History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 101

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

USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 101

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The first grist mill built on the river, stood near on the spot

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where the present one stands. It was built through the efforts of Governor Thomas Prence before 1662, for the benefit of the Eastham settlers who brought their grists here. Who the first miller was. is not positively known, but there is some evidence that John Wing was among the first. The records of Eastham show that Mr. Freeman was asked to agree with John Wing for the building of a chimney adjoining the mill. This mill finally passed into the possession of the Clarkes, Grays and Winslows.

Very near the grist mill, a fulling mill was erected at an early date. It passed into the hands of Kenelm Winslow, the second of the name. A fulling mill belonging to Kenelm Winslow, was burnt here on the night of February 24. 1760, consuming, it was estimated, one thousand pounds worth of cloth which had been left here by per- sons living in various parts of the county.

In 1814, a company, consisting of Kenelm. Isaac, Nathaniel, Abra- ham, Nathan, Josiah, Joseph and John Winslow, started a woolen factory in connection with the fulling mill upon Stoney brook, which was in operation several years; but not proving successful, a cotton factory was started in its stead, and after several years of trial. the the manufacture of cotton goods was given up and wool carding and paper making were engaged in. The site of these factories is now marked by the grist mill, erected a few years since by Bartlett Wins- low and T. D. Sears, and now owned by J. Howard Winslow. The fulling mill, in connection with the woolen factory, was for awhile in charge of Josiah Wilder, afterwards of Truro, whilst the grist mill was in charge of Heman Winslow.

The Clarks and Wings had a tide mill on the river near the house of T. D. Sears, which was not long in operation. The erection of this mill was about the middle of the last century. Many of these mills were erected about that period, in various parts of the county.

The traders here have been: Abraham Winslow, Frederick Wins- low, Nathan S. Dillingham, Nathan Winslow, Elijah B. Sears and B. B. Winslow. Abraham Winslow's store stood near the river. He commenced business quite early in the century. Mr. Dilling- ham removed to Boston and carried on business, and died a few years since. Mr. Sears' store was west of the river on the road to East Dennis. He removed to North Harwich about 1866 and opened a store. Bartlett B. Winslow commenced the stove and tin plate business in 1854, in a store on the north side of Main street near his dwelling house, which he sold in 1866. Taking in Benja- min Freeman, jr., as partner, he built the same year a much larger store on the opposite side of the street, in which was carried on the stove and tin plate business, in connection with the grocery trade. In 186S he purchased Mr. Freeman's interest, and continued

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

the business until 1876, when he sold out his interest in the stove and tin plate department to Thomas D. Sears. In 1884 he sold out his other store business to Mr. Sears, and is now engaged in the cran- berry culture. Mr. Sears, in 1SS7, sold his interest in the grocery business, which is carried on in the store on the lower floor of the building, to F. B. Crocker, who still continues in the business. Mr. Sears yet remains in the tin plate and stove business.

Isaac Dillingham was engaged here in 1839 in the manufacture of tin, sheet iron and copper ware, and was a dealer in cooking stoves, etc. William Winslow carried on the tanning and currying business on the east side of the river prior to 1871.

The cabinetmakers long established here were Joseph and John Winslow. The shoemaker was Freeman Winslow. He was actively engaged here about 1819. The hatter was Rev. Davis Lothrop, who died at West Harwich in 1889.

The present trader on the west side of the river is Eben F. Ryder, who is the postmaster.

The knitting factory, the only important manufacturing establish- ment of the place, was started some years since by Robbins & Everett. They first occupied a small building near T. D. Sears' store. After a few years they built a larger two-story building on the north side of the road, westward of B. B. Winslow's house. Mr. Everett retired in 1SS9, and the business is now carried on by Albert Robbins, the senior partner.

