History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 7

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

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The officers of the society are: Charles F. Swift, president; Josiah Paine, secretary; Samuel Snow, treasurer. These persons have held their positions since the organization of the society. The follow- ing are the additional officers in 1889-90: Vice-presidents, Thomas P. Howes, Alonzo Tripp, Sylvanus B. Phinney, Ebenezer S. Whitte-

CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.

more, James Gifford, Jesse H. Freeman; executive committee, the president, secretary and treasurer, and Joshua C. Howes and E. B. Crocker.

On the fifth of May, 1843, pursuant to notice published in the two newspapers in the county, a meeting was held at the court house in Barnstable to take measures for forming a county agricultural society. The project was greeted with a smile of incredulity on the part of many who gauged the agricultural resources of the Cape by the description of the witty scribbler, who said that it chiefly produced "huckleberry bushes and mullein stalks." Those who assembled on this occasion had a better appreciation of the situation and resources of the county. They were called to order by Hon. John Reed of Yarmouth, and Mr. H. C. Merriam of Tewksbury, who was a practical agriculturist, made an address. Discussion ensued, and the organ- ization of the Barnstable County Agricultural Society resulted there- from. The following were the first officers of the society: President, Hon. John Reed of Yarmouth; vice-presidents, Clark Hoxie of Sand- wich, and James Small of Truro; secretary, Charles H. Bursley of West Barnstable; treasurer, Joseph A. Davis of Barnstable; trustees, John Jenkins, Falmouth; Meltiah Bourne, Sandwich; Charles Sears, Yarmouth; William Howes, Dennis; Enoch Pratt, Brewster; Obed Brooks, jr., Harwich; Isaac Hardy, Chatham; John Doane, Orleans; John W. Higgins, Eastham; John Newcomb, Wellfleet; Joshua Small, Truro; Thomas Lothrop, Provincetown.

A constitution was subsequently formed and sixty members were soon enrolled. During the winter of 1844 an act of incorporation was granted by the legislature, which was accepted by the society May 8th of that year, and the office of corresponding secretary was added, Frederick Scudder of Barnstable being chosen to that position. This office was discontinued in 1861. The first exhibition and fair of the society was held in the court house, at Barnstable, September 4, 1844. It was a gratifying success, but the amount of premiums awarded was only $146. These annual fairs were continued in Barnstable, except in the years 1851, when Orleans was the place of meeting, and 1852, when the fair was held at Sandwich.

In 1857-58 a lot of land was acquired at Barnstable, and on it a building was erected for exhibition purposes, and a hall for public meetings. This building and lot, with improvements on the same, cost $4,268; $2.050 of which was paid by voluntary subscriptions. An additional plot of land, valued at $250, was given to the society by Messrs. Francis Bacon and James Huckins. The building committee were: S. B. Phinney, Frederick Parker, S. F. Nye, James G. Hallet, Elijah Cobb, John A. Baxter, and Obed Brooks, jr. George Marston and Simeon N. Small were subsequently added, in place of Mr. Nye,

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

deceased, and Mr. Brooks, resigned. In the spring of 1862, this build- ing having been destroyed in a severe gale and storm, a new one was erected on the same site, largely by subscriptions in the county and in Boston. This building was dedicated October 15, 1862, in an address by Hon. George Marston. It has since been considerably improved, and is in all respects well adapted to the wants of the society.

The society has been the recipient of two donations to its perma- nent fund. The late Captain John Percival left five hundred dollars, the income of which is devoted to premiums to exhibitors. Mrs. Ellen B. Eldridge has also given the sum of five hundred dollars, in recognition of the interest which her late husband, Dr. Azariah Eldridge, took in the affairs of the society, the income of which is devoted to the same purpose. The late Hon. William Sturgis of Bos- ton presented the society the sum of twelve hundred dollars to cancel the indebtedness incurred by the building of a new hall.

The officers of the society during the forty-seven years of its existence have been as follows: Presidents -- John Reed, chosen in 1843; Zenas D. Basset, 1848; C. B. H. Fessenden, 1851; Charles Marston, 1852; S. B. Phinney, 1855; George Marston, 1859; Nathaniel Hinckley, 1864; Nathan Crocker, 1866; Charles C. Bearse, 1869; Levi L. Good- speed, 1871; Charles F. Swift, 1873; A. T. Perkins, 1875; Azariah El- dridge, 1878; John Simpkins, 1888 to present time. Secretaries- Charles H. Bursley, 1843; George Marston, 1853; S. B. Phinney, 1859; Frederick Scudder, 1862; George A. King, 1865; Charles F. Swift, 1867: Charles Thacher, 2d, 1871; F. B. Goss, 1876; F. P. Goss, 1879; Frederick C. Swift, 1882 to present time. Treasurers-Joseph A. Davis, 1843; Ebenezer Bacon, 1845; Daniel Bassett, 1853; S. P. Holway, 1858; S. B. Phinney, 1860; Walter Chipman, 1861; Frederick Scudder, 1867; Walter Chipman, 1868; Freeman H. Lothrop, 1875; Albert F. Edson, 1882 to present time. Delegates to State Board of Agricul- ture-George Marston, 1859; S. B. Phinney, 1862; John Kenrick, 1866; S. B. Phinney, 1870; Augustus T. Perkins, 1879; Nathan Edson, 1882 to present time.

