USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Cape Cod, the right arm of Massachusetts : an historical narrative > Part 27
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The 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 production, and its list was merged in the Yankce Blade, of Boston, in June, 1887. The Ocean Wave, an 8-page weekly, was issued by George Otis from October, 1888, to May, 1889.
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CAPE AUTHORS AND NEWSPAPERS.
The Sandwich Observer (the second publication by that name) was issued in 1884, being printed at the Patriot office, and edited by Ambrose E. Pratt of Sandwich. Mr. Pratt was succeeded, about 1887, by Frank O. Ellis, and he by Mr. W. H. Heald, who still has charge of the publication. It is more especially 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 of the Continenal shoe store. At the close of 1887 it had been enlarged, since which time it was for a while edited by Ambrose E. Pratt and George S. Hudson. In 1890 it was merged in the Cape Cod Independent.
The Cape Cod Independent was first issued in Falmouth in 1890. It was edited for several months as an advocate of "Tariff Reform" and as a local journal, under the editorship of Rev. N. HI. Chamberlain ; and was afterwards conducted as a local newspaper, by R. P. Fernald, Chas. F. Adams, Stuart P. West, and Charles S. Burgess, until March, 1895.
The Independent, Sandwich and Bourne, was at first an edition of the Cape Cod Independent, Falmouth. Since Jan. 12, 1895, it has been published by II. L. Chipman of Sandwich. Upon the suspension of the Cape Cod Independent, under that title, in 1895, this paper was continued, and is therefore, the successor of the Cape Cod Independent and Falmouth Local. Its circulation is chiefly in Sandwich, Bourne and Mashpee.
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
360
CAPE COD.
democratic -the only newspaper of that faith in the county of Barnstable. The plant was sold to C. F. Swift & Son.
February 17, 1887, William R. Farris, George R. Phillips and Charles H. Crowell issued the first number of the Cape Cod News, at South Yarmouth. It was a small twenty- column paper, devoted to local intelligence. 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 were 8-page papers, devoted to miscellany and the local news of the respective towns. The News was written up by Mrs. A. H. Rogers and the Review by N. E. Linekin. They had a brief existence.
The Provincetown Beacon, an 8-page, 24 column news- paper, was first issued August 2, 1890, by Charles W. Swift, its general editor and proprietor. H. A. Jennings was the local editor and reporter until Dec. 27, 1890, when he was succeeded by Richard F. Gardner, who in turn was succeeded, May 16, 1891, by John N. Swift, who has since continned in that relation. Mr. Swift's accounts of marine incidents and shipwrecks have been advantageously com- pared to the sea narratives of W. Clark Russell, and his general reports are very full and accurate. The Beacon is a local journal with republican proclivities.
In 1896 the plant of the Independent was purchased by Charles S. Burgess, who in April of 1895, had first issued the Falmouth Enterprise, which Mr. Burgess has since continued to publish, and which paper is now the only one published and printed in Falmouth. It is a local journal, without political affiliations.
CHAPTER XXI.
POPULATION, CIVIL LISTS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
Estimates and Early Enumerations-Eleven Decennial Censuses- United States Officials-Judicial Officers-County Officials- County Societies-Financial and Banking Institutions-Other Societies.
STATISTICS OF POPULATION.
HERE has been no systematic enumeration of the inhabitants of the Cape Cod towns from the time of settlement, until 1765. A list of those between the ages of 16 and ›60, able to bear arms in the three town- ships of the Cape, in 1643, gave 51 in Sandwich, 60 in Barnstable, 52 in Yarmouth. These must have embraced at least one-quarter of the inhabitants, which would make the population of those towns at that time about as follows :
Sandwich,
51
204
Barnstable,
60
240
Yarmouth,
52
208
163
652
A manuscript in the British Museum contains an enumeration of the houses of "all the trading towns and ports upon the sea and navigable rivers " in New England, in 1675. There were 1,300 such houses in Plymouth colony. Of these 100 were in Sandwich, 150 in Yarmouth, 100 in Nauset, 150 in Barnstable, making 500 in the Cape
362
CAPE COD.
towns. Allowing 6 persons to each house-and large families were then the rule-wonld give 600 people to Sandwich, 900 to Yarmouth, 600 to Nauset, 900 to Barn- stable-3,000 to the entire Cape.
