History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 37

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 37

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This scheme was not favorably considered by any other towns ex- cept Falmouth, which by vote acceded to it. Then the town's repre- sentative was " Instructed to apply to the general court for an act re- quiring the towns below, in consideration of the great destruction of sheep by wolves, to bear their part of the expense of a fence across the isthmus, sufficient to exclude wolves." .

The founders of the present flourishing town of Bourne continued their improvements in roads. On the 19th of May, 1718, the people in town meeting assembled, by vote " did approve of the road that leads through the Herring river so called, and so up to Mancmet, al- lowing as it has been used and accustomed; so likewise ye way yt leads out of that way again over the sd Herring river by the house in which Thomas Jones now dwells and so up to the house of Nathan Bourne in which he now dwells."

The fishing privileges of Herring river have been, and still are controlled by the town, and are a source of profit. The quantity taken from this river exceeds that from any other on the western part of the Cape. Early in the last century the supply of herring so far exceeded the demand for fish food, that the surplus was used to fertilize the fields, and the growing custom of using them in each hill of planted corn was checked in 1718, the town fathers ordering that none should be taken in future to " fish corn." The fisheries of the entire town are now controlled by the selectmen, and this of Herring river is an

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important branch. The right of the people to have each family a certain share of herrings is sustained, and the profit beyond this is sold to the highest bidder. For the year 1890 this privilege was sold for one thousand dollars, reserving two barrels for each Indian family, and a barrel for the head of every other family in Bourne or Sand- wich, the latter town having a common interest with the former in the herring rights.

This people early had been active in the matters of the church, which by dissensions had become reduced to a small membership, and at the close of Mr. Smith's pastorate, in 1688, James Skiff. Thomas Tupper, Thomas Tobey, Jacob Burge and William Bassett were the only active male members. In 1732 a petition was presented by certain ones " to be released from paying for the support of the minister, and to be set off as a distinct precinct." This request was refused "on the ground that the petitioners are widely scattered and in all make less than 20 families; " and it was voted by the town that "the return of the disaffected is the only way to restore our ancient glory of unity and peace."

Again, in 1744, Ebenezer Wing and twenty-three others of Pocasset and Manomet petitioned to be released from paying to the support of Mr. Fessenden and town schools, which by the vote of the town was refused. The application for a precinct was renewed in 1769, and in 1772 Pocasset was incorporated as the second precinct in Sandwich. These last petitions had been carried to the general court where the prayer of the petitioners was granted. This division was only of the church, but the feeling that ultimately resulted in the division of the parent town and erection of the town of Bourne, existed from this time. In 1797 an ineffectual attempt was made to divide the town, the movers desiring to include Monument, Pocasset and other portions in the new township.

This portion of the parent town had been first in many enterprises of the day not yet mentioned. It raised its portion of the school- master's salary, and at Pocasset and also at Monument the school was kept a proportion of the year. Early in the present century salt was manufactured around Buzzards bay. The last of these extensive manufactories, at Back river, succumbed to the change in affairs about the middle of the century. Ship building was an industry as early as 1800, and was carried on by Captain William Handy, who retired from the seas and engaged in it successfully, establishing a shipyard near his house on Buzzards bay. He sent forth from his own yard the ship Rebecca, the brig Fame, the schooners Resolution, Nancy, So- phironia, Love, Achsah Parker; the sloops Betsey, Nancy and Deborah, and other smaller vessels designed for the Long Island Sound trade during the war of 1812. Benjamin Burgess built the brigs Cordelia and Sarah

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Williams at Sagamore, and soon after 1830 he built the schooner Caro- line, on the knoll by the creek on Watson Freeman's land. Benjamin Burgess and Abner Ellis built the bark Franklin for the West India trade here about 1837: and the bark Lysander in 1842. Schooners and sloops were built on the banks of the stream below Keith's factory, and the canal is yet visible where they were compelled to cut across an elbow of the stream to float the vessel. Very many of the people of the town have followed the sea as shipmasters.

The. superior advantages of Herring river for mill power, early turned the attention of the settlers to the enterprise, and as early as 1695, the proprietors' records, under date of December 17th, say, " the town have granted liberty to Mr. Elisha Bourne to sett up or cause to be sett up a grist mill upon the Herring river, so called, where it may be most convenient, provided it shall not be prejuditial to the her- rings going up, and that he that shall keep sd mill shall grind all the corn that he grinds of all sorts for two quarts per bushel." This was cheap grinding, but the site and privilege were granted by the town, and the conditions were undoubtedly very just. This mill for grind- ing long ago fulfilled its mission: but in 1717 we hear of it again: for permission was given by the town " that a sawmill be sett up some- where between the grist-mill and Herring pond's mouth, but not to prejudice herring up or down." This was granted to Benjamin Bourne, who built the mill, but he was kept under surveillance by the town officers on account of the herrings. These mills caused much trouble to the herring business and were compelled at times to cease running.

