USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Historical sketches of towns in Plymouth and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts > Part 9
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Historical sketches of towns in Plymouth and Barnstable counties, Massachusetts > Part 9
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Lieutenant Richard Sears was born in 1749, and for a time held a seat in the Mass. Senatc. He died May 13, 1839.
The first Sears in America was Richard, whose son Knyvet, was father of Daniel of Chatham. This Daniel had a son Daniel, whose son David was a rich merchant, and died in Boston. The first Richard had also a son Paul of Yarmouth, from whom the late Joshua Sears of Boston, was descended.
The names of Chatham field officers in the local militia.
COLONELS. Benjamin Godfrey, from July 1, 178I; Joseph Doane, from August 20, 1790.
LIEUTENANT COLONELS. Hugh Nickerson, from March 1, 1816.
MAJORS, Allen Nickerson, from April 13, 1818 ; John Topping, from June 6, 1823.
* Many of the inhabitants of the Cape towns were away at sea so much of the time, that it became difficult to keep up a military or- ganiztion on a peace basis. Very few companies of uniformed militia ever existed in Barnstable County. Of these might be named the Brewster Artillery, Falmouth Artillery, and Barnstable Light Infan- try Company.
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HISTORY OF TOWNS.
TOWN OFFICERS. - 1873-4.
Town Clerk, and Treasurer - Levi Atwood.
Selectnien, Assessors and Overseers of the Poor-Joshua
Y. Bearse, Warren Rogers, Elisha Eldridge.
School Committee - David II. Crowell, Chairman.
Constables - L. L. Bearse, Samuel H. Young.
CHURCHES.
Congregational Church - Rev. Hiram Day, Pastor.
Universalist Church - Rev. George Proctor, Pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church - Rev. Edward A. Lyon, Pastor.
MASONIC. St. Martin's Lodge - B. D. Gifford, W. M.
SANDIWCH.
This town was called Shawme by the Indians. It was first settled by white people, in 1637, Edmond Freeman being at their head. It is well watered by streams and ponds, game and fish are abundant in and around the old town. The schools of learning are good and prosperous, and the village is one of the most important on the Cape. It lies on the Old Colony Rairoad, which now extends to Provincetown, and is 12 miles north of Barnstable, and 53 south-east from Boston. This is the home of Mr. Fred- erick Freeman, who has published a splendid History of this County. Mr. Freeman is a lineal descendant of the first and second Edmond, I believe. I hope he may, live long to enjoy the plaudits of his host of patrons and friends.
This town was, at an early day, a noted place for the Friends' or Quakers' demonstrations. Much might be written about their persecutions, down from the occasion when one of them told the good old Thomas Prence, that he lied. "Thomas," said he, " thou liest." I strongly suspect, that this ancient forefather did lic. But then the Quaker was not civil to speak so roughly to him. He was the temporal Governor and deserved respect from all good citizens.
Humphrey Norton said, " Thomas, thou liest, thou art a malicious man."
SANDWICHI.
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The Governor had charged him, to his face, with of- fences against the laws.
He believed himself innocent of such crimes. If we take a modern, liberal view of this matter, probably there was no criminality in Norton's conduct, although he was a turbulent and violent man. But Governor Prence was far from being " malicious." So I guess they both lied. Fa- natical zeal will sometimes make ruffians and liars of good men. Let us attribute their failings to faults which lean to virtue's side, and give them unbounded praise forever- more for the grand institutions they established for us in this wilderness of America.
THE SWIFTS.
About 18 years ago I compiled, for Mr. Richard K.Swift of Chicago, an elaborate history and genealogy of the Swift family of this country, comprising the descendants of Wm. Swift of Sandwich. This Win. Swift was born in England at a place called Bocking in the County of Suffolk, came over early, and settled at Watertown, Mass. After a short time he removed to Sandwich with his wife Joane, and both of them died at Sandwich, he leaving sons and daugh- ters, from whom descendants are living in all parts of the country. I know not what became of that book, but hope it may be published, as it would be of great interest to the family. It contained tabular genealogies, and personal sketches of all the conspicuous characters from the pil- grim ancestor down to the present time.