The first census of Massachusetts was taken by order of Gov. Bernard, in 1765. The report of the population of the 11 towns of Barnstable county was as follows : Barnstable, 2,008; Chatham, 678; Eastham, 1,327; Falmouth, 1,063; Harwich, 1,681; District of Mashpee, 108; Provincetown, 454; Sandwich, 1,376; Truro, 924; Wellfleet, 917; Yarmouth, 1,740. Total, 12,376.
Following is the result of the eleven decennial censuses of the United States, for the towns of the County of Barnstable :
Years,
1790.
1800,
1810.
18:20.
1820.
1840.
Barnstable,
2610
2964
6646
3974
4301
Brewster,
1112
1285
1418
Chatham,
1140
1351
13:4
1650
2150
Dennis,
1408
1739
1997
2317
955
Falmouth,
163,
1842
2232
2570
2548
2589
Harwich,
2302
2857
19-12
1930
2153
2939
Mashpee,
309
155
189
150
000
309
Orleans,
1095
1248
1943
1789
1974
Provincetown,
454
812
936
1252
1,10
2122
Sandwich,
1991
2021
223822
:184
3361
3719
Truro,
1193
1152
1209
1241
15-7
1920
Wellfleet,
1117
1207
1402
1472
2016
2377
Yarmouth,
2678
1727
2134
2:51
2554
17,554
19,203
22,211
24,026
28,514
32,548
Years,
1950.
18C9.
1870.
1980.
1890.
Barnstable,
4901
5129
4793
4212
4023
Bourne,
1595
1489
1259
1144
1003
Chalham,
2139
2~10
9111
₩250
1954
Dennis,
779
608
602
Falmouth,
2021
3423
3080
3265
27:4
Mashpee,
000
348
346
Orleans,
1848
1618
1323
1294
1219
Provincetown,
3157
3206
8865
4346
4642
Sandwich,
4SGS
4479
2001
3543
1819
Truro,
1583
12269
2017
919
Weilfleet.
2411
2070
1825
1291
Yarmouth,
2595
2752
2123
21.3
1,60
35,276
35,990
32,774
$1,897
29,172
Eastham,
1834
659
7.51
SC62
$269
2809
Eastham,
2507
Harwich,
3258
1410
Brewster,
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POPULATION, CIVIL LISTS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS,
Since the adoption of the national constitution the following persons, resident in the county of Barnstable, have been chosen representatives in the federal congress :
Shearjashub Bourne of Barnstable, 2d and 3d congresses, 1791 to 1795.
Nathaniel Freeman, Sandwich, 4th and 5th congresses, 1795 to 1799.
Isaiah L. Green, Barnstable, 9th and 10th congresses, 1805 to 1809, and 12th congress, 1811-12.
John Reed, Yarmouth, 13th and 14th congresses, 1813 to 1817, and 17th to 26th congresses, inclusive, 1823 to 1841.
Zeno Scudder, Barnstable, 32d congress, 1851 to 1853. Elected to the 32d congress, but resigned before taking his seat.
John Simpkins, Yarmouth, 54th and 55th congresses, 1895 to 1899.
COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.
No record exists, so far as known, of the customs officers of the county of Barnstable, prior to the Revolution. The first customs office in the county, after the throwing off of the British rule, was established in 1776, under the title of "naval officer," Joseph Otis being the appointee. William Taylor succeeded him in 1779. Samuel Taylor was in office in 1789. By an act of congress of 1789 the office of collector of customs was created, and the following persons have since been incumbents :
Joseph Otis, appointed Aug. 3, 1789, and he held the position until March 21, 1809-19 years and 7 months.
William Otis, who was appointed March 23, 1809, and held it until Feb. 20, 1814-4 years and 11 months.
364
CAPE COD.
