USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 44
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SUCCESSION OF PASTORS.
Samuel W. Coggeshall, 1847-9; Micah J. Talbot, 1849- 51; George W. Stearns, 1851-3; William H. Stetson, 1853-4; Franklin Gavitt, 1854-6; William Leonard, 1856-8; Alonzo Latham, 1858-60; Francis A. Loomis, 1860-2; M. P. Alderman, 1862-4; William V. Morrison, 1864-5; John N. Collier, 1865- 6; John F. Sheffield, 1866-7; Edward Edson, 1867-70; Philo Hawkes, 1870-2; James O. Thompson, 1872-4; J. D. King, 1874-5; Eben Tirrell, Jr., 1875-7; A. L. Dearing, 1877-8; George H. Butler, 1878-80; W. F. Steele, 1880-2; W. I. Ward, 1882-5; Shepherd F. Harriman, 1885-7; George A Grant, 1887-9; Samuel L. Beale, 1890; Richard E. Schuh, 1891-2;
1During Mr. Brown's pastorate Charles Weeks was licensed as "exhorter," a position he occupied in this society for half a century.
2A parsonage costing about $900 was built during Mr. Robbins' term.
345 were baptized and 43 "probationers" received in this year.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Samuel F. Johnson, 1893-6; John E. Duxbury, 1897; William D. Wilkinson, 1898-1900; William H. Butler, 1901-2; John Bearse, 1903-4; Samuel J. Rook, 1905-7.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The first meetings of a religious society organized under the Congregationalist denomination were held about 1825, in the small one story building, occupied for a long time after as an undertaker's establishment, and since 1903 by Sea Coast Defence Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. The building was then used as a school during week days, and on Sunday for religious purposes. This school-house for years after was known as the "Chapel." It had a small cupola, within which was suspended a triangle that called the people to worship, and the scholars to struggle with the rudimentary R's. It continued to do this double duty until 1844, when members of the society felt that they should outgrow its tem- porary shell, and build a larger edifice devoted exclusively to their uses.
Nathan Mayhew, the school-teacher, was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Congregational church, and became one of its Deacons.1
Another associate with the late Deacon Mayhew was Dr. Leroy M. Yale, and from his diary the following notes of the beginning of this society are taken: -
In 1844, after much deliberation, Mr. James L. Barrows, Nathan Mayhew and myself formed the design of organizing a Congregational Church in this place and we obtained the services of Rev. Wm. Gould of Fairhaven who commenced preaching in a small school house and after a few weeks, a small church of ten members was organized, which was soon increased by the addition of five or six more.
Having thus made a beginning and not having a suitable house for worship, we determined on building a meeting house and in the course of that season erected one at a cost of nearly five thousand dollars, in which we have since held our meetings having settled as our first min- ister Rev. Samuel S. Tappan, who is still with us. This step, viz, the organization of the church and building of the meeting house has called out the most violent opposition by the Baptists and Methodists, so much so that they, or individuals of the Baptist society have advanced money to the amount of 3 or 4 hundred dollars to set up a physician in opposition to me and the Methodists have built them a new house, which they did not previously design.2
1He lived in the house owned and occupied by the late Capt. James L. Smith on Main street.
2Kindly furnished to the author by Dr. Leroy Milton Yale of New York city, son of the elder Dr. Yale, and a native of Vineyard Haven.
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Rev. Mr. Tappan remained until 1849, and was suc- ceeded by William Fyvie, who remained one year (1850) only. The next and last settled minister was William H. Sturtevant, who held the pastorate until 1859, when he accepted a call to the West Tisbury church and the society gradually dissolved. The church building was occupied by the Universalists, and they were in turn followed by the Unitarians, but it was aban- doned for church worship about 1866, and used for secular purposes as a public hall, and by the town for a town hall. It is now known as Association hall, from its former owner- ship by a number of shareholders. It now contains the town offices and fire apparatus.