The officers for 1889-90 are: President, John Simpkins; vice-presi- dents, John Kenrick and A. D. Makepeace; secretary, Frederick C. Swift; treasurer, Albert F. Edson; executive committee, John Ken- rick, James F. Howes, Nathan Edson, David Fisk, A. D. Makepeace, James H. Jenkins, John Bursley, Ebenezer B. Crocker, James A. El- dridge, Oliver Hallet, H. B. Winship, Alexander Walker, Samuel H. Nye; auditing committee, Freeman H. Lothrop, Samuel Snow, G. A. Hinckley; superintendent of hall and grounds, Russell Matthews.

The Cape Cod cranberry men have an organization, including ninety-eight members, of which J. J. Russell of Plymouth is presi-

CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.

dent. All the other officers are residents of this county. Emulous Small of Harwich, and Abel D. Makepeace of West Barnstable, are the vice-presidents, and I. T. Jones is the secretary and treasurer. The executive committee for 1890 consists of Calvin Crowell, Sagamore; A. Phinney, Falmouth; G. R. Briggs, Plymouth; O. M. Holmes, Mash- pee; James Webb, Cotuit; James S. Howes, East Dennis; and D. B. Crocker, Yarmouth. The second annual meeting of this society was held last year at Falmouth.

FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS .- Among the institutions in the county belonging to and erected by the federal government, are the custom house buildings, lighthouses, and life saving stations. The collector, deputies, keepers and crews employed in the various duties of these necessary institutions are residents of the county, and our history would be incomplete without their mention.

As early as 1749 a collector of excise was chosen for Barnstable by the general court, and that harbor was then made, in a limited sense, a port of entry. Joseph Otis was appointed naval officer for this county November 27, 1776, and was succeeded February 6, 1779, by William Taylor, and he by Samuel Hinckley. Thus far it had been an affair of the state; but in 1789, while Samuel Hinckley was in office, an act of congress made Barnstable the seventh of the twenty districts or ports which that act established in Massachusetts for the collection of duties. General Otis succeeded Mr. Hinckley by President Wash- ington's appointment, and served until his death. His son, William Otis, was collector from March 22, 1809, until the appointment of Isaiah L. Green. Mr. Green had been member of congress three terms, but had failed of re-election because of his vote in favor of the war of 1812. The president, as his friend, appointed him collector February 21, 1814, an office which he held until succeeded by Henry Crocker, April 1, 1837. The successive appointments have been as follows: Ebenezer Bacon, March 23, 1841; Josiah Hinckley, April 1, 1845; S. B. Phinney, April 4, 1847; Ebenezer Bacon, June 10, 1849; S. B. Phinney, April 1, 1853; Joseph M. Day, July 1, 1861; Charles F. Swift, November 12, 1861; S. B. Phinney, November 11, 1866; Walter Chipman, special deputy, March 5, 1867; Charles F. Swift, March 17, 1867; Franklin B. Goss, July 8, 1876; Van Buren Chase, August 8, 1887; and Franklin B. Goss, August 1, 1889.

Prior to 1855 each collector had kept the office at his own place of business, and that year the present custom house was commenced at Barnstable.

The federal act of 1789 provided that Sandwich, Wellfleet, Chatham and Provincetown should be ports of delivery in the Barnstable dis- trict. In 1790 the shores and waters of the entire county were formed into what has since been known as the Barnstable district. The re-

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

districting of the coast in 1799 enlarged the powers of the collector of this port; but the unlading of foreign vessels here was not permitted until the year 1809. That year delegates from the towns of the county assembled, and by petitions to congress new privileges were obtained. Until 1817 the collector for the district was the only government officer empowered to act; but the act of March third, that year, gave collectors authority to employ deputy collectors, with the approval of the secretary of the treasury. These deputies have since been vested with full powers at the respective ports for which they were appointed. There are now in this district seven ports of entry, at each of which a deputy is appointed. They are: Walter O. Luscombe, Falmouth; John J .. Collins, Barnstable; William Crocker, Hyannis; Henry H. Fisk, Dennis; Erastus T. Bearse, Chatham; Simeon Atwood, Wellfleet; Myrick C. Atwood and Robert M. Lavender, Provincetown.

