History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 109

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 109


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112


Recognizing the fact, that the title to the Province lands in Pro- vincetown, upon which two-thirds of the village stands, including this building, is still in the Commonwalth, it is especially fitting that His Excellency should appear here to-day and ascertain for himself whether or not the people in this place have violated their ancient tenure of squatter sovereignty in the erection of this and other build- ings upon these lands. Conversant as the governor doubtless is with the circumstance, that whatever of value, of improvements and better- ments he may discover upon this territory, they are the ultimate product of the sea, reclaimed through much exposure, labor and peril, we have the utmost confidence he will not, upon full view, and after his return to the state house, order notice to be served upon us to move out."


1


*Joseph P. Johnson.


62


978


HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.


RESOURCES OF THE TOWN .- The location of the town has naturally determined the character of its business enterprises, From the be- ginning of the settlement the fisheries were the dependence of the people. As early as 1690 the people of the Cape had become profi- cient in the shore whale fisheries. In 1791 a committee was chosen to petition the general government for the removal of the duties on salt, which was largely consumed in the cod fisheries that employed from twenty to thirty vessels at that date, taking in 1790 eleven thou- sand quintals of cod fish on the Grand Banks. In 1803 forty-four sail- ing vessels belonging in Provincetown were at sea, chiefly fishing at the Straits of Belle Isle. The cargoes brought home amounted to fifty thousand quintals of fish. In 1834 besides four hundred tons of coasting vessels, six thousand tons of vessels were engaged in the cod and mackerel fishery, returning 45,000 quintals of codfish and 17,000 barrels of mackerel, and employing one thousand men. In 1837 ninety-eight vessels were engaged in the fisheries from Prov- incetown, employing 1,113 men, securing 51,000 quintals of codfish and 18,000 barrels of mackerel. In 1857 one hundred vessels, aver- aging ninety tons each, fitted out at Provincetown for the cod fishery alone, taking during the season 80,000 quintals of codfish and oil val- ued at $22,000, a total value, including $28,000 bounty, of $300,000.


The cod fishery has been the chief fishery of the town, though at times the mackerel fishery has proved profitable. In 1860 nineteen thousand barrels of mackerel were inspected at Provincetown, though doubtless many barrels caught by Provincetown vessels in the same year were inspected at Boston. In 1862 Provincetown returned seventy-four vessels employed in the cod fishery, the catch for the year amounting to sixty-two thousand quintals of cod fish. The shore fisheries, supplemented during the ten years since 1880 by fish weirs, have always proved a source of irregular yet often bountiful income to the fishermen of Provincetown.


The capital invested in the Provincetown fishing business amounted in 1885 to $964,573.#


Apart from the fisheries, the making of salt for many years em- ployed a large portion of the inhabitants of the town, many of whom were able to prosecute at the same time the shore fisheries with suc- cess. The manufacture of salt began in Provincetown in 1800 and continued for many years a profitable industry. Salt mills and salt works extended along the shore from one end of the town to another, giving to the town a picturesque appearance, which is not wholly lost in the early wood cuts of the town that are still preserved in rare copies of the gazetteers of Massachusetts. In 1835 the business was still at its height, but the reduction of the bounty and the high price


*At pages 132-139 are further statistics in detail on whaling and the fisheries .- Ed.


1


i


-


1


.f


979


TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN.


of lumber soon after caused a diminution in the annual product, so that in 1854 the business had ceased. Several attempts to establish manufactories have been fruitless, so that in 1890 a shirt factory, em- ploying from one to two hundred young women, is the principal and only manufacturing industry of Provincetown not directly dependent upon the fisheries.


The population of Provincetown has varied from time to time, and yet has since 1800 increased steadily, though slowly. In 1748 there were but two or three families at Provincetown; in 1755, ten or fifteen families; in 1776 there were thirty-six families. In 1755 only three houses remained; in 1775 twenty houses were standing; in 1800 the number of dwellings had reached 144. In 1798, 101 houses in Prov- incetown were valued at $15,375, of which several were valued over $200, among them being the houses belonging to Joseph Nickerson, Ebenezer Nickerson, Seth Nickerson, Thomas Small and Samuel Rider. In 1791 there were owned in town but two horses, two yoke of oxen, and fifty cows. In 1870 the number of dwelling houses had increased to 794. In 1890 there were 970 dwelling houses.


