USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Orleans > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Wellfleet > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 10
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Duck pond is in the centre of the town. It is a small round pond, fifteen fathoms deep, and the sand on the shore is white and beautiful.
Hopkins' pond, which took its name from Mr. Giles Hop- kins, who lived near it for many years, is one-fourth of a mile north of Duck pond, and about the same size, but not so deep.
Great pond is nearly round, one mile in circumference, and abounds with red perch. Four small ponds are near it, the waters of which sometimes flow into it.
Turtle pond is between Long pond and Hopkins' pond.
Long pond is on the eastern side of Great pond, about twenty rods distant, is one mile in length, and contains red perch. Near this pond are four or five dwelling-houses, and the village is called Lewis's neighborhood.
Gull pond is the largest and most beautiful pond in the town. It is perfectly round, one mile and three-fourths in circumference, and contains herring and perch. It is at the eastern extremity of Pearce's hollow, and near the back side of the Cape. Near it is a small pond, called Newcomb's, which is connected with Great pond by a stream of water, and another, called Herring pond, which is the source of Herring brook, from which herring are taken in the spring in considerable quantities.
There are three other small ponds near the eastern shore. Squire's pond is small and round; it is situated in Duck creek village, and affords perch and eels.
There are four islands in the town.
Bound Brook is in the north-west corner, and is nearly surrounded by a creek. There are a number of dwelling- houses on it. It was formerly covered with large wood, of which only a few scattered trees are left.
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South of this, one-eighth of a mile, is Griffin's island, and both are about two miles in circumference. The latter has no wood on it, and only six or seven houses.
South of this, one-fourth of a mile, is Great island, which forms the western side of the town. It is three or four miles in circumference, composed of sand, and produces only a little beach grass.
Lieutenant's island is on the east side of Wellfleet bay, and south of Blackfish creek harbor. It is a sand bank, a- bout two miles in circumference.
The public buildings are two Congregational meeting- houses and one Methodist, a town-house, a high-school and district school-houses, and a poor-house; and there are two wind-mills.
NOTICE OF SOME OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF THE NORTH PART OF EASTHAM.
This part of the town of Eastham was not settled until some years after the middle and south parts, owing to the greater sterility of the soil. The raising of corn, rye and oth- er agricultural products, was the business which the first set- tlers resorted to for their support.
The names of some of the families who first took up these lands, and settled in this part of the town, have been already noticed. Some of them were here before 1670, viz. John Witherell, William Dyer, George Ward, Moses Hatch, Thomas Newcomb, George Crisp, John Smith, Samuel At- kins, (son of Henry,) and some of his brothers, and others.
After this time and before 1700, many others settled in this part of the town, among whom were Nathaniel Covel, who married Judith Nickerson, of Chatham, 1696; Isaac Baker, who married Sarah Rich, daughter of John Rich;
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John Rich, who married Mary Treat, daughter of the minis- ter, 1700, and was a deacon of the church; John Yates, who married Abigail Rogers, 1698.
John Doane settled in the north part of Eastham before 1700. He had two brothers, who came from England with him, one of whom settled in Virginia, and was the ancestor of those of this name in the Southern states, and among bis descendants is Bishop Doane, of New Jersey. The other settled in Canada, and nothing further is known of him.
In 1723, John Doane was a justice of the peace, and beld a distinguished rank in the town.
Elisha Doane was the son of the preceding. He married Miss Cole, and had three sons, Elisha, Joseph and Heze- kiah. Joseph settled in Chatham, and the other two in this town.
In 1745, Hezekiah was a colonel in the service of the colonies against Cape Breton, and was present when the city of Louisburg, on that island, was surrendered to his Britan- nic majesty. Afterwards, while on a mackerel voyage near the Canada shore, he and his boat's crew were fired upon and taken by the Indians. After enduring great sufferings during a captivity of several months, they were bought by the French, set at liberty, and returned home.
His son, Elisha Doane, married for his first wife Hope Rich, who possessed a strong, masculine, but benevo- lent mind. They had three sons and two daughters, viz. Isaiah, who married Miss Bartlett, of Plymouth; Elisha, married Miss Cutler, of Boston; John, married Miss Holmes, of Boston; Hope, married Doct. Samuel Savage, of Barn- stable, and had five sons, and one daughter, who married Hon. Lemuel Shaw, chief justice of the Supreme Court; Hannah, married the Hon. Shearjashub Bourne, of Barnsta- ble, member of Congress, 1790.