I have memoranda of the descent of two or three branches. One is that of Elijah Swift of Falmouth, son of Oliver C., born 1797, son of Elijah, born 1774, son of Wm., born 1747, son of Wm., born 1717, son of Wm., married 1707, son of Benjamin and his wife Hannah (Wing), son of Wm., born 28 August, 1654, son of Wm., able to) bear arms in 1643, son of Wm., the pilgrim.
EDMOND FREEMAN.
Edmond Freeman came from Devonshire, England. He and his family came over in the Abigail, sailing from Lon- don in July, 1635, being then 45 years of age.
In 1636-7, he was one of the Great Inquest to inquire of all abuses within the body of the Government
In '39-40, he was elected Assistant - Appointed June 2, 1640, a magistrate or judge for three towns, Barnstable,
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HISTORY OF TOWNS.
Yarmouth, and Sandwich - Elected Assistant also in '40- 1, '41-2, '42-3, '43-4, '44-5.
In 1641, he was presented by the Grand Jury for lend- ing a gun to an Indian. Of a Council of War in 1642, against the Indians. In 1651, Mr. Freeman and his wife were presented by the Grand Inquest for not frequenting the public worship of God, contrary to order made the 6th of June, 1651. He died at Sandwich, in 1682, aged 92 years. . His wife, Elizabeth, died at Sandwich 14 Feb- ruary, 1675-6, aged 35 years.
HENRY FEAKE.
Henry Feake, brother to Robert of Watertown, was at Saugus (Lynn), in 1637, with Edward Dillingham and Edmund Freeman, and they all three removed to Sand- wich about that date.
In 1640, he was on a committee with Governor Prence and others to divide the meadows among the citizens.
In this division he had 20 acres for his share. " Mr. Ed- mond Freeman" had 42 acres, " Mr. Edward Dillingham" had 8. The rest had about 4 or 5 acres each.
He was of the Grand Inquest in 1642. Ils daughter Elizabeth married John Dillingham, son of Mr. Edward Dillingham, 24 March, 1650, and outlived her husband. Mr. Feake was the Deputy, or Representative of Sand- wich of the Colonial Court in 1643-4.
EDWARD DILLINGHAM.
Edward Dillingham and his brother John appear to have come from Bitteswell in Leicestershire, England. The family were landed gentry there before 1600, as may be seen in Nicholls' History of that County. Their arms were, arg , ten fleur de lis, 4, 3, 2. 1, ppr.
Edward was a legatee of his brother John of Ipswich, who died early, and Sir Richard Saltonstall and Governor Thomas Dudley helped to settle his estate. In 1632, Ed- ward took cattle of Emanuel Downing of London, for a third of the increase.
In 1637, Mr. Dillingham was living at Saugus (Lynn), . and with nine other men was by the Plymouth court, granted liberty to view a place in the Old Colony to sit down on, and have sufficient land for three score families, on the conditions propounded to them by the Government and Mr. Winslow.
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SANWICH.
These nine men were Edmond Freeman, Henry Feake, Thomas Dexter, William Wood, John Carman, Richard Chadwell, William Amey, Thomas Tupper, and George Knott. Most of these men settled at Sandwich, and in a list of Freeman of Sandwich, in 1643, are the names of Dillingham, Feake, Freeman, Knott, Chadwell, and Tup- per. Mr. Dillingham brought over from Bitteswell a herd of cattle, which he took from his neighbors on shares ; that is, he was to return the cattle with part of their increase in subsequent years. The fulfilment of this agreement is provided for in his will.
He was elected Deputy of Sandwich in 1643. Mr. D. was one of the founders of Sandwich and a much respected citizen. His daughter Oseah married Stephen Wing, who was Town Clerk of Sandwich in 1669. His wife's name was Drusilla, who died 6 February, 1656. Mr. D. died in 1667.