The population of Provincetown in 1765 was 205; in 1776, 205; 1790, 454 ; 1800, 812 : 1810, 936 ; 1820, 1,252 ; 1830, 1,710 ; 1840, 2,122 ; 1850, 3,157; 1855, 3,096; 1860, 3,206; 1865, 3,472; 1870, 3,865 ; 1875, 4,357; 1880, 4,346 ; 1885, 4,480; 1890 (estimated), 5,000.


The population of Provincetown consists of three distinct classes: the descendants of the early settlers, the emigrants from the Prov- inces, and the Portuguese from the Western Islands. The fisheries have for many years attracted to Provincetown seamen of all nationali- ties, so that in 1890 the population of Provincetown resembles in the number of nationalities some foreign city, as the following table of the parent nativity will show: Of a total population of 4,480 in 1885 there were: Native born, 3,332 ; foreign born, 1,148; both parents native, 1,813; both parents foreign, 2,136 ; one parent foreign, 431. Of the population of foreign birth, 698 were of Portuguese nativity, 251 .of Nova Scotia or Provincial birth, and 199 were born in other foreign countries.


The first banking institution at Provincetown was a branch of the Freeman's National Bank of Boston, established in 1846 at the Union Wharf Company store, with, which David Fairbanks and Richard E. Nickerson were connected. This branch bank continued to do busi- ness until the establishment of the Provincetown Bank, which used the Freeman's National Bank of Boston as its first place of de- posit in Boston.


James M. Holmes, Elijah Smith, Elisha Tillson and others were incorporated as the Provincetown Bank, with a capital of $100,000 March 28, 1854. The bank was opened for business in December,


-


980


HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.


1854. The first board of directors included Nathan Freeman, 2d, Daniel Small, Isaiah Gifford, Joseph P. Johnson, Henry Cook, Enos Nickerson, Joshua E. Bowley and Eben S. Smith. In February, 1865, the bank became the First National Bank, with a capital of $200,000. The presidents of the bank since 1854 have been: Nathan Freeman, to 1877; Stephen Cook, to September, 18SS: and Moses N. Gifford, to the present time. The cashiers have been: Elijah Smith, to 1866; Moses N. Gifford, to September, 1888; Reuben W. Swift, to December, 1889, and Joseplı H. Dyer, since. The board of directors for 1890 in- cludes: Henry Cook, who has served continuously since 1854. Wil- liam A. Atkins, Joshua Paine, Joseph P. Johnson, who has served con- tinuously since 1854, N. P. Holmes, John D. Hilliard, George O. Knowles, Joseph A. West and Moses N. Gifford.


April 14, 1851, The Seamen's Savings Bank was incorporated- David Fairbanks, Joseph B. Hersey, and Thomas Nickerson being among the incorporators-and began business April 28, 1852. The first board of trustees included: Jonathan Nickerson, Stephen Nickerson, Nathan Freeman, 2d, Stephen Hilliard, J. B. Hughes, Isaiah Gifford, Joshua E. Bowley, Ephraim Cook, Eben S. Smith and Joshua Paine. The presidents have been: John Adams, March, 1852, to January, 1856; David Fairbanks, to February, 1874, and Lysander N. Paine, to the present. The secretaries and treasurers have been: David Fair- banks, March, 1852, to January, 1856; Richard E. Nickerson, to Jan- uary, 1858; Enos Nickerson, to January, 1867; John Young, jr., to June, 1872; Joseph H. Dyer, to January, 1890, and Lewis Nickerson since. The board of directors for 1890 includes: Richard E. Nicker- son, Nathan Young, Joseph Manta, James A. Small, A. L. Putnam, Joshua Cook, Atkins Nickerson, Lawrence Young, Thomas Lewis, Nathaniel Hopkins, James Gifford and Abner B. Rich.


