as by the fishermen-disciples of old, without the learning of
the schools except the school of Christ ; — the Friends had but to sound
this word, to discover they had told their eager hearers nothing, but
had only clearly formulated what they had already vaguely believed.
So the thoughts of many hearts being revealed, neighbor was dis-
closed to neighbor in mutual recognition, resulting in open fellow-
ship in a new church profession.
The more distingfuishing principle of the society having once
found entrance in Sandwich on the question of worship and ministry,
it legitimately followed through all their other lines of faith and prac-
tice. Just as in this latter day from the same society the same prin-
ciples and consequently testimonies begin to go out at the same door,
— namely, the practice of worship and ministry, — at which the}' came
in. It is also but natural that the easy acquiescence in traditional
principles or in no principles, which is the weakness of merely birth-
right membership, should be but as a rope of sand to bind members
to the original profession ; in comparison with that strong, individual
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 165
convincement of truth by which new members, experiencing the
original cost, join the faith. In addition to this, and to prevailing
worldliness, the emigration of younger members from the meetings
of Sandwich, Yarmouth, and Falmouth, to seek livings in cities or in
the West, has largely contributed to the present reduced numbers of
the society in these parts.
But emigration is not a sufficient explanation, else the neighboring
churches should be found similarly diminished. "Thou hast left thy
first love," is the verdict which explains the thinning out of Friends'
ranks, even in cities of Massachusetts to which country-Friends' chil-
dren go. The movement of late years in Friends' meetings to borrow
modes and principles of other denominations in a hope of holding the
interest of the younger members, has served to direct the young peo-
ple to the churches and systems from which these alleged improve-
ments came. So that Friends' meetings thus popularized in our cities
not chargeable with emigration, have not been found holding their
own.
It cannot be denied that even on the Cape there was plenty of per-
secution to give impetus to the progress of the revival. It raised up
sympathy for the victims, zeal in the members, and inquiry concern-
ing their principles among many. Details of the convictions, fines,
and penalties imposed for countenancing Quakers, attending their
meetings, or advocating their doctrines, belong to our more local
treatment of town histories. But the Sandwich authorities were not
altogether willing executors of the harsh orders of the Plymouth gov-
ernment ; and the neighborhood which had the best opportunity of
understanding the Quakers, became the least inclined to harm them.
So we read of Holder and Copeland, who frequently visited the flock
here, that the Sandwich constable refusing to whip them, a Barnstable
magistrate gave them each thirty-three lashes, " with a new torment-
ing whip, with three cords and knots at the ends."
Though we seem to give to the Plymouth government the credit
of much of the distress encountered by the Friends at the hands of
Sandwich officers; yet let us make haste to clear the Pilgrim fathers
from the charge of a persecuting spirit. A distinction must be
made between the Pilgrims, who sailed in the Mayflower in 1620 and
came to Plymouth, and the Puritans who sailed in 1629 and founded
Boston. The Puritans were imbued with the principle of a state
church ; the Pilgrims were Separatists, and they knew in England
what it was to be persecuted by Puritans. The Puritans of Massa-
chusetts bay had remained in the church of England as long as pos-
sible, and they continued here to believe in a union of church and
state. In coming here to live by themselves, they did not mean to
have such union weakened. "The order of the churches and the
166 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
commonwealth," wrote Cotton, " is now so settled in New England
that it brings to mind the new heaven and new" earth wherein dwells
righteousness."
The Pilgrims came to these shores not primarily, like the Puri-
tans, to secure a state of their own as a church of their own, but to
enjoy religious liberty. Nevertheless they too, as Bancroft says, " de-
sired no increase but from the friends of their communion. Yet their
residence in Holland had made them acquainted with various forms
of Christianity; a wide experience had emancipated them from big-
otry, and they were never betrayed into the excesses of religious per-
secution." Thus the Pilgrims at Plymouth before they were super-
seded by the Puritans from Massachusetts bay, were prepared to be
of the more charitable spirit which afterward appeared in those Sep-
aratists from the Lynn colony who sought new homes in Sandwich.
But when Friends first appeared and were maltreated in Boston in
1656, and other Friends found a foothold in Sandwich in 1667, almost
the last of the Pilgrim fathers was dead. " Plymouth had ceased to
be an independent colony, and was part of the New England confed-
eration*." There was enough of the apparent Pilgrim spirit left in
Plymouth to make her milder towards dissenters than the Puritan
church-state at Boston could bear for her to be; and there were enough
of the descendants of the Pilgrims about Boston to get roughly
handled by the Puritans "for assisting the Quakers and boldly oppos-
ing persecution." But the great battle for religious liberty in Massa-
chusetts, of which Friends took the brunt, was fought by the Separa-
tists of the southward shores, against the Puritans at the north. The
blood of the four Friends executed on Boston common, sealed the vic-
tory for religious liberty in America.
How far the " Right arm of Massachusetts," as Cape Cod has been
styled, has reaped in its own character a worthy reward for magna-
nimity in shouldering the cause of religious liberty in her infancy,
cannot be fully measured till the secret workings of all principles are
revealed. That the so-called Quaker virtues and the characteristic
Cape virtues so largely coincide, we cannot presume to say is chiefly
traceable to the influence passing into the county through the Friends
themselves. No real Friend would so claim. " Names are nothing,"
said George Fox, "Christ is all." The same well-spring of life to
which he pointed men only to "leave them there," has watered the
land through many a human channel of spiritual influence, under
whatever name. But a standard for pure truth, when exalted, is jus£ as
effective a signal, whether held in few hands or in many. It is inevitable
* " And now the Plymouth saddle is on the Bay horse," says Ex-Judge Cud worth
in 1658, alluding to the way in which the authorities at Plymouth were imitating the
methods of Massachusetts bay towards the Friends.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 167
that the principles held forth by Friends should have increased a dis-
position to look at the true inwardness of all questions and subjects;
to strip off all shams and be satisfied with simple truth only; to de-
spise show and look for genuine substance, and to render " Quaker
measure " to others; to value straightforward common sense rather
than brilliancy, conscience before convenience, honesty above policy,
character above creed, the spirit above the letter, motives above move-
ments, the life above the living: — to respect the divine spark in every
human being, regardless of color or sex; and the equality of all. as be-
fore the law of God, so before the law of the land. Simplicity of man-
ners, genuineness of profession, the courage of one's convictions, plain
living because of "high thinking," inward retirement of mind to feel
the truth of one's self, a yes that is yes and a no that is no — and so
surer than most oaths, — these are virtues of which the professed
" Friends of Truth " by no means held the monopoly, and in which
individuals among them as in every other flock have signally failed;
yet the banner which they as a people have displayed because of the
truth, is one which the life and character of our county could ill aflEord
to spare.
The preceding view of the establishment of the Society of Friends
in the county has been necessarily, to that extent, a history of the
Sandwich Society. Afterward a branch of Sandwich monthly meet-
ing became established in West Falmouth, and called Falmouth
Preparative Meeting of Friends; and another branch at South Yar-
mouth, called Yarmouth Preparative Meeting. Each preparative
meeting, including one held also in Sandwich, sends representatives
to each session of the monthly meeting ; which is held six times a
year in Sandwich, four times at Falmouth, and twice at Yarmouth.
Formerly, for a period, some sessions of Sandwich monthly meeting
were held also at Rochester, on the other side of the bay. A sketch
of the history of each of the Cape meetings of Friends will now be
given, beginning with Sandwich.*
The Society in Sandwich. — It has already been pointed out how
the Sandwich community was prepared for, and how responsively, in
the year 1657, many rallied to the preaching of the Word by the newly
arrived Friends Christopher Holder and John Copeland; so that in the
very next year, 1658, no less than eighteen families in Sandwich appear
as acknowledged adherents of the new Society.
They met for worship at the houses of William Allen, William
Newland, Ralph Allen, and, as tradition hands it down, in Christo-
* The writer having had but few hours' opportunity to consult the original records,
has availed himself of a considerable part of the notes and extracts from them made by
the late Newell Hoxie, representing careful labor on his part continued from time to
time for years. He has also gleaned freely from Freeman's History of Cape Cod, and
other works.
168 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
pher's Hollow, — a spot believed to have been so named from the
preaching of Christopher Holder in at least one meeting which assem-
bled in that woodland retreat. This hollow or glen may now be ap-
proached by the road which passes the alms-house into the woods.
Not having visited the spot himself, the writer here presents the
description of a visitor, as given in the Falmouth Local, 12th mo.,
1887 :
" About a mile southeasterly of the village of Sandwich is a deep
sequestered glen or hollow in the wood. There is no spot in the
county of Barnstable more secluded or lonely. It is even now as
primeval in appearance as it was on the day the Pilgrims first set foot
on Plymouth rock. This quiet glen is surrounded by a ridge of hills,
covered in part by trees, and it is some ] 25 feet deep. At the bottom
are to be seen a few straggling red-cedar trees. In the spring and
summer a small stream of water runs into this glen, which keeps up
a perpetual murmur. For over two centuries this lonely spot has been
called ' Christopher's Hollow,' in memory of Christopher Holder. . . .
In 1657, immediately after the severe penal acts of the provincial leg-
islature were passed, this small and sincere band of Christian worship-
pers met at William Allen's house on Spring Hill, but [afterward] ad-
journed to this sequestered glen to offer up in the 'darkling woods'
their devout supplications to Him who is no respecter of persons.
Your correspondent visited this hollow a few days ago, and noticed,
particularly on its westerly side, a row of flat stones,* which are be-
lieved to be the seats on which this meagre congregation sat, and list-
ened to the heartfelt teachings of Christopher Holder."
William Allen's house, the first or one of the fir.st meeting places
of Friends, stood on the spot where Roland Fish's house now stands,
the first house by the road leading southward from the present
Friends' meeting house in Spring Hill. Near the southwest corner
of the house is the first burying ground of the Society, now enclosed
by an iron railing. On the early records we find a direction " that
servants shall be buried on the side next the swamp." This is the
half-acre given by the town in 1694. William Newland's house, an-
other of the first meeting places, was opposite the old town burying
ground, on the road from the village toward Stephen R. Wing's. [Of
other Friends prominent in that day, William Gifford is said to have
lived near the house of late years known as Russell Fish's; Edward
Perry near Joseph Ewer's swamp, or opposite his house ; and Edward
Dillingham, (one of the original "ten men of Saugus" to whom Sand-
wich lands were granted), to have lived on the hillside east of the up-
per pond, which is southeast from Stephen R. Wing's. The cellar is
* These stones are really half -buried boulders ; quite a number have been carried
away.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 169
said to be still there, and a pear tree set out by Edward Dillingham.
The late Newell Hoxie, being able to designate the situation of sev-
enteen of the Friends' houses of 1658, once remarked to the writer,
that when by failing health he was laid aside from attending his
meetings for public worship, he would often carry himself in fancy
more than two hundred years back, and trace in his mind's view the
goings of each of those seventeen families from their respective
homes, as they took their several paths to William Allen's house, to
meet for divine worship after the manner of Friends.]
In 1657 (to quote from Freeman) complaint was make to the gen-
eral court against divers persons in Sandwich " for meeting on Lord's
days at the house of William Allen and inveighing against ministers
and magistrates, to the dishonor of God and the contempt of govern-
ment." Jane, the wife of William Saunders, and Sarah, the daughter
of William Kerby, complained of " for disturbance of public worship
.and for abusing the minister," were, on being summoned to court,
sentenced to be publicly whipped. William Allen, William Kerby,
and the wife of John Newland were also involved in these difficulties.
John Newland was warned by the court to suffer no Friends' meeting
to be kept in any house in which he had an interest. It was also
ordered that "Nicholas Upsall, the instigator" of all this mischief,
"be carried out of the government by Tristum Hull, who brought
him." William Newland, a prominent citizen, was, "for encouraging
Thomas Burges " to let Christopher Holder, a Quaker, occupy his
house, sentenced to find sureties for his own good behavior. Ralph
Allen, " for entertaining such men and for unworthy speeches," was
also arrested and laid under bonds. Henry Saunders was arrested and
committed. Edward Dillingham and Ralph Jones were also arrested ;
Jones was fined and Dillingham was admonished. Burges expressed
his sorrow for what he had done, and was released. This year, on ac-
count of increasing sympathy with the Quakers throughout the com-
munity, a marshal was provided by the general court in Plymouth to
do service in Sandwich, Barnstable, and Yarmouth.
In 1658 Robert Harper, Ralph Allen, sr., John Allen, Thomas
Greenfield, Edward Perry, Richard Kerby, jr., William Allen, Thomas
Ewer, William GiflFord, George Allen, Matthew Allen, Daniel Wing,
John Jenkins, and George Webb, " none of them," says Freeman,
" professed Quakers at the time, though several of them afterward
became such," being summoned to court to give a reason for not tak-
ing the oath of fidelity to the government, professed that they held it
unlawful to take the oath, and all were fined. Friends' view of the
unlawfulness of all swearing, or oaths, is founded on Christ's com-
mand, " Swear not at all ; " which is amplified in the epistle of James,
" But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven,
170 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
neither by the earth, neither by any other oath ; but let your yea be
yea, and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." Their
firm adherence to this command was much misunderstood by oflBcers
of the government, and even by the clergy ; and was the pretext for
a long list of fines and dreary penalties. Some of these Friends, allud-
ing to their sufferings for not swearing, remarked, that oath-taking
was "contrary to the law of Christ," "whose law," they add, "is so
strongly written in our hearts, and the keeping of it so delightsome
to us ; and the gloriousness of its life daily appearing, makes us to
endure the cross patiently, and suffer the spoiling of our goods with
joy."*
The earliest meetings of Friends in Sandwich, even in 1657, in-
cluded six of the brothers and sisters of Ralph Allen. They had re-
sided upwards of twenty years in Sandwich and were much respected
by their neighbors. But their joining the new sect was " peculiarly
annoying" to the government, and they were among the first to be
tested by the oath of fidelity. William Newland and Ralph Allen, on
refusing to relinquish the keeping of meetings in their houses, " were
committed to the custody of the marshal, and kept close prisoners for
five months. When half the period had expired, they were offered
their liberty on condition of engaging not to receive or listen to a
Quaker; but the request was met by an immediate and decided nega-
tive."t
Under the law now prohibiting the frequenting of Friends' meet-
ings, William Allen was fined forty shillings for permitting a meeting
at his house. Cudworth says of another session of the court, that " the
court was pleased to determine fines on Sandwich men for meetings,
sometimes on First-days of the week, sometimes on other days, as they
say: They meet ordinarily twice in a week, besides the Lord's day, —
150 pounds, whereof William Newland is 24 pounds for himself and his
wife at Ten Shillings a Meeting, William Allen 46 pounds," etc.
William Allen's other fines and distraints amount apparently to 113
pounds. " They left him but one cow," says Bishop, " which they
pretend is out of Pity; but what their pity is, more than a Robbers on
the Highway, that takes away all a man hath, and then gives him a
penny, I leave to be judg'd. Also they took from William Allen one
Brass Kettle, — which the Governor put upon him for his Hat." - He
also went to Boston prison. When the marshal took the goodwife's
kettle he said with a sneer, " Now, Priscilla, how wilt thou cook for
thy family and friends? Thee has no kettle." Her answer was,
" George, that God who hears the ravens when they cry will provide
for them. I trust in that God, and I verily believe the time will come
* Norton's Ensign, p* 42.
fBowden, vol. I, p. 147.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 171
when thy necessity will be greater than mine." This marshal, George
Barlow, would boast, " That he would think what Goods were most
serviceable to the Quakers, and then he would take them away, when
he went to distrain for the fines.'" " But now," says Bishop after-
ward, " being grown exceedingly poor, he presumes to say, ' He
thought the Quakers would not let him want.' And truly, it is said,
they relieve his Children, notwithstanding all the Villany that he hath
shown unto those people." (New England Judg'd, p. 389). This
drunken marshal and tool of Plymouth's blind policy is said to have
lived to fulfil abundantly Priscilla Allen's prophecy.
The following scale of penalties which the Plymouth government
required Sandwich magistrates to exact, is given by N. H. Chamber-
lain in his interesting article on Sandwich and Yarmouth in the New
England Magazine, 11th mo., 1889: — " Entertaining a Quaker, even for
a quarter of an hour, cost £^, or the year's pay of a laboring man. If
any one saw a Quaker and did not go six miles, if necessary, and in-
form a constable, he was to be punished at discretion of the court; for
allowing preaching in one's house, 40 s., the preacher 40 s., and each
auditor 40 s., though no Quaker spoke a word. The Quakers were
fined for every Sunday they did not go to the Pilgrim meeting, and
for every Sunday they went to their own. In three years there were
taken from them cattle, horses, and sheep to the value of ;^700, besides
other punishments."
Other names and cases, equally as interesting as William Allen's,
cannot here be detailed with the same fulness; but similar recitals,
with more or less suffering, may be understood with each name on the
following list of distraints made about this period from Friends in
and near Sandwich: — The list is preserved by Besse, as follows: —
£ 8h.
Robert Harper 44
Joseph Allen 5 12
Edward Perry 89 18
George Allen 25 15
William Giflford 57 19
WiUiam Newland ... 36
Ralph Allen, jr 18
£ sh.
John Jenkins 19 10
Henry Howland 1 10
Ralph Allen, sen 68
Thomas Greenfield ... 4
Richard Kirby 57 12
William Allen 86 17
ThomasEwer 25 8
£ sh.
Daniel Wing 12
Peter Gaunt 43 14}^
Michael Turner 13 10
John Newland 2 6
Matthew Allen 48 16
£660 1M
On the other hand we cannot say that unwise provocations were
not sometimes given by individuals reckoned as Quakers. Some ex-
pressions made to magistrates and others, whether the speakers had
been goaded into them or not, we would not now approve as proceed-
ing from the principles or spirit which they themselves professed.
And some extravagances of conduct, in exceptional instances, would
in this and should for that day, be attributed to derangement of mind,
from which members of no denomination are found exempt.
The noted letter of James Cudworth, a Puritan and a judge (who
172 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
lost his place by entertaining some Friends at his house), written in
1658, says of the Friends " They have many Meetings, and many
Adherents; almost the whole Town of Sandwhich is adhering towards
them. . . . Sandwich men may not go to the Bay [or Boston col-
ony] lest they be taken up for Quakers. William Newland was
there about his Occasions some Ten Days since, and they put him
in Prison 24 hours, and sent for divers to witness against him; but
they had not Proof enough to make him a Quaker, which if they had
he should have been Whipped."
In 1659 an order was given by the general court to arrest Quakers
repairing to Sandwich " from other places by sea, coming in at Man-
■nomett," — now Monument. Also George Barlow, marshal, was or-
dered to take with him a man or two and make search in the houses
of William Newland and Ralph Allen of Sandwich and Nicholas Davis
of Barnstable for Friends' books or writings.
In 1661 William Newland " for entertaining a strange Quaker
•called Wenlocke Christopherson " was fined five pounds, and said
Christopherson was .sent to prison and afterward sentenced " to lay
neck and heels." He was then whipped and sent away.* Afterward
in Boston he was sentenced to death, but was released. "William
Allen was again summoned to the court at Plymouth and charged with
■entertaining Christopher Holder, a Quaker; and Wm. Newland and
Peter Gaunt were similarly charged; and Lodowick Hoxy was fined
^0 shillings for not assisting marshal Barlow. The following were
fined ten shillings each ' for being at Quaker meetings ': Robert Har-
per and wife, John Newland and wife, Jane Swift, Matthew, William,
Joseph, and Benjamin Allen, William Gifford,, William Newland and
wife, the wife of Henry Dillingham, Peter Gaunt, John Jenkins,
Richard Kerby, sr., Richard Kerby, jr., Obadiah and Dority Butler."
This year, 1661, marks the deliverance of Friends in the colonies
from further danger to their lives by hanging in consequence of their
profession. William Robinson, Marmaduke Stevenson, Mary Dyer
and William Leddra having thus been executed in Boston, Charles II.
was induced to send a mandamus to New England, commanding Gov-
ernor Endicott to send to England all Quakers who were under con-
■demnation or imprisonment. This put a stop to executions, but not
to persecutions. The Act of Toleration under William and Mary was
not passed till 1689.
In 1674 " Priest John Smith " and others are said to have caused
Friends to be recorded as non-townsmen, — probably because they
■could not take the oath of fidelity. It was because it was an oath, and
not because it meant fidelity, that Friends felt forbidden to swear it.
As faithful observers of the law of the land, where that does not con-
•Freeman I, p. 341.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 173
travene the divine law, they have proved themselves exemplary citi-
zens. In 1675 they were invited by the treasurer of the town to sub-
stitute something for an oath. The firmness of this Society in refusing-
to take oaths in any form, has since been respected by legislative bod-
ies both in America and in England, which have authorized a form
of affirmation to be taken by Friends and others instead of an oath.
By substituting passive for active resistance to oppressive laws, thev
have on other subjects also converted oppression into concession: as
in the requirement to bear arms or otherwise to deny their testimony
for the Prince of Peace, also in the matter of taxes for the support of
a paid ministry. In 1686 Edward Randolph, who had some sixteen
times been sent over from England in consequence of complaints
made by Friends and others, wrote as follows to Governor Hinckley:
" Perhaps it will be as reasonable to move that your colony be rated
to pay our minister of the church of England who now preaches in
Boston and you hear him not, as to make the Quakers pay in your
colony." Thus the stand made by Friends on the Cape was steadily
opening the way for liberty to all. In the words of Brooks Adams on
the " Emancipation of Massachusetts," referring to the Friends by
whose suffering he says " the battle in New England has been won ":
— " At the end of 21 years the policy of cruelty had become thorough-
ly discredited, and a general toleration could no longer be postponed;
but the great liberal triumph was won only by heroic courage and
by the endurance of excruciating torments."
We may leave our fragmentary specimens of the period of intoler-
ance, with the acknowledgment that their townsmen in general ap-
pear to have taken no pleasure in the hardships inflicted on Friends.
They elected Friends to responsible offices even while the sect seemed
outlawed by the Plymouth court; whose marshal, Barlow, had none of
their sympathy in his unsavory doings. Freeman characterizes the
Friends as regarded at heart by their Sandwich neighbors, as " ever
among our best and most esteemed citizens, benevolent and kind, pure
in morals, and most deservedly honored."
Sandwich has the distinction of being the first town on the conti-
nent of America to establish a regular monthly meeting of the Society
of Friends. That meeting, set up in the year 1658, has continued its
monthly sittings in unbroken succession, so far as we know, ever since.
They are still (though changes of the time have been tried for brief
periods) held at the same hour of the same day of the week on which
they were appointed to be held by the first minute of the first existing
record book of the meeting. The said minute is as follows: " At a
mans meeting kept at Will'm Aliens house ye 25 day of ye 4th mo'th
in ye year 1672. At w'h meetting it is concluded and ordered y't for
ye future a mans meetting be kept ye first six day of ye week in every
174 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
itio. and for friends to come together about ye eleventh hour." A
marginal note written beside this minute says: " This was ye first
mans meeting that was kept by flfriends in sandwich that is re-
corded."
Accordingly we may understand that no records of the monthly
meetings between the years 1658 and 1672 were kept; or if the min'-
tites were made, they were not kept in book form. It was in the 7th
month of this year that " It was ordered y't Will'm Newland buy a
book for friends use and truths service." Edward Perry appears to be
the clerk, and his hand-writing in these minutes very creditable.
It may be that Edward Perry was earliest in the annals of Sand-
wich authorship. His published religious writings bear date between
the years 1676 and 1690, and titles like the following: — "A Warning
to New England " ; " To the Court of Plimouth, this is the Word of
the Lord"; "A Testimony concerning the Light"; " Concerning True
Repentance," etc. He died in 1694. We are not aware that more
than one copy of any of his writings remain in print.
The second entry for 4th mo. contains an appointment of John
Stubs and Robert Harper to know and report the reasons why Peter
Gaunt "absents from friends' meettings." His answer reported next
month was : " That he doth not know any true publick vissible wor-
ship in ye world." This was the same answer which he had given
sixteen years before to the Plymouth court, before any of the Quaker
name had arrived in Sandwich. For we read that Peter Gaunt being
•called upon by the court to answer for not frequenting the public
worship of God, affirmed that he"knew^ no public visible worship";
and Ralph Allen, whose seven children were among the first to join
Friends, took similar ground. The answer oi another who had been
likewise waited upon by a committee the same month, " forasmuch as
he was once convinced of the truth," was " That his ground and
reason was knowne unto himselfe and he was not willing y' it should
^oe any further at present." Next month his answer was "much as it
was before : or as a man Gon from truth." And we find this same de-
linquent patiently dealt with even for two years ; for his answer in
1674 was, " That he could not come amongst us till the power did make
iim or work it in him." In 1673 the answer of William Allen's brother
was, " That he was not so convinced as they might think he was." But
in process of time some of these and similar cases were restored to
.attendance of meetings. Even Peter Gaunt was fined more than once
for attending them.
The following curious minute has been handed down as issued by
Sandwich monthly meeting in one of its occasional sittings at Fal-
mouth: "20th of the 9th mo., 1688. It is concluded that the Friends
.appointed in every particular meeting shall give notice publicly in the
r
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c
z
"^
z
r
r
X
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 175
meeting that cross-pockets before men's coats, side-slopes, broad hems
on cravats, and over-full skirted coats are not allowed by Friends."
In 1688 a clergyman by the name of Pierpont, of Roxbury, who on
invitation preached at times in Sandwich, records in his diary:- — "I
had inclined to go to Sandwich, first, because I saw there was an op-
portunity to do service for Christ in that place; second, the generality
of the people, except Quakers, were desirous of my coming amongst
them ; third, the young men of the place were in danger of being
drawn away by the Quakers, if a minister were not speedily settled
among them." — During the preceding pastorate mention is found of
one man, " a member of the church, proselyted to the Quakers by one
John Stubbs." In 1696 the town assigned a salary of ;^80 to Roland
Cotton as pastor of the church, "provided he shall remit yearly tte
proportion of all those neighbors generally called Quakers." And yet,
by a monthly meeting's minute of 3d mo., 1712, it is recorded that John
Wing and Daniel Allen " gave account that they had found out the
proportion between Priest Rate and Town and County, and the Priest
part, which Friends cannot pay, is near one half, lacking one half of
one third of the whole."
Of a history of the Friends' meeting houses in Sandwich, we have
materials for a concise account. In the 7th month, 1672, the monthly
meeting is recorded as "held at our meeting house." In 1674,4th mo.,
the meeting house is spoken of as enlarged ; and five years after, a
record is made of finishing the meeting house. In 1694, according to
the town's record, " The town did give to those of their neighbors called
Quakers half an acre of ground for a burial place* on the hill above
the Canoe swamp between the ways." In 1703^, First mo., a quarterly
meeting's committee was instructed to pitch upon a place to set the
new meeting house ; and in the 3d mo. it was concluded to get a new
meeting house. In 1704, 1st mo., Robert Harper was appointed to
b)uild a new meeting house for ;^111, "except the glass, plastering,
and ground-pinning." One was to get the shells for lime, another
wood, another stone, and " Lodowick Hoxie to Diet the carpenters for
his share." In 1709 it was proposed to build " a small meeting house " ;
and the next year £Q, 12^s. were subscribed to build a stable. In 1723,
£28, 5s. were subscribed " to enlarge the S7nan meeting house, under-
pin the large meeting house, and build a shed." The work was done
b)y Joseph Show. In 1740 it was concluded to hold a preparative
meeting in Sandwich ; and in 1745 the preparative meeting purchase
" the remainder of the gore of land, about one and one-fourth acres,
near the meeting house for a cemetery which is near the old one." In
1757 it is ordered to " add 16 feet front, width and height the same,
to the great meeting-house." Apparently after this date women
* Now enclosed by an iron railing, near the southwest comer of Roland Fish's house.
176 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Friends begin to hold a preparative meeting like the tnen Friends.
In 1793, 11th mo., measures were taken to build a porch to the meet-
ing house.
The third meeting house, 48 by 36 feet in size, now in use, was
built in 1810 on the site of the first, costing two thousand dollars.
Sandwich Friends at first gave $723 toward it, Falmouth $24, Yar-
mouth $120. The old meeting house was sold for one hundred dol-
lars. In 1822 the remaining amount of the cost, principal and inter-
est, was paid over to the quarterly meeting's treasurer.
In 1715 Benjamin Holme, an English minister traveling in religious
service, records in his journal that he "went to the yearly meeting
at Sandwich, where one Samuel Osbourne, a schoolmaster, made .'■cme
opposition." This resulted in a pretty extensive setting forth of
Friends' views on the Scriptures and on perseverance in grace.
In 1770 a voluntary payment was made by the Friends' meeting to
relieve "the charge the town had been at on account of a poor woman
belonging to said Meeting." It has been the rule with the Society to
maintain their own destitute members without recourse to the town's
provision for the poor. Also when ministers, with the approval of
their proper meeting, are traveling in religious service, to provide for
their expenses from place to place, if their circumstances require it.
As far back as 1677 we find by a monthly meeting's minute that horses
were to be provided for " Travelling Friends "at the meeting's ex-
pense.
In the conducting of these monthly meetings which appear so promi-
nently in the regulation of church affairs among Friends, the only
officer known is the one who sits as clerk of the meeting. Under the
profession that " Christ is head over all things to his church," and ac-
cordingly the mind of Christ is devoutly to be referred to and waited
for in deciding church affairs, Friends have presumed to name no
other presidency than his over their monthly or other meetings for
discipline ; but they simply appoint a clerk to record the sense of the
meeting when that is ascertained. This " sense of the meeting," it is
trusted, is the product of the judgment of truth, or witness of Christ's
spirit, which individual members, when apprehending they have a
sense thereof on any question, announce as his or her view of the
case. And the clerk, without taking a vote or any reference to ma-
jorities, is to gather and record what appears the prevailing judgment
of truth as expressed by the members. The Head of the church is
majority enough, though he find expression through but one voice.
This conduct of Christian church government throws great spiritual
responsibility on them that sit in judgment, to whom Christ is prom-
ised to be " a spirit of judgment " ; and will largely be admitted to be
consistent with the true theory for a pure church. But for a church,
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 177
though not pure yet prevailingly sincere, this principle has been found,
while helping to make it more pure, to work at least as harmoniously,
peaceably and satisfactorily as the more human modes of moderator-
ship elsewhere resorted to in deliberative bodies.
The clerks of Sandwich monthly meeting who appear to have
resided in Sandwich, have been, so far as can be gathered from the
records: Edward Perry, serving 1672-94 ; another not named, 1694-
1709 ; Edward Perry, jr., 1709-12; then three unnamed clerks, serving
respectively 1712-19, 1719-20, 1720-22; Humphrey Wady, 1722-42;
Daniel Wing, 1743-45; Seth Hiller, ; Samuel Wing and Daniel
Wing, 1755 ; Timothy Davis, 1755-65 ; Nicholas Davis, 1765 ; Ebenezer
Allen, to 2d mo., 1786; Jeremiah Austin, 1787-90; Obadiah Davis,
1790-95; Stephen Wing, 1795-6; John Wing, 1801-10. The other
clerks* were, at the time of their service, residents of Falmouth, ex-
cept Richard Delino (1765 and 1786-7) of Rochester, and David K.
Akin of Yarmouth, (1849-61).
Doubtless there were not a few ministers in the Sandwich meeting
from the first. But the list of those recorded does not begin till the
year 1789, when we find Anna Allen and Samuel Bowman acknowl-
edged ; Benjamin Percival, 1808 ; Anna D. Wing, 1838 ; David Dudley,
who moved hither from Maine in 1838; Newell Hoxie, 1846; Mercy
K. Wing. 1851 ; Presbury Wing, 1852; Elizabeth C. Wing, 1862; Han-
nah S, Wing, 1883.
" The principle was from the first recognized by George Fox and
his brethren, that the true call and qualification of ministers can be
received only from the great Head of the church Himself, and that
the church has only to judge of the reality of the call, and to watch
over, encourage, and advise those who are entrusted with such gift.
Even the recognition of ministers, as such, in the Society was of an in-
direct and informal character for many years after its establishment.
Those who spoke frequently and acceptably were asked to occupy a
raised seat, facing the body; but then, as now, this was adopted as a
matter of convenience, not of ecclesiastical distinction or superiority.
Before long it was found needful to give certificates of membership
to those who removed from one meeting to another; and about the
same time a necessity was felt for giving similar credentials to those
who left their homes to travel in the service of the gospel. But more
than one hundred years had elapsed before formal recognition was
adopted. But from mention in various journals we find the number
was large."
We found in 1658, almost in the first year of this religious Society
* The Sandwich women who have been monthly meeting clerks in recent times,
were : Mary R. Wing, 1850-51 ; Elizabeth C. Wing. 1851-2 and 1856-69 ; Rebecca D.
Ewer, 1876-83 and 1885-87 ; Lucy S. Hoxie, 1863-85 and 1887 to present time.
12
1-78 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
in Sandwich, eighteen families professing to be its adherents. In
1769 a committee of the town report that there are sixty families of
Friends or Quakers whose rates are not available for the support of
the ministry. Now, in 1890, most of the younger natives of the Sand-
wich membership are dispersed throughout the country to gain a
livelihood, or have joined other associations: leaving fragments of
about eleven families remaining, the present membership numbering
40 individuals. But the purity of a principle cannot fairly be tested
by the number of its human adherents. The world will love its own;
and a Society supposed to represent spirituality or self-denial, cannot
easily be popular. Nor on the other hand, in the guise of an imitator,
could it be respected. By divine grace to be staunch to its special
message, the Society was what it was. The same grace, uncompro-
misingly adhered to, alone is able to keep it from falling, and give
vigor yet to .shake itself from the dust of the earth.
Newell Hoxie, the youngest child of Joseph and Deborah (Wing)
Hoxie, was born in East Sandwich in 1803. In 1842 he married Re-
becca Chipman, of Sandwich. Both will be remembered by many as
successful teachers of schools in Dennis, Barnstable, and Sandwich.
Both were marked by mental endowments, literary interest, and deep
thoughtfulness of no common order. With the exception of eighteen
years passed in West Falmouth, he was a resident of Sandwich all his
life. The impress which his life has made upon the character of the
■w.estern portion of the county in these two neighborhoods of his resi-
dence, has been chiefly as a leading member of the Society of Friends.
In intimate knowledge of its history he stood confessedly foremost,
a-nd in the maintenance of its original principles he was devoutly
concerned. Perhaps no member of that Society in Sandwich monthly
meeting (which includes Falmouth and Yarmouth) has for a longer
period been prominent in its counsels, or more uniformly deferred to
. in the conservative shaping of its course. His influence was also
largely respected in the counsels of New England Yearly Meeting at
large. A minister in that Society for thirty-eight years, he often
visited during this time the Friends' meetings of New England, and
twice those of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. He died in 1884,
aged 80 years. With him has departed an invaluable fund of infor-
mation, which cannot now be replaced, relating not only to the history
of his religious Society, but to that of his native county and its
families.
The Society in Yarmouth. — The community of Friends at Bass
River has so long given character to the neat and peaceful village of
South Yarmouth, that it is still familiarly known as "Quaker village."
But it was over the river, in South Dennis, where their first meeting
house stood.
-4
y/i^t^iJ{f /^,
:7^:^
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 179
So free from molestation were the first Friends' families in this
neighborhood, that no ripple in the current of history appears to have
been produced by their presence here, sufficient to leave a trace of the
time of their first settlement. John Wing, from Sandwich, in 1659,
was building a house in the Yarmouth jurisdiction; a John Dillingham,
from Sandwich, early became a landholder in Dennis and Brewster,
residing near Bound Brook. It was in his house and Henry Jones'
that the first Friends' meetings of which we have record were held,
as appears by the following minute, — which seems to relate to bi-
monthly meetings for discipline or society bu.siness, rather than their
probably much more frequent meetings for divine worship. If their
Sandwich neighbors early began holding at least three meetings a
week, — two on week-days besides First-day, — the kind of convince-
ment which produced Friends in that day must in Yarmouth also have
brought them together for worship as often as once a week: —
"At our Mens Meeting at William Aliens first day of the 2 mo. 1681.
— At this meeting it was ordered concerning the setting of the meet-
ings at Yarmouth. Whereas it was ordered to be kept upon the first
day of the week in every other mo. It is now ordered at the 6th day
of the week in every other month and the meeting to be kept at Henry
Jones his house. The next to be kept at John Dillingham's and so
continue to be kept at those two houses, and the first meeting to be at
John Dillingham's which will be the 2d Sixth-day of the week in the
next 3d month."
In 1683 a " monthly meeting " at Yarmouth is spoken of in the
Sandwich minutes. This may have been one of the occasional sittings
of Sandwich monthly meeting there, such as were sometimes held
also at Falmouth, before the present division of sessions between the
three towns became settled.
In 1697 the town ordered " that the Quakers be rated for the sup-
port of the ministry, but that the tax be made so much larger that
Mr. Cotton may have his full salary," — probably without drawing on
the Friends for their rate. And in 1717 an appropriation was made
to build a meeting house for the town, — " the Quakers to be exempted
from the charge." Also it was " voted that such of our inhabitants
as are professed Quakers be freed from paying the minister's rate."
In 1703 a committee is sent to urge Yarmouth and Falmouth
Friends to attend the monthly meetings more faithfully.
In 1709, 1st mo., Yarmouth Friends requested liberty of Sandwich
monthly meeting to hold a preparative meeting. In 11th mo. a
" Man's meeting" at John Wing's is mentioned; and 1st mo., 1710,
one at John Dillingham's. As the same request to hold a preparative
meeting was made one hundred years later, it would seem that the
first was unsuccessful. It is the opinion of an aged Friend, judging
180 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
from memory, that the preparative meeting at Yarmouth was estab-
lished about the time when the present meeting house was built, in
1809. Another, of venerable age, Ezra Kelley of New Bedford, who
attended meeting in the old house, believes it was not established till
some years after.
In 1710 it was proposed that Sandwich monthly meeting hold a
monthly meeting at Yarmouth and one at Falmouth; which was al-
lowed for Falmouth, but naught appears as regards Yarmouth.
The meeting house in Dennis was probably built about the year
1714, as the date is estimated by so careful an authority as Newell
Hoxie. Mention of the house, however, does not appear in the month-
ly meeting minutes, until 1720.
In 1717 John Wing was appointed to inform Yarmouth Friends
that if they did not attend monthly meeting better, they would be
turned over to the quarterly meeting. They promised to do better.
For the past fifty years, at least, no such complaint, considering their
numbers, could be made of Yarmouth members; some of whom have
been among the most steadfast in keeping up the attendance of the
monthly meetings. And they have made the attendance at Yarmouth,
whenever the monthly meeting is held there, so very attractive by
their hospitality as to need no committee to enforce attendance from
Sandwich and Falmouth. Yet no longer do the wild deer of the Wa-
quoit woods, the forest of the Mashpee Indians, the sober villages of
Cotuit, Centreville, Marston's Mills, Hyannis, and South Sea, view the
quaint procession of Quaker carriages wending their way of thirty
miles through the sands of summer or the snows of winter, between
Falmouth and Bass river, to attend the monthly meetings. No longer
does Cotuit behold them halting at Hinckley's, or Heman Crocker's, as
a half-way house, for a dinner and a " nooning "; or returning the day
after the meeting in the same deliberate style, satisfied with the social
privileges of Quakerism, and stronger for the next month's battle of
life. The railroad has undone all this, and robbed these monthly
meeting excursions of time for that social commingling of neighbor-
hood with neighborhood, which, in the days when they carried their
boys and girls to monthly meetings, helped to hold the rising genera-
tion to the Society.
The old meeting house in Dennis had stood for about fifty years,
when in 1765 Yarmouth Friends request liberty to repair it, or rebuild.
Permission was granted, and John Kelley and Hattil Kelley were ap-
pointed to attend to it. Timber was bought to repair it, and Falmouth
and Sandwich contribute money for the cost. It was found that to
repair the house where it stood would make a diflBculty. Committees
come and go, until in 1768 some one, probably the contractor, fails,
the monthly meeting gives him the lumber, and that ends the project.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 181
Nineteen years after, however, the meeting house was repaired. A
writer is quoted by Freeman, who says of this building, that there was
in 1795 in Dennis " a small Friends', or Quaker, meeting house, situ-
ated on the east side of Follen's pond ; at this five families belonging
to the town attended, with others from Yarmouth and Harwich."
In 1807 liberty was given to move the Dennis meeting house over
to the west side of the river, near Seth Kelley's, in South Yarmouth.
In 1808, 6th mo., David Kelley gave half an acre for a lot of ground
for the neiv meeting house, which it had been decided to build. In
12th mo. it had cost $864. Yarmouth paid one half. Sandwich and
Falmouth gave $161, and the quarterly meeting $271. Accordingly
Friends' meetings began in the new house early in 1809; and next
year the old Dennis meeting house " was sold to Lot Sears, torn down,
put on a raft, floated down the river to a place about a mile below
where the Friend's village then was, and was built up into a dwelling-
house " which may yet be standing. The money received from the
sale of the old house was laid out in painting and shutters for the new
house. The old Friends' burial lot at Dennis is now surrounded by
■woods and overgrown with shrubbery. There was formerly a post-
and-rail fence surrounding it, which having gone to decay, Ezra Kel-
ley has had a neat board fence put up, and the graves of four of his
ancestors marked by simple white stones.
In 2d mo., 1810, Yarmouth Friends request a mid-week meeting;
and the next year they ask to hold a preparative meeting, and to have
two sittings of the monthly meeting each year in their house. They
continue thus to be held.
In 1815 Yarmouth Friends, by consent of the monthly meeting,
commenced holding two meetings for worship on First-day of the
week. At length the two meetings a day were confined to the sum-
mer season. But for the past fifteen years, nearly, there has been but
one Friends' meeting on the First-day of the week, besides the regular
mid-week meeting on Fifth-day.
Prior to 1819 we are at a loss to know who of the members of the
Yarmouth meeting were ministers; except one Joshua Weekson, who
in 1731 is mentioned as a " public Friend." " Our meetings in the old
house," says Ezra Kelley, " and for some years in the new, were usually
silent, except when visited by ministering Friends from away. We
did occasionally hear a few words from Abby Crowell (formerly Kel-
ley) but had no approved ministry before Russell Davis." About 1819
Russell Davis moved from New Bedford to South Yarmouth, having
a remarkable gift in the ministry of discerning and addressing the
states of individuals and meetings. With but little human learning,
and regarded as inferior in manner and appearance, he was often ena-
bled, both in public and in private, to reveal to individuals their
182 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
thoughts and spiritual conditions, to their own astonishment. He
became known as a true seer ; and such was the general confidence in
his declarations as being from the true source of authorized ministry,
that the attendance of the South Yarmouth meeting grew in his day
to its greatest number. He died in 1847, aged seventy-five years.
The subsequent acknowledged ministers have been : Jacob H. Vining,
whose residence here was contemporary with the oil-carpet manufac-
tory which he conducted ; Ruth H. Baker, acknowledged in 1843 ; and
Elizabeth Stetson, 1889.
The religious concern represented by the meeting house near
Georgetown, a short distance northward from the Friends' meeting
house, is attributed to Friends, though having no official connection
with the Society. In 1868 her Christian interest in the welfare of fami-
lies of fishermen and others led Rose Kelley, the beloved daughter
(now deceased) of David Kelley, with Rebeeca Wood (now Howes) to
read the Bible to them in their homes, and at times to gather as many
children as would assemble for instruction in the contents of the
Scriptures. The attendance soon outgrew the capacity of any of the
Georgetown houses, and encouraged David Kelley, in 1873, to build
a plain, commodious building for the good of all who would assemble
there rather than in one of the denominational houses for worship.
One and another non-clerical laborer has been raised up to work in
this mission, and a decided change for good has been wrought in
many lives, and in the neighborhood. At the close of Friends' meet-
ings, visiting ministers often repair to this house, as if in continuation
of their service. The beloved elder still lives to acknowledge, in view
of remarkable results which have followed, the reward of peace with
which the erection of his building has been blessed.
There would be no easy stopping place were we to begin giving
credit to the estimable lives of men and women among the South Yar-
mouth worthies. The memory of these just, though blessed in the
scale of virtue, has only its invisible record. As to public note, the
riame which stands in the writer's memory as most conspicuous in the
affairs of Yarmouth Friends forty years ago is that of Zeno Kelley.
His most widely known successor in public prominence and esteem
was the late David K. Akin, a sketch of whose life has been furnished
by other hands as follows :
David K. Akin. — This valued citizen was bom 1st mo. 5, 1799, and
departed this life 8th mo., 23, 1887, at his homestead in South Yar-
mouth. Of his ancestry it is only known that a widowed lady named
Akins came from Scotland to Dartmouth early in the last century, and
from her two sons the name descended. Other branches of the name
exist at Dartmouth and New Bedford, but Abiel, son of Thomas, was
the first known in Yarmouth. Abiel Akin was born at Dartmouth and
M '-^'i- y^f^- ^^t^'^ ^-
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 183
came to South Yarmouth, where he married Catherine Kelley, 6th
mo., 12, 1794. She was the sister of Zeno and Seth Kelley, the latter
being the father of the present David Kelley. The children of the
marriage were: Rebecca, Thomas, David K., Joseph, Seth K., Phoebe,
and Catherine. The mother died, and Abiel for his second wife mar-
ried Mary Wing of Sandwich.
David K. Akin, the third child, was married 6th mo. 23, 1824, to
Rachel W. Peckham of Westport, Mass., who died 6th mo., 17, 1848,
leaving her surviving, a husband and two children, — Hannah P., who
married David Kelley and died 2d mo., 21, 1872, without issue; and
Peleg P. Akin. This son is the only surviving male representative of
this branch of the Akin family, also of his mother's family. He was
born 6th mo., 30, 1832, and married Mary A. Leonard, who died with-
out issue. He married 1st mo., 7, 1866, Rebecca B. Howes, and their
only child, Mary L. Akin, resides with them.
David K. Akin learned clock-making and commenced for himself
in this trade at South Yarmouth in his early married life. When the
manufacture of salt became a leading industry he erected works
which, although in decay, are now owned by his only son. He was
an early merchant of South Yarmouth and with his brother, Thomas,
conducted a store many years under the firm name of David K. Akin
& Co. For years he was secretary of the first Marine Insurance Com-
pany of the town, and a director of the Barnstable County Fire Insur-
ance Company, in which he succeeded Amos Otis in the presidency.
He was director in the affairs of the Yarmouth National Bank, being
elected to his fiftieth term the year he died, and was its president from
1871 to 1879. He was also one of the prime movers in the organiza-
tion of the Bass River Savings Bank, of which he was a trustee. Other
responsible positions he satisfactorily filled in his active life; but
those civil relations which would absorb too much of his time, he de-
clined. His generous nature induced him to serve a term as overseer
of the poor, and he once served as a county commissioner with his re-
publican contemporaries, Seth Crowell and John Doane.
He adhered to the faith of the Friends, and was a leading member
and an elder, aiding greatly in its material and spiritual mainten-
ance. He was a valued counsellor of the Representative Meeting of
the Friends of New England, and for twelve years (1849-61) served as
the clerk of the Sandwich monthly meeting. For his second wife he
married, 10th mo., 5, 1849, Betsey Crowell, who died 1st mo., 18, 1881.
To his social relations he was strongly attached. To his purity of life
in all its phases his associates attest. He was liberal in his views,
sympathetic and kind, and among the first in every good enterprise.
He possessed physical strength, energy of character, and great moral
courage; all of which, united with his generous nature and conscien-
184 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
tious consideration for the rights of others, rounds into a column purer
and more lasting than marble.
The Society in Falmouth. — In our general survey, we have
seen that Sandwich was the first town in America where a society of
that people was established, and that this took place in 1657, only ten
years after the rise of the Society in England.
Turning our eyes now three years later southward to the Succo-
nesset shore, we are struck with the view that Quakerism appears an
occasion of the first settlement of Falmouth*; and that, too, in the per-
son of no less a character than Isaac Robinson himself, the son of that
distinguished pastor of the Pilgrim fathers, John Robinson, whom on
embarking in the Mayflower they left in charge of the church at Ley-
den. The Pastor Robinson having died in 1626, Isaac, his son, came
over in 1631. In 1639 he removed from Scituate to Barnstable. For
twenty years he was a highly respected citizen there, being deemed
" an excellent and sensible man "; and was some time in the service
of the government. In the year 1659, as we are informed in Cogs-
well's historical sketch in the Barnstable County Atlas, " the General
Court of Plymouth by special order permitted Robinson and three
others to frequent the Quaker meetings 'to endeavor to seduce them
from the error of their ways.' But the reverse effect followed. Rob-
inson became a sympathizer with the Quakers, and June 6, 1660, a
year less one day, he was pronounced a manifest opposer of the laws."
In the statement of another we read: " Instead of convincing the
Quakers he became self-convicted, embraced many of their doctrines,
and consequently rendered himself so obnoxious that he was dis-
missed from civil employment and exposed to much censure and some
indignity."
This was enough to make Isaac Robinson, now ostracised as a
Quaker, feel no longer at home in Barnstable, and incline to .seek a
new residence. Thirteen other men with their families, and proba-
bly having religious toleration as their bond of sympathy, accompany
him in boats on Vineyard sound, and sail westward, till they find at
Succonesset satisfactory land and a fresh pond,- which determine them
to settle there. The first house built in the town was Isaac Robin-
•The opinion of Charles W. Jenkins, in his lectures on the history of Falmouth, is
confirmatory of this view. He says: " One of the first and leading settlers was Isaac
Robinson; and what were the lessons he had learned from his Puritan father? They
were the following: ' Follow no man any farther than he follows the Lord Jesus Christ.'
'I am confident God has yet much truth to break forth from His holy word; and fol-
low the truth whenever and by whomsoever taught.' These lessons of the pious,
catholic, and learned Robinson were not lost on the son; and when persecution in the
New World lifted its arm, he was the first who dared openly to avert the blow. For
this he sacrificad the favors of the government, and it was this that led him and his as-
sociates, who probably sympathized w^ith him, to commence a new settlement at this
place."
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 185
son's. He lived in continued good esteem to the venerable age of
ninety-three; but appears, after keeping " an ordinary at Saconesset
for the entertainment of strangers " to have moved before the year
1673 to Martha's Vineyard (where it had been his intention to sail
when he left Barnstable), and to be residing there in 1701. He was
proprietors' clerk at Tisbury in 1673, and 1678-84 was selectman.
It is not known how soon actual members of the Society followed
their forerunner, Isaac Robinson, into Succonesset, or Falmouth. But
the prominence and undenied influence possessed in his new colony
by their former champion, doubtless early turned the eyes of some
Friends to Succonesset as a safe abiding place for themselves also. In
his lectures on early Falmouth history, Charles W. Jenkins thinks it
probable that the " first founders of the Society of Friends in this
town arrived about six years after the first settlers, and that William
Gifford and Robert Harper were of this number, and that their meet-
ing at West Falmouth was established about 1685. Probably Isaac
Robinson, jr., a son of the first settler, joined this meeting, — he set-
tled at West Falmouth, — and Isaac Robinson is one of the first names
to be found on the records of that Society."
This Robert Harper, who afterward, in 1685, took up lands in the
eastern part of the township, had been a prominent sufferer in Sand-
wich from the first rise of the Society there. In 1659 he was sentenced
in Boston to fifteen stripes, also suffered imprisonment there; and his
fines in Sandwich (for not swearing, etc.) are recorded* as amounting
to £4:4; namely, " all the cattle he had, his house and land "; leaving
him and his family " one cow, which was so poor that she was ready
to dye." Robert Harper was one of the four Friends, who, when Wil-
liam Leddra, the last of the four Friends thus executed, was hanged
on Boston common, and his body was cut down, as says the chroni-
cler,t " attended the fall of it; and heaving catch'd it in their Arms
laid it on the Ground, until your Murtherer had stripped it of the
cloaths; who, when he had so done, confesst he was a comely Man."
Freeman says that in 1668 William Gifford, Thomas Lewis and
John Jenkins became inhabitants of Succonesset. William Gifford's
fines in Sandwich, in 1658 and '59, had been fifteen head of Cattle,
" half a Horse " and " half a Swine " — all amounting to ;^57,19s. " For
no other cause," as says George Bishop, " but for Meeting with the
People of the Lord; and for that in Conscience to the Command of
Christ, he could not Swear."
In the oldest existing book of minutes of Friends' monthly meeting
held at Sandwich, the earliest entry being for 25th of 4th mo, 1672, we
find Robert Harper (then of Succonesset) among the first to be em-
*New Eng. Judged, p. 185.
fid., p. 831.
186 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ployed on committees for services requiring tact and good judgment.
Two months later, William Gifford is one of two named to speak to
Thomas Johnson, also of Succonesset, " to know how it is with him in
respect of his outward condition." And the care of the meeting month
after month for the guardianship and relief of Thom. s Johnson's fam-
ily, makes interesting reading. Before leaving Sandwich to take up
land in Succonesset he had had his house and land seized by the
marshal for fines.
The following has been preserved as the record of a monthly meet-
ing held at Falmouth the 2d day of 11th mo., 1673: " Friends having
met together in the fear of the Lord, found all things well and in or-
der, and so departed in love, giving God the glory, who is blessed for-
ever."
In 1678 lands were laid out at Oyster pond; also at Hog island and
Great Sipperwisset " where the early settlers were William Gifford,
Senior; William Gifford, Jr.; John Weeks, and William Weeks." This
is the first recorded beginning of the settlement at West Falmouth,
and Quaker names head the list, — William Gifford, sr., having become
an inhabitant of Succonesset ten years before. He was evidently a
prominent character, and employed in useful services in town as well
as in Society affairs.
In 1681, 2d month, the monthly meeting at Sandwich ordered that
a meeting (probably a session of the monthly meeting) be held " at
Joseph Hull's at Suckonessett, the last 6th day in 3d mo. next." Like
Robert Harper, Joseph Hull afterward took up lands in the eastern
part of the township. This Joseph Hull is traced, in notes left by
Newell Hoxie, as a son of Joseph Hull who came from Weymouth to
Barnstat)le in 1639, and in 1641 went to Yarmouth to preach without
approbation of his brethren, and was excommunicated. Afterward
he made satisfaction and was restored. "His son Joseph moved to
Falmouth and bought of Zach. Perkins the estate which Zach. bought
of William Weeks, sen., for /"lOS in 1678. His uncle, Tristum Hull,
who moved to Newport, was father to John, captain of the first packet
to England, and from him came Commodore Hull." Tristum Hull
was blamed by the Plymouth authorities for bringing the persecuted
Nicholas Upshal to Sandwich, and was ordered to " carry him out of
the government." It appears that Newport became the home of
both.
In 1682 a meeting, — probably another transferred sitting of the
monthly meeting, — was ordered to be held at William Gifford's at Sip-
perwisset (West Falmouth) the 20th of the month and 6th day of the
week. In 1683 Robert Harper informed that Friends at Succonesset
desired that Friends might have meetings among them. And in the
8th month . a meeting was appointed to be held at Succonesset the
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 187'
16th of this month, 3d day of the week. Of siach occasional monthly
meetings held at Falmouth, and sometimes at Yarmouth, there is no
record of the business.
In 1685, by a minute of the monthly meeting, " Friends of Sucko-
nessett were encouraged to meet together." This may be regarded
as the date of the official establishment of the Friends' meeting in West.
Falmouth; though no doubt, according to their principles, they had
been regularly holding meetings for worship from the time when but.
" two or three " began to reside here. Before moving from Sandwich
to Falmouth, Cudworth says of them: "They meet ordinarily twice in
a week besides the Lord's day." Since worship in spirit and in truth;
cannot, in the Friends' view, be treated as if dependent on the serv-
ices of a minister, or hearing of words, their meetings for that pur-
pose must have been the earliest regularly held in the township..
Though the town voted land in 1687 for the support of any who might
be found fit to " teach the good word of God " in Falmouth, it was not
until 1701 that Samuel Shiverick was settled upon as the town min-
ister.
The relations between these first two churches which grew up side
by side in Falmouth — the Congregationalist and the Friends' — seem to
have been amicable or mutually tolerant, from the first. The leading-
pioneer or first settler of the town, Isaac Robinson, seems to have been
a representative of both societies in his own person.* The thirteen-
families who joined him in the Falmouth colony were no doubt irr
sympathy with his spirit. Though all were Congregationalists, so as^
early to identify that church with the town government, they started
the town on its general course of giving fair play to the Quaker refu-
■gees from the rigors of the Plymouth rule. There are traditions that
Friends were made to suffer even here by orders from Plymouth, —
for instance that Daniel Butler " was tied to a cart and whipped
through the town." But leaving tradition for history, the records of
the town contain an application from the " persecuted Quaker Daniel
Butler " to the town, to be released from liabilities to the minister on
account of his being a Friend. The request was granted, thus show-
ing, as Jenkins observes, " that if Butler was persecuted it was not.
the result of town action." " There are many instances recorded,"
says the same author, " where individuals made it to appear that they
had conscientious scruples on this subject [of paid ministry] and their
tax was promptly remitted. . . . It is to be hoped that our worthy
* " Our habit of toleration began with Isaac Robinson in 1660, who with his father^
the Leyden minister was taught ' to follow truth whenever and by whomsoever taught.'
Intercourse with the Quakers had undoubtedly much to do with the liberal and tolerant
ways of the community. This liberality and humane disposition is seen in the just
treatment of Indians, with whom Falmouth was always on the kindest terms." — John.
L. Swift (Falmouth Bi-ceutennial Oration).
188 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
neighbors of this sect, when thinking of the cruel persecutions of the
Quakers, will not forget these acts of liberality on the part of the good
people of this town."
In 1688 lands in Falmouth were laid out to Thomas Bowerman. In
1705 a Thomas Bowman (whether the same Friend or not, it is not
clear) appears on the monthly meeting record as being in prison for
priest's rate, and Friends send him a bed and bedding. As Friends
could not contribute to a paid ministry in the form of taxes or other-
wise, neither could they vote with their fellow-townsmen for the sup-
porting of a stated minister. In 1731, the following voters, being
members of the Society of Friends, dissented from a call to Samuel
Palmer to serve as the town's minister with a stated support : Stephen
Harper, Benjamin Swift, Richard Landers, Samuel Bowerman, Thomas
Bowerman, jr., Amos Landers, Justus Giflford, John Landers, Thomas
Bowerman, William Gifford, sr., William Gifford, Seth Giflford, and
William Giflford, younger. But the record states that "in November
the town voted ;^170 for Mr. Palmer's settlement and salary — to clear
the Quakers."
In 1703 Falmouth Friends are so remiss in attending the monthly
meeting that it appoints a committee to look after them ; — likewise
Yarmouth.
In 1709 the monthly meeting held at Sandwich conferred the powers
of a meeting for discipline, or preparative meeting, upon that held in
Falmouth ; and the ne^tt year a monthly meeting for Falmouth was
proposed. Sometimes when no business appeared in the Falmouth
preparative meeting to report up to the monthly meeting, it is stated
that " Friends sent their love."
The need of a regular meeting house, for a better accommodation
of public worship than private houses could afford, soon began to find
expression. In 1717 Richard Landers was appointed by the monthly
meeting to dig graves for Friends in Falmouth ; and at the next
monthly meeting those who had promised to pay money for fencing
the burying ground were requested to bring it to him. This grave
yard, though now grown up with trees, may still be found in the
woods eastward of the houses at present occupied by Judah Bowman,
or Maria F. Hamblin. Traces of the stone wall which in 1730 John Lan-
ders and Stephen Bowman were appointed to build about the burial
ground are still to be discerned; but all marks of the graves are
obliterated, except such rude natural stones as might be found by
<iigging. Here were the remains of West Falmouth Friends gen-
■eraly buried, until the second grave-yard surrounding the present
meeting house facing the new road below, was laid out.
The main road to Falmouth village lay between the first burying
ground and the first Friends' meeting house ; and that road may still
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
189
be traced in places in the woods for a mile or two. The ground over
which the first Friends' meeting house stood is marked at its central
spot by a stone post, chiseled with the figures " 1720," and erected by
the late Daniel Swift and others. The building, which was begun in
the year 1720, was thirty feet square on the ground, and one story
high, having a " hopper roof," — that is, coming to a point like a pyra-
mid. On meeting days in cold weather an attempt was made to
warm the room, or at least some of the worshippers' feet, by a large
pot of charcoal standing on the ground or floor in the middle of the
room. For the escape of the fumes, an opening was made in the
roof. Meetings were regularly held here for fifty years. Of all the
Friends traveling in the ministry who preached in this house, Samuel
Fothergill, from England, seems remembered as the most eminent.
The building of this meeting house was authorized by the follow-
ing minutes of Sandwich monthly meeting: "At our monthly meet-
ing, at our meeting house in Sandwich the 2d of the 7th month, 1720,
were the several weekly meetings belonging to the same, called on :
For Sandwich John Wing and Edward Perry present, for Falmouth
Richard Landers and Stephen Harper present, for Yarmouth none
appears. At this meeting it is agreed and concluded that there be a
meeting house built at Falmouth, and Friends subscribed towards the
building of it as follows :
£ Bh.
Ebenezer Wing 1
Benjamin Allen 10
Edward Perry 1
Obediah Butler 1 10
Gershom Gifford 1
John Strobridge 10
Josbah Wing 10
Joseph HoUway 10
£ sh.
Gidian Hoxie 1
Nicolas Davis 10
Richard Landers 6
Thomas Bowerman . . 3
Stephen Harper 5
Joseph Landers 3
Benjamin Bowerman . 2
Justes Gifford 2
£ Bh.
Stephen Bowerman. .' 2
Isaac Robinson* 3
John Robinson 1
Peter Robinson 1
William Gifford 2
Benjamin Swift 3
John Wing 2
Daniel Allen 1
Total 44 pounds."
