Ya\a UmvereUv Libratv

39002013707345

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

The Eldredge Public Library, Chatham, Mass.

The Chatham Lights, Chatham, Mass.

A
History of Chatham
Massachusetts
Formerly the Constablewick or Village
of Monomoit
WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
AND NUMEROUS GENEALOGICAL NOTES

By
WILLIAM C. SMITH.

HY ANNIS, MASS.
F. B. & F. P. Goss, Publishers
1909

PREFACE.

The task of compiling a satisfactory local history is one
requiring no little patience, industry and research, if prose
cuted under the most favorable circumstances, but it is
rendered doubly difficult when, as in the case of Chatham,
the loss of a considerable part of the public records usually
consulted by the local historian and the brevity of those
which remain, compel him to collect his facts from many
scattered and not easily accessible sources. Few, if any, of
the towns in the State have been more unfortunate than
Chatham in respect to the preservation of historical ma
terials. Not only has it suffered in common with the other
towns of Barnstable county, through the destruction by fire
on October 22, 1827, of all the county records except those
of the Probate Court, but it has also lost all the early parish
records by the burning of the Congregationalist parsonage
in 1861. The town records still remain intact, but they do
not begin till thirty years after the place was settled by the
white man, and then the early entries are of the briefest
character. The births, marriages and deaths recorded
therein before 1750 are comparatively few in number, and
consequently there are doubtful points in the genealogy of
nearly every Chatham family which no amount of research
will ever settle and omissions which no investigator can ever
hope to supply.

vi PREFACE.
Out of the material which has been accessible to me, I
have made no special attempt to produce a readable book.
I have sought only to collect and present the facts without
resorting to traditional or mythical anecdotes to sustain the
interest of the reader. The frequent references in the foot
notes will be found valuable, I hope, to students of local
history and to those who may be inclined to doubt the state
ments in the text.
In order to avoid the circulation of false reports, I will
state that my original purpose never contemplated bringing
the history down to the present date. To do this merely
requires time and patience in compiling from abundant and
easily accessible materials.
I wish to express my obligations to Mr. Josiah Paine of
Harwich, whose long and careful researches into Cape Cod
history have made him the highest living authority upon
that subject. I am also indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Osborn
Nickerson, Mr. James M. Young, and Miss M. L\ Luce for
the privilege of consulting valuable family papers, and to
Hon. James W. Hawes of New York for encouragement and
assistance in the collection of materials. The late Rufus
Smith, Esq., also furnished me with valuable facts and
papers. The work is not free from mistakes. If it be found to be
a distinct advance over anything yet attempted in the line of
Chatham history, it will fulfill all the claims of its author.
January, 1909. W. C. S.

MEMORANDA OF CHATHAM.

Indian Name,

Monomoyick, or Monomoit

Named Port Fortune,
Named Sutcliffe's Inlets,
Called by the Pilgrims Monomoit,
Settled by the English,
Annexed to Yarmouth,
Annexed to Eastham,
Established a Constable wick,
Boundaries Enlarged,
Part Annexed 1691 included in Harwich,
Incorporated a Town,
Named Chatham, ....
Strong Island and vicinity Annexed,
Boundary Established, .

October, 1606
About 1618
. 1621
. 1664
June 7, 1665
June 3, 1668
June 3, 1679
February 11, 1691
Sept. 14, 1694
June 11, 1712
June 11, 1712
February 7, 1797 '
April 14, 1862

CHAPTER 1.

THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA.
"""PHE southeasterly portion of the peninsula of Cape Cod
* was inhabited, long before its authentic history begins,
by a small tribe of Indians, ruled by a chief or sachem of
their own, living principally upon the fish so abundant in
the numerous bays and inlets along their domain and upon
Indian corn supplied by their squaws, and engaging occa
sionally in fierce and bloody quarrels with other tribes more
or less remote. In their own language they called the terri
tory, over which they roamed, Monomoyick or Monomoit,1
and they were accordingly styled by the English the*
Monomoyicks or the Monomoyick tribe.
How long before the advent of the white man they
settled in this locality is not known, nor, indeed, is
anything of importance known concerning their early
habits and life. Not until their relations with the white
man begin is the veil of darkness and uncertainty lifted.
In the case of Monomoit, these relations began at an early
1. This name Is spelled in so many different ways in early records and writings
that lt Is difficult to determine its exact form. Governor Bradford, Governor Wins
low and other early authorities give the name as Manamolak, Manamoyack, Mana-
moyake, Manamoycke, Monomoyick, Manamock, Manamoylck, Mannamoyk, Mono-
moyack, Manamoick, etc. Later, however, the consensus of opinion seems to have been
that the final sound in the word should be nearer the sound of the letter "t" than
that of "k,"and we find in the Plymouth Colony Records, in many early documents,
and In the writings of the clergy, the following forms of tbe word: Mannamolte,
Mannamolett, Mannamoyett, Manemoyet, Mannomoyett, Monnamoyett, Monamoiett,
Monamolt, Manamolt, Monomoit, Mannamolt, Monnamoit, Mannomoiett, Manamolett,
Manomoytt, Manamoyet, Monamoyet, Mannamoyt, etc. The forms Monumol, Mona
moy, Monnamoy, Monemoy, Manamoy, Manimoy, Monomoy, Mannamoy, Manemoy,
Manamoye, Manomoy. etc , are corruptions of the Indian name, which were used locally
and colloquially, although sometimes found in the public records. Tbe forms,
Monnamoy and Monamoy, appear in the town records.

2 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
period, as compared with many other localities along the
coast. The situation of the place, on an exposed part of
the seaboard in the vicinity of dangerous shoals and currents,
tended to draw the attention of the earliest navigators to
it, and it has ever continued a dreaded landmark for the
sailor. Whether it was known to the Northmen, who, in their
excursions from Iceland in the early part of the Middle Ages,
doubtless explored some portion of the New England coast,
is difficult to determine. The accounts of their voyages
preserved in the ancient Icelandic Sagas, are so vague as to
render any satisfactory identification of the places visited by
them practically impossible. Prof. Rafn of Copenhagen has,
indeed, claimed to identify these places and has asserted,
among other things, that the long and sandy strands
mentioned in these Sagas, which the voyagers named
Furdustrandir (Wonder Strands), "for it was long to sail
by them," are none other than Nauset and Monomoy beaches,
which protect Cape Cod from the ocean, but his conclusions
are not now regarded as sufficiently well founded to be ac
cepted as correct.2
In the year 1498 the Cabots, John and Sebastian,
Venetian adventurers under commission from the king of
England, sailed along the North Atlantic coast from Lab
rador to Virginia, but as there is left to us no detailed ac
count of their exploit, it is impossible to state what points
of the coast they actually visited.3 The first explorer from
the East, whose presence in the vicinity of Cape Cod is es
tablished with substantial certainty, and who probably
scanned the shores of Monomoit from his frail craft, was
Giovanni Da Verrazano, a Florentine, who, under French
auspices and with a French crew, put to sea in January,
2. Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, I. 65 et seg.; Voyages of the
Northmen (Prince Soe. Ed.) BO.
8. Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, III, Chap. I.

A NEW ERA. 3
1524, from a place near the island of Madeira, intending to
find a westward passage to the Indies. Reaching North
America in latitude 34 degrees north, he proceeded up the
coast, arriving at a place in latitude 41 degrees 40 minutes,
which appears from his description to be Narragansett Bay,
where he remained fifteen days. Thence setting out on May
5th, he sailed east and then north one hundred and fifty
leagues, always keeping the land in sight, but making no
stops, the wind being fair. The coast, he says, ran east
ward fifty leagues, then turned to the north, and he saw
many hills in the distance. Apparently he sailed around
Cape Cod and in sight of its shores, reaching the coast of
Maine, from which point he continued northward and then
sailed for France.4
There were other voyages of exploration to North America
during the next seventy-five years,5 and ancient maps indi
cate that before the end of that time the general outline of
the coast was understood by Europeans. The fisheries of
Newfoundland and adjacent coasts, also, early attracted
European mariners to that region, and "before the opening
of the seventeenth century more than three hundred English,
Portugese, Spanish and French vessels went home annually,
laden with the treasures of the sea, from the American
coast."6 It is not unlikely, therefore, that during this
period the shores of Cape Cod were more than once visited,
accidentally or intentionally, but it is not until the year 1602
that we find another distinctly chronicled voyager there.
On March 26 of that year Bartholomew Gosnold, an
Englishman, sailed from Falmouth, England, with thirty-two
4. Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, IV. 6 et seq. ; N. Y. Historical
Society Collections, I. 45.
5. In 1583 Stephen Bellinger of Eouen sailed to Cape Breton and thence coasted
southwesterly six hundred miles, which would have taken him near Cape Cod. He
"had trafique with the people in tenne or twelve places." Hakluyt says, using the
term In the sense of exploring, that he "discovered very diligently C C leagues
towardes Norumbega," the latter term being used in a rough way. He, doubtless,
saw Cape Cod. N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register, XXXV. 52.
6. Davis, Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth, 33.

4 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
men in a small bark, called the " Concord," bound for the
region then vaguely known as North Virginia. After touch
ing at several places on the coast of Maine, he arrived on
May 15 off the northern extremity of a cape, which he
named Cape Cod on account of the abundance of codfish
taken by him there. He landed and made a short excursion
into the interior, seeing one of the natives. On the follow
ing day coasting southerly, he discovered a point with
breakers in the distance, lying twelve leagues south of the
place first sighted on the preceding day.7 Attempting to
double the point, he suddenly found himself in shoal water,
but got away without harm. The shoals he called Tucker's
Terror, on account of the fear expressed by one of the voy
agers of that name, and the point he named Point Care. It
is generally agreed that these shoals are none other than
those now known as Pollock Rip, and that Point Care is what
is now called Monomoy Point at the southeasterly extremity
of the town of Chatham. Having doubled the point, Gos
nold bore up toward the land and at night came near it,
anchoring in eight fathoms of water. On the next day be
ing surrounded by many breakers stirred up, probably, by
the wind, he continued at anchor. On the 18th, a boat was
sent forward to sound over some distant shoals that lay in
his path" around another point, which he called Gilbert's
Point, and which is identified as Point Gammon at Hyannis
Harbor. * On this day a company of Indians, filling several
canoes, came to the side of the ship. As already intimated,
they had probably had some previous acquaintance with the
white man, | for they came prepared to trade, bringing
tobacco, "pipes steeled with copper," skins, artificial strings
and other trifles to barter. What they could not get by
trade they triedto steal. They wore no clothing except
skins about their loins'and over their shoulders. "One had
7. Prom Peaked Hill Bars (Provincetown) to Monomoy Point the distance by sea is
but slightly over twelve leagues.

A NEW ERA. 5
hanging about his neck a plate of rich copper, in length a
foot, in breadth half a foot, for a breastplate ; the ears of all
the rest had pendants of copper. Also, one of them had his
face painted over, and his head stuck with feathers in man
ner of a turkey cock's train." Gosnold found them suspicious
and ready to take alarm on the slightest provocation. He
did not stop to make a landing here, but after his visitors
had departed, proceeded westward to an island in Buzzard's
Bay, where he remained several weeks before returning to
England. 8
In June of the following year, Capt. Martin Pring,
another Englishman, set out from Bristol, England, and on
his arrival upon the New England coast is said to have fol
lowed the route taken by Gosnold, but satisfactory details
of his voyage are lacking.9 Two years later in March,
1605, Capt. George Waymouth sailed from Ratcliffe,
England, and arriving on the New England coast in latitude
41 degrees 20 minutes north, became so entangled in the
shoals east of Monomoit and Nantucket that he was glad to
change his course to the northward and reached the coast of
Maine in safety, whence he later returned to England.10
In the autumn of the following year the white man for
the first time, so far as we know, found his way into the
harbor of Monomoit and set foot upon the soil of this part
of the Cape. Two years before a small colony had been
established by the French at the mouth of the St. Croix
River, but the rigors of the first winter had persuaded them
to abandon it, as soon as practicable, for a location farther
south. Accordingly, in 1605 a party had been sent out and
had followed the coast as far south as Nauset Harbor,11
8. Archer's Account of Gosnold's Voyage; also Brereton's Account, both in Mass.
Historical Collections (3rd Series), VIII.
9. Works of John Smith (Eng. Scholars Lib. Ed.), 336.
10. Rosier's Account, Mass. Hist. Coll. (3d Ser.), VIII, 125.
11 . Between Orleans and Eastham. They remained five or six days in this harbor,
making observations of the locality and the people, who at first appeared friendly.
Trouble, however, arose when the Indians seized a kettle belonging to the vessel. In

6 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
without, however, finding any satisfactory site for the new
colony. They were, therefore, compelled to pass the next
winter at a place called Port Royal, near their former loca
tion, and in 1606 a more determined effort was made to find
a suitable site for a permanent settlement. A party of
about twenty-five men set sail from Port Royal on Septem
ber 5, 1606, in a bark of eighteen tons with this purpose in
view. At its head was one Jean de Poutrincourt, the
leader of the colony and the representative of its founder,
Sieur de Monts. Accompanying him were Samuel de
Champlain, the famous explorer, — de Champdore, Daniel
Hay, (an Englishman), a son of de Poutrincourt, Robert
Grave, a surgeon, an apothecary and a trumpeter, and a
company of common sailors. They also brought with them
a chieftain of the St. John's River, Secondon by name, to
assist them in their intercourse with the natives. Following
the coast along leisurely, they arrived off Nauset Harbor on
the second day of October. A head wind prevailed, but
after delaying a few hours, they continued southward a dis
tance estimated by Champlain at six leagues, when they
anchored near the coast. This point of anchorage, notwith
standing the distance mentioned, must have been off what is
now Chatham village.12 Here the voyagers noticed columns
of smoke along the shore from fires set by the Indians and
manned a boat to go thither, but found the surf too danger
ous for landing. Thereupon, the Indians launched a canoe
through the surf and rowed out to the vessel, singing and
the scrimmage which ensued, one of the French was killed and they, in turn, captured
one of the Indians, whom they afterwards released. They named the place Port de
Mallebarre. The Indians belonged to the Nauset tribe, the neighbors of the Monomoy-
Icks on the north. It is erroneously stated by Freeman (History of Cape Cod) that the
French in 1604 sailed along the coast as far as the south shore of Cape Cod.
12. " When we consider that in the early part of the day, while detained sometime by
head winds, they had assisted at a dance on shore (at Nauset Harbor) and in the latter
part of the day bad come to anchor in a calm and gone in their boat to meet the savages
again, there would not seem to be much time left in the light of an autumn day, to make
all these leagues." Prof. Mitchell in U. S. Coast Survey Report, 1871.

A NEW ERA. 7
making signs of pleasure. They informed the voyagers that
there was a safe harbor further around to the south and re
turned to the shore. "On the next day," says Champlain
in his account of the voyage, "the wind being favorable, we
continued our course to the south five leagues, and hardly
had we gone this distance, when we found three and four
fathoms of water at a distance of a league and a half from
the shore. On going a little further, the depth suddenly
diminished to a fathom and a half and two fathoms, which
alarmed us, since we saw the sea breaking all around, but
no passage by which we could retrace our course, for the
wind was directly contrary. Accordingly, being shut in
among the breakers and sand banks, we had to go at hap
hazard where there seemed to be the most water for our bark,
which was at most only four feet. We continued among
these breakers until we found as much as four feet and a
half. Finally we succeeded by the grace of God in going
over a sandy point running out nearly three leagues seaward
to the south-southeast and a very dangerous place. Doubling
this cape which we named Cape Batturier, 13 which is twelve
or thirteen leagues from Mallebarre,14 we anchored in two
and a half fathoms of water,15 since we saw ourselves sur
rounded on all sides by breakers and shoals, except in some
places where the sea was breaking but little. "16
During this passage of the shoals their bark had touched
13. This is, of course, the same place called Point Care by Gosnold . Later, as we
shall see, it was called "Vlacke Hoeck" (Flat Hook or Cape) by the Dutch. None of these
designations have survived. It is frequently shown on maps as Cape Mallebarre, a name
which Champlain gave to the entrance of Nauset Harbor and not to Monomoy Point.
Locally, the point is never called Cape Mallebarre, but is known as Monomoy or Sandy
Point. The word "Batturier" is an adjective formed from the noun batture, which
means a bank on which the sea beats. Cape Batturier may, therefore, be translated
Sand Bank Cape or Cape of the Sand Banks.
14. Nauset Harbor. The distance here Is greatly overestimated. Champlain, how
ever, throughout this account overestimates distances along the shore.
15. According to Lescarbot (Histoire de la Nouvelle France) they anchored three
leagues from tbe mainland.
16. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe. Ed.), II, 118.

8 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
bottom two or three times, but had fortunately been carried
over into deeper water by the tide and waves. Their rudder
had been broken on one of these occasions, so that they were
in no condition to proceed till it had been temporarily re
paired. While this was being done, their shallop was sent,
in charge of Daniel Hay, to find whether they could enter
the harbor. As the party approached the shore, probably
at Harding's Beach, they saw an Indian dancing and singing
"yo, yo, yo," to attract their attention and on landing he
informed them that they could enter the harbor in safety.
They induced him to come with^them to their vessel, where
he was greeted by Secondon, their Indian friend. Neither
Indian could understand the language of the other,' but by
signs they were able to communicate readily.17 The voy
agers thereupon weighed anchor and under the guidance of
their new friend proceeded "to a roadstead before the
harbor £ i. e. off Harding's BeachJ in six fathoms of water
and a good bottom," where they anchored, the night over
taking them. "On the next day," says Champlain, "men
were sent to set stakes at the end of a sand bank at the
mouth of the harbor Qi. e. at Harding's Beach PointJ where,
the tide rising, we entered in two fathoms of water. When
we had arrived, we praised God for being in a place of safety.
Our rudder had been broken, which we had mended with
ropes,* but we were' afraid that amid these shallows and
strong tides it would break anew and we should be lost."18
And now|having carefully^followed the movements of the
voyagers until their safe arrival in Stage Harbor, let us
pause a moment in the narrative and attempt to form a pic
ture of the locality and its inhabitants as it appeared to these
Frenchmen on this fourth day of October, 1606. Fortu-
17. Lescarbot, Histolre de la,Nonvelle France (1609)[6O4. Oscarbot was one of the
Port Royal colonists who., did not, accompany de, Poutrincourt on this voyage, but
obtained his information from the voyagers after their return.
18. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe. Ed) II, 120.

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PORT FORTUNE.
The Figures Indicate Fathoms of Water.
A. Pond of salt water, u. B. Cabins of the savages and the lands they cultivate.
C Meadows where there are two little brooks. C. Meadows on the island that are
covered at every tide, b D. Small mountain ranges on the island that are covered with
trees, vines and plum trees, c E. Pond of fresh water where there is plenty of game.
F. A kind of meadow on the Island. G. An island covered with wood in a great arm
of the sea. d H. A sort of pond of salt water where there are many shell fish, and
among others quantities of oysters, k I. Sandy downs on a narrow tongue of land.
L. Arm of the sea. M. Roadstead before the harbor where we anchored. /
N. Entrance to the harbor. O. The harbor and place where our bark was. P. The
cross we planted Q. Little hrook. R. Mountain which is seen at a great distance, g
S. Seashore. T. Little river. V. Way we went in their country among their dwell
ings; lt Is indicated by small dots, h X. Banks and shoals. T. Small mountain seen
In the interior, i Z. Small brooks. 9. Spot near the cross where the savages killed
our men.
Notes. <*. Now called Oyster Pond. 6. " The letter C appears twice In the Index,
but both are wanting on the map . The former seems to point to the meadows on the
upper left hand corner of the map ; the other should probably take the place of the O on
the western part of the island above IS." Champlain's Voyages (Prince Soe. Ed), Rev.
Mr. Slafter's note. c. The island was called by the Indians Quentnosset or Quitnesset
and is now called Morris Island. The " small mountain ranges " were nothing but
moderate sized hills. The plum trees mentioned were beach plum bushes, for which the
Island is still noted. Champlai n, lt seems, found them growing there nearly three hun
dred years ago. d. This is Ram Island, e. This is Mill Pond. /. Off Harding's Beach.
g. A good sized hill, not a mountain, h. " Tbe circuit here indicated is about four
or five miles Another path is Indicated In the same manner on the extreme northern
end of the map, which shows that their excursions had been extensive." (Rev. Mr.
Slafter's note.) i. This Is Great Hill, always a conspicuous object.

A NEW ERA. 9
nately, in drawing this picture we can have the aid of one
of the most distinguished explorers of his time, Samuel de
Champlain, and we are able, at this the dawn of a new era
in the life of the locality, to present a statement of local
conditions more clear and full than any which can be ob
tained for the next two hundred years.19
Contrary to the ideas of some antiquarians, the locality
was without much doubt essentially the same in shape and
form as it is to-day. Along the easterly side of the town
changes have been wrought since that early time by the
action of the ocean, but that the place was a waste of waters
as some early inaccurate maps tend to show or that it has
been radically changed by volcanic influence, is utterly un
true. General maps of New England or of North America
issued in the seventeenth century can be found, in which the
outline of this part of Cape. Cod is shown in every con
ceivable shape, but these general maps have no value in re
lation to details of the coast.20 The map of Stage Harbor
by Champlain here presented has more value for our purpose
than all of them. It may not be accurate in some details,
but its general features must stand and must be a complete
answer to every claim that surprising and radical changes in
the coast have taken place since Gosnold discovered and
named Cape Cod. Here is Morris Island, and even the
pond upon it, clearly shown ; here are Harding's Beach, the
Oyster Pond, the Mill Pond and the Great Hill almost as
we see them to-day, and here is Monomoy Beach extending
southward from the town. It may be doubted whether the
map is accurate in showing a connection between the beach
and the mainland at North Chatham, but it may have ap
peared so to Champlain as he rowed up the bay east of the
19. SeeMass. Hist. Coll. (1st Series) VIII, 142 for account of Chatham In 1802.
20. For such maps see a collection of early maps in Boston Public Library ; De Laet's
map in Wlnsor's Narr. and Critical Hist, of N. A. IV, 436 ; Memorial Hist, of Boston, I
37 et seq; map In Wood's New England's Prospect. See also map in Neal's History of
New England and In Boston Sunday Globe, Jan. 22, 1899.

10 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
town. At all events, the claim made by the late Amos
Otis, Esq., based upon some vague expressions in the
accounts of Gosnold's voyage, that Monomoy Beach must
have extended east from the town at this time, and that the
whole locality has seen great changes since this period, must
fall to the ground.21
There have been many minor changes since Champlain's
time. He could then sail or row from Stage Harbor directly
up to Old Harbor, or North Chatham, through a passage
between Morris Island and the mainland long since closed,
though, I believe, partially opened again in recent years.22
Arriving there he found an island of about thirteen aores,
now obliterated, lying between the beach and the mainland.
It was covered with trees. Its Indian name was Cotchpini-
cut or Scotchpenacot, and it was later called by the English
Ram Island. It is shown on his map.23 Monomoy Bea«h
extends now some distance further south than it did then,
and there was more of a harbor along its westerly side than
there is now. There was a good harbor, protected by the
beach, along the easterly side of the town. Farther north
there was an entrance through the beach directly into
Pleasant Bay which has since been closed,24 while other
entrances have been opened in the beach farther south.
21.. N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, XVIII, 37. Mr. Otis does not once mention Cham
plain's narrative or map In his article in the Register just cited, and as Champlain's
writings were not then accessible In English, I doubt whether he knew of them at the
time he wrote tbe article. It is my Intention to treat this subject more fully in a subse
quent chapter, dealing with the changes wrought by the ocean along the shore of the
town. 22. This passage was closed between 1752 and 1772. The tradition is that the last
vessel which attempted the passage was a " pinky." Mass. Harbor Commissioners'
Report (1873), 103.
23. There was a small pond or swamp in the center of the island, which was of oblong
shape, Its greatest length being north and south. When surveyed In 1847 it had a house
upon it. The beach In front of this Island was broken through in 1851 in the great
storm which destroyed MInot's Light. Thereafter it was gradually washed away by the
ocean waves. Parts of lt remained for as much as ten years after. Mass. Harbor Com
missioners' Report (1873) .
24. This entrance was about east of Strong Island. It was closed about 1730. See
map of J. F. W . Des Barres (1764) In the Atlantic Neptune.

A NEW ERA. ll
Several miles southeast from Stage Harbor was an island,
later called Webb's Island, now obliterated by the waves,25
and north of the town, off what is now Orleans, was another
small island called Slut's Bush by the English, which has
met the same fate.20 Early maps also show two or three
small islands lying off east of the town and called "Seale
Isles," which do not now exist, but whose sites are danger-
ous shoals to-day.27
The mainland is described by Champlain as very hilly.
It was well wooded, although in places the natives had made
considerable clearings, where they cultivated corn and other
cereals. There were many walnut trees,28 oaks and cedars,
but few pines. Wild grape vines were common,29 and
beach plum bushes furnished an abundance of fruit. "All
the harbors, bays and coasts," writes Champlain, "are filled
with every variety of fish. There are also many shellfish of
various sorts, principally oysters. Game birds are very
plenty."30 According to Lescarbot, the French did not fail to take
advantage of the abundance around them. As they were
not supplied with fishing tackle, they confined their efforts
25. "When the English first settled upon the Cape, there was an Island off Chatham,
three leagues distant, called Webb's Island, containing twenty acres, covered with red
cedar or savin. The Inhabitants of Nantucket used to carry wood from lt . This Island
has been wholly washed away for almost a century. A large rock that was upon the island
and which settled as the earth washed away, now marks the place ; it rises as much
above the bottom of the sea as it used to rise above the surface of the ground. The
water Is six fathoms deep on this spot." Mass. Magazine, Dec. 1790. The existence of
this island is also established by well defined local tradition.
26. Traces of this island, which was called the Isle of Nauset by Capt. John Smith,
the famous navigator, remained as late as 1810. See further note Chapter III. note 4.
27. See map in English Coast Pilot (1707) .
28. That there were walnut trees scattered through the forest which formerly cov
ered Chatham is well established. In a deed dated April, 1677, from William Nickerson
to Nathaniel Covell, of a parcel of woodland on the east side of Great Hill, one of the
corner bounds is described as a •' walnutt tree that is marked on four sydes." I believe
that such trees may now be found on Morris Island. They are now usually called
hickories. 29. Sieur de Poutrincourt intended to take away some of these vines with him, but
his orders were forgotten.
30. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe. Ed.) II, 125.

12 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
to shellfish of various kinds. A shore bird which he calls
a sea lark, was so plenty that Sieur de Poutrincourt killed
twenty-eight at one shot.31
"It would be an excellent place," declares Champlain, "to
erect buildings and lay the foundations of a State, if the
harbor were somewhat deeper and the entrance safer." He
found but one fathom of water in the harbor at low tide and
two at full tide. In another place he adds: "The coast
though low is fine and good, yet difficult of access, there
being no harbors, many reefs and shallow waters for the
distance of nearly two leagues from land."
"We saw in this place," he reports, "some five to six
hundred savages, all naked except their loins, which they
cover with doe or seal skin. They wear their hair carefully
combed and twisted in various ways, both men and women,
after the manner of the savages of Chouacoet.82 Their
bodies are well proportioned and their skin olive colored.
They adorn themselves with feathers, beads of shell and
other gewgaws, which they arrange very neatly in embroid
ery work. As weapons they have bows, arrows and clubs.
They are not so much great hunters as good fishermen and
tillers of the soil."
"All the inhabitants of the place are very fond of agri
culture and provide themselves with Indian corn for the
winter which they store in the following manner : They
make trenches in the sand on the slope of the hills, some
five to six feet deep more or less. Putting their corn and
other grains into large grain sacks, they throw them into
these trenches and cover them with sand three or four feet
above the surface of the earth, taking it out as their needs
require. In this way it is preserved as well as it would be
possible to do in our granaries."33
31. Lescarbot, Hlstolre de la Nouvelle France (1609) 606.
82. A place on the coast of Maine.
33. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe. Ed. ) II, 121, 122. From this practice
the English may have derived the custom, which existed till far Into the last century, of

A NEW ERA. 13
The Indian method of agriculture, as described by Cham
plain, was first to dig up the ground with wooden spades
and then to plant corn and beans together in hills about
three feet apart. As the crop grew, the beans interlaced
with the corn, which was five or six feet high at maturity.
They also raised squashes and pumpkins. Tobacco was
considerably cultivated ; it was prepared for smoking by
being dried and then reduced to powder. Their corn they
prepared by boiling or reduced it to flour in wooden mortars
and made it into cakes.
Of their habitations, belief, etc., Champlain reports as
follows : "Their dwellings are separate from each other,
according to the land which each one occupies. They are
large, of a circular shape, and covered with thatch made of
grasses or the husks of Indian corn. They are furnished
only with a bed or two, raised a foot from the ground, made
of a number of little pieces of wood pressed against each
other, on which they arrange a rude mat, after the Spanish
style, which is a kind of matting two or three fingers thick ;
on these they sleep. They have a great many fleas in sum
mer, even in the fields."
"In regard to their police, government and belief, we have
been unable to form a judgment ; but I suppose that they
are not different in this respect from our savages the
Souriquois and Canadians, who worship neither the moon
nor the sun, nor anything else, and pray no more than the
beasts. There are, however, among them some persons
who, as they say, are in concert with the devil, in whom
they have great faith.34 They tell them all that is to happen
to them, but in so doing lie for the most part. Sometimes
preserving potatoes and other vegetables In "potatoe holes." These were dug in the
autumn and filled with potatoes, etc., up to within two or three feet of the surface of the
ground. Boards were laid across the top of the hole and the soil which had been dug
out was heaped upon them, making a large mound, through which the frosts could not
penetrate. 34. These were the powows or medicine men of the tribe.
-(3)-

14 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
they succeed in hitting the mark very well and tell them
things similar to those which actually happen to them. For
this reason they have faith in them, as if they were prophets,
while they are only impostors who delude them, as' the
Egyptians and Bohemians do the simple villagers."35'
"They have chiefs, whom they obey in matters of1 war
but not otherwise, and who engage in labor and hold no
higher rank than their companions. Each one' has only so
much land as he needs for his support."86
They had no notions of the rights of property as the
Europeans understood them . Champlain , therefore, thought
little of them. Of the Nausets, whom he found at Nauset
Harbor the preceding year, he wrote : "It would seem from
their appearance that they have a good disposition, better
than those'of the north, but they are all in fact of no great
worth. Even a slight intercourse with them gives you at
once a knowledge of them. They are great thieves, and if
they can not lay hold of anything with their hands, they try
to do so with their feet."37 With Champlain entertaining
these opinions, it is not strange that when the Monomoyicks
who now confronted the French, began their thieving tactics,
retaliation was sure to come.
35. The villagers of France are referred to.
36. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe Ed . ) II, 124.
37. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe Ed.) II, 85.

