USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Chatham > History of Chatham, Massachusetts : formerly the Constablewick or Village of Monomoit ; with maps and illustrations and numerous genealogical notes > Part 16
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92. In general it can be said that the Cape people in these times were not anxious to leave their families at the mercy of privateers, in order to fight the French and Indians on the northern frontier. Capt. John Thacher writing to Gov. Stoughton on Dec. 22, 1694, respecting warrants for impressing soldiers, reports as follows: "From Mono- moy I had one man sent forthwith who waited 7 or 8 days, but not a man more apeering 1 released him. * * *
* I would only crave leave further to say that we in this County are under very greate disadvantageat this time especialy for our men were allaramed with the press neare a fortnight before the warrant came to me, souldiers being prest and sent from the northern towns. So that ours were upon their watch.
2 ly. All our young and strong men are imployed in whaling and mostly have their rendivous remote from the towns and if they see any man coming towards them, pres- ently mistrust; make a shoute and run into the thickets. .
3 ly. Those that can't avoyd being taken, If they have money, pay and if they have it not. they will make friends and get it." Proc. Mass. Hist. Society Vol. 43. 507.
But while they avoided impressment as much as possible, it is certain that many throughout the Cape towns were to be found in the whale boat fleets, which Col. Church five times led against the northern enemies during King William's and Queen Anne's Wars.
CHAPTER IX.
REV. HUGH ADAMS AND THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
A fter the death of Mr. Vickery, the inhabitants, in Jan- uary 1703, agreed with Mr. Gershom Hall of Harwich to preach to them, promising to pay him "twenty pound yearly so long as he continew in that work." It is sup- posed that he served as preacher at this time and also a part of the next year, as in November 1704, the inhabitants voted to raise "ten pound to pay Mr. Hall for his coming and preching for us the last sumer past." In April 1705 they were again on the lookout for a preacher and, in May 1706, they offered Mr. Hall 26 pounds a year, if he would come and preach to them, but without success.
Mr. Hall was not an ordained minister. He was, like Mr. Vickery, a layman, who possessed natural gifts as a speaker. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Larned) Hall of Barnstable and Yarmouth, being born in the former place March 5, 1648. He married Bethiah, daughter of Edward Bangs of Eastham, and settled on the east side of the Herring river at the "South Sea," a little before 1688, being a pioneer in that locality. His neighborhood, as we have seen, was annexed to Mon- omoit in 1691 and he was chosen as its first deputy to the Plymouth Court. He was by occupation a farmer and millwright. "His house, it is understood, stood on the high ground which overlooks the meadows, near or upon
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the spot where the late Isaiah Kelley's house stood."1 Ile died October 31, 1732, and was buried at Nobscusset.2
In July 1706 the selectmen were authorized to interview Mr. Hall again and see if they could not get him for six months, and if not, then to get "a coleg man as cheap as they can." They reported to the village on October 31 that they had hired a college man for six months for 15 pounds and his board, his time to begin from the first Sabbath of October. The person referred to was Rev. John Latimer, the first educated minister employed in the place. At the expiration of his six months, he was hired, March 13 1706-7, for a year longer at the rate of 48 pounds for the year, he paying his own board, an arrangement probably more to his liking. In 1708 a strong effort was made to induce him to settle permanently. The inhabitants voted to buy the farm late of Mr. Vickery and give it to him, also to buy boards, shingles, etc., whenever he should wish to build a new house thereon,3 to pay him 54 pounds yearly and 10 pounds additional, whenever the "South Sea " people should be added to the village. For some reason, how- ever, the negotiations failed.
