USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 104
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The first colonial census, in 1765, gave 924 souls in Truro, and that of 1776 increased the number to 1,227. The United States census of 1790 gave 1,193, and in 1800 the population had decreased forty-one. In 1810 the salt and fishing interests had increased the number to 1,200, and then the growth of the population was more rapid. In 1830 it was 1,547, in 1840 it was 1,920, reaching its highest number, 2,051, in the census of 1850. From this date the decline was as rapid as the increase; being 1,583 in 1860, only 1,269 in 1870, and in the state cen- sus of 1885-the last general enumeration of the inhabitants-the number was 972.
The descendants of the early proprietors still occupy similar posi- tions in the affairs of the town, and in part, the same estates of those sterling ancestors. In 1800 there were twenty-six families of the
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name of Rich, fifteen of Lombard, fifteen of Snow, ten of Paine, and ten of Dyer. There are many old houses of these settlers still ex- tant, although newly covered and perhaps modernized beyond recog- nition, the oldest being one on the northerly side of Longnook, built in 1710 by Lieutenant Jonathan Paine, and now the Jolin Atkins place. Here Lieutenant Paine resided when he sold, in 1726, his negro boy, Hector, to Benjamin Collins, which was the last bill of sale of slaves made in Truro. The present valuation of the town is about three hundred thousand dollars, of which two-thirds is real es- tate. The yearly expenses of the town are over five thousand dol- lars. It contains 262 dwelling houses, and an appearance of thrift, without ostentation, prevails. The financial condition of the town for the year ending December 31, 1889, was very favorable and pleas- ing. The close of the year 1886 showed a town debt of $1,724.74, with a tax of twenty dollars on the one thousand dollars. In 1887 the debt was reduced to $286.05, on the same tax rate. On the last day of De- cember, 1SSS, the debt had been cancelled and the town had money in the treasury, on a tax rate of $16.20 on one thousand dollars. The report of December, 1889, showed a balance of SSOS.06 in the treasury, and tax rate reduced to $14.50.
CIVIL HISTORY .- The action of the proprietors prior to 1705 can- not be considered as the acts of the body politic, so that the civil history of Truro really dates from 1709, when, by incorporation, the town commenced its municipal government. Many acts had been voted by the proprietors prior to the incorporation for the preserva- tion of shell fish, the sedge from the salt marshes and the setting off of lands for the support of the ministry; but the order of the general court, that town officers be elected on August first of that year, com- menced the civil history of the town. At the February town meet- ing, 1710, several freemen were admitted, and Jedediah Lombard and Thomas Paine were appointed as a committee "to buy all the lands of the Indians when, and so often as any of said Indians shall see cause to sell." The crows and blackbirds were voted out of the pale of Puritan society because they pulled up and destroyed the young corn, and in 1711 every housekeeper was compelled to bring eight blackbirds' heads and two crows' heads to the selectmen or pay a fine of three shillings, for the benefit of the poor; a premium upon the heads of additional birds was also voted. The same year several roads were laid out throughout the town. In 1713 the first bounty on a wolf's head was voted, and three pounds per head was a sum that . greatly tended to diminish the number of these thieves in the town.
The first burial ground-mentioned with the churches-was ordered in 1714. The entry was, that "a convenient piece of ground on the north side of the meeting house be cleared for a burial
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ground." In 1715 Thomas Paine and Thomas Mulford were appointed by the town to meet a committee from Eastham to settle the bounds between the towns, and in 1716 voted " not to send a represen- tative to general court." In 1721 the town meeting voted "that the swine belonging to said town might go at large under such regu- lations as the law has provided." The receipt of the bills of credit loaned the town by the province was voted upon in 1728, and a com- mittee of three was appointed to receive and loan it out again.
In 1732 there were thirty-six freemen in the town, and it will be remembered that all heads of families were not freemen, or voters. The bounty on wolf scalps had been continued, and this pest had been diminished in number; but the value of the last wolf or two was the foundation of the vote in 1739, for a large reward to any one who "shall kill the wolf that of late has been prowling about." It seems that as early as 1745 the boys were not attentive listeners to the long sermons of the day, for that year the town appointed a com- mittee, in open town meeting. "to take care of the boys that they don't play in meeting on the Sabbath." This important town office was continued and filled by various personages for many years, and the power to castigate these restless young sprouts was subsequently given to these officers.