CHAPTER II.

FRENCH AND INDIAN ENCOUNTERS AT MONOMOIT.

NT

fO sooner had Sieur de Poutrincourt and
his party fixed upon a suitable place
for anchorage near the shore at Stage
Harbor, than they began preparations
for repairing their broken rudder, in
order to continue their voyage. With
the appliances which they had, how-
, ever, repairing was slow work. They
set up a forge on shore for welding the
iron and hastened matters as much as
possible. They also constructed an oven on shore in order
to prepare a supply of bread for the subsequent voyage.
The Indians at the outset seemed friendly. They came
to the bark bringing tobacco, chains, collars, bracelets of
shell, corn, beans, bows, arrows, quivers, and various
nicknacks, to exchange for wares of the strangers. At other
times they brought fish and raisins. A profitable trade
subsisted for a time between them. Moreover, when Sieur
de Poutrincourt wished to find a safer route for his departure
than that by which he had entered the harbor, the Indians
sent one of their number to accompany the men detailed by
Sieur de Poutrincourt for this duty. The Indian piloted
them out of the harbor in the shallop or boat belonging to
the ship, but when they had gone five or six leagues and
were near the land, he made his escape, being afraid of be
ing taken to other savages farther south, the enemies of his
tribe, as he gave those in the boat to understand. After the

16 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
party had returned and reported no shoals or reefs to the
westward, the Frenchmen hastened to finish the repairs on
the bark and to make a supply of bread for fifteen days.
The Indians now appearing near the shore in very large
numbers, Sieur de Poutrincourt thought best to overawe
them by sending one of his men among them, brandishing
and flourishing a couple of swords. This astonished them,
but they were more amazed to see the guns of the French
shoot bullets through wood on which their own arrows
could scarcely make an impression. x
So numerous did the natives appear to be that Champlain
reports, as already stated, some five or six hundred inhab
itants of the place. It is likely, however, that some of these
were members of neighboring tribes, who were attracted to
the place by the prolonged visit of the strangers.
When they had been in the harbor nearly a week, Sieur
de Poutrincourt took ten or twelve of his men and explored
the adjacent country, where he saw here and there a large
number of wigwams. From Champlain's map it appears
that on this inland excursion thej' followed the west side of
Mill Pond River or Mitchell's River, thence crossed in a
westerly or northwesterly direction to the head of the Oyster
Pond, passed around the north side of the pond, and along
Oyster Pond River till they came to the head of Harding's
Beach, where they took their shallop and rowed down the
river to their vessel, which lay a little west of the present
wharves. After about ten days' labor the rudder was again made
staunch and strong and their supply of bread was nearly all
prepared. The harbor, Morris Island, and the mainland had
been well explored. Then suddenly trouble began to brew.
The Indians on one of their visits had made off with an axe
belonging to the voyagers and they in their anger had fired
1. Lesearbot, Hlstoire de la Nouvelle France, 607.

ENCOUNTERS WITH NATIVES. 17
a couple of shots after them.2 Not long after, as Sieur de
Poutrincourt was walking out, as he had previously done,
he observed the Indians taking down their wigwams and
sending their women, children, provisions and other neces
saries into the woods. The subsequent events are related
by Champlain as follows :
"This [action of the Indians] made us suspect some evil
intention, and that they purposed to attack those of our
company who were working on shore, where they stayed at
night in order to guard that which could not be embarked at
evening, except with much trouble. This proved to be true,
for they determined among themselves, after all their effects
had been put in a place of security, to come and surprise
those on land, taking advantage of them as much as possible,
and to carry off all they had. But if, by chance, they
should find them on their guard, they resolved to come with
signs of friendship, as they were wont to do, leaving behind
their bows and arrows.
" Now, in view of what Sieur de Poutrincourt had seen,
and the order which it had been told him they observed when
they wished to play some bad trick, when we passed by
some cabins, where there was a large number of women, we
gave them some bracelets and rings to keep them quiet and
free from fear, and to most of the old and distinguished men,
hatchets, knives and other things which they desired. This
pleased them greatly, and they repaid it all in dances,
gambols, and harangues which we did not understand at all.
We went wherever we chose without their having the assur
ance to say anything to us. It pleased us greatly to see
them show themselves so simple in appearance.
"We returned very quietly to our bark, accompanied by
some of the savages. On the way we met several small
troops of them, who gradually gathered together with their
2. Lesearbot, Histolre de la Nouvelle France, 609.

18 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
arms and were greatly astonished to see us so far in the in
terior, and did not suppose that we had just made a circuit
of nearly four or five leagues about their territory. Passing
near us they trembled with fear, lest harm should be done
them, as it was in our power to do. But we did them none,
although we knew their evil intentions. Having arrived
where our men were working, Sieur de Poutrincourt in
quired if everything was in readiness to resist the designs
of this rabble.
"He ordered everything on shore to be embarked. This
was done, except that he who was making the bread stayed
to finish a baking and two others with him. They were told
that the savages had some evil intent and that they should
make haste to embark the coming evening, since they car
ried their plans into execution only at night or at daybreak,
which in their plots is generally the hour for making a sur
prise. "Evening having come, Sieur de Poutrincourt gave orders
that the shallop should be sent ashore to get the men who
remained. This was done as soon as the tide would permit,
and those on shore were told that they must embark for the
reason assigned. This they refused in spite of the remon
strances that were made, setting forth the risks they ran
and the disobedience of their chief. They paid no attention
to it, with the exception of a servant of Sieur de Poutrin
court, who embarked. Two others disembarked from the
shallop and went to the three on shore, who had stayed to
eat some cakes made at the same time with the bread.
But, as they were unwilling to do as they were told, the
shallop returned to the vessel. It was not mentioned to
Sieur de Poutrincourt, who had retired, thinking that all
were on board.
"The next day in the morning, the 15th day of October,
the savages did not fail to come and see in what condition

ENCOUNTERS WITH NATIVES. 19
our men were, whom they found asleep, except one who was
near the fire. When they saw them in this condition, they
came to the number of four hundred, softly over a hill and
sent, them such a volley of arrows that to rise up was death.
Fleeing the best -they could towards our bark, shouting
'Help ! they are killing us ! ' a part fell dead in the water;
the others were all pierced with arrows and one died in con
sequence a short time after. The savages made a desperate
noise with roarings which it was terrible to hear.
"Upon the occurrence of this noise and that of our men,
the sentinel on our vessel exclaimed, 'To arms! they are
killing our men !' Consequently each one immediately seized
his arms and we embarked in the shallop, some fifteen or
sixteen of us, in order to go ashore.3 But, being unable to
get there, on account of a sand bank between us and the.
land, we threw ourselves into the water and waded from this
bank to the shore, the distance of a musket shot. As soon
as we were there, the savages seeing us within arrow range
fled into the interior. To pursue them was fruitless, for
they are marvellously swift. All that we could do was to
carry away the dead bodies and bury them near a cross,
which had been set up the day before, 4 and then to go
here and there to see if we could get sight of any of them.
But.it was time wasted, therefore we came back. Three
hours afterwards, they returned to us on the seashore. We
discharged at them several shots from our little brass can
non, and when they heard the noise, they crouched down
on the ground to avoid the fire. In mockery of us they
beat. down the, cross and disinterred the dead, which dis
pleased us greatly, and caused us to go for them a second
time; but they fled as they had done before. We set up
3.  de Cnampdorfi remained on the vessel to guard It, with a few others.
Among those who rushed upon the Indians were de Poutrincourt, Champlain, Daniel
Hay, Robert Gravg, the younger de Poutrincourt, the surgeon, the trumpeter and Loys
Hebert, tbe apothecary. Lesearbot, Histoire de la Nouvelle France, 609.
4. While they chanted their orisons over the dead, the Indians at a safe distance
kept up a derisive and provoking noise and commotion.

20 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
again the cross and re-interred the dead, whom they had
thrown here and there amid the heath, where they had
kindled a fire to burn them. We. returned without any
result, as we had done before, well aware that there was
scarcely hope of avenging ourselves this time, and that we
should have to renew the undertaking when it should please
God." 5
In the foregoing account Champlain does not state ex
actly how many of the French fell victims to the Indians,
but Lesearbot ° states that two were killed outright and that
a third died very soon after. A fourth was so badly
wounded that he died from his injuries at Port Royal the
following winter on their return thither. Only one of the
five escaped and recovered from his wounds. How
many of the Indians fell is not known. They were
fired upon not only by the party which went ashore, but
by Champdore and those with him in the bark, and not a
few must have fallen.7
Everything being now in readiness for their departure,
Sieur de Poutrincourt and his party set sail on October
16 from the harbor, which they named Port Fortune, on
account of the misfortunes which had befallen them there.
After having gone some six or seven leagues and sighted an
island, Martha's Vineyard, which they named La Soup-
conneuse, the Doubtful, because in the distance they had
several times thought it was not an island, the wind became
contrary, and they were forced to put back to Port Fortune, 8
where they remained two or three days, no savages during
this time appearing. On the 20th they set out again and
coasted along west nearly twelve leagues, passing a river,
which they called Champlain's River, and which is probably
5. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe. Ed.) II, 127-130
6. Hlstoire de la Nouvelle France, 609 et seq.
7. The Indians nimbly carried away those who fell so that the French could not tell
the extent of their losses.
8. The latitude of Port Fortune is given by Champlain as 41 degrees 20 minutes.

Indian Fight at Port Fortune

Champlain's Explanation of the Accompanying Map.
THE ATTACK AT PORT FORTUNE.
The Figures Indicate Fathoms of Water.
A. Place where the French were making bread. B. The savages surprising the
French and shooting their arrows at them. C. The French burned by the savages.
D. The French fleeing to the bark completely covered with arrows. E. Troops of
savages burning the French, whom they had killed. F. Mountain bordering the harbor.
G. Cabins of the savages. H. The French on the shore charging upon the savages.
I. Savages routed by the French. L. Shallop in which were the French. M. Sav
ages around our shallop who were surprised by our men. N. Bark of Sieur de Pout
rincourt. 0. The harbor. P. Small brook. Q. French who fell dead in the water
as they were trying to flee to tbe bark. R. Brook coming from certain marshes. S,
Woods under cover of which the savages came.

ENCOUNTERS WITH NATIVES. 21
Hadley River in Falmouth. The wind again grew contrary
and very strong, so that they could not advance and were
compelled to return again to their starting point. Soon
after reaching the harbor, Robert, the son of Pont Grave,
lost his hand by the bursting of a musket which he at
tempted to fire. Angered by their former troubles, they
now resolved to take revenge, if possible, for the killing of
their comrades by the savages. The plan which they
adopted for this purpose is described by Champlain as fol
lows :
"Seeing now the wind continuing contrary and being
unable to put to sea, we resolved meanwhile to get
possession of some savages of this place, and, taking them
to our settlement, put them to grinding corn at the hand-
mill, as punishment for the deadly assault which they had
committed on five or six of our company. But it was very
difficult to do this when we were armed, since, if we went
to them prepared to fight, they would turn and flee into the
woods, where they were not to be caught. It was necessary,
accordingly, to have recourse to artifice, and this is what we
planned : When they should come to seek friendship with
us, to coax them by showing them beads and other gewgaws,
and assure them repeatedly of our good faith ; then to take
the shallop well armed and conduct on shore the most
robust and strong men we had, each one having a chain of
beads and a fathom of match on his arm ; 9 and there, while
pretending to smoke with them, ( each one having an end of
his match lighted so as not to excite suspicion, it being cus
tomary to have fire at ]the end of a cord in order to light the
tobacco) , coax them with pleasing words so as to draw them
into the shallop. And if they should be unwilling to enter,
each one^approaching should choose his man, and, putting
9. The fathom of match was a rope, made of the tow of hemp or flax, loosely
twisted, and prepared to retain the fire, sojthat.twhen oncelllghted, lt would burn till the
whole was consumed. It was employed in firing the matchlock, the arm then in
common use. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe. Ed.) II, 133 note.

22 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
the beads about his neck, should, at the same time, put the
rope on him to draw him by force. But if they should be
too boisterous and it should not be possible to succeed, they
should be stabbed, the rope being firmly held ; and if by
chance any of them should get away, there should be men
on land to charge upon them with swords. Meanwhile, the
little cannon on our bark were to be kept ready to fire upon
their companions, in case they should come to assist them,
under cover of which firearms the shallop could withdraw. in
security. The plan above mentioned was well carried out,
as it had been arranged." 10
Champlain is not entirely frank in this last statement,
as his own subsequent narrative shows. Lesearbot states.,
more explicitly that they failed to capture any of the natives
alive through too great haste ; and that, having failed in
their ruse, they attacked them with swords and butchered
six or seven of them. The heads of these they carried away, ,
with them to Port Royal. Several days after these events,
the Indians came to the shore and endeavored to lure the
French into an ambuscade, which had been formed under a.
hillock behind some bushes. Sieur de Poutrincourt, with ,
ten armed men, proceeded to the, shore, but, on their
approach, those in the ambuscade fled.. The Indians, then
attempted to draw them into a second ambush, with the .
same result. They fired some , musket shots after the;
retreating natives and returned to their vessel. ,
Sieur de Poutrincourt now decided to return iorthwith
to Port Royal, being short of provisions and having on his
hands several sick and wounded men, who were , suff ering
from lack of proper medicines and salves.11 He, accord
ingly, made ready and set sail somewhere about October,
10. Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (Prince Soe. Ed:) II, 183.
11. There seems to have been a strange lack of proper equipment for this voyage
In many respects. It will be remembered that they had no tackle for catching fish
when they reached Stage Harbor.

ENCOUNTERS WITH NATIVES. 23
25, arriving safely at Port Royal on November 14.
Baffled and discouraged, the colonists abandoned the Port
Royal settlement the following year and returned to France.
Such were the unfortunate experiences of the first white
men known to have set foot upon the soil of Chatham. In
consequence of a trivial act of wrong on the part of ignorant
savages, four white men lost their lives, and doubtless many
times that number of savages fell. More than this, the
natives were placed in a position of hostility to strangers,
which the actions of those Europeans who came to Cape Cod
after them tended only to aggravate. Little blame can be
given the Indians for the bitterness they subsequently
showed toward the white man, or for the massacres which
followed. Not until Governor Bradford, the peacemaker,
and his Indian friend and interpreter, Tisquantum, began
their intercourse with the Cape tribes, were the wounds
inflicted by the French gradually healed.

CHAPTER III.

some early voyagers, dermer's fights at monomoit,
and Bradford's visits.
FOR several years after the departure of the French, no
other Europeans appear to have visited the harbor of
Monomoit, although more than one vessel approached its
shores and became entangled in the adjacent shoals. The
first of these was the "Half Moon," commanded by Captain
Henry Hudson, who, in April, 1609, sailed from Amsterdam
with a crew of English and Dutch sailors, intending to dis
cover a northwest passage to the Indies. On August 3 he
sighted Cape Cod at some point not clearly defined, but
probably near its northern extremity. It was near a head
land, the body of which, it is stated, lay in latitude 41 de
grees 45 minutes north. Here some of his men landed,
found grapes and roses and saw some of the savages. From
this point they sailed south and southeast, passing along by
Monomoit, thence over the " Shoals " and south of Nantucket,
reaching finally New York Bay.1
In June, 1610, Captain Samuel Argall set sail from
Jamestown, Virginia, in a small pinnace, bound for the
Bermudas. His voyage was, however, prolonged till he
reached the coast of Maine, and, on his return trip, he
found himself, on August 20, off Cape Cod, where he in
tended to fish. He sighted a headland on that day stated to
be in latitude 41 degrees 44 minutes north, and, thinking it
was Cape Cod, sailed southwesterly down over the same
1. Juet's Account of Hudson's Voyage, N. Y. Hist. Soe. Coll. 1, 121 et seq.

EARLY VOYAGERS. 25
shoals which Hudson had traversed the previous year. The
headland which he saw may have been some part of Mono
moit.2 In the following year trouble with the natives of Cape
Cod again arose. A vessel commanded by Captain Edward
Harlow, and hailing from the Isle of Wight, had been
dispatched from England to the vicinity of the Cape for the
purpose of finding an island supposed to be near it. The
search was unsuccessful, but Harlow discovered that the
Cape was not itself an island, as had been supposed, but a
part of the mainland. There can be no doubt that he visited
nearly all of the Cape shore. As might naturally be ex
pected after the action of the French in 1606, he had several
skirmishes with the natives, the details of which have not
come down to us. He succeeded in detaining aboard his
ship three of the Cape savages — Peckmo, Monopet and
Pekenimme by name — but soon after Peckmo leapt over
board and got away. The latter then returned with some
companions, cut Harlow's boat from the stern of the ship,
got her on shore, filled her with sand and so defended her
with bows and arrows that the English could not recover
her. At another place on the Cape shore they had three of
their men severely wounded by arrows. They secured two
more Indians from Martha's Vineyard and one from an
island called Nohono (perhaps Nantucket) and returned
home.3 Three years later the famous navigator, Captain John
Smith, was at Cape Cod upon an exploring expedition. He
sailed from England in April, 1614, with two ships and
forty-five men, and, after a quick passage, arrived off the
coast of Maine, where he left a part of his men to fish, and
with the remainder proceeded to explore the coast. In this
2. Purchas Pilgrims Pt. 4, 1761. The exact latitude of Monomoit is 41 degrees 40
minutes north .
3. Works of John Smith (Eng. Scholar's Lib. Ed.) 701.

26 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Way he visited all the New England shore as far south as
Cape Cod and made a map of the whole region. He must
have explored Cape Cod bay and perhaps doubled the Cape
at Provincetown. That he did not go as far as Monomoit is
evidenced by his account of the " Shoals," which was plainly
based upon information derived from the Indians and not
from his own observation. He says, "toward the south
and southwest (?) of this cape [Cape Cod] is found a long
and dangerous shoale of sands and rocks, But so farre as I
encircled it [the Cape] I found thirtie fadome water aboard
the' shore and a strong current, which makes mee thinke
there is a channel about this Shoale, where is the best and
greatest fish to be had, Winter and Summer, in all that
countrie, But the Salvages say there is no channel, but
that the shoales beginne from the maine [land] at Pawmet
to the ile of Nausit,4 and so extends beyond their knowledge
into the sea." b
After one of his vessels had been laden with fish, Smith
set sail for home, leaving the other vessel in command of
Captain Thomas Hunt to load for Spain. The latter, to his
own disgrace and to the disgust of Smith, before setting sail,
conceived the idea of kidnapping some of the natives and
' selling them as slaves. This scheme he proceeded to carry
out, and, enticing about a score of the Plymouth Indians on
board his vessel, put to sea. At Cape Cod he kidnapped
seven others of the Nauset tribe and carried all of them to
Malaga. This act of treachery undoubtedly stirred the Cape
' Indians deeply, coming, as it did, after their troubles with
4, The " lie of Nausit," an Island of considerable extent, lay near the eastern
shore of Orleans off about east from Pochet Island. The early settlers of old Eastham
called lt Slut's Bush, by which name it appears in their town records as early as 1659. It
has long since been entirely obliterated by the action of the ocean currents, but a small
portion remained as late as 1810. It was hilly and in some parts rocky. A tract of salt
meadow lay between lt and the mainland and a beach extended from it northerly parallel
with the main shore. Otis' Account of the Discovery of an Ancient Ship on tne Eastern
Shore of Cape Cod, N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, XVIII, 37.
5. Works of John Smith (Eng. Scholar's Lib. Ed.) 205.

EARLY VOYAGERS. 27
Champlain's party and with Captain Harlow." They had
their revenge soon after, as we shall see.
In 1614 Admiral Adrian Block, a Dutchman, was on
the New England coast in the "Onrust" or "Eestless,"
examining Long Island Sound and vicinity and extending
his researches as far north as Boston Harbor. He or some
other Dutch navigator about this time made a map of the
New England coast, on which Cape Cod is called " Staaten
Hoeck," "Cape Mallebarre, or Monomoy Point," "Vlacke
Hoeck" (Flat Hook or Cape), and Stage Harbor, "Unge-
luckige Haven" (Unlucky Harbor), the last being a
rendering into the Dutch language of Champlain's "Port
Fortune."7 In 1616 Captain Edward Brawnde, an Englishman, was
on the coast of Maine in a ship of two hundred tons, "bound
about Cape Cod for the discovery of certain peril which is
told by the savages to be there." He was under the orders
of Captain John Smith. The "certain peril" was doubtless
the "shoals" off Monomoit.8
This year a French fishing vessel was wrecked at the
lower part of the Cape, and the natives took their revenge
for their former troubles. The sailors, evidently, saved
not only their lives, but a considerable part of their goods,
which they sought to conceal on the sandy shore. As soon
as their presence became known, the natives began to
assemble and finally set upon them, killing all but a few,
and compelling the survivors to disclose the whereabouts of
their property. These survivors were five in number and
6. " If vessels from unknown shores had then visited the coast of England or of
France, or were now to sail Into the harbors of Massachusetts, and, on departing, carried
off, never to be heard of again, such visitors as could be enticed aboard, it Is safe to say
that those coming in other vessels of apparently similar character thereafter visiting
those shores would not be kindly received. This was the exact case of the savages of the
New England coast, but history has recorded not much on their side of the story. Say
ing little of their wrongs, it dwells at length on their treachery, their cruelty, and their
extermination." C. F. Adams, Three Episodes of Mass. History 1, 5.
7. See a copy of this map In Memorial Hist, of Boston I, 67.
8. N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, XXVIII, 248.

28 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
their captors distributed them about in captivity. Sent up
and down the Cape from sachem to sachem to be made
sport of, they were fed with the food of dogs, while, as
hewers of wood and drawers of water, they experienced a
fate worse than that of slaves.9 Of course, the natives of
Monomoit had a part in this savagery. At length, two of
the five were rescued in 1619, as will appear later; "while
another, more fortunate than the rest in respect to the chief
into whose hands he fell, adapted himself to his new con
ditions, and even had a squaw bestowed upon him, by whom
he left a child. Of yet -another there has a tradition come
down, through two wholly disconnected sources, that he had
saved a book, apparently a copy of the Bible, in which he
often read; and that finally he learned enough of their
language to rebuke his tormenters, and to predict for them
God s displeasure and the coming of a race which should
destroy them." 10
The year 1616 was also memorable as the year of the
great plague among the New England Indians. It was
thought by some to have been the yellow fever ; but, as it
was not stopped by cold weather, but continued its ravages
throughout the winter of 1616-17 and into the next sum
mer, and was not communicated to the white people who
came into contact with the Indians at that time, the better
opinion seems to be that it was simply what Governor
William Bradford describes it to be, " an infectious fever." "
It depopulated the country settled a few years after by the
Pilgrims and Puritans, but was supposed not to have raged
so violently among the Indians farther south. I doubt,
however, whether the Cape Indians escaped lightly. Champ
lain, in 1606, reports the Indians at Port Fortune as very
9. C. F. Adams, Three Episodes of Mass. History I, 6; Bradford's History, Hfr. i \
10. C. F. Adams, Three Episodes of Mass. History I, 7.
11. C. F. Adams, Three Episodes of Mass. History I, Chap. I.

EARLY VOYAGERS. 29
numerous, while Governor Bradford, in 1622, as we shall
see, found the inhabitants but few.
In 1619 a new explorer, Captain Thomas Dernier, an
Englishman employed by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, was upon
the Cape Cod coast. He rescued two of the unfortunate
French sailors, already three years in captivity among the
Cape Indians, visited Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard and
then returned to his rendezvous, the island of Monhegan, on
the coast of Maine. Dermer had with him on this voyage
an Indian named Tisquantum or Squanto as interpreter and
guide, of whom particular mention should be made, as he was
closely identified with Monomoit, visiting it or its vicinity
several times and finally dying there in 1622. His
ashes, probably, found their final resting place some
where in its soil. He was one of the Indians kidnapped
by Hunt in 1614, but, unlike the others, he seems to
have won the friendship of his captors, learned their.
language, and became of great use to the Eng
lish. He somehow reached England from Spain,
perhaps brought thither by Hunt, who found difficulty
in disposing of all his human freight at Malaga, and be
came a servant to an English gentleman. Later he was at
Newfoundland, where Dermer first found him.
After his return to Monhegan, as above stated, Dermer
decided, for various reasons, to set out for Virginia, taking
with him four or five men besides the Frenchmen. On this
voyage to Virginia he entered the harbor at Monomoit.
"We had not now," he says, "that fair quarter [i. e. treat
ment] among the savages as before, which, I take it, was by
reason of our savage's absence \_i. e. Tisquantum], who
desised (in regard of our long journey) to stay with some
of our savage friends at Sawahquatooke ; i2 for now almost
everywhere where they were of any strength, they sought to
betray us. At Manamock '3 (the southern part of Cape Cod
12. Satucket (Brewster) .
13. Monomoit.
-(4)-

30 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
now called Sutcliffe's Inlets) u I was unawares taken
prisoner, when they sought to kill my men whom I left to
man the pinnace, but missing of their purpose, they de
manded a ransom, which had, I was as far from liberty as
before. Yet it pleased God at last, after a strange manner,
to deliver me, with three of them, into my hands, and a
little after the chief sachem himself, who, seeing me weigh
anchor, would have leaped overboard, but intercepted,
craved pardon, and sent for the hatchets given for ransom,
excusing himself by laying the fault on his neighbors ; and
to be friends, sent for a canoe's lading of corn, which
received, we set him free." 15
The next voyagers in the vicinity of Monomoit, of whom
we have any account, were destined by Providence to play a
far greater part in the history of the New World than all
those who had preceded them, for they were none other
than the Pilgrims on their memorable voyage to found a
colony in a land, where the pure light of their faith might
shine undisturbed, both for their own profit and the benefit
of those in heathen darkness. The record of the voyage
shows that, after they first sighted land on November 9,
1620, they attempted to pass down south of the Cape over
the "Shoals," in all probability in full sight of Monomoit,
but being alarmed, as other voyagers had been, by the
dangerous reefs and breakers, turned back northward and
sought refuge at Provincetown. Governor Bradford, in his
account of the voyage, mentions their first landfall, which
was toward the north part of the Cape, and then says :
"After some deliberation had amongst themselves & with
14. This name for Monomoit was given by some English voyager, of whom we have
no record. It was probably bestowed in honor of Dr. Matthew Sutcllffe, Dean ot
Exeter, who was associated with Sir Ferdinando Gorges in his enterprises for colonization
on the New England coast. He Is mentioned by Captain John Smith as one of those
who fitted him out in 1615 for a voyage to New England, which he attempted, but failed
to accomplish by reason of shipwreck.
15. Dormer's Letter to Purchas, N. T. Hist. Soe. Coll., (2nd series). Vol. I; Brad
ford's History, 59. Some writers place this voyage in the year 1620, for reasons not
apparent.

EARLY VOYAGERS. 31
ye Mr. of ye ship, they tacked aboute and resolved to
stande for ye southward (ye wind & weather being faire) to
finde some place aboute Hudson's river for their habita
tion.16 But after they had sailed yt course about halfe ye
day, they fell amongst deangerous shoulds and roring
breakers, and they were so farr intangled therwith, as they
conceived themselves in great danger ;- & ye wind shrinking
upon them withall, they resolved to bear up againe for the
Cape, and thought themselves hapy to gett out of those
dangers before night overtooke them, as by God's provi
dence they did. And ye next day they gott into ye Cape-
harbor" [Provincetown] ,17
It is evident, therefore, that to the " Shoals '' of Monomoit
must be attributed the result that New England, and not
New York or New Jersey, became the home of the Pilgrims.
In the summer of 1622 an English vessel called the Dis
covery, Captain Jones master, must have spent some time
in the vicinity of Monomoit. She was fitted out by English
merchants to discover all the harbors between Virginia and
Plymouth and the shoals of Cape Cod, and to trade along the
coast where they could. On her way from Virginia she
reached Plymouth in August.18
A few months later we find the Pilgrims again on the
outer shore of the Cape and having an experience with the
"Shoals" similar to their previous one. This time Governor
Bradford with a small crew was upon a trading expedition
from Plymouth around the outside of the Cape. 19 He carried
16. According to their original intention.
17. Bradford's History, 46. Governor Bradford adds the following explanation : "It
[Cape Cod] was thus first named by Capten Gosnole and his company, Ano: 1602, and
after by Capten Smith was caled Cape James; but it retains ye former name amongst
seamen. Also yt polnte which first shewed those dangerous shoulds unto them, they
called Polnte Care and Tucker's Terrour; but ye French & Dutch, to this day, call It
Malabarr, by reason of those perilous shoulds, and ye losses they have suffered their."
18. Bradford's History, 91.
19. Governor Bradford on this occasion had a small ship, the Swan, from Mr. Thomas
Weston's colony at Wessagussett (Weymouth) and a Plymouth shallop. His crew was
partly from Plymouth and partly from Wessagussett. Morton, New England's Memorial
(Davis' Ed.), 83.

