History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 8

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

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A confederation of a portion of the infant colonies of New Eng- land was formed in 1643 for the promotion of union, offensive and defensive, in any difficulties with the Indians. This measure had been contemplated for several years by those colonies, and this con- federation, The United Colonies of New England, existed until 1686, when affairs were materially changed by the commission from King James II. This first spirit of confederation, which became later the basis of our national existence, having been perfected, orders were issued for every town within the jurisdiction of the court to provide ammunition and arms, and be ready for prompt action. Of the thirty men mentioned, eight were from the Cape- Sandwich and Barnstable furnishing three each, and Yarmouth two. These men were each to be provided with a musket, firelock or matchlock, a pair of bandoliers or pouches for powder and bullets, a sword and belt, a worm and scourer, a rest and a knapsack. Each private soldier was to have eighteen shillings per month when in service. From this date was the establishment in the towns of mili-

MILITARY HISTORY.

tary companies, the training field, and other warlike measures. Barn- stable, Sandwich and Yarmouth-then the only incorporated towns on the Cape-at once formed military companies, and the two latter towns provided places of safety for the women and children. The exercises of training were always begun with prayer, and none could belong to the company who were not freemen and of " good report."

The colony, with every town on the alert, awaited the development of a struggle which arose in 1643 between Uncas and the Pequots, who, with the Narragansetts, had agreed in 1637 not to make war upon each other without first an appeal to the English. Uncas con- ceived that an attempt had been made upon his life by a Pequot, which resulted in a war between Uncas and Miantonomi; and the latter sachem, although he could bring one thousand warriors to the field, was defeated and taken prisoner by Uncas. The prisoner was put to death by the advice of the commissioners, at their meeting in Boston, in September of that year. The exasperation of the Narra- gansetts was beyond control; they charged the English with a want of good faith, and preparations were made for hostile movements. The Narragansetts resolved to secure the head of Uncas, and the English resolved to defend him.

In addition to what had already been done, more men were raised. This conflict would draw from the towns of the Cape in proportion to the number of its people, as they were included in the confederation. Massachusetts at once raised one hundred and ninety men, Plymouth colony 40, Connecticut 40, and New Haven 30. The Plymouth quota, under Captain Miles Standish, went as far as Rehoboth; but while the English were advancing, the Narragansett sachems were in Bos- ton, suing for peace, which was granted, with the requirement of heavy penalties and burdens. Thus closed the first Indian troubles of the colony.

The December court of 1652 directed the several towns to send deputies, April 1, 1653, " to treat and conclude on such military affairs as may tend to our present and future safety." Variances had arisen between England and Holland, and the lowering clouds of war, with Indian cruelties, hung over the colony. Sandwich sent James Skiff ; Yarmouth, Sergeant Rider and John Gorham; Barnstable, Lieutenant Fuller and Sergeant Thomas Hinckley; and Eastham, which town had now been incorporated, John Doane and Richard Sparrow. Sixty men were ordered to be raised in this colony. Of these Sandwich, Yarmouth and Barnstable were to furnish six each, and Eastham three. Provisions were made for raising money for the further enlist- ment of soldiers and procuring arms, and a certain number were to take their arms to meeting on the Sabbath. In 1654 a deputation of " horse and foot" was sent with a message to the Niantick sachem, and, to

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

make up a safe and formidable body as a guard, Sandwich, Eastham and Yarmouth furnished four men each, and Barnstable five, as their quota. As yet no outbreak had occurred, but the threatening appear- ances occasioned by jealousies necessitated continued readiness on the part of the colonies. In 1655 troops of horse were required by the court, and the proportion of the four towns of the Cape was three each. In 1658 a military system was perfected, by which a small standing army and the militia of the towns comprised the colonial force.

A council of war was called at Plymouth in 1667, the confederation apprehending danger from the Dutch and French-their common enemies-and the Plymouth colony suspected the Indians, under King Philip, whose "frequent assembling and various movements indicated war." A commission of armed men met Philip at Taunton soon after, who agreed to leave his arms with the English, as a security that no war was in his heart. But this did not allay the suspicions nor watchfulness of the colonies. The Indians of the Cape in 1671, and again in 1674, pledged themselves, by their sachems, to fidelity. More men were pressed into the service, of whom Barnstable and Sandwich furnished ten, Yarmouth nine, and Eastham five. But the same year Philip entered into a treaty of peace, which for several years allowed the colonies comparative quiet, and the men of the Cape towns to return home to be in readiness when called.