Col. Elisha Doane was extensively engaged in the whale fishery for many years. He represented the town in the Gen- eral Court, and the county as senator, a number of years. In this body he is said to have commanded more re- spect and exerted a greater influence than any other member.
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He possessed a, strong mind and sound judgment. In the latter part of his life he lived mostly in Boston, where he en- gaged extensively in commerce, and in the whale and other fisheries, by which he accumulated a very large fortune. At his death,. his possessions in Boston, Wellfleet and other places were estimated at £120,000 sterling. He was the richest man in Massachusetts.
His second wife was Nancy Hoff, of Boston, who after- wards married Daniel Stoddard Greenleaf, and removed. to Roxbury.
Hezekiah, son of Dea. Elisha Doane, and brother of the colonel, married Elizabeth Crowell, of Chatham, and had seven sons and three daughters. Elisha was killed by a wind-mill, aged seventeen; Paul and Henry died in the ser- vice of the revolutionary war; Hezekiah died with small pox; William was lost in the ship America, which was foundered at sea, 1783; Joseph married Nancy Beals, of Boston; Elisha married Susan Bassett, of Yarmouth, and settled in that town: they had one son, John Bear, and two daughters, Susan and Elizabeth: John Bear was a man of excellent . character, and a successful merchant, and died, greatly la- mented, 1833, aged forty years; Susan married Rev. Na- thanael Cogswell of Yarmouth, and has had three sons and one daughter, William Henry, John Bear Doane, Elisha Doane, and Elizabeth.
Hezekiah Doane, father of the present Elisha Doane, Esq., was a deacon of the church. He was largely con- cerned in the whale fishery, and before the war owned six- teen sail of vessels. He belonged. to a crew called the 'seed corn gang of whalers.' The others were Col. Elisha Doane, Col. Elisha Cobb, Joseph Higgins and Capt. Winslow Lew- is. These men generally were of the same crew, and were the most expert and successful whalers in the place.
Some of the other early settlers in this town, were, Eb- enezer Freeman, Thomas Gross, John Atwood, John Treat, (son of the minister,) Elisha Eldridge, Samuel Brown, Ben- jamin Hamblin, James Cahoon, Benjamin Young, Daniel Mayo, Jeremiah Mayo, Eleazer Hamblin, David Cole:
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Capt. Winslow Lewis was a son of the minister. He had - one son, Capt. Winslow Lewis, of Boston, the father of Doct. Winslow Lewis.
Thomas Holbrook came from Scituate, and settled here before 1700. He had three sons, Naaman, Ezekiel and Jobn. John was the father of Thomas, and he was the fath- er of the present Joseph Holbrook, who has four sons, Thomas, Joseph, Samuel Waterman and Jesse.
Elisha Cobb, son of Eleazer, of Hingham, came here a- bout 1700. His son, Col. Elisha Cobb, was the father of the present Mr. Thomas Cobb, of Eastham.
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NORTH PRECINOT AND CHURCH, ORGANIZED JULY TWENTY-NINTH, 1723.
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In the town of Eastham, from 1646 to 1718, there bad been but one place of religious worship and one church.
The inhabitants, in all parts of the town, belonged to this society, and attended meeting together.
In 1720, they had become so numerous, and the distance from the south and north parts of the town was so great, that the inconvenience (especially for women and children) of attending public worship in the central part of the town, in- duced them to seek for a separation, that they might build meeting-houses and settle ministers among themselves.
At the above date, the south and middle parts agreed to have two precincts, but to remain as one church and society as regarded all the expenses of building and repairing their meeting-houses, settling their ministers, and all other charg- es.
Upon this, the north part, called Billingsgate, asked the town to set them off into a separate district or town, which. request being denied, they formed themselves into a separate precinct, called Billingsgate, or the north precinct, extend-
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ing as far south as Blackfish creek, and were no longer taxed by Eastham for the support of the ministry in the middle and south parts.
. They soon built a small meeting-house, which was located in Chequesset neck, and owned by proprietors. It was but. twenty feet square, and yet sufficiently large to accommodate the inhabitants.
The number of souls then living north of Blackfish creek cannot now be ascertained.
