USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Orleans > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Wellfleet > History of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, Barnstable Co., Mass from 1644-1844 > Part 4
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It was also voted by the town, that all persons who should stand out of the meeting-house, during the time of divine service, should be set in the stocks.
The Court at Plymouth held three sessions each year, for the trial of causes, civil and criminal, composed of the Gov- ernor and at least three magistrates, while the selectmen tried
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all cases under forty shillings, in their respective towns, from which appeals were allowed.
These officers were required to complain to the Court of all persons who absented themselves from public worship on the Sabbath.
Jonathan Sparrow engaged to be a teacher for Eastham.
1667. The town voted that every housekeeper should kill twelve blackbirds, or three crows, which did great dam- age to the corn ; and this vote was repeated for many years.
A census was ordered, to be made by the town of all the male inhabitants, from sixteen to sixty, who were able to bear arms. Also, a valuation of all the property in the town was made by the selectmen.
1670. It was the practice for the minister to collect his own salary. This was attended with much trouble, and of- ten impaired his usefulness. It was therefore voted by the town, 'that, forasmuch as it appears to be greatly incon- venient for the minister to be troubled to gather in the rates for his own maintenance, and is also an occasion of prejudic- ing some persons against him and his ministry, that two meet persons in the town be appointed, who shall take care to gather in the minister's maintenance, and incite the people to do their duty in this respect.'
This vote was passed by the authority of a law of the Col- ony Court, made and provided for this purpose, and for all the towns in the government.
Also, in all such towns where the people declined or neg- lected to settle a minister, the Court taxed them for the sup- port of public worship.
Also, a penalty for refusing to serve as a selectman when legally chosen by the town.
The fisheries of Cape Cod were regulated by law, and a duty was put upon mackerel and other fish caught, for the support of a free school, which was established in Plymouth, in 1671, under a grant, made by the government of the col- ony the preceding year, of all such profits as might or should annually accrue to the colony, from time to time, for fishing with nets or seines at Cape Cod, for mackerel, bass or her-
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rings, to be improved for and towards a free school in some town of the jurisdiction.
The confederation, which was agreed to at the first, be- tween this colony, Massachusetts and Connecticut, was re- newed.
At this early period, the town began to be alarmed on ac- count of a scarcity of wood and timber, and passed a vote, forbidding all persons to cut and carry it out of the town. Voted, to contribute £6 for the support of Harvard College, the ministers and elders of the several towns being requested to take measures to raise money for this object.
The church was gathered and organized at the first settle- ment of the town, but until this time, 1672, the number of the inhabitants, and their ability to support an ordained min- ister, had not been sufficient.
They now gave a regular call to Mr. Samuel Treat to settle with them as their minister, which he accepted, and was ordained. Mr. Treat was the eldest son of the Govern- or of Connecticut, Robert Treat of Milford, who was the father of twenty-one children.
It was agreed and voted by the town, that Mr. Treat's salary should be £50 per annum, and a sufficient quantity of wood brought to his door for his use.
Also, a parcel of meadow and upland, given to the town by Manasseth Compton, an. Indian; and a parcel of up- land and meadow. bought of John Young.
Also, three acres of meadow called the White meadow.
Also, an island at Billingsgate, with the meadow about it.
Also, a parcel of marsh, in Great meadow.
Also, twenty acres of upland at the head of the Cove .*
Also, that the town build a suitable house for him on this land. This was the salary which the town voted and agreed to give Mr. Treat, which was no doubt sufficient for his sup- port in those days.
In 1674, he married Miss Elizabeth Mayo, daughter of the
* This farm is now owned by Mr. James H. Knowles, and was purchased in 1723, by his grandfather, Willard Knowles, of a son of Mr. Treat, after the death of his mother.
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Rev. John Mayo of Boston, by whom he had eleven chil- dren, viz. Jane, Elizabeth, Sarah, Samuel (died in infancy), Mary, Robert, Abigail, Samuel, Joseph, Joshua, John and Na- thaniel. The most of the daughters married in this town. The name is extinct. Mrs. Treat died in 1696, aged 44 years.
