USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Orleans > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Wellfleet > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 12
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blessed with faithful ministers, and a disposition was mani- fested by the church to co-operate with them in the salvation of sinners. In 1834 God revived his work again, and a goodly number were added to the church.
In 1842 and '43 the people were visited with a greater dis- play of God's power and mercy in the conversion of sin- ners, than had, probably, ever been witnessed since the set- tlement of the town. It is supposed that about two hundred persons were the. subjects of it. One hundred and twenty- five were added to the Methodist church, and others to the Congregational church.
The old house now being too small, and the site not so . eligible, it was determined to take it down and build a new one, sufficiently large to accommodate all who might desire to worship in it.
With the divine blessing the house was built. It is sixty- seven feet by fifty-seven, and contains one hundred and eighteen pews on the floor, with galleries on both sides, and at the end opposite the pulpit, for the choir. The pulpit is neat, in imitation of marble ; in the rear of which is a beau- tiful painting. The altar is of mahogany. The pews are painted pea-green and capped with mahogany.
The outside is of the Grecian order, with a tower and bell. The basement is of brick, with two convenient ves- tries above the ground, one thirty-seven by thirty-eight feet, with three hundred seats; the other thirty-seven by eighteen feet, with one hundred seats, and separated by folding-doors, so that they may be thrown into one when necessary. This house was dedicated to the worship of God, December 5, 1843, by the Rev. Paul Townsend.
It is a most convenient house, and situated in the central and most pleasant part of the town. The present number of the church is three hundred, and the congregation is large and respectable.
The following ministers have been appointed to the church and society in succession .-
1807-Rev. Joel Steele.
1808-Erastus Otis.
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1809, '10 and '11-Joseph A. Merrill. 1812-Robert Arnold. 1813-Elias Marble. 1814-B. Otheman. 1815-H. Pierce. 1816-Orin Roberts.
1817-Benjamin Keith.
1818 and '19-Ephraim Wiley.
1820 and '21-Edward Hide.
1822 and '23-L. Bennet.
1824-J. G. Atkins. 1825 and '26-Lewis Bates.
1827 and '28-Joel Steele.
1829 and '30-B. F. Lombard. 1831-N. S. Spaulding. 1832-Squire B. Haskell. 1833-H. Brownson. --
1834 and '35-W. Emerson.
1836-B. F. Lombard.
1837 and '38-H. Perry. 1839-J. M. Bidwell.
1840 and '41-Paul Townsend. 1842 and '43-J. Cady .*
In 1808 it was voted to give Mr. Whitman $500 to ask a dismission from the work of the ministry in the town, and if he would not accept of this, to give him nothing. Upon which he gave the following answer :-
'In consequence of the vote of the town of Wellfleet, making me an offer of $500, I request of the town a discharge from the work of the ministry, and that all connection with the town as minister may cease upon the reception of the said sum .?
He labored in the ministry twenty-three years, during which time thirty-three members were added to the church, and he solemnized two hundred and eighty-two marriages. After this Mr. Whitman resided in Kingston, where he died in 1838, aged 92.
. Furnished by Rev. J. Cady.
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At the time of his dismission Jonathan Higgins and Josiah Rich were deacons of the church. There were ten male and thirty-nine female members.
Mr. Timothy Davis was heard as a candidate, to whom the church and society gave an unanimous call to settle with them as a minister of the gospel, and voted to give him $500 as a settlement and $600 yearly as his salary. To this call Mr. Davis gave the following answer :-
'I now inform the church and town of Wellfleet that I have re- ceived from your committee an invitation to settle with you in the ministry of the gospel, together with your proposals making provision for my settlement and support. Conscious of the arduous and impor- tant duties which are incumbent on a minister of the gospel of Christ, and, I trust, depending on divine assistance and direction, I give my answer to your invitation in the affirmative, humbly praying that God would make me an instrument of promoting your edification in Chris- tian faith and obedience. I ask your prayers that he would be pleas- ed to overrule my settlement with you (if no unexpected event inter- vene to prevent it,) for his glory and our mutual good.
'TIMOTHY DAVIS.'
