History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 89

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

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May 22, 1775, a representative was chosen, in open town meeting, to meet in the provincial congress to be holden the last Wednesday of that month, and the attitude he should take upon the questions that might arise in regard to the articles of confederation was left entirely to the wisdom and prudence of that representative. The plan of government was accepted by the town in a unanimous vote on the 19th of May, 1778. The town meeting of 1779 negatived a prop- osition to ask the court for an abatement of the state tax, and May 22, 1780, the new state constitution was rejected by a large majority

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

in the town meeting called to consider it. In 1795 the revised consti- tution was approved by a unanimous vote. For years subsequently the town was united in the administration of local affairs, the church, the fisheries and the welfare of the Indians. In 1800 the town by a majority of votes forbid the straying of sheep, but the division of feeling in this case was of a personal, not political character-the same as was shown in 1807, when the friends of Rev. Mr. Whitman wished to increase his salary and it was promptly negatived; but the town voted to give him a good suit of clothes throughout, with under- clothing complete, not even forgetting the extremities to be encased in boots and hat. The action of the town in 1814 was harmonious in relation to war matters, and in 1820 Reuben Arey was sent to the convention for the revision of the state constitution, which revision, when submitted, was approved with the exception of two articles.

In 1874 the selectmen, upon the petition of the people, appointed a committee of twenty-two persons to tender to General Grant a proper reception when he should arrive in the town. The president, his wife, Secretary Belknap, Postmaster General Jewell and others stopped here and were introduced by Dr. Thomas N. Stone to the citizens, who gave them a hearty reception.

The principal officers of the town since its incorporation will be found in the following lists, one year being the term of service when no time is given. The deputies and representatives have been: Wil- lard Knowles, elected 1767, serving 2 years; in 1768 Elisha Doane was elected and served 3 years; in 1769, Thomas Paine, 5; 1772, Barnabas Freeman, 10; 1774, Naaman Holbrook, 2; 1776, Elisha Cobb; 1777, John Greenough, 2; 1780, Winslow Lewis; 1785, Jeremiah Bickford, 3; 1787, Hezekiah Doane, 3; 1793, Samuel Waterman, 5; 1797, Reuben Arey, 5; 1801, Lemuel Newcomb, 3; 1803, Reuben Rich, 2; 1809, Josiah Whit- man, 6; 1810, Beriah Higgins, 5; 1829, Benjamin R. Witherell, 3; 1831, Joseph Holbrook, 3d, 2; 1833, Freeman Atwood; 1834, Ebenezer Free- man, 2d, 5, and Joseph Higgins; 1835, Amaziah Atwood; 1836, Rich- ard Libby, 2, and Jonathan Hickman; 1837, John L. Daniels; 1838, Atkins Dyer and Nathan Paine; 1839, Nathaniel B. Wiley and Solo- mon R. Hawes, each 2; 1841, Seth H. Baker, 2; 1843, Isaac Paine, 2; 1845, Caleb B. Lombard, 3; 1846, Robert Y. Paine, 2; 1850, Ebenezer Freeman; 1852, William Cleverly; 1853, Richard Stubbs, 2; 1854, Israel Pierce; 1855, Thomas H. Lewis; and in 1856, John Y. Jacobs. After 1857 two or more towns were joined in a district, and the representa- tives' names for the district appear in Chapter V.

The names of the selectmen, dates of election and years of service, from first to last, are given in the following list: 1763, Elisha Doane, S years, Reuben Rich, 3, and Samuel Smith, 8; 1765, Zoeth Smith, 9; 1769, Naaman Holbrook, 8; 1770, Jonathan Young, 10; 1771, Eleazer

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TOWN OF WELLFLEET.

