History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 100

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292

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John Dillingham, the neighbor of John Wing, came from Sand- wich. His father was Edward Dillingham, a settler of that town. He was born in England about 1630. He removed to the east side of Bound brook not far from 1667. He was also a member of the Society of Friends, and the records show that meetings were often held at

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

his house. He was a large landholder, and appears to have been the wealthiest of the Sauquatuckett settlers. His tax paid to Yarmouth. in 1676 amounted to £6, 17s., 9d. His first wife was Elizabeth Feake of Sandwich, to whom he was married March 24, 1650. His second wife was Elizabeth, who died aged seventy-three, December 15, 1720. He lived a quiet and peaceable life, and died aged eighty-five, May 21, 1715, and was buried in the old cemetery west of Sauquatuckett river, where a stone, with inscription, marks the spot of burial. He had several children. His only son, John, born in 1663, died Septem- ber 11, 1746.

Kenelm Winslow came from Marshfield, where he was born about 1637. He was a son of Kenelm Winslow, who came from Droitwich, England. He married for his first wife Mercy, daughter of Peter Warden of Yarmouth, about 1666. She died September 22, 1688, in her forty-eighth year, and was buried in the old cemetery at East Dennis, which was reserved for a burial place by her brother, Samuel Warden. Mr. Winslow married for his second wife Damaris -- -. He died November 11, 1715, and was buried beside his wife in the Warden burying ground, where a stone with inscription marks the place of his sepulture. He resided in West Brewster, near the house occupied by Edmund Hall. He was a wealthy man of his time. He seems to have been of a different religious training than his neigh- bors, John Wing and John Dillingham. He had a large family. He was a " clothier" and farmer, and owned a fulling mill on Sauqua- tuckett river, with some of his neighbors. His eldest son, Kenelm, born in 1667, married Bethiah Hall, January 5, 1689, and settled near him. From this Kenelm descended the present Winslows in the town.

William Griffith came from Sandwich, where he is mentioned as assisting in the settlement of the estate of Edward Dillingham in 1667. He purchased of Thomas Prence one half the corn mill on the Sauquatuckett river, removed thither and occupied a place on the west side of the river, and became the miller. He sold out his place, together with his share of the mill, to Thomas Clarke, and removed to the vicinity of Monomoyick, where he was residing in 1691. Stephen Griffith, who settled in the town after 1700, was doubtless his son.

Andrew Clarke was the son of Thomas Clarke of Plymouth. He removed to this town from Boston about 1678, where he had married Mehitabel Scottoway, and settled on the west side of Stoney brook upon his father's land. He died about 1706, and his wife died in 1712. He had, besides other children: Thomas, born in Boston in 1672, set- tled on the east side of the river; Scotto, Andrew and Nathaniel. Many descendants of Thomas Clarke are yet living in this town.

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John Freeman, jr., born in 1651, was the son of Major John Free- man of Eastham, and settled on the east side of Sauquatuckett river upon his father's land. The precise spot where he built his house is not pointed out, but there is evidence that it was on the north side of the lower road, about north of the Freeman house, now occupied by Anthony F. Brier and near the cemetery. Mr. Freeman took but little interest in town affairs. He was a large landholder and a highly respected citizen. He was twice married, and had four sons and seven daughters. He was one of the eight who formed the first church in 1700. He died July 27, 1721. His first wife, Sarah, died April 21, 1696; his second wife, Mercy, died September 27, 1721, aged sixty-three. But few of the descendants of Mr. Free- man in the male line reside in the town.

Samuel Sears, son of Paul and grandson of Richard Sears, born in 1663, settled not far eastward of Bound brook. His first house was built upon the spot where the house of Constant Sears stands. His second was built where the late Samuel Ripley Sears' house stands. The last one was taken down but a few years ago. Mr. Sears was a large land holder. He married Mercy, daughter of Samuel and Tam- sin Mayo, and died January 8, 1741-2. His wife died January 20, 1748, in her eighty-fourth year. He had two daughters; his sons were: Samuel, Nathaniel, Jonathan, Joseph, Joshua, Judah, John, Seth and Benjamin. Joshua, Judah and Benjamin removed from town.