The use of the common lands for keeping and feeding cattle was made a topic of discussion and vote in 1745, and the cutting of trees at East harbor within 160 rods of the high water mark was pro- hibited. Many of these town enactments look quite superfluous to the reader, but the time and circumstances made them necessary. Why any boy under ten years of age should not be engaged to drive blackfish or porpoises seems a strange law, but the town ordered it so in 1753.
Year after year the regular and special town meetings provided for the schools, the roads, the election of officers and the proper care of the meeting house until 1773-1774, when the taxes of the mother country became a matter of discussion and vote, and the town ap- pointed Captain Joshua Atkins, Isaiah Atkins, Dea. Joshua Freeman, Dr. Samuel Adams, Ephraim Harding, Thacher Rich, Nathaniel Harding, Benjamin Atkins and Hezakiah Harding, a committee to prepare a proper resolve concerning the introduction of teas subject to duty. This committee reported a long preamble and resolution which stand on the records as a lasting memorial of the loyalty of the town during the dark days of the revolutionary war. It is worthy of the town to know that this strong resolution was passed without a dissenting voice. The town in its meetings organized military com- panies, appointed watches and guards, provided powder and other munitions of war.
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The seamen of Truro filled an important part in the capture of British privateers during the revolutionary war, and many Truro men were captured and imprisoned by the enemy. The fleet of the enemy constantly menaced the town, which must be protected by its own citizens. One incident worthy of record occurred near Pond landing. One day the enemy were about to land a body of men to plunder the town, when the exempts and town militia resorted to stratagem to ward off a blow which could not otherwise be averted. A small body of these citizens marched to the shore, keeping beliind an elevation of land until prepared to carry out the ruse, which was to continuously march around the knoll, giving the impression to the marauding party that a large force of soldiers were congregating to oppose them. The apparent assembling of company after company had the desired effect upon the British commander, who judged it prudent not to land. The town was among the most loyal to instruct its representative "to fall in with the Continental Congress."
The records of the town are filled with the resolves and proceed- ings of the town meetings during the war of 1812, and the war of the rebellion; and the standing of the town in the scale of duty during these struggles is one of which the present generation may justly be proud.
The town was not represented in general court until five years after its incorporation, and during the period it was entitled to a representative it did not always send one. The following list gives the names of the representatives the first year of election, and the number of years each served if more than one: 1714, Thomas Paine, 5 years; 1715, Constant Freeman; 1717, Thomas Mulford, 2; 1721, John Snow, 3; 1723, Jonathan Paine, 3; 1757, Barnabas Paine; 1761, Isaiah Atkins; 1774; Benjamin Atkins; 1775, Samuel Harding; 1776, Reuben Higgins, 2; 1779, Sylvanus Snow, 2; William Thayer, 2; 1785, Ephraim Harding, 3; 1791, Anthony Snow, jr., 6; 1800, Levi Stevens; 1810, Israel Lombard, jr .; 1824, James Small, S; 1831, John Kenney, 2; 1833, Shubael Snow, 4; 1834, Eben L. Davis, 2; 1835, Joshua Small 2; 1836, Henry Stevens, 2; and Solomon Davis 2; 1837, Jonas Stevens, 2; 1838, Freeman Atkins, 2; 1839, Jedediah Shedd, 3; 1840, Michael Snow; 1842, John Kenney, jr .; 1843, Hugh Hopkins; 1844, Richard Stevens; 1845, Ebenezer. Davis, 3; 1848, Levi Stevens; 1849, Daniel Paine, 2; 1852, James Small; 1853, John Smith; 1855, Samuel H. Smith, jr .; and in 1856, Adin H. Newton.