Atwood, 4; 1772, Hezekiah Doane, 5; 1775, Elisha Cobb, 5: 1777, Wins- low Lewis and John Swett; 1779, Joseph Smith, 5, and Barnabas Young; 1780, Thomas Holbrook, 20; 1781, William Cole, 6; 1787, Lewis Hamblen, 13, and Reuben Arey, 10; 1799, John Witherell, 6; 1800, Thomas Higgins, 3d, 6; 1804, Lemuel Newcomb, 5, Hezekiah Rich and Matthias Ryder, each 3; 1807, David Holbrook and Stephen At- wood, each 2; 1809, Joseph Holbrook, 12, Beriah Higgins, 5, and Free- man Atwood, 8; 1813, Jeremiah Newcomb, 2; 1814, Elisha Brown, Rob- ert Kemp, 2, and Edmund Freeman; 1815, Reuben Rich: 1816, Moses Hinckley and Josiah Whitman, each 3; 1817, Samuel Ryder, 2; 1819, Reuben Arey, 8; 1820, William Cole, 3, and Joseph Holbrook, 5; 1823, Freeman Atwood, 4; 1827, Joseph Higgins, Benjamin R. Witherell, and Thomas Hatch, each 2; 1828, Micah Dyer, 4, and Solomon Arey; 1829, Moses Lewis, Cornelius Hamblen, and Thomas Higgins, 2; 1830, George Ward, 3, and Samuel Higgins; 1831, Ebenezer Freeman, 2d, 3; 1833, Reuben Arey, jr .; 1837, Caleb Lombard, S, and Thomas Hig- gins, jr .; 1838, Elisha Freeman, S, Amaziah Atwood, 4, and John New- comb, 4; 1841, Knowles Dyer, 3; 1844, Bethuel Wiley, 6, and George Ward, 2; 1847, John Newcomb, 3, and Edward Hopkins, 5; 1850, Giles Hopkins; 1851, Bethuel Wiley and Elisha W. Smith, each 3; 1852, Elisha Freeman; 1853, Edward Hopkins, 5; 1854, John Newcomb and John C. Peak; 1855, Elisha W. Smith, and Benjamin Oliver, 6; 1856, R. Y. Paine, 17; 1858, Isaiah Cole, 2; 1860, Jeremiah Hawes, 4, and Edward Hopkins, 5; 1864, John Chipman; 1865, Thomas Higgins, 3, and Benjamin Oliver, 2; 1867, John R. Higgins; 1868, Robert H. Libby, 3, and Eleazer H. Atwood, 2; 1870, Barnabas S. Young, 10; 1871, N. C. Nicholson, 11; 1872, William Stone (elected after Paine died), 5; 1877, Thomas Newcomb, 4; 1880, Warren Newcomb, 10; 1881, Winslow Paine, 7; 1882, Noah Swett, 3; 1885, Barnabas S. Young, 6; 1885, R. H. Libby; 1887, George T. Wyer; 1889, E. P. Cook, 2.

The town clerks in succession have been elected as follows: In 1763, Elisha Doane; in 1766, Richard Smith; 1767, John Greenough; 1774, Hezekiah Doane; 1778, David S. Greenough; 1781, Jonathan Young; 1783, Samuel Waterman; 1822, William Cole; 1823, Josiah Whitman; 1833, Ezekiel Hopkins; 1840, Giles Holbrook; 1846, Na- thaniel H. Dill; 1848, Dr. Thomas N. Stone; 1850, Nathaniel H. Dill; 1855, John W. Davis; 1859, Noah Swett; 1868, James T. Atwood; 1877, Daniel C. Newcomb; 1885, E. C. Newcomb.

The treasurers have been successively elected as follows: 1763, Elisha Doane; 1768, Ephraim Covel; 1769, Ezekiel Holbrook; 1799, Lewis Hamblen; 1810, Samuel Waterman; 1822, Jeremiah Newcomb; and since 1823 the clerk has been also the town's treasurer.

The treasurers of the precinct prior to the incorporation of the town were: John Rich, elected in 1723; Samuel Brown, 1727; Jere-

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

miah Mayo, 1730; Israel Young, 1733: Daniel Mayo, 1742; and Elisha Doane from 1757 to 1762.