The selectmen of Sandwich, in 1734, ordered " that the mill be stopped from grinding, from 1 of April to May 20, unless Medad Tucker and Samuel Gibbs decide that the course of herring is not obstructed."

The old mills mentioned have made their paragraphs in history, and like their founders belong to the pages of the past. The saw mill site is marked by some of the foundation stones, and but little of the grist mill building remains. The town has no grist mill now, nor do we find that any has been erected during the present century except a wind mill at Pocasset, erected about 1845 by Parker & Dillingham, and that was sold to go to Falmouth after a very few years. The wind mill now at Cataumet was built in Rhode Island and moved to New Bedford, thence about 1853 to Cataumet, by Perry G. Macomber, then proprietor of the Red brook estate, on which it stands, in ruins, since the September gale of 1869.

The proposed ship canal across the Cape, when completed, will be almost wholly within the limits of Bourne. Its course as surveyed is from Scusset harbor, through Sagamore, along the valley in which Bournedale is situated to the village of Bourne, thence to Back River

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harbor. The town of Sandwich, within whose limits it then was, gave its consent to this canal in 1801. Other companies prior to the one engaged have accomplished more or less, but all have effected but little compared with the grand whole. The present company has given an earnest of its intentions and ability to prosecute the work by pur- chasing much valuable property along the surveyed route, and exca- vating a small portion of the proposed channel.

The vote of 1889 appropriated two thousand dollars for the sup- port of the poor. The other appropriations were: For schools, five thousand dollars; for roads, forty-five hundred dollars; and for other town expenses, fifteen hundred dollars. They also inade a liberal provision for the selectmen to have a transcript made of the records of Sandwich, the parent town, by H. G. O. Ellis, which transcript will be deposited with their own.

For over two centuries had the fathers and their living descend- ants residing in Bourne contributed to the prosperity of the entire town by taxes and expenses, which, in later years, they believed were disproportionate to their relative advantages. This belief only in- creased the minrest of that portion, and the desire, which we have no- ticed as existing a century before, for self-government. The lapse of time for two generations had increased the reasons for and strength- ened the determination of the people of Bourne to erect a town of their own, and in 1860 steps were again taken in that direction. The opening of the civil war diverting the attention of all concerned. the subject was practically dropped until 1873, when hearings on the peti- tion of Captain Nathaniel Burgess and others for a division of the town of Sandwich, were held before a legislative committee, but the line of division as proposed not being satisfactory, a strong opposition was developed, and the project was defeated. These reverses only strengthened the hope and determination of the people, and they pa- tiently waited until more sure of success. In 1883, a new movement, broader and stronger than previous ones, was inaugurated. The citi- zens of Pocasset, Monument and North and West Sandwich rallied, deterinined to have a township by themselves. The first meeting was held in the school house at Monument, December 15. 1883, with Cap- tain Nathaniel Burgess in the chair, and Edward S. Ellis as secretary. After discussing the matter, William A. Nye, Edward S. Ellis, Zadock Wright, Benjamin B. Abbe and Joshua A. Baker were appointed a com- mittee to complete a permanent organization. At the adjourned meet- ing, held at Welcome Hall, Monument, December 29th, this committee reported the following officers, which were accepted: Ezra C. Howard, Nathaniel Burgess, George I. Briggs, John P. Knowlton, John A. Beck- erman and William A. Nye, as an executive committee, with Mr. How- ard as chairman and Mr. Nye as secretary; Isaac N. Keith, Nathaniel

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Burgess and Benjamin B. Abbe, finance committee; Ebenezer Nye, James T. Handy, M. C. Waterhouse, Joshua H. Baker, John A. Beck- erman, Paul C. Gibbs, Nathaniel Burgess, George E. Phinney, George I. Briggs, Isaac Stevens. John G. Wright, Ezra C. Howard, Nathan B. Ellis, John P. Knowlton, Levi Swift and Edward S. Ellis, a general committee.

The vote of the meeting was to accept no line of division except the line between West Sandwich and Sandwich village. Many peti- tions were sent to the legislature for and against the measure; coun- sel for both sides, with witnesses, were heard January 24, 1884, before the committee, at the state house, Boston. The territory of the new town and the old was looked over personally by the legislative com- mittee, and the strongest measures were brought to bear by the pe- titioners and remonstrants. The opposition was led by hope to follow the bill through all its legislative phases, but they were promptly met at every turn by its friends. It was sent to the executive and re- ceived his approval April 2, 1884, and the old town of Sandwich was cut in twain. The new town, with an area of over 23,500 acres, and a population of 1,363, including 419 voters, was called Bourne, in honor of the late Hon. Jonathan Bourne, of New Bedford, a native of the town. A meeting for organization and the election of temporary officers was held April 12. 1884, and these officers called the regular town meeting for April 23d.