Isaiah L. Green, from Feb. 21, 1814, to March 31, 1837 -23 years and 1 month.
Henry Crocker, from April 1, 1837, to March 22, 1841 -3 years, 11 months.
Ebenezer Bacon, from March 23, 1841, to March 31, 1845; and from June 10, 1849, to March 31, 1853-7 years, 10 months.
Josiah Hinckley, from April 1, 1845, to April 3, 1847 - 2 years.
Sylvanus B. Phinney, from April 4, 1847, to June 7, 1849; from April 1, 1853, to June 30, 1861; and from Nov. 11, 1866, to March 4, 1867- 10 years, 8 months.
Joseph M. Day, from July 1, 1861, to Nov. 11, 1861-4 months.
Charles F. Swift, from Nov. 12, 1861, to Nov. 10, 1866; and from March 17, 1867, to July 7, 1876-14 years, 3 months.
Walter Chipman (Sp. Dep., acting) from March 5, 1867, to March 16, 1867-11 days.
Franklin B. Goss, from July 8, 1876, to Ang. 8, 1887 ; and from Aug. 1, 1889, to Feb. 17, 1894-15 years, 7 months.
Van Buren Chase, from Aug. 8, 1887, to Aug. 1, 1889- 2 years.
Thomas C. Day, from Feb. 17, 1894.
EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS.
From the adoption of the state constitution, to 1840, nine executive councillors were annually chosen by joint ballot of the legislature, from among "those elected as senators and councillors," but in case any so chosen should not accept, the vacancies were provided to be filled by choice from the people at large. Under that rule, Braddock
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POPULATION, CIVIL LISTS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
Dimmick of Falmonth, and Elijah Swift of Falmouth, had been chosen prior to 1840. By the Thirteenth amendment, promulgated that year, councillors were, until 1857, chosen from the people at large, and Seth Crowell of Dennis, Solomon Davis of Truro, and John Kenrick of Orleans were, under that provision, severally incumbents of the office. In 1858 the state was divided into eight districts for councillors, to be elected by the people, and the Cape since that time has formed a portion of the First district. The following persons from Barnstable county have, during that period, served as councillors : 1860, Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth; 1869-1871, Marshall S. Underwood, Dennis ; 1875-1878, Joseph K. Baker, Dennis; 1888-1892, Isaac N. Keith of Bourne.
SENATORS.
From 1780, when the state constitution took effect, to 1840, the county of Barnstable was entitled to a senator each year. Their names and terms of service to 1840 were as follows: 1780 to 1786, Solomon Freeman, Harwich ; 1787, Thomas Smith, Sandwich; 1789 to 1796, inclusive, Solomon Freeman, Harwich ; 1797, David Thacher, Yarmouth ; 1798-1799, Solomon Freeman, Harwich; 1801- 1803, John Dillingham, Harwich; 1804, Richard Sears, Chatham ; 1805, John Dillingham, Harwich ; 1806-1807, James Freeman, Sandwich ; 1808-1810, Braddock Dimmick, Falmouth ; 1811, Timothy Phinney, Barnstable ; 1813-1814, Wendell Davis, Sandwich ; 1815-1820, Solomon Freeman, Brewster; 1821-1822, Elijah Cobb of Brewster; 1823-1825, Braddock Dimmick, Falmouth ; 1826-1827, Nymphas Marston, Barnstable ; 1828-1830, Elisha Pope, Sandwich ; 1831-1833, John Doane, Orleans ; 1834-1839, Charles Marston, Barnstable.
366
CAPE COD.