The first postmaster of the place was Dean Bangs. He was ap- pointed April 26, 1826. At first the post office designation was "Brewster Mills." After several years it became West Brewster. Mr. Bangs was a school teacher and wheelwright. He was succeeded by Joshua Winslow, who was appointed March 22, 1832. The postmas- ters since then have been: Frederick Winslow, appointed March 23, 1836; Freeman Ryder, July 26, 1839: Clarissa Winslow, May 31, 1848; Nathan Winslow, November 7, 1850; David Harwood, Rodolphus McCloud, Mercy Ryder and Eben F. Ryder.

This part of the town is somewhat noted for its old houses. The one standing on the north side of the road, about forty rods eastward of Bound brook, where the road crosses, and occupied some years since by the late Miss Vienna Sears, is the house in which Captain Isaac Sears, the distinguished " son of liberty," who figured in New York as "King Sears," first saw the light. It was built in 1719 or 1720 for Joshua Sears, the son of Samuel, the settler, who, in 1736, re- moved with his large family to Norwalk, Conn. Isaac Sears was born here in 1730, and was, it will be seen, a lad when his father removed. He finally settled in New York, and was one of the foremost there in opposing the enforcement of the stamp act of 1765. But few men

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were better known in New York during the years preceding the revo- lutionary struggle, or were more active in the cause of liberty. At the close of the conflict he engaged in seafaring business. On a voyage to Batavia and Canton he died of a fever, October 28, 1786, and was buried on French island. The old house has been in the pos- session of the Sears family since its erection. A few years since it underwent repairs. Near it, to the southward, is the old Sears bury- ing ground, where many of the early residents by the name of Sears lie buried. Within a few years it has been enclosed with a durable fence of stone and iron. On the old road from the Mill brook to Dennis, eastward of the house of Jeremiah Walker on the north side of the road, stands the house built for Judah Sears about 1731. It is of the style of that age, two stories in front and one story in rear. It is now much in need of repairs. Judah Sears was a son of Samuel and brother of Joshua Sears, and removed after 1752 to Rochester, Mass.

· 'The date of the erection of the old Dillingham house on the north side of the lower road, not far eastward of Quivet meadow, is not known, but there is an impression existing that it was built very early in the last century. It stands very near, if not upon the site of the first house built by John Dillingham, the settler.

The house now occupied by Mrs. Julia Winslow and the one next westward, formerly occupied by Joseph Winslow, are considered quite old. These houses stand on the high ground just east of the river. Mrs. Winslow's house was formerly occupied by Nathan Winslow.

The Dillingham burying ground, on the road to East Dennis west of the river, on the north side of the road, is the oldest in this part of the town. The oldest stone bearing an inscription is the one to the memory of John Dillingham, the settler, who died " May ye 21, .1715."

The village of Brewster includes the central part of the town, and is the principal one in the town. It contains the Unitarian church, Baptist church, the town hall, library building, and most of the stores in town. This portion of the town was not so early settled as the west part. Among the early residents were Thomas Freeman, Jona- than Bangs, Edward Bangs, Chillingsworth Foster, Joseph Paine, Stephen Griffith, John Mayo, James Cole, Judah Berry, William Mer- rick and Edward Snow.

Prominent among the traders here before 1800, were Edward Bangs, Nathaniel Stone, Benjamin Bangs, Silvanus Stone, John Silk and Benjamin Bangs.

Edward Bangs had a store and public house where the Unitarian parsonage stands. He was in business here in 1709, in which year

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

his barn and its valuable contents were consumed by incendiary fire. He died in 1746.

Nathaniel Snow occupied a store near his house, which stood just north of the house of Captain William Freeman. He was a man of business in every respect. He was succeeded in business by his son, Silvanus Stone, who continued in trade after the beginning of the present century.

Benjamin Bangs, a grandson of the innholder and shop keeper, Edward Bangs, commenced business on the old place during the mid- dle of the last century. He was first engaged in sea-faring business. He was a very successful merchant. He was interested in the whale fishery, and fitted out whale vessels. He died in 1769. His son, Benjamin Bangs, carried on the store business here before and after 1800. He was also successful. He died in 1814. The old house in which these three traders lived was taken down in 1868, and the present house, occupied by the pastor of the Unitarian church, was built.

