History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 75

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 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The ship Awashonks started on her fifth voyage June 7, 1844, Cap- tain Ephraim Eldridge, sailing for the South Seas, and returning after four years with 1,400 barrels sperm, 1,100 barrels whale oil and 10,000 pounds bone.

Captain Rowland R. Jones, in June, 1844, sailed the ship Hobomok for the Pacific, and arrived home in April, 1848, with 1,000 barrels each, of sperm and whale oil.

------

669

TOWN OF FALMOUTH.

The schooner Harriet sailed, under Captain Gifford, May 10, 1844, for the Atlantic, and returned one year later with 50 barrels sperm.

Captain Silas Jones sailed the ship Commodore Morris, July 9, 1845, for the Pacific ocean, sent home 90 barrels sperm oil in 1845, and returned in 1849, April 1st, with 2,450 barrels sperm and 100 barrels whale oil. The third mate, E. Chadwick, and his boat's crew were capsized and lost on the coast of Chili, in 1846.

July 19, 1845, Captain Wimpenny sailed the ship William Penn for the Indian ocean and Northwest coast. She sent home 9,798 pounds bone, and was totally lost on the island of Whytootacke, November 26, 1847. She had on board 100 barrels sperm and 1,700 barrels whale; 1,200 barrels were saved and sold for fifty cents a barrel.

The ship Hobomok sailed for Indian and Pacific oceans August 12, 1848, under Captain Rowland R. Jones, and arrived home five years later with 669 barrels sperm, 604 barrels whale oil and 7,400 pounds bone. Captain Jones died in 1850.

Captain Smith sailed in the ship Awashonks October 25, 1848, for the Pacific, and returned April 5, 1851, with 2,600 barrels whale oil. He sent home 14,300 pounds bone. The second mate, Mr. Slater, was lost overboard in August, 1849.

Captain Lewis H. Lawrence sailed August 13th for the Pacific, in the ship Commodore Morris, and returned after four years with 1,860 barrels sperm oil.

In 1851, August 12th, Captain Lawrence sailed in the ship Awashonks, for the North Pacific ocean, and arrived home July 25, 1854, with 513 barrels sperm and 1,828 barrels whale oil. He sent home 243 barrels whale oil on the voyage. Mr. Jones, the first mate, was killed by a whale in 1843.

Captain Childs sailed in the ship Hobomok September 30, 1853, for the North Pacific ocean, and returned three years later with 307 barrels sperm, 2,477 barrels whale oil and 18,400 pounds bone. He sent home 4,700 pounds bone.

The ship Commodore Morris sailed December 7, 1853, under Lewis H. Lawrence, for the Pacific, and arrived home October 17, 1856, with 1,008 barrels sperm oil.

In November, 1854, the bark Awashonks sailed under Captain Tobey for the North Pacific ocean, and returned after four years with 1,227 barrels sperm oil. She was sold to New Bedford in 1860.

Captain Marchant sailed in the ship Hobomok for the Pacific, in November, 1856. She returned in March, 1860, with 30 barrels sperm, 1,572 barrels whale and 10,500 pounds bone. She sent home on the voyage 74 barrels sperm, 491 barrels whale and 17,859 pounds bone. She was sold in 1860 to New Bedford, and from thence to New York in 1863, where her name was changed to Live Oak. She afterward sailed under the British flag and was finally lost.

$670

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

The Commodore Morris started on her fourth voyage July. 13, 1859, for the Pacific, under Captain Silas Jones, and arrived home June 19, 1864, with 931 barrels sperm, 232 barrels whale oil and 1,700 pounds bone. She was sold to New Bedford in 1864, and this was supposed to be the closing up of the whale fishery from Fal- mouth.

Among the agents who were engaged in the whaling business of Falmouth were: Elijah Swift, Ward M. Parker, Stephen Dillingham, Sanford Herendeen, John Robinson, Oliver C. Swift, Obed Goodspeed and Thomas Swift. From 1820 to 1850 we find the name of Elijah Swift quite conspicuous. He was interested also in an oil refinery and sperm candle factory here during a portion, if not all of this period. The building for refining and storing the oil and candles is .still standing.

One of the industries that helped to advance the growth of Woods Holl was that of the Pacific Guano Company, organized in 1859 by large shipping merchants of Boston and New York. Howland's island in the Pacific was owned by the company, and from it large deposits of crude guano were shipped. The business grew rapidly in favor, and in 1863 extensive works and chemical laboratories were erected at Woods Holl. A large number of men were employed for years in the various departments of the works.

