USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 50
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OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, EASTVILLE.
about thirty rods southeasterly from a dwelling house on the site where the residence of Isaac W. Norton now stands. In 1771 such a school building existed in the "North West division" and provision was made for its repair and the hiring of a master.2 In 1776 the school committee for this division was Ebenezer Smith, Samuel Smith and Ebenezer Norton. At this date no settled policy in regard to the maintenance of schools in this section seems to have been adopted, and the records give but little information as to the actual conditions of its educational facilities. The money raised for schools varying from year to year was divided proportionately, and the
1Sketches of Old Eastville Houses by the late Constant Norton in "Cottage City Star," 1883.
2The town voted, in 1782, to sell this school-house to the highest bidder, the proceeds to be applied "for the use of a school" (Edg. Rec., II, 8). .
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History of Martha's Vineyard
district committees were empowered to spend it in building or hiring school-houses or teachers as each saw fit.1 In 1795 Shubael Davis, Ichabod Norton and Samuel Smith, 3rd, were the committeemen for the Homes Hole division. Small appropriations only were available prior to 1810, probably less than $100 annually for this section, and it need not be estimated how much could be done with this amount of money.
The rapid growth of the town, following the Camp Meet- ing period, necessitated the construction of school houses to accommodate the increasing population. A new building was provided for Eastville at a cost of $850, and another for the Highland section at a cost of $2,300. In 1880 these two schools housed seventy-five scholars, and at that time $700 was allotted for the expenses of maintaining same, two teachers being em- ployed. The appropriations for schools for this district of Edgartown was one of the subjects for the annual wrangle of the taxpayers prior to division of the town - each side claiming that injustice was done in the allotments. The amounts expended in 1810, which we have seen to be about $100 per annum, are an example in contrast to the conditions existing now.
A century later this town had school property valued at $14,000 and appropriated about $5,000 annually for educa- tional purposes.2
SETTLEMENT AT MAJOR'S COVE
THE LINE OF NORTON MAGNATES
The acquisition of land about this inlet of Sanchacan- tackett pond began with a purchase of some meadow by Nicholas Norton, at an unknown date, of Thomas Sissetom, one of the petty chiefs of that region.3 The transaction is not of record, and the deed is not now known to be in existence.4 It was about the "Wading Place," probably in the vicinity
1In 1800 the entire appropriation for schools was but $300, to be divided among four districts. In 1802 it was but $200, and in 1804 it was increased to $350. In 1816 only $150 was appropriated. In 1825 the money was divided by the number of scholars in each division. In 1832 the sum of $450 was appropriated for schools.
2Town Report, 1908.
3In his will Norton bequeaths to son Joseph "a tract of land lying at Sanjacantacket joyning to the mill Creke which I bought of Mr. Sam," but the town records give Sissetom. Perhaps there were two purchases.
4Information of Medical Director, B. H. Kidder, U. S. N., who states that he had seen the deed, and that it was taken to Boone, Iowa, by this deceased brother, I. N. Kidder, and lost after his death, in 1878.
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Annals of Oak Bluffs
of Miober's bridge, and was held by him in the same way that many tracts of land were found to be in the posession of the whites, by a private purchase of the natives' "rights." This meadow was thus described in the records:
The abovesaid land was Layd out at the head of the swamp near Mr Boults farm taking Beginning at a Oak marked by a fut path at the head of the swamp which Joyns to the wading place and runneth in its Southern Line By the said Path towards Wil Lays Plain about 73 Poles; and from said Tree westerly to an old stump on a hill near the old Path that goes to homes hole: which stump is distant from the said tree about 50 poles: and from said stump southwesterly seventy three Poles to a tree marked on the side of an hill: from thence crossing over at the fore said path to a marked tree about seventy poles.1
On Jan. 28, 1684, he had "liberty granted to him to purchase a piece of land that lieth against his meadow at Sanchacantackett."2 This was the beginning of the long and extensive ownership of territory by this family in that section. On Sept. 20, 1686, Matthew Mayhew, as patentee sold one hundred acres at the "Wading Place," which took its first bound mark on the southeast, at Miober's bridge, and for over two centuries "Bolt's Farm" has been a local landmark in that vicinity. Boult sold it in 1703 to Israel Dag- gett, and it finally came into the possession of Joseph Norton, and has ever since been a part of that ancient inheritance.3 It is probable that Nicholas Norton utilized the small brook which runs from a marsh into Sanchacantacket pond for a mill site, as the remains of a dam are still visible, and there are references to it in the early deeds of that region.4 There is no evidence that he resided here, and it is probable that he never did. By his will, 1690, he gave "all my meadow at Sanjacantick" to his son Benjamin, upon certain conditions, which it is quite certain he fulfilled, as in 1726, this property was sold to James4 Pease, who in turn disposed of it to Matthew Norton in 1731, and on the same day Matthew sold it to Ebenezer Norton.5
The first Norton known to have resided on this property was Joseph, son of Nicholas, born in Weymouth, Mass., March,
1Edgartown Records, I, 18, 39.
