History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 58

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

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With such families occupying portions of the territory and 'who had already developed its fertility long prior to its erection into the new town of Dennis, its rapid development in industry and wealth naturally followed. John Sears had commenced the manufacture of salt as early as 1776. It is said that Dennis was the first town of the county to make salt. In 1803 the number of works was twenty-four, aggregating 19,500 running feet of vats. These were in the north part of the town adjoining the bay. In 1804 other salt works were laid out at Black Earth. The south part of the town, along the sound and on the east side of Bass river, was well covered with salt works, which declined before those in the north part, as indeed there is still a trace remaining of the actual manufacturing of salt at Quivet neck.

Ship-building, now extinct, was another important industry of the town, and was commenced early. Many large class vessels were built on the bay, and the Shivericks were noted builders. It was here that Asa Shiverick built vessels early in this century; and later his sons-David and Paul, now deceased, and Asa, of Woods Holl-built vessels for twenty-four years. Considerable building was carried on along Bass river, but of light tonnage vessels. The names of the ves- sels are given in the history of the locality where they were built. The timbers and lumber were brought from Maine, and from the South, and the smaller craft were rigged here.

Fishing had become a leading industry in 1795. At that date three wharves were built on the east side of Bass river, additions were rapidly made to the tonnage, which, soon after 1800, reached nearly eleven hundred tons in the mackerel and cod-fishery, employing 247 men. This continued the principal industry of the town for three quarters of a century. In 1889 the fishing and coasting vessels registered from Dennis had a total tonage of 6,955. The fertile Atlantic and other waters have furnished broad maritime fields of labor in which Dennis has increased its wealth and import-

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ance more than in agriculture, but during the past twenty years the bogs of the town have been redeemed for the cultivation of cranber- ries, and the town now has a high position in this branch of industry. The town still had in 1SS9 over sixty vessels of various tonnage. in- cluding nine three-masters, engaged in the coast and fishing trade.

Wind mills were early erected. The earliest record given is that William Howes, in 1759, had been appointed as the proper miller for the grist mill in the East parish. The town house erected in 1837 stands near Follen's pond. It would seem by the records that a house on that site was in use prior to that date, for in 1829 it was "voted that the selectmen sell the town house and have same moved from the town land." Major Obed Baxter, Abijah Howes, and Thacher Clark, January 4, 1837, were made a committee to complete a town house by September of that year, which was accomplished. No regular poor house was erected until 1837, when the present town asylum was voted at the March town meeting.

The census of 1800 showed the population of the town to be 1.408, which had rapidly increased during the preceding seven years of its existence. In 1810 it contained 1,739; in 1820, 1,907: in 1830, 2.317: 1840, 2,942; 1850. 3.257; 1860, 3,662; this year was the highest within its life as a town. The fishing in its many branches not proving as lucra- tive as formerly, the young men sought employment elsewhere, and in 1870 the population was 3,269; in 1SS0, 3,288; and in 1885 it had de- creased to 2,923. In the decline of population, the fact is evident that other sections, and even the busy marts of the world, have been re- ceiving the fine sons of Dennis among their prominent business men.

So rapid was the growth of the town during the first half of the present century, and so conspicuous in every industry and in wealth had the south part become, that in 1860 an attempt was made to di- vide the town and form a new one of the southern part. But perhaps this was only a temporary diversion of interests, as at this writing a more harmonious people do not exist on the Cape. The south side people are more generally engaged in fishery and coasting, while at the north, where the land is better, they are more devoted to agricul- ture.

In 1SSS a lock-up was erected at South Dennis for the town's use; it was not costly and prison-like, but was adequate for the temporary confinement of mild offenders. At the town meeting of February 11, 1SS9, the sum of thirty-nine hundred dollars was voted for the poor; three thousand dollars for roads; fifty-four hundred dollars for schools; and five hundred dollars for public buildings. The assessed valuation of the town is now one and a half millions.

CHURCHES .- In 1721 the East precinct or parish of Yarmouth was constituted. The last day of February, 1721-2, at the house of Na-

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thaniel Howes, twenty-six freeholders assembled, and the new parish arrangements were perfected, and a week later they provided for the erection of a meeting house, Judalı Paddock acting as precinct clerk. April ninth, the book of parish records was opened. Rev. Daniel Greenleaf was called March 22, 1723. Mr. Barnabes Taylor officiated in 1724, and Rev. Josiah Dennis was called June 24, 1725. He was not settled as pastor until June 22, 1727, at which time the church was organized, Rev. Samuel Wigglesworth, of Ipswich, preaching the or- dination sermon.