32 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
with him Tisquantum or Squanto as an interpreter and pilot,
who had assured him that he had "twice passed within the
shoals of Cape Cod both with English and French," " and
knew the way. "Nevertheless," says Governor Winslow, in
his account of the voyage, "they went so far with him, as the
master of the ship saw no hope of passage, but being, as he
thought, in danger, bare up and according to Tisquantum's
directions, made for a harbor not far from them at a place
called Manamoycke, which they found, and sounding it with
their shallop, found the channel, though but narrow and
crooked,21 where at length they harbored the ship. * * * *
That night the Governor, accompanied with others, having
Tisquantum for his interpreter, went ashore. At first the
inhabitants -played least in sight, because none of our people
had ever been there before; but understanding the ends
[i. e. objects] of their coming, at length came to them, wel
coming our Governor according to their savage manner;
refreshing them very well with store of venison and other
victuals, which they brought them in great abundance;
promising to trade with them, with a seeming gladness of
the occasion. Yet their joy was mixed with much jealousy
[i. e. suspicion] as appeared by their after practices ; for at
first they were loth their dwellings should be known, but
when they saw our Governor's resolution to stay on the
shore all night, they brought him to their houses, having
first conveyed all their stuff to a remote place not far from
the same ; which one of our men, walking forth occasionally,
espied. Whereupon, on the sudden, neither it nor they
20. Tisquantum is the same Indian mentioned by Dermer as accompanying him on
his voyage.
21. This description, doubtless, applies to the opening through Nauset Beach Into
Pleasant Bay, then existing, but now long since closed. The following language of
Governor Winslow seems to point to this conclusion: "Here they perceived thatthe
tide set In and out with more violence at some other place more southerly, which they
had not seen nor could discover, by reason of the violence of the season all the time of
their abode there. Some Judged that the entrance thereof might be beyond the shoals;
but there is no certainty thereas yet known." Winslow's Relation, (Young's
Chronicles of the Pilgrims, 300) .

EARLY VOYAGERS. 33
could be found; and so, many times after, upon conceived
occasions they would be all gone, bag and baggage. But <
afterwards, by Tisquantum's means, paoing] better per
suaded, they left their jealousy [i. e. abandoned their
suspicions] and traded with them ; where they [the Pil
grims] got eight hogsheads of corn and beans, though the
people were but few.22 This gave our Governor and the
company good encouragement, Tisquantum being still con
fident in the passage, and the inhabitants affirming that they
had seen ships of good burthen pass within the shoals afore
said.23 But here, though they had determined to make a
second essay, yet God had otherways disposed ; who struck
Tisquantum with sickness, insomuch 4h$L?hejued ; 24 which
crossed [_i. e. prevented] their southward trading, and the
more, because the master's sufficiency was much doubted,
and the season very tempestuous and not fit to go upon dis
covery, having no guide to direct them."25 Accordingly,
they retraced their course northward, rounding the Cape,
reaching the country of the Massachusetts and finally arriv
ing at Plymouth.
In this account the Monomoyicks appear at first extremely
suspicious and shy. Naturally enough, they regarded the
strangers as enemies and expected trouble. They remem
bered de Poutrincourt, Harlow, Hunt and Dermer. They
knew that they had taken revenge upon the shipwrecked
Frenchmen, and that only two years before, their neighbors,
the Nausets, had killed three Englishmen sent out by Sir
Ferdinando Gorges, and that two others had barely escaped
22. " Tbey got in this vloage in one place and another about 26 or 28 hogshds of corne
and beans." Bradford's History, 92.
23. The Indians had seen Gosnold, De Poutrincourt and Dermer " pass within the
shoals " to our certain knowledge. Probably Harlow and others unknown had sailed
over the same course.
24. Tisquantum died of a fever accompanied with a • bleeding at the nose, which the
Indians take for a symptom of death.' He desired tbe Governor to pray that he might
go to the Englishmen's God in heaven, bequeathing sundry of his things to sundry of
his English friends as remembrances of his love. Bradford's History, 92.
25. Winslow's Relation, (Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, 300) .

34 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
to Monhegan. There had been fifteen years of warfare with
the strangers from across the sea and they expected that the
Pilgrims would continue hostilities. Undoubtedly, had Tis
quantum been absent, the fate of Governor Bradford and
his party would have been similar to that of Dermer, if not
worse. Too much cannot be said in praise of this faithful ally
of the English. Coming into the Plymouth settlement soon
after it was begun, he not only assisted in keeping the Indians
friendly, but as Governor Bradford aptly says, he "was
their interpreter, and was a spetiall instrument sent by God
for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them
how to set their corne, wher to take fish, and to procure
other comodities, and was also their pilott to bring them to
unknowne places for their profitt, and never left them till
he dyed." 26 On this particular occasion, as we have seen,
he rendered signal service. His persuasions, together with the
conciliatory manner of Governor Bradford, clearly won the
confidence and regard of the natives, while his unexpected
death must have strongly affected both them and the Pil
grims. And so over Tisquantum's grave, as it were, a
friendship was formed which was never afterwards broken.
Even the very next year, when all or nearly all the other
Cape tribes were drawn into a conspiracy against the Ply
mouth settlers, the natives of Monomoit could not be in
duced to turn against their new friends. From the list of
the tribes who are mentioned as joining in that conspiracy,
the name of the Monomoyick tribe is significantly absent.27
No more graceful act could be performed by the grateful
descendants of the Pilgrims than to erect upon the highest
eminence at Chatham a simple monument to this unhonored,
but most deserving, friend and protector of their fore
fathers.28 26. Bradford's History, 57.
27 . Winslow's Relation, (Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, 323) .
28. An excellent biography of Tisquantum may be found in C. F. Adams, Three

EARLY VOYAGERS. 35
Not long after Governor Bradford's visit, an incident
occurred which throws additional light on the habits and
life of the Monomoyicks. Like the rest of their race, they
were very fond of gaming, and while WT^of them^were"
engaged in their favorite pastime, they became greatly
enraged and one killed the other. The murderer was a
powow or medicine man of the Monomoyick tribe, "one of
special note among them and such as they could not well
miss : " yet another tribe, to which the murdered man
belonged, greater than they, had threatened them with war,
if they would not put him to death. In this dilemma the
chief of the Monomoyicks referred the matter to Canacum,
the sachem of the tribe at Manomet (Sandwich), who was
"of good repute and authority among the Indians." He
dispatched two of his followers to lay the matter before
Canacum. One night in January, 1623, "in bitter weather,"
they came to Canacum's wigwam, while he was entertaining
Governor Bradford and his party, who was then upon a
trading expedition in that part of the Cape. Laying aside
their bows and quivers, the two agents of the Monomoyick
chief sat down by the fire in silence aud, taking a pipe of
tobacco, began to smoke. At length they looked towards
Canacum and one of them, after addressing a few words to
him, delivered to him a present from his chief, a basket of
tobacco and many beads, which Canacum received with
thanks. He then proceeded to explain at length the pur
pose of their coming. After he had finished, a period of
silence followed. Then Canacum asked the opinion of
those present. Hobbomack, the Indian interpreter, who
attended the Governor, was at length called upon. He
Episodes of Mass. History I, Chap. III. Mr. Adams well says: "Squanto has not had
his due place in New England history given to him; for if human instruments are ever
prepared by special Providence for a given work, he was assuredly so prepared for his.
Squanto was, in fact, for a time perhaps the most essential factor In the prolonged
existence of the Plymouth colony, for It was he who showed the starving and discouraged
settlers how to plant and tend that maize, without their crop of which the famine of the
second winter would have finished those few who survived the exposure of the first."

36 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
replied that he was a stranger to them, but thought "it was
better that one should die than many, since he had deserved
it and the rest were innocent." Thereupon Canacum passed
the sentence of death, and the threatened hostilities were
averted.23 In December, 1626, a distressing shipwreck occurred
on some part of the beach which stretches before Pleasant
bay near to, if not within, the limits of Monomoit. It
seems that the captain of the vessel,30 a Scotchman named
Johnston, was ill at the time, and as the voyagers were out
of provisions, they sought to make the nearest land. They ran
over the dangerous shoals of Cape Cod in the night and came
"right before a small blind harbor that lies about the middle
of Monamoy ake Bay." At high water they touched the bar
and towards night beat over it into the harbor, where they
ran upon a flat near the beach and saved their lives and
goods. Not knowing where they were, as the savages came
towards them in canoes, they stood on their guard, but were
reassured when the savages asked if they were the Governor
of Plymouth's men and then offered to conduct them to him
or carry letters. Accepting the friendly offer, they dis
patched two of their men, under guidance of the Indians,
with a letter to the Governor, entreating him to send them
pitch, oakum, spikes, etc., to mend their ship, and corn to
help them to Virginia. As the men who were suitable to
send on such an errand were then away from the Colony on
a trading expedition, Governor Bradford himself went to
succor the unfortunate voyagers, taking in his boat the
materials they desired and commodities suitable to buy corn
of the natives. As it was no season of the year to go out
side of the Cape, he sailed to the bottom of the bay inside,
into a "creek called Naumskakett," 81 whence it was not over
29. Winslow's Relation, (Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, 307) .
30. There is an uncertain tradition that the name of the ship was the "Sparrow-
hawk." N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register XVIII, 37.
31. Namskaket river, the boundary between Orleans and Brewster.

EARLY VOYAGERS. 37
two miles across to the bay where they were. The Indians
carried his things across the land, and he was received with
joy.32 He bought of the natives as much corn as the
voyagers wanted and left them thankful. Then, taking his
boat, he went into other adjacent harbors, bought and loaded
it with corn and returned home. Not long after his return,
however, the people at "Monamoyake" sent him word that,
their ship being mended, a great storm drove her ashore and
so shattered her as to make her wholly unfit for sea. They
begged the Governor to send means to transport themselves
and their goods to Plymouth, and desired permission to stay
with his people until they could find passage to Virginia.
The transportation was furnished and the voyagers were
sheltered in the homes of Plymouth for several months.33
There is every reason to suppose that after this time the
shores of Monomoit were visited by voyagers with increas-
32. The good Governor, with his retinue of Indians laden with goods, emerging from
the forest into the presence of the overjoyed voyagers, who must have hailed him as
their deliverer, presents a scene worthy the brush of a painter.
33. " The cheefe amongst these people was one Mr. Fells and Mr. Sibsie, which had
many servants belonging unto them, many of them being Irish. Some others ther
were yt had a servante or 2 a peece; but ye most were servants, and such as were ingaged
to the former persons, who allso had ye most goods." Bradford's History, 148. The
wreck of this vessel was, after a time, burled in the changing sands and the fact of its ex
istence was doubtless forgotten . In 1782, by some unusual movement of the sands, it was
again presented to view, but was soon hidden and forgotten again. After nearly eighty
years more had passed, the sands once more disclosed their secret. In the early part of
May, 1863, the " Sparrowhawk " again appeared to view, and this time attracted much
attention. Amos Otis, Esq., the learned antiquary, published at the time a full account
of the wreck. It appears that the vessel " was well built of oak, still wholly undecayed,
the corners of her timbers being as sharp as when new. Yet every particle of iron had
disappeared, except as rust stains in the surrounding earth. The ancient repairs on the
craft were evident, as several of her : tree-nails ' had been split with a chisel and
tightened by wedging. Tbe deck and bows were wanting, her upper works having been
burned away. In the hold were found beef and mutton bones, some shoe soles, a small
metallic box, and a pipe-bowl like a modern opium smoker's. She was perhaps of
seventy tons' burden when completed. Her keel showed but one step for a mast, but
there was probably a small mast with a lateen sail mounted at her stern, making the
then common rig of a ketch." (Goodwin, The Pilgrim Republic, 314) . She was found
on the second lot of the Potanumaquut meadows, which had been always known as the
" Old Ship " lot . In the following August the wreck was again buried by the changing
sands, but this time it was not forgotten. In 1865 it was raised and placed for exhibition
on Boston Common, and was viewed with curiosity by thousands. It now rests in
Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth. See Otis' Account, N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register XVIII, 37.
There Is a picture of this ship in Swift's History of Cape Cod.

38 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ing frequency, although the record of such visits is unfortu
nately lacking. The right to trade with the natives
undoubtedly brought the Pilgrims thither occasionally.
After the founding of Salem and Boston, trade sprang up
between these ports and the coast region west of Cape Cod, si
and also with the Southern colonies, thereby bringing an
increasing number of ships over the "Shoals" of Monomoit.
In the autumn of 1633 the bark "Blessing of the Bay," on a
trip to and from Long Island, passed and re-passed "over
the Shoals of Cape Cod about three or four leagues from
Nantucket Isle, where the breaches are very terrible." M
The following year, the Rebecka, Captain Pierce, master,
on a voyage to and from Narragansett,*5' "went over
the shoals, having, for the most part, five or six
•fathom within half a mile and less of the shore,
from the north part of Cape Cod to Nantuckett
Island, * * and in the shallowest place two and a half
fathom ." w Only a few such glimpses of this increasing
trade can be found here and there in early writings, and
almost nothing can be learned of those voyagers who
touched at Monomoit or met with disaster on its shores at
this early period. For the history of Monomoit subsequent
to the wreck of the "Sparrowhawk," we must turn in
another direction ; it can no longer be gathered from the
accounts of the explorer or the chance voyager.
34. September 6, 1631. "About this time last year the company here set forth a
pinnace to the parts about Cape Cod to trade for corn and it brought here above eighty
bushels." Winthrop, History of New England I, 72.
36. Winthrop, History of New England 1, 134.
36. Winthrop, History of New England 1, 175.

CHAPTER IV.

THE "PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS " AND THE MONOMOIT
LANDS.
VV7ITH the exception of the establishment of a trading
» » post at Manomet River by the Pilgrims in 1627,' the
Cape Cod peninsula remained exclusively in control of the
Indians till 1630. The Plymouth settlers had no rights
over it, for it did not lie within the meagre limits .of the
colony, as originally granted to them by the "Council for
New England." By the terms of the new patent, however,
which they obtained in 1630, known as the Bradford patent,
the whole of Cape Cod became a part of the Plymouth
Colony. This change did not result in the immediate occu
pation of the region, owing to the slow growth and con
servative policy of the colony.
Early records and writings of the time, however, show
that different parts of the Cape were occasionally resorted to
about this time by fishermen, traders, and roving adven
turers, and perhaps, in a very few cases, residents may have
established themselves in some parts of the county soon
after 1630. Those who did so, however, acted without the
authority of the Plymouth magistrates and were regarded as
intruders and trespassers.
The first authorized settlement on the Cape was made at
Sandwich in 1637, when liberty was given to the men of
Saugus (now Lynn), viz.: Edmund Freeman, Henry
Feake, Thomas Dexter, Edward Dillingham, William Wood,
1. Bradford's History, 149.

40 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
John Carmen, Richard Chadwell, William Almy, Thomas
Tupper, and George Knott, "to view a place to sitt downe,
and have sufficient lands for three score families," upon con
ditions stated by the Governor and Mr. Winslow.2 These
men selected Sandwich for their location and with them
came fifty other settlers, most of them bringing their
families. Two years later, when the Sandwich community had been
well established, settlements were made at Barnstable and
Yarmouth. The majority of those who settled at the
former place were from Scituate, being followers of Kev.
John Lothrop, while the leaders of the Yarmouth settlement
were Anthony Thacher, then of Marblehead, John Crow of*
Charlestown, and Thomas Howes, at one time of Salem.
These people all established themselves near the north shore
of the Cape, whence communication with Plymouth or Bos
ton could Jbe most conveniently had.
In all probability, the lands east of the Yarmouth com
munity would have been occupied within a few years after
1639, had they remained opened for settlers for any length
of time, but their early development was prevented by the
action of the Plymouth authorities, in consequence of which
the entire region lying between the Yarmouth settlement
and the present limits of Eastham was, in March, 1640-1,
reserved for the " purchasers or old comers," so called, of
the colony. As this reservation extended across the Cape
from sea to sea and included Monomoit, now Chatham, it
will be necessary to examine carefully the transaction,
especially as the records of it are rather unsatisfactory.
First, it will be necessary to explain at some length who
the "purchasers or old comers" were.
When the Pilgrims, in their exile at Leyden, decided to
plant a colony in the New World, they first undertook to
2. Plymouth Colony Records 1, 57 .

"PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS." 41
interest certain merchants or capitalists of London in their
enterprise, for1 they were not men of large means. As a
result of negotiations, an agreement was entered into
between the merchants or "adventurers," as they were
styled, who put capital into the scheme, on the one side,
and the colonists or "planters" on the other side. This
agreement,3 dated July 1, 1620, contains, among other pro
visions, the following :
"The persons transported & ye adventurers shall continue
their joynt stock & partnership togeather, ye space of 7
years, (excepte some unexpected impedimente doe cause ye
whole company to agree otherwise) during which time, all
profitts & benititts that are gott by trade, traffick, trucking,
working, fishing, or any other means of any person or per
sons, remaine still in ye comon e stock untill ye division.
"That at ye end of ye 7 years, ye capitall & profits, viz. :
the houses, lands, goods and chatles, be equally devided
betwixte ye adventurers and planters.
"That every person that goeth being aged 16 years &
upward, be rated at 10 li, and ten pounds to be accounted a
single share.4 He that shall carie his wife & children, or
servants, shall be alowed for everie person now aged 16
years & upward, a single share in ye devision, or if he
provid them necessaries, a duble share, or if they be be
tween 10 year old and 16, then 2 of them to be reconed for
a person, both in transportation and devision. That such
children as now goe & are under ye age of ten years, have
noe other shar in ye devision, but 50 acers of unraanured
land." It will be seen that, according to this agreement, all those
colonists or "planters" who came out under it and remained
in the colony till the end of the seven years, became, as a
3. Bradford's History, 28.
4. Anyone might contribute ten pounds in money or provisions and should then have
a double share.

42 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
body, entitled to one half of all the property, real and per
sonal, in the colony. For the purpose of dividing this one
half among them, each head of a family was to have a larger
portion than a single man, the amount being proportioned
to the size of his family and according as he supported them
from his own purse or not.
Three ships, the Mayflower in 1620, the Fortune in 1621
and the Anne, with her consort the pinnace, Little James,
in 1623, brought out passengers for the colony under this
agreement, and none others came out under it during the
seven years.6 In fact, not all of those on the Anne and
Little James came out under the agreement. A few,
notably John Oldham and his followers, came, as Governor
Bradford says, "on their periocular," that is, on their own
account, having no interest in the partnership,6 but they.
remained only a short time in the colony.
Those who came in these first ships and remained in the
colony, became known afterwards as the "old comers" of
the colony. It will be seen that, by virtue of the above
agreement, they were entitled to one half of the colony
property in 1627.
In the natural course of things there would have been a
division of the whole property in 1627 between the "old
comers" and the London merchants, but shortly before that
date, the former took measures to prevent such a disposition
of the colony.7 They sent out to England Mr. Isaac Aller
ton with instructions to make the best terms he could for
the purchase of the half interest of the merchants. At that
5. The names of those who came in the Mayflower are given by Governor Bradford at
the end of his History. The names of those who came in the other ships and who iden
tified themselves with the colony, may be found in Plymouth Colony Records XII, 6
and 10.
6. Bradford's History, 100.
7. There had, of course, been various allotments of property in severalty by the colo
nists during tbe seven years, as of cattle, farms, etc. , but these acts were all subject to
the agreement with the merchants, and did not affect the rights of the latter to claim
one half of the colony In 1627.

"PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS." 43
time, by reason of various misfortunes, there were debts of
about £1,400 hanging over the partnership, chiefly incurred
by the merchants in fitting out trading vessels and in other
enterprises for the benefit of the colony, which proved
disastrous. The prospects were not encouraging, and the
merchants were found willing to sell at a price but little
above the amount of the debts, which, it seems, they were to
take care of. The sum of £1,800 was agreed upon for their
interest.8 Upon the return of Mr. Allerton in 1627, his acts
were duly ratified by the colonists, and the question then
arose respecting the persons who should be allowed to share
in the purchase. It was finally decided to admit all the
freemen of the colony to the purchase, although there were
a few among them who were not agreeable to the elders of
the colony, and whom they would gladly have excluded.
But the colony was weak and had need of the hearty co
operation of all. Trouble would arise if discriminations were
made, and, moreover, those who would, in this way, secure
the benefit of the purchase, had endured the early hardships
of the colony and might well claim a right to share in any
benefits arising from the purchase.9 So all the freemen of
the colony in good standing were admitted to the purchase.
The share of each one, just as in case of the "old
comers ' " half, was proportioned to the size of his family, but
servants were not to be regarded as a part of the family.
Those who were thus admitted to the purchase became
known as the "purchasers" of the colony. It will be seen
that they must have included the "old comers," who were
already entitled to one-half interest in the colony. In fact,
they included but few others except the "old comers," (for
very few outsiders had joined the colony permanently dur-
8. Bradford's History, 143. This snm was paid by letting the trade with the Indians
for a term of years to certain leading men of the colony, who were willing to pay £1,800
for the right.
9. Bradford's History, 145.

44 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ing the seven years), and, therefore, they are often referred
to as " purchasers " or " old comers," as if the terms were
synonymous. Strictly, the "purchasers" included a fey?
others besides the "old comers." They included Phineas
Pratt, who came from Thomas Weston's colony at Wessa
gussett, John Shaw, who reached the colony in some un
known way, and six of the London merchants, added in
1628, who had been more zealous in behalf of the colony
than their associates. The names of the "purchasers" are
preserved in the Plymouth Colony Records. The list is as
follows: Mr. Wm. Bradford, Mr. Thomas Prence, Mr.
Wm. Brewster, Mr. Edward Winslow, Mr. John Alden,
Mr. John Jenney, Mr. Isaack Allerton, Capt. Miles Standish,
Mr. Wm. Collyer, Mr. John Howland, Manasseth Kemp-
ton, Francis Cooke, Jonathan Brewster, Edward Bangs,
Nicholas Snow, Steven Hopkins, Thomas Clarke, Ralph
Wallen, William Wright, Elizabeth Warren, widow,10 Ed
ward Dotey, Cutbert Cutbertson, John Winslow, John
Shaw, Josuah Pratt, John Adams,  Billington, Phineas
Pratt, Samuell Fuller, Clement Briggs, Abraham
Pearse, Steeven Tracy, Joseph Rogers, John Faunce,
Steeven Deane, Thomas Cushman, Bobert Hicks, Thomas
Morton, Anthony Amiable, Samuell Fuller, Francis Eaton,
William Basset, Francis Sprague, the Heirs of John Crack-
stone,11 Edward Bumpas, William Palmer, Peter Browne,
Henry Sampson, Experience Michel, Phillip Delanoy,
Moyses Simonson, George Soule, Edward Holman, Mr.
James Shirley, Mr. Beauchampe, Mr. Andrews, Mr.
Hatherly, Mr. Wm. Thomas. The last five and Mr. Collyer
were the English merchants above referred to.
It will be seen from the foregoing statement that the " pur
chasers or old comers " became in 1627 the owners of the
entire colony. They owned both the real and personal
10. Representing Richard Warren who died In 1628.
11. Who died in 1621, " in the first mortality. "

"PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS." 45
property, everything in fact.12 It was all held in common,
except such parts as had already been divided from time to
time by agreement for the general convenience. These
people had suffered and struggled and founded the colony
and now, as a reward, they found themselves its owners.
As already intimated, the lands then included in the
colony were comparatively limited in extent. The patent
granted to John Pierce and associates in 1621 was still in
force. It fixed no definite boundaries to the colony, but
was a grant of as many times one hundred acres as there
should be persons already gone and thereafter going to the
colony within seven years, who should remain there three
years or die after taking ship thence. It also granted 1,500
acres for public purposes. At the most liberal estimate it
guaranteed to Pierce and his associates only about
25,000 acres. There was, also., a provision that rent should
be paid yearly after seven years at the rate of two shillings
for each one hundred acres.13
It was not, in fact, a patent suited to the needs of the
colony. The necessity of a larger grant was felt, and soon
after the purchase from the merchants had been completed,
steps were taken to secure additional territory. Asa result
of these efforts, the so-called Bradford patent was obtained
from the " Council for New England" in January 1629-30.
It ran to Governor Bradford and "associates," for the reason
that the expense of securing it had been borne by a few of
the leading men of the colony, who held the title until the
"purchasers or old comers," for whose benefit it was clearly
obtained, should be able to reimburse them. It granted the
lands free of rent."
12. The " purchasers '* bought from the merchants " all & every ye stock, shares,
lands, merchandise and chatles whatsoever " to the merchants or "y e generalltie" of
them belonging. Bradford's History, 143. See also the extract from the agreement of
1620 already quoted.
13. For this patent, known as the Pierce patent, see Davis, Ancient Landmarks of
Plymouth page 40; also Mass. Hist. Coll., (4th Ser.), II, page 158.
14 This patent may be found in substance in Plym. Col. Rec. XI, 21.
-(5)-

46 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
With more ample territory and rights secured, the colony
now entered upon a period of accelerated growth and pros
perity. New settlements were established near the parent
town, as at Duxbury, Scituate and Marshfield, and these
were soon followed by the settlements upon the Cape
already mentioned. Affairs proceeded harmoniously for a
time, but as the new settlers increased in numbers, com
plaints began to be heard because the lands in the colony
were held and controlled by a few of the old inhabitants.
To be sure, the Colony Court had assumed to grant lands
to numerous individuals and to towns, but it had no author
ity in law to continue the practice, if objection was made by
the "purchasers or old comers," and, indeed, when the
question of its authority began to be discussed, it ceased its
grants altogether. The new settlers insisted that the lands
ought to be owned by the colony as a whole, the holders of
the Bradford patent, of course, expected reimbursement for
their outlay in securing it, before they would consent to
surrender it, and the "purchasers or old comers," as owners
of the Pierce patent and as founders of the colony, who had
labored and suffered for its success in its earliest years,
thought themselves entitled to special consideration. The
whole matter was thoroughly discussed and finally an agree
ment was reached in 1640, by which the colony as a whole
was to reimburse those who had paid out money for the
new patent, the "purchasers or old comers" were to select
two or three tracts or "plantations" for their own use and
benefit, and the remaining lands included in the patent were
to be surrendered to the Colony and thereafter to be dis
posed of by the General Court.15 Under this agreement
15. Plym. Col. Rec. 11,4,10; XI, 17. "Whereas upton] a pposlclon made by the Grand
Inquest at the genrall Court held the fift day of March 1638 by what vertue & power the
Govnr and assistants do give & dispose of lands either to pticular psons or Towneshipps
and Plantacons, whereupon ever since there hath beene a Cessacon of the graunt of lands
to any psons by the Govnr: And now upon hearing and debateing the controversies,
matters and differences about and concerning the same in the Publick court, and whereas

"PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS." 47
the "purchasers or old comers" made their selection and
when, in March 1640-1, the actual surrender of the patent
to the colony was made by Governor Bradford, three "planta
tions" were excepted from the surrender and reserved to
them and their heirs forever. One of these "plantations"
is described as a tract of land extending "from sea to sea"
across the Cape or "neck of land," as it is called, and
" from the bounds of Yarmouth three miles to the eastward
of Naemskeckett."16
This was the original "reserve" or reservation of the
"purchasers or old comers" upon the Cape. It embraced a
large tract, of which Monomoit was a part. Its bounds on
the west, between it and Yarmouth (which then embraced a
there was a large sume of money disbursed by those that held the trade, viz.: Mr. Brad
ford, Mr. Prence, Captaine Standish & the rest of their ptners for the enlargement of
the Patent of New Plymouth in New England, In consideration that all controversies &
differences about the same may hereafter cease and determine whether betwixt the
Purchasers, old commers, freemen or others about the same, The court hath by mutuall
assent & consent of all as well purchasers. Old Comers or freemen enacted & con
cluded that there shal be three hundred pounds sterl (or so much as shal be required
not exceeding the said sume of three hundred pounds) payd to those that held the trade
viz. : Mr. Bradford, Mr. Prence, Capt. Standish and the rest of the ptners towards the
enlargement of the said Patent, if the same shal be required out of the psonall estate of
the said Mr. Bradford, Mr. Prence, Capt. Standish & the rest of the ptners wch said
three hundred pounds or lesser sume shal be levyed upon the plantacons by such equall
way as shal be thought meete, And that they Purchasers or Old Comers shall make
choyce of two or three places for themselves & their heires before the next Decem
ber Court & that after such choyce made and established, all the residue of the lands
not formerly graunted forth either to plantacons or pticular psons shal be assigned &
surrendered Into the hands of the whole Body of the freemen to he disposed of either by
the whole Body or by such psons as shal be by the whole Body of freemen assigned &
authorized, And that all lands already granted either to plantacons or pticular psons
shall stand & remayne firme to them their heires & assigns for ever to whom they are
so given & graunted, March 1639 40. " Plym. Col. Rec. XI, 84.
16. Naemskeckett or Namskaket is the locality on either side of Namskaket River.
Of the other two " plantations " reserved, one Is described as extending from a point
two miles west of Acconquesse alias Acokcus [Westport] River " to another place called
Acqussent [Acushnet] river * * * * and two miles to the eastward thereof and to extend
eight miles up into the countrey." It embraced the tract which later became the old
town of Dartmouth (now Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Falrhaven, and Acushnet) ,
The other "plantation" extended "from Sowamset River to Patuckquett River, with
Causumpsit neck, which is the cheefe habltaclon of the Indians & reserved for them
to dwell upon, extending into the land eight miles through the whole breadth thereof."
This tract bordered on Narragansett bay between Warren river and Pawtucket river and
embraced land now partly in Rhode Island and partly in Massachusetts. Plym. Col.
Rec. II, 4.

