USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 36
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Joseph Hoxie has been a very useful man in his town, a friend to the needy, and one whose counsel has prevailed. He has during life been a consistent member of the religious Society of Friends, and more or less since 1830 has been in the service of the society as a trustee and treasurer. For many years he has served it as overseer and elder, and in no relation of trust has ever been required to give security. At the age of ninety-one, he is now spending the evening of life in the home rendered sacred in memory by the changes which long years have wrought.
David A. Hoxie, born in 1843, is a son of Allen and grandson of Barnabas Hoxie. He was in the war of the rebellion from 1861 to 1865, in Company D, Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers. Since
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1865 he has been a farmer. He was married in 1868 to Laura Small, and has two sons: Everett and Isaac. He is a member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R., and a member of East Sandwich Grange, P. of H.
Edward Hoxie, born in 1826, is a brother of George F. Hoxie, be- low. He is a carpenter by trade. He worked several years for the Cape Cod railroad in the car shop, and since 1834 he has been a mar- ket gardener. He was in the war of the rebellion from July. 1862, to June. 1865, in Company E, Fortieth Massachusetts Volunteers. He was married in 1848 to Mary J. Tarr. They have had five children: Varona H., Mary F., Edward A., Joseph E., and one deceased. Mr. Hoxie is a member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R.
George F. Hoxie, born in 1822, is a son of Peleg and grandson of Hezekiah Hoxie. His mother was Phebe, daughter of Jesse Hoxie. Mr. Hoxie is a house carpenter by trade, but for the last thirty years has been a gardener and fisherman. He was married in 1851 to Eliza- beth D., daughter of Edmund Smith. They have had twelve children: Elizabeth, Celia, Olive, Carrie, Rosa, Ida, George, Lyman, Henry, Syl- vanus, Charles and Walter. They lost one son. Mr. Hoxie is a mein- ber of the Sandwich Methodist Episcopal church.
Nathaniel C. Hoxie, born in 1824, is a brother of George F. Hoxie, mentioned in the preceding paragraph. He followed the sea for twenty years, was in the civil war, in Company D, Forty-fifth Massa- chusetts Volunteers about one year, and since 1863 has been a farmer. He was married in 1852 to Almira H., daughter of David Libby. He is a member of the Sandwich Methodist Episcopal church. and a mem- ber of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R.
Isaiah T. Jones, son of Joshua Jones, was born November 25, 1838, in Falmouth. His mother was Reliance, daughter of Asa and Anna (Bradford) Phinney. He has been engaged at Sandwich as a tack manufacturer since 1861. He was married in 1862 to Hannah C., daughter of Captain William Weeks. Their children are: Addie W., Lombard C., Anna R., Lottie E., Louis B., Isaiah T., jr., Frank L. and Jennie B. Mr. Jones is a democrat, and a member of De Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
John Jones was born in 1846 in England. His father was born in Wales and removed to England when a boy. In 1870 Mr. Jones came from England to Sandwich, and was employed as glass cutter by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company until 1888. He was married in 1868, his wife dying the following year. He is a member of De Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Benjamin Lovell, son of Ezekiel and Martha (Cahoon) Lovell, and grandson of Ezekiel Lovell, was born in 1813. He was a sea-faring man for eighteen years, was six years night watchman at the Sand-
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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
wich railroad station, and since that has been a farmer. He was mar- ried in 1837 to Mercy P. Baker, who died in 1882, leaving four children: Eliza A., Benjamin W., Boyden E. and Lote M. He was married again in 1883 to Mrs. Eliza A. Marston.
Charles H. Macy, born in 1844 at Nantucket, is a son of Captain Charles B. and Martha E. (Mitchell) Macy. He is a member of East Sandwich Grange, P. of H. He was married in 1868 to Hattie T.7, daughter of Azariah Wings. Abram', Edward', John Wing3, who was the third generation removed from John Wing, the first settler.