Isaiah Spindle, of this villige, was born in Dennis, where he first engaged in the fishing business. In 1863 he removed to Woods Holl, in the same business, and eleven years later, with A. F. Crowell, formed the well-known firm of Isaiah Spindle & Co., carrying on here and through their Boston office a very large business in trapping and marketing fish. Besides handling the products of their own weirs, they also handle the catch of several others.

Of inns or taverns no definite history for the last century can be unearthed. Early in this century we find the Eagle Hotel, kept by Joseph Parker, who was succeeded by Edmund Davis. On the 24th ·of October, 1824, Mr. Davis notified the public of his intention to con- tinue " the stand, pledges himself that nothing on his part shall be wanting to give general satisfaction, and solicits a portion of publick patronage." He was succeeded by Joseph Hatch for several years, and in 1840 John Webster was the landlord. The hotel was then near the present site of Eliel T. Fish's store, and about thirty years ago was burned A gentleman named Blossom was " mine host " when the hotel burned. The hotel then was on the bank west of Little harbor, kept by Mr. Miller, which was also burned a few years ago. The Dexter House, now kept by Henry M. Dexter, was, until 1853, the residence of his father, Captain Leonard S. Dexter, who built it for a private residence. The captain's widow, Sarah C., kept it as a

DEXTER HOUSE

.......

DEXTER HOUSE, Woods Holl, Mass.

671

TOWN OF FALMOUTH.

boarding house for several years, enlarging it soon after the fire above mentioned. Having become somewhat known as a summer hotel, although it is open during the year, it was further enlarged and rearranged as now in 1885.

The lumber business, for building ships and dwellings, had been extensive, but no yard for its sale had been opened until 1882, when J. K. & B. Sears & Co. opened one from their yard at Hyannis. They were succeeded in 1884 by Sears, Swift & Co., and in 1889 J. K. Sears assumed the entire half interest, forming the firm of Sears & Swift. The government fish commission, signal service station, and lighthouse and buoy depot add much to the importance of Woods Holl. Their respective buildings, necessary steamers, lighters, buoys, etc., swell the business of the harbor and village. In 1871 Spencer F. Baird, secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, conducted summer investigations in ichthyology at Little harbor, where the buoy depot is. Ten years later Woods Holl was made a station of the United States fish commission. Headquarters were built in 1884, consisting of museums, hatcheries and experiment rooms.

In 1SSS a large building was erected to be used during the sum- mer seasons as a Biological Institute. Students will be entertained and taught by able professors and scientists. The building was com- pleted in the spring of 1889.

Liberty Hall was built in 1878. The Congregational society used it for religious meetings until 1889, when a church was completed for their use. Prior to the building of the hall the Methodist and Con- gregational societies worshipped together in the People's church, now the property of the Methodist Episcopal Society.

As early as 1823 Ward M. Parker had the mail brought from Fal- mouth for himself and others, and January 13, 1826, an office was established and he was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded, August 16, 1838, by John C. Parker, and he, in April, 1847, by William Swift, and in July following by Sylvester Bourne. The office was kept in the hotel until it was burned, when Owen Eldridge was ap- pointed. Mr. Eldridge kept the office in the store on the west bank of Little harbor, where it was for several years, and where E. D. Bas- sett's store is, until the death of Mr. Eldridge in 1885, when Eliel T. Fish was appointed, and the office was removed to the building near the railroad bridge, whence in May, 1889, it was changed to E. D. Bassett's store at his appointment.

No doubt the Pacific Guano Company was largely instrumental in inducing the Old Colony to extend their railroad to Woods Holl, which was done in 1872. The first station agent for the company was Jotham Howes, who was succeeded by H. Whiting. Levi A. Howes wasappointed at the death of Mr. Whiting in 1SS0, and is the present

672

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

agent. He was born in South Dennis in 1845, was agent of the South Dennis depot from 1875 to 1880, and in December of that year he be- came agent at Woods Holl depot, a position which he still occupies. His wife is a daughter of James S. Howes, of Dennis.

Owen Eldridge and Jabez Davis composed a firm of thirty years standing in mercantile life here and were succeeded by E. D. Bassett.

Succonesset Lodge, Knights of Honor, was organized here April 23, 1879, with fourteen charter members. The dictators have been, successively: Sylvester Bourne, Alfred H. Look, W. O. Luscombe, C. IV. Davis, James T. Walker, S. M. Norton, J. K. P. Prudum, C. O. Hamblin, S. C. Braley and L. C. Chase. Within the decade the mem- bership of the lodge has increased to forty-four.