'WELLFLEET, October 24, 1808.'
A committee was now chosen to make provision for the ordination, to provide a house for the entertainment of the council, and to write to the several churches for as many ministers and delegates as might necessarily be called. Capt. Joseph Holbrook, Thomas Higgins, 3d, and Samuel Rider were the committee.
Mr. Davis was a native of Wrentham, graduated at Har- vard in 1804, and was ordained November 16, 1808. The churches represented by their ministers and delegates, were, Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Harwich, Brewster, Chat- ham, Orleans, Eastham, Truro, Provincetown and Wrent- ham. Rev. Mr. Simpkins made the introductory prayer; Rev. Mr. Fiske delivered the sermon; Rev. Mr. Damon made the consecrating prayer ; Rev. Mr. Burt gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Shaw the fellowship of the churches, and Rev. Mr. Waterman made the concluding prayer.
It was agreed that the town respectfully petition the pres- ident of the United States 'to suspend the embargo, either
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wholly or partially, according to the power vested in him by congress, or that he call that body together as soon as possible, to take the subject into consideration.' The se- lectmen signed the petition in behalf of the town, and sent it to the president of the United States.
In 1812, war having been declared by our government a- gainst Great Britain, this town unanimously made choice of three men to draw up a petition to the governor of the com- monwealth, praying that if the militia companies in the towns of Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet and Truro should be called into actual service, they might be stationed in some of these towns for a defence against the enemy; and a copy of the proceedings was ordered to be sent to the other three towns.
In 1814, the British ships of war, cruisers and tenders being in the bay, and threatening to land and burn the town, measures were taken for their security, and a large commit- tee of safety was chosen to watch the enemy and use, such means as were in their power for the public protection and security.
In 1815 the town empowered the selectmen to invite the towns of Eastham and Truro to join them in remonstrating against the petition of the town of Provincetown to the Gen- eral Court, respecting the fisheries near that town.
A petition was sent to the postmaster-general to have the post-office removed to Capt, Robert Kemp's.
The church joined the other churches in the county in a petition to the General Court for liberty to sell and divide the Hersey donation .*
1816. A committee was appointed to consider and report on the petition of the Methodist society, that those members who had been taxed for the support of the Congregational
. Doct. Hersey of Barnstable gave by his will all his large property to the Con- gregational churches in the county of Barnstable, the income of which was to be divided annually according to the business'he did, during his professional life, in each town. The property was left to the care of the deacons collectively, who met once a year on the premises to hire it out, their time, travel and other expens- es being paid from the income, which nearly consumed the whole. The portion which fell to this church on the division and sale of the property was $300. The interest of this has generally been expended in books for the Sabbath school.
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minister might have the tax remitted, and the request was granted.
In 1817 the Rev. Mr. Davis addressed the following to his parish :-.
' To the Selectmen of the Town of Wellfleet :
'GENTLEMEN :- Please to inform my parishioners, that, desirous to promote both their temporal and eternal welfare, I am willing, for the present, to make an abatement in my salary of fifty dollars a year. I wish to be distinctly understood, that I do not relinquish my right to any part of my salary. It is my intention, however, to make the abatement, above mentioned, as long as I live, or as long as I am their minister, provided that I and my family can live comfortably without it. But if, at any future time, my necessities require it, I shall consid- er myself entitled to my whole salary. 'TIMOTHY DAVIS.' 'WELLFLEET, January 1st, 1818.'
1820. Reuben Arey, Esq., was chosen as a delegate to meet the delegates from the other towns in the state, in con- vention at Boston, November 15, to revise the constitution.
The revised constitution being submitted to the town for their approval, they unanimously'voted in favor of all except . the fourth and tenth articles.
1821. By order of the General Court a valuation of the rateable property in the town was taken by Eleazer Hig- gins, Samuel Rider and Reuben Arey, Esq., who were chos- en and sworn for this purpose.
This year the present Congregational meeting-house was built. It is large and commodious, and has a tower and bell.
In 1827 a new school district was formed in the south part of the town, north of Blackfish creek, under the name of the seventh district. It contained twenty-two families. It was voted that the agents in the several districts should be a committee to take care of the schools.