The first ten names on this subscription list appear to be those of
residents in Sandwich ; and the remaining fourteen, beginning with
Richard Landers, residents of Falmouth. Accordingly Falmouth
Friends subscribed thirty-six pounds toward the building of their
own meeting house, and Sandwich Friends eight pounds. Consider-
ing the much larger value of money in those days than its purchasing
power now, and the hard work to obtain it by farming, the subscrip-
tion was a generous one. Sandwich monthly meeting had a few years
before liberally responded to a call to help build meeting houses in
Salem and in Boston.
It does not appear how long a time was taken in bringing the build-
* If this Isaac Robinson was the son of the original settler, he was then at least
seventy-eight years of age ; if the grandson, he was fifty-one.
190 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
"ing to completion. We read that at the monthly meeting held at Fal-
month, 6th mo., 1722, Ebenezer Wing was appointed to gather the
money contributed by Sandwich Friends toward building a meeting
Jiouse in Falmouth, and bring whatever he received to the next
"monthly meeting ; and at the next monthly meeting held at Sand-
wich in 7th mo., he turned in £9, Is., 6d., which he had collected.
And the first meeting recorded as held in Falmouth meeting house was
2d day, the 6th month, 1725.
Whether Benjamin Swift, whose name appears among the sub-
scribers, was then a member, or his wife, who was a member, was sub-
scribed for in his name, is not clear. But Daniel Swift, a beloved and
■venerable Friend who died in 1879, desired the writer to preserve for
future memory, along with some of the information above given ; that
Benjamin Swift, being formerly a staunch Congregationalist, persisted
in regularly attending his own meeting in Falmouth village, even
when on extraordinary occasions his wife was anxious to have him go.
to meeting with her. At length one First-day morning, having in-
\formed him that two ministers from abroad were to be at Friends*
meeting, she went her usual way. But while sitting in the meeting,
-she was surprised to see her husband hitching his horse at a fence,
-coming up toward the house, and taking his seat among the rest. He
never attended the meeting at town afterward, but went regularly with
his wife, and in due time joined the Friends. Benjamin Swift served
■^s the monthly meeting's clerk, the first from Falmouth, in the years
1745-47. His grave was the first in the new, or present burial ground,
and is to be seen beside his good wife's at the northwest comer of the
•original portion.
In 1731 a stable, sixteen feet square, was ordered to be built, to
accommodate the horses of Friends coming to meetings. How long
that building stood has not been learned. But one of apparently
larger size gave place to the present commodious sheds, which were
•completed in 1861. Stephen Dillingham offered to give the meeting
one hundred dollars toward the proposed sheds, or if the meeting
would raise $175 by subscriptions, he would build the sheds. The
latter offer was accepted. And Stephen Dillingham, in rendering to
the Preparative meeting a report of his care, concluded by saying in
substance : " I have done the best I could for the meeting's benefit.
The sheds are finished, and offered to Friends ; and I hope they will
be of use to many, long after I am laid away." He died in 1872. Many
marks and memories remain in West Falmouth, as reminders of his
enterprise, public spirit, and sagacity in business. He was for 40
years postmaster. None but Friends (Gilbert R. Boyce, and now
James E. Giflford) have succeeded him in the West Falmouth post-
■oflBce.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
191
In 1742 the monthly meeting complains of "a cowardly spirit
about training "; that is, some members not having courage to main-
tain their testimony against war, by refusing to train.
In 1755 the women Friends of Falmouth requested a preparative
meeting. The holding of a women's meeting for religious business
separate from that of men Friends, and co-ordinate with it, has contin-
ued (developing in many women valuable traits of judgment), till
within two or three years; when preparative meetings have been
driven by the smallness of numbers attending, to avail themselves of
the yearly meeting's permission to hold joint sessions.
The original "hopper-roof" meeting house on the hill-side knoll,
which as a shelter for Friends in their often silent worship had stood
for fifty years, was now in the year 1771 believed to have had its day.
friends' meeting house, west falmouth, built 1842.
A new edifice, larger and more convenient, began to be built, facing
the new public road below ; and by the year 1775 the house appears
to have been completed. An addition to it was made in the year
1794. This second meeting house stood for nearly seventy years, or
until 1841, when it was decided to replace it by a new edifice.
The present, or third meeting house, under a contract made with
Moses Swift, was built on the site of the second. The builder receiv-
ing the material of the former house to dispose of as his own, Zeno
Kelly of South Yarmouth, persuaded that Moses Swift had an unfa-
vorable bargain on his hands, endeavored to relieve him by buying
the frame of the second meeting house ; which he transported on a
192 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
vessel to South Yarmouth, where it lay under temporary cover on a
wharf by Bass river for about a year, when it was utilized by being
erected as the frame-work of David Kelley's present barn. There the
heavy oak beams are still to be seen, staunch and sound, attesting the
solid growth of the West Falmouth oaks of 1771. In 1842 the build-
ing committee acknowledge the receipt of $202, — contributed for the
new meeting house, and in the Seventh month of that year report that
it is finished. Still well preserved, it bids fair to be longer-lived than
either of its predecessors ; but whether longer-lived than the meeting
itself, will depend on the life of the people in the principles for which
it was built.
Sandwich quarterly meeting began to hold its mid-summer session
at Falmouth in 1779, where it continued to be held annually till 1792,
when it was transferred to Nantucket and held there up to 1850.
Thence it was returned to Falmouth, where it is still held every
Seventh month by representatives and visitors from the Friends
included in Barnstable, Bristol and Plymouth counties; — an occurrence
still of interest, and formerly regarded in the neighborhood as an an-
nual event of remarkable account.
Here as elsewhere Friends found it difficult, while their children
were mingling indiscriminately with others in the public, or district
school, to train them according to the principles and testimonies which
Friends had received to hold. At length, in 1831, the Friends in West
Falmouth built by subscription a school house on the east side of the
road opposite the northern portion of the burial-ground. The first
school therein was held in the winter of 1831-2, the building not yet
being plastered. Asa Wing, of Sandwich, is said to have been em-
ployed as the first teacher^ and his name is held in honored imemory
by pupils, who still survive him. It was regarded as a fine school,
and it gave general satisfaction in the neighborhood. The prosperity
of the schools held in that building at length waned with the decreas-
ing interest of Friends in its original purpose; and especially while
for several years the teachers employed also in the district school of
the neighborhood were usually members of the. society. At length
the Friends' school house was removed by Edward G.Dillingham*,
and made the body of the Lindley M. Wing house, where it now
stands.
The real history of the Friends' meeting in Falmouth, adequately
portrayed, would be biographical, — chiefly in the bringing to light of
those obscure and hidden lives that appear but little in the records,
♦Edward G. Dillingham removed from West Falmouth to Acaahnet in 1855. His
gift in the ministry being acknowledged by the society, he is still often seen and wel-
comed in his native place ministering the word — likewise in Sandwich and Yarmouth.
As his frequent companion, the late Josiah Holmes, jr., of New Bedford, has long had
familiar place in these meetings, and at funerals of members.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 193
and less in the chief seats. The influence of some of these in their
silent spheres, has been of the deepest and most far-reaching. As re-
gards the prominent and well-remembered names, we forbear to be-
gin the mention of them, knowing there is not room to do equal jus-
tice to all.
If, however, we may allude to the use made of members in public
life, — James T. Dillingham was chosen m 1857 to serve as representa-
tive in the Massachusetts legislature, being the first of the three mem-
bers of the Friends' Society in Falmouth who (since Isaac Robinson —
probably the junior — and a Friend, who was deputy in 1691) have been
elected to the general court. He served a few months, when he
moved to Wisconsin, pursued a successful business career, and died in
1889. James E. Gifford served in the legislature in the years 1880 and
1881. By his efforts an act was passed in 1880 having the effect of
giving to widows of intestate husbands leaving no children, real es-
tate that maybe left, up to $5,000 in value; — an act highly commended
by enlightened judges as in the direction of needed reform toward
justice for women. Thus the Friends' principle of co-ordinating
rather than subordinating woman in her church relations, having
shown its tendency in public legislation, was learned in West Fal-
mouth to some purpose. Meltiah Gifford (the younger) served in the
legislature as representative in 1884, but died in the same year, much
lamented in appreciation of his extended public usefulness in the
town and especially in the services of the Society. He and James E.
Gifford (the latter, for several years past, moderator of the town meet-
ings) appear thus far the last of a series of selectmen in Falmouth who
professed with Friends. Until recently it was the policy of managers
in the town's affairs to have usually one Friend among the selectmen.
In that oflBce we recognize also the names of Thomas Bowerman,
Richard Landers, Stephen Bowerman, Paul Swift, Prince Gifford, Wil-
liam Gifford, Daniel Swift, Barnabas Bowerman (who served twelve
years), and Prince G. Moore (who served fourteen years), long respected
not only as a veteran in the town's government, but as an example of
uprightness and good judgment.
The list of preachers recorded as ministers in the Friends' meeting
in Falmouth could not be traced back by the present writer farther
than the year 1815, — though doubtless unrecorded ministers, or
speakers in the meeting, have exercised their gifts from an early
period. The names found, with dates of acknowledgment by the
meeting, are as follows: Browning Swift, 1816; Susan Swift, 1818;
Joshua Swift, 1827; William Gifford, 1827; John R. Davis, 1804 (he
came from New Bedford monthly meeting); Huldah Gifford, 1829;
Newell Hoxie (originally of Sandwich) 1846; Elizabeth Gifford, 1849;
13
194 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Mary Hoag, 1851; Elizabeth G. Dillingham, 1851; Lois B. Gifford, 1867;
Charity G. Dillingham (now Chace), 1867; Daniel Swift, 1870.
The clerks of Sandwich monthly meeting who were residents of
Falmouth, are named as follows: Benjamin Swift, serving in the years
1745-47; Daniel Bowman, 1796-98 and 1810-11; Prince Gifford, 1798-
1801; William Gifford, 1811-14 and 1817-23; Prince Gifford, jr., 1814^
17; Daniel Swift, 1823-31: Stephen Dillingham, 1881-35; Newell
Hoxie, 1835-49; Arnold Gifford, 1861-72; Meltiah Gifford, 1872-84;
James E. Gifford, 1884 to the present time.
The only clerks of the women's monthly meeting, from Falmouth,
since 1849, have been: Hepza Swift, 1849-'50 and 1852-1854; and
Huldah Gifford, 1869-1876.
In the autumn of 1888, while on a visit from Worcester to his na-
tive place, Daniel Wheeler Swift, one of the sons of the late Daniel
Swift of beloved memory, took very practical interest in improving
the condition of the burial ground about the meeting house. By a
subscription of three hundred dollars he set about starting a fund of
one thousand dollars, the annual income of which is to be applied to
keeping the grave yard in a neat condition. Considerably more than
the one thousand dollars asked for was contributed by residents of the
neighborhood — some of them not members of the meeting — and by
several residing in different parts of the country, who have remem-
bered with affection the scenes of their youth and the graves of their
departed. The excess contributed has been applied to the leveling
and renovating of the entire surface of the ground, removing most
of the rough boulders used as head-stones, and distingfuishing the
graves by neater marks. The present year will probably complete
this part of the work.
John H. Dillingham. — The publishers feel justified in giving
place in this history of the West Falmouth Society, to some account
of one of its sons, whose annual sojourn and interest in his native
homestead and meeting still identifies him with the neighbor-
hood.
John Hoag Dillingham, the son of Abram Dillingham* of West
Falmouth and Lydia Beede Dillingham (daughter of John Hoag of
•Descent in the DiUingham name, which comes from Old Englrsh ■words dealing
and ham (for hamlet or village) and was applied to a market-town in Cambridge county,
Eag., is thus traced: Edward DUliagham, an original settler of Sandwich, had children
Henry, John (who moved to Yarmouth, or Harwich), and Oseah (who married Stephen
Wing, son of John who moved to Yarmouth). Henry had a son Edward, one of whose
eight children Edward, jr., had six. One of these, Ignatius, who married Deborah Gif-
ford, had eight children, the youngest of whom, Joseph, married Esther Rogers of
Marsfield, whose children were Stephen, Reuben, Deborah, Mary, Elizabeth, Abram,
and Edward G. Abram, the father of John, died 7th mo., 7, 1879. It is believed all
the above were members of the Society of Friends, and apparently Ignatius" father Ed-
ward moved from Sandwich to Falmouth.
e. BlERSTADT. H. Y.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 195
Centre Sandwich, N. H.) was born 6th mo., 1st, 1839. Of his three
brothers, all younger, two died :n childhood, and Moses B. next
younger, died at home, aged 22, while a student of Exeter Academy,
where he had nearly fitted for college. Life on a small farm, varied
by three months' attendance of the district school in winter and three
in summer, brought John to the age of 12, when he commenced daily
walks to Lawrence Academ}' in the village, four miles from home,
continuing at this school in the spring and fall terms till the age of
19, when by the encouragement and training of his teacher, the Prin-
cipal, George E. Clarke, he entered Harvard College in Cambridge,
from which he graduated in 1862. He had taught school one winter,
when at the age of 16, at Shumet Pond, and the next two winters inWest
Falmouth, and the next at South Pocasset, — -the two latter winters
having leave of absence from college for the purpose. In the autumn
after graduating he accepted an offer to teach in the boarding-school
for boys conducted by Charles A. Miles at Brattleboro, Vt., and con-
tinued there 2^ years. In the summer of 1865 he accepted the posi-
tion of tutor in Latin and Greek, also of Librarian, in Haverford Col-
lege, Pennsylvania. The superintendent retiring near the middle of
the year, the new tutor was induced to accept the care of the students
in the household — all boarding in the college. This charge continued
for ten years. His department of instruction was early changed to a
professorship in " Moral and Political Science." In 1871 he was mar-
ried to Mary Pim, of Cain, in Chester county valley. In 1875 he left
the college-building with his family for another house on the premi-
ses, continuing only in duties of instruction, until, in 1878 he accepted
the place of Principal in the Friends' School for Boys in Philadelphia,
a name under which he still serves as senior teacher in the same in-
stitution. In 1886, the school having been removed to its new build-
ing at 140 N. 16th street, and al.so the Friends' library to a new build-
ing on the same ground, the service of Librarian and Custodian of
Friends' records was added to his school duties. His interest in the
truths of the gospel as committed to the Society of Friends is in part
represented by service as overseer since 1874, as clerk of the monthly
meeting 1882-86, as elder from 1883 till 11th mo., 1889, when he was
acknowledged as a minister. His children are four daughters, Anne
Pim, Lydia Beede, Mary Edge, and Edith Comfort Dillingham. His
interest in his native town, the place of his family's residence in the
summer with his surviving mother, continues not only unabated but
heightened.
CHAPTER XL
BENCH AND BAR.
By E. S. Whtttemore, Esq.
The Judiciary of the County. — First Courts. — Formation of the Province of Massachu-
setts Bay. — Revision of the Judiciary. — Courts of the Revolutionary Period. — Early
Magistrates. — Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. — Court of County Commis-
sioners. — Probate Courts. — Trial Justices. — The Bar of Barnstable County. — Law-
yers, Past and Present. — Law Library Association. — District Courts.
THE history of the Old Colony, as to its judiciary systems, is
divided into four periods: that immediately after the coming of
the Pilgrims and Puritans at Plymouth, to 1692, when the colo-
nies were united; from this time to the revolutionary period; during
this time to its termination, October 19, 1781; and from the surrender
of Cornwallis to the present time, which is mostly within the memory
of men now living.
As early as 1639, the general court of the Plymouth colony at-
tempted to form a judicial system, but much of it was vague and
indefinite in its jurisdiction; the people were obliged to use such ma-
terials as they had. The earliest attempt of the court to form an infant
judiciary, was to nominate and appoint three men from as many towns
in the county, to hear and determine suits and controversies between
parties within the townships, whose jurisdiction was not to exceed
three pounds. The general court enacted, in the year 1666, that there
should be three courts in each year in the county, for the trial of causes
by jury, and it was further enacted that no courts of assistants, except
the governor, on special occasion see fit to summon such court, and at
such court the governor and three of the magistrates at least, must
be present at trials. It was also enacted where the amount in contro-
versy was less than forty shillings, it should be tried by a court of
selectmen, from the decision of which court an appeal might be taken
to the next court of his majesty at Plymouth, provided the appellant
furnish security to prosecute such appeal.
Soon after the settlement at Plymouth, the governor and his assist-
ants were constituted a judicial body, and supreme in jurisdiction, and
it was substantially a court of appeal, from inferior courts.
BENCH AND BAR. 197
In 1685, it became a law in this colony to establish in the three
counties of Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable, two courts in each
county, which should be presided over by three magistrates, residing
in their several counties, a majority of whom constituted the requisite
number to make a legal decision. Such county courts had the power
vested in them to hear, try and determine according to law, all matters,
actions, cases and complaints, both civil and criminal, not extending to
life, limb or banishment, or matters of divorce.
The same year (1686) the general court passed a law, that Barnsta-
ble, Sandwich, Yarmouth and Eastham, the villages of Sippican,
Succonesset and Monomoy, should be a county, Barnstable the county
town, and said county be called the county of Barnstable, in which
should be held two county courts annually at the county town, giving
them power to settle and dispose, according to law, the estate of any
person dying intestate within the county, to grant letters of adminis-
tration, and take probate of wills; to make orders about county prisons,
highways and bridges, and as occasion should demand, order rates to
be made in the several towns to defray county charges.
The general court adopted the common law of England, that a
magistrate or any court should have power to determine all such mat-
ters of equity in cases or actions that had been under their cognizance
as could not be reached by the common law; such as the forfeiture
of an obligation, breach of covenants without great damage, or the
like matters of apparent equity. But all judgments acknowledged
before any two magistrates and the clerk of the court should be good
and sufficient in law.
It became a law in 1662, that every town in this colony should
choose three or five discreet men annually, who should in June be
presented to the general court at Plymouth for appearance, who, after
being duly sworn before a magistrate, should have power to hear, try
and determine all actions of debt, trespass or damage, and other
causes, not exceeding forty shillings in its jurisdiction. This was the
court of selectmen, which had four annual sessions. The record
dimly shadows the fact that as early as 1640-2 there was established a
"Select Court," whose limit of jurisdiction was twenty shillings.
By virtue of the charter of William and Mary, granted in 1691-2,
among other rights were, that Massachusetts bay, the colony of New
Plymouth, the province of Maine and Nova Scotia were united and
made one province, called the province of the Massachusetts bay, which
union marked a new order of things in these provinces. This period
inaugurated, among other things, a revision of the judiciary, making,
changing and revising much of it.
The first session of the general court, under the new charter, met
at Boston on June 8, 1692, and continued nineteen days, until June 27,
198 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
1692. It was ordered at this first session of the general court, that all
the local laws made by the late governor and company of Massachu-
setts bay and of New Plymouth, not repugnant to the laws of Eng-
land nor inconsistent with the present constitution and settlement by
their majesties' royal charter, do remain and continue in full force in
the respective places for which they were made and used until Novem-
ber 10, 1692, excepting in cases where other provision is or shall be
made by this court or assembly; and all persons were required to con-
form themselves accordingly: and the several justices were thereby
empowered to the execution of said laws as the magistrates formerly
were. On June 28, 1692, an act was passed for holding courts of jus-
tice on or before the last Tuesday of July, 1692, to be a general ses-
sions of the peace, held in each county of the province, by the justices
of the same county, or three of them at least, who were empowered to
hear and determine all matters relating to the conservation of the peace,
and whatever was by them cognizable by law; the said justices being
approved by the selectmen of each town. "That the sessions of the
peace be successively held within the several counties, at the same
times and places, as the county courts, or inferior courts of common
pleas, are hereinafter appointed to be kept. That they shall hear and
determine all civil actions arising or happening within the same, tria-
ble at the common law according to former usage. The justices for
said court, in the county of Suffolk, shall be appointed and commis-
sioned by the Governor, with advice and consent of the council; —
that all writs and attachments shall issue out of the clerk's office of
the said several courts, signed by the clerk of such court," and the
jurors to serve at said courts, were to be chosen according to former
custom, and qualified as was directed in their majesties royal charter.
— This act was to continue until other provision be made by the gen-
eral court or assembly.
An act was passed, November 25, 1692, establishing judicatories
and courts of justice within this province, which were similar in their
powers and jurisdictions, to those hitherto existing. Their majesties',
justices of the peace had jurisdiction of all manner of debts, trespasses
and other matters not exceeding forty shillings, wherein the title to
land was concerned, from which decisions the defendant had the right
of appeal to the next inferior court of common pleas. There were
quarter sessions of the peace, by the justices of the peace in the same
county, held at specified places, each three months in the county, to
hear and determine all matters relating to the conservation of the
peace, and punishment of oflfenders, and all other things cognizable by
them according to law.
There was a superior court of judicature extending, in its jurisdic-
tion, over the whole province, having a chief justice and four other
BENCH AND BAR. 199
associate justices, three of whom constituted a quorum, having gen-
eral jurisdiction of causes both civil and criminal. The terms of
court were held for the counties of Barnstable, Plymouth and Bristol,
at Plymouth on the last Tuesday of February. Wherever this court
was held, the justices held a court of assize and general goal delivery.
A high court of chancery was held, to hear and determine all matters
in equity, which could not be reached by the courts of law. This
court was held by the governor, or such other as he might appoint as
chancellor, assisted by eight or more of the council. Any party in this
court could appeal, Wherein the matter in controversy exceeded three
hundred pounds sterling.
By the authority of the province charter of William and Mary of
1691-2, power was given to the governor and council to grant the pro-
bate of wills, and appoint executors and administrators on estates of
deceased persons of this province.
The judiciary system, from the time of the union of the colonies,
to the revolutionary period, was substantially the same in spirit, form
and general jurisdiction, that existed previous to this time, yet many
minor changes it was necessary to make. (See Province Laws Chap. 23,
1699. Chap. 18, 1700. Chap. 5, 1699). At the beginning of the revo-
lutionary period, 1775-6, a court of admiralty was established, to be
held at Plymouth, — its judges to be appointed by the majority of the
council, — to try the justice of the capture of any vessel brought into
either Barnstable, Plymouth, Bristol, Dukes county or Nantucket.
Subsequently the jurisdiction of this court was enlarged. The laws
relating to the judiciary, after the beginning of the revolutionary
period, were enacted to be in full force and virtue until November 1,
1785, by the session held at Boston, November 1, 1779, continuing sun-
dry laws that then existed, and were near expiring, with all and every
clause, matter or thing therein respectively.
The magistrates of the earliest courts in the Old Colony, officiated
as early as 1640, i.e., Edmund Freeman of Sandwich, Thomas Dimock
of Barnstable; and John Crow of Yarmouth. A court was held at
Yarmouth June 18, 1642, before Edward Winslow, Myles Standish and
Edmund Freeman.
In 1679, a select court was established in each town. Those com-
missioned to hold them were, in Sandwich, Edmund Freeman, John
Blackwell and Thomas Tupper; in Yarmouth, Edmund Howes, En-
sign Thacher, Edward Sturgis, John Miller, and Jeremiah Howes;
in Barnstable, Joseph Lothrop, James Lewis, and Barnabas Lothrop;
and in Eastham, Jonathan Sparrow, Mark Snow, and John Doane. In
1689, Jonathan Sparrow of Eastham and Stephen Skiflfe of Sandwich
were appointed county judges.
After the union of the colonies, the following is the list of the
judges of the court of common pleas of the county of Barnstable:
200 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
December 7, 1692, John Freeman, Eastham; December 7, 1692,
Bar's Lothrop, Barnstable; December 7. 1692, John Thacher, Yar-
mouth; December 7, 1692, Stephen Skiffe, Sandwich; March 6, 1695,
Jon'n Sparrow, Eastham; July 17, 1699, John Sparrow, Eastham;
June 8, 1710, Wm. Bassett, Sandwich; July 5, 1713, Daniel Parker,
Barnstable; July 6, 1713, Thomas Payne, Eastham; April, 1715, John
Otis, Barnstable; April, 1714, Sam. Annable, Barnstable; July 20, 1711,
John Gorham. Barnstable; July 5, 1713, John Doane, Eastham; July
14, 1715, Mela'h Bourne. Sandwich; July 14, 1715, Sam. Sturgis, Barn-
stable; December 10, 1715, Nath. Freeman, Harwich; November 14,
1721, Jos. Lothrop, Barnstable; March 16, 1722, Jos. Doane, Eastham;
December 26, 1727, Ezra Bourne, Sandwich; March 10, 1729. Peter
Thacher, Yarmouth; March 10, 1729, Shub'l Baxter, Yarmouth; June
22, 1736, John Thacher, Yarmouth; June 22, 1736, John Davis, Barn-
stable; December 21, 1739, John Russell, Barnstable; January 27,1742,
Shub. Gorham, Barnstable; January 27, 1742, Dav. Crocker, Barnstable;
August 9, 1746, John Otis, Barnstable; February 24, 1763, Roland Cot-
ton, Sandwich; May 9, 1770, Is'c Hinckley, Barnstable; September 13,
1753, Thos. Winslow, Harwich; June 2, 1758, Sylv. Bourne, Barn-
stable; August 2, 1758, Thos. Smith, Sandwich; December 19, 1758,
Row. Robinson, Falmouth; May 23, 1760, Ny's Marston, Barnstable;
February 1, 1764, James Otis, Barnstable; February 1, 1764, Edw.
Bacon, Barnstable; June 20, 1765, John Gorham, Barnstable.
At the interruption of the revolutionary period the following were
known to belong to the common pleas court : Melatiah Bourne, Shear-
jashub Bourne, David Gorham, Solomon Otis, Kenelm Winslow, David
Thacher, Daniel Davis, Joseph Otis, and Richard Bourne.
Immediately following 1774, the appointment of judges was con-
ferred upon the governor alone, and the first appointments in the county
were in the names of the " Governor and People of Massachusetts
Bay," viz. : October 11, 1775, James Otis, Barnstable ; Nath. Freeman,
Sandwich ; Daniel Davis, Barnstable ; and Richard Baxter, Yarmouth.
The following appointments were also made : October 13, 1775, Joseph
Nye, jr.. Sandwich ; March, 27, 1781, Sol. Freeman, Harwich ; March
21, 1793, John Davis, Barnstable; June 28, 1799, Ebenezer Bacon,
Barnstable; February 11, 1801, David Scudder, Barnstable; February
14, 1803, Sam'l Waterman, Wellfleet; February 20, 1804, Thomas
Thacher, Yarmouth ; February 22, 1809, Isaiah L. Green, Barnstable ;
February, 1809, Timothy Phinney, Barnstable; August 22, 1809,
Wendell Davis, Sandwich.
As session justices for the county (immediately after the circuit
court of common pleas was established) Richard Sears of Chatham
was commissioned June 10, 1814, and Calvin Tilden of Yarmouth on
February 15, 1815.
BENCH AND BAR. 201
Since the beginning of this century, the following were appointed
judges of the court of common pleas for this county : Nath. Freeman,
Sandwich, chief justice ; John Davis. Barnstable, chief justice, 1811 ;
Jos. Dimick, Falmouth, chief justice, 1808 : James Freeman, Sand-
wich, justice, 1808; Sam'l Freeman, Eastham, justice, 1811 ; Isaiah L.
Green, Barnstable, justice, 1812; Sol'n Freeman, Brewster, justice,
1812; Richard Sears, Chatham, justice, 1816; Calvin Tilden, Yar-
mouth, justice, 1816; Sam'l P. Crosswell, Falmouth, justice, 1819;
Elijah Cobb, Brewster, justice, 1819 ; Elisha Doane, Yarmouth, justice,
1819; Naler Crocker, Barnstable, special justice, 1822; Melatiah
Bourne, Sandwich, special justice, 1822.
The legislature of 1828 abolished the court of sessions and commis-
sioners of highways, and established in their place, a court of county
commissioners, since which time this board has been composed as be-
low indicated. The first court of county commissioners was organized
in 1828, with Samuel T. Crosswell, Matthew Cobb, and Obed Brooks
as commissioners. On the 11th of June, 1835, Jesse Boyden of Sand-
wich, Michael Collins of Eastham and Alexander Baxter of Yarmouth,
having been elected, organized under the statute of the preceding
April. Chapter XIV. of the Revised Statutes provided that on and
after the first Monday in April, 1838, three commissioners should be
chosen every third year to serve three years. In 1838 Jesse Boyden,
Michael Collins and Charles Sears were elected; — in 1841, Zenas D.
Bassett, Isaac Hardy, and John Newcomb ; in 1844 and 1847, Seth
Crowell of Dennis, Ebenezer Nye of Falmouth, John Newcomb of
Wellfleet ; 1850, Seth Crowell, John Doane of Orleans, David K. Akin
of Yarmouth ; 1853, John Doane, David K. Akin, and Simeon Dilling-
ham of Sandwich.
The act of March 11, 1854, directed the commissioners to choose
by ballot one of their number to retire in 1854, one in 1855, the other
to hold his office until 1856, and provided for the annual election of
one commissioner at the general election each year, whose term of
ofiice should be three years. In 1855 David H. Smith succeeded David
K. Akin, and in 1856 William Hewins succeeded Simeon Dillingham.
In September, 1856, Edward W. Ewer of Sandwich was elected to fill
the vacancy of David H. Smith. Since that time the three year terms
begin in January. The names of the several commissioners with the
year in which their terms began, are as follows : 1857, James Gifford
of Provincetown ; 1858, Edward W. Ewer of Sandwich ; 1859, Joseph
H. Sears of Brewster; 1860, John W. Davis of Wellfleet; 1861 and
1864, Erasmas Gould of Falmouth ; 1862, Joseph H. Sears of Brewster ;
1863 and 1869, Daniel Paine of Truro; 1865 to 1883, James S. Howes
of Dennis ; 1867 to 1875, Ebenezer S. Whittemore of Sandwich ; 1872,
Elijah E. Knowles of Eastham ; 1875, Jonathan Higgins of Orleans •"
202 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
1876 to 1884, Joshua C. Robinson of Falmouth ; 1881, Nathan D. Free-
man of Provincetown (died in oflBce) ; 1886, Solomon E. Hallett of
Chatham ; 1888, Samuel Snow of Barnstable ; 1888, Isaiah C. Young of
Wellfieet, elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of N. D.
Freeman, and reelected in 1889, for further term.
By the statute of 1784, probate courts were established, with pow-
ers and jurisdiction given by the laws of the commonwealth. The
appellate jurisdiction is vested in the supreme judicial courts. By the
charter of William and Mary the authority was vested in the governor
and council, by which probate officers were appointed in the several
counties, exercising a delegated authority, from the decrees of which
appeals were taken to the governor and council, who remained the
supreme court of probate. Such was the commencement of the pro-
bate court as a distinct tribunal. This probate court continued to
exercise probate jurisdiction, until county probate courts were estab-
lished under the state constitution, and the act of 1784, under which
the probate courts were first formally established, and which
act provided for the holding of a probate court within the several
counties, and for the appointment of judges and registers of probate,
and transferred the appellate jurisdiction from the governor and
council to the supreme judicial court, which is the supreme court of
probate. The probate courts thus organized continued to exercise
probate jurisdiction until the law of 1858, chapter 93, which abolished
the office of judge of probate and provided for the appointment in
each county of a suitable person to be judge of probate and judge of
the court of insolvency, and be designated the judge of probate and
insolvency.
The decrees of the probate court, upon subjects within its jurisdic-
tion, are final, unless appealed from. They cannot be questioned in
courts of common law, neither will a writ of error lie to its judgments,
nor will certiorariWe from the supreme court; but the illegal decrees
of the probate court are nullities, and may be set aside, by plea and
proof; but an aggrieved party may appeal to the supreme court of
probate, as prescribed by statute. The probate courts for each county
have jurisdiction of the probate of the wills, of granting administra-
tion of the estates of persons who at the time of their decease, were
inhabitants of or resident in the county, and of persons who die out
of the Commonwealth leaving estates to be administered within the
county; of the appointment of guardians to minors and others; of all
matters relating to the estates of such deceased persons and wards; of
petitions for the adoption of children, and for the change of names;
and of such other matters as have been or may be placed within their
jurisdiction by law.
Governor Joseph Dudley in 1702, in consideration of a change in
BENCH AND BAR. 203
the charter of 1691, referring to the probate of wills, vesting that
power in the governor and council; and finding courts established in
the several counties for that purpose, ordered that these courts be
continued. The incumbents have been: first, in 1693, Barnabas Lo-
throp; June 15, 1714, John Otis; December 26, 1727, Melatiah Bourne;
January 6, 1740-1, Sylvanus Bourne; February 1, 1764, James Otis;
March 27, 1781, Daniel Davis; May27, 1799, Ebenezer Bacon; January
30, 1800, John Davis; June 8, 1825, Job E. Davis; January 11. 1828,
Nymphas Marston; December 18, 1854, George Marston; May 13, 1858,
Joseph M. Day; June 14, 1882, Hiram P. Harriman.
The registers of probate have been : in 1693, Joseph Lothrop;
August 13, 1702, William Bassett; June 14, 1721, Nathaniel Otis;
August 23, 1729, Sylvanus Bourne; January 6, 1740-1, David Gorham;
August 28, 1776, Nath. Freeman; January 22, 1823, Abner Davis;
March 28, 1836, Timothy Reed; June 29, 1852, Nath'l Hinckley;
March 2, 1853, George Marston; December 28, 1854, Joseph M. Day;
Rufus S. Pope; June 29, 1858, Charles F. Swift; 1858, Jonathan Hig-
gins; 1874, Charles Thacher, 2d; 1884, Freeman H. Lothrop.
The statute of 1858, Chapter 138, authorized the governor to desig-
nate, not exceeding tiine justices of the peace, in the county of Barn-
stable, as trial justices, to try criminal oflfenders, whose jurisdiction
extended to any town in the county. Subsequently their jurisdiction
was enlarged by statute of 1877, Chapter 211, which authorized them
to have original and concurrent jurisdiction with the superior court
of civil actions of contract, tort, or replevin, where the debt or dam-
ages demanded or value of property alleged to be detained is more
than one hundred and does not exceed three hundred dollars. In
other matters, their jurisdiction was coextensive with ordinary munic-
ipal and district courts.
Those who have held the office of trial justice, since 1858, in the
county, are: Ebenezer Bacon, Barnstable, from 1860 to 1869; Edward
W. Ewer, Sandwich, 1858 to 1860; James B. Crocker, Yarmouth, 1858
to 1884; George W. Donaldson, Falmouth, 1858 to 1865; Joseph K.
Baker, jr., Dennis, 1859 to 1861; John W. Davis, Wellfleet, 1858 to
1865; Albion S. Dudley, Provincetown, 1858 to 1863; Cyrus Weeks,
Harwich, 1858 to 1866; Ebenezer S. Whittemore, Sandwich, 1860 to
1889, and continues; Marshall S. Underwood, Dennis, 1861 to 1882;
Isaac Bea, Chatham, 1862 to 1872; Benjamin F. Hutchinson, Province-
town, 1868 to 1870; Theodore F. Bassett, Hyannis, 1868 to 1889 and
continues; Smith K. Hopkins, Truro and Barnstable, 1867 to 1889 and
continues; Frederick Hebard, Dennis, 1868 to 1869; Richard S. Wood,
Falmouth, 1865 to 1875; George T. Wyer, Wellfleet, 1872 to 1889 and
continues; Shubael B. Kelley, Harwich Port, 1873 to 1889 and contin-
ues; Raymond Ellington, Provincetown, 1875 to 1878; James H. Hop-
204 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
kins, Provincetown, 1886 to 1888; Charles F. Chamberlayne, Bourne,
1884 to 1889 and continues; George Godfrey, Chatham, 1886 to 1889
and continues; Jonathan Kelley, 2d, Dennis, 1886 to his death in 1889;
William D. Foster, Provincetown, 1884 to 1885; Tully Crosby, jr.,
Brewster, appointed in 1890 and continues; Watson F. Baker, Dennis,
1889, and continues.
The Bar of the County of Barnstable. — The bar can justly
claim some of the highest mental lights of the world, and yet what is
known of its members, is in a great degree, traditionary. Very few
of the transcendent efforts in the forum are reported; — their fame and
merit are passing and transitory; and are forgotten by the multitude
who heard them. Our great American orator, statesman, and patriot,
James Otis, who was born at West Barnstable, February 5, 1725, ex-
hibited the character of one of the purest patriots and eloquent de-
fenders of human rights, that the American continent has produced;
— when in the midst (1761) of his duties as advocate general, in defend-
ing the writs of assistance, but deeming them illegal and unjust, he
immediately resigned. — His argument in this case produced a pro-
found impression. Such was his unselfish love of country, that he
has left his impress as an ornament on the column of time.
The finished forensic efforts of Rufus Choate and other eminent
American advocates, would adorn the pages of Cicero, and yet much
of it has passed into forgetfulness. A few Nestors of the Suffolk bar,
occasionally speak of the scintillations of his magnetic mind, and the
charm of his speech, yet they add in despair; — " we cannot repeat the
effect upon the breathless multitude who heard him, with the inde-
scribable power of a magician." No one is able to rehearse these
masterly utterances, or realize the effect upon the enchanted multi-
tude. I well remember how deeply moved was the throng in the court-
room, when he closed his argument for the defense in a capital case,
where the life or death of the defendant was depending upon the ver-
dict of that jury; the audience refused to leave the room, before the
verdict came in, so deeply were they in sympathy with Mr. Choate 's
client.
It will be impossible to say much concerning the early members
of the bar of the county of Barnstable, since we have very little ma-
terial relating to them to make up anything approaching the dignity
of biography. At this early period of the Pilgrims and some years
subsequently, the profession of the law hardly had a name in the Old
Colony; very few made the study and practice of the law an exclusive
profession; and those who were members of the bar, it is difficult to
determine, with any degree of accuracy, until we pass to a later
time.
As early as 1676, Richard Bourne of Sandwich, Shearjashub Bourne
BENCH AND BAR. 205
of Barnstable, and Samuel Prince were conversant with the duties of
a lawyer. Hon. Ezra Bourne of Sandwich was by preparation and
practice a lawyer as early as 1700. William Bassett, Samuel Jennings
and Silas Bourne of Sandwich, were lawyers in their way; and so was
Nathaniel Otis of Barnstable, a member of the bar, in fact. With the
exception of Ezra Bourne, Hon. Timothy Ruggles was the most able
and learned lawyer in the county. He came to Sandwich, not far from
the year 1739, — having graduated at Harvard College in 1732.
Hon. Shearjashub Bourne of Barnstable was a man of mark, and
during the first years of the republic, he was the representative in
congress from this district, during the first, second and third con-
gresses. He was born in Barnstable in 1744, graduated from Harvard
College in 1764 and died in 1806. He was a class-mate of Governor
Caleb Strong, and other distinguished men. Shearjashub Bourne was
a direct descendant of Rev. Richard Bourne of Sandwich, who was
one of the most able men who came to Sandwich in 1637, and finally-
became a useful and devoted missionary to the Indians.
Hon. Lemuel Shaw, chief justice of the supreme judicial court of
Massachusetts, from August 31, 1830, to August 23, 1860, died at Bos-
ton, March 30, 1861. This illustrious chief justice was born at West
Barnstable, January, 9, 1781, the son of Rev. Oakes Shaw, who held
here the pastorate for 47 years. The son graduated at Harvard
College in the class of 1800, with Judge Story, William E. Channing
and other distinguished men. Judge Shaw never practiced law in the
county of Barnstable, but he held a broad and secure position in the
affections of all the citizens of the Commonwealth, and was the ac-
knowledged chief of its jurists. No man in any period of our history
has so deeply impressed his mental power and judicial reasoning
upon the people of the Commonwealth, as did Judge Shaw. He was
constructive, and yet he was progressive. As has been said, for the
high degree of symmetry and harmonious development to be found
in the science of the law as administered in our courts, we are largely
indebted to his comprehensive and vigorous intellect. He had an
abiding sympathy, coupled with broad mental power and minuteness
of observation. " His understanding resembles the tent which the
fairy Paribanou gave to prince Ahmed. Fold it, and it seems a toy
for the hand of a lady. Spread it, and the armies of powerful sultans
might repose beneath its shade." His sympathies were deep and
broad, which an incident will illustrate. The question was raised
whether a heifer calf was exempt from attachment, which caused some
merriment at the Bar. Judge Shaw paused and with some emotion
said: "Gentlemen, this may seem to you a trifling case, but it is a
very important question to a great many poor families."
Hon. Nathaniel Freeman, jr., son of General Nathaniel Freeman of
206 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Sandwich, was born May 1, 1766, and died August 22, 1800, at the age
of 35 years. He graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1787,
with John Quincy Adams, and other men of ability. He studied and
practiced law ; but at the age of 30, in 1796, he was elected to the
fourth congress, with a unanimous vote, save one. In 1798, he was
elected the second time to the fifth congress, and while a member of
this body, he died at the age of 35. Nathaniel Freeman, jr., was a per-
son of brilliant mind, and a man of great powers of eloquence for one
of his years; and yet it is hardly known, even in the Old Colony, what
an able man he was. His was an untimely death ; — what fruit might
we not expect from the golden autumn of such a mind !
Hon. Timothy Ruggles was one of the most remarkable lawyers
ever connected with the bar of the county of Barnstable; born in
Rochester, Mass., He graduated at Harvard College in the class
of 1732, before his 24th birthday, in 1739, he became an inhabi-
tant of Sandwich, and he began the practice of law before he came
here. He managed to be elected a representative to the provincial
legislature from Sandwich. He married Bathsheba Newcomb, a young
widow, who was the proprietor of the tavern, and united the profes-
sion of the law with that of innkeeper; having personal supervision
over both. With all else, he had a decided military bent, and was
destined to be distinguished in that direction. — Freeman says, as col-
onel he led a body of troops to join Sir William Johnson in the ex-
pedition against Crown Point in 1756. He was in the battle of Lake
George; brigadier general under Lord Amherst; removing to Hard-
wick, he served several yeaVs as representative from that town, two
of which he was speaker. He was for a while chief justice of the
court of common pleas. In 1765 he was a delegate, with Otis in the
colonial convention, and was chosen its president. As a politician, his
popularity was fated to wane; the whigs were dissatisfied with his
course, and the house of representatives reprimanded him from the
speaker's chair. His assurance never for a moment forsook him. As
a lawyer he was shrewd and quick of apprehension, and was bold in
his conception; in his manners, rude and lordly: artful in his address
to the jury; sagacious and well equipped as a demagogue, against
whomsoever he was pitted. He was mentioned as a mandamus coun-
sellor in 1774 and proved a decided loyalist. Finding concealment in
Boston, until its evacuation, he retired with the British troops to Hali-
fax, where he organized a body of loyal militia refugees to the num-
ber of 300. He died in Nova Scotia in 1798, at an advanced age.
This account of Mr. Ruggles is protracted, not because of his emi-
nent goodness, or lack of ability, but for his extended range of vicis-
situdes in life, and his power to exhibit them with a firm hand and
purpose. I will dismiss Mr. Ruggles with an anecdote. — An old lady
BENCH AND BAR. 207
-witness comes into court at Barnstable, before the chief justice ar-
rives. The court enters with great gravity, finding the old lady in his
seat, inquires of her, who gave her his seat. The old lady,
pointing to Ruggles, said, ''He gave me the seat," — and after
the old lady was removed, the chief justice, turning to Ruggles,
firmly demanded of him his reasons for such conduct. His
cool and characteristic reply was: " May it please your Honor, I thought
that the place for old women."
Hon. Zeno Scudder was born at Barnstable in 1807, and died there
June 26, 1857, at the age of 50. Like many of the sons of the Cape, he
had a decided inclination to follow the sea; but before he reached the age
of 21, he had paralysis of his right limb, causing lameness. This
caused him to change his plans. Under the advice of Doctor Nourse
of Hollowell, and at Bowdoin College, he pursued the study of medi-
cine, and after completing it found his lameness an impediment to his
practice as a physician; not being discouraged, he turned his attention
with zeal to the study of the law. His preparatory course was partly
pursued at the Dane Law School at Cambridge. He was admitted to
the bar in 1836. He first opened an ofiice in Falmouth, but soon after
settled in his native town, which was near the centre of business.
By studious application and great industry, he gained and deserved
the reputation of being one of the best read, and ablest lawyers in the
Commonwealth; and this was supplemented by an honest and high-
minded purpose. He was elected to the Massachusetts senate in 1846,
and when returned to the same body in 1847, was chosen president.
He was elected to the 32d and 33d congresses, but before he took his
seat in the 33d, a severe casualty prostrated him, which finally caused
his death, to the deep regret of many friends. Mr. Scudder not only
had a keen, but a broad and comprehensive mind, capable of grasping
great principles. He exhibited this in his masterly speech in con-
gress, August 12, 1852, on the importance of American fisheries. Very
few members of congress from the Old Colony were more faithful to
the people represented than Zeno Scudder. As a lawyer, he was
jealous of the just rights and interests of his clients, but never claimed
for them that which was not right, or proper or just. He believed
the law to be a noble science, and one of dignity.
Hon. John Reed was born at West Bridgewater in 1781, and died
in the same place, in 1860, at the age of 79. He became a resident of
Yarmouth in early life, and opened an ofiice for the practice of law,
and took high rank. He was once a representative of the legislature
from Yarmouth, and was twelve times elected in this district to con-
gress, serving twenty-four years in that body. He was called the
" life member." In 1844 he was elected lieutenant governor and
was re-elected seven successive years after he returned to Bridge-
-water.
208 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Hon. Nymphas Marston, who was born at Barnstable, February
12, 1788, and died there May 2, 1864, graduated at Harvard College in
the class of 1807. In 1828 Governor Lincoln appointed him judge of
probate, and he served 26 years to 1854, at which time he resigned.
Probably no lawyer ever practised in the county of Barnstable, who
more completely gained and held the confidence, love and esteem of
all the people of the county, than Nymphas Marston. He was always
ready to advise a settlement, rather than contend in court; but when
he did try a cause, the people believed he was on the side pf justice,
and he usually won the verdict. He was one of Nature's own advo-
cates; and before the court and jury he was a magician. He was a
man of " infinite jest." After defending in court, a client, who was
accused of stealing a pig, the jury acquitted him, which greatly sur-
prised the defendant, whereupon he whispered in Mr. Marston's ear:
— " What shall I do with the pig ? " Mr. M.'s reply was: — " Eat him, the
jury say you did not steal him "I! Mr. Marston could have been elected
to almost any office within the gift of the people; but as he often said:
" I would rather be Judge of Probate for the county of Barnstable,
and protect the rights of its widows and orphans than hold any other
office."
Hon. Wendell Davis, was born about 1775, died in Sandwich, De-
cember 30, 1830, and was buried in Plymouth. He was admitted to
the bar, and settled in Sandwich in 1799. He was a son of Thomas
Davis of Plymouth. He was clerk of the Massachusetts senate in
1803-1805, afterwards senator, and several years sheriff of the county
of Barnstable, and he held other offices of trust. He practised law
and resided in Sandwich about thirty years. He was a lawyer pos-
sessed of great natural abilities; — a direct descendent of the Pilgrims:
Governor Bradford, Elder Brewster, and Richard Warren. He was
a safe and wise counselor, yet seldom appeared in court as an
advocate.
Hon. Russell Freeman, the tenth child of General Nathaniel Free-
man, was born October 7, 1782, and died in Boston of heart disease in
1842. He was several years collector of customs in New Bedford;
representative in the legislature from Sandwich, and one of the execu-
tive council. His deafness prevented his practising law at the bar,
but he was a lawyer of pronounced abilities, and an able and safe ad-
viser, and one of the most popular men in the Old Colony; coupled
with a genial disposition, ready wit, quick perceptions, honorable
aims in life, sincere in his friendships, which caused him to be widely
known in the Commonwealth, and highly esteemed, and his death
universally mourned. On his tombstone, by his direction, is inscribed;
'' In meipso nihil; in Christo otnne."
BENCH AND BAR. 209
Hon. George Marston, born in Barnstable, October 15, 1821, died
in New Bedford, August 14, 1883; studied law at Cambridge in 1844,
and was admitted to the bar in 1845, and practised his profession in
Barnstable and New Bedford. During 1853 and 1854 he was register
of probate, and from 1855 to 1858, judge of probate of the county of
Barnstable. In 1859 he was elected district attorney for the Southern
district. Mr. Marston was nominated by the republicans in 1878 for
the office of attorney general, to succeed Hon. Charles R. Train, and
was elected. He resigned the office of district attorney in order to
enter upon the duties of his new office, and was re-elected attorney
general, at the successive elections of 1879, 1880 and 1881. He was
the only attorney general born in the county of Barnstable. Mr.
Marston was by general consent, one of the ablest, and most promi-
nent and influential men in the Old Colony, and enjoyed the confi-
dence and esteem of all who knew him. After a few years most men
are forgotten by the larger body of the people; not so with George
Marston. His life was so filled with the important business of other
men throughout the Commonwealth, that his name and fame will be
handed down through a series of years. Few other lawyers ever had
a better facility in the trial of causes than George Marston; he may
be said to have been a great jury lawj'er. He had a rich and peren-
nial inspiration of language, and when the odds seemed against him
he would turn the tide by the magic of his speech. He was
well educated as a lawyer, yet not a graduate of a college ; — few
graduates, however, could excel him in common sense and purity
of diction. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge would
have added no glory or lustre to the fame or breadth of under-
.standing of William Shakspeare. Such men carry universities in
their heads.
Hon. John B. D. Cogswell, born at Yarmouth, June 6, 1829, died at
Haverhill, June 10, 1889. He graduated at Dartmouth College, in
1845, in high rank, and studied law in the office of Governor Emery
Washburn and Senator Hoar in Worcester. In 1850 he took the de-
gree of LL.B. at Cambridge Law School. He opened an office in
Worcester in 1857, and was elected a representative to the legislature.
In 1858 he moved to Milwaukee, Wis., and opened an office there.
In 1861 and again in 1865 he received the appointment of United
States district attorney for the state of Wisconsin by President Lin-
coln. He returned in 1870 to Yarmouth, and was sent as representa-
tive to the state legislature for the years 1871, 1872 and 1873, and
elected state senator for the years 1877, 1878 and 1879, and was presi-
dent of the senate in 1878 and 1879. Mr. Cogswell was a man of un-
questioned abilities, coupled with uncommon powers of oratory, and
urbanity of manners.
14
210 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Hon. John Doane was born in part of Orleans then embraced
within the limits of Eastham, on May 28, 1791, and died March 3,
1881. He was educated at Sandwich Academy, and at Bridgewater;
he studied law with John Reed, and was admitted to the bar in
Barnstable about 1818, and practiced for more than half a century.
He was representative to the legislature, and in 1830 was first elected
state senator, in which office he served three terms with dignity and
ability. He was at one time a member of the governor's council. In
1850 and again in 1853 he was elected county commissioner and was
thus contemporary in that court with David K. Akin, Seth Crowell
and Simeon Dillingham.
He lived to a ripe old age in the enjoyment of a rare social posi-
tion, respected and loved by all who knew him, his life work as an
adviser, peacemaker and friend more than filling up the measure of
man's allotted time. Upon the town in which he resided and upon
the public whose interests he sought to serve he made a deep and last-
ing impression as an honest and sound counselor, who, in all his pro-
fessional career advised settlements, compromises and concessions
instead of litigations in the courts.*
Seth F. Nye of Sandwich was born May 13, 1791, and died Sep-
tember 13, 1856, at the age of 65 years and four months. He was ad-
mitted to the bar of the county of Barnstable about 1816, and prac-
ticed here for forty years - the whole period of his business life. He
held various offices of trust, was representative to the legislature, and a
delegate in the convention of 1820, to revise the constitution of the
state. He rarely appeared in court as an advocate, but prepared his
cases for argument by other counsel. He was a genial person, and
one of good sense, — a useful and benevolent citizen, and his death
was deeply lamented by those who knew him.
John Walton Davis was born at Wellfleet in 1817, and died at
Provincetown in 1880. He was at Amherst College two years, and
subsequently graduated from Bowdoin College, Maine. He gradu-
ated with distinction, as a fine scholar, at the head of his class. He
studied law at Ellsworth, Me., and after being admitted to the bar,
practiced at Topham, Me., Boston, Mass., Wellfleet and Provincetown.
Mr. Davis held offices of public trust, among which were internal rev-
enue assessor, trial justice, county commissioner, and others. He was
a genial and agreeable gentleman, and one who possessed sufficient
ability to have filled more important stations in life than he did.
Benjamin F. Hutchinson, came to Provincetown from the county
of Essex, (about 1870) and practiced law, jointly with teaching. He
was very devoted to the cause of education, and was connected with
* The ancestry and family of Enquire Doane are further noticed in the chapter on
Orleans. — Ed.
BENCH AND BAR. 211
the school board until his death. He was thoroughly honest, and
well equipped in the science of the law; was an expert in drawing
legal documents, which bore the test of scrutiny. He rarely ap-
peared in court as an advocate, but prepared his cases for others
to argue. He died at Provincetown.
Hon. Simeon N. Small of Yarmouth, was bom at Chatham,
Mass., but practiced law at Yarmouth and Milwaukee, Wis. He
held various public offices before emigrating to the West, among
which was judge of the court of insolvency. In 1860, he went to
Milwaukee, and built up a large law practice, and accumulated a
fortune. Mr. Small was considered an able and good lawyer, and
a man of integrity, in whom confidence could be placed. He died
in Milwaukee.
Frederick Hallett of Yarmouth, studied law about 1862-3 with
Judge Day of Barnstable, and was admitted to the bar, and began
the practice of the law, with every prospect of brilliant success;
but he was soon called to lay down his life's armor, and died at
the untimely age of 25 years. He was universally beloved and
when he died, Yarmouth, as a town, put on its sincere mourning.*
Charles F. Chamberlayne, son of Rev. N. H. and Hannah S.
(Tewksbury) Chamberlain, was bom at Cambridge, Mass., November
30, 1866. He prepared at the Cambridge High School and graduated
from Harvard College in 1878. He also gfraduated at Harvard Law
School and began practice in Boston. In 1883 he edited the American
edition of Best on Evidence, and the following year was appointed trial
justice for Barnstable county — a position he held until the oflBce was
abolished in 1890.
Tully Crosby, jr., was bom in South Boston, August 21, 1841. His
parents removed to the Cape three years later, where he was educated
in the public schools and at the Hyannis Academy. Afterward he
followed the sea until 1875, when he retired and settled in Brewster,
where he now resides. He began the study of law in 1883, taking a
special course in the Boston University School of Law, under Judge
Bennett, was a member of the general court in 1885, serving as clerk
of the committee on education, and was admitted to the bar in Barn-
stable county, October 14, 1887.
Thomas C. Day was born in Barnstable, April 20, 1856. To the
excellent advantages of the village school were added those of Adams'
Academy, Quincy, Mass., where he graduated in the spring of 1875,
after a three years' course. In the fall of 1877, after two years in
Harvard College, he entered the law office of his father, Judge Joseph
M. Day, then of Barnstable, and in October, 1880, was admitted to
•The sacceeding portion of this chapter was not contributed by Mr. Whittemore. —
Ed.
212 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
practice. He subsequently became, in 1882, partner with him in the
present firm of J. M. & T. C. Day, with one ofl&ce in Barnstable and
one in Brockton, Mass.. where the senior partner now resides. Mr.
Day is a democrat in politics, and although yet young, has been rec-
ognized by the party as a capable and popular standard bearer.
Alexander McLellan Goodspeed, born in Falmouth in 1847, a son
of Obed, grandson of Walley, and great-grandson of Joseph Good-
speed, was educated in Lawrence Academy, Falmouth, and Phillips'
Academy, Andover. He subsequently taught in public schools, and
was for several years in the engineer corps of a Western railroad.
He began his law training with Marston & Crapo, of New Bedford.
He was admitted to the Bristol County bar in March, 1880, and now
is established as attorney at law in New Bedford, but has a substantial
clientalage at Falmouth.
Judge Hiram Putnam Harriman, of Barnstable county, was born
at Groveland, Mass., in the valley of the Merrimac, February 6, 1846.
His father, Samuel, was a son of Moses Harriman, and his mother,
Sally Adams, was a daughter of Henry Hilliard. Both of these fam-
ily names have been well known and honorably represented in that
part of Essex county for nearly two hundred years, and here on the
south bank of the river the now venerable Samuel Harriman has
passed in rural peace a long and successful career as an extensive
owner and tiller of the soil. The early training of the lad Hiram was
in the district school and in a private academy at Groveland, where he
improved the brief intervals in which he might be spared from the
labors of the farm. He was the youngest of three, and to the
teachings of an older sister are attributed much of the love of study
and thirst for knowledge which became the mainspring of his higher
aspirations. With such a resultant as these circumstances and forces
might produce in an enterprising boy of eighteen, intent not only
upon a college education, but aspiring to some professional career, he
became a student of Phillips' Exeter Academy in February, 1864, en-
tering at the middle of. the junior year. In one year and a half he
had, by special eflfort, mastered the Greek and Latin preparatory
course, and went up to Dartmouth in June, 1865, where he passed
the examination to enter the college. His college life began the fol-
lowing September, and closed with his graduation with the class of
1869 ; and although he taught three winters during the course he
stood sixth in a class of more than sixty. Several of the Cape towns
depended, at that period, upon the students of Dartmouth College for
their best winter teachers, and it was while a student of this institu-
tion that he first became known on the Cape as a teacher two winters
in the public schools of Truro. Here by his urbanity of manners and
devotion to his work he attained a high position as a teacher and at-
BENCH AND BAR. 213
tracted to himself many warm friends, who have shown a pride and
interest in his subsequent advancement.
From September, 1869, until the following May he was at Albany,
N. Y., completing a course which he began with Blackstone, while
teaching the country school at South Truro in the winter of 1867-8.
His graduation at the Albany Law School entitled him to admission
to practice in New York, and after a short association with J. P. Jones,
a prominent lawyer at Haverhill, Mass., he was admitted to the bar
of Essex county and removed the same year to Wellfleet — then the
terminus of the railroad, — establishing I imself on Cape Cod, in the
practice of law. There has never been since, nor had there existed
for many years before, a better opportunity for a young lawyer of his
stamp to obtain a foothold in Barnstable county. Mr. Marston, who
for years had a large and profitable practice, had removed to New
Bedford ; George A. King of Barnstable was gradually dropping his
Cape practice and soon gave his whole attention to his Boston busi-
ness.
Mr. Harriman took an office at Barnstable, and the following year
one at Harwich, where the failing health of his friend, Jonathan Hig-
gins, Esq., who advised the step, was making a vacancy for some other
member of the bar. At these offices Judge Harriman still pursues his
profession. His faithfulness in the management of the causes com-
mitted to his care, the perseverance and excellent order in which he
prepares his cases for trial, his uniform courtesy to opponents, and his
thorough honesty in all matters of his profession, have gradually and
successfully advanced him to the head of the bar of this county. On
the 14th day of June, 1882, he was appointed to the position he now
fills as judge of probate and insolvency for the county of Barnstable.
In this important office, by his affability and uniform courtesy toward
all classes who have occasion to need his ministrations, he has won
the confidence of the people, who are proud of him as an adopted son
of Cape Cod. Almost from the first he has had a substantial cliental-
age. He was counsel for the old Cape Cod railroad until the consoli-
dation, and has since then been retained by the Old Colony company.
While this volume was in course of completion a final decision was
reached in the famous Snow-Alley case — the largest suit ever decided
in the Commonwealth in an action of tort. Judge Harriman was re-
tained by Mr. Snow in May, 1884, and began laying, in his own thor-
ough manner, the foundation for the prosecution. Mr. Alley employed
several of the ablest lawyers in the county — including Colonel Robert
G. IngersoU and Ambrose A. Ranney, and for almost six years they
stubbornly contested every issue of fact or law. After three trials at
Barnstable a statute was enacted allowing the removal of the case
from Barnstable county, where the defendant's counsel alleged that
214 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
they could not get justice with Harriman opposing. Four verdicts
were reached, and twice the case went to the full bench before the
judgment in favor of Judge Harriman's client was paid.
Judge Harriman was married September 25, 1870, to Betsey
Franklin, daughter of Captain George W. Nickerson and grand-
daughter of Dr. Daniel P. Cliflford of Chatham, and has since resided
at Wellfleet, where he is fully identified with the town's local inter-
ests.
Jonathan Higgins, of Orleans, was born there November 21, 1816,
and was there educated in the public schools and in the academy. His
father, Thomas, was a son of Samuel Higgins, whose father and grand-
father each bore the name Jonathan. Mr. Higgins studied law in the
probate ofl5ce with Judge J. M. Day, and in 1858 and three terms there-
after was elected register of probate. He has since devoted his time
chiefly to the practice of law. The title. Deacon Higgins, by which
he is generally known, alludes to his relation with the Congregational
church of Orleans. His deceased wife, Mary, was a daughter of Seth
Doane. Of their seven children, Mrs. Captain Alfred Paine, Mrs. O.
E. Deane and Hon. George C. Higgins, ex-mayor of Lynn, are the
only survivors. The present Mrs. Jonathan Higgins is Ruth, daugh-
ter of Joseph Snow.
