USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 46
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History of Martha's Vineyard
pillows, encased in "beers" and bolsters, similarly covered, both of which were filled with the same material, soft downy feathers from the goose. The sheets were both of cotton and linen, and the four posts were draped with valances. One inventory shows a bed with "Curttains & Valence" as early as 1665, together with a carpet on the floor. This same gen- tleman indulged in "Venus" or looking glasses, chests of drawers with sundry "fine linnen," and other evidences of gentility somewhat unusual. Beds were among the most val- uable possessions of the settlers, and they were specifically mentioned as bequests in wills, usually among the first articles to be given to this or that favorite child. An idea of their relative value may be gained from the appraisements of the estates of the first comers. In 1665 one was valued at six pounds, equal in our money at the present time at least $125, and another, with blankets and coverlid, at double that sum in our money. In 1715 five beds belonging to Simon Athearn were valued at $1000 in our present money, an average of $200 each, or the then value of a pair of oxen, or a good young horse. The warming pan, a device for heating their beds, was brought by them from England, where it had been long in use. In the old "Babees Book," we read the advice to "put of your clothes in winter by the fireside, and cause your bed to bee heated with a warming panne." The earliest men- tion of them is in 1665, valued at ten shillings. A white blanket was priced at sixteen shillings five pence in 1669, or about twenty dollars of our present money.
UTENSILS.
Most all of the domestic utensils for household use were of brass, copper, or iron. Brass kettles, copper pots, and iron skillets made up the list of articles available for the colonial housewife in her kitchen. Dining dishes were generally of pewter, comprising platters, porringers, saucers, and mugs, while occasional pieces of "Chany," Holland or Old English crockery were displayed on the trenchers of the upper classes, as evidences of wealth or taste. Table cloths and napkins are mentioned in 1665, and the inventory of one prominent townsman of Tisbury included the following luxuries in house- hold furnishings for his table: 4 table cloths, 23 napkins, I silver tankard, 6 silver spoons, I silver cup, I chafing dish, and I silver porringer.
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The early settlers probably had little employment for artificial lights. Life was not strenuous then, and the open fireplace at evening, with an occasional pine knot thrown in, added luminosity to the genial glow and warmth of the blazing logs. Of course the tallow candle was the luxurious artificial light of colonial nights, and it is not necessary to recite the methods of making that well-known domestic article - the "tallow dip." The well-to-do people of that period indulged in wax candles, made of the barberry, sometimes called the candle tree, wax. The scarcity of this bush on the island made it a luxury, and only when a distinguished guest, such as the judges, who came from Boston, on some important mission, were they brought out to shed their gentle beams on the sand-covered floors. As the whale fisheries was one of the pursuits of the people here before 1700, it is highly prob- able that whale oil was employed in some form of primitive lamp and used by the settlers to penetrate the gloom of their long winter evenings. In giving some testimony in 1662, William Vincent referred to a person who "had Lighted the Lamp," at the time referred to in the case, and we can suppose it was made to burn with that kind of oil.
LITERATURE.
The reading matter enjoyed by the people of the Vine- yard in colonial times, as shown by the inventories of their personal property, was, it must be confessed, of a rather dole- ful variety. It was characteristic of the period, however, and no special significance is to be attached to it. Most of the books were heavy theological disputations, soporific sermons, "last dying words" of some convicted felon who had grown in grace as the day of execution neared, commentaries on the Scriptures, and such like volumes. They were neither cheer- ful nor elevating, and the bulk of them have gone to the paper mill years ago.
A few books were written here and published in the first hundred years after the settlement. The earliest literary pro- ductions were by the younger Mayhew, written within the first ten years of the settlement and were in reality letters descrip- tive of his labors among the Indians. They were printed in small quartos, and published in London by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and are now very rare.