2Ibid, I, 30.
3Dukes Deeds, II, 3; IV, 114; V, 427.
4This brook separates the farms of Henry Constant Norton and B. H. Kidder. There was a mill here, according to tradition, for grinding oak bark for tanning pur- poses; and as it is surmised that Nicholas Norton was a tanner, the tradition probably has some foundation.
5Dukes Deeds, V, 86, 97, 112.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
1652, and it is supposed that he built his house here about 1700, perhaps when his son Joseph, Junior, on his marriage, succeeded to the father's house on the Mill path. The new house built by Joseph at Major's cove was about ninety rods northwest of Miober's bridge, and about eight rods northeast of the road, and a part of it was standing one hundred and fifty years later. He was the first of a long line of local mag- nates who ruled in this domain for two centuries. He was easily one of the most distinguished citizens of Edgartown during his lifetime. Although politically opposed to the ruling family, yet he surmounted these difficult conditions, and held the highest offices in the gift of the government. He was connected with the "Dutch Rebellion" in 1673, but in 1675 had been forgiven, and was made marshall, constable and water bailiff, of the General Court. He was chosen overseer (selectmen), 1682; county commissioner, 1684, 1686, 1695; proprietors' agent, 1687; and when the island came under the Massachusetts jurisdiction, he was recommended to Sir William Phipps, by Simon Athearn, as "being a man of Curag(e) & a good Estate," and the Governor appointed him marshall in 1692, on this recommendation. He was appointed justice of the King's Bench, 1695, and was generally known thereafter as Justice Norton, in the records, although he held the place but a few years. He was again high sheriff in 1699, a position with which he is more particularly identified, one as dignified in those times as that of judge. A number of stories are told of his commanding influence over the Indians, who held him in great awe, on account of his majestic figure and his fearlessness. He lived to the ripe old age of 89 years and ten months, dying Jan. 30, 1742, leaving a large estate. Among the personal effects he bequeathed to his son Ebenezer was a "silver tankard," from which may have been sipped that seductive potion of choice rum which was served to the committee on the bounds of Sanchacantackett. This son succeeded him in the possession of the ancestral acres at Major's Cove.1
Ebenezer Norton, born about 1691, was the second to occupy this property, and built himself a house about half way between Miober's bridge and the homestead of his father, probably about 1715, when he married, and during his oc-
1Dukes Probate, III, 139. This tankard descended to Peter, son of Ebenezer, who bequeathed it to his son Ebenezer (1741-1805), who went to Maine and it is probably an heirloom among his descendants (ibid., VII, 203).
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cupancy of the place until his death, April 11, 1769, he added a part of Felix neck and some outlying land to the original estate. His life seemed to run in less public channels, and but little is found about him on the records. He was select- man, 1738; school committee, 1738, 1739, 1742, 1745, and was prominently identified with the affairs of the church during his lifetime. It is stated by descendants that he was a lieutenant of the militia. It is related that when on his dying bed he saw the winding sheet, which had been prepared for him in advance, bleaching on the lawn in view of his bed- chamber. The family hogs were noticed by him rooting around this piece of fine linen, and he called out to the aston- ished family, "Drive those hogs away from my winding sheet ! It will not be fit to bury the Devil in!" He had two sons, Eliakim, the elder, and Peter; and the legendary lore, which is thick about this family and its paternal acres, gives us the further tale of a disagreement which these two brothers had about a cosset lamb, and that Eliakim gathered up his personal belongings, and went to a "far country" settling at the North shore. The younger brother remained at home.1
Peter Norton, third of the line, was born Sept. 9, 1718, and renewed in his person the martial spirit of his grand- father, Joseph. His house, probably erected about 1740 when he married, was situated a few rods west of that built by his grandfather, and from it could be seen, in his day, the curling smoke rising from thirty wigwams of the Sanchacan- tacketts. His property by gradual increase bordered the entire western cove of the great pond, and for him it received the name of Major's Cove, which it has ever since borne. Peter Norton was of a military turn of thought, and in 1756 was captain of the Edgartown company, and on Aug. 8, 1761, was commissioned as Major of the Dukes County regiment, raised during the French and Indian wars.2 Like his father he was interested in the schools, and served on the school committee many years. When the Revolution broke out he was too old to enter that war, but acted upon committees to prepare for the defence of the town. He was commissioned high sheriff, Oct. 24, 1776, by the Provincial authorities, and held the
1The slight value of "tradition" is illustrated by this legend, for it is of record that Eliakim and Peter Norton together bought several pieces of property in Chickem- moo in 1747 and 1748, which would seem to dispose of the reason alleged for Eliakim's departure from the paternal roof at the age of thirty because of a quarrel over a pet lamb (Dukes Deeds, VIII, 12, 13).