Smith K. Hopkins was born in Truro, August 12, 1831, a lineal
descendant of Stephen Hopkins who came in the Mayflower, through
Giles his son, who removed from Plymouth to Yarmouth. Edu-
cated in the public schools of Truro and at Truro Academy, under
Joshua H. Davis, Esq., now superintendent of schools in Somerville,
Mass.; followed the sea from boyhood until twenty -one years of age,
then went to Illinois and was in the employment of Josiah Lombard —
formerly of Truro — in the real estate business, until 1860. In 1860
returned to Truro to reside. Married in 1856, to Mary A. Hughes, daugh-
ter of James Hughes of Truro. Five children: James H., lawyer, of Prov-
incetown; Howard F., editor of ProvincetownAdvocate; Rajonond A.,
Boston, Mass.; Winthrop Stowell, died in September, 1889; Ethel B., at
school. School committee 1862 and 1863. Representative in legislature
in 1863. Appointed ensign in U. S. Navy in August, 1863, and served
on frigates Savannah, Brooklyn and Fort Jackson during the war. Sent
in as prize master of English steamer Let-Her-Rip, a blockade runner
captured at Wilmington by the Fort Jackson, and after delivering her
to the Admiral at Boston Navj' Yard, was appointed temporarily to
command the gninboat Jean Sands; subsequently detached and or-
dered again to the frigate Fort Jackson. Was at both attacks on Fort
Fisher by the army and navy in December, 1864, and January, 1866,
and participated in the assault on the fort at the time of its capture;
recommended for promotion and offered an appointment to be retained
AiiM^^^du^ /r^'
C. eiENSTADT.
BENCH AND BAR. • 215
in the navy at the close of the war, but resigned when the war was
over. Was one of the selectmen, assessors, etc., of Truro from 1866
to 1874, and chairman from 1871 to 1874. Studied law with B. F.
Hutchinson of Provincetown; was admitted to the bar April, 1873.
Register of deeds for Barnstable county 1874,1875,1876, and has been
clerk of the courts for Barnstable county since 1876. Notary public;
justice of peace since 1860, and trial justice since 1866. Removed from
Truro to Barnstable in 1875.
James Hughes Hopkins, oldest son of Smith K. Hopkins above men-
tioned, was born in North Truro, February 20,1861. After attending
the public schools of Truro, and the Prescott Grammar School of
Somerville, Mass., he graduated from the Somerville High School in
1878, and from Harvard College in 1882. He then taught public
sohools at North Eastham and at West Barnstable, while continuing
the study of law, for which he early evinced a taste and aptitude, and
was admitted to the bar at Barnstable in October, 1883. Locating in
Provincetown, he has become fully identified with its public interests,
holding oflBcial positions in the church and the public librar}'. He
has been elected special commissioner, one of the commissioners of
insolvency, and has been appointed trial justice. Since 1886 he has
edited the Provincetown Advocate, as noticed by Mr. Swift in Chapter
xni.
F. H. LOTHROP. — The present register of probate and insolvency,
is Freeman Hinckley Lothrop of Barnstable, who was bom in this
village, April 6, 1842. His father Ansel Davis Lothrop', bom 1812,
was a son of James Scudder Lothrop", (Isaac', General Barnabas*, Bar-
nabas' bom 1686, Captain John' bom here 1644, Rev. John Lothrop').
This illustrious ancestor. Rev. John Lothrop, was bom in 1684 and
in 1605 graduated from Queen's College, Cambridge, and in 1609 re-
ceived the degree of A.M. He came to Scituate, Mass., in 1634, whence
he came to Barnstable in 1639 and here he built a house, where the
Globe Hotel now stands. He lived later in the building now occu-
pied by the Sturgis Library, where he died November 8, 1653. His
son Barnabas was first judge of probate here, and another son Joseph,
also an ancestor of Freeman H., was the first register of probate and
register of deeds. While his family name thus comes from one of
the pioneers of old Mattacheese, the mother of Freeman H. — Ruth
Hinckley — was a lineal descendant of Plymouth Colony's last illustri-
ous governor, and for two hundred and fifty years the two families
have been prominent factors in this town and village.
Freeman H. received his early education in the private and public
schools of his native village, and at the age of sixteen started " before
the mast " on a merchant voyage to Australia and the East Indies.
He afterward made another voyage to Liverpool and Calcutta, return-
216 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ing just after McCIellan's defeats in the Peninsula and in season to
answer Lincoln's call for nine months' troops. While exempt from
military duty, as a seaman in actual service, and before liberal boun-
ties were paid, he volunteered as a private in August, 1862, and on
September 12th was enrolled in Company D of the Forty-fifth Massa-
chusetts Infantry. He followed the fortunes of the regiment and
participated in the battles of Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro', in
the first of which he was slightly wounded but not disabled from duty.
After that battle he was made a corporal of the company, and was
honorably discharged in July, 1863, with the regiment. In September
of that year, Mr. Lothrop applied for and obtained a position as mas-
ter's mate in the navy and was ordered to the Brooklyn Navy Yard
for instruction. He was finally ordered to the United States Steamer
Agawam, Alexander C. Rhind, commander, for service in the James
river, and participated in an engagement at Four Mile Creek in July,
1864, and was in James river at the time of Grant's movements against
Petersburg and on the banks of the James. He was promoted to
acting ensign in December, 1864. In April, 1865, the Agawa7n being
then at Newberne, N. C, news was received of the surrender of Gen-
eral Lee, and Mr. Lothrop, considering the fighting at an end, imme-
diately tendered his resignation which was accepted in May, 1S66.
In June following, Mr. Lothrop was married to Hettie Freeman,
daughter of Alvah Holway of Sandwich, a member of the Society of
Friends. They have had four children : William Freeman, bom in
September, 1886; Ruth Hinckley, born July, 1868 (married Nath'l B.
H. Parker of Hyannis); Joseph Henry, born June, 1870, and Bertha
Warren, bom in February, 1884, the latter being their only child now
living.
In 1886, Mr. Lothrop was offered a positian as railway postal clerk
between Boston and Orleans, which position he held till September,
1872, when he resigned that office and was soon after called to act as
assistant treasurer of the Barnstable Savings Bank, then one of the
largest in southeastern Massachusetts. In 1881 he left his position
in the bank to accept an appointment to the office of register of
probate and insolvency for his native county, to which position he
was soon elected and by re-elections has since continued to fill.
While in the saviags bank he became much interested in reading
law, and after studying under the instruction of H. P. Harriman,
Esq., was admitted to the bar, April 11, 1884.
As an attorney he gives his attention only to such office prac-
tice as does not interfere with his official duties, and the able and
faithful discharge of his responsible trust as a record officer has
been recognized and appreciated by the public which he serves.
History has repeated itself, and to-day we find him carefully con-
h/ify/i-..-^^^^^
BENCH AND BAR. 217
tinuing the probate records which an ancestor with remarkable
skill and care began as early as 1693.
William P. Reynolds, of Hyannis, was admitted to the bar April 5,
18S7. He is a native of Oseola, Tioga county, Pa., where he was
born in 1859. There and at Willsboro, Pa., he received his early edu-
cation and at twenty years of age graduated from Cook Academy,
Havanna, N. Y. He entered Amherst College in 1880 and after three
years came to Barnstable and resumed the study of law with Judge
Joseph M. Day. He taught the Hyannis high school from 1884 to
1888, prosecuting his professional studies during the interim, and
until he was admitted to practice in the courts of the Commonwealth.
Mr. Reynolds is now the superintendent of schools for Barnstable,
and since early in 1889 has been associate editor of the Cape Cod
Item.
Hon. Henry A. Scudder. — In the village of Osterville, where the
waters of Vineyard sound wash the southern shore of Cape Cod, a son
was born, on the 25th of November, 1819, to Josiah and Hannah
(Lovell) Scudder. They gave to him the name of Henry Austin, and
the Commonwealth knows him to-day in her political and judicial his-
tory as Judge Scudder of Barnstable.
The family name became a part of New England's history in 1635,
when John Scudder, who was born in England, came to Charlestown,
Mass. In 1640 he removed to Barnstable, where he was admitted a
freeman in 1654, and where he died in 1689, leaving a wife, Hannah,
and several children. His sister Elizabeth, in 1644, married Samuel,
son of Rev. John Lothrop, and removed from Boston to Barnstable
the same year. John Scudder, son of John and Hannah, was born in
Barnstable. In 1689 he married Elizabeth, daughter of James Hamb-
lin, and afterward removed to Chatham, where he died in March, 1742,
and she in the January following. Their son Ebenezer, born in 1696,
at Barnstable, married Lydia Cobb in 1725, and died in 1737. Their
son Ebenezer, born in Barnstable in 1733, married Rose Delap in 1759,
and died June 8, 1818. Their seven children, including Judge Scud-
der's father, were: Ebenezer, born August 13, 1761; Isaiah, born Janu-
ary 8, 1768; Asa, born July 25, 1771; Elizabeth, born October 12, 1773;
Josiah, born November 30, 1775; James D., born October 27, 1779;
Thomas D., born January 25, 1782. Of this generation, the youngest
was a merchant, Josiah was a farmer, and the other sons followed the
sea and became captains.
The children of Josiah Scudder were: Puella L., born December 3,
1800, married George Hinckley, and died August 30, 1885; Josiah, a
merchant, born February 12, 1802, married first Sophronia Hawes and
second Augusta Hinckley, and died December 29. 1877; Freeman L.,
a merchant, born March 16, 1805, married Elizabeth Hinckley, and
218 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
died December 3, 1832; Zeno, born August 18, 1807, with whose politi-
cal and professional career the reader is already familiar; Persis.born
August 14, 1810, married Joseph W. Crocker, and died April 24, 1844;
Edwin, merchant, bom September 23, 1815, married Harriet N. Phin-
ney, and died May 25, 1872; Henry A. Scudder, the subject of this
sketch, the youngest and the only survivor of the family.
At an early age Henry A. entered the common schools of his native
village, and there gained the rudiments of an education. He then
followed the example of most of the boys of his acquaintance and went
to sea, commencing as he supposed his life work. Not being physic-
ally strong, however, and finding that the habits and duties of this
life were uncongenial to. him, he returned to his home after a period
of about one year. He afterwards began a course of study in the Hy-
annis Academy, his apparent purpose being to qualify himself as a
teacher. With this object in view, he continued his studies, teaching
from time to time as occasion offered. During this period, through
the influence and advice of his teachers, he became greatly interested
in the languages and mathematics, and naturally conceived the desire
for a college course. Having fitted himself for this he entered Yale
College, where he graduated in 1842. He then studied law at Cam-
bridge, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1844, and commenced the
practice of his profession in Boston, where his wide acquaintance with
the people of and from Cape Cod became a pleasure and a source of
profit to him.
By 1857 he had won an unquestionable position at the bar. On
June 30th of that year he married Nannie B., daughter of Charles B.
Tobey, of Nantucket, and became a resident of Dorchester, still con-
tinuing his business relations with Boston. Four years later the people
of Dorchester expressed their appreciation of their adopted citizen by
giving him a seat in the Massachusetts legislature, where he faith-
fully served the district and the Commonwealth three consecutive
years. In 1864 he was a member of the national convention which
renominated President Lincoln. In 1869 Governor Claflin promoted
him to the bench of the superior court of Massachusetts. In 1872
severe ill health obliged Judge Scudder to resign this oCBce. Since
that time he has resided a portion of his life abroad, and has now made
Washington his winter home, and his old abode, at Willow Dell, in
the village of Marston's Mills, his favorite summer resort.
During more than a quarter of a century, by his activity and up-
rightness as a lawyer, he impressed the bench and the bar with his
keen sensitiveness on questions involving honor, justice and right.
Like his brother, Zeno, he believed it ever the duty of the lawyer to
add something to the good reputation of the bar. In 1882, when
Governor Long tendered him the office of judge of the probate court
BENCH AND BAR. 219
for Barnstable county, he declined the position for the same physical
cause which compelled his resignation from the bench of the superior
court ten years before; a cause so cruel and relentless that it has al-
lowed no respite from that day to the present moment — a misfortune
which, although blighting the fairest prospects, has not disturbed the
genial spirit of the man; and which it is but justice to Judge Scudder
to say he has borne with the greatest fortitude and patience.
Frederick C, Swift was born in Yarmouth, December 13, 1855. He
graduated in the Yarmouth high school, read law for three years in
the office of Judge Joseph M. Day, and was for two years in the law
school of Boston University. He was admitted to the Barnstable
county bar in October, 1880, and opened an office in Yarmouth Port.
In 1889 he formed a connection with the law firm of Blackmar& Shel-
don, 246 Washington street, Boston, reserving one day in the week
for Yarmouth clients. In 1880 and 1881, in the absence of his father,
C. F. Swift, in the legislature, he was in the editorial charge of the
Yarmouth Register. In 1883 he was elected a commissioner of insolv-
ency for Barnstable county, and was twice re-elected. He is also a
director of Barnstable County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, sec-
retary of the agricultural society and a member of the board of
trustees of the Yarmouth library.
Ebenezer Stowell Whittemore, a member of the Barnstable county
bar, from Sandwich, was born at Rindge, N. H., September 4, 1828.
While a child, his father, with his family, removed to Illinois. At
Elgin and Kalamazoo, he prepared for admission to the University of
Michigan. After leaving the university, he entered the Dane Law
School, at Cambridge, where he took the degree of LL.B. in 1855, after
which he entered the office of C. G. Thomas of Boston, with whom he
studied two years. On October 7, 1857, he was admitted to the bar in
Suffolk county, on motion of Rufus Choate, and July 19, 1858, he opened
an office in Sandwich, where he now (1889) resides. For fifteen years,
also, he had an office in Boston. He has held the important position
of trial justice of the county of Barnstable for thirty years. He has
also held the office of county commissioner for nine years. In 1863
he was nominated for representative by the republicans of the dis-
trict, but declined. Governor Andrew appointed him in 1862 com-
missioner to superintend drafting for the county of Barnstable. Mr.
Whittemore has always identified himself with the educational and
social features of his adopted home. He is an active and welcome
addition to our Cape Cod Historical Society, of which he is the vice-
president, and has contributed to its proceedings several valuable
papers. He has written and delivered numerous lectures and essays
for literary .societies, and has often been called upon to preside over
social, business and literary gatherings, where his urbanity and knowl-
220 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
edge of the proceedings governing public bodies have been of great
advantage and importance.
The Law Library Association. — Under the statute providing
that the attorneys of any county in the Commonwealth may organize
as a law library association, such a step was taken by the Barnstable
county lawyers early in 1889, and their by-laws were approved at
Barnstable by Judge Sherman at the April term of the superior
court. Prior to that time the library consisted only of the Massachu-
setts reports and documents, but in July, 1889, Hon. Henry A. Scud-
der presented to the association his valuable private law library,
which is the nucleus of a collection to be gathered, which will be a
credit to the bar and the county. The officers of the association are :
Freeman H. Lothrop, librarian; James H. Hopkins, treasurer ; and
T. C. Day, clerk.
District Courts. — In March, 1890, an act of the legislature abol-
ished the trial justice courts in the county of Barnstable and estab-
lished two district courts. The first district court of Barnstable has
jurisdiction in the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Mashpee, Sand-
wich, Bourne, and Falmouth, of all civil cases wherein the damages
claimed do not exceed three hundred dollars, and of all criminal
offences not punishable by imprisonment in the State's Prison. The
second district court of Barnstable has jurisdiction over like actions
and offences in the towns ot Dennis, Harwich, Orleans, Chatham,
Brewster, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. The first
district court holds a daily session once a week at Bourne, and at other
times at Barnstable. The second district court sits daily once a week
at Harwich, and at other times at Provincetown.
Each court has a presiding justice receiving an annual salary of
$1,000, and two special justices. The justices hold office during good
behavior. The first sessions of the new courts were held on the first
Monday of May, 1890. Governor Brackett appointed Wm. P. Rey-
nolds of Hyannis, and James H. Hopkins of Provincetown, justices of
the two courts respectively.
CHAPTER XII.
MEDICAL PROFESSION.
By Georgk N. Munsell, M.D., of Harwich.
Introduction. — Barnstable District Medical Society. — Sketches of Physicians Past and
Present. — Medical Examiners.
THE history of the medical profession of Barnstable county now
covers a period of nearly two centuries, and the space allotted
us, will not permit of long biographical sketches, but rather
of dates and locations, so far as we have been able to obtain them.
The members of the medical profession have been composed largely
of prominent men, not only noted for their skill as physicians, but
oftentimes coming to the front and taking an active part in the pub-
lic afifairs of the town, county and state. Many of them have been
'men of sterling worth, whose discretion and wisdom, combined with
an extensive knowledge of human nature, have rendered them im-
portant factors in the great progressive questions of the day. Some
of these we refer to in this chapter, while many others we are obliged
to notice, only in brief, from the unfortunate fact that we have been
unable to obtain the necessary information, and while we present to
the reader a long list of honored names of those who have, during the
past two hundred years, graced the medical profession, yet we feel
that we have been obliged to leave unmentioned many a hero in the
great arena of practical medicine, whose mission through life may
have brought joy and comfort to many a suffering one, and though
his name may not be written in the annals of the past, yet an honored
record may be his, in the fact, that be blessed humanity.
The present membership of the Barnstable District Medical So-
ciety numbers twenty. In alphabetical order with the place of resi-
dence and year of admission the list stands thus: William S. Birge,
Provincetown, 1883; Charles H. Call, Brockton, 1886; Thomas R.
Clement, Osterville, 1874; Samuel T. Davis, Orleans, 1880: George W.
Doane, Hyannis, 1846; Robert H. Faunce, Sandwich, 1884; Benjamin
D. Gifford, Chatham, 1869; David R. Ginn, Dennis Port, 1878; Edward
E. Hawes, Hyannis, 1887; Chauncey M. Hulbert, South Dennis, 1854;
222 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
George W. Kelley. Barnstable, 1884; Horatio S. Kelley, jr., Dennis
Port, 1884; George N. Munsell, Harvich, 1860; Adin H. Newton,
Provincetown, 1874; Franklin W. Pierce, Marston's Mills, 1880; Peter
Pineo, Boston, 1850; Samuel Pitcher, Hyannis, 1881; John E. Pratt,
Sandwich, 1880; Frank A. Rogers, Brewster, 1883; William N. Stone.
Wellfleet, 1869.
Dr. Samuel Adams was a physician of Truro before the revolution-
ary war. He was born in Killingly, Conn., in 1745, studied medicine
under Dr. Nathaniel Freeman of Sandwich, and went to Truro, where
in 1774, he was appointed one of the committee of correspondence.
He was an ardent patriot, and when the conflict began he entered
the service as a surgeon, serving through the war with distinction.
Upon leaving service, he settled in Ipswich, where he engaged in the
practice of his profession until 1798, when, marrying Abigail Dcdge,
he removed to Bath, Me., where he continued to practice until his
death in 1819. Doctor Adams was a man of ability, and was highly
respected in the communities where he successively resided. That
he was twice married is certain. His first wife, Abigail, died July 8,
1774, in her 24th year, at Truro, where a stone marks her resting
place, and that of her infant child, who died July 31, 1774, aged four
weeks. Dr. Adams had several children. His son, Rev. Charles S.
Adams, was once pastor of the Congregational church in Harwich.
George Atwood practiced at Marston's Mills for two years prior to
1850, when he removed to Fair Haven.
Dr. Josiah Baker was a native of Tolland, Conn., and practiced
medicine in South Dennis, where he died December 7, 1810, aged
31 years.
Dr. Isaac Bangs, born in that part of Harwich now Brewster, De-
cember 11, 1752, a son of Benjamin and Desire Bangs, graduated at
Harvard College in 1771 and studied medicine. He entered the revo-
lutionary army as lieutenant in Captain Benjamin Godfrey's com-
pany in 1776, and afterward was a lieutenant in Captain Jacob Allen's
company in Colonel John Bailey's regiment, in service at New
York. In 1779, he was doctor's mate on board the frigate Boston,
Samuel Tucker, commander. He died September 12, 1780, in Vir-
ginia. He left some account of his service in the first years of
the revolutionary war in manuscript.
Dr. Jonathan Bangs was an early physician of Harwich, resid-
ing in that part of the town now Brewster. He was son of Cap-
tain Edward Bangs of Harwich, and was born in 1706. He was in
practice in the towii as early as 1731. He died December 7, 1745, after
three weeks' sickness, aged 39 years. He married widow Phebe
Bangs, January, 4, 1732-3, and left one son, Allen.
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 223
J. W. Battershall, M.D., was a graduate from the College of Phy-
sicians and Surgeons in New York city in 1874. He was for three
years surgeon in the British emigration service between London and
Australia. He located at Yarmouth Port in 1870 and practiced medi-
cine there two years, when he removed from the Cape.
William S. Birge, M.D., born in 1857 at Cooperstown, N. Y., is a
son of D. L. and Amey (Spafford) Birge. He took a two years' academ-
ic course at the University of the City of New York, then studied
medicine at the Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn; at the medic-
al department of Syracuse University and at the medical department
of the University of the City of New York, where he was graduated
in 1881. He practiced in Truro two years then came to Provincetown.
He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and medical
•examiner for this district. For a time he was acting assistant surgeon
in the United States marine service. He married Ella F., daughter
•of Zemira Kenrick.
Albert F. Blaisdell. M.D., was born in Haverhill, Mass., about 1847.
He graduated from Dartmouth in 1869 in the class with Judge Har-
riman. He studied medicine at Harvard, and is now located at Provi-
dence, R. L He was at one time teacher at Chatham and afterward
taught school and practiced medicine in Provincetown before his re-
moval from the Cape. He is author of several school text books and
is now largely interested in educational work.
Dr. Benjamin Bourne, son of Timothy and Elizabeth Bourne, was
born January 25, 1744, graduated from Harvard College in 1764, and
married Hannah Bodfish. He had a large family, and left to them a
large property. He was among the early practitioners of Sandwich.
Dr. Richard Bourne was a physician at Barnstable. He was born
in that town November 1, 1739, and was a son of Colonel Sylvanus
Bourne. He was well educated, but can claim no notice as a physi-
•cian of importance. He will be remembered as the first postmaster
at Barnstable. He died April 2.5, 1826, aged 86 years. The late Amos
Otis, in his genealogical notes, has given an interesting and amus-
ing account of him.
Dr. Eleazer C. Bowen resided in Marston's Mills from 1857 to 1860,
and was succeeded by Dr. John E. Bruce from 1860 to 1862.
Dr. Nathaniel Breed was a physician of Eastham, residing in that
part now Orleans. He married Anna, daughter of Thomas Knowles.
C. H. Call, M.D., was born in Warner, N. H., October 15, 1858,
graduated from Harvard Medical College in 1881, and commenced the
practice of medicine in Lowell, where he remained from June to Au-
gust, 1881. From Lowell he went to Vermillion, South Dakota,
where he resided until February, 1885, when he removed to South
Yarmouth.
224 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Dr. Elijah W. Carpenter was a successful physician of Chatham.
He was born in Upton, Mass., January 31, 1814. He studied medicine
at Boston under Dr. Perry, and came to Chatham about 1838, and
settled. He married Mary H., daughter of Joshua Nickerson, Esq.,
and had four children. He removed from Chatham to Brooklyn, N.
Y., and died there September 1, 1881, aged 67 years.
Dr. Chamberlain practiced medicine in West Barnstable about
1840, and was succeeded by Dr. ApoUos Pratt for a few years.
Thomas R. Clement, M.D., was born March 19, 1823, in Landaflf,
Grafton county, N. H. He received his early education in the public
schools of his native town and at Tyler's Academy, in Franklin, N.
H. He studied medicine with Dr. Mark R. Woodbury, finish-
ing with Dr. S. G. Dearborn, of Nashua, N. H. Graduating from
the medical department of Burlington University (Vermont) in
1863, he began his medical practice in Mason, N. H. He was
assistant surgeon in the Tenth New Hampshire regiment and
held other government appointments until 1868. He practiced at
En6eld, N. H., and in 1872 came to Centreville, two years later re-
moving to the adjoining village of Osterville, where he has merited
and secured a fair practice.
Dr. Daniel P. CliflEord was a son of Samuel Clifford of Enfield, Mass.,
and for nearly fifty years practiced medicine in Barnstable county.
His wife was Betsy Emery. The doctor has descendants living in
several of the Cape towns. Benjamin F. Clifford of New York, and
Samuel D. Clifford of Chatham Port, are his sons. Mrs. George W.
Nickerson, the mother of Mrs. Judge Harriman is Doctor Clifford's
daughter. The doctor died at Chatham, September 23, 1863, aged 77
years. He was a man of considerable literary ability, and held a con-
spicuous place among the physicians of his time.
Dr. Aaron Cornish was born in Plymouth, Mass., in 1794, practiced
medicine in Falmouth from 1820 tp 1854, and died in New Bedford,
April 7, 1864.
Dr. Samuel T. Davis, born August 4, 1856, at Edgartown, Mass., is
a son of Samuel N. and Adaline N. Davis. At the age of fifteen he
left the public schools and attended Mitchell's Family School for Boys
two years. He commenced the study of medicine in 1875, with Dr.
Winthrop Butler, of Vineyard Haven, Mass., taking two winter cours-
es (1875-6 and 1876-7) in the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
New York city, graduating in February, 1878, from Bellevue Hospital
Medical College. From December, 1877, to June, 1879, he was assist-
ant house physician and house surgeon in Seamans' Relief Hospital.
He was acting assistant to the Northwestern Dispensary for five
months, and in July, 1879, came to Orleans, where he is still practic-
ing. He is a member of the state medical society and was elected
president of the Barnstable district society in May, 1889.
E. aiER9TADT, N.
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 225
Dr. John Davis was a physician in Eastham, now Orleans, after
the close of the revolutionary war. He was born in Barnstable, Oc-
tober 7, 1745, and was a son of Daniel Davis. He united with the
South church in Eastham, June 15, 1783. He removed to Barnstable,
and was appointed judge of probate in 1800. By his wife, Mercy,
among other children he had Job C, John, Robert, and Nathaniel. He
died at Barnstable, May 27, 1825, aged 80 years.
George W. Doane, M.D., the well known citizen and physician of
Hyannis, is the eighth in lineal descent from Deacon John Doane, who
came to Plymouth soon after its settlement in one of the two ships
that followed the Mayflower. In 1633 he was chosen one of the assist-
ants of the governor, and in 1636, with others, was joined with the
governor and assistants as a committee to revise the laws and consti-
tutions of the plantation. In 1642 he was again chosen assistant to
Governor Winslow, and became a deacon of the Plymouth church be-
fore his removal to Nauset or Eastham in 1644. He was forty-nine
years old when he arrived at Eastham and lived sixty years after,
a prominent and useful citizen of the plantation. The spot where
his house stood near the water, is still pointed out.
Deacon Doane's son, John Doane, jr., was appointed in 1663, by the
court, a receiver of the excise or duty on the fisheries of Cape Cod.
He married Hannah Bangs, and was the father of Samuel, who had
three sons, of whom the youngest was Deacon Simeon Doane. Of the
four sons of Simeon the eldest also earned the name of deacon and
was Deacon John Doane of the last century. The oldest son of this
younger Deacon John was Timothy, who was born in 1762 in Orleans,
where he was .subsequently a banker, bearing the sobriquet of King
Doane. His son, Timothy, father of the subject of this sketch, bom
in 1789, was also a native of Orleans, where he learned the carpenter's
trade. In the year 1816 he went to the Penobscot river, near Bangor,
Me., and during the winter following he built a vessel, courted his
wife, married her, loaded the vessel with lumber, and in the spring re-
turned to Orleans. He called the vessel Six Sisters, that being the
number of sisters he then had.
Of such parentage is Dr. George W. Doane, who at the age of
fourteen, after several years at Orleans Academy, went to the Brew-
ster High School one year, and in 1842 graduated from the Wesleyan
Academy, at Wilbraham, Mass. In 1844 he graduated from the Har-
vard Medical School, just before the age of twenty-one, and at once
began practice in the flourishing village of Hyannis, where he has
since been one of its leading business men and where in forty-five
years he has become one of the oldest and most experienced phy-
sicians on the Cape. In 1846 he became a member of the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society, also that of Barnstable county, of which he
15
226 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
is an ex-president and one of the oldest and most honored members.
Since 1882 he has been a medical examiner for the pension bureau and
has long been marine hospital physician. The many duties of Doctor
Doane forbid his filling any office which would demand much of his
time, yet he has been a member of the town school board for many
years and is active and prominent in the republican party, taking a
deep interest in the body politic.
He is devotedly attached to the social side of life and loves his own
pleasant home. He married in February, 1848, Caroline L. Chipman
of Barnstable, who died January 27, 1866, leaving one daughter. Miss
Hattie S. Doane, who is at the homestead with her father. May 23,
1868, Doctor Doane married Mrs. Susan P. Allen of Lowell, the widow
of Doctor Allen, son of the missionary Rev. Dr. D. O. Allen. Her
death occurred in Hyannis, May 20, 1889. Doctor Doane has been
associated for forty-five years with the citizens of his town, and the
county, in all the relations of an active life. As a physician he has
been very successful in practice and is highly esteemed by the fra-
ternity. His years of extensive experience and close reading have
rendered his advice of great value to his medical brethren in cases
requiring careful diagnosis; and his attendance is sought in con-
sultation in his own and neighboring towns.
Dr. David Doane, an early physician of Eastham, Mass., was a
son of John and Hannah Doane. He married Dorathy Horton,
September 30, 1701, and had sons Jonathan, John, Nathan, Eleazar
Enoch, Joshua and David. He died November 18, 1748, and lies
buried in the old cemetery at Eastham.
Franklin Dodge, M.D., was born in WestGroton, Mass., September
9, 1809, and died in Harwich, July 8, 1872. He prepared for college
at the Leicester and Lawrence academies, and graduated at Amherst
College in 1834, and from Dartmouth Medical College in 1837. He
first practiced medicine in Boston, and came to Harwich in 1838, where
he continued in practice to within a few months of his death. His
daughter, Susan C, was married to Obed Brooks of Harwich, Decem-
ber 27, 1864. His eldest daughter, Georgianna, married Lewis F.
Smith of Chatham, October 1, 1865.
Dr. Hugh George Donaldson, once a prominent physician of Fal-
mouth, was born in London, June 21, 1757, and came to Cape Cod
when 19 years of age. At Falmouth he taught school, pursuing
his professional studies at the same time with Dr. Weeks. At the
time of a great small pox excitement he became convinced of the truth
of Doctor Jenner's theory of vaccination and sent to London to that
medical benefactor for vaccine virus and was the first to introduce it
into practice here. To prove the efficacy of the treatment to those
who were incredulous and prejudiced, he placed members of his own
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 227
family in the small pox hospital after vaccinating them. He was much
interested in the galvanic battery, then little used. He made one and
experimented largely with it in his efforts to obtain knowledge of the
wonderful power of electricity over disease. He died in 1814, of a
malignant fever which prevailed in Falmouth at that time.
Dr. John Duncan was an early physician in Harwich. He removed
to Boston before 1737, and died before 1756. He married Kesiah
Baker of Eastham.
Erastus Emery, M.D., was born in Chatham, August 7, 1840, re-
ceived his early education in the public schools of Chatham, and
studied medicine with Dr. M. E.Simmons of Chatham. He graduated
from Harvard Medical College in 1869, practiced medicine in Truro,
Mass., for nine years, and died in Chatham, at the residence of his
father John Emery, the 16th of January, 1878.
Dr. R. H. Faunce, born in 1859, is a son of Joshua T. Faunce. He
graduated in June, 1882, from Harvard Medical College, and was sur-
gical house officer in the Free Hospital for Women, at Boston, for a
year, when he began practice in Sandwich.
Rev. Benjamin Fessenden, son of Nicholas and Mary (or Margaret)
Fessenden was born January 30, 1701, graduated from Harvard Col-
lege in 1718, was ordained September 12, 1722, and was the first per-
son known in the practice of medicine in Sandwich. He died August
7, 1746.
Dr. William Fessenden was born in Sandwich, September 25,1732,
and settled as physician in that part of Harwich now Brewster before
1759. He married Mehitable Freeman of Harwich, Februar>-24, 1756,
had nine children, and died November 5, 1802.
Dr. William Fessenden, son of Doctor William, was born in Har-
wich, now Brewster, and married Pede Freeman in 1807. He had five
children. He died at Brewster, June 17, 1816. She died December 9,
1812.
Dr. Oliver Ford first practiced medicine at Marston's Mills, and
moved to Hyannis in 1832, where he resided the remainder of his life,
in active practice.
Dr." Nathaniel Freeman, an eminent physician of Sandwich, was a
son of Edmund Freeman who married Martha Otis, and was bom in
North Dennis, March 28, 1741-2, where his father was engaged in
school teaching. Removing to Mansfield, Conn., with his father's
family, he completed his course of medical studies with Doctor Cobb,
of Thompson, and returned to his father's native town, and com-
menced the practice of medicine, where he attained to distinction as
a physician and surgeon. Dr. Freeman was a distinguished patriot,
a-nd leader of the patriots in the county during the revolutionary pe-
riod. He died at Sandwich, September 20, 1827. He was three times
HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
married and was the father of twenty children, one of whom was Rev.
Frederick Freeman, the historian.
Dr. Matthew Fuller, the first regular physician in Barnstable,
came to- this country about 1640. His parents came in 1620, in the
Mayflower, leaving him in care of friends. He never saw them
afterward as they died soon after their arrival at Plymouth. Doctor
Fuller was a man of prominence in the colony. He was surgeon gen-
eral of the Plymouth forces before and after Philip's war, and was
captain in the war. He died at Barnstable, in 1678. He left children.
His wife was named Frances and probably came with him to this
country. Doctor Fuller resided at West Barnstable.
Dr. John Fuller, son of Dr. Matthew, settled near his father's place
at Scorton Neck. He was twice married, and he had three children,
one son and two daughters. He died in 1691.
Charles F. George, M.D., came to Centreville and practiced medi-
cine from 1865 to 1872. He then removed to Goflfstown, N. H., where
he now resides.
Dr. Benjamin D. Gifford, born November 19, 1841, at Province-
town, is a son of Simeon S. and Marinda A. (Dods) Giflford. He at-
tended Westbrook Seminary, Maine, and Englewood school. New
Jersey, graduating from the classical department of Madison Univer-
sity, New York, in 1864 and from Albany Medical College two years
later. He practiced in Fond-du-lac, Wis., two years, in Gloucester,
Mass., two years and in 1871 came to Chatham, where he has since
practiced.
David R. Ginn, M.D. — The first of this name who came to the
continent from England was Edward K. Ghen. He settled in Mary-
land last century, rearing three sons, one of whom remained in
Maryland, one removed to Provincetown and one to Maine, where the
subject of this sketch was born May 1, 1844, at Vinalhaven, From
the age of eight he was more or less on the sea until 1865. When
nineteen years of age he enlisted in the Union army in the Second
Maine Cavalry, Company E, and after nearly two years was trans-
ferred to the navy where he served under Farragut in the capture of
the forts of Mobile bay. He was discharged in 1865, returned home,
and commenced his professional studies. After a suitable education
at Oak Grove Seminary he entered in 1869 at Harvard, where he
graduated in medicine February 14, 1872. In November, 1873, he came
from Martha's Vineyard to Dennis Port and began practice. His
business success, the erection of fine blocks in Dennis Port, are fully
mentioned in the history of that village. In 1884 he erected in Har-
wich, near Dennis Port, his fine residence which, with his block of
stores, is the subject of an illustration in the proper connection. Since
locating here the doctor has gained a large practice in his own and
^^^yrM/^^
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 229
adjoining towns, requiring three horses and two carriages to enable
him to satisfy the calls. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medi-
cal society and of the Barnstable district, and occupies a prominent
position in the profession.
He was married January 8, 1885, to Annie E. Chase, daughter of
Darius and granddaughter of Job Chase. His children are: Lucy
Lillian, James Richard, and David Clifton. His professional duties
forbid the acceptance of civil trusts but he finds time for those social
enjoyments pertaining to his family, the Lodge and the Baptist
church. In his profession, his business and his republican principles
he steadily maintains that perseverance which has assured him the
present measure of success.
Willis Webster Gleason, M.D., was bom in Chelsea, Mass.. May
29, 1863, and graduated from Boston Medical University in 1877. He
practiced medicine in Gardner, Mass., one year, and then moved to
Provincetown continuing in practice there until 1889, when he moved
to New York where he is now located. While a resident of Province-
town he was medical examiner for two years, and Marine Hospital
surgeon for one year.
William B. Gooch, M.D., was born in Maine, and graduated at
Brunswick Medical College. He practiced for many years at North
Yarmouth, Maine. Leaving there, he was appointed American con-
sul at Aux Cayes, and leaving that position about 1843 he came to
South Dennis, where he practiced until 1851, when he removed to
Lowell. In 1853 he went to California, and returned to South Dennis
in 1854. In 1855 he moved to Truro, where he died June 29, 1868,
aged 72 years, and his remains were buried in South Dennis.
Dr. Charles Goodspeed was born in June 1770, and practiced medi-
cine for many years in Hyannis and vicinity. He died in Sandwich
March 29, 1848, and was buried in Hyannis. His son was Captain
Charles Goodspeed who resided where the lyanough House now
stands.
Samuel H. Gould, M.D. — This eminent physician, who for nearly
four-score years practiced successfully in Brewster and the adjoining
towns, was bom at Ipswich, December 19, 1814. His school days in
his native town were supplemented by a course of training in Topsfield
Academy and at Bradford, after which he taught with good success
in the public schools of Methuen, Hamilton and Wenham. Subse-
quently he turned his attention to the science which was to become
his life study and the art which was to be his life work. After study-
ing medicine with Dr. Nathan Jones and Dr. E. N. Kittridge in Lynn,
he graduated from Bowdoin Medical College in 1839, and located in
Eastham in 1840. Remaining a few years there, he settled at Brew-
ster in 1844, where he resided and practiced until his death, August
230 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
25, 1882. Here he occupied a prominent position in his profession,
and in the social and civil relations of life. He was elected in 1867
to represent his district in the legislature, and was re-elected in 1868.
He served the town eleven years as town clerk and treasurer, and for
many years was chairman of the school board. Years ago, when
many of the savings banks in the state closed their doors, he, being
a director in the Harwich Institution of savings, assumed, by earnest
request, its presidency in its most trying time, and to him was ac-
credited its escape from embarrassment.
In his profession he was a constant attendant upon the meetings
of the District Medical Society, of which he was an early and valued
member ; and as a careful practitioner and counselor was highly es-
teemed. These professional calls were not the only blessings he
conferred upon the sick. His pastor, Rev. Thomas Dawes said of him
after his death : He was a man who looked beyond himself, and
thought a devoted mind and religious faith essential to his patients ;
and possessed those qualifications that secured the confidence of men.
At his funeral his pastor was constrained to confess the doctor's great
help to him in the sick-room. Doctor Atwood, of Fairhaven, said :
Doctor Gould presents a character eminently worthy of commenda-
tion, for in whatever situation in life he was placed his influence was
always on the side of progression — in action, in morals, and every
cause tending to the elevation of mankind. By those who knew him
best in the social, daily round of life, his individuality, ready sym-
pathy and usefulness will be longest remembered. The marked
feature of his character around which a halo of light will ever clus-
ter, was his loving kindness in the scenes of suflFering to which his
duty as a physician, neighbor and friend called him. He ministered
alike faithfully to the poor and the rich, and the poor who knew him
well can best fathom the depth and fulness of his generosity. To
a friend he was a never failing adviser and helper, and in his
honesty could endure no shams. At his death the profession lost
a careful practitioner, his family a devoted husband and father, the
community a valuable citizen, and this world lost one of the world's
true noblemen.
Doctor Gould was a representative of a long line of worthy an-
cestors, the first to New England being Zaccheus, who settled near
Salem in 1638. The male line of descent from this first comer,
was John, Zaccheus, John, John, to Amos, the father of the sub-
ject of this sketch. Amos Gould married, in 1797, Mary Herrick,
of whose nine children the sixth was Dr. Samuel H. Gould, who
married, November 25, 1840, Abigail S., daughter of Moses Foster
of Wenham. Her father was a sea captain thirty years in the mer-
chant service. Of his seven children the only son was killed by a
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 231
fall from the mast, and besides Mrs. Gould one older daughter,
Mrs. Harriet Haskell, survives.
. Doctor Gould had three children: John E., born October 2, 1842,
who died at the age of four years ; Charles E., born July 9, 1849,
who married M. Addie Davis of Wenham, and has one child — Susan
C. ; and George A. Gould, born February 26, 1854, who married
Ellen M. Cook of Lowell, and who also has a daughter named
Abigail M. Gould. The widow of Doctor Gould occupies the home-
stead at Brewster.
Solomon F. Haskins, M.D., was born in Prescott, Mass., September
8, 1858. He moved to Orange when a small boy and there received
his early education; entered Dartmouth Medical College in 1876,
graduating in 1879, and was one year in the University of Michigan
under special instruction from Prof. E. S. Dunster. He came to Yar-
mouth in 1880, and remained there in practice four years, then re-
moved to Hudson to engage in the drug business. In 1888 he removed
to Orange, where he is now practicing.
Dr. Edward E. Hawes, druggist and physician at Hyannis, was
bom in Maine, in 1862, and was educated at Pittsfield, Me., and at
Bowdoin College. After a course in medicine at New York he took
his degree at the Vermont State University in 1886.
Dr. James Hedge practiced medicine and was succeeded by Dr.
George Shove.
Dr. Abner Hersey, a very eminent physician and surgeon of Barn-
stable, was bom in Hingham, in 1721, came to Barnstable in 1741, and
commenced the study of medicine with his brother James, whom he
succeeded in 1741. In a short period he commanded an extensive
practice which never decreased during his lifetime. He married
Hannah Allen of Barnstable, October 3, 1743, and died January 9, 1787.
By will. Doctor Hersey gave five hundred pounds, " for the encourager
ment and support of a professor of physic and surgery at the University
in Cambridge, and a number of books for the library." He kindly re-
membered the thirteen churches of the Congregational order in Barn-
stable county, by giving them the use and improvement of the re-
mainder of his estate, forever, after the decease of his wife, and the
payment of the legacy to Harvard University. The late Amos Otis
has said of him: " Forgetting his eccentricities, he was a most skilful
physician, a man whose moral character was unimpeached, of good
sense, sound judgment, a good neighbor and citizen and an exem-
plary and pious member of the church."
Dr. James Hersey was born in Hingham, Mass., December 21, 1716,
and settled in Barnstable before 1737. He was twice married His
first wife was Lydia, daughter of Colonel Shubael Gorham by whom
he had a son, James. His second wife was Mehitabel, daughter of
232 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
John Davis, Esq., by whom he had a son, Ezekiel. Doctor Hersey
was a very skilful physician, and had an extensive practice in the
county. He died July 22, 1741.
Dr. Thomas Holker was a practitioner of note in Wellfleet early
in the last century. Nothing is known of his history except that
he was an Englishman of learning and ability who practiced in
the town and vicinity and was much respected. He was buried
in the old burying ground at the head of Duck creek prior to
1765, for tradition says that when the addition to the church was
made that year, it extended over his grave.
Dr. Nathaniel Hopkins, son of Prence and Patience Hopkins, was
born in that part of Harwich now Brewster, January 27, 1760. He
studied medicine and settled in East Brewster. He was a physician
of standing and was prominent in the movement to divide the town
in 1803. He was the first clerk of the Baptist church in Brewster, of
which he was one of the first members. He married Ann Armstrong
of Franklin, Conn., in 1799, and had ten children; eight sons and two
daughters. Only two children settled in Brewster. Joseph Hopkins,
the fourth son, settled in Mount Vernon, Me., where he died a few
years since. Doctor Hopkins died at East Brewster, March 26, 1826.
Dr. Thomas Hopkins, son of Dr. Nathaniel Hopkins, was born in
Brewster, in 1819, and studied medicine at Philadelphia. He prac-
ticed his profession a short time in his native town, then removed to
Scituate, Mass., where he practiced many years; but failing health
compelled his return to his native town and giving up professional
work. He was somewhat eccentric, but was a thoroughly good man,
respected and honored. He died suddenly, November 28, 1878.
Dr. Zabina Horton settled in Dennis as a physician before the
present century. He died November 14, 1815.
Chauncey Munsell Hulbert, M.D., is one of the oldest living
practitioners of this county. He was born in East Sheldon, Frank-
lin county, Vt., on the ninth of November, 1818, and received his edu-
cation at Johnson Academy. His studies were vigorously prosecuted
with Dr. Horace Eaton, governor of Verrriont, and subsequently a
professor in Middlebury college. He attended lectures at Pittsfield,
Mass., completing the medical course at Woodstock, Vt., where he
graduated in 1844. He commenced practice at Franklin, Vt., but
after two years removed to East Berkshire in the same state. In 1862
he came to South Dennis, where he has since practiced his profession
successfully. His ride has been extensive and his long ripe experi-
ence has made his services valuable. He is a member of the State
Medical Society; has been president of the Barnstable district, and for
the past fifteen years its treasurer.
In 1846 he married Lovina Paul, who died in 1865. Their son,
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 233
Munsell P., died September, 1851, aged two years. He was married
in 1869, to Mrs. Lydia N. Chase, a widow with two daughters. The
second wife died in 1885. Her only surviving daughter married Wil-
lis G. Myers, of Portsmouth, N. H., with whom and their two children
the doctor continues the most affectionate relations.
Of him a brother in the profession says: The doctor is a practical
man and has no patience with subtle theories, but keeps steadily
along the well-beaten and reliable path of his profession, using every
well established practice. His penchant for the practical side of his
profession is illustrated at every meeting of the district society where
he has a case to relate concerning his own treatment, on which he
solicits the opinion of his confreres. He has a high appreciation of
humor and wit, and no one of the Barnstable society adds more
piquancy and humor to the after-dinner sociability. The results of
his experience are always sought by the younger members of the pro-
fession, and he most sympathetically enters into their hopes and
plans. He is a typical physician, full of zeal for the success of his
labors, and is actuated by the highest Christian principles.
Dr. Samuel Jackson resided in Barnstable.
Dr. Thomas P. Jackson practiced medicine in Harwich and after-
ward at Marston's Mills from 1843 to 1845. He died in Italy.
Dr. F. H. Jenkins has practiced medicine for many years in West
Barnstable, where he now resides.
Leslie C. Jewell, M.D., was born in Wales, Me., April 20, 1852, re-
ceived his academic education at Bates' College, Lewiston, Me., and
graduated in medicine at Boston University in 1876. He then settled
in Cape Elizabeth, Me., where he practiced till 1881, when he removed
to Chatham, Mass., and remained in active practice there nearly seven
years. He is practicing now at Auburn, Me.
Ellis P. Jones, M.D., was born in Brewster, January 24, 1853, was
educated in the University of Vermont and graduated July 16, 1889.
He then located in Orleans, where he formerly resided, and com-
menced the practice of medicine.
Luther Jones, M.D., was born in Acton, Mass., in 1817. He com-
menced the practice of medicine in South Yarmouth in 1846, where
he was married in 1847. Later, on account of ill health, he went to
California, where he died in 1862. Millard Jones, of Yarmouth, is
his son.
G. W&Uace Kelley, M.D., was born November 7, 1856, at Newbury-
port, Mass. His early education was in Newburyport High School,
and June 26, 1878, he was graduated from Harvard Medical School.
He began practice at the New York Hospital in 1879, and located in
Barnstable in November, 1883, where he now resides and enjoys a
fine practice.
234 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Horatio S. Kelley, jr., M.D., was bom July 24, 1854, in Dennis. He
is a son of Horatio S. and grandson of Nehemiah Kelley. His mother
was Olive, daughter of Doane Kelley. Dr. Kelley was first educated
in the schools of his town, then entered his father's store, where he
remained until 1880, studying medicine in the meantime. In 1880 he
went to the Boston University Medical College for a short time, in
1882, entered College of Physicians and Surgeons at Boston, and in
1883 went to University Medical College of New York, where he
graduated in 1884, beginning practice as a physician at that time.
Doctor Kelley, with Doctor Hulbert, built a store at West Dennis in
1886. He purchased Doctor Hulbert's interest in 1888, and still con-
tinues the business.
Dr. Jonathan Kenrick, youngest son of Edward and Deborah Ken-
rick, was bom in that part of old Harwich now South Orleans, No-
vember 14, 1715. His father was a trader, and the first of the name
who settled in the town. Doctor Kenrick married Tabitha Eldridge,
of Chatham. His career as a physician was short. He died July 20,
1753, and lies buried in the old cemetery at Orleans, where a slate
stone with inscription marks the place of his sepulture. It is said he
was " a learned, amiable man and an eminent physician." He left
three children: Samuel, Anson and Jonathan. His house stood but a
few feet from the house of Seneca Higgins.
Dr. Samuel Kenrick, eldest son of Doctor Jonathan, was bom
in 1741, studied medicine with Dr. Nathaniel Breed of Eastham, and
settled upon his father's place. He had a large field of labor, and
was a successful practitioner. He attained, it is said, a high eminence
as a physician in this section of the county. He died February 10,
1791. He married Esther Mayo of Eastham, and had seven children.
The sons were Samuel, Jonathan (father of the present Alfred Ken-
rick, Esq., of Orleans) and Warren Anson, who studied medicine and
settled in Wellfleet, where he died February 10, 1808, aged 44 years.
Dr. Samuel Kenrick lies buried in Orleans, where a stone with in-
scription marks the spot. His widow, Esther, died in January, 1827,
aged 86 years.
Leonard Latter, M.D., bora in 1843, in Sussex, England, is a son of
Leonard Latter, and he passed the London College of Pharmacy and
was a drug clerk in England, ten years, and came to Barnstable county
in 1869. He entered a medical college in Maine and after one term
there, went to the Detroit Medical College from which he graduated
in 1875. After a short practice in Michigan and in Iowa, he returned
to Barnstable county, locating at Monument Beach in 1883, where he
still practices. He was married in 1886 to Mrs. Margaret W. Brad-
bury.
Doctor Jonathan Leonard, an eminent physician of Sandwich, was
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 235
born in Bridgewater, Mass., February 17, 1763, and graduated at Har-
vard College in 1786. He settled in Sandwich about 1789. He was a
member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He died January 25,
1849, aged 86 years. He married Temperance Hall, May 10, 1796, and
he had five children.
Jonathan Leonard, M.D.,* was the son of the above mentioned
Dr. Jonathan Leonard. He was born in Sandwich January 7, 1805, was
educated in the Sandwich Academy and at Harvard. Choosing medi-
cine as a profession he commenced practice with his father in 1827,
and continued in practice up to a short time before his death, January
29, 1882.
A friend writes of him as follows : " A brow on which every god
did set his seal to give the world assurance of a man." For many,
many years the most striking figure in all our town was Doctor Leon-
ard. Highly educated, the son of a famous physician and himself a
graduate of Harvard Medical School, he at once took a leading posi-
tion in his native town, not only as a man, but as a physician and
surgeon. Who that ever saw him in his later years and conversed
with him can forget his appearance and the impression he left behind
— that glorious head of white hair, the serene, yet withal, kindly
and intellectual expression of the face, the erect form, the firm set
mouth, the quick and penetrating glance of the eye, all marked him
as a man highly gifted by nature and of great intellectual ability.
As a professional man he was highly respected among his brethren,
stood side by side and ranked with the best among them. He pos-
sessed, in a large degree, what ought to be common, but which we,
after all rarely find, — the gift of common sense, and used it success-
fully. As a consequence his services and opinions were sought for
far and wide. At once he gained the confidence of his patients and
when gained it was never lost. His hand was soft as thistle down to
the throbbing pulse and aching brow. The writer still remembers
the touch of that hand. But the life of man is limited. After a long
and successful practice, many years of honor, at the age of three
score and seventeen years, as ripe fruit in autumn falls from the tree
— he was quietly gathered to his fathers — and one day the town in
which he had so long lived, found he had "passed on beyond the
gates." It can truly be said of Doctor Leonard that he was one of
" nature's noblemen," " that the world is better for his having lived in
it." He was deeply interested in all that pertained to the welfare of
his native town, particularly its educational interests. In his religious
views he was broad and liberal, and was always a liberal contributor
to that branch of the Christian church whose teachings were in har-
mony with his own religious thought.
* By Hon. Charles Dillingham.
236 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
He was twice married : first in 1830 to Miss Alice C, daughter of
Samuel H. Babcock, Esq., of Boston ; second in 1868 to Mrs. Mary T.
Jarvis, daughter of C. C. P. Waterman, Esq., of Sandwich, who, with
the daughter by the first marriage and a son by the second, resides
on the old homestead in Sandwich.
Dr. Samuel Lord was a physician of Chatham. He was a son of
Rev. Joseph Lord, and was born, probably in South Carolina, June 26,
1707, where his father was then settled. He came to Chatham with
his father's family in 1719, and died of small pox early in 1766.
Lyman H. Luce, M.D., of Martha's Vineyard, practiced medicine
at Falmouth from 1869 to 1880. He then removed to West Tisbury,
Mass., where he now resides. He married Lizzie, daughter of Cap-
tain John R. Lawrence of Falmouth.
Henry E. McCollum, M.D., a graduate of Bowdoin Medical Col-
lege, practiced medicine at Marston's Mills from 1847 to 1868, and
subsequently died there.
William M. Moore, M.D., born in 1848 at Barnet, Vt., is a son of
William Moore. He received a preparatory course at St. Johnsbury
Academy and graduated July 1, 1880, from Burlington Medical Col-
lege, Vermont. He practiced in St. Johnsbury and adjoining towns
in Vermont, also in Carroll county. New Hampshire, from 1880 until
1888, and since October of that year has been located in Province-
town. He is a member of the White Mountain Medical Society,
and of the Carroll County Society. He married Emma J., daughter
of George L. Kelley.
George M. Munsell, M.D.,* born December 14, 1835, at Burling-
ton, is the only son of Rev. Joseph R. Munsell, for years pas-
tor of the Congregational church at Harwich. Doctor Munsell's
■earlier education was received in Hampden and Belfast Academies,
after which he studied medicine with Dr. C. M. Hulbert of South
Dennis. In March, 1860, he graduated from the medical department
of Harvard College, and at once commenced practice in Bradford,
Me., where he remained one year. In 1861 he returned to Harwich
as an associate of Dr. Fanklin Dodge. In July, 1862, he entered
the army as first assistant surgeon of the Thirty-fifth Regiment of
the Massachusetts Volunteers ; but resigned his commission, April,
1863, on account of ill health and returned to Harwich, Mass., where
he has since actively pursued the practice of medicine. He has been
for eight years medical examiner of the county ; as a member of
the Massachusetts Medical Society he served one year as president
of the Barnstable district and one as vice-president of the state
society ; and now is medical director of the state department of the
G. A. R., also is on the national staff.
* By the editor.
PBIMT,
£. BIEHSTADT, K. V.
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 237
The doctor takes a keen interest in the social and civil affairs of
life, in which he is an important factor. The interests of the G. A. R.
have engaged his attention for several years, and four years he was
commander of F. D. Hammond Post, which includes the towns of Har-
wich, Chatham, Eastham, Orleans, Brewster and Dennis. In November,
1889, he was elected the Republican representative from the second
district of Barnstable county. In June, 1860, he married Lizzie K.,
daughter of Miller W. Nickerson, who was the son of Eleazer Nicker-
son of South Dennis. Their two daughters are : Louise H. and Lizzie
T. Munsell. But few practitioners possess as fully as Doctor Munsell
the respect and admiration of patients. His affability, practicability,
and ambition to excel have made him successful in every walk of life.
Dr. A. H. Newton was born in Vermont in 1817, and began the
practice of medicine in Truro, Mass., in 1850, where he remained
until 1866, when he removed to Chatham. In 1876 he went to Prov-
incetown, where he has practiced to the present time.
Dr. E. C. Newton, fifth son of Dr. A. H. Newton, graduated from
Bellevue New York Medical College in 1887, practiced two years in
Province town, and is now settled in Everett, Mass.
Dr. F. L. Newton, third son of Dr. A. H. Newton, graduated from
Boston University Medical School in 1884, and practiced in Prov-
incetown for two years. He then studied one year in Dublin and
Vienna arid settled in Somerville, Mass., where he is now in practice.
Dr. Stephen A. Paine, son of Moses and Priscilla Paine, was a
successful physician of Provincetown. He was bom in Truro in
1806, and spent the whole of his professional life in Provincetown. It
has been well said, "but few men have been more useful and more
trusted than he." He was deeply interested in education, and for
many years on the school board, and the chairman many years. He
was a representative from Provincetown in 1841 and 1842. He died
September 3, 1869, leaving no children. He was an esteemed mem-
ber of King Hiram Lodge. He was a lineal descendant of Thomas
Paine, one of the first settlers of Truro.
Dr. Daniel Parker was born in West Barnstable in 1735 and died
in 1810. His house was near the present Barnstable town house.
John W. B. Parker, of West Barnstable, is one of his grandchildren.
John H. Patterson, M.D., was born in South Merrimack, N. H.,
March 2, 1863, graduated at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., in
1882, at Dartmouth College in 1886, and Dartmouth Medical College
in 1889. He commenced practice in Harwich in December, 1889, in
place of Dr. George N. Munsell, who was elected member of the house
of representatives, and obliged to give up his practice for several
months.
238 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Franklin W. Pierce, M.D., was born in Edgartown, Mass., on the
nth of September, 1852. Dr. Hugh G. Donaldson was his maternal
great-grandfather. He graduated from Wilbraham Academy in 1872,
and from Yale University in 1876. He graduated from the University
of New York City Medical College in 1879, and in May of that year
commenced the practice of medicine in Centreville. Six months later
he removed to Marston's Mills, where he has since resided, and is
one of the medical examiners of Barnstable county. June 14, 1884,
lie married Annie Augusta Hale of Brunswick, Me., and has one son,
born November 24, 1888. His wife died April 23, 1890.
Peter Pineo, M.D., was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, March 6,
1825, studied medicine there four years, attended one full term at
Harvard Medical College, and subsequently graduated from Bowdoin
Medical College in May, 1847. He first practiced medicine in Port-
land, Me., and in Boston, Mass., and settled in Barnstable in 1850, as
the successor of Doctor Jackson. He removed to Groton. Mass., in
18.')3, where he practiced until 1859, when he accepted the professor-
ship of medical jurisprudence and clinical medicine in Castleton
Medical College, Vermont. In June, 1861, he was commissioned sur-
geon of the Ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and entered
active service. In August, 1861, he was commissioned brigade sur-
geon of United States Volunteers, and served on the staffs successive-
ly of Generals James S. Wadsworth and Rufus King, and was Gen-
eral McDowell's medical director during the second Bull Run battles.
He also was serving on the staff of General George G. Meade, as med-
ical director of the First Army Corps, at Antietam, and South Mount-
ain, in 1862. In November, 1862, he was ordered to Washington in
charge of Douglass General Hospital (600 beds) and in March, 1863,
was commissioned as lieutenant colonel and medical inspector of
United States Volunteers and ordered to inspect the Department of
the Gulf, General Banks commanding. During the years 1863-1865,
he inspected every army on the Atlantic coast from Washington to
Texas. He was consulting surgeon of Jefferson Davis during his con-
finement at Fortress Monroe. In 1866 he settled in Hyannisand took
charge of the United States Marine Hospital Service of Barnstable
county until 1880, when, on account of ill health, he relinquished the
practice of medicine, and has since resided in Boston.
Dr. Samuel Pitcher, of Hyannis, the originator of the famous
Pitcher's Castoria, was born in Hyannis, October 23, 1824. His great-
grandfather, Joseph Pitcher, came here from Scituate. Doctor Pitcher
began the study of medicine in 1840 with Dr. S. C. Ames of Lowell, and
during the half century since then, he has given his thought and at-
tention to the study and practice of the healing art. In 1847-8 he was
in the College of Medicine at Philadelphia, and in the latter year be-
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 239
. j^an the experiments which twenty years later led to the introduction
of Castoria, from which in 1869 he realized $10,000. He was at Har-
vard Medical College in 1850, and except when away as a student, has
continuously resided at Hyannis, where his ability and worth as a
■citizen and physician have long been recognized. He is a member
of the Massachusetts Medical Society and a director of the First
National Bank of Hyannis.
D. L. Powe, M.D., was born on Prince Edwards Island, April 28,
1853, and removed to Boston in 1874, after having received the edu-
cational advantages afiforded by the graded schools of his native place.
In 1879 he attended the first course of lectures ever given in the Maine
Eclectic Medical School, and graduated three years later. This school
-subsequently came under another management and is now extinct.
In 1883 he located in Boston, became a member of the Eclectic Med-
ical Society of Massachusetts, practiced a year and in the following
March came to Falmouth where in February, 1885, he married Captain
N. P. Baker's daughter, Mary F. He succeeded Dr. J. P. Bills, who
liad practiced some five years in Falmouth and Pocasset.
John E. Pratt, M.D., was born in 1850 in Freeport, Me. He at-
tended the schools of Meriden, N. H., took a classical course at Dart-
mouth, and in 1877 graduated from the Dartmouth Medical School.
From 1877 to 1880 he practiced medicine in Auburn, N. H. In 1880
he came to Sandwich where he has since practised. He is a member
•of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He was married in 1878 to
Sarah E. Cornish, and has two daughters.
Dr. ApoUos Pratt succeeded Doctor Chamberlain in the practice of
-medicine at South Yarmouth, and died in 1860.
Dr. Greenleaf J. Pratt was born in Mansfield, Mass., in 1794, and
settled as a physician in Harwich about 1815. He had an extensive
practice for many years. He was a representative from Harwich in
1827, and several years on the school committee. He resided at North
Harwich, where he died January 13, 1858. He married Ruth, daughter
of Anthony and Reliance Kelley, April 2, 1818, and had four children.
Thomas B. Pulsifer, M.D., born in 1842 in Maine, is a son of M. R.
Pulsifer, M.D. He was in Waterville College from 1859 until 1861,
■when he entered the army in the First Maine Cavalry. He studied
medicine with his father for some time, and finally graduated from
Hahnemann College of Philadelphia in 1872. In 1873, he came to
Yarmouth where he has practiced since that time. He married Anna,
■daughter of Benjamin Gorham, and has two children — Cora R. and
Gorham.
Dr. Clinton J. Ricker,* who died at Chatham, Mass., March 15,
1886, was born at Great Falls, N. H., January 29, 1847. He was the
* By Prof. M. F. Daggett of Chatham.