Mr. Latimer was the son of JJohn Latimer of Wethersfield, Conn. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1703. It is not likely that he had been settled as a pastor before coming to Monomoit. He was a young man, unmarried and just entering upon his life work. Ile boarded around at first among his parishioners, among whom he ap- pears to have been popular and with whom he formed some
1. Mr. Joslah Palne In Deyo, History of Barnstable Co., 835.
2. Mr. Hall's first wife dled Oct. 15, 1696, and he m. 2nd Martha Bramhall of Hing- ham. Children of Gershom and Bethlah (Bangs) Hall: 1. Samuel, b. in 1669, m. Patience Ryder of Yarmouth Feb. 7, 1697. 2. Edward, b. in 1671, m. 1st Mercy Stewart, dau. of lingh, of Monomoit; 2nd Sarah, widow of Daniel Cole, Nov. 17, 1717. 3. Beth- lah, b. abont 1672, m. Ist Kenelm Winslow of Harwich; 2nd, Joseph Hawes of Yar- mouth. 4. Mercy, b. - , m. John Chase of Harwich. 5. Jonathan, b. - , m. Ist Hannah Bramhall of Dover, 2nd in 1751, Elizabeth Hedge of Chatham.
3. The house on the place was then old and out of repair.
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
strong friendships. Ile went from Monomoit to that part of Eastham called Billingsgate (Wellfleet), where he was resident in 1711.4 He died in Boston late in 1713 unmar- ried. In his will he remembered two of his friends at Mon- omoit, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Godfrey, with a legacy of 50 pounds.5
On August 1, 1709, the term of Mr. Latimer having ex- pired and further offers being refused by him, the village chose Daniel Hamilton as town agent to look out and hire a minister. Two months later (Oct. 20) Mr. Hamilton and Ebenezer Hawes were chosen "to make preparation for a minister, that if Mr. Cotten coms to Sandwedg for them to acompeny him here to this town and provid for him here." The Mr. Cotton referred to was probably Rev. Theophilus Cotton, a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1701, and brother of Rev. Rowland Cotton, who was settled at Sand- wich. If he came at all, his stay was short, as in January, 1710.the inhabitants "agreed to heir Mr. Short for half a year, if he could be heired." Rev. Matthew Short, who is referred to, came and preached a few months in the early part of the year, receiving 15 shillings per Sunday. He was the son of Henry and Mary or Sarah Short of Newbury, Mass., born March 14, 1688, and graduating at Harvard College in 1707. Fresh from his studies, he doubtless gathered expe- periences from his brief stay not wholly valueless in his later career. He settled at Attleborough, being ordained there November 12, 1712, where he remained till May 31, 1715. He was at Saco, Me., from 1716 to 1722" and the following year was settled over the East Precinct of Norton (now Easton), where he died April 16, 1731.7
4. State Archives, Vol. 113, 606, 607.
5. In his will dated Nov. 27, 1713. he describes himself as of Eastham, but then re- siding lu Boston. John Otis of Barnstable was his executor. Suff. Probate Records, XVIII., 196.
6. He was Chaplain of Capt. Samuel Hinck's Co. from March 28 to November 21, 1722, at Winter larbor, Me. N. E Hist. and Gen. Register XV, 286.
7. For a full account of Mr. Short see Cballin, Ilistory of Easton. See the Appendix of this history for one of Mr. Short's sermons. See also a pamphlet entitled "A Thankful Memorial of God's Sparing Mercy," by Mr. Short (Boston Pub. Library).
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INCORPORATION.
On June 26 1710, the village voted to raise the balance due him for preaching and chose JJohn Atkins " town agent" to procure a successor. It does not appear from the town records whom Mr. Atkins engaged, but Rev. Joseph Lord in his Diary states that Rev. Jonathan Russell Jr. and Rev. Benjamin Allen were heard here about this time.8 They supplied the pulpit only a short time, Mr. Russell succeeding to his father's pastor- ate in Barnstable after the death of the latter on Feb. 2, 1711, and Mr. Allen settling later at Bridge- water.