In 1700, Mr. Treat married the widow Abigail Easter- brook, daughter of Rev. Samuel Willard, pastor of the South church, Boston, by whom he had three children. Eunice was the mother of Robert Treat Paine, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. The other daughter was the wife of Joseph Greenleaf, Esq. of Boston ; and a son, by the naine of Robert, died young .*
Mr. Treat is peculiarly entitled to a distinguished rank among the first ministers of New England, as by his zeal and labors he was the instrument of the conversion of many of the natives to the faith of the gospel, and of reducing them to a state of order and civilization. He studied and obtained a knowledge of their language.
The Rev. Mr. Elliot of Roxbury, had previously. and successfully engaged in this great and benevolent work, and justly deserves the highest praise ; but next to him stands Mr. Treat of Eastham. After preaching to the Indians in his own town with great success, he travelled into the west- erly part of the colony, and preached to many of the native tribes. Not satisfied with what he could do, he wrote letters to several persons in the colony, urging them to prepare themselves for this work. His example made such impres- sion on the mind of Mr. Richard Bourne of Sandwich, that he soon entered into the service with activity and zeal. He studied the Indian language, and preached to the Indians liv- ing in Barnstable, Yarmouth and Marshpee.
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His labors were greatly blessed ; many were converted to the faith of the gospel of Christ, and several were taught to read and write. In a letter written by him to Mr. Goodkin,
* Doct. James Freeman of Boston, says that many of the facts in the life and character of Mr. Treat were derived from Joseph Greenleaf, Esq. and his lady. Mrs. Greenleaf, at that time, 1802, was 78 years of age. Mrs. Treat died Dec. 27th, 1746, thirty years after the death of her husband.
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in 1674, he says: ' There are, in the several villages of In- dians below Sandwich, above three hundred who meet to- gether on the Lord's day to worship God.' Those under · the care of Mr. Treat were not included. He engaged with great earnestness in this work for a number of years.
1685. Governor Hinckley sent to the corporation in England an account of the praying Indians in the county of Plymouth, being fourteen hundred and thirty-nine, besides boys and girls under twelve years old. There were five hundred men and women, besides children, within the limits of Mr. Treat's parish.
1693. In a letter to Rev. I. Mather, Mr. Treat writes:
Reverend and Worthy Sir :-
Being advertised that it would not be unseasonable and unservicea- ble, at this juncture, to give you a true and impartial account, both of the number and the present state of our Indians, and of the accepta- tion and entertainment of the gospel among them, and their profess- ed subjection thereunto ; whereof, sir, you may be assured as follow- eth.
That there are five hundred Indians within the limits of our town- ship, unto whom these many years past, I have, from time to time, imparted the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, in their own language ; and truly hope, not without success. I continue in the same service, earnestly imploring, and not without hopes of a more plentiful down- · pouring of the spirit upon them.
And I verily do not know, nor can I learn, that there is so much as one of these Indians that does obstinately absent from, but do jointly frequent and attend upon seasons of the preaching of the word, and countenance the same, not only on the Lord's day, but upon public thanksgiving and fast days.
They have four distinct assemblies, in four villages, belonging to our township, in which they have four teachers of their own choice, of the more sober, well-affected and understanding persons among them, who duly preach to them when I am not with them. These In- dian teachers repair to my house once a week, to be further instruct- ed in the concernments proper for their service and station.
There are in the above said villages four school-masters of the best accomplishments for that service, who teach their youth to read and write their own language.
There are also six justices of the peace, or magistrates, in these villages, who regulate their civil affairs, and punish criminals and transgressors of the civil law. They have three stated courts, and
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other inferior officers. Many of them are of a serious, civil, sober con- versation and deportment, who are making essays towards a further progressive step of obedience and conformity to the rules of the gos- pel, having a great desire to be baptized.
They are very servicable by their labor to the English vicinity, and have all along, since our wars with their nation, been very friendly to the English, and forward to serve them in that quarrel; their deport- ment, converse and garb being more manly and laudable than any other Indians that I have observed in the province. But, sir, I would not be tedious ; only craving your interest at the throne of grace, that we may be serviceable to the name and kingdom of our Lord Jesus.
So I subscribe willingly, SAMUEL TREAT.
EASTHAM, August 23, 1693.
There were two school-masters at Potanumaquiet, one of whom, Thomas Coshannag, was the preacher.