A committee was chosen to examine the roads in the town. Difficulties had arisen, for the want of records of the roads as they were originally laid out, which made it necessary to establish them for the future. Eighteen roads were surveyed and defined, and accepted by the town according to the re- quest of the committee, Josiah Whitman, Reuben Arey and Thomas Higgins.
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Articles of faith were adopted and signed by the church, which were truly sound and orthodox. Future applicants for admission were to be required to acknowledge and sign them.
In 1828 it was voted that no person should be licensed in the town, the ensuing year, to retail spirituous liquors or wine. It was also voted to build a foot bridge over Black- fish creek.
1829. It was voted that the petition of Josiah Whitman and others in regard to the oysters be passed by, with the advice that no person steal the same.
The school prudential committees were forbidden to draw from the town treasury any money to pay to teachers who were not approbated by the school committee of the town. Liberty was given to build tombs in the burying-yard.
1831. No books were allowed to be introduced into the schools without the approbation of the school committee.
Benjamin Y. Atwood had liberty to build a wharf at Black rock.
Isaiah K. Baker petitioned the town for assistance to build a bridge from Griffin's island to the main land.
Agreeable to a resolve of the General Court, calling on the inhabitants of the several towns to express their minds for or against the acceptance of an article of amendment of the constitution, changing the commencement of the political year from the last Wednesday of May to the first Wednes- day of January, the town voted unanimously in favor of the proposed alteration.
March 18, 1830, the Rev. Mr. Davis informed the church of his desire and intention of leaving them, offering a varie- ty of considerations which had convinced him that it was his duty to seek a dissolution of the connection, and requested that a mutual council might be called for this purpose-to which request assent was given. The council met at his house, April 1st, and, after due consideration, dissolved the pastoral connection between them, and gave him the usual recommendation as a good and faithful minister of the gos- pel.
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Mr. Davis labored here in the ministry twenty-two years, during which one hundred and sixty were added to the church. He administered baptism to three hundred and forty-six persons, and solemnized two hundred and fifty mar- riages. He was much respected and beloved by his people, and it was deeply regretted that circumstances, which in no degree affected his ministerial or christian character, should render the separation necessary. He is still living and la- boring in the work of the ministry in the state of Maine.
After this the Rev. Mr. Harlow supplied the desk a num- ber of weeks, and was followed about the same time by Mr. Hutchins, when a call was given to the Rev. Stephen Bailey, who accepted it and commenced his labors here, June 17, 1830, and was dismissed at his own request in 1838. Dur- ing his ministry here one hundred and thirty-two were added to the church. Since his dismission he has been employed as an agent by the Seamen's Friend Society.
December 4, 1833, the second Congregational church was organized in the south part of the town, and forty-two mem- bers were dismissed from the old church for the purpose. A commodious house of worship was erected.
They had no ordained pastor until May 6th, 1842, when Mr. Isaac A. Bassett was ordained over them. Previous to this time they had been supplied by a succession of minis- ters-Rev. Timothy Davis, Rev. John Orcutt, Rev. E. Pratt, Rev. S. Hardy and Rev. Wooster Willey. Mr. Bas- sett continued with them but one year.
They have enjoyed revivals of religion at different peri- ods, especially during the supply of the Rev. Mr. Orcutt, when a large number were added to the church. The pres- ent number is one hundred and sixty.
The Rev. Henry Vanhouten is now the acting pastor of the church and society, whose labors have been blessed.
In 1834 a Methodist meeting-house was built in this part of the town, but their number being small, they were not able to sustain the ministry, and the house has been vacated for a number of years.
June 18, 1838, the first church gave a call to Rev. Jo-
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seph Merrill to become their pastor, He remained about one year, when at his request the connection was dissolved. During this time thirty-five members were added to the church, Mr. Merrill graduated at Dartmouth college in 1806.
After this Mr. William H. Adams was heard as a candi- date, received a call from the church and society, and was ordained February 17, 1840; and was dismissed at his own request, in 1841, and recommended to the confidence and af- fection of the churches, wherever he might be called to labor in the gospel ministry. Fourteen members were admitted to the church by him.