No equal area of land presents to the navigator a more dangerous coast, nor a greater perimeter, than this county; and probably no coast presents to the sea-faring man more changes from drifting sands. Surveys and soundings must be continually made, and charts and directions are printed yearly for the safe navigation of the waters around the Cape. Lightships-off Chatham and along the sound-are manned and sustained by the government; and lighthouses and bea- cons of various kinds have been erected on the coasts. As early as 1797 the town of Truro sold to the United States ten acres of land upon which to erect the first lighthouse of the Cape. The lighthouse stations of this county, now numbering seventeen, form a portion of the Second Lighthouse district, and are situated as follows:

Wing's Neck light, near the head of Buzzard's bay, east side of the entrance to Pocasset harbor, has been a government station for some time. A lantern giving a white light, visible twelve miles, has been displayed from the top of a white house with a red roof. A light- house of the usual form is now being erected near by.

Nobsque light is situated on the knoll east of Little harbor, Woods Holl. The tower is thirty-five feet high and contains a fixed white light, with a red sector, and is visible thirteen miles. This station has a fog signal-a bell struck by machinery. The signal is two strokes of the bell in quick succession, followed by an interval of thirty sec- onds.

Bishop & Clerk's light is on a ledge of the same name off Gammon point, where still remains the tower of a former station. The tower of the present lighthouse is forty-seven feet high, has a flashing white light with intervals of thirty seconds, and is visible for thirteen miles. It also contains a red sector, and a fog bell which is rung by ma- chinery.

Hyannis light has a tower twenty-one feet high, and is situated on

CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.

the main land at the head of the harbor. The light is a fixed red, visible nearly twelve miles.

Hyannis Beacon light is a framed building, containing a red light visible nine miles. This is used in connection with surrounding lights in giving courses for safe navigation.

Bass River light is just east of the mouth of the river of that name, and is situated in West Dennis. It is a fixed white light in the tower of the keeper's residence, and is visible 11} miles.

Stage Harbor light is situated on Harding's beach, at the entrance of Stage harbor, Chatham. The tower is thirty-five feet high and has a fixed white light that can be seen twelve miles at sea.

Monomoy Point light, on the south end of the beach of the same name, is a fixed white light in a tower thirty feet high, and is visible twelve miles.

Chatham light station is on the main land, in Chatham village. It consists of two round towers, each forty-three feet high, placed north and south, one hundred feet apart. In each is a fixed white light, visible 14} miles.

Nauset Beach light is in Eastham, on the ocean coast, and has three towers, each eighteen feet high, ranging north and south, with a dis- tance of 150 feet between. Each tower contains a fixed white light, visible fifteen miles out on the sea. Abreast this light the tides divide and run in opposite directions.

Cape Cod light station-the Highland light-is on the east shore of Truro, on a blue clay bank, 142 feet above the sea. The tower still rises fifty-three feet higher, from which a fixed white light sheds its rays twenty miles out to sea. A Daboll trumpet is used for a fog sig- nal, which is a blast of eight seconds, with an interval of a half minute. Vessels passing this light can communicate with Boston if the Inter- national Code signals are in use on board.

Race Point light, situated on the northeast point of Provincetown, has a tower thirty feet high, with a white light varied by flashes every ninety seconds, which can be seen by mariners 123 miles at sea. It also contains a steam whistle for fog signals.

Wood End light, on Wood End, near the entrance of Provincetown harbor, is a tower thirty-four feet high, using a red, flashing light in intervals of fifteen seconds. It is visible twelve miles.

Long Point light is on the eastern point of the peninsula that en- circles the west side of Provincetown harbor, the square tower thirty- four feet high being erected on the extreme point, southwest of the entrance to the harbor. A fixed white light is used, which is visible nearly twelve miles. A bell, run by machinery, gives the fog signal, which is two quick, successive strokes, then one after half a minute, followed by a longer interval.

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Mayo's Beach light is a round tower, twenty-five feet high, situated at the head of Wellfleet bay. It has a fixed white light, visible over eleven miles.

Billingsgate light station is on the island of that name, on the west side of the entrance to Wellfleet bay. The tower is thirty-four feet high, containing a fixed white light, visible twelve miles.

Sandy Neck light, on the neck at the entrance of Barnstable har- bor, has a tower forty-four feet high, which contains a fixed white light, visible to the mariner twelve miles out in the bay.