48 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
larger territory than now), were established in June, 1641,
and extended from Bound brook or Quivet creek, the pres
ent boundary between Dennis and Brewster, southeast to a
point just east of Allen's harbor (Harwichport) Z ^ Its
northeasterly or northerly bounds were never definitely
settled, but as they were three miles east, or more properly
northeast,18 of Namskaket, it will be seen that they must
have been somewhere near the present southern limits of
Eastham. They were never definitely settled for the reason
that in 1644, only three years after the reservation of the
tract as already stated, that part of it east or northeast of
Namskaket was surrendered by the "purchasers or old
comers " to the intending settlers at Nauset (later Eastham
or Old Eastham).19 The exact line, separating the new town
of Nauset from the remaining lands of the " purchasers or
old comers," was not at that time determined, though its
location in a general way was evidently understood.20 In
1654 Namskaket river, so far as it ran, was called the
boundary,21 but not until 1682 was the remainder of the
line agreed upon. As then fixed, it extended from Nam
skaket river to Arey's pond and thence to Pleasant bay.22
17. Plym. Col. Rec. II, 19 ; Mr. Josiah Paine in Deyo's History of Barnstable Co.. 830.
It will be seen that Yarmouth at this time included the present Dennis and a small part
of Harwich and Brewster.
18. The words "from the bounds of Yarmouth three miles to the eastward of Naem
skeckett" are, undoubtedly Intended to describe the extent of the tract on Cape Cod
Bay, and the words, "from sea to sea," the depth of it.
19. " So as, with ye afforesaide provissos, ye greater parte |"of the Plymouth Churchl
consented to a removall to a place called Nawsett, which bad been superficially viewed
and ye good will of ye purchassers (to whom it belonged) obtained, with some addition
theretoo from ye Courte." Bradford's History, 261 ; see also Plym. Col. Rec. II, 81.
20. Plym. Col. Rec. V, 39 Naamcoyicke, at Potanumaquut, was understood to be a
part of the " reserve," riear the Eastham boundary.
21. Plym. Col. Rec. Ill, 53.
22. " An agreement and final settlement of the bounds between the inhabitants of
the town ot Eastham and the Purchasers on the westerly side of the town, from Nams
kaket River over the neck of land to the eastern sea, namely:— Beginning at the mouth
of Namskaket River, the middle of the river, so up along as the river runs to the head,
taking in the southernmost arm at the head to a marked tree or stone there, being a
bound formerly set between the town and purchasers there; and so from that bound
mark to run upon a straight line to the head of Portanumquot salt water pond to a
spring running out of a swamp, and so to the mouth of the river that runs out of the

"PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS." 49
For all practical purposes, the "reserve" from the date of
the settlement of Nauset may be considered as embracing
everything between this line and the Yarmouth line already
described, or in other words, it comprised Potanumaquut
(South Orleans), Monomoit and the greater part of the
present Harwich and Brewster.23
pond, and so as the river runs unto the bay, and so directly over the bay to the Middle
Harbor or Portonumquot Harbor or place of said harbor, where the main channel comes
out unto the sea, the purchasers exclud ing any part of the upland of Portanumquot two
islands, so called, and 1 he town of Eastham doth relinquish any right as to virtue of
purchase to any lands on the westerly side of the aforesaid bounds." July 31, 1682.
Eastham Records, Vol. I.
23. The above conclusions respecting the limits of the " reserve " bave been reached
only after careful consideration. Some have thought that the " reserve " included only
the present Harwich and Brewster. Rev. Mr. Freeman, in his History of Cape Cod, (I,
162) says that it "comprehended the ancient Eastham, with what was afterwards
Orleans and Brewster," a statement rather confusing, as ancient Eastham included
nearly allot Orleans and at one time a large part of Brewster also. Judge Davis (Mor
ton's Memorial, Appendix, 405) with substantial accuracy states that it comprehended
" Eastham, Orleans, Brewster, and, it is believed, Harwich and Chatham."
(a). There is plenty of evidence that the greater part of Harwich and Brewster were in
the " reserve," and the statement of Governor Bradford, (see note 1$) himself the head *f
of the " purchasers," Is conclusive that some of the lands acquired and settled upon at
Nauset were within the "reserve." If, then, the lands on each side of Mono
moit where land is to be found, were within the reserve, the presumption must be
strong that Monomoit was included. This presumption is strengthened by a comparison
of the descriptions ot the three " plantations," as given in the Colony records. It will
be seen that in each description the boundary on the sea is given and then the distance
which the tract extends back from the sea is stated, showing, of course, that lt was to
extend back the same width as at the seashore. In case of two of the " plantations,"
the depth from the shore is stated to be eight miles, but as eight miles from the north
shore of the Cape would, in case of the Cape " plantation," cover all the land to the
south shore In most places, that " p iantation " is said to extend " from sea to sea," and
the description must be held to include everything from one side of the Cape to the
other. (b). There is further and stronger evidence to the same effect. It is stated In the
Plymouth Colony Records (IV, 5#) that the purchase of Monomoit lands from the Indians 9
in 1666 by William Nickerson was "to the prejudice of many the more ancient in
habitants and freemen of this jurisdiction." These words exactly describe the
"purchasers or old comers." If the Monomoit lands had been surrendered to the
colony in 1640-1 and were outside the ' reserve," the purchase by Mr. Nickerson would
have been to the prejudice of all the inhabitants and freemen of the Colony, not
" many the more ancient " of them.
(c).Monamesset or Strong Island, near Monomoit, and all tbe flats, sedge ground, and
beach lying east of it to the ocean, was a part of the "reserve." This tract was known
as the Strong Island purchase or propriety and lay between the "Seven Share" purchase,
so called, on the north and the Monomoit Great Beach purchase on the south. It was
acquired by Jeremiah Bowes of Yarmouth by two deeds from the Indian owners. His
first deed, dated August 13, 1689, and recorded in Old Barnstable Deeds Book I, p. 52,
was given by Josephus Quason of Yarmouth, a grandson of Mattaquason, sachem of
Monomoit, and conveyed to Mr. Howes thirty acres of upland and marsh, "& is the bigest

50 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Having now ascertained who the "purchasers or old
comers " were and what were the limits of the territory re
served to them, it remains only to consider what their
rights in the tract were.
Obviously, if they had found the lands abandoned or
unclaimed, as the Pilgrims did at Plymouth, this reserva
tion to them, derived under the patent, would have given
them complete title, but when they already found the
Indians in possession and claiming the soil, their title under
half part of an Island lying & being in Monomessett and is known by the name of Mono-
messett or Strong Island & Is the southernmost part of said Island & extends notherly
to a place called by the Indians Catouon & so to a salt pond lying on the northwest side
of said Island, at or near which place upon a line across said Island from East to West
is the devision." His second deed, dated February 26, 1691, was given by John Sipson,
Indian, and conveyed to him the remainder of said Island and the tract lying east of it
to the ocean. By deed dated October 5, 1697, Mr. Howes conveyed these tracts to Thomas
Freeman of Harwich and the latter, deeming very properly that his title was not
complete, obtained from William Bradford, son and heir of Governor Bradford, grantee
named in the Patent or Royal Grant of 1630, a release of all interest which the
" purchasers or old comers " might claim in his purchase. This release, dated June
20, 1701, conveyed to Mr. Freeman all the right of said Bradford in the aforesaid tracts
" falling or occurring to me or my heirs from the right or title of sd William Brad
ford deceased, derived to him from the royal charter or grant ef his late Majesty King
Charles the First by letters patent bearing date the thirteenth Day of January In the
fifth year of his Majesty reign Anno Domini 1629" T— 30 J .
The following call for a meeting of the proprietors at a later date, also, shows that
the tract was considered a part of the "Royal Grant" or "purchasers" land.
"These are to notify the owners and propriators of the Beach called Monnamolt Great
Beach and owners of the Island called Cothpinnicut or Ram Island to meet the com-
mitty or agents chosen by the Strong Island propriety at the Dwelling house of Joseph
Doane, Esq., in Chatham on Monday the sixth Day of September next at nine of the
Clock in the morning to Run the Range and Renew bounds Between the propriators of
the sd Monnemoit Great Beach and the owners of sd Cothpinnicut Island on the one
side and the propriators of Strong Island or oumers of the purchase called the Royal
Grant on the other side."
Orleans, August 20th 1802. Judah Rogers ) Commltty or
Ensign Nickerson ) Agents.
(O shorn Nickerson papers.)
(d). When in 1711 those claiming under the "purchasers or old comers" in Harwich and
Eastham purchased the greater part of the present Harwich, they purchased also Mon
omoit Great Beach or such title as the Indians could then give. They had no right to
purchase this beach without consent of the Colonial authorities, unless it was included
in the "reserve." They claimed to purchase It by virtue of the Boyal Grant. It is im
possible to suppose that these people who clearly had a legal right to purchase the
tract at Harwich, and who naturally insisted that the law forbidding purchases ot the
Indians without consent of the authorities should be strictly observed, would by the
same deed go out of their way and violate that law by purchasing land which they had
no authority to purchase. It seems, therefore, established that all the land around
Monomoit was in the "reserve." The conclusion is Irresistible that Monomoit was
also a part of lt.

"PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS." 51
the patent was necessarily subject to the Indian rights,
whatever they might be. As the Pilgrims from the first
conceded that the Indians were rightful occupants of the
soil and always paid them for their rights, it will be seen
that the " purchasers or old comers " must buy out the In
dians before obtaining complete title.24
The effect of the reservation to them was to give them
full right to the land as against everybody, except the
Indians, and it also, undoubtedly, gave them the exclusive
right to purchase the Indian rights. Had they been able
seasonably to exercise their right of purchase, many of
their subsequent troubles regarding these lands could not
have arisen, but that they did not do so, was quite natural
under the circumstances. The tract was at that time an
outskirt of the Colony, but little known. Moreover, the
"purchasers or old comers," as we have seen, were the
founders or earliest settlers of the colony, who had homes
of their own established at Plymouth and adjoining locali
ties. They were not intending settlers on the "plantations"
reserved to them, nor concerned to promote their immediate
development. They had received these lands by way of
compensation for their rights under the Pierce patent and in
recognition of their zealous efforts and sufferings in the
infancy of the Colony, and they, doubtless, believed that
the advantages of the reservations might accrue to their
children or grandchildren, but not to themselves.
After the settlement of Yarmouth, the Cape "reserve"
was, of course, visited more frequently than before by the
white man. Curiosity or trade with the Indians, doubtless,
first led the Yarmouth settlers to explore the region. Later
the possibility of finding a stranded whale along the coast
may have attracted them thither. In the fall of 1641
24. It was the proud boast of Governor Josiah Winslow in 1676 that "before these pres
ent troubles broke out, the English did not possess one foot of land in this Colony, but
what was fairly obtained by honest purchase of the Indian proprietors."

52 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Edward Holman of Plymouth seems, also, to have been a
visitor there. He found a chest of goods upon the Mono
moit shore, cast up from some unknown shipwreck, which
he caused to be transported to Yarmouth, and later to be
delivered to the public authorities at Plymouth.25
In 1645 the settlement of Nauset (Eastham) was begun,
and within a short time the Indian trail along the north
shore, from the Yarmouth settlement across the "reserve "to
the new village at Nauset, must have been frequently trav
ersed by the white man. It must have soon developed into
a well-defined bridle path and later, as the two settlements
grew, into a substantial road.
For nearly fifteen years the Yarmouth community and
for nearly ten years the Nauset settlement prospered, before
any real attempt was made to develop the wide tract lying
between them. Over it the Sauquatucketts and Mono
moyicks roamed as formerly. The former tribe occupied
the greater part of what is now Brewster, the latter tribe
claimed the remaining part of the tract. The principal
villages of the Monomoyicks were found around Pleasant
Bay. Their chief, as early as 1643, was Mattaquason, who
continued in that position over twenty years, and probably
until his death. From him, in 1644, the intending Nauset
settlers purchased the greater part of what is now Orleans,
and his domain extended west to Herring River. From him
25. "Edward Holman's demaunds for his paynes about a chest of goods found at
Mannamoyit, II. s. d.
For fetching the chest to Yarmouth, 00 05 00
For charges of an Indian at boat side, 00 06 00
For fetching the chest after to Barnes, 00 05 00
For a hatchet given to the Indn, 00 01 06
For drying the goods at the boatside, 00 12 00
For bringing the chest to Plym. 00 08 00
01 17 06
besides XVI s. allowed Mr. Slmpklns for washing & drying of the goods, which was
pay'd out of the goods,"
John Whetston of Scituate and Joshua Barnes of Yarmouth appear also to have
obtained a portion of the goods in some way. Plym. Col. Rec. II, 35.

"PURCHASERS OR OLD COMERS." 53
the Sipsons, John and Tom, doubtless acquired Potanuma
quut and vicinity.
The first active movement of the "purchasers or old
comers" to utilize the three "reserves" belonging to them,
appears to have been taken in March, 1652. More than a
decade had then passed since their rights had been acquired,
and in that time some had died and their interest had passed
to their heirs, while others had sold to outside parties,
who had been admitted to an interest. Those who were
then interested met on March 7, 1652, and agreed upon a
division of the three "plantations" among themselves. The
holders of about nine shares took their proportions in the Nar
ragansett Bay "reserve," the holders of thirty-four shares took
theirs in the "reserve" later forming the old town of Dart
mouth, and the remaining "purchasers or old comers" be
came proprietors of the Cape "reserve."26 Those to whom
26. "The names of those whoe by order of and agreement of the purchasers mett
at Plymouth to make Purch ise and Devision of the Lauds as are at Sowarasett and Mat-
tapoisett the 7th of March 1652 whoe are to have theire several ptes or moyeties Layed
out att the places above expressed ; And are to make and to satisfy the purchase and all
other charges arising thereupon according to theire severall proportions. Theire names
are as follow: Mr. William Bradford one moyetie, Mr. Thomas Prence one halfe pte,
Mr. Edward Winslow all his portion, Capt. Myies Standish, his halfe pte, Cap Thomas
Willett his pte, Mr. White his pte; Mr. Cushman, his whole pte; Mr. John Winslow, all
his pte; John Addams, his whole proportion; Experience Mitchell, his half pte;
Thomas Clarke, his halfe pte." Plym. Col. Deeds, II (Pt. I) 39.
"The names of those whoe by order of the Purchasers mett att Plymouth
the seaventh Day of march 1652 whoe by Joynt consent and agreement of the said pur
chasers are to have theire prtes shares or proportions att the place or places commonly
called and knowne by the names of Acushena alias acquessent which entereth in att
the western end of Neckatay and to Coaksett alias acoaklus and places adjacent; the
bounds of which Tract fully to extend 3 miles to the Eastward of the most Easterly prte
of the river or Bay called Acushena aforsaid; and soe alonge the seaside to the river
called Coaksett ; lying on the west side of point prrlll and to the most westermost side
of any branch of the aforesd riv3r and to extend eight miles into the woods; The said
Tract or tract[s] of Land soe bounded as abovesaid which is purchased of the Indians
which were the right propriators therof; as appeers by a Deed under theire hands with
all the mershes meddows rivers waters woods Timbers ; and all other profitts prlvilidges
emunities comodities and appurtenances belonging to the said Tract or Tracts above
expressed or any prte or prcell therof to belonge unto the prties whose names are
underwritten (whoe are in number thirty four whole prtes or shares and noe more) to
them and their heires and assignes forever; Mr. Wiliam Bradford one whole prte or
share ; capt : Standish one whole prte or share ; Mr John Alden one whole prte or
share; Mr Collyar and Sarah Brewster one whole prte or share; Mr howland and Wiliam
Bassett one whole prte or share; Gorge Morton one whole prte or share; Mannasses

54 ZZ^ HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
the Cape reserve was thus allotted, were Governor Bradford,
Thomas Prince, Edward Bangs, Nicholas Snow, Thomas
Clarke, Joseph Rogers, Giles Hopkins, Stephen Deane,
Experience Mitchell, John Howland and William Collier.
The greater part of these were residents of Eastham.27
Not long after this division the first effort was made to
extinguish the Indian title. A purchase of the tract lying
between Quivet Creek and Sauquatuckett River was made
from the Indians, and in 1653 this tract was divided into
lots and the lots assigned to individual owners. The same
year a large tract, extending from central Brewster east to
Namskaket meadows and from the seashore southerly to the
Long Ponds, was purchased of Wono and Sachemas, his
son, sachems of Sauquatuckett. These two tracts together
comprised the greater part of the present town bf Brews
ter.28 For aught that appears, it was several years after these
events, before any settlement was begun on either of these
tracts. Indeed, there is very little evidence to show that
before 1660 a single resident had established himself in any
place between Quivet Creek and Monomoy Point, although
for nearly twenty years settlements had flourished on either \
side.
Kemton one whole share; James hurst one whole share ; John Dunham senir one whole
share; John Shaw senir one whole share; ffrancis Cooke one whole share, John Cooke
one whole share; Joshua Pratt one whole share; Gorge Soule oue whole share; Con
stant Southworth one whole share; Thomas Southworth one whole share; Mis Jenings
one whole share; Steven Tracye one whole share; John ffaunce one whole share ; henery
Sampson one whole share; Phillip Deianoy one whole share; Mis Warren one whole
share; Robert Bartlett one whole share; Wiliam Palmer one whole share; Edward
Dotye one whole share; Samuell bickes one whole share; Peeter Browne one whole
share; ffrancis Sprague one whole share; Moses Simons one whole share; Samuell
Eaton one whole share ; Thomas Morton one whole share ; Samuell Cutbert one whole
share ; Edward holman one whole share; Edward Bumpase one whole share; In all
thirty foure prtes or shares;" Plym. Col. Deeds, II. (Pt. I) 107.
There Is no record In the Colony records so far as I know, of the names of those who
took the Cape reserve.
27. See article on Brewster by Mr. Josiah Paine in Deyo's History of Barnstable Co.,
also Dudley, Directory and History of Plymouth and Barnstable Counties, 126.
28. See Mr. Falne's article above referred to.

CHAPTER V.

WILLIAM NICKERSON AND THE SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT.
SUCH was the situation when, in or about the year 1656,
William Nickerson,' one of the early settlers of Yar
mouth, living not far from the " reserve," desiring to pro
vide more amply for his family, entered into a bargain with
Mattaquason, the sachem of Monomoit, with regard to his
land at that place. There seems to have been no clear
understanding between them as to the limits of the land
bargained for, nor was any deed or writing passed between
them.2 He gave the Indians a boat and they promised him
some land. This act was not only an invasion of the rights
of the "purchasers or old comers," but was a violation of
the law forbidding sales to and purchases from the Indians
without consent of the Plymouth Colony Court.3 It is
clear, however, that Mr. Nickerson did not fully understand
the law when he made the bargain. He admitted the pur
chase, but claimed no intention of violating the law.4 Ig-
1. The name was-formerly frequently written Nicarson, sometimes Nicholson. He
himself appears to have written It Nickerson.
2. Plym. Col. Rec. , IV, 162.
3. The statute relating to purchases of land from the Indians, passed in 1643,
reads as follows : "If any person or persons do hereafter purchase, rent or byre any
lands, herbage, wood or tymber of any of the natives in any place within this Govern
ment without the consent & assent of the Court, every such person or persons shall
forfeit five pounds for every acree which shal be so purchased, hyred, rented and taken."
Plym. Col. Rec.,Xf, 41.
4. Dec. 1, 1663 William Nickerson, being summoned to Court to answer for purchas
ing land of the Indians at Monomoit, "owned the same but sayed that hee had done the
same of ignorance &c" (Plym. Col. Rec, IV, 49.)
May 3, 1665. "If I had knowne that the order ri. e. statute! would have bine soe
understod, I should not have done it." Statement of William Nickerson In Plym. Col.
Rec., IV, 87.

56 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
norance of the law, however, then as now, was no excuse.
The Colony Court found him guilty. He then sought to
set himself right with the authorities by petitioning them
in the usual way for leave to make the trade, but they
would allow him to keep only a portion of his alleged pur
chase. They evidently felt that he should incur some pen
alty for his action, even though he had acted in good faith
and through ignorance. The majesty of the law must be
vindicated. Probably the fact that his purchase was a very
large one and was prejudicial to the "purchasers or old
comers" likewise operated to his disadvantage. When
he found that the authorities would not allow his claim, ire-
offered to resign the property to his children, but without
securing any better terms. Later, he appealed his case to
the representatives of the King and was again unsuccessful,
but finally obtained what he desired by purchase from those
to whom the Court granted the tract.
Inasmuch as, during this controversy, he settled upon a
part of the land bargained for and became the founder of
the village of Monomoit, a brief account of his career may
be appropriate. William Nickerson was born in 1603 or
1604. His father's name was probably Robert. He learned
the trade of a weaver and settled in Norwich, Norfolk
County, England. He married Anne, daughter of Nicholas
Busby, somewhere about 1630 and four children were born
to them before 1637, the date of his emigration to New
England.5 He was led to abandon England by the
persecutions of Matthew Wren, then Bishop of Norfolk,
whose zealous efforts against Non-conformists within his
jurisdiction made their lives miserable. History informs

5. "The examination of William Nickarson of Norwich in Norfolk, weaver, aged 33,
and Anne, his wife, aged 28, with four children, Nlcho, Robartt, Elizabeth, Anne, are
desirous to go to Boston in New England, there to inhabit, April 8, 1637." Hotteu's
Lists of Emigrants, 290.
Five other children were born to tlif m In New England, Samuel, John, Sarah, William,
(bapt at Barnstable June 1, 1646) and Joseph (born at Yarmouth Dec. 1647.)

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 57
us that one of the charges brought against Bishop Wren by
a Committee of Parliament was that, during the term of two
years and four months, while he held the See of Norwich,
"3,000 of his Majesty's subjects, many of whom used trades,
spinning, weaving, knitting, making cloth, stuff, stockings
and other manufactures of wool, some of them setting a
hundred poor people at work," " transported themselves into
Holland," and "other parts beyond the seas" in consequence
of his "superstition and tyranny." Michael Metcalf, him
self a weaver of Norwich and a fellow passenger with
William Nickerson, writes "I was persecuted in the land of
my father's sepulchres for not bowing at the name of Jesus
and observing other ceremonies in religion, forced upon nie
at the instance of Bishop Wren of Norwich and his Chan
cellor Dr. Corbet, whose violent measures troubled me in
the Bishop's Court and returned me into the High Com
missioner's Court." "My enemies conspired against me to
take away my life and, sometimes, to avoid their hands,
my wife did hide me in the roof of the house, covering me
over with straw."11 It was to avoid such persecutions that,
on April 15, 1637, a company from Norwich and vicinity
(indudingW'illiam Nickerson and family) took ship at
Ip^Msfi^and sought the protection of the New World.7
They arrived safely at Salem on June 20 following,8 and the
6. N E. Hist. & Gen Register, VI, 171.
7. of this party of emigrants was, also, Samuel Lincoln, the ancestor of the Martyr
President. He was then eighteen years of age and came with the family of Francis
Lawes, to whom he was apprenticed. Mr. Charles Carleton Coffin in his Life of Lincoln
describes 1 he situation as follows: "The bishop prenched that the King rould do no
wrong. Charles wonted money, and levied taxes without consulting Parliament. The
Puritans who would not pay, together with those who would not accept tlie ritual pre
pared by the bishoo, were arrested— so many that the jail and Guildhall in Norwich
were filled. The persecution of the bishop and the arbitrary acts of the King made life
so bitter that thousands of Puritans quit England forever. Many of the people of Nor
folk and Lincoln counties had sailed for Massachusetts; others were ready to join them.
The ships Rose and the John and Dorothy were at Yarmouth preparing to sail. Francis
Lawes resolved to become an emigrant, and it seems probable that Samuel Lincoln was
ready to join his bi other who had settled in Hingham near Boston. We see them
travelling across the meadows and lowlands, with others, to Yarmouth town. Together
the ships sail across the Atlantic to drop their anchors in Salem Harbor."
8. Winthrop, History of New England I, 271.

58 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
greater part of them dispersed to various parts of
the Colony. Unfortunately, the movements of William
Nickerson and his family for the next few years are largely
a matter of conjecture. He took the oath of a freeman at
Boston on May 2, 1638, but it is not likely that he was a
resident there. Mr. Savage, the learned antiquary, con
jectured that he went to Watertown, where his father-in-
law and family, passengers on the same ship with him,
finally settled after a short stay at Newbury.9 He was of
Yarmouth as early as 1640, the year after its settlement,
and in June 1641 represented that town on the "grand
enquest," or grand jury of the Colony.'0 His house and
farm were near Little Bass pond, now called Folland's pond,
where James Maker, James Matthews, and several other
early settlers of the town located, perhaps on account of
the advantage which the situation afforded for taking fish.11
The matter of the allotment of lands at Yarmouth was
the cause of serious trouble in the early history of the town.
The original grant from the Plymouth Court was made to
four persons, three of whom, Mr. Anthony Thatcher, Mr.
Thomas Howes, and Mr. John Crowe, were among the first
settlers. These three held the lands in trust to apportion
them among such persons as should be admitted to settle in
the town. They were known as the "committees of the
plantation." Against their action in parcelling out the land,
complaints were repeatedly made by some of the inhabitants
and finally, in March 1647-8, the Court deputed Capt.
Myies Standish to visit the town and compose the differ
ences which had arisen. In May following, after hearing
9. Savage, Genealogical Dictionary III, 284; Coffin's History of Newbury.
10. Plym. Col. Rec, II, 16.
11. Conn. Quarterly (1897) 355.
"He sold his house and land after his removal to Chatham [Monomoit] to James
Matthews. I have his deed. His signature is a good one." Amos Otis, Esq., In a
letter to Mr. Josiah Paine dated June 22, 1864.

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 59
the parties, Capt. Standish mado grants of land to various
persons (among them a grant of ten acres of upland and
eight acres of meadow toward the South sea to William
Nickerson),12 and it was then and there agreed between the
" committees of the plantation " and representatives of the
town, that there should be added to the "committees" three
other persons representing the town and that no disposition
of lands should thereafter be made without the consent of
these three or two of them. Mr. Star, William Nickerson
and Robert Dennis were selected to represent the town for
that year, and their successors were to be chosen each year
at the annual town meeting.13 The differences concerning
these lands continued for a long time to agitate the people
of Yarmouth, and out of them probably grew a number of
suits for slander and defamation by and against William
Nickerson and others, which occupied the attention of the
Court in October, 1650. The result of the proceedings was
that all parties were ordered to pocket their injuries and
discontinue their suits, though the Court desired Mr. Nick
erson to see the evil of his offensive speeches against sun
dry of the town . )4
In June, 1651, we find him serving as a juror at Plymouth
in the trial of civil cases,15 and in 1655 he was honored by
his townsmen by an election as a deputy from Yarmouth to
the Colony Court, his associate being Mr. Edmond Hawes.16
This election shows that his standing in the community had
not been affected by his differences with the leaders of the
town. In the following year (1656) we find the beginning of
his troubles over the land at Monomoit. It is recorded
that, at the June session of the Court at Plymouth, William
12. Plym. Col. Rec. II, 129.
13. Plym. Col. Rec. II. 130.
14. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 50.
15. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 54.
16. Plym. Col. Rec. Ill, 79.

60 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Nickerson appeared, "being summoned to answare for his
buying of land of the Indians contrary to order" or statute.17
He had, also, violated the injunctions of a warrant directed
to Yarmouth, forbidding sales to the Indians, having left a
boat "to bee the Indians'." The Court declared, "concern
ing his breach of order in buying of the land, hee lyeth
under the fine and penalty expressed in the order for the
breach therof, [i. e. five pounds per acre] and for his con
tempt of the warrant hee is disfranchised his freedome."18
The fine so imposed the Court appears to have been in no
haste to collect. Mr. Nickerson had, however, found that
he could not make the purchase without consent of the
Court and his next move was taken with the intention of
complying with the law, as the Court had interpreted it.
We, therefore, find him petitioning the Court in June,
1657, in the regular way, for "libertie to injoy the land hee
purchased att Mannamoiett," whereupon it was ordered that
the land there be viewed by a committee appointed by the
Court and that upon their report he should have "a com
petency or proportion out of it allowed unto him and then
to resigne up the remainder unto the Court. "ls This result
was not satisfactory to the petitioner, but he took no further
action at that time.
Several months previous, in March 1657, he had removed
with his family to Boston, in order that his wife might be
able to care for her parents in their old age. They had
resided there but a few months, when the father, Nicholas
Busby, died, the exact date of his death being August 28,
1657. Mr. Busby left a considerable property, out of
17. The following ls the local tradition regarding this purchase, as stated to me by TU.
fUJCL Rufus Smith, Esq., formerly Representative from Chatham : "When Nickerson bought
the land of the Indians, their chief lived back of where the house of Christopher Ryder
now stands. After the bargain was made the Indians were to retire to their wigwams
and wait three days. If a bear should come, lt was a sign of trouble and it would be
no trade; but If a deer should appear, it was a sign of peace and all would be well."
18. Plym. Col. Rec. Ill, 101.
19. Plym. Col. Rec. Ill, 120.