In 1674 two Indians, one of whom was Philip's counselor, were arrested for the supposed murder of another Indian found dead in Middleboro pond. They were tried and executed by order of the court. Philip regarded the execution as an outrage. Hostilities com- menced. An army was soon in the field-158 men from Plymouth colony; 527 from the Massachusetts; and 315 from Connecticut. The towns of Sandwich and Barnstable furnished sixteen each, Yarmouth fifteen, and Eastham eight. Again, in December of the same year, nearly as many men were required of these towns. Skirmishes suc- ceeded, then a general war, which was disastrous to all concerned. The Cape was only affected by the greatly increased expenses and the loss of men. The Indians of the Cape remained neutral, and were considered a defense to Sandwich and the towns below. In 1675 one reverse at Rehoboth, early in the war, cost the Cape twenty men-Barnstable six, Yarmouth and Sandwich five each, and Eastham four. The almost entire command of Captain Pierce of Scituate-fifty men and twenty Indians-was massacred, including the captain himself. The names of the Barnstable men lost were: Samuel Child, Lieutenant Fuller, John Lewis, Eleazur Cobb, Samuel Linnet and Samuel Boreman or Bowman. We are unable to find the list from the other towns. The Indians lost were Cape Indians, and only one was permitted to return.

MILITARY HISTORY.

The Indian Amos, who escaped, was of the Barnstable quota, and not only fought bravely to the last, but practiced the usual strategy to escape. He saw that the hostile tribe had blackened their faces to distinguish themselves from the friendly Indians, and as a dernier ressort he wet some powder, blackened his own face and passed through safely.

Before the close of the year, seven hundred Indian warriors had fallen, among them twenty-five sachems; and many deaths followed from wounds. Many women and children were slain in the burning of six hundred wigwams. Of the colonists, six captains and eighty privates were slain and many wounded. In 1676 a new levy of men from the towns was required. The quota from the Cape towns was: Barnstable, thirty; Sandwich, twenty-eight; Yarmouth, twenty-six: and Eastham, eighteen. All boys under sixteen years were required to join the town guard. Three months later Barnstable was required to furnish sixteen pounds and fifteen men; Sandwich the same; Yarmouth four- teen pounds and thirteen men; and Eastham ten pounds five shillings and ten men. In July of the same year other heavy war rates were levied on the towns.

August 12, 1676, King Philip, the deadly foe of the Plymouth col- ony, fell; his head was brought to Plymouth, which occasioned a gen- eral thanksgiving. From his death the extinction of his tribe may be dated. The termination of this terrible war was of great importance to the exhausted colonies. as during its active prosecution six hundred of the best men had been lost and thirteen of the towns of the settlers had been destroyed. The debts of the war fell heavily upon the early towns of the Cape, and many years elapsed before they were liquid- ated.

The policy of the colony toward the defeated Indians was so severe that the Indians in the vicinity of Sandwich and Barnstable grew rest- less, and prudence was required to restrain them, and especially to hold them friendly to the English. The residence of Mr. Hinckley, while he was abroad on public duties. was guarded, and at Sandwich a guard was kept as a matter of safety and to prevent any communi- cation between the friendly and hostile tribes. This condition of affairs gradually disappeared; the Indians of the Cape continued friendly in their relations; and although the four primitive towns of this territory of which we write had suffered greatly in many ways, the same people, with those of other towns, had many privations yet in store.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS .- In 1690 other troubles than those en- gendered by the former usurpations of Andros were developing to agitate the inhabitants of Barnstable as well as other counties. The war with the French and their Indian allies was inevitable, and the

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Plymouth colony must bear its proportion. It was ordered that men be raised to go to New York and other places against the enemy; of these Barnstable county was to send nineteen-Barnstable five: Sand- wich, Yarmouth and Eastham four each; and Monomoyick and Suc- conessit one each. (As the two latter towns were soon after known as Chatham and Falmouth, these names will be used.) But soon after the county was pressed to furnish forty-six mere men-Barnstable twelve; Sandwich, Yarmouth and Eastham ten each; and Chatham and Falmouth each two; also, the county was compelled to furnish twenty-two Indians. The same year the county was taxed £452, 4s., 9d. for the expenses of the war, and this additional burden was distrib- uted among the towns, Barnstable paying the largest sum and Fal- mouth the least. The full account of this campaign may be found in Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts Bay.