2Massachusetts Archives, XCIX, 24.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
position for many years.1 When the Baptist sect came to the island after the Revolution, Major Peter became identified with it, and was, by reason of his commanding influence, a leading light in that church. He died Feb. 3, 1792.2 Five of his sons removed to Maine, and the family homestead fell in 1792 to Ichabod, his youngest son but one.
Ichabod Norton, born Dec. 17, 1762, inherited the northern half of his father's estate, the southern portion having been alienated during the lifetime of his father. He remained a bachelor throughout his long life, and with an
THE "MAJOR NORTON" HOUSE (1752). RESIDENCE OF HENRY CONSTANT NORTON.
inheritance gradually growing in value by judicious invest- ments, through many years, aided by few personal wants, he became the wealthiest man of his time upon the island, His property was largely in real estate, both here and in Maine, in vessels, and in mortgages, and these conditions of thrift and simple personal habits gave rise to the most conflicting stories, both of his wealth and of his miserly habits. The truth probably lies between the two extremes, for while it was true that he lived in a house that had all the signs of dilapidation about it and the surrounding premises; did not keep a carriage,
1This appointment was made upon the recommendation of Chief Justice Joseph Mayhew, who said that Norton preferred to be a Colonel of the militia (Mass. Archives, CXCIV, 208).
2Backus, Church History of New England, II, 375; III, 167.
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Annals of Oak Bluffs
because, as he said, he had to keep a dozen for others, referring to those used by his debtors; exacted the last dollar on notes and mortgages, and all the added attributes of a "close" man, yet it is conceded on the other hand, that he gave much privately to charity, in his own way; was just to the deserving poor; always had a kind word for children and was merciful to all the animal kind. His habits were formed in youth, as he said, from a need for economical living, and being a bachelor, his life at best was a narrow one, which turned for its com- panionship to a "fool nigger" named Harry, or as the absurd individual explained his full name, John Harry Monus John Peter Tobirus Peter Toskirus Peter Tubal Cain. Whence he came no one knew, but for fifty years he presided in the kitchen of "Uncle" Ichabod, and became one of the characters of the neighborhood. He was a confirmed monomaniac on the subject of wars and martial matters, though perfectly harmless, and his conversation was largely a confabulation of historical gibberish, which led those who knew him to believe he had been in the service of England, probably in the naval forces. He pretended to be in communication with individuals below the surface of the earth, and if halted by a question he would mysteriously repeat it, in a solemn manner, and turn his ear to the earth for the answer. Prompt news service was always to be had, for Harry would answer in a few seconds, "Admiral Hawke fought 'em sir, and has taken forty ships," or some such trivial mummery. There is an excavation on the Ichabod Norton place as large as a good sized cellar, made by him, still known as "Harry's Hole." When he planted melons he would put an old iron pot in the middle of the patch, "for a model for the melons," he would explain.
No refining influence of wife or children came into the life of this lonely man, Ichabod Norton, yet he was very human, and could find it to his taste to cause a legend to be put over his fireplace: "Deal justly, love mercy, walk humbly," and doubtless he tried in his contracted home- less life to do all these three things, and probably succeeded in each of the requirements.1 His will, dated Sept. 28, 1843, and proven Oct. 18, 1847, is probably the longest on record in the County registry, containing bequests to about all of his relatives, many friends
1"Reformation" John Adams gives this picture of Ichabod Norton :- "He has but few of the comforts of this life and lives on coarse food. We ate, prayed and wept over him. He gave us two dollars tribute money." (Autobiography, p. 451.)