It will be observed from the foregoing narrative that the village had been rather unfortunate in its efforts to secure preachers. Although, since the death of William Nickerson Sen., it had been steadily growing in population, although new settlers, coming from Eastham on the one side and from Yarmouth on the other, had increased the village to above fifty families, although it was no longer obliged to hire lay preachers, but could support a regularly trained minister, yet it had failed for some reason to keep those who had come to them for any length of time. Mr. Latimer, who stayed longest, had remained only two and a half years. The reason for this probably was that the outlook for the place was not considered to be bright. It was small in area and the General Court had refused to increase its territory. According to the ideas and mode of life of that time, it could never accommodate many settlers. Moreover its location was thought to be unfavorable, in those times when England was almost constantly at war with France, as it was considered to be peculiarly exposed on two sides to attacks from French privateers, who occasionally hovered
8. " After Mr. Short was Mr. Russel awhile and Mr. Benj. Allen too. Mr. Russel's mother has told me that it was likely that he would have settled here, If it had not been that, his father dying, be supplied his father's pulpit and succeeded his father." Diary of Rev. Joseph Lord, Yarmouth Register, Dec. 17, 1846.
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
around the coast and threw the people into a panic. This continued lack of settled church conditions soon had its effect on some of the settlers. They became discouraged at the prospect. Others were dissatisfied with the taxes which the Colony levied upon the place, considering them to be burdensome. Still others were in fear of impressment in the frequent drafts made by the Colony for its army and navy, which would leave their families more defenceless than ever against the dreaded privateers. There were also long standing differences among the people themselves as to the disposition of the common land, on the settlement of which depended the future growth of the village and to which no solution appeared.
The outlook to many of the villagers seemed so dark that, in the spring and summer of 1711, thirteen families emigrated from the village for one reason or another. Of this, the first emigration, comparatively little is known. The greater part of the emigrants went to a place in Dela- ware called Duck Creek, now called Smyrna. It is situated in Kent County on the Delaware Bay. There were 13 men, of age and liable to pay taxes, in the families who went to this place, while 11 other men of taxable qualifica- tions went with their families to other places not known. The emigrants to Duck Creek included the families of Jeremiah Nickerson, son of Joseph, Robert Eldredge, son of Robert, and perhaps Samuel Eldredge.9 The movement
9. The evidence connecting Jeremlah Nickerson with this emigration Is quite com- plete. It appears by deed from William Covell to John Crowell, Jr., dated Sept. 10, 1716, (Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 11,012) that Nickerson sold on May 29 and November 28, 1710, 20 acres of upland and 4 acres of meadow at Monomoit to William Covell. On October 10, 1711, Nicholas Nixon, conveyed to Jeremiah Nickerson of Kent Co. Del. a farm of 100 acres on the north side of Murder Creek. (Kent Co. Deeds H. 6) . On Oct. 31, 1724, the will of Jeremiah Nickerson of Kent Co., Del., was proved, in which he mentions sons Joshua and Joseph, and daughters Lydla, Ruhamah, Priscilla and Mary, the last two under 18 years of age. The name of his widow Is not given. Grand- sons Nehemiah and Jeremiah are also mentioned. The appearance of the names Joseph and Ruhamah among his children is significant. See also the settlement of estate of Robert Eldredge (Thomas Eldredge administrator) In Kent Co. Del. Wills in 1732.
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to Duck Creek probably extended all over the lower part of the Cape, as Elisha and Isaac Snow, sons of John Snow of Truro, are known to have been among the emigrants there.10
There were only about 33 families remaining in the vil- lage after this emigration, the heads of which were the fol- lowing, as near as can be ascertained: Thomas Atkins, John Atkins, Samuel Atkins, Nathan Bassett, Nathaniel Covell, William Covell, Joseph Covell, Jehoshaphat El- dredge, William Eldredge, Joseph Eldredge, George Godfrey, Moses Godfrey, Jonathan Godfrey, Daniel Hamil- ton, Joseph Harding, Ebenezer Hawes, Thomas Howes, Caleb Lumbert, James Griffith, John Nickerson, John Nick- erson, Jr., William Nickerson, (son of John), William Nickerson, Sen., William Nickerson, Jr., Thomas Nicker- son, Nathaniel Nickerson, Robert Nickerson, Robert Pad- dock, Richard Scars, Daniel Sears, John Smith, John Taylor, Hugh Stewart, Samuel Tucker.