John Silk, an enterprising citizen, opened a store on the north side of the road opposite E. E. Knowles' house. He was an Irishman from the county of Kilkenny. He died in 1793. His widow married Ed- ward O'Bryan who was for some time postmaster here.

Jeremiah and David Mayo had stores here a quarter of a century ago. Elisha Crocker, jr., with Mr. Kimball, opened a store a short distance east of the Unitarian church in 1852. They sold out their business in the fall of that year to W. W. Knowles, who continued the business at this place until 1866, when he purchased the Univer- salist church, fitted it up for a store, and removed his goods to it, and has since remained here. In 1880 he took in his son, William M .. and they now carry on the business under the firm name of W. W. Knowles & Co.

Warren Lincoln opened a store in his house in 1853. In 1855 he bought the building occupied by Nathan Winslow as a store in West Brewster, and removed it to the present site, and opened a store; since which time he has continued in the business.

Freeman Atwood, who opened a grocery store here in 1877, and his son, Freeman D., have a fish weir on the flats, which was first put up in 1857. Near Mr. Atwood's place is the old Atwood House, over a century old, the timber of which, it is said, was cut near by.

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The first postmaster at Brewster was Silvanus Stone, appointed July 1, 1804. His successors have been: William Stone, appointed October 1, 1805; Edward O'Bryan, March S, 1810; Joseph Sampson, October 1, 1815, Jeremiah Mayo, February 11, 1833; Dean Bangs, May 8, 1849; Ebenezer H. Knowles, April 3, 1851, Joseph C. Crosby, Martha B. Huckins, W. W. Knowles, and Frank S. Allen, the present incum-

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bent, who was appointed in 1887. Mr. O'Bryan for a while kept the office upon the spot where Miss Matilda Cobb's house stands. Mr. Stone kept the office in his store; Doctor Sampson kept it on the cor- ner, while General Jeremiah Mayo kept it where Captain E. E. Knowles now resides. it being then his place of residence.

The Brewster Ladies' Library Association was organized by the ladies of the village, December 23, 1852. By the persistency, stead- fastness and zeal of the members from very humble beginnings, it has now in its possession and management a fine building and library. The building stands a few rods west of the Baptist church on the south side of the road. The rear part of the present structure was the first erected for the library purposes in 1868. The funds for its erection were obtained by the young ladies through entertainments given by them, and from a generous contribution by the late Joseph Nickerson of Boston. a native of the town. The library has increased from 210 volumes in 1852 to over three thousand volumes in 1889. The officers for 1889 were: Miss Lolie Bangs, president; Miss Hattie Burrell, vice-president; Mrs. Zoeth Snow, secretary and treasurer; Misses Lottie Snow, Sallie Foster, and Mrs. H. J. Collins, directors; Mrs. Emily B. Rowe. librarian.

East Brewster is the post office designation of the territory in the northeast part of the town. Among the early settlers here were Stephen Hopkins, Mr. Thomas Crosby, James Maker, William Free- man, Richard Godfrey, William Baker, Nicholas Snow, David Bur- gess, John King and John Snow. The principal settlement now is along the main road. which the records show was laid out by the town of Eastham is 1668.

The first merchant in this section of the town was Mr. Thomas Crosby. formerly of Eastham. He went to Boston on business in 1702, and died there quite suddenly. Mr. Crosby was engaged for awhile as minister in Eastham, before Rev. Mr. Treat came. George W. Higgins of Orleans came to the village before 1827 and com- menced business as a trader. He sold out and went west. He was succeeded by Mrs. Cynthia Norway. Joseph Foster was her successor in 1862. He died in 1877. The store in 1878 was sold to Reuben . Chapman, who in partnership with his brother, Joseph C., carries on business as Chapman Brothers, dealers in dry goods, groceries and hardware.