Brigadier General Nathaniel Freeman of this town, com- manded the entire militia force of Barnstable County for many years. He was Colonel of one of the regiments of the militia in that county in the time of the Revolutionary war. Soon after that war the State of Mass., that had been divided into 3 military divisions was subdivded and made to consti- tute a larger number, by which the Old, or Plymouth, Colony portion came to be one whole division, and numbered the 5th. Of this then new 5th division of the Mass. Militia, Doctor David Cobb of Taunton, was by the Legislature elected chief commander with the rank, title and commission of Major General Doctor David Cobb in the war of the Revolution had belonged to .the military family of the father of our country, the immortal Washington, and the commission he held upon the staff of the commander in chief had entitled him to the rank of Colonel.
Two other Brigadiers, beside General Nathaniel Freeman, were overstepped by this act of the Mass. legislature. Gen- eral Freeman both as an officer and a patriot deserved well from his country, and this was not the way to express a proper appreciation of his sufferings " for the public good," his services and personal sacrifices. Truer words were never spoken than that " Republics are ungrateful ;" and General Freeman was but one of a vast multitude of American patriots, who have been brought to realize this truth in all its bitter reality.
Upon the resignation of General Cobb, the legislature of
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IIISTORY OF TOWNS.
our State, proceeded to add insult to its injury already done General Freeman, by putting into the office of Major General his Junior officer in rank, viz., Brigadier General Nathaniel Goodwin of Plymouth, commander of the first Brigade in said fifth divison (the first Brigade then consisting of all the local militia of Plymouth County, except the town of Hing- ham).
This act proved that " last straw that breaks the camel's back," for General Freeman resigned, and in his letter of resignation, he, in a manly tone, and dignified manner, set forth his cause of grievance.
That injustice done to General Freeman was continually practised toward the Barnstable Brigade, during the long period of about fifty-five years As often as the office of the Major General became vacant, just so often did the Plymouth or Bristol County Brigadier succeed in securing the succes- sion, until within about one week before the disbandment of the 5th division (when the office of MAJOR GENERAL being vacant), the legislature promoted to that place, Brigadier Gen- eral Sabin Smith of Sandwich, the Senior Brigadier General of the division, who had once been superseded by the Bristol County Brigadier, his junior in rank and date of commission.
The ink of General Smith's commission as Major General had scarcely dried before the same legislative body, that had elected him to the command of a division, abolished that same division by disbanding it, and every military body of which it consisted, save a few uniformed companies of Light Infan- try, Artillery and Riffemen, that were assigned to another command.
The town of Sandwich was prompt in raising a company for the Union Army in the late war, sending out one of the first or earliest companies of " three years men," that reached the scene of operations in Virginia .*
TOWN OFFICERS. - 1873-4.
Town Clerk. and Treasurer - H. G. O. Ellis. ,
Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of the Poor - H. G. O. Ellis, Reuben Collins, Isaiah Fish.
* The Sandwich Company arriving in Virginia so early in the war as it did, was for a time made part of a "three months' regiment," under Colonel David W. Wardrop, and subsequently put into a three years' regiment, commanded by Colonel Ebenezer W. Peirce.
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FALMOUTH.
School Committee - Charles Dillingham, Joseph W. Ewer, William C. Spring.
Superintendent of Schools - Louis H Manuel.
Constables - E. T. Pope, Micah Tinkham, Ward S. Curtis. CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal Church-Rev. John Liversey, Pastor. Congregational Church - Rev. Frederick Oxnard, Pastor. Roman Catholic Church - Rev. H. F. Kinnerney, Pastor. MASONIC. De Witt Clinton Lodge - W. C. Spring, W. M. ; Henry F. Delano, Secretary.
Star of Hope Lodge, I. O. G. T. - Horace Lovell, W. C. T.
FALMOUTH.
Falmouth was incorporated as a town in 1686. Mr. Samuel Shiverick was the first gospel minister located here, and his labors closed before 1700. Rev. Joseph Metcalf was the second minister. He graduated at Cam- bridge. He died in 1723, and was succeeded by Mr. Josiah Marshall. Rev. Samuel Palmer came next. He was ordained in 1731, and was succeeded.by Mr. Zebulon Butler, who was ordained in 1775, and dismissed in 1778. Next in course came Rev. Isaiah Mann, Rev. Henry Lin- coln, Rev. Benjamin Woodbury, Rev. Josiah Bent, and Henry B. Hooker.