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The first pretentious book written here was by Matthew Mayhew, published in 1695, entitled "Conquests and Tri- umphs of Grace," with an account of the Indians of Martha's Vineyard. It is a small octavo - now extremely rare - only one copy known in America, at present in the magnificent private library of the late J. Carter Brown. It is a fairly good account of the mission work of the Mayhews, together with an interesting description of the Indians themselves.
The Rev. William Homes of Chilmark published several sermons about 1720 to 1740, one of which, delivered in Tisbury in 1719, was lately offered for sale. It was entitled: "A Discourse concerning the public Reading of the Scriptures by the Lords People in their Religious Assemblies."1
The book, however, which is best known and is by far the most important of all the literary productions of the Vine- yard, is the serious and solemn "Indian Converts," by Ex- perience Mayhew, published in 1726. It is a book of about two hundred pages, and passed through several editions.2
The work consists of biographical sketches of the Indians of the Vineyard, who became converted to Christianity under the missionaries. It is divided into three sections,- Indian Men, Indian Women, and Indian Children. This last section putting as it does into the mouths of boys and girls of the Algonquian race some of the ponderous logic of Puritan theology, as evidence of their acceptance and belief in the new religion, draws somewhat deeply on our credulity. Fortunately for the permanent value of the book, he gives us some biographies of the bad Indians of the Vineyard, and it must be admitted that their devotion to the "firewater" of the whites and faithful- ness to their own pawwaws or medicine men adds a not-un- welcome human touch to this valuable colonial book.
As an instance of the scarcity of books at that period, it may be said that Samuel Sarson, who was one of the wealthiest "swells" of his time, who died in 1703, had but four books among his personal estate. Bibles of the King James version, with occasional copies of the "Vinegar" and "Breeches" texts, were the most valuable books in the colonial libraries. Simon Athearn had two Bibles when he died, which were
1At the suggestion of the author the Duodecimo Club of Vineyard Haven pur- chased this copy and presented it to the Public Library in that village.
2It is rare, in good condition, and fetches about $10. The author has a copy minus the title page. The late Davis Smith had a copy some years ago, and Mr. William J. Rotch recently secured a good copy, which is now in his possession.
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THE Conquests and Triumphs
OF
GRACE:
BEING
A Brief Narrative of the Surress which the Gospel hath had among the INDIANS of Marthas' Vineyard (and the Places adjacent ) in New England.
WITH
Some Remarkable Curiofities, concerning the Numbers the Cuftomes, and the present Circumftances of the INDIANS on that Ifland.
Further Explaining and Confirming the account given of those Matters by Mr. Onttmnt Mather in the Life of the Renowned Mr. Jalut Elint
By MATTHEW
MAYHEW.
Attefted by the Reverend Mr: Nath. Mather, and others
Whereto is Added
An Account concerning the Present State of Christianity Among the Indians, in other Parts of New-England : Expreffed in the Letters of feveral Worthy Persons beft acquainted therewithal.
LONDON, Printed for Nath. Hiller, at the Princes Arms in Leaden- hall-ftreet, over againft St. Mary .1.ve, 1695.
(Size of original, within lines, 3 1-16 x 5 5-16 inches.) Title page of the first book published by a Vineyard author, 1695.
Life in Vineyard Towns During Colonial Times
appraised at five pounds, or an equivalent of $25 in our present currency, or about $100 as reckoned by the relative value of their money at this day. The books of Experience Mayhew were so few that they were only valued in 1759 at four pounds, four shillings.
To Ezra Covell of Edgartown, a "merchant taylor," be- longs the honor of making the first provision for a public library on the Vineyard. After disposing of his estate "to the uttermost penny" to his wife, he made the following con- tingent bequest : -
And if it should be that we both depart the world at one time then all that I have given her shall be bestowed in Bibles or other good Bokes for the use of the children in the above mentioned Edgartown.1
In a codicil to this will, two years later (1698), he rectified this improbable contingency of their simultaneous death and provided "that if she should decease so soon after him, that she neither wills nor disposeth of it, then the same to be to the uses within named."