The magistrates were William Stockman and Lawrence Jeffreys. Daniel Munshe was the preacher, and Daniel Sam- uel, the ruler at Meeshawn and Punonakanet, which was Eastham and Billingsgate.
1693. John Quason and Menekish, the rulers at Mona- moyick, and John Cosens the preacher and school-master.
Manasseth was the preacher, and Joshua Shauntam the rul- er at Sakatucket.
Mr Treat could speak and write the Indian language with facility. Every month he visited and preached in these sev- eral villages. At other times, the Indian teachers read to their congregations the sermons which he had written for them. In addition to these weekly tasks, and preaching to his own people, he translated the Confession of Faith into the Nauset language, for the edification and improvement of bis converts. Believing that it would be impossible to make much impression on the minds of the Indians, unless he gain- ed their affections, he exerted himself to secure them. Be- sides treating them on all occasions with affability and kind- ness, he frequently visited them in their wigwams, and with cheerfulness joined them in their festivals .*
The consequence was, that, won by his engaging manners,
* Dr. Freeman.
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they venerated him as a pastor and loved him as a father. But notwithstanding all that could be done for the Indians by him, and his worthy coadjutors, they could not save them from wasting away. A blasting wind swept over them as soon as the English took possession of their country, and they withered and died.
1745. But few Indians were left in the township of East- ham.
1764. According to the census then taken, there were found remaining only five in Wellfleet, eleven in Eastham, and ninety-one in Harwich. The greatest part of the latter number lived at Potanumaquiet, where they had a meeting- house, and a missionary who continued to preach several years after this period .*
Mr. Treat was a laborious and faithful minister to his own church and people, and often had reason to bless God for the visits of the Holy Spirit on his labors, in the conversion of many of his hearers, by which many were added to his church. He was a strict Calvinist, which Dr. Freeman says, ' is established beyond all dispute, by a volume of sermons in manuscript, now in possession of his grandson. These sermons,' says the Doctor, 'are connected in their subjects, are correctly transcribed, and appear to have been designed for publication. They exhibit learning, and his doctrines are defended with ability and ingenuity, and the applications of his subjects are tremendous.'
But, says the same writer, ' with the advantage of preach- ing the doctrine of terror, which is naturally productive of a sublime and impressive style of eloquence, he could not at- tain the character of a popular preacher. His voice was so loud, that when speaking it could be heard at a great distance from the meeting-house, even in the midst of the winds that howled over the plains of Nauset, but there was no more music in it than in the discordant sounds with which it was mingled.'
An anecdote is told of Mr. Treat, which shows how much the excellence of his matter was injured by the badness of the manner of his delivery.
* His. Coll. vol. viii.
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His second wife, being the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Wil- lard of Boston, he was invited to preach in his pulpit. Mr. Willard possessed a graceful delivery, his voice was masculine and harmonious, and consequently he was generally admired.
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Mr. Treat having preached one of his best sermons to the congregation of his father-in-law, in his usual unhappy manner, excited universal disgust, and several nice judges waited on Mr. Willard, and begged that Mr. Treat, who was indeed a worthy, pious man, but a wretched preacher, might never be invited into his pulpit again. Mr. Willard made no reply; but desired his son-in-law, before he left Boston, to lend him the discourse. . In a few weeks after, he delivered it to his people, without any alteration. His hearers were charmed with it, and came to Mr. Willard, and requested a copy for the press. 'See the difference,' they cried, 'between your- self and your son-in-law! You have preached a sermon on the same text as Mr. Treat's; but while his is contempt- ible, yours is excellent.'
Mr. Treat was a man of piety. He addressed his Maker with humble devotion, and his prayers were copious and fer- vent. It is said, that his natural temper was mild; and his conduct in domestic life, as a husband, a parent, and a mas- ter, was kind and indulgent. His manners were cheerful, his conversation pleasant, and sometimes facetious, but always decent.
It is supposed that the society for the propagation of the gospel made him some compensation for his services among the Indians, and he received a small salary from his parish of £60. It is said that, in the latter part of his life, he engaged in trade, and by this means, with the addition of a small in- heritance from his father, he left a good estate to his family.
There was a remarkable snow storm at the time of his death, and the snow fell so deep that he could not be buried for many days. The Indians dug an arch through it, a quarter of a mile long, and, such was their attachment to him, that they insisted on carrying his remains on their shoulders to the grave.
