History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 73

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 73

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On the 17th of September, 1888, the corner stone of a new church was laid, and the edifice was built on the site of the former one, by Joseph Story Fay, under permission of the vestry, as a thank-offering. The same generous donor remodeled the old church building into a

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neat and convenient parish house, which was ready for use at the close of 1889.

Prior to 1857 regular services had been maintained at West Fal- mouth by the Methodist people, the ministers of the Falmouth church officiating on alternate Sabbaths. An organization was perfected in 1857. The first members, who were dismissed from the Falmouth church to form this, numbered twenty-two. A building committee was chosen, composed of Asa S. Tobey, Braddock Baker, Gideon H .. Baker, Reuben Landers and Silas J. Eldred, who employed Alvin Crowell to erect a church, which was completed in 1857. The first pastor in the new church was Rev. Charles A. Carter, a former pastor in Falmouth and a supernumerary, who was sent as a supply, remain- ing two years; he also was pastor here in 1863-5. Others from Fal- mouth village, prior to 1879, officiated here, among them, Rev. R. H. Dorr, A. S. Edgerly, S. Hamilton Day, Moses Brown, Mr. Roach and Mr. Stephenson. Rev. J. S. Davis, a student, was a supply for two years prior to April 1, 1881; E. H. Hatfield succeeded for two years; and J. O. Dening, George M. Meese, William H. Sommers, J. C. Bell and Fred. L. Rounds successively officiated. Many of the preachers who have supplied this pulpit have been students at the time, and a salary of three to four hundred dollars has been paid each year.

The clerk of the society elected for 1889 was Andrew J. Hamblin. The records in past years have not contained full transactions of the doings of the society, which neglect was humorously rebuked by S. Hamilton Day when he wrote in the church book, and over his full name, this significant question: " What is the use of a church record if preachers in charge ignore its existence ?"

The Methodists at Woods Holl united in worship with the Congre- gational Society prior to 1878, in the building called the "People's Church." The societies having increased, have held separate services since; the Methodists retaining the church which now belongs to them. On the fourth of July, 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Society was organized by twelve members of other societies and nine probation- ers. Trustees were elected and the following pastors have officiated: Revs. Richard H. Dorr, from July, 1884; J. B. Smith, from April, 1885; L. M. Flocker, from April, 1887; Henry Pearce, from April, 1888; C. E. Todd, from December, 18SS; M. B. Wilson, from April, 1889.

St. Barnabas Parish, at Falmouth, had been a mission under the parochial care of Rev. Mr. Neale of Woods Holl, assisted by Charles. H. Perry. On December 27, 1888, a church organization with the above name was organized, with E. Pierson Beebe, senior warden; Dr. James M. Watson, junior warden; and J. Arthur Beebe, Frank H. Beebe, and Dr. A. T. Walker, vestrymen. The rector, Charles H. Perry, was called on Easter Monday, 1889, and was ordained June 15th

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following. He is a graduate of Williams College and of the Cam- bridge Divinity School. Ground has been purchased and a fine church edifice is being erected, which is to be a thank-offering from the Bee- bes. The corner stone was laid July 23, 1889.

SCHOOLS."-Falmouth early gave attention to public education, al- though the early school records are fragmentary and sometimes ambiguous. The first record is: "The 6th day of August, 1701, the town of Falmouth assembled together, and it was then voted by said town, and agreed to, that we should look out abroad for a suitable and fit person to preach the word of God in this town to us; and to keep school for the good of our children." It would seem that schools were later neglected, for a meeting held February 17, 1713, " Made choice of Lieut. Moses Hatch to be the town's agent, to get off the town's presentment for want of a schoolmaster," and voted that Daniel Legg should be the next town schoolmaster. He was reelected at a meet- ing held March 22, 1715.

The first female teacher was employed in 1716. At a meeting held August seventh of that year, "Hannah Sargent [was] made choice of to be the town's School Dame this year with a salary of twelve pounds and diet." She was reelected in 1718. At this time the selectmen were appointed agents to contract with her, and to locate the school "at ye four quarters of ye town as they may agree." September 15, 1724, the salary of the school-mistress was "twelve pounds and diet, also the use of a horse twice in the year, that she might visit her friends." The whole sum raised for schools had increased to £22, Ss., in 1720.