240 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
youngest of the five Ghildren of Captain and Mrs. Josiah Clarke of
Great Falls. His mother dying when he was but a few weeks old, and
his father wishing to make a long journey from home, the boy was
received into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ricker, residing near
Milton Mills, N. H., who adopted and reared him as their son. Here
he passed his boyhood days, receiving the meager advantages of the
district school in winter and developing his muscles on the farm in
summer.
His life was uneventful until he arrived at the age of sixteen
years, when, like many other New England boys in that time of our
country's greatest need, he determined to enter the service as a sol-
dier the consent of his foster parents being refused on account of his
youthful age, a compromise was effected by his going out as servant
to his brother, C. Clarke, a captain of cavalry in the regular army, who
promised to restrain the boy's youthful impetuosity and protect him
from all harm. This promise was, however, unavailing, for in the
heat of battle, though commanded to remain in the rear, he forgot his
brother's rank and authority, and, burning with military ardor, he
rushed into the fight and did effective service, bringing back as proofs
of his contact with the enemy, wounds received from a rebel ball and
sabre stroke.
In 1865 we find him at Milton Classical Institute, studying French,
Latin, and other branches preparatory to a college course ; and later
at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, from which he probably gradu-
ated in 1871, entering the Bowdoin Medical School the same year,
where he took two courses of lectures. In 1873and 1874 he continued
his medical studies at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New
York city, taking high standing in a large class and graduating in
1874. He soon commenced the practice of his profession at New Mar-
ket, N. H., and entered at about the same time into partnership in the
drug business at Dover. His efforts in his chosen occupation seemed
marked with success, his skill soon became known, and his practice
largely increased. But reverses were in store for him. Hard work
and exposure, incident to a large country practice, undermined a nat-
urally strong constitution and he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which
prostrated him for many months, and from which he never fully re-
covered. At the same time his business partner at Dover, taking ad-
vantage of Doctor Ricker's enforced absence, purchased a large stock
of goods on as long credit as possible, and selling the goods at a dis-
count for cash, absconded with the funds and drove the firm into-
bankruptcy. These and other financial losses, together with his long
illness, prevented Doctor Ricker's return to practice at New Market,
and the winter of 1878 he spent in Stockbridge, Mass., having been
invited to care, temporarily, for the business of Doctor Miller.
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 241
■ Doctor Ricker next secured the appointment as assistant port phy-
sician at Boston, and here he was recognized as a skilful physician and
competent official. This position he retained until his health, which
had been for some years delicate, again broke down, and he was com-
pelled by change of climate and a voyage at sea to seek its restoration.
In the fall of 1880 he came to Chatham, Mass., where he continued
in practice during the remaining years of his life, and where his
genial manners, sympathetic nature, and earnest efforts in behalf of
his patients, as well as his marked ability as a physician and surgeon,
won for him the enduring respect, confidence, and esteem of the
people.
May 21,1879, Doctor Ricker was united in marriage to Miss Louise
B. Maitel, of Newton, Mass., a lady of intelligence, refinement and
good education, a descendant of a family once famous in French his-
tory. This lady, who survives her husband, testifies to his having
possessed the many excellent qualities of mind and heart that make
the domestic life beautiful and happy.
Through life he was a student in his devotion to scientific and
literary pursuits, and was a frequent contributor to magazines and
newspapers. He was often invited to the lecture-platform, and both
in New Hampshire and Massachusetts he frequently addressed large
audiences, pronouncing in Chatham in 1882 one of the finest Memo-
rial Day addresses ever delivered in this section of the state. His
keen insight into abstruse subjects, his comprehensive view of public
affairs, his just discrimination and impartial criticism, combined with
brilliant conversational powers, purity of diction and a vivid imagi-
nation, made Dr. Clinton J. Ricker an interesting private companion
and eloquent public speaker.
James A. Robinson, M.D., was born in Claremont, N. H., Novem-
ber 29, 1857, and was the son of Willard H. and Martha J. Robinson.
When six years of age he moved to Brookline, Mass., where he re-
ceived his early education and entered Harvard College in 1876. In
1879 he entered the medical department of the University of Penn-
sylvania and graduated in 1882. After practicing in Taunton and ad-
joining towns, he moved to Chatham in 1888, where he is now located.
Frank A. Rogers, M.D. — This rising young physician, born at
Newfield, Me., was educated at Limerick Academy, and at Kent's Hill
Seminary, received a full academic course for Bowdoin College, but
changed his mind and entered the medical department, from which
he graduated in 1876. He practiced nearly a year at Bethel, Me.,
when he sold his interest to a classmate who had made a settlement
there about the same time. He then filled the position of principal
in Litchfield Academy two years, removing to Atlanta, Ga., to fill the
chair .of instructor in science and language in the university of that
16
242 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
city. After practicing his profession two years, in Nebraska, he set
tied in Brewster, in 1882, purchased his homestead and in 1884 opened
a drug store in connection with his practice. During his term of
practice at Brewster he has attained a prominent position in the pro-
fession, excelling in surgery. In 1883 he joined the Massachusetts
Medical Society, and for six years past has been the secretary of the
Barnstable district. High compliment is due to his mechanical and
scientific genius, which, combined with his energy and perseverance
assures his highest success. As a special correspondent of the signal
service he has in use an electric anemometer recorder of his own in-
vention and construction, which more effectually records the velocity
of the wind than any other in the service.
Something might well be expected of a man with the doctor's an-
tecedents. His ancestry is traceable back to John Rogers, the mar-
tyr, who was burned at the stake February 14, 1555. The first of the
family who came to the New World was Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, who
settled at Ipswich in 1636, where he died in 1655. His son. Rev. John
Rogers, M.D., practiced at the same place, departing this life in 1684,
leaving a son, Rev. John, who was pastor of the First church of Ips-
wich until his death in 1745. The next in the lineal descent was Rev.
Daniel Rogers, a tutor of Harvard College, who died in 1785, at Exeter,
N. H. His son. Thomas, moved to Ossipee, N. H., where John Rog-
ers, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and subse-
quently removed to Newfield, Me., where he died in 1866. At the
latter place Rev. John A. Rogers was born, April 29, 1833, who in 1854
married Julia A. Nealey of Parsonsfield, Me., and settled in the min-
istry as pastor of the F. W. Baptist church, which service he continued
until his death, February 6, 1866, leaving two children — Frank A. and
Addie A., now Mrs. B. F. Lombard of Portsmouth, N. H.
Frank A. Rogers, M.D., was born October 8, 1855, at Newfield, and
was married November 30, 1876, to Lottie A. Bowker of Phipsburg,
Me. They have three children — Amabel, Frank Leston, and Alice
M. The doctor is an active republican, interesting himself in the af-
fairs of the body politic, and for four years last past has acted on the
school board of Brewster. In the church of his choice, the Baptist, he
is superintendent of its Sunday school; and in the busy scenes of
science and his profession he finds opportunity for the enjoyment
of those religious and social relations to which he is devotedly
attached.
Dr. Moses Rogers, a physician of Falmouth, was a son of Mayo
and Mercy Rogers, of Harwich, where he was born in 1818. He set-
tled in Falmouth, Mass., where he died February 4, 1862, aged 44.
Dr. Nathaniel Ruggles was a resident physician at one time at
Marston's Mills.
PKINT.
E BieR3T*0T, N Y.
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 243
Dr. Henry Russell was born in Providence, R. I., June 31, 1814.
He studied four years with Dr. James B. Forsyth, graduated at the
University of Pennsylvania in 1841, and commenced the practice of
medicine at Nantucket. Three years later he removed to New Bed-
ford, where he practiced for six years, since which time he has resided
and practiced mostly in Sandwich.
Joseph Sampson, M.D., born in Nantucket in 1784, was a graduate
of Harvard Medical College, and was on the Embargo Commission in
1809, he being at that time a resident of Brewster. He was married
in 1815 to Deborah R. Cobb of Brewster, was the first president of the
Barnstable District Medical Society, and died in Brewster in 1846.
Dr. Samuel Savage was born in 1748. He resided near the pres-
ent residence of Henry F. Loring, west of Barnstable village. He was
very peculiar in his manners, and when the stage-coach was passing,
would ascend a large rock, which is still there, and in sepulchral tones
announce himself as a physician and surgeon. He died June 28, 1831.
Dr. Stephen Hull Sears, son of Stephen and Henrietta (Hull)
Sears, was borii in South Yarmouth, July 31, 1854. He studied med-
icine with Dr. A. Miller at Needham, Mass., graduated in medicine at
Bellevue Hospital Medical School, New York, in 1879, and practiced
in Newport, R. I., from December 30, 1879, until the summer of 1889,
when he removed to Yarmouth, where he is now located. In Decem-
ber, 1881, he was appointed A. A. surgeon in the United States
marine hospital service which position he held while in Newpprt.
He was also four years surgeon of the Newport Artillery Company,
by appointment of Governor Wetmore, with the rank of major. Doctor
Sears married, August 23, 1881, Marianna B., daughter of Danforth P.W.
and Angeline (Bearse) Parker of Barnstable, and has three children.
Dr. Joseph Seabury, second son of Ichabod Seabury, studied med-
icine with Doctor Fessenden of Brewster, located in Orleans in 1782,
practiced there seventeen years, and died March 27, 1800.
Dr. Benjamin Seabury succeeded his father, Dr. Joseph Seabury,
as physician in Orleans and vicinity, practiced there until April, 1837,
when he removed to Boston, and subsequently to Charlestown, where
he practiced until the time of his death, September 16, 1853.
Benjamin F. Seabury, M.D., son of Dr. Benjamin Seabury, suc-
ceeded his father as physician and surgeon in Orleans from 1837 until
his death there February 26, 1890. He studied medicine with his
father and at the medical school of Harvard University from which
he graduated. His only son is Samuel W. Seabury, now in command
of a ship from San Francisco to Australia.
Dr. John Seabury, fourth son of Dr. Joseph Seabury, born Febru-
ary 4, 1790, practiced in Chatham fifteen years, then removed to South-
bridge, Mass., and subsequently to Camden, N. C, where he died.
244 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Dr. George Shove was born in Sandwich, October 14, 1817, where
he was at one time a teacher in the school of Paul Wing. He was ed-
ucated to the profession in the University of Pennsylvania. In 1846 he
became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and of the
Barnstable County Society, in which latter he was president. He was
eight years surgeon of the United States Marine Hospital at Hyannis.
His practice was extensive, reaching from Cotuit Port to Orleans, al-
though he resided at Yarmouth, where he married, November 11, 1849,
Lucy, daughter of Captain John Eldridge. Dr. Shove's parents were
Enoch and Desire (Cobb) Shove of Sandwich. On the occasion of his
death the Barnstable District Medical Society recorded resolutions,
including this : " The community in which his entire professional life
was passed has experienced a loss well nigh irreparable, and will .hold
his name in grateful remembrance for his publidBpirit and enterprise,
resulting in little pecuniary advantage to himself but in great good
to the toiling and destitute."
Marshall E. Simmons, M.D., was born in Wareham, Mass., and
graduated from Harvard Medical College about 1861. He entered the
army as assistant surgeon of the Twenty-second Regiment, Massa-
chusetts Volunteers, July 29, 1862, and was promoted to surgeon of
the same regiment December 29, 1862. He resigned his commission
the 27th of August, 1863, and practiced medicine in Chatham until
February, 1870, when he left to reside in one of the Western states.
He was twice married. His last wife, the only daughter of Gap-
tain George Eldredge of Chatham, he married August 4, 1869.
He subsequently returned to Wareham, Mass., where died in May,
1874.
Dr. Thomas Smith, a physician and surgeon of Sandwich, son of
Samuel and Bethiah Smith of that town, was born September 7, 1718,
and studied medicine in Hingham. He was eminent in his profes-
sion. He visited the sick far and near. He had a family.
Dr. Thomas Starr was among the first comers to Yarmouth. He
was not in sympathy with the first settlers, being regarded as rather
latitudinarian in his principles, and was once fined for being what
was regarded as " a scoffer and jeerer at religion." Justice compels
the statement that this simply consisted in preferring another minis-
ter to Rev. Mr. Matthews, and giving his reasons therefor. He left
town about 1650, there being insufficient practice of his profession
for his support.
Dr. Ezra Stephenson practiced medicine at Marston's Mills from
1832 to 1838.
John Stetson, M.D., was born in Abington, Mass., and graduated
from Dartmouth Medical College in 1850. In 1851 he commenced the
practice of medicine in West Harwich, where he still resides.
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 245
William Stone, M.D., was a practicing physician at Wellfleet prior
to 1843. His father, whose name he bore, was also a physician at En-
field, Mass. In locating at Wellfleet, William Stone succeeded Dr.
James Townsend, who had been a physician there for a number of
yeafs. Subsequently he married Doctor Townsend's widow and re-
moved to Harvard, Mass., where he died.
Thomas N. Stone, M.D., born in 1818, was a son of Dr. William
Stone. He was a graduate (1840) of Bowdoin College and Dartmouth
Medical School, from which he received his medical degree, October
24, 1843. He practiced in Wellfleet from the time he graduated until
1876, with the exception of two years in Truro. He removed from
Wellfleet to Provincetown in 1875, where he died May 15, 1876. He
was- a very pleasing speaker and writer. He was a member
of the school committee of Wellfleet- nearly thirty years, repre-
sentative in 1873, and state senator in 1874 and 1875. His first
marriage was with Hannah D., daughter of William N. Atwood.
Their two sons were William N. Stone, M.D., and Thomas N., de-
ceased. His second wife was Nancy B., another daughter of William
N. Atwood. Their two daughters, one Helen L. (Mrs. F. H. Crowell
of Nebraska), and Anabel (widow of E. W. Snow).
William N. Stone, M.D., born in 1845 in Truro, is a son of Thomas
N. Stone, M.D., and a grandson of William Stone, M.D. He attended
Lawrence Academy two years and Wilbraham Academy one year,
then took a four years' course at Harvard Medical College graduating
in June, 1869. He began practice in Wellfleet in 1869 with his father,
who retired six years later, leaving a large practice to the young doc-
tor. He married Adeline Hamblin and has two children — Thomas
N. and Adeline H.
Dr. Jeremiah Stone, son of Captain Shubael and Esther (Wildes)
Stone, was born November 2, 1798, and was a prominent physician of
Provincetown.
Dr. Alfred Swift, son of Thomas, was born in North Rochester,
Mass., March 3, 1797; studied medicine with his brother in Vermont;
came to Harwich first, and then removed to Dennis, about 1828, where
he died July 27, 1875. His wife, Elizabeth Jane Gray of Martha's
Vineyard, died September 9, 1871. He had an adopted son, Charles
Haskell Swift, who married Mrs. Mary J. Brooks, daughter of Heman
Baxter, and now lives in Dennis. Doctor Swift is best remembered
for his kindness to the poor.
Dr. James Thacher, was born in Barnstable, February 14, 1764. He
studied medicine with Dr. Abner Nersey, and entered the army as
surgeon in 1775, serving seven and one-half years. At the close of the
war he married Susanna Hayward of Bridgewater. and settled in the
practice of medicine in Plymouth, where he died in May, 1844, in his
246 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ninety-first year. He published several works, including his journal
while in the revolutionary war.
Dr. Charles N. Thayer was born at Attleboro. Mass., in 1828. His
childhood was passed in Mansfield, where his early education was
received. His father, Simeon Thayer, was a soldier in the war of
1812. His grandfather, Isaac Fuller, served in the revolution, and
he was a non-commissioned officer in Company I, Fourth Massachu-
setts, during the late rebellion. On the maternal side he traces his
ancestry to the Doctor Fuller whose name is enrolled on the Puritans'
monument at Plymouth, Mass. He resided for some time in Pem-
broke, Mass., where he was engaged in the lumber business, and rep-
resented that town in the legislature of 1855. He studied medicine
with E. R. Sisson, M.D., of New Bedford, and attended lectures in
Boston. In 1869 he opened an office in Falmouth, and established an
extensive practice. In 1884, his health becoming impaired, .part of
his practice was dropped and a store was opened, with the management
of which, in connection with his professional duties, he is now en-
gaged.
Dr. Townsend was a physician of Orleans at the beginning of the
present century. He had two children, Hannah and Julia, baptized
at Orleans by Rev. Mr. Bascom, the former in 1801, the latter in 1803.
Henry Tuck, M.D., of Barnstable, was born February 16, 1808, and
died June 24, 1845.
Alexander T. Walker, M.D., a practitioner of the alopathic school,
was born in Canada, in 1844. He received his early education in
Canada, and graduated from Dartmouth College, N. H., in 1869. Be-
fore entering Dartmouth he was in New York two years— one year in
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and one year in Bellevue
Hospital Medical College. Since graduating he has attended lectures
six seasons — two courses in Bellevue Medical College (one under Doc-
tor Loomis, in the hospital), one course in Vermont University in
Burlington, and two courses in the medical department of the Uni-
versity of the City of New York. In 1870 he located in Maine, but
came to Falmouth in 1883, where he has since practiced.
James T. Walker, M.D., of Falmouth, born April 25, 1850, at To-
ronto, is the youngest of a family of six sons, three of whom are phy-
sicians and the others clergymen. He was educated in the Toronto
city schools and at eighteen years of age graduated from the Provin-
cial Normal School. Four years later he graduated from Queen's Col-
lege, Toronto, at the head of the class of '72, and was chosen its val-
edictorian. In 1873 he came to Martha's Vineyard where he taught
school and studied medicine three years. In 1876-7 he attended the
Detroit Medical College and was two seasons at Burlington in the
University of Vermont, where he was graduated in June, 1879, and
MEDICAL PROFESSION. 247
■was again valedictorian of his class. His first practice was at Mar-
tha's Vineyard, whence in March, 1880, he came to Falmouth as suc-
cessor to Dr. Lyman H. Luce. Here he married Evangeline G.,
daughter of L H. Aiken.
James M. Watson, M.D., of Falmouth, was bom at Sangerville,
Me., January 16, 1860. He graduated in 1881 from Foxcroft Acad-
emy and in 1883 from Maine Central Institute at Pittsfield, Me. In
March, 1886, he received his degree from the medical department
of the University of the City of New York, also a course in Bellevue
Hospital (under Prof. William N. Thompson), and has since practiced
in Falmouth. In April, 1890, he graduated from the Homoeopathic
Medical College and Hospital of New York. He is a registered phar-
macist and a member of the state board of pharmacy.
George E. White, M.D., was born in 1849 in Skowhegan, Me., and
was educated in the schools of Skowhegan and in the Eaton Family
and Day School. From 1868 to 1877 he was in business in Boston.
In 1877, he entered the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia,
from which he graduated in 1880, opening a practice in Sandwich the
same year, where he has been since that time. He is a member of
Dewitt Clinton Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of which he was master in
1884 and 1885. and again in 1889.
Dr. Jonas Whitman, an early physician of Barnstable, was born in
1749, graduate of Yale in 1772, and died July 30, 1824. His father,
Zachariah, was a son of Ebenezer, whose father Thomas, was a son of
Deacon John Whitman of Weymouth. He had three sons : John, a
graduate of Harvard in 1805 ; Josiah, M.D., at Harvard in 1816; and
Cyrus Whitman.
Timothy Wilson, M.D., was born in Shapleigh, Me., July 27, 1811,
and died in Orleans, Mass., July 18, 1887. His education was obtained
in the public schools of his native town, and at the academy in Al-
fred, Me. He began the study of medicine in the ofiBce of Dr. Wil-
liam Lewis of Shapleigh, afterward attending the medical departments
of Dartmouth and Bowdoin Colleges, graduating from the latter in
1840. He settled in Ossipee, N. H., but was forced to leave on account
of the long, severe winters, and look for a more congenial climate, the
result of which, was his settling in Orleans in the summer of 1848,
where he continued in active practice until failing health forced him
to abandon it about one year preceding his death. He always took a
lively interest in matters pertaining to education. In early life he
took an active part in politics, being a strong anti-slavery whig, until
the formation of the republican party, with which he ever after acted.
Besides these physicians already mentioned in this chapter, are
others concerning whom no information has been obtained save the
fact that they at some time practiced medicine in the county. Con-
248 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
cerning some of them, traditions might be given ; but nothing sufiB-
ciently authentic to merit a place here. The apocryphal names are :
James Ayer, N. Barrows, J. W. Baxter, John Batchelder, Jonathan
Bemis, Jonathan Berry, John E. Bruce, W. F. S. Brackett, J. W. Clift,
J. W. Crocker, Bart. Cushman, N. B. Danforth, D. W. Davis, D. Dim-
mock, Daniel Doane, J. B. Everett, Benjamin Fearing, J. B. Forsyth,
C. A. Goldsmith, John Harper, J. L. Lothrop, Ivory H. Lucas, J. W.
Nickerson, John M. Smith, W. O. G. Springer, Henry Willard, Ben-
nett Wing, and Edward Wooster.
By chapter 26 of the Public Statutes of Massachusetts, Barnstable
county was divided into three medical districts, in each of which an
" able and discreet man learned in the science of medicine shall be
appointed, whose term of office shall be seven years." District 1, em-
braces the towns of Harwich, Dennis, Yarmouth, Brewster, Chatham,
Orleans and Eastham ; district 2, Barnstable, Bourne, Sandwich,
Mashpee and Falmouth ; district 3, Provincetown, Truro and Well-
fleet. The medical examiners now in office are : Drs. George N. Mun-
sell of Harwich, Franklin W. Pierce of Barnstable, and Willis W.
Gleason of Provincetown.
CHAPTER XIII.
LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE.
By Hon. Charles F. Swift,
President of the Barnstable County Historical Society.
Early Writers. — Freeman's History of Cape Cod. — Other Local Works. — Poetry. — Fic-
tion. — Occasional Writers. — The Newspapers of Barnstable County.
THE intelligence and capacity of the people of the Cape have not,
heretofore, been evinced so much in what they have said, as in
what they have dared and accomplished. The founders of her
towns were not usually men of literary taste or acquirements, except
her clergy, who ranked well with those of their class in other parts of
the colony. It was some time after they had settled the towns, sub-
dued the wild face of nature, and helped to conquer the savage foe,
before they turned their attention to scholarship. Then it was that
the fisheries on their shores helped to found and maintain the first
public grammar school established by the colony. It was, indeed,
the chief reliance of that enterprise.
The first of their written compositions which are extant are in the
form of sermons, and of these it may be said, that their style was as
rugged and forbidding to our present taste, as were the ideas they
were intended to convey. In hours of deep affliction the fathers
sometimes essayed to woo the muses. The earliest specimen of ele-
gaic verse preserved, is found in the lines composed on the death of
his accomplished wife, by Governor Thomas Hinckley, of which pro-
duction Mr. Palfrey says, " It breathes not, indeed, the most tuneful
spirit of song, but the very tenderest soul of affection."
Dr. John Osborn, born in Sandwich in 1713, a son of Rev. Samuel
Osborn, minister for some time of the south precinct of Eastham,
wrote a Whaling Song, which has obtained celebrity. It is quite an ad-
vance, in literary finish, upon anything preceding it which had been
produced by a Cape Cod writer. The opening lines are:
" When spring returns with western gales,
And gentle breezes sweep
The ruffling seas, we spread our sails,
To plough the wat'ry deep."
250 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Then follow seventeen stanzas, which describe, in spirited style, the
pursuit, killing and capture of the monsters of the deep.
Rev. Thomas Prince, the distinguished author of New Englatid's
Annals and Chronology, a native of Sandwich and a grandson of Gov-
ernor Hinckley, produced a work of exceeding value. In the opinion
of Doctor Chauncy, " No one in New England had more learning ex-
cept Cotton Mather." He published other works, though the Atinals
is esteemed the most important.
James Otis, jr., called " the patriot," besides being a peerless ora-
tor, was the author of several important political treatises, among
which may be mentioned his Rights of the Colonies Vindicated, which
was styled " a masterpiece of good writing and argument."
Rev. Dr. Samuel West, a native of Yarmouth, for some time a school-
master in Barnstable and Falmouth, was removed for his metaphysical
and controversial talents, as well as for his great learning and pro-
found scholarship. " He was," said Dr. Timothy Alden, jr., " as re-
markable for his mental powers, as Dr. Samuel Johnson, the great
biographer and moralist. He was supposed to have much resembled
him in personal appearance, and with the same literary advantages,
would unquestionably have equalled him for reputation in the learned
world." He wrote several important tracts during the revolutionary
period.
Rev. Dr. Timothy Alden, jr., a native of Yarmouth and president
of Alleghany College, Meadville, Pa., about the middle of the century
published the Collection of American Epitaphs, in four volumes, a book
which contained a fund of interesting and valuable information. Rev.
James Freeman, D.D., minister of the Stone Chapel, Boston, a native
of Truro, contributed, soon after this time, a series of most important
papers relating to the history of the towns of the county and published
in the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. These
papers are still quoted and relied upon as authority on the subjects
to which they are devoted.
With such a record for enterprise, adventure, patriotism and iden-
tification with the great movements of the age as the Cape presents,
it would be strange if there were not others of her sons who should
attempt to do her honor, or at least justice. In 1858, Rev. Freder-
ick Freeman, of Sandwich, commenced the publication of a. History
of Cape Cod. The book was finally completed, in two large volumes,
and to all time must be the foundation upon which other works of
the kind will be based. The difficulties in Mr. Freeman's way were
numerous ; he had to begin without any considerable previous aid ;
he was justly emulous of the fame of his illustrious ancestors ; and
being himself a minister of the church of England, it seemed to
some that he did tardy and stinted justice to the Pilgrim and Puri-
LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE. 251
tan elements. Some of the important epochs were not written up
with the fullness and elaboration of the others. But despite these
drawbacks Mr. Freeman's book will always be quoted, as the first
filial attempt of any Cape Cod man to do appropriate honor to the
memory of the pioneers and their successors, and as such should be
held in high estimation.
Rev. Enoch Pratt, in 1842, published his history of Eastham, Well-
fleet and Orleans. There is much in it which is interesting, unique
and worthy of preservation. Mr. Shebnah Rich, in his Truro, Cape
Cod, has embodied in an original form, and attractive rhetoric, a
mass of important information respecting one of the most interest-
ing towns of the Old Colony. In 1861, Mr. Amos Otis commenced a
series of articles in the Barnstable Patriot, respecting the history of
the Barnstable Families. Nothing has yet been published which
evinces so familiar an acquaintance with the habits, manners, motives
and impelling principles of the pioneers of the town as these sketches,
by one of their descendants. They will always be referred to as
authority on the points which they discuss, and be regarded as a
monument to the intelligence, zeal and industry of their author. In
1884, Charles F. Swift published a history of Old Yarmouth, including
the towns of Yarmouth and Dennis; in one volume, 283 pages. Mr.
Swift has also published a Fourth of July oration, 1858, a continua-
tion of Barnstable Families, several occasional addresses, and contribu-
tions to magazines and newspapers, principally on biographical and
historical subjects. The sketches of the History of Falmouth up ta
1812, by the late Charles W. Jenkins, were issued in a collected form
by the Falmouth Local press in 1889. They were written before so-
much was known as has since transpired about the early history of
the town, and the book is a filial and creditable work. Mr. Josiah
Paine of Harwich, who contributes to this work the chapters on the
history of Harwich and Brewster, has written with intelligence and
discrimination, other important historical papers, for the newspapers
and magazines, and has a manuscript collection of great value re-
garding old Harwich and its people. Mr. Joshua H. Paine, his brother,
has also written an exhaustive unpublished account of the War of
1812 in its relation to Harwich. His contribution on that topic to the
present volume appears at page 76.
In other departments of literary eflfort the natives of the Cape
have somewhat distinguished themselves. The early bards of the
county have already been alluded to. Several others remain to be
noticed. Daniel Barker Ford, son of Dr. Oliver Ford of Hyannis,who
was an apprentice in the Yarmouth /?^^w/^r office about 1842-4, evinced
much poetic and rhetorical talent. His best known piece, ''A Lay of
Cape Cod," -was modeled in style and treatment f rom Whittier's Lays of
•252 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Labor, and was a most spirited and stirring production. A few of its
inspiring lines are quoted :
" Hurrah I for old Cape Cod,
With its sandy hills and low,
Where the waves of ocean thunder,
And the winds of heaven blow;
Where through summer and through winter,
Through sunshine and thro' rain,
The hardy Cape man plies his task
Upon the heaving main.
" Hurrah I for the maids and matrons
That grace our sandy home.
As gentle as the summer breeze,
As fair as ocean's foam ;
Whose glances fall upon the hearty
Like sunlight on the waters ;
Who're brighter in the festal ball
Than France's brightest daughters."
Dr. Thomas N. Stone of Wellfleet, published in 1869, a volume,
entitled Cape Cod Rhymes. He possessed the true poetic temperament,
was witty, pathetic, and alive to the sights and scenes of nature
around him. He also wrote and delivered felicitous occasional orations
and addresses. Asa S. Phinney, also a printer in the office of the Yar-
mouth Register, in 1845 collected and issued a little pamphlet. Accepted
Addresses, etc. There were twenty-four pieces in all, some of which
evinced considerable poetic ability. Mr. Phinney was also a frequent
and welcome contributor to the Cape newspapers.
Mrs. Francis E. Swift of Falmouth, has written for several years
for the current magazines and newspapers, under the nom de plume,
" Fanny Fales." She published, in 1853, Voices of the Heart, and has a
large number of superior compositions not yet in a collected form.
Mrs. Swift is not only an easy and graceful versifier, but has shown a
higher poetic fancy and a deeper insight into the emotions and feel-
ings of the human heart. We present a single specimen in her reflec-
tions upon Longfellow's line " Into each Life some Rain must Fall."
"If this were all, O if this were all,
That ' Into each life some rain must fall ' —
There were fainter sobs in the Poet's rhyme.
There were fewer wrecks on the shores Of time.
" But tempests of woe pass over the soul.
Fierce winds of anguish we cannot control ;
And shock after shock we are called to bear,
TUl the lips are white with the heart's despair.
" O, the shores of time with wrecks are strown,
Unto the ear comes ever a moan,
Wrecks of hopes that sail with glee.
Wrecks of loves sinking silently !
LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE. 253
" Many are hidden from mortal eye,
Only God knoweth how deep they lie ;
Only God heard when the cry went up ;
' Help me I take from me this bitter cup ! '
" 'Into each life some rain must fall' —
If this were all, O, if this were all I
Yet there is a Refuge from storm and blast.
We may hide in the Rock till the woe is past.
" Be strong I be strong I to my heart 1 cry,
A pearl in the wounded shell doth lie ;
Days of sunshine are g^ven to all.
Though ' Into each life some rain must fall.'"
Prof. Alonzo Tripp, a native of Harwich, wrote in 1853 a book of
European travels entitled Crests from the Ocean World, which had a sale
of 60,000 copies. Afterward he wrote a local novel, entitled The Fisher
Boy, which had a large sale, and many appreciative readers. He has
since delivered lectures on European events, in almost every consid-
erable place in the country, which have attracted audiences of culture
and discrimination. He has now in press a series of Historical Por-
traitures, which will take high rank in the contemporaneous literature
of the country.
In fictitious narrative. Rev. N. H. Chamberlain, a native of Sand-
wich, has published. Autobiography of a New England Farm House, the
scenes of which are laid in that part of Sandwich now Bourne. It
is a reproduction, in agreeable and picturesque style, of many local
incidents and traditions. He has also written The Sphinx of Aubery
Parish and a book entitled Samuel Sewell and The World he Lived in,
several polemic church pamphlets, book notices, lectures and his-
torical discourses. At page 8 of this volume is a fragment revealing
at once his keen appreciation of the Cape character and his happy
style as a descriptive writer.
Some thirty years ago. Captain Benjamin F. Bourne, who had been
a prisoner in Southern South America, wrote and published a book
entitled. The Captive in Patagonia. It was a volume of thrilling inter-
est and had an enormous sale. Even at this day it is frequently called
for at the book-stores, and is read with as much interest as when fresh
from the press.
Charles F. Chamberlayne, Esq., of Bourne, has edited a law book
entitled, Best's Principles of the Law of Evidetue, which under the
name of Chamberlayne' s Best, has been adopted as the standard author-
ity in most of the law schools of the country.
Sylvester Baxter, a native of Yarmouth, has been for many years
one of the stafif writers of the Boston Herald. In 1883 and 1884 he
went to Mexico, as editor of The Financier of that city, and also cor-
respondent of the Herald. He has contributed considerably for the
"254 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
magazines in the way of essays, poetry, sketches of travel and short
stories, and although his writings have not been collected, some of
them havfe appeared in pamphlet form; among them an illustrated
■description of the Morse Collection of Japatiese Pottery, and Berlin; a
Study of Gertnan Municipal Government; both of them published by the
Essex Institute, Salem. Here is one of Mr. Baxter's short poems,
from the Atlantic Monthly of October, 1875, entitled " October Days" :
" The maples in the forest glow.
And on the lawn the fall-flowers blaze.
The mild air has a purple haze;
My heart is filled with warmth and glow.
" like living coals the red leaves burn;
They fall — then turns the red to rust;
They crumble, like the coals, to dust.
Warm heart, must thou to ashes bum ?"
It only remains to remark that the paternal parent of John How-
ard Payne, the author of " Home, Sweet Home," was of Cape Cod
origin, and that Harvey Birch, the prototype of Cooper's "Spy,"
originated in Harwich, his real name being Enoch Crosby, and his
actual experience being matched by all the incidents recounted in
this most characteristic of the author's works. Though not himself
the creator of one of the most striking personalities in modem fiction,
he was what is still better, the original of this most prominent char-
acter.
Other natives in professional and business life, but not devoted to
literature as a pursuit, have contributed valuable writings to the press
in their leisure and unengrossed hours. Of these it may be proper to
name: Rev. Osborn Myrick of Provincetown, a prolific writer to the
county newspapers; Frederick W. Crocker of Barnstable, who wrote
severel witty poems of high literary merit for occasional meetings
and public gatherings; Frederick W. Crosby of Barnstable, a writer
of sketches, essays and stories in the leading Boston and New York
journals, whose career was prematurely cut short in the most useful
period of his life; Benjamin Dyer, jr., of Truro, an officer in the vol-
unteer navy, who evinced a high degree of descriptive talent; and
E. S. Whittemore, Esq., of Sandwich, the author of the chapter on
the Bench and Bar in this volume.
Hon. John B. D. Cogswell of Yarmouth, who touched no subject
he did not elucidate and adorn, wrote as an introduction to the Atlas
of Barnstable County (1880) an outline of county history, which is a
valuable and interesting epitome. He also delivered a number
-of well-considered, elegantly composed public addresses and lectures,
some of which have been published. Matthew Arnold said of him
-that he was the most gifted man he met in America, forming his judg-
ment from Mr. Cogswell's accomplishment as a conversationalist.
/2^/ <y^ /^^^z<j^*
e, BIERSTAOT. N. V.
LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE. 255
Sidney Brooks, of Harwich, was also a writer of intelligence and
great enthusiasm upon local history and topographical description.
Rev. John W. Dodge, has composed hymns and discourses which are
always of interest from their scholarship and literary finish. Captain
Thomas P. Howes, of Dennis, has produced sea sketches, historical
portraitures, and vivid descriptions of travel and adventure, which if
collected in a volume would meet with rapid and extensive apprecia-
tion. Mrs. Mary M. Bray, a native of Yarmouth, whose 250th anni-
versary poem there has met such universal admiration, had be-
fore written some graceful poems and sketches of distant places, for
the journals of the day. Miss Gertrude Alger, a young poet of merit,
who has just passed into the spiritual world, has produced some grace-
ful and finished poems, one or two of which have found their place
in the current collections of contemporaneous poetry. Hon. Henry
A. Scudder and Hon. George Marston, of Barnstable, better known as
lawyers, also delivered addresses and orations which commanded at-
tention from their style and treatment of important public questions.
Philip H. Sears, Esq., a native of Dennis, has delivered several public
addresses, one of the most important of which, on the celebration of
the 2.'50th anniversary of the settlement of Old Yarmouth, was a fin-
ished and thoughtful presentation of the subject. Azariah Eldridge,
D.D., of Yarmouth, besides his pulpit discourses, wrote several public
addresses which have commanded the attention of thoughtful read-
ers and thinkers. A memorial volume, containing a brief memoir of
Doctor Eldridge, by C. F. Swift, Rev. Mr. Dodge's sermon at his obse-
ques and various letters and notices by personal friends, has been
prepared for private circulation under the direction of Mrs. Eldridge.
Two school books which had a high reputation in their day, were
prepared by old-time Cape teachers. Rev. Jonathan Burr, of Sand-
wich, pastor of the First church and preceptor of Sandwich Academy,
about the close of the last century was the author of a Compendium of
English Grammar, which occupied a leading position in the schools in
this portion of the state for many years. Mr. Burr was a man of much
natural ability and scholarship. Captain Zenas Weeks, of Marston's
Mills, a prominent man in his day, a school teacher and music teacher,
was the author of a text book on English grammar, issued about the
year 1833.
In 1854, Mrs. A. M. Richards, a daughter of Captain Benjamin
Hallet of Osterville, wrote a volume of 140 pages, which was pub-
lished by Gould & Lincoln, Boston, entitled Memoirs of a Grandmother;
by a Lady of Massachusetts. It was an autobiography, and contained
graphic sketches of incidents and individuals, some of whom are well
known to the public. Interspersed in the narrative are a number of
metrical compositions of a high order of poetical merit.
256 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNRY.
In 1888, a volume entitled, Biographical sketch of Sylvanus B. Phin-
ney, was issued on the 80th anniversary of his birthday. The volume
contains a sketch of his life, letters from Revs. Edward E. Hale and
A. Nickerson, and public addresses and papers prepared by Mr. Phin-
ney.
Joseph Story Fay, Esq., of Woods HoU, published in 1878 a little
monograph entitled. The Track of the Norsmen, in which he very in-
geniously argues that these Scandinavian navigators visited the
locality since known as Wood's Hole, and that the proper name of
the locality is Wood's Holl (meaning hill), which name, through his
efforts, it now bears. Mr. Fay, who is an enthusiastic arborator as
well as a gentleman of literary tastes and pursuits, has delivered ad-
dresses relating to his experiences in planting and rearing forest
trees on his estate at Woods Holl.
Rev. J. G. Gammons issued in 1888, a monograph of the Methodist
Episcopal church of Bourne, which sketches the rise and growth of
Methodism, and preserves many interesting reminiscences of the
pioneers of this sect on Cape Cod and elsewhere, especially in the
town of Bourne.
A Genealogy of the Burgess family, from Thomas Burgess who
settled in Sandwich in 1637, to the year 1865, was issued at that date,
by E. Burgess of Dedham. It was a private edition, printed for the
author, and contained 196 pages and has over 4,600 names of the fam-
ily and branches, with several lithographic portraits.
George Eldridge, of Chatham, in 1880 published a work of Sailing
Directions for Navigators, followed by other editions in 1884 and 1886.
In 1889 he published Eldridge's Tide and Current Book. These publi-
cations, together with Mr. Eldridge's charts, are the most valuable
works of the class extant, and are looked upon as standard authority
by navigators, and adopted by the naval authorities of the country.
Mr. Gustavus A. Hinckley has reproduced for publication in the
Barnstable Patriot, the inscriptions on the ancient grave-stones in
the old Barnstable cemetery, engraving the blocks very neatly with
his own hand, and compiling information to accompany the cuts. He
has also compiled a manuscript History of Barnstable in the Civil War.
In 1866, Mrs. Caroline (Thacher) Perry, of Yarmouth, collected a
volume of short stories which she had contributed to the New Church
Magazine for Children, and they were published, with illu.strations, by
Nichols & Noyes, of Boston, under the title, Efie Gray and other Short
Stories for Little Children. These stories possessed the rare merit in
juvenile literature of interesting the class of readers for which they
were designed.
Rev. Dr. William H. Ryder, a native of Provincetown, who de-
ceased in Chicago where he settled in 1888, was a pulpit orator of
. LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE. 257
eloquence and power, and wrote some able articles for the Universalist
Quarterly. His writings, however, have not appeared in a collected
form.
Heman Doane, of Eastham, has written a number of metrical com-
positions, a few of which have been published and which possess a
good degree of poetic fancy and facility of versification. One of
them, on the A?tcient Pear Tree in East ham, ■p\a.nteA by Governor Prince,
attracted the attention of Thoreau, who quoted freely therefrom.
" Two hundred years have, on the wings of time,
Passed with their joys and woes, since thou. Old Tree!
Put forth thy first leaves in this foreign clime.
Transplanted from the soil beyond the sea.
******
" That exiled band long since have passed away.
And still Old Tree thou standest in the place
Where Pence's hand did plant thee, in his day, —
An undesigned memorial of his race
And time; of those our honored fathers, when
They came from Plymouth o'er and settled here;
Doane, Higgius, Snow and other worthy men.
Whose names their sons remember to revere."
James Gifford, of Provincetown, has prepared and delivered pub-
lic addresses which have attracted attention by their felicity of style
and fullness of information. That delivered at the dedication of the
Povincetown new town hall, in the fall of 1866, was published and
read with interest and appreciation. Levi Atwood, of Chatham, has
written considerably upon local matters. He published, in 1876, a con-
densed history of Chatham, occupying several columns of small news-
paper type, written in an appreciative and discriminating spirit.
Nathaniel Hinckley, of Marston's Mills, besides writing much and
ably for the newspapers, and delivering public addresses, has pub-
lished several political pamphlets, of considerable argumentative force.
Benjamin Drew, a native of Plymouth, but connected by marriage
with a prominent family of the Cape, and for some years a resident here,
has at various times written witty and felicitous verses on local topics,
one of which pieces, entitled " Bartholomew Gosnold's Dream," is
often quoted for its local hits. As one of these poems refers to the
christening of the Cape, a few of its stanzas will be deemed appro-
priate :
" There sailed an ancient mariner.
Bart Gosnold was he hight, —
The Cape was all a wilderness
When Gosnold hove in sight. "
" He saw canoes and wigwams rude.
By ruder builders made,
Squaws pounded samp about the door,
And dark pappooses played.
17
258 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
" The hills were bold and fair to view,
And covered o'er with trees,
Said Gosnold, ' Bring a fishing line.
While lulls the evening breeze.
" 'I'll christen that there sandy shore
From the first fish I take —
Tautog, or toadfish, cusk or cod,
Horse-mackerel or hake,
" ' Hard-head or haddock, sculpin, squid.
Goose-fish, pipe-fish or cunner, —
No matter what — shall with its name
Yon promontory honor.'
" Old Neptune heard the promise made,
Down dove the water-god —
He drove the mesiner fish away
And hooked the mammoth cod.
" Quick Gosnold hauled. ' Cape— Cape — Cape — Cod.'
' Cape Cod,' the crew cried louder ;
' Here, steward 1 take the fish along,
And give the boys a chowder.' '"
Not only has Cape Cod furnished a considerable contribution of
the best literature to the world, but it has been provocative of a good
deal of interesting writing from others, in respect to its character-
istics, both mental and physical. It is scarcely to be wondered at,
that a community so peculiarly situated as this should attract atten-
tion and excite curiosity. In 1807, an Englishman named Kendall
visited these parts and published a book in which he devoted a liberal
share of space to this county. Although it contained nothing very
striking, it embodied some interesting and curious information re-
specting the Cape, at that day, when intercourse with the world was
quite infrequent to the mass of the people.
About 1821, Dr. Timothy Dwight, former president ef Yale Col-
lege, published his Travels in New England, in four volumes, a liberal
space being devoted to Cape Cod. His book was full of information,
and appreciative in that part of it devoted to the Cape. At a later
period N. P. Willis wrote for a New York newspaper, and afterward
embodied in a book, a series of lively, touch-and-go letters, dealing
more particularly with the outward aspect of the Cape. Some of his
strictures gave offense and others were more agreeable to the popular
taste. Though not profound, this book was exceedingly suggestive
and entertaining.
Of all the numerous publications of the nature ever issued from
the press, Thoreau's Cape Cod is by far the best, as a literary produc-
tion, and for genuine appreciation of the grand physical aspects of
the Cape, and of the true qualities of its people. Thoreau had a keen
relish for quaint and curious phases of character as well as of land-
LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE. 259
scape, and his pictures of the " Wellfleet Oysterman " and of other
original people revealed the presence among us of striking personali-
ties. His admiration of the Cape is genuine, and his closing page
records his conviction that " the time must come when this coast will
be a place of resort for all those who wish to visit the seaside."
«# # * What are springs and waterfalls? Here is the spring of
springs and the waterfall of waterfalls. * * * A man may stand
there and put all America behind him."
The Press. — The newspapers of the Cape have been many, and
more ability has been embodied in their publication than has always
found appreciation — of a pecuniary nature. The first newspaper
published in the county was issued at Falmouth, November 21,
1823, by W. E. P. Rogers under the name of The Nautical Intelligencer.
It was issued weekly at two dollars per year. In addition to the news-
paper, the publishers is.sued, twice each week, extras containing the
marine news and important arrivals at Holme's Hole, for transmis-
sion to Boston. The paper also indulged in political speculations,
being a strong adherent of Mr. Calhoun for President, for the reasons,
among others, that he was " an enlightened friend of Internal Im-
provements and Domestic Manufactures." This eulogy sounds oddly
enough in view of his subsequent course. The paper was printed on
a sheet 18 by 25 inches, with four pages, containing four columns
each, 16 inches in length. In its first issue there was not a single
item of local news except deaths, marriages and ship-news, and it con-
tained twelve advertisements. It did not continue in existence long
— probably not more than a year and a half.
Removing his printing and material to Barnstable, Mr. Rogers on
April 13, 1825, commenced the publication of the Barnstable County
Gazette. The Gazette had one more column on each page than its
predecessor, and a rather larger advertising patronage. It paid more
attention to local news ; but that was not a newspaper reading age,
and its publication was continued not over two years, so far as can
now be ascertained.
In 1826, the Barnstable Journal was commenced by Nathaniel S.
Simpkins. It was a six-column newspaper, containing a few para-
graphs of local news, considerable shipping intelligence, and liberal
extracts from the Boston and New York newspapers, also miscellany
and moral readings. The Journal attained a good circulation. In 1832
Mr. Simpkins sold out the establishment to H. Underwood and C. C.
P. Thompson, who published, for one year, also a semi-weekly paper
called the Cape Cod Journal. In 1834 Mr. Underwood became the sole
proprietor of the weekly, which in 1837 again passed into the hands
of Mr. Simpkins, who removed the plant to Yarmouth, and established
the Register.
260 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
The Barnstable Patriot was established by S. B. Phinney, in 1830,
and was conducted by him until 1869, when he sold out to Franklin B.
Goss and George H. Richards. Subsequently the whole establishment
was acquired by Mr. Goss, who now conducts it, in connection with
his son, F. Percy Goss. The Patriot, during Mr. Phinney's connection
with it was an active and aggressive democratic sheet. Some time
after Mr. Goss's assumption of the management it espoused the re-
publican cause, in which it still maintains a lively interest. During
Mr. Phinney's proprietorship of the newspaper, Hon. Henry Crocker
was a frequent editorial contributor, mostly of political articles. In
1861 the late Amos Otis contributed a series of articles entitled Genea-
logical Notes of Barnstable Families, which have been republished as an
extra sheet, and bound in a book form by Mr. Goss, edited by C. F.
Swift, who also wrote a continuation of the sketches. The Patriot is
now the oldest journal published in the county. In 1861, the Sand-
wich Mechanic was for one year issued at the Patriot office.
December 15, 1836, the first number of the Yarmouth Register was
issued by N. S. Simpkins, publisher. The plant of the Journal had
been purchased by Messrs. John Reed, Amos Otis, N. S. Simpkins,
Ebenezer Bacon and Edward B. Hallet. Mr. Simpkins was assisted
in the editorship by contributions from Messrs. Caleb S. Hunt and
Amos Otis. The paper, besides being a local journal, was designed
to champion the cause of Hon. John Reed, the member of congress
from this district, and to oppose the Jackson and Van Buren dynasty,
which was rather obnoxious in this county. The controversies with
the Barnstable Patriot which followed, were exceedingly bitter and
personal, on both sides. In 1839 Mr. Simpkins retired from the man-
agement of the paper and was succeeded by William S. Fisher, who
was a printer by profession, and who infused considerable vigor into
its management. In 1846, the present manager, Charles F. Swift, be-
. came connected with the management of the Register, as co-partner
with Mr. Fisher, and in 1849 became sole editor and publisher. Dur-
ing the last forty years the conduct of the paper has been in his hands,
. with assistance successively by his four sons, Francis M., Frederick
C, Theodore W., and Charles W. Swift. The Register, which was
originally a whig journal, and supported Webster, Clay, Taylor and
Scott for the presidency, had always been strongly anti-slavery in its
proclivities, and in 1857 warmly espoused the cause of the republicans,
which it has ever since supported, with earnestness and without reser-
vation. The Register has also paid much attention to questions of
social reform and general and local history.
The Sandwich Observer was first issued in September, 1845, by
George Phinney. It was a 24-column folio, 24 by 36 inches, and was
devoted to general and local news and miscellany. Dr. John Harper
LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE. 261
and C. B. H. Fessenden were special contributors to its columns. The
Observer attained a fair patronage, being neutral in politics and having
the support of all the political parties, but the field was at best a lim-
ited one, and in August, 1851, Mr. Phinney removed his establishment
to North Bridgewater (now Brockton) where he founded the Gazette
of that town.
A monthly newspaper called the Cape Cod News, was issued in
Provincetown, though printed elsewhere, the first number bearing
date of June, 1856, A. S. Dudley and Rufus Conant publishers. But
few numbers were issued.
The Provincetown Banner was issued in 1855, by John W. Emery,
editor and proprietor. It was a 24-column journal, republican in pol-
itics, somewhat radical in its tone. It was published until 1862, when
it was discontinued and the material removed from town.
In August, 1857, the Atlantic Messenger was established at Hyannis,
by Edwin Coombs. It was a 26-column journal, 21 by 20 inches; price
$1.00 per year. It was devoted to anti-slavery, politics and social dis-
cussions. It was once or twice discontinued and started again. But
the encouragement received by the proprietor was not sufficient to
sustain the enterprise, and the concluding number was issued about
the year 1863.
January 2, 1862, the first number of the Cape Cod Republican was
issued at Harwich, by John W. Emery, formerly of the Provincetown
Banner, the printing office of which journal had been removed for the
purpose. It was in style and make-up similar to the Banner. In 1864
its publication was discontinued and the editor obtained employment
in Boston. In 1864 Mr. Emery returned to Harwich and started the
Harwich Press, a paper similar to the Republican. In less than a year
he abandoned the field, and removed to Minnesota. The list of the
Press was sold to the proprietor of the Yarmvuth Register.
The Provincetown Advocate was issued in 1869, by F. Percy Goss,
publisher. Dr. J. M. Crocker was editor for about seven years, when
Mr. Goss assumed the editorial charge, and conducted the paper for
three years longer. In 1879 H. S. Sylvester, now of the Boston Record,
purchased an interest in the paper and conducted it for a year, dis-
posing of his interest to N. T. Freeman, who acquired Mr. Goss's in-
terest also. In December, 1886, the establishment was purchased by
Howard F. Hopkins, who has since been its publisher. His brother,
Judge James H. Hopkins, has edited the sheet from the first.
In November, 1870, the Provincetown News, a 32-column republican
newspaper, was issued by J. H. Barnard & Co., with J. Howard Bar-
nard, editor. The price of the paper was $2.50 per year, in advance ;
$3.00 after three months. At the end of four months the enterprise
was given up, and the list transferred to other newspapers.
262 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
The Chatham Monitor was first issued October 1, 1871, at the Patriot
office, Dr. Benjamin D. Gifford being the editor. It was devoted to
local and general news, and was republican in politics. In 1873 Levi
Atwood assumed the editorship. Mr. Atwood had previously been a
contributor to other county journals, and was well known as a writer
of pith and vigor. The Monitor is still continued under his editorship.
The Cape Cod Bee was issued in 1880, at the Patriot office, F. Percy
Goss, publisher. It is a local journal, being more especially devoted
to Wellfleet affairs. In politics it is republican.
About 1872 Messrs. J. H. Nickles and William C. Spring started
the Sandwich Gazette, which was afterwards merged with the Falmouth
Chronicle, which Mr. Spring had started in 1872. Henry Jones was the
Falmouth editor. Mr. Spring for some time continued the paper, un-
der the style of Gazette and Chronicle. In October, 1873, F. S. Pope
took the plant of the Chronicle, and established the Seaside Press, de-
voted to the local interests of Sandwich and Falmouth. J. H. Stevens
was editor, and Mr. Jones continued in charge of the Falmouth de-
partment. In 1880, Mr. Pope sold out his interest to F. H. Burgess,
who changed the name to Weekly Review, with Benjamin Cook as edi-
tor for a time. In 1884, Mr. Burgess sold out his interest to George
Otis, and the list was merged with the Cape Cod Item.
The Harwich Independent was established in 1872, by Goss & Rich-
ards, of the Patriot, the paper being printed in Barnstable. The local
department was put in type at a job office which the publishers had
set up in Harwich. The editorial writing for the first few years was
by Mr. Wilcox, Josiah Paine and Dr. Geo. N. Munsell. In 1880 Alton
P. Goss purchased the establishment, added a press and other ma-
chinery, and put the paper on a prosperous basis. The leanings of
the paper are towards republicanism, but the Independent is more es-
pecially a local journal, in which field it has achieved a good degree
of success.
The Cape Cod Item was started July 11, 1878, at Yarmouth Port, by
George Otis. It was gradually enlarged, and is now an 8-page jour-
nal, issuing a single or double supplement a portion of the year. It
was at first devoted to local and general news, and has a large circu-
lation and advertising patronage. In 1889, William P. Reynolds, Esq.,
was associated with Mr. Otis in the editorship, and the paper now
espouses the republican cause.
77^1? Mayflower was a miscellaneous and story journal, published by
George Otis of the Item, from 1881 to 1889. It had a large circulation,
but the price — 50 cents per year — was inadequate to the cost of pro-
duction, and its list was merged in the Yankee Blade, of Boston, in
June, 1887. The Ocean Wave, an eight-page weekly, was issued by
George Otis from October, 1888, to May, 1889.
LITERATURE AND LITERARY PEOPLE. 263
The Sandwich Observer (the second publication by that name) was
issued in 1884, being printed at the Patriot office, and edited by Am-
brose E. Pratt of Sandwich. Mr. Pratt was succeeded about 1887, by
Frank O. Ellis, who still has charge of the publication. It is more es-
pecially devoted to the interests of the towns of Sandwich and Bourne,
and is republican in politics.
The Falmouth Local was established by Lewis F. Clarke, who issued
the first number, March 11, 1886. It was a three-column folio, printed
one page at a time on a job press in the building now the Continental
shoe store. At the close of 1887 it had been enlarged, located in a
new office, and was being run as a seven-column folio, from a steam-
power cylinder press. Since December 8, 1887, Ambrose E. Pratt
of Sandwich, has been the editor. George S. Hudson was the
printer in charge from September 1, 1886, until July, 1888, when
Thomas Brady, a practical printer and pressman, became manager of
the press and composing department. It is issued at Falmouth as an
eight-column folio, devoted to the local news interests of the several
towns of the upper Cape in which it has a fair patronage.
The Barnstable County Journal was issued for four years from
January, 1886, by James B. Cook. It was a 32-column folio, published
at $1.50 a year. In politics it was democratic — the only newspaper
of that faith in the county of Barnstable.
February 17, 1887,William R. Farris, George R. Phillips and Charles
H. Crowell issued the first number of the Cape Cod News, at South Yar-
mouth. It was a small twenty-column paper, devoted to local intelli-
gence. In July, 1888, the list was sold to George Otis and absorbed
by the Item.
Two later candidates for the favor of newspaper readers — the
Wellfleet News and the Sandwich Review were issued November 12,
1889, by the proprietor of the Item. They are eight-page papers, de-
voted to miscellany and the local news of the respective towns. The
News is written up by Mrs. A. H. Rogers and the Review by N. E.
Linekin.
Besides the news journals, several monthly publications have been
issued by the pupils of the public schools. The Academy Breezes was
for two or three years issued by the scholars of the Sandwich High
school. For about six years, the pupils of the Harwich High school
have published a little sheet called the Pine Grove Echoes. The pupils
of the Bourne High school, since April, 1888, have issued monthly,
the High School Graphic, a sheet containing many creditable articles.
These publications have developed a considerable degree of writing
ability, and are doing a good work in their special fields.
CHAPTER XIV.
TOWN OF SANDWICH.
Location and Description. — Settlement and Early Growth. — Domestic Affairs — Acces-
sion of Settlers. — Listof Inhabitants in 1730. — Continued Advancement. — Firing the
Woods. — The Town's Poor. — The Revolutionary Period. — The Present Century. —
Villages. — Civil History. — Churches. — Schools. — Societies. — Cemeteries. — Biograph-
ical Sketches.
THE history of Sandwich as a white man's settlement now covers
a period of 253 years embracing 48 years preceding the forma-
tion of Barnstable county. Prior to 1654 the records of the
proprietors are meagre and nearly illegible, but the events recorded
are those common to the early history of the plantations of Plymouth
colony, and are fraught with the domestic incidents and names so rev-
erently preserved by the present generation. Notwithstanding the
records prior to 1884 embrace also the history of Bourne, the compil-
ation of the history of the settlement and growth of Sandwich will
be confined to the territory now encompassed within its bounds, so
far as a careful research into the musty pages of the past may render
the facts separable.
Sandwich is the second town on the north side of the Cape from
the main land, fronting for several miles on Cape Cod bay, which
forms its northern boundary. The peculiar rhomboidal shape of
the town from the line of the bay renders its boundary compli-
cated. Barnstable forms the eastern boundary, extending from near
Scorton harbor southwesterly to the northeast corner of Mashpee ;
the towns forming the southern boundary are Falmouth and Mash-
pee, the latter also being the eastern boundary for the southwestern
portion of Sandwich ; and Bourne forms the western according to
the division line of 1884 described in the chapter on that town.
The area of Sandwich within the perimeter given is 20,965 acres,
the surface of which, excepting the salt marshes along the bay,
presents a beautiful diversity of undulations in which hills and
downs blend in pleasing variety. The valleys contain ponds and
rivulets. The central and southern portions of the town are still
covered with large tracts of woods affording game of the smaller
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 265
sort. The soil is a sandy loam on the elevations, and a fertile allu-
vium around the ponds and in the valleys.
The ponds are numerous, the larger ones being Peter's, containing
176 acres; Spectacle, of 151 acres; Triangle, 84; Snake, 76; and Law-
rence, 70. The smaller ponds worthy of mention are Ellis, of 26
acres; Mill, southwest of Sandwich village, 47; Weeks, 12; and two at
East Sandwich, of 12 acres each. Of these ponds only one has a vis-
ible outlet; the one southwest of the village supplies Mill river with
power for mills. Wakeby pond, connected with the Mashpee, is par-
tially surrounded by the territory of Sandwich.
The inhabitants have always paid much attention to agricultural
and mechanical pursuits, and less than do those of the neighboring
towns to maritime employments. Besides the culture of the usual
crops large quantities of cranberries are successfully raised in every
part. Orchards of all kinds are a source of profit. Fishing is one of
the occupations of the residents, but not a large amount of shipping
is owned and that small, only sufficient for home pursuits. The har-
bors, too small for important commerce and large shipping, are ade-
quate for the wants of the town, and this fact has assisted in deter-
mining the prevailing occupations of its people.
The territory of Sandwhich, prior to 1637, was embraced in the
unsettled portions of the vast tract granted to William Bradford and
his associates then called the council of Plymouth, and to this coun-
cil the people of the town were subject, especially in the affairs of the
church. No person was permitted " to live or inhabit within the
Government of New Plymouth without the leave and liking of the
Governor and his assistants." No laws had been made touching
political and civil rights until November 15, 1636. A civil power —
not church government — was then needed to prevent and correct a
conflict of interests in the growing colony. Then it was enacted
that annually an election should be held, " but confined to such as
shall be admitted as freemen," to whom a stringent oath was pre-
scribed; and none were to be admitted but such as were " orthodox
in the fundamentals of religion, and possessed of a ratable estate of
twenty pounds." The idea was inculcated that colonies could be es-
tablished with the right of representation, which was an incentive to
the enterprising to seek other lands. Historians assert, that religious
considerations also led the ten Saug^s (Lynn) pioneers to seek this
first plantation of the Cape. Whatever their motives, after delibera-
tion they concluded that the Plymouth colony could be no more
stringent than the Massachusetts, nor present more obstacles to their
aspirations; so they sought and obtained permission from the colony
of Plymouth to locate a plantation at Shaume, now Sandwich. The
record says: " April 3, 1637, it is also agreed by the Court that these
266 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ten men of SaugTis, viz., Edmund Freeman, Henry Feake, Thomas
Dexter, Edward Dillingham, William Wood, John Carman, Richard
Chadwell, William Almy, Thomas Tupper, and George Knott, shall
have liberty to view a place to sit down, and have sufficient lands for
three-score families, upon the conditions propounded to them by the
governor and Mr. Winslow."
That year these men except Thomas Dexter, who came subsequent-
ly, settled with their families in and near that part of the town now
occupied by the village of Sandwich. Within four years fifty others
from Lynn, Duxbury and Plymouth came, many bringing their fam-
ilies, aod-the " three-score," as permitted, appear on the proprietors'
records in 1641. The fifty iater-comers were: George Allen, Thomas
Armitage, Anthony Besse, Mr. Blakemore, George Bliss, Thomas
Boardman, Robert Bodfish, Richard Bourne, William Bray brook, John
Briggs, Richard Kerby, John King, Thomas Landers, Mr. Leverich,
John Miller, William Newland, Benjamin Nye, George Buitt, Thomas
Burge, Thomas Butler, Tho. Chillingsworth, Edmund Clarke, George
Cole, John Dingley, Henry Ewer, John Fish, Jonathan Fish, Mr. Pot-
ter, James Skiffe, George Slawson, Michael Turner, John Vincent,
Richard Wade, Thomas Willis, Nathaniel Fish, John Friend, Peter
Gaunt, Andrew Hallett, Thomas Hampton, William Harlow, William
Hedge, Joseph Holway, William Hurst, John Joyce, John WLag, Mr.
