USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Cape Cod, the right arm of Massachusetts : an historical narrative > Part 5
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Nobscussett pond. The bounds between Yarmouth and Barnstable were fixed very nearly as at present, reserving in the part set off to Barnstable a parcel of plain land in the eastern portion near the seashore to the two Indian sachems, Nepoyetum and Twacommacus and their heirs. By this readjustment of boundaries, Yarmouth lost nearly a mile of territory, from east to west, across to the south sea in Hyannis. No fixed terms of these courts were established, 'but they were held at such times and places as the public " convenience required; and in some few eases adjourned terms of the General Court were held in the Cape towns, for the consideration of important matters.
Hardly had the settlers provided shelter for their families and eleared the land for tillage, ere they were called upon to face the dangers and privations of war. Information having reached the Plymonth authorities of a conspiracy of the Indians to cut off the English settlers, a general meeting of the freemen was called for deliberation, on the 27th of .September, 1642. They, however, met by their deputies,
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as they had a right to do. After full consultation a deputation was sent to Massachusetts Bay, to enter into a league and covenant with that colony, for future defensive and offensive operations. Capt. Standish was chosen captain of the forces to be raised, and William Palmer of Yarmouth was selected for lieutenant. The relative ability of the eight towns in the colony may be seen by the amount raised for the charges of the troops: Plymouth, £5, 5s .; Duxbury, £3, 10s .; Scituate, £4; Sandwich, £3; Barn- stable, £2, 10s .; Yarmouth, £2, 10s .; Taunton, £2, 10s .; Marshfield, £2, or in that proportion for a greater or less sum. A council of war was chosen, at the head of which was the governor, with Mr. Edmund Freeman, Mr. Thomas Dimmock and Mr. Anthony Thacher as the members from the Cape towns. These alarms seemed for a season to be soon dissipated. But in October of the next year, the rising of the Indians against the Dutch and English occa- sioned fresh alarms, and the court was again summoned to assemble. It was concluded that thirty men would be the just proportion for the colony, and the numbers for each town on the Cape were apportioned as follows : Sandwich, 3 ; Barnstable, 3; Yarmouth, 2. Stringent regulations were made against selling arms to the Indians. Provision was made requiring Yarmouth and Barnstable to prepare a place for the defense of themselves and their wives and children, in case of a sudden assault. No further military operations occurred this year.
The hostile demonstrations of the Indian tribes were however continued, and in August, 1645, an expedition was organized against the Narragansetts. There were 40 men engaged in this expedition, of which 5 were from Sandwich, 4 from Barnstable, and 5 from Yarmouth. The Cape men were gone from 13 to 14 days. They advanced as far as
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Rehoboth, but peace having been concluded with the savages the troops returned without meeting the foe. The charges. of this expedition were £66, 3s., 3d. The rate, the whole of which a little exceeded this sum, for the Cape Cod towns. was: Sandwich, £9, 7s., 9d .; Barnstable, £6, 2s., 6d .; Yarmouth, £7, 2s., 6d. Nauset, not yet having been fully. organized, was not included in this rate.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS, 1635-1650.
1635, November. A vessel with some Connecticut settlers on board was cast away in Manomet Bay. The crew got on shore, and, after wandering ten days in deep snows, arrived at Plymouth.
1638, June 1. Great earthquake throughout New England. "So. violent its shock, in some places, that movables in houses were thrown down, and people outdoors could scarcely retain a position on their feet."-Sept. The court ordered that the inhabitants of Sandwich and Mattacheese, or Yarmouth, should build a bridge over Eel River, to. be made passable by footmen or horsemen .- Dec. James Skeff of Sandwich was ordered by the court to carry Henry Ewer and wife and their goods out of the town to the place whence they came; but if this order was executed they found means to return, and remained unmolested.
1639, May 6. It was ordered by the court, that "if Mr. Callicut do. come in his own persou to inhabit Mattacheese before the next General Court in June next ensuing, then the grant shall remain firm unto him; but if he fail to come within the time fixed, that then their grant be made void, and the land be otherwise disposed of." It was also ordered by the court that "the proportion of land granted to Mr .. Andrew Hallet at Mattacheese, shall be and remain nnto him, and that those that are appointed to set forth the bounds betwixt Matta- cheese and Mattacheesett shall lay forth the said portion unto him in a convenient place there."-Dec. 3. Thomas Lumbert was licensed to keep an ordinary for entertainment of strangers and draw wines in Barnstable.