Thomas Freeman, son of Major John Freeman of Eastham, born in 1653, married Rebecca, daughter of Jonathan Sparrow, December 31, 1673, and not long after settled upon land here, which he had of his father. He was a very prominent man in the settlement, was one of the petitioners for the incorporation of the town, and in 1700 one of the founders of the first church. He was the first town clerk whose name appears upon the first book of Harwich records, and one of the first selectmen of the town. He died February 9, 1715-16. His wife, Rebecca, died in 1740, aged eighty-five years. He was the first dea- con of the church. He had ten children. His sons, Thomas, Ed- mund and Joseph, were prominent men.

Joseph Paine, son of Thomas and Mary Paine, born in Eastham, married Patience Sparrow, daughter of Jonathan, Esq., and sister of the above Rebecca, who married Thomas Freeman. He was one of the founders of the church in 1700, and one of the first selectmen. He succeeded Thomas Freeman as town clerk in 1706. He died of a fever while in office, October 1, 1712. His children were: Ebenezar, Hannah, Joseph, Richard, Dorcas, Phebe, Reliance, Thomas, Mary, Jonathan and Experience. But few of his descendants yet remain in town. Prof. J. K. Paine, of Harvard College, is a descendant.

Thomas Crosby came from Eastham, where he had been a resi-

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

dent many years, and settled in the east part of the town. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1653, and was some time after 1655 in charge of the church at Eastham. He was a trader in Eastham as well as here. He died at Boston, suddenly, while there on business, June 13, 1702. He was one of the first members of the first church in 1700. By his wife, Sarah, he had twelve children: Thomas, Simon, Sarah, Joseph, John, William, Ebenezar, Mercy. Ann, Increase and Eleazar. Mercy, Ann and Increase were triplets. All the Crosbys of the town are his descendants. It is understood that he was the son of Mr. Simon Crosby, who came from England and settled in Cambridge.

James Cole came from Eastham, where he was born November 30, 1655. His father was Daniel Cole. He was one of the petitioners for the incorporation of the town. He died in 1717.

William Parslow was an early resident. He married Susannah Wing and settled in the north part of the town. He has no descend- ants here.

John Gray was a native of Yarmouth. He married Susannah, daughter of Andrew Clarke, about 1693, and settled upon a tract of land on the east side of the river at West Brewster. His house stood not far from the house of Nathan Kenny. He was a wealthy and influential citizen. He died March 31, 1732, aged sixty years. His wife died September 10, 1731, aged fifty-seven years. He left sons and daughters. He has no male descendants in Brewster.

Stephen Hopkins, son of Giles Hopkins of Eastham, removed from that town about 1702, and settled upon land which he received from his father. He was twice married. His first wife was Mary, daughter of William Merrick, and his second wife was Mrs. Bethia Atkins. He died October 10, 1718, aged seventy-six. He had six sons, who settled in the town, and three daughters.

William Myrick came from Eastham and settled within the limits of the town after 1670. He was the eldest son of William Merrick and was born in 1643. He was a prominent man in the settlement, was one of the eight who formed the first church, and was a selectman of Harwich several years. He was twice married. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Giles Hopkins, and his second wife was Elizabeth. He died October 30, 1732, aged eighty-nine years. He had a large family. His son, Nathaniel, born in 1673, was a prominent man.

Jonathan Bangs, son of Edward Bangs, it appears, was not a resi- dent until after 1694. He inherited his father's possessions between Sauquatuckett river and Namskaket, which belonged to him as a "Purchaser or Old Comer." He married Mary Mayo, July 16, 1664. She died January 26, 1711, in her sixty-ninth year. His second wife, Sarah, died June, 1719, aged seventy-seven, and in 1720 he married

ومصراتة مبد .

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Mrs. Ruth Young, daughter of Daniel Cole. His sons were Edward, Jonathan and Samuel. But a few of the descendants bearing the name yet reside in the town.

