USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 26
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On Oct. 31, 1687, he mortgaged all his real estate to James Skiffe, an incumbrance that was later satisfied. On Oct. 13, 1699, be bought of Samuel Tilton all the latter's rights to Homes Hole Neck, which was one third, and held it during his lifetime. He occupied none of the town offices during his residence of perhaps two score years here, and as he lived almost in obscurity so he died at a date unknown to us, but somewhere prior to Feb. 9, 1714.3
His wife, named Martha, was daughter of Robert and Jane Barnard of Nantucket, testified in a land suit in 1696, being at that time 49 years of age, which would place her birth about the year 1647, and from this we may estimate the probable age of her husband.3 It is supposed that she returned to Nantucket after his death, as some of her children lived on that island, and that she is the Martha Rogers whose death on Jan. 23, 1717-18 appears in the Nantucket records.
JEREMIAH WHITTEN.
According to Savage (Genealogical Dictionary, IV, 532), there came in the "Elizabeth and Ann," in 1635, one Thomas Whitten, aged 36 years, bringing Audrey aged 45, who may have been his second wife, and Jeremy aged 8 years, but he
1Dukes Deeds, III, 288; comp. Court Rec., 1716-17. Case, Praying Indians vs. Ebenezer Rogers. His house was near the '"Red Ground" so called in 1701 (Tis- bury Records, 41).
2Deeds, III, 170.
3Sup. Jud. Court Files, Case No. 4714.
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does not know what became of them.1 It can now be stated that he settled at Plymouth, where in 1643 Thomas and Jere- miah Whiton or Whitney were "able to bear arms." Before 1657 Jeremiah had removed to Sandwich as he appears that date to take the oath of fidelity. In 1660 the father gave certain property rights to his son Jeremiah2.
The four original proprietors of Takemmy admitted, among others, in May, 1671, Jeremiah Whiten to joint pro- prietory rights, and if this be the Jeremy of 1635, as it un- doubtedly is, our Jeremiah was forty-four years old when he took up his residence and cast his lot in the new township of Tisbury. His homestead is thus described in the records :-
June the 27 1673 the Record of the lands And Accomadations of Jeremiah Whitin in Takymmy or tisbury on the vineyard. One house Lot which containeth fourty Acres [lying on the west side of the brook where his dwelling house] is this present year or 1673 bounded by the hey [way] And James Allens lot on the south being fourty [rods by the brook] more or less And the brook on the east And runing eight score rods in length westward being fourty Acres more or less. And the sixth part of the neck by John Eddys of [which half] the sixth and furdermost lot next the poynt is Jeremiah whitins Leying Across the neck as the neck is devided to every mans [lot], contained in the neck as before mentioned in the order of the devision of the three necks bareing dates the first of february [1671]. And the sixteenth part of all undevided lands whether purchased or to purchesse or that may be purchased
This is the record of the lands And Accomadations of Jeremiah Whiting
At the time of his coming here he was married to Eliza- beth, daughter of John Daggett, of Watertown and the Vine- yard. She was born about 1638 and two children were born to them, Thomas and a daughter Mary, b. May 1, 1666, recorded in the town book of Tisbury, though it is probable she owned some other place as her native town. Thomas died young.
Jeremiah Whitten remained in Tisbury the rest of his days, until death terminated his earthly career late in 171I. There is no record of his decease, nor of his wife's, and no
1With him came three Morecock children, probably belonging to his second wife by a previous marriage. They were certified by the Vicar of Benenden, Co. Kent, as to "conformity" in religion, but their names cannot now be found in the records of that parish. The name Whitten was commonly written Whitney in the Plymouth records.
?Thomas Whitton (Whitney) is frequently mentioned in the Plymouth records and was a juryman every year 1643-1667. He married twice after the death of the wife Audrey (before 1639), and in his will he mentions son Jeremiah and grandson Thomas.
$This lot was between the cemetery and Scotchman's Bridge road.
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gravestones mark their last resting place. His will shows that the "aged Mother Elizabeth my wife" was living in November of that year. The daughter Mary married Benjamin Manter and the son-in-law with his wife were the beneficiaries of his estate, subject to support of the widow during her lifetime. Whitten Manter received a gun "which formerly belonged unto my son Thomas Whitten deceased" (Probate, I, 33). His estate inventoried at £283, 7s.
In his lifetime he made but little impress, if we may judge from the infrequency of appearance of his name in the town records. He was selectman in 1679, and on the committee to rearrange the town books in 1689, and this constitutes all that is known of him. The name became extinct here at his death, but that of Whitten Manter was familiar to past gener- ations, and all the descendants of Benjamin Manter may look to him as a common ancestor.