By the terms of the Thirteenth amendment to the constitution, promulgated in 1840 the county for the next seventeen years was entitled to two senators, from the year 1841. Their names and terms of service were: 1841, Charles Marston, Barnstable, Seth Crowell, Dennis; 1842, Seth Crowell, Dennis, Solomon Davis, Truro; 1843, Solomon Davis, Truro, John B. Dillingham, Sandwich ; 1844, Solomon Davis, Truro, John B. Dillingham, Sand- wich ; 1845, Solomon Davis, John B. Dillingham; 1846, Zeno Scudder, Barnstable, Barnabas Freeman, Eastham ; 1847, Zeno Scudder, Barnstable, Barnabas Freeman, Easthanı; 1848, Zeno Scudder, Barnstable, George Cope- land, Brewster; 1849, George Copeland, Brewster, John Jenkins, Falmouth ; 1850, John Jenkins, Stephen Hilliard, Provincetown ; 1851, Stephen Hilliard, Zenas D. Bassett, Barnstable; 1852, Zenas D. Bassett, Cyrus Weekes, Harwich ; 1853, Cyrus Weekes, James B. Crocker, Yarmouth ; 1854, James B. Crocker, Robert Y. Paine, Wellfleet ; 1855, Sylvester Baxter, Yarmouth, Lewis L. Sellew, Provincetown ; 1856, Sylvester Baxter, Alfred Kenrick, Orleans; 1857, Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth, John W. Atwood, Chatham.
By the Twenty-seventh amendment, which went into effect in 1858, the state was divided into forty senatorial districts, Yarmouth and the towns below being designated as the Cape District, and the three other Cape towns being united with the islands, under the name of the Island District. This apportionment existed until 1877. The representation of the Cape district during that period was : 1858, Charles F. Swift; 1859, John W. Atwood; 1860- 1861, Marshall S. Underwood, Dennis; 1862-1863, Robert H. Libby, Wellfleet ; 1864-1865, Freeman Cobb, Brewster; 1866, Reuben Nickerson, Eastham; 1867-1868, Chester
36Z
POPULATION, CIVIL LISTS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
Snow, Harwich ; 1869, 1870, 1871, Nathaniel E. Atwood, Provincetown; 1872-1873, Joseph K. Baker, Dennis ; 1874-1875, Thomas N. Stone, Wellfleet; 1876, Jonathan Higgins, Orleans. The Island district, during this period, was represented by Cape men, as follows: 1861-1862, Charles Dillingham, Sandwich ; 1863-1864, Nathan Crocker, Barnstable ; 1867-1868, Erasmus Gould, Falmouth ; 1869- 1870, George A. King, Barnstable ; 1873-1874, Francis A. Nye, Falmouth ; 1875-1876, Ezra C. Howard, Sandwich.
Since 1877 to the present time, the two districts have been united, under the name of the Cape district, and the senators from the district have been: 1877, 1878, 1879, John B. D. Cogswell; 1880, 1881, Samuel Snow, Barnsta- ble ; 1882, 1883, Joseph P. Johnson, Provincetown ; 1884, 1885, 1886, Howes Norris, Cottage City ; 1887, 1888, Isaac N. Keith, Bourne ; 1889, 1890, David Fisk, Dennis ; 1891, 1892, John Simpkins, Yarmouth ; 1893, 1894, John Kenrick, Jr., Orleans ; 1895, 1896, 1897, Wm. A. Morse, Tisbury.
JUDICIAL OFFICERS,
From the creation of the county to the Revolutionary war, local and county courts, under varying designations, have existed, but owing to the destruction of the records it is impracticable to prepare a complete list of the incumbents. The following persons were justices of the Common Pleas, or of the Court of Sessions, at the date specified : 1692, John Freeman, Eastham ; Barnabas Lothrop, Barnstable ; John Thacher, Yarmouth ; Stephen Skiff, Eastham. 1695, Jona- than Sparrow, Eastham. 1699, "John Sparrow, Eastham. 1710, William Bassett, Sandwich. 1711, John Gorham, Barnstable. 1713, John Doane, Eastham ; Dan'l Parker, Barnstable ; Thomas Payne, Eastham; John Otis, Sam'l Annable, Barnstable. 1715, Melatiah Bourne, Sandwich ;
308
CAPE COD.