PAPER AND WRITING.
The scarcity of paper in colonial times made it necessary for the exercise of economy in literary scribbling, correspon- dence, etc. Paper mills were few and far between in this country before 1700 - most of the paper was imported. This enforced economy of paper led to the use of contractions in writing which we have observed in records of the period. All our early public records, in fact, are full of contracted spellings for this reason, the penmanship usually very fine and cramped, to save paper. As paper became more plentiful, the science of orthography ran riot in the extra space afforded, and enlarged forms of words, with wonderful spellings, took the place of the shortened symbols of the preceding genera- tions. As an example of this later variety is the spelling of "Feburywary" for the second month, in the Chilmark records.
Ink was of home manufacture. Old iron scraps were placed in a decoction of nut galls, producing after a period the tannate or gallate of iron, the best and most permanent medium for record writing.
Pens were of course made of quills plucked from the farm- yard goose and cut by the user as needed. With this equipment
1Will dated April 29, 1696. Probate Records, I, 15.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Jonathan Dunham, John Mayhew, Ralph Thacher, Expe- rience Mayhew, and Josiah Torrey, indited their sermons for the benefit of their earlier generations then living on the three towns on the Vineyard.
It will be noticed that the documents reprinted in this history, whenever copied from the ancient records, do not have the familiar "ye" for the when that word occurs in the text. In the struggle for literal accuracy in the transcription of early records it is the general custom to write "ye" for "the" in manuscripts, and it seems desirable to call the at- tention of persons accustomed to this habit to say that it has no foundation in orthography or orthoepy. In copies from gravestone inscriptions, where a perfect reproduction is possible in all the forms of the letters, the use of "ye" may be pardonable, but unless we undertake to have a special font of type to represent the early forms of written letters it is absurd to single out the word "the" for mis- representation as "ye." The letter "c" occurring in the middle of a word in the handwriting of the times of the Pilgrim settlements looks like a "t," as near as can be represented in type, but no one adopts it as a substitute, else we should have people selling "atres" of land. No one seriously supposes that our ancestors went about speaking of "ye house" and pronouncing it as spelled. The Century Dictionary says on this point: "Modern archaists often affect ye for the, and many pronounce it as it looks, ye." The cus- tom arose, as explained there, from the printers of the latter English period using a "ye" to represent the Anglo-Saxon and early English "pe" (the), as near as can be shown in modern type, because they had no form in type exactly like the char- acter for "th" in the Anglo-Saxon.
It is a matter of common observation that many early settlers were accustomed to use a "mark" instead of a signa- ture, and it is a question whether it indicated illiteracy, indo- lence, or economy in ink. In some cases it is fair to assume the first where the station and avocation of the person would warrant that conclusion. It is evident that men made a "mark" who could write and instances of this kind are not uncommon. It often happened that wills were signed with a "mark," which should not be taken as a evidence of inability to write, but to write at that time, because of sickness, the document being signed when very aged, or in stress of disease. A case like this relates to one of our early settlers which caused
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a descendant much chagrin, but a fine signature was found in a petition which indicated he could write a bold, free hand. It would be interesting to know if this habit of signing with "marks" obtained to any extent among those who could write but were unable or unwilling to for one reason or another.
COLONIAL VISITORS.
Social life, as exemplified by the intercourse of the people themselves with each other and with others who visited the island during the first hundred years after its settlement, has left but few traces upon which to base definite conclusions. Lying as it does in the great highway of commerce between New England and the South, the Vineyard was then as now a resting place for almost all traffic bound east or west. Hence it must have been a common event for passengers in the coast- wise packets to come ashore and pass their leisure hours and days at the taverns or at the houses of the "quality" of Edgar- town and Homes Hole. The first visitor of whom we have knowledge was Mr. Andrew Forrester, steward of the Lord Stirling, in 1647, who came to look after his principal's prop- erty. In 1653 came Rev. Michael Wigglesworth, author of the celebrated poem of horrible prophecies, "The Day of Doom," on which our ancestors fed for religious consolation. In 1657 the Quaker preacher, Christopher Holder, tried his luck in proselyting here, but with disastrous results. The well-known Indian "Apostle" John Eliot, was a guest of the elder Mayhew, at the ordination of the first native preacher. In 1692 Major General John Walley visited the island on a political mission. These are the known visitors, but it is such a small list that we can surely say that many more of the celebrities of the day paid our island a visit, when passing by in their passage to and from the western settlements along the coast.