In May, 1884, the line between the old and new towns, surveyed by Edward S. Ellis and Charles M. Thompson, was approved by the selectmen. The division line "begins at a point on the shore of Barnstable Bay, 8,184 feet southerly from the Plymouth line at Peaked Cliff (so called) running thence S. 13º 53' W. 516 feet to a stone monu- ment; thence on same course 7,138 feet to the N. W. corner of Free- man's Lane (so called), and the location of the Old Colony railroad; thence on same course 1273 feet to a stone monument on the south- easterly side of said Freeman's Lane; thence along said lane S. 44° WV. 1,210 feet to a stone monument on the southerly side of the County Road; thence S. 23° 26' W. 17,707 feet to a stone monument on the northerly side of the Pocasset and Sandwich road (so called) at the intersection of Turpentine Road (so called), with said road; thence S. 15° 32' W. 4,068 feet to a stone monument on the easterly side of said Turpentine road, at the junction with the old Turpentine road (so called); thence S. 18° 58' W. 7,547 feet to a stone monument at the southeast corner of the intersection of the Turpentine road and the county road between Pocasset and Snake pond; thence S. 35° 22' WV. 7,631 feet to a stone monument at the northwest corner of the intersection of the Turpentine road with the Howard Road (so called); thence on same course 9,553 feet to a stone monument at the Fal- mouth line on the easterly side of the Turpentine road."

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TOWN OF BOURNE.

The regular town meeting of April 23d elected for town clerk, William A. Nye; for selectmen and overseers of the poor, Ezra C. Howard, David D. Nye and Albert R. Eldridge; for assessors, David D. Nye, Moses C. Waterhouse and John P. Knowlton; for treasurer and collector, Nathan Nye; for superintendent of schools, Levi R. Leavitt.

The officers elected in 1885 were: Ordello R. Swift, town clerk; David D. Nye, Albert R. Eldridge and Jedediah Briggs, selectmen. The selectmen were to also act as assessors and overseers of the poor, and the clerk as treasurer. The same officers were elected for 1886, and for 1887 the same clerk, and Nathan Nye was elected as select- man in place of Jedediah Briggs, the remaining two being re-elected. In the springs of 1SS8, 1889 and 1890 the town voted the continuation of clerk and selectmen of the previous year, an evidence of capability on their part, and an expression of confidence by their townsmen. The town has, as yet, erected no public buildings. Since it was in- corporated. the poor of the town, which in 1889 were only five persons, have been boarded at the poor house of the town of Sandwich.

A division of the taxes was made by the selectmen of the old and new towns on the 23d of July, 1884, by which Bourne had to pay $1,083.67-847.34 more than the old town; and of the county tax, $655.24-$28.62 more than Sandwich. On the 24th of December, 1884, the division of debts and property and final settlements were amicably concluded and adjusted between the towns.

CHURCHES .- The people of Bourne, supporting now four churches, seem to realize that their religious duties are as essential to the prosperity of the town as are their educational and civil. Their abil- ity to support separate societies, and their disposition to do so, have been mentioned. An early pastor said of Methodism in the town, that it came early and came to stay. Rev. Jesse Lee preached at Monument as early as 1791; and in 1794, after Joshua Hall, the first preacher stationed here, a class was formed, composed of John Perry and Jemima. his wife; Covel Burgess and Lydia, his wife; John Phin- ney and Abigail, his wife; Zaccheus Hatch and Ann, his wife; Chris- tian Burgess, Christania Perry, Maria Nye and Anna, her sister, and Phoebe Swift. These thirteen pioneer Methodists have many descend- ants in Bourne. Joshua Hall was succeeded by Joseph Snelling in 1795, and he by Ephraim Kibby in 179S. Daniel Webb and Reuben Jones were stationed here in 1799, and Joshua Soule in 1800-1; David Bachelor, in 1802-3; Joseph Snelling, in 1804; Moses Currier, in 1805; Nathaniel Elder, 1806; Thomas Asbury, 1807; Joseph Snelling and Joseph Merrill, 1808; Benjamin Lombard, 1809; Stephen Baley, 1810; Aaron Lummis, 1811-12; Stephen Baley, 1813; William Frost and Thomas Peirce, 1814; J. W. Handy and Richard Emory, 1815; Moses

