USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 21
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2Sup. Jud. Court Files, 4714.
3Deeds, I, 378.
'Sup. Jud. Court Files, No. 953.
"Town Rec., 15.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
sometime before Nov. 19, 1669, when he sold it to Joseph Merry, with "one eighth part of the first purchase of land," showing that he had become interested in the speculation early. The consideration was f120 "by Bills" and the transfer was made in person. This division into eighths was probably in the nature of an undivided allotment. The later divisions were on a different basis as will be seen.
Of the four purchasers, but two became residents, or remained to settle the tract they had bought. Peabody and Standish were land speculators, the former being interested in land "booms" in Rhode Island, and the latter in lands about Norwich, Connecticut. Pabodie was the oldest partner, being 49 years of age in 1668. He had married Betty, a daughter of John Alden of the "Mayflower." He is the lineal ancestor of the author of this history, through the maternal side.
The name was early written Pabodie and so spelled by him, but it was gradually evolved into the modern form Peabody, though the early spelling has been retained by some branches.
Josiah Standish was the son of the redoubtable Captain Miles of Plymouth and Duxbury, and he had married Sarah, sister of James Allen of Braintree, and hence was brother-in-law of his partner.
James Allen was the son of Samuel of Braintree, but he was a resident of Sandwich at the time of the purchase.
James Skiffe, Junior, came from Sandwich also, and was the son of James Skiffe, of that town. Prior to his coming here he had probably resided at Sherborne, Nantucket.
THE ADDITIONAL PURCHASE.
It could not be said that there was necessity for additional land to accommodate purchasers, actual or in prospect, but for reasons satisfactory to themselves, perhaps because land was cheap, the four proprietors for the sum of fifteen shillings bought more land of Josias the Sachem, Jan. 31, 1671, which is known as the "Additional Purchase," and was thus described :-- 1
I Josias Sachem of Tackkomy do sell and Inlarge the Lotts of the English further on the East side unto the East sid of the deep woody vally in the cart way goeing to the town and so to run upon a straight line unto the mille from the marked tree & from the marked tree by papemikes field and so taking in all the Land and neckes westwardly as appeareth by trees marked on the east sid of the woody vally, by me Josias, James Allen and John Eddy.
'Town Rec., 15; Deeds, XXXIII 544.
IO
Annals of West Tisbury
MIDDLETOWN.
No formal name was adopted by the proprietors for the new settlement, as they were not yet incorporated, but it was generally known as Middletown, because of its relative position between Great Harbor and Nashowakemmuck.
Having obtained all the available property from the Sachem, the partners proceeded to the next step of admitting inhabitants and associates. It will be remembered that Thomas Mayhew reserved the right to supervise this feature of the programme and approve of all who applied for the right of admission. The following document records the first admission and the division of the land, May 20, 1671, into fifteen shares, and should be read in full :- 1
Whereas we whose names are under writen have obtained liberty of Mr Thomas Mayhew to buy & purchas land within the bounds & limits of Taakimmy upon the Vinyard this may signifie unto men that we Willi: Pebodie Josiah Standish, James Allen and James Skiffe have made purchas of certaine Lands within the above saide bound with a purpos to people or plant the same and in order thereunto have devided the whole into twelv partes or shares payable to the charges of the whole purchas besids one lott for the mill one for a minister and one lott for John Eddy if he com according to Compacicion and further we have admitted of several persons to have thar severall shares both upland and medow land allreddy purchased or to be purchased alwayes P'vided that the parsons admited shall pay or cause to be payed their just proportion of cost and charg justly arisin thereupon unto the above named Willi Pebodie Josias Standish and James Allen or their assignes and in con- sideration thereof we the above named William Pabodie Josias Standish James Allen and James Skiffe doe admit of Isack Robinson, James Skiffe Sinour, Simon Athearn, Jeramiah Whitne and John Rogers to be full and joynt parcherais with and to have full Right and title to the whole with our selves: allsoe we have admitted of Thomas Mayhew Juner who is to pay five pounds to his brother Matthew Mayhew for and in consideration of a parcell of lands purchased by Willi: Pebodie Josias Standish and James Allen of Matthew Mayhew about holmes hole as may apere by a deed under his hand which parsall of land is to belong unto the whole purchas of takimmy.