1640, March 2. The "purchasers and old comers," obtained a graut of "a tract of land from the bounds of Yarmouth three miles eastward of Naemskekectt and across the neck from sea to sea." For this grant and two others, William Bradford and associates, the aforesaid.
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"purchasers and old comers," surrendered to the whole body of the freemen all the rest of the land within the pateut, which had not been granted to other persons.
1641, June 1. The rates of the several towns fixed by the court for the payment of clerk and 30 bushels of corn for the messenger, were as follows: Sandwich, 3 pounds; Barnstable, 2 pounds, 10 shillings; Yarmouth, 2 pounds, 10 shillings .- June 7. Thomas Starr, Hugh Tilley, William Nicholson and Joshua Barnes, of Yarmonth, complained of for being "scoffers and jeerers at religion," were ordered to recognize for their appearance in court, and "for coming to the town meetings." They were subsequently released. This was an outcome of their controversy with Mr. Matthews.
1643, Aug. 29. "Time is given to the towns of Barnstable and Yar- mouth until the next court, to amend their highways, or else be fined upon their presentment." Liberty was granted to the towns of Sand- wich, Barnstable aud Yarmouth for erecting of military discipline among them, provided they be men of honest and good report, and freemen.
1644, Mar. 5. " Whereas information is given to the court that there is a cow or a heifer in calve given or disposed by Mr. Andrew Hallet senr. of Yarmouth, for the benefit of the poor of the said town of Yarmouth, which for the ordering thereof was referred to the court by the said Mr. Hallet by his letter under his hand, and bearing the date the first day of March, 1643: The Court doth therefore order that the said cow or heifer in calve shall be on May day next delivered to "Thomas Payne of Yarmouth, who shall have her for three years next ensuing and the milk and one-half of the increase during that time, and after the said three years are expired, the poor of Yarmouth shall have her, and the increase to be disposed of by the townsmen of Yarmouth from time to time to other poor persons dwelling in the said town as they shall think fit, and for such term, reserving the benefit of said stock for the benefit of their poor, and not to be alienated to any other use."-June 5. Mr. Anthony Thacher of Yar- month licensed to draw wine at Yarmouth; Henry Cobb at Barnstable; Wm. Newland at Sandwich .- Aug. 20. Robt. Bodfish licensed to draw wine at Sandwich, "and when he is at any time without, it shall be lawful for Wm. Newland to sell wine for persons for their need."
1646, June 2. The Court ordered that strangers that have liberty to fish at the Cape pay 5 shillings per share .- Oct. 20. The proportion of the towns for public charges were, Sandwich, 3 pounds, 10 shillings. Yarmonth, 2 pounds, 10 shillings. Barnstable, 2 pounds, 10 shillings.
1647, March 2. Thomas Shaw for "putting aside some loose pali- sades on the Lord's day. entering the house of John Crocker of Barnstable and stealing some venison, beef, butter, cheese, tobaeco and bread, was ordered to pay 12 shillings the officers that arrested him, and be publicly whipped."
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1647. Mr. Prince with Anthony Thacher, appointed by the General Court to try the case of Nepoytam, Sachamus and Felix, Indians, against whom complaint had been made by Mr. Richard Sears of Yarmouth .- The town of Sandwich was presented for not training the past year.
1648. Thomas Dexter, Jr., miller, of Sandwich, presented "for not having a toll-dish sealed according to order," but "was cleared."
1650, April 22. Thomas Blossom and Josiah Hallet of Yarmouth drowned at Nauset, while on a fishing voyage. Oct. 2. Permission was granted to Mr. Thomas Prence, and others, to form a company for bass fishing at Cape Cod, and to purchase land at such convenient places as they shall choose, the privilege being confirmed to them for the term of three years. A parcel of land, about forty or fifty acres, in the town of Yarmouth, granted to Capt. Standish for his trouble in settling the land titles in that town.
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CHAPTER V. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIRST COMERS.