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History of Martha's Vineyard
and a charitable legacy. At this time there were fifty- two of the grandchildren of his father living, and all were remembered, presumably. After his death, the farm was further sub-divided, and the long line of local magnates was broken.1
SETTLEMENT AT POHQU-AUKE (PECOY)
Isaac Norton, elder brother of Joseph, and probably the eldest son of Nicholas Norton, also became one of the early landed proprietors and residents of the Sanchacantacket region, finally settling on the north side of Major's Cove. His first investment was about Squash meadow, with several others, in 1683, and on Jan. 28, 1684, he was granted a lot on the south side of Tacknash's field.2 About 1688 or 1689 he bought the Indian "rights" to the fertile little neck, since called Pecoy, of Ezekiel Pauknessimmun,3 and this he added to a lot previously bought of Maquaine, in 1685, "in con- sideration of an iron pot and other goods."4
HOUSE OF THE FIVE ISAACS
He built his house on the north side of the W'Quahti-pog pond, a commanding position, perhaps soon after the purchase, and thus becomes, next to Joseph Daggett, the earliest settler in this region, on Ogkeshkuppe neck. This house was given to his son Isaac (37) in 1713, and he in turn deeded it, in 1721, to the third Isaac (113). Isaac, Jr. had sons Isaac, Stephen, Henry, and Shubael, of whom the first two were bachelors, and lived according to tradition in the east half of the house, and Shubael, the married brother, in the other with his family. By will the shares of the unmarried brothers went to the fourth Isaac, son of Shubael, and he was in turn succeeded by the fifth and last of the name to live in this house of notable family history.5
1Many of the facts about him have been obtained from a biographical sketch of Ichabod Norton prepared for the press by James Athearn Jones, of West Tisbury, and published in pamphlet form for private distribution, in 1848, by the executor. It was intended as a vindication of Mr. Norton. The historical portion, purporting to give a sketch of his ancestors, is painful in its errors. It does not seem possible to crowd more mis-statements into a few pages devoted to the early generations of Nortons than there appears.
2Edgartown Records, I, 34.
3Dukes Deeds, I, S8.
4Ibid., III, 25. When the neck was divided these purchases were confirmed to him, but he was obliged to make restitution to the other owners of the six-and-twenty shares.
5Information given by Mrs. Annie Daggett Lord. The east half becoming dilapitated was torn down, making the building considerably smaller.
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EASTVILLE.
SETTLEMENT AT ONKAW AND QUINNIAAMUK.
The extreme northern end of the eastermost chop became a settlement apart and distinctive before the 18th century. The nearest settlers were at Major's cove and Farm pond, and a stretch of several miles separated them from their neighbors. This locality, next to Chappaquiddick, was the last stand of the Indians of the town, and during the following century and a half the smoke from their wigwams rising skyward could be seen from any house in this region.
The sachem Wampamog, in 1669, gave the first tract of land here in severalty to the sisters, Alice and Keziah Sessetom. In the quaint language of the native the sachem deeded to them a tract "at the place called Quannaamuk":
It is the will of me Wampamog that the eldest called Ales Setum should have the breadth of twenty-five rods and that she that is called Keziah Setum should have the breadth of fifteen rods: both these to have same wedth now said at the pond and so upward as far as Daggetts bounds: I, Wompamog say this is firmly and of right theirs because I have divided this quantity of land to them, even to Ales and Keziah Setum, the daughters of Thomas Setum: it is theirs I say and all their offspring for ever: or if they fale, to go to their kindred: may they in peace enjoy this land for ever for I will never alter this nor shall any that defend my Sachemship do this; but let these peacefully enjoy the said land even Ales and Keziah.1
It will be recalled that this Alice Sissetom (or Setum) was the Vineyard Pocahontas, the Indian wife of Joseph Daggett. Part of this land subsequently descended to Daggett's daughters, Esther and Alice, the half breeds.2
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
There were various early purchases by the whites in this region, Richard Sarson in 1686, Thomas West in 1692, and Isaac and Thomas Norton and Robert Cathcart in 1698, but it is not believed they had houses there.