Winsor, Mr. WoUaston, Anthony Wright, Nicholas Wright, and Peter
Wright. Changes occurred early in the population— some returning,
others seeking lands eastward on the Cape, and others arriving — but
of these 60 families under 66 different names, after 250 years the tax
roll of the town contains 16.
The colonial powers made stringent laws for these early settlers
who soon learned that laws were not placed upon the statute books
for ornament; for the court record of 1638 says "Richard Bourne
fined for not ringing 3 pigs; John Carman. 1 sow and 11 pigS; Thos.
Tupper, 6 swine; Thos. Armitage, 2 swine "; and at another court the
same year "John Burge, Peter Gaunt. Richard Chadwell, Edward
Freeman, Richard Kerby, Robert Bodfish and John Dingley were
fined " for the similar neglect. It would seem incredible that pigs
could have then done damage; but the law required the pigs of the
remotest plantations of the colony to wear rings in the nose, and the
owner, for this direliction, must needs go to Plymouth to answer in
court. During the same year Henry Ewer and his wife were ordered
to depart from Sandwich for some violation of -law, and " Mr. Skeffe
is required to send them back because he encouraged their coming."
How this sentence terminated does not appear ; but many of his
descendants succeeded him and the name still exists in all respecta-
bility. The same court deemed it necessary that the land in Sand-
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 267
wich should be defined and allotted -with all convenient speed, and
for this purpose directed Mr. Alden and Miles Standish to proceed at
once to that plantation. This was done in 1638 and afterward recorded
in the proprietors' records ; but from these records no intelligible de-
scription of these allotments can be made ; and if descibed as the records
read, the lapse of time has so nearly effaced the landmarks named by
the old surveyors — the marked trees, the stakes and stones, even the
rocks themselves — that with the record alone not a single property
could now be correctly bounded ; but there are several estates both
here and in Bourne now owned by the descendants of the pioneers,
and thus a few of the original tracts can be approximately located.
The rigid surveillance of the court over the disposal of lands to
persons considered unfit, was continued for some years, and in a meas-
ure perhaps retarded the growth of the settlement ; but in 1643, four
years after Sandwich had been clothed with the dignity of a town, the
following, between the ages of 16 and 60, were enrolled as liable ta
bear arms: Francis Allen, George Allen jr., Matthew Allen, Ralph
Allen, Samuel Allen, John Bell, Edmund Berry, Anthony Bessy, Miles
Black, John Blakemore, Thomas Boardman, Robert Bodfish, Richard
Bourne, George Buitt, Richard Burgess, Thomas Burgess sr., Thomas-
Burgess jr., Thomas Butler, Richard Chadwell, Edmund Clark, Henry
Cole, Edward Dillingham, Henry Dillingham, John Dinglej', John
Ellis, Henry Feake, John Fish, Jonathan Fish, Nathaniel Fish, Ed-
mund Freeman sr., Edmund Freeman jr., John Freeman, Peter Gaunt,
Thomas Gibbs, John Green, Thomas Greenfield, Joseph Holway, Peter
Hanbury, John Johnson, Thomas Johnson, John Jo5'ce, Richard Kerby,
George Knott, Thomas Landers, Mr. William Leverich, John Newland,
William Newland, Thomas Nichols, Benjamin Nye, John Presbury,
Henry Sanderson, Henry Stephen, Thos. Shillingsworth, James Skiflf,
William Swift, Thomas Tupper, Michael Turner, John Vincent, Na-
thaniel Willis, Lawrence Willis, Joseph Winsor, Daniel Wing. John
Wing, Stephen Wing, William Wood, Anthony Wright, Nicholas
Wright, Peter Wright.
The towns of the colony were required in 1664 to procure books
for recording divisions and purchases of land, after which the records
of Sandwich were more properly kept. The reader has been given
the names of the heads of the original three-score families and the
military roll which included the young men ; now after the lapse of
a few years, when the records, bounding each freeman's land have
been arranged, we find the following named persons had land in ad-
dition to those alluded to: Jedediah Allen, William Allen, William
Bassett, Nehemiah Bessie, Job Bourne, Michael Blackwell, John Bod-
fish, Samuel Briggs, Jacob Burge, Joseph Burge, Ambrose Fish, John
268 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Gibbs, William Gifford, Robert Haqjer, Edward Hoxie, Lodo. Hoxie,
John Jenkins, James Skiff jr., Isaac Turner, and Thomas Tobey sr.
These, with those previously named, comprised the settlers of
Sandwich as found by the records during the first twenty years.
Some had sought other homes on the Cape, during the time, but
where, no mention is given. The population of Sandwich in the year
1764 was 1,449 ; in 1776 it was 1,912 ; in 1790, 1,991 ; 1800, 2,024 ; 1810,
2,382; 1820, 2,884; 1830, 3,367; 1840, 3,719; 1860, 4,181; 1860, 4,479;
1870, 3,694; 1875, 3,417; 1880, 3,543; and in 1886, after the incorpora-
tion of Bourne, the population was 2,124, of whom 666 were voters.
The Sandwich settlement was not beyond the social reach of
the Plymouth people, for it is recorded that William Paddy, a mer-
chant of Plymouth, on the 28th of November, 1639, took in wedlock
one of its fair daughters. No doubt this marriage was legally con-
tracted and completed ; for the court yet had stringent laws regard-
ing the intercourse between young people, and as late as 1648 a citi-
zen of Sandwich was fordidden to show attention to a certain female
" until the court can better discern the truth of his pretensions."
A deed of the plantation was executed in 1661 confirming the
former grant, the conditions of which had been fulfilled by the pro-
prietors. These held lands in common, to be used jointly and to con-
vey to New-Comers who might be qualified to become freemen. A
man could become a freeman, entitled to hold land and vote, but his
orthodoxy constituted his fitness ; and even the proprietors must have
permission from the court for certain desired privileges, as we find
in 1644 that George Allen was " licensed to cut hay at the ponds be-
yond Sandwich plains." These restrictions were removed a few years
later.
The proprietor's records, year after year, show increase in the
cares of a growing town. The town neck — that portion east of the
harbor — had been used in common as pasturage, but in 1662 it was
thought best, to use its luxuriant grass for young cattle, and March 12,
it was " agreed that the Town Neck still be used for pasturage, from
1 May to Oct. 4, but that no cattle except calves shall be put in without
the consent of the town." The town neck is still held in shares by the
descendants of the proprietors or by purchasers, being 60 shares of
two acres each.
\ Whaling was quite actively engaged in by the people of the colo-
nies, and the wounded whales, often escaping and dying, would float
to the north shore of the town. Grampus and other large fish would
also be stranded on the flats by the receding tides, and as early as
1662 it was " ordered that Edmund Freeman, Edward Perry, George
Allen, Daniel Wing, John Ellis, and Thomas Tobey, these six men,
shall take care of all the fish that Indians shall cut up within the limits
TOWN OF SANDWICH.
269
of the town so as to provide safety for it, and shall dispose of the fish
for the town's use ; also that if any man that is an inhabitant shall
find a whale and report to any of these six men, he shall have a double
share ; and that these six men shall take care to provide laborers and
whatever is needful, so that whatever whales either white men or In-
dians gives notice of, they may dispose of the proceeds to the town's
use to be divided equally to every inhabitant." This was found to be
a source of considerable income to the town, and soon after the court
at Plymouth enacted that one barrel of oil from every whale be given
to them, which was acceded to ; but this whaling on land gradually
declined as the whalers at sea became more proficient.
Among other duties of the year 1662 the town appointed "Anthony
Thacher, Wm. Bassett, Jonathan Hatch, John Finny, James Skeff,
Henry Dillingham, John Ellis, John Wing, Jos. Rogers, Edw. Bangs,
Wm. Hedge, Thomas Hinckley, and Thomas Dexter," as a committee
to attend to the laying out of a road from Sandwich to Plymouth,
which is now a portion of the county road. The road had not been
completed two years later, for in 1664 both " Plymouth and Sandwich
were presented for not having the country highway between these
places cleared so as to be passable by man and horse." The difficul-
ties of the passage and the distance to Plymouth to have the town's
grain ground induced Thomas Dexter to negotiate with the proprie-
tors to build a mill in 1664, and " the town gave full power to Edward
Dillingham and Richard Bourne to agree with sd Dexter to go on
and build the mill." But this project failed, and " John Ellis, Wm.
Swift, Wm. Allen, and James Skeflf were engaged to build a mill, the
town paying ;^20." This sum was subscribed by 22 of the freemen
and the mill was completed early in 1666 ; the records say for May 18,
" The town hath agreed with Matthew Allen to grind and have the
toll for his pains."
Dexter's determination to build a grist mill led him to again agree
to erect one, if the town " would allow him 6 pts. per bush, toll ; he to
build and maintain the mill and dam and all other things thereto be-
longing; and to provide a miller at his own cost." This agreement
was entered into 1655, but the mill was not completed until later, and
Dexter's toll dish continued to grow in dimensions until its unlawful
size caused the appointment by the selectmen of Goodman Chadwell,
Edmund Freeman and Thomas Tobey, "to agree with Thos. Dexter,
jr., for the grinding of the town's corn ; and if they fail to agree then
12 acres of the land at the river that comes out of the pond at the
head of Benj. Nye's marsh, shall be granted to any other of the towns-
men that will set up a mill." Dexter's toll dish not shrinking in size,
the land promised by the town was laid off at Little pond furnishing
a mill, and a toll dish under the town's control. This last mill was
^70 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
doubtless at Spring hill, and was erected in 1669. The obligations of
Mr. Dexter to the town, or how far he could control his toll is not ex-
plained in the records only as heretofore mentioned. Nor was the
future of the old mill a subject of action for the selectmen for many
years.
A copy of a deed under date of 1668, transcribed from records at
Plymouth is now in possession of the Nye Brothers, who occupy the
Thomas Dexter property. James Skeff, jr., that year sold it to
Thomas Dexter, sr., for ;^16, part to be paid in money, the remainder
in cattle and corn. Messrs. Holway, Burgess, Sears, the Sandwich
Savings Bank, and later B. F. Brackett (now deceased) were in-
terested in the title down to 1879, when William L. Nye and Levi S.
Nye became the occupants as Mr. Brackett's tenants. The old mill did
more or less service until 1881, when from its antiquity it was excused
irom grinding the little corn that occasionally came. The rude hop-
per and gearings, now dismantled, are a faithful memento of the sim-
plicity of the fathers of the present generations. The old undershot
water wheel on the side was long ago replaced by a turbine; and early
in the present century a woolen factory was erected on the east of the
_grist mill. This was used for carding and cloth-dressing until 1830,
when it was taken down. Upon this site' later, the present building
was erected for a marble works, sawing the blocks of marble below
and finishing the slabs in the rooms above, which work was in turn
•discontinued about 1859 or '60. After two or three years L. B. Nye
leased this building, where he carried on wheelwrighting and pound-
ring clay for the Cape Cod Glass Works until 1871; Levi S. Nye manu-
factured jewelers' boxes here until 1876; and in 1879 the present ac-
tive business of making and printing tags was inaugurated by the
Nye Brothers, furnishing employment for several persons in the fac-
tory and a much larger number outside.
The fact, that the love of money is the root of much evil, is older
than the old mill; and that some in the generation of which we write
should be tempted beyond their powers of resistance, was as natural
-as the turning of the mill-wheel under a head of water. But the re-
cords of that time contain other than mill-toll temptations, and the
-charitable manner in which the fathers recorded them indicates that
they were only ripples on the smooth sea of justice. In 1667 Joseph
Burge was fined £1, " for disorderly helping away horses out of the
-colony "; and later, in 1669, a shirt having been stolen was found in
the possession of a person who claimed to have purchased it of an In-
dian; this person was required " to look up the Indian," and to give
him ample time to do so, he was bound over for a term. It is just to
-say that irregularities of this kind were rare and records of no others
.are to be found on the town's books of those days.
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 271
The maturing crops of wheat and corn dotted the knolls of the
northern portion of Sandwich at the time of which we write, and to
the inhabitants these were of great value. The sheep husbandry had
also become important in the wants of the town; but both industries
had their enemies. The blackbirds from the marshes and the wolves
from the woods south and west of the settlement gave occasion for
the order in 1672 " that all misters of families and all young men
that are at their own disposing, shall kill or cause to be killed one
dozen of black-birds." The amount paid for wolves' scalps was from
6s. to £l each according to size. These exactions and bounties were
continued for many years until the necessity was removed. The
sheep husbandry attained its greatest importance in the early part of
the eighteenth century, the town erecting yards in various parts, over
which shepherds were placed. After about 1730 it declined as rapidly
as it had advanced. The activity and policy of the town exterminated
the wolves before 1800, for they were reduced to one several years
previous. The records of January 19, 1790, say that the town " offered
a bounty of. ;{r25 to any one who shall kill the wolf, catamount or tiger
infesting this and the neighboring towns and destroying sheep." This
bounty was increased in March of the same year to £30, and at the
same time it was ordered, that if the committee to whom this matter
was referred, thought it expedient to have a general muster of the in-
habitants to secure the depredator, then every able-bodied man should
be called to engage in the duty.
These were not the only clouds to shadow the people of Sandwich;
for in 1676 Ralph Allen and Stephen Skiff were appointed " to carry
the town's mind to Barnstable, that the towns may know each others
minds in reference to the bringing of some of the people of the out-
towns, among us." This action of the town indicated the solicitude
occasioned by the war of King Philip for those dwelling in more un-
protected towns. The doors of the houses were opened for those in
danger, and watch was kept by the town lest the Indians of the Cape
should be induced to commit depredations as they were urged to do.
Sandwich by money and men responded to every call of the colonial
government in this war, which has been mentioned in chapter VI.
While the town was thus active in its domestic affairs, accessions
had been made to its territory by the New Comers, and the boun-
dary lines that had been established on the east in 1669 and in
1686, were readjusted, substantially where they now are, by the se-
lectmen of Sandwich and Barnstable in 1702. The bounds between
Falmouth and Sandwich were established the same year, and be-
tween Sandwich and Mashpee in 1705 by agents appointed for the
purpose. In 1887 the legislature established the present straighter
line of separation between Sandwich and Mashpee. While its ter-
272 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ritory had been somewhat increased, the bounds defined, and
peaceable title secured, accessions had also been made to its settlers
as the years rolled on and the eighteenth century dawned upon the
settlement. The first " three-score families " prior to 1641 have been
named; the deaths, removals and new arrivals which had occurred in
the plantation are plainly indicated by the training list and the names
of the resident freemen in 1654, — the year the recording of their names
was first required by law. No accurate list of further changes in the
settlers can be given until 1730, when Mr. Fessenden, many years a
pastor among the people, made a list of 136 heads of families — exclu-
sive of Quakers — the then residents of the town. After this lapse of
nearly a century from the settlement, the changes would naturally
be great ; the original settlers had passed away and their descendants
were occupying the patrimony ; others had arrived ; and as many
were not freemen their names have not appeared in the lists hereto-
fore given. But by appending the names given by Mr. Freeman, a
comparison of all, each with the other, the reader will recognize the
names of the settlers of Sandwich during the first century of its settle-
ment and growth. The names in this list of 1730 were: James Atkins.
Samuel Barlow, Samuel Barber, Thomas Burgess, Lieutenant William
Bassett, Nathan Barlow, Peleg Barlow and Eliza his wife, Nathan
Bourne and Mary his wife, Eleazer Bourne, Jonathan Bourne, Dea. Tim-
othy Bourne and Temperance his wife, John Blackwell and Lydia his
wife, Silas Bourne, Colonel Methia Bourne, John Barlow, Ezra Bourne,
John Bodfish, Jacob Burge, Samuel Blackwell, Micah Blackwell, Joshua
Blackwell, sr., jr. and 3d; John Chipman, Edward Dillingham, sr., Sim-
eon Dillingham, Solomon Davis, Richard Essex, Nathaniel Fish, John
Ellis and Sarah his wife, Josiah Ellis and Sarah his wife. Lieuten-
ant Matthias Ellis, sr., Malachi Ellis, Moses Swift, jr., Seth Fish,.
John Freeman, John Foster, Joseph Foster, John Fish, sr., John Fish,
jr., Benjamin Freeman, Widow Freeman, William Freeman, Edmund
Freeman, Benjamin Gibbs, Widow Gibbs, Cornelius Gibbs, Richard
Garrett, Thomas Gibbs, sr. and jr., Samuel Gibbs, sr. and jr., Sylves-
ter Gibbs, Hannibal Handy, Isaac and John Handy, Cornelius and
Zaccheus Handy, Richard Handy, Ebenezer Howland, Joseph Hatch^
Thomas Hicks, Isaac Jennings, Samuel Jennings, Shubael Jones,
Ralph Jones, jr., Joseph Lawrence, Samuel Lawrence, Richard Lan-
ders. John and Nathan Landers, Widow Morton, Nathan Nye, William
Newcomb and Bath his wife, Joseph, Timothy, Peleg, Samuel, Benja-
min, Jonathan, Ebenezer, and Nathan Nye, jr., Joseph Nye, sr., Seth
Pope, sr. and jr.. Widow Pope, and the following Perry's: John, jr.,
Samuel, Elisha, Benjamin, Benjamin, jr.. Widow Perry, Timothy,
Elijah, John, Ezra, Ezra, jr., Abner, Samuel, jr., and Ebenezer Perry;
Elkanah Smith, John and Samuel Smith, Seth Stewart, Samuel Swift,.
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 273
Ephriam Swift and Sarah his wife, Moses Swift, Jabez and Abigail
his wife, Samuel Sanders, Captain Stephen Swift, Gamaliel Stew-
art, Samuel Swift, jr., Josiah Swift, Jireh Swift, Joseph Swift, Jona-
than Tobey, Nathan and Cornelius Tobey, Gers. om Tobey, Medad
Tupper, Eliakim and Eldad Tobey, Dea. Israel Tupper and wife
Eliza, John Tobey sr. and jr., Eleazer and William Tobey, Samuel
and Seth Tobey, John Vilking, Nathaniel Wing, Widow Wing, Eben-
ezer Wing.
Returning to the details of the advancement of the town it is
found by the records that the inhabitants had not been idle. Leave
had been given "to certain persons to box and milk two thousand
pine trees, for two years, £'i to be paid to the town for the use." This
was in 1707; and in 1717 leave was given "to sundry persons to set
up a saw-mill upon the brook at Spring Hill ;" also to others the priv-
ilege to build a dam across the cove between town neck and the
beach to prevent the overflow of the meadows. ' The remains of this
dam are yet visible — a suggestion of future cranberry bogs. Again
in 1742 Samuel Wing was voted " the liberty to erect a grist mill on
Spring-hill river ; " and another law enacted by the town the same
year " ordered that a passage be made into the pond in the centre of
the town, for herrings."
Another custom of the proprietors, would, if followed, be a cause
of alarm at the present day ; it was that of firing the words. At the
town meeting held March 21, 1754, forty -two men were appointed " to
fire the woods before Apr. 16." To the reader it may appear strange
that the custom of firing the woods prevailed here as late as 160 years
ago. When this territory was settled the forest was composed of larger
trees, consequently but little underbrush, and the trees were not in-
jured by the fire which was to facilitate the growth of herbage of va-
rious kinds for sheep and cattle. It also destroyed the noxious shrubs
and decaying fallen branches which impeded the travel of man and
beast. Doctor Hildreth, in his description of the custom, says: "While
the red man possessed the country and annually set fire to the fallen
leaves, the forests presented a noble and enchanting appearance. The
eye roved with delight. Like the divisions of an immense temple the
forests were crowded with innumerable pillars, the branches of whose
shafts interlocking, formed the archwork of support to that leafy roof
which covered and crowned the whole. But since the white man took
possession, the annual fires have been checked, and the woodlands
are now filled with shrubs and brush that obstruct the vision on ever)'
side, and convert these once beautiful forests into a rude and taste-
less wilderness."
Referring again to the town records, the fact is evident that prior
to 1726 the town had had no poor people, or the community had for-
18
274 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
gotten that " The poor ye have with you alwaj's "; for on the 14th of
July of that year, in open town meeting, it was ordered "that a house
be sett up of seventeen foot long and thirteen foot wide, at the town's
cost and for the town's use for such of the poor of the town to dwell
in as shall from time to time be ordered there by the selectmen or
overseers of the poor ; and that the same be furnished fit to dwell in
and the cost thereof to be drawn out of the town treasury per order
from the selectmen. And that sd house be sett in the most conven-
ient place between the town's pound and the mill river." On the 18th
of May, 1773, a committee, that had previously been appointed, re-
ported that it was best to hire the house of Seth Tobey for the poor,
which was done only a short time, when the town purchased the pres-
ent poor-house farm on the Spring Hill road, of which Elijah Hancock
has been the keeper for many years.
The clouds of war again were spread over the county, and Sand-
wich had individual duties to perform, which were executed in the
most seasonable and loyal manner. In 1767 the town ordered the
building of a powder house, which was duly stocked with munitions
of war. Other precautions were wisely taken, and every call, by
the government, for men and means during the war of the revolu-
tion, was responded to with alacrity. Besides the proportion due and
required in this great struggle for independence by the people. Sand-
wich had local obstructions to impede and embarass. The north shore
must be watched and secured from threatened bombardment and in-
vasion by the enemy ; Falmouth relied, when similar depredations
were threatened, upon this town for aid, which was granted by mid-
night marches.
In 1778 the smallpox appeared among the inhabitants of Sandwich,
causing more alarm than would a British fleet if anchored within gun-
shot of the town. The action taken to suppress this contagion was
prompt and eflFective. A pest-house was erected, the roads wer6
fenced, nurses were provided, red flags prevented intrusion to its
vicinity, and even stray dogs and cats were sacrificed to prevent a
spread of the contagious disease.
The sunshine of peace in 1783 dispelled the clouds of war. Sand-
wich had suffered the loss of several brave citizens — some had fallen
in defense of the liberties for which they had contended; but the
greater number had fled to Long Island, a clime then more congenial
to their tory proclivities, but later they were permitted to return
by the generous people of Sandwich.
With the dawn of the present century the town had assumed its
wonted activity. Other mills and improvements sprang into existence;
the town bounds on all sides were renewed; and such was its buoy-
ancy that the war of 1812 passed without disturbing its industries.
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 275
Illustrative of their independence was the vote of the town, September
20, 1814, that " in case of any attack by the enemy we will defend the
town to the last extremity." The significance of this vote more fully
appears with the fact, that the English cruisers had made demands,
with threats, upon other towns of the Cape, and had been paid con-
siderable amounts.
The war of 1812 did not deter the building of a cotton factory in
that year, for which enterprise the town gave its consent by vote the
previous year, " that Samuel Wing and others have leave to erect a dam
and works of a cotton factory on the stream between the upper and
lower ponds in Sandwich village, at a place near Wolf-trap Neck, so
called." This was used many years as a factory for various purposes
and was burned in, 1883.
The present town house, near the old grist mill, was erected in
1834. Prior to this, public meetings were held in the church accord-
ing to the custom of those days.
The prosperity of the town in its manufactories established after
the first quarter of this centtiry, is unprecedented in the history of
the towns of the Cape. The loyalty of the inhabitants was strongly
marked during the civil war of 1861-65, by its early action as re-
corded in Chapter VII. Every quota was filled promptly, and the rec-
ord of the soldiers, as kept by the town, shows that during the war
386 men were enlisted, ten of whom were colored. These were scat-
tered among various regiments and batteries, and in the naval service,
the larger numbers in single regiments being 68 in the Twenty-ninth,
61 in the Fortieth, and 24 in the Forty-fifth. On the 9th of April,
1864, by a vote at town meeting the tax of one mill on the dollar was
made to create a sinking fund for the payment of the debts contracted,
and under the economical supervision of the selectmen the town was
soon free from the debts of the rebellion.
After the excitement of the rebellion the people again relapsed
into peaceful habits. The bogs, were further developed to the culture
of cranberries, rendering these marshy lands of more value than up-
lands; the Old Colony railroad had opened more direct and rapid trans-
portation to the best markets for the products of the land, and indus-
tries of every kind were greatly increased. The territory embraced
within the town was fifty square miles and the communities along the
western border had become important. The residents of North and
West Sandwich with those along Buzzard's bay had asked for a divis-
ion of the town; but without avail. After the opening of the Wood's
Holl branch of the railroad the western portion more urgently per-
sisted in the division of the original town of Sandwich, for which
cogent reasons were advanced, and the matter was contested finally
in the legislature by both factions, resulting in the erection of Bourne
276 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
from Sandwich in 1884, the particulars of which, with the line of sep-
aration, are fully given in the Bourne chapter.
The population, territory and valuation of the original town was
lessened one-half by this division; but also were the expenses. The
old town had lost the seacoast of Buzzard's bay; but had retained
nearly all that of Cape Cod. Sandwich still leads the other towns of
the Cape in manufactories, paying yearly $6,000 for schools, $2,500
for the poor, $2,500 for roads, and other proportionate expenses, which
indicates to the reader that it retains its rank among the first.
Villages. — The history of the village of Sandwich and that of the
town are so inseparably blended during the first 150 years of their
growth, that either would compose the warp or the woof of the fabric
presented to the reader at the close of the 18th century. The three-
score families who first settled in 1637 the plantation of Sandwich,
had formed the nucleus of this principal village which so promi-
nently marked the town in its industries and growth during the pe-
riod mentioned. Early in its history the village of Sandwich was the
door of the Cape and the terminus of lines of travel. This, in its
turn, created taverns and other places of business, for which the vil-
lage was most celebrated in the early days of the Cape. In 1659 John
Ellis was licensed to keep an " ordinary " at Sandwich village, and sell
" strong waters and wines, only not to let town-dwellers stay drinking
unnecessarily at his house." There is no evidence that the strong
waters sold by Ellis had any connection with those of the pond above.
Newcomb's was a favorite resort situated by the side of the lower pond;
but the records do not indicate that he sold the waters thereof. William
Bassett was licensed by the court in 1659 " to draw wines," a business
which he followed several years attended with its consequent troubles,
as in 1666 he complained of James Skiff, jr., who was fined 10s. " for
going to sd Bassett's house and taking away liquors without order."
This was an industry susceptible of no improvement except in the
desires and appetites of the town-dwellers; and so, after a fair trial
of rum rule for 154 years, the good people on May 3, 1819, voted " that
there shall be no retailer of distilled liquors licensed; and that tavern
keepers are not to be approbated unless they desist from mixing and
selling to town-dwellers."
The early stage and mail line from Plymouth to the Cape termi-
nated at the celebrated tavern called " Fessenden's," which was then
the middle section of the present Central Hotel on Main street. This
building was originally the residence of Rev. Benjamin Fessenden,
and William Fessenden, his son, opened an ordinary after the decease
of his father. We can date its advent in 1790 as the principal tavern
of the village, from which all the stages started — to Plymouth daily
and east on the Cape tri-weekly. Mr. Fessenden retired in 1830 and
m-'"' rr'^':^-smi^^-.^yr.i^ M^i^x^ . .»-
RESIDENCE OE OEORQE E. DREW,
Sandwich, Mass
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 277
was succeeded by Sabin Smith, who at once erected the eastern and
larger portion of the present Central Hotel. Elisha Pope and Sewell
Fessenden were the landlords successively until 1844, then Michael
Scott and David Thompson until 1863. Zenas Chadwick then became
the owner, kept it for a time and was succeeded for two years by Frank
Aborn, then by A. C. Southworth until November, 1888, when Zenas
Chadwick resumed its control and continued until his death in 1889.
Nearly in the rear of this hotel, or perhaps more directly in rear
of the church near by, is the site of the old pound which the people
were compelled to build in 1715 by the order of the court of sessions,
to which complaint had been made of their neglect.
Nathaniel Freeman, whose appointment was dated April 25, 1793.
William Fessenden succeeded him October 6, 1795, and continued the
office in his hotel until May 9, 1825, when his son William H. Fessen-
den moved it to the drug store building east of the hotel, where he
filled the duty of postmaster until Avery P. Ellis was commissioned,
October 26, 1839. Zenas R. Hinckley was the next postmaster from
September 16, 1841, until July 28, 1853, when Charles B. Hall was
appointed and kept the office until 1861 in the same building. Fred-
erick S. Pope served from 1861 to October 1, 1887, when James Shev-
lin was appointed.
There is no mention of stores in the early records except of the
class that " draw wines," but no doubt codfish and molasses, tea and
tobacco were kept at such establishments. Mr. Fessenden had a store,
such as it was, with his post office, and was succeeded by W. H. Fes-
senden in the present drug store building east of the Central Hotel.
Zenas Hinckley and Mr. Stetson were partners in a dry goods and
grocery business in the same building, wherein also Charles B. Hall
did business until his death in 1881. Stores of various kinds were
numerous after 1825.
George P. Drew of Sandwich was born in 1828, and, although not
a native of the Cape, has been one of its solid business men nearly
forty years. He was bom at Plymouth, Mass., and after a short pe-
riod in business at New Bedford he opened, in 1851, a clothing busi-
ness at Sandwich, which he continues and is now one of the oldest
living business men of that town. During his term of business life
he has been identified with the growth and prosperity of his adopted
town, and his thorough and energetic nature has marked his enter-
prises with success. In 1881 he erected on Jarvis street the fine resi-
dence in which he lives, and which is the subject of the accompanying
illustration. Mr. Drew may point with pride to his ancestry, the
primogenitor in New England being John Drew from whom in suc-
cession descended Lemuel, Seth, Lemuel and William, his father, who
married Priscilla, daughter of Judah Washburn. George P. Drew,
278 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
youngest son of William, in 1852, married Martha A. Southworth and
their children are Sara C. and Ida W.
John Q. Miller opened a clothing store in 1857 at the foot of Jarvis
street in Swift's block, which was burned in the fire of 1870. He pur-
chased and moved the Universalist church to the burnt district the
same year and continued the business until 1885, when he commenced
the present livery business. R.C.Clark's store, started in 1857, was
one of the six burned; the fire originated in the building that occupied
the site of the present store of Frank H. Burgess and extended to Wil-
low street. Mr. Clark opened another store which he continued sev-
eral years. In 1875 his sons, C. M. and Fletcher Clark, opened a
general store where Mr. Fletcher Clark is now, who purchased the
interest of his brother C. M., January, 1888. In 1877 Frank H. Bur-
gess built the present store and deals in furniture, wall papers, and
fancy goods.
T. C. Sherman commenced business about 1866 on Jarvis street,
afterward erecting the store now occupied by Sanford I. Morse, to
which he removed. He sold the grocery business to Charles H. Bur-
gess in 1861 and the dry goods to A. F. Sherman. Mr. Burgess con-
tinued the business in the same store, his three sons, Frank, Charles,
and Thornton being partners alternately, until 1880, when the present
grocer, Sanford I. Morse purchased the business. James W. Crocker
opened a store in 1854, in Boyden block, when the building was new,
and he is still engaged in the grocery and confectionery business.
An old merchant here was William Loring, who was several years in
a room under the town hall, and in 1845 we find him nearly opposite
the Central House with his store. For twenty-one years John Murray
was a merchant here on Jarvis street dealing in dry goods and cloth-
ing, removing from Providence, R. I., where he commenced business
in 1854. Gustavus Howland for forty-two years has been engaged in
the lumber business, having purchased the Deming Jarvis lumber
yard of H. H. Thayer in 1847.
The first hardware merchant in the church building, east side of
Jarvis street, was Josiah Foster, who had a store at his house previ-
ously. In 1870 Foster sold this hardware business to E. F. Hall, who
in 1873 was succeeded by James S. Bicknell. O. H. Howland, the
present owner, purchased the stock in May, 1876, and his business
desk is placed upon the pulpit of the Puritan chapel. Not that he
was a member of said church, or that his good business name is nec-
essarily based thereon; but his desk actually rests upon the pulpit
occupied by Rev. Giles Pe.se forty-two years ago. In 1866, Gibbs &
Hunt erected the building now occupied by Benjamin G. Bartley for
a boot, shoe and dry goods business which was subsequently sold to
Joshua Jones, who ran it about eight years. J. F. Knowles, in 1880,
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 279
purchased the boots and shoes, and F. S. Allen & Co. the dry goods,
both parties occupying the store. After four years Mr. Knowles sold
his stock to F. E. Pierce, who removed it to the Novelty block and
and then to the building next north of Rowland's hardware store,
where he was burned out in 1888. In October, 1884, Allen & Co. sold
their stock to Benjamin F. Bartley, who added to the depth of the
store in 1887, and carries a large line of dry goods only.
Sandwich has long been noted for its many and useful manufacto-
ries, of which that of the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company was
for many years the most prominent. Deming Jarvis established it in
the village in 1826. The adjacent pine lands, of which vast tracts
were purchased for the wood, was the inducement for its location. A
stock company, mostly of Boston capitalists, was formed in 1826 under
the above name, running one furnace and gradually increasing to four
of large capacity. During the years 1861-64, the business employed
500 hands in its various departments, manufacturing yearly to the
amount of $300,000. The establishment closed its doors January 1,
1888, having then on its pay rolls the names of 276 men. Ten of its
employees the same year erected a building, and eight of them are
now manufacturing under the name of the Sandwich Co-operative
Glass Company.
Another important manufactory is that of Spurr's Patent Veneers,
Marqueteries, and Wood Carvings. In 1882 Charles W. Spurr, of Bos-
ton, started veneer cutting in the building formerly belonging to the
Cape Cod Glass Works. In 1887 others became interested, creating
the firm of Charles W. Spurr & Co. A large number of men are now
engaged in cutting veneers for cigar boxes, car work, furniture, and
for ornamental uses, and carvings for furniture and ceilings. In con-
nection with it a company was formed in the autumn of 1888 called
the Cape Cod Glass Company, of which Charles W. Spurr is the presi-
dent. The cutting and decorating of glass employs many men.
Near the works mentioned, is the factory of the Bay State Tack
Company. The manufacture of tacks was begun by Stephen R. Wing
and Stephen R. Rogers, southwest of the village in the old cotton
mill, which was built by Mr. Wing's father, Samuel. They did busi-
ness as the Sandwich Tack Company and after Zenas R. Hinckley,
their successor, had been followed by some Sandwich people as
owners, Jones & Heald bought the property about 1863 and operated
it under its original name, until its destruction by fire in 1883. In
the meantime E. B. Rowland organized the Bay State Tack Company
and in 1880 they built the factory still standing near the Catholic
church, and operated there for several years. In 1882 Jones & Heald
bought of the Central Manufacturing Company of Boston, who had
purchased of the two Burgess brothers, a two-thirds interest in this
280 • HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
factory and leasing the other third of Mr. Howland, have operated the
works until the present time. These works are valuable, being com-
posed of a good building, 125 by 35 feet, 20-horse power engine,
twenty-four tack-cutting machines and other tools and machinery.
An institution for mutual saving and assistance in building, called
the Sandwich Co-operative Bank, was organized August 11, 1885, and
chartered October 1, same year, with an authorized capital of $1,000,-
000. It began business December 15, 1885, occupying Hunt's Hall for
a place of meeting. Stock was issued at the first meeting of which
88 members took 133 shares. The sixth series was issued June 18,
1889. J. E. Pratt, M.D., has filled the office of president since the
organization; E. B. Howland, vice-president; and W. H. Heald, secre-
tary and treasurer. The office of treasurer was distinqt and filled by
Frank H. Burgess until 1888. The Sandwich Savings Bank was an
institution, in operation prior to 1874, which was closed by order of
the commissioner, and paid 80 cents on the dollar to its stockholders.
The Cape Cod Glass Company mentioned, was the outgrowth of a
business started in 1859 by Deming Jarvis after his severance from
the Boston and Sandwich Company. He then erected the building
now occupied by Charles W. Spurr & Co. for the manufacture of glass
by his son and son-in-law, and from this the first-named company was
established; it is said to have closed its doors the day Deming Jarvis
died. Another unsuccessful enterprise connected with the various
glass manufactories was the building of a steamer to ply between
Sandwich harbor and Boston. Mr. Jarvis, while agent of the Boston
and Sandwich Glass Company, instituted this steamship line after the
advent of the railroad. It was very soon discontinued.
The express business has become important from the growing in-
dustries, and its present daily loads of freights manipulated by Wil-
lard E. Boyden, the agent, could not have been so readily transferred
by the old-time Plymouth and Sandwich stage line of his father's, of
which this business is the continuation. The father's line was super-
seded by the railroad and Williard E., who assisted him, has filled the
position of agent since the arrival of the first train. The livery and
boarding stables of Mr. Boyden are the outgrowth of the stage line.
Other business places worthy of mention in 1889 were the stores
of F. F. Jones, boots and shoes; J. C. Stever, jewelry; Proctor Broth-
ers, druggists; George N. Chipman, druggist; and H. G. O. Ellis, boots
and shoes.
East Sandwich post-village was settled very soon after the princi-
pal village of the town, and many of the early proprietors were at-
tracted here by its beauty and fertility to take up their abodes. Its
proximity to Sandwich village has given its people very desirable re-
ligious and educational privileges, as well as business relations. It is
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 281
situated along the county road in rural loveliness, its denizens enjoy-
ing the embodiment of town and village life in every phase of each.
The station of the Old Colony road is midway between East Sandwich
and Spring Hill, where both communities have the traveling and
mail facilities of other villages on the line. In 1889 a larger and
more convenient station was built.
Grange, No. 139, of East Sandwich, was chartered March 4, 1887,
-with a membership of 21. Samuel H. Nye was chosen master; John F.
Carlton, lecturer; Mrs. Jerome Holway, secretary; and Joseph Ewer,
overseer. In 1889 this Grange numbered 52, and an iissociation was
formed by its members, called The East Sandwich Mill and Hall As-
sociation, the object being to erect a grist mill and Grange hall. A mill
was purchased at Centerville, transported and erected ^pon the site
-where Dea. Samuel H. Nye's mill stood so long; and a commodious
hall for public use, as well as their own, has been erected apart from
the grist mill. The stockholders are members of the Grange but
others than members were permitted to take shares. Joseph Ewer
was elected president of the association and Samuel H. Nye, superin-
tendent.
There is no hotel here; but many years ago, when staging and
traveling along the county road was the order of the day the old Hall
tavern kept by Joseph Hall, was one of the important institutions.
On the south side of the road where Samuel H. Nye lives was the
site, and G. B. Howland has the old sign that swung before the door.
Mr. Hall also kept a store and the post office. He was appointed
postmaster April 10, 1818, when the office was established, and
served until the appointment of Joseph Hoxie, August 26. 1840. The
office was discontinued February 28, 1864, and since its re-establish-
ment Joseph Ewer, succeeded by his wife, kept the office for many
years at his house where it now is.
Spring Hill is just westerly from East Sandwich on the county
road and is the same community practically, but enjoying its own post
office. This office was established when Paul Wing had his celebrated
boarding school here. Nathan Wing was the acknowledged postmas-
ter in the first days of the office, succeeded by Miss Elizabeth Holway,
■who resigned it some twenty-five years ago to the care of Mrs. C. J. Hol-
way. Miss Lottie Taber was appointed in 1880 and the office is at her
residence. Prior to the coming of the railroad one office served East
Sandwich and Spring Hill. Spring Hill is properly named from
the many springs that issue from its sides and summit, and a stream,
sufficient for mill purposes and for which it was formerly used, is
formed from these crystal fountains, and meanders through the fer-
tile valleys to the harbor. The Friends' church and cemetery, the
most important places of interest here, are mentioned elsewhere.
282 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
This part of the town was early settled. The remains of the dam
of the old Benjamin Nye saw mill only are extant in the brook;
but tradition says that Deming Jarvis sawed staves in the old mill
as late as 1841. Here was the later business of W. C. & I. K. Chip-
man, sash and blind works. Spring Hill is fast becoming a summer
resort, and one train of cars stopped there daily each way, during
the summer of 1889 to accommodate the inhabitants. Cedarville, in
the eastern portion of the town, is noticeable from the remembrance
of early school days. In 1878, men who had been pupils in the old
school house there, formed the Cedarville School Association, bought
the house and lot, and from city and farm, wherever scattered, hold
a mid-summer meeting within the walls of the old school house.
It has been modeled into a suitable hall and was the meeting place
of the East Sandwich Grange until its own hall was completed.
David N. Holway, of Boston, has been the secretary since the or-
ganization, and Jerome R. Holway is now president.
South Sandwich is a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of the
town, having daily mail from West Barnstable, with W. H. Meiggs
to dispense it in accordance with the rules of the department. The
first postmaster here was Lemuel Ewer, appointed June 3, 1826. He
was succeeded April 24, 1837, by Solomon C. Howland,
Forestdale is the name given to Greenville when the people
asked for a post oflSce about three years ago. It is in the south
part of the town west of Wakeby pond, and enjoys a daily mail by
being on the route of the Mashpee stage to Sandwich. The post-
master is William Osborne who was appointed with the formation
of the office. He also has a store of which he was proprietor prior to
having the office.
Civil History.— The civil history of Sandwich, like every planta-
tion of Plymouth colony in its first few years of life, was intimately
blended with the church, and the latter wielded power sufficient
for the guidance of the well-disposed residents. The officers and
leaders in every station of life were required to act and decide as
"God shall direct."
In 1639 — two years after its settlement — the plantation received
its incorporation as a town of Plymouth colony, entitling it to se-
lect its own local officers and to be represented at the court in
Plymouth. The same year we find George Allen was appointed
and sworn as constable, but no definition of his duties was men-
tioned. His power was unlimited, however, for pigs without rings
in their noses and people who dissented from the established church
must be looked after.
Deputies were first elected in 1639 and Sandwich elected two to
attend the first house of representatives of Plymouth colony. In
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 283
May, 1651, Goodman Tupper, Goodman Burge, sr., Nathaniel Willis
and William Gifford were given power " to call a town-meeting by
giving three days' warning, whenever they see occasion for the
same." The voters being few and every vote being needed, this
restriction was made — " voted that what neighbors stay away above
an hour after the time appointed shall lose their votes in what was
done before they come." This vote empowering men to call a town
meeting was the first action upon what was years after the election
of selectmen. A further order for the manner of calling town meet-
ings was voted January 17, 1652.
The town was gradually increasing its civil capacity, but not as
rapidly as the Plymouth government desired; for we find that in
1655 Sandwich was presented " for not being provided with stocks
and a whipping post." Of course these requirements, so necessary
for the enforcement of religious and civil laws, were at once erected,
and the town had advanced another step in self-government. The
people of Sandwich soon after commenced a decided opposition to
such colonial laws as prescribed the penalty of fines and whippings;
and William Bassett, the constable, was compelled to report that he
was "opposed in the execution of his office, and could not collect the
rates or fines," whereupon a marshal was appointed for one year.
The indiflference of the Sandwich people to laws of the church and
court became so general, that in court, October 2, 1658, after a long
preamble as to " God's displeasure as manifested by his afflicting
hand on the country " (referring to a recent earthquake), as also "by
the too much prevailing of a spirit of disunion both in church and
civil affairs," an order was issued for a fast to be observed through-
out the colony. But this did not lessen the love of self-government
among the Sandwich people, and Governor Prence and other magis-
trates " appointed by the court to make inquiry " into certain assump-
tions of power by the Sandwich people, to act wherein they have no
right so to do by reason of their non-legal admittance as inhabitants "
according to order of October 3, 1639.
The oath of fidelity to the Plymouth court was required of the set-
tlements in each of the towns, and such of the new-comers as consid-
ered this order of the court a blow against their civil rights, refused
to take the oath, and were heavily fined or disfranchised. The lan-
guage of the court was, " therefore ordered that those men aforesaid
and every of them, shall henceforth have no power to act in any
town-meeting till better evidence appear of their legal admittance ;
nor to claim title or interest to any town privileges as town's men,
according to the court's orders aforesaid ; this order also to take hold
of any others besides who shall appear to have no legal admittance
as aforesaid." Submission to the church was the door to citizenship.
284 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
In 1663 the court enacted that every town choose three to five se-
lectmen " subject to the approval of the court, for the better manag-
ing of town affairs." This was the origin of the election of selectmen.
These selectmen could issue summonses in his majesty's name, and,
adjust all diflferences between townsmen the amount not exceeding
40s. ; also adjudge all differences between English and Indians. Not-
withstanding this law the court still usurped the rights granted to the
towns. A single mention of this usurpation of power is sufficient.
On the 11th of June, 1665, a precept of the court was issued to five
prominent citizens of Sandwich " to take serious and effectual course "
that a certain Indian, named in the order, have his corn preserved,
and justice done him for damage to his com from horses. The same
power that issued the order had but two years previously given this
right to the towns. But without any prejudice as a historian, only to
illustrate the trials of these good men of Sandwich, we should speak
of an enactment of the Plymouth government of 1670. The few dead
whales that floated upon the shore of the town bordering on Cape
Cod bay had, with other fisheries, brought to the town a small income,
of which the Plymouth people now claimed a portion. The preamble
to the act says, " Whereas the providence of God hath made Cape Cod
commodious to us for fishing "; ending with the law that 12d. be paid
for every barrel taken and one barrel of oil for every whale found.
The reader will concur in the fact that it was wise and kind in the
Creator to make the Cape so commodious to them, but not wise, and
a singular act of gratitude for them to require such a burden from the
Sandwich people because he had.
The value of a local government becoming more and more appar-
ent, and as all residents were not freemen, care was required even at
that time to preserve the purity of the ballot box ; and February 23,
1675, the town voted " to record the names of all those that can make .
appear their just right to the privileges of the town "; and it was also
" ordered that those entitled to vote who do not attend town meetings
be fined 2s. 6d. each for each and every delinquency." These voters
were recorded in the same open town meeting: Caleb Allen, Frs.
Allen, George Allen, Jed. Allen, Ralph Allen, Wm. Allen, John
Blackwell, Mich. Blackwell, Neh. Bessie, John Bodfish, Job Bourne,
Rd. Bourne, Saml. Briggs, George Buit, Jacob Burge, Thos. Butler,
Rd. Chadwell, Thos. Dexter, sr., Hy. Dillingham, John Ellis, sr., Am-
brose Fish, Nathl. Fish, sr., Edm. Freeman, sr., Edm. Freeman, jr.,
Peter Gaunt, John Gibbs, Thos. Gibbs, sr., Wm. Gifford, Thos. Green-
bill, Rt. Harper, Joseph Holway, John Jenkins, Samuel Knott, Thos.
Landers, John Newland, Wm. Newland, Benj. Nye, sr., Edw. Perry,
Hy. Sanderson, James Skiff, sr., Stephen Skiff, John Smith, Wm.
Swift, sr., Thos. Tobey, sr., Thos. Tupper, sr., Thos. Tupper, jr., Isaac
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 285
Turner, Mich. Turner, Danl. Wing, Joseph Wing, Steph. Wing, Thos.
Wing, ST., Joseph Winsor.
In 1677 were added Geo. Barlow, Elisha Bourne, Daniel Butler,
Mordecai Ellis, Benj. Hammond, Lodowick Hoxie, Ezra Perry, sr.,
Ezra Perry, jr.
These good men earnestly began to make town laws for their own
benefit ; among others a penalty was affixed for stripping the bark
from any young tree. The election of selectmen, a record of which
had commenced in 1667, also other officers, was annually held in open
town meeting.
At the town meeting of 1681 the townsmen admitted to vote for
officers were : John Allen, jr., John Barlow, Wm. Bassett, Josh. Black-
well, John Blackwell, Nathan Bourne, Nathan Barlow, John Chip-
man, jr., John Dexter, John Dillingham, Edw. Dillingham, Freeman
Ellis, Manoah Ellis, Matthias Ellis, Mord. Ellis, John Fish, Edm.
Freeman, jr., Israel Gaunt, Saml. Gibbs, Israel Gaunt, Chris. Gififord,
Saml. Gififord, Sam. Hammond, Rich. Handy, Joseph Holway, Gideon
Hoxie, Joseph Hoxie, Zeth. Jenkins, Rd. Landers, Caleb Nye, Eben.
Nye, Jona. Nye, Nathan Nye, Oliver Norris, John Perry, Saml. Perry,
Saml. Perry, jr., Benj. Smith, sr., John Smith, jr., Shubael Smith,
Eph. Swift, Wm. Swift, jr., Jireh Swift, Eph. Tobey, John Tobey,
Nathan Tobey, Jona. Tobey, Israel Tupper, John Wing, Nathl. Wing,
Saml. Wing, Eben. Wing, Jashub Wing, Danl. Wing, jr., Benoni
•Young.
On the poll lists of the present day, and for many years previously,
the names of voters may be seen, which cannot be gpiven within the
compass of this work and need not be, for they are made public by
the proper officers. But the names of the freemen of the 17th cen-
tury, who once occupied the soil of Sandwich and long ago mingled
their ashes with its dust, deserve to be perpetuated in history where
the lapse of time cannot efface the inscription already illegible upon
the tablets erected to their memory. The sons of the freemen named
in the first list had, at the dawn of the 18th century, become qualified
by the lapse of years to perpetuate the names of the fathers, and the
number entitled to the "rights of the town "was greatly increased.
At a town meeting held June 25, 1701, the names of the freemen were
enrolled. The records of the meeting do not state whether these were
all the freemen of the town at that date, or only those present; but if
taken with the lists preceding, the reader will have the names of those
who managed the affairs of Sandwich nearly two hundred years ago.
The names were Daniel Allen, John Bodfish, Ezra Bourne, John Lan-
ders, Benj. Perry, John Pope, Eldad Tupper, Samuel Swift, Zacheus
Jenkins, John Allen, sr., John Allen, jr., Rich. Allen, Wm. Allen, John
Barlow, Nathan Barlow, Wm. Bassett, Neh. Bessie, John Blackwell,
286 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Josh. Black-well, Mich. Blackwell. Elisha Boume, Nathan Bourne,
Shearj. Bourne, Timo. Bourne, Jacob Burge, John Perry, Dan. Butler,
John Chipman, Roland Cotton, Edw. Dillingham, Hy. Dillingham,
John Dillingham, Matthias Ellis, Mord. Ellis, John Fish, Edm. Free-
man, sr., Edm. Freeman, jr., Benj. Gibbs, John Gibbs, Saml. Gibbs,
Thos. Gibbs, John Gifford, Eph. Swift, Saml. Gifford, Rd. Handy, Jo-
seph Holway, Gid. Hoxie, Lud. Hoxie, John Jennings, Saml. Knott,
Saml. Lawrence, Oliver Norris, Benj. Nye, Caleb Nye, Jona. Nye, John
Nye, Nathan Nye, Edw. Perry, Ezra Perry, sr., Israel Tupper, Saml.
Perry, Saml. Prince, Sam. Sanderson, Steph. Skifif, Benj. Smith, John
Smith, sr., John Smith, jr., Shubael Smith, Jireh Swift, Wm. Swift,
Gershom Tobey, Jona. Tobey, John Tobey, Nathan Tobey, Saml. To-
bey, Thos. Tobey, Thos. Tupper, sr., Danl. Wing, Ebenr. Wing, John
Wing, Nathl. Wing, Shearj. Wing, Steph. Wing.
In 1687 John Allen, sr., was chosen " Sealer of weights, measures,
and yards " and Edward Perry " Commissioner." These elections of
town officers had now become fully developed by the division of the
colony into counties in 1685, and the civil rights not only of Sandwich,
but other fully incorporated towns, were greatly enlarged. The towns
were required to send jurors, which Sandwich did for the first time, in
1686. These additional rights, perhaps, increased the taxes tempora-
rily, but a home government had been instituted, and each town had
been endowed with more local powers. The general court also pro-
vided " that the former titles of lands be confirmed," which made per-
manent the titles to the lands of the older and later purchasers under
the seal of the colony.
One of the best evidences of the rapid growth of the town in civil
affairs, is the fact that in 1742, a jury box being provided according
to law, Sandwich placed therein the names of eighty-two competent
men. This number, if the selection was made in accordance with the
present custom, would indicate not only a well settled town, but that
a large proportion of its citizens were able men. The people of this
town were among the first, in 1753, to send petitions to reduce the ses-
sions of the inferior courts from four to two each year, which was ef-
fected in 1759, after other petitions. Among other laws enacted by the
town was an important one in 1769, " to prevent damage to sheep, by
<iogs." For keeping a blood hound, or a dog in part of that breed, a
fine of 18s. was imposed for every week such dog was kept, and every
hotel keeper or citizen, who entertained persons who came from other
towns to hunt, was fined. In 1760 the town regulated hunting within
its confines.
In the excitement consequent upon the enforcement and repeal of
the stamp act in 1766 by England, the people of Sandwich were first
to oppose this abridgment of their civil rights. An entry December
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 287
16, 1767, in the town records embodies the report of Colonel Cotton,
Solomon Foster, Stephen Nye, Nathaniel Freeman, Samuel Wing, and
Deacon Smith, a committee previously appointed to consider a matter
of public interest; this report and the resolutions therein were twice
read, and adopted, whereby the citizens agreed not to buy imported
goods after January 1, 1768; nor allow such goods to be brought into
the town; and if any one persisted in it he was to be discountenanced
in the most effectual manner. This early action by the Sandwich
people evinces their inherent love of ci\nl liberty which they fully
demonstrated in all the affairs of the town and in subsequent adher-
ence to those principles and actions that led to the removal of taxation
by severance from England. Another link in the chain of proof was
that at a town meeting in May, 1773, the town voted to instruct their
representative to obtain an act of the general court to prevent the im-
portation of slaves into the county, and that all children " that shall
be born of such Africans as are now slaves among us shall, after such
act, be free at the age of 21 years."
The election of officers and the administration of the affairs of
the town were not seriously interrupted during the stirring events
of the revolutionary war, although the fact appears that the then po-
litical factions of whig and tory were, for a time, nearly balanced.
Later the whigs were in the ascendency, and June 21, 1776, the town
voted " that should the Hon. Congress of the United Colonies declare
these colonies independent of the kingdom of Great Britian, We sol-
emnly engage with our lives and fortunes to support them in the meas-
ure." If the spirit entertained and proclaimed by the citizens of Sand-
wich had been manifested in every town of the colonies, and had been
made known to those immortal signers of the declaration of July 4th
following, all doubts of success in the struggle for the rights declared
would have been reinoved.
There was no abridgment of the civil rights of the town during
the long struggle of the colonies, but the duties of the officers and the
taxes of the town were greatly increased. It was voted May 19, 1779,
to hire ;{ri,000 to meet the town's expenses, and the burdens of the
following year were no less onerous, for the committee was instructed
"to apply to such of the meeting of Friends as are thought to have
money to spare for a loan ; and in case they refuse they shall be liable
to be drafted." The requisitions were too frequent for the prompt
response of the town, and in 1781 the assessors were empowered by a
vote " to use their best endeavors to procure one or more constables
on as reasonable terms as possible." The collection of the taxes de-
volved upon this officer, and it was difficult to get any one to serve
because the taxes had been so frequent and occasioned so much dis-
tress in the collection.
288 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
In the early days of the town the foremost citizens made the ser-
vice of the colony in oflBcial stations a matter of patriotism, and even
since the days of modem politics, capable and worthy men have been
advanced to positions of trust in the state government.
The first meeting of deputies in general court, was June 4, 1639.
The following persons were chosen, in the order given, to represent
the town of Sandwich, each serving the number of years afl&xed ta
the name: 1639, Richard Bourne, 14; 1639, John Vincent, 7: 1640^
George Allen, 4; 1642, Wm. Newland, 8; 1642, John Allen, 1; 1642,
Thomas Burge, 11; 1643, Edw. Dillingham, 1; 1643, Henry Feake, 2;
1644, James Skiflf, 13; 1646, Edm. Freeman, sr., 1; 1646, Thos. Tupper,
19; 1662, Wm. Bassett, sr., 3; 1663, Thos. Dexter, 1; 1668, Thos. Wing,
sr., 1; 1669, Edm. Freeman, jr., 7; 1673, Thos. Tupper, jr., 8; 1673, Wm.
Swift, 4; 1675, Stephen Skiff, 10; 1684, Shearj. Bourne, 2; 1691, Elisha
Bourne, 1.
Representatives being required by Governor Phips in 1692, the
first ' Great and General Court ' under the new charter, assembled
June eighth. Sandwich was represented as follows ; the date of first
election and total years of service, if more than one, are given : 1692,
Thos. Tupper; 1692, Shearj. Bourne 3; 1693, Samuel Prince, 6; 1696,
Stephen SkifiF, 10; 1697, William Bassett, 7; 1698, Thomas Smith, 2;
1711, Eldad Tupper, 3; 1713, Mel. Bourne, 4; 1714, Saml. Jennings, 3;
1715, John Chipman, 2; 1722, Israel Tupper; 1725, Ezra Bourne, 10;
1739, Timo. Ruggles, 6; 1742, Saml. Tupper, 7; 1763, Roland Cotton, 8;
1761, Stephen Nye, 18; 1775, Nathl. Freeman, 4; 1775, Joseph Nye, 3d,
16; 1779, Lot Nye; 1785. Abm. Williams, 2; 1787, Thos. Smith, 3; 1787,
Thos. Nye; 1797, Wm. Bodfish, 7; 1804, John Freeman, 7: 1806, Benj.
Percival, 6; 1810, Elisha Pope, 6; 1812, Benj. Burgess, 10; 1812, Peter
Nye; 1812, Thos. H. Tobey; 1817, Russell Freeman, 6; 1824, Obed B.
Nye; 1825, Wendell Davis; 1830, Shad. Freeman, 3; 1830, Thos. Swift;
1834, Abm. Nye, 3; 1836, Jesse Boyden, 2; 1835, Daniel Weston; 1836,
Lemuel B. Nye; 1836, Abram Fish; 1837, Charles Nye 3; 1837, Josiah
Bacon, 3; 1837, Benj. Bourne, 4; 1840, Jno. B. Dillingham. 2; 1840,.
Geo. W. Ellis, 3; 1843, Asahel Cobb, 6; 1845, David Benson, 2; 1845,
William Handy, jr.; 1846, Charles Swift, 2; 1847, F. B. Dillingham;
1849, Henry Bourne, 2; 1850, Zebedee Green; 1850, Henry V. Spurr,.
1854, Reuben Collins, jr.; 1855, Joseph H. Lapham; 1856, Chas. H.
Nye, 2. Representatives since 1856 are given at page 47.
In 1662, it was enacted by the general court, that " in every town
of this jurisdiction there shall be three or five selectmen chosen by
the townsmen, out of the freemen — such as shall be approved by the
Court, for the better managing of the afifairs of the respective town-
ships." The first record made of selectmen in Sandwich, was in 1667;
and the following have served: 1667, Thos. Tupper, 5; 1667, James
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 289
SkiflF, 9; 1667, Thos. Burgess, 2; 1668, Edm. Freeman, 11; 1669, Thos.
Wing, 4; 1672, Thos. Burgess; 1673, Wm. Swift, sr., 16; 1676, Steph.
Skiff, 7; 1675, Thos. Tupper, jr., 14; 1679, Jno. Blackwell, 3; 1684,
Shearj. Bourne, 4; 1688, Elisha Bourne, 9; 1688, Wm. Bassett, 11; 1693,
Saml. Prince, 5; 1694, John Gibbs, 2; 1696, Shubael Smith, 3; 1697,
Thomas Smith; 1698, Jonathan Nye; 1699, Danl. Allen, 4; 1699, John
Smith, 13; 1704, Edw. Dillingham, 10; 1707, Israel Tupper, 13; 1709,
Matthias Ellis; 1710, Edm. Freeman, sr., 7; 1712, Eliakim Tupper,
12; 1712, Saml. Jennings; 1715, Jno. Chipman, 6; 1718, Wm. Bassett,
jr., 8; 1720, Jireh Swift, 2; 1723, Stephen Skiff, 19; 1726. Elisha Bourne,
9; 1736, Jno. Freeman, 24; 1740, Saml. Tupper, 19; 1744, Ebenr. Nye, 6;
1752, Joshua Hall; 1762, Thomas Smith, 9; 1769, Solomon Foster, 8;
1760, Ebenr. Allen, 3; 1761, Jona. Bassett, 10; 1763, Thos. Bourne, 7;
1763, John Allen, 13; 1766, Mich. Blackwell, 4; 1770, John Smith, 7;
1773, Joseph Nye, 3d, 18; 1773, Seth Freeman, 13; 1776, Sylvs. Nye, 6;
1779, Lot Nye; 1783, Thos. Burgess, 3; 1784, George Allen, 9; 1786,
Sylvanus Gibbs, 2; 1787, Thos. Swift; 1787, Thos. Smith, 2; 1787,
Steph. Chipman, 2; 1788, Ebenr. Allen; 1789, Thos. Foster, 2; 1791,
Abm. Williams, 4; 1796, Nathan Nye, jr , 22; 1796, Leml. Freeman;
1797. Benj. Percival, 19; 1798, George Allen, 9; 1807, Jas. Freeman;
1809, Elisha Perry, 13; 1816, Mel. Bourne, 15; 1817, William Handy;
1817, Thos. W. Robinson, 3; 1818, Levi Nye; 1822, Bethuel Bourne, 7;
1824, Steph. Holway, 2; 1826, Henry Lawrence, 3; 1827, Ezra Tobey,
3; 1829, Jesse Boyden, 17; 1829, Benj. Bourne. 8; 1834, Abram Nye, 3;
1835, Russell Freeman; 1836, Chas. Nye, 2; 1836, J. B. Dillingham, 6;
1836, Joseph Hoxie; 1841, Elisha Pope; 1841, Simeon Dillingham, 6;
1841, Clark Hoxie, 4; 1847, Ch. B. H. Fessenden, 7; 1861, Geo. Gid-
dings, 2; 1861, Edw. W. Ewer, 6; 1863, F. B. Dillingham, 3; 1864,
Reuben Collins, jr., 2; 1866, Joshua Handy; 1866, Seth B. Wing, 9;
1868, Mason White, 9; 1768, Isaiah Fish, 16; 1864, H. G. O. Ellis, 18;
1864, Zebedee Green; 1865, Paul Wing; 1866, Nathaniel Burgess; 1867,
Reuben Collins, 10; 1876, Chas. Dillingham, 16; 1877. Isaiah Fish;
1878, David D. Nye, 6; 1882, George Hartwell, 2; 1884, James Shevlin,
3; 1887, F. S. Pope, 2; 1887, Samuel H. Nye, 2; 1889, Benj. F. Cham-
berlain; 1888, Frank H. Burge.-JS.