Samuel Rich was here about 1665. He had a son named
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Thomas. His son, John Rich, married Mary Treat, daugh- ter of the minister, 1700. He had five sons, Robert, John, Reuben, Joshua and Moses. Their mother died 1723.
1764. A number of men were raised in this town, by order of the Court, for the service against the Indians; also £66 for the purchase of guns, and £4 for ammunition.
Jonathan Sparrow was appointed and commissioned as en- sign of the military company of the town.
Thomas Mulford was a freeman of the town before this period. He had four children, but the name is extinct.
Stephen Myrick and Mary Bangs were married, and had one son, Stephen.
1675. The town raised £66, 168. 6d. to pay the soldiers against the Narragansett Indians.
In 1675 the war with Philip, who was the sachem of the Wampanoags, commenced. Philip's rule extended over the whole of Plymouth county, the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod and a part of Rhode Island. Mount Hope was the seat of the chieftain.
Philip was an ambitious, shrewd and bold warrior. He designed the utter extermination of the English settlers.
The most of the tribes of Massachusetts and Rhode Island were engaged with him. Swanzey was the place where he commenced the work of death. This war was a sore calam- ity. It is estimated that about six hundred of the inhabi- tants of New England were either killed or otherwise cut off by the Indians. Twelve or thirteen towns were entirely de- stroyed, and about six hundred dwellings were burnt.
1676. Three hundred men were ordered to be raised by the council of war at Plymouth, and eighteen was the number required of Eastham. The whole army raised in the colo- nies at this time was one thousand, and different respectable historians of that day estimate the whole population of New England somewhat differently, but from the best accounts given, it appears to have been about fifty thousand.
At this time a generous and cordial invitation was given by a committee of the Cape towns, to the inhabitants of Rebo- both, Taunton and Bridgewater, to come to them with their
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moveable property, for their preservation and safety .* Suit- able answers were returned, with grateful acknowledgments for that expression of kindness, but declining the proposal.
The committee of Taunton say, ' We bless God that He has given us so much room in your hearts-that you so free- ly tender to us a part with you in your houses, fields and provisions, at such a time, when the Lord is threatening us with bereavement of our own.
' It much comforteth us, in this day of darkness and dis- tress, that we shall want no succor you are able to afford us. We therefore return you all serious thanks for your sincere and abundant love, beseeching the Lord still to continue and increase your peace, ability and promptness to relieve the distressed in this evil day. Nevertheless, upon our serious and mature deliberation upon and consideration of your offer, we cannot at present comply with a motion to remove and quit our places, and leave our habitations to be a desolation, and that, because we fear, that in so doing, we be wanting to the name of God, and the interest of Christ in this place, and bewray much diffidence and cowardice, and give the adver- sary occasion to triumph over us, to the reproach of that great and fearful name of God that is called on us.'
Signed by Richard Williams, Walter Deane, G. Macy and William Harvey.
The reply from Rehoboth, contains similar sentiments of holy resolution, and several prudential reasons against remor- al, such as the danger of being observed by the enemy and cut off, and the quantity of grain which they had in the ground, and the hope of a plentiful supply from an early harvest, which they were unwilling to abandon.
Signed by Thomas Cooper, senior, Peter Burt, senior, Henry Smith, David Smith and Nicholas Peck, in behalf of the inhabitants.
The reply in behalf of Bridgewater, was given by Rev. James Keith.t
The war was an awful calamity to the colonies, but this
* Dartmouth, Middleborough and Swanzey were broken up.
t New England Memorial, by Judge Davis.
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and the other Cape towns were in a great measure exempt from its evils. ' The greater part of those who were killed were the flower and strength of the country. There were but few families who did not lose some near relation or friend, and a great part of the inhabitants were in deep mourning. A large debt was contracted by the colonies, when their numbers, dwellings, goods, cattle and all their re- sources were greatly diminished. Of this debt £124, 10s. was paid by a donation from Ireland, for the relief of such as were impoverished, distressed and in necessity by the war. The proportion paid by Eastham was £236, 5s. 6d.'
' The donation from Ireland is a gratifying instance of the generous influence of christian sympathies, and is supposed to have been procured by the exertions of Rev. Nathaniel Mather, at that time a minister of the Congregational denom- ination in Dublin.'