SCHOOLS .- Prior to the organization of the town the territory com- prised one district, and school had been kept alternately in different parts, that all the pupils might have like privileges; but after the di- vision from the parent town, Wellfleet at once assumed the preroga- tive of placing the schools upon a better basis. The share of public money in the hands of the treasurer of the old town that belonged to this was at once handed over to the treasurer of Wellfleet, and the best master they could hire was placed over the schools, he to " board round " and teach in divisions. At this early day no school houses adorned the landscape, and the schools were kept at private houses. In 1763 it was agreed that terms of five weeks each be kept at James Atwood's, Joseph Atkins', Joseph Pierce's and Zoeth Smith's, and the remainder of the six months at Widow Doane's. Where all of these ancient settlers' residences were cannot be definitely told at this time. but they were scattered about the territory, and the school was thus divided to accommodate all the children of the town.

In 1768 John Greenough was employed to teach a grammar school one year, the school " to be attended by such only as learn Greek and Latin." The school for teaching "reading, writing and cyphering " was located in four different parts of the town, between 193 families -in the south part were 48 families, in the middle division 48, on Holbrook neck, the islands and Pamet point 49, and in the northeast part 48 families. The sum appropriated was forty pounds. This gen- tleman, Greenough, fell into disfavor, politically, and in 1774 another teacher for the grammar school was secured. This year the town was divided into eight school districts, and an agent or committeeman appointed for each. In 1775 Doctor Nutting was employed in the gram- mar school, four hundred pounds, old tenor, being appropriated for all schools, and this amount, yearly increased, reached seven hundred pounds, old tenor, in 1780. The eight districts were: I., the two is- lands, with the families of Joseph Hatch, Thomas Higgins and Payne Higgins: II., all the families from the first district westward of the · county road and north of Joseph Pierce's; III., all east of county road and north of Rebecca Thomas'; IV., to include Moses Lewis, Samuel Waterman, and all west of the road from Simeon Atwocd's to Barna- bas Young's; V., from the limits of the fourth district to Seth Hop- kins; VI., to include David Holbrook, Samuel Baker, Elisha Bickford, and all southward as far as the residence of Simon Newcomb, jr .; VII., Joseph Smith and southward, to include James Brown and Sam- uel Watts; VIII., all the rest to Blackfish creek.

In 1807 a better classification of the pupils was effected and the districts were reduced to five, with a teacher in each, besides the

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TOWN OF WELLFLEET.

-central grammar school. In 1827 a new district was formed in the south part of the town, making seven schools in all, and four hun- dred dollars was the appropriation for teachers. This amount was increased gradually until it reached six hundred dollars in 1835, and one thousand dollars in 1840. In 1844 the town supported ten schools, having school property valued at $131,000. In 1857 the sum raised was twenty-six hundred dollars, and in each of the two suc- ceeding years twenty-eight hundred dollars, with six hundred pupils in twelve schools.

In 1860 the truant act was enforced with effective results, and in 1861 a prduential committee was elected in each district, which should furnish a proper teacher and have the supervision of the school. The districts were so numerous and the expenses of main- taining the required terms of school so great that in 1865 it was voted that all the school property be purchased by the town. A ·committee of seven-Thomas Higgins, Dr. Thomas N. Stone, Bar- nabas S. Young, George B. Saunders, John W. Davis, Alvin Paine and John Swett-was appointed to perfect a plan for joining tlie several districts. They reported at a future meeting, and three ·competent men were chosen to appraise the school property, and in 1866 the district system was abolished. The vote was to build a new primary between districts No. 1. and No. 2; that a grammar school be established in No. 3, and that districts No. 1 and No. 2 have equal rights therein; that No. 4 have a primary, with equal privileges in the grammar school; that No. 5 and No. 6 have each -a primary; that a new school building be built on the site of the old academy, to contain two schools-one to be equal to a high school and open to all who earned an entrance by scholarship, the other to be a grammar school for districts 5, 6 and 7; that the Island and Pamet districts be converted into one and a primary built near Elisha Atwood's, with a foot bridge built across the marsh to accom- modate the pupils. Ten thousand dollars was voted to carry out this .change, and Thomas N. Stone, Nathaniel H. Dill, Richard R. Free- man, David Wiley, Jesse Y. Baker, John Smith, R. Y. Paine, E. H. Atwood and Warren Newcomb were appointed a committee to build the necessary houses and complete the change.