Robert Macy, son of Robert Macy, was born in April, 1828, at Providence, R. I. He was in the whale fishing business from 1839 to 1874, and since that time has been a farmer at East Sandwich. He was married in 1867 to Mrs. Charlotte F. Austin of Marston's Mills, daughter of David Greene.
John Quinnell Miller was born January 7, 1835, and is a son of Isaac and Sophia H. Quinnell. Mr. Miller's mother died soon after his birth, and he was brought up by Joseph Miller, whose name he has always borne, and who died at the residence of his foster-son, June 23, 1889, aged 92 years and 1 month. From 1857 to 1885 Mr. Mil- ler owned and kept a clothing store at Sandwich. Since 1885 he has been in the livery business. He was married in 1857 to Mary J. Giles, and has one son, Joseph H. Mr. Miller is a member of De Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and a member of the Sandwich Meth- · odist Episcopal church.
Sanford I. Morse, son of Simeon and Nancy Morse, was born July - 4, 1854, at Middleboro, Mass., and came to Sandwich in 1880, where he has been a grocery merchant since that time. He has been in the grocery trade since fourteen years of age.
John Murray, 2d, son of John Murray, was born in May, 1820, at Glasgow, Scotland, and died in Sandwich in 1889. He came to this . country in 1848. He was a tailor by trade, and in 1868 he came from Rhode Island to Sandwich and opened a tailor store, which he after- ward changed into a ready-made clothing and dry goods store. He was married in 1840 to Elizabeth McIntire. She died, and Mr. Mur- ray afterward married her sister Rebecca. They have one daughter, Nettie E., wife of John S. Smith. She has three sons.
Captain Edward Nichols, son of Charles and Sarah (Folger) Nich- . ols, was born in 1813 at Nantucket. He was for thirty-seven years en- gaged in the whale fishing, and master of a vessel. for sixteen years prior to 1864, when he retired. He was married in 1841 to Sarah Jones. They have two daughters: Mary A. and Charlotte B. Captain Nichols is a member of De Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
George B. Nye, born in 1820, is a son of Joshua and Mary (Briggs) . Nye, and a grandson of Ebenezer Nye. He followed the sea about
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TOWN OF SANDWICH.
fifteen years, was twenty-five years in the butcher business, and since 1873 has been farming and growing cranberries. He was married in 1854 to Mercy, daughter of John Phinney. They have four children: George E., John P., Charles and Addie G.
Levi S. Nye was born in 1842. He is a son of Lemuel B. and grand- son of Rev. Levi Nye. His mother was Eliza Sears. He was ten years in Boston engaged in a card and tag factory. In 1879, in com- pany with his brother, he established the Sandwich Card and Tag Company, where he has been engaged since that time. He was mar- ried in 1867 to Martha Ann Bracket.
Samuel H. Nye, born in 1837, is the eldest son of Samuel, and grandson of Sylvanus Nye, who was a justice of the peace for several years. Samuel Nye married Mrs. Sarah P. Tobey, daughter of Daniel Rea. Mr. Nye is a farmer, has been selectman two years, and a mem- ber of the school committee several years. He was married in 1862 to Ruth A., daughter of Captain Dean Sears. They have three chil- dren: Rose S., Delia C. and Anna R. Mr. Nye was in the war nine months in Company D, Forty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, and is a member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R. He was a charter mem- ber of the East Sandwich Grange, P. of H Near where Samuel H. Nye lives a mill privilege was granted to one of his ancestors, who built one of the earliest grist mills and carding mills in the county.
William L. Nye, born in 1839, is a brother of Levi S. Nye, men- tioned above. He was for twenty years engaged in the card and tag works at Boston, and has been with the Sandwich Card and Tag Com- pany since 1879. He was married in 1864 to Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen B. Nye, son of Charles, and grandson of Nathan Nye. They have two children: Augustus S. and Mary E. Mr. Nye is a democrat and has been chairman of both town and county democratic com- mittees.
Nehemiah Packwood was born in 1837 in Worcestershire, England. He worked twenty-seven years in the Heath Glass Works in England. In 1867 he came to America and began as a glass cutter in the glass works at Sandwich, where he has since been employed. He was mar- ried in 1858 to Jemima Dudley. They have two children: Nehemiah, jr., and Lena.