The first precinct meeting of which notice is found in the record, was held July the twenty-ninth, 1723, wben it was voted that the Rev. Josiah Oakes be requested to continue in the ministry with them, as formerly, and to pay him £80 a year. Mr. Oakes was the first minister they employed after their separation, and had preached to them as a supply. They now gave him a regular call to settle, which he an- swered in the affirmative. ,
'I accept of both your former and your latter call, together with your former and latter proposals ; and accordingly shall continue in the work of the ministry in the precinct, in order to a settlement among you. Witness my hand. JOSIAH OAKES.'
Soon after this, at a legal meeting to confirm the call and proposals of the precinct to Mr. Oakes, for his settlement over it, twenty-six voters entered their protest against the settlement of Mr. Oakes, and against the assessor's raising any salary for him: He continued to preach to them till 1725, when, at a regular precinct meeting, in consequence of the strong opposition made to his settlement, it was voted by a large majority, to reconsider all the former doings in regard to the call, salary and settlement of Mr. Oakes; and George Williamson and Elisha Eldridge, Jr., were appoint- ed agents to forbid Mr. Oakes' preaching any more in the meeting-house in the precinct. Also, Samuel Brown and Samuel Smith were chosen agents to advise with the neigh- boring ministers relative to their present circumstances, and to seek for and procure a minister to supply thern.
Mr. Oakes sent a petition to the General Sessions of the peace holden in Barnstable, for, redress, and was joined by
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Jobn Doane and fifteen others, who united in stating the ill management of the affairs of the precinct relating to his set- tlement. Samuel Brown and Samuel Smith were appointed agents to answer to this petition.
Mr. Oakes continued to preach in the precinct to a part of the inhabitants, without any prospect of a settlement of the difficulties, notwithstanding the decision of the Court, and the continued attempts of the committees chosen to heal them, and induce him to leave the place.
The precinct sent a petition to the General Court, relat- ing to the proceedings of Mr. Josiah Oakes in the work of the ministry, and the difficult circumstances in which they were placed, praying for their advice and interference.
In 1727, Mr. Oakes probably left the town. He was born in Boston, and graduated at Harvard College, 1708.
Mr. John Sumner preached to them for some months, but no measures were taken for his settlement.
In 1728, a meeting was held to see if the precinct would build a new meeting-house, or make an agreement with the proprietors of the old house; and it was concluded and a- greed between the parties that the non-proprietors should re- pair it, by putting in glass windows and otherwise, and keep it in repair for the space of four years, when they might take out the glass and other materials, and the house return to the proprietors, if they should see fit.
Mr. John Rich was appointed to procure a minister,
Rev. David Hall was heard as a candidate, and a com- mittee chosen to give him a call to settle in the work of the ministry, which being done, he asked for fourteen days to consider of it, and then gave his answer in the negative.
It was voted to raise £200 for the support of the ministry and other necessary charges."
A committee was appointed to confer with the president and fellows of the college, respecting some suitable minister to preach and settle with them.
Mr. Ezra Whitmarsh was obtained, and after hearing him a number of Sabbaths, they gave him a call to settle with them for the consideration of £90 a year, and £120 settle-
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ment, with four acres of land as his own, and the improve- ment of the ministerial lands. June 16, 1729, Mr. Whit- marsh gave a conditional answer, and as they could come to no satisfactory agreement, he left the town.
Voted £120 usual money for the support of the ministry and other necessary charges .*
1730. Appointed Joseph Atkins to procure a minister for the precinct, and Rev: Isaiah Lewis was obtained.
A large committee was chosen to make proposals to Mr. Lewis, to settle with them on the following terms: £110 salary yearly in good and passable money,'and what strangers and persons from neighboring towns shall contribute, being providentially here, shall be added;' also, £200 as a settle- ment, in good money; also, the improvement of all the min- isterial lands and meadows owned by the precinct. To which Mr. Lewis gave the following answer:
" To the Committee of the North Precinct in Eastham:
. 'Having taken the matter into serious consideration, and after the advice of sundry worthy persons, and withal'humbly applying myself to God, in whose hands are the hearts of all for direction and assist- ance, in this great and weighty affair, have come to this conclusion, . looking, I hope, at the glory of God, the advancing of the kingdom of Christ, and the care of souls, (though I may cry out in the Apostle's language, ' Who is sufficient for these things?') to give my consent to tarry with you, and accept of God's call and your invitation, always expecting an honorable and suitable maintenance, as becomes a min- ister of the gospel-withal earnestly begging your prayers, that God would make me a wise and faithful minister of the New testament, rightly dividing the word of truth.