There are no means of ascertaining with certainty who were the
treasurers of the town during the first fifty years after its settlement.
It is not improbable that in most instances the clerks served in this
capacity also. We give the names and order so far only as we can do
it with accuracy: 1694, Samuel Prince; 1699, Thomas Smith; 1701,
John Smith, jr.: 1719, Saml. Jennings; 1752, Solomon Foster; 1755,
Silas Bourne; 1767, Jonathan Bassett; 1760, Thomas Bassett; 1761,
Silas Tupper; 1777, Thomas Bassett; 1782, Benj. Fessenden; 1782,
Lemuel Pope; 1783, Nathan Nye. jr.; 1787, Abraham Williams; 1795,
19
290 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY. -
Melatiah Bourne; 1803, James Bourne, jr.; 1813, Heman Tobey; 1814,
Nathan Nye, jr.; 1825, Ezra Tobey; 1838. William J. Freeman; 1840,
David C. Freeman; 1864, David C. Percival; 1869, H. G. O. Ellis; 1887,
Frank H. Burgess.
It is impossible to determine concerning several of the first tovrn
clerks, or the length of time they were in oflBce: William Wood and
Thomas Tupper were in office before 1668. The next was in 1669,
Stephen Wing; 1670, Edm. Freeman, jr.; 1676, Thomas Tupper, jr.;
1685, William Bassett; 1720, William Bassett, jr.; 1721, Nathaniel Eas-
sett; 1721, Samuel Jennings; 1761, Solomon Foster; 1763, Thomas
Smith; 1768, Benj. Fessenden; 1784, Melatiah Bourne, sr.; 1791, Abra-
ham Williams; 1796, Melatiah Bourne; 1803, James Bourne, jr.; 1814,
Nathan Nye, jr.
In 1814 Mr. Nye was elected to both the office of treasurer and
clerk, and since that time the duties of both offices have been com-
bined.
■ Churches — In the days of the Puritan fathers the church was the
government, and the formation of this important institution was con-
temporaneous with the planting of a settlement. The erection of a
meeting house for religious and public meetings was one of the first
duties after the family had been sheltered. The records of the pro."
prietors of Sandwich do not, as we can find, mention the erection of a
building for religious meetings, nor is any reference made to one
until 1644 — six years after the plantation was settled — when at a meet-
ing " it was deemed necessary to repair the old meeting house." It
is more probable that the age of the building was not so much the
cause of the need of repairs as its hasty construction.
When Mr. Leverich assumed the pastorate is not definitely known,
but that he was connected with the Sandwich plantation in 1640 is
shown by the colonial records in certain enquiries concerning the ter-
ritory. As early as 1639 the church at Sandwich was presented "for
receiving persons unfit for church society." This enactment fol-
lowed: "The town is forbidden to dispose of anymore land;" ard
Captain Standish and Mr. Prince were appointed to at once repair to
Sandwich clothed with all power in the premises. The next record
made is: "A town meeting, 6 mo. 7, 1644, warned by order of the
selectmen to take course for repairing the meeting house, etc." Sev-
eral persons engaged to pay Thomas Tupper in corn " for as many
bolts as would shingle the old meeting-house."
In 1650, it was " agreed upon by the town that there should be a
levie of £5 for Mr. Leverich to pay for removing and parting of his
house with boards which was long since promised to be done for him
by the town." This would indicate that a parsonage had been already
erected and was occupied by a pastor; and no doubt this work so im-
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 291
portant to his comfort was at once performed, for Robert Bodfish, Mr.
Vincent, Thomas Tupper, and William Newland were empowered to
do it. Mr. Leverich was here in 1653, for the records of the town give
him permission " to pasture his hor.se on the town-neck." In 1654 he
is mentioned among the purchasers and settlers who went from Sand-
wich to Long Island.
A subscription for a new meeting house is found in the records for
1655. The sums vary, the highest being two pounds and the least one
shilling. For three years subsequently the names of prominent free-
men are entered as donors to the new meeting house. The comple-
tion of the church was retarded by the diversity of opinion regarding
religious duty, whifch greatly disturbed and disaffected the commu-
nity. Peter Gaunt was presented in 1656 for not attending public
worship, to which he answered that " he knew no public, visible wor-
ship." Tradition says that Mr. Fessenden, who succeeded Mr. Leve-
rich, said " a most unhappy dissension occurred in the church about
the time Mr. Leverich left."
In 1657 an attempt was made to sustain the ordinances of religion
by subscription, and these pledges for the support of a minister were
small. Fourteen names appear on the record, in sums varying from
two pounds to six shillings. No stated minister could be procured.
This want of affinity in the town is traceable to the sympathy of a
large portion of the people for the Quakers. The general court ap-
pointed a special marshal, one George Barlow, for one year, to arrest
persons teaching the principles of Quakerism. Two English Friends
came here on the 20th of June, 1657, to hold meetings, and they were
arrested as " extravagant persons and vagabonds." William Newland,
in whose house the meetings were held, was fined for his intercessions
in their behalf. In justice to Sandwich, be it understood that these
proceedings were the action of the court at Plymouth, and Bowden
says: " The selectmen of the town whose duty it was to see them whip-
ped, entertained no desire to sanction measures so severe towards
those who differed from them in religion, and declined to act in the
case."
James Skiff, the deputy to general court in 1659, was rejected be-
cause he was friendly to his neighbors holding other than orthodox
ideas. Nehemiah Besse was fined by the court in 1663 " for drinking
tobacco on the Lord's day." These seeming severities of the Plymouth
court are mentioned for no other purpose than to show why the people
of Sandwich were not a unit in supporting the established church.
This religious intolerance was in a great degree checked by the inter-
position of the royal commissioners sent by the queen in 1665.
In 1676 the name of John Smith was added to the list of freemen,
and he commenced his pastorate with the people. The people had
292 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
been supplied by Messrs. Bourne and Tupper. The affairs of the
church assumed a better phase soon after the arrival of Mr. Smith,
and in 1680 a rate of ;^50 was ordered for the support of the minister.
The pastoral duties of Mr. Smith closed in 1688 at his own request.
The active males were only five at this time. Mr. Pierpont of Rox-
bury was invited to the pastorate, but before he was settled he ac-
cepted a more satisfactory call. In 1690 lands were set apart for the
support of the minister, and in 1691 Mr. Roland Cotton was invited to
continue his labors, which had been temporary. He was ordained
November 28, 1694. Lands had been voted to him " to be held by
him, his heirs and assigns forever if he remain among us until God
take him away by death or otherwise." If he went away by any other
means then these lands reverted to the town.
Liberty of conscience was assured by the charter of 1692, and church
membership was no longer deemed the only requisite for civil prefer-
ment. Additions were made to the church, and its membership was
increased to ten males and twelve females. The land given Mr. Cot-
ton "to improve so long as he continues here in the ministry," was
" the small neck lying between the two runs of water." The affairs
of the church brightened under Mr. Cotton's pastorate, and in 1700 it
was voted that " the selectmen see that the meeting house is ground-
pinned and the windows mended." In 1702-3 appropriation was made
for a new church, but in the discretion of the committee the old one
was repaired; its window seats were raised, a tower was erected in
which a bell was placed, and the town voted " that the person who
takes care of the meeting house shall ring the bell."
The celebrated Roland Cotton was called to a higher sphere March
29, 1722, after a long pastorate. In response to the invitation by the
committee, Mr. Benjamin Fessenden was ordained September 12,
1722, and the dwelling of Mrs. Cotton was purchased for his use.
In 1732 the people at Scusset (Sagamore) desired a separate organi-
zation, and a society was organized after three years of controversy.
Jireh Swift, Eliakim Tupper and others erected a meeting house, and
Francis Wooster was installed as pastor and served several years.
But these seceders at Scusset were compelled to pay a tax for the sup-
port of the parent church at Sandwich village, and the petition of
Moses Swift and thirty-three others in 1739, to be released from such
taxation, was refused.
The death of Mr. Fessenden, August 7, 1746, left the church with-
out a pastor for two years, during which period unavailing efforts
were made to fill the vacancy. In 1748, by agreement, the names of
five ministers were presented, from which the names of two were sub-
mitted to the church to select from, and the choice fell upon Mr. Law-
rence. But his anxiety was not equal to that of the church, and he
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 293
declined the proffered honor. Mr. Turrell was then called, but de-
clined. In 1749 Abraham Williams accepted the call and was installed
June 14th. His pastorate restored harmony and twelve of the Scusset
brethren returned to the parent church. The meeting house received
its share of attention by being- thoroughly repaired in 1765. ' The plan
of the pews of this meeting house and the owners, with the price of
each, were minutely recorded on the proprietor's records of the town
— one page representing the first floor and another the gallery. In-
deed it could be said that the aspirations of the church were much
more heavenward, for a new and taller spire was raised in which a
new bell was placed. This occurred in 1756, and soon after, the old
bell which had been given by Mrs. Adolph, whose husband was ship-
wrecked and given a burial here, was sold to the county to be placed
in the court house at Barnstable.
Mr. Williams died August 8, 1784, and Rev. Jonathan Burr was in-
stalled as pastor April 18, 1787. Mr. Williams had exerted a lasting
influence for good, an evidence of which was seen in the gratitude of
one of his slaves, who would not accept freedom while his master
lived, and who at his own death bequeathed to the parish a fund from
the interest of which a town clock was purchased. The society had
become so cemented that in 1800, after the depreciation of the cur-
rency by the war, the vote was " that Mr. Burr's salary be paid by the
principal necessaries of life so as to make the compensation equal to
what it was at the time of his ordination."
The years 1808-9 were a period of revival and interest ; 115 per-
sons, mostly heads of families, were added to the church. But Mr.
Burr, by a change of his views, greatly changed his parochial instruc-
tions, which created a feeling of opposition. Mr. Clapp, the school-
master, was the pastor occasionally, when Mr. Burr preached in the
west part of the town, and he with others opposed Calvinism. The
clouds of discontent and opposition thickened, resulting in a storm
that dismissed Mr. Burr and scattered the church. Calvinism was the
descending bolt that rent the society, Mr. Burr's adherents forming a
Calvinistic congregational society with him as pastor. A severe con-
test over the church funds and property followed, in which the coun-
cil decided for the seceders, but the supreme court, on appeal, awarded
the property to the original society, over which Ezra S. Goodwin had
been settled. Mr. Burr ministered to the Calvinistic society from
February 26, 1814, to 1817, when he was released by his own urgent
request, and Rev. David L. Hunn was the minister until 1830; he was
succeeded by Rev. Asahel Cobb, from March 31, 1831, to the latter
part of 1842, after which Rev. Giles Pease officiated until 1846. Mr.
Pease's adherents withdrew, and March 21, 1847, formed a society un-
der the title of " The Puritan Church." The life of this society, being
294 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
thirteen years, was so brief that of its influence and history little can
be said. It is known, however, that a meeting house was provided
for its use, which soon became a place of useful manufactures, and is
now occupied by O. H. Rowland as a hardware store.
In the old church — called First parish — Mr. Goodwin oflBciated un-
til his death in February, 1833. His successor. Rev. John M. Merrick,
became pastor May 11th of the same year, and continued till his retire-
ment in 1839. Rev. Eliphalet P. Crafts was installed September, 1839.
He was succeeded by J. G. Forman, in October, 1854; by John Orrell,
in 1857; Albert B. Vorse, 1863; Thomas W. Brown, 1864; Samuel B.
Flagg, 1869; James Mulligan, 1871; Charles T. Irish, 1876; M. C. Brown,
1877; and C. F. Bradley, in 1886, who oflBciated two years. The pul-
pit was supplied by dififerent ministers until the church in 1889 settled
Nathan S. Hill. A new church edifice was erected in 1833 and is now
the meeting house of the First parish generally known as the Unita-
rian church. Charles E. Pope, the present sexton, has faithfully rung
the bell and wound the clock for half a century.
The Calvanistic Congregationalists were not disorganized by the
secession of a portion of the society in 1846. Rev. Elias Welles being
ordained pastor July 28, 1847, which position he acceptably filled until
his death in 1853. Rev. P. C. Headly was settled in April, 1864, for
three years, and was succeeded by Rev. William Caruthers, June 16,
1868, who was dismissed December 4, 1860. Rev. Henry Kimball
was ordained March 18, 1862, and was dismissed November 27, 1862.
Rev. Luther H. Angfier supplied the pulpit for one year from January 1,
1863, and Rev. John C. Paine was installed as pastor, June, 8, 1864;
Wilbur Johnson, in 1867; Frederick Oxnard, 1871; Bernard Paine,
1880; James B. King. 1884; and William W. Woodwell in 1889. The
present church edifice was erected in 1848 upon the site of the former
one.
The Episcopal rites were observed here by those of the faith dur-
ing the growth of the Freeman Institute, which perhaps was instru-
mental in the introduction of this sect. Rev. W. W. Sever oflBciated
a short time in 1864, under the direction of the diocesan board. For
a few years past Mr. Bevington has preached to the society, occupying
the hall of the old Universalist church on Jarvis street. The society
is now supplied from Boston.
The Universalists organized a society in 1846, erecting a church
edifice on the corner opposite the residence of Gustavus Howland.
The life of the society was brief and no special history of it can be
given. After the fire on Jar\-is street, its edifice was removed by J.
Q. Miller to that portion of the village to do service as a business
place, the lower floor as stores and the other as a hall.
As early as 1796 Jesse Lee, a pioneer of the M. E. church, preached
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 295
to the Methodists of Sandwich, it then being in the circuit with other
towns. Joshua Hall and Joseph Snelling traveled the circuit in 1797,
and Epaphras Kibby and Reuben Jones in 1798; Daniel Fiddley in 1800;
Jashua Soule in 1801; the interval to 1805 was filled by Solomon Lang-
don, Daniel Bacheler and Moses Currier; Erastus Otis and Nathan
Ryder preached in 1806; Mr. Asbury, Nathan W. Stearns and Joseph
A. Merrill in 1807-8; B. F. Lumbert, 1809; Stephen Bailey, 1810; Aaron
Lummis, 1811-12. The society was incorporated during the circuit
preaching of Rev. Mr. Lummis. Stephen Bailey preached in 1813;
J. W. Hardy in 1815-16; Richard Emery, Benjamin Hoit and Moses
Fifield, 1817; Rev. Mr. Hazelton, 1818-19; E. T. Taylor, F. Upham
and Mr. Brown, 1820-22; A. D. Sargent and Jonathan Mayhew, ]823-
24; Erastus Otis, John Hutchinson and J. M. Maffit, 1825; F. Upham,
1826-27; Enoch Bradley and Nathan B. Spaulding, 1828; F. Upham
and Lemuel Harlow, 1829; R. D. Esterbrook, 1830; Joel Steele, 1831;
C. C. Noble and Joseph Marsh, 1832; J. J. Bliss, 1833; George Stone,
1834; Henry Mayo, 1835-30; Henry H. Smith, 1837; Samuel Phillips,
1838; Warren Emerson, 1839-40; Elisha Bradford, 1841-42, and again
in 1852; George F. Pool in 1843; Frank Gavitt, 1844; Thomas Ely,
1845^6; Robert M. Hatfield, 1847-48; James D. Butler, 1849; Micah J.
Talbot, 1851; Horatio W. Houghton, 1853-54; Bart. Otheman, 1855-56;
C. H. Payne, 1867; N. P. Philbrook, 1858-59; Nathaniel Bemis, 1860-
61; W. V. Morrison, 1862-63; William T. North. 1864; William Star,
1867; Charles Young, 1868; A. J. Kenyon, 1869; A. W. Paige, 1870-71;
John Livesey, 1872-74; Charles Nutter, 1875-76; Eben Tirrell, 1877-
78; E. Fletcher, 1879; Silas Sprouls, 1880-81; J. Q.Adams, 1882-83; S.
M. Beale, 1884-86; O. A. Farley, 1887-88; Robert Clark, April 1, 1889.
The first church edifice was erected in 1829, and the present one
in 1848.
In the south part of the town there are two places of worship more
humble in appearance than those of the thickly settled north part, but
supplying the wants of the respective communities. A small, plain
church building at Forestdale, claimed to be Methodist, is used for
occasional service by different denominations; and a school house has
been purchased at South Sandwich for occasional service there.
The history of St. Peter's church extends back to the first quarter
of the present century. The erection of the vast works of the Boston
and Sandwich Glass Company created a demand for workmen skilled
in glass making, and from various localities large numbers, of whom
many were Catholics, were drawn to Sandwich. That their number
and character were of an elevated nature is evinced by the fact that
they immediately made every possible effort to secure an opportunity
to build a house where the doctrines of their church might be heard.
Application was made to the Rt. Rev. B. J. Fenwick, then bishop of
296 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Boston, who favorably considered their wishes and sent a missionary
to investigate their circumstances. At this time the number of the
Catholic clergy in New England was extremely limited, and their
labors were necessarily scattered over wide tracts of territory between
Canada and New York. Such being the case it was impossible to have
at that date a resident clergyman as they desired; but they were glad-
dened by occasional visits from the missionaries. In 1829 a suitable
frame building adapted to their necessities was erected, and on the
19th day of September, 1830, the church was dedicated. The follow-
ing account of the service of dedication, taken from a Boston periodi-
cal, is interesting at the present time. " On Sunday the 19th of Sep-
tember, the imposing ceremony of dedicating a new church to
Almighty God took place at Sandwich. An immense concourse of
people of all denominations had assembled at 10 A.M. to witness the
interesting ceremony. So great was the anxiety that many individu-
als of other towns, especially Warebam, and no small number on foot
came a distance of eighteen miles. The Rt. Rev. Bishop,with Rev.Virgil
H. Barber and a number of the laity of Boston, including a select por-
tion of the choir of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, embarked on the
Saturday morning previous on the packet Henry Clay, in expectation
of reaching Sandwich the same evening; but in consequence of con-
trary winds they did not arrive in port until the next morning at
11.30, an hour later than the time announced for the divine service.
" The Rt. Rev. Wm. Tyler, who was afterwards the first Bishop of
the Diocese of Providence, had gone by land a few days before in
order to make the necessary arrangements and was about to begin the
service of the day when the anxiety of all was relieved by the arrival
of the Bishop and his party. The clergy and assistants repaired to
the house of Mr. John Doyle, and at noon commenced a procession
through the main street, followed by a long line of Catholics. The
ceremony of dedication was performed in a very impressive manner,
the clergy below and the choir above alternating the solemn tones of
the Miserere. At 5 p.m. the church was again opened, large numbers
being unable to gain admittance. The Bishop and Rev. Mr. Barber
delivered discourses. The services continued to a late hour."
Great interest and religious enthusiasm was shown by the mem-
bers and a deep religious spirit prevailed among them. Far away
from the central points where their brethren dwelt, the difficulty of
obtaining a priest — all seemed to increase in them the spirit of faith,
and doubtless gave them a thorough appreciation of those blessings
which are esteemed more highly only as they are with difficulty ob-
tained.
At stated intervals the church was visited by clergymen from Bos-
ton, all of whom at the present day have rested from their labors after
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 297
many trials and hardships, such we may say as were of old encoun-
tered by the Apostle St. Paul. Among the old records may be found
the names of Revs. P. Byrne, George Goodwin of Charlestown, Mass.,
John O. Beirne, J. J. Aylward, R. A. Wilson and John T. Roddan.
A few of the earlier members are now left who recall the labors and
self-sacrifices of these noble missionaries who gave their lives for the
salvation of the scattered faithful of those days, and these names will
ever be held by them in grateful memory and benediction.
In September, 1850, the first resident pastor. Rev. William Moran,
was appointed to the charge of the church. At that time the mission
embraced all of Barnstable county, with Plymouth, Wareham, and all
the country between Middleboro and Provincetown. Rev. Mr. Moran
remained in charge of this extensive district about fourteen years,
when he removed to Ware, Mass., where he now resides at an advanced
age. He was succeeded by Rev. Peter Bertoldi, a native of Italy, who
labored with zeal and energy until the separation of southwestern
Massachusetts from the Boston jurisdiction and its attachment to the
diocese of Providence, which occurred in 1872, when he retired from
the pastorate and returned to his native country.
His successor for a short period was Rev. H. F. Kinnerny. He was
succeeded by the Rev. M. McCabe of Fall River, Mass., who remained
about two years, when Rev. Andrew J. Brady assumed charge and
labored earnestly for seven years, after which he withdrew from the
parish and removed to Fall River, Mass., where he has since died.
The present pastor. Rev. T. F. Clinton, entered upon the pastorate
in November, 1880. He is a native of Providence, R. I., and was edu-
cated in the College of the Holy Cross at Worcester, Mass., from which
he was graduated in 1870. He then entered the New York Provincial
Theological Seminary at Troy, N. Y., and there completed the usual
theological course of studies. His first appointment was to St. Mary's
church, Newport, R. I., where he remained for a period of eight years
until his appointment to the present position. In Sandwich, Rev.
Father Clinton has made many important improvements in the church
property — the church being almost rebuilt and the interior beautifully
decorated. A new sanctuary was made, which is elegantly furnished,
and the many needed improvements accomplished, place the edifice
among the best churches in New England.
Schools. — These important assistants in the proper development
of the body politic may have been supported by private means prior
to 1680, or the action of the town relative to schools may yet be hid-
den in the imperfections of the early records; for in the year men-
tioned we find by the first entry that " at a town-meeting for the choice
of military officers, it was agreed to allow ;^12 in pay as it ordinarily
passes, to Mr. James Chadwick upon consideration that he keep a
298 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
school in Sandwich one year." The school was continued from this
date, and the schoolmaster's wages were gradually increased with his
duties. The teacher of those days was assured of the gratification of
at least one desire of his nature, for contracts were made "with diet."
The term " boarding 'round " if used in a contract for teaching was
only an earnest of a variety of toothsome corn cakes and bacon. The
advance must have been rapid, for in 1699 the teacher, Mr. Battersby,
was called "grammar-schoolmaster" with a salary of £10, "he to
teach reading, writing and arithmetic." A still greater advance is
noted in the records of 1707, in which year Sandwich voted " that
Thomas Prince be hired to instruct the children in reading, writing,
arithmetic and latin, and those who send shall pay ;£^10 more."
This was addditional to the ;^10 and board, voted by the town;
and whether it was rated among the Latin scholars only, or among
the whole number does not appear. Samuel Jennings assumed the
mastership of the school in 1710, and was succeeded in 1711 by Mr.
James Dorr, who was allowed ";^20 and diet." In 1713 Mr. Samuel
O.sborn was hired for £Q0 per year, and was to teach Latin and Greek
with the English branches. Tuition was charged for pupils according
to the studies pursued, and this important school was to be open to
the young of the neighboring towns. A school house was built this
year "on the common near the middle of the town."
In 1720 John Rogers was employed to teach, but at what wages is
not known; nor can any historian speak of his qualifications for the
important position.
In 1724 Major Bourne was appointed — "to answer for the town at
Barnstable court, to the presentment for not having a school-master
approbated according to law." Mr. Rogers continued teaching for
many years at the annual sum of ;^20 and " board round; " but as late
as 1751 James Otis, Esq., lodged a complaint against the town " for
not being provided with a schoolmaster according to law." Agents
were chosen by the town to answer this charge at the general sessions
at Barnstable, and it is evident that the law in the premises was en-
forced, for in 1752 Silas Tupper who was engaged by the town for the
sum of ;^26, 13s., 4d. and board, is recorded as a teacher " according
to law." He remained twenty-five years in the service of the town,
teaching alternate terms at Sandwich village and Scusset.
In 1778 the excitement and burdens consequent upon the war
caused a neglect of the schools and a failure to provide funds for
their support. More schools were required at the beginning of the
present century, but the teachers' names are not recorded. The
amount of money appropriated annually by the town has steadily in-
creased, being $500 in 1810, $1,200 in 1829, $2,180 in 1842, and $9,000 in
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 299
1876. The first year after division from Bourne, $5,100 was appropri-
ated, and in 1889, $5,600.
Rev. Jonathan Burr, in 1803, while in charge of the church at
Sandwich, urged the establishment of an academy for the purpose of
promoting education and piety amoung the youth. In response to
a large petition Sandwich Academy was incorporated February 21,
1804, and Rev. Mr. Burr became its principal. A board of eighteen
trustees was elected, eight of whom were residents of Sandwich and
ten were chosen from adjoining towns. A grant of six square miles
of land in the district of Maine was made by the legislature for the
use of the academy, provided that the sum of $3,000 be actually raised
and secured by its friends for its endowment. It was a useful institu-
tion, rising to a high standard among similar schools in New England.
. Mr. Burr was succeeded by Elisha Clapp, A.M., assisted by Miss Bath-
sheba Whitman as preceptress. Before the close of the first decade
of the academy religious dissensions caused its decline in usefulness
and importance. Its incorporation and name have been perpetuated
by an election of trustees annually.
Many years ago the school committee of Sandwich hired the prop-
erty for a high school which has continued its existence. In 1881 the
academy building was sold by the trustees to Susan McFarland, and is
now occupied as a boarding house. From the sale of the building
here and the lands in Maine, a more suitable building was erected
which is now occupied by the high .school of the town. This school
has attained a high standard and to its excellence the efficiency of the
other schools of the town is largely due. In 1882 a class of thirty-six
pupils were examined for admission to the high school, twenty-four of
whom were admitted after a rigid examination; but in a similar ex-
amination a few years before only two out of eighteen could be ad-
mitted. The benefit of this high school is also clearly demonstrated
in the fact that in recent years a large portion of its graduates have
been engaged as teachers of the first grade. The scholars have been
held to a high plane of excellence in order to be admitted, which fact
has created the habits of application and a more thorough prepara-
tion in the lower departments, thus strengthening the interest in and
benefits from the entire system.
In 1862 the schools were placed under the town's care, called the
Massachusetts system, abolishing that of districts, and from this date
their progress was more rapid. The school houses were lessened in
number, better teachers were employed, and the schools rapidly ad-
vanced in attendance and standing. In his report of 1874-75, Charles
Dillingham suggested that the town avail itself of the law providing
for the conveyance of pupils to and from public schools, which was
. done. In 1876 the custom of a rigid examination at the close of every
300 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COU^rrY.
term was inaugurated, which proved eminently successful in advanc-
ing the grade by inducing greater care and industry on the part of
the pupil as well as teacher. In 1877 Sandwich was third in the county
in the value of its school property, a commendable liberality that has
produced its reward. A list of meritorious scholars was next printed
in the reports of the schools of the town, which fact was another in-
centive to regular attendance and proper industry. The adoption of
by-laws in accordance with the statute regarding truant children, was
also a help to the advancement of the schools. The town elected of-
ficers for the enforcement of these laws. The superintendent oif
schools had given a large Share of his time to the schools while they
were in session for the past few years; apparatus had been purchased
and other and better text books placed in the hands of the pupils, and
in 1886 the schools were found by comparison, as reported by George
H. Martin of the state board, to be on a higher plane of excellence
than most of the towns of the county and equal to the best. The
printed list of meritorious scholars, given for 1883 by the .superintend-
ent, forms an army of young soldiers struggling for an education, and
strongly supported by parents and school oflBcers. The erection of
the town of Bourne in 1884 reduced the number of schools to nine, the
village school having three departments and the Jarvisville two.
Free text books were supplied by the town the same year, and under
the laws of 1885, text books and charts on physiology were added.
Societies. — DeWitt Clinton Lodge, A.F. and A. M., was given a
dispensation under which it worked one year with Thomas R. Borden
as master. The charter was received March 16, 1866, and the charter
members were: William E. Boyden. Rev. Thomas R. Borden, Rev. J.
G. Forman, Charles B. Hall, Dr. John Harper, Seth F. Nye, John W.
Pope, and Bazillia Sears. The masters have been: Rev. John R. Bor-
den, 1856; Dr. John Harper, 1857-59; for the years 1860-62 the record
was burned; W. H. F. Burbank, 1863-65; A. F. Sherman, 1866-67; C.
B.Hall, 186&-69; I.T.Jones, 1870-71; W. C. Spring, 1872-73; A. F.
Sherman, 1874-76; W. A. Nye, 1877-78; D. F. Chessman, 1879-80; F.
W. Holway, 1881-83 and 1890; J. F. Knowles, 1886; C. M. Thompson,
1887; C. T. C. Whitcomb, 1888; Dr. G. E. White, 1884-85 and 1889.
The Lodge numbered 55 members in 1889. The treasurer for 1890 is
Willard E. Boyden, and the secretary Ambrose E. Pratt.
The Cape Cod Mutual Benefit Association was instituted February
7, 1879, for mutual life insurance, and has a large number of benefici-
aries. Charles Dillingham was elected its first president and I. K.
Chipman vice-president, which offices they were chosen to fill each
year after, including 1889. Charles H. Lapham was chosen secretary
and treasurer at the meeting of February, 1889.
The Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 1358, was instituted February 3,
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 301
1879, and their tenth anniversary was celebrated on that date of the
past year. The charter members were thirteen in number, and the
Lodge now embraces a large number of the best citizens of the town.
Its dictators have been: A. F. Sherman, 1879; F. S. Pope, 1880; S. R.
Bourne, 1881; S. W. Hunt, 1882; P. T. Brown, 1883; F. W. Holway,
1884; E. G. Hamlen, 1885; J. H. Stevens. 1886; F. W. Holway, 1887;
and B. F. Chamberlain, 1888-89.
A flourishing G. A. R. Post, Charles Chipman No. 132, is also found
here, organized February 24, 1882, and meeting in Hunt's Hall. It has
seventy members. S. W. Hunt has filled the post of commander dur-
ing the years 1882-83-85 and 86; John F. Cunningham for 1884; and
William C. GiflFord for 1887-88-89.
The Women's Relief Corps is an organization to assist the G. A. R.,
and meets the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The or-
ganization was eflfected June 23, 1887.
The ladies have also the usual W. C. T. U., organized March 18,
1887, of which Mrs. .Mercy Littlefield was two years president. The
officers elected for 1889 were; Miss Lydia Jenkins, pres.; Mrs. Fletcher
Clark, vice-pres.; Delia R. Baker, sec; and Mrs. Vina Blackwell, treas.
The village has three halls for public use, the principal one being
the Casino on School street, built in 1884 by ten men. It is a very
large and pleasant hall, accommodating an audience of eight hun-
dred. The front offices are occupied by the engineer and treasurer
of the Cape Cod Canal Company. The others are Carlton Hall on
Jarvis street, and Hunt's over Benjamin G. Bartley's store.
The only library of the village is the Circulating Library of Fred-
erick S. Pope, in the .same building with the post office.
The first station agent of the Old Colony railroad was Captain
George Atkins, who in 1859 at his death was succeeded by his son,
Thomas Atkins; Alvin P. Wing succeeded him a short term, and March
13, 1876, James D. Lloyd, the present agent, was appointed.
Cemeteries. — The records of the proprietors designated these
places of the dead as burial places. The first mentioned by the rec-
ords is July 6, 1663, when it was ordered " that the little neck of land
that lies by Wm. Newland's house shall be appropriated as a burial
place for the town." This is known as the old burying ground, par-
tially surrounded by the ponds in Sandwich village. In 1695 " The
town did give to those of their neighbors, called Quakers, half an
acre of ground for a burial place, on the hill above the Canoe Swamp
between the ways." This is now the Friends' burying ground and
near it the present one is located. All grounds are now kept in bet-
ter order and with more reverence than by the proprietors themselves,
for in 1715 by a vote, Mr. Cotton, the minister, had the privilege of
pasturing his horse in the burying place by the pond, if he would
302 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
fence it by joining each end of the fence to the pond. It has now a
substantial wall where the fence was.
The Catholics have a small cemetery northeast of the village, and
have more recently purchased land for another to the southwest. The
Plowed Neck Cemetery in the eastern part of the town and the Wing,
Spring Hill or Chipman, are also names given to another old burying
ground; at Sand Hill (by some called Plain Hill), Farmersville, formerly
Hog Pond; and Greenville or Forestdale, are others. There is also a
small one at Wakeby.
As early as 1829 the Freeman Cemetery was used for burial, and
was incorporated April 13, 1889. The trustees elected were Watson
Freeman, C. I. Gibbs, and George F. Lapham; the clerk elected was
William L. Nye.
Bay View Cemetery was incorporated June 23, 1868, and contains
over six acres of land situated near the Freeman Cemetery. The origi-
nal purchasers were W. H. F. Burbank, H. G. O. Ellis, John C. C.
Ellis, Samuel Fessenden, S. W. Hunt, James M. Atherton, Seth O.
Ellis, James D. Lloyd, James H. Faunce, Samuel C. Burbank, and
Charles E. Pope. W. H. F. Burbank was president until March 12,
1889, when Samuel Fessenden was elected; Charles Dillingham was
elected vice-president; and Charles E. Pope, who has served since the
incorporation, was elected secretary.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
David Armstrong was born in 1827, in Ireland, of Scotch parentage.
He came to the United States in 1849, and four years later to Sand-
wich, where he has been a farmer since that time. In 1870 he was
married to Mrs. Maria StiflF, daughter of George and Lucy (Smallwood)
Parker, and grand-daughter of David Parker, Mr. Armstrong is a
member of the West Barnstable Congregational church and a mem-
ber of East Sandwich Grange, P. of H.
Robert Armstrong was born in 1830, in Ireland, and is a brother
of David Armstrong mentioned above. He came to America in 1861,
and two years later to Sandwich, where he has since been a farmer,
with the exception of six years spent in the West. In 1861 he was
married to Dorcas W., daughter of Solomon and Charity (Allen)
Hoxie. They have four children: John A., Robert F., George A. and
David L. Mr. Armstrong is a member of the East Sandwich Grange,
P. of H., and a member of the Episcopal church.
Thomas F. Atkins, born in 1832, is a son of George', William*,
James*, John', James Atkins'. His mother was Paulina, daughter of
Thomas Freeman. Mr. Atkins has been employed by the Cape Cod
and Old Colony Railroad Company since 1850, and since 1871 has been
^I^^^-^ ^ ^$£^pP^^
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 303
a conductor. He was married to Almeda A. La Baron. They have
had four children, two of whom are living — George and William.
Benjamin G. Bartley, j^oungest son of Robert and Nancy F. Bart-
ley, was born in 1857 and was educated in the public schools of Sand-
wich. He taught school four years, and since 1880 has been a dry
goods merchant in Sandwich. He was married October 3, 1888, to
Miss C. T. Newcomb. He is a member of the Unitarian church of
Sandwich.
Joseph S. Bassett, born in 1822 in Cayuga county. New York, is the
youngest son of Thomas, and grandson of William Bassett. His
mother was Abbie, daughter of Joseph and Annie (Freeman) Swift.
When a lad he came from New York to Sandwich, where he has been
engaged as glass cutter for many years. He was married in 1848, to
Abbie V., daughter of Walter W. and Zebiah G. (Bird) Richards.
They have had two daughters — Carrie M. and Josephine Z., of whom
the latter died September 25, 1875.
Davis A. Blake, son of Sabin Blake, was born in 1816 in Walpole,
Mass. He was engaged in whale fishing about twenty-eight years
prior to 1865, residing in Fall River and sailing latterly from New
Bedford. He removed to Sandwich in 1875, where he has since lived.
He was m.arried in 1867, to Leslie P. Horton, and has one son, Robert
D. Blake.
William E. Bovden. — Mr. Boyden will be well remembered in the
affairs of the county, and as one of the present century who greatly
assisted in the development of various institutions that have proven
benefits to his fellow-beings. He was the son of Spencer Boyden of
Walpole, Mass., where he was born April 29, 1807. He was one of
four children, and passed his boyhood in the usual routine, on his
father's farm, with an occasional respite in burning a pit of charcoal
for the Boston market. His ambitious nature sent him out from the
home of his childhood, and when he was a mere boy he was a trusted
employee in Mr. Drew's line of stages and express, then running be-
tween Boston and Providence. In 1822, when a line of stages between
Plymouth and Sandwich was established, Mr. Boyden moved to Sand-
wich. He was an active, persevering young man, making daily trips
from Sandwich to Plymouth and return. This he did as proprietor,
for a period of twenty-six consecutive years without a week day that
he was not engaged on the route. The present Central Hotel, of Sand-
wich, was the Cape terminus of the line, and from there started the
Falmouth, Yarmouth and south-side stages, in which Mr. Boyden was
more or less interested. He drove four horses, to one of those old-
fashioned coaches, and it was a characteristic of his to be on his sched-
ule time if human device or energy could prevail. Once on his way
to Plymouth he was snow-bound at Cook's hill and could proceed no
304 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
further with his coach, but with his usual zeal he provided for his
passengers, tied the mails to his horses' backs, placed the four horses
in a single line and forced his way. This particular coach remained
under the snow ten days. Mr. Boyden was necessary to the success of
this line, and for the period ending with the advent of the railroad
was a strong factor in the welfare and development of the Cape. It
is said that on the day preceding a Thanksgiving, he brought in thir-
teen coaches filled with passengers.
In the height of his prosperity he married Hannah R. Hatch of
Falmouth, December 9, 1832. Their children were: Willard E., the
successor of his father's express business; Robert R., deceased; and
Rebecca M., now residing with Willard E.
The Plymouth line was discontinued when the railroad was opened
to Wareham, and an express li^e was formed to Wareham by Mr.
Boyden and Mr. Witherell, called the " Witherell & Co. Express."
After the death of Mr. Witherell, Mr. N. B. Burt was taken as partner,
and this line was called the Cape Cod Express Company, doing a suc-
cessful and increasi::g business by stage until the completion of the
railroad to Yarmouth. Soon the business was transferred to the rail-
road, and Rufus Smith becoming a partner, the express business was
continued along the Cape. In 1879, after the death of William E.
Boyden, this company was con.solidated with the New York & Boston
Dispatch Express Company, of which Willard E. Boyden has since
been the agent at Sandwich.
William E. Boyden was very liberal in his religious views, and was
the treasurer of the Universalist church of Sandwich, during its exist-
ence. In all charitable enterprises he was among the fir.st. As re-
vealing his sympathetic nature, an incident related by the venerable
Paul Wing will be remembered. Mr. Boyden, among others, was
called upon to aid a needy woman, to which call he at once responded,
but wishing to hear the details, her story was told while he listened
with tears running down his cheeks. He was identified with every
improvement of his town, and was actively engaged in public affairs.
His political views, always democratic, were marked by a firmness
which was known and respected. In 1836 the result of the presiden-
tial election between whig and democrat was yet undecided, when a
crowd of both parties assembled at the tavern to await the news by-
Mr. Boyden's stage. He soon came swinging around the bend by the
Unitarian church, but the peculiar ring of his whip as he menaced
his four grays, caused the whigs to turn and say, " No good news for
us." A few years prior to his death a colored man approached him
for aid, and he told him to go to his republican friends, get all he
could, return, and he would give as much as all of them- — and he did.
He was the treasurer of DeWitt Clinton Lodge from its organiza-
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 305
tion to his death, and Willard E. has been his only successor. Mr.
Boyden was ever upright, and greatly respected for his outspoken
manliness. He died May 1, 1879, greatly missed. After his death
memoranda were found, showing of many thousand of dollars given
and loaned to needy friends. He was just and generous, and has left
his goodness engraven on the memories of his fellow-men, where it
will be more lasting than on stone.
Peleg T. Brown, born September 24, 1836, in Scituate, Mass., is a
son of John and Clarrisa Brown. He is a tack maker by trade. He
came to Sandwich in 1869. He has been tax collector for the town four
years. He was in the war of the rebellion, serving in Company B,
Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, from 1862 to 1865. In 1858 he was
married to Jane H. Sherman, who died in 1878, leaving one daughter,
Mary L. In 1880 he was married to Vesta M., daughter of Ansel
Tobey. Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic order and a member
of the Sandwich Methodist Episcopal church.
William H. F. Burbank was born in 1827, and died at Sandwich,
September 18, 1876. He was a son of Samuel Burbank, and his wife
Louisa C, daughter of Deacon Ebenezer Crocker. Mr. Burbank was
a hardware merchant at Sandwich for many years previous to his
death. He was a member of DeWitt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
In 1848 he was married to Helen M. Winsor, who died in 1868. They
had eight children, four of whom are living: Helen M., William H.,
George E. and Frank C. Mr. Burbank was married in 1869 to Fanny
L., daughter of Freeman and Temperance (Hatch) Robinson.
Frank H. Burgess, born in 1843, is the oldest son of Charles H. and
grandson of Perez Burgess. His mother was Ann S. Nye. He has
been in mercantile business at Sandwich since 1861, has been town
clerk and treasurer since March, 1887, and was elected selectman in
1889. He was married in 1866 to Arabella Eldred, and they have two
adopted daughters — Ambrosetta B. and May G. Mr. Burge.ss is a
republican.
Rev. Hiram Carleton, D.D., was born in 1811 in Barre, Vermont.
His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all named Jere-
miah. The latter was a son of Joseph, whose father Lieutenant John,
was a son of Edward Carleton, Esq. His early education was received
in his native town; he was graduated from Middlebury College (Ver-
mont) in 1833, and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1837, since
which time he has preached almost continuously. In 1881 he retired
to East Sandwich, where he has held religious services in his resi-
dence since that time. He was married in 1838 to Mary J. Fisher.
Their only son, John F., was born in 1857, was educated in Noble's
private school of Boston, and at Harvard College, graduating in 1881,
since which time he has been a farmer at East Sandwich. He was
20
306 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
married in 1885, to Isabel A. Foxcroft, and has two daughters — Cathe-
rine Foxcroft and Mary. Mr. Carleton is a member of East vSandwich
Grange. P. of H.
Benjamin F. Chamberlain, son of Colonel Ebenezer and Hannah
(Foster) Chamberlain, was born in 1838. He was in the war of the
rebellion from August, 1862, to July, 1865, serving in Company I,
Fortieth Massachusetts Volunteers. He has been engaged in the gro-
cery business at Sandwich since 1866. He was elected selectman in
1889. In 1869 he was married to Laurany H., daughter of Joseph
Perry. They have two sons — Charles F. and Walter C. Mr. Cham-
berlain is a republican, and a member of Charles Chipman Post, No.
132, G. A. R.
Charles Chipman was born in 1829, and was killed August 8, 1864,
in front of Petersburg. He served in the regular army as sergeant,
and in April, 1861, enlisted in the war of the rebellion. May 6th of
that year he was chosen captain of Company D, Twenty-ninth Massa-
chusetts Volunteers, and on the 18th of May started with the first vol-
unteers from Cape Cod, for the seat of war. After seven months' serv-
ice he was made major of the Twenty-ninth, and at the time of his
death was in command of the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery.
The Grand Army Post of Sandwich very appropriately bears the name
of one of Sandwich's bravest heroes. Mr. Chipman was married
October 16, 1854, to Elizabeth F., daughter of Captain Isaac and Eliza-
beth (Freeman) Gibbs. They had two children — Edward, who died,
and Sarah.
Stephen S. Chipman, born in 1834, is a son of Stephen S. and a
grandson of Stephen Chipman. His mother was Temperance N.,
daughter of Jonathan Fish. Mr. Chipman is a farmer, and has been
superintendent of highways eleven years in Sandwich. He was mar-
ried in 1859 to Emily L. Allen, and has two daughters — Charlotte M.
and Estelle D. He is a member of the Unitarian church of Sandwich.
William C. Chipman' was born in 1822. His father was Samuel'
(John', Timothy*, Samuel', Samuel', John'), and his mother was Nancy
Churchill. His ancestor John Chipman', came from England in 1630
and married Hope, daughter of John Howland, one of the Pilgrims.
Mr. Chipman is a carpenter by trade. He was married in 1849 to Love
E. Nye, who died in 1852, leaving one son — James. In 1864 Mr. Chip-
man was married to Elizabeth S. Underwood, by whom he has four
children: Grace E., Herbert L., Emily F. and William C, jr. Mr.
Chipman is a prohibitionist, and a member of the Sandwich Methodist
Episcopal church.
Fletcher Clark, born in 1853 in Middleboro, Mass., is a son of Robert
C, whose father John was a son of Nathaniel Clark. His mother is
Hannah Hooper. Mr. Clark has been engaged in the grocery business
TOWN. OF SANDWICH. 307
at Sandwich since 18715. He was married in 1881 to Emma W. Greg-
ory, who died in 188o, leaving one daughter, Eva H. He was married
in 1887 to Elizabeth Emerson.
James W. Crocker, born in 1827 in West Barnstable, is a son of
William and Sarah (Howland) Crocker, and grandson of Ephraim
Crocker. He is a carpenter by trade, but for the past thirty-five years
has kept a fruit, confectionery and oyster store at Sandwich. He was
married in 1856 to Elizabeth, daughter of Timothy Swinerton. They
have two daughters — Carrie and Sarah.
Rev. Loranus Crowell. D.D., for many years an esteemed elder of
the Methodist Episcopal church, was appointed in 1840 principal of
the Spring Hill Seminary, Sandwich, and held that position for four
years. Doctor Crowell married, in 1843, Elizabeth Ann Fuller, of
Sandwich.
Charles Dillingham', born in 1821, is descended from Simeon',
Branch', John', Simeon*, Edward', Henry', Edward Dillingham', who
came from Leicestershire, England, to Lynn, Mass., and from there
in 1637 to Sandwich, being one of the original proprietors. The
mother of Mr. Dillingham was Lucy Tobey. The subject of this
sketch was senator from this district two terms in 1861 and 1862; mem-
ber of the house two terms, 1886 and 1887; has been on the school
committee twenty-seven years, and sixteen years school superintend-
ent; in March, 1890, was elected selectman for the fifteenth year.
He was married in 1845 to Isabella Gibbs who died in 1881, leaving
three children: Nannie G., now deceased, Lucy T. and Alfred E., who
was married in January, 1890, to Isabella Anne, daughter of the late
Rev. Frederick Freeman of Sandwich. Mr. Dillingham is a republi-
can and a member of the First (Unitarian) church of Sandwich.
Seth O: Ellis, born in 1822, is a son of Stephen, whose father,
Frank, was a son of Frank Ellis. His mother was Hannah Raymond.
He was a carpenter and builder until 1856, and since that time has
been a machinist and plumber. In 1845 he was married to Eliza-
beth Bennet. They have five children: Rose, Lizzie M., Stephen,
Calvin and Charles H. B. They lost three children.
John C. C. Ellis, born in 1835, is a brother of Seth O. Ellis men-
tioned above. He has been a blacksmith at Sandwich since 1853.
He was married in 1857 to Eudora L. Godfrey, who died in 1877.
Their children were: Carrie E. (born September 18, 1859, died June 7,
1864), William H. C, John F. and Mary E. He was married in June,
1879, to his present wife, Melissa M. Thurston, by whom he has one
son, Forest T. Mr. Ellis is a member of DeWitt Clinton Lodge.
Russell Fish, bom in 1818, is a son of Silas, and grandson of Silas
Fish. His mother was Keziah, daughter of Ebenezer Nye. Mr. Fish
was a teacher until thirty years of age, and since that time has been
308 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
a farmer. He was married in 1848 to Caroline C, daughter of Samuel
Hunt, and has two children — George R. and Arvilla M. Mr. Fish is a
member of the Sandwich Methodist Episcopal church.
Henry W. Goodspeed, born in South Sandwich, is a son of Thomas,
grandson of Walley, and great-grandson of Joseph Goodspeed. His
mother was Lucy, daughter of John Howland. Mr. Goodspeed is a
farmer. He has two sisters living — Sylvia and Lucy — and a brother
and sister deceased — Walley and Celia. He was married in 1874 to
Mercy C. Chadwick, and has two daughters — Celia W. and Ida F.
Charles Bascom Hall* was born in Sandwich, September 3, 1830,
and died in the same town in the house where he was born, January
27, 1881, in the fifty-first year of his age. He was the only child of
Jonathan Bascom Hall and Clarissa Sears, both of the lower Cape, who
came early in their married life to Sandwich and were always counted
among the most thrifty and respectable of the townsfolk. The Halls
have been always men of business thrift and integrity, and come of
good Pilgrim stock. Jonathan B. was a son of Jonathan Hall and
Abigal Bascom. Abigal Bascom was sister of Rev. Jonathan Bascom,
born in 1740 at Lebanon, Conn., graduated at Yale College, 1764, and
settled at Orleans, 1772; where after a pastorate of thirty-five years,
" an able minister, devoted to his work with pious heart, of a happy
disposition, somewhat facetious, always kind," he died 1807. There
has never been better blood on the Cape than the Sears', as the suc-
cess of the family in literature and business in the country at large
proves.
These facts of ancestry undoubtedly furnish the key to the unique
and pronounced, and to say truth, the unusual character of their de-
scendant, Charles Bascom Hall. The strain of his ancestry was strong
upon him all his life. The writer of this memoir remembers him at
seven years of age, as a red-cheeked, cheery boy, with large, brown
eyes; lively, happy, always with some humorous joke behind his smile,
and with a native good humor which kept peace with all his school-
mates, unless under some sharp wrong which he was never backward
in resenting in the fashion of sturdy and self-respecting boyhood. In
his case, as his life showed, "the boy was father to the man." The
events of a life, so gentle, and withal so useful as Mr. Hall's, are easily
recorded, and in this case they all agree in revealing the nature of the
man behind them. Educated both in the public schools of Sandwich
and in the private seminary of Rev. Frederick Freeman, he entered at
sixteen, as a clerk, the store of which he was soon afterwards owner,
as he remained until his death. It was outwardly a drug store. It
became, more and more, an ofiice where he transacted a large and
varied business. For twelve years he was postmaster, under both the
*By Rev. N. H. Chamberlain.
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 309
Pierce and Buchanan administrations; for many years justice of the
peace, notary public, pension agent, the first treasurer of the Sand-
wich Savings Bank, a director in the Barnstable County Fire Insur-
ance Company. These public trusts unmistakably show in their num-
ber the strengfth of the public confidence in his business integrity and
ability. Another proof of the deep-rooted and abiding confidence of
his fellow citizens in his public usefulness and integrity is found in
the fact that though differing from the majority cf them in his poli-
tics, they elected him moderator of their March town meeting for
nearly twenty years, an office which he filled with much dignity and
success in the dispatch of town business. Two other facts in his citi-
zenship complete his official record. He was a charter member of De
Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He was for his lifetime an inter-
ested and active member of the First (Unitarian) parish in Sandwich,
and gave both time and money freely for its support. In that ancient,
mystical order of free masons, with its teachings of the brotherhood
of man, and the equality of the good in the presence of the Great
Architect of the universe, his friendly nature found a congenial home,
where he could serve others according to the ethical laws of the order.
As a member of the Sandwich parish, he merely carried out the law
of his own Pilgrim ancestry as stated by Rev. John R0bin.son in his
pathetic letter to his Plymouth brethren: " Accept and follow the
truth wherever it may be found," and was a Unitarian both from tra-
dition and conviction.
It is a truism hardl)' worth repeating, that every man is individual,
with his own mental, emotional, and physical make-up in which he
differs somewhat from every other man. It was exactly in this make-
up that Mr. Hall was unique and individual, though he still belonged
to a class, though rather a small one, as we rate and estimate men.
Mr. Hall was a well rounded man with virtue all round his character —
what we usually call a well-balanced man.
Many men may have either as much intellect, or as much heart, or as
much conscience as he, but it rarely happens that a man has so happy
an adjustment and balance of these three gifts. For instance, some
men are amiable and quiet in outward behavior because they have
not intellectual strength enough to be greatly provoked at anything,
or heart enough to be greatly moved by distress, or conscience enough
to stand bolt upright against a wrong; — mere negative men, whose
mental impotency passes for the virtue of a peaceable character. It
was the nice adjustment in Mr. Hall between head, heart, and con-
science which became to those who knew him such a comfort and sat-
isfaction. His ability in business was saturated by his kindness of
heart. To help a poor Irish woman to get news of her absent son, to
help a son to send a draft across seas to his mother, or a soldier to get
310 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
back pay from the government, these and a thousand other unpaid
and generally unknown services pleased his friendly nature, and his
life was full of them. But on the other hand he stood firm by his
principles in church and state, and the amiability of his nature had
always for comrade a clear, strong brain. He had more in him to
control than many, and he controlled and portioned out his nature
better than some of us. His life therefore was, as the phrase runs, in
good form.
Two points more, visible in a life like his, deserve mention. Such
lives are the substances out of which human civilization is always
recreating itself in a constant and peaceable development of human
interests and affairs. Such men are the administrators, so to speak,
of society. Other men may go down to the sea in ships, or out to bat-
tle fields; may travel in foreign parts; may emigrate; may amuse
themselves in the ten thousand nothings of an idle life; — fed to
satiety on luxuries of the cost of which they never earned a dollar
— consume the world's wealth to which they never contributed any-
thing, — and die, leaving nothing but a sad memory and a handful of
dust and ashes.
Men of affairs like Mr. Hall, with patient industry, toil in their
stated place; advise, provide, make investments, watch over funds in
trust; save property in its ten thousand forms from loss or robbery
— the driving wheels of the world's economy, and rest well in honor
after their toil and vigil. Such lives remind one of that famous
award of King David to his followers at the brook Besor: " But as
his part is that goeth down unto the battle, so shall his part be that
tarrieth by the stuff. They shall part alike."
It was in social life, however, that Mr. Hall's kind nature best
revealed itself; for though naturally modest and retiring, he was
fond of his old friends and their society. In his own American
home, in that nursery of the best of our people, that powerful offset
against public wrangle and corruption in high places, he was all
that a good man should be, with less of human infirmity than most
men show — a good husband and father, as in public life he was a
good and useful citizen. He married, in 1855, Charlotte E. Lapham
of Sandwich, and left one daughter. This memoir, while mention-
ing the public loss and public sorrow, veils with silence the sacred
memories of private sorrows greater than those which the world
ever knows. Perhaps the words of the poet might justly be applied
to the harmony and quality of Mr. Hall's life.
With his fine sense of right
And truth's directness, meeting each occasion
Straight as a line of light.
Among the gentlest of all human natures
(>r^ ^ J\r&^rwcu^
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 311
He joined to courage strong
And love outreaching to our dear Lord's creatures
With sturdy hate of wrong.
Tender as woman ; manliness and sweetness
In him were so allied
That they who judged him by his strength or kindness
Saw but a single side.
William Hamblin' was born in 1818 and died in 1874. He was de-
scended from Thomas', Thomas', Reuben', Elkanah*, James', James',
James Hamblin', who came from England, and settled in Barnstable
prior to 1640. Mr. Hamblin was a farmer, and resided near Spring
Hill. He was married in 1844 to Rebecca K., daughter of William
Atkins. They had three children — two sons, who died, and a daugh-
ter, Ida F., who now occupies the homestead with her mother.
Elijah Hancock was born in 1820 in Boston, and resided for forty
years in West Bridgewater. In September, 1876, he came to Sand-
wich, and has since had charge of the town farm. He served in the
war of the rebellion, in Company K, Third Massachusetts Volunteers.
He was married in 1841 to Hannah E. Pool, who died in 1859, leaving
three children: Elizabeth M., Ella A. and Adaline S. He was mar-
ried in June, 1860, to Julia H. Briggs, by whom he has one child,
Julia A. He is a member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R.
George Hartwell, son of Hiram J. Hartwell, and grandson of Ste-
phen Hartwell, was born in 1836 in Philadelphia, Pa. He has been a
book-keeper, with the exception of a few years, when he was a mer-
chant at Sandwich. He came to Sandwich in 1867, where he has since
lived. Since February, 1882, he has been book-keeper for I. N. Keith,
at Sagamore. He was selectman two years as a democrat. He was
married in 1868 to Isabella G., daughter of Charles H. Chapouile, born
in Boston in 1848. They have four children: Corinne, George, Han-
nah and Norman.
David N. Holway. — Among the fifty families, who, after the first
ten were the primitive settlers at Sandwich, came Joseph Holway,
whose descendants since have, in every generation to the present
time, been identified with the best interests of the town. Most of
them have resided in the eastern portion of the town, near where, in
1637, their common ancestor secured a home. As a rule they have
been tillers of the soil, and have from the first, been earnest adhe-
rents of the Society of Friends. The name — sometimes written
Holly — is frequently found among the oflScers of the town, and in the
seventh generation from the pioneer we find David N. Holway, born
1839, attaining to a prominence which sheds luster upon this family
name, and reflects credit upon the town which has sent out so many
successful men. His father was Daniel Holway, who was born Sep-
tember 2, 1800, and died in the May following his fifty-eighth birth-
312 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
day. Daniel's wife was Lydia, daughter of Stephc n Nichols of Vas-
salboro, Me. She was a woman of remarkable characteristics physi-
cally, mentally and spiritually. Daniel's parents were Stephen and
Reliance (Allen) Holway. Stephen was the son of Barnabas and
Elizabeth Holway. Barnabas' father, Gideon, was a son of Joseph,
and grandson of Joseph, the pioneer.
Such was the ancestry of David N. Holway, who as the oldest son
had, added to the advantages of the Sandwich schools, a thorough
training in the Friends' school at Providence, R. I. For six years
after attaining his majority he labored as a teacher, and in 1866 and
1867 was chairman of the school board of Sandwich. In June, 1866,
as .special agent of the Provident Life and Trust Company of Phila-
delphia, he began that remarkable career as a life insurance man,
which is to-day the basis of his business prominence. He went to
New York, in July, 1868, as the company's general agent, and trav-
eled extensively through that State until 1873. In June of that year
he became attached, as special, to the home oflBce in Philadelphia,
where he remained until 1878. Up to this time his promotions and
success must be attributed to his inherent qualities of head and heart.
At this time the company saw the need, in their New England busi-
ness, of a manager who, himself a Yankee, might the better under-
stand the special requirements of the Boston ofBce. He was offered
the position, and with G. C. Hoag, under the firm name of Hoag &
Holway, became, in June, 1878, the company's representative in New
England. Upon the death of Mr. Hoag, in 1886, Mr. Holway assumed
the sole management of the general agency, the business of which has
grown to large proportions under his care.
He has long been a thorough student of the principles and practice
of life insurance, and his literary attainments have been indicated by
several valuable treatises on the subject. One issued in 1885, entitled
The World of Life Assurance, and another, entitled The Science of Life
Assurance, which was delivered as an address in 1886 before a scien-
tific class in Boston, have reached large editions. Early in 1887 he
published, under a copyright, The Progress of Life Insurance in the
World— 1860-1887 ; giving two accurate tables of the amount in force,
and amount of new business issued each five years throughout the
world. He has since supplemented it, and it is now quoted every-
where as authority. In November, 1888, he wrote Endoxvments — a
scholarly exposition of the theory of that class of insurance, of which
work forty-three thousand copies have already been issued. His po-
sition in the insurance world was fittingly recognized in February,
1890, by his election to the presidency of the Boston Life Under-
writers' Association — the pioneer organization of the United States,
now numbering nearly one hundred members.
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 313
While pleasantly situated in the business world, Mr. Holway is
equally favored in his domestic relations. His wife, Emeline J., whom
he married in 1860, is a daughter of Captain Joseph Mitchell. Their
three children are: Harlan P., E. Florence and John F. Holway.
Mr. Holway has been a resident, since 1880, of the Dorchester dis-
trict of Boston.
Augustus Holway, son of Alva, and grandson of Stephen Holway,
was born in 1840. His mother was Lydia .Freeman. He is a farmer.
He served in the war of the rebellion nine months in Company D,
Forty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers. He was married in 1863 to
Helen F. Nye. They have one sou, Jerome R., who was married in
1887 to Ella F. Ellis, and has one son, George A. Mr. Holway is a
member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R. He is a member of East
Sandwich Grange, P. of H., of which his son is also a member.
Barnabas Holway was born in 1819, and is the youngest of five
children of Barnabas Holway, and a grandson of Barnabas Holway.
His mother was Hannah Gifford. He has been a boat builder and
farmer, and owns and occupies the farm where his father lived. He
was married to Mary Ann, daughter of James Dillingham. She died
in 1882. Mr. Holway is a member of the Friends' society of Sandwich.
Isaac W. Holway, born in 18.'56, is the only child of Joseph W'., who
was descended from John', Barnabas', Gideon', Joseph^ Joseph Hol-
way'. His mother was Ruth F., daughter of James Ellison. Mr.
Holway is a farmer. He was married in 1881 to Rosie J., daughter of
William H. Morton.
Stephen Holway was the eldest son of Stephen Holway. He was
married to Abbie W., daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Wing) Hoxie.
Mr. and Mrs. Holway are both deceased. They had eight children,
six of whom are living: George N., Deborah W.,Lucy M., Edward W.,
Hepsibah W. and Lizzie A. The family are of the Friends' faith.
Thomas E. Holway', born in 1844, is a son of Russell', Stephen',
Barnabas*, Gideon', Joseph', Joseph Holway'. His mother was Caro-
line Eldred, who died in 1867, leaving four children: Emily M. (Mrs.
Alden C. Taylor, died in 1882), Thomas E., Frank R. and Joshua E.