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Seamen's Chapel. - In 1867 Rev. Daniel Waldo Stevens was sent to Homes Hole by the American Unitarian Asso- ciation as a missionary. He was a Harvard graduate, class of 1846, of the Divinity school in 1848, and from 1850 to 1862 was settled in Mansfield, Mass. For a number of years he had been doing unattached mission work for the association, and when he came to Homes Hole he saw an opportunity to serve the multitudes of seafaring men who came annually into the harbor as a port of call. A man of strong intellect, uncon- ventional in his methods, and full of enthusiasm, he soon had established a chapel and reading room for sailors, on a com- manding bluff midway to the head of the harbor. Through the aid of friends and the support of this denomination, he main- tained a unique establishment where he dwelt and ministered to "Jack" at all times for nearly twenty-four years. In this way he was quite as well known to mariners on the coast as the famous "Father" Taylor, who had in earlier years carried on the same work at this place. His rooms were a veritable museum of curios, interesting and valuable, for he was a collector of historical and natural relics and knew their worth, and a splendid collection of stone implements made by the aborigines, was one of the important portions of this treasure house.1 The author recalls this venerable man in the last years of his ministry, when after acting as sexton and ringing his own bell on Sunday morning he would continue
"This collection of Indian implements was removed from the Vineyard by his son after the death of Dr. Stevens, and was placed on deposit with the Bristol, R. I. Historical Society. It is a matter of great regret that this unique collection was not donated to a local museum.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
the service, somewhat short of breath from his exertion. He was at his beloved chapel until his last sickness put an end to his labors. He died Oct. 1, 1891, aged 71 years, having been born Jan. 18, 1820, at Marlboro, Mass.1 After his death the building passed into private hands, and has been remodeled into a summer residence.
Church of the Unity. - The residents who had attended Dr. Stevens' services for a considerable time desired to con- tinue the skeleton organization that had existed in his day, but for a number of years the project of reviving his work languished. The matter was finally taken up by an association of Unitarians, called the Channing Conference. A neat building was erected by it on the West Chop road, on a picturesque knoll in the grove, in 1896, and in 1898 the "Vineyard Haven Unitarian Society" was organized to maintain services therein. Since that date a regular ministerial supply has been had, beginning with W. C. Litchfield, 1898-1903; W. H. Johnson, 1905-07; I. P. Quimby, 1907 (present incumbent). The meeting-house is generally known as the Stevens Memorial Chapel.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
On Dec. 25, 1862, the first public service of this church was held at Capawock Hall by the Rev. John West of New York, and as a result of the interest manifested, that clergyman was appointed missionary for Martha's Vineyard. Services were held for several years, but were discontinued owing to the ill health of Mr. West.
In the summer of 1866 services were held by the Rev. Benjamin Gifford, who baptized five persons. During the following winter services were held monthly by the Rev. Hiram Carleton of the Church of the Messiah at Woods Hole, with which parish this Mission had been incorporated. The removal or death of many of the communicants caused the services to be discontinued, except such as were held in private houses, as the membership was not large at this time. In this pioneer work the late Mrs. Ellen Louisa Richardson, who was one of the earliest members of the "Summer colony," was a conspicuous leader. She was a devout and devoted member of the church in another part of the state, and brought with her the zeal to carry on the mission work for her church
1 An excellent account of his life and work appeared in the Christian Register Oct. 15, 1898.
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GRACE (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH VINEYARD HAVEN
Annals of Tisbury
in her adopted home. Services were again held in Association hall in the summer of 1881, by the Rev. Benjamin Gifford, the Rev. John J. Roberts, D.D. and the Rev. Arthur B. Conger. During the summer of 1882 services were held in Association hall by the Rev. Thos. G. Addison, D.D., the Rev. F. S. Harraden, the Rev. Samuel Edwards and the Rev. J. S. Beers. As a result of this renewed interest in the church a meeting was held July 17, 1882, and an Association formed for the purpose of raising money to build a chapel. Gen. Benjamin Alvord, U.S.A., was chosen Chairman; Col. Asa B. Carey U.S.A. and Laura, his wife, gave a lot of land, 50 x 100 feet, on Main street, opposite the Grove Hall house, on which to build the edifice. On Sept. 25, 1882, another meeting was held, at which articles of association and by-laws recommended by the Diocesan Convention of Massachusetts were adopted, and a permanent organization known as Grace Episcopal Church Congregation was formed. Dr. W. D. Stewart, U.S. Marine Hospital Service, was elected warden, Mr. Thos. H. Tuckerman was elected treasurer, and Miss Martha W. Daggett, secretary. It was announced by the treasurer that the sum of $1,000 had been subscribed. A building committee consisting of Dr. W. D. Stewart, Mr. T. H. Tuckerman, and Mr. H. W. Mclellan was appointed.
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1882, the corner-stone of Grace Church was laid by the Rev. John J. Roberts, D.D., of New York. During its construction cottage services were held at the residence of Mr. Thos. Tuckerman, from Oct. 1, 1882, to June 3, 1883, by Dr. R. A. Ottiwell, lay reader. The Church was opened for divine service June 3, 1883, and on Friday, June 15, the building was duly consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin H. Paddock, D.D., Bishop of Massachu- setts, assisted by the Revs. E. M. Gushee, B. R. Gifford, and John S. Beers. At this service a class of four persons was confirmed, and Holy Communion administered to fifty persons.