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 61
which he bequeathed his daughter, Anne Nickerson, the
sum of 50 pounds and his "thicke bible." Ho appointed
his three "sonnes that are heere in New England," Abraham
Busby, William Nickerson, and John Grout, to gather up
all his "debts," which were in his "debt bookes," and to
pay over the proceeds to his widow, whom he appointed
executrix of his will.20 About a month after Mr. Busby's
decease, Mr. Nickerson purchased of Dr. Snelling an estate
on the east side of the road leading to Roxbury, consisting
of a dwelling house, yard, garden, and orehard.21 On this
lot he appears to have erected a shop. In September,
1659 he acted as appraiser of the estate of Philip Long of
Boston. The widow Busby survived her husband nearly
three years, her death occurring in July, 1660.22 After the
settlement of her estate, he sold his house, in November,
1661, to Robert Gibbs of Boston,23 and returned to Yar
mouth, appearing as a resident there as early as January,
1661-2. 24 We find him mentioned, also, in the following
August as bringing a barrel of liquor into that town," an
act of no discredit in those days, when every family had its
supply of liquor, and in March, 1663, we find him attempt-
20. Suffolk Probate Records I, 294. From the number of books of "phlslck" men
tioned in his will, It appears that, in addition to his occupation as a weaver, Mr. Busby
had acquired some skill and practice as a physician.
21. Suffolk Deeds III, 242.
22. "My wife cam to boston the furst of March 1657 and my wife did sarves to hur father
and mother tell the later end of August following, and then hur father departed this
life. And since hur fathers death my wife have don sarves to hur mother dayly and
waching with them in the night, as ther necessitie called for untell hur mother departed
this Ufe: which was in July last 1660, all which time my wife did sarves to hur father
and mother, and the tim being somed up it contain three yeares and four monthes or
thear aboute. And for as much as my wife was dieted at my tabell in that time she did
them sarves * * *." Feb. 26, 1660-1. Extract from defendant's reasons of appeal
in Busby v Nickerson. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 392.
23. Suffolk Deeds III, 518 a.
24. Old deed, William Nickerson to Elizabeth Eldred, 'dated Jan. 16, 1661-2, (See
note 28. )
25. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 28.
-(6)-

62 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ing to recover a share of the whales taken along the shore

of the town during his absence

During his residence at Boston, he had applied to the
Plymouth Court, requesting "the whole tract of land by
him formerly purchased of the Indians att Mannomoyett or
ther abouts, hee expressing himselfe otherwise not willing
to accept of a former graunt of the Court which was to have
a competency therof," whereupon the Court, in June,
1659, had ordered that he might have the whole tract, pro
vided he would pay the fine of five pounds per acre for
every acre purchased, as the statute required.27 On his
return to Yarmouth he took up his plans with regard to the
Monomoit lands with renewed zeal. This is shown by a
deed, under date of January 15, 1661-2, executed by him,
wherein he conveyed to his daughter, Elizabeth Eldred,
forty acres of upland and ten acres of meadow at Monomoit,
a part near the Oyster Pond furlong' and the remainder to
be laid out as convenient as may be.28 The following peti-
26. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 106.
27. Plym. Col. Rec. Ill, 165.
During his absence in Boston, the following action was taken by the town of Eastham
under date of Feb. 8, 1660 : "Ordered by the town that Lieutenant John Freeman and
Richard Higgins and Thomas Williams shall have the land at Monomoy." I am unable
to explain this record. The town had no rights at Monomoit, although many of its
leading citizens had as "purchasers or old comers." There is no evidence that these
grantees ever asserted any rights under this grant.
28. This is probably the first deed of Monomoit lands ever executed. It reads as
follows, covenants omitted:
To all Christian people to whom this present writing shall come, Know ye that I,
William Nickerson of Yarmouth in ye Jurisdiction of New Plymouth in New England for
divers good Causes & Considerations here unto moving Have given & granted & by these
presents do give & grant unto my Daughter Elizabeth Eldred fourty acres of upland &
ten acres of meadow lands out of ye lands that I purchased of ye Indian Sagamore Mat-
taquason at Manamoy & there about, part of ye lands lying & being by a swamp near to
ye Oyster pond lorlonge; And ye rest of ye lands to be layed out as Convenient as may
be for their use. To Have & to Hold to them & their heirs lor ever by these presents
Have given & granted, aliened, enfeoffed, set over & Confirmed unto ye sd Elizabeth
Eldred her heirs & assigns for ever all that part of upland & meadow lands lying & be
ing as above as above sd with all ye priviledges & appurces unto ye same above sd
meadows & uplands belonging & all ye Estate, right, title, Interest, properties, use,
possessions, Claim & demand wt soever of him ye said WilUam Nickerson in or to
ye same or any part or peel thereof . To Have & to Hold ye sd peels of uplands*
meadow parts & modities in & by these presents given & granted In & by these presents

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 63
tion, presented to the Court by himself and his children,
further shows his acts and intentions :
"To our honored Gov, Mr. Prence, and the rest of the honored Court,
our humble petition which wee, whose names are underwritten, doe
present unto youer favorable consideration, that for as much as it hath
pleased God by his ordering hand of Providence to dispose of things
soe that our father iu law, William Nic.arson, hath purchased a portion
of land at Manamoiett or therabouts to accommodate his children and
posteritie withall for our comfortable subsisting aud that through the
blessing of God upon our labors wee might live and not be chargeable
hee hath given it unto his children to accommodate us and our posteri
tie withall ; aud wee doe not desire to live alone, but are willing to
receive soe many inhabitants as theire is land to accommodate them
with, soe that wee may goe ou in a way of peace and love, for the glory
of God, and the good and welfare of the government and the inlarg-
ment thereof and the good one of another, for the greatest parte of us
have biue brought up under this government and our desires are to
continew under this government; still, if the Lord shal be pleased to
graunt us to find favor with the Court to graunt our request, and our
request to the honored Court is that they would be pleased to graunt us
libertie to settle a township att Manamoiett or therabouts with as many
inhabitants as wee shall see the land will comfortably accommodate, soe
that they be townsmen that wee can close with, wee shall willingly
receive them, upon the condition that they shall pay theire partes of
the purchase according as wee shall agree and not otherwaies; and if
the Court shal be pleased to graunt our petition, wee shal count it a
expressed to be given and granted unto ye sd Elizabeth Eldred and her heirs for ever.
ti******** in witness whereof ye sd William Nickerson hath hereunto set his
hand & seal ye fifteenth day of January in ye thirteenth year of ye Reign of our Sover
eign Lord King Charles The Second & in the year of our Lord God one thousand six
hundred and sixty-one.
Signed Sealed & delivered William Nickerson
In ye presents of us and his (seal) seal.
Sarah Nickerson
WiUiam Nickerson Junr
This 17 January 1682 ye above named William Nickerson Senr made his appearance &
acknowledged this above written to be his act & deed, And likewise hath given unto ye
sd Elizabeth Eldred to her & ber heirs & assigns forever liberty to feed Cattel in ye
other of his lands according to proportion before me John Freeman Assistant.
Examined & duly Compared with ye original & entered ye 25th July 1695.
The above & within written is a true Copy as appears of Record Compared
2d Book foil 14. Pr me Jonn Thacher Regr.
(M. L. Luce papers, now in possession of Mr. Benjamin H. Doane, New York City, a
lineal descendant of Mr. Thomas Doane, an early settler of the town.)

6A

HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

great favor from God and favor from the Court, thuse hoping to find
favorable answare from the honored Court, wee rest.
William Nicarson Senir
Nicholas Nicarson
Robert Nicarson
Samuell Nicarson
John Nicarson
William Nicarson Junir
Joseph Nicarson
Eobert Eldred
Trustrum Hedges
The 4th of July 1663. Nathaniel Covell."*s
On this most persuasive petition the Court failed to take
any action. Nevertheless, Mr. Nickerson felt reasonably
certain of receiving a part, at least, of his purchase, if he
chose to accept it, and, therefore, determined to take actual
possession of the tract. The exact time when he began the
settlement of Monomoit is, unfortunately, not now ascer
tainable, but it appears to have been early in the year 1664.
The foregoing petition indicates that he was not a settler there
in July, 1663, but in March, 1664, the Court records (IV,
58 ) mention him as " retaineing^osessm^ and improveing " the
land there. It is, also, unknown how many of his children
accompanied him, and took part in the settlement of the
town. It can only be said that they all soon after appear
as residents, except the oldest son, Nicholas, who lived and
died at Yarmouth.30
29. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 153. The last three signers of this petition were sons-in-law
of William Nickerson Sen. Robert Eldred m . Elizabeth Nickerson at Yarmouth Oct.
1649. (Plym. Col. Rec. VIII, 10); Trustrum Hedges m. Ann Nickerson at Boston Oct.
20, 1667, Governor Endicott officiating, (Boston Records); Nathaniel Covell m. Sarah
Nickerson between Jan. 15, 1661-2 and July 4, 1663. (See note 28) .
30. For convenience of reference the following items concerning the descendants of
Nicholas Nickerson are here presented, although none were residents of the
town. Nicholas 2 (William 1) Nickerson born about 1630 married Mary  prob
ably about 1665. He died at Yarmouth Mar. 26, 1681-2. She died Mar. 16, 1705-6.
Children (Yar. Rec):
1. Hester, b. Oct. 1666; m. Jonathan White, son of Peregrine, of Marshfield
Feb. 2. 1682-3 (Yar. Rec.)
2. William b. Jan. 12, 1658.
3. Elizabeth b. Dec. 1662 (single in May, 1706) .

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 65
His action moved the Court to more vigorous measures.
It had passed an order in June, 1663, that "in due and con
venient time William Nicarson bee required to make satis-
fection for his breach of the law,"31 and in the following
December, having summoned him to Plymouth, had required
him to answer for his purchase of the land, when he pleaded
that he acted "through ignorance, &c."32 It now took
measures to collect from him a part of the fine he had
incurred. It gave orders to the chief marshal, under date
of March, 1663-4, "to levy the sume of two hundred pounds
of the goods or chatties of the said William Nicarson's or
soe much therof as shal bee found within this government
as parte of the penaltie due" on account of his illegal
action." The chief marshal attended to his duties, but
4. John b. Sept. 10, 1664.
5. Mary b. July 6, 1668; m Simon Crosby of Harwich Aug. 27, 1691 (East. Rec )
6 Sarah b. May 1, 1674, m. John Burgess of Yarmouth about 1694.
7. Patience b. Apr. 3. 1682 (single In May 1706) .
William 3 (Nicholas 2 William 1) Nickerson born Jan. 12, 1658, married Mary,
daughter of Mark and Jane (Prence) Snow of Eastham, Jan. 22, 16'J0 (East. Rec.);
lived at Eastham till about 1690, then removed to Harwich. His will was proved Jan.
27. 1720-1.
Children (East, and Har Rec):
1. Mercy b. Mar. 17, 1691-2; m. Joseph Johnson Apr. 1, 1714. (Har. Rec.)
2. Nicholas b Mar. 19, 1694-5.
3. Ebenezer b. June 13, 1697.
4. Jane b. Apr. 6, 1699, m. Judah Baker of Yarmouth June 18. 1724 (Har. Rec.)
5. Mary b. Aug. 13, 1701; m. James Harding Oct. 8, 1724, (Har. Rec.)
6. Thankful b. July 26, 1705, m. Benjamin Burgess June 16, 1727.
(Freeman (History of Cape Cod) mentions son William but records do not show it.)
John 3 {Nicholas 2, WiUiam 1) Nickerson, born Sept. 10, 1664, married Elizabeth
Baker of Yarmouth Aug. 14, 1696, and lived in Yarmouth. He died July 23, 1745.
Children (Yar. Rec.) :
1. Elizabeth b. May 11, 1699, m. Silas Sears of Yar. about 1721.
2. Mary b. June 12, 1701, m. Eleazer Sears of Yar. Feb., 1729-30.
3. John b. June 1,1703.
4. Patience b. Apr. 15, 1705, m. Thomas Sears of Yar. July 26, 1732.
5. Israel b. Mar. 31, 1709.
6. Tabitha b. June 15, 1713, m. Judah Crowell of Yar. Sept. 6, 1733.
7. Mercy b. Nov. 22, 1715, m. David O'Kelley Mar. 12, 1741.
8. Eleazer b. Apr. 2, 1718.
81. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 44.
32. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 49.
83. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 59.

66 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
reported that he could not find any property on which to
levy. Thereupon, in June 1664, the Court passed the fol
lowing order :
"Wheras William Nicarson of Yarmouth, hath for some time since
illegally purchased a certaine tract of land att Mannomoiett,
* * * * the Generall Court of freemen, being assembled, have
voated that the said land shal bee put to sale and improved
to the use of the collonie, onely that the said Nicarson shall have
a portion therof allowed unto him, accordingly as the Court or the per
sons deputed in the behalfe of the countrey to make sale therof shall
thinke meet, which said persons are Mr. Hinckley, Mr. Bacon, Leif-
tenant Freeman and William Bassett, they or any three of them; and
the Govr is appointed by the countrey to affix the common seale of the
Government unto such deeds as shall bee made to any for the sale
therof."34 Under this order no action appears to have been taken,
as in the following February Mr. Nickerson laid the whole
case before the Commissioners of the King, Col. Bichard
Nicolls, Sir Eobert Carr, George Cartwright, Esq., and
Samuel Maverick, Esq., who were then holding sessions at
Plymouth. These Commissioners had been sent out from
England with a part of the English fleet, with authority to
reduce the Dutch at Manhattan to submission and " to visit
the several Colonies of New England, to hear and determine
complaints and appeals in matters civil, military and crim
inal, and to provide for the peace and security of the
country."35 They first obtained the surrender of Manhattan
and then proceeded to visit the several colonies. They
heard Mr. Nickerson's appeal, which was the only one sub
mitted to them at Plymouth, and appear to have thought
his claim to a "farm of four miles square," as they call it,
34. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 64. At the same session the Court heard a controversy be
tween the said Nickerson and the sachems, Mattaquason and John Quason, about the
boundaries of the land purchased by him of them and ordered a committee to be sent
"to take knowlidge of the bounds of the said lands and make report therof to the
Court." 35. Morton, New England's Memorial (Davis' Ed.) 310.

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 67
to be unreasonable/" Not deeming him wholly at fault,
however, they consented to move the Colony Court in his
behalf, if he would abide by its action, as a result of which
his fine was remitted, and the following order was passed :
"Wheras William Nicarson hath illegally purchased a
certaine tract of land att Mannainoiett of the natives, and
hath noe visible estate to satisfy the breach of order, yett
hath lately submitted him selfe unto the clemency of the
Court, this Court sees good to alow him, the said William
Nicarson, one hundred acrees of that land att or neare his
house, to bee layed out according to the best descretion of
Barnard Lumber, Marshall Nash and Josepth Howes ; and
the rest of the said land att Mamiamoiett this Court graunts
unto Mr. Thomas Hinckley, Mr. John Freeman, Mr.
William Sarjeant, Mr. Anthony Thacher, Nathaniel Bacon,
Edmond Hawes, Thomas Howes Senir, Thomas Falland
Senir, Leiftenant Josepth Rogers, to them and theire heires
for ever by equal proportions to bee aloted to them, pro
vided the said William Nicarson have an equall proportion
of the meddow lands there with them ; and these lands to
bee proportioned between the said Mr. Hinckley, Mr.
Freeman and the rest above named, and the said William
Nicarson's portion of land to bee layed out to him before
the first day of December next ; and the Court orders that
the said Mr. Hinckley, Mr. Freeman and the rest above
named, alow in marchantable countrey pay theire equall
proportions unto him, the said William Nicarson, of that
pay as hee shall make apeer upon just account that hee
payed for the purchase of the said lands37 and this Court
36. "The colony of New Plymouth did submit to have appeals made to the Commis
sioners, who here had but one plaint to them, which was, that the governer would not
let a man enjoy a farm of four miles square, which he had bought of an Indian, the
complaint (?) soone submitted to the Governor, when he understood the unreasonable'
ness by it." Commissioners' Report, Hutchinson Papers (Prince Soe. Ed.) II, 144.
For proof that Mr. Nickerson is here referred to, see Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 101.
37. This provision conclusively shows that the Court saw no unfairness or injustice
In the bargain made by Mr. Nickerson with the Indians. It was not trying to protect ig
norant savages from any unjust bargain, but was trying to prevent Mr. Nickerson from

68 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
orders and impowers the said Barnard Lumbert, Marshall
Nash and Josepth Howes, in the name of the Court to put
Mr. Hinckley, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Sarjeant and the rest,
into full possession of the said lands att Mannamoiett ; and
the Court doth graunt libertie unto Mr. Hinckley, Mr.
Freeman and the rest, to purchase the tract of land att
Mannamoiett adjacent as are not purchased, and equally to
proportion them amongst themselves, soe that it exceed not
above one hundred acrees apeece ; and this Court ordereth
that none of them shall sell or allianate his parte or propor
tion of his lands ther unto any person or persons what
soever, but with the consent and approbation of his associates
or of the Court."38
This final action of the Court was a bitter dis
appointment to Mr. Nickerson. Throughout this con
troversy, he must have stoutly claimed that, having made the
bargain in good faith in ignorance of the law, he should in
justice have the full benefit of it. The Colonial authori
ties on the other hand, felt that the majesty of the law
should be vindicated. For this some of them had
getting the full benefit of his trade and thereby escaping punishment. They required
him to let In outsiders, whom lt selected, as partners in bis enterprise and they were to
repay him a proportionate part of the purchase money paid by him. It was quite
natural for him to have strenuously resisted. He wished to make his own selection of
partners. The statement (Goodwin, The Pilgrim Republic, 498) that the Colonial
authorities acted from jealous regard of the Indian rights, ls, therefore, not upheld by
the facts. Their jealous regard was for the rights of the "purchasers or old comers."
38. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 87, 96 and 101.
It may not be clear to some readers why the representatives of the "purchasers or
old comers," Governor Bradford, Thomas Prince, Edward Bangs and the others to
whom the Cape "reserve" was assigned In 1662, did not proceed directly against Mr.
Nickerson on account of his purchase. That they were interested parties nowhere
appears in any part of tbe controversy, except in a single clause (Plym. Col. Rec. IV,
59), where the purchase of Mr. Nickerson Is stated to be to their prejudice. The answer
to this, probably, is that Wr. Nickerson at first neither settled on the land nor could he
produce any deed . His claims rested only on a veibal agreement. Under such cir
cumstances, the "purchasers or old comers" might have had difficulty In showing any
damage to themselves. They, of course, could not bring an action of trespass. The
procedure adopted was, doubtless, thought to be at the time more effectual than any
other. It is probable that the "purchasers or old comers" eventually obtained com
pensation in some form for the lands from the colony, although nothing appears of
record to show lt. Gov. Thomas Prince succeeded Gov. Bradford, and as head of the
"purchasers," doubtless looked out for his own and their interest. I believe them to
have been the Instigators of the proceedings against Nickerson,

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 69
persona], as well as public, reasons. Not appreciating
this attitude of the Colony, Mr. Nickerson looked
upon the proceeding as a colossal piece of injustice, as it
certainly was from his standpoint. The trouble rankled in
his breast. He conceived that Mr. Thomas Hinckley of
Barnstable, later Governor and then one of the most in
fluential citizens of the Cape, had willfully used his influence
as Assistant against him. Indignant at the allowance of a
paltry one hundred acres for himself and children, (which
would give them only ten acres apiece), and smarting under
a sense of his injuries, he could not refrain from committing
his opinions to writing. In a letter to Barnstable and in
another to the Plymouth Court, he accused Mr. Hinckley
of denying him justice while acting as a member of the
Court and of being "in combination with them that had a
hand in royett and route," [disorder and violence], but not
long after he discovered his mistake and wrote an ample
apology to Mr. Hinckley.39 The Court, however, not con
tent with this, thought it necessary to impose a fine upon
him.40 He, also, wrote a letter, dated April 2, 1666,
to Col. Richard Nicolls, the Royal Commissioner,4' then
Governor of New York Colony, stating his grievances and
bitterly complaining of the conduct of the Plymouth author
ities. A copy of this letter was soon brought to the atten
tion of the Court, whereupon he and his three sons-in-law,
Robert Eldred, Nathaniel Covell and Tristram Hedges, who
had some part in sending the letter, were summoned to
Plymouth.42 While this case was pending, the authorities
received another letter written by him to Col. Nicolls,
dated Feb. 23, 1666-7, in which he continued his attacks upon
39. Plym Col. Rec. IV, 134.
40. Plym Col. Rec. IV, 140. Part of the fine was remitted on his acknowledging his
mistake In Court.
41. Col. Nicolls held his appointment as Royal Commissioner for life. The term of
the other commissioners had expired. Documents, N. Y. Colonial History, III, 64,
42. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 134, 155,

70 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
them, and thereupon it was decided to bind over the
accused to answer for both writings.43 Matters looked seri
ous for them, but Col. Nicolls interfered in their behalf and
the Court, not caring to offend this representative of the
Crown, contented itself with imposing a moderate fine.44
Meanwhile the order of June, 1665, granting to Mr.
Hinckley and others all except 100 acres of the Nickerson
purchase, remained in full force. By virtue of it these
grantees obtained a title which the Court was bound to
protect, while Mr. Nickerson had no title whatever except
to the 100 acres granted to him. In fact, he had not even
secured the Indian title. He had differed with the Indians
as to the amount of land he ought to have and they had
refused to give him any deed acceptable to him. It is
stated in the Court records that during all this controversy
he " was never able to produce any deed or legall evidence
of any such purchase, although hee hath bine severall times
urged therunto in open Court." " All that hath appeered,"
says the record, "is that there hath bine divers goods given
by the said Nicarson and reconed by the Indians by way
of bargaine for some land, but never agreed how much or
upon what tearmes, Nicarson boldly affeirming and the
Indians as peremtorily deneying and soe it remaines."45
Accordingly the Court, in July, 1667, ordered, inasmuch
as there had been so much trouble about these lands, "that
from henceforth the Indians be required not to make any
further bargaine or contract with the said Nicarson about
the said lands except in the hearing or presence of such as
the Court shall appoint for such an end."46
Feeling their rights secure, Mr. Hinckley and his asso
ciates appear to have been in no haste to enjoy the benefits
43. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 157.
44. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 168.
45. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 162.
46. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 163,

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 71
of their grant. We find that, in October, 1666, they
obtained a judgment for ten shillings against Robert Eldred,
Nathaniel Covell and Tristram Hedges for unjust possession
and improvement of the lands at Monomoit,47 but aside from
this suit, the records do not show any effort on their part
to assert their title or to disturb the settlers. They made
no settlement and no sales to intending settlers. After a
time, the interest of Mr. Hinckley was purchased by Major
Josiah Winslow of Duxbury, but no other transfers of
ownership occurred. For seven years (from 1665 to 1672)
the situation remained unchanged. During this time Mr.
Nickerson appears to have continued his efforts to secure a
deed from the Indians, but without success. Finally, in
March, 1672, he sued the sachem Mattaquason to recover
damages for withholding the deed and was again unsuc
cessful.48 This result might well have shown him how im
possible it was to obtain protection from the Court. It
would seem, at least, to have convinced him that, if he was
ever to secure title to his purchase, he must make terms
with Mr. Winslow and his associates and purchase their
rights under sanction of the Court. But whether this be
the explanation or not, we find that, within a few months
after the termination of the abovementioned suit, he had
reached an agreement with them and, by payment of ninety
pounds "in current New England pay," had secured not
only a deed from them, but also his long coveted deed from
the Indians. The latter deed is dated June 19, 1672, and
is signed by Mattaquason and John Quason, his son, the
sachems of Monomoit. The lands, for which he had
originally bargained and which he had striven so long to
secure, are therein described as follows: "All that tract of
lands, both uplands and Meddows, lying and being att
47. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 132.
48: Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 171.

72 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Mannamoiett aforsaid, beginning att the west syde of the
head of a Cove, commonly knowne by the name of Muddy
Cove, and stretching over Southerly to a pond called Mash-
poxett, and thence by a creek to the Sea, and extending
easterly to the oyster pond and thence by a little Swamp
ranging through a valley Northerly to a Cove of Marsh
knowne by the name of Pimpnuett, running through the said
Marsh to the River called Quassaqueesett, bounded Northerly
by the River which runs up to the said Muddy Cove and
Southerly to the Sea."4a
This description will be found to apply to the tract
bounded west by a line from Muddy Cove through Taylor's
pond to the sea, south by the sea and Oyster Pond river,
east by a line from near the head of the Oyster Pond
through Stepstone meadow (Pimpnuet) and Frostfish Creek
(Quassaqueesett river) to Pleasant Bay, and north by
Pleasant Bay and Muddy Cove river. It is shown on
the accompanying map as the first Nickerson purchase.50
As incidental to his ownership, the sachems granted him
the right to pasture cattle on their lands lying east and
west of the aforesaid tract so long as such lands should
lie in common and unfenced, at such times "as the
said Sachems or theire assigns have not corne growing on
49. Plym. Col. Deeds 111,251.
50. Mr. James Freeman m his "Description of Chatham" (1 Mass. Hist. Coll.
Vol. 8) says : "April 10, 1665, William Nickerson bought of John Quason alias Towso-
wet, sachem of Monamoy, a tract of land near Potanumaquut bounded east by tlie Great
Harbour, south by a line which extends west by south into the woods, from Wequaset
to a pine tree marked on four sides and north by a line extending to the farther head
of a pond, to a place called Porchcommock." This statement also appears in Rev.
Frederick Freeman's History of Cape Cod. It is doubtless correct, but, contrary to the
supposition of both writers, It has nothing to do with Chatham. The tract described
lies on the west side of Pleasant bay north of Muddy Cove The locality appears to
have been called Monomoit in very early times, but it was not a part of the later town
of Chatham nor indeed, of the constablewick or village of Monomoit (see Chap . Vt) . It
is doubtless the same land described by William Nickerson, the second of that name,
in a deed to his four sons, dated Feb. 23, 1709-10, as follows : "that my parcel of land
lying to the northward of ye woody ( ?) [mudy, muddyj cove and so up to Setucket ponds
which my father bought of old John Quason." (Files Superior Court of Judicature No.
7723.)

A R6UC.H SKETCH
&H6WIN<lrHe tAVOJ- AT Mo/VOMO.1
fUlle.HA,atlO Bf WILLI*/* NieKt-RSON,J-EH.

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 73
theire lands to be predjudiced therin." For this land and
these rights, the Indians received a shallop, ten coats of
trucking cloth, six kettles, twelve axes, twelve hoes, twelve
knives, forty shillings in wampum, a hat and twelve shil
lings in money. This was the consideration which Mr.
Nickerson had paid as early as 1656.
The same deed contains, also, a description of the neck of
land called by the Indians Saquanset and later known as the
Great Neck, being all the land between the Oyster pond,
Stage Harbor and Mill pond. This tract he purchased of
the sachems just before the date of the deed by the aid of
Mr. Hinckley, Mr. Freeman and Mr. Bacon, a committee
appointed by the Court for that purpose. In payment
therefor he delivered to the Indians two four-year-old
steers, one cow and calf and two bushels of Indian corn.51
It is shown on the map as the second Nickerson purchase.
The deed which he received from the grantees of the
Court, is dated July 3, 1672, and is executed by Major
Josiah Winslow, Mr. John Freeman and Mr. Nathaniel
Bacon, these three acting for their partners as well as for
themselves. They conveyed to him "all that tract or tracts
of lands, both uplands and meadows, graunted by the Court
of New Plymouth to the abovenamed Thomas Hinckley, John
Freeman, Nathaniel Bacon and the parteners aforsaid as by
Court Record bearing date June, one thousand six hundred
and sixty-five, more att Large appeareth Lying and being
att Mannamoiett aforsaid or places adjacent before
then purchased by the said William Nicarson of the
51. The description of this neck In the deed ls as follows: "All that our neck of
land called Saquanset, beginning att a Rock lying att the head of tbe abovemensloned
oyster pond, ranging easterly by the syde of the Marsh to the line which runs Crosse
the said Marsh and Swamp to a marked pine tree and thence Crosse the upland to a
green oak tree by the syde of a cove or River called Naxtouweest att the end of a little
valley that leads to the said River and thence to the Sea, containing all the lands both
uplands and meddow In the said Neck bounded easterly by the said River and westerly
by the River or water that runs from the said Oyster pond to the Sea and Northerly by
the upland on the syde of the aforsaid marsh." The Sachems also granted a right of
way from this neck to the other lands of said Nickerson. Plym. Col. Deeds III, 251.

74 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Indians and alsoe all theire Right and title in such lands
as they had libertie to purchase of the Indians att the
said Mannamoiett not then purchased, According to the true
Intent and meaning of the Court's graunt aforsaid. * * The
said tract of land then purchased by the said William Nicarson
of the Indians is bounded as by deed given by Mattaquason
and John Quason, Sachems of Mannamoiett * * * bearing
date the 19th of June, 1672, Reference thereunto being
had may and doth att large appear, Together with a certaine
Neck of land therin mensioned which was since purchased
according to the aforsaid libertie granted by the Court." 52
By these two deeds Mr. Nickerson obtained title to the
tract of land embraced in his original purchase and to the
neck called Saquanset, at the same time acquiring the right
to buy from the Indians other lands adjacent, not exceeding
1,000 acres in all. His title was apparently complete, but
his troubles were not yet over. Of the ninety pounds pur
chase money, a part had been contributed by his sons and
sons-in-law and the property was subject to equities in their
favor. It was, doubtless, for the purpose of satisfying
their claims that early in 1674 he conveyed to certain of his
children portions of the tract. His sons, Samuel, John,
Joseph and Robert, and his daughters, Ann Hedges and
Sarah Covell, each received forty acres of upland and ten
acres of meadow.53 His daughter, Elizabeth Eldred,
52. Plym . Col . Deeds III, 252 .
53. The deeds, from which the above facts are gleaned, are the following :
(1) Deed to Samuel Nickerson, dated Feb. 12, 1673-4, recorded Book 2, fol. 228,
of former records of Barnstable Registry. (Certified copy in M. L. Luce papers.)
(2) Deed to Joseph Nickerson, dated Feb. 10, 1673 4. recorded in Barnstable
Registry Mch. 6, 1687-8. (Certified copy in Osborn Nickerson papers.)
(3) Deed to John Nickerson, dated Feb. 11, 1673-4, recorded Book 5, fol. 328,
Plym. Col. Deeds.
(4) Deed to Sarah Covell, dated Feb. 11, 1673-4, recorded Book 4, fol. 264, Plym.
Col. Deeds. (5) Deed to Tristram and Ann Hedges, dated Feb. 10, 1673-4, partial copy on
cover of Quason Proprietors book in Harwich Town Clerk's office. This may not have
been the copy of a deed actually delivered, but it probably was. It is dated about the
date of the others and the judgment of the court later mentioned (page 76) shows that
some deed was given by William Nickerson to Hedges before 1677 .
(6) See deed to Tristram Hedges, dated Feb. 24, 1673-4, as indicating that
Robert Nickerson received his share. (Copy in M. L. Luce papers.)