At a town meeting held December 22, 1729, it was voted that the school remain half a year at a place, "the Town quarter having had their part already, the Northern quarter is to have a quarter more, after the date hereof and half a year at each part of the town for ye future, and until the town shall see cause to alter this agreement." The same meeting voted that twenty-six pounds be raised for the school this year, and for dividing the town into parts, nine shillings; for fetching the school into town, £1, 6s., to Thomas Shiverick. The salary of the teacher was thirty pounds in 1735, with a further allow- ance of five shillings per week for board. In 1737 and 1738 Joseph Pitts was the town schoolmaster, at thirty-five pounds salary, and moved from place to place, as the town saw cause. June 16, 1741, Nathan Lewis was agreed with to serve the town as schoolmaster half a year, at the rate of ten pounds a quarter, the town to find him diet. " At a town meeting held Apr. 13, 1742, it was voted that he who shall diet the schoolmaster from this time, shall have nine pence added of the last emission, to the former five shillings, which was agreed for his board a week."

- * By Prof. S. A. Holton of the Falmouth High School.

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Previous to 1745 the schoolmaster was elected in town meeting, but in that year Mr. Thomas Parker was chosen agent to provide the town with a school. Similar votes were passed in succeeding years, the number of agents being increased as new schools were established. We find in the record of a meeting held March 29, 1757, the fol- lowing: "Voted the town to be divided from John Lawrence's run- ning northerly by Cit Greene's to John Greene's and Reuben Giffords, those aforesaid houses included, and all ye inhabitants westerly to Woods Hole to have a school master, and agree for one and his board as cheap as they can, and such a one as shall answer ye law, and ye whole town to be rated and raise so much money as shall answer ye town for schooling and ye northerly and easterly parts of sd town to have not other advantage of such school but as they are rated to draw their proportion of money equal as they pay to their school or schools and as they shall think proper, and be obliged to put money drawn to that use." From this time the bounds of the districts were frequently changed and the number increased until there were nineteen.

March 4, 1763, a committee was chosen to procure some suit- able person to keep a grammar school. January 22, 1767. " Voted to have two schools a man and a woman for ye schools." Previous to this time the grammar school had been suspended, and April 25, 1769, Noah Davis was chosen to defend the town in an action brought against it for this neglect. Noah Davisand Shubael Nye were chosen a committee March 15, 1779, to provide the town with a grammar school, which has continued to this time although for some years it led a wandering existence, being kept in the various parts of the town alternately.

By the close of the century the amount of money annually raised for educational purposes had been increased to four hundred dollars. At this time eighty citizens becoming convinced that better accom- modations were needed for the schools, organized September 18, 1799, with a capital of $592.80. At their meeting, October 1, 1799, it was voted that they and the Masonic society complete the outside of the building and lay the floors equally between them. Elijah Swift con- tracted to erect the building for $675. Timothy Hatch was chosen to sign the contract for the proprietors and to oversee the work. An assessment of one dollar per share was levied for furniture. The rent for public schools was fixed at " Two pence on each scholar that goes per week through the district, exclusive of fire-wood." The mas- ter and mistress were to collect the rent and fire-wood from the schol- ars monthly. The rent was soon reduced to one cent per week. March 7, 1808, the districts had increased in number so that twelve agents were chosen as follows: Samuel Shiverick, Solomon Davis, Prince Athern, Solomon Lawrence, Bartlett Robinson, Benjamin

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Hatch, Ebenezer Phinney, Nathan Ellis, Levi Landers, William Weeks, jr., and Barnabas Baker. It was voted that the agents act as school committee-the first mention found of such officials.

The educational system seems now to have been established upon a firm basis and to have continued with but slight changes until the year 1866, when several of the nineteen districts were united, and in the following year the town purchased the school houses and abolished the entire district system. Several new buildings were erected and schools were located where they still remain-at Woods Holl, Quissett, Falmouth village, West Falmouth, North Falmouth. Hatchville, Waquoit, Davisville, East Falmouth and Teticket.

In 1867 it became desirable to establish a high school and a com- mittee was chosen to make arrangements with the trustees of Law- rence Academy, whereby the work is done in that institution. A new departure was taken in 1883 by a vote instructing the school com- mittee to appoint a superintendent of schools. William E. Curtis was elected, and was soon succeeded by William E. Morang, Charles L. Hunt and William D. Parkinson, in the order named. Under the care of these gentlemen the schools have made rapid progress, the grading has been improved and a uniform course of study and system of pro- motions adopted. The present grading of the schools is as follows: Falmouth village, high, grammar and primary; Woods Holl, grammar, intermediate and primary; West Falmouth and Waquoit, grammar and primary each. In each of the other districts the entire work below the high school grade is done in one school. The amount of money appropriated for educational purposes in 1889 was SS,550; For com- mon schools, $6,000; tuition of high school scholars, SS50; transporta- tion of high school scholars, $500; superintendent's salary, $1,000; superintendent's traveling expenses, $200.