The records show that after this the following clergymen conducted the services in the next few years; the Rev. John J. Roberts, D.D., the Rev. H. H. Neales, the Rev. Jno. S. Beers, the Rev. Wm. S. Chase, the Rev. Jos. Dinsey, and in October, 1894, the Rev. Wm. Cleveland Hicks was appointed the first permanent resident clergyman in charge of the church. The Rev. Mr. Hicks resigned in September, 1898, to accept a call to St. Agnes' Church, New York. During the rectorate of Rev. Mr. Hicks the church building was moved from its
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History of Martha's Vineyard
original site on Main street to the corner of William and Woodlawn streets. The Rev. H. S. Habersham succeeded to the charge March, 1899, and served until September, 1900. The Rev. Harland H. Ryder was appointed to the charge in May, 1902, and resigned in January, 1904. Various clergy- men and lay readers continued the services until Oct. 1, 1906, when the Rev. Wm. Doane Manross was appointed to the
GRACE CHURCH, VINEYARD HAVEN. (INTERIOR VIEW.) SHOWING CHANCEL WINDOW AND OTHER MEMORIALS.
charge, and is the present Rector. The whole island of Martha's Vineyard is now incorporated into one parish, and the rector of Grace Church, Vineyard Haven, has charge of all matters within the jurisdiction of the Episcopal church.
The church building was remodeled in 1901 by the addi- tion of transepts and lengthening the chancel end of the nave, making the whole of cruciform shape. The enlarged church was dedicated on the tenth Sunday after Trinity of that year
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by the Arch-Deacon of New Bedford, the Rev. Samuel G. Babcock, assisted by a former rector, Rev. William C. Hicks. There were seven memorial gifts, one of which, a beautiful chancel window by Tiffany, was the gift of the family of Ellen Louisa Richardson and George Morey Richardson. It is the finest piece of stained glass work on the Vineyard, and repre- sents, in life size, the risen Christ, in white vestments, coming forth from a garden of green and tinted foliage, with raised hand and finger pointing upward, as bearing an Easter message to his flock. Soft blue sky and distant hills in faint atmos- pheric haze complete a picture of singular impressiveness. The bell, prayer desk and chancel chairs were presented by Judge and Mrs. William H. Arnoux, in memory of their deceased children. The altar cross of polished and orna- mented brass is a memorial to Rev. Henry Huntley Neales. An oaken font, a replica of the ancient stone font in the church of St. John the Baptist, Tisbury, England, in which was bap- tized (1593) Governor Thomas Mayhew, was presented by the family of the author of this history as a memorial to a deceased relative, Mrs. Hester Nash Myers, a devoted com- municant of the church. A representation of it may be seen in Vol. I, p. 116, of this work. The communion rail, of moulded oak and ornamental brass standards, is a memorial to Emily Norwood de Forest Hicks and Lucy Cleveland Hicks, and the altar, of beautiful Gothic construction with carved columns and traceried panels, is a memorial to Emma Sheldon Strahan. In addition to these memorials, two mural tablets adorn the walls, one to Gen. Benjamin Alvord, U.S.A., and the other to Surgeon W. D. Stewart, both identified with the early foundations of this parish.
TAVERNS.
The first record of the granting of a license for a tavern on the Vineyard is found under date of March 26, 1677-8, when Lieut. Isaac Chase of Homes Hole was granted a license to keep "A Publike house." The following is the full record:
Isaack Chase of Holmses hole is admitted to keep a publike house of Entertainment & to sell liquor &c by Retail except to the Indians and this to continue for two years at ten shillings per annum.
This house, situated in Vineyard Haven, then Homes Hole, was the residence of the progenitor of the Chase family on the Vineyard. The location of it is not accurately known,
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History of Martha's Vineyard
but it was about fifty yards north of the old Company Place barn, near which, in early days was the ferry stage for the boats that plied between Falmouth and Tisbury. Following the custom of so many elsewhere, Landlord Chase combined the calling of an inn-keeper with that of a ferryman.
Thomas Chase, who succeeded his father, as eldest son, and in the course of time, Abraham Chase, who probably built the "Great House," were inn-keepers at Homes Hole. Thomas was the ferryman, following in his father's wake, and with his sloop "Vineyard" piloted travelers to his inn by the beach. At the same time, Thomas West was granted a license in 1722 to be an innholder at Homes Hole; his tavern was the house in which he lived near the Marine Hospital.