The pastor elect and the following persons signed the church covenant: Dea. Joseph Hall, Joseph Burge. Joseph Hall, jr., Joseph Howes, sr., Judah Hall, Joseph Burge, jr., Daniel Hall, John Paddock and John Nickerson (spelled Nichelson on the record). On the sixth of August the following females, having been dis- missed from the parent church, also were received into full covenant: Mary, Mehitable and Rebecca Hall; Mary and Mehit- able Hall, jr .; Deborah, Elizabeth, Mary and Rebecca Paddock; Mehitable Crosby; Susanna, Lydia, Sarah, Dorcas and Sarah Howes, jr .; Thomasin, Sarah and Elizabeth Burge; Mercy, Priscilla, Sarah and Hannah Sears; Keziah Eldred; Elizabeth Nicholson; Pris- cilla Gorham; and Elizabeth Whelden. On the 29th of December, 1727, a committee was appointed to consider ways and means to ob- tain from the parent society their part of the church vessels. The Rev. Josiah Dennis died August 31, 1763, and Rev. Nathan Stone was ordained October 17, 1764. He was the pastor for forty years. He died in 1804. In 1795, when the South church was organized, the name of the old church was changed from East precinct to North par- ish of Dennis.

Rev. Caleb Holmes came November 5, 1804, and was ordained in January of the following year. He died in 1813, and the church voted to pay his widow his salary as long as the neighboring ministers should supply the pulpit, which they did until July 27, 1814, when Rev. Joseph Haven was settled. In 1826 Rev. Daniel M. Stearns was called for a year, and was retained through 1828. The parish acting in this ministerial bargain without the concurrence of the church, and the seeds of Unitarianism being already sown, it led to the organiza- tion of another and separate church in the same community, known as the Trinitarian North Church. Rev. Stearns closed his labors with the Unitarian society April 16, 1838, but this society was on the wane. Rev. Robert F. Walcut, afterward a prominent abolitionist; Rev. John B. Wight, Mr. Maynard, and Mr. Chandler, each served the ancient parish; but it had no settled minister after Rev. Stearns.

The meeting house of this old parish was enlarged in 1761, and again repaired in 1804; and in 1838, after the division in the society,

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it was demolished and a new church erected on the site. This build- ing of 1838 is the one now a livery stable.

The Trinitarian North Church was supplied for several years and Rev. Daniel Kendrick was settled September 1, 1839. But the organ- ization was of short duration, the Methodists in their services occu- pied the edifice, the members of the Trinitarian Society uniting with them. This arrangement continued until 1866, when for the purpose of uniting the religious elements of the community, the Union Church of Christ was organized, of which Rev. F. Hebard became the pastor and served during 1867. The pulpit was filled by J. W. Tarlton in 1868; by Mr. Barrows in 1869, 1870; Mr. Price in 1871; Ogden Hall in 1872, and J. H. Allen the balance of the year; Mr. Swinerton came in 1876; Mr. Spooner in 1878; Annie H. Shaw, 1879; C. L. Adams, 1885; C. W. Harshman, 1886; J. L. Hillman, 18SS and Mr. Lough in 1889.

On the first of December, 1888, the young people of this society organized the Y. P. Society of Christian Endeavor, with thirty-six members.

The Second Congregational Church was established at South Dennis in 1795, and a meeting house built which was supplied for a time by pastors from the North Church. In 1815 a committee was appointed to make a dividing line between the parishes, which was "to begin on the Chatham road on the Yarmouth line, then easterly by said road to the house of Seth Bangs, then still easterly to the Brewster and Harwich line near the north side of White pond." On the 16th of June, 1815, this church was organized as the Second Church, and Rev. John Sanford was called to preach. He was or- dained December 30, 1818. The church had twenty-nine members, and Mr. Sanford was to officiate one-fourth of the time at Harwich; but before his dismissal in 1837 the society became of sufficient strength to obviate the necessity of this dual labor. Mr. Sanford was succeeded, February 13, 1839, by Rev. Thacher Thayer for two years, then by J. Jennings as a supply, until 1843, when Rev. John H. Pet- tingill was ordained. In 1849 Rev. Richard Tollman was ordained and was succeeded in December, 1852, by Isaiah C. Thacher. Decem- ber 10, 1856, Rev. William H. Sturtevant was installed and dismissed in 1860. Supplies-Rev. McLean, Stone, and others-filled the pulpit for a few years. In 1870-74 William C. Reed filled the pulpit, and after supplies for two years C. M. Brainard was called. He was suc- ceeded in 1879 by A. Dodge, and he in turn by other supplies. In 1889 Mr. Atwood supplied the pulpit.