West . Falmouth post village is pleasantly situated on the main shore road running north from Falmouth village. Among the first settlers of this part of the town were William Gifford, sr., William Gifford, jr., and William and John Weeks. The lands were laid out to them in 1678. Five years before this William Gifford of Sandwich, came here and bought forty acres where Arnold Gifford now lives. The deed now in possession of Arnold Gifford's family is dated July 24, 1673. It was witnessed by Thomas Huckins and Barnabas Lothrop, and acknowledged before Thomas Hinckley. The grantor signed the deed Job attukoo, although in the body of the deed the name is written Job Natantaco. The deed recites that Job had received half of this land from his brother James, who with him received it from their father Thomas Natantaco.

Nearly all of the early families here were Quakers and the plain, peaceful characteristics have been transmitted in a general way to the present generation. Their early coming has been mentioned at page 185 et seq. The village is in the midst of a rural community extending along the shore of Buzzards bay, including some of the most pleasant farm homes of the town.

Agriculture was the first industrial resource, but it was at one time almost entirely superseded by salt-making, which became important and profitable. Nearly all the people were interested in its manu- facture. Daniel Bowerman, William and Theophilus Gifford, Ephraim Sanford, Marcus and George W. Wicks, Adrian Davis, Joseph and Stephen Dillingham, Elijah, Seth, Daniel, Joseph, Silas and Moses. Swift, James and Silas Gifford, Benjamin Crowell, Walter Davis and Zebulon Bowman, in their time, were conspicuous in the manufac- ture of salt. The last works were operated by Nathaniel Eldred, a. retired sea captain, who sold his plant to S. F. Swift, who discontinued in 1871.

The early families here depended upon the water mill at East End for their grinding until 1787, when Jesse Gifford built for Samuel

-LF.

673

TOWN OF FALMOUTH.

Bowerman. Joseph Bowerman and Richard Lake, the wind mill still doing business in its second century. Barnabas Hamblin and his son Sylvanus, were among the earliest millers. The ownership of the mill passed from Joseph Bowerman to his sons, Seth and Thomas, and Thomas tended it till 1816. By that time Silas Swift's grandfather had come into possession of Thomas' share. and Silas Swift's father, Moses Swift, had bought Seth's share. Thomas Bowerman sold his farm to Captain Nathaniel Eldred; the other brother sold his, and the two hitched up their oxen, put their families and household goods into the carts, and started for York state to settle. Silas F. Swift, by in- heritance and purchase, is the sole owner, and now operates the mill.

West of this old landmark, in Nashuanna street, is the site of an old Indian burial place, north of William H. Howland's residence. South of this, on the shore, is the site where the oil-cloth factory of Stephen Dillingham & Co. was burned in 1856.

The first post office was established December 21, 1827, with Stephen Dillingham as postmaster, until his decease in 1871, except four years of Buchanan's administration, when Silas J. Eldred was the occupant. Gilbert R. Boyce had the office from Mr. Dillingham's death until the appointment in 1882. of James E. Gifford. This Stephen Dillingham kept the office in a store at his father's house, which was probably the first store in West Falmouth. Other mer- chants were Newel Hoxie, Gilbert R. Boyce and James T. Dillingham. Captain Caleb O. Hamblin built the store north of his residence, and with E. Frank Bemis carried it on a short time prior to 1887. The present merchant is Jaines E. Gifford. who has continuously carried on the business for twenty-five years.

The Joseph Bowerman who owned the mill also owned then a tannery which stood east of the small pond across the highway from S. F. Swift's residence.

Chapoquit or Hog Island harbor here was found available for ship- building about 1800. The William Gifford, built here, was captured by the British and burned in 1812. She had been engaged in West India trade under Captain Charles Swift. The William Penn was built, probably, before the William Gifford, and, after several voyages, was lost on the coast of Chili. The Phonix was built in 1815, by Abner Hinckley. The Magnet, built by Hinckley, Silas Swift, captain, was engaged in the salt trade to New York and Albany. The schooner Swift, Captain Silas Swift, was in foreign trade; also the brig Mar- seilles. The Oneco, Captain Nickerson. was in the foreign trade. The Meteor and the three last named above were built by Solomon Law- rence; he also built the West Falmouth, a coasting schooner under Cap- tain Stephen Dillingham. The Cicero was commanded by Nymphus Wicks, father of John O. Wicks. The sloop Pinion, Captain Joseph

674

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Small, was also built here. The stone building near the West Fal- mouth school house was the shop where the iron fittings for these ves- sels were made.