' I remain your hearty well wisher, and, I hope, your souls' friend, 'ISAIAH LEWIS.'
At this meeting a committee was appointed to request and receive the approbation of the neighboring ministers for the settlement of Mr. Lewis.
Voted to raise £240 for the support of the ministry and other charges.
Mr. Lewis was born in Hingham, graduated at Harvard college in 1723, and was ordained here in 1730. Up to
. By usual money is meant that which was current at that time.
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this time the church had not been organized, which was done by the council who were called here on this occasion. At this time the church had fifty male members, and probably more than that number of females. Elisha Doane was dea- con of the church.
1734. Sylvanus Snow and five others, living on the south line of the precinct, petitioned the General Court to be re- leased from paying any public charge here, and a committee was chosen to answer the Court on this petition.
1734. At the meeting it was agreed and voted to build a new meeting-house for the precinct, and that it should stand to the southward of the head of Duck creek, between the house of Joseph Young and the bridge.
Also, that £200 be raised to build the house.
Voted, to request the town of Eastham to set off this north precinct, so that it may be made a township. This request was not granted.
In 1735, Dea. Elisha Doane and Capt. Samuel Smith were appointed as agents to carry on the building of the new meeting-house.
John Rich was one of the deacons of the church.
In 1740, the precinct voted to cart sixteen cords of wood and plough two acres of land for Mr. Lewis, and to lay out more meadow for his use; also, to finish the meeting-house, by lathing, plastering and completing the whole, underpin- ning the sides and pointing them with lime, and paving round the house with stones and gravel, all which was to be done for £63.
In 1741, £8 a year was added to Mr. Lewis' salary.
In 1743, £32 old tenor was added to Mr. Lewis' salary:
In 1745, two spots for pews were sold to repair the glass for the meeting-house.
In 1747, Dea. John Rich died. Mr. Jeremiah Mayo was chosen as one of the precinct committee in his place, and to petition the General Court to abate their part of the province tax for the ensuing year.
As there was a great depreciation of the colonial bills of credit, it was voted that Mr. Lewis have £60 new tenor for
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his salary. He refused to accept this, and proposed "that the former agreement should stand for the future, and that he should give to the parish an acquittance for the time past, on account of the fall of money, and that they should pay him £75 new tenor.' This was complied with by the par- ish.
. In 1750, Mr. Lewis' salary appears to have been in an unsettled state, owing to the depreciation of money and the high price of the articles of subsistence; consequently a com- mittee was appointed to confer with him, and ascertain what was the lowest sum, for the time past and for the time to come, with which he would be satisfied. Such was the fluctuation in value of the money in circulation and the nec- essaries of life at that time, that no certain calculations could be made for future years. It was therefore agreed that his salary for the ensuing year should be £53, 68. 8d.
In 1753, another attempt was made to fix on some amount as a permanent salary for Mr. Lewis, but the same difficul- ties prevented as before.
. Money was voted to repair the balcony and the house, as was necessary.
In 1754, a committee was appointed, and full power given them, to see if Mr. Lewis would release the precinct from the original agreement between them, and if so, on what con- ditions, for the time past and for the time to come. This committee reported, that they had offered Mr. Lewis £66, 13s. 4d. lawful money as his yearly salary, with the parson- age lands heretofore improved by him; to which Mr. Lew- is answered 'that he would accept of this, with the addition of £3, 6s. Sd.' 'This was not accepted by the parish, and Mr. Lewis said he would be satisfied with what they should vote hereafter.
It was however finally settled and agreed that his salary in fature should be £50 sterling, and £8 for his loss on the past depreciation of money, for which he gave a receipt in full.
'I acknowledge to have received in full all the grants that have been made to me by the precinct, to June the tenth, 1754, and do 17
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hereby acquit and make void the original agreement to that time and forward, providing the precinct make good their engagement to me to that date, desiring withal that I may be paid half-yearly.
'ISAIAH LEWIS.
'EASTHAM, August 8th, 1755.'
In 1755, general repairs were made on the meeting-house, and Richard Arey was appointed a committee to obtain the materials and see that the work was done.
. In 1758, Ezekiel Harding having become a Baptist, the parish voted that his tax for repairs on the meeting-house, and for the support of the minister, be remitted. Mr. Har- ding was the first Baptist who resided in the town, and since there have been but few of this sect.