These stations are under the supervision of the Lighthouse Board at Boston; but the keepers are generally residents of the Cape.

Not until 1848 was the beneficent plan of establishing life saving stations seriously contemplated by the federal government. That year, in August, Hon. William A. Newell, a member of the house of representatives, portrayed in a speech the terrible dangers to naviga- tion as presented by the coasts, and strongly urged the action of con- gress to render assistance to vessels cast ashore. During the same session a small sum was appropriated for surf boats and other appara- tus for the New Jersey coast, which was to be under the supervision of the Revenue Marine. More was appropriated at the next session, and Captain Douglass Ottinger is said to have invented a life car for the transportation of persons from a wreck through the surf to the shore. In 1854 stations were erected along the ocean coast of Long Island, and more public interest was manifested in securing well equipped stations.

The occurrence of several very fatal disasters along the Atlantic coast during the winter of 1870-71 revealed the fact that the service was not only inefficient for want of more complete organization, but must be extended to other portions of the coast. By the act of March 3, 1871, better facilities for saving life and property were furnished to the first organized stations-two new stations were erected on the coast of Rhode Island. By the act of June 10, 1872, the system was extended to Cape Cod, and money was appropriated for the erection of nine stations along its ocean shore. They were completed and fur- nished with apparatus the following winter. The number of stations on the Cape provided for by the act of 1872 was subsequently increased to ten, and they are named and located as follows: Race Point, two- thirds of a mile northeast of Race Point light; Peaked Hill Bars, 2} miles northeast of Provincetown; High Head, 3} miles northwest of the Highland light; Highland, nearly one mile northwest of the Highland light; Pamet River station, 33 miles south of the High- land light, in Truro; Cahoon's Hollow, in Wellfleet, south of the last; Nauset, 12 miles south of Nauset light; Orleans station, at East 1

. 1

Benjamin C Sparrow-

CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.

Orleans; Chatham, near the Chatham light; and Monomoy station, 24 miles north of the Monomoy light.

We have dated the life saving service from 1848: but the exten- sion and reorganization of the service in 1871, 1872, marks the be- ginning of the efficiency for which this branch of the public ser- vice is justly distinguished. After congress had appropriated two hundred thousand dollars, in April, 1871, the treasury department de- tailed Captain John Faunce, of the Revenue Marine, to visit the sta- tions already established, and ascertain their condition and needs. His report showed the practical waste of the government money and the utter uselessness of most of the stations. No discipline among the men, no care for the preservation of apparatus, and no super- vision of the stations, were evils which he pointed out. Several seri- ous disasters served to call further attention to the service, and re- sulted in the inauguration of the present system of districts with superintendents. Of the twelve districts in the United States, the Second includes the entire coast of Massachusetts, of which Benjamin C. Sparrow, of East Orleans, is superintendent. His selection and appointment in November, 1872, was a part of the plan to prevent the evils above mentioned, while extending the service under liberal appropriations. He had been in the United States regular army from 1861 until November, 1864, in the engineer battalion, attached to the headquarters of the army of the Potomac, and was a prisoner at. Belle Isle in the summer of 1862. He had taught public schools in Eastham, and from 1861 had been successfully engaged in wrecking. When the war broke out he was at Phillips Academy preparing himself for the legal profession. Since his birth, October 9, 1839, he had, like his ancestors, resided at Orleans, where they had been fully familiar with the scenes of shipwreck and disaster.

The success of Superintendent Sparrow in securing discipline and efficiency in this hazardous service, and his popularity among the captains and crews of the stations under his official care, have retained him to the present time. He is a worthy descendant of that Richard Sparrow who came over in the ship Ann and landed at Plymouth, and from whom those of the name on the Cape have sprung. Richard' came to Eastham in 1650, bringing his only child, Jonathan2, whose last resting place is now marked by a stone in the first burial ground of that town. His son by a second marriage with Hannah, daughter of Governor Prince, was Richard3, born March 17, 1669. He married Mercy Young (or Cobb), and died in Eastham in 1727, leaving seven daughters and a son, Richard'. This only son married Hannah Shaw in 1724, and died in 1774. Of their children three only grew to man- lood and womanhood-Isaac and two daughters, one of whom mar- ried Daniel Hamilton, whose son Paul was the first Methodist preacher

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

heard in Orleans. Isaacs was born in 1725, and married Rebecca Knowles in 1747, to whom eight children were born-five daughters and three sons, of whom Josiah" was the youngest. He married Mercy Smith, of Chatham, January 11. 1782. Their nine children were: Lydia, born October 19, 1782; Josiah, jr., born March 13, 1785; Mercy, born May 28, 1788; Zerviah, born March 15, 1790; Samuel, born November 8, 1792; Harvey, born November 14, 1795; Sarah, born March 21, 1798; James L., born June 2, 1801; and Hannah Shaw Spar- row, the youngest of the nine, born January 1, 1805.