"Who they were and why they came-Social Distinetions-Indepen- dents, rather than Puritans-Cattle Raising - Agriculture- Fisheries-How the Forefathers Lived-Malt and Distilled Liquors -Their Dress-Long Hair Denounced -Their Habitations-Their Home Life-Lack of Female Education-Devotional Habits- Roving Adventurers, etc.
HE men who laid the foundations of these towns, and from whom nine-tenths of the present inhabitants are descended, were Englishmen, who were closely identified with the movements for reform in church and state in the mother country. It would not be true to assert, as is sometimes inconsiderately done, that they were driven by religious persecution from their homes to these shores; for a country in which Cromwell and Hampden could be elected to Parliament might still be found a measurably secure dwelling-place for those who adhered to Independency and dissent in religious matters. But it was at the same time true, that the expression of such views had, at a somewhat earlier period, been attended with great hardship and ofttimes with peril; and rather than continue the constant struggle in the mother country, they elected to become self-expatriated exiles, and chose to leave their old homes and build up new ones on these wild and rugged shores. This they undertook for their own advantage and security, with no purpose connected
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with other persons or sects, a fact which should be borne in mind and temper our criticisms when their treatment of "strangers" and those of other beliefs is under review and discussion. So far as this region is concerned, the oft quoted assertion of Stoughton, is equally true of its founders, as of the rest of New England, that "God sifted a whole nation to procure the seed out of which this people was to be developed." A glance at their names and a search into their antecedents will show that their ranks embraced men of substance and consideration in the old country. Several clergymen, who had been ejected from their livings for non-conformity, a few persons who were allied to the gentry, and a large number of yeomen and artisans, were of the number. Together with these were a few who came purely from motives of adventure, for business and trade, who were picked up in the cities and the ports of embarkation, to fill vacant places and make up the requisite number of a proposed company. These latter had little sympathy with the objects sought for by the chief settlers, were the source of much vexation and annoyance in future time, and tended to swell the criminal calendar in those years, when even the slightest deviation from the prescribed course was visited with all the rigors of the law.
The social position which each person sustained in the mother country was maintained here, with great tenacity, and the official documents in which names appear will thus indicate the station held and the consideration to which each person was entitled. Goodman and Goodwife were the most usual appellations, Mr. being less common, and Gentleman being rarely appended to the name of any among them. The title of ensign, lieutenant, captain and major, when due to any person, was always punctiliously observed in the writings in which the names appeared: No one was ever permitted to.
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assume a title, or to be addressed by one, to which he had not a rightful claim. In seating worshippers at church, and in the order of public proceedings, these considerations were given much weight, and were subject to not infrequent review, as the social or official standing of parties was changed or modified by a change in their circumstances in life.
The Independent, rather than the Puritan, element predominated among the settlers on the Cape, which accounts for the degree of tolerance which prevailed here, and the absence of that persecuting spirit which pursued Anabaptists, Quakers, and other sectaries, in the Massachusetts and in some parts of the Plymouth, colonies. As will be seen in the progress of this narrative, many of these sects sought a refuge here, and were hospitably treated by those who had little sympathy with their doctrines-a degree of toleration as rare in those days as it is deserving of recognition and appreciation by their descendents. No instance is on record of any punishment inflicted or disability incurred by direction of any local magistrate of the Cape towns, on account of religious belief or want of such belief, the few cases in which such punishment here was administered, being inflicted by order of the colonial, and not of the town, authorities.
The leading business consideration which entered into the calculation of those who came here, and which governed, in a large degree, their choice of this locality, was the facilities for rearing cattle which the marshes on the borders of the Cape afforded. Stock raising was, at that time, the most important business of the colony. "It pleased God in these times so to bless the country with such access and confluence of people into it, as it was thereby much enriched, and cattle of all kinds stood at a high rate for divers years
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together." A cow was sold for £20; sometimes as high even as £28; a goat for £3 or £4. Four two-year-old steers and a bull, which were wintered in Yarmouth, in 1639-40, sold for £83 .* Cattle were sent from England to this colony to be kept for a share of the increase, so that " the ancient planters which had any stock began to grow in their estates." These extreme prices were not long main- tained, but the business continued for many years sufficiently remunerative to repay the toils of the husbandmau.