At this critical juncture Rev. Hugh Adams was induced to come among them in the spring of 1711. He was the son of John and Avis Adams of Boston, born May 7, 1676, and graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1697. An early missionary movement to establish non-con- formist churches in South Carolina was then at its height in Boston and vicinity and Mr. Adams was drawn into it. He took his widowed mother and the four youngest chil- dren and sailed for Charleston in the summer of 1698, arriving there in July or August. A few months of illness followed, after which, in the spring of 1699, he was settled over a parish on both sides of the Wando river about ten miles north of Charleston. In the fall of this year, his mother, Avis Adams, died of an epidemic at Charleston, leaving the four orphan children to his care.11 He married
10. See Kent Co. Del. Deeds and Wills; especially Book E page 3 of Kent Co. Deeds. 11. She canght the Infection while nursing Rev. John Cotton, who died of the epidemic at Charleston Sept. 18, 1699.
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
here in 1701 Susanna Winborn, probably daughter of Rev. John Winborn formerly of Manchester. Mass., but now prob- ably of South Carolina. Not long after he moved to a parish on the Ashley river about 16 miles west of Charleston, remain- ing about two years. From here he went to a parish on the south fork of the Edisto river about 50 miles from Charleston. These parishes were all new settlements, where the church members were few. He had trouble in getting his salary and he was harassed by debtors. In this connec- tion a thrilling and interesting incident which happened to him at Charleston, in 1702, is described by him in his narrative of providential occurrences in his life.12 Dis- couraged at the niggardliness of his flock and fearing an
12. One "William Scrivener, originally of Kittery in New England, a ship carpenter, but then pretending to be a mighty preacher of the Annbaptist error," having preached several times at a house in Mr. Adams' parish at Ashley River, Mr. Adams determined to meet him in public discussion and combat his doctrines. Hle challenged MIr. Scriv- ener to meet bim in debate on June 10th, 1702, at this same house, to which Mr. Scrivener replied by naming June 4th as the day and the city of Charleston as the place for the discussion. Mr. Adams suspected that this was a shrewd scheme to get him Into the hands of the sheriff at Charleston, who had warrants to arrest him for debt. but he bravely determined to take the chances, and set out on June 9 with Dr. Fergu- son, one of his leading parishioners, and spent the night at an inn on the borders of the city. The next morning Dr. Ferguson obtained from the minister of the Church of England the keys to the church, where the discussion was to take place, and brought them to Mr. Adams, Informing him that he had seen the sheriff walking along the highway waiting for him, but that, as he was a fat man, he thought he could slip by and outrun him. Fortunately. However, some other parishioners of Mr. Adams came along about this time on their way to hear the discussion, and one of them, John Sul- livan, who was riding a fast "Virginia white steed." dismounted and gave his seat to Mr. Adams, who whipped up as he neared the sheriff, dashed by him at a fiery gallop and reached the church in safety, where he locked himself in, admitting only the doctor and his friends when they came. At the appointed time a crowd came and demanded admission. Mr. Scrivener sent word that he could not attend on account of illness, but would be there the next day. The people dispersed, except the sheriff and his deputies. who kept watch for Mr. Adams at the church door. The latter and his friends with him decided to stay in the church, being supplied with food and bedding by thoughtiui neighbors. "So." writes Mir Adams, "was the Church of England my large prison and the Govenor's pew the bed chamber for myself and my said companions." The next day the people collected again at the appointed time and Scrivener sent the same excuse. Thereupon Mr. Trott, the Queen's Attorney-General, who was to preside at the discussion, addressed the waiting people outside, telling them of Mr. Adams' plight, and they were so moved by his bravery in coming to the debate under such cir- cumstances that they subscribed money enough to satisfy the sheriff, and Mr. Adams returned home a free man. Scrivener found it convenient to seek the country for his heaith for several months and the Anabaptist movement In that country met with rather a severe frost.