Edward Cottle, Jr. was the first person who lived at Onkaw, the ancient inheritance of his wife's Indian grand- mother, Alice Sissetom. He was there as early as 1695, "where he had a dwelling house," and he may be reckoned as the
1Dukes Deeds, VI, 412.
2See Court Records, 1690; Joseph Daggett vs. Jacob Norton and James Pease, Jr., suit for trespass with verdict for plaintiff. In 1698 a tract forty rods wide, same quantity as given by Wampamog was sold at public vendue to Jacob Norton. This may be the identical land.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
first settler of the region subsequently known as Eastville.1 Here he was surrounded by Indians of the Sanchacantacket tribe, of which tribe his children were quadroons. It is prob- able that he was the sole resident of the English race in this place for the ensuing twenty-five years.
Benjamin Smith of Edgartown had been granted, in 1704, a tract of thirty acres, and although he did not settle here he bequeathed it with other property here to his two sons, Thomas and Ebenezer, and the latter settled on the land (now The Highlands) about 1725 and it became an in- heritance to succeeding Ebenezers of this family for several generations.2 A new settler, in the person of John Cunning- ham, came to Eastville in 1725 and bought land of Cottle at various times3 for the ensuing ten years until his death, and he was followed by another stranger, John Cousins, about 1730, who acquired land in the same vicinity. Theophilus Pease and Thomas Claghorn moved up here from Edgar- town at the same time and settled in Eastville. A third stranger, Malatiah Davis, made the first of his many purchases here in 1744, and his descendents for several generations were identified with the little settlement. He was followed by David Davis in 1759, another stranger to the Vineyard, and not known to be related to the earlier Davis residents. These two families resided here for the next century, intermarried and became specially identified with this settlement.
"BARBARY COAST"
This was a neighborhood full of the romance of the sea, and these new settlers brought to it the additional mystery of family "skeletons" from other regions, as will become detailed in the sketches of their lives. The men of this little hamlet got their living from the deep in all lines of endeavor, and not the least of their sources of supply was that seemingly ghoulish business of wrecking, of profiting by the unfortunate deodants of the storms and tides of the Vineyard sound. Whether justly or in humor this place was known in local parlance as the "Barbary Coast," in token of the avocation of most of its people, and many weird tales are told of the hard bargains driven with luckless skippers who had drifted on the treacherous shoals of these waters.
1Dukes Deeds, V, 305.
2Edgartown Records, I, 64; comp. Deeds, II, 285.
3Dukes Deeds, IV, 76, 116, 118; V, 50, 385.
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Annals of Oak Bluffs
THE METHODIST CHURCH1
So far as is known, the first individuals here professing to be Methodists, were two colored persons, John Saunders and his wife. They had been slaves in the state of Virginia. By extraordinary efforts and rigid economy they had been enabled to purchase their freedom. They set out in a vessel bound to some port in Massachusetts, which stopping for some cause in Homes Hole harbor, these persons concluded to land at Eastville. They arrived in 1787 and remained in this vicinity several years. John, being an exhorter (having as is under- stood held this position among his fellow slaves) preached occasionally to the people of color, at "Farm Neck." It is represented that he was highly esteemed by them, but it does not appear that any society was formed as a result of his labors. In 1792, Saunders removed to the adjacent island of Chappaquiddick, where there was also a settlement of colored people, where his wife having died, he remarried, and where he also died in 1795.2 In the early part of the same year of Saunders' decease, 1795, the justly celebrated Jesse Lee, the pioneer of Methodism in New England, visited Martha's Vineyard. This settlement was the second place he visited and the following entry appears in his journal relating to the event :
Friday [February] 6th. [1795]. I preached at Shubael Davies' in Edgartown. I had a refreshing season and spoke with faith.3
It may be presumed that the host of Lee was a convert to the new doctrine, as in those days of religious intolerance itinerant preachers would not be entertained by those of other denom- inations. There is, however, nothing of record to show any establishment of regular services here following the visit of this pioneer. The ministers assigned to the Vineyard circuit
1For some of the facts in this sketch of early Methodism the author is indebted to the kindness of Mrs. Fanny A. Deane, of Edgartown, who loaned the manuscript of a "Centennial address" prepared by her father, Rev. Hebron S. Vincent, and delivered, in 1884, before one of the annual gatherings of that denomination at Cottage City.
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