The only manufactory here is the tag factory of James A. Boyce. The business was commenced about 1859, by Mrs. Gilbert R. Boyce. The present proprietor was her partner several years before the busi- ness came into his hands in 1887. All the stringing of tags done on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and as far north as Wareham for Den- nison & Co., is managed at this factory. The pay-rolls have averaged twelve thousand dollars per year for the girls engaged in tying.

East of the village is Observatory hill, owned by Franklin King, of Boston; and Forest hill, where Thompson's brick kiln is. Here, in 1880, he first made scouring brick. A large deposit of material ren- ders this enterprise susceptible of further development. When the Old Colony depot was opened here in 1872, Captain Silas Eldred was the agent, and was succeeded in January. 1876, by the present agent, S. F. Swift.

Waquoit is a small post village in the extreme east part of the town, at the head of Waquoit bay. The eastern portion was formerly a part of Mashpee, but the value of the mill privilege on the Moonekis river was one of the reasons for so changing the boundary as to in- clude the stream in Falmouth. On this stream Zenas Ewer built and owned an early saw and grist mill, which was burned. Later, Es- quire John Robinson was interested in a mill for several years; the dam furnishing power for his grist mill and for a yarn and cloth mill operated by Alexander Clarke. Here is the present grist mill, owned by Parker N. Bodfish, of Wareham, who has had an interest in it since 1855. He has been the sole proprietor for the past eight years. In December, 1824, Mr. Clarke advertised that after January, 1825, he would be ready to receive " from the inhabitants of Falmouth and the towns adjoining their commands for Carding Wool & Dressing Cloth, in an establishment situated on the Grist and Saw Mill Dam at the head of Wawquawetts Bay." Before this, Mr. Clarke had one of his carding mills on the Childs river, at Waquoit, where the Waquoit Company shop is.

In 1855 Dea. Alexander Crocker and three others established a car- riage manufactory and house building business on the Childs river, under the title of " Waqnoit Company." Three years later Josiah S. Burgess purchased a half interest, and with Deacon Crocker, was the owner till 1878, when Crocker took the wood working part and Bur- gess the iron.

Lewis Baker, who ran a packet line from Waquoit to New Bedford for about thirty years prior to 1882, has been a merchant here since 1840. His brother, Newell E., was his clerk ten years prior to 1871,

676

TOWN OF FALMOUTH.

when he began his present dry goods business. Among the earlier merchants was Asa Phinney, in the old Phinney residence, where he dwelt. Captain David Pierce was another of the old merchants. His store was where Crocker H. Bearse resides. After the death of Cap- tain Pierce, Union Hall was built for a post office and club-room, by subscription. The other public buildings are the Congregational church and the school house.

A post office was established here the tenth of September, 1849, with Francis M. Boggs, postmaster, he being a retired gentleman who came to this village summers. He was succeeded, January 9, 1850, by Asa Phinney, who kept the office in the old home of his father. Crocker H. Bearse was appointed June 22, 1860, and he kept the office at his residence until Edward J. Crowell was appointed, October 5, 1887. Mr. Crowell keeps the office in the same room that was occu- pied as the post office by Asa Phinney. The mail is supplied twice each day by the coach route from Falmouth depot.

A good hotel, open all the year, has been kept here since 1874, with Asa P. Tobey, proprietor.

The Popmonnet, a whaler, was built at Waquoit about 1838, by Ab. ner Hinckley, for its several owners.

Hatchville is separated from the adjacent districts of the town by a border of uncultivated lands. It was known to the earlier residents of the western half of the town by the then appropriate name "East End "-a title not yet wholly obsolete in the colloquial nomenclature of the people. That name in a way somewhat vague was applied until later to the whole northeastern portion of Falmouth, and as late as 1821, when the Congregational church here was incorporated, the geographical part of the name was adhered to and the church was styled the East Falmouth Congregational church, while the older people of the present time refer to it as the "East End " church.

This community was supplied by mail for several years from East Falmouth before a government office was located here. Esquire John Robinson, who worshipped here, was the postmaster at East Falmouth, and at the church on Sabbath days the country folk received their mail and thus had virtually a Sunday carrier's delivery.

On the 30th of September, 1858, a post office was opened here, with Silas Hatch as postmaster. The Hatch family had been for years, and still is, one of the leading families in this part of Falmouth, and in proper recognition of the fact the name Hatchville was applied to the office and has since come to be accepted as the distinctive name of the place and the community.