A maritime town, with large commercial interests, Provincetown has furnished sufficient insurance risks to cause the organization of several insurance companies, only one of which continues to do busi- ness in Provincetown. The first insurance company of which a record has been preserved-The Provincetown Fire and Marine In- surance Company-was incorporated in 1829, Simeon Conant, Jona- than Nickerson, Silas Atkins, Josiah Snow, Ephraim Cook, Jonathan Cook, jr., Elisha Young, Charles A. Brown, Thomas Nickerson, John Adams and Godfrey Ryder being the incorporators. In 1832 Simeon Conant, Henry Willard, Samuel Soper, Thomas Nickerson, Jonathan Cook, jr., Elisha Young, Ephraim Cook, Charles Parker and Solomon Cook were incorporated as the Fishing Insurance Company. In 1839 Simeon Conant, Jonathan Nickerson and John Adams were incorpor- ated as the Union Insurance Company. In 1845 Daniel Small, Caleb U. Grozier and David Small were incorporated as the Equitable In-


-


A


1


صعـ


981


TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN.


surance Company. In 1854 Jonathan Nickerson, Samuel Soper and John Adams were incorporated as the Atlantic Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company.


A detailed history of the business activity of the insurance com- panies would be without interest. It is interesting. however, to note that John Adams and David Fairbanks were respectively president and secretary of the Fire and Marine Insurance Company in 1829; that Thomas Nickerson was first president of the Fishing Insurance Company, which in 1840 carried marine risks of $26,000; and that John Adams and David Fairbanks were president and secretary, respectively, of the Union Insurance Company of 1859, which in 1840 carried maritime risks of $22,000. In 1861 Ephraim Cook and John D. Hilliard became president and secretary of The Provincetown Marine, instituted in that year for the insurance of war risks. The Atlantic Insurance Company, instituted in 1855, was united with the Equitable in 1887. The presidents of the Atlantic were: David Fair- banks, Samuel Soper and Joshua Paine, who in 1881 became president of the new Equitable. The successive secretaries of the Atlantic were: Richard E. Nickerson, Enos Nickerson, John Young. jr., and Lewis Nickerson. The Equitable, reorganized in 1881, is still, in 1890, a prosperous corporation, with a capital of $50,000, insuring in 1889 property to the value of $822,611. Joshua Paine and Lewis Nick- erson have been president and secretary since 1887. The directors for 1889 were: Joshua Paine, William A. Atkins, Henry Cook, Na- thaniel Hopkins, Atkins Nickerson, William Matheson, Charles A. Cook, L. N. Paine and Adam Macool.


The first step toward the institution of a free public library in Provincetown was a vote passed at the last meeting of Mayflower Division of the Sons of Temperance of Provincetown in 1863, direct- ing the treasurer of that organization to deposit in the Seaman's Sav- ings Bank the funds in the treasury, amounting to nearly three hun- dred dollars, to be expended in the purchase of books for any free public library that might thereafter be established in Provincetown. That fund remained on deposit until 1874, when it amounted to $522.22, and was then paid over to the trustees of the Provincetown Public Library. The first official action of the town, in its corporate capacity, toward establishing a public library was taken at the annual meeting in February, 1872. Twenty-five dollars were then appropri- ated " for the establishment of a free Public Library." The town clerk was directed to expend the money "in the purchase and bind- ing of a copy of the Boston Daily Advertiser for one year to be kept in the town clerk's office for the use of the public." The sum of $250.03, the proceeds of the dog tax refunded to the town by the county in 1869, 1870, 1871 and 1872, was also appropriated "for the purchase of


982


HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.


books for a town library, the money to be loaned to the town treas- ury until the town should otherwise order and draw interest at the rate of seven per cent per annum."


December 1, 1873, Hon. Nathan Freeman conveyed to trustees by a deed, a copy of which is filed in the town clerk's office, the land and building erected thereon, known as the Freeman Building, upon the condition that the lower floor, excepting the entrance hall, should be occupied solely for the purposes of a public library. The trustees were also directed to pay over to the proper officers of the library, annually, such portion of the income from the rental of the upper story of the Freeman Building as should seem just and reasonable. At the annual meeting of the town in February, 1874, seven trustees of the public library were chosen, and the funds that had accumu- lated in the treasury were transferred to the trustees of the public library then chosen. The town also voted to appropriate two thou- sand dollars for the purchase of books and for such furniture as might be necessary, provided that one thousand dollars, including donation's and appropriations already made, should be obtained from other sources. Through the efforts of James Gifford sufficient money was subscribed by sons of Provincetown, at home and abroad, to ren- der available the town's liberal appropriation. In the spring of 1874 the trustees of the public library received $3,466.12, and books for the library were at once selected by Augustus Mitchell, who also super- vised the preparation of the first printed catalogue issued in 1874. The library was opened for the delivery of books to the public Satur- day, June 13, 1874.