Ephraim C. Percival, born in 1817, is a son of Timothy, grandson of Benjamin, and great-grandson of John Percival. His mother was Hannah, daughter of Ephraim Crocker. Mr. Percival is a farmer and trader. He was married in 1839 to Eliza A., daughter of Ansel Fish. They have two children: Mercy F. and Horace. He is a member of Barnstable County Agricultural Society and a member of the West Barnstable Congregational church.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Fred. E. Pierce, born in 1859, is a son of David G. Pierce, who was for several years master of a whaling vessel. In 1877 Mr. Pierce came to Sandwich from Falmouth. He was assistant postmaster four years, three years in the grocery business, and four years in a boot and shoe store, prior to November, 1888. when it was destroyed by fire. He is the present proprietor of the East Providence Boot and Shoe Company. He was married in 1882 to Mary T. Bicknell, and they have one son, Frank C. Mr. Pierce is a republican and a member of De Witt Clinton Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Ezra T. Pope®, born in 1825, is descended from Seth', Lemuel', John3, Seth2, Seth Pope'. His mother was Hannah Tobey. Mr. Pope has been deputy sheriff twenty-two years, was representative in the legis- lature two years, in 1864 and 1865, and since 1874 he has been messen- ger and sergeant-at-arms in the state house at Boston. He was married in 1849 to Abigail Gibbs. Their children were: Francis E., Abbie G., Annie T., Augustus R., Ezra T., jr., Seth F., Eugene R., Eben C. and Alice E. Mr. Pope is a republican.
Charles Quinn, son of Michael Quinn, was born in 1827 in Ireland, and came to Massachusetts in 1828. He is a glass blower by trade. He came to Sandwich in 1850, where he worked at his trade until 1877. He has been deputy sheriff and constable since 1880. He was mar- ried in 1846 to Susan Darby. They have two sons-George T. and Charles S.
Philip H. Robinson, born in 1823. is a son of Thomas W. and grand- son of Josiah Robinson. His mother was Abigail Nye. He is a farmer and has been a member of the legislature two terms, in 1873 and 1874. He was married in 1853 to Sylvia, daughter of Thomas Goodspeed. They have one son, Charles W., who is clerk of the court at Brockton, and was married to Elsie M. Kelley in 1885. Mr. Robinson is a mem- ber of East Sandwich Grange, P. of H., and has been deacon of the West Barnstable church for several years.
Sylvanus D. Robinson was born in 1840, in Falmouth. He is a son of Zephaniah and grandson of Zephaniah Robinson. His mother was Nancy Fessenden. He was engaged in whale fishing from 1855 to 1880, the last nine years as master of a vessel. Since 1881 he has been a farmer at East Sandwich. He was married in 1875 to Jessie Mar- shal, and has one son, Arthur W. Mr. Robinson is a member of East Sandwich Grange, and a member of Marine Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
James Shevlin, born in December, 1838, is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (McParlen) Shevlin. He entered the United States army in July, 1860, serving until July, 1867. He was selectman from March, 1884, until October, 1886, when he resigned to accept the office of postmaster at Sandwich, which position he still holds. He was mar- ried January 29, 1875, to Annie, daughter of John and Mary McLaugh- lin. He is a democrat.
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TOWN OF SANDWICH.
J. Charles Steever was born in 1862 in Troy, New York, from which place he came to Wareham, Mass., where he learned the jeweler's trade. In September, 1884, he came to Sandwich and bought the jew- elry business of C. A. Batchelor, and has continued the same since that time. He was married in 1887 to Hattie C., daughter of Rev. D. J. Griffin. They have one son, Charles G.