In August, 1709, selectmen for the remainder of the year were first elected by the town, and the following list contains the names of those who have since served in that capacity, giving the year of the first election of each and the time of service when over one year: In 1709, John Snow for 12 years, Thomas Mulford for 9, and Jedediah
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Lombard, 5; 1710, Benjamin Small, Isaac Snow and H. Scammon; 1711, Eben Doane; 1712, Thomas Rogers, and Thomas Paine, 6; 1113, Nathaniel Atkins, and Josiah Cooke; 1714, Hezekiah Purinton; 1715, Constant Freeman, 7; 1720, Francis Small, 10, Andrew Newcomb, 3, and Richard Stevens; 1723, John Myrick, 15; Jonathan Vickery 3: 1726, Samuel Eldred, and Jonathan Paine, 30; 1727, Elkanah Paine. 10, Ezekiel Cushing and William Sargent; 1730, Jeremiah Bickford: 1731, Thomas Smith, 3; 1734, Edward Covel; 1744, Samuel Rich, 4; 1748, Thomas Cobb, 2, Barnabas Paine, 7, and Eben Dyer, 3: 1750, Zaccheus Rich, 11; 1751, Isaiah Atkins, 20, and Jonathan Dyer, 2; 1753, Joshua Atkins, James Lombard, and John Rich, 2; 1754, Paul Knowles. Anthony Snow, 3; 1763, Job Arey, 3; 1766, Ephraim Lombard, 3, Eben Rich, 7; 1767, Daniel Paine, 2 ; 1769, Ambrose Dyer, 7, and Benjamin Collins, 7; 1776, Ephraim Harding, 13, and Jedediah Paine, 5; 1777, Barzillai Smith; 1778, Israel Gross, 3; 1781, Benjamin Atkins, Thomas Paine, 2; 1782, Timothy Nye, 4; 1783, Sylvanus Snow, 5; 1785, Benja- min Hinckley, 2; 1787, Fulk Dyer, Nathaniel Atkins, 9; and Jesse Rich, S; 1795, David Dyer, 3; 1796, Caleb Hopkins, 8, and Benjamin A. Upham; 1797, Ambrose Snow, 13, and Levi Stevens, 9; 1802, Jonathan Rich, John Gross, 2, and Isaac Small : 1804, Joseph Small. 3; 1807, Barnabas Paine, 11; 1809, Paul Dyer, 5; 1810, Israel Lombard. 4; 1811, John Rich, 14; 1812, Allen Hinckley, 2; 1814, Sylvanus Nye. 3; 1816, James Collins, 4, and Eben Atkins, 4; 1818, Reuben O. Paine, 2, and Benjamin Hinckley, jr .; 1819, Barnabas Paine, 4, and James Small, 10; 1822, Joshua Small, 5; 1823, Asa Sellew, 9; 1824, John Ken- ney, 24 ; 1833, John Smith, 4; 1835, Freeman Atkins, 2; 1836, Jonas Stevens, 9; 1837, Jedediah Shedd, 11; 1839, Nehemiah Rich, 2; 1841, Solomon Davis, 9; 1843, Daniel Paine, 4; 1846, Solomon Paine, jr .; James Hughes, 13; 1847, Samuel Dyer, 2; 1849, Atwood Rich, 5; 1855, Sears Rich, 3; 1858, Freeman Cobb, 3; 1861, William T. Newcomb, 2; 1863, Abraham C. Small, and Amasa Paine; 1864, John Kenney, 5, James Collins 3, and Nathan K. Whorf; 1866, Smith K. Hopkins, 7, and Ephraim Rich, 8; 1869, Thomas H. Kenney, 6; Elkanah Paine; 1874, Isaac M. Small, 5; 1875, Jesse S. Pendergast, 2; Samuel Dyer, 5, and Obadiah S. Brown, 2; 1877, Benjamin Coan, 2, and Isaac C. Freeman, 5; 1879, Jeremiah Hopkins, 2; 1880, Josiah F. Rich, 11; 1881, Joseph Hatch, 4; 1SS7, Asa C. Paine; 18SS, Samuel Dyer, jr., 2; 1890, Henry B. Holsbery and Edward L. Small.