Fortunately for our purposes there are extant the journals of four voyages to the Vineyard made in 1702, 1706, 1712, and 1714, by the eminent jurist and citizen of Boston, Judge Samuel Sewall, and his son of the same name, in which they record scenes and events of their visits which give us the best pictures of the social conditions on the Vineyard, at that period. They will bear inserting in full in this section to aid us in depicting the life of the people as observed by them, and how
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History of Martha's Vineyard
they fared during their stays on the island. The first visit was made by the father, and the record of it is as follows: -
April 6, 1702. Go to the Ferry House; His Boat is at little Wood's hole: travel thither; there embark and have a good passage over in little more than an hours time. Refresh at Chases, from thence rode to Tis- bury. First man I speak with is Joseph Daggett; he tells me (Robert) Kithcart keeps an Ordinary: we go thither, the Day Light being almost spent. Mr. (Isaac) Robinson's son helps us and bears company awhile. (Edward) Milton visits us. Get to Weeks about I p.m.
Tuesday April 7. Mr. Sheriff Allen having visited us over night in his way from the old Town comes to see us this morn. Then visit Major (Matthew) Mayhew, then Exper(ience) whose wife lyes in of a son. Dine at Major Mayhew's, then rode to the Gay-head Neck, to Abel's wigwam, where was pleased with the goodness of his house especially the Furni- turs, demonstrating his Industry. . .. Visit Mr. Thacher in our return. 'Tis a pretty while within night by that time we get from our Quarters at Mr. Allen's where sup with the Sheriff, his wife Major Mayhew, Mr. (Josiah) Torrey, Experience Mayhew. Have a very good Chamber and Bed to lodge in, one of the best in Chilmark.
Wednesday April 8. Japhet, Jonathan and Stephen came to me: I have much discourse with them: try to convince Stephen of his Ana- baptistical Errors; Jonas and he have a Church of about 30, ten men. Gave Japhet two Arabian pieces of 8-8 to buy corn. Mr. Experience Mayhew proposes to me as a thing very expedient that some short Treatise be drawn up and translated into Indian to prevent the spreading of the Anabaptisticall Notions. Mr. (Ralph) Thacher and Mr. Thomas May- hew and Mr. (Simon) Athern accompany me in my way towards Edgar- town. Dine at Mr. Athern's; his wife not 14 when he married her. . . . On the Rode first Mr. Mayhew and then Japhet, tell me the story of Japhet's birth. Get to the Town about 3 p.m. Visit Mr. Diman. (this is probably an error for Dunham) Go aboard and visit Capt. Jonas Clay, sick of Gout. Lodge at Parson's. (probably meaning at Parson Dunham's)
Thursday April 9. Breakfast at Major Mayhew's. Major Mayhew and his Brother accompany us to (Isaac) Chases, where meet with Ex- perience Mayhew and Mr Allen the Sherriffe. Chases Boat not come. By the time I got over 't was near sunset.1
The second visit was made by the elder Sewall four years later, and the short record of it is as follows: -
Sept. 2, 1706. Embarked for the Vineyard: but by stormy rough weather were forced back again to Wood's hole.
Sept; 3. Went to the Vineyard with a fair wind, and from Homes's Hole to Tisbury and I to Chilmark, to Mr. (James) Allen's.