In May, 1842, eighteen members were added by Rev. S. Hardy, and on the 29th of the same month, nine more by Rev. Mr. Boyter-in August, five by Rev. Mr. Bassett. In the winter of 1843, Rev. George Clark labored here, and thirty-nine members were admitted to the church.
February 20th, 1843, the church and society gave a call to the Rev. John Dodd, to settle with them as their pastor. Mr. P. G. Atwood and Doct. J. Mitchell were appointed as a committee to communicate their doings to him. He was installed over them October 18th, by a council conven- ed for the purpose. The council was composed of the fol- lowing churches and ministers: Brewster, Rev. Mr. Wil- liams; Orleans, Rev. Mr. White; Eastham, Rev. Mr. Pratt; South Wellfleet, Rev. Mr. Vanhouten; North Truro, Mr. Myrick; Truro; Marlborough Chapel, Boston; Haverhill, Rev. Mr. Finney; Fitchburg, Rev. Mr. Clark; Ashburnham, Rev. Mr. Cole.
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Since the commencement of the present century, the
. Lord in his great mercy has often blessed this people by the visitation of his grace, and revived his work among them. The church now contains about two hundred and sixty mem- bers, and the parish is large and attentive to the public wor- ship of God. The sabbath school and bible classes are at- tended by large numbers, both of adults and children.
The cause of temperance is advancing, and it is believed that none of the fishing vessels which sail from the harbors take any kind of intoxicating drinks with them.
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The church have labored to put an end both to the traffic and use of all intoxicating drinks. Strong resolutions have been passed by the church in regard to the use and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, as being inconsistent with the principles of morality and religion.
'Ist. That this sin, like all others, should be rebuked, in high places and low places, privately and publicly ; and that this church will justify its members in rebuking it whenever and wherever it would be proper to rebuke any other sin, but always in the spirit of brotherly kindness and charity.
'2d. That this church regard it as their duty to use all christian measures, in their power, to remove as soon as practicable all vestiges of this evil from among us.'
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EDUCATION.
No mention is made of a school in this part of the town of Eastham until 1700, when the inhabitants petitioned the town to have one set up here. The town granted the re- quest, with the condition that they should pay the teacher to learn their children to read the English bible.
Before this there had been but one public school in the whole town, which was kept in the central and other parts in rotation. After this time, this part of the town drew its proportion of the money that was raised for the purpose, and a separate school was maintained for the most part of the time.
MONEY RAISED FOR SCHOOLING.
1761-£40. [By the precinct.] 1768-£40. [By the town.] 1770-£53, 6%. 8d. 1
1771-£40. 1773-£53, 68. 8d. 20
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1774-£53, 6s. 8d. [First English grammar school.] 1775-£400 old tenor. [English grammar school con-
tinued.]
1779 and '80-£200 old tenor.
1781-£30 lawful money.
From 1782 to 1806-$100 per year on an average.
1807 and '08-$100.
1810-$100.
1811 and '12-$200.
1815-$150.
1816 and '17-$200.
1818-$300.
1819 to '21-$200.
1823 to '27-$200.
1828-$300.
1829 to '32-$400.
1833 to '35-$600.
1836-$700.
1837 to '39-$800.
1840 to '43-$1000 .*
Valuation in 1840-41, $130,491 00.
· Number of school districts, 10. Number of children between four and sixteen, 595 ..
The following gentlemen, who belonged to or resided in this town, received a liberal education :- Hon. Isaiah L. Green, Naaman Holbrook, Ezekiel Whitman, Levi Whit- man, John Davis, Thomas Stone.
Mr. Green was the son of the Rev. Mr. Green of Yar- mouth. He was a near connection of and was named for the Rev. Mr. Lewis of this town, and resided in his family after his father's death, and was educated by him. He grad- uated at Harvard college in 1781. It is not known that he studied a profession, but he was for many years a merchant in Barnstable; after which he represented this district in congress, and was subsequently appointed collector of the revenue at Barnstable.
Amount for each year in all cases.