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Indian war which threatened, he returned to New England in the summer of 1706, leaving his wife and ten months' old boy to join him later. He went at once to Braintree, where a new church in the South Precinct was being formed, and became its first pastor, preaching the first sermon in the new meeting house Oct. 27, 1706, and being or- dained there Sept. 10, 1707. He had trouble here about his salary, which was small, the parish being in its infancy, and remained only three years after his ordination. After five months in Boston, he came to Monomoit in the spring of 1711.13
Before Mr. Adams came, the number of male church members resident at Monomoit, who might have been gath- ered into a separate church, had been as high as eleven, but after the emigration of the spring of 1711 there were only seven left, who were available for that purpose. The most of these were members of Mr. Treat's church at Eastham, but one of them, Mr. Thomas Nickerson, was a member of the Harwich church, having joined it on October 9, 1709.14 Moreover, the church building, although in use for about ten years, was not, it seems, wholly completed, 15 and there was no parsonage for the new minister. Several times since the death of Mr. Vickery, negotiations had been entered into with his son Jonathan of Truro. for the purpose of buying his father's farm for the use of the ministry, but no purchase was actually made. 16
13. The above statements regarding MIr. Adams have been obtained chiefly from a man- nscript of his written in 1725, entitled "A Narrative of A Particular Faith and Answers of Prayers." &c, being an appendix to a "Theosophical Thesis" written by him and now lost. This appendix is to be found In the Belknap papers belonging to the Mass. Historical Society, to which I am indebted for the privilege of examining It. See also N. H. Genealogical Record VI, I; 5 Mass. Hist. Collections VI. It; 6 1b 1, 324; Pro- ceedings Mass. Hist. Society (2nd Ser.) I, 158; Pattee, History of Braintree; N. E. Hist. Gen Register XXIII, 297.
14. All his children were baptized with him at this time. His wife had been admit- ted to the same church on Nov. 14. 1708. Ilar. Ch. Rec. 4 Mayflower Descendant 247.
15. It was voted, March 23. 1711-12. that the selectmen should forthwith cause the meeting house to be finished Whether it was done or not Is uncertain, as many votes were passed in these early days and never executed.
16. See Town Records. It was finally bought by Mr. Thomas Atkins In 1714. See page 124. note 86 supra.
-(13)-
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
When Mr. Adams came, another effort was made to provide accommodations for the ministry, and a lot of ten acres was procured from the proprietors of the common lands, on which Mr. Adams erected a house and barn, probably with the help of the inhabitants. Afterwards, when the common lands were divided, Mr. Adams was given a lot of 40 acres next to his house, making a farm of 50 acres in all.17 This farm was located on the west side of the cross road leading southerly from the old cemeteries and was about 40 rods from the meeting house which stood on the lot now forming the south. part of the old ceme- teries. IS
Mr. Adams, who was procured for the village by the as- sociation of ministers of the county, clearly came at a time when the fortunes of the village were lowest and the emi- gration movement was at its height. He set himself indus- triously at work to stay the tide and it must be allowed that he did very much for the village at this time. That he did not succeed in all his plans was probably not altogether his own fault. His idea was to stop emigration by securing the exemption of the people from military drafts and by pro- curing a reduction of the Province taxes, and at the same time to strengthen the church and village by the annexation of the South Side people and by securing the incorporation of the place with a suitable English name. He was author- ized by the village in June, 1711, to prosecute in its behalf a petition to the General Court involving these objects, and the selectmen were authorized to procure and give him ten pounds therefor. This petition, in his own excellent hand-
17. See "A Proprietor's Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's Office; Boston News Letter May 21, 1716; and the following from Mr. Adams' "Narrative of a Particular Faith," &c. That Summer [17]]] I Removed my Family unto the Town of Chatham, where I was settled with them In a house of our own, which the Lord had Enabled me to build on my Land of about 50 Acres near the Meeting House."