The daily pay of the officers and soldiers who served in the war in the year 1675, was as follows :*
General 6s 0d
Captain
5 0
1
Commissary General 4
0
Surgeon General 4 0
Lieutenant
4 0
Ensign
4 0
Sergeant
2
6
Corporal
2
0
Soldier
1
6
1676. The town raised £125, 8s. 3d. towards defraying the expenses of the war with the Indians. At this time a dispute arose between this town and Barnstable, Sandwich and Yarmouth, in reference to some public charges; and Jonathan Bangs was chosen to act in the town's behalf.
Men were appointed to take care of Mr. Treat's mainten- ance, so that he be not wronged. Samuel Freeman and Mr. Twining were deacons of the church. This year the town agreed to build a new meeting-house, as the old house was decayed, and was not large enough for the present number of
* Judge Davis.
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inhabitants; and that it should be built by way of rates on their polls and estates .. Deacon Freeman, Lieutenant Spar- row, Thomas Paine and John Doane were made a commit- tee to carry on the building, and the town entered into an agreement to bind themselves, their heirs and administrators, to furnish the means of doing it. £153, 8s. was raised for this purpose. The town also agreed that the new house should stand near the burying place. Lieut. Sparrow and Thomas Paine were appointed agents to demand and receive from the town of Sandwich £12, 16s. 6d. due to this town, and prosecute for the same if that town refused to pay that sum.
1678. The town voted, that the inhabitants of Monomoy- ick should pay their proportionate part towards building the meeting-house and Mr. Treat's salary, and to prosecute them for it if not paid. The inhabitants of that place, though not within the limits of Eastham, attended this meeting, and therefore were required to assist in supporting it. This was the case also with the inhabitants of the first purchasers, as far as the bounds of Yarmouth, and to the other extremity of the Cape.
This year, lands were granted and divided both to old and new comers, and the school was continued.
1680. Complaint was made that the Indians did great damage to the town's commons, by cutting pine knots (for the purpose of making tar, ) and other timber. Therefore the town ordered that no Indian or Indians shall cut pine knots, or wood, or timber, on the town's commons.
Eastham was the only township below Yarmouth on Cape Cod, until 1694, when the tract of land granted to the pur- chasers or old comers of Plymouth colony, being inhabited by a competent number of families, many of whom removed from this town, petitioned the Court for an act of incorpora- tion by the name of Harwich, which was granted.
The settlement of Truro was also commenced by emi- grants from this town.
Before churches were organized and meeting-houses were built in these places, Mr. Treat performed religious services
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and parochial labors in both of, them; and by a letter which he wrote to Dr. Mather of Boston, he considered the whole of the Cape below Yarmouth to be within the limits of East- ham.
Agreeably to the law, the selectmen could not require their fees to be paid until they declared their verdicts. It was ordered that they should be paid when the action was enter- ed, and their power was so extended that they might sum- mon witnesses from other towns .*
1681. The town voted that the military company should be filled by such of the inhabitants as were able to bear arms, and that every soldier be furnished with a sword or cutlass, as well as a gun, and that a part of the company should carry their arins to meeting on the Lord's day.
A committee was chosen to proportion and divide the money among the freemen of the town, which they were to receive-it being the town's part of the money in payment for Mount Hope ;- and to request Mr. Freeman, one of the deputies to the Court, to obtain and bring it with him when he should return home.t
In 1683, an overseer of the Indians was appointed to de- termine certain causes between them, and to command their constable to serve legal processes.
One Indian in every ten was appointed overseer of nine. There were two Indian constables in the town. The Indians were required to pay taxes, and the whole body of them were called together once in each year, to hear the criminal laws read.
In 1684, Lieut. Sparrow and John Doane were appointed to receive the town's proportion of the second payment for Mount Hope, and they were authorized to divide the money among all the freemen of the town.
* Eastham records.
t After the war with the Indians, Mount Hope, and other tracts of land, were sold, by order of the Court, to pay the expenses of the war, which had been raised by a tax on the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the several towns in the col- ony, according to their proportions. They were now to be repaid by the proceeds of the sale of these lands, divided among them as they had furnished the means of carrying on the war. The amount received at this time by this town is not known.
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