James L. Sparrow, father of the superintendent, married Sukey Crosby, of Orleans, December 16, 1824. Their four daughters were: Julia M., who died young; Anna E. (Mrs. Freeman H. Snow), Susan M. (Mrs. Joseph K. May) and Sarah E., who died at eighteen. James H., their oldest son, was a well known citizen of Cambridgeport, Mass., until his death there in 1880; William F. enlisted in the civil war and was killed at Goldsboro, N. C., in December, 1862. Benjamin C., the sixth child and youngest son, is the Superintendent Sparrow of this sketch. He is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post, No. 141, G. A. R., and has found time to serve his town on the school board more or less for the past twenty-three years. His ability in the life saving ser- vice was early recognized by his appointment on the board of experts to examine new appliances and methods proposed for use by the de- partment. This position he has held until the present time.

He was married to Eunice S., daughter of Moses O. Felton, Decem- ber 25, 1866, and they have two children living-Susan F. and Joseph- ine M. Mrs. Sparrow was a resident of Shutesbury, Mass., and was a teacher here in 1864-1866. They reside upon the home farm in East Orleans.

The life saving stations on the Cape are generally officered and manned by men residing in the towns where the stations are located. Provisions have been made by the government for some compensation in cases of death or disability while in this service; and still greater liberality would be no more than a just recognition of the perils en- countered by the courageous men. Year by year improvements have been made in the buildings and apparatus. The selection of men by ascertainment of health, habits, age and professional acquirement has been enforced; thorough inspection of stations and exercise of the keepers and men in the use of the apparatus and maneuvers of an es- tablished drill have been regularly instituted, and a patrol system practiced. The men are instructed in the most approved methods of restoring the apparently drowned persons with whom they often come in contact in their line of duty. A code of signals for day and night has been devised, to enable patrolmen to communicate with stations, whereby preparations for hasty assistance can be made. In fact the

CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.

appropriations by congress have been annually sufficient to render this humane service efficient, rescuing hundreds of lives and saving large amounts of property, as the following table fully demonstrates. The Second district comprises the stations of the Massachusetts coast, ten of which are on the Cape. The accompanying table contains the statistics of the entire district. Of the number of vessels reported in distress, those assisted by the Cape stations are fully proportionate in the comparison of its number of stations with those of the district.

Year Ending

June 30.

No. of Vessels

in Distress.

Estimated

Valne

of Vessels.

Estimated

of Cargo.

Estimated

Value

of Property

Saved.

Persons

on Board.

Persons

Saved.

1873

$72,900

$211,130

$228,006

1874

176,450

164,764

253,294

146

1875

245,000

135,450

220,450

112

1876

245,000

111,127

212,900

211

210

1877

234,300

129,506

160,050

158

157

1878

77,056

16,983

24,904

121

102

1879

90,290

66,700

112,575

128

124

1880

229,795

110,865

260,135

144

1881

95,270

49,202

96,325

122

1882

189,030

80,350

207,205

162

1883

266,805

51,405

283,255

168

1884

285,935

57,450

265,015

239

1885

217,230

139,600

265,480

243

242

1886

373,470

204,305

283,285

398

1887

696,250

217,420

854,010

136

133

1888

648,695

864,490

1,146,190

395

1889

374,655

103,823

357,601

403

394

Value

CHAPTER VI.

MILITARY HISTORY.

New England Confederation .- First Indian Troubles .- King Philip's War .- French and Indian Wars .- The Revolution .- Shay's Rebellion .- War of 1812.

N 1642 the attitude of the Indians, on the main land, created sus- picions of hostility. The severe laws of the colony had been

rigidly enforced and the free instinct of the natives had been so bridled as to cause a feeling of unrest. Their unfriendliness was too apparent. The Plymouth colony resolved to raise thirty men for an expedition against them. Firearms had prudentially been withheld from them by order of the colony, and a force of this number was thought to be formidable. The court was hastily called together, September 7, Edward Dillingham and Richard Chadwell of Sand- wich, Anthony Anable and John Cooper of Barnstable, and William Palmer of Yarmouth being present. A company was formed with Miles Standish, captain; William Palmer, lieutenant; and Peregrine White, ensign. Edmund Freeman, Anthony Thacher and Thomas Dimoc were appointed members of the council of war.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 7

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