The following is an extract from the first records of the Lawrence Academy; "at a meeting of gentlemen friendly to the erection of a building in Falmouth, suitable for the accommodation of a high school, holden at the Middle District School House, so called in said Falmouth, September 30, 1833. Chase R. S. Wood, Esq., chairman, and Knowles Butler, Sec., voted to chose a committee of three per- sons to draft the plan of a house, and ascertain the probable expense of the same." The committee consisted of John Jenkins, Harrison Goodspeed and Knowles Butler. These gentlemen attended to their duty, and their report was adopted. It was voted to fix the capital stock at $2,500, divided in one hundred shares of twenty-five dollars each, and to proceed forthwith to erect and finish a school house in accordance with the report of the committee. This building was so far completed, that a meeting of the proprietors was held therein November 15, 1834, at which it was voted to invite Rev. Josiah Bent

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to dedicate it, and to allow the free use thereof for a teachers' con- vention. This building, like the preceding school house, was for a time rented to the teachers. Miss H. F. Jenkins being the first to rent the upper part.

March 7, 1835, the institution was incorporated as the Falmouth Academy. R. O. Gardner served as principal for the first year; he was succeeded by Isaac Swift, who taught less than one year and was fol- lowed by Robert T. Conant. At a meeting of the proprietors held January 17, 1842, it was voted to accept a legacy of ten thousand dol- lars recently left to the institution by Shubael Lawrence, and to peti- tion the legislature for permission to change the name to Lawrence Academy, and to make other changes as required by the conditions of the will. This petition was granted and the changes were made accordingly. Robert A. Coffin was the first principal after the change, but his term of service is uncertain. He was succeeded by Mr. Stephen C. Dillingham, who was teaching in the academy in 1847. He resigned in 1851, and was followed by Mr. Dodge and George Moore, who taught less than one year each. In 1852 George E. Clarke was elected principal, and held the position about eleven years, resign- ing early in 1863. The remainder of that year was filled by students of Andover Theological Seminary. The next principal was Dr. F. W. Adams, who served two years, and was followed by Rev. Charles Harwood for one year, and Mr. J. W. Cross for two years. In the fall of 1868 Prof. Lucius Hunt was elected, but after one year's ser- vice lie accepted a position elsewhere and was succeeded by Watson S. Butler of Falmouth, who served one year, after which Professor Hunt was recalled and remained in charge of the school until 1881, when he was succeeded by the present principal, S. A. Holton, who had previously served for three years as assistant to Mr. Hunt in this institution.

In 1884 the building was thoroughly repaired and remodelled within. The antiquated furniture, most of which had been in use since the erection of the building, was removed, and its place supplied by that of modern style, thus fitting the building for the increased requirements of the present time. During the past year the grade of the school has been raised by the addition of one year's work to the -course of study.

CEMETERIES .- Oak Grove cemetery is situated north of the village and is becoming a chosen spot for the departed. A meeting of those interested was held December 12, 1849, at the town hall, when Eras- mus Gould, William Nye, jr., Thomas L. Swift, Silas Jones and Rufus Swift were appointed to choose a site and obtain subscribers to pur- chase lots. January 2, 1850, the report was made that a wood lot of over five acres had been purchased, adjoining the home of Ephriam

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Sanford and twenty-four subscribers procurred. The officers elected for one year. at this meeting, were: Oliver C. Swift, president; Aaron Cornish, vice-president; S. C. Dillingham, secretary; Samuel P. Bourne, treasurer, and E. Gould, William Nye, jr. and C. L. Swift, trustees. A constitution and by-laws were adopted. In 1851 O. C. Swift was re- elected president and held the office for many years, as did S. P. Bourne that of secretary and treasurer. The trustees had the man- agement until March 27, 1877, after which the annual meetings were held and officers elected; Silas Jones, president, and George E. Clarke, secretary and treasurer. These efficient officers have been re-elected until the present, with William Jones vice-president. The present trustees are: William H. Hewins, Moses R. Fish and Charles H. Gif- ford. At the February meeting of 1886, George E. Clarke, Silas Jones and Solomon D. Robinson were appointed a committee to pur- chase additional land, and by their action the area has been doubled by tracts purchased.