Among the settlers between 1700 and 1750 were Thomas. Lincoln, Jonathan Lincoln, Nicholas Snow, Edward Snow, John Snow, James Maker, George Weekes, Robert Astine, Judah Berry, Jonathan Cobb, Chillingsworth Foster, John Mayo, John Tucker, Gershom Phinney, John King, John Fletcher, David Paddock, Ichabod Vickerie, Patrick Maraman, Richard Godfrey and Seth Dexter.

INDUSTRIES .- The manufacture of salt by solar heat began to be an important industry in the place while it was a part of Harwich, and continued for some years after it was a town. It was estimated that in 1809 there were between sixty and seventy thousand feet of works within the township. The first to suggest the use of the pump mill in filling the vats with salt sater was Major Nathaniel Freeman, of this place, in 1785. The use of the rolling roof to cover the vats in case of rain, was the invention of Reuben Sears of this place, a car- penter, in 1793. This industry was one of profit at the start, and so continued until the last war with England, when it began to decline.

Before the revolution this part of Harwich was largely interested in the whale fishery. The vessels engaged were sloops and schooners. The business was lucrative, and the neighborhood was greatly bene- fited. The foremost in the business was Benjamin Bangs. He had several vessels which pursued the business in the Gulf of St. Law- rence. The industry was greatly disturbed by the revolutionary war, and was finally given up. In 1803 only two fishing vessels were em- ployed. After this time some interest was taken in the fisheries, but not as formerly. In 1845, there were four vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fishery. At the present time no vessel sails from the town. The culture of the cranberry is now engaged in to a con- siderable extent.

POPULATION .- The population of the town according to the United States census reports has been: In 1810, 1,112; in 1820, 1,285; in 1830, 1,418; in 1840, 1,522; in 1850, 1,525; in 1860, 1,489; in 1870, 1,263; in 1880, 1,144.

MILITIA .- This town was noted for its interest in military affairs. In 1810 a company of artillery was organized here, with Benjamin Foster, captain, who served till June 2, 1812, when he was succeeded by Abiel Crosby. Jeremiah Mayo succeeded Captain Crosby March 11, 1819, and served until July 18, 1820, when he was succeeded by Freeman Higgins. Captain Higgins was succeeded by William Shiv- erick, in 1822, who, May 20, 1823, was succeeded by Joshua Winslow. With the company of artillery organized at Falmouth in 1806, a batallion of artillery was formed, which, with three Barnstable county regiments

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

of infantry, formed the Third Brigade of the Fifth Division of Massa- chusetts militia. The majors of this battalion, belonging to Brewster, were Benjamin Foster, commissioned May 2, 1811, and Jeremiah Mayo, his successor, May 29, 1820. The adjutants of the battalion residing here were; Joseph Sampson from 1812 to 1815; William Free- man from 1815 to 1819; and Ezekiel H. Higgins from 1819 to 1823. The battalion was disbanded in 1831.

Major Elijah Cobb, of this town, was promoted to the office of brigadier general of the Third Brigade, April 11, 1815, by election, and was dily commissioned, taking the position made vacant by the resignation of General Lothrop, of Barnstable. General Cobb ap- pointed as his staff officers from this town, Joseph Sampson, brigade major, and Freeman Foster, brigade quarter-master. General Cobb was succeeded in 1821 by Major Jonathan Mayo, who had served as major of the battalion. Brigadier General Mayo was succeeded by Colonel Ebenezer D Winslow in 1830, who held the position until 1833, when Colonel Sabin Smith succeeded him. While Brigadier General Winslow was in command of his brigade, he for a short period acted as major general of the Fifth Division, in the absence of Major General Washburn.