EARLY TRANSIENT RESIDENTS REV. BENJAMIN ALLEN.
The first college graduate from Tisbury was the youngest son of James Allen, Esq. He was born in 1689 and as the last of a large family of boys was given the benefit of a college education to fit him for the ministry. He studied theology, it is said with the Rev. Jonathan Russell, father of his class- mate Jonathan, with whom he went to Yale and entered the class which was graduated in 1708, and whose daughter Rebecca Russell became the wife of his brother Ebenezer Allen of Chilmark. When Benjamin got his degree of Bachelor of Arts he was about 19 years of age, and it is supposed that he returned to his home for a while before entering upon his calling. In 1710 he was preaching for a short while at Chat- ham, but not as a settled minister. He appears to have been in Barnstable, though not in a clerical capacity, for he found a wife there, whom he married April 5, 1712, Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Deacon Job and Hannah (Taylor) Crocker, born May 15, 1688, and with her he next appears at the re-settlement of Worcester, in 1715, when he remained about two years. He removed to Bridgewater where, on Aug. 17, 1717, he preached for the first time in the newly incorporated South Parish in that town, and on July 9, 1718, was ordained as its pastor, "but being an unsuccessful manager of his private secular concerns, he fell into debt, and his parish, after often reliev-
:
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History of Martha's Vineyard
ing him, became at last weary of it, and he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council." He preached his last sermon there on Oct. 11, 1730, and for several years he seems to have had no settled work. His next field of labor was in Falmouth, Province of Maine, a new (Second) Parish being formed in that part of the settlement known as Cape Elizabeth in 1733, and he was installed as its pastor Nov. 10, 1734, and this charge he held until his death. The installation sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel Willard (Harv. Coll., 1723). He preached at this frontier town for twenty years, when on May 6, 1754, his death terminated a ministry that was eminently successful. The following account of him appeared in the Boston Gazette of June 25, 1754 :-
Falmouth June 13, 1754. No more Account having been given of the late worthy Pastor of the Second Church in this Town, the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Allen, I think it proper to inform the Publick, that the said Rev. gentleman died here on Monday the 6th of May last, in the 65th year of his age; and on Thursday following was honourably interr'd at the Expense of his Flock. God sent him to us in the height of his Powers and Usefulness and continued him a blessing for upwards of 20 years. He was justly accounted a Person of superior intellectual Powers, and withal a good Christian and Minister of Jesus Christ, well accomplished for the sacred office and faithful in discharge of the Trust committed to him, as well in pastoral Visits as Publick Administrations, thereby making full Proof of his Ministry, and being an Example to the Flock: His Discourses were nervous and solid, his Method clear and natural, his Delivery grave, serious and pathetick, more adapted to reach the Hearer's Hearts and Consciences, than with Words and Phrases to gratify the Fancies of the curious. He was of a healthy, strong Constitution, his Eye never dim while he lived; and tho' he used a strong Voice, yet it was easy, and without straining, and seemed not to spend for most of his Days. He was in some of his last years much impaired by Lethargick and repeated Shocks of paralytick Disorders, yet continued in his Lord's Works, till they with a Fever returning with greater Force, Nature could no longer bear up. After being last seiz'd, he continued to the tenth Day, but scarce speaking a word, much disordered in his Senses, and taking little Notice of any Thing. He was exemplary in every Relation, a kind Husband, a tender Father, a wise Counsellor and affectionate, faithful Friend. His Conversation very agreeable and entertaining; and tho' so well accom- plished a Person, he was withal affable,"condescending, humble and modest, never that I could observe or hear elated with Pride upon any Occasion. His disconsolate Yokefellow continues still struggling with her Infirmities, waiting for her change. He had Nine children, six of which survive him, a son and five Daughters.
The son referred to in this obituary notice was Joseph, born February 14, 1720, who is said to have matriculated at Harvard College, but was not graduated.
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His eldest daughter, Hannah, married Oct. 8, 1742, Rev. Stephen Emery, Harvard College, 1730, who was born Aug. 3, 1707, and died May 24, 1782, and she died June 7, 1799. He was settled at Nottingham, N. H., 1741-8, and at Chatham, Cape Cod, from 1749 till his death. His daughter Elizabeth, born in 1716, married Clement Jordan, Esq., April 29, 1744, a prominent resident of Falmouth, and she died May 23, 1752, before her father. Another daughter, probably named Dorcas, married Tristram Jordan, Esq. in December, 1778, a prominent citizen of Saco, Maine, for his second wife, and died Dec. 19, 1781, without issue. Another daughter married Rev. Joseph Crocker, Harvard College, 1734, of the South Parish in Eastham, now Orleans. The fifth daughter married Rev. Caleb Upham, Harvard College, 1744, of Truro, Cape Cod.