The treaty of Ryswick in 1697 temporarily closed the seven years of war, and permitted the inhabitants of the Cape towns to resume for a short period their wonted avocations.

In 1702, during the reign of Queen Anne, difficulties again arose between England and the French and their Indian allies. For years this war continued, with all its horrors of Indian inhuman- ities instigated by the French; and frequent requirements were made upon the Cape towns for men and money; until, in 1713, the peace negotiations at Utrecht again quieted the disturbing elements. It was then estimated that for some years not less than one-fifth of the inhabitants of the towns had been engaged in actual ser- vice. while those at home had been subjected to constant fears and alarms, as well as the most onerous pecuniary burdens.

In 1691, for the relief of the towns from the burdens of war, and in the scarcity of currency, the court issued bills of credit and made them current for the payment of all public and private debts. In 1711, to still further relieve the people, a series of forty thousand pounds was issued. These sinews of war perhaps tem- porarily gave relief; but their depreciation in after years fell heavily upon the soldiers who had received them for pay. In 1721 and 1727 the general court issued more of these bills to be loaned to the towns, and which were sent to them in proportionate amounts. These bills, when first issued, had been redeemed by the general court until 1704, when their redemption was indefinitely postponed. Their value slid down the scale of depreciation according to the denomination of " old tenor," " middle tenor " and " new tenor," which terms were applicable to the age or issue of the bills. In 1749 Eng- land sent to Boston 215 chests, each containing three thousand dol- lars in silver, also one hundred casks of copper-seventeen cart- loads of the silver and ten of the copper-to redeem these bills.

MILITARY HISTORY.

The bills were paid at the treasury at the rate of forty-five shillings in bills of the old tenor, or 11s. 3d. in new tenor, for one Spanish dollar.

In 1744 another war between Great Britain and France was commenced, and the Indians, through French influence and the bounties for scalps, attacked some New England towns. Many per- sons from the Cape were pressed into the service, many were taken prisoners and many killed during a bloody war of nineteen years. In 1745 the march against Cape Breton and the taking of Louisburg- the Gibraltar of America- were events of great moment in the history of those days. Colonel Graham's regiment did valiant service there. The captains were Jonathan Carey, Edward Dimmick, Elisha Doane, Sylvanus Cobb, Israel Bailey, Gershom Bradford and Samuel Lom- bard. Wolcott's regiment of Connecticut forces had Captain Daniel Chapman and Lieutenant Lothrop from the Cape. The French had fortified Louisburg at a vast expense, and supposed it impregnable to the assaults of any force. The ire of the French nation was so aroused that in 1746 the largest armament that had yet been sent was de- spatched to the New World under Duke d'Auville to recover Louisburg and aid the Canadians and Indians in devastating and distressing the New England colony. This armament of eleven ships of the line and thirty smaller vessels of war, besides transports bearing three thou- sand regulars, was reduced more than one-half by storms and losses, while sickness carried off many more after the arrival, and the remain- ing vessels one by one returned to France. The impressments by the mother country for men from the towns were excessive during these stirring events, and it is a matter of historical significance that in 1749 Truro and other towns petitioned against the injustice, and many towns denounced it an outrage. The feeling engendered on the Cape by the unjust drain of its means and best men had not been entirely forgotten a score of years later when, just prior to the revo- lution, the placing of other burdens was attempted.

The peace of Aix-la-chapelle in 1749 was hailed with joy by every town, but in 1753 Great Britain charged France with a violation of the treaty, and the preparations for war were again made. In 1755 troops arrived from England, the colonies again raised their propor- tion, and expeditions went against Fort Du Quesne and other vulner- able points of the French possessions. To furnish men for this and other expeditions of the previous year, the Cape towns had been sadly depleted, and in 1758, when more soldiers were sent out for the re- duction of Canada, one-third of its efficient men were in service. The conquest led to the peace of Paris in 1763, and the concession to Eng- land of Canada and other French possessions. Great Britain became really the arbiter of the seas and of the New World. Those who sur-