Edward J. Swann was born in 1842 in England. He is a son of John Swann, and grandson of Ebenezer Swann, both of whom were deco- rators in England. He came to this country in 1866, and in 1872 he came from New York to Sandwich, where he has been employed at his business of decorating glass and porcelain. He came to Sand- wich on the day the great fire in Boston broke out. He was engaged as manager of the decorating department of the Boston and Sand- wich Glass Company until the company suspended operations, and has been engaged in the same business on his own account for the past five years. He built one of the finest houses in Sandwich, which he afterward sold. He now owns the Dillingham farm. He has been twice married: first to Emily Lea, of England, and second to Lena Jones, of Barnstable. He has had five daughters by his first wife, and one daughter and one son by his second. He is a member of the Sandwich Congregational church and of De Witt Clinton Lodge.
George H. Terry, born January 19, 1826, in Dennis, Mass., was for twenty-seven years a sea-faring man. He came to Sandwich in 1876, where he has since lived. His wife. Susan, was born October 18. 1839. Their children are: George R., born February, 1848; Susan E., June 21. 1851; George E., March 7, 1853; Sarah A., January 27, 1855: Meritta. March 7, 1857: Albatina, July 7, 1860; John L., June 1, 1863; Olive P .. October 7, 1867; Louis E., June 6, 1869.
Bennett Wing, in 1796, had a wind grist mill at Scorton, which was later moved to South Yarmouth, where it served some years. One of the mill-stones is now in Daniel Wing's door-yard in South Yarmouth.
Eliza G. Wing kept for several years, at East Sandwich, a female school.
Henry Wing. son of John Wing, was born in Sandwich, and passed his life there, principally as a farmer, until his death, May 23, 1869. He was first married to Nancy Tobey, who died leaving two sons: Henry Thomas Wing and John Edward Wing, now in business in New York city. An older son, Samuel Davis Wing, died in infancy. On the 28th of February, 1864, Henry Wing married Elizabeth A. Tobey, his deceased wife's sister, who survives him. These sisters were the children of Thomas A. and Hannah Davis (Cobb) Tobey, whose homestead in Sandwich Elizabeth A. Wing, the widow, now occupies. Mr. and Mrs Tobey had six children: Nancy, Hannah Davis, Mary Nye, Elizabeth A., Heman, and Henry Davis Tobey.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Joseph Wing, 2d, born in 1849, is a son of Paul, grandson of Gid- eon, and great-grandson of Paul Wing. His mother is Laura A. (Soule) Wing. Mr. Wing is a farmer. He was married in 1880 to Ada G., daughter of George B. Nye, and has one son. Paul.
Seth B. Wing, born in 1818 in Falmouth, is the youngest son of Joshua, grandson of Presbury, and great-grandson of Joshua Wing. His mother was Beulah Bowerman. Mr. Wing was a teacher for thirty- seven years, and since 1876 has been farming. He was married in 1845 to Cordelia, daughter of Alvin Phinney. They have two sons: Alvin P. and Charles H. Alvin P. was born in 1846. He is a carpen- ter by trade. He was married in 1872 to Lizzie C. Turner, and has one daughter, Cora M.
Stephen R. Wing, born in 1814, is a son of Samuel and grandson of Paul Wing, whose father was Zacheus Wing. His mother was Ann Rogers. Mr. Wing is a farmer. He was married in 1840 to Elizabeth C., daughter of David and Mary (Sherman) Shove. They have four children living: Alice R., Anna, Asa S. and Stephen R., jr., and have lost three sons. Mr. Wing is a member of the Society of Friends.
Zenas W. Wright, born in 1815, is a son of Joseph, grandson of Luther, and great-grandson of Martin Wright. His mother was Mercy Weeks. Mr. Wright was engaged in whale fishing about thirty-three years, and was master of vessels thirteen years of that time. Since 1865 he has been a farmer. He was married in 1842 to Sarah C., daughter of Edmund Handy. They have eight children: Susan E., Cynthia D., Elnora F., Griselda N., William P., Zenas W., jr., Franklin P. and Joseph E. They have lost two children. Mr. Wright is a mem- ber of the West Barnstable church.
CHAPTER XV.
TOWN OF BOURNE.