At the annual meeting in 1889 the town voted to accept the acts of the legislature of 18SS, directing the choice of trustees for terms of three years and to fix the number of trustees at nine. The provisions of the act of 1888 permit the trustees of the library to hold property of any kind in trust for the purposes of the library and vest the trus- tees with exclusive custody of the library funds from whatever source derived. In 1889 Benjamin Small conveyed to the trustee five thou- sand dollars, the annual income of which should be expended in the purchase of books for the library. In December, 1889, a card catalogue was prepared under the supervision of James H. Hopkins, who also prepared the printed catalogue issued in January, 1890. At the same time the library was furnished with ash book cases of an improved pattern under the direction of Moses N. Gifford, A. P. Han- num and E. N. Paine. The library contained December 31, 1874, 2,202 bound volumes, including public documents. January 1, 1890, the number of bound volumes, exclusive of public documents, in the library was 4,039.


The trustees in 1889 were: For term ending February, 1892-An-


-


983


TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN.


drew T. Williams, George H. Holmes, William R. Mitchell; for term ending February, 1891-Moses N. Gifford. James H. Hopkins. Arte- mas P. Hannum; for term ending February. 1890-Edwin N. Paine, Reuben W. Swift, Samuel S. Swift. The librarians have been: Miss Salome A. Gifford, 1874-81; William R. Mitchell, 1SS1-SS; Miss Mattie W. Bangs, the present incumbent, who has served since 1888.


The Seamen's Relief Society was organized April 13, 1882, for the temporary relief of seamen shipwrecked at Provincetown. Nathan Young, the first president of the society, continues to serve. The officers for 1890 are : Nathan Young, pres .; Harvey S. Cook, Thomas Lewis, vice-pres .; A. P. Hannum, sec .; M. N. Gifford, treas .; A. T. Williams, M. L. Adams, Mrs. Paron C. Young, Mrs. Xenophon Rich, David A .. Small, Mrs. Priscilla Young, Mrs. Thomas N. Paine, Mrs. Geo. Hallett, S. Knowles, J. A. West, Joseph Whitcomb, directors.


The Provincetown Mutual Benefit Society was organized in 1889. The membership is limited to sixty, and a benefit of fifteen dollars per week is paid to members who are sick. The officers are: F. E. Williams, sec .; A. L. Putnam, treas.


Marine Lodge, I. O. O. F., was instituted November 21, 1845. The Past Grands have been: Leander Crosby, installed November 21, 1845; Josiah Sturgis, Emmons Patridge, Eben S. Smith and J. P. Johnson, installed in 1846; Sabin M. Smith and Thomas Lothrop, 1847; Joshua Small, jr., and Josiah S. Fuller, 1848: Godfrey Ryder, Joseph P. Knowles and Lewis L. Sellew, 1849; David Smith, 3d, and Peter E. Doliver, 1850; Lemuel Cook and Benj. Allstrum, 1851; Joshua E. Bowley and Elijah Smith, 1852; Enoch Nickerson and Stephen Ryder, 1853; Isaac B. Alexander and Warren Smith, 1854; Edward G. Loring and Stephen A. Paine, 1855; Osborn Myrick and Curtis Doane, 1856: Joseph P. Johnson and F. B. Tuck, 1857 ; Lewis Morris and Jonathan Kilburn, 1858; John Atwood and S. T. Kilburn, 1859; Ebenezer W. Holway and William W. Smith, 1860; Pineas Freeman and Isaiah A. Small, 1861; James Fuller and P. N. Free- man, 1862; Gamiel B. Smith and James Gifford, 1863 : S. T. Soper and Charles A: Hannum, 1864; Ebenezer Lothrop and Isaiah A. Small, 1865; Joseph P. Johnson and William Bush, 1866; David Smith and R. C. Hartford, 1867; Joseph Cross and Charles A. Hannum, 1868; E. H. Rich and Edward J. Kilburn, 1869; H. G. Newton, 1870; George H. Lewis and Samuel H. Ghen, 1871; William H. Collins aud Isaac S. Warner, 1872; Solomon D. Nickerson and James A. Small, 1873; Solo- mon D. Nickerson and George Allen, 1874; Seth Nickerson and Lem- uel Cook, 2d, 1875; Lemuel Cook, 2d, and Heman S. Cook, 1876; An- drew T. Williams, 1877; A. Frank Hopkins, 1878; Newton P. West, 1879; James A. Small, 1880; George W. Tuttle, 1881; Joseph Whitcomb, and Stephen H. Smith, 1882; Willis W. Gleason, 1883; Reuben F.