May 20 167I witness hereunto
THOMAS BONI The mark N of NATHANIEL BRUSTER
WILLIAM PABODIE
JAMES ALLEN
JAMES SKIFFE
JOSIAS STANDISH
This list completes the twelve shares, and John Eddy, "if he com according to Compacicion," makes thirteen; and as
1Supreme Jud. Court Files, No. 4974. This paper was probably drawn up in Duxbury, as Thomas Bonney and Nathaniel Brewster, the two witnesses, were resi- dents of that town, unless they came to the island on a prospecting tour at that time.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
he did settle here soon after, it raised the shares to that number. The "lott for the mill" seems never to have come into the subsequent transaction of the proprietors, as far as the writer is aware, and may be dismissed from further consideration. The number of proprietors' shares was soon increased to sixteen, at which number it stood in 1673,1 although in 1685 Pabodie sold "one whole share or lot of land or fifteenth part" of the Takemmy purchase to Henry Luce."2
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN, 1671.
We are now brought to the time and event, elsewhere described, when the elder Mayhew was summoned to New York by Governor Lovelace to arrange for the future govern- ment of the Vineyard. This was in July, 1671, and as one of the results of that journey he procured a town charter for the territory lately purchased in Takemmy. For this new settle- ment commonly called Middletown, he recommended to Love- lace that it be called Tisbury, in honor of the little Wiltshire parish where he was born and baptised, and whose green lanes and rolling downs filled his recollections as he was called upon to suggest a proper name for the infant town raised up under his assistance. The original charter of incorporation is still in existence among the archives of the town, the only one of the three that has survived the two and a third centuries inter- vening, and it is a in fair state of preservation, minus the wax seal.3
Under its terms the new town of Tisbury was accorded identical privileges, and the same requirements as to govern- ment were imposed as those given to Edgartown. As in the case of the other places incorporated at the same time the quit rent was two barrels of cod fish payable in New York.4
The inclusion of the West Chop or Homes Hole Neck in the town limits of Tisbury was a matter of subsequent ar- rangement, as will be seen when we deal with that precinct. It was not considered a part of the original corporate town.
1Deeds, II, 306.
2Deeds, I, 173.
3Printed in full in the volume of Town Records, v-vi.
"The present seal of Tisbury bearing representations of two barrels and codfish is an official recognition of this ancient tribute, on which our existence as a town de- pended.
I2
Annals of West Tisbury
DIVISION OF THE HOME LOTS.
Within the few years succeeding the purchase and the incorporation, the original and admitted proprietors' shares were divided and bounded. How they were assigned is not known, as no record remains touching this point, but the territory bordering on the Old Mill river, north from the Tyasquin, was selected for the location of the "home lots," and these were declared to be limited to forty acres each, measuring forty rods on the brook and "eaight skore polls" in length, east and west. This forty acres represented one share and twenty acres half a share. The location of these original lots is shown on the map accompanying this, to which reference should be made for a more particular representation. It will be seen that most of the lots were on the west side of the brook where all the prominent shareholders located, which seems to indicate that the selections made were by mutual consent rather than by lot. The only important exception is the location of Simon Athearn on the east side, without any near neighbor, a lot which he had occupied before 1672.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASES - THREE NECKS.
The proprietors of Tisbury were now in possession of all the present bounds of West Tisbury, except the Christian town and the meadows or necks eastward of Tississa to the bounds of Edgartown and to the south of the Mill path. The original purchases had taken in Great Neck, Little Neck and "the neck by John Eddys," leaving Tississa in dispute. The townsmen determined to acquire these valuable meadows and necks eastward to the bounds of Edgartown, and empowered James Allen and John Eddy to effect a purchase from the Indians. On Dec. 24, 1681, they bought of John Papameck a tract as follows :-
a certain neck of land lying within the sachemship of Takemmy, commonly called Mussoowonkwhonk, being next to Sekonquit eastward: and bounded by the uppermost end of the west cove of water: and from thence upon a square line to the vally which runs from the east cove of water: and from thence hy the said east cove of water unto the sea. for the use and benefit of the English town.1
This was the neck between Long Cove and Pasqunahom- mons Cove. The next purchase was made of Josias the Sachem
1Deeds, I, 129.
I3
History of Martha's Vineyard
on Jan. 6, 1681-2, and included Scrubby Neck and the western half of Watcha as far as he controlled, as follows :---
a certain neck of land lying in the town of Tisbury and commonly called Wachekemmihpickquah Neck bounded with water eastward and westward: the northern bounds to begin at the line which bounds the land late sold by John Papameck to said Allen and Eddy: from thence it is to run on a straight line to the northern end of the swamp at the end of a cove which parts the said neck from a neck of land called Washusade."1
It was not until two years after that the remaining neck, Seconquit or Charles', was acquired. On March 29, 1683, Josias with the consent of some "parties concerned," local native magnates, sold to the townsmen this neck, which was thus described :-
a certain Neck of land called Seconquet, known to the English by the name of Charles his Neck: bounded Westerly by a cove of water and by the Deep Bottom unto the highway: and Easterly by a cove of water called Seconquet: and from said cove upon a straight line unto the afore- said highway.2
DIVISIONS OF THE COMMON LAND.