South Dennis had a small society of Universalists about 1850, their meeting house being just north of L. M. Gage's present residence. After a few years the society discontinued their services, converting

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the house into a hall, which was subsequently purchased by Doctor Ginn, who removed it to Dennis Port, and converted it into a store.

In 1795 there was a small meeting house on the east side of Fol- len's pond, at which five families of Friends belonging to Dennis, with others from Harwich and Yarmouth, worshipped. This long ago disappeared and the worshipppers, if any, belong to the present Yarmouth preparative meeting.

At Dennis Port the religious community have organized various sects in the past. In 1842 an edifice was built, ostensibly for the Methodists; but another name was assumed soon after, which in turn was discontinued. The church building is now the residence of Au- gustus Howland. Some of the members of the former organizations are, perhaps, now in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter Day Saints, of which organization there are fifty members. They built a church edifice in 1877 south of Main street.

The present active religious denomination at Dennis Port is the Free Independent Church of Holiness, established January 16, 1885, in its present form, and numbers forty-eight members. They had a suitable place of worship that was burned during a revival in Febru- ary, 1884; and in 1885 it was replaced by an academy building from Harwich. The pulpit is filled by pastors from the neighboring Meth- odist Episcopal churches.

At West Dennis in 1836 the Methodists erected an edifice. which for years was the place of worship for the Reformed Methodist So- ciety. Rev. Mr. Swift, Isaac Dunham, and, for several years. Mr. Upham, were pastors. The society then was changed to the Wes- leyan Methodist and the pulpit was supplied by Methodist and Con- gregational ministers until 1871, when the Methodist Episcopal con- ference supplied it for two years. On the 22nd of May, 1873, after much discussion, the society adopted the regular Methodist Episcopal faith and since then the conference has supplied them with pastors. The pastor sent in 1873 was Rev. Edwin Edson; in 1875, Almon E. Hall; 1879, R. W. C. Farnsworth and Samuel M. Beale; 1882, A. N. Bodfish; 1883, Merrick Ransom; 1884, George N. Grant; 1887, Charles S. Morse; and on April 1, 1889, W. H. McAllister. The church edi- fice was repaired in 1858, and a steeple, bell and clock added, forming a fine church property.

The Wesleyan Methodist Society, East Dennis, organized as the Reformed Methodist Society of Dennis and Brewster in 1814, and erected in 1821 a meeting-house over the line in Brewster, where the society worshipped until 1845, when the present name was adopted. Rev. Elijah Bailey preached to the old society eleven years, and was succeeded by Elkanah Nickerson, Thomas Thompson, Asa Whitney, Pliny Brett, Alden Handy, Lorenzo D. Johnson and Joshua Davis.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

In April, 1847. Edmund Sears, David Crowell, Christopher Hall and Anthony Smalley, as a committee, contracted with Thomas Crocker to build the present Methodist church in East Dennis. This is now in use by the Wesleyan Society of East Dennis, formed in 1845. The pastors of the last organization have been: Palmer Brown, John Tate, William R. Tisdale, Solomon P. Snow, Benjamin Eastwood, Shadrack Leader, A. P. Burgess, William Leonard, Ernest Leasman, A. D. Knapp, George Wright, Warren Applebee, Annie H. Shaw, William A. Brewster, A. H. Briggs, Henry E. Wolfe in 1887, and J. N. West from 18SS to 1890.

CEMETERIES .- In a town as old in its settlement as the territory of Dennis, these resting places for the dead are necessarily numerous. In the north part are the Worden, Sears, Howes, Hall and Paddock burying places, being private family grounds: also a general burial ground at East Dennis, and another at Dennis. At South Dennis we find one old one, and one at the Congregational church ; at Dennis Port, one; and another at West Dennis. Two ancient grounds exist -- the Indian, on the shore of Scargo lake, and that of the Friends at Follen's pond. Most of these are kept in proper condition by the town. The Howes, the Sears and the Paddock families have erected substantial stone fences around their grounds. The Indian cemetery has been enclosed with a stone and iron fence, at a cost of $160, and within the enclosure some of the skeletons recently found have been carefully buried. No Indian bodies have been buried there for a century, and in it no whites have ever found a resting place.