984


HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.


Brown and Frederick A. H. Gifford, 1884; Thomas W. Sparks and Francis S. Miller, 1885; Nathaniel T. Freeman and Jeremiah A. Rich, 1886; George F. Miller and Nathaniel H. Small, 1887: Simeon S. Smith and Willard T. Burkett, 18SS; Jerome S. Smith and Frederick E. Wil- liams, 1889; Otis MI. Knowles, installed January 8, 1890.


Provincetown Lodge, Knights of Honor, was established February 10, 1880. The successive past dictators have been: Joshua F. Tobey, E. P. McElroy, George H. Nickerson, Caleb K. Sullivan, Joseph A. West, and Joseph Whitcomb, since 1SS5.


The Ladies' Relief Corps meets twice a month in G. A. R. Hall. The president is Mrs. H. Louise Lyford; the secretary is Mrs. Mary C. Smith; and Mrs. Emily A. Smith is the treasurer.


Charity Degree Lodge, Daughters of Rebecca, meets in Odd Fel- lows' Hall, Friday evenings. The present officers are: Mrs. Annie Y. Cook, N. G .; Mrs. Sarah C. Cornell. V. G .: Mrs. Eliza S. Small. sec .; Mrs. L. C. Whitcomb, treas .; Mrs. Sophronia D. Sumner, P. S.


J. C. Freeman Post, G. A. R., was instituted September 23. 1884, with nineteen charter members. The Commanders have been: Geo. H. Nickerson, George Allen and Joshua Cook. The officers for 1890 are : Joshua Cook, C .; J. H. Dearborn, S. V. C .; F. A. Smith, J. V. C .; George W. Holbrook, adjt .: C. W. Burkett, O. D .; Thomas Lowe. O. G .; Byley Lyford, chap .; Samuel Knowles, surg .; Seth Smith, Q. M .; P. C. Young, Q. M. S .; David Cook, S. M.


Firemen's Mutual Life Insurance Association was organized in 1873. Sixty-four members have died during its existence and their representatives have received benefits amounting to $9,802. The present officers are: Pres., L. N. Paine; vice-pres., George H. Holmes; sec., and treas., J. D. Hilliard; trustees, Charles A. Cook, Andrew T. Williams, John G. Whitcomb.


King Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M., was instituted March 25, 1796, at which time Paul Revere, Grand Master of the State, signed the charter. The worshipful masters since the organization of the Lodge have been : John Young, 1796-8; Jonathan Cook, 1799, 1801, 1805-6 ; Allen Hinckley, 1802-3; Henry Paine, 1804; Orsamus Thomas, 1807-9, 1817-20; Ephraim Blanchard, 1810-11; Daniel Pease, 1812-13; Simeon Conant, 1814-16; Joseph Sawtelle, 1821-27; Henry Willard, 1828; Jonathan Cook, jr., 1829-30; Barzillai Higgins, 1831-33, 1847; Water- man Crocker, 1834-46 ; Godfrey Rider, 1848-49; Joseph P. Johnson, 1850-53, 1858-63; Peter E. Dolliver, 1854; Lewis L. Sellew, 1855; Reuben F. Cook, 1856-57 ; Elijah Smith, 1864-65; John W. Atwood, 1866-69; Joseph S. Atwood, 1870-71; E. Parker Cook, 1872-73: John M. Crocker, 1$74-75; Artemus' P. Hannum, 1876-77; Moses N. Gif- ford, 1878-79 ; Frederick A. H. Gifford, 1SS0; Joseph H. Dyer. 1881 ; Harvey O. Sparrow, 1SS2; Thomas Lowe, 1SS3; Hezekiah P. Hughes,


1


985


TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN.