The town treasurers from first to last are given with the year of election, each serving until his successor was elected: 1709, Constant Freeman; 1710, Thomas Paine; 1721, another Thomas Paine; 1724, John Snow; 1726, Moses Paine; 1745, Joshua Atkins; 1755, Ephraim Lombard, 1763; Richard Collins; 1767, Job Avery; 1770, Israel Gross, 1777; Richard Stevens; 1779, Benjamin Rich; 1780, Elisha Dyer; 1782,
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Joshua Freeman; 1787, Sylvanus Snow; 1791, Anthony Snow; 1817, Lewis Lombard; 1835, Barnabas Paine; 1848, Samuel C. Paine; 1879, John B. Dyer.
The town clerks have sometimes filled the office of treasurer, but as it has not always been so the following list of clerks is given, each serving until the election of his successor: 1709, John Snow; 1710, Thomas Paine; 1721. another Thomas Paine; 1745, Moses Paine; 1764, Barnabas Paine; 1769, Daniel Paine; 1785, Sylvanus Snow; 1788,. Benjamin A. Upham; 1797, Levi Stevens; 1799, Anthony Snow; 1817, Lewis Lombard; 1835, Barnabas Paine; 1849, Samuel C. Paine; 1880, John B. Dyer.
CHURCHES .- When the people of Truro asked the general court for the privileges of a town incorporation, it was granted upon con- dition that " they procure and settle a learned and godly minister." This condition was fulfilled as soon as possible, and the year of the incorporation of the town Rev. John Avery came, and was ordained November 1, 1811, at which time the Congregational society was organized with seven members. Some historians assert that the first meeting house was erected at North Truro (known formerly as Pond village) near the site of the present Union church. This matter we have thoroughly investigated, and find that the graves near the Union church, which are so well remembered by old settlers, were those made before a regular burial place was laid out, and from all the facts in the case we conclude that the first meeting house was at the south of North Truro, on the hill of storms, in the southwest corner of the present burying ground. Here a primitive meeting house had been erected, which was succeeded by a new and better one, com- menced in 1720 and completed the following year. In the new meet- ing house spaces for pews were sold at prices varying from £5, 10s. to £1, 15s. In 1765 this meeting house was enlarged and remodeled and the pews were sold at enormous prices. In 1792 more pews were built in the gallery, and here upon the hill, as a beacon for the tem- pest-tossed mariner, the old church remained until 1840, when, after several years of disuse, it was taken down. The old burying ground with its first head stone of 1713, remains to mark the site of the first meeting house and first laid-out ground of Truro.
Mr. Avery preached in the house until his death in 1754, and was succeeded by Rev. Caleb Upham, ordained October 29, 1755, who was pastor forty-two years, departing this life in November, 1828. Rev. Stephen Bailey supplied about five years until the ordination of Silas Baker, in March, 1832. Mr. Baker was dismissed in 1834, and was succeeded in March, 1836, by Charles Boyter until 1843.
In 1827 a new church edifice was erected at Truro village, south- west of the old meeting house, and in which the present distinctive
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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Congregational society worships and claims to be a continuation of the old. Edward W. Noble was ordained in December, 1849, and continued until 1883, succeeded by Joseph Hammond for three years. Hiram L. Howard and J. K. Closson successively supplied each a term, and in the autumn of 1889 Rev. T. S. Robie was settled as pastor.
A portion of the original society organized themselves into a new society, May 22, 1842, calling themselves the Second Congregational church, but the society soon after united with the Methodists in building a meeting house and the two societies were formed into one, called the Christian Union Society, the pulpit to be supplied one-half the time by a pastor of each of the original societies. This was done according to the terms of the union, but during the last twenty years the pulpit has been mostly filled by a Methodist pastor. The pastors have been: 1840, Seth H. Beals; 1842, Benjamin M. Southgate, and Osborn Myrick; 1845, John D. King; 1847, Arnold Adams, and Thomas Smith; 1849, ;George W. Rogers; 1851, Samuel J. M. Lord; 1855, Franklin Sears; 1856, Job Cushman; 1859, Abram Holway: 1860, Malcomb D. Herrick; 1861, Joseph C. Barlett; 1863, Philander Bates; 1866, Charles Stokes; 1869, Jacob W. Price; 1871, Henry W. S. Packard; 1873, Joel Martin; 1874, Isaac Sherman; 1878, Charles Morgan; 1SS2, Samuel Morrison; 1884, Benjamin K. Bosworth; 1887, Frederick C. Crafts; 1SS8, Christopher P. Flanders.