The Congregational Church in East Falmouth was or- ganized in 1810, and that in North Falmouth in 1833.
Two streams in the town afford water power that has been improved to carry the machinery of woolen mills.
The grave stone of Reverend Samnel Palmer, the fourth minister settled in this town, is still to be seen in the vil- lage cemetery, and bears the following inscription.
" Here lies interred the body of the Rev. Samuel Pal- mer, who fell asleep April ye 13th 1775, in the 68th year of his age and 45th of his ministry."
" His virtues would a monument supply, But underneath these clods his ashes lic."
Whale fishing was formerly carried on here, nine vessels being therein employed, tonnage of the same 2823, hands employed 250, capital invested $260,000.
Falmouth and Brewster for many years had each an
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HISTORY OF TOWNS.
Artillery company, and these were the only companies of that arm in the militia service of the commonwealth that ever existed in Barnstable County. The Old Colony por- tion of the State, in those days, could boast of seven com- panies of Artillery, Barnstable County as before remarked having two, Bristol County two, and Plymouth County three, and these were organized as three Battalions of Artillery, each battalion being commanded by a Major, who received his orders direct from the Brigadier General.
In 1843, (thirty years ago), all the Artillery companies within the limits of these three counties, were embodied as a regiment of Artillery, the first is the earliest regiment of Artillery that ever existed in the local militia of the Old Colony portion of the State.
Wendell Hall of Plymouth, was made Colonel of this new regiment, Ephraim. B. Richards of Boston, Lieuten- ant Colonel, and Ebenezer W. Peirce of Freetown, Major .*
Captain Weston Jenkins for a long time was commander of the Falmouth Artillery Company, and the military records show that Captain Jenkins while holding that of- fice, was tried by a Court Martial sitting in Plymouth, of which court Brigadier General Abial Washburn of Middleborough, was President. This court was held in March 1817, and a part of its record is as follows :
" At the same court was tried Captain Weston Jenkins of the Battalion of Artillery in the third Brigade, on the following charges exhibited against him by Brigadier Gen- eral Cobb, and the Brigade Major of the third Brigade, viz : First, Disobedience of orders and neglect of duty for not bringing your field pieces on parade on the 25th October, 1815, agreeably to orders."
" Second. For disobedience of orders and neglect of , duty for not attending yourself, nor ordering your com- pany to attend, the regimental muster of the first Regiment third Brigade, in the town of Sandwich, the 11th day of October last agreeably to orders."
* This artillery regiment existed abont ten years, and during that time Wendell Hall of Plymouth, and Daniel Gloyd of Abington, held the office of Colonel. Ephraim B. Richards of Boston, Ebenezer W. Peirce of Freetown, Charles Brooks of Hanover, and James Bates of East Bridgewater, Lieutenant Colonels. Ebenezer W. Peirce, Daniel Gloyd, James Bates, and Quincy F. Harding, Majors.
*In 1814, Captain Weston Jenkins of the Falmonth Artillery Com- pany, with 32 men captured a British privateer called the " Retaliation," commanded by Captain Porter.
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FALMOUTH.
" Captain Weston Jenkins being called, answered and plead not guilty to the charges." The court after hear- ing and maturely considering the evidence, are of opinion that Captain Weston Jenkins is guilty of disobedience of orders and neglect of duty on the 15th October, 1815."
" The Court then decided that Captain Weston Jenkins is not guilty of the second charge alleged against him."
" The Court having taken into consideration the offences of which it hath adjudged and deemed Captain Jenkins to be guilty, do sentence him to be reprimanded in or- ders." Captain Jenkins on reflection, will be fully sensi- ble of the unmilitary appearance of a company of Artillery on parade without field pieces, and, if horses cannot be procured in the town of Falmouth, to transport them, when a reasonable compensation is paid by the Government, the Major General would recommend a petition to disband the company. This last remark was the suggestion of Major General Nathaniel Goodwin, when approving the sentence of the Court.