ARTHUR BEVAN.
The name of this early transient was variously written Biven, Beven, Buiven, Bivens, and it probablyis a Welsh patrony- mic. He was married when he came here but, of his antecedents prior to removal to the Vineyard nothing has been learned. He is first mentioned in 1677 in the court records, when he was fined for a breach of the peace. He was plaintiff in a suit for recovery of money due in 1680, and in the next year entered complaint against Simon Athearn for trespass and obtained judgment. What his status in the town was before 1682 is not clear, as he did not acquire property till that year. He then bought several tracts of land on the west side of Old Mill brook on the road leading to North Tisbury, including the house and home lot of Thomas West, and resided there until his removal. He was chosen town commissioner in 1688, a title which probably had the significance of selectman, but beyond this he held no public office. He sold his holdings in 1692-4, and before 1695 had removed to Glastonbury, Conn. He died there Dec. 15, 1697, leaving a widow and twelve children.
SAMUEL BICKFORD.
Before his residence in this town Samuel Bickford had lived in Salisbury and Nantucket.1 He had married Mary, daughter of our Edward Cottle, and followed his father-in-
1He may have been the son of John Bickford of Dover, N. H., and the father of Jeremiah Bickford of Eastham and Yarmouth, Cape Cod.
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law in his several removals hitherward as already detailed. The last record of him in Nantucket is in 1679, and in 1680 he was a witness to a document recorded here.1 In 1681 he was called "of Tisbury" as defendant in a suit. How long he remained on the Vineyard is not known, and nothing further has been found to throw light on his residence here.
CHARLES CROSSTHWAITE.
The stay of this individual on the Vineyard was of short duration, probably not extending over two or three years, but it is not possible to determine just when he came or the time of his departure, for his name does not appear on the land records. Whence he came is unknown. He received a grant of a half lot in the town, on the east side of Old Mill brook, bounded northerly by the Scotchman's Bridge road, containing twenty-two acres, and presumably built a house thereon.
He was one of the anti-Mayhew party and in 1673 joined the ranks of the insurgents, being one of the signers of the petition to the Massachusetts authorities against the Governor. With the rest he suffered the consequences and chose to seek better social and political conditions elsewhere. On Oct. 28, 1675, he appeared before the town in meeting assembled "and acknowledged that he had made legall sale of his house landes and all Rightes and priveledges which he had in the Town of Tysburie unto Thomas Berrick" and the town at once confirmed the transfer and placed it on record.
He went thence to Boston, where by wife Judith, four children are recorded to him, George, b. 1671, probably died young; George, 1676; Charles, 1678; and John, 1680, and that is the last we hear of him. Whether he married here, or left any descendant through a daughter is not known, but the presumption is all against it.
WILLIAM PARSLOW.
This transient was another contribution to our early population from the Cape. He was born in 1660 and came here as a young man about 1685, probably from Harwich.
1Dukes Deeds, I, 266. In 1678 Tobias and Thomas Coleman of Nantucket sell to Bickford "an accomodation [of land] by us received of the said Samuel Bickford in a parsell of land at Mathews Vinniard as appears by our deed from him.' In 1679 Bickford conveys the same property back to the Colemans (Nantucket Deeds I, 75; II, 27). There is no record of what this property was in any of our town or county books and doubtless it has disappeared with other of the early Tisbury records.
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He bought the west half of the Standish home lot in 1686 and remained about ten years, perhaps following his occupation as weaver. During this period he served as constable in 1688, his only public appearance. He removed to Harwich before July, 1696, and was living there in 1717, when his wife Susanna, daughter of Joseph Wing of Sandwich, died. She was sister of the Nathaniel Wing who was a land owner here, and of the Joseph Wing, who married Jerusha Mayhew (33) of Edgartown.
JAMES REDFIELD.