Mr. Holway was in the war of the rebellion in Company D, Forty-fifth
Massachusetts Volunteers, from September, 1862, to July, 1863. He
was in the shoe business in Lynn from 1863 to 1868, and since that
time has been a fruit and vegetable commission merchant in Boston.
He was married in 1870 to Octavia S. Dundar, and has one daughter,
Alice E. He is a member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R.
Edward B. Howland, son of Gustavus Howland, was born March
23, 1852. In 1869 he began to learn the machinist trade at Taunton,
Mass., and in 1872 began work with the Taunton Tack Company,
where he remained until 1879. In 1880 he started the Bay State tack
314 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
works at Sandwich, where he now lives. He is vice-president of the
Sandwich Co-operative Bank, also trustee of Bay View Cemetery As-
sociation. He was married in 1874 to Ellen F. Fuller, and has two
children: George W. and Estella A. Mr. Howland is a member of
DeWitt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Gustavus Howland* was born June 20, 1823. He is one of ten chil-
dren of Ellis Howland", Lemuel', Ebenezer Howland". His mother
was Fear Crowell. He has been a contractor and builder for about
fifty years. Since 1857 he has kept a lumber yard at Sandwich. In
1848 he was married to Clarissa Hatch, by whom he has had four chil-
dren: Mary A., Edward B., Oscar and Frank L. Mr. Howland is a
member of the Sandwich Congregational church.
Joseph Howland, born in 1819, is a son of James and Martha (Hop-
kins) Howland, and grandson of David Howland. He is a farmer and
owns and occupies his father's homestead. He was married in 1855 to
Mrs. Sarah B. Worth, daughter of David and Hannah (Bates) Greene,
and granddaughter of Lemuel Greene. Mr. Howland is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church at Marston's Mills, and is a phohibi-
tionist.
Nelson Howland', born in 1855, is a son of Solomon C, Ellis', Lem-
uel', Ebenezer'. His mother was Adelia F. Hatch. Mr. Howland is a
machinist by trade. He worked several years in Taunton, and since
1880 has worked in Sandwich. He was married in 1880 to Ada, daugh-
ter of Ronald Macdonald. They have one daughter, Mary A.
Orrin H. Howland, born in 1854, is the eldest son of Freeman H.,
and he a son of James Howland. His mother was Love D. Fish. He
has been a hardware merchant at Sandwich since 1876, and had been
clerk and tinsmith here five years prior to that. He was married in
1879 to Sara C. Drew.
Joseph Hoxie is the sixth in lineal descent from Lodowick Hoxie,
one of the proprietors of Sandwich. Just when Lodowick came to
this town is not known: but the records of the town present his name
in 1658 as one of the proprietors whose lands were bounded for rec-
ord in the proper book. In 1661 he is again mentioned as refusing to
assist Marshal Barlow, in the shameful arrests of that day, for which
he was fined by the court at Plymouth. From such ancestry Joseph
Hoxie came, and is a worthy and respected representative.
Lodowick's children were: Solomon, Gideon, Hezekiah, John,
Joseph, Bathsheba and Content. Gideon's children were: Joseph,
Simeon and Gideon. Of this number Joseph married Mary Clark of
Rhode Island. Their children were: Clark, Barnabas, Cornelius and
Mary. Barnabas Hoxie married Hannah Giflford of Spring Hill, Mass.
Their children were: Gideon, Lodowick, Kezia, Christopher, Joseph,
Mercy, Chloe and Mary. Of these, Joseph the youngest son, married
PRINT,
E. BIEHSTAOT.
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 315
Deborah Wing of Sandwich town, and they became the parents of the
subject of this sketch. Their children were: Hepsibah, Joseph, Abi-
gail and Newell. Hepsibah married Daniel Swift of Falmouth, and
died there in 1858. Abigail married Stephen Holway, jr., of Spring
Hill, where she died September 24, 1859. Newell is mentioned more
fully in chapter X.
Joseph, the only survivor of this generation was born October 29,
1798, at East Sandwich. He received a limited education from the
common schools of the day, and assisted his father on the farm during
his boyhood. In 1816 he went to Lynn to learn the details of the
shoe trade, and in 1818 opened a shoe manufactory and store at East
Sandwich. In 1822 he was in business in Sandwich village a few
months. The same year he returned to East Sandwich, purchased the
home of the late Joseph Nye and erected a building for a store and
manufactory near the pond on the south side of the county road.
This building stood opposite the old grist mill or, perhaps more prop-
erly, opposite the present Grange Hall, and has been removed to the
west of the house, where it still .stands. In this primitive building
Joseph Hoxie made the first morocco, kid and cloth shoes, in Barnsta-
ble county. He took apprentices and his goods were sold throughout
the county as well as Martha's Vineyard. The old store still presents
the array of shelves, drawers, forms and patterns used by the proprietor
nearly seventy years ago, and among other things preserved by the
family, is the old sign of 1822, which bears the notice "Joseph Hoxie
3d, Gentlemen & Ladies Morocco & Kid Shoe Manufactory." In
1832-33 or thereabouts, Mr. Hoxie killed a destructive wolf — one of
the last on the Cape — which in the three several towns of Sandwich,
Falmouth and Barnstable, in the course of three or four years was
judged to have destroyed nearly three thousand sheep.
He married, October 8, 1823, Lucy S., daughter of Stephen and
Rebecca Holway, of Spring Hill. She died, and October 8, 1838, he
married Mary, daughter of Barnabas and Hannah Holway, of the
same place. The oldest living representative of these worthy par-
ents is Henry N. Hoxie, one of the head masters of Haverford Col-
lege Grammar School, near Philadelphia, Penn. In 1868 he married
Sarah B. Boswell of Chesterfield, Morgan county, Ohio, who died at
Germantown, Philadelphia, Penn., December 31, 1883. The other
children are: Eben W., merchant at Worcester, Mass.; Lucy S., at
home with her father; Elizabeth W., who married Justin A. Ware of
Worcester, the secretary and treasurer of the Crompton Loom Works;
Hannah G., wife of Rev. Charles W. Ryder of Providence, R. I.; and
Abbie N. H., wife of Benjamin D. Webber of Beverly, Mass., the
eastern freight agent of the Canadian Pacific and other railroads.
316 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
After Joseph Hoxie's second marriage his time was almost wholly
occupied with his farm and the official settlement of estates, some of
which were unusually important. His name is connected with the
adjustment of fifty estates in his native town and the vicinity. He
never desired office but took an active interest in the body politic,
and by the earnest persuasion of his many friends he acceptably filled
the office of postmaster fourteen years, and those of assessor, selectman,
school committee and overseer of the poor for several years, and during
the gubernatorial period of Governor N. P. Banks he served two terms
in the state legislature. On the eighth of October, 1888, Joseph and
Mary H. Hoxie celebrated their golden wedding, at which nearly
one hundred persons were present, and many more sent letters of
kind greeting. The presents were numerous and valuable. Within
one short month after this, on the sixth of November, the beloved wife
and mother departed this life, leaving her aged companion to com-
plete the journey alone. Her death was keenly felt by a large circle
of her neighbors and friends. From the Barnstable Patriot of Decem-
ber 7, 1888, one of the various papers in which the event was noticed,
we make the following extract in regard to her: " Through fifty years
of her wedded life she and her husband have gathered unto them-
selves and household, friends whose love once there has never failed.
With a large family to claim her care and strength, she was never too
engrossed with it to fail to respond to any outside call of suflfering,
and shutting within her own heart her own sorrow, her rejoicing and
her weeping have been with those who did rejoice and with those
who wept. She possessed a rare grace and ability to welcome to and
entertain her friends at her home, and many a lonely, homesick one
has told her of the great strength of heart gained by the kindly
greeting which she never failed to give. Her life has been a benedic-
tion to all who knew her intimately or socially, and she has truly been
a living gospel. She hath rested from her labors and her works do
follow her."
Joseph Hoxie has been a very useful man in his town, a friend to
the needy, and one whose counsel has prevailed. He has during life
been a consistent member of the religious Society of Friends, and
more or less since 1830 has been in the service of the society as a
trustee and treasurer. For many years he has served it as overseer
and elder, and in no relation of trust has ever been required to give
security. At the age of ninety-one, he is now spending the evening
of life in the home rendered sacred in memory by the changes which
long years have wrought.
David A. Hoxie, born in 1843, is a son of Allen and grandson of
Barnabas Hoxie. He was in the war of the rebellion from 1861 to
1865, in Company D, Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers. Since
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 317
1865 he has been a farmer. He was married in 1868 to Laura Small,
and has two sons; Everett and Isaac. He is a member of Charles
Chipraan Post, G. A. R., and a member of East Sandwich Grange,
P. of H.
Edward Hoxie, born in 1826, is a brother of George F. Hoxie, be-
low. He is a carpenter by trade. He worked several years for the
Cape Cod railroad in the car shop, and since 1884 he has been a mar-
ket gardener. He was in the war of the rebellion from July, 1862, to
June, 1865, in Company E, Fortieth Massachusetts Volunteers. He
was married in 1848 to Mary J. Tarr. They have had five children:
Varona H., Mary F., Edward A., Joseph E., and one deceased. Mr.
Hoxie is a member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R.
George F. Hoxie, born in 1822, is a son of Peleg and grandson of
Hezekiah Hoxie. His mother was Phebe, daughter of Jesse Hoxie.
Mr. Hoxie is a house carpenter by trade, but for the last thirty years
has been a gardener and fisherman. He was married in 1851 to Eliza-
beth D., daughter of Edmund Smith. They have had twelve children:
Elizabeth, Celia, Olive, Carrie, Rosa, Ida, George, Lyman, Henry, Syl-
vanus, Charles and Walter. They lost one son. Mr. Hoxie is a mem-
ber of the Sandwich' Methodist Episcopal church.
Nathaniel C. Hoxie, born in 1824, is a brother of George F. Hoxie,
mentioned in the preceding paragraph. He followed the sea for
twenty years, was in the civil war, in Company D, Forty-fifth Massa-
chusetts Volunteers about one year, and since 1863 has been a farmer.
He was married in 1852 to Almira H., daughter of David Libby. He
is a member of the Sandwich Methodist Episcopal church, and a mem-
ber of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R.
Isaiah T. Jones, son of Joshua Jones, was born November 25, 1838,
in Falmouth. His mother was Reliance, daughter of Asa and Anna
(Bradford) Phinney. He has been engaged at Sandwich as a tack
manufacturer since 1861. He was married in 1862 to Hannah C,
daughter of Captain William Weeks. Their children are: Addie W.,
Lombard C, Anna R., Lottie E., Louis B., Isaiah T., jr., Frank L. and
Jennie B. Mr. Jones is a democrat, and a member of DeWitt Clinton
Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
John Jones was born in 1846 in England. His father was born in
Wales and removed to England when a boy. In 1870 Mr. Jones came
from England to Sandwich, and was employed as glass cutter by the
Boston and Sandwich Glass Company until 1888. He was married in
1868, his wife dying the following year. He is a member of De
-Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Benjamin Lovell, son of Ezekiel and Martha (Cahoon) Lovell, and
grandson of Ezekiel Lovell, was born in 1813. He was a sea-faring
man for eighteen years, was six years night watchman at the Sand-
318 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
"wich railroad station, and since that has been a farmer. He was mar-
ried in 1837 to Mercy P. Baker, who died in 1882, leaving four children:
Eliza A., Benjamin W., Boyden E. and Lote M. He was married
again in 1883 to Mrs. Eliza A. Marston.
Charles H. Macy, born in 1844 at Nantucket, is a son of Captain
Charles B. and Martha E. (Mitchell) Macy. He is a member of East
Sandwich Grange, P. of H. He was married in 1868 to Hattie T.',
daughter of Azariah Wing', Abram', Edward', John Wing', who was
the third generation removed from John Wing, the first settler.
Robert Macy, son of Robert Macy, was born in April, 1828, at
Providence, R. I. He was in the whale fishing business from 1839 to
1874, and since that time has been a farmer at East Sandwich. He
was married in 1867 to Mrs. Charlotte F. Austin of Marston's Mills,
daughter of David Greene.
John Quinnell Miller was born January 7, 1835, and is a son of
Isaac and Sophia H. Quinnell. Mr. Miller's mother died soon after
his birth, and he was brought up by Joseph Miller, whose name he
has always borne, and who died at the residence of his foster-son, June
23, 1889, aged 92 years and 1 month. From 1857 to 1885 Mr. Mil-
ler owned and kept a clothing store at Sandwich. Since 1885 he
has been in the livery business. He was married in 1857 to Mary J.
Giles, and has one son, Joseph H. Mr. Miller is a member of De Witt
Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and a member of the Sandwich Meth-
odist Episcopal church.
Sanford I. Morse, son of Simeon and Nancy Morse, was bom July
4, 1854, at Middleboro, Mass., and came to Sandwich in 1880, where he
has been a grocery merchant since that time. He has been in the
grocery trade since fourteen years of age.
John Murray, 2d, son of John Murray, was born in May, 1820, at
Glasgow, Scotland, and died in Sandwich in 1889. He came to this
country in 1848. He was a tailor by trade, and in 1868 he came from
Rhode Island to Sandwich and opened a tailor store, which he after-
ward changed into a ready-made clothing and dry goods store. He
was married in 1840 to Elizabeth Mclntire. She died, and Mr. Mur-
ray afterward married her sister Rebecca. They have one daughter,
Nettie E., wife of John S. Smith. She has three sons.
Captain Edward Nichols, son of Charles and Sarah (Folger) Nich-
ols, was born in 1813 at Nantucket. He was for thirty-seven years en-
gaged in the whale fishing, and master of a vessel for sixteen years
prior to 1864, when- he retired. He was married in 1841 to Sarah
Jones. They have two daughters: Mary A. and Charlotte B. Captain
Nichols is a member of De Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
George B. Nye, born in 1820, is a son of Joshua and Mary (Briggs)
Nye, and a grandson of Ebenezer Nye. He followed the sea about
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 319
fifteen years, was twenty-five years in the butcher business, and since
1873 has been farming and growing cranberries. He was married in
1854 to Mercy, daughter of John Phinney. Theyhave four children:
■George E., John P., Charles and Addie G.
Levi S. Nye was born in 1842. He is a son of Lemuel B. and grand-
son of Rev. Levi Nye. His mother was Eliza Sears. -He was ten
years in Boston engaged in a card and tag factory. In 1879, in com-
pany with his brother, he established the Sandwich Card and Tag
Company, where he has been engaged since that time. He was mar-
ried in 1867 to Martha Ann Bracket.
Samuel H. Nye, born in 1837, is the eldest son of Samuel, and
grandson of Sylvanus Nye, who was a justice of the peace for several
years. Samuel Nye married Mrs. Sarah P. Tobey, daughter of Daniel
Rea. Mr. Nye is a farmer, has been selectman two years, and a mem-
ber of the school committee several years. He was married in 1862
to Ruth A., daughter of Captain Dean Sears. They have three chil-
dren: Rose S., Delia C. and Anna R. Mr. Nye was in the war nine
months in Company D, Forty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, and is a
member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R. He was a charter mem-
Tier of the East Sandwich Grange, P. of H Near where Samuel H.
Nye lives a mill privilege was granted to one of his ancestors,
who built one of the earliest grist mills and carding mills in the
•county.
William L. Nye, born in 1839, is a brother of Levi S. "Nye, men-
tioned above. He was for twenty years engaged in the card and tag
works at Boston, and has been with the Sandwich Card and Tag Com-
pany since 1879. He was married in 1864 to Elizabeth, daughter of
•Stephen B. Nye, son of Charles, and grandson of Nathan Nye. They
have two children: Augustus S. and Mary E. Mr. Nye is a democrat
and has been chairman of both town and county democratic com-
mittees.
Nehemiah Packwood was born in 1837 in Worcestershire, England.
He worked twenty-seven years in the Heath Glass Works in England.
In 1867 he came to America and began as a glass cutter in the glass
works at Sandwich, where he has since been employed. He was mar-
ried in 1858 to Jemima Dudley. Theyhave two children: Nehemiah,
jr., and Lena.
Ephraim C. Percival, born in 1817, is a son of Timothy, grandson
of Benjamin, and great-grandson of John Percival. His mother was
Hannah, daughter of Ephraim Crocker. Mr. Percival is a farmer and
trader. He was married in 1839 to Eliza A., daughter of Ansel Fish.
They have two children: Mercy F. and Horace. He is a member of
Barnstable County Agricultural Society and a member of the West
Barnstable Congregational church.
320 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Fred. E. Pierce, born in 1859, is a son of David G. Pierce, who
was for several years master of a whaling vessel. In 1877 Mr. Pierce
came to Sandwich from Falmouth. He was assistant postmaster four
years, three years in the grocery business, and four years in a boot
and shoe store, prior to November, 1888, when it was destroyed by fire.
He is the present proprietor of the East Providence Boot and Shoe
Company. He was married in 1882 to Mary T. Bicknell, and they
have one son, Frank C. Mr. Pierce is a republican and a member of
DeWitt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Ezra T. Pope', born in 1825, is descended from Seth', Lemuel', John',
Seth', Seth Pope'. His mother was Hannah Tobey. Mr. Pope has
been deputy sheriff twenty-two years, was representative in the legis-
lature two years, in 1864 and 1865, and since 1874 he has been messen-
ger and sergeant-at-arms in the state house at Boston. He was married
in 1849 to Abigail Gibbs. Their children were: Francis E., Abbie G.,
Annie T., Augustus R., Ezra T., jr., Seth F., Eugene R., Eben C. and
Alice E. Mr. Pope is a republican.
Charles Quinn, son of Michael Quinn, was bom in 1827 in Ireland,
and came to Massachusetts in 1828. He is a glass blower by trade.
He came to Sandwich in 1850, where he worked at his trade until 1877.
He has been deputy sherifiF and constable since 1880. He was mar-
ried in 1846 to Susan Darby. They have two sons — George T. and
Charles S.
Philip H. Robinson, born in 1823, is a son of Thomas W. and grand-
son of Josiah Robinson. His mother was Abigail Nye. He is a farmer
and has been a member of the legislature two terms, in 1873 and 1874.
He was married in 1853 to Sylvia, daughter of Thomas Goodspeed.
They have one son, Charles W., who is clerk of the court at Brockton,
and was married to Elsie M. Kelley in 1885. Mr. Robinson is a mem-
ber of East Sandwich Grange, P. of H., and has been deacon of the
West Barnstable church for several years.
Sylvanus D. Robinson was born in 1840, in Falmouth. He is a son
of Zephaniah and grandson of Zephaniah Robinson. His mother was
Nancy Fessenden. He was engaged in whale fishing from 1855 to
1880, the last nine years as master of a vessel. Since 1881 he has been
a farmer at East Sandwich. He was married in 1876 to Jessie Mar-
shal, and has one son, Arthur W. Mr. Robinson is a member of East
Sandwich Grange, and a member of Marine Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
James Shevlin, born in December, 1838, is a son of Philip and
Elizabeth (McParlen) Shevlin. He entered the United States army
in July, 1860, serving until July, 1867. He was selectman from March,
1884, until October, 1886, when he resigned to accept the office of
postmaster at Sandwich, which position he still holds. He was mar-
ried January 29, 1875, to Annie, daughter of John and Mary McLaugh-
lin. He is a democrat.
TOWN OF SANDWICH. 321
J. Charles Steever was born in 1862 in Troy, New York, from which
place he came to Wareham, Mass., where he learned the jeweler's
trade. In September, 1884, he came to Sandwich and bought the jew-
elry business of C. A. Batchelor, and has continued the same since
that time. He was married in 1887 to Hattie C, daughter of Rev. D.
J. GrifiSn. They have one -son, Charles G.
Edward J. Swann was born in 1842 in England. He is a son of John
Swann, and grandson of Ebenezer Swann, both of whom were deco-
rators in England. He came to this country in 1866, and in 1872 he
came from New York to Sandwich, where he has been employed at
his business of decorating glass and porcelain. He came to Sand-
wich on the day the great fire in Boston broke out. He was engaged
as manager of the decorating department of the Boston and Sand-
wich Glass Company until the company suspended operations, and
has been engaged in the same business on his own account for the
past five years. He built one of the finest houses in Sandwich, which
he afterward sold. He now owns the Dillingham farm. He has been
twice married: first to Emily Lea, of England, and second to Lena
Jones, of Barnstable. He has had five daughters by his first wife,
and one daughter and one son by his second. He is a member of the
Sandwich Congregational church and of DeWitt Clinton Lodge.
George H. Terry, born January 19, 1826, in Dennis, Mass., was
for twenty-seven years a sea-faring man. He came to Sandwich
in 1876. where he has since lived. His wife, Susan, was born October
18, 1839. Their children are: George R., born February, 1848; Susan
E., June 21, 1851; George E., March 7, 1853; Sarah A., January 27,
1855; Meritta, March 7, 1857: Albatina, July 7, 1860; John L., June 1,
1863; Olive P., October 7, 1867; Louis E., June 6, 1869.
Bennett Wing, in 1796, had a wind grist mill at Scorton, which was
later moved to South Yarmouth, where it served some years. One of
the mill-stones is now in Daniel Wing's door-yard in South Yarmouth.
Eliza G. Wing kept for several years, at East Sandwich, a female
school.
Henry Wing, son of John Wing, was born in Sandwich, and passed
his life there, principally as a farmer, until his death. May 23, 1869.
He was fir.st married to Nancy Tobey, who died leaving two sons:
Henry Thomas Wing and John Edward Wing, now in business in
New York city. An older son, Samuel Davis Wing, died in infancy.
On the 28th of February, 1864, Henry Wing married Elizabeth A.
Tobey, his deceased wife's sister, who survives him. These sisters
were the children of Thomas A. and Hannah Davis (Cobb) Tobey,
who.se homestead in Sandwich Elizabeth A. Wing, the widow, now
occupies. Mr. and Mrs Tobey had six children: Nancy, Hannah
Davis, Mary Nye, Elizabeth A., Heman, and Henry Davis Tobey.
21
322 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Joseph Wing, 2d, born in 1849, is a son of Paul, grandson of Gid-
eon, and great-grandson of Paul Wing. His mother is Laura A.
(Soule) Wing. Mr. Wing is a farmer. He was married in 1880 to
Ada G., daughter of George B. Nye, and has one son, Paul.
Seth B. Wing, born in 1818 in Falmouth, is the youngest son of
Joshua, grandson of Presbury, and great-grandson of Joshua Wing.
His mother was Beulah Bowerman. Mr. Wing was a teacher for thirty-
seven years, and since 1876 has been farming. He was married in
1845 to Cordelia, daughter of Alvin Phinney. They have two sons:
Alvin P. and Charles H. Alvin P. was born in 1846. He is a carpen-
ter by trade. He was married in 1872 to Lizzie C. Turner, and has
one daughter, Cora M.
Stephen R. Wing, born in 1814, is a son of Samuel and grandson
of Paul Wing, whose father was Zacheus Wing. His mother was Ann
Rogers. Mr. Wing is a farmer. He was married in 1840 to Elizabeth
C, daughter of David and Mary (Sherman) Shove. They have four
children living: Alice R., Anna, Asa S. and Stephen R., jr., and have
lost three sons. Mr. Wing is a member of the Society of Friends.
Zenas W. Wright, born in 1815, is a son of Joseph, grandson of
Luther, and great-grandson of Martin Wright. His mother was Mercy
Weeks. Mr. Wright was engaged in whale fishing about thirty-three
years, and was master of vessels thirteen years of that time. Since
1865 he has been a farmer. He was married in 1842 to Sarah C,
daughter of Edmund Handy. They have eight children: Susan E.,
Cynthia D., Elnora F., Griselda N., William P., Zenas W., jr., Franklin
P. and Joseph E. They have lost two children. Mr. Wright is a mem-
ber of the West Barnstable church.
CHAPTER XV.
TOWN OF BOURNE.
Trading Post on Monument River. — Indian Hamlets. — Natural Features. — Land Pur-
c'.iases. — Settlement and Early Events. — Formation of the Second Precinct. — Salt
Works.— Shipbuilding.— Early Mills.— Ship Canal.— Erection of the Town of
Bourne.— Town Aflfairs.—Churches.— Schools. ^The Villages and their Institutions.
— Biographical Sketches.
THE territory embraced in the present town of Bourne, having
been included for more than two hundred years in the town
of Sandwich, the reader will refer to the preceding chapter for
a more minute political and civil history of both prior to the separa-
tion in 1884. The early settlement and development of villages and
communities within the limits of Bourne are regarded as the begin-
nings of this town, and will so appear as far as the early records are
separable. While a careful examination of the proprietors' records
of Sandwich reveals the exact location of but few of the earlier settle-
ments of the ancient town, our purpose herein will also be to notice,
so far as practicable, those settlers, who, prior to 1700, made homes
within the present limits of Bourne. The town can claim that the
soil within her borders was first cultivated by Europeans. Colonial
history says that in 1622 — two years after the landing of the Pilgrims
at Plymouth — Governor Bradford visited the little Indian village of
Manomet, now long known as Monument.
The subsequent trading post, mentioned more fully at page 26, was
attended by Mr. Chandler and Elijah Ellis, and the fields at the north
of Mrs. Mary Ann Perry's then waved with the golden maize in its
season. In 1635 a tidal wave swept over the Cape on the 15th of Au-
gust, destroying the trading post and partially filling the river with
sand. When the white man came Bourne contained other Indian
hamlets beside Manomet. At the south was Pokesit, now Pocasset;
and still to the south was Kitteaumut, now Cataumet harbor and vi-
cinity; while north of all these and extending into the adjacent town
of Plymouth was Comassakumkanit, containing the seat of the Her-
ring pond Indians.
The surface of the town presents the undulations common to the
Cape towns, and has a soil of sandy loam. The ponds are numerous
324 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
but small ; Herring pond, the largest in this vicinity, being but par-
tially in the town. Mill pond has an area of fifty-seven acres; Deep
Bottom pond, thirty-four; Flax, sixty-four; Long pond, twenty-eight;
Upper Pocasset, twenty; Lower Pocasset, ten; two Succonesset ponds
of twelve acres each; one southwest of Flax, twenty-one; another at
South Pocasset of twenty-two; and many smaller ones.
Bourne is the western town of the county, having Plymouth and
Wareham, of Bristol county, on the north, Sandwich for its eastern
boundary, Falmouth on the south, and Buzzards bay on the west.
Bourne neck is a fertile tract of land at the head of Buzzards bay,
lying between Cohasset narrows and Monument river, and on which
the growing village of Buzzards Bay is situated. Wenaumet neck,
with its lighthouse, is an important point, and assists in forming a
good harbor for Pocasset in the southern portion of the town; and
Scragg's neck— now an island at high water — serves the same pur-
pose for South Pocasset, near the Falmouth line. The smaller bays
and inlets of rivers, along the western coast of Bourne, on the greater
bay, afford safe anchorage for shipping.
This fifteenth town of the county, and the youngest as a body pol-
itic, had early events of an interesting nature. Its fertility and pecul-
iar advantages were early seen, and not many years had elapsed after
the first proprietors of the parent town had taken up the land along
the bay of Cape Cod, before they looked upon the present territory
of Bourne with a longing, which resulted in a petition to the general
cotirt for permission to purchase, and assistance in purchasing Mano-
met. On May 13, 1654, at a special town meeting, the framing of this
petition was submitted to Mr. Dillingham, Goodman Tupper, William
Newland, Goodman Bourne and Thomas Dexter. That these gentle-
men moved immediately in the matter is not shown by the records;
but they do show the appointment of Michael Blackwell, in 1670, as
agent of the Herring river fishery, showing that at that time the pro-
prietors were in legal possession of the land to and including the
river. The records of 1672 say, "Mr. Edm. Freeman Sr., Wm. Swift,
Thos. Wing Sr., Michael Blackwell, and Wm. Newland were requested
to go forward settling and confirming the township with the sachem
of Manomet or any other; " and not until later is mention made of
permanent settlers at Monument.
The Perrys, then living at Scusset, were admitted as freemen in
the year 1677, and in 1680 they purchased lands along the south bank
of the Monument river, where now is the village of Bourne. They
have descendants in the town who claim their coming was of much
earlier date; but the town records do not substantiate the assertion.
The four sons of Ezra Perry — Samuel, Ezra, jr., John and Benjamin —
built their cabin here, and many of the people residing at Bourne
TOWN OF BOURNE. 325
have seen the vestiges of this home. Tradition says these four sons
of Ezra Perry traded at Herring river, and coming home at night
used to shelter themselves behind a large rock near their house and
fire three or four bullets through the door, to drive out any lurking
Indians who might be secreted there. The rock is large enough to
have sheltered many more Perrys, and is to be seen on the premises
of Ordello R. Swift, near the flagstaff he erected a few years ago.
The purchase of the south part of Bourne had not yet been made,
as on the 18th of May, 1680, " Thos. Dexter, Stephen Skiff, and Thomas
Tupper were appointed Agents to buy of the Indians all the undis-
posed lands that lie between Plymouth, Barnstable, and Suckanessett
— all they can buy of the rightful owners." Two selectmen of Ply-
mouth, and William Bassett and Daniel Allen of Sandwich, settled the
bounds between this town and Plymouth, April 9, 1701, " beginning
at Peaked cliff on the seaside, running to a rock on the westerly side
of Herring pond, thence to the little pond below the dwelling house
of John Gibbs, jr., thence to a marked pine tree by the fence in the
meadow of Benj. Gibbs by the Red Brook, thence by this brook to the
bay." In 1706 a further purchase of lands was made by the town,
from Zachariah Sias, an Indian: "A tract at Herring river, on the west
side of the line run between the town and Indians' lands."
Settlers came rapidly to this part of Sandwich, and Ebenezer Nye,
John Smith, Elisha Bourne, John Gibbs, jr., Benjamin Gibbs and
others may be recognized as then permanently located in the terri-
tory of Bourne. Nor were all the lands of the western part of the
town yet purchased of the Indians; for the town, in special town meet-
ing, on February 12, 1708, "granted liberty to Wm. Bassett Jr. to pur-
chase of Wm. Numick Jr., (Indian), other lands lying over against
Monamet bay;" and later, in 1716, liberty was voted to Nathan Bar-
ber to purchase the remainder of the lands of Numick; then followed
a re-survey of the old line and an extension of the line between the
towns of Plymouth and Bourne, which was as follows: " Beginning
at a white-oak bush on Peaked cliff, marked on four sides, with stones
about it; from thence running S. E. 3° to the westerly side of Her-
ring pond abt 2 rods from the mouth of sd pond to a rock; and from
said rock to the Wareham line." During the period of time covered
by the additions of territory, as mentioned, that part of Herring pond
and along Buzzards bay had become the seat of communities. The
travel from Plymouth to the Cape became of so much importance that
the general court had ordered a road to be laid out from Plymouth to
Sandwich; but m 1654 it had not been completed.
In 1684, the main road from Barnstable to Plymouth, through
Bourne and Sandwich, was laid out by a jury empaneled by the gov-
ernor, and is now the County road, as it is known through the Cape.
326 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Another highway was laid out later, which being beyond the memory
of man, deserves mention. The proprietors' records say that Josiah
Swift and others presented a petition, May 15, 1746, to the selectmen,
proposing to build a new road " to be turned round the swamp in the
place of the old one that goes through Herring river to Monument."
This road was accepted by the town December 31, 1746, but the old
one was not to be shut to the public, " if persons put up the bars and
shut the gates."
The people of Bourne were intensely interested in a wild scheme
for fencing out wolves; and the people of the original town of Sand-
wich pursued the idea with that persistency which they usually mani-
fested. At a town meeting of Sandwich, held May 27, 1717," the town
manifested a desire to have a fence made as speedily as it can well be
done from the Picket cliflF over to Waquan.sett bay to keep oflF the
wolves from coming into this county; and in order to do it that Wm.
Bassett, the town clerk, do send to the selectmen of the respective
towns of the county that they propose to their respective towns of
the county at their next townmeeting to joyn with us in the charge,
and to inform them that if they will bear their proportion with us of
;^500, that we will make a good board fence of more than six foot high,
and what the charge is more than that we will bear it."
This scheme was not favorably considered by any other towns ex-
cept Falmouth, which by vote acceded to it. Then the town's repre-
sentative was " Instructed to apply to the general court for an act re-
quiring the towns below, in consideration of the great destruction of
sheep by wolves, to bear their part of the expense of a fence across
the isthmus, suflScient to exclude wolves."
The founders of the present flourishing town of Bourne continued
their ihiprovements in roads. On the 19th of May, 1718, the people
in town meeting assembled, by vote " did approve of the road that
leads through the Herring river so called, and so up to Manomet, al-
lowing as it has been used and accustomed; so likewise ye way yt
leads out of that way again over the sd Herring river by the house
in which Thomas Jones now dwells and so up to the house of Nathan
Bourne in which he now dwells."
The fishing privileges of Herring river have been, and still are
controlled by the town, and are a source of profit. The quantity taken
from this river exceeds that from any other on the western part of the
Cape. Early in the last century the supply of herring so far exceeded
the demand for fi.sh food, that the surplus was used to fertilize the
fields, and the growing custom of using them in each hill of planted
corn was checked in 1718, the town fathers ordering that none should
be taken in future to " fish corn." The fisheries of the entire town
are now controlled by the selectmen, and this of Herring river is an
TOWN OF BOURNE. 327
important branch. The right of the people to have each family a
certain share of herrings is sustained, and the profit beyond this is
sold to the highest bidder. For the year 1890 this privilege was sold
for one thousand dollars, reserving two barrels for each Indian family,
and a barrel for the head of every other family in Bourne or Sand-
wich, the latter town having a common interest with the former in
the herring rights.
This people early had been active in the matters of the church,
which by dissensions had become reduced to a small membership, and
at the close of Mr. Smith's pastorate, in 1688, James Skiff, Thomas
Tupper, Thomas Tobey, Jacob Burge and William Bassett were the
only active male members. In 1732 a petition was presented by certain
ones " to be released from paying for the support of the minister, and
to be set off as a distinct precinct." This request was refused " on the
ground that the' petitioners are widely scattered and in all make less
than 20 families; " and it was voted by the town that " the return of
the disaffected is the only way to restore our ancient glory of unity
and peace."
Again, in 1744, Ebenezer Wing and twenty-three others of Pocasset
and Manomet petitioned to be released from paying to the support of
Mr. Fessenden and town schools, which by the vote of the town was
refused. The application for a precinct was renewed in 1769, and in
1772 Pocasset was incorporated as the second precinct in Sandwich.
These last petitions had been carried to the general court where the
prayer of the petitioners was granted. This division was only of
the church, but the feeling that ultimately resulted in the division
of the parent town and erection of the town of Bourne, existed from
this time. In 1797 an ineffectual attempt was made to divide the
town, the movers desiring to include Monument, Pocasset and other
portions in the new township.
This portion of the parent town had been first in many enterprises
of the day not yet mentioned. It raised its portion of the school-
master's salary, and at Pocasset and also at Monument the school was
kept a proportion of the year. Early in the present century salt
was manufactured around Buzzards bay. The last of these extensive
manufactories, at Back river, succumbed to the change in affairs about
the middle of the century. Ship building was an industry as early
as 1800, and was carried on by Captain William Handy, who retired
from the seas and engaged in it successfully, establishing a shipyard
near his house on Buzzards bay. He sent forth from his own yard
the ship Rebecca, the brig Fame, the schooners Resolutio7i, Naficy, So-
plironia. Love, Achsah Parker; the sloops Betsey, Nancy and Deborah, and
other smaller vessels designed for the Long Island Sound trade during
the war of 1812. Benjamin Burgess built the brigs CordeliazxiA. Sarah
328 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Williams at Sagamore, and soon after 1830 he built the schooner Caro-
line, on the knoll by the creek on Watson Freeman's land. Benjamin
Burgess and Abner Ellis built the bark Fratiklin for the West India
trade here about 1837; and the bark Lysander in 1842. Schooners and
sloops were built on the banks of the stream below Keith's factory,
and the canal is yet visible where they were compelled to cut across an
elbow of the stream to float the vessel. Very many of the people of
the town have followed the sea as shipmasters.
The superior advantages of Herring river for mill power, early
turned the attention of the settlers to the enterprise, and as early as
1695, the proprietors' records, under date of December 17th, say," the
town have granted liberty to Mr. Elisha Bourne to sett up or cause to
be sett up a grist mill upon the Herring river, so called, where it may
be most convenient, provided it shall not be prejuditial to the her-
rings going up, and that he that shall keep .sd mill shall grind all the
corn that he grinds of all sorts for two quarts per bushel." This was
cheap grinding, but the site and privilege were granted by the town,
and the conditions were undoubtedly very just. This mill for grind-
ing long ago fulfilled its mission; but in 1717 we hear of it again; for
permission was given by the town " that a sawmill be sett up some-
where between the grist-mill and Herring pond's mouth, but not to
prejudice herring up or down." This was granted to Benjamin
Bourne, who built the mill, but he was kept under surveillance by the
town officers on account of the herrings. These mills caused much
trouble to the herring business and were compelled at times to cease
running.
The selectmen of Sandwich, in 1734, ordered " that the mill be
stopped from grinding, from 1 of April to May 20, unless Medad Tucker
and Samuel Gibbs decide that the course of herring is not obstructed."
The old mills mentioned have made their paragraphs in history,
and like their founders belong to the pages of the past. The sawmill
site is marked by some of the foundation stones, and but little of the
grist mill building remains. The town has no grist mill now, nor do
we find that any has been erected during the present century except
a wind mill at Pocasset, erected about 1845 by Parker & Dillingham,
and that was sold to go to Falmouth after a very few years. The wind
mill now at Cataumet was built in Rhode Island and moved to New
Bedford, thence about 1853 to Cataumet, by Perry G. Macomber, then
proprietor of the Red brook estate, on which it stands, in ruins, since
the September gale of 1869.
The proposed ship canal across the Cape, when completed, will be
almost wholly within the limits of Bourne. Its course as surveyed is
from Scusset harbor, through Sagamore, along the valley in which
Bournedale is situated to the village of Bourne, thence to Back River
TOWN OF BOURNE. 329
harbor. The town of Sandwich, within whose limits it then was, gave
its consent to this canal in 1801. Other companies prior to the one
engaged have accomplished more or less, but all have effected but
little compared with the grand whole. The present company has given
an earnest of its intentions and ability to prosecute the work by pur-
chasing much valuable property along the surveyed route, and exca-
vating a small portion of the proposed channel.
The vote of 1889 appropriated two thousand dollars for the sup-
port of the poor. The other appropriations were: For schools, five
thousand dollars; for roads, forty-five hundred dollars: and for other
town expenses, fifteen hundred dollars. They also made a liberal
provision for the selectmen to have a transcript made of the records
of Sandwich, the parent town, by H. G. O. Ellis, which transcript will
be deposited with their own.
For over two centuries had the fathers and their living descend-
ants residing in Bourne contributed to the prosperity of the entire
town by taxes and expenses, which, in later years, they believed were
disproportionate to their relative advantages. This belief only in-
creased the unrest of that portion, and the desire, which we have no-
ticed as existing a century before, for self-government. The lapse of
time for two generations had increased the reasons for and strength-
ened the determination of the people of Bourne to erect a town of
their own, and in 1860 steps were again taken in that direction. The
opening of the civil war diverting the attention of all concerned, the
subject was practically dropped until 1873, when hearings on the peti-
tion of Captain Nathaniel Burgess and others for a division of the
town of Sandwich, were held before a legislative committee, but the
line of division as proposed not being satisfactory, a strong opposition
was developed, and the project was defeated. These reverses only
strengthened the hope and determination of the people, and they pa-
tiently waited until more sure of success. In 1883, a new movement,
broader and stronger than previous ones, was inaugurated. The citi-
zens of Pocasset, Monument and North and West Sandwich rallied,
determined to have a township by themselves. The first meeting was
held in the school house at Monument, December 15, 1883, with Cap-
tain Nathaniel Burgess in the chair, and Edward S. Ellis as secretary.
After discussing the matter, William A. Nye, Edward S. Ellis, Zadock
Wright, Benjamin B. Abbe and Joshua A. Baker were appointed a com-
mittee to complete a permanent organization. At the adjourned meet-
ing, held at Welcome Hall, Monument, December 29th, this committee
reported the following ofiicers, which were accepted: Ezra C. Howard,
Nathaniel Burgess, George I.Briggs, John P. Knowlton, John A. Beck-
erman and William A. Nye, as an executive committee, with Mr. How-
ard as chairman and Mr. Nye as secretary; Isaac N. Keith, Nathaniel
330 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Burgess and Benjamin B. Abbe, finance committee; Ebenezer Nye,
James T. Handy, M. C. Waterhouse, Joshua H. Baker, John A. Beck-
erman, Paul C. Gibbs, Nathaniel Burgess, George E. Phinney, George
I. Briggs, Isaac Stevens, John G. Wright, Ezra C. Howard, Nathan B.
Ellis, John P. Knowlton, Levi Swift and Edward S. Ellis, a general
committee.
The vote of the meeting was to accept no line of division except
the line between West Sandwich and Sandwich village. Many peti-
tions were sent to the legislature for and against the measure; coun-
sel for both sides, with witnesses, were heard January 24, 1884, before
the committee, at the state house, Boston. The territory of the new
town and the old was looked over personally by the legislative com-
mittee, and the strongest measures were brought to bear by the pe-
titioners and remonstrants. The opposition was led by hope to follow
the bill through all its legislative phases, but they were promptly met
at every turn by its friends. It was sent to the executive and re-
ceived his approval April 2, 1884, and the old town of Sandwich was
cut in twain. The new town, with an area of over 23,600 acres, and a
population of 1,363, including 419 voters, was called Bourne, in honor
of the late Hon. Jonathan Bourne, of New Bedford, a native of the
town. A meeting for organization and the election of temporary
officers was held April 12, 1884, and these officers called the regular
town meeting for April 23d.
In May, 1884, the line between the old and new towns, surveyed
by Edward S. Ellis and Charles M. Thompson, was approved by the
selectmen. The division line " begins at a point on the shore of
Barnstable Bay, 8,184 feet southerly from the Plymouth line at Peaked
CliflF (so called) running thence S. 3 3° 53' W. 516 feet to a stone monu-
ment; thence on same course 7,138 feet to the N. W. corner of Free-
man's Lane (so called), and the location of the Old Colony railroad;
thence on same course 127^ feet to a stone monument on the south-
easterly side of said Freeman's Lane; thence along said lane S. 44°
W. 1,210 feet to a stone monument on the southerly side of the
County Road; thence S. 23° 26' W. 17,707 feet to a stone monument on
the northerly side of the Pocasset and Sandwich road (so called) at
the intersection of Turpentine Road (so called), with said road;
thence S. 15° 32' W. 4,068 feet to a stone monument on the easterly
side of said Turpentine road, at the junction with the old Turpentine
road (so called); thence S. 18° 58' W. 7,547 feet to a stone monument at
the southeast corner of the intersection of the Turpentine road and
the county road between Pocasset and Snake pond; thence S. 35° 22'
W. 7,631 feet to a stone monument at the northwest corner of the
intersection of the Turpentine road with the Howard Road (so called);
thence on same course 9,553 feet to a stone monument at the Fal-
mouth line on the easterly side of the Turpentine road."
TOWN OF BOURNE. 331
The regular town meeting of April 23d elected for town clerk,
William A. Nye; for selectmen and overseers of the poor, Ezra C.
Howard, David D. Nye and Albert R. Eldridge; for assessors, David
D. Nye, Moses C. Waterhouse and John P. Knowlton; for treasurer
and collector, Nathan Nye; for superintendent of schools, Levi R.
Leavitt.
The officers elected in 1885 were: Ordello R. Swift, town clerk;
David D. Nye, Albert R. Eldridge and Jedediah Briggs, selectmen.
The selectmen were to also act as assessors and overseers of the poor,
and the clerk as treasurer. The same officers were elected for 1886,
and for 1887 the same clerk, and Nathan Nye was elected as select-
man in place of Jedediah Briggs, the remaining two being re-elected.
In the springs of 1888, 1889 and 1890 the town voted the continuation
of clerk and selectmen of the previous year, an evidence of capability
on their part, and an expression of confidence by their townsmen.
The town has, as yet, erected no public buildings. Since it was in-
corporated, the poor of the town, which in 1889 were only five persons,
have been boarded at the poor house of the town of Sandwich.
A division of the taxes was made by the selectmen of the old and
new towns on the 23d of July, 1884, by which Bourne had to pay
$1,083.67— $47.34 more than the old town; and of the county tax,
$655.24r— $28.62 more than Sandwich. On the 24th of December,
1884, the division of debts and property and final settlements were
amicably concluded and adjusted between the towns.
Churches. — The people of Bourne, supporting now four churches,
seem to realize that their religious duties are as essential to the
prosperity of the town as are their educational and civil. Their abil-
ity to support separate societies, and their disposition to do so, have
been mentioned. An early pastor said of Methodism in the town,
that it came early and came to stay. Rev. Jesse Lee preached at
Monument as early as 1791; and in 1794, after Joshua Hall, the first
preacher stationed here, a class was formed, composed of John Perry
and Jemima, his wife; Covel Burgess and Lydia, his wife; John Phin-
ney and Abigail, his wife; Zacchcus Hatch and Ann, his wife; Chris-
tian Burgess, Christania Perry, Maria Nye and Anna, her sister, and
Phoebe Swift. These thirteen pioneer Methodists have many descend-
ants in Bourne. Joshua Hall was succeeded by Joseph Snelling in
1795, and he by Ephraim Kibby in 1798. Daniel Webb and Reuben
Jones were stationed here in 1799, and Joshua Soule in 1800-1; David
Bachelor, in 1802-3; Joseph Snelling, in 1804; Moses Currier, in 1805;
Nathaniel Elder, 1806; Thomas Asbury, 1807; Joseph Snelling and
Joseph Merrill, 1808; Benjamin Lombard, 18C9; Stephen Baley, 1810;
Aaron Lummis, 1811-12; Stephen Baley, 1813; William Frost and
Thomas Peirce, 1814; J. W. Handy and Richard Emory, 1815; Moses
332 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Fifield, 1816; Benjamin Hazleton, 1817-19; Father Edward J. Taylor,
1820; Taylor and Benjamin Brown, Sandwich and Harwich, 1821; F.
Upham, 1822; A. D. Sargent, 1823; Jonathan Mayhew, 1824; Erastus
Otis and John Hutchinson, Sandwich and Falmouth, 1825; F. Upham,
1826-27; Enoch Bradley and Nathan Spaulding, 1828; Frederick Up-
ham, 1829-30; Steele, Janson, Marsh and Noble, 1831-32; J. B. Bliss
and Josiah Litch, 1833; Joseph Barstow, 1834; Philip Crandon, 1835-36;
Abraham Holway, 1837; Joseph Brown, 1838; H. Mayo, 1839; Joseph
Marsh, 1840^1; Nathan Paine, 1842; Anthony Palmer, 1843; G. W.
Brewster, 1844; Heman Perry, 1845; N.Goodrich, 1846-47; W. H. Rich-
ards, 1848; D. H. Swinerton, 1849-50; Joseph Macreading, 1851; S.Steb-
ings, 1852; J. B. Hunt, 1853; E. B. Hinckley, 1854; E. S. Stanley, 1865;
F. Sears, 1856-58; J. B. Washburn, 1859; George H. Winchester, 1860-
61; A. W. Swinerton, 1862-63; G. A. Silversteine, 1864: J. B. Husted,
1865-66; Philo Hawks, 1867-69; C. N. Hinckley, 1870-71; E. S. Fletcher,
1872-74; J. H. Humphrey, 1875-76; E. J. Ayers, 1877; A. L. Dearing,
1878-79; C. N. Hinckley, 1880-82; R. Burns, 1883-85; J. G. Gammons,
1886-88; and J. Q. Adams, 1889.
The Methodists and Congregationalists worshipped in the same
house for a time, but jealousies arose and this dual worship ceased.
The first Methodist Episcopal church building at Bourne was erected
in 1831, Captain Ellis M. Swift being the principal mover; he built
the church and received for the thirty-four pews enough to pay him.
This house was enlarged at a cost of $1,218 in 1843, and was owned
by individual pew-owners for the next forty years, but in 1883 it was
made free. The church society is strong and prosperous.
The Methodists at Sagamore had preaching and meetings until
their strength enabled them to organize a society, which was effected
by those interested here. A church building was raised July 27,1828,
and dedicated in June, 1829, as the Union Free Church, but has been
occupied by the Methodists since, and is now the property of that
society. In 1852 the building was remodeled and one row of windows
substituted for the two, which improvement gave it a more modern
appearance. The society, which is prosperous, built a parsonage in
1865. Preaching was supplied from Sandwich village early, and just
when the society commenced with its own settled minister is difficult
to decide. The conference records show that in 1848 Rev. Robert M.
Hatfield was stationed here, and was followed in 1852 by Rev. Benja-
min L. Sayer. Thomas D. Blake came in 1854, and the pulpit was
supplied by C. H. Payne of the Sandwich charge in 1857. We next
find John H. Cooley here in 1859, who was succeeded by Abel Alton
in 1860, by Thomas D. Sleeper in 1862, B. K. Bosworth in 1863, and
Franklin Gavitt in 1866. The present church records give for stated
ministers: H. B. Cady, appointed in 1871; Philip Crandon, 1873; Asa
TOWN OF BOURNE. 333
N. Bodfish, 1874; C. E. Walker, 1876; H. S. Smith, 1877; A. McCofd,
1878; G. H. Butler, 1880: G. H. Lamson, 1882; Robert Clark, 1884; Ed-
ward Lyon, 1886; Hugh Copeland, 1888; and E. F. Newell since April,
1889. The church clerk is A. T. Rogers.
The Methodist Episcopal church edifice at Cataumet is historic by-
its age, and the uses to which it has been put and the changes it has
undergone, being in part the one once used as an Indian church at
Burying hill, Bournedale. While standing on its former site. Rev.
Mr. Tupper was the preacher from 1769, the general court paying
him for his services for Christianizing the Indians; but the natives
were not disposed to attend divine service, and the edifice was re-
moved in 1779 to its present site. Mr. Tupper died in the year 1796,
and was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Hinds of the Baptist faith until
1806. The first Methodist clergyman here was Rev. Joseph Snelling,
and the building was repaired during his pastorate. The Methodists,
undervarious names, have had the ascendency since, and have become
a strong and prosperous society. From 1822 the society took the name
of Reformed Methodist church, and thirteen years later we find
the name Methodist Protestant, and under their management the
church building was again repaired and the bell placed in the tower.
This remained its distinctive title until August 31, 1866, when Rev.
Lorenzo D. Johnson accepted the pastorate under Presiding Elder
Thomas Ely, and the church was reorganized under its present
•name.
The pastors have been: Reverends Erastus Otis; Frederick Upham,
D.D., now of Fairhaven, Mass.; Levi Nye; Mr. Brown; Pliny Brett,
who came in 1822; Joseph Snellings, about 1830; Joseph Eldredge,
October 1, 1835; William Tozer; Joseph K. Wallen; David Hill; David
Culver; Samuel Chapman; Moses Brown; James Magall, 1852; Richard
H. Dorr, 1854; Joshua Hudson, 1857; William Marks, 1859; George
Pierson, 1859; Netson W. Britten, 1861; Lorenzo D. Johnson, 1866;
Joseph Marsh, 1867; Hopkins D. Cady, 1870; Franklin Sears, 1871;
Charles W. Ryder, 1872; Henry F. A. Patterson, 1873; S. W. Cogges-
hall, D.D., 1874; Richard H. Dorr, 1875; Daniel M. Rogers, 1876; Ed-
ward Williams, 1879; Samuel Fox, 1881; Louis M. Flocken, 1888; John
H. Buckey, 1889.
The Ba-ptist church at Pocasset, standing on an eminence near the
station, was formerly in use at Snake pond, having been taken down
in 1838 and removed to Pocasset site. It was enlarged and modern-
ized, and in 1889 moved to a more central location near the railroad
station. The society was organized April 9. 1838, as the Baptist Church
of Christ, of Pocasset. The original members were: Hezekiah Lum-
bert, Levi Barlow, Obed Barlow, Solomon N. Barlow, Obed Barlow, jr.,
Eliab King, Caleb Benson, Elizabeth Barlow, Lucinda Barlow, Eliza-
334 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
beth Barlow, jr., Susan Kelley and Polly Benson. Its first deacons
were Hezekiah Lumbert and Levi Barlow.
Caleb Benson, the first preacher, was succeeded in 1839 by Alex-
ander Mellen; in 1841 by Nathan Chapman; then by supplies for sev-
eral years. Henry Coombs was pastor in 1852, and supplies from Mid-
dleboro and Providence filled the pulpit for nearly a score of years,
as the records of the church indicate. Isaac Alger preached in 1872;
Rev. Hickok in 1873; D. Jones in 1876; A. H. Murray, 1878; supplies,
1879 to 1885; Mr. Livermore, 1885; W. W. Hackett, 1887; and W. A. C.
Rouse since 1888.
The society is in a prosperous condition and sustains a well orga-
nized Sabbath school. Of the thirty-two active members, W. A. Bar-
low is the present deacon, and Miss Susan H. Barlow, clerk. About
fifteen years ago the society purchased of the town the school house
of the Pocasset district, and remodeled it into a suitable hall for social
meetings and society purposes, standing nearly opposite the present
school house.
The Second Congregational church of Sandwich deserves a men-
tion here. It was situated at Bourne village, between the school house
and the residence of George I. Briggs, and meetings were held in it
by the " town minister," at stated periods, on the Sabbath, for the ben-
efit of the members residing in this western portion of the town. Thirty-
three of them organized themselves into a separate society, July 9,
1833, and in 1834 a new edifice was erected, which was destroyed by
fire in August, 1862, during a thunder storm, and was not rebuilt.
Two years previous to the formation of this society, they acted in-
dependently of the First church, in so far as to establish regular ser-
vice at this house of worship, and secured the services of many minis-
ters for short periods. Rev. Nathaniel Barker supplied them for a
year after their organization, and for six months in 1835, Rev. Daniel
Tappan supplied the pulpit. Mr. Tappan's labors being crowned with
an abundant harvest to the society, he was ordained its minister late .
in the year, and continued his labors until July 24, 1838, when for two
and one-half years Samuel Colburn ministered. In 1841 Hazael Lucas
was installed pastor, and continued until November, 1845. From
February, 1846, William Ottinger supplied for two years. From 1848
to the destruction of the church building, in 1862, Reverends Joseph
Garland, Ezekiel Dow, Nathaniel Cobb and Levi Little supplied.
There are but few of the faith here at present, and no preaching is
separately maintained.
Schools. — The schools of the town did not seem to 'receive any
check by the transfer to new rulers; but, on the contrary,Jwere no-
ticed in the report of December 31, 1884, as greatly improved. Eight
districts belonged to this town by the act of 1884, with buildings ap-
TOWN OF BOURNE. 335
praised at $8,050. L. R. Leavitt, the superintendent, manifested un-
usual interest during the year in the advancement of every branch,
favoring the teachers with an Institute during the autumn, and two
meetings for discussion and exchange of experience. For the year
ending December 31, 1885, the number of scholars enrolled in the pub-
lic schools was 277 — fifty-four more than the previous year.
The school building at Buzzards Bay was enlarged during the
year, at a cost of one thousand dollars, and a high school began Sep-
tember 14, 1885, with thirty pupils, a portion of whom had formerly
attended such schools in other towns. The expenditures of the year
aggregated $3,650 for the common, and $970 for the high school.
The school year of 1886 was still more prosperous, the number of
schools aggregating eleven — one high school, two grammar, six mixed
and two primary. The high school had so increased in numbers, that
the addition of a room for recitation purposes was made in the spring
of 18S7, in time to commence the spring term; and the employment
of an assistant in this department was made imperative by the in-
crease of patronage. The class of graduates for 1887 gave proof of
the earnest application of the pupils, and the faithfulness of the teach-
ers and school ofl&cers. This school, that three years before was
deemed so doubtful an experiment by some, was now acknowledged
of inestimable worth. The elevation of the standard in attendance
is always an indication of advancement and improvement. The sup-
ply of maps and other apparatus had been without stint, and the study
of the .science of physiology had at once been commenced, in obedi-
ence to the law of 1885, and the best advice of the highest educators.
The liberal policy of the citizens in their school management had
commenced a return of that reward due them for their wisdom. The
legislature in its May session of 1888 distributed among the towns
of the state $40,000 for the support of schools, under certain condi-
tions, and the town of Bourne had become entitled to a liberal share.
The appropriation for schools for 1889 was much in excess of the first
year of the town; and the most excellent care bestowed by these citi-
zens upon this important foundation, will result in a most beautiful
and glorious temple. There are still eight districts — one at Cataumet,
one each at Pocasset, Monument Beach, Bourne, Buzzards Bay, Head
of the bay, Bournedale, and Sagamore, besides high and grammar
schools, the entire system employing twelve teachers.
Villages. — The present small villages of the town are the natural
outgrowth of convenient places for post oflBces or stores while the
communities were removed several miles from a greater centre. It
has several of these, but Bourne (formerly Monument) has been
chosen as the location of its office for the clerk and meetings of the
selectmen. It is a pleasant village on the Monument river and con-
336 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
tains some very pretty residences. The Perrys were the first settlers,
as has been mentioned, and had stores here at an early date. Caleb
Perry, grandfather of Mrs. Hiram Crowell, kept a small grocery store
here, as early as 1810, on the knoll south of the river. About 1824
Elisha Perry built a house where Persia B. Harmon resides, and in
a lean-to he had a store. Charles Proctor succeeded him, and in turn
was followed by James Ellis, who came across to the north side of the
river and engaged with Ellis M. Swift a short time. In 1847, when
the Old Colony railroad made its advent into Bourne, Ellis M. Swift
built a store next to the track, north side, where he continued the
business until it was burned in January, 1854. The store was then
rebuilt by Mr. Swift on its present site, and has been owned success-
ively by him and his sons — William R., Seth B., Abram F. and Ordello
R. Abram F. Swift built the store he now occupies, adjoining the
depot, in November, 1877, to which he removed, Ordello occupying the
former until 1888, when he was succeeded by F. C. Eldridge.
Monument post office was established here February 5, 1828, the
mail being received from horseback riders until 1832, when a stage
line was established. Elisha Perry was the first postmaster, with the
office at his store. The office was kept by those succeeding him in
the store, until James S. Ellis was appointed, September 23, 1845.
Ellis M. Swift was appointed September 7, 1849, and removed it to
the store across the river. Erastus O. Parker received the office on
June 7, 1853, at the depot, where it was kept until 1872. Abram F.
Swift, the present incumbent, was then appointed, and removed it lo
his store. The office in 1884 took the name of the new town.
The only lumber yard of the town is kept here by A. R. Eldridge.
It was started in 1877 by Mr. Eldridge, and is along a wharf of the
Monument river. Lumber and shingles are mostly brought from
Maine, around the Cape, up Buzzards bay to the yard. The only
public building is Welcome Hall, the property of a stock company of
many members. Its erection, late in the year 1884, is largely due to
the energy of Moses C. Waterhouse. It is situated on the south bank
of the river, and is used by the town for occasional town meetings.
Ellis M.Swift was the first agent here for the Old Colony company
in 1847, and was succeeded in 1853 by Erastus O. Parker, who moved
to Buzzards Bay in 1872; then Abram F. Swift became agent. Late
in the year 1877 the present station was erected on the site of the-
former.
Buzzards Bay is pleasantly situated on Bourne neck. It is the
junction of the Woods Holl branch with the Cape Cod division of the
Old Colony, and has advantages which could render it the first village
in the town. This village site was originally the home farm of the
Bournes, and from the home farm of Benjamin F. Bourne, deceased.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 837
the present lots were laid out. This gentleman had a store at his
residence in 1807. It now contains over thirty residences, and the
town meetings for elections and public business are held here. The
first store here was opened in 1873, by Isaac Small, jr., which he occu-
pied until it was burned, January 25, 1889. For four years previous
to its burning, a store had been kept by David H. Baker. In March,
1889, Baker sold to Mr. Small, who is now the only merchant here.
About 1875 he was appointed postmaster, which position he has since
held, the ofl5ce in its location following the changes of his store, and
in its name that of the station in 1880.
Prior to the completion of the Woods HoU branch, Cohasset Nar-
rows was a flag station, but in 1872 it became one of the most import-
ant on the Cape. The present depot was built the same year, and C.
S. Bassett was appointed agent.
There were no hotels here until 1872, when Erastus O. Parker built
the Parker House, just north of the depot, and has since been its host.
The same year Dr. John Garfield erected a hotel, the Monamet House,
of which he was host two years, and was succeeded by L. H. Baker,
R. P. Collins, and Mrs. Grey; and by Wesley B. Pierce for the last five
years prior to 1889.
The Buzzards Bay citizens resolved to have a hall for their own
and public use, and a stock company of one hundred shares at ten dol-
lars each was decided upon. The stock was taken and on the 15th of
April, 1879, the organization was perfected. The building, called
Franklin Hall, is a wooden structure situated near the station.
Pocasset village is 3^ miles south of the village of Buzzards Bay,
and in the history of the town the locality is of much importance from
its early settlement and prominence in the affairs of the old town of
Sandwich. The name is a corruption of the Indian name Pough-
keeste, and later Pokesit. Barlow's river runs southwesterly through
this beautiful section into the bay, where a fine harbor is formed by
Wenaumet neck on the north and Scragg's on the south. Red brook
connects Handy's pond with the same harbor. Scragg's neck was
formerly the property of the first parish of Sandwich, over which there
was a controversy when Pocasset was instituted as a second parish.
The name of the post office is Pocasset, although the name of the sta-
tion was changed April 1, 1888, to Wenaumet — a name which, in time,
the village of Pocasset will naturally assume.