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 75
had already obtained her share in 1662, as we have
seen. With this allowance of fifty acres to each
child interested, all parties seem to have been satis
fied, except Tristram Hodges and his wife, Ann, who
claimed an interest in all the land embraced in the
purchase. Trouble began in 1677, when Hedges undertook
to warn from their habitations John Downing, John Savage,
and Edward Cottle, three purchasers from William Nicker
son, "telling them it was his and the rest of his brethren's
land and that the said William Nicarson hath nothing to do
to sell theire lands and advised them not to pay the said
Nicarson for they should not enjoy it." 54 Not long after
this episode Hedges began a suit against his father-in-law,
claiming damages because the latter had sold land at Mono
moit in which the plaintiff had an interest and had refused
and neglected to make division thereof. He claimed to
have paid ten pounds of the ninety pounds purchase money
and alleged that William Nickerson held title, although in
his own name, yet also as agent or trustee for his children.
At the trial in October, 1677, the jury found that the
plaintiff and his wife were joint partners in the land with
William Nickerson and the rest of his children, but upon a
re-hearinp; in the following March the former verdict was
modified, the jury finding that Hedges "had right to lands
att Mannamoiett and that hee hath had land there and doe
not find hee hath proved right to more than what he hath
had." M This verdict was allowed to stand and William
Nickerson's title to that part of his purchase which he
had not conveyed to his children became at last unassail
able. Before this time the Court at Plymouth, recognizing the
validity of his title under the deed from Mr. Winslow and
his partners, had specially authorized him, according to the
54. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 207.
55. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 205, 209.

76 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
terms of that deed, to buy of the Indians the tract of 1000
acres adjacent to his first purchase 50 and had appointed Mr.
John Freeman and Mr. Jonathan Sparrow, both of East
ham, to lay out and settle the bounds of the tract which he
might acquire under this authority.57 These appointees, as
we shall see, did not perform their duties till many years
after, but he was not thereby prevented from exercising his
rights of purchase. Not long after his title had been estab
lished in the suit brought by Hedges, he proceeded to buy
of the sachem, John Quason, a tract adjoining his original
purchase on the west, paying therefor twenty pounds "in
current English goods." The deed which he received is
dated March 29, 1678-9. Under it he acquired all the land
lying between his original purchase and the present
boundary between Harwich and Chatham.58 It is shown on
the foregoing map as the third Nickerson purchase.
Four years later he enlarged his territory by purchasing
all the meadow at a place called Pamuet, near his former
bounds, and all the meadow on the east and west sides of
Tom's Neck, paying therefor "twelve pounds and eleven
shillings in current English goods." The deed of this tract
is dated August 16, 1682, and is signed by John Quason.59
56. Plym. Col. Rec V, 147.
57. Plym. Col. Rec. V, 154.
58. The description in the deed is as follows: "All our Neck of Land called Mash-
pokset that lyeth westward of ye former lands purchased to a Creeke called by ye Indians
Maspatuxet, by ye English ye Creek Is called the Reed River and where there is a pine
knott Drove Into ye Marsh on ye Easter side of ye Creek and from that point of Marsh
where ye pine knot is Driven down it is to range Southerly to ye Sea & Northerly from
ye head of ye Swamp where ye Reed River or Creek Issues out straight in a Valley where
there is trees marked to a pond & over ye end of ye pond there are trees marked to ye
highway and then it ranges easterly as ye highway ranges to a tree where Indian popa-
mosset cowet's Bounds Is & so to ye Muddey Cove & so lt is Joyned to my former Bounds
that William Nickerson first purchased of Mattaquason & John Quason, sachems of
Monamoy." Plym. Col. Deeds V, 463.
59. The description is as follows : "All our parcels of Meadow lands lying and being
near a place called pamuet near to his [WiUiam Nickerson'sJ former Bounds, all ye
meadow of ye East and West side of a Neck of land that ranges up between ye parcels
of Meadow, with all ye sedge and creek stuff to ye Cove of water to a pine tree that
stands marked upon ye Neck of upland, with all ye meadow, good and Bad, that may
be made mowable, with all ye Sedge and creek stuff that is upon ye neck of land that ls

SETTLEMENT OF MONOMOIT. 11
This was his last purchase. He had already acquired a
splendid domain, embracing not less than 4,000 acres, with
which at his advanced age he might well be content. All of
the land within the present limits of Chatham, lying west of
a line from Frostfish Creek to the head of the Oyster Pond
and thence to the head of the Mill Pond, and all the meadow
around Tom's Neck belonged to him, save only what he had
conveyed to his children and a few others. Few, if any, of
his fellow colonists could claim such an area as their own.
Regarding his controversy with the Court, it seems clear
that he prolonged it, because he believed that the Court
was dealing too harshly with him. This would seem to
have been the feeling of Col. Nicolls. During and after
his time, there were many other cases similar to his, which
were generally compromised by giving the illegal purchaser
of the Indian rights a considerable proportion of his pur
chase, sometimes as much as one-half. Had Mr. Nickerson
been thus dealt with, the controversy would probably have
been a short one, and the family less exasperated.
It is to be regretted that there is so little on record
regarding the Nickerson side of the case. The statements
of the Colony Court must, therefore, be taken by the reader
with due allowance. v
known by ye name of Tom's Neck, that Is in ye possession of ye Sagamore's daughter
that was Cousins squa, ye upland ye Sagamore did give his Daughter & he did give his
son John Quason alias Tosowet to dispose of ye meadow with Mattaquason & John
Quason have sold unto William Nicarson senr of Monamoy as it is above expressed."
"With a convenient way to ye meadow through ye neck to fetch out ye hay or creek
stuff." Plym. Col. Deeds V, 608. Pamuet and Plmpnuet are probably one and the
same locality.

-(7)-

CHAPTER VI.

EARLIEST YEARS OF THE VILLAGE.
WHEN William Nickerson settled at Monomoit, he
found the locality far more picturesque in its natural
features than it is to-day. Forests of huge oaks and pines
adorned the hills now bare and infertile, while the swamps,
now cleared for the cranberry, were almost impenetrable
thickets, out of which rose a rich growth of towering
cedars.1 Near the shore, indeed, were to be found frequent
clearings, where the Indian had pitched his wigwam, but
these open areas, although considerable, could scarcely have
been so extensive as to mar the general beauty of the scene.
The red men were far less destructive of the forest than
their more enlightened successors.
The difficulties attending the first settlement may be
easily imagined — the felling of trees, the hewing of timber,
the framing of the rude cottage, its slow construction, and
then the bringing of the household goods over the Indian
trail from Yarmouth. It was a large undertaking for a man
of sixty winters and, when we consider that he had no deed
of the land and was by his action prolonging a contest with
the colonial authorities, we can appreciate the iron will and
restless energy of this remarkable pioneer. There is no
written record showing the location of his house, but a well-
defined tradition places it near the old burying place which
crowns the hill near the head of Ryder's Cove. Mr. Josiah
Paine of Harwich writes : "I have been told that his house
1 . From the statement of aged citizens who could remember the huge logs burned
in the fireplaces in their youth . The cedar swamps have not yet wholly disappeared .

EARLIEST YEARS. 7&
stood near where Kimball Howes lived, but was never shown
the precise spot, and that he was buried on the hill above
his house." The late Rufus Smith, Esq. , a lifelong resident in
the vicinity, informed me that the exact site was about half
way between his residence and the head of Ryder's Cove, that
spot having been pointed out to him many years ago by
Christopher Ryder and Kimball R. Howes, both of whom
lived near the place all their lives and their fathers and
grandfathers before them." Mr. Smith afterwards pur
chased the lot of land, whereon the old house is said to have
stood and, in cultivating it, ploughed up the foundation
of a chimney and found relics of the past. The farm, on
which Mr. Nickerson lived, is described by him in 1687 as
bounded "outward from the uttermost corner of a pond
called the Pasture Pond,3 and from thence straight outward
to the head of a cove called the Muddy Cove and from
thence inward to Joseph Nickerson 's bounds."4 The words
" outward " and " inward " are probably used with reference
to the house on the farm and seem to confirm in a general
way the tradition as to its location.
With the settlement of Monomoit arose the necessity of
providing for the government of its inhabitants. Accord
ingly, in June 1665, the Plymouth Court passed an order
that the lands "att Mannamoiett" should "appertaine and
bee within the liberties of the township of Yarmouth, as the
lands between Bound brook5 and Stony brook6 are, until
2. I am indebted, also, to Mr. Smith for the following figures, showing the precise
location: from the front door of the house late of Christopher Ryder S. 51 degrees W,
19 1 5 rods ; from the front door of the house late of Kimball R. Howes S. 62 degrees E. ,
291/3 rods.
3. This seems to be Stillwater pond. See a deed from Sarah Covell to Ephraim
Covell dated May 19, 1699, Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 3919.
4. The farm of Joseph Nickerson bordered on Pleasant bay and included the land
around and east of the house of Osborn Nickerson, Esq. The easterly line of the farm
extended from Crow's pond across the neck to Pleasant bay. See deed William Nicker
son Sen. to Joseph Nickerson dated Feb. 10, 1673-4. (Osborn Nickerson papers.)
5. Quivet Creek, the present boundary between Dennis and Brewster, and former
boundary between Yarmouth and the "purchasers" lands.
6. Sauquatuckett River in West Brewster.

80 /- HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
the Court shall see cause to order otherwise."7 This was
rather an inconvenient arrangement, as the wide area lying
between Monomoit and Stony brook was already under the
jurisdiction of another township, Eastham, and the parent
town of Yarmouth and its offspring were thereby entirely
separated from each other.8 Moreover, the Nickerson
family seem to have looked with no favor on this effort to
attach them to the town they had just left and to make
them liable to taxation therein. When, therefore, in 1667,
Mr. Thomas Howes, the constable of Yarmouth, came down
to Monomoit, presumably to collect his "rates," he met
with a hostile reception.0 He was "affronted in the execu
tion of his office and offered divers abuses therein," says
the record, for which Mr. Nickerson, his sons Samuel, |
Joseph and William, and his son-in-law, Nathaniel Covell,
soon found themselves in trouble.10
Perhaps, in view of this episode, the Court
deemed it wise no longer to continue the relations
between the two places. At all events, in June 1668,
at the same time that it punished the affront to Mr.
Howes, it passed an order "that the lands att Manna-
moite be att present reputed to be in the constablericke of
Eastham and liable to pay public charges there."11 Although
this order does not, in terms, contemplate that Monomoit
should be incorporated into and become a part of the town
of Eastham, but only annexed to it for purposes of taxa
tion, its practical effect seems to have been to give the
Monomoit people most, if not all, the rights of citizens of
the town. They were apparently entitled to take some
part in the town meetings and were reckoned in the list of
7. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 97.
8. See Colony Court orderof June, 1659. Plym. Col. Rec. Ill, 165.
9. The chief duty of a constable at that time was the collection of taxes or "rates."
10. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 183.
11. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 185. The statement in Swift's History of Yarmouth that
Monomoit was annexed to Eastham in 1674 Is incorrect, as also the statement that Mr.
Nickerson settled at Monomoit about 1672.

EARLIEST YEARS. 81
citizens. We find that, on July 13, 1671, "Goodman
Nickerson " was chosen in town meeting as one of the " rate
makers " for that year, an office to which he was re-elected
in 1672 and 1673, being then called William Nickerson,
Sen. in the records.12 In June 1674, the relations of the
two places were defined so as to be clear beyond any ques
tion, by the following Court order : " Wheras Mannamoiett,
Paomett and Satuckett have bin put under the constable-
shipp of Eastham, that they shall belonge unto and be off
the said Townshipp untill the Court shall see cause other
wise to order, and all other places in like capasitie shall
belonge unto particular townshipps as the Court shall see
meet."13 At the same Court, on petition of Mr. Nickerson,
his "naighbourhood" was allowed the privilege of having a
deputy constable, who should serve under the constable of
Eastham, and Nathaniel Covell was designated for that
office.14 Up to this time the growth of the "naighbourhood" had
been necessarily retarded. For at least eight years, (1664
to 1672) the only white inhabitants had been the families
of Mr. Nickerson and his children, Nicholas excepted. His
title to the land being incomplete, no one would venture to
purchase of him and, on the other hand, no one cared to
purchase of Mr. Hinckley and the other grantees of the
Court and settle in the vicinity of a hostile Nickerson col
ony. This state of affairs, however, as we have seen,
terminated in June 1672, when he obtained title both from
the Indians and from the grantees of the Court. He was
then in a position to make sales of the property and early
in 1674 not only conveyed various parcels to certain of his
12. It is stated in Pratt's History of Eastham that Mr. Nickerson was one of the
selectmen in 1672, but a careful reading of the Eastham records fails to show any basis
for the assertion. The offlce to which he was chosen was that of "rate maker," or
assessor. 13. Plym. Col. Rec. XI, 237.
14. Plym. Col, Rec. V, 147, 148.

82 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
children, as already stated, but sold considerable tracts to
John Downing Sen. Teague Jones and Thomas Crow, (the
last two of Yarmouth,) and perhaps to others.15 Downing
was then a resident and the other two must have soon after
settled on the lands purchased. Downing and Jones settled
not far from each other at West Chatham ; Mr. Crow built
his house at Seaquanset, by which name the locality, about
Cockle Cove was known.16
Encouraged by these accessions, Mr. Nickerson,
in 1675, petitioned that the "naighbourhood att
Monnamoit may be allowed to be a townshipp," but
the Court conceived that they were "not in a ca-
passitie att present to manage the affaires of a towne," and
therefore allowed them "to have a deputie constable and a
grandjurymen which shal be chosen by the towne of Eastham
together with themselves." In all other respects they were
to "remaine and relate unto the towne of Eastham for bear
ing theire parte of all other charge, as was settled at the last
June Court."17 This was a distinct advance in the line of
local self-government, for it gave them a grandjuryman for
their "naighbourhood" in addition to a deputy constable,
both to be chosen by vote of the whole town.
The year 1675 was, also, notable in the history of the
Monomoit community, as in the history of the whole Col
ony, for marking the outbreak of the first great struggle
with the Indians. King Philip of Canonchet had long been
secretly plotting the destruction of the Colony and in July
of this year his plans were at length ripe. The contest
which bears his name then began and continued till his
death in August, 1676. In this struggle the Cape Indians,
15. I have been unable to find the deed to Downing or any copy of it. Other old
papers, however, show that he was among the very first to obtain land from the pro
prietor of Monomoit. The deed to Jones is dated Feb. 14, 1673 4, (copy in M. L. Luce
papers) ; that to Thomas Crow is dated the same day and was recorded in Book 2, page
77 of former Barnstable Deeds (Certified copy in M. L. Luce papers).
16. Saquanset or Seaquanset was the name given also te Stage Neck,
17. Plym. CoL Bee. V, 171.

EARLIEST YEARS. 83
fortunately, refused to join the conspirators,18 otherwise the
position of the Monomoit settlers, separated as they were
from their countrymen by Indian villages, would have been
perilous indeed. As it was, the presence of the Indians
must have caused some anxiety. All the towns of the Col
ony were compelled to make great sacrifices to prosecute
this war. To the call for troops Eastham responded with
her proper share and, among those who went from that town,
Monomoit was well represented. William Nickerson, Jun.,
and John, Joseph and Benjamin Downing, the three sons
of John Downing, Sen., were in the service.19 Doubtless,
also, John Nessefield or Nesfield, who was killed in Capt.
Michael Pierse's fight at Canonchet in Dec. 1675, was also
from Monomoit. He left an orphan child, Sarah, there,
not two years old, who was taken in and cared for by
Tristram Hedges and his wife.20 There is no list extant of
the soldiers engaged and the names above mentioned, except
that of Nesfield, are known only because many years later
their heirs were found entitled to share in the Narragansett
lands, so called, granted to the participants in this war.
In this connection we find in the Eastham records that
William Nickerson, Sen. on March 21, 1676, was again
chosen "rate maker," being authorized with four others "to
make a rate of £56-16s-6d for defraying charges about the
war against the Indians, as also to make a rate of £4-10s,
to supply the town stock of ammunition, also for a sum of
£88-19s-5d, for soldiers wages and fitting them out for
service from the first expedition to the Narragansetts until
April 1676." Other rates on account of the war were later
authorized by the town.
18. In June, 1671, the chiefs of the Cape and other friendly tribes assembled at Ply
mouth and entered into a solemn pledge of fidelity and allegiance to the English, "John
Quason Taswott" signing in behalf of the Monomoyicks, and in October, 1675, this
pledge was renewed at Plymouth, Wasnecksuk signing for Monomoit. Plym. Col.
Rec. V, 66. 177, 178.
19. History of Amherst, N. H., and History of Gorham, Me. ; also York County, (Me.)
Deeds XXII, 33.
20. Plym. Col. Rec. VI, 54.

84 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
On or about the autumn of 1675, the Monomoit "naigh
bourhood" was further increased by the arrival of two
families from Nantucket, those of John Savage and Edward
Cottle. Each of these men bought a farm of Mr. Nicker
son, whereon they erected dwellings, and John Savage, who
was a cooper, obtained the right to cut hoop poles on any
of the common land owned by said Nickerson.21 And here
the plan on which the land at Monomoit was originally laid
out may as well be explained. Mr. Nickerson first reserved
the land in the vicinity of his house and extending west to
Muddy Cove for his homestead farm. Three or four of his
children had farms near,22 but, with these exceptions, all
the land North of a line from the head of Muddy Cove to
the head of Ryder's Cove, was embraced in his home farm.23
Certain lots were laid out on the north side of the Oyster
Pond at a place called the Oyster Pond Furlong (some
times called the six acre lots) and some of these were
granted to his children. Other lots, laid out on the "Great
Neck," south of the Oyster Pond, were also granted to his
children. All that tract, consisting mostly of woodland,
lying between the present north and south roads to Harwich
and west of the road connecting them, which runs from
the Hawes corner, West Chatham, to the Old Cemetery cor
ner, and nearly all the upland at Red River neck and around
21. Deed William Nickerson to Teague Jones dated Dec. 27, 1675, (M. L. Luce
papers) ; Plym. Col. Deeds IV, 172 and 309; Nantucket Vital Records.
22. Joseph Nickerson lived near the present residence of Osborn Nickerson, Esq.,
and Samuel Nickerson and Nathaniel Covell near and north of the Herring Brosk on
an old road now discontinued.
23. In this .connection the following testimony given in March, 1710-11, ls of interest;
"Benjamin Phillips of full age testifieth & saith that about fourteen yeers agoe my
mother-in-law Sarah Covell went with my uncle to bound out a house lot of land to me
at the hedof the Mudy Cove in Manamoy, Capt. Sparrow was there present also and
that the land which Ensign William Nickerson now controvarts with Sargent Daniel
Hambleton for entring upon Joynes to the land which was laid out to me at sd time &
place, when we were bounding out my sd lot at sd time, I would have had my mother
CoveU & my sd uncle WiUiam Nickerson have laid out my lot forder on upon that land
that is now in controversy, but my sd mother & sd uncle tould me no, they could not, for
that land was the undivided lands & they two with Mr. Sprage did own the same &
that so far as they bounded me was as far that way as their father Nickerson's bounds
came of his divided land which hee had laid out for himself." Files Superior Court of
ijudleaturei No. 8.2)a.

EARLIEST YEARS. 85
Taylor's pond, was reserved as common or undivided land.
The remainder of his purchase, consisting chiefly of farming
land along the south shore, Mr. Nickerson granted, from
time to time, to purchasers who came in from other towns
to settle. To some of these purchasers he, also, granted,
as appurtenant to their farms, rights or privileges of pas
turage, cutting wood, &c, in the common or undivided
lands. Those obtaining such rights or privileges were
afterwards known as the "privileged men," to distinguish
them from the "proprietors" or owners of the common
lands, who had succeeded to the title of Mr. Nickerson.24
At this time the main north and south highways now
running to Harwich had evidently been laid out by Mr.
Nickerson, but they were still in a very rough condition,
consisting probably of a single narrow cart track through
the forest. That the virgin forest growth still stood upon
these ways is shown by a deed from Mr. Nickerson to
Teague Jones, dated Dec. 27, 1675, wherein for half a
hogshead of merchantable tar the former granted to the
latter "all ye tember that stands upon that highway [the
south road] from ye crose fence & bares j't is next Edward
Cotteles land & from thence up to ye uper bares next to
Robart Eldredg's bounds mark of his houes lote."25
In November, 1678, a shallop sailed into one of the har
bors of Monomoit, its master, Moses Bartlett of Boston,
having been taken ill on his voyage. His disease was
found to be the small pox, of which he died on the 15th of
the month and was buried the same day. William Nicker
son, Sen, and his son Nicholas of Yarmouth, took an
inventory of Mr. Bartlett's effects and sent it to Plymouth.
Besides the shallop, with rigging, sails, anchors, oars, &c,
24. See "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham" in Town Clerk's office; deeds of William
Nickerson Sen. to his children heretofore mentionedi and Files Superior Court of Judi<
cature, No. 2,605.
85, MI. Luce papers i

86 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
there was a chest of clothing, carpenter's tools, a hogshead
of salt, a harping iron, a drawing knife, &c. Mr. Bartlett
was evidently in search of whales.26
At this period the Monomoit settlers, in order to attend
public worship, were obliged to travel seven or eight miles
to Eastham through a wild and uneven country and over
roads as yet only partly cleared, if at all. At the time of
the first settlement, the difficulties were so great that at
tendance at the Eastham church was probably out of the
question. Under these circumstances Mr. Nickerson called
his family together on the Sabbath and himself read and
expounded the Scriptures to them. In this way he became
the religious teacher of the place. It had no other spiritual ^
leader while he lived.27 But though the "naighbourhood"
maintained its own religious meetings, it was not thereby
exempt from contributing to the support of public worship
at Eastham. The church at that time stood in practically
the same relation to the town that the public schools now
do. All the citizens were taxed for its support and appro
priations were annually made in town meeting for minister's
salary and other church items. Apparently the people at
Monomoit did not object to these regular taxes, but when
a special tax on account of disbursements for the meeting
house at Eastham was levied in 1678, they were not dis
posed to submit. The town of Eastham, thereupon, voted
in November 1678, "upon defect of their non-payment of
the same to prosecute the matter to effect according to law
and to bear the necessary charges that may accrue from the
same." In the following March the Monomoit people
applied to the Court to be rid of Eastham altogether, wish
ing to establish a church of their own. The action of the
26. Plym. Col. Wills, IV, 7.
27. "This Mr. Nicholson, in his lifetime, was ye father of ye place and ye Inhabitants
of lt were his children, either by consanguinity or affinity, and he exercised as a teacher
[i.e. religious teacher J among them." Extract from Diary of Rev. Joseph Lord, Yar.
mouth Register, Dec. 17, 1846.

EARLIEST YEARS. 87
Court on this petition was as follows: "In answare unto
the petition of the inhabitants of Mannamoiett wherin they
applye themselves to this Court that they may be a town-
shipp of themselves by reason of theire remoteness from
the towne of Eastham, that they cannot comfortably attend
the worship of God there, they manifesting that they are
desirous to build a meeting house and to procure Mr.
Crosbey28 or some other orthodox minnester to despence the
word of God amongst them, this Court doth determine that
if they soe doe, and apply themselves to the next June
Court, and then give the Court a good assurance therof, as
alsoe to performs all other dutyes which concern a well
ordered towneshipp, they shal be a townshipp of them
selves."29 At the next June Court, (1679), the plans to
secure a minister having failed, an order was passed, on
petition of Mr. Nickerson, "that Mannamoiett shal be a
constablericke of itself e and to choose and send a fitt person
for constable and another for grandjuryman and present
them unto the next Court to take oath and that all the in-
habitans of Mannamoyett are heerby injoyned by the Court,
joyntly and unanimously to raise amongst themselves five
pounds per yeer in mony if it may, if not, in other sub-
stanciall goods, or pay and deposett in the hands of some
faithfull person, to be kept in stocke towards the inabling
of them to build a meeting house or a house for a minnes
ter."30 This action of the Court made the place independent of
Eastham. Its inhabitants could now regulate their internal
affairs to a limited extent. They could meet together,
raise money by taxation and appropriate the same, and
choose a constable, a grandjuryman, and assessors or "rate
28. Rev. Thomas Crosby, a graduate of Harvard College in 1653, previously settled in
the ministry at Eastham, but at this time engaged in business there, and later a resident
in that part of Harwich now Brewster.
29. Plym. Col. Rec, VI, 4.
80. Plym, Col, Rec, VI, 14.

88 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
makers." They could not send a representative or "deputy"
to the Colony Court, as towns were permitted to do, nor ^
did they have any voice in managing Colony affairs. They
were made a constablewick and not a town, because they
were unable yet to support a settled minister ; for a law of \
the Colony declared that "it hath bine and is the pious care
and true intent of this Court that all such plantations and
townshipps as are by them granted should maintaine the
publicke Sabboth worship of God and the preaching of the
Word." It was for the purpose of hastening this event
that the order for raising five pounds yearly was adopted by
the Court.
About the year 1680, another family was added to the
Monomoit settlement, that of John Taylor, who came from
Yarmouth and settled on the east side of Taylor's Pond
(South Chatham.) Mr. Taylor had been a soldier in King
Philip's War, going from Yarmouth on two expeditions.
He was a quiet and respected citizen. Many of his de
scendants are still residents of the town.31
It will be seen that the progress of the settlement was
unusually slow. People were not attracted thither, even
after the land troubles had ceased, and the community,
therefore, continued feeble and unprosperous. The follow
ing order, passed by the Court in October, 1680,
throws some light on the conditions at that time: "In
reference unto a poor orphan, named Sarah Nesfield, liveing
att Mannamoiett, whose father was slaine by the Indians in
Capt Peirses fight, which orphan was left att Mannamoiett
aforsaid in a destitute condition and taken in and kept by
Trustrum Hedgis and Anne his wife, soe as it is recovered of
his weake and forlorne condition, it being about six yeer
old att the date heerof, the said Trustrum Hedgis and Anne
his wife, haveing bine att some considerable charge and
trouble in the keeping of her, and requesting some satis-
31. See Yarmouth Vital Records; "A Proprietor's Book for Chatham," and Plym,
Col, Records.

EARLIEST YEARS. 89
faction of the same, the Court doe allow unto them five
pound ; and although they are well satisfyed that of- right it
belonges to each towne in this goverment to releive theire
owne poor, yett forasmuch as the village of Mannamoiett is
in its infanvye and therfore not soe able soe to doe as others,
the Court doth therfore award the said naighborhood of
Mannamoiett to pay unto the said Hedgis the sume of
three pounds of the said five pound, in good currant coun
try pay, att prise currant, upon his demand, or in some short
time after, and the remaining forty shillings to be payed by
the Treasurer'' [of the Colony.]32 In the following March
the village was relieved from paying even the three pounds,
but was ordered to prepare a suitable place for the child
and remove her thereto.
In 1680 Joseph Nickerson was elected grandjuryman
from the new constablewick and the same year it was
required to raise and pay into the Colony 2 pounds of the
160 pounds levied to meet Colony expenses that year. In
1681 William Nickerson was grandjuryman and John
Savage constable. Monomoit had to raise this year 2
pounds 10 shillings towards a total levy of 245 pounds for
Colony purposes. At the July Court this year it was
ordered that " Mannamoyett and Middleberry, each of them,
doe make choise of a fitt man to exercise theire men in
armes, and to see theire men well provided with fixed armes
and ammunition for theire respective places and to present
to the next Court for aprobation."33
About this time the village lost by death two of its lead
ing members, both sons-in-law of William Nickerson, Sen.
The exact year in which Nathaniel Covell died is not cer
tain, but it was not far from 1682, in which year Robert
Eldredge, his brother-in-law, died.34 Both were in the prime
of life, and left large families.
32 Plym- Col. Rec. VI, 54.
S3 Plym. Col. Rec, VI, 67.
34 Plym Col. WiUs IV, Pt. 4, 45; Mr. Covell died before 1685.