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Fifield, 1816; Benjamin Hazleton, 1817-19; Father Edward J. Taylor, 1820; Taylor and Benjamin Brown, Sandwich and Harwich, 1821; F. Upham, 1822; A. D. Sargent, 1823; Jonathan Mayhew, 1824; Erastus Otis and John Hutchinson, Sandwich and Falmouth, 1825; F. Upham, 1826-27; Enoch Bradley and Nathan Spaulding, 1828; Frederick Up- ham, 1829-30; Steele, Janson, Marsh and Noble, 1831-32; J. B. Bliss and Josiah Litch, 1833; Joseph Barstow, 1834; Philip Crandon, 1835-36; Abraham Holway, 1837; Joseph Brown, 1838; H. Mayo, 1839; Joseph Marsh, 1840-41; Nathan Paine, 1842; Anthony Palmer, 1843; G. W. Brewster, 1844; Heman Perry, 1845; N. Goodrich, 1846-47; W. H. Rich- ards, 1848; D. H. Swinerton, 1849-50; Joseph Macreading, 1851; S. Steb- ings, 1852; J. B. Hunt, 1853; E. B. Hinckley, 1854; E. S. Stanley, 1855; F. Sears, 1856-58; J. B. Washburn, 1859; George H. Winchester, 1860- 61; A. W. Swinerton, 1862-63; G. A. Silversteine, 1864: J. B. Husted, 1865-66; Philo Hawks, 1867-69: C. N. Hinckley, 1870-71; E. S. Fletcher, 1872-74; J. H. Humphrey, 1875-76; E. J. Ayers, 1877; A. L. Dearing, 1878-79; C. N. Hinckley, 1880-82; R. Burns, 1883-85; J. G. Gammons, 1886-88; and J. Q. Adams, 1889.

The Methodists and Congregationalists worshipped in the same house for a time, but jealousies arose and this dual worship ceased. The first Methodist Episcopal church building at Bourne was erected in 1831, Captain Ellis M. Swift being the principal mover; he built the church and received for the thirty-four pews enough to pay him. This house was enlarged at a cost of $1,218 in 1843, and was owned by individual pew-owners for the next forty years, but in 1883 it was made free. The church society is strong and prosperous.

The Methodists at Sagamore had preaching and meetings until their strength enabled them to organize a society, which was effected by those interested here. A church building was raised July 27, 1828, and dedicated in June, 1829, as the Union Free Church, but has been occupied by the Methodists since, and is now the property of that society. In 1852 the building was remodeled and one row of windows substituted for the two, which improvement gave it a more modern appearance. The society, which is prosperous, built a parsonage in 1865. Preaching was supplied from Sandwich village early, and just when the society commenced with its own settled minister is difficult to decide. The conference records show that in 1848 Rev. Robert M. Hatfield was stationed here, and was followed in 1852 by Rev. Benja- min L. Sayer. Thomas D. Blake came in 1854, and the pulpit was supplied by C. H. Payne of the Sandwich charge in 1857. We next find John H. Cooley here in 1859, who was succeeded by Abel Alton in 1860, by Thomas D. Sleeper in 1862, B. K. Bosworth in 1863, and Franklin Gavitt in 1866. The present church records give for stated ministers: H. B. Cady, appointed in 1871; Philip Crandon, 1873; Asa

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N. Bodfish, 1874; C. E. Walker, 1876: H. S. Smith. 1877; A. McCord, 1878; G. H. Butler, 1880: G. H. Lamson, 1882; Robert Clark, 1884; Ed- ward Lyon, 1886; Hugh Copeland, 18SS; and E. F. Newell since April, 1889. The church clerk is A. T. Rogers.

The Methodist Episcopal church edifice at Cataumet is historic by its age, and the uses to which it has been put and the changes it has undergone, being in part the one once used as an Indian church at Burying hill, Bournedale. While standing on its former site, Rev. Mr. Tupper was the preacher from 1769, the general court paying him for his services for Christianizing the Indians; but the natives were not disposed to attend divine service, and the edifice was re- moved in 1779 to its present site. Mr. Tupper died in the year 1796, and was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Hinds of the Baptist faith until 1806. The first Methodist clergyman here was Rev. Joseph Snelling, and the building was repaired during his pastorate. The Methodists, under various names, have had the ascendency since, and have become a strong and prosperous society. From 1822 the society took the name of Reformed Methodist church, and thirteen years later we find the name Methodist Protestant. and under their management the church building was again repaired and the bell placed in the tower. This remained its distinctive title until August 31, 1866, when Rev. Lorenzo D. Johnson accepted the pastorate under Presiding Elder Thomas Ely, and the church was reorganized under its present name.