He was the son of William Redfin (Redfyne, probably same as Redfern), whose name was afterwards written in the form used by our settler. William Redfin with his wife Rebecca was first at Cambridge, Mass, in 1639, and sometime before 1653 removed to New London, Conn., where he remained until 1662, the date of his death.1 The son James was born about 1646, probably after his parents had moved to Connecti- cut, and on the decease of his father was bound out till his majority to Hugh Roberts of New London.2 In 1666 Redfield was "rated" in that town, his master having removed, and in May, 1669, he married Elizabeth How at New Haven, where he also removed about this time, as would appear by the birth of a child the next year at that place.3 About 1671 he is found in Tisbury, where he took up a lot on the east side of Old Mill brook, near where the late Dr. D. A. Cleaveland resided. His possessions are thus described in the town records :-
The Lands And Accomadations of James Redfield which Leyeth in the Township of Takymmy or Tisbury on the vineyard as folloeth one half house Lot which containeth twenty five Acres Leying on the East side of the brook where his dwelling house is this present year one thou- sand six hundred seventy & three bounded with the brook on the west And Joseph doggats half Lot on the north & Isack Robinsons Lot on the South being twenty-five rods in bredth And runing in length eight score rods easterly from the brook being twenty five Acres more or Lesse And halfe the Sixth part of the neck by John Eddys of which halfe the fifth lot is James Redfields Leying on the south side of Joseph doggats halfe lot Leying Acrosse the neck as the neck is devided to every mans share Contained in the neck As before spoken in the order of devision of the three necks baring date february the first 1761
And the two And thirtyth part of all undevided Lands whether pur- chesed or that may be purchased This is the Lands And Accomadations of James Redfield but to be remembred the purches not yet paid4
1 American Ancestry, III, 108.
2Caulkins, "History of New London," and New Haven Town Records.
3Redfield Genealogy, passim.
"Tisbury Records, p. 4.
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Redfield became identified with the opposition to the Mayhew regime in 1673, and was arrested and fined like the rest after the "Dutch Rebellion" had collapsed, but upon public acknowledgment of his "error," and "in consideration of his poverty," the fine was remitted.1 It is probable that he was unable to remain under these circumstances, and his lot was forfeited, being regranted to John Tucker a few years later.2 He returned to New Haven, where on May 8, 1674, he is called "now resident" of that town, and acted as repre- sentative of the "rebels" on the Vineyard in their further attempts to secure their rights.3 In 1676 he was recommended as a fit man to have charge of the fort at Saybrook, Conn., and presumably he went there, as in 1683 and 1686 he had grants of land in that town.4 His wife is believed to have died there and he is next found at Fairfield, Conn., where in 1693 he married a second time, Deborah Sturgess. By these two wives he had the following children: Elizabeth, 1670; Sarah, 1673; Theophilus, 1682; Margaret, 1694; James, 1696, none of whom remained on the Vineyard, or married here. It is supposed he died about 1723 in Fairfield.
SAMUEL RUSSELL.
This early resident was the son of George Russell of Scituate, and was connected by marriage with William Pabodie. The latter sold his home lot to George Russell, Jr., from whom it passed to Samuel his brother in a short time. It is not known whether George ever resided here, but it is certain that when Samuel came into possession of the lot he entered on it as a settler and became identified with the Vineyard. This is shown by his participation in the "Dutch Rebellion" in 1673, and as in the case of many of his associates in that affair, it resulted in his withdrawal from the island altogether. He probably returned to Scituate, and in the early part of King Philip's War fell a victim in the assault of the Indians on Rehoboth March 28, 1676, leaving two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, as heirs to his Tisbury estate. His widow, Mary, married Cornelius Briggs, and Russell's interest in the estate, in 1683, passed to Simon Athearn by purchase.
1Dukes Deeds, I, 65. 2Tisbury Records, p. 10. 3N. Y. Colonial Mss., LXXV 124.
4Town Records, Saybrook, Vol. I.
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This lot became the object of a troublesome suit in 1716, when Joseph Briggs, son of Cornelius, entered claim for the Pabodie lot, and being defeated in the local courts appealed to the Superior Court at Plymouth.
JAMES SKIFFE, SENIOR.
The father of James, Nathaniel, Benjamin and Nathan Skiffe who became settlers on the Vineyard, was himself a non- resident proprietor and his connection with the town was very brief and unimportant. However, as the progenitor of a num- erous and influential family he deserves special mention aside from his original ownership of one of the first home lots. James Skiffe first appeared in New England at Lynn, Mass., about 1635 and is said to have come from London.1 He had some asso- ciation with Isaac Allerton of Plymouth, who came from Lon- don and was a passenger in the Mayflower, 1620, and "for his service Donn to Me Isaack Ollerton" he was granted land in Sandwich Jan. 14, 1636-7, which place became his permanent residence.2 He was representative to the General Court, beginning in 1645, for thirteen years, and in 1656 was appointed to train the militia, and in various ways was a leader in the public life of Sandwich.