Sam'l Sturgis, Barnstable; Nathaniel Freeman, Harwich. 1721, Joseph Lothrop, Barnstable. 1722, Joseph Doane, Eastham. 1727, Ezra Bourne, Sandwich; 1729, Peter Thacher, Yarmouth; Shubael Baxter, Yarmouth. 1736, John Thacher, Yarmouth; John Davis, Barnstable. 1739, John Russell, Barnstable. 1742, Shubael Gorham, Barn- stable ; David Crocker, Barnstable. 1746, John Otis, Barnstable. 1753, Thomas Winslow, Harwich. 1758, Sylvanus Bourne, Barnstable ; Thomas Smith, Sandwich ; Rowland Robinson, Falmouth. 1760, Nymphas Marston, Barnstable. 1763, Roland Cotton, Sandwich. 1764, James Otis, Barnstable ; Edward Bacon, Barnstable. 1765, John Gorham, Barnstable. 1770, Isaac Hinckley, Barnstable.
The following names, dates of commission not ascertained, should be added to the list: Melatiah Bourne, Sandwich ; Shearjashub Bourne, David Gorham, Solomon Otis, Joseph Otis, Daniel Davis, Rich. Bourne, Barnstable ; David Thacher, Yarmouth ; Kenelm Winslow, Harwich.
Since the Revolution and down to the year 1809, the following justices of the Common Pleas were appointed, under authority of "the government and people of Massachusetts Bay :" 1775, James Otis, Daniel Davis, Barnstable; Nathaniel Freeman, Sandwich, successively chief justices ; Richard Baxter, Yarmouth. 1775, Joseph Nye, Jr., Sandwich. 1781, Solomon Freeman, Harwich. 1793, John Davis, Barnstable. 1799, Ebenezer Bacon, Barnstable. 1801, David Scudder, Barnstable. 1803, Samuel Waterman, Wellfleet. 1804, Thomas Thacher, Yarmouth. 1809, Isaiah L. Green and Timothy Phinney, Barnstable. 1809, Wendell Davis, Sandwich.
The Court of Sessions, created in 1808, changed in 1811, to Court of Sessions of the Peace, and abolished in 1828, was a county tribunal. The date of commissions of the
369
POPULATION, CIVIL LISTS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
justices is wanting, owing to destruction of court house records. The following are known to have been incumbents during that period : Nathaniel Freeman, Sandwich ; John Davis, Barnstable, chief justices, with the following associates : Joseph Dimmick, Falmouth ; James Freeman, Sandwich ; Samuel Freeman, Eastham; Isaiah L. Green, Barnstable ; Solomon Freeman, Brewster; Richard Sears, Chatham ; Calvin Tilden, Yarmouth ; Samuel P. Croswell, Falmouth ; Elijah Cobb, Brewster ; Elisha Doane, Yarmouth ; Naler Crocker, Barnstable ; Melatiah Bourne, Sandwich. Most of the foregoing judges, especially in the very early period of the colony, were not educated to the law, and had little legal training.
The following are the judges of Probate, who have occupied that position : 1702, Barnabas Lothrop, Barnsta- ble. 1714, John Otis, Barnstable. 1727, Melatiah Bourne, Sandwich. 1741-2, Sylvanus Bourne, Sandwich. 1764, James Otis, Barnstable. 1781, Daniel Davis, Barnstable. 1799, Ebenezer Bacon, Barnstable. 1800, John Davis, Barnstable. 1825, Job C. Davis, Barnstable. 1828, Nymphas Marston, Barnstable. 1854, George Marston, Barnstable. 1858, Joseph M. Day, Barnstable .* 1882, Hiram P. Harriman, Wellfleet.
Courts of Insolvency were established by the authority of a statute of June 6, 1856. This court was consolidated with the Probate court March 26, 1858, under the style of Court of Probate and Insolvency. Simeon N. Small of Yarmouth was judge of this court, and John P. Washburn of Barnstable, register.
District Courts were established in the county of Barnsta- ble by the act of 1890, chapter 177. The First District jurisdiction extends to the towns of Barnstable, Bourne,
*Judge of Probate and Insolvency, from the above date.
370
CAPE COD.
Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, Yarmouth. The Second, the remaining towns in the county. Sessions of the First, in Barnstable every day but Saturday ; Saturday at Buzzard's Bay. Second, sessions every day but Friday in Province- town; on Friday in Harwich. For the trial of criminal cases, with jurisdiction in civil cases for the sum of $1000. Following are the appointments : First-Justice, 1890, William P. Reynolds ; 1893, Frederick C. Swift. Associate Justices, 1890, Ebenezer S. Whittemore, Frederick C. Swift; 1892, Smith K. Hopkins; 1893, Henry M. Hutch- ings. Second -Justice, 1890, James H. Hopkins; 1896, Raymond A. Hopkins. Associate Justices, 1890, Tully Crosby, Jr., George T. Wyer.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The following have served as registers of Probate : 1686, Joseph Lothrop, * Barnstable. 1702, William Bassett, Sandwich. 1721, Nathaniel Otis, Barnstable. 1729, Sylvanus Bourne, Barnstable. 1740-1741, David Gorham, Barnstable. 1775, Nathaniel Freeman, Sandwich. 1823, Abner Davis, Barnstable. 1836, Timothy Reed, Barnstable. 1852, Nathaniel Hinckley, Barnstable. 1853, George Marston, Barnstable. 1854, Joseph M. Day, Barnstable. 1854, Rufus S. Pope, Barnstable. 1858, Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth. 1859, Jonathan Higgins, Orleans. 1874, Charles Thacher, 2d, Yarmouth. 1884, Freeman H. Lothrop, Barnstable.
The following have been the incumbents of the office of register of deeds, but the date for determining the term of service has been destroyed : 1686, Joseph Lothrop, Barnstable ; William Bassett, Sandwich; John Thacher,
*Mr. Lothrop was called county recorder in some of the old papers, plaoing on record deeds, conveyances and other instruments.
371
POPULATION, CIVIL LISTS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
Barnstable ; Solomon Otis, Barnstable; Edward Bacon, Barnstable ; Ebenezer Bacon, Barnstable; Job C. Davis, Barnstable ; Lothrop Davis, Barnstable ; Fred'k Scudder, Barnstable ; 1874, S. K. Hopkins, Barnstable; 1877, Asa E. Lovell, Barnstable; 1887, Andrew F. Sherman, Barnstable.
The county treasurers, so far as can be determined, have been : Solomon Otis, Barnstable. 1784, Edward Bacon, Barnstable. 1785, Ebenezer Bacon, Barnstable. 1814, David Crocker, Barnstable. 1824, Ebenezer Bacon, Barn- stable. 1837, Josiah Hinckley, Barnstable. 1842, Fred'k Scudder, Barnstable. 1853, Chas. F. Swift, Yarmouth. 1857, Obed Baker, 2d, Dennis. 1862, Gorham Hallett, Barnstable. 1868, Samuel Higgins, Chatham. 1874, Chas. H. Nyc, Barnstable. 1880, William H. Underwood, Harwich. 1886, Marshall L. Adams, Provincetown. 1889, Clarendon A. Freeman, Chatham. 1895, Edward L. Chase, Barnstable.
The clerks of courts have been, so far as known : William Bassett, Sandwich ; Nath'l Otis, Barnstable ; John Sturgis, Barnstable ; Joseph Otis, Barnstable ; Wm. Otis, Barnstable ; David Scudder, Barnstable; Abner Davis, Barnstable ; 1840, Timothy Reed, Barnstable ; 1855, Fred'k W. Crocker, Barnstable; 1863, James B. Crocker, Yar- mouth ; 1876, Smith K. Hopkins, Barnstable, to present time.
The sheriffs for the county of Barnstable have been : 1692, William Bassett, Sandwich; 1699, Samuel Allen, Barnstable ; 1713, Shubael Gorham, Barnstable; 1715, Joseph Lothrop, Barnstable; 1721, John Russell, Barn- stable ; 1731, John Hedge, Barnstable ; 1748, John Gorham, Barnstable ; 1764, Nathaniel Stone, Barnstable ; 1775, Enoch Hallett, Yarmouth ; 1788, Joseph Dimmick,
372
CAPE COD.