18. The exact location of the farm may be seen on the map at page 132. The lot of 40 acres is shown thereon as lot 9 and the 10 acres where the house stood adjoins it on the north.
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INCORPORATION.
writing and of his own composition, is still preserved in the State archives. It gives an excellent account of local con- ditions and is presented in full herewith.
To His Excellency The Governour, To The Honourable The Council, And The Representatives of This Province, In The Generall Court Assembled : THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS OR PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF MONOMOY HUMBLY SHEWETH:
Forasmuch as the The Towns in This Province Have happily Ex- perienced, The Christian Rulers of our Land In The General Court Assembled, To Be Nursing Fathers To The Churches of God In Pro- moting The Interest of Christ's Kingdom amongst them:
We are, therefore, hereby Encouraged also, even in our present Oppressing Aggrievances, to seek a Redress under The Wings of Their Honourable Patronage, Hoping that upon This True Declara- tion of our Most Discouraging & almost Ruinating Circumstances, The Christian Candour & Paternall Sympathy of His Excellency & Their Honours can not but Compassionate & Relieve us.
Now, although our Settlement for a Township or Village was so far granted unto us by The Honourable Court of Plymouth Govern- ment in The Year 1690-1, And We have Since been so Populated as to consist of above Fifty Families, (but now are Reduced by the Frowns of Providence to about Thirty & Three Rateable Families & Male Inhabitants) yet have we never been Favoured with a Gathered Church nor with a Settled Minister: By Reason whereof all this while hitherto our small Congregation may be Termed For- saken & Desolate, and to an Eye of Reason under its present im- poverishing & diminishing circumstances, is therefore like to be so worse & worse speedily, even unto utter Desolation, especially if the Inhabitants of our Village shall go on so to sell & Desert, and None others like to come in to Settle in their Room, For Thirteen Families wherein were about Twenty & Three Rateable men have lately Removed away from amongst us, for want of a Minister Set- tled amongst us, and some by Reason of Taxes & Lest they should be again pressed out to War or into the Galley, Thirteen men of them with the families they belong to, have already Removed away from us Since Last April unto a Place named Duck Creek In Pennsyl- vania; Besides (except we can speedily obtain some Protection & Relief) Diverse more are purposing to sell (if they can, tho' it be for a song) and to Remove their families thither also by the next Opportunity of a passage, and the other Eleven men with their Fam- ilies they belong to are Removed out of our Village into other Town.
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HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ships for the Same Reasons of our Peerless Discouragements, Oppres- sions & hazzards of the Enemy by Sea. For our Village or Neigh- bourhood, being the Very Elbo of all the Cape, the farthest from Boston on a Direct line South East and Nine or Ten Miles Distant from the Nearest Town, which is Harwich, We are the most Exposed to the Invasion & Spoyle of the French Privateers of any Town on the Cape, We having a Good Harbour for a Vessel of Fifty Tunns to Run into & to Ride at Anchor within Musket Shot of several of Our Houses fronting on Oyster Cove & near our Stage Neck. And if the French Privateer, which has been cruising on our Shore or very near it at times frequently ever since the beginning of April Last. (who also chased out to Sea a Sloop belonging to our Place about three weeks ago, should Take any who are acquainted with the channel into our Harbour, They might come in and utterly Destroy our Lit- tle Place before we could have any Help from any of the Neighbour- ing Towns, The nearest of which is Nine or Ten miles Distant from us Moreover We have been so discouragingly burdened with the pressing away our Men to Weaken & Expose us, and with the Un- proportionable Quota of our Province Tax, with about Twelve Fam- ilies taken Off from our South Shore (contrary to the Plymouth Gov- ernment's Grant of our Bounds) to be under Harwich, And with the Removal of so Many Men & Families from us to the said Duck Creek and Other Places; That we seem to be under No Rational capacity or Probability of ever Obtaining & Maintaining either an Orthodox Learned Minister or a Gathered Church State; Except His Excellency & Their Honours of the General Court will Please to Grant us the Following Petitions:
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