In 1722, Thomas Chase having deceased, his widow Jane was licensed the next year in succession to her deceased husband, and the energetic widow maintained the inn until her second marriage in 1724, to Thomas Cathcart. Thomas Cathcart died in 1732, and in his will calls himself an "innholder," which indicates that he continued the business until his decease. The widow Jane survived till 1750, and presumably main- tained the inn, where we may surmise that the dispenser of spiritual comfort to her guests and general factotum was her mulatto servant, Ishmael.
The "Great House" was doubtless the tavern kept by Abraham Chase. Among the patrons of the house were the sailors who came into Homes Hole, storm-bound, to find good cheer while waiting for fair weather. One of this class found here a bride, the inn-keeper's daughter, Hannah. The happy "Jack Tar" was Captain John Ferguson of Kittery, Maine, and probably they were married in that house in 1742. Their son John became a captain when he came to manhood. The "Great House," remaining in the hands of Abraham Chase, passed to his widow, who, marrying again, with her husband, Thomas Winston, transferred it in 1777 to Elijah Smith, Senior, and the latter sold it in 1796 to his son, Elijah. It remained a public house, it is believed, under the last named owner.
Thus it will be seen that the business of tavern keeping on the Vineyard in early days descended in family succession. The former generations of travelers to the Vine- yard were thus able to return to familiar hearths and the convenient taprooms of Chase's at Homes Hole and Sarson's (later Worth's) at Edgartown, with a feeling of homecoming.
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It may be safely believed that' 'Chase's" was not the only tavern, for the business of tavern-keeping was not confined to one or two persons. Very few of the old houses in our village have not been at one time or another a "licensed inn," and the occupation of bum-boating, fishing, and keeping tavern were combined by many. It will only be feasible to speak of the more prominent.
Another "innholder" of Homes Hole was Ebenezer Allen, son of Ichabod of Chilmark, who had married Sarah Chase. In 1745 he was first licensed as "innholder" of the constable- wick of Homes Hole, and this fact should be interesting, be- cause Maria Allen, one of the three "liberty pole" heroines, was his daughter, and we may easily suppose that this dashing young girl was the moving spirit in the life of the tavern kept by her father. Its location is not definitely known, but it was undoubtedly on the land set off to his wife in the division of the Chase property.
In 1759 John Baxter kept an ordinary in this town. Its location is not known, and as he was not a property owner, he presumably hired a house of Jonathan Manter for the carrying on of his business. The only reference to it is found in the Boston News Letter, issue of May 5, 1762. It says: -
We hear from Marthas Vineyard that on the 29th of last month the house of Mr John Baxter, Tavern keeper at Holmes' Hole, was consumed by fire with most of the household furniture and goods that was therein. It was occasioned by a defect in the Chimney. The whole was consumed in eight minutes.
The tavern kept by Joseph Claghorn (b. 1753, d. 1805), in the house now owned by Deacon Holmes Athearn, was a famous one in its day, and the sign of it is still in existence, covered with paintings of various sizes of receptacles for liquids. After viewing the wide choice of measures, the traveler would hardly need the invitation of "Walk In," which accompanied these pictorial representations of the kind of cheer dispensed there. The only problem that might arise in his mind, after investigating these generous tankards, would be whether he could walk out.1
This Claghorn Tavern is also interesting because at one time Polly Daggett Hillman, another of the "liberty pole" heroines, lived there. Joseph Claghorn followed in the foot-
1The author has been told that this sign was suspended from an iron arm swung from a tall pole, after the manner of tavern signs, and not from the house.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
steps of his grandfather, Thomas, who was an innkeeper at Eastville. The Branscomb house on Beach street was an inn before 1800 to about 1812, being the residence of a village factotum, Dr. Rufus Spaulding, who was doctor, postmaster, justice, village librarian, inn-keeper, and Master of the lodge of Masons. The adjoining lot was occupied by Jane, wife of Timothy Luce (1016), who also kept open house for way- farers, a business that has been maintained for a century at the same place; the present Mansion house, our most pre- tentious modern hotel, rises over the cellar hole of the modest
2
SIGNBOARD OF THE JOSEPH CLAGHORN TAVERN.
inn of Mistress Luce. It was later kept by Matthew Butler. Forty years ago "Porte Crayon," the famous artist of Harper's Magazine at that period, visited our island and thus speaks of the Mansion house, then kept by the late Mrs. Nickerson: "A civil porter" he says "takes charge of our baggage and conducts us to the house of entertainment, kept by Mrs. Captain Leander West, an old-fashioned country inn, and as full of comfort, tidiness and snugness as all the old fashioned places are supposed to be."