The hamlet is contemporary with the "New Purchase" in its settlement, and the herring war has been the only cause of dissension in that neighborhood. In 1806 some desired a free passage for fish

676

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

into Coonemosset pond, but mill privileges interposed. The feeling arose to that pitch that a cannon was placed in position by the herring party, which, in firing, bursted, killing the gunner, producing a cessa- tion of the feeling. The name of this martyr is not handed down.

Ashumet, a neighborhood northeast of Hatchville, was at one time well settled, but now consists of less than a half dozen dwellings.

North Falmouth is a rural post village in the northwest corner of Falmouth, where the boulder ridge diverges northeasterly from the east shore of Buzzards bay. It has long been known as the Nye Neighborhood. Freeman says that the first grant of land was two hundred acres or less to John and Ebenezer Nye in 1689; but the late Joshua Nye left a careful record of his ancestors' title here fron 1655, when Elizabeth Ellis deeded a considerable tract to John and Ebenezer, sons of Ebenezer Nye, which title, he says, was afterward confirmed by the colonial government. From Barber's Historical Collection it appears that Benjamin Noye (Nye) was among some fifty or sixty emigrant families from Europe to Saugus, Mass., in 1636; and later was one of those who removed to Sandwich and became a progenitor of the branch of the family here. Probably the first house built here was by Ebenezer Nye, on what is known as " Wicker Tree Field." An Indian burial place was on a hill by Flax pond, one-fourth mile west of the present residence of Francis A. Nye.

Rural pursuits have been the principal resource of the people, although several of the largest estates here now have come directly or indirectly from the sea. At one time Warren Nye, and his brothers, Prince, Benjamin, John and Ebenezer, were interested in salt works near the cranberry bog of Hiram E. Small. There were other places where salt was manufactured, farther north, near the old wharf, generally known as " Stephen Nye's Wharf." Those engaged were the brothers Stephen, James, Samuel and Francis Nye.

About 1812 Ebenezer Nye, at his own expense, opened a place here to receive and distribute mail, which he transmitted once a week, and received a fee from the people accommodated. Their mail was addressed Falmouth. On the 30th of January, 1817, the post office was established, with him as postmaster. He was followed in office thirty one years later by Ferdinand G. Nye, the present incumbent. F. G. Nye, who has been in business here since 1840, has now the only store in the place. He was born in 1816. His father, Warren, was a son of John and grandson of Benjamin Nye.

Megansett Hall, recently built by private subscription, at a cost of $2,500, furnishes a suitable place for public gatherings. The other public buildings are the Congregational church and a neat school building.

Quissett is a name applied to the harbor and its vicinity, which 1

677

TOWN OF FALMOUTH.

originally bore the appellation of Quamquissett, situated one mile north of Woods Holl on Buzzards bay. In 1691 Moses Rowley took lands and settled here. He was the third deputy from Falmouth to the colonial legislature. Most of the early residents were en- gaged in marine pursuits, and before any vessels were built at Woods Holl shipbuilding was an important industry here. Barney Marchant was a substantial man of the period, and later. Among the vessels built here were the brigs Victory and Enterprise, the bark Union, and the sloop Susannah.

Salt was made here by Barney Marchant, Francis Davis, Dea. Thomas Fish, Prince Jenkins, Braddock Gifford, Lemuel Eldred, Samuel Hammond, and others. The vessels built here were launched south of Joseph C. Fish's, where the stone wharf is. Deacon Jenk- ins was a ship carpenter here. Braddock Gifford's house. an old- fashioned farm building with shed roof nearly to the ground. stood where, in 1830, he built the present residence of Thomas Fish. Mr. Gifford was blacksmith to the shipbuilders, and when the business was removed to Woods Holl he continued it there, where he built, in 1833, the third house on Bar neck. Dea. Thomas Fish was a prominent factor in the progress of Quissett. The Quissett Harbor House, which George W. Fish has, since 1880, made a popular sum- mer hotel, is the property of Stephen W. Carey, of New York. A part of the house is the former residence of Deacon Jenkins, and a part was the house of Isaiah Hammond. Before they were united Prince Jenkins and his wife-daughter of Dea. Thomas Fish-entertained summer guests twenty-five years ago. The house, now leased by Mr. Fish, has accommodations for seventy-five guests, The location is considered the most desirable in this vicinity.

In 1879, February tenth. a post office was established here, with George W. Fish as postmaster. He was then a grocer, but in Feb- ruary, 1886, he was succeeded by Myron C. Johnson, who has since been his deputy,

Quissett had at one time the largest school of the town, except that in Falmouth village; but its relative importance, except as a summer resort, has declined.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 75

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