Trading Post on Monument River .- Indian Hamlets .- Natural Features .- Land Pur- c'iases .- Settlement and Early Events .- Formation of the Second Precinct .- Salt Works .- Shipbuilding .- Early Mills .- Ship Canal .- Erection of the Town of Bourne .- Town Affairs .- Churches .- Schools .- The Villages and their Institutions. -- Biographical Sketches.
T HE territory embraced in the present town of Bourne, having been included for more than two hundred years in the town of Sandwich, the reader will refer to the preceding chapter for a more minute political and civil history of both prior to the separa- tion in 1884. The early settlement and development of villages and communities within the limits of Bourne are regarded as the begin- nings of this town, and will so appear as far as the early records are separable. While a careful examination of the proprietors' records of Sandwich reveals the exact location of but few of the earlier settle- ments of the ancient town, our purpose herein will also be to notice, so far as practicable, those settlers, who, prior to 1700, made homes within the present limits of Bourne. The town can claim that the soil within her borders was first cultivated by Europeans. Colonial history says that in 1622-two years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth-Governor Bradford visited the little Indian village of Manomet, now long known as Monument.
The subsequent trading post, mentioned more fully at page 26, was attended by Mr. Chandler and Elijah Ellis, and the fields at the north of Mrs. Mary Ann Perry's then waved with the golden maize in its season. In 1635 a tidal wave swept over the Cape on the 15th of Au- gust, destroying the trading post and partially filling the river with sand. When the white man came Bourne contained other Indian hamlets beside Manomet. At the south was Pokesit, now Pocasset; and still to the south was Kitteaumut, now Cataumet harbor and vi- cinity; while north of all these and extending into the adjacent town of Plymouth was Comassakumkanit, containing the seat of the Her- ring pond Indians.
The surface of the town presents the undulations common to the Cape towns, and has a soil of sandy loam. The ponds are numerous
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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
but small; Herring pond, the largest in this vicinity, being but par- tially in the town. Mill pond has an area of fifty-seven acres; Deep Bottom pond, thirty-four; Flax, sixty-four; Long pond, twenty-eight; Upper Pocasset, twenty; Lower Pocasset, ten; two Succonesset ponds of twelve acres each; one southwest of Flax, twenty-one; another at South Pocasset of twenty-two; and many smaller ones.
Bourne is the western town of the county, having Plymouth and Wareham, of Bristol county, on the north, Sandwich for its eastern boundary, Falmouth on the south, and Buzzards bay on the west. Bourne neck is a fertile tract of land at the head of Buzzards bay, lying between Cohasset narrows and Monument river, and on which the growing village of Buzzards Bay is situated. Wenaumet neck, with its lighthouse, is an important point, and assists in forming a good harbor for Pocasset in the southern portion of the town; and Scragg's neck-now an island at high water -- serves the same pur- pose for South Pocasset, near the Falmouth line. The smaller bays and inlets of rivers, along the western coast of Bourne, on the greater bay, afford safe anchorage for shipping.
This fifteenth town of the county, and the youngest as a body pol- itic, had early events of an interesting nature. Its fertility and pecul- iar advantages were early seen, and not many years had elapsed after the first proprietors of the parent town had taken up the land along the bay of Cape Cod, before they looked upon the present territory of Bourne with a longing, which resulted in a petition to the general court for permission to purchase, and assistance in purchasing Mano- met. On May 13, 1654, at a special town meeting, the framing of this petition was submitted to Mr. Dillingham, Goodman Tupper, William Newland, Goodman Bourne and Thomas Dexter. That these gentle- men moved immediately in the matter is not shown by the records; but they do show the appointment of Michael Blackwell, in 1670, as agent of the Herring river fishery, showing that at that time the pro- prietors were in legal possession of the land to and including the river. The records of 1672 say, " Mr. Edm. Freeman Sr., Wm. Swift, Thos. Wing Sr., Michael Blackwell, and Wm. Newland were requested to go forward settling and confirming the township with the sachem of Manomet or any other;" and not until later is mention made of permanent settlers at Monument.