90 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Nicholas Eldredge was the grandjuryman of the village
in 1682 and it was required to raise 2 pounds, 10 shillings
toward the Colony tax. In 1683 Robert Nickerson and
William Nickerson both appear as constables, according to
the Colony records, but probably this is a mistake, one of
them, doubtless, being the grandjuryman. The village was
to raise this year 2 pounds 4 shillings. In 1684 no grand
juryman is mentioned. Joseph Nickerson was constable
and the quota of the place was the same as the preceding
year. In 1685 Hugh Stewart was grandjuryman and Mono
moit was to raise three pounds 12 shillings and 8 pence.
From this date until the local records begin in 1693 it is
impossible to tell who were the officers of the place, as the
records respecting them, after the division of the Colony
into counties in 1685, were kept only at Barnstable, where
they were destroyed by fire in 1827.
Mr. Stewart, who is mentioned as grandjuryman in 1685,
had settled at Monomoit two years previously, having
removed from Yarmouth. He was a man of substance and
influence and his children became prominent in local affairs.
He bought the farm of Thomas Crow, who returned to
Yarmouth, his former home. Probably about the time of
Mr. Stewart's coming, two other families became residents at
Monomoit. Caleb Lumbert from Barnstable, settled prob
ably in the Red River Neck, and William Griffith35 from
Satuckett (West Brewster) bought a farm north of the Oys
ter pond. The latter was an energetic citizen, but of a roving
disposition. These additions were soon offset by removals of
some of the earlier settlers. Before 1686 John Downing and
Teague Jones had sold out and removed, the former to that
part of Eastham now Orleans, the latter to Yarmouth. Mr.
Elisha Hedge of Yarmouth, who purchased of them, did
not settle, but sold to Lieut. Nicholas Eldredge in 1686.
85. The name in the town records Is written William Grefeth. This has been misread
by some as WUUam Groseth, by others as William Gross.

EARLIEST YEARS. 91
Edward Cottle, also, disappears about this time and later
appears as a resident of Martha's Vineyard. John Savage,
also, sold out and removed to Pamet (Truro), being one
of the earliest proprietors there. His farm was bought by
Mr. Samuel Smith of Eastham, who placed William Cahoon
in charge. Before 1690 every one of the first five families,
who had purchased farms of William Nickerson, Sen. had
removed to other parts. On the other hand, between 1686
and 1690, William Mitchell and probably George Godfrey,
Edward Small and Nathaniel Tomlon became residents.
Mr. Godfrey Was from Eastham, and Mr. Tomlon from
Yarmouth.30 All these early settlers were tillers of the soil. They
settled for the most part near the shore for convenience in
getting shellfish and other fish for family use, but they
devoted their lives to agriculture. In connection with this,
some of them utilized the early forests for the production
of tar, in which there was at that time a lively traffic. The
capture of whales in a small way was, also, pursued. There
was a substantial whale boat owned in the village at an
early date, the citizens holding it in shares.
About this time a native of London, Capt. James Forster,
entered upon some kind of an enterprise at Monomoit, the
nature of which we can only conjecture. He acquired Quit-
nesset, now Morris Island, but was taken ill and died before
his plans were complete. His will, dated February 11, 1686,
was proved in July, 1686. He gave Quitnesset Island to
his sister Elizabeth Wopshot, "the daughter of Elizabeth
Torlton Lately Living in Jacobs Street in Southworke near
London," but in case of her death without issue, it was to
36. The facts stated in the foregoing paragraph are gleaned chlelly from the follow
ing sources : Settlement of estate of Samuel Smith (Barnstable Probate Rec . ) ; Deed from
Elisha Hedge to Nicholas Eldredge dated Mar. 22, 1685-6 (certified copy in M. L. Luce
papers); Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 8,436; Tisbury Town Records; Deed
from Thomas Crow to Hugh Stewart a ted Aug. 13, 1683, (certified copy in M. L. Luce
papers) ; Deed from William Griffith to Thomas Howes dated April 8, 1703, (certified copy
in M. L. Luce papers) .

92 * HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
go to his mother Elizabeth, wife of Mr. John Torlton. Dr.
Fuller of Plymouth attended him and the watchers in his
illness were remembered in his will. The number of his
servants indicates that he was a gentleman of means and
breeding. Capt. John Thacher and Elisha Hedge, both of
Yarmouth, were his executors. One of his creditors was
the "widdow Eldred," who was doubtless the widow of
Robert Eldredge.37 Quitnesset Island later came into the
possession of Morris Farris, who lived there many years,
and from whom its present name is derived.38
These were the times in which pirates infested the seas.
The Plymouth Court records, under date of October 28,
1684, say: "William Nicarson and Samuell Bryant being
bound over to the Court to answare for carrying of from the
Hand of Nantuckett John Grayham, a pirate that was there
under theire custody, they heer appeering * * * were
cleared," no sufficient evidence being produced against
them." On August 22, 1689, the Brig Merrimack of
Newbury, Capt. John Kent, master, was captured by pirates
in Martha's Vineyard Sound.4"
yL\Jjj^^-. 'TL/'trJ&k^/Z Monomoit had now been set-
j , ff£%^jkrv* tie(i over twenty-five years.
It was still but little more than a Nickerson neighborhood.
During this period the founder and leader of the place had
been preserved to guide its destinies, but henceforth it was
to go forward without his counsel. The exact date of his
death is not known. There is no settlement of his estate,

37. Barnstable Prob. Rec. ,1,1.
38. "Morres Faris of full age testifieth & saith that some time about two years last
September Thomas Doan and James Eldrldge came over to my house on quenttnosset
Island where was Judah Paddock, and I heard much discourse about Paddock releasing
sdDoan * » » • *."
Date of testimony, July 4, 1722. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 16,846.
39. Plym. Col. Rec, VI, 145.
40. Coffin's Hist, of Newbury.

EARLIEST YEARS. 93
but recitals in ancient deeds show that he must have died
between August 30, 1689, and September 8, 1690.41
Several years before this time he had arranged his affairs
so that the management of his domain should pass into the
hands of his daughter, Sarah Covell, and his son, William
Nickerson, Jr. As early as February 1685-6, he had con
veyed to the former all his property of every name and
nature,42 but afterwards had changed his plans, and by deed
dated December 2, 1687, had joined with his daughter in
conveying to William Nickerson, Jr., the tract of land
called Monamesset Neck and one half interest in all his
other lands, both purchased and unpurchased, save only his
home farm, to which his daughter retained exclusive title.43
41 . These facts appear from deeds, William Nickerson Sen. and Sarah CoveU to
WiUiam Nickerson Jr (note 43) and Sarah Covell to Hugh Stewart dated Sept. 8, 1690,
(certified copy In M. L. Luce papers.)
42. "To all people to whom these presents shall come, that William Nickerson Senr
of Manamoy In ye Government of New Plymouth In New England, In America, weaver,
Sendeth Greeting * * know ye yt I ye said William Nickerson for and in considera
tion of ye sum of a hnndred pounds to me In hand paid by my daughter Sarah Covel of
Manamoy in ye Government aforesd * * * * by these presents do give, grant, bar
gain, sell, enfeoff, and confirm unto my daughter, ye sd Sarah Covel, her heirs and as
signs forever, AU that my houses and lands purchassed or unpurchassed & meadows, salt
and fresh, cattel, movables, Debts, lying & being in Manamoy or elsewhere."
To Have & To Hold * * *
Dated Feb. 12 1685, acknowledged May 18, 1686, by Mr. Nickerson and Anne, his wife
and recorded May 2, 1691. Witnesses, Hugh Steward, William Grlfteth.
Flies Superior Court of Judicature No. 2,605.
43. "To all Christian People to whom this present writing shall come, WUUam Nick
erson Senr & Sarah Covel widow both of Monamoy In New England in the County of
Barnstable Send Greeting ; Know ye that we the said William Nickerson Senr & Sarah
Covel, widow, both of the aforesd Manamoy have sold unto William Nickerson Junr of
sd Monamoy a neck of land Lying & being in ye sd Monamoy commonly called Manam-
set butted & bounded as followeth : Beginning at the first salt pond upon the said
neck next to Joseph Nickerson and from the head of the said pond it Rangeth by
marked trees where there was a fence formerly across the said neck of land to the Bay
which Lyeth upon ye North west side of the sd Neck, where there Lyeth a, parcel of
stones by the water side where there was a stone wall formerly & from thence Rangeth
Inward by the water all round the said Neck till you come to the Salt Pond aforesd— all
the upland within the sd bounds & also all the meadow Lands which is not Expressed
in Joseph NIckerson's Deed— and also one-half of all the other of our lands which is
not yet Disposed which the said William Nickerson Senr bought of Mattaquason & John
Quason Indians both of sd Manamoy which Doth appear by a Deed from the sd Indians
and also by another Deed which the sd William Nickerson Senr hath from Mr. Josiah
Winslow, formerly Governour of the Colony of New Plymouth & Nathaniel Bacon & John
Freeman in the behalf of the Rest of their partners, and also liberty to purchase one
-(8)-

94 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
His age at the time of his death must have been not less than
85 years. Whether he survived his wife Anne or not is
uncertain. She was living as late as May 18, 1686. Tra
dition says that he was buried on the hill above his house,
by which is, doubtless, meant the hill at the head of Ryder's
Cove, where many of the oldest settlers He buried in
unmarked graves. This hill he dedicated in his lifetime as
a burial place and it was later given to the town by his
daughter and sole owner of his home farm, Mrs. Covell.44
Respecting his life and character much might be written.
Undoubtedly he was in many respects a remarkable man, —
half of all the rest of the Land which is not yet purchased as it was granted to the sd
Willm Nickerson, Senr, by the Court, Excepting of the farm which the sd William
Nickerson, Senr, llveth upon & the meadow thereunto belonging, bounded as followeth:
Outward from the uttermost corner of a pond called the pasture Pond and from thence
straight outward to the head of a cove called the Muddy Cove & from thence Inward to
Joseph Nickerson's bounds and also the short neck, This farm & ye meadow thereunto
belonging ls excepted out of this sale, but the above sd Manamesset neck of land & the
one-half of all the Rest of our Lands which is purchased that is not yet disposed, upland
or meadow lands, and allso the liberty to purchase the one-half of that which is yet to
purchase, upland or meadow lands, as the liberty was Granted to the sd William Nicker
son, Senr, as is above sd, We, the sd WilUam Nickerson, Senr, & Sarah Covel, widow,
have sold unto William Nickerson, Junr, for & In Consideration of fifty pounds to us, the
sd Willm Nickerson, Senr, & Sarah Covil, paid in hand."
To have and to hold * * * * (a right of way out of Monamesset Neck is also granted).
Dated Dec. 2, 1687, acknowledged Aug. 30, 1689 ; recorded in page 64 of Barnstable Co.
Book of Records. Witnesses, William Mitchell, Wm. Grlffeth, Jun.
Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 2605.
44. " A Record of the bounds of lands that was lait out by Mr. William Nickerson,
Senr desesed for a burying place, sd percall of land was alowed for that purpose forever
and accordingly set out and alowed by Mrs. Sarah CoveU widow, the bounds as fol
loweth: bounded esterly upon a hay way that parts the land of Joseph Covell and the land
that was Jeremiah nickersons, tbe nother bound is upon Joseph Covell tell it corns to
the decent or brow of a hill as sd Joseph Covell dich now runs the wester bounds is
upon the land that was ephraim Covell from dlch to a rock lying on the Souther sid of
sd hill, the Souther bounds Is upon sd ephraim land to the first spicifled hay way which
ls sd ephraims known bounds, the reng ls one the brow of the hill as sd Joseph Covells
renges one the other sid." Town Records, 1715.
The hay way mentioned has disappeared, and if traditional accounts are true, only a
small portion of the original acre lot has been fenced and preserved during the last cen
tury. The remainder has for years been cultivated by private Individuals.
Respecting this burial hill there is a tradition that not long after tbe first settlement
the Indians came to it one day and began digging without right. The men of the neigh
borhood were away at the time, but the women were equal to the occasion . They
rushed out of doors, shouting: " Bring the guns! bring the guns! " and the frightened
savages, expecting to see the men presently appear, fled precipitately.

EARLIEST YEARS. 95
a man of large enterprises, of honorable intentions
and strong religious convictions. He had the firm
will and restless energy of the successful pioneer.
In pursuing what he believed to be his rights, he
was appalled by no difficulties and disheartened by no
reverses. Drawn into the purchase of the Monomoit lands
through a mistaken idea of the law, he looked behind the
law to the equities of the case and strove long and earnestly
to secure a favorable issue. The "purchasers or old
comers," however, whose rights were affected, were the
governing class in the Colony and they would brook no
compromise that seemed fair to him. Hence the contest
waxed warm. "For I desier not to wrong any man of ther
just right nor I would not be wronged myselfe," was his
expressed principle.45 Perhaps he laid too much stress on
the latter half of this statement. At all events, he was en
gaged in much legal controversy outside of his land
troubles, but his inclination to be contentious does not seem
to have been transmitted to his descendants. Mr. Swift
in his History of Yarmouth says of him : " He was
still recognized as one of them by men of Chris
tian character and it does not appear that he was entirely
at fault in all respects." Mr. Amos Otis says : "There is
a remarkable parallelism between the character of Mr.
Bachilor (Rev. Stephen) and that of Mr. William Nicker
son, the ancestor of the family of that name. Both were,
or assumed to be, religious men : both were stiff-necked and
wayward ; both were often involved in difficulties ; both
were undertakers of new plantations and in both their
families the same clannish spirit prevailed. Bachilor had
more wives and Nickerson more law suits, the former under
took several plantations ; the latter only one."46 Mr.
Nickerson left numerous descendants, nearly all of whom
46. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 392, which see for probable signature
of Mr. Nickerson shown on page 92.
46. Otis, Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, I, 41 .

96 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
were living in this part of the Cape. The family is still a
large one in this vicinity. Its members have intermarried
with all the older families and probably nine-tenths of the
present residents of Chatham, the writer included, can trace
their descent in some way from William Nickerson.
Mr. Nickerson died at the outbreak of a fresh Indian
struggle, more widespread and threatening than the former
one with King Philip, and destined to be longer and more
bitter. This time the savages had the French as allies and
the struggle continued with brief interruptions for more
than twenty years. The Cape Indians remained faithful
and valuable allies of the Colonists, but in spite of this the
Cape towns were required to make unusual sacrifices. They
were obliged to furnish their quota of men and, at the same
time, to be on the watch for, and ready to resist, the approach
of any French privateers, which might be upon the coast.
When the war began in the summer of 1689, the Plymouth
Colony took measures to raise a company to join with
Massachusetts Bay in an expedition against the Eastern
Indians and gave the command to Capt. Benjamin Church.
The proportion of Monomoit fqr^this company was one man
and one arm. In the following October the "raters" of
Monomoit were required to raise 7 pounds as its proportion
towards the expenses of the war. In 1690 two men and
one arm were required from Monomoit for the expedition
against Canada and a further sum of 18 lbs. 8s. 9d. for war
expenses. Capt. Church this year raised another company
in the Colony to go against the Maine Indians. The names
of those who went with him on his two expeditions are not
preserved. They were probably Indians.47 On the Canada
expedition with Sir William Phipps were Daniel Hamilton
47. "The Cape Indians," according to Capt. Church, " were very bare; lying so long
at Boston before they Imbarked, that they had Sold everything they could make a Peny
of, some tying Shot & Powder in the coiners of their Blankets." This refers to the
expedition of 1689. Church, History of the Eastern Expeditions, I, 61.

EARLIEST YEARS. 97
later of Monomoit, and James Stewart and James Cahoon, who
may have been residents there. The subsequent part of
this contest belongs to the period covered by a succeeding
chapter and will be considered therein.
In June, 1690, four citizens of Monomoit, William Nicker
son, Hugh Stewart, William Mitchell, and Nicholas Eldredge,
appeared before the Plymouth Court and, on taking the oath,
were admitted as freemen of the Colony. At the same
time William Nickerson was appointed inspector of whales
for the village.48
As before stated, the growth of the place had been very
gradual up to this time. In 1690 it was still one of the
smallest places in the Colony. Only one other locality in
Barnstable County was smaller, as appears by the follow
ing assessed valuation for that year : Barnstable 3000 lbs. ;
Yarmouth 2777 lbs. ; Sandwich 2500 lbs. ; Eastham 2500
lbs. ; Monomoit 505 lbs. ; Succonnessett [Falmouth] 405
lbs.49 People were prevented from settling partly because
there were no adequate church privileges and partly, no
doubt, because the village was especially exposed to danger
from the Indians. There were Indians on the west and
north in the present Harwich and Brewster, and on the
east in the present easterly portion of the town. It will
be remembered that William Nickerson Sen. did not pur
chase all of Monomoit from the natives. That part east of
a line from Frostfish Creek to the head of the Oyster Pond
and thence to the Mill Pond, still remained in their posses
sion. Mr. Nickerson had authority from the Court to
purchase it, if they would sell, but did not avail himself of
his rights further than to secure the meadow about Tom's
Neck, as heretofore stated. About 1690, however, the
English began to enter this tract, which contained much
desirable cleared land, well located near the water.
William Nickerson, the son of the first settler, was prob-
48. Plym. Col. Rec. VI,|251.
49. Plym. Col. Rec. VI, 251.

L

98 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ably the first to enter. By deed, dated August 29, 1689,
he purchased of three grandsons of Mattaquason, named
apparently Dogamus, Richard Stephen, and Richard Morta-
quit, the greater part of the land at Cotchpinicut Neck (Old
Harbor) and by subsequent transactions extended his
holdings westward to Frostfish Creek. Buildings were
erected and the locality became his residence.50 Early in
1691 Mr. Samuel Smith of P^astham purchased of John
Cousins, Indian, and his mother the territory owned by
them at Tom's Neck, comprising a considerable part of the
present village, Mrs. Covell also releasing to him her rights
of purchase derived from her father.51
He must have erected dwellings soon after and either
occupied them himself temporarily or spent much time
there in supervision. In August, 1695, he was chosen by
the village as commissioner to carry a list of its "rates" and
an account of its "effects" to the shire town, an office for
which he would scarcely have been selected, unless inti
mately connected with the village affairs.52 After his death
50 "Nathaniel Nickerson about 39 years of age testifieth and saith: When I was a
little boy, my father WiUiam Nickerson built a Dwelling house a Uttle distant from the
now Dwelling house of my brother Thomas Nickerson Senr on som part of the land
called Chotcbpinacot on part of the lards which he my sd father William Nickerson
bought of Dogamus & Richard & Mortaqult by one deed bearing date August 29th 1689
which sd lands to my knowledge by constantly observing the bounds thereof at all
time & times heretofore since my time by living a long time thereon by times ls dis
tinctly buted & bounded from those lands in Cbotchplnacot which Dogamus, Richard &
Stephen Indians mortgaged to Mr. Samuel Smith by Deed of Mortgage baring date 14th
day of Argust 1698 so that the land contained in sd mortgage deed has always been
accounted to be out of the bounds which my sd father had by his above sd deed ****."
Dated March 24, 1719-20. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 13,780.
51. These two necks had been given many years before by Mattaquason to his two
daughters, Cotchpinicut Neck to Sarah, wife of Stephen and mother of Dogamus,
Stephen and Mortaqult, and Tom's Neck to  wife of Cussens or Cousins, and moth
er of John Cousins. FUes Superior Court of Judicature, Nos. 13,717 and 15,919 ; Chap.
V, note 59.
52. Mr. Samuel Smith (he Is styled "Mr." in tbe records) tbe son of Ralph Smith
of Hingham, England, later of Hingham and Eastham, Mass., was baptized at Hing
ham, Mass., July 11. 1641, and married at Eastham Jan. 3, 166/ Mary, daughter of .
Giles Hopkins, who came over with his father, Stephen Hopkins, in the Mayflower. He
early engaged in the whale and mackerel fishery and was very successful; later he was a
trader and Innkeeper at Eastham. His homestead was at Billingsgate. He owned at
one time 400 acres in the South part of the town, known as the Smith purchase. This

EARLIEST YEARS. 99
in 1697, his son John Smith and his son-in-law Daniel Ham
ilton came into possession of this tract.
he sold Nov. 1, 1684, to a large number of his townsmen. He held various local
offices. Judge Samuel Sewall mentions him iu his Diary.
His Interest in Monomoit began with the purchase of the farm of John Savage, which
he evidently bought as an Investment, placing WUUam Cahoon in charge of it.
His deed of Tom's Neck from John Cousins and bis mother was dated Jan. 4, 1690 L-H
and was recorded May 6, 1691, In Book 1, folio 66 of Old Barnstable Deeds. It conveyed
to him "AU that our parcel of land lying & being at JVtonamoy at a place commonly
known by the name of Toms Neck bounded by a white oak on the southeast side of said
neck nigh the water side and to the water and from said white oak northwesterly across
said neck to a white wood tree marked on the northerly side of a little swamp that hath
a lresh pond in it aud so on the same range to tbe cove called Toms Cove & so round
said neck by the water both meadow & upland until you come to or against the afore
named white oak tree with all privileges & emunities, wiiys & easements & appurte
nances thereto belonging or any ways appmtaining with nil woods standing or lying
on said bargained premises with privilege of pasturing & feeding fat cattle on the rest
of said neck not yet purchased . "
The deed from Sarah Covell was dated March 10, 1690-1, and was recorded May 6,
1691, in Book 1, folio 65 of said Deeds. It conveyed "all that my parcel of land lying &
being at Monamoy aforesaid known by the name of Toms neck both upland & marsh as
it was granted by the Court of Plymouth aforesaid bounded as followeth, the first bound
is about four or five poles from the mouth of the meadow on the north side of the
Cove caUed Toms Cove & from thence rangeing across the said neck to a rock which
lyeth in the Bay about half tide and so the whole neck of land Is bounded from said
rock round ye neck by the water side until you come to the bound marked first named."
(From certified extracts from the above two deeds given the author by the late Rufus
Smith, Esq.)
Mr. Smith also acquired an interest in a part of Cotchpinicut Neck by a mortgage
dated Aug. 19, 1693, and given by the grandsons of Mattaquason above mentioned. This
mortgage which secured payment of £20, 8s, 6d, was assigned by Mr. Smith on March 6,
1694-5, to Mercy Nickerson, wife of William Nickerson, who foreclosed the same and ac
quired the property . The land therein described is a tracf'lyingand being at a place called
cospinlca in sd Monamoy in ye County of Barnstable aforesaid & bounded as followeth:
that is to say, by ye lands of Thomas Nickerson on ye Southeast & bounded by ye her
ring River on ye Northwest & butting upon ye Bay." The Herring River here men
tioned is undoubtedly Frostflsh Creek. This mortgage is Interesting as showing the
necessity which the people were then under of guarding themselves against the shift
less habits of the Indians. It provides that "if it shall happen that at ye abovesd day
of payment [1. e. two years from date] sd Money Remain unpaid aud ye value of ye
abovesd land then not amounting to ye abovesd sum, that then lt shall be lawful for ye
sd Samuel Smith to seize ye Bodys of ye abovesd Dogglmus, Stephen & Richard and
cause them or any of them to work it out, but tor ye prevention thereof & that the sd
Dogglmus, Stephen and Richard might be ye more likely to Redeem their lands again
do by these presents bind & oblige their selves unto sd Samuel Smith to do him faith
full service, when be shall call them thereto until je abovesd sum of money be paid."
Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 3,297.
By deed dated June 27, 1694, In company with William Nickerson, he purchased of
John Quason Jr., another tract In the easterly part of Monomoit, Nickerson taking one
third part and he two-thirds. (D. H Howes papers.) He died at Eastham March 22,
1696-7, leaving an estate of over 1200 pounds, including over 60 neat cattle, 60 sheep and
a large uumber of horses. His widow, Mary, survived him several years.
Children of Samuel and Mary (Hopkins) Smith : (East Rec.) 1. Samuel, b May 26,
1668; d. Sept. 22, 1692. 2. Mary, b June 3. 1669; ni. Daniel Hamilton of Eastham
about 1693. 3. Joseph b April 10, 1671; d. Sept. 22, 1691. 4. John b May 26, 1673.
6 Grace b Sept. 5, 1676; d. Dec. 1,1691. 6. Rebeckah b Dec. 10, 1678; d. young.

100 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
These new signs of activity and growth in the little com
munity were almost contemporary with another important
event in its history, the annexation of a large territory
along the "South shore," nearly all belonging to the "pur
chasers or old comers" and including the greater part of
the present town of Harwich. The westerly boundary of
the village, since its establishment as a constablewick in
1679, had been the westerly limits of William Nickerson's
purchase. These limits were settled not long after 1675,
pursuant to an order of the Colony Court of that date,53 but
the record of them, if made, has since been lost. The
bounds then fixed were, however, renewed in 1703
and the record of their renewal shows that they were sub
stantially the same as the present bounds between Harwich
and Chatham.64 West of these bounds the territory for a
53. This order reads as foUows: In reference unto the differance between some of
the "purchasers" and William Nicarson about the title of land att Mannamoiett, ex-
biblted to the Court, the one by his petition and the other by theire remonstrance given
into the Court by Thomas Clarke and Jonathan Bangs in tbe behalfe of several others,
tbe Court have appointed Mr. Hinckley, Mr. Gorum, and Jonathan Sparrow to sett the
bounds of theire lands between them, according to the Court's graunt unto tbe freemen
that have interest with the said Nicarson therin ; and that they take speciall regard
that they leave noe vacant lands between theire inhabited lands and the sea or water
and if Mr. Hinckley can not attend to lt Captain Howes to supply his place in lt.
Plym. Col. Rec. V, 171.
That the bounds were fixed pursuant to this order is shown by the following extract
from a statement of the Harwich selectmen made in 1705 : "We desire further to in
form you that when Mona moy did first obtain the privilege of a constablewick [I. e. in
1679J there powers extended noe further then to the bounds settled between them and
tlie propriators" ot what is now Harwich, iland hath been renewed since by both
parties." State Archives. Vol. 118,375.
54. "We hos nams are hereunto subscribed, being chosen and apointed by the pro
prietors of Lands lying within the reserve of the purchasers meet by apointment to
run the range and renew the bounds between the purchasers of Harwich and the pro
priators of M anomol viz : a polne knot drove into the march on the Easterly side of
the read river and so runing northerly lo the head of the swamp where the sd river
ishshous oute and to a poine tree marked on two sides H-M and so runing a longe a
valey, trees marked, and from sdvally to a grasy pond, a polne tree marked on the
Southerly side, and so runing a crose sd pond to a polne tree marked H-M neare and on
the Southerly side of the high waye which leads to the herring river from Manomoick
and from sd poine tree as the way leads to Manomoick unto a white oak tree marked
on tv. o sids on the Sutherly side of the high waye nere land that is in the occupation

EARLIEST YEARS. 101
considerable distance had been under the jurisdiction of
Eastham since 1659.55 The exact line where the authority
of Eastham stopped and that of Yarmouth, its neighbor on
the west, began, was never definitely determined. It,
doubtless, ran from Sauquatuckett River or Stony Brook,
established as the boundary in 1659, south to the "South
Sea." The greater part of the present Harwich east of the
Herring River was, therefore, within the jurisdiction of
Eastham, while Yarmouth claimed authority over the tract
on each side of that river. In 1667, one John Mecoy
obtained a grant of thirty-six acres on or near Coy's Brook,
in the Yarmouth limits, and was a settler there for a num
ber of years.50 Shortly before 1688, Mr. Gershom Hall
and his son Samuel settled on or near Me-
coy's grant, on a tract lying between Coy's Brook
and Herring River.57 They came from that part of
Yarmouth, now Dennis, and continued to pay their "rates"
to that towD. No settlement appears to have been made
in that part of Harwich which was under the jurisdiction of
Eastham till after 1691, when the jurisdiction of Monomoit
was extended over it. Mr. Gershom Hall was a man of
superior gifts and intelligence, although not college bred.
He was a zealous religious leader and, after the death of
William Nickerson Sen., may have been called upon by
the settlers at Monomoit to lead their Sabbath services. At
of Joseph Nickorson and from sd tree easterly to the Muddle Cove a stake stuck in the
march on the Westerly side of sd river.
May 28, 1703. Jonathan Bangs
Stephen Hopkins
A true Copy taken • Thomas Freeman
out of the Book of William Nickorson
reckords of Harwich the mark of X
June 25, 1703. Nathanl CoveU
Thomas Freeman Thomas Nickorson"
Town Clerk.
(State Archives, Vol. 113.)
55. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 165.
66. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 159.
57 . Deyo's History of Barnstable Co . , 835 .

102 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
all events he came into close relations with the Monomoit
people, and it was considered to be of mutual advantage
that this outlying Hall settlement should be added to that
place. Accordingly, in February, 1691, the following peti
tion was presented to the Plymouth Court.
"To the Hond. Generall Court of Plymouth.
The Humble Petition of ye Inhabitants of ye Village of Monamoy.
Whereas we being settled, upon a neck of Land not large enough for
to accomodate People enough for to carry on affairs as in other towns,
And there being severall families settled along the sea side Between us
and the Herring river which are desirous to belong to us, they being
very remote from other towns and near to us.
We do humbly request of ye Honoured Court for to take it into their
Consideration that if it may be Granted our Constablerick may extend
as far as the Herring river so that we may be in a capacity to go on with
affairs in an orderly way as in other towns. * * * *
We rest your Humble Petitioners whose names are. underwritten In
the Behalf of ye Town. ( ?)
Monamoy ye llth of Feb. 1690 [-1]. Nicholas Eldredge
William Griffith
Hugh Stewart
William Mitchell."68
This petition was acted upon by the Court on the same
day it was presented, as appears by the following copy of
the original decree :59
"At a Generall Court att Plimouth ye llth of February 1690 [-1].
In answer to ye petition of ye Inhabitants of Monamoy for enlarge
ment of the Bounds of their Constablerick, It is granted by this Court
that the Constablerick of the Village of Monamoy shall extend from the
head of the Muddy Cove along the Cart way to the Herring Kiver,
which is the bounds between said Monamoy and Yarmouth and Eastliam
for the present till the Court see cause to alter it, onely the rates already
made to be paid to the constable of Yarmouth ; and they have power to
collect and gather ye same notwithstanding said grant.'-60
58. State Archives, Vol. 113.
59 In the Colony Record this decree is inserted among the orders passed in March,
1691, but the above copy shows that this must have been a mistake and that the decree
was actually passed in February.
60 . State Archives, Vol . 113 .