In 1879 the further combination of the schools was effected. Syl- vanus Dill, Winslow Paine, David Wiley and William L. Paine were appointed a committee to act with the selectmen in choosing a site and erecting a house that should be central for the south districts; but a disagreement in the opinions of these men led to the formation of a new committee, who moved one of the old houses to the north side of Blackfish creek to serve the combined schools. The report of the school committee at this time said: " We believe that at no time

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

within the service of the oldest of your committee has there been such an interest taken by the scholars in their school as now." A boys' school was taught during the winter, the high school was well filled and an assistant was employed. Two grammar and seven prim- ary schools gave ample instruction to the pupils of the town. The salaries of the teachers aggregated $3,605.30, with current expenses that swelled the money paid for schools to over four thousand dollars.

In 1882 retrenchment was the cry of the times, and the general school committee was more prudent in the use of funds, greatly lessen- ing the expenses. In 1883 the books, maps and globes cost $150, and the amount received from the state school fund exceeded that of any former year. In 1885 a special class was again formed for boys who could attend only during the winter term, and it was productive of much good. Repairs were made to the buildings, and the expenses aggregated $4,640.

For the year 1888 the number of schools was considerably reduced, the town still furnishing to the diminished number of scholars the advantages of past years. The question of removing the high school building to the village was aggitated in 1888 and 1889, the measure was finally adopted and the building located on Main street in 1889. For 1889 one of the primaries was discontinued, the two at South Wellfleet were united, and the two grammar schools consoli- dated. The two primaries in the west part of the town were con- tinued and the entire outlay for teachers, during a school year of thirty-four weeks in the primaries and forty weeks in the higher branches, was about thirty-five hundred dollars, reducing the number of regular teachers from ten in 1888 to seven for the past year.

Since the incorporation of the town the efforts of its inhabitants have been to sustain the best of schools, and most liberally have the people yearly given for their support.

CHURCHES .- One meeting house sufficed in Old Eastham for three- quarters of a century, but when in 1718 a new meeting house was to be erected at the old center this part of the old town asked to be established as a separate parish. A precinct was formed in 1722 and a meeting house erected at Chequesset neck, which site is marked by the old town grave yard, just west of the present village of Wellfleet. The house was small-twenty feet square-but sufficed for the time.

Rev. Josiah Oakes, who had preached since the precinct was formed, was requested to continue his ministry longer, and in 1727, on account of some differences, was dismissed. John Sumner labored one year, and the pulpit was then supplied by David Hall, Ezra Whitmarsh and others. In 1730 Rev. Isaiah Lewis was settled, filling the pastor- ship until his death in 1786.

In 1735 a new meeting house was begun and was finished in 1740,

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TOWN OF WELLFLEET.

near the head of Duck creek where the next old burying place was laid out, and still remains to mark the spot. In 1765 an addition of eighteen feet was made, and a porch was built in front, with a steeple and vane. In 1767 the parsonage lands near the first meeting house were sold and the proceeds invested as a ministerial fund, and the church on Duck creek was again repaired in 1792.

Rev. Levi Whitman succeeded Mr. Lewis until 1808, when he was dismissed. The next pastor was Rev. Timothy Davis who served until April, 1830. The subsequent pastoral service has been rendered by Stephen Bailey for eight years; by supplies until 1840; by Revs. John Todd, 1843; Charles C. Beaman, 1846; George Denham, 1853; Samuel Hopley, 1857; Asa Mann, 1860; George F. Walker, 1863; Samuel Fairley, 1868; Emory G. Chaddock, 1874; Jeremiah K. Aldrich, 1879: Cassius MI. Westbrook, 1885; Daniel W. Clark, 188S.

The meeting house was enlarged in 1806, and the additional pews sold for more than the expense; but in 1829 a better and larger house was erected there, and a tower and bell added. In 1850 another move was made to erect a new church, and the contract waslet. The present house of worship in the village was built that year, the material of the old building being used as far as practicable. In the year 1873 this fourth and last church of the society was remodeled and repaired outside and in, a place for an organ added in the rear, all painted, and vestries added. The carpeting, repairing and additions cost over ten thousand dollars, which was paid by subscription.