Before the revolutionary war, West Brewster was long the head- quarters of the Second regiment of militia. Thomas Winslow, who resided westward of the river, was the colonel many years. His son, Zenas Winslow, was some years lieutenant colonel, after 1775, of the militia, while Samuel Knowles was colonel. Colonel Thomas Winslow was a man of note. He occupied many important civil positions, and died April 10, 1779. The following is the inscription upon the stone erected at the head of his grave in the Warden burying ground at East Dennis:

"In memory of the Hon. Thomas Winslow, who departed this life, April 10, 1779, in the 75th year of his age."

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES .- The first church here was the Congrega- tional, organized October 16, 1700. The members, beside the pastor, who that day put their names to the covenant were Thomas Crosby, William Merrick, John Freeman, Thomas Freeman, Edward Bangs, Simon Crosby and Joseph Paine. This church, after the division of the town into precinct or parishes in 1747, and upon the organization of the Second or South church, that year, was called the First church.

The first pastor, Rev. Nathaniel Stone, was a native of Watertown, Mass., born in April, 1667. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1690, and came to Harwich to preach some time before the church was gathered. A sermon he preached here Sunday forenoon, March 6, 1697-8, from Lam. 3.33 is yet preserved. He continued in the ministry here until his death February 8, 1755, in his eighty-ninth

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year. Mr. Stone had as a colleague in the ministry after 1748, Mr. Dunster. He was "a man of piety, of talents and of firmness, much revered and beloved by the people of his charge." He left a record of the church over which he was so long pastor. which is carefully preserved. He married Reliance, daughter of Governor Thomas Hinckley of Barnstable, and was the father of twelve chlidren. His eldest son, Nathan, born in Harwich, February 18, 1707-8, graduated at Harvard College in 1726, and settled in the ministry at Southboro, Mass., in 1730, where he died in 1781. His son, Nathaniel, born November 29, 1713, died in 1777, was a prominent man in this parish. Mrs. Stone, wife of the minister, died May 24, 1752, in her eighty- fourth year. Mr. Stone's house stood but a short distance northerly from the house of Captain William Freeman.

Rev. Isaiah Dunster, the second pastor of the old church, was born in Cambridge, October 21, 1720. He was educated at Harvard, and graduated in 1741. He was ordained as the colleague of Mr. Stone, November 2, 1748, and was continued in the ministry here till his death, January 18, 1791. His first wife was Hannah, daughter of Rev. Josiah Dennis of Yarmouth. His second wife was Mary Smith of Pembroke. Rev. John Simpkins, jr., his successor, was born in Boston, April 18, 1768, was graduated at Harvard College in 1786, and was ordained pastor, October 19, 1791. He continued in the ministry here till 1831. His death occurred at Boston, February 28, 1843. His wife, Olive, died at the same place, April 14, 1844. in her eighty-first year. They were both interred at Mt. Auburn. He married Olive, daughter of Nathaniel Stone, Esq., and had children: Caroline, Nath- aniel S., John, Samuel G. and Elizabeth. Mr. Simpkins' house was standing a few years since. The site is now marked by the house of Captain William Freeman.

The successos of Mr. Simpkins was Rev. Samuel Williams, who was ordained April 25, 1832. He was born in 1803, and graduated at Harvard College in 1824. He continued in the ministry here until 1844. He married Temperance Mayo of this town. He died at St. Paul, Minn., October 21, 1884.

Mr. Williams was succeeded by Rev. James L. Stone in 1845. He remained here several years. His successor was Rev. F. R. Newell, who was installed November 13, 1847. Mr. Newell was pastor to September, 1853. He married Miss Mary D. Berry of this town. He died some years ago. Among those who supplied the pulpit until Mr. Chaffe came were Revs. Bellows, Pratt, Damon, Bridge and Ponds.

Rev. Nathaniel O. Chaffe supplied the pulpit from December, 1853, till 1855. Revs. Mosely and Orril followed Mr. Chaffe as supplies till the meeting house was closed for repairs. After being opened, Rev.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Moses G. Thomas supplied the pulpit a while. From 1856, Rev. Thomas W. Brown occupied the pulpit until 1864, when he closed his labors here and became pastor of the Sandwich church.