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

vived the rigors of the northern winters, the confinement in prisons and strife of battle were again allowed to seek their humble homes and assist in bearing the burden of debts created by the demands of the long war. The courage and strength of the people of the colony were evident to Great Britain, and to most effectively secure a perma- nent sovereignty over them seemed to be the desire of the parliament. But the attempt to force the payment of a portion of her own debts upon the colonists who had been made to suffer, and had been also deeply burdened in her service, was the act that deprived the mother country of the colonies which she so much desired to retain.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR .- In 1765 Great Britain, to relieve her treas- ury, which had been depleted by successive wars, assumed the right to tax her colonies in America. Of the taxes imposed, the stamp act and that on tea were the most odious. The repeal of the former in 1766 did not allay the indignation of the colonists. Peti- tions and remonstrances were of no avail, and the determination to resist was increased by Great Britain's persistent assumption. In 1768 meetings were held in the several towns and resolutions passed "that we will purchase no imported goods until the tax be repealed." Powder houses were erected in some of the towns of the county and other preparations of a warlike character were made. The presence of soldiery in front of Boston in 1769 fanned the latent spark into an increasing flame; and when in March, 1770. in an affair near Faneuil Hall, Boston, five of its inhabitants were shot down by the British, the flames became irrepressible. In 1773 organizations called "Sons of Liberty " sprang up in nearly every town, and strong resolutions of resistance were passed. The last of the tea ships sent to these shores was wrecked on Cape Cod and most of its cargo lost; but the knowl- edge that it was the last, and that the entire cargo of tea was steeping in ocean brine, did not dampen the determination of the patriots of this county. Frequent meetings were held and the vote unanimously taken "to resist the sale and use of the article, if needs be, in blood to our knees." The towns of the county have in their records many earnest evidences of the zeal of the inhabitants. The subsequent throwing overboard of 342 chests of tea in Boston harbor by patriots disguised as Indians, and the many acts that led to the war for liberty, are matters of a more general history.

In the acts of the entire colony in opposing the claims of Great Britain, the people of Barnstable county acquiesced, and in many of the most daring were foremost. In September, 1774, the residents of Sandwich, joined by many from the towns west, marched to Barnstable to intercept the sitting of the court of common pleas. This was not only effectually accomplished, but the body of the people obtained the names of the judges to a promise that they would not accept of

MILITARY HISTORY. 69

any duties in conformity with the unjust acts of parliament, and that if required to do any business contrary to the charter of the province they would refuse. This uprising of the citizens of this county was one of the first overt acts of the colony, and it was followed by re- quests to military officers to resign the commissions held under an authority that would, if it could, reduce them to slavery and obedi- ence. This request was generally acceded to by all who held military and civil commissions in the county. While we cannot in our lim- ited space give the entire proceedings of the daring acts, the patriots who served as leaders and committees were: Simeon Wing, Nathaniel Freeman, Stephen Nye, Zacheus Burge, Seth Freeman, Eliakim Tobey, Joseph Nye 3d, Micah Blackwell, Josiah Haskell, Aaron Bar- low, Joseph Otis, George Lewis, James Davis, John Crocker, jr., Nathan Foster, Thomas Sturgis, Solomon Otis, John Grannis, Elisha Swift, Ebenezer Nye, David Taylor, John Chapman, Joshua Gray, Thomas Paine, Nathaniel Downs, Doctor Davis, John Doty, Daniel Crocker, Ebenezer Jenkins, Eli Phinney, Lot Nye, Moses Swift, Dan- iel Butler, jr., Daniel Taylor, Isaac Hamblin, Joseph Crowell, Ben- jamin Freeman, John Freeman, Lot Gray, Job Crocker, Amos Knowles, jr., Samuel Smith, David Greenough, Dr. Samuel Adams, Jonathan Collins, Deacon Bassett, Richard Sears, Salathiel Bumpas and Mala- chi Ellis.

Another Cape patriot-James Otis, jr .- arose in court, in 1761, at Boston, where the legality of "the writs of assistance" was being argued, and said: " I am determined to proceed, and to the call of my country am ready to sacrifice estate, ease, health, applause and even life." At the town meetings of the towns of the county it was voted to oppose the tyranny of Great Britain at the risk of fortunes and lives. Some of the citizens were not thus zealous in the cause, and in the language of that day these were called tories. The Otis papers and other histories give accounts of bitter altercations in some towns of the county; but this fact did not defer the action or dampen the zeal of those engaged in the cause. The peculiar position of the county, topographically, its extended and exposed sea coasts, and the consequent evil to their own shipping and fishery did not cause hesi- tation in acts that tended to bring on the prolonged war. During the blockade of Boston by the action of the port bill, the towns of this county contributed liberally in money, wood and provisions to the wants of the people of that city, and sustained them in all their reso- lutions.