The present meeting house, owned by the Methodist Episcopal Society of Truro, was erected on the high ground on the north side of Pamet river in 1826, by the society already organized. In 1845 the house was remodeled, and again about fifteen years ago the galleries were removed and the inside of the house more or less changed. Since 1876 this society and that of South Truro have been served by the same pastor. The names of the ministers and the year they com- menced are: 1827, Warren Wilbur; 1828, Benjamin Keith; 1829, Abraham Holway; 1830, William R. Stone; 1832, William Ramsdell; 1834, Enoch Bradley; 1836, Thomas W. Giles; 1838, J. R. Barstow; 1840, Levi Woods; 1841, Reuben Bowen; 1843, Thomas Patten; 1844, Charles A. Carter; 1846, Henry Mayo; 1847. Samuel Beadle; 1849, O. Robbins; 1850, T. B. Gurney; 1851, Thomas D. Blake; 1853, E. B. Hinckley; 1854; L. E. Dunham; 1855, John W. Willett; 1857, William E. Sheldon; 1858, N. P. Selee; 1860, J. B. Washburn; 1863, Lawton Cady; 1864, A. H. Newton; 1865, Joseph Geery; 1866, H. S. Smith; 1867; Jason Gill; 1870, Isaac G. Price; 1871, Isaac Sherman; 1874, Richard Burn; 1876, Virgil W. Mattoon; 1879, Charles N. Hinckley; 1880, J. S. Fish; 1883, Charles T. Hatch; 1SS6, John Q. Adams; 1889, John S. Bell.
The Universalists in 1846 had acquired sufficient strength to
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undertake the erection of a suitable building for their services, but a severe storm completely demolished the newly-raised building and the project was abandoned.
Very early the members of the Methodist faith were actively engaged in Truro, and after the days of circuit preachers one so- ciety embraced all of that faith. After the erection of the meeting house at Truro, the members of the society at South Truro found it inconvenient to go regularly there for worship. This led to the . organization of the South Truro Methodist Episcopal Society on the 29th day of April, 1829. A church edifice was dedicated December 15, 1831, by Presiding Elder Benjamin F. Lombard. In 1851 the society had outgrown the house, and a new one erected just west of the first, is the one now occupying a prominent position upon the hill north of the little village of South Truro. Since 1876 this society and the First society at Truro have been supplied by the same pastor.
The first pastor, Rev. Benjamin Keith, was largely instrumental in the organization of Methodism in Truro, and after many years. of service on the circuit was settled as the pastor of this church in 1831; but a modest monument in the old burial place of this society, and near by the site of the old house in which he had so faithfully labored, marks the place of his burial in 1834. He was succeeded in 1833 by Joseph B. Brown; in 1834 by Thomas Dodge for three years; 1839 by Joel Steele; 1841. James Bignall: 1842, Henry H. Smith; 1845, Lozian Pierce: 1846, William Leonard: 1848, Adin H. Newton; 1850, Ira M. Bidwell; 1851, Anthony Palmer: 1852, William Keller; 1854, William Leonard; 1856, F. A. Loomis; 1857. Josiah C. Allen; 1860, A. Lathan; 1861, S. B. Chase; 1862, George S. Alexander: 1864, E. M. Anthony; 1866, Messrs. Bowditch and Ayer; 1867. B. L. Sayer; 1870, Wetherbee, Miller and Macomber; 1876, Mr. Butler; the pastors who have since served are given in the list of the Truro church.