The successor of Mr. Brown was Rev. Horatio Alger. jr., from December 8, 1864, until 1866, followed by Rev. George Dexter, who continued pastor until 1870. Rev. James H. Collins succeeded Rev. Mr. Dexter, May 7, 1870, and was succeeded in 1872 by Rev. Thomas Dawes, who is yet pastor of the church.

The first deacon of this church was Thomas Freeman. He was chosen to the office November 28, 1700. Upon his death. which oc- curred in 1716, " Mr. Thomas Crosby and Thomas Lincoln were chosen by ye Chh with ye concurrence of their pastor to succeed in that office." Deacon Crosby was succeeded by Chillingsworth Foster and Deacon Lincoln by Joseph Mayo, in 1740. At the death of Deacon Foster, in 1766, the "Chh made choice of Bro. Heman Stone and Bro. Edmund Freeman to serve in the deacon's office, the pastor the same time consented."

The first house of worship erected in this place stood near or where the present Unitarian church stands. In 1713, it having been found too small for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the town, a vote was passed in town meeting, October 14th, " to build an addition to the back side or end eighteen feet in breadth, and so from end to end of the meeting house as high as the walls." This house had no pews, excepting one occupied by the minister's wife. The enlargement of the house caused the town to appoint a committee to have the seating " of parsons or to place parsons where they should sit in the meeting house." In 1715, two of the prominent attendants, Captain Samuel Sears and Lieutenant Thomas Clarke, thought they would like to have pews, so permission was granted them, upon condition they would "fill them as full as convenient;" and a committee was appointed with instructions to lay them out in some vacant place at each end of the meeting house, and " not to straiten the allies" in doing so. This enlargement seems not to have been sufficient for Mr. Stone's growing congregation a few years later. In 1722 a vote was passed in town meeting to erect a new meeting house near the site of the old house of worship, and a committee of five, all north side men, was appointed to carry on the work at the " town's cost." Their instruc- tions were to build it as they thought proper as to " length. breadth and height," and have it " built with good timber, boarded, shingled, clapboarded, plastered and glazed." The meeting honse was com- pleted and places for pews sold in September, 1723. This house had galleries, as three seats in the men's galleries were reserved for older boys to sit in. No boy above twelve years of age sat in the galleries, it seems, at this time. The old edifice, the records say, was given to

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John Mayo, who had been " burned out," to make up in part the loss he had sustained. ,

In 1760 the meeting house underwent repairs at the expense of the precinct, under the supervision of Benjamin Bangs, Colonel Thomas Winslow and the precinct committee, viz .: Edmund Freeman, John Snow and Jabez Snow. Besides repairing, a steeple was added, on which was placed a " ball and vane:" a sinall porch added on the front side, and new pews made. This meeting house was enlarged in 1796, and a tower and steeple erected at the west end to the height of 110 feet. In 1834 the old house of worship was taken down and the pres- ent one erected upon the site.

The Reformed Methodist Society was formed in this town in 1822. The meeting house occupied by the society stood in West Brewster, near the old Methodist cemetery. It was taken down a few years since. It was known as the old " Red Top." Many of the early mem- bers of the society had been members of the first Methodist Society in Harwich.

The Universalist Society was organized in November, 1824. The first members were: Gen. Elijah Cobb, Freeman Foster, Isaac Lin- coln, Isaac Lincoln, jr., E. D. Winslow, Barnabas F. Cobb, Jonathan Thacher, Barnabas Thacher, Heman Griffith and Theophilus Berry. The first house of worship was erected in 1828. It stood on the south side of the road, nearly opposite the present town hall. Upon the building of the new church edifice. in 1852, it was removed about one half of a mile westward, and converted into a dwelling house, which for a time was used as a hotel, and known as the " Ocean House." The second house of worship was dedicated December 1, 1852. The so- ciety, becoming reduced by deaths and removals, the house of wor- ship was sold to W. W. Knowles. The surviving members, and others in sympathy with them, erected the chapel in 1879 in which services are now held. The present pastor is Rev. C. A. Bradley. Upon the dedication of the first house of worship, in 1828, Rev. Charles Spear, well known in after years as " the prisoner's friend," was or- dained, a church organized, Sabbath school and an efficient benevo- lent organization established. Mr. Spear remained with the society until 1832. The following are the ministers who have served the so- ciety since 1832: Revs. Abraham Norwood, 1833; N. Gunnison, 1837; J. V. Wilson, 1839; T. K. Taylor, 1840; S. Bennett, 1843; N. B. New- ell, 1845; O. W. Bacon, 1848; W. Bell, 1849; Cyrus A. Bradley, 1851 to 1857; Luther Walcott, 1857; Thomas Walton, 1858, and Cyrus A. Bradley, who has been pastor here and at Yarmouth Port since 1873.