The oldest industry here is the furnace and works on Barlow's
river, which were built as a blast furnace in 1822 by Hercules Weston.
It was sold in 1832 to Rufus Kendrick and John A. McGraw of Boston,
and Branch Harlow of Middleboro, who continued the business as the
Pocasset Iron Company. Its furnaces were altered and stoves, kettles
and hollow ware of various kinds were manufactured. Howard Perry
338 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
purchased the property and it was burned during his ownership; but
was at once rebuilt and passed into the hands of Blackwell & Burr of
New York city, who, after an active business of several years, closed
it in 1856. The first fancy top and bottom for an air-tight stove was
cast at this furnace, Charles H. Nye making the patterns during his
seventeen years of service as foreman of the works. It is just to men-
tion that the merit of the products of this foundry has not been en-
tirely superseded by the rapid progress of the age, for its wares are
still in use; William Hewins, of Falmouth, now has a stove of the
pattern mentioned in use in his parlor. The foundry was sold in 1880
to Henry S. Sterling, and was again burned in 1881. He rebuilt it,
and upon his death in 1882 it passed to the c^wnership of the Tahanto
Manufacturing Company, who changed its nianufacture to fancy cast-
ings. The Tobey Island Club purchased the premises and business,
in 1888, and leased to Mr. Jameson, who is making ornamental arti-'
cles of late devices, including bric-a-brac, bas-relief in bronze, statuary
and plaques. A store was opened here during Mr. Perry's ownership
of the furnace, and was practically a company store, conducted by
George W. Ellis & Co., until the close of the furnace about 1866. Asa
Raymond opened a store in 1844, which he has since successfully man-
aged in an addition to his residence. Jesse Barlow has had a store
since 1887 at the residence of Dea. W. A. Barlow.
A post office was opened here February 6, 1828, with Hercules
Weston postmaster, succeeded April 16, 1834, by Howard Perry.
Zebedee Green was appointed August 12, 1869, and was in turn suc-
ceeded in 1862 by Asa Raymond at his store. Elisha H. Burgess was
made postmaster April 1, 1888, and has the office at his store, where
he has been in mercantile business eight years.
Cataumet, or South Pocasset, as formerly known, is a mile to the
south of Wenaumet station, on the Woods HoU branch of the railroad
and on Red Brook harbor, in whose waters are found an ample supply
of fish, giving employment to many of its citizens. The change of
its post office April 1, 1888, to the name of Cataumet (from the har-
bor at the southwest) and the naming of the station also, has entirely
obliterated the old name. It is a pleasant little summer village en-
joying all the facilities of land and sea. A* an early day the stage
line from Sandwich to Falmouth brought this vicinity in communica-
tion with the outer world, but from 1870 to the establishing of a post
office, their mail was supplied by Asa Raymond in his daily rounds.
Alden P. Davis has been postmaster since the office was opened in
1884, and has been the station agent since 1886. David Dimmick kept
tavern here many years where his grandson Frederick now keeps the
Bay View House. This community was favored with a store prior to
1872 by Sylvanus E. Handy, succeeded by Alonzo S. Landers, who
RESIDENCE OE WILLIAM A. NYE,
Boitrtteiiatc, Mass.
TOWN OF BOURNE.
339
built anew, and in 1888 sold to the present merchant, A. P. Davis,
who erected a fine new store in 1889. Another little store has been
kept here for the past five years by Reuben P. Lawrence. The oyster
and fishing business is here, as elsewhere along the bay, a profitable
industry, engaging many persons, the most prominent of whom we
mention elsewhere.
Monument Beach is a summer resort between Buzzards Bay and
Wenaumet station on the Woods Holl branch, and is now increasing
in growth and importance more rapidly than any other village in
Bourne. Its long rows of pretty residences, as seen from the bay or
passing train, create within the traveler a desire to enjoy its loveli-
ness. It has summer hotels and every convenience for recreation.
It overlooks Back River harbor, with Tobey's island nestling in the
bay opposite, and is one of the most picturesque spots along the bay
coast of Bourne. Perez H. Phinney, who was made postmaster in 1878,
keeping the office in a suitable building across the track from the
depot, also fills the position of station agent. The growing import-
ance of this romantic spot induced David H. Baker to erect a conven-
ient building and open a store in the spring of 1889. There are
many retired shipmasters here, enjoying the fruits of their perilous
labors, concerning whom, as well as other prominent seafaring men,
oyster men and artisans of the town, individual mention will be made
in other sections of this work.
Bournedale, formerly called North Sandwich, is pleasantly situated
in the north part of the town, in a valley through which the ship
canal is surveyed. Burying hill, now the property of Francis H.
Ellis, is here— a round, high knob of land which was the burial place
of the Herring Pond Indians when the whites first came, and has been
since the memory of the present residents, by whom no use of the
hill has been made. Upon a plateau on its southern slope is the site of
the church which was removed to the south part of the town, and at
the base of the hill is the never-failing " Meeting-house spring." A
flagstaff and seats crown the hill, and its commanding view leads the
pleasure seeker and antiquarian to the summit. The fish house of
the town is located here, on Herring river, and is so constructed that
the herring must pass through the narrowest possible limit for the
stream, under the house, at which point large quantities are taken for
food and bait. Just above, are the remains of the old grist mill of 1695,
surrounded by a dam from which much important machinery has
been propelled.
In 1821 a trip-hammer and axe factory was erected west of the old
mill, of which the flume only remains. Prior to 1830 Thomas Swift
and Mr. Fox built an addition to the old grist mill, which was used for
manufacturing purposes, but was taken down. About 1836 the busi-
340 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ness of the nail manufactory, near by, required more room and other
facilities, when E. Ellis & Co. erected the present building, leaving a
portion of the old mill on the east. Deming Jarvis was the successor
of Ellis & Co. He cut staves for the Boston and Sandwich Glass Com-
pany and ran a saw mill until 1870. The only machinery now driven
by the wheel is that belonging to the axe factory of Seth W. Holway,
and the new drill factory erected in 1890 by William A. Nye.
The buildings and works of the Howard Foundry Company are
just below Burying hill. This is the most important industry of
this little village. Ephraim Ellis and Isaac Bent, in 1831, erected
here suitable buildings on the river, where iron was rolled into plates
and cut into nails. Ten cutting machines were used and many
hands employed. N. Bourne Ellis purchased the interest of Mr.
Bent in 1834 and this branch of industry was continued under the
firm name of E. Ellis & Co. until 1838. The advent of puddled iron
and the financial condition of the country after the trying ordeal
of 1837 rendering the business unprofitable, the works were closed.
Deming Jarvis and Clark Hoxie purchased the plant in 1840, con-
verting it into a machine shop and foundry. Buildings was added
to the north and south sides of the original building, and prior to 1860
the north building was burned, the evidences of which are still visible.
The foundry was idle for a term of years and about 1870 was pur-
chased by Ezra C. Howard, who continued it as a foundry, casting
for cars and machinery. William A. Nye, who had been with his
uncle, Mr. Howard, since 1871, leased the property May 1, 1884, and
became its owner in 1885. Several competent workmen are con-
stantly employed by Mr. Nye, who supplies the Keith Manufacturing
Company, and large manufactories at Wareham with various neces-
sary castings.
Of a necessity a post oflBce was established here and we hear of
Mason White as postmaster in 1837, receiving mail from Sandwich,
succeeded by Nathan B. Gibbs, July 22, 1845. When the railroad came
in 1847, Charles Bourne was appointed station agent, and in April, 1849,
as postmaster, which positions were filled by him and his daughter
Lucy until a few years ago. William A. 'Nye and Edward S. Ellis
served a short time each and the present incumbent, Frederick A.
Boswell, in 1884 assumed the care of both.
Before the term of Mason White as postmaster, this part of the
town, according to the government records, was supplied by mail
from an office called Buzzards Bay, which was established here Feb-
ruary 7, 1831, with Henry Gibbs, postmaster. He was succeeded in
March of the same year by Bethuel Bourne, who held the oflBce until
its name was changed to North Sandwich, July 11, 1837.
Sagamore, the flourishing village formerly known as West Sand-
• 7 " ---:c^--^.*>^/*i>r.-
RESIDENCE OE HON. ISAAC N. KEITH,
Sagaffio>t\ ."^fass.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 341
wich, is on the line of the proposed canal, and has one of the tribu-
taries of Scusset harbor to afford power for manufacturing purposes.
It contains about sixty residences and business places, and is one of
the prettiest rural villages of the town. Nearly all the site bn which
it is built was once the farm of the pioneer Thomas Burgess, who
lived just east of the village on the north side of the present county
road and opposite the present residence of John P. Knowlton. A de-
pression in the old orchard marks the spot where, in 1637, he built his
residence.
This point was early a favorite resort for fishermen, and in 1696
the resort called " Tom Swift's " was famous. He was allowed by the
selectmen to keep an ordinary, and that implied the right to keep
everything but dry goods.
The most important enterprise here is the Keith manufacturing
works, for the building of freight cars of the box and flat pattern.
The Old Colony, the Boston & Maine, and other roads use the cars
manufactured here. This business is the outgrowth of a shop for a
wheelwright and blacksmithing business, erected in 1829, by Isaac
Keith, father of the present owner, on the dam adjoining the building
that contains the present engine and machinery. This led to a ma-
chine shop and forge in which, in 1849, a large business was done
manufacturing tools for use in the California mines. Hiram T. Keith,
in 1861, became a partner with the father, and in 1867 Isaac N. Keith
became interested, and they purchased the business, in 1869, of the
father, who died in 1870. In 1882 Isaac N. Keith became sole owner
and proprietor, and in 1887 added the buildings at the north — the
workshop 66 by 120 feet and the paint shop 40 by 176 — all covered
with a strong truss roof of the Monitor pattern. In the various build-
ings fifty experienced men find employment. The requisite power
has increased with the works and is now supplied from an eighty
horse power engine. The lathes, planers, trip-hammers and other
machinery are of the latest and best manufacture, indicative of the
superior work of the plant. Mr. Keith, whose time has been recently
absorbed by legislative and other duties, has an efficient foreman in
B. F. Bray.
Stores were kept here early, and in those days store and post office
were generally together. We find Benjamin Burgess engaged in a
store where Hiram Crowell lives soon after the war of 1812. Here
was kept the post office established January 1, 1825, and receiving
mail by the Plymouth stage. Isaac Keith was made postmaster No-
vember 17, 1836, purchasing the business of Mr. Burgess, and con-
tinued the post office there. Charles H. Burgess was appointed
postmaster September 26, 1 840, and also took the business. He was
succeeded in the store by Asa Besse, who after a few years moved
342 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
away. Later Hiram Crowell started store again where Benja-
min Burgess had kept, but after a few years discontinued. Paul
Crowell also had a store quite early, and continued until his death.
Levi Swift opened a store in the old school house by the Methodist
Episcopal church soon after 1870. In 1885 he sold to N. H. Knowlton,
who moved to the present store near the depot. Mr. Knowlton sold
to B. B. Abbe & Co. in 1888, and they to the present firm of Crosby
Bros. & Co. in June, 1889.
The post ofl&ce on May 9, 1853, was put in the care of Isaac Keith,
who was postmaster and agent of the railroad company until his death
in 1870, when Isaac N. Keith was appointed postmaster and station
agent, which offices he nominally continues. The present fixie depot,
which is also the office of Isaac N. Keith, was erected in 1887.
Liberty Hall was erected in 1879, and has a seating capacity of 260.
The building committee was Nathan Nye, Hiram Crowell, I. N. Keith,
H. T. Keith, J. P. Knowlton, Seth F. Swift, William R. Gibbs and B.
B. Abbe.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. .
Benjamin B. Abbe, born in 1841 in Boston, is a son of Alanson
Abbe. His mother was Hepzibah, daughter of Benjamin Burgess,
who was born in 1778, and died in 1864. He was a son of Elisha and
Hannah (Nye) Burgess, and was a merchant in Boston from 1816
until his death. Mr. Abbe was brought up by his grandfather Bur-
gess, his mother having died when he was a babe. He has been a
permanent resident of Sagamore since 1864. He was married in 1863
to Emma, daughter of William Burgess. Their children are: Benja-
min B., jr., Frank G. and Mary E. Mr. Abbe owns some of the real
estate which was bought by Thomas Burgess in 1637, and which has
continued in the family since that time.
Abbott L. Aldrich, son of Wellington Aldrich, was born in 1849
in Dover, N. H. He bought the Red Brook property and Red Brook
wharf at Cataumet in 1886, and in April, 1889, he came to make his
permanent residence here. He was in a restaurant in Boston seven
years. He was an actor for nine years when a young man. He was
married in 1877 to Mary C. Abbott. They have three sons.
Herbert C. Ames, the youngest son of Cephas I. Ames, was bom
in 1866 in Barnstable, and is a carpenter by trade. He was married
in 1880 to Mattie, daughter of William Ellis. They have two daugh-
ters.
Laureston E. Ames, bom in 1839 at Nantucket, is also a son
of Cephas I. and grandson of Isaac Ames. His mother was Rhoda
H., daughter of Samuel Nickerson. He was at sea from 1851 to 1869.
He came to Buzzards Bay in 1873, where he has been engaged with
TOWN OF BOURNE. 343
the Old Colony Railroad Company since that time. He was married
in 1860 to Ann Herring. Their children are: Elmer E., Cephas E.
and Geneva E. One daughter died.
Nathaniel Atwood, born in Wellfleet, is a son of Eleazer and
grandson of Nathaniel, whose father was Eleazer. His mother was
Betsey D. Harding, who was the mother of fifteen children, of whom
nine are living. Mr. Atwood came to Buzzards Bay in 1877, where
he has since been engaged in the oyster business. His wife was
Louisa A. Newcomb.
Zamira J. Avery, bom in 1849, is a son of Gilbert E. and Reliance
(Taylor) Avery, grandson of John, and great-grandson of Joshua
Avery. He is a moulder by trade, but since 1886 he has been en-
gaged in the meat business at Pocasset. He was married in 1871 to
Deborah F. Adams, who died in 1877. He was married in 1878 to
Sarah F. Pulsifer. They have two sons: Watson E. and Francis B.
David H. Baker, born in 1833 in Dennis, is a son of Hiram and
grandson of Zenas Baker. His mother was Rebecca, daughter of
David Howes. He was at sea fifteen years. In 1868 he came
from Dennis to Bourne, where he was a farmer for eighteen years,
when he sold his place for a clubliouse, and he has been a merchant
since that time. He was married in 1856 to Amanda M. Bassett, who
died in 1887, leaving five children.
Joshua H. Baker, bom in 1842 in West Dennis, is a son of Hiram
and Rebecca (Howes) Baker. He was a seafaring man until 1867,
when he came to the town of Bourne, and since 1876, has lived at
Buzzards Bay. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1885. He
was married in 1875 to Alice F., daughter of Oliver C. Wing. Their
two children are: Lila May and J. Arthur.
Captain George W. Bacon, son of Owen and grandson of Jabez Bacon,
was born in Hyannis in 1825. His mother was Abigail (Burse) Bacon.
Hewasmasterof vessels most of thetimefrom 1847 to 1886. During his
early seafaring life he shipped in sailing vessels, and was captain at the
age of twenty-two. In 1861 he began steamshipping for United States
transports, and later was coast pilot from the Brooklyn navy yard.
He was on several ships, including the Colorado, the Despatch, the
Wabash, and the monitor. Dictator, in which he went from New York
to Key West in Febraary, 1869. In the convoy with the monitor was
the Juniata, man of war. A heavy gale was encountered off Savannah
and the Juniata put in to Tiba Roads, Savannah. The captain tele-
graphed to Washington that she had lost the monitor. He received
a telegram to return, saying that the monitor had arrived in Key West
all right, and ordering the captain of the Juniata to proceed there with
all haste and report to the captain of the monitor. Captain Bacon re-
turned to New York, and most of the time since has been employed
344 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
by the Reading Steamship Company. He retired in 1886. He was
first married to Sarah A. Burse, who died in 1880, leaving three chil-
dren: Sarah, Rose and George W., jr. He was married October 10,
1883, to Hannah P., daughter of Allen Bourne.
Jesse B. Barlow, born in 1838, is the eldest son of Jesse and a grand-
son of Jesse Barlow, who came to Pocasset from Newport, R. I., when
a lad, and married Polly Godfrey. They raised four children, of
whom three sons are living — one in the West, and Jesse and William
A., in Pocasset. His mother was Maria Ellis. Mr. Barlow has been a
sailor since 1847, and has had charge of vessels since 1862. He was
married in 1858 to Susan H., daughter of Frederick Westgate. They
have three children: Zetta F., Jesse F. and Flora M.
Edward W. Barlow, youngest brother of Jesse B., was born in 1856.
He has been at sea for the last fifteen years, and master of a vessel
since 1879. He was married in 1878 to Elizabeth Wright. Their chil-
dren are: Frank E., Susan, Sarah M. and Alden W. He is a member of
Marine Lodge. A. F. & A. M., of Falmouth.
Captain George F. Bauldry, son of Samuel Bauldry, was bom in
England in 1824. He was at sea from 1836 until 1888, and was for
several years a most successful whaling captain, sailing from New
Bedford. He died September 25, 1889, at his home in Bourne. He
was married in 1853 to Nancy E. Berry, who, with three children —
George L., Ella E. and Lyman C. — survives him.
Everett E. Berry, born in 1861, is a son of Gideon and Sabra A.
(Eldridge) Berry. In 1878 he began work for the Old Colony Rail-
road Company (Woods Holl Branch), and since 1885 has been a
conductor. He was married in 1884 to Ella Brown, and has two
sons and one daughter. He is a member of Woods Holl Lodge,
Knights of Honor.
Edwin A. Blackwell, born in 1846, is the eldest son of Edwin
H. Blackwell. His mother was Sarah, daughter of Gershom Ellis.
Mr. Blackwell is a contractor and builder and also does some archi-
tectural work. He was married in December, 1880, to Abbie G.
Walker. They have two children: Agnes P. and Otto B.
Elliott B. Blackwell, born in 1852, is a son of Captain Henry S.
and Mary (Ellis) Blackwell and a grandson of John and Hannah
(Swain) Blackwell. He is one of seven children, of whom only he
and his sister, Mary A., are living. He has been a carpenter for
several years. He was married in November, 1888, to Susan F.
Douglass.
Ellis H. Blackwell, born in 1839, is a son of Ellis and Lydia
(Perry) Blackwell, grandson of John and great-grandson of Patrick
Blackwell. From boyhood until 1874 he was engaged in coasting
and sailing, with the exception of a few years spent in California
TOWN OF BOURNE. 345
and Montana. Since 1874 he has been in the oyster business. He
was married in 1871 to Rowena A., daughter of Stephen Cahoon.
Benjamin Franklin Bourne. — On that beautiful slope of land at
the head of Buzzards bay, in Bourne, in its rich landscape of land
and sea, stands the ancestral mansion in which the honored subject of
this sketch was born February 25, 1816. He was a scion of that family
tree from Puritan stock transplanted by Sir Richard Bourne, into
Sandwich in 1637, and the fruits of whose branches have been cast in
their golden harvest over this portion of Barnstable county. In this
particular branch the male line of eldest sons were: Sir Richard, Job,
Timothy, Timothy, Dr. Benjamin, Esquire Benjamin and Benjamin
F. Bourne, who died of typhoid pneumonia at this home February 11,
1874, after an illness of twelve days. The life of this just and active
citizen was replete with incident and usefulness. His boyhood was
passed on the home farm and in the district school until his attendance
at Wilbraham Academy in his eighteenth year. His adventurous dis-
position induced him when nineteen years old to ship from New York
city on his first voyage, and he followed the sea more or less until his
marriage, September 1, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Lincoln, a descendant
of Captain Rufus Lincoln, of Wareham, and of revolutionary fame.
The newly discovered gold fields of California offered such induce-
ments, that a company of twenty-five men in the winter of 1848-9
chartered the schooner Jolm Allyne, with A. Brownell, captain, and
Benjamin F. Bourne as mate and sailing master, and left New Bed-
ford, February 13, 1849, for this then far-oflf land. The incident dan-
gers of doubling Cape Horn induced the company to attempt the
passage of the Straits of Magellan. On the first of May, Mr. Bourne
and three companions went ashore to purchase fresh provisions and
were captured by the savages of Patagonia — a race of cannibals —
who retained him for a ransom of rum and tobacco. By the treachery
of the natives he was compelled to remain a prisoner, enduring hun-
ger and hardships that would have proved fatal to ordinary powers.
He effected his escape after ninety-seven days of horror and suflfer-
ing, and was enabled by the kindness of ship captains to complete his
voyage to the golden land. His trials for three years fill an interest-
ing volume written by himself and which passed through two editions
that his many friends could each possess a copy. The government
sent the sloop of war Vandalia to rescue him, but he had escaped.
After his return home and restoration to comparative health, he, with
Mr. DeWitt of Albany, N. Y., had a fine brig built on Long Island,
and he continued coasting until 1857, when be retired to till the pater-
nal acres of the homestead. His father, Benjamin Bourne, Esq., after
a long and useful life as a legislator and selectman, died December
21, 1863, in this same home erected by him in 1807; and the surround-
346 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ing estate fell to the care of Benjamin F. The residence had been
erected to face the ship canal, looking south; but a general remodel-
ing was given the house, only leaving two large rooms as reminders
of the past.
In his retirement and the cares of his estate, Mr. Bourne did not
seek oflBcial honors, although he was often pressed by his many
friends to serve in various capacities, which he invariably refused.
His quiet, firm judgment gave him strength in counsel and action,
and his advice and presence were sought after on all important occa-
sions. His name and support to any measure was an earnest of its
justice and success, and because he insisted upon certain benefits for
the western part of the town (now Bourne) the people of Sandwich
village gave him the name of " Dictator." He foresaw the ultimate
division of the old town and the growing importance of resorts and
village lots at Buzzards Bay, and at the time of his death he was ac-
tively engaged in dividing and plotting into lots that portion of his
estate, now the site of that growing village. His funeral was largely
attended February 16, 1874, by friends from abroad, and the news-
papers of the cities of the Commonwealth, as well as of the county,
teemed with eulogies and descriptions of his useful and remarkable
career, in a life, which was shortened, undoubtedly, by his early hard-
ships. Surviving him, besides his widow, are the children — Lizzie
Lincoln, who married Fred. O. Smith; Annie DeWitt, widow of Joshua
Handy, deceased; and Benjamin F. Bourne, the only surviving male
representative of this line, the eldest born, William H. DeWitt,
being deceased. The surviving children reside with the mother on
the home estate, except Mrs. Smith, who lives near by. The children
of Fred. O. Smith, who married Lizzie Lincoln Bourne October 8,
1873, are: Frederick F., Lottie I., Daniel DeWitt, Kate M. and Edith
L. Mr. Smith is not only a civil engineer, but a contractor and
builder; and the son, Benjamin F. Bourne, has the care of the estate.
The children of Mrs. Annie Handy are: Richard Clifton and Edith
Florence Handy. The life and character of Benjamin F. Bourne,
deceased, are marked by those characteristics that led his ancestors to
Christianize the natives; and his practical Christian principles in public
and individual affairs has left to his memory a more enduring monu-
ment than that erected in the private ground of the estate.
Jerome L. Bourne, born in 1848, is a son of Joshua and Mary Ann
(Cady) Bourne, and grandson of Jonathan Bourne. He was a sailor
for fourteen years, but since 1881 he has been a painter. He was mar-
ried in 1873 to Emma, daughter of George T. and Hannah S. (Bourne)
Gray. They have three children: Austin G., Ralph W. and Rebecca
A. Mr. Bourne is a member of the Bourne Methodist Episcopal
church, and is trustee and steward of the same.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 347
Samuel Bourne is a son of Nathan and grandson of Samuel Bourne.
His mother was Hannah, daughter of Moses and Rebecca Swift. Mr.
Bourne's great-grandfather, Elisha Bourne, was an early settler from
England. He was a tory during the revolution and on that account
had to flee from his home and hid away in woods owned by himself
for some months. He afterward went to Connecticut and remained
till peace was declared, but lost much of his property by so doing. He
was an ofiBcer under King George and took the oath of allegfiance just
before the war broke out. Two years before the war broke out he
sent to England and purchased a clock for eighty dollars, which is
now owned by Mr. Samuel Bourne and is 117 years old. Mr. Samuel
Bourne followed the sea until about ten years ago, and since then has
been a farmer. He was married in February, 1853, to Mary G., daugh-
ter of Lewis and Rachel Perry' (Solomon", Timothy', Timothy*, John',
Ezra', John Perry'). Their two sons living are Charles E. and Nathan
L. Ansel, deceased, left three sons: John, Chester and Charles.
Benjamin F. Bray was born in 1847 in South Yarmouth. He is the
only living child of Benjamin, and he a son of Eben Bray. His mother
was Olive Crowell. He entered the employ of Keith Manufacturing
Company at Sagamore, in December, 1881 , took charge of works at
Hyannis in October, 1882, and in August, 1884, returned to Sagamore
and took charge of the works there. He was married in 1871 to Clara
L. Robbins. They have had three sons: Alexander F., Frank O. and
Winsor E., the eldest of whom was drowned June 21, 1889.
George I. Briggs was born in Wareham November 3, 1843, and
is the son of Jedediah and Mercy (Bodfish) Briggs. Educated in
the Wareham schools he went to sea at a very early age and entered
the navy in 1861, where he served as quartermaster during the
rebellion on the Southern coast, and was often under fire, being on
several boat occasions one of the few who escaped alive. He mar-
ried, in 1872, Thirza Ayer Keen, and has one daughter. He is a
member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R., Sandwich, has been some
five years on the school committee, and is in many ways a driving,
useful citizen in the town of Bourne, which he lent a .strong hand
to incorporate and organize.
Aaron L. Burgess, son of Perez and grandson of Covel Burgess,
was born in 1811, and is a blacksmith. He has worked at the trade at
Cataumet about fifty years. He was married in 1834 to Mary S.,
daughter of John Bourne. They have one daughter, Mary E., who
married Anthony Little in 1868, and has one daughter, Hattie M.
Charles H. Burgess 2d, born in 1830, is a son of Covel and grandson
of Covel Burgess. His mother was Xoraina Swift. He was an iron
moulder by trade. In 1862 he obtained a patent on a furnace water
door, and since that time he has been engaged with the invention,
348 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
which is now in general use. He has been a member of the school
board about twenty years, and superintendent for the last three years,
and has also been justice of the peace. He was married in 1855 to
Helen M., daughter of George Atkins. They have one daughter,
Helen M.
Elisha H. Burgess, born in 1836, is the youngest son of Jabez and
a grandson of Covel Burgess. His mother was Rebecca Bassett. He
is a machinist and worked at that trade about six years. He has kept
a grocery store at Pocasset since April, 1881. In March, 1888, he
moved his store to where it now stands, and since April 1, 1888, he has
been postmaster. He served two years in the war of the rebellion
in Company D, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry. His wife, de-
ceased, was Ellen Jaquith, who left two daughters: Christina A. and
Mary E.
Captain Nathaniel Burgess. — Doctor Savage says of Thomas
Burgess, one of the first settlers of the plantation of Sandwich, "He
was a chief man of them." We safely write that none of his descend-
ants in Cape Cod more worthily bears the name to-day than Captain
Nathaniel Burgess of Bourne. He represents the seventh generation
of the family, the male line of descent being Thomas, John, Samuel,
Thomas, Nathaniel, Nathaniel and Captain Nathaniel. The Captain's
father was born in that part of Sandwich now Bourne, May 15, 1779,
and married Peggy, daughter of Peter Cammett of Barnstable, No-
vember 27, 1806. He died April 27, 1853, aged seventy-four, surviving
his wife of sixty-seven by only a few days. Their children were: Wat-
son, Nathaniel, Catharine, Hunnewell, Robert W., Malvina and Ro-
silla E.
Of these eight children the only survivor is the second, Captain
Nathaniel Burgess, who was born at Pocasset, February 11, 1812, where
his boyhood was passed in work upon his father's farm, with very few
advantages for school. At the age of fifteen he went in a whaling
vessel, and his proficiency secured him the appointment of mate in
the whaler Robert Edwards of New Bedford, at the age of twenty-two,
and that of captain at the age of twenty-six. This position he success-
fully filled for eighteen years, and became known as one of the most
capable shipmasters ; one voyage of twenty-eight months yielded
$100,000 worth of oil to the owners, and another $80,000. Not only
as a skilled navigator, but as a capable manager of men. Captain Bur-
gess has an enviable reputation. He regards the control of the crew
as the most difiicultof the master's duties. His last crew represented
nine nationalities. His voyages were chiefly in the Pacific, with a few
in the Arctic seas, and at the age of forty-two he retired with a com-
petence.
The captain has his share of perils and trials to relate to posterity,
and remembers with gratitude one voyage to the Arctic seas, on which
^^-^^^^^^j^i.^^ iyJ^U<i^L^eA^
PHINI.
eiEnsTADT.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 349
his wife and two children accompanied him, she being the first cap-
tain's wife on the Cape to undertake such a voyage. They were em-
bayed twelve days in a mass of ice, and the bank around the vessel
shut out a view of the surroundings. His anxiety was the need of
fresh water, as the necessary supply seemed uncertain. The men
went out and at no great distance found a basin or pond of beautiful
water in the field of ice, from which they filled and stored about one
hundred barrels before the ship -vyas loosed. The captain graphically
describes the scene of endless ice fields, the men so cheerfully at work,
his two children at play on the ice, and the want of water so provi-
dentially supplied.
After his first voyage as chief mate and his appointment as master,
he married, on the seventh of July, 1838, Ann, daughter of Peter Cam-
mett, jr. Their children were: Margaret, born January 28, 1846, died
in 1881; Robert W., September 8, 1847; Helen, February 14, 1849, died
October, 1866; Edward, June 20, 1852, died same year; Edward H., born
January 15, 1854; and Lucy E., born May 24, 1857. Since retiring from
sea Mr. Burgess has been engaged in the oyster business at Monument
Beach, which has been since 1884 continued by his sons, Robert W.
and Edward H., as Burgess Brothers, who furnish the market with
the celebrated " Little Bay oysteirs." Robert followed the sea about
twelve years, and in 1880 was married to Amanda F. Penniman. Ed-
ward H. was engaged in the oyster business with his father several
years prior to 1884. He married Ella Wright in 1874, and has three
sons and two daughters, who represent the ninth generation of this
old family.
The subject of this sketch, Captain Nathaniel Burgess, as a re-
tired sea captain, represents one of the most substantial and char-
acteristic elements in the population of the county. That hard-
earned discipline of mind which brought him success at sea has
secured to him on land, as well, that fair degree of appreciation from
his townsmen, which, in his old age, he is now enjoying. He has
always advocated the principles of the republican party, but, except
one year as selectman of Sandwich, has taken no official place; he
was, however, associated with Isaac N. Keith and Benjamin B. Abbe
on the executive committee when Bourne was incorporated, and
bore his part in the work in the town and for weeks before the
legislative committee. When we consider that Captain Burgess be-
gan his career at sea with less of school training than the average
boy of twelve now has, aind when we find him acquiring in the
forecastle the elements of an English education and a practical
knowledge of the science of navigation, and see him steadily ad-
vancing to take command of a ship and its crew, we have some slight
measure of the ambition and energy that are, doubtless, the leadings
350 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
traits of his character. His name is strength to any undertaking,
and his active industry and moral characteristics are an earnest of
his success.
Captain Seth S. Burgess. — This well-known resident lives in the
town of Bourne, on the eastern shore of Buzzards bay, in the quiet
retirement of his mature years. He was born in this vicinity, May
18, 1810, and is a descendant of -the illustrious Thomas Burgess, v.'ho
with a few others, in 1637, planted the first permanent settlement
in Sandwich. Any who have inherited this honorable family name
have a just right to be proud of this heroic Puritan ancestor, who
died in 1685 and whose grave was honored with the only inscribed
stone erected to any Pilgrim of the first generation. The male
line of descent from this pioneer to Captain Burgess is direct, be-
ing: Thomas, John, Samuel, Thomas, Covill, Perez and Seth S.
Perez Burgess spent his later years at farming, but was captain of
coasters until 1820. His son, Seth S., then a lad of ten years, accom-
panied him on his last voyage, and the next year went with his uncle,
Jabez Burgess, as cook at three dollars per month. From that time
his opportunity for obtaining an education was confined to the winter
months. At eighteen years of age he was mate, and the next year he
took charge of the sloop Deborah, in the employ of his uncle, Ellis
Swift. After a captaincy of three years in this sloop, while at Fall
River with a cargo of lumber, he met Lovell & Burr, lumber mer-
chants, who offered him a brig in the coasting and West India trade,
which he accepted. For a few years he successfully managed the brig
and the schooner Patriot, visiting Bremen and other European ports.
In 1838 he purchased the sloop Meteor, which he commanded two
years. He then coasted south with varied and successful experien-
ces, visiting South America and other intervening ports in the brig
Massachusetts. During most of the time for the next twenty-two years
he was in the employ of Thomas Whitridge & Co. of Baltimore,
in the Brazilian trade, commanding the following vessels: The
schooner Clara in 1851, the barque Mondamitt in 1856, the ship
Gray Eagle in 1861, and the barque Yamoyden in 1868. These vessels,
with the exception of the Gray Eagle, were built expressly for Cap-
tain Burgess. Mr. Whitridge rarely insured the goods entrusted to
the captain's care, because he felt confident of their safety. In
1873, after forty-four years in command of every kind of vessel,
from sloops to ships, without the loss of a man or vessel and even
without a serious accident, the captain retired to enjoy the fruits of
his labors.
September 3, 1833, he married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Reu-
ben Collins. She died January 13, 1845, leaving two children; Clara
A., who still resides at the homestead, and Seth M. now of New York
e. BIEHSTAOT, N. V.
RESIDENCE OE SETH S. BURGESS,
Monument Beacli. Man,.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 351
city. Captain Burgess married January 3, 1850, Lucy E., youngest
sister of his 5rst wife. She died August 9, 1879.
The captain's residence is charmingly situated in a quiet rural com-
munity, and as a typical New England homestead we make it the sub-
ject of the accompanying illustration. It is older than the Declaration
of American Independence and is rich in historic associations. It was
for years the home of Dea. Daniel Perry, by whose ancestor it was
erected. It passed into the hands of Ezekiel Thacher, of whom the
captain purchased it in 1832. The original house has received various
additions and improvements, but its identity is by no means destroyed.
Political preferment has not been the aim of Captain Burgess, al-
though he has been active in the dominant party — a democrat until
1861 and a republican since. His father, an exemplary Methodist,
early taught him the principles of religion and his favorite precept
was " Seth, deal honestly." His life has been that marked by his res-
olution in the first forecastle, seventy years ago. Captain Burgess
early identified himself with the Methodist church at Bourne, of
which for nearly fifty years he has been an officer, his consistant
Christian example and liberal hand adding their full share to its
prosperity. By his thoughtful liberality and sympathy for the suf-
fering, he has firmly bound to himself the hearts of the poor and
unfortunate. From his father, Perez, through a long line of ster-
ling worth and from his mother, Lydia, daughter of Stephen Swift,
also a descendant of Puritan forefathers, the subject of this sketch
can look back with pride to the foundation of those just principles
of life, the application of which, on sea and on land, has secured
for him a competence and an unruffled sea in his la.st days of life's
voyage.
P. Foster Butler, eldest son of Patrick and grandson of Patrick
Butler, was born in Brewster in 1836. He was a mariner twenty-eight
years, and since 1874 has been in the oyster business. He was mar-
ried in 1861 to Sarah F., daughter of Gideon Berry. They have one
son, Harry L. Mr. Butler is a member of Bourne Methodist Episco-
pal church, and steward and trustee in the same.
Joshua G. Cash, bom in 1863 in Harwich, is a son of Joshua S. and
Margaret (McCarta) Cash. In March. 1887, he bought a meat route of
John Avery, at Pocasset, where he has lived since that time. He was
married in December, 1887, to Etta, daughter of Oliver C. Snow.
• Thomas F. B. Cook, born in 1828 in Sandwich, is a son of John L.
and Lydia A. (Raymond) Cook. He is a machinist by trade, having
worked at it since he was seventeen years old. In November, 1868,
he went from Sandwich to Boston, where he has been engaged with
the Dennison Manufacturing Company since that time. He built a
residence in 18F9 at Pocasset, where he intends to make his perma-
352 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
nent home in the near future. He was married in 1860 to Ellen F.
Fowler. They have two children: Annie A. and William F. They
have lost three children.
Calvin Crowell' was bom in 1824, and is the youngest of fifteen
children. His paternal ancestors were: Paul', William', Christopher',
John', John* and John Crowell', who came from England in 1635 and
settled at North Dennis in 1639. His mother was Sally Sears', daugh-
ter of Edmund', Edmund*, Paul*, Paul' and Richard Sears', who was
born in 1691 and died in 1676. Paul Crowell', born March 27, 1778,
removed from Dennis to Sagamore in 1815, where he lived until his
death, August 26, 1866, his descendants then numbering 109 — chil-
dren 8, grandchildren 43, great-grandchildren 57, and great-great-
grandchild, 1. Mr. Crowell is a large cranberry grower. He was
married in 1867 to Laura A., daughter of Clark Swift. Their children
were: Walter L., Emma F. (deceased), Annie F., Frank C, Ada L.,
Bertha M. (deceased), and Mabelle E.
Hiram Crowell,, born in 1822, is the fourteenth child of Paul
Crowell* (see above). He is a carpenter by trade. He was in Cuba
and other foreign countries several years, and for the last thirty years
he has, in connection with other business, engaged in cranberry cul-
ture. He was married in 1850 to Eliza S. Ellis. His second wife was
Hepsie C. Harlow, and his present wife was Martha H. Perkins.
Hiram E. Crowell', born in 1839, is a son of Paul', and he a son of
Paul Crowell' (see above). His mother was Lydia, daughter of
Thomas Ellis. He has been engaged in the cranberry culture for
thirty-five years. He was married November 27, 1864, to Hannah L.,.
daughter of Levi Swift. They have four daughters: Lenore, Nettie
L., Crystina L. and Sadie M. They have lost three sons.
Alden P. Davis, son of Captain Daniel Davis, a native of Sandown^
N. H., was born in Deny, N. H., in 1836. In 1873 he removed from
Boston to Cataumet, where he built a summer boarding house—" The
Jachin " — having capacity for seventy-five guests. He is a merchant,
has been station agent since June. 1886, and postmaster since the of-
fice was established in 1884. He was married in 1869 to Mary L. Steb-
bins of Bradford, Vt. Their children are Mary E., wife of Irving F.
Gibbs, and Anna G.
Frederick Dimmick, born in 1836, is the oldest son of Frederick
and grandson of David Dimmick. His mother was Mar\' Ann, daugh-
ter of David Lawrence. He is a carpenter by trade. He built a large
house at Cataumet in 1876, where he keeps summer boarders and ac-
commodates the traveling public. On the same site his grandfather,.
David Dimmick, kept a tavern for many years. He was married in
1 866 to Tirzah, daughter of Vinal N. Hatch. They have two children:.
Lena F. (Mrs. Thomas A. Fuller) and Henry B. L.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 353
Joseph Dimmock, son of David and Esther (Wing) Dimmock, was
born in 1821. His grandfather was also named David. His wife, Sa-
rah, who died May 10, 1S89, was a daughter of Elnathan Wing and a
granddaughter of Judah and Rebecca Wing. Judah,son of Nathaniel
Wing, had fourteen children, and with his family lived on what was
then called Wing's neck — now Wenaumet — where he died at the age
of eighty. Captain Dimmock was married in 1849. His children are:
George C, Henrietta G., Edward C. and J. Frank. He followed the
sea about fifty years, being captain about half that time.
Cyrenius Eldridge, born in 1840, is a son of Cyrenius and grand-
son of Samuel Eldridge. His mother was Huldah (Ellis) Eldridge.
He was engaged in whale fishing sixteen years prior to 1873. He has
been section master on the Old Colony railroad since 1883. He was
married in 1864 to Mary L., daughter of George T. Gray. Their
four children are: Almeda B., Clarence E., Cyrenius M. and An-
drew G.
Horatio Eldridge, son of Cyrenius and Huldah (Ellis) Eldridge, was
born in 1843. He was at sea for some years, then a section hand on
the Old Colony railroad for about six years. Since 1884 he has been
in the oyster business. He was married in 1867 to Emily F. Calhoon.
She died in December, 1887, leaving six children: Walter L., Horatio
W., Wilber C, Allen, Orrin and Helen F.
David W. O. Ellis' (David S.', Nathan', Elnathan', Gideon', John',)
was born in 1850. His mother was Esther Whiting. During the last
seven years he has been engaged in the oyster and the cranberry
business. He was married November 22, 1877, to Mary Corinna,
daughter of James H. West.
James S. Ellis' (James*, Abiel', Gideon', John',) was born June 13,
1822, in Sandwich. His mother was Rebecca, daughter of Ebenezer
Nye. He was educated in this county, and after being six years in
the mercantile business here, he went to Boston, where he was in a
mercantile business twenty-eight years, fifteen years as clerk and
thirteen as partner in the business. Retiring in 1879, be returned to
Bourne, his present home. He was married in 1846 to Lucinda, daugh-
ter of Esquire Benjamin Bourne.
Stillman R. Ellis, born in 1842, is a son of William and Martha
(Rogers) Ellis and grandson of Nathaniel and Remember (Swift)
Ellis. He followed the sea for ten years, but since 1868 he has been
employed by the Keith Manufacturing Company at Sagamore. He
was married in 1864 to Lucy, daughter of George Gibbs. Their three
daughters are: Corabelle, Lettie and Grace.
James C. Gibbs, born in 1832, is a son of Barnabas and Sarah
(Blackwell) Gibbs and grandson of Ansel Gibbs. For the past twenty-
five years he has been a farmer. Prior to that time he was a sailor.
23
354 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
He was married in 1860 to Phoebe A., daughter of Stephen Swift.
They have two sons: Frank H. and Elmer L.
Paul C. Gibbs, born in 1832, is a son of Pelham, and he a son of
Pelham Gibbs, who lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years.
His mother was Mary, daughter of Paul Crowell. He has been a
mariner since 1844, as master since 1855. He was married in 1855 to
Maria E., daughter of Jesse Barlow. They have six children: Eleanor
M., Albert C, Irving F., George F., Sarah F. and Fostina P.
William R. Gibbs' (Russel', Pelham', Barnabas*, Barnabas', John',
born 1634, Thomas') was born in 1828. Pelham Gibbs was taken pris-
oner in the war of 1812 and his ship and cargo confiscated. William's
mother was Catharine, daughter of Levi Swift. Since 1856 he has
been a farmer, mostly in the cranberry business. Prior to that time
he was at sea about fifteen years. He has been justice for about
fourteen years, and is a democrat. He was married in 1852 to Tempe*,
daughter of Thomas Swift" (Clark', Thomas Swift'). They have four
children: Katie R., Annie A., William R., jr., and G. Evelyn.
Josiah Godfrey, born in 1821, is a son of Josiah, whose father was
Solomon Godfrey. His mother was Mary, a daughter of Nathaniel
Wing. He has followed the sea since the age of eight years, and took
charge of a vessel when sixteen years old. He was married in De-
cember, 1843, to Abbie Dimmock, who died July 10, 1877. He was
married March 9, 1879, to Phoebe, a daughter of Solomon and Ann
Kendrick.
Francis D. Handy, born 1826, and Sylvanus E. Handy, born in
1833, are two sons of Captain Luther B. and Lucinda (Witherell)
Handy, and grand.sons of Sylvanus and Susan (Price) Handy. Syl-
vanus was a teacher of navigation and had besides Luther B., who
was born in 1802, four other children: Calvin, twin brother of Luther
B.; Charles, who married Sarah Wing; Thomas, who was drowned
at sea in 1837; and Hannah, born 1800, who married Calvin Howard.
Francis D. Handy is a blacksmith by trade, having worked at it
about twenty years. He ran a meat and provision store in North-
boro', Mass., for fifteen years prior to 1884. He has been tax col-
lector for Bourne four years. He was married in 1850 to Adaline
A., daughter of William Swift. They have two daughters: Cornelia
and Genevieve. They lost two. Sylvanus E. Handy learned the
blacksmith trade, at which he worked sixteen years. He kept a
store eight years at Cataumet prior to his retirement in 1882. He
was married in 1859 lo Cornelia L. Collins, and has one son, Harrie
D. Handy. Other children of Captain Luther B. Handy were: Luther,
who died young; Sarah W., who married Isaac W. Baker; Luther S.,
who married Susan Gibbs; John T., who married Elvira Gale; Wil-
son B., who was drowned; and Charles H.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 355
James T. Handy, born in 1842, is the youngest son of John and
grandson of William Handy. His mother was Phoebe, daughter of
Heman Nye. He was a whale fisherman from 1857 until 1882, and
master of vessels from 1864 until 1882, since which time he has
lived retired at Cataumet, where he has paid some attention to
poultry raising. He was married in 1871 to Emma D., daughter
of Captain Hiram Baker, who was lost at sea in 1860.
Henry T. Handy", born in 1845, is the eldest son of Joshua', who
was the youngest son of William* (John', John', Richard Handy").
His mother was Dorothea C. Hathaway. He was twelve years a
sailor, but .since 1878 has been a farmer. He owns and occupies the
old Handy homestead, which has been in the family about two hun-
dred years. He was married in 1872 to Lydia P., daughter of Anson
B. Ellis. They have six children: Herman P., Arthur H., Robert S.,
Anson B., Etta H. and Clifton H. They lost two in infancy.
Charles C. Hanley was born in 1851, in Lincoln county, Maine, and
came to Barnstable county from Winchester. He ran a blacksmith
and wagon shop until 1878, when he began to make boats and has fol-
lowed this business since that time. He was married in 1877 to Deb-
orah C, daughter of Isaac Stevens. They have one child, Sarah E.,
born in 1878. Mr. Hanley's father was Roger Hanley.
Benjamin B. Harlow, born in 1817 in Middleboro', is a son of Sam-
uel and Hepze (Burgess) Harlow, and a grandson of Ezra Harlow.
He came from Middleboro' to Sagamore in 1848, where he has been
engaged with the Keith Manufacturing Company since that time.
He was married January 14, 1864, to Mrs. Eleanor C. Gage, daughter
of Anson Burgess. She had two children by her first marriage: Frank
B. and Louise E. Mrs. Harlow died in 1874.
Persia B. Harmon, born in 1831 in Livermore, Maine, is a son of
Nathaniel and grandson of Samuel Harmon. He is a farmer. He
served about one year in the war of the rebellion in Company C,
Eighteenth Massachusetts Volunteers. His wife is Lydia P., daugh-
ter of Ellis Blackwell.
Joseph T. Hathaway, born in Plymouth in 1834, is a son of Joseph
T. and Lucinda B. (Raymond) Hathaway and grandson of Jacob
Hathaway. He enlisted in 1862, in the war of the rebellion, serving
until 1866 as acting chief engineer in the naval service. He was mar-
ried in 1859 to Emily D. Le Baron. They have two children: Joseph
H. and Sarah T. Mr. Hathaway is a member of the Masonic Lodge
and Chapter of Hyannis. and Bay State Commandery of Brockton.
Albert Hawkins, son of William B. and Abbie Hawkins, was born
in Smithfield, R. I., in 1830, and is a blacksmith by trade. He came
from Pawtucket, R. L, to Pocasset, in 1877, where he has run a black-
smith shop since that time. He was in the war of the rebellion from
356 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
June, 1861, to June, 1864, as blacksmith in Company A., First Rhode
Island Light Artillery. He was married in May, 1858, to Abbie F.
Northup. They had one daughter, Clara, who died in infancy.
Joseph S. Hewins, born in Pocasset, January 12, 1828, is a son of
William Hewins. His mother was Love, daughter of William Handy.
Mr. Hewins drove a stage from Bourne to Woods Holl for a
number of years prior to 1872. From 1872 to 1879 he, with his
brother carried on an express business from Boston to Marthas Vine-
yard. Since 1879 he has kept a livery and sale stable at Buzzards
Bay. He married Philomelia R., daughter of Erastus O. and Lydia
(Jenkins) Parker. She died in 1879, leaving one daughter. Bertha L.
Mr. Parker was born in 1810. He was a coasting sailor for some years.
He was station agent at Bourne nineteen years, with the exception of
four years, when his daughter Aurelia was the agent. He built a
hotel at Buzzards Bay in 1872, which he and his daughter keep as the
Parker House.
Charles F. Howard', born in 1827, is descended from Calvin*, Cal^
vin", Jesse' (lieutenant in revolutionary war) and Barney Howard',
who came from England and settled in Bridgewater, Mass. His
mother was Hannah, daughter of Sylvanus Handy, mentioned above.
Mr. Howard is a boot and shoe maker by trade, although his principal
pursuit has been farming. He owns and occupies his father's home-
stead. He was married in 1857 to Ann Louisa', daughter of Isaiah
Fish' (Isaiah', John'). Mr. Howard is an Adventist in his religious
faith.
Hon. Ezra Coleman Howard. — This well known and much respect
ed, late citizen of Bourne, was the son of Calvin Howard, who married
Hannah Handy and at his death left the widow and five children.
The mother survived until 1887, alone rearing her family to useful-
ness. Ezra C. Howard, the subject of this sketch and whose portrait
accompanies it, was born in Pocasset, September 1, 1831. Left father-
less before he was twelve years old, with two of the family who were
still younger, he could expect little from home except the wise coun-
sels of a wise and devoted mother, to which he ever adhered.
At this tender age he evinced that energy and ambition that
marked his after life, by going to the home of his grandfather, where
he could attend school in the winter. Not content with the advan-
tages given there, he applied himself assiduously to reading such his-
tories, travels and biographies as the library of his grandfather af-
forded. He thus acquired not only studious habits, but a knowledge
beyond his years and beyond that usually obtained in the common
schools.
While young he learned the trade of a moulder with his cousin, in
Providence. He was subsequently foreman in a shop at Fairhaven,
b-^
^p-x^
U I
TOWN OF BOURNE. 357
but being ambitious to secure a wider field in which to exercise his
business talent and mechanical skill, he came to Bournedale, then
North Sandwich, and leased the foundry which he purchased the fol
lowing year. He began the business in a small building near the
site of the one previously burned, carefully advancing and building
up the important works that now bear his name, and a very successful
business, by which he secured a liberal estate. In the last years of his
life he had associated with him his nephew, William A. Nye, who still
continues the business.
In 1856 Mr. Howard married Carrie S. Dimmick, youngest daughter
of Frederick Dimmick, and grand-daughter of David Dimmick, a fam-
ily of revolutionary fame, who lived at Cataumet on the present site
of the Bay View House. At her death in 1874, she left two daughters:
Emma C, who married Nathan B. Hartford of Watertown, and Mary
H., a student in Boston University. In 1876 Mr. Howard married
Rhoda A., oldest daughter of Frederick Dimmick, who survives him.
The final illness of Mr. Howard commenced at Bournedale in the au-
tumn of 1884, terminating April 8, 1885, at the home of his daughter
in Watertown, Mass.
The modesty, energfy, industry and high moral character which
marked his whole course through life have passed into history, form-
ing a page in life's book that can never be effaced. He was active in
local, state and national affairs, and during his life never lost the op-
portunity of voting. He was elected by the republican party to repre-
sent the First Barnstable district in the legislatures of 1871 and 1872;
and as senator to represent the Island district in 1876 and 1876, which
important trusts he filled with honor to himself and his constituents.
He was a trustee in the Wareham Savings Bank until nearly the
time of his death. In the faith of his father he turned to the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, and to this church his principal support was
given. In his life work he had only reached the meridian, but he had
laid the foundation of an enduring monument.
Alonzo S. Landers, bom in 1850, is a son of Ezra B. and grandson
of John Landers. He was at sea about ten years, and has been en-
gaged in making cranberry bogs by contract for the last fifteen years.
He was married in 1879 to Ella H., daughter of Thomas L. Greene.
They have one son, Walter M. They lost three children. Mr. Lan-
ders is a member of the Cataumet Methodist Episcopal church.
David Landers, son of Joseph and Mary (Baker) Landers, was born
in 1851, and is a carpenter by trade. He came from South Sandwich
to Cataumet in 1877, where he has since lived. He was married in
1877 to Achsah Hallett. She died in 1881. He married, in Novem-
ber, 1886, Mrs. Clara A. Hoxie, daughter of Oliver C. Wing. They
have one son, Albert E.
368 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Seth S. Maxim, son of Thomas and grandson of Jabez Maxim, was
born in South Carver, Mass., in 1822, and is a stone mason by trade.
He came from South Carver to Bourne in 1847. He was married in
1846 to Joanna H. Blackwell, who died in January, 1887.
David D. Nye. — Among- the prominent representative men of tie
town of Bourne, David D. Nye, of Cataumet (formerly South Pocasset),
is entitled to a high position. As the descendant of a long line of
worthy ancestors, whose virtues have been transmitted, he worthily ■
bears this old family name, which has been revered in church and
state for more than two hundred years. He is the youngest son and
child of Captain Ebenezer and Syrena (Dimmick) Nye, and was bom
November 29, 1833, in that part of the town where he now resides.
On the 10th of July, 1889, his father. Captain Ebenezer, celebrated
his ninetieth birthday, surviving his wife since September 20, 1872,
they having reared to manhood and womanhood eight children:
Angelina of Fairhaven, who is the widow of Frederick Keith; Ebene-
zer F., who, as master of the bark Mt. Wallaston, sailed into the Arc-
tic seas, and of whom no tidings have ever been heard; William F.,
who is a successful oil merchant of New Bedford; Ephraim B., who,
while second lieutenant of the Fourteenth Massachusetts Battery, was
killed at Petersburg, Va., March 20, 1866; Albert G., Syrena M. and
Mercy D., who are residents of California; and David D., the subject
of the accompanying portrait.
David D. received his education in the public schools of Sandwich,
and early in life accompanied his brother, Ebenezer F., on a whaling
voyage. He was then engaged in the fruit business for eight years
in New Bedford, with his brothers, William F. and Ephraim B., since
which time he has been occupied in farming. He was married July
30, 1862, to Hannah T., daughter of Josiah and Sophia N. Curtis.
Their adopted son, David W., was bom May 12, 1874. Mrs. Nye died
on the 6th of January, 1888, and on the 4th of the following October
Mr. Nye married Mrs. Esther F. Dennis of Sandwich.
Bef:re the town of Sandwich was divided, he, in 1876, was elected
overseer of the poor, and in 1879 was elected selectman of the town,
which offices, with that of assessor, he satisfactorily filled until the
spring of 1884, when the town of Bourne was erected. In the new
town he was at once elected to the same responsible offices, which he
has since filled, and since 1884 he has been chairman of the selectmen
of Bourne. He also has been appointed a justice of the peace and
a notary public, enjoying the entire confidence of his townsmen in the
ability and integrity required for these multiplied duties. His prin-
ciples have led him to affiliate with the republican party, and he is at
the head of the town government to-day, and one of its standard-
bearers.
CycLe.'-^J^ 1 sAi
oum-cL
E. eiERSTAOT.
TOWN OF BOURNE. 359
For twenty-seven years he has been a trustee of the Methodist
Episcopal church of his village, assisting in its advancement by his
presence and means. His good judgment is often sought in the set-
tlement of entangled estates, in the probate court and in the school
affairs of his town, for which his thorough knowledge of the business
forms and his sense of right peculiarly fit him. The cheerfulness with
which he assumes these tasks, and the impartiality of his acts, reveal
the underlying principles of his character. In the meridian of his
life, within sight of his birth-place, he resides in his beautiful rural
home, which commands a view of one of the prettiest landscapes on
the east shore of Buzzards bay.
Nathan Nye, born in 1828, is a son of Daniel B. and grandson of
Nathan Nye. His mother was Achsah, daughter of Joseph Swift. He
was engaged in the Arctic whale fishing eighteen years. He owns
and occupies the farm at Sagamore, where his father lived from 1813
until his death. He was collector in Sandwich several years, and col-
lector and treasurer two years in the new town of Bourne. He has
been selectman three years. He was married in 1855 to Ellen S.,
daughter of Walter Richards. Their nine children are: Walter E. R.,
Nathan M., William E., Henry S., Joseph B., Daniel B., Alfred G.,
Ellen R. and Susie A. R. They lost one in infancy.
William E. Packard. — The ancestral line of this family has de-
scended from Samuel Packard, who came to this continent in 1638,
and from him all of that name in America have descended. Some
time in the last century Elijah Packard, a descendant of Samuel, came
to the Cape, settling in the present town of Bourne, and was a promi-
nent farmer by occupation. Benjamin was the oldest of his four chil-
dren, and he also was a farmer. He lived and died in Bourne. He
married Mary, daughter of Jedediah Young of Orleans, and their chil-
dren were: Benjamin, Isaac, Joseph, Alpheus, William E. and four
daughters.
William E. Packard is the only survivor of this family. He was
born November 6, 1824, and passed his boyhood on the home farm,
receiving the advantages of the common schools of that day. On his
arrival at the age of twenty-one, he read medicine with Dr. John Harper
of Sandwich, for two years, and when twenty-four years old went to
Agawam, where for three years he was engaged in the Iron Works,
but retaining his residence at Bourne. He married Thankful A.,
daughter of Dean S. Leinnell, on the 30th of March, 1848; Mr. Lein-
nell was then a resident of Wareham. This union was blessed with
four children: Flora A., born June 6, 1849; a son, in 1852,who died young;
Mary I., born May 20, 1853; and William E., jr., born June 24, 1856.
Of these children only one survives. Flora A., in 1869, married Cap-
tain William T. Barlow, and died the same year. Mary I., in August,
360 HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
1880, married Walton E. Keene of Bourne, and has two daughters —
Flora A., born 1882; and Annie C, born 1888.
William E. Packard, the last of his father's group of nine children,
is now in the meridian of life, and quietly enjoys the fruits of his labor
upon the home farm, at the head of the bay, in one of the most roman-
tic spots in the county. He was not content with the small farm of his
father, but has added thereto until he can look out over two hundred
acres of his own. He has a fine cranberrv meadow, which he has had
under cultivation since 1864 with the most gratifying results. Mr.
Packard inherited the principles of the Methodist religion, and to this
society his support has been given. He has always kept himself aloof
from political intrigues, declining any active part, but is keenly alive
to the best interests of the body politic, and in his unassuming man-
ner contributes to its conduct. The competence which he is to enjoy
in his declining years, is the result of that well directed purpose of his
life, of which the underlying principles are industry, economy and a
due respect for the rights and welfare of his neighbors.
Andrew F. Perry, born in 1823, is a son of Rev. Heman and grand-
son of John Perry, feis mother was Mary, daughter of (Miller) John
Perry. He was a sea-faring man for about thirty years. Since 1868 he
has driven a grocery wagon, and since 1884 has made a specialty of
tea and coffee. He was married in 1850 to Martha W., daughter of
Rufus Ellis. They have four children: Rufus E., Francis F., Alfred
L. and Warren A. They have lost two sons and one daughter. Mr.
Perry is a member of the Bourne Methodist Episcopal church.
Davis Perry, born in 1818 in Pawtucket, R. I., is a son of Jabez and
Mercy (Phinney) Perry and a grandson of Arthur Perry. He came
to Bourne from Rhode Island in 1852. He is a blacksmith by trade,
and runs a shop in the village of Bourne. He was married in 1848 to
Betsey E., daughter of Robert Ryder. He is a member of the Masonic
Lodge of Sandwich.
George W. Perry was born in 1844. His ancestors were Thomas
C. Perry', Arthur', John', Silas', John*, John', Ezra', and John Perry',
who came to this country from England in 1630; and it appears that
he had a brother Edward, who came to the town of Sandwich with him
ill about 1637. It is probable that all the families bearing the name
on the Cape are descendants of these two brothers. Mr. Perry's
mother was Hannah Ellis. Mr. Perry was a sailor for thirteen years.
Since 1878 he has been a carpenter and builder. He was married in
1877 to Maria McLaughlin. They have one daughter, Fannie M. Mr.
Perry is a republican.
Silas Perry, born in 1828, is the youngest son of Silas and Rebecca
(Ellis) Perry. His grandfather, John, was a son of John Perry. He
was for twenty-five years in a nail factory in Wareham, but for the
,^,jZJc.^
PMIMT.
E. BICnSTAOT, N. Y-
TOWN OF BOURNE.
361
last few years he has been engaged in boating and the oyster business
at Monument Beach. He was -married in 1855 to Olive L. Phinney.
Their three children are: John F., Harry E. and Wallace J. Mr.
Perry is a prohibitionist.
William E. Perry, born in 1845, is a son of Caleb and Elizabeth
(Henley) Perry. His grandfather was Caleb, son of Caleb Perry.
He was several years a seafaring man, after which, he was for fif-
teen years employed in the Bay State Straw Works, of Middleboro'.
In 1884 he returned to Monument Beach, where he built and ran a
summer hotel three years. He has been engaged in the .oyster
business since 1884. He was married in 1872 to Marion L. Smith.
They have two daughters: Bertha and Evelyn. Mr. Perry is a mem-
ber of Bourne Methodist Episcopal church.
Abram Phinney, born in 1824, is a son of Jabez and grandson of
John Phinney. His mother was Hannah, daughter of John Perry.
He was a sailor from eleven years of age until 1876. He was married
in 18.~)3 to Lucinda E., daughter of Perez Burgess. They have two
sons: Perez H. and Roswell B., who are both married. Perez H. has
been postmaster at Monument Beach since 1878, and station agent
since 1883.
George E. Phinney, born in 1833, is a son of George O., grandson
of Edward and great-grandson of John Phinney. His mother was
Betsey A., daughter of Jesse Fisher. He has been boating and in the
oyster business for the last fifteen years. He was married in M 