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Mr. Ezekiel Whitman was a native of Bridgewater and nephew of the Rev. Mr. Whitman of this place, with whom) he lived and by whom he was educated. He graduated at Brown university in 1795, studied the law, and has been for many years chief justice of the supreme court of the state of Maine.
Mr. Levi Whitman was a son of the minister. He grad- uated at Harvard college in 1808, studied the law, and has been for a number of years a clerk in one of the public offi- ces in Washington.
Mr. Davis is the son of Rev. Timothy Davis, late of this town, and is in the practice of the law.
Mr. Stone is the son of the late Doct. Stone, and is 'in the practice of medicine in Truro.
CENSUS.
1730
600*
1764
928+
1766
965±
1775
1235
1790
1113
1800
1207
1806
1386
1810
1402
1820
1472
1830
2044
1840
2377
Precinct of Wellfleet.
+ District of do.
# Town of do.
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PRECINCT TREASURERS.
.
Mr. John Rich, from 1723 to 1726. Mr. Samuel Brown, from 1727 to 1729. Mr. Jeremiah Mayo, from 1730 to 1732. Mr. Israel Young, from 1733 to 1741. Mr. Daniel Mayo, from 1742 to 1756. Mr. Zoheth Smith, from 1757 to 1759. Elisha Doane, Esq., from 1760 to 1762.
DISTRICT CLERKS AND TREASURERS.
Maj. Elisha Doane, from 1763 to 1765. Capt. Ephraim Covel, 1766. Maj. Elisha Doane, from 1767 to 1773.
TOWN CLERKS AND TREASURERS.
Mr. Ezekiel Holbrook, from 1774 to 1800. Mr. Lewis Hamlen, from 1801 to 1808. Samuel Waterman, Esq., from 1809 to 1813. Mr. Jeremiah Newcomb, 1814. Samuel Waterman, Esq., from 1815 to 1823. Josiah Whitman, Esq., from 1824 to 1833. Mr. Ezekiel Higgins, 1834 .. Josiah Whitman, Esq., from 1835 to 1839. Giles Holbrook, Esq., from 1840 to 1844.
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DELEGATES TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
In 1774, the district of Wellfleet assumed all the privileg- es of other towns. For fifty-one years Wellfleet was con- nected with Eastham in the choice of representatives to the General Court. This year Mr. Naaman Holbrook and Col. Elisha Cobb were chosen as delegates to the first provincial congress which was held at Salem, October 5th, 1775. Col. Elisha Cobb was chosen a delegate to the second congress, held at Cambridge, the first of February, and the third, held at Watertown, July 31st.
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REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT.
1776 -Col. Elisha Cobb. Mr. Naaman Holbrook. 1781-Elisha Doane, Esq.
1823-Reuben Arey, Esq.
1827-Josiah Whitman, Esq.
1829-Mr. Benj'n R. Witherell.
1782-Col. Elisha Doane.
1785-Capt. Jeremiah Bickford. 1787-Hezekiah Doane, Esq. 1788-Mr. Michael Collins. 1791-Mr. Michael Collins. 1792-Mr. Samuel Waterman.
1830-Mr. Benj'n R. Witherell. Mr. Joseph Holbrook, 3d. 1831-Benj'n R. Witherell, Esq. Mr. Joseph Holbrook. 1832-Col. Joseph Holbrook. Benj'n R. Witherell, Esq.
1794-Samuel Waterman, Esq. `1795-Samuel Waterman, Esq. 1797-Mr. Reuben Arey.
1834-Mr. Eben'r Freeman, 2d. Mr. Joseph Higgins. 1835-Mr. Thomas Holbrook, 2d. Capt. Amaziah Atwood. 1836-Mr. Richard Libby. Mr. Jonathan Hickman.
1798-Maj. Hezekiah Doane. 1801-Capt. Lemuel Newcomb. 1802-Mr. Reuben Rich. 1804-Capt. Lemuel Newcomb. 1837-Mr. John Daniels. Mr. Richard Libby.
1806-Capt. Lemuel Newcomb. · 1808-Josiah Whitman, Esq .: 1809-Mr. Beriah Higgins. 1810-Mr. Beriah Higgins.