This property lay in common for several years until Oct. 19, 1687, when it was "agreed and voted by the town that the neck of land called Charles is neck shall be devided and eatch mans proportion shall be layed out as allso the medoe one the above said neck of land and the two next neckes ajoyning eastward from said neck."3 But there was trouble and delay when this proposal was undertaken. There were Indians who claimed rights on these necks which had not been satisfied by the purchase from their Sachem, and the town left the matter in abeyance for five years, when it passed, on Feb. 2, 1692, the following vote :-
Voted that James Allen & peter Robinson are chosen and impowered by the town of tisbury to goe and discors the Indians Steeven and Joseph Skeetup & theire company who have dwelt in Seconquit & the necks agasint And to a gree with said Indians so that the said Indians do quit Claim of said necks To the town of tisbury And yeld peasable possesion to the English as Reasonable as thay cann: to be understood to agree with Steven Joseph Skeetup sam nahommon & Joseph potobppan as Reasonable as thay Cann.
It is evident that the results of the "discors" with the Indians was not productive of satisfactory results, for on July
1Deeds, I, 271.
2Ibid., I, 271.
3Town Records, 5.
4Ibid., 23.
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Annals of West Tisbury
15, 1693, the town took the following action looking to a legal defence of its rights in these necks :-
that peter robinson and John Manter be constituted and apoynted this towns Atorneys to use theire cuning in defending this towns right of the medow gras and hay on Seconquit, peanaskenamset and mossoonk- honk effetully to prevent any Indian or Indians directly or indirectly to have any improvement by Confedryce or otherwise for the space of three years: now from this day above mentioned having to themselves all the mowing grass and hay on the premisses for the term of three years afore said upon Condition that peter robinson and John manter doth make use of the law also for the defence of the premisses as the caus may require from time to time untill three yeares be expired."1
Ten years had now elapsed since the completion of the purchase of these necks, and from the deliberate manner in which the proprietors proceeded we may infer that they had entered upon the slow process of "freezing out" the red men by the aid of time.
The following is a record of the more important of the divisions of the common lands in the town prior to the Revo- lution :---
Kepegon Lots, (resurveyed) do
15 March, 1699
27 Feb., £ 1700
Pine Hill Lots
15 March, 1700
Tississa
23 Feb., 1702
Charles Neck
South of the Mill Path .
14 August, 1719
15 May, 1738
Additional Purchase (31 Jan., 1671)
6 Feb., 1750
Between Indian Town and Homes Hole Road.
22 Feb., 1750-51
4 April, 1707 do do do to Watsha
The last division of the properietors' "common lands" was made in in 1836.
THE ENGLISH TISBURY.
It will be interesting at this point in the story to learn something of the Old Tisbury from which our town derived its name. . In 1898 the author, while on a visit to England, made a special journey to the old parish and spent two days there as guest of the vicar, the Rev. F. E. Hutchinson. While thus so favorably situated much was open to him to see and learn about the ancient places that were in existence in May- hew's time. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is the central object in the parish, and is a venerable and curious
1Town Records, 25.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
structure, probably six or seven hundred years old, showing in its cruciform design a composite style of architecture marking the changes and enlargements which have taken place in all these centuries. The present Vicar has extended and decorated the chancel during his incumbency. The illustrations which accompany this text show exterior and interior views of the church, and afford a much better description than can be conveyed by words of the character and appearance of the building. It still retains on its inner walls those mural orna- ments and devices originally placed there when the church was erected and used in the worship of the Romish ritual, before the Reformation. The old stone font, many hundred years old, at which Thomas Mayhew was baptised still stands just within the west porch. Oaken arches, supported by grotesque figures which overhang the nave like gargoyles, tell of the antiquity of the building. On one is carved: IN THE YERE OF OURE LORDE GOD 1569: THIS PECE WAS SET UP AND IN THE 11 DAYE OF MARCH ENDED BY EDWARD BOLE THE PRAYSE BE UNTO GOD."