Sept; 4. To Gay head, Mr Danforth, I, Mr. Thomas Mayhew, Major (Nathan) Bassett.
Sept; Din'd at Mr. Mayhew's; went to Homes's Hole to wait for a Passage to Rode-Island or Bristol. There lay wind bound.
1Diary, III, 397.
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Sept; 8. Mr. Danforth and I go to Tisbury Meeting. Mr. Josiah Torrey preach'd forenoon: Mr. Danforth after noon. Return'd to (Isaac) Chases to Mr. Bromfield.
Sept; 9. Monday, embark'd with a scant wind.1
The persons accompanying Judge Sewall were, probably, the Rev. Samuel Danforth and Edward Bromfield of Boston, the latter of the governor's council. The visit was made, it would seem, on account of the missionary work at Gay Head, in which Sewall was greatly interested.
The next visit was made in 1712 by the younger Sewall, in company with Lieutenant Governor William Tailer, Colonel Penn Townsend of his council, and some others. The journal contains the following record of his proceedings: -
Satturday, (October 4th,), sett forward for Seccunnessett. Baited at Fishes. Dined at Demiks. There send Boy for to see for the Ferry Boat. After Dinner proceeded to the Ferry. Gott aboard betwixt 4 and 5. Gott ashore about 9 a Clock at night. From thence walked one mile ¿ to Chases, then ridd to Sheriff Allen's. gott there by 12 a Clock at night. Lodg'd there. Col Townsend Mr Barnard and myself; Gov'r Taylor & Maj'r Thaxter at the Ferry Place.
Sabbath Day went to meeting at Chilmark at Mr. Thatcher's Church: Mr Barnard Preached all Day. Lt. Gov'r lodg'd att (Robert) Kithcarths, with Maj'r Thaxter (probably Major Samuel, grandfather of Parson Thaxter).
Monday morning sett forward for Gay Head, with Lt. Gov'r, Col Townsend, Maj'r Mayhew, Maj'r Skiff Mr. Sheriff Allen, Maj'r Thaxter, Mr. Barnard, Capt. (Zaccheus) Mayhew, Experience Mayhew, Mr. Benjamin Allen. When came to the Indian Meeting House, These Maj'r Skiff and myself gave livery and seizen. Abel gott 80 sheep and 400 Lambs. Brave Land 6 oxen 6 cows 2 or 3 horses. Remember to gett Testiament for Eliaz'r Allen, at the Vineyard.
Tuesday October 7. Went from Sheriff Allens and Din'd at Mr. Kithdarcth's, where I met with Mr. (Simon) Atturn & Mr. Torrey. Went for Edgartown. Lodg'd at Mr. (John) Worth's.
Wednesday night. Lodged at Mr. Worths. Had a great dispute about Chappaquiddick, the Sachem appearing before us and Mr. (Ben- jamin) Haws his Attorney for him. Mr. Turner plead for the English for their fight in the Herbage The Island right over against the Harbour. Mr Worths house.
Thursday night. - Lodged at Homes' Hole.
Friday morning betimes gott aboard of the Ferry Boat. Gott ashore on Secconnessett side at Wood's Hole by 9 in the morning. 5 Horses. The 4 Gentlemen came in the next boat.2
The fourth and last of these interesting visits was made by the elder Sewall in 1714, and like the others related to the
1Diary, II, 166.
2Diary (printed in N. E. Gen. Register).
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History of Martha's Vineyard
business of the society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Indians of New England, of which Sewall was an active promoter. The entries in his journal are as follows: -
Second-day April 5, 1714. . . . In our Passage we were becalmed, and the Tide against us so that we were 22 hours getting over. Were fain to row to the West side of Onkakemy Bay, where we landed, the sloop coming to an Anchor. Our Horses were forced to leap into the Sea. By that time had tackled them was duskish.