His interest in this town undoubtedly was of a speculative character, brought about through his son James and his acquaintance with James Allen, and was subsequent to the formation of the partnership of James, junior, with Peabody, Allen and Standish. He was admitted as a proprietor on May 20, 16713 and granted a full share of land. His lot was on the west side of Old Mill river, and his holdings in the town are thus enumerated :-
Thes are the Lands of Jeams Skiffe senier [in the] the township of tisbery: one lot containing forty ackers Bounded on the est By the reiver on the north By thomas wests Lot on the south By the heyway that leieth on the north sid of henery Luessis Lot and so runeth from the reiver westward fore poles in length and one Lot In the gret neck Bounded on the est by Jeans allins Lot on the west by Samuel russeles Lot with a
1No proof of connection with any English family has yet been discovered. A John Skiff and wife Joan lived in Modingham, Kent, England, in 1609, when the husband died.
2Plymouth Colony Court Orders, I, 98. It is probable that Skiffe was in the service of Mr. Allerton as the context of the grant indicates this as the reason for the grant.
3Sup. Jud. Court Files, No. 4974.
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sixtenth part of all undevided landes and meddo the devided Landes Being more or les as thay are Laied out thes are the Landes purchused by the above named Jeams Skiff
recorded by ordor of the town: febbarary the 5: 16741
This lot he gave to his son Nathan on June 15, 1675, and his quitclaim of it, when Nathan sold to Arthur Bevan, June 9, 1687, is the last record of him in connection with the town and Vineyard.
His first wife is said to have been Margaret Reaves, and he had a second wife named Mary, by one or both of whom he had the following named children :- 2
I. James, b. 12 September 1638. Came to Tisbury.
II. Stephen, b. 14 April 1641.
III. Nathaniel, b. 20 March 1645. Came to Tisbury.
IV. Sarah, b. 12 October 1646; m. Thomas Mayhew.
V. Bathshua, b. 26 April 1648, m. Shearjashub Bourne.
VI. Mary, b. 24 March 1650; m. Matthew Mayhew.
VII. Patience,3 b. 25 March 1652; m. Elisha Bourne.
VIII. Benjamin, b. 15 November 1655. Came to Tisbury.
IX. Nathan, b. 16 May 1658. Came to Tisbury.
It will thus be seen that through his children James Skiffe, senior, transmitted a powerful influence upon the affairs of the new settlement. His wife Mary died Sept. 21, 1673, but it is not known how long after 1687 he survived.
JAMES SKIFFE, JUNIOR.
James Riffe Although one of the four proprietors of Tis- bury, yet his relation to the town was of a tran- sient character. His home lot was on the west side of Old Mill brook just south of the Whiting property but how long he resided on it is not known. It passed into the possession of Nathaniel Wing some time before 1677, and it may be inferred that the participation of the Junior Skiffe in the "Dutch Rebellion" of 1673 may have been the cause of his departure. He does not appear to have been punished for it directly, but the ruling family found opportunity to reach
1Tisbury Records, p. 8.
2Sandwich (Mass.) Records. An Elizabeth Skaffe was buried at Rehoboth in 1676, possibly a daughter.
3This name is written Marianne, apparently, but Patience is believed to be correct.
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him in other ways. Thomas Daggett entered complaint against him in 1674 for slander, in calling him "a theif, a lyer and knave and other opprobrious words," as previously related (vide Vol. I., pp. 166-7), and thenceforth his usefulness and personal safety were ended. He remained several years, the last record of his residence here being in 1677, and then re- moved to Nantucket. He had contracted a second marriage with Sarah, daughter of Robert Barnard of that island, in March, 1676-7, and thenceforth became a townsman there.1 The fruit of this union was five daughters and a son, but as the latter was killed in 1723, supposedly unmarried, this line of Skiffes became extinct. The daughters married and died in Nantucket. He became a deacon of the church, and was living in 1719, when he visited Chilmark with one of his married daughters.2 He was then eighty-one years of age, having been born Sept. 12, 1638, and his death occurred not long after. His widow Sarah survived and died in 1732.
JOHN TUCKER .
This transient came to Tisbury from the Province of Maine, where he had been a pioneer in the eastern portion of that province, at Cape Annawaggon, Sheepscot Bay.3 He was in Dartmouth, England, in 1659,4 which was probably the region of his birthplace, and in 1662 he purchased land at Sheepscot.5 There he resided with his family until driven off by the Indians in 1675, when he migrated to the Vineyard. His home lot was on the east side of the Old Mill river, next north of Isaac Robinson. He at once became an active citizen in the new settlement, being chosen surveyor and cons- table in 1675 and town clerk in 1679 and 1680.6 But he did not long survive, as in July, 1681, Susanna, the widow of John Tucker, "late of Martha's Vineyard," is mentioned in the Plymouth Colony.7 His son John was living in Harwich, Cape Cod, in 1716 and at that date disposed of his father's interests in Tisbury to Samuel Cobb.8
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