The post office was established here in 1826, with George W. Higgins as postmaster. He held the office for more than thirty years, and was succeeded by Mrs. Cynthia Norway in 1857. Her successor in 1862 was Joseph Foster; but he dying in 1877, his widow, Emiline Foster, succeeded him. She was succeeded in 1886, by Joseph Chapman, who now holds the office.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

The fishing business was carried on to some extent at the shore some years since, and also the manufacture of salt. The physician of the neighborhood for more than twenty-six years after 1800 was Dr. Nathaniel Hopkins, a native of the place, father of Dr. Thomas, who died here a few years since, and grandfather of Thomas S. Hopkins, a lawyer of distinction in Washington, D. C.

South Brewster is the post office designation of all the territory south of the railroad station to the ponds between the town and Harwich. There are several small clusters of houses within the limits of the territory. The business quarter is at the railroad sta- tion. Here are the wholesale grain store of Richard F. Hopkins, established in 1881, and the wheelwright shop of Henry Hopkins. Among the traders in this section years ago was Nathaniel Myrick, who was the postmaster for many years.

The post office is now kept at the railroad station. Richard F. Hopkins has been postmaster since 1882, succeeding his father, Richard H. Hopkins, who was appointed in 1871. He was the suc- cessor of George Hopkins, who held it at the station while he was station agent.

The Cape Cod Central railroad was opened through this place in 1865. Among the station agents, besides the present one, R. F. Hop- kins, have been George and Richard H. Hopkins. The old road to Chatham, laid out before 1682, passes through this section of the town. The principal merchant of the neighborhood is Richard F. Hopkins. He deals in corn, flour, hay, etc. Not far southwest from the station, on the road to Harwich, many years since, stood the edge tool manu- factory of Wiliam Burgess.

OFFICIAL HISTORY .- From the organization of the town until it was united with Orleans and Eastham in 1857, as stated at page 47, Brewster was represented by the following named persons. The first year of service is the year preceding the man's name, and the number of years he served, when more than one, follows: 1803, Isaac Clarke, 11 years; 1809, Elijah Cobb, 8; 1821, Isaac Foster, 2; 1827, Ben- jamin Berry, 4; 1830, Jeremiah Mayo, 2; 1834, Albert P. Clarke, 5; 1835, Nathaniel Crosby, 2; 1837, Solomon Freeman, 2; 1838, Josiah Foster, 2; 1840, Freeman Foster, 2; 1841, Benjamin Paine, 4; 1844, Elijah Cobb; 1848, Winslow L. Knowles; 1849, Josiah Seabury, 4; 1856, Tully Crosby, 2.

At the first election of officers for the new town, in 1803, the se- lectmen chosen were: Jonathan Snow, who served 6 years; Anthony Gray, who served 2 years; and Kenelm Winslow, who served 3 years. In 1805 Jonathan Berry was first elected, and served 2 years; in 1806, Joseph Sears, who served 3 years; in 1807, Joseph Snow, 2 years; 1809, David Foster, 2 years; Elijah Cobb, 2; and Abraham Winslow,