The pastors have been: Reverends Erastus Otis; Frederick Upham, D.D., now of Fairhaven, Mass .; Levi Nye; Mr. Brown; Pliny Brett, who came in 1822; Joseph Snellings, about 1830; Joseph Eldredge, October 1, 1835; William Tozer; Joseph K. Wallen; David Hill; David Culver; Samuel Chapman; Moses Brown; James Magall, 1852; Richard H. Dorr, 1854; Joshua Hudson, 1857; William Marks, 1859; George Pierson, 1859; Netson W. Britten, 1861; Lorenzo D. Johnson, 1866; Joseph Marsh, 1867; Hopkins D. Cady, 1870; Franklin Sears, 1871; Charles W. Ryder, 1872: Henry F. A. Patterson. 1873; S. W. Cogges- hall, D.D., 1874; Richard H. Dorr, 1875; Daniel M. Rogers, 1876; Ed- ward Williams, 1879; Samuel Fox, 1881; Louis M. Flocken, 1SS8; John H. Buckey, 1889.

The Baptist church at Pocasset, standing on an eminence near the station, was formerly in use at Snake pond, having been taken down in 1838 and removed to Pocasset site. It was enlarged and modern- ized, and in 1889 moved to a more central location near the railroad station. The society was organized April 9, 1838, as the Baptist Church of Christ, of Pocasset. The original members were: Hezekiah Lum- bert, Levi Barlow, Obed Barlow, Solomon N. Barlow, Obed Barlow, jr., Eliab King, Caleb Benson, Elizabeth Barlow, Lucinda Barlow, Eliza-

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

beth Barlow, jr., Susan Kelley and Polly Benson. Its first deacons were Hezekiah Lumbert and Levi Barlow.

Caleb Benson, the first preacher, was succeeded in 1839 by Alex- ander Mellen: in 1841 by Nathan Chapman; then by supplies for sev- eral years. Henry Coombs was pastor in 1852, and supplies from Mid- dleboro and Providence filled the pulpit for nearly a score of years, as the records of the church indicate. Isaac Alger preached in 1872; Rev. Hickok in 1873; D. Jones in 1876; A. H. Murray, 1878; supplies, 1879 to 1885; Mr. Livermore, 1885; W. W. Hackett, 1887; and W. A. C. Rouse since 1888.

The society is in a prosperous condition and sustains a well orga- nized Sabbath school. Of the thirty-two active members, W. A. Bar- low is the present deacon, and Miss Susan H. Barlow, clerk. About fifteen years ago the society purchased of the town the school house of the Pocasset district, and remodeled it into a suitable hall for social meetings and society purposes, standing nearly opposite the present school house.

The Second Congregational church of Sandwich deserves a men- tion here. It was situated at Bourne village, between the school house and the residence of George I. Briggs, and meetings were held in it by the " town minister," at stated periods, on the Sabbath, for the ben- efit of the members residing in this western portion of the town. Thirty- three of them organized themselves into a separate society, July 9, 1833, and in 1834 a new edifice was erected, which was destroyed by fire in August. 1862, during a thunder storm, and was not rebuilt.

Two years previous to the formation of this society, they acted in- dependently of the First church, in so far as to establish regular ser- vice at this house of worship, and secured the services of many minis- ters for short periods. Rev. Nathaniel Barker supplied them for a year after their organization, and for six months in 1835, Rev. Daniel Tappan supplied the pulpit. Mr. Tappan's labors being crowned with an abundant harvest to the society, he was ordained its minister late in the year, and continued his labors until July 24, 1838, when for two and one half years Samuel Colburn ministered. In 1841 Hazael Lucas was installed pastor, and continued until November, 1845. From February, 1846, William Ottinger supplied for two years. From 1848 to the destruction of the church building, in 1862, Reverends Joseph Garland, Ezekiel Dow, Nathaniel Cobb and Levi Little supplied. There are but few of the faith here at present, and no preaching is separately maintained.

SCHOOLS .-- The schools of the town did not seem to receive any check by the transfer to new rulers; but, on the contrary, were no- ticed in the report of December 31, 1884, as greatly improved. Eight districts belonged to this town by the act of 1884, with buildings ap-

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TOWN OF BOURNE.

praised at $8,050. L. R. Leavitt, the superintendent, manifested un- usual interest during the year in the advancement of every branch, favoring the teachers with an Institute during the autumn, and two meetings for discussion and exchange of experience. For the year ending December 31, 1885, the number of scholars enrolled in the pub- lic schools was 277-fifty-four more than the previous year.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 37

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