Barnstable County at that time had three regiments of Infantry, and instead of allowing the Artillery to muster as a Battalion it was usual to order one artillery company to muster with the first and the other with the second or third regiment, that the Brigadier General when coming upon the field to review a regiment might receive the ar- tillery salute or number of guns or discharges prescribed in the tactics. Brigadier General Cobb, let it be observed, was the officer, or one of those who preferred the charges against Captain Jenkins for omiting to bring the guns, and thus putting it out of his power to fire the salute.
General Cobb was then Brigadier General of the Barn- stable County Brigade, and doubtless felt great chagrin, and took it as a personal insult, that he should be received without the artillery salute, because Captain Jenkins had left his field pieces at home.
County officers residing in Falmouth.
Justices of the Peace - Samuel P. Bourne, Jabez Davis, Erasmus Gould, Isaac S. Lawrence, Thomas H. Lawrence, Thomas Lewis, Jr., Joshua C. Robinson, Oliver C. Swift, Richard S. Wood, North. Falmouth, Francis A. Nye, West Falmouth, Gilbert R. Boyce.
Trial Justice - Richard S. Wood.
Notary Public - Richard S. Wood.
Deputy Sheriff - Isaac S. Lawrence.
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HISTORY OF TOWNS.
Some of our readers may perhaps think that we have given to much attention to the subject of the local militia, but let it ever be borne in mind that with the early settlers and also with the founders of the Republic, the military ranked side by side with the church and the common school, and these three, to their minds, formed a trinity ; on which they confidingly relied, as the bulwark of civil and relig- ious liberty.
And these militia records from which we have copied are not to be found either in public libraries or the archives of the State, but were saved and preserved by a gentleman after the old sytem was abolished in 1840, and his act of saving is the best proof he could possibly have furnished of his conviction that " every particle of historic truth is precious," a conviction or conclusion, that has done as much, and perhaps even more to hand down the name and glori- ous deeds of Colonel Benjamin Church, as that of killing King Phillip, and capturing Anawan.
Falmouth gentlemen who held commissions in the local militia of Barnstable County higher than that of Captain.
BRIGADIER GENERAL. Joseph Dimmock, from 1794.
COLONELS. Joseph Dimmock, from August 16, 1790 : Barachiah Bassett, David Nye, from May 20, 1806; Syl- vester Bourne, from September 24, 1832.
LIEUTENANT COLONELS. Joseph Dimmock, from July 1, 1781 to August 16, 1790 ; Sylvester Bourne, from Oc- tober 18, 1831, to September 21, 1832.
MAJORS. David Nye, from July 12, 1796 to May 20, 1806 ; Joshua Nye, from September 28, 1820 to Decem- ber 12, 1826 ; Francis Nye, from Angust 17, 1827.
Captains of the Falmouth Artillery Company, with the date of commissions.
Weston Jenkins, from August 14, 1806 to March 16, 1819 ; Nathaniel Shiverick, from December 21, 1819 to October 30, 1821 ; Jesse Noble, from August 10, 1822 to November 17, 1825 ; Sylvanus Hatch, from July 1, 1826.
Majors of the Battalion of Artillery to which the Fal- mouth company of Artillery belonged.
Benjamin Foster of Brewster, from May 2, 1811 to April 4, 1820 ; Jeremiah Mayo of Brewster, from May 29, 1820 ; Nathaniel Shiverick Jr., of Falmouth, from Oc- tober 30, 1821 to May 30, 1831.
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FALMOUTH.
TOWN OFFICERS - 1873-4.
Town Clerk, and Treasurer - Thomas Lewis.
Scleetmen and Assessors -Thomas Lewis, William Nve, Matiah Gifford.
Overseers of the Poor - Joshua C. Robinson, Arza Fish, Francis A. Nye.