SCHOOLS .- In accordance with the custom of the Puritans, a school was established as soon after the erection of the meeting house as circumstances would permit. The first record of any steps taken by the old town was in 1693. That year Joseph Howes, John Howes [Hawes], John Miller and John Hallett were appointed in open town meeting as a committee to agree with some fit person to teach school. This school was to be " kept in five squadrons." Three of these were in Dennis; the Nobscusset division was to have school from January fourth to April tenth, 1694; from Widow Boardman's to Satucket mill or river the school was to be kept in a central place, from April 11th to June 19th, the same year; and another division, including the south part of Dennis, from Thomas Follen's along the east side of Bass river, was to have the teacher from June 20th to July 17th -- the latter less than a month for a year's schooling.

Thus were the public schools of Dennis commenced. In 1699 there was no school, and the proper committee were instructed to "look out for a schoolmaster." How business-like the primative fathers were; for at the same meeting that provided for the schoolmaster, the bounty on wolf-scalps was arranged. In 1700 John Clark taught the school by

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divisions, the only improvement in conditions being that he was to have his horse kept, and the rooms were hired, to keep the several schools in, instead of being such as could gratuitously be obtained.

In 1707 the school was kept at Nobscusset half the year. In 1711 Mr. Jaquesh was hired " to keep an English school to teach children to read, write and cypher." In 1712 the same gentleman received twenty-four pounds for a yearly salary with five shillings per week for board. The salary was twenty-six pounds in 1716, and he went about the town as before. This salary was for the entire old town. In 1730, after a period of neglect, the school affairs had become better settled, improvements were made, and two teachers were employed -- still traveling from division to division. In 1770 school houses had been erected at Nobscusset and Quivet Neck, and the town of Dennis, when erected, had as many districts or divisions as the entire territory of both towns the century before. The original East Dennis school house was built in 1769 near the present site of Worden Hall. It was warmed by the old fire place, and not until its successor was erected in 1826 was that wholesome luxury exchanged for the first school house stove.

November 6, 1794, Dennis appointed a committee to apportion two hundred dollars among the districts, and in 1797 the sum of $333 was apportioned. In 1810 the public schools were in a flourishing con- dition, and in 1829 four hundred dollars was appropriated to the sev- eral districts. These sums were but a small part of the actual school expenses-the balance coming from private tax. During these years the demand for more advanced schools induced teachers to open sev- eral select schools through the town which continued until the better grade public schools met the full demand. In 1836 the town paid $S50 for schools, and good houses were erected as the first ones became un- suitable.

The progress of the schools need not be given so closely in detail, during the memory of the middle-aged citizen, and the advancement of fifty years will be evident by the present status. In 1SS7 the town supported five grammar schools, two intermediate, and six primary. Each of the five villages had a good school building, of sufficient size to accommodate the several departments. The books and supplies were being furnished by the town, and uniformity of books and rigid classification had worked wonders. Every department had been kept in session 83 or nine months of the year, with an average attendance of over ninety per cent. of those registered. In 18SS the number of schools was thirteen: at Dennis, one grammar and one primary; East Dennis, one grammar and one primary; South Dennis, one grammar and one primary; West Dennis, one grammar and one intermediate and one primary; Dennis Port, one grammar, one intermediate and

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two primary departments. In the year 18SS the amount paid out for school purposes was $6.298.25 In the same year 572 pupils attended these schools. At the town meeting held February 11, 1889, the com- mittee recommended the appropriation of fifty-four hundred dollars for the schools, books and supplies. The annual town meeting of 1890 ordered sixty-six hundred dollars for the schools, and provided for the equipment of a high school to be located at South Dennis.

CIVIL HISTORY .- Nearly all the remaining common lands were laid out and apportioned to the proprietors in 1797, and the site for the burying ground near the North church was at this time given. The committee to lay it out consisted of Peter Sears, Daniel Howes, Judah Paddock, Daniel Eldridge and Jeremiah Howes.

In 1805 the town refused a permit to build a bridge across Bass river, but in after years bridges were placed. In 1814 Daniel Howes and others were permitted to build a stone and timber pier. six hun- dred feet long, on the east side of Nobscusset point. From this was incorporated the Nobscusset Pier Company, and from here the North Dennis fishing business was carried on.

The civil arm of the body politic was raised against intemperance in 1818, and that year, in town meeting, steps for controlling the tav- erns in the sale of intoxicating liquors, were first taken. The town, during the war of 1812, had fully complied with all the requirements of the government, and in 1814 the town took precautionary steps to repel threatened invasions. The salt fields and apparent thrift of the Dennis people were the envy of British privateers; but promptness and determination went far in warding off the enemy. Among other actions of the people in a public way, was, in 1825, to take steps for opening a canal from Flax pond north to the bay; a committee was appointed and strong measures taken, but without success.