The Perrys, then living at Scusset, were admitted as freemen in the year 1677, and in 1680 they purchased lands along the south bank of the Monument river, where now is the village of Bourne. They have descendants in the town who claim their coming was of much earlier date; but the town records do not substantiate the assertion. The four sons of Ezra Perry-Samuel, Ezra, jr., John and Benjamin- built their cabin here, and many of the people residing at Bourne
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have seen the vestiges of this home. Tradition says these four sons of Ezra Perry traded at Herring river, and coming home at night used to shelter themselves behind a large rock near their house and fire three or four bullets through the door, to drive out any lurking Indians who might be secreted there. The rock is large enough to have sheltered many more Perrys, and is to be seen on the premises of Ordello R. Swift, near the flagstaff he erected a few years ago.
The purchase of the south part of Bourne had not yet been made, as on the 18th of May, 1680, " Thos. Dexter, Stephen Skiff, and Thomas Tupper were appointed Agents to buy of the Indians all the undis- posed lands that lie between Plymouth, Barnstable, and Suckanessett -- all they can buy of the rightful owners." Two selectmen of Ply- mouth, and William Bassett and Daniel Allen of Sandwich, settled the bounds between this town and Plymouth, April 9. 1701, " beginning at Peaked cliff on the seaside, running to a rock on the westerly side of Herring pond, thence to the little pond below the dwelling house of John Gibbs, jr .. thence to a marked pine tree by the fence in the meadow of Benj. Gibbs by the Red Brook, thence by this brook to the bay." In 1706 a further purchase of lands was made by the town, from Zachariah Sias, an Indian: "A tract at Herring river, on the west side of the line run between the town and Indians' lands."
Settlers came rapidly to this part of Sandwich, and Ebenezer Nye, John Smith, Elisha Bourne, John Gibbs, jr., Benjamin Gibbs and others may be recognized as then permanently located in the terri- tory of Bourne. Nor were all the lands of the western part of the town yet purchased of the Indians; for the town, in special town meet- ing, on February 12, 1708, "granted liberty to Wm. Bassett Jr. to pur- chase of Wm. Numick Jr., (Indian), other lands lying over against Monamet bay;" and later, in 1716, liberty was voted to Nathan Bar- ber to purchase the remainder of the lands of Numick; then followed a re-survey of the old line and an extension of the line between the towns of Plymouth and Bourne, which was as follows: "Beginning at a white-oak bush on Peaked cliff, marked on four sides, with stones about it; from thence running S. E. 3º to the westerly side of Her- ring pond abt 2 rods from the mouth of sd pond to a rock; and from said rock to the Wareham line." During the period of time covered by the additions of territory, as mentioned, that part of Herring pond and along Buzzards bay had become the seat of communities. The travel from Plymouth to the Cape became of so much importance that the general court had ordered a road to be laid out from Plymouth to Sandwich; but in 1654 it had not been completed.
In 1684, the main road from Barnstable to Plymouth, through Bourne and Sandwich, was laid out by a jury empaneled by the gov- ernor, and is now the County road, as it is known through the Cape.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.
Another highway was laid out later, which being beyond the memory of man, deserves mention. The proprietors' records say that Josiah Swift and others presented a petition, May 15, 1746, to the selectmen, proposing to build a new road " to be turned round the swamp in the place of the old one that goes through Herring river to Monument." This road was accepted by the town December 31, 1746, but the old one was not to be shut to the public, " if persons put up the bars and shut the gates."
The people of Bourne were intensely interested in a wild scheme for fencing out wolves; and the people of the original town of Sand- wich pursued the idea with that persistency which they usually mani- fested. At a town meeting of Sandwich, held May 27, 1717," the town manifested a desire to have a fence made as speedily as it can well be done from the Picket cliff over to Waquansett bay to keep off the wolves from coming into this county; and in order to do it that Wm. Bassett, the town clerk, do send to the selectmen of the respective towns of the county that they propose to their respective towns of the county at their next townmeeting to joyn with us in the charge, and to inform them that if they will bear their proportion with us of £500, that we will make a good board fence of more than six foot high, and what the charge is more than that we will bear it."
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