The name Tisbury is variously spelled in the ancient records: Tisselbury, Tisselburie, Tysbery, Tissbury and Tis- burie.1 In the Domes Day Book of William the Conqueror it is called Tisseburie. At that time it had forty ploughlands, forty villagers and fifty borderers who occupied twenty-five ploughlands. It had four mills which were taxed then; show- ing the early establishment of its industries, remains of the foundations of which are still extant. These mills were run by water power obtained from a pretty stream, somewhat larger than our own "Old Mill Brook," which flows through the town and is called the Noddre or Nadder. By the time of Henry III Tisbury had been erected into a manor and the grant of it in capite of the King was held by the Abbesses of Shaftesbury. This continued until the dissolution of the religious houses in England at the Reformation and the last Abbess surrendered it to Henry VIII. This famous king, in 1540, granted the manor to Sir Thomas Arundel, Knight, who held it until his attainder, when it reverted to the crown. King James the First, in 1608, restored it to the grandson of Sir Thomas, who was also Thomas, and made
1The Vicar is of the opinion that it was originally Teazelbury, so called because it was a place where woolen cloth was manufactured, and the use of the teazel in the process of raising the nap gave it a name.
16
CHURCH OF S. JOHN THE BAPTIST TISBURY, ENG.
---
-
THE NAVE, S. JOHN THE BAPTIST TISBURY, ENG.
Annals of West Tisbury
him Lord Arundel of Wardour, by which title and in whose family the lordship of the manor still remains. Within its ancient bounds is the famous ruin of Wardour Castle so gloriously defended by Lady Blanche Arundel during the Civil War. Nearby is the new castle occupied by the present Lord Wardour, who by the way, still retains the faith of his family, the Roman Catholic, held by them for generations.
Tisbury is situated in a beautiful garden spot, a rolling country, the South Downs of England, noted for the splendid sheep raised in that section. It is probable that the early practice of raising sheep on our island was brought here through Governor Mayhew, who had been familiar with the herds that grazed on the hills of his native county and had supplied for ages the people of England with wool and mutton.
In 1886 the population was 2,445, and the present number would not differ much from that. The people are chiefly occupied in agriculture.
ANCIENT LANDMARKS. ALGONQUIAN PLACE NAMES.
Animtissewokset. - In 1679 Josias the sachem sold to William Rogers twenty acres at a "place called in indian animtissewokset" in North Tisbury (Deeds, III, 288).
In March, 1716-17, there was a suit in ejectment brought by the Indians against Ebenezer Rogers, his son, and the tract is thus described: "a certain piece or parcel of land containing twenty acres. . .. at a place caled by the Indians A-nimte-sawohqussuk and is bounded on the South west and North west by the fields of Issac Ompany & Job Soomannav, Ned Chamick and is the land whereon the said Ebenezer Rogerses dwelling house standeth" (Court Records). The derivation is probably from anim-tisashg-auk-es-et, meaning, "at the bad mowing place." There is another possible source, which would include the words, sawoh and qussuck, meaning, "scattered rocks," which is quite descriptive of that locality so prolific in bowlders left on the surface during the ice age.
Aushoepin. - This is the name of a cove near the lower part of Watcha neck, and Aushoepin Cove and Aushoepin Neck are mentioned in deeds as early as 1748 (Dukes Deeds, VIII, 57). In 1782 it was called Aushaven Cove (Ibid., XI, 388).
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Brandy Brow. - This bluff of the bibulous name was a part of the James Skiff home lot. How it came by the ap- pellation of Brandy Brow is not known. It is said a dram shop was once located there. From James Skiff it passed into the possession of Nathaniel Wing and then to William Parslow (1686), James Allen (1695), John Eddy (1696), and Robert Cathcart (1696).1
The last named died intestate and it passed to heirs, of whom Miriam2 m. Whitten3 Manter, whose son Robert4 Manter came into possession. On July 3, 1765, Robert Manter and wife Elizabeth sold to Joseph Daggett, of Edgar- town, for £73-6-8, "a certain tract of land & buildings whereon I now dwell in Tisbury afores'd Bounded as followeth: on the south by land Belonging to Gershom Cathcart, on the west and north By the highway; on the east by the road Leading from the highway to the house of Benjamin Manter, Esq." (Deeds, IX, 449).
On August 10, 1780, Prince Pease (who had m. Hepzibah the dau. of Joseph Daggett, heir to this part of her father's estate) of Edgartown sold to Cornelius Norton, husbandman of Tisbury for £36, "a certain Dwelling House Situate in Tis- bury, being the house that was formerly Joseph Daggets together with a piece of land whereon the house stands con- taining one acre" (Deeds, XI, 173). Cornelius Norton retained possession till his death. He was found dead in bed March 26, 1809. He was succeeded by his son Cornelius, Jr., who in turn was followed by his daughters Damaris (n. c.m.) and Lydia. A ruined house on this bluff was a picturesque landmark until very recent years.