In 1759, it was agreed that Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms and Watts' Hymns be used and sung by the con- gregation.
It was also agreed to fence the burying-place.
In 1761, a bridge was built over Duck creek, near the meeting-house, sufficient for carts and chairs to pass over at high water; and another, with a single plank for foot passen- gers, near the widow Doane's.
Thomas Holbrook died this year.
A grant was made to Dea. Reuben Rich, of the privilege for taking alewives in the Herring brook for four years, at £2 per year.
It was now agreed to ask the town of Eastham to set them off into a district or township. Money was raised to defray the expenses, and Elisha Doane was chosen as their agent for this purpose.
A committee having been chosen to procure a school-mas- ter, to keep a public free school at the expense of the pre- cinct, they reported that they had agreed with a man for £40 per year; also, that the precinct should be divided into three school districts, and to have a school committee in each dis- trict. ''The report was accepted, and Ephraim Covel and Joseph Ward were chosen for the southern district, and Jer- emiah Mayo, Capt. Elisha Doane, Thomas Higgins and Elisha Holbrook, for the middle and northern districts.
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In 1762, the precinct voted to add seven men to assist their agent, Capt. Elisha Doane, in getting this part of the town of Eastham set off into a district; and adding two others, mak- ing ten of the freeholders, they sent their petition to the town of Eastham, showing their reasons, and the town granted the request; whereupon the committee sent their petition to his excellency Governor Bernard, the Council, and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, praying that this precinct (with the exception of Sylvanus Snow, who desired still to belong to Eastham,) might be set off as a dis- trict, by the name of Wellfleet. This prayer was granted, and the act of incorporation passed May 25th, 1763.
Signed by Timothy Ruggles, speaker of the House, and. A. Oliver, secretary of the Council.
The petition was referred, in the House, to Dea. Foster of Plymouth, Doct. Smith of Sandwich, Col. Clapp of Scituate, Col. Bradford of Kingston, and to Col. Otis of Barnstable, of the Council.
Full powers and privileges were granted to the district, like other towns, except the privilege of choosing a repre- sentative to the General Court, in doing which they were required to join with the inhabitants of Eastham.
It was also ordered by the General Court that John Free- man, Esq., of Eastham, issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant of the district, requiring him to call the first meet- ing of the said inhabitants, in order to choose such officers as, by law, towns are empowered to choose in March an- nually. He issued his warrant, directed to Maj. Elisha Doane, requiring him to notify said meeting. Accordingly the district assembled at the time required, the fourth day of August, 1763. Samuel Smith, Esq., was chosen modera- tor. The following officers were elected: Elisha Doane, district clerk; Elisha Doane, Dea. Reuben Rich and Sam- uel Smith, Jr., selectmen; Ephraim Covel, Ebenezer At- wood and John Sweat, assessors; and all other town officers.
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DISTRICT OF WELLFLEET, FROM 1763 TO 1776.
The first acts of the district, after its organization, were to raise money for the public expenses, &c., to lay out more convenient highways, (especially from the north-east arm of Duck creek, near the meeting-house, to Ezekiel Holbrook's,) and to build a bridge over the creek, for carts and horses.
A committee was chosen to settle with Eastham respect- ing the support of the poor; also, to pay Mr. Lewis £1 lawful money, for the loss of the time of his carpenters while building his house.
Eastham paid to Wellfleet £20 as their part of the school money. The district now took a deeper interest in the sup- port of schools, and raised, more money for the education of their children, than heretofore. They agreed to pay the school-master £26, 13s. 8d.,, with board, for his services; and chose a committee to oversee and regulate the schools.
In 1764, measures were taken to prevent so great a use of spirituous liquors.
In 1765, it was agreed to open and enlarge the meeting- house sixteen feet, to build a porch in front, and a steeple, with a spire and vane, like that in Harwich. A large com- mittee, Major Elisha Doane being chairman, was appointed to make a contract with the carpenters and oversee the work. Mr. Thomas Young was the contractor, for £133, 6s. 8d. Another contract was made with Mr. Elisha Holbrook, to provide all the bricks, lime and other materials, to underpin and pave round the house, for £16.
In 1766, it was agreed that whatever person should be chosen district clerk, should serve as district treasurer, with- out any premium, if the same were chosen to both offices.
It was voted to petition the. Court of Quarter Sessions to abate the county tax of the district, and Maj. Doane was appointed to prefer the request.
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