There are eight other cemeteries in the town: the old proprietors" and the Methodist at Falmouth village; and one each at Woods Holl, West Falmouth, North Falmouth, East Falmouth, Hatchville and Waquoit. In these rest the ashes of those fathers and mothers so ven- erated by the present residents.

VILLAGES .-- There are nine distinct business centers in the town, seven of which have post offices. Varied interests and advantages developed here, Falmouth, the chief village away from the town's geographical center, but it is easy of access from all parts of the town, and has advantages which will continue its growth and permanence. It is the principal village of the southwestern part of the Cape, and occupies a level tract nearly three miles in extent along the north shore of the Vineyard sound. It is pleasantly located with Marthas Vineyard, the sound, and a broad expanse of varied scenery to en- trance the vision on the south, the range of hills that skirt the eastern shore of Buzzards bay on the west, and the level, highly-cultivated fields of the town on the north and east, producing a variety of pleas- ing effects that render it the chosen spot on the Cape for recreation and health. Its early settlement is contemporary with that of the town, as the first who came very naturally selected this as the " Prom- ised Land," of which they were in quest. Clustering together in com- munities and villages, these early settlers as they advanced embodied in every settlement the four elements-church, school, town house and militia-resulting in an unprecedented progress in everything pertaining to religion, education, government and patriotism. The early population were indirectly from Saugus and Scituate, and di- rectly from Barnstable, Plymouth and Sandwich.

The first entry in the proprietors' records, under date of Novem-

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ber 29. 1661, is conclusive that in 1661 the lands of the site of what is now Falmouth village were occupied, and its history in its relation to the white race may be regarded as dating from that year. That Isaac Robinson erected one of the first houses, if not the first, upon the neck between the Fresh and Salt ponds is also established; and in addition Jenkins says: " At the lower end of Fresh pond there was some years ago an old rose bush, the only relic of an ancient garden, which ac- cording to tradition belonged to Isaac Robinson." Here occurred the first birth in the village or town, but of the exact date traditions dif- fer; one is that the company arrived from Barnstable in 1660, and the first night after landing between Fresh and Salt ponds, while en- camped, the wife of Jonathan Hatch gave birth to a son whom, she said. should be named Moses, because born among the flags; another is that the " family mansion " had been standing fifteen months at the time of the birth; but the fact of this being the first birth remains undisputed.

The general court enacted, in March, 1663, that "it be commended to the settlers at Succonessett to apply themselves in some effectual way for the increase of their numbers, that they may carry on things to their better satisfaction both in civil and religious respects." That the in- crease was rapid is already shown from the records of the court of July 13, 1681, which ordered that the people and society of Succones- set set apart lands, upland and meadow, " for the helpand encourage- ment of such fit person or persons as doth or may be helpful to them in teaching the good word of God amongst them, and he in perpetuity for such an end successively." This order of the court was acted upon by the people June 6, 1687. The same year the road from Little har- bor through Falmouth village to the Five-Mile river was ordered to be laid out by the proprietors, to be forty feet wide. This is now Main street. According to the town records of 1703, it " was voted to pay John Robinson 2d for nails and Thos. Bassett 4s. for work about the town house." This is the first intimation of the existence of such a building; but had no meeting house been yet erected? It was the memorable custom of the people of that day to have a town house for schools and meetings, and such a primitive building, no doubt, had been erected. That this town house of 1703 was used as a meeting house also is evident by the vote of October 16, 1704, to procure " win- dow shutters for the 4 lower windows of the meeting house." In 1715, " it was voted to build a new meeting house 42 feet square, to stand on the same lot where the old one does and to be for the town's use in public worship and to meet in open town meeting" This first town house, or village hall, in Falmouth was located near the ceme- tery; in the western part of the village, where subsequently the new meeting house was commenced in 1716, and completed in 1717. The

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

site for this second building was defined in 1716, as laid out in con- nection with the burying ground.

The present green, so beautiful in its triangular bounds, was laid out October 6, 1749, and included, on the north side, the strip of land between the present green and a line that extended from the old Shiv- erick House, next west of the Continental shoe store kept by G. W. Jones, passing in the rear of the present Congregational church, to and in line with the street upon which Mrs. Sarah P. Lawrence dwells. The present common was taken from the north side of this meeting house lot and training ground that had been laid out in common use to all; and the past pages will show that, including the original town house for a meeting house, the present Congregational church is the fourth place of worship on those grounds. The proprietors reserved the present square as part of the old one, when, on October 6, 1749, they "agreed that there should be part of that lot of land called the meeting house lot & training field, about one acre and a half besides the road that leads to Woodshole & bounded Southerly by Samuel Shiv- erick, and westerly by Silas Hatch Northerly by Nath'l Nickerson & easterly by Paul Hatch & Sam'l Shiverick, to lay perpetually forever to that end, as the fence now stands, except before Paul Hatches house."