Cedar Tree Neck. - See Squemmechchue.
Charles' Neck. - Probably so called from one Amos Charles, an Indian of Tisbury, who may have lived there (Indian Converts, 156). It was known by that name in 1681 and its Indian designation was Seconquit.
Commaquatom. - This was a "Little pond. .by the Sound" in the northwest corner of Christian town (Cong. Lib. Mss., 1737-8). Josias, the Sachem, sold to Ebenezer Rogers, April 15, 1698, a tract of 150 acres, bounded westerly by Kiphigon lots, north by the Sound, easterly by the east end of a "little pond called Com-a-quaton by the Sound" (Deeds, III, 293). In 1738 certain Indians sold to Ebenezer Rogers
1Dukes Deeds, I, 39, 51, 236, 200.
I8
Annals of West Tisbury
150 acres, bounded west by Kiphigon Lots, north by the Sound, east by the east end of a little pond called Commoquaton by the Sound (Deeds, VI, 240).
Coskenachasoo. - (1669.). Mentioned in a deed of sale to William Pabodie and his partners, to include "all the land or neckes westerly to Coskenachasooway" (Dukes Deeds, I, 33). This word is a compound term formed of Coskenuk- chice-issu, meaning "he is a stooping or staggering old man," and the way probably referred to a path leading to the wigwam of some old chief or head man living on or near the bounds of Chilmark and Tisbury, which became the bounds of Pa- bodie's purchase.
Duck Pond. - Jonathan Lambert sold to Samuel Luce, in 1722, a tract of land in Tisbury, bounded north by Duck pond, which lies eastwardly from the now dwelling house of widow Desire Luce, extending from the middle of said pond till it meets with the eastern corner bounds of the Indian town or "Onkokemeh" (Deeds, V, 102).
Erashog. - This is the name of a creek, which is the outlet of Great James pond. "So far as Chickamoot goes viz: to the bounds selected for Weachpoquasset which is close to the Crick caled heren Crick or Erashog Crick, just above high water mark, which is the bounds between the Christiantown and Checemoot" (Deeds, IV, 208). Erashog is the Indian word for herring, and describes this creek, which has for years been used for herring fishery.
Maanette. - (1699.) "A place called Maanette," form- ing the south bounds of Christian town (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789). This is perhaps the same as Maanexit, an Indian village in Connecticut (Trumbull, Indian Names in Conn., 28), which alludes to the establishment of a community of Christian Indians, and is defined "where there is a gathering together." This locality being in Christian town the meaning is applicable.
Mack-kon-net-chas-qua. - Included in the bounds of Christian town (1699) "and so the South bounds running westerly Mackkonnetchasqua including the field where my uncle (Pa)pamick dwelt and dyed" (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789). In a deed, Josias to Isaac Chase, 1682, the land is bounded to the northeast corner of a pond lying in the woods commonly called Mokonnichashquat (Deeds, I, 281). Another
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History of Martha's Vineyard
reading (1694) is Moconitcashtque (Ibid., I, 248). The meaning of it is "a plain field of grass" or "grassy field."
Manaquayak. - A pond in Tisbury, called sometimes "Old House Pond." In 1699 it was in a description of the bounds of Christian town, "a little eastward of a pond called Nanaquayak" (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789; comp. Dukes Deeds, I, 357). This word is from Nan-nau-wiy-ack, signify- ing a "safe or secure place." The pond or the surrounding region was held as a secure place for canoes, or else there was located an Indian stockade close to its shores, to which they could safely retreat. The terminal in its usual signification, (aki, auke, age) means "land" and the preference would be given to the allusion to the stockade.
Mattapaquattonooke .- (1669.) In the region of Christian town and part of its bounds, being a pond called Mattapa- quattonooke (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789). There is a small pond just easterly of Obed Daggett's farm at Cedar Tree neck now called Mattaqua, which is probably an abbreviated form of this name. This name originally belonged to the tract of land adjoining, and not to the pond itself. Mat-ta- pau-quet-tah-hun-auke means "bad, broken up land," i. e. land that had been once planted or dug over. In a report of a Committee of the General Court, relative to the bounds of Christian town, the name Mattapaquaha occurs (1709). Ebenezer Rogers sold to John Lewis, blacksmith, 25 acres, part of the land sold to Rogers by Josias, and mentions "a little pond .. ... known by the name of Mattapaquaton (Deeds, VI, 314), and there is a similar reference to Matta- paquaton, "a little pond" in 1744 (VII, 285).
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