In December, 1879, the steeple and town clock of the meeting house were blown into the street, and were replaced in a more sub- stantial manner.

This society of 168 years standing is the most ancient of thetown. The church has a membership of 180 and maintains a flourishing Sunday school. In the old days it was the practice for the minister in charge to perform the duties of church clerk. Giles Hopkins was elected to this office and kept the records until 1878, when Simeon Atwood, the present clerk, was chosen. Mr. Atwood's connection with the church music of this society is somewhat phenomenal from the number of years it covers. When a lad of seven he was alto singer in the church, and for full forty years has been leader of the choir and organist.

The Second Congregational Society was organized December 4, 1833, in the south part of the town, forty-two members withdrawing from the First church for that purpose. A commodious meeting house had been erected, which, with the repairs since made, still remains, and is the only one in South Wellfleet. Supplies filled the desk for three years, succeeded by Enoch Pratt in 1836, Isaac Jones in 1837, Solomon Hardy in 1838, and Wooster Willey in 1842. Isaac A.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Bassett was settled in 1842, remaining one year; and after a few supplies Henry Van Houten was ordained in 1844, succeeded in 1849 by Stephen Bailey. In 1852 Ezekiel Dow was settled, remaining two years, when in 1854 Enoch Sanford was called. After three years Joseph H. Patrick was settled, and preached until 1862, when William E. Caldwell was called. In the spring of 1865 he was succeeded by H. M. Rogers, who remained two years. The ministers from that time have been: 1867, William Brigham; 1869, J. W. C. Pike; 1872, William Leonard; 1877, supplies; 1878, B. F. Grant; 1880, J. P. Watson; 1885, Joshua L. Gay, who remains at this date. In 1861 a new pulpit and other internal improvements were added to the meeting house.

The Methodist Episcopal Society of Wellfleet, was organized in 1802. Rev. Robert Yallaley, of Provincetown, visited the town in 1797 and preached several times. Reverends Rickhow, Weeks, Broad- head, Snelling, Willard and others followed, and in 1807 this was made part of the Harwich circuit. Rev. Joel Steele was the first minister to travel the circuit; he was succeeded by Rev. E. Otis; he by Rev. Joseph A. Merrill up to 1810. In 1811 this church was made a circuit with Truro, which continued to 1827, when it was made a station by itself. The society was organized with three members- Abigail Gross, Thankful Rich and Lurana Higgins. Ephraim Hig- gins was the first-class leader. Accession to the membership followed, and in 1816 a church edifice was erected on the hill north of the vil- lage, which was the first house of this denomination in the town. From 1817 to 1824 the society grew, and in 1829 their house was enlarged to thirty-eight by sixty feet, with seventy pews on the floor, and galleries on both sides. In 1842-3 great revivals occurred and all the churches received large additions of members. The old house being too small for the worshippers, a new one was erected and dedi- cated December 5, 1843. This was the most elaborate church edifice on the Cape at that time, the site being changed from near the bury- ing ground to the present one in the village. Rev. Paul Townsend preached the dedicatory sermon.

The following list indicates what pastors have served the society, and the year they came: In 1812, Robert Arnold; 1813, Elias Marble; 1814, B. Otheman; 1815, Thomas C. Pierce; 1816, Orin Roberts; 1817, Benjamin Keith; 1818, Ephraim Wiley; 1820, Edward Hyde; 1822, L. Bennett; 1824, J. G. Atkins; 1825, Lewis Bates; 1827, Joel Steele; 1829, B. F. Lombard; 1831, N. S. Spaulding; 1832, Squire B. Haskell; 1833, H. Brownson; 1834, W. Emerson; 1836, B. F. Lombard; 1837, H. Perry; 1839, J. M. Bidwell; 1840, Paul Townsend; 1842, J. Cady; 1844, G. W. Stearns; 1846, John Lovejoy; 1848, Cyrus C. Munger; 1849, Samuel Fox; 1851, John Howson; 1853, J. E. Gifford; 1854, Erastus Benton; 1856, E. K. Colby; 1858, E. H. Hatfield; 1860, James Mather; 1862,

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TOWN OF WELLFLEET.