The cultivation of Indian corn was pursued with success, the soil being specially adapted for that purpose. This was unquestionably the staple crop of the country, being used not only for food for men and animals, but being largely employed as the currency of the colony and taken for debts, taxes, and as a medinm for carrying on trade. To say of a man that he "had corn in the crib," was equivalent to saying at this time that he has money in the bank. The cultivation of wheat, which was produced here in the earlier stages of the colony, was partially abandoned about the year 1656, on account of the blast and mildew which infested it, rendering the prospects of a crop precarious. Barley was grown to make malt, of which considerable quantities were consumed. Then, too, pumpkins were found to be of great value. Said one of their writers, " Let no man make a jest of pumpkins, for with this food the Lord was pleased to feed his people to their good content, till corn and cattle were increased." Vegetables were found adapted to the soil, and all but potatoes raised in abundance; these last coming later into use. Fruit was also cultivated, but not of the luscious and developed varieties enjoyed by the present generation. The specimens of the Kentish cherry and the pears that grow upon the few old trees, propagated from the stock introduced
*Plymouth Records.
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by the forefathers, are of a coarse and acrid quality, which do not commend themselves to the modern palate.
Though agriculture was necessarily the first and leading pursuit of the settlers, the fisheries at their doors soon diverted a portion of their energies in that direction, and naturally led to the development of other branches of seamanship. In no very long time, voyages for trade and barter of fish, oil, tar, lumber, and other products of the waters and forests, were made to the West Indies and Bermudas, for a supply of the articles of use and luxury produced in those islands. It was not very long before a knowledge of seamanship was acquired, while subsequent generations produced many navigators and sailors of great daring and adventurousness. Two citizens of Truro were the first to voyage to the Falkland Islands for whales. No part of the globe restrained the ambition of those hardy sons of the Cape. Of them in their day it was well said : "Brave men, who work while others sleep;
Who dare while others fly;
They build a nation's pillars deep, And lift them to the sky."
The tables of the people were well laden with an abundance of excellent and substantial food. We are indebted to the criminal calendar of the colony for a glimpse into the larder of one of the citizens of Barnstable, who may be regarded as a representative of the average citizen of 1647, only seven or eight years after the settlement. While William Crocker, with his family, was attending meeting on Sunday, one hungry Thomas Shaw removed a palisade and entered Crocker's house, and pilfered the food provided for the family. It consisted of "some venison, some beefe, some butter, cheese, bread and tobacco," a substantial, and sufficiently luxurious, bill of fare. Though smoking was under a legal han, some of the
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIRST COMERS.
best citizens managed to smuggle a little tobacco for occa- sional use and private refreshment, after a hard day's work, or perhaps a long discourse on Sunday. They always had a supply of home-brewed beer, and spirituous liquors were in common, though perhaps the latter were not in general, use. Malt-houses, for the accommodation of the citizens, were as common as markets for the sale of meats are, at the present day. In the year 1663-4 there were imported into Barn- stable and Yarmouth, according to the invoices of the inspectors, 201 gals. 8 cases and 1 cask of liquors, 30 gals. rum, 30 gals. wine, 9 gals. brandy, 10 gals. sack .* This would seem to be an ample and even an abundant supply for the medical wants of a few hundreds of people. Tea and coffee, it will be remembered, had at that time not come into general use.
The peculiarities of dress and outward accoutrements of the forefathers have become familiar to the general reader through the current histories and other literature pertaining to the period. The settlers of the Cape towns were in no sense peculiar in this respect. The costume, both of the males and the females, was in the earlier portions of their history, of the simplest description. Any approach to " vanity in dress" was promptly dealt with by the authorities. But as the worldly affairs of the people began to prosper, they became less rigid in adherence to this policy, and more latitude was allowed in the outward adornment of the person, of both sexes. The common dress for men was breeches, a long vest, with lappets covering the hips, a roundabout coat or jacket, for week days, and for Sabbath a long coat cut a little crosswise, not straight down in front, with a standing collar. The wealthy wore large silver buttons, but for common wear horn was used. They all .
*Plymouth Records.