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3: 1811, Isaac Clark, S; and Solomon Freeman, 4; 1812. Thomas Sea- bury; 1813, William Crosby, 14; and David Nickerson, 3: 1816, Benja- min Berry. 15; 1819, Joseph Smith, 9; 1825, Joseph Crocker. 2; 1827, Dean Bangs, 5; 1828, Isaac Foster and Lewis Howes; 1829, Jonathan Freeman: 1831, Franklin Hopkins, 4; 1832, Kenelm Winslow, 3; 1833, Richard Harding, 5; 1834, Samuel Myrick, S; 1835, Nathan Sears, 4; 1839, Ebenezer Higgins, S; and Anthony Smalley, 10; 1840. Theodore Berry; 1844, Jeremiah Mayo. 11; and Joshua Clarke, 7: 1848, Dean Bangs, 2; 1849, David Mayo, 2; 1850, Nathan Winslow, 5: 1851, Solo- inon Freeman, S; 1854, Jonathan Freeman, 2; 1855, Elisha Crocker, 3; 1857, Bangs Pepper; 1858, Constant Sears and Benjamin Paine; 1859, Benjamin Freeman; Tully Crosby, 3; 1860, Rudolphus McCloud, 2; 1861, Zoeth Snow, jr .; 1862, William Winslow, 2; and Charles S. Fos- ter, 27; 1864, Bailey Foster; and Strabo Clark, 4; 1866, Samuel H. Gould; 1867, Francis Baker; 1868, Joseph Foster, 2; 1870, Eben F. Ryder, 6; and Samuel T. Howes, 5; 1875, Charles Freeman, 6; 1876, Josiah Fos- ter, 5; 1878, Thomas D. Sears, 7; 1884, Godfrey Hopkins, 6: 1885, John H. Clark, 6; 1889, Charles E. Sears, 2; 1890, Tully Crosby, jr.

The first clerk and treasurer of the town was Sylvanus Stone, elected in 1803. His successors have been elected as follows: In 1805, Joseph Smith; 1818, Benjamin Foster; 1824, Elijah Cobb; 1828, Jere- miah Mayo; 1831, Benjamin Mayo; 1832, Freeman Mayo; 1840, David Mayo; 1848, Dean Bangs; 1858, Samuel H. Gould; 1861. Charles S. Foster; 1889, Freeman M. Snow .*

The following report of the meteorological condition of Brewster during the year 1889, together with a summary of its mortality and condition of health, was contributed by Dr. F. A. Rogers, from his own observation of the meteorological condition from day to day dur- ing the year 1889.

The mean atmospheric pressure for the whole year was 30.01 inches, which is very little above the true mean average pressure. In July the average pressure was normal, but during the months of Feb- ruary, June, August, September, October, November and December the pressure was above the normal, while January, March, April and May showed considerable departure below the true mean pressure. During the month of August there was the least variation for the year, while December was noted for the greatest range. The range for the year was 1.996 inches.

The precipitation for the year was an average of about four inches each month, but considerable variation existed between the different months. June was the dryest month, and August took the lead for the amount of rainfall. During the year sixteen inches of snow fell; ten inches in February and six inches in December, a little trace fall- ing in March.

* Mr. Paine's manuscript ends here .- Ed.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

As compared with the south side of Cape Cod, Brewster enjoys comparative freedom from fog.

Remarkably high winds are rare. During the year 90,726 miles of wind passed over Brewster, an average of ten miles per hour. The month of most wind was March. 9,783 miles, while August had only 4,886 miles. The greatest velocity for January was 42 miles; for Feb- ruary. 37 miles; March, 35 miles: April, 30 miles; May, 27 miles; June, 27 miles; July, 25 miles; August, 21 miles; September, 34 miles; Oc- tober, 29 miles; November, 57 miles, and for December, 38 miles.

Brewster enjoys a comparatively even temperature. As compared with the south side, it is cooler in summer. Very low temperatures do not occur. The lowest for the year was 5°, on February 24th; at no other time during the year did the temperature fall below 10° above zero. The mean temperature for the winter months was 37°, and for the summer months, 67.3ª. Once, on July 2d, the thermome- ter recorded S8° in the shade, but as a whole the summers are noted for being cool and comfortable. On only twenty-seven other days during the season did the thermometer reach 80° or more. The nights in summer average 16° cooler than the days, and during the whole year the mean average range is 14.8°.

This peculiar even condition of the atmosphere favors the health- fulness of the inhabitants. By not subjecting the body to the debili- tating effects of a continued high temperature, diarrhœal diseases are very infrequent. Malaria is comparatively unknown, and during the past seven years not a single case of typhoid fever is known to have originated in town, but all the cases which have occurred here origi- nated elsewhere. Among the diseases met with here, as elsewhere in the county, are consumption, acute lung diseases, measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough and the like, while diphtheria and croup, which very rarely occur, are generally of a very mild type.