John Howson; 1863, A. N. Bodfish; 1865, William V. Morrison; 1867, Charles Nason; 1869, Walter Ela; 1870, A. J. Church: 1873, C. S. Macreading; 1875, A. P. Palmer; 1878, Edward Edson: 1881, Samuel M. Beal; 1883, Samuel McBurney; 1884, George A. Moss: 1886, Angelo Canoll; 18SS, Charles S. Davis.

In 1819 a Methodist camp meeting was held in South Wellfleet, and from 1823 to 1825 it was held on Bound Brook island, then was removed to Truro. These meetings rapidly increased the early membership.

The First Universalist Society, Wellfleet, was organized January 7, 1840, by electing Justin Taylor moderator, and subsequently, at the same meeting, he was elected treasurer of the society, with Martin Dill clerk. Subsequent meetings were held at Lyceum Hall, the rules . and by-laws were adopted, and preaching was provided. In 1844 the old Masonic Hall was purchased of Peter Snow, who had previously purchased the same of Adams Lodge, and it was remodeled into a suitable place for worship above, with a school room on the first floor. Here the society held services until 1863. when the Sons of Temper- ance Hall was purchased, which was named Union Hall in 1866, and has been known as such since.

The supplies for the pulpit, prior to the removal in 1866, had been: In 1839, Reverends E. Vose, J. B. Dodds, N. Gunnison and others; J. Grammer and James Gifford in 1840; Mr. Foster and others in 1841; Stillman Barden, Sylvanus Cobb and B. H. Clark up to 1845, and S. Pratt occupied the desk the greater portion of the time during the years 1856 and 1857. Rev. J. P. Atkinson followed in 1857. Occa- sional meetings were held, and when the society had purchased the present Union Hall, as has been stated, Rev. A. W. Bruce and William Hooper occupied the desk first, the latter organizing a prosperous Sunday school. The society had supplies until the settlement of H. A. Hanaford in 1874, who remained until 1876, when W. C. Stiles preached for a year. Occasional supplies were obtained until Rev. Donald Fraser, of Orleans, became a regular minister in 1SS7, con- cluding his labors in the autumn of 1889.

A ladies' aid society was established soon after the inception of the church, and to that the prosperity of this religious organization is largely due.

CEMETERIES .- The first ground for burial was the one on Cheques- set neck, where the first meeting house was erected. At present but few stones stand to mark the graves of the early settlers, and these bear dates of burials in the year 1716. When the meeting house was rebuilt at the head of Duck creek, another ground was laid out, which is now seldom used except to reunite the ashes of members of an old family. The burial place for the south part of the town was laid out

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

adjacent to the Second Congregational church, and is still used. The fourth, now in use, is the Pleasant Hill Cemetery-the Methodist burying place-just out of the village, near where their first meeting house stood. Near this, in 1858, May 24th, was instituted the Oak Dale Cemetery, of several acres. Under the instigation of Dr. Thomas N. Stone, a stock company was formed by the enterprising citizens, and has resulted in a creditable improvement on former grounds. The association having the management is governed by a constitution and by-laws, with competent officers, chosen annually. Benjamin Oliver was the first president, succeeded by John Chipman in 1862. Stephen Young was elected in 1874, and continued president until 1885. The present officers are: Isaiah C. Young, pres .; John Swett, vice-pres .; Simeon Atwood, sec. and treas.

VILLAGES .- Not until the present century had far advanced did the . present commercial center-Wellfleet village-indicate its import- ance. Hitherto the small business of the town was scattered, but the drifting sands having effectually closed Duck and Herring creek har- bors, the business naturally clustered around Duck creek and the head of Wellfleet bay. The early important center was west of the present village, in the vicinity of the the first church. Wellfleet vil- lage is picturesque in its winding streets, substantially built dwell- ings, towering churches, and its beautiful appearance from the bay beneath. It aspires to street lamps on streets that bear high-sounding names, and has business-like airs, with its two-score sails moored at its several wharves. Its importance will be seen as the reader pro- ceeds.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 89

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