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wore round hats at first, but afterwards adopted the pointed hats of the Cavaliers. Long woolen stockings, which extended above the knee and were kept in place by a buckle or strap, and shoes fastened by a long buckle, completed their attire. In summer, stockings and sometimes shoes, were dispensed with, and trousers which extended below the knee were worn. With the female, the petticoat was the principal article of dress. It was made of cloth of domestic manufacture, sometimes colored, of two thicknesses and quilted throughout. On the lower border or front would sometimes be ornamental needle-work. Over this was worn a loose gown, also of domestic manufacture, white, checked or colored. It was open in front, and did not extend so low as the under garment. The sleeves were short, extending a little below the elbow. The neck and breast were ordinarily covered with a handkerchief; on great occasions, with a bodice or a stomacher. Long net gloves or "sleeves" covered the hands when they went out of doors. White worsted stockings and mocasins completed the winter apparel. On great occasions, the wealthy had gayer and more pretentious costumes of foreign fabrics, which were carefully handed down from mother to daughter and granddaughter. Silks, mohair, or "satinstow" garments figure in the inventories of dresses on the probate records. When they went out they wore bonnets, and cloaks of thick cloth with a hood or covering for the head, attached. For many years a bright red or scarlet was the fashionable color for these garments.
The length of the human hair early became an important issue, the wearing of long locks by men coming under the disapprobation of the sober and serious-minded members of society. About the year 1650 the practice was denounced in a paper signed by an association of leading members of
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIRST COMERS.
the community, in these words : "Forasmuch as the wearing of long hair, after the manner of the Russians and barbarous Indians, has begun to invade New England, contrary to the rule of God's word and the commendable custom of the godly, until this few years, we, the magistrates, who have subscribed this paper (for the showing of our innocency in this behalf) do declare and manifest our dislike and detesta- tion against the wearing of such long hair, as against a thing uncivil and unmanly, whereby men do deform themselves, and offend sober and modest men and do corrupt good manners." The grand jury were subsequently bound to prevent and the court to punish all such offenders.
The wardrobe of families was also the subject of care on the part of the magistrates. "Excess of apparel, strange new fashions, naked breasts and arms, and pinioned, super- fluous ribbons on hair or apparel," were roundly denounced, and subjected the offender to prosecution and all the penalties of the violated law. Milliners, mantua-makers, and fashionable tailors were not in much demand, the apparel of the family being usually manufactured by the female members, without outside assistance.
The first houses of our earlier ancestors were of the simplest and rudest description. They were generally of one story, about twenty feet square, with boarded walls, and a thatched roof, with oiled paper instead of glass for the windows. They were "daubed" in the crevices with mortar to make them air-tight. They cost about five pounds, equal to twenty dollars in silver money in those days. Dr. Thomas Starr of Yarmouth, in 1639, sold to Andrew Hallet a house of this description, which was built by William Chase, together with nineteen acres of land, for ten pounds .* These dwellings answered their purposes while they were
*Plymouth Records.
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clearing their fields, constructing roads, and bridges, and setting their plantations in order. After this a better class of frame houses was built. They were all in one style, two stories high, about 20x26 feet square on the ground, with very sharp roofs to shed water. The posts were 12 or 14 feet long, the lower story finished about 7 feet in the clear, and the upper about 6. They all fronted due south, and the "great room," or parlor, occupied the southeast corner. This room was usually about 16 feet square, and was occupied for a kitchen, dining-room and parlor. A bed often occupied the northeast corner, and the looms the
southeast. The sills were hewn from the largest trees in the forest, and projecting with the room, formed a seating place on the south and easterly side. The floor was laid on sleepers that rested on the ground, and it came up even with the lower part of the sill, so that, on entering the front door, which was at the southwest corner, you stepped down about a foot. The fireplace was on the west side, and occupied the whole space from the doorway to within about a foot of the north side of the room, and was usually about four feet deep. The fire was kindled in the centre, leaving
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIRST COMERS.
ample chimney-corners where the younger members of the family had seats in cold weather, and could gaze at the stars through the ample flue. The oven opened into the back part of the fireplace on the left hand side. The place of the mistress of the house was on the right hand side near the settle, in the corner ; the master's place was a large arm-chair or roundabout placed directly in front of the fire. The rear of the lower floor contained a small room at the northeast corner having a small fireplace, and was sometimes called a kitchen, but not often employed for that purpose. A small room, sometimes occupied as a bedroom, and sometimes for other purposes, was on the east, and at the northeast corner a narrow pantry or closet, in which was a trap door leading into the cellar.
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