November 16, 1774, a county congress was held in Barnstable, at which Hon. James Otis was chosen moderator, and Colonel Joseph Otis clerk; Colonel Nathaniel Freeman, Joseph Otis, Thomas Paine, Daniel Davis and Job Crocker were appointed a committee to com-

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

municate with other counties; and the same gentlemen, with Captain Joseph Doane and Captain Jonathan Howes, were appointed as a com- mittee to consider the public grievances and report at an adjourned meeting.

But the time had arrived when the edict that "the country shall be free " must be enforced by the privations of war. The happy fire- sides and rural avocations must be exchanged for the stern duties of a military life. Many noble deeds were performed in the struggle that followed, which are, and ever will be, unrecorded; for no histo- rian can give the people of the Cape their full meed of praise.

In 1775 the first din of battle was heard when General Gage sent troops to Concord to destroy the stores of the provincials, and seven hundred men along the road put to flight one thousand seven hundred of his royal army. Then the couriers went out crying, "the war is begun." No one lives to remember the thrill of determination that vibrated along the Cape to its extremity when that cry leaped from town to town. The year was an active one in levying men for the defense of the coast, and Major Hawley, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Gerry and Colonels Orne and Freeman were appointed to report proper regula- tions for minute men. Major Joseph Dimmick, with a sufficient force, was commissioned to repair to Nantucket and other islands and arrest those who were supplying the enemy with provisions. The defense of the coast was entrusted to four companies; of Company 1, Nathan Smith was captain; Jeremiah Mantor, first lieutenant; and Fortunatus Bassett, second lieutenant; of Company 2, Benjamin Smith, captain; Melatiah Davis, first lieutenant; and James Shaw, second lieutenant; Company 3, John Grannis, captain; James Blossom, first lieutenant; Samuel Hallett, second lieutenant; Company 4, Elisha Nye, captain; Stephen Nye, jr., first lieutenant; and John Russell, second lieu- tenant.

In January, 1776, General Washington called for six regiments of 728 men each, to be raised in the province, of which 260 men were to be furnished by Barnstable county. The committee to direct this duty in the county were Colonels Otis and Cobb. Barnstable and Plymouth counties together raised one entire regiment, of which Colonel Carey of Bridgewater was commandant; Barachiah Bassett of Falmouth, lieutenant colonel; Thomas Hamilton of Chatham, adju- tant; and Nathaniel Hall of Harwich, surgeon mate. Still later, in January, another regiment was called from the same source to go to Canada. Many of these men were Mashpees, who made valiant soldiers. On the 31st the militia of the county was divided into two regiments and the general court appointed the officers; for the first, including Barnstable, Sandwich, Yarmouth and Falmouth, Nathaniel Freeman, colonel; Joseph Dimmick, lieutenant colonel; Joshua Gray,

MILITARY HISTORY.

first major; and George Lewis, second major; for the second, includ- ing the towns of Harwich, Eastham, Chatham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown, Joseph Doane, colonel; Elisha Cobb, lieutenant colonel; Zenas Winslow, first major; and Gideon Freeman, second major; Dim- mick declined in favor of Colonel Enoch Hallett, and accepted the position of first major in place of Gray, who declined.

The battle of Bunker Hill had been fought and war was at the very door of the Cape. The general court ordered that all persons save the merest portions of rags for the manufacture of paper, which, by the action of the revolted colonies and the condition of affairs, could not be otherwise obtained. In February, 1776, subscriptions were opened to give all who had silver and gold the opportunity to exchange the coin for bills, and Colonels Otis and Doane were ap- pointed receivers for this county.

During the year General Washington required the court of the colony to furnish a large quota of blankets for army use. The select- men of the towns of the Cape were required by the court to assist in gathering these blankets, and the sum of £190, 9s., was placed in the hands of Captain Amos Knowles of Eastham for their purchase. Again men were required; this call was for 203 men from this county. Barnstable raised forty-five men, Sandwich, Yarmouth, Harwich and Eastham, forty each; Wellfleet, eighteen; Chatham and Falmouth, twenty-six each.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 8

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