1SS4; Lewis H. Baker, 1885; James A. Small, 1886-87; Andrew T. Williams, 18SS, and Jerome S. Smith since 1889.


Joseph Warren Royal Arch Chapter was organized .June 8, 1869, and chartered June 15, 1870. The successive high priests, installed in November of each year, have been: Jeremiah Stone, June, 1869, to November, 1870; Joseph P. Johnson, November, 1870; Lauren Young, 1873; John W. Atwood, 1874; John M. Crocker, 1876; Lauren Young, 1877; Horace A. Freeman, 1878; Harvey O. Sparrow, 1879; Artemas P. Hannum, 1880; Frederick A. H. Gifford, 1881; Joseph H. Dyer, 1882; Frederick A. H. Gifford, 1883; Harvey O. Sparrow, 1884; James E. Rich, 1887; Frederick A. H. Gifford, 1888. The regular convocations are held the first Friday evening in each month, and the annual con- vocation the first Friday evening in November.


A Local Branch, No. 1006, of the Order of the Iron Hall, was es- tablished here in 1889.


Royal Arcanum, Mayflower Council, was established December, 1SS6. Marshall L. Adams was chosen first regent, and has continued to occupy that office.


Royal Society of Good Fellows, Miles Standish Assembly, was in- stituted in 18SS. S. H. Baker, the first R., was succeeded by Myrick C. Atwood.


The Children's Loyal Legion, Company J, Barnstable Division; the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Mrs. Alice A. H. Young, president; and the King's Daughters, have contributed largely toward sustaining a high moral sentiment in the community upon the tem- perance and other kindred questions, rendering a welcome assistance to the various church organizations. Though recently established, their officers have already rendered services of the highest worth. CHURCHES .*-- The meeting house provided for in 1717, as men- tioned at page 965 was built in 1717-18, and was the first place of wor- ship erected at Provincetown. There is no record establishing its exact location. Tradition, however, points to the site in the south- east corner of the pasture or meadow of the heirs of the late Joseph Atkins, sr., about one hundred yards northwesterly from Bradford street, and a few feet south westerly from the partition fence between the western portion of this meadow and that part of it now the prop- erty of William Matheson. William A. Atkins, a native of the town, and son of Joseph Atkins, the former owner of the premises, remem- bers distinctly that in his youth his father pointed out this spot to him as the one on which the old meeting house stood. Joseph Atkins was born in 1766, and inust have attended meeting with his parents in the first and second meeting houses, the latter built in 1773 upon the same site. Joseph Atkins was twenty-six years old when the


* By James Gifford, Esq., of Provincetown.


986


HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.


third church was built and helped cut the timber for it in Province- town woods.


It was the presence of the meeting house here, on the south bor- der of the meadow, or the large, level valley, once connected with Shankpainter pond, that gave to this tract the name of Meeting House Plain, which is still applied to it. The proximity of the old burying ground on the northeast side of the plain, corresponding with the prevailing practice of early days of locating the burial place, near the church, goes to confirm the tradition.


The second meeting house, probably a rebuilding and enlargement of the first, was erected entirely by the inhabitants of the town in 1773, fifty-six years after the building of the first church. January 25, 1774, the first sale of its pews was made by authority of a vote of the town and parish " to sell the pews in the meeting house and to sell them allowing purchasers to pay the money by the first day of De- cember, 1774." Twelve pews were sold at this first sale at prices varying from £30 for those on the ground floor to 53, 10s., for those in the " woman's gallery."


The third meeting house was long known as the "Old White Oak." At a meeting of the town November 15; 1792, it was voted to build a meeting house, and " to set it near north meadow gut." This proposed location was on the margin of a creek running through the beach at the foot of Gosnold street. Following nearly the line of this street to its junction with Bradford street, it flowed easterly and northerly, washing the base of High Pole hill and adjacent territory south-extending as far as the rise of ground north of the Center school house and beyond the railroad station. Persons living have heard aged residents relate incidents of their crossing this creek in boats whose use was indispensable while the tide was in. It was the practice to float scows and boats laden with salt grass from the meadows through this "gut" and to make it into hay on its borders, called " the north meadow."




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.