The following list shows the years of first election and number of years of service for each of the town's representatives who served more than one year: 1794, Micajah Sears, 3 years; 1800, Joseph Sears; 1802, Judah Paddock, 9; 1812, Zenas Howes; 1813, Samuel Chase, 3; 1814, John Paddock; 1816, Daniel Howes, 2; 1821, Oren Howes, 11; 1829, Zoheth Howes; 1832, John Baker; 1833, Thacher Clark and Joshua Wixon, jr., each 2; 1835, Seth Crowell, 4, and John Nickerson; 1836, Stephen Homer, and Jonathan Nickerson, 2; 1837, Daniel Hedge and William Hinckley; 1838, Seth T. Whelden, 2; 1840, Sam- uel Rogers, 2; 1842, Alexander Howes, 2; 1844, Nehemiah Baker; 1845, Joseph K. Baker, 2; 1847, William Howes, 2; 1849, Obed Baker, 2d, 2; 1851, Thomas Hall, 2; 1853, M. S. Underwood, 2; 1855, Joshua C. Howes, 2; and in 1857 Luther Studley.

The first selectmen for 1794 were Jeremiah Howes and Joseph Sears for 11 years each, and Jonathan Bangs for 14; in 1805 Enoch Hall

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was elected and served 12 years, and Daniel Howes 10; in 1806, Dan- iel Eldridge; 1808, Samuel Chase, 8: 1800, Nathan Crowell, 7; 1816, Perez Howes, 2; Lothrop Howes, 2; and Jonathan Nickerson, 19; 1818, Prince Howes, 3; and David Crowell; 1819, Thacher Clark, 12; 1821; Oren Howes, 14; 1834, Eleazer Nickerson; 1835, Abijah Howes, 3; 1836. Obed Baxter, 2; and Seth Crowell, 4: 1838, Nehemiah Crowell, S; and Alexander Howes, 3; 1839, Edmund Sears, 5; 1841, Uriah Howes, 3; 1844, Charles Howes; 1845, Thomas Hall, 10; 1846, Benjamin Thacher, 3; 1848, Stephen Homer; 1849, Obed Baker, 2d, 9; and Joshua Wixon, jr., 5; 1851, David Howes; 1852, Atherton H. Baker, 3; 1855, Joseph K. Baker, 4; and James S. Howes, 5; 1858, Shubael B. Howes, 3; 1860, Joshua C. Howes, 9; 1861, Elijah Baxter, 4; and Alvan Small, 10; 1865, Nehemiah Crowell, 2; 1866, Thomas Hall; 1867, Doane Kelley, 2d; and Luther Fisk, 3; 1869, Isaiah B. Hall, 11; and Warren Snow, 10; 1875, David Fisk, 4; 1877, Joshua Crowell, jr., 7; 1878, Sylvester Baker, 11; 1881, Hiram Loring; 1883, Henry H. Fisk, 4; 1887, Edwin Baxter, 4; and Henry H. Sears, 4; 1890, Ebenezer B. Joy. The chairman for the board of 1890 is H. H. Sears.

The town treasurers and clerks, each serving until his successor is elected, have been: Elisha Bassett, elected in 1794; Nathan Stone, jr., in 1798; Nehemiah Baker, 1831; Isaac Howes, 1836; Alvah Nickerson, 1837; Watson Baker, 1843; Marshall S. Underwood, 1855; Isaiah Nick- erson, jr., 1858; Jonathan Bangs, 1865: Obed Baker, 2d, 1870; Charles G. Baker; 1883; and Watson F. Baker, elected in 1887.

VILLAGES .- Dennis, or, as it is sometimes called, North Dennis, comprises the northwest part of the town, and was the ancient Indian settlement of Nobscusset, of which Mashantampaigne was the sachem. Here was located the ancient East parish meeting house of Yarmouth; and here, on the east, is the noted Scargo hill, whose sight is so wel- come to the mariner. This village was early settled by Thomas Howes and others, whose residences were around an old fort, built for protection against the Indians. The village has the beautiful Scargo lake, and the dwellings of the present day indicate wealth and thrift. In 1800 it contained fifty two dwellings, twenty-three clusters of salt works, and eight vessels engaged in fishing and coasting. It contains many more dwellings now, and the salt works were long ago abandoned. The two old wind mills have also succumbed to the march of improvement. When these mills were erected is not defin- itely known, but it was long before the dawn of the present century. The north one, which was built about 1754, and owned by Lot Howes, stood near John M. Stone's residence, and was subsequently owned many years by Abner and Oren Howes, who sold it to Edmund Matthews in 1869. He removed it to the shore of Scargo lake, where the Bleak House observatory now stands, the same year, and again

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 58

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