Falmouth ; 1808, James Freeman, Sandwich ; 1816, Wendell Davis, Sandwich; 1823, David Crocker, Barnsta- ble; 1843, Nathaniel Hinckley, Barnstable; 1848, Charles Marston, Barnstable; 1852, Daniel Bassett, Barnstable ; 1853, David Bursley, Barnstable ; 1856, Charles C. Bearse, Barnstable ; 1863, David Bursley, Barnstable ; 1878, Levi L. Goodspeed, Barnstable ; 1880, Thomas Harris, Barn- stable; 1884, Luther Fisk, Dennis; 1890, Joseph Whitcomb, Provincetown. In 1720, the record reads, that Shubael Gorham was appointed "to be joint sheriff with Mr. Lothrop." In 1731, John Hedge was appointed "to be joint sheriff with Shubael Gorham."
When the legislature, in 1828, abolished the court of sessions and commissioners of highways, in their place was established a board of county commissioners. The first ap- pointments were : Samuel T. Croswell, Falmouth ; Matthew Cobb, Barnstable ; Obed Brooks, Harwich ; John Freeman, Sandwich, and Orren Howes, Dennis, special commissioners. By a statute of April, 1835, the board was that year re-organized, and the following persons were elected for a term of three years, and their successors were chosen every three years thereafter until 1854 :
1835 -Jesse Boyden, Sandwich ; Michael Collins, East- ham ; Alexander Baxter, Yarmouth. Special commissioners -Jonathan Nickerson, Dennis; Nath'l Hinckley, Barn- stable.
1838-Jesse Boyden, Sandwich; Michael Collins, East- ham; Charles Sears, Yarmouth. Special commissioners - Nathaniel Hinckley, Barnstable ; Jonathan Nickerson, Dennis.
1841-Zenas D. Bassett, Barnstable ; Isaac Hardy, Chatham ; John Newcomb, Wellfleet. Special commis-
373
POPULATION, CIVIL LISTS, SOCIETIES, ETC.
sioners -Nehemiah Baker, Dennis; Simeon Dillingham, Sandwich.
1844-Seth Crowell, Dennis ; Ebenezer Nye, Falmouth ; John Newcomb, Wellfleet. Special commissioners -Simeon Dillingham, Sandwich ; Barnabas Doane, Eastham.
1847-Seth Crowell, Ebenezer Nye, John Newcomb. Special commissioners -Simeon Dillingham, Barnabas Doane.
1850-Seth Crowell, Dennis; John Doane, Orleans ; David K. Akin, Yarmouth. Special commissioners- James H. Knowles, Eastham ; Nathan Jenkins, Barnstable.
1853-John Doane, Orleans ; David K. Akin, Yarmouth ; Simeon Dillingham, Sandwich. Special commissioners- Nathan Jenkins, Barnstable ; Jesse Collins, Eastham.
The act of 1854 provided for the retirement of one member in that year, one in 1855 and one in 1856, the other to hold his office until 1856, and for the annual election of one commissioner each year to hold office for three years. In 1855, David A. Smith of Provincetown succeeded David K. Akin, and in 1856, William Hewins of Falmouth succeeded Simeon Dillingham. In September, 1856, Edward W. Ewer of Sandwich succeeded to the vacancy caused by the retirement of David A. Smith. Since that time the terms begin in January, and have been filled as follows : 1857, James Gifford, Provincetown ; 1858, Edward W. Ewer, Sandwich; 1859, 1862, Joseph H. Sears, Brewster; 1860, John W. Davis, Wellfleet; 1861, 1864, Erasmus Gould, Falmouth ; 1863, 1866, 1869, Daniel Paine, Truro; 1864 to 1885, James S. Howes, Dennis ;* 1867 to 1876, Ebenezer S. Whittemore, Sandwich; 1872, Elijah E. Knowles, Eastham; 1875, Jonathan Higgins, Orleans ; 1876 to 1888, 1894, 1897, Joshua C. Robinson, *On page 308 it was stated that Mr. Howes filled that office 24 years.
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