As the growth of the village called for its territory, the remainder of the old square has been sold off by the proprietors until the old cemetery only remains.

In the action of the town June 6, 1687, land was voted for the help and encouragement of teaching the word of God, which lands, among others, are west of Bowerman's pond, now included in the village. The importance of this village in the beginning of the present cen- tury led, in 1805, to the building at the foot of Shore street of a wharf, which was washed away by the gale of 1815. The present stone wharf was built in 1817. In those days the ferries and water ways of business were of great import; but railroad facilities have turned the tide of shipments, and the tide of the sound has demonstrated to the present generation that even granite monuments are not imperish- able. It was the demand for the guns captured by Captain Jenkins at Tarpaulin cove and the refusal, in 1814, that brought the British frigate Nimrod' near the foot of Shore street, where anchorage was made and the village bombarded by her guns. The old Congrega- tional church, the large house on Shore street now owned by E. E. C. Swift (then occupied by Captain John Crocker, and thought to be the governor's residence), the residence now occupied by Mrs. Sarah P. Lawrence, the residence now occupied by Charles M. Dimmick, near Hotel Falmouth (then occupied by Ichabod Hatch), and the house

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occupied by Mrs. Dillingham, just west of the livery stable of H. C. Lewis, were the buildings most injured by the bombardment.

In 1800 the public building designed for a town hall. a school- house, and a Masonic lodge was offered by the proprietors, and its use was accepted by the Masons, who were wont to assemble in the kitchen of Captain Stephen Swift.

Marine Lodge received a charter in March, 1798, on the petition of Frank Wicks, Hugh Donaldson, Richard Bunker, Joseph Webb, John P. Caswell, Robinson Dimmick, Isaac Parker, Prince Hatch, Davis Swift, Timothy Crocker, jr., James Wing and Lewis Parker. The first meeting of the lodge, March 26, 1798, approved of Silas Jones and Stephen Swift for initiation, and appointed Hugh Donaldson, Frank Wicks and Joseph Webb a committee " to frame a set of by-laws, and to hire a chamber and get it fitted up for the reception of the lodge as soon as possible." May 2, 1798, the by-laws were reported and adopted and the following officers elected :- Frank Wicks, W. M .; Hugh Don- aldson, S.W .; Richard Bunker, J.W .; Frank Wicks, treasurer; and H. Donaldson, secretary, pro tem; James Wing, tyler. August 18, 1799, Elijah Swift was elected master: and September 7, 1803, Frank Wicks was installed to the office, with Samuel Shiverick, S.W., and Lewis Parker, J.W. In 1804 Frank Wicks was reelected master, and in September, 1805, Major Hatch succeeded him. August, 1806, Joseph Percival was chosen master with Major Hatch in the West, Thacher Lewis in the South, Samuel M. Dewey secretary, and Weston Jenkins, treasurer. The following were successively elected masters: 1808, Francis Wicks; 1809, Timothy Parker; 1820, E. Swift; 1823, Job Parker; 1824, Dr. Aaron Cornish, who held the office continuously to 1831 inclusive. In April, 1806, the lodge voted to paint the hall, get chairs and pay for one half of a bell. During the Morgan excitement this lodge suspended work and surrendered itscharter. In the interim a lodge of Odd Fellows was organized, which flourished for a few years. In 1856 a sufficient number of the previous members of Marine Lodge petitioned the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for the return of the original charter, which was granted and the lodge resumed work. The masters have been elected and served as follows: 1856, G. W. Swift; 1858, George W. Donaldson; 1859, Benjamin F. Tucker; 1861, William Hewins; 1870, Erasmus Gould; 1872, J. C. Robinson; 1874, A. P. Sturgis; 1877, Charles E. Davis; 1879, W. H. Hewins; 1882, Charles E. Davis; 1883, George W. Fish; 1886, Browning Fish; 1887, Prince D. Swift. D. L. Powe is the present secretary. The first lodge building is the one now occupied and owned by the fraternity, the post office store and lodge rooms have been remodeled and modernized.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 73

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