Major Thaxter discovered some men and Horses, as he thought, upon the Beach at a distance. When came to them found Thomas Paul a lame Indian on Horseback with his net on his shoulder, to catch Fish by night. Upon my speaking to him to Pilot me, he left his net and did it very well. We were ready to be offended that an Englishman Jonathan Lumbard, in the Company spake not a word to us, and it seems he is deaf and dumb. Got to Mr. Allens a little before 9 at night.
Third-day. April 6. I am something indisposed, resolved not to goe abroad. Mr. Thomas Mayhew, Mr. Allen, Father, Mr. Haws and others come in to see us. Mr. Mayhew writes a Letter in Indian to Saul, which I subscribed myself, to notify the Indians of the Gay-Head to come together some thing before noon. I would speak with them after Mr. Mayhew's Lecture. I writ a Letter to Mr. Mayhew of the same import, sent them by Mr. Haws, who is going to Nomans Land. Discours'd Mr. Mayhew largely of the Indian affairs. I was glad to hear that the Gay-Head Indians had of their own account, met together and run a Fence across the Neck. Mr. Mayhew had advised them to it many years agoe, but they did it not until this Spring Mr. Mayhew was with them at their consultation. He tells me a Ditch four foot wide and two deep which he effected the last, will cost but 6s. per Rod. Mr. Torry and Cathcart dine with us, and Mr. Homes who boards at Mr. Allen's to teach School.
In the Evening Mr. Ralph Thacher had his son Ralph call and Well- com me to the Island. They tell us of a Governour coming over for us: had been gone three weeks; to take Ireland in his way. They had this News from Mr. Otis of Sandwich. They reckon a Ship is come in from England. Mr. Otis read the Letter. They lodg'd at Fish's last Monday Night. After they were gone, Mr. Experience Mayhew came in to see me, and invited us to Dine or Sup with him after the Lecture in our Re- turn home.
Mid-week, April 7, 1714. Very serene, Sunshiny morning, the most pleasant we have had since we came from home.
Indian Boy Josiah Hassit Jun'r Psalm Book.
Abel Sacachassauet, Promised (sent a New Testament, July 5, 1714).
Major Thaxter and I went to the Gay-Head, accompanied by Mr. Thomas Mayhew, Mr. Josiah Torrey, Mr. Ebenezer Allen, Mr. Robert Cathcart, Mr. Benjamin Haws, Mr. John Dennison, Mr. Robert Homes, David Sinclair. Major Skiff and Mr. Experience Mayhew we took in our way. About one hundred Men and Women were gathered together besides Children. Mr. Mayhew directed Joash Pannos, Minister of Gay-Head to begin with Prayer; then, Mr. Mayhew preached from Ephes. I. II .- who worketh all things after the Counsel of his own Will.
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Sung 4 verses of the IrIth Psalm. Mr. Torrey set the Low-Dutch Tune. Mr. Mayhew gave in the heads of his Sermon in English; a good Discourse. Isaac Ompane concluded with Prayer. I enquired if any one could read English; proclamation was made. At last only two young men were produced. I set him to read in my Psalm-book with red Covers, and then gave it him. Promised a Testament to the 2d.
Fifth-day, April 8, 1714. at Mr. Ebenezer Allen's in Marthas Vine- yard sent for Mr. Benjamin Mayhew, who has land adjoining the Gay- head neck. I informed him that the Gay-head Indians have made their Half of Fence, on the side towards the Sound, and desired him to make his Half, that the Neck might be closed; which he agrees to. And he is promised that his so doing shall not alter any Lease he has of Sam Osowit for about 10 or 12 acres just within the Neck. To Sarah Japhet, widow, I2S. to help Fill her Land. Bethiah, Nicodemus' widow, who died at Port Royal, is her daughter, and dwells with her. Bethiah has one sone, of 22 years old, who is helpless by reason of Sickness; have one Servant 17 years old. April 8, was exceeding dark at one Time in the morning. I have hardly seen such Thick Darkness. Great Rain, considerable Light- ening and Thunder before Night.
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