The Baptist church was constituted December 23, 1824. The first members were: Nathaniel Hopkins, Samuel Berry, Elisha Crocker, John Wing, Barack Eldridge, Jonathan Gray, John Bangs, Lucy

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Atwood, Betsey Crosby, Elizabeth Hopkins, Abner Robbins, Sarah Crocker. Betsey Berry, Priscilla Snow, Nancy Mayo, Sally Winslow, Betsey Doane, Judith Robbins, Hannah Wing, Clarrisa Winslow, Polly Bangs, Betsey Crosby, Sarah Harris, Dida McCloud, Hannah Crowell. Lydia Crowell, Polly Rogers, Polly Clark, Rhoda Sears, Patience Eldridge, Tabatha Hopkins and Abigail Dillingham. Most of these persons had been members of the Baptist church in Har- wich. and were dismissed to form this church. The first deacons were Elisha Crocker and Abner Robbins. For some time after its organization, the church, it appears, had no regular pastor. Rev. Otis Wing, a native of the place, and just ordained as a Baptist min- ister, supplied the pulpit a period. Rev. Stephen Coombs, who also had just entered the ministry, supplied awhile. Rev. Jesse Pease preached here as a supply. Rev. John Peak, while pastor of the Hyannis church, and after his dismissal, preached here occasionally. He preached here several Sabbaths in 1828, at which period, of the eight Baptist churches in the county, only one, the West Yarmouth Baptist church, had a pastor. The following is the list of those who supplied the pulpit between 1833 and 1861: Revs. Henry Marchant, Calvin Clark, Thomas Conant, David Culver, Joshua L. Whittemore, Stephen Coombs, John Upton, Enoch E. Chase, Phineas Bond, Robert Lentell, T.Wakefield, Franklin Daman, Mr. Conant, N. B. Jones, D. P. French, Mr. Byrne, Mr. Upton, Mr. Demings, Charles G. Hatch, E. E. Chase, J. M. Mace, Joseph H. Seaver, W. W. Ashley, A. J. Ashley, Mr. Hill, A. J. Ashley, Mr. Bronson and Mr. Sherman. In 1861, Rev. Joseph Barbour came. Since 1861, beside the present pastor, Rev. J. S. Johnson, the ministers have been: Revs. E. T. Hill, George Car- penter, J. Wassal, Mr. Adlam, Joseph B. Reed, William R. Elsdon, D. C. Easton, O. P. Bessey, William H. Fish, F. Purvis, T. P. Briggs and J. C. Lamb. The first meeting house of the society was erected in 1828. The present one was erected in 1860, near the site of the first structure. Elisha Crocker, for a long time the church clerk, is at present a deacon.

VILLAGES .- West Brewster was once a village of importance. It includes what was formerly designated Factory Village, Winslow's Mills, and Brewster's Mills. The Indian name of the whole region, stretching from each side of the river, was Sauquatuckett, which for the sake of brevity has long been called Satucket. It was on the east side of the river, in "Sachemas Neck," that the Indian sachem, Sachemas had his planting ground and probably resided. All terri- tory bordering on the east side of the river below the road, when the settlers came, had been cleared, and was known as the "Indian fields."

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 100

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: New York : Blake Number of Pages: 1292

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292