In the olden times it was customary for captains, super- cargoes and passengers to come ashore and put up at the taverns, sometimes for weeks, while their vessels rode at anchor,
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Annals of Tisbury
wind-bound, in Homes Hole. Frequently these vessels carried persons who in later years became prominent, and it has been stated that Commodore John Paul Jones was a visitor to our haven under the above' conditions, and was well remembered by "Aunt Sally" Claghorn.
"Smith's Tavern" was first kept by Silas Daggett (1757- 1825), and afterwards by Captain David Smith (1757-1818). The house lately owned by Dr. William Leach was a tavern
Weft Chop
Mink Meddow Pond
Holms's Hole
Beach
Long
.
MAP OF HOMES HOLE, 1775. FROM THE DES BARRES CHART.
of more modern times, known first as the Berkshire House, kept by Capt. Wm. Downs, and later as the County House, kept by James Shaw West.
Space will not allow of the particular enumeration of other and later taverns, the Dexter House on the beach, the Thomas Dunham house (where Joseph Chase follows the occupation of his ancestor as "mine host," nor of our latest creations, the Tashmoo Inn and The Cedars). The historian of the future must preserve their traditions.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
The following named persons were licensed inn-holders in the precinct of Homes Hole by the County Court for the years specified : -
Isaac Chase, 1716-26; Jane Chase, widow, 1722-3; Thomas Cathcart, 1726-30; Jane Cathcart, his widow and successor, 1732; Thomas West, 1722-42; Abraham Chase, 1728-63; Thomas Chase, 1733; Samuel Daggett, 1736-7; Elisha West, 1741-64; Peter West, 1741; John Whelden, 1742; Thomas Claghorn, 1742-3; Ebenezer Allen, 1745-63; Shubael Butler, 1747-59; Joseph Allen, 1750; John Baxter, 1759-61; Jonathan Manter, 1761; Zaccheus Chase, 1764; John Holmes, 1765-71; Isaac Daggett, 1766-1804; Cornel- ius Norton, 1776-87; William Worth, 1798; Silas Daggett, 1798-1804; Thomas Dunham, 1799-1806; Rufus Spalding, 1802-6; David Smith, 1805-6.
PATHS, HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Beach Street. - This highway, usually called the ferry road, was the first to be officially laid out in February, 1763, and again in May, 1776, though it had been a town way since the beginning of that century. The ferry landing on Bass creek was at the foot of Beach street, and probably it was the first and only public street into the settlement at that time. The following record describes the way as laid out on the last named date: -
. Beginning at the Great Gate afores'd and to run Easterly in The Southmost Cart Way that runs from sd Gate to the Harbour: said way to be Forty feet from the Furthermost Rut of sd Cart Way untill it comes to a heap of Stones near the Cherry Trees that stand to the Eastward of Mr. Abraham Chases Barn, and from that to the Harbour or water, as the Road or way now Runs: and from that to the Crick where the ferry boat now Lyes at the Stage Forty feet wide from high water mark.1
In 1801 this street was resurveyed, and it was determined at that time where the landing stage of the ferry was formerly . situated. "Which place," the committee stated, "is North 54° East from the top of the Chimney of Jedidah Coffin's dwelling House, and N. seventy degrees East from the Top of the Chimney of Robert Cottle's dwelling house."2
1Abraham Chase was given liberty to set up a gate across said way, "near where the Try House stood formerly, if he see cause." He was awarded two pounds damages. (Dukes Co. Court Records, May term, 1776.)
2Ibid., April term, 1801. These chimneys are yet standing, the Coffin house being now known as the Cromwell house, and the one next west (Crowell) was the West- Cottle house.
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Main Street. - As the settlement grew northward a way was made by carts parallel to the shore. It was the usual "path" blocked by gates and bars at each cross fence, while at the junction with Beach street the Great Gate, so called, was erected, which shut off the entire Neck. This way was laid out in October, 1798, and the official record of its course is as follows: -
Beginning at North side of the Old Highway that leads from the Head of Homes Hole Harbor to the town of Tisbury the East Corner Post of Peter Butlers frunt Inclosure and from thence North 25 Degrees East till it comes to the Divisional Line between the Meeting House Lot on the North side thereof and Land of Wm. Smith to a stake. thence North 10 Degrees East to the East corner of Silas Daggett's frunt yard and to continue northerly by said Daggett yard to the North Corner thereof, thence North 2 Degrees East to a stone . between the Land of Isaac Daggett and the Land of Jonathan Manter thence North
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