Of the early preachers and exhorters in the rise of Methodism in Truro many pleasing things are recorded. Earnestness and, perhaps, eccentricity were marked in their labors. The local exhorter was a. prominent factor in the life of the primitive church, and with these- the Truro society was well supplied. Ephraim Doane Rich, Ebenezer L. Davis, Stephen Collins and others will not be forgotten for their good works in the cause of Methodism. The logic of these plain ex- horters was incontrovertible, although presented in a rude and uncul- tivated manner.
After the camp meeting of 1819 at Wellfleet the societies of that town and Truro united in 1826 in pitching their tents in Truro, a short distance south of the bridge, on the hill where was a beautiful grove, and where Joshua Smith afterward built a house. These meet-
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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
ings resulted in the incorporation of the Eastham Camp Meeting Association. and still later of the present Yarmouth association.
BURYING GROUNDS .- The oldest burial place of the town is that south of North Truro, where the first Congregational meeting house was erected. This religious society later opened one at Truro, and more recently have opened still another there. The Methodists have one at Truro, and the South Truro society have another at South Truro. The Catholics instituted a burial place at Truro a few years ago, being the sixth in the town.
SCHOOLS .- The first mention of any provision for the support of schools in Truro was in the town meeting of 1715, when it was voted " that Rev. Mr. Avery and the selectmen be a committee to procure a suitable person to keep a town school." This order was not successful in its result. for the very next year the town was pre- sented for its delinquency in not providing a teacher, and Jonathan Paine was appointed to appear at the court of general sessions in the town's behalf. In 1716 the town school began, the sum appropriated being twenty pounds for a half year. The teacher, Samuel Spear, was hired for the year 1717, having given satisfaction the first six months. His salary was forty pounds and " board himself."
To the credit of the town. let it be recorded that the citizens pre- ferred a school for the young, to sending a representative to general court, and as the expense of both was thought to be onerous the school went on and the representative remained at home. In 1719 Samuel Winter was hired for twelve months for forty pounds, and the school was to be moved around. The first three months it was taught in the house of William Dyer, jr .; the next six months at Captain Constant Freeman's or in his neighborhood, and the last three months of the year at a suitable place near East harbor. No school houses were yet erected, and for many years the schools were kept in private houses.
In 1821 Mr. Winter was engaged for one year and three months, the term to commence after his engagement for 1720. The prosperity of the schools and the increase in pupils led to the purchase, in 1724, of two school house sites, one near the residence of Richard Stevens, and the other at the northerly side of Longnook. School houses were built on these lots, and the last named site at Longnook was used for school houses until 1855.
From the 26th of June. 1728, Solomon Lombard was the teacher for a year, and after a term of years Mr. Gibson was hired, as we find a complimentary vote in 1737 in the town records which explains itself: "Voted to give Mr. Gibson the rate of £55 a year in consideration of his support of the ancient people with whom he lived the winter past." In 1747 sixty pounds was voted for the schools.
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In 1757 Mr. Woomley was employed, and although the times were stringent the schools progressed. In 1765 it was thought expedient to ask the general court to be excused from providing a grammar school, and to be permitted to substitute a good school for reading and common branches; but after a few years this error was corrected by a vote that Barnabas Paine, Joshua Atkins and Ebenezer Dyer be agents "to get a learned grammar master at once." In 1798 two hundred dollars was paid for schools and forty dollars for singing to . be taught.
In 1840 the school fund from the state gave fresh impulse to the school interests and $750 was appropriated for schools. From this a visible improvement was discernable, the appropriation in 1853 being $1,300, and $1,450 in 1855. The next year $1,500 was set apart for their support, suitable rules were made for the better regulation and attendance of the seven schools then kept in as many nice houses throughout the town. Six of these houses had double rooms, were commodious, and better provided with teachers than when left to each district to build the houses and provide the neces- sary equipments. The interest has continued. Gradation followed, and the eleven districts were reduced to seven, and from seven to the present system of four houses in the town. North Truro has one of two departments; Truro one with two rooms; Longnook has a good house and South Truro another. The annual appropriation is now $1,600. The committee in charge are efficient school men, and the standing of the schools is a worthy result of the continued care and expense bestowed.
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