1811 -Mr. Beriah Higgins.
1812-Mr. Beriah Higgins. 1813-Mr. Beriah Higgins. 1814-Josiah Whitman, Esq.
1820-Reuben Arey, Esq.
1821-Reuben Arey, Esq.
1838-Mr. Atkins Dyer. Mr. Nathan Paine. 1839-Mr. Nathaniel P. Wiley. Capt. Solomon R. Hawes. 1840-Capt. Solomon R. Hawes. Mr. Nathaniel P. Wiley. 1841-Mr. Seth H. Baker. 1842-Mr. Seth H. Baker.
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1843-Mr. Isaac Paine.
SELECTMEN.
1763-Maj. Elisha Doane, eight years. 1763-Dea. Reuben Rich, seven do. 1763-Samuel Smith. Jr., ten do. 1765-Zoheth Smith, seven do.
1769-Naaman Holbrook, eight do.
1770'-Jonathan Young, eight do.
1771-Ebenezer Atwood, four do.
1772-Capt. Hezekiah Doane, four do.
1775-Col. Elisha Cobb, four do. 1777-Winslow Lewis, one year.
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1777-John Sweat, one year. 1779-Barnabas Young, one do. 1779-Joseph Smith, two years. 1780-Thomas Holbrook, twelve do. .- 1781-William Cole, six do. 1787-Capt. Lewis Hamlen, thirteen do.
1787-Reuben Arey, nine do. 1798-John Witherell, five do. 1800-Thomas Higgins, six do.
1804-Samuel Newcomb, four do. Hezekiah Rich, three do. 1805-Matthias Rider, two do. 1807-David Holbrook, two do.
1807-Stephen Atwood, two do. 1809-Joseph Holbrook, twelve do. 1809-Beriah Higgins, four do. 1809-Freeman Atwood, six do. 1813-John Witherell, two do.
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1813-Jeremiah Newcomb, two do.
1814-Elisha Brown, one year. 1
1814-Robert Kemp, two years.
1814-Edmond Freeman, one year.
1815-Reuben Rich, one do. 1816-Moses Hinckley, three years. 1816-Josiah Whitman, Esq., four do. 1818-Samuel Ryder, one year.
1819-Reuben Arey, Esq., nine years.
1823-Capt. Freeman Atwood, four do. 1827-Joseph Higgins, four do.
1827-Benjamin R. Witherell, six do. 1827-Thomas Hatch, four do.
1829-Moses Lewis, one year.
1829-Cornelius Hamblen, two years.
1830-George Ward, four do. 1830-Samuel Higgins, one year. 1831-Micah Dyer, four years. 1831-Ebenezer Freeman, two do. 1833-Reuben Arey, Jr., one year. 1837-Caleb Lumbard, five years. 1837-Thomas Higgins, Jr., one year. 1838-Elisha Freeman, six years. 1838-Amaziah Atwood, three do. 1838-John Newcomb, three do. 1841-Knowles Dyer, three do.
1844-Bethuel Wiley.
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HISTORY OF ORLEANS.
DESCRIPTION.
Orleans was formerly the south part of Eastham, but it was separated from that town, and incorporated by its pres- ent name, March 3d, 1797.
It is bounded on the East by the ocean, on the South by Pleasant bay and Chatham, on the West by Brewster and Harwich, and on the North-west. by Barnstable bay. The county, which sketches east from Buzzard's bay to this place, here turns to the north, and extends in that course to Truro.
The length of the township is five miles, and the breadth from three to five miles. 'The surface of the land is some- what hilly. The county road runs through the north-west corner of the town.
Orleans is of very irregular form, the lines which separate it from the adjoining townships being crooked, and its shores being indented by coves and creeks.
Town cove has been described in the history of Eastham. The neck of land on the east side of this cove is called Ton- set. The soil here is good.
A river or creek runs into Pleasant bay. The head of it, where it is narrow, is called Zeb's cove. Vessels drawing seven feet of water can come a half a mile below this cove, the northern part of which is two miles and a half from the mouth of the river, where it is half a mile. wide.
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