The total number of deaths occurring in town during the past ten years was 161, an average of sixteen deaths each year. During the year 1883 the greatest number of deaths occurred, and in 1887 the least. Out of this number only twelve were children; the majority of those who died being past the middle period of life.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Freeman Atwood, born in 1827, is one of eleven children of Barna- bas, and grandson of Captain Barnabas Atwood. He married Corde- lia T., daughter of Francis Cahoon. They have four children: Free- man D., Annie C., Myra L. and Eunice F.

Elisha Bangs, born in 1804, was a son of Elkanah and Sally Bangs. He followed the sea from 1818 until 1849, twenty-seven years as mas- ter mariner. From 1849 until his death in 1886 he lived retired at

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TOWN OF BREWSTER.

his home in Brewster, where his widow and daughter now reside. Mr. Bangs married Sarah H., daughter of Freeman and Mehitabel (Low) Foster. They had five children, three of whom are living: Elisha D., Herbert H. and Loella F.

Rev. Cyrus A. Bradley, born at Dracut, Mass., in 1822, is a son of Amos and Nancy (Varnum) Bradley. He entered the ministry in 1845. Rev. Bradley married Lucretia, daughter of Freeman and Me- hitabel (Low) Foster, granddaughter of David, who was a son of Isaac, and grandson of Chillingsworth Foster, who built a residence in Brewster in 1699, which was rebuilt by David Foster about 1793. This homestead was owned by the Foster family until recently purchased by Rev. Bradley. He has one son, Asa M.

Anthony F. Brier, son of John F. Brier, was born in 1849, at the island of St. George, one of the Azores, came to America in 1861, and from that time until 1885, followed the sea. He was master of a fish- erman eight years. Mr. Brier has kept the Brier House since 1883. He married Elizabeth J., daughter of Emanuel and Elizabeth R. (Ellis) Dugan. Their children are: Annie C., John E. and Clar- ence E.

Reuben and Joseph C. Chapman are sons of Eben and Harriet (Knowles) Chapman, and grandsons of Reuben Chapman. Reuben was born May 1, 1853, and married Lizzie B., daughter of Theophilus Harding. They have three children: Joseph O., Lucy H. and Wil- liam.

John H. Clark, the selectman, born in 1850, is the only living child of Strabo and Adaline (Dunbar) Clark, and grandson of Isaac Clark. He is engaged in cranberry culture and farming. He married Celia A., daughter of Charles H. Parker.

Elijah Cobb, born in 1799, in Brewster, was the oldest son of Cap- tain Elijah Cobb. He went to Boston at the age of sixteen, where after a few years he became a member of the firm of Cobb & Wins- low, wholesale grocers. The last few years of his life were spent at the old house in Brewster, where he died in 1861. He married Caro- line, daughter of Captain Sylvanus Snow. Their two sons --- Elijah W. and Alfred S .- are deceased. Five daughters are living: Caroline O., Helen, Mary L., Aunette T. (now the widow of Freeman Cobb) and Emily C. Helen married James A. Dugan, who was a Harvard graduate and a teacher of private schools. He died in 1860, aged thirty three years, leaving four children: Caroline A., James W., Stephen I. and Theodore F. Dugan.

Walter Freeman Cobb, born in 1860, is the only son of Freeman and Aunette T. Cobb, grandson of Freeman, and great-grandson of Captain Elijah Cobb. Freeman Cobb was an active business man, and was engaged in business in Africa from 1871 until his death in

...

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

1878. He built a fine residence in Brewster in 1859, where his widow and son, Walter Freeman, now reside. Mr. W. F. Cobb married Edith, daughter of Edward B. Grant. They have one daughter, Edith M. Mr. Cobb has one sister, Emily (Mrs. Henry E. Allen, of Canada).

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 101

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