School Committee - Prince G. Moore, Peter E. Childs, Crocker HI. Bearse, Levi L. Fish, J. C. Robinson, Job F. Davis, Silas J. Eldred, Henry Jones, Isaac S. Lawrence, Jabez Davis, Israel B. Davis, Silas Hatch, 2d.
Colleetor - Isaac S. Sherman.
Constables - Crocker H. Bearse, Isaac S. Lawrence, Francis A. Nye, Shubael Norton.
CHURCHES.
Episcopal Church, Wood's Hole - Rev. Hiram Carle- ton, Rector.
First Congregational Church, Falmouth - Rev. Henry K. Craig, Pastor.
Second Congregational Church, Hatchville-Rev. David Perry, Pastor.
Third Congregational Church, North Falmouth - No settled Pastor.
Fourth Congregational Church, Waquoit - Rev. James Cushing, Pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Falmouth - No settled Pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church, East Falmouth - Rev. John Fish, Pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church, West Falmouth.
Friends' Society, West Falmouth.
MASONIC. Marine Lodge, meet Monday evenings on or before the full of the moon, at Masonic Hall, Main street, J. C. Robinson, W. M. ; F. E. Davis, J. W .; A. P. Stur- gis, S. W. ; E Gould, Secretary.
ACADEMY. The Lawrence Academy, Lucien M. Hunt, Principal.
In 1841, a young man, the sole survivor of his family died and endowed this Institution with the sum of $10,000, as a permanent fund. The condition was that it should forever be called by his name. He survived his father but five months, and after providing for his relatives by suit- able legacies, he bequeathed to the Second Congregational Church, $10,000.
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HISTORY OF TOWNS.
DENNIS.
The Indian names of this town, formerly a part of Yar- mouth, were for the western part Nobscussett, for the northern Sesuet, and for the other part Quivet. It was incorporated in 1793, being named for the Rev. Josiah Dennis, the old popular minister, who settled in that locality in 1727 and died 31st Ang., 1763.
I have a copy of his will and inventory. The will is dated Nov. 19, 1761. He says both his body and mind are sound. First he recommends his soul to God, who gave it, when it leaves the body, in hope of salvation by Jesus Christ, his body to be decently buried in the earth, in hope of a joyful Resurection. To his beloved wife Phebe (Hopkins), he gives, besides what the law allows her, one third of his real estate during her natural life, and all the personal estate she brought at her marriage, that is, it is not to be reckoned as any part of his prop- erty. To his daughter, Hannah Dunster, 20 shillings ; to the church 32 shillings to buy a silver cup for the communion table, hoping more may be given, " so that a handsome one may be purchased for that use."
He gives 26s. 8d. to the poor of the parish of Yarmouth. "I give Dr. Stillingfleet's Origines Sacrae to my son-in-law, Mr. Dunster, as a token of my respect, as also the book-case in which I keep my books at present." Some of his books he says he will take out to be given to his children, and the rest Mr. Green may sell and give the proceeds to such of his children as may most need assistance.
He says he intends to leave some written instructions behind him for his heirs to observe. The rest of his per- sonal estate is to be divided between his widow and his two daughters Abigail and Jane. And his real estate is also to be equally divided between the same parties.
He appoints his " well-beloved friends," Rev. Mr. Joseph Green of Barnstable and Kene'm Winslow of Harwich to be his Executors. Mr. Winslow was the third Kenelm of Satucket, born in 1700.
According to his inventory his estate amounted to £641 11s. 10d ; of this account the real estate was £291.
Dennis was a distinct parish from 1721, being called the " East Precinct " of Yarmouth. It extends from north
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DENNIS.
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to south about eight miles across the cape, and from east to west seven miles.
It is seventy-eight miles south-east from Boston. North Dennis was the ancient seat of the numerous and powerful Nobscussetts, whose successive chiefs were Sachemus, Little Robin, Sampson, &c.
The first salt works here were established by John Sears and his neighbors in 1776, and this is said to have been the beginning of the manufacture of salt in this country by solar evaporation. The inhabitants are much engaged in commerce, fishing and coasting.
TOWN OFFICERS. - 1873-4.
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