EARLIEST YEARS.

103

The territory thereby added to Monomoit equalled, if
not exceeded, in area the original limits of the constable
wick, as the accompanying sketch shows.

* Rouen Skctch «*
• rv\onr onr\ £,, j-

At the same time that the foregoing order was passed,
liberty was granted " to the inhabitants of the vilage of
Monamoy to chuse and send a deputy to the Generall
Courts that shall hereafter be in this Colony," and in the
following spring Mr. Gershom Hall was elected as the
first deputy from the village.61 He was, also, the only one
chosen under the Plymouth Colony, inasmuch as early in
1692 the consolidation with the Colony of Massachusetts
Bay took place. Monomoit had now attained nearly all
the privileges of a town, but it was not incorporated as
such, because it could not yet support a settled minister.
There is no doubt that from 1691, if not earlier, it exercised
all the functions of a town, choosing a full set of town
officers, &c.
The number of settlers at the time the place became a
61. Plym. Col. Rec. VI. 256. It is said that Mr. Hall did not actually attend.

104 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
part of the Bay Colony can be only roughly estimated
The following heads of families then resided there without
much doubt: William Cahoon, Mrs. Sarah Covell, Nicho
las Eldredge, Robert Eldredge, William Eldredge, Joseph
Eldredge, Samuel Eldredge, George Godfrey, Jr., William
Griffith, Gershom Hall, Samuel Hall, Tristram Hedges, Caleb
Lumbert, William Mitchell, Robert Nickerson, Robert
Nickerson, Jr., Samuel Nickerson, John Nickerson, William
Nickerson, Joseph Nickerson, Hugh Stewart, Edward
Small, John Taylor, Nathaniel Tomlon. There may have
been a few others.02 Reckoning each family as containing
seven persons, the population would be about 150 persons.
It probably did not exceed 200.
During this early period there was, as we have seen, no
settled minister. Public schools, were, also, unknown.
The Colony law required parents to see that their children
were taught to read, to know the fundamental laws and the
grounds of religion and that they be trained for some
calling, but places having less than 50 families were not
required to support a school. In fact, the provisions made
for the mental and spiritual welfare of the Indians at this
period appear to have been greater than those made for the
English settlers. At an early period Mr. Richard Bourne
had interested himself in the Cape Indians, had mastered
their language and in August, 1670, was ordained pastor of
an Indian church at Mashpee, which he had organized.
His report of the Cape Indians, made in 1674, shows that
at Monomoit there were then 71 praying Indians,, of whom
29 could read their own language, 15 could write it and
one could read English."3 This result must have been due
wholly to Mr. Bourne's efforts. He was their general
adviser and friend in these early days.
62. Abraham Johnson, James Maker, John Paddock and David Melville were early
land owners there. Johnson and Paddock may have been residents.
63. Mass. Hist. Coll. (1st series) 1.

EARLIEST YEARS. 105
Soon after the settlement of Rev. Samuel Treat at East
ham in March 1675, the care of tho Indian souls in the lower
part of the Cape was surrendered to him and Mr. Bourne's
ministrations were less frequent. Mr. Treat entered upon
the work with zeal, mastered the Indian language and
translated the Confession of Faith into the Nauset dialect.
In 1685, the number of praying Indians at Monomoit was
reported by Governor Hinckley as increased to 115.
Indian Nicholas, sometimes called Indian Nick, was their
teacher."4 At an early date, through the efforts of Mr.
Treat, a meeting-house was erected for their benefit, where
they regularly assembled for instruction and worship. It
stood on the south side of the road to Harwich, a little east
of the late East Harwich parsonage. The Society for
Propagating the Gospel in New England, doubtless assisted
in its erection. It also paid the salaries of the English and
native Indian teachers.
The work accomplished by Mr. Treat is reported by him
in 1693 as follows: "There are 505 adult persons of
Indians within the limits of our township, [Mr. Treat
doubtless intends to include in this estimate all the Indians
in the easterly portion of the Cape],"5 into whom these
many years past,66 1 have from time to time imparted the
gospel of our Lord Jesus in their own language (and I
truly hope not without success) and yet I continue in the
same service earnestly imploring, and not without hopes,
expecting and waiting for a more plentiful downpouring of
the spirit from on high among them, and I verily do not
know of nor can I learn that there is so much as one of
these five hundred Indians that does obstinately absent
them from, but do jointly frequent and attend on the
preaching of the word and countenance of the same, &c.
64. Mass. Hist Coll. (1st series) II.
65. It should be remembered that Eastham at the date of this report extended south
to Monomoit village or constablewick.
66 . From 15 to 20 years .

106 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
They have four distinct assemblies in four villages belong
ing to our township, in which four assemblies they have
four teachers of their own choice, of the more sober well-
affected and understanding persons among them, who duly
preach to them, when I am not with them; these Indian
teachers repair to my house once a week to be further
instructed (pro modulo meo) in the concernments proper to
their station.
There are in the four abovesaid villages four school
masters (of the best accomplished for that service) who
teach their youth to read and write their own language.
There are also six justices of the peace (or magistrates)
in the four abovesaid villages who regulate their civil affairs
and punish criminals and transgressors of the civil law ;67
they have their stated Courts and other inferior officers in a
subserviency to their civil good order. There are
among them many of a serious, sober civilized con
versation and deportment who are making essays
towards a further progressive step of obedience and con
formity to the rules of the Gospels, viz : an "ecclesiastical
combination," having a great desire to be baptized. They
are very serviceable by their labour to the English
vicinity and have all along since our wars with their nation
been very friendly to the English and forward to serve them
in that quarrel. Their deportment and converse and garb
being more manly and laudable than any other Indians that
I have observed in the province."68
This report is somewhat highly colored, but it is,
indeed, true that the Indians of Cape Cod and vicinity were
exceptional in their docility and tractability.
67. These Indians Courts were feeble institutions under the tutelage of the English
Courts. They did not long survive.
68. Letter to Rev. Increase Mather dated August 23, 1693, in Mather's Magnalia.

History of Chatham
Massachusetts

Formerly the Constablewick or Village
of Monomoit

WITH MAPS ANP ILLUSTRATIONS
AND NUMEROUS GENEALOGICAL NOTES

By
WILLIAM C. SMITH.

PART II
(Completing the history of Monomoit.)

HYANNIS, MASS. ';> \
F. B. & F. P. Goss, Publishers
1913

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This interesting sketch, without date, bears every evidence of being
drawn to accompany the petition of Monomoit in 1691 for enlargement
of its boundaries. (See page 102.) As a sketch of Monomoit proper,
it is inaccurate, but it shows passably well the territory added in 1691.'
I am indebted to Mr. Edward L. Smith of Boston for the photograph
of the original in the State Archives, from which this cut is made.

CHAPTER vii.

THE EARLY SETTLERS.
(~\F the early settlers of Monomoit outside of the
^^ William Nickerson family, the first was probably
John Downing. It is likely that he came from Yarmouth.
Together with Nicholas Eldredge, son of Eobert, he was a
witness to the deeds of William Nickerson, Sen., to his
children in February, 1674, and it is probable that he was then
occupying the farm at the " Oyster Pond furlong " which he
bought of Nickerson, lying just west of the Eobert Eldredge
farm. The Downing farm comprised 60 acres, extending from
the highway, (then a cartway through gates and bars) to the
Oyster Pond river. It was bounded "Northwest by ye
highway, Southwest by a Great Bock & a Creek that
runeth to ye Oyster Pond Eiver, Southeast by ye sd Eiver
and Northeast by a ditch of Eobert Eldredge & a line rang
ing from ye sd ditch to ye aforesd highway."1 The great
rock and creek can be seen to-day. The farm late of James
Eldredge is on this location. Not long prior to 1686
Downing sold to Elisha Hedge of Yarmouth, a real estate
trader of that day, and removed, it is believed, to the
northwest side of Pleasant Bay. He died before 1702, 2
leaving sons John, Joseph, Benjamin and perhaps Eobert.
1. Seed from Elisha Hedge to Nicholas Eldredge dated March 22, 1686-6. (Certified
copy In M. L. Luce papers.) For the approximate location of the farms described In
this chapter see the map at the end of the chapter.
2. Deed from William Nickerson et al to Michael Stewart, dated Oct. 12, 1702. (Cer
tified copy in M. L. Luce papers.)
-0)-

108 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Neither his estate nor those of his children were settled iu
the Probate Court.8
Teague Jones came first to Yarmouth soon after its settle
ment, being then a young man. In 1645 he was one of
five men sent out by the town as its quota for the expedi
tion against the Narragansett Indians. They set out
August 23 and returned September 2.4 According to the
public records, he was not altogether a desirable citizen.
In 1653 he and Eichard Berry were ordered "to part their
uncivil living together."5 In 1655 he had a dispute with
an Indian, Mashantampaine, about a gun, which the Court
ordered to be restored to the Indian.6 In 1667 he was
complained against for not coming to meeting.' His fond
ness for strong drink, also, caused him trouble with the
authorities.8 He was living in 1667, or about that time, in
the south part of Yarmouth in a house on the west side of

8. For genealogical Information about this family see the following deed: "Samuel
Ellis of Harwich in the County of Barnstable in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay
in New England & Mary his wife of the sd Sami Ellis, Datr of Joseph Downing Decd
which sd Joseph Downing left only the sd Mary Ellis & the now widow Eliza Nlckason
& no other Children & the sd decd Joseph Downing having two Brothers, namely, John
Downing and Benjamin Downing which his sd two Brothers both Died without Issue all
which sd Joseph Downing John Downing & Benja Downing were Soldiers in the Narra
ganset Indian Wars & for that Service have each ones Heirs a Right or Share ot Land
granted by the Genrl Court of the Massachtts Bay in that Township laid out to sd Nar
raganset Soldiers called Gorham Town, being the Seventh Township, being in the
County of York in the Province above sd; there Is only the sd Mary Ellis & Eliza
Nlckason are the next Heirs Apparent to sd Joseph Downing & John Downing & Benja
Downing and the sd Samuel Ellis & Mary Ellis having Direction from the sd Eliza
Nickason so to Do," convey to Joshua Bangs of Falmouth in the County of York In the
Province abovesd Gentl, by deed dated July 10, 1739, "all the Three Shares Laid out or
granted to be Laid out in sd Township to the Names of the sd Joseph Downing John
Dowlng & Benja Dowlng, which Is to each of sd Names one hundred & twentieth part
of the Lands In sd Township." Consideration, twenty pounds. Witnesses, John Wing
Junr, Jonathan Bangs Junr. Recorded Apr. 6, 1740. York Co. (Me.) Deeds XXII, 88.
In a deed from John SIpson, Indian, to his son, Amos, dated April 3, 1708, conveying
land at "Potonumecot" (So. Orleans), one of the boundaries is "by ye land of Robert
Downing." (Josiah Paine papers.) This may have been another son of John, Sen,
who died without issue.
4. Plym. Col. Rec. II, 91.
. Rec. Ill, 37.
Rec. Ill, 88, 90.
. Rec. IV, 153.
. Rec. Ill, 200; IV, 29; V, 254.

6.

Plym.

Col

6.

Plym.

Col.

7.

Plym.

Col

8.

Plym.

Col

EARLY SETTLERS. 109
Bass river, near Stage Island, where he had a farm.9 By
deed dated February 14, 1673-4, he bought of William
Nickerson, Sen., a farm at Monomoit, bounded north by
the White pond and land of John Nickerson and east by
"the highway that leads into the Inlands." It was in a
locality which the Indians called Ockpeset or Ockepset. By
the same deed he obtained six acres of upland at the
Oyster Pond furlong, two acres of meadow at the head of
the Oyster pond, two acres more on the south side of the
Oyster pond and thirty acres of meadow at Gregory's Neck,
being the neck at the east side of Taylor's pond, South
Chatham.10 By deed dated December 27, 1675, he added
to the above farm a tract of five acres on the east side of it,
lying between a pond and the highway and bounding east
on land of Edward Cottle.11 This lot was evidently in the
vicinity of the Kendrick and Flynn houses, West Chatham.
He lived several years at Monomoit, selling out before
1686, possibly before 1683, to Mr. Elisha Hedge,12 and
9. Testimony of John Chase, Conn. Quarterly, (1897) 359.
10. The detailed description of this farm is worth preserving. Upland, "several
acres [probably 30 or more] bounded northly by ye Lands of John Nickerson & partly
by ye Pond Caled ye White pond & Rangeth from an Oak tree marked one four sids
(which Is ye Bound mark tree between John Nickerson & itt) toward ye South East to
a markt pine tree that stands near a pond & thence Rangeth Westerly by ye sd pond
throw a Swamp to a markt tree standing by the highway thatt Leads into ye Inlands &
thence Westerly through a Swamp to a place where ye Glnerall fence formerly stood,
which Is near to ye hed of ye aforesd White pond & persell thereof att a place caled ye
Oyster pond furlong Containing six accors, be Itt more or less, Bounded Westerly by ye
lands of Trustom Hedges, Easterly by ye lands of Nathaniel Covlll, Northerly by ye Way
Laid outt at ye head of ye Lotts & Southerly by ye Creek Where [lt] corns out of ye sd
Oyster pond.— Meadow, two acres "att ye hed of ye sd Oyster pond Bounded northerle by
ye upland & Southerle by a Swamp."— Meadow, two acres, "yt Lyes att ye Great Neck att
ye Lower End of ye sd Oyster pond one ye South side thereof. "—Meadow, "several acres
[30 acres in fact; see settlement of estate of Nicholas Eldred] Lying att Masapoksett
one ye Weaste End of a neck of  caled Greegorles Neck from ye Beach to ye
Creek yt Runs Southerle out of ye pond Commonly Caled ye Little Oyster pond & Is
Bounded by sd crick as Itt Runs into ye Sea." M. L. Luce papers.
11. "All yt parcell of land lying by a frech pondes side next to his [Jones] lote called
ockepeaset, the pond is his northerly bounds and ye highway ls his southerly bounds
and his easterly bounds is a crose fence that Ranges from the bares to the ponde, that
fence devld between the lote that Edward Cottell bought of me [William Nickerson] & ye
Westerly bounds Ranges by ye highway untell it corns up square with teage Jones fold
fence which ls the bound mark of Ockpeakett lote." M. L. Luce papers.
12. Deed from Elisha Hedge to Nicholas Eldredge dated March 22, 1685-6. M. L.
Luce papers.

iio HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
returning to Yarmouth, where he was living as late as 169L
He died before 1702. 13 There is no settlement of his estate
and no record of his family. By deed dated May 29, 1691,
he conveyed his farm on the west side of Bass river, where
he lived before coming to Monomoit, to his son Jeremiah,
who was then occupying it.14 Josiah Jones, doubtless his
son, and Joseph Eldredge, son of Eobert, then owned
farms adjoining.15
Thomas Crow or Crowell, born about 1645, was the son
of John and Elishua Crow, one of the earliest settlers of
Yarmouth. He probably married and lived for a time in
Yarmouth, but there is no record of his children there. By
deed dated February 14, 1673-4, he bought of the proprie
tor of Monomoit a tract adjoining and north of Cockle
Cove, (Buck's Creek), the locality being called Seaquanset
by the Indians. His land extended . north to the highway
(now the State highway to Harwich) and lay on the east
side of a cartway from the highway to the meadow of
Joseph Nickerson at said Cove and to the marsh of Tris
tram Hedges south of it at Eagged Neck. Mr. Crow
erected a " dwelling house " on the east side of this cart
way. He also bought at the same time a lot of meadow at
Matchpoxett (Eed Eiver Neck) west of and near Taylor's
pond.16 This property he sold by deed dkted August 13,
13. See deed from William Nickerson et al to Michael Stewart dated October 12,
1702. M. L. Luce papers.
14. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 9838.
15. Children of Teague Jones and  : 1. Jeremiah, b. before 1650, m, 1st
 , 2nd widow Elizabeth Hall, Apr. 27, 1699, (Yar. Rec.) He died Nov. 4, 1705, and
administration was granted on his estate Jan. 3, 1705-6, to his son John. His widow
died June 17, 1714. Children of Jeremiah (according to Freeman's History of Cape
Cod): John, Elizabeth, Sarah, Hannah. Rebecca. 2. Josiah, b  , m. Elizabeth
Berry, daughter of Richard. Nov. 28. 1677. (Yar. Rec.) 3 Quite probably, Elizabeth,
who married Joseph Eldredge, son of Robert. 4. Piobably other children unknown.
16. "Beginning at ye East End at a dead Stump standing on ye side of a high bank
njar to Robert Eldred's meadow & thence ranging Northerly per markt trees to a pine
tree markt on four sides standing by a way side and thence ranging westerly as ye
highway goes to ye Marsh and hounded Southerly by a Cove of water, Containing also
all that meadow lying against lt, bounded on ye one side by ye meadow of Robert El
dred's & on ye other side by ye meadow of Trustrum Hedges lying at a place commonly
called by ye Indians Seaquansit at sd Manamoyet. And one Deel of meadow at a place
there called Maspnxkeet on ye Wester side ot a river which runs out ot a pond Called ye
little oyster pond & from thence westerly to ye first Creek & is bounded by ye sd Creek
as lt runs Into the main Creek." M. L. Luce papers.

EARLY SETTLERS. Ill
1683, to Hugh Stewart of Yarmouth and removed to the
latter place, locating near Bass pond.17 Ho died March 9,
1689-90, aged 45 years.18 There was another Thomas
Crow of Yarmouth, a son of Yelverton Crow. His chil
dren are recorded on the Yarmouth records, as being born
between 1685 and 1700, showing that he was probably not
married till about 1683, and making it altogether unlikely
that he was the one who bought land and erected buildings
and ran a farm at Monomoit ten 'years before that date.
On March 15, 1689-90, an inventory of the estate of
Thomas Crow, son of John, was taken by Jeremiah Jones
and Isaac Chase, both of Yarmouth, and on April 18
following the eldest son John and his brother Thomas,
agreed upon a settlement of the estate between them, un
dertaking to maintain their mother, Agnes, as long as she
should remain a widow.19 No mention is made of any
other children.20
Edward Cottle, son of Edward Cottle of Salisbury, Eng.,
and brother of William Cottle of Newbury, Mass., was a
resident of that part of Salisbury, Mass., later Amesbury,
from about 1650 to 1668 or 1669, when, having had two
houses burned, the last one by the Indians, he removed
with others to Nantucket, where he was living as late as
September, 1675. He was a land owner at Monomoit in
December of that year.21 He had land on the east side of
the Great Hill,22 and on the north side of the highway near
Doane's corner, West Chatham, adjoining land of Teague
Jones.23 In March, 1677-8, he and his wife were engaged
17. M. L. Luce papers.
18. Crowell Genealogy ; Barnstable Probate Becords.
19. Barnstable Probate Records; 11 Mayflower Descendant 26
20. Children of Thomas and Agnes Crow or Crowell : 1. Johnb.  , m. Sarah
O'Killey, dau. of David of Yarmouth, about 1689. 2. Thomas, b.  , m. Elizabeth
Jones, dau. of Jeremiah of Yarmouth, about 1690.
21. Note 11 supra.
22. Deed from William Nickerson to Nathaniel Covell. Plym. Col. Deeds, IV, 172.
23. Note 11 supra.

112 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
in some quarrel with members of the Nickerson family.24
He sold out about 1685 and removed to Martha's Vine
yard, where he was living as late as 1710. He died before
June, 1712.25 He has descendants still living on the
island.26 John Savage. The following appears upon the Nan
tucket records : "1672-5-4 The Town hath granted unto
John Savidge Ten akers of land to build upon and com
monage for Three Cows, Twenty Sheepe and one horse, as
also Liberty of wood for firing and fencing stuf, and any
stuf for his Trad (his house lot is to be in the most con
venient place that is common) on condition that he build
and Inhabit on this Hand before the first of March next and
not depart by removing for the space of Thre years and
also to Follow his Trade of a Cooper upon this Hand as the
Town or whale company shal have need to Imploy him —
his commonage is granted for so long time as he stay
heere." This offer was accepted, but it seems that he did
not remain the full term. By deed dated January 8,
1674-5, he sold his house and land to an Indian, Jacob the
Weaver,27 and next appears at Monomoit. By deed dated
24. Plym. Col. Rec. V, 253, 254-.
25. Tlsbury Town Records.
26. "I, ye said Edward Cottle, obtained amongst other lands In said Amesbury a
tract of land called ye Lyon's Mouth, being a neck of lands * * * & built & erected a
sufficient house & said lands possessed many years peaceably, which house being provi
dentially burnt with my goods, I, then built a small house att a place called Jamaica
[W. Amesbury] within ye same township, wch being burnt by the Indians & not being
so able in estate as some other of my associates In said parts was necessitated to try
what success I might have by removing to ye Southward part of New England, hoping
ye Eastern parts might obtain a settled peace that I might then return to my Inherit
ance again, but matters occurring contrary, I purchased a small settlement at ye Town
of Tisbury in Dukes County & now being grown aged and out of hope of ever returning."
Extract from deed dated 1710, Essex County Deeds XXII, 201.
Children of Edward and Judith Cottle: 1. Edward, b. Jan. 17, 1651-2, d. June 15,
1668; 2. Mary, b. Nov. 1,<1653, probably m. Samuel Blckford; 3. Benjamin, b. Nov.
2, 1656, d. before 1710; 4. Sarah, b. Mar., 1657; 5. Judith, b. Mar. 25, 1659, d. young;
6. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 19,'1663 (In 1670 she was to live with Thomas Barnett Sen. of
Amesbury till 18 years of age) ; 7. Edward, b. Sept. 28, 1666 (eldest son In 1710 and
living inJEdgartown) ; 8. Judith, b. at Nantucket Apr. 13, 1670; 9. Lydia, b. at Nan
tucket May 17, 1672; 10. Ann, b. at Nantucket]Mar. 3, 1674; 11, John, b. at Nantucket
Sept. 7, 1675; 12, James, probably b. at Monomoit, living at Chilmark in 1709.
27. Nantucket Deeds.II, 11.

EARLY SETTLERS. 113
September 18, 1677, he bought a farm of William Nicker
son Sen, comprising sixty acres of upland and six acres of
marsh. Of the sixty acres twenty formed a neck of upland
"bounded partely by the herring brooke and partely by
the marsh on the North and by a little brooke which issues
out of the swamp on the south and devides between it and
land of William Nickerson Junr and by the highway on
the east." The remaining forty acres, being upland and
swamp, " bounded easterly by the aforsaid highway, West
erly by the lands of Trustrum hedgis, Southerly by the
lands of Nathaniel Covell and Northerly by the lands of
Eobert Nickerson." The marsh land adjoined the "Easter-
most bounds of the said necke of upland " and was bounded
" Easterly by a cove of salt water and northerly by the
marsh of Nathaniel Covell according to the known bound
aries thereof and southerly by the aforsaid brooke."28 Mr.
Savage was constable in 1681 and was living at Monomoit
as late as 1683. 29 He sold to Mr. Samuel Smith of Eastham
before 169030 and removed to Pamet (Truro), where he
was one of the earliest proprietors. His will, dated August
21, 1708, was proved October 6, 1708. His wife Katherine
survived him.31
Ensign Hugh Stuard or Stewart was of Yarmouth as
early as 1674, where he settled the estate of Thomas
Phelps or Phillips.32 From a tax levied in 1676 to defray
the expense of the Indian War, it appears that he was the
fourth largest tax payer in the town.83 He purchased of
Thomas Crow, by deed dated August 13, 1683, the farm of
28. Plym. Col. Deeds IV, 309.
29. Plym. Col. Deeds V, 508.
30. See estate of Samuel Smith, Barnstable Probate Records.
31. Children of John and Katharine Savage: 1. Susanna, b. at Nantucket Mar.
23,1673, m. Beriah Smith of Eastham June 16, 1702, (East. Rec); 2. John, b. at
Nantucket June 24, 1674, (not mentioned In his father's will), 3. Ebenezer, b. at Mono.
molt, in. JoannaNewcome of Eastham Mar. 30, 1703, (East. Rec.) i. Jonathan, b. at
Monomoit, mentioned in the will. I find no trace of him.
82. Plym. Col. Rec. V, 163, 273.
33. Freeman, History of Cape Cod, II, 195.

114 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
the latter at Seaquanset, with the dwelling house and other
buildings erected by Crow thereon, and removed thither
soon after.34 Seven years later, by deed dated September
8, 1690, he purchased of Sarah Covell, widow, a tract west
of and adjoining his other land, having bargained for the
same with William Nickerson Sen. before his decease.35 He
was constable in 1685, took the oath of freeman in 1690,
was selectman in 1699 and held other local offices. He
was also one of the first members of the church in Mono
moit. His will, dated March 5, 17 10-11 , was proved January
25, 1715-16. He describes himself therein as being "well
stricken in years," and gives his property after the decease
of his widow Wait, to his three sons Joseph, Ebenezer and
Samuel (his eldest son, Michael, having had his share),
they paying legacies to their sisters Temperance, Katharine
Nickerson, Joanna, Marcy Hall and their niece, Lydia
Covell.36 34. M. L. Luce papers. See note 16 supra.
35. "Ye first bounds is right against ye said Hugh Stewart's House where ye Cartway
which goeth from sd Hugh Stewarts which goeth into ye woods Crosseth ye Cartway
which goeth to Joseph Nickersons meadow above sd & so ranging by ye said Cartway
side Northwest or thereabouts to ye head of ye Swamp which je little brook runeth out
of which runeth into Joseph Nlckerson's meadow to a pine tree standing at ye head of
sd Swamp, and from ye sd tree ranging through ye sd Swamp by ye sd brook side till yon
Come to Joseph Nlckerson's marsh & so along by ye side of ye sd marsh to Trustrum
Hedges meadow & so ranging Easterly or thereabouts by sd Hedges meadow till you
come to ye bounds of ye lands which is sd Hugh Stewarts which was bought before &
from thence to ye first bounds above mentioned" along the cartway to the meadow,
(M. L. Luce papers )
36. Children of Hugh and Wait Stuard or Stewart (order uncertain) : 1 . Michael, b.
 , m. Mary  about 1702. 2. Lydia, b.  , m. Joseph Covell, son of Nathan
iel, about 1700, died before 1704. 3. Temperance, b.  , (single In 1711). 4.
Katherine, b.  , m. Nathaniel Nickerson, son of William, Jr., May 13, 1702, (Yar.
Rec.) 6. Joanna, b.  (single In 1711). 6. Joseph, b  , m. Mary 
about 1712. 7. Ebenezer, b.  . m. Ruth Higgins of East. Oct. 11, 1716,
(East. Rec.) 8. Marcy, b.  , m. Edward Hall, son of Gershom, of Harwich, died
in 1717. 9. Samuel, b.  , m. 1st Deborah Lothrop, probably dau. of Thomas
of Barnstable, Nov. 21, 1721, (Chat. Rec.),m. 2nd Elizabeth Howes, dau. of Thomas of
Chatham. 10. Probably John, b.  ,m. Elizabeth  . (He is not mentioned In his
father's will, but appears later as part owner, with Joseph and Samuel, of the Stewart
farm). N B. There is a record, partly obliterated, of this family in the Yarmouth
records, from which it appears that there was a son James, b. Feb. 11, 167[2], some
child, name lost, b. Feb. 11, 1674, and another child, name lost, b. May 2, 1677. A James
Stewart from this part of the Cape was with Sir Wm. Phipps on the Canada Expedi
tion In 1690, but I find no other mention of him. (See page 97 supra) . The name of
Ensign Stuard's wife is doubtless a short form for Waitstlll, a name not uncommon for
both sexes.

EARLY SETTLERS. 115
Caleb Lumber! or Lombard, son of Thomas and Joyce Lum-
bert of Barnstable, was born not long before 1636. He was ad
mitted a freeman of the Colony in 165737 and an inhabitant
of Barnstable in 1662. 38 On the death of his father he and
his mother came into possession of the homestead at Barn
stable. He was appointed March 7, 1664-5, with his
brother Jedediah and the widow, to settle his father's
estate.89 Certain entries in the Colony records of that time
indicate that he possessed rather a fiery temper, which got
him into trouble with his neighbors.40 He was a soldier in
King Philips war, 1675. From the Barnstable records
it appears that at one time he bought a few acres of
the Indians illegally, in behalf of his mother. The town
authorities offered to allow her one-half, but she refused
and a contest ensued. He is on the list of inhabitants of
Barnstable in 1677 and was represented as owning land
there in 1681.41 He was appointed with Joseph Kent as
guardian of Joseph Cahoon in 1681. 42 Soon after this he
bought at Monomoit a farm of 40 acres, "being two shares
of land " at that place, and removed thither. The exact
location of this farm is unknown. It was stated on page
90 of this book that Mr. Lumbert settled probably in Bed
Eiver neck, but evidence recently discovered shows that
it was his son, Caleb, who settled there.43 In December,
1686, he exchanged his Monomoit farm for a large tract at
the " South Sea," so called, (now Harwichport) belonging
to Old Humphry and Zachariah, his son, Indians.44 This
was probably an illegal purchase, but no action was taken
against him. By deed dated April 8, 1687, he sold one-
37. Plym. Col. Rec. VIII, 179.
38. Barnstable Town Records.
39. Plym. Col. Rec. IV, 81.
40. Plym. Col. Rec. V, 16; III, 199.
41. Barnstable Town Records.
42 Plym. Col. Rec. VI, 169.
43. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 19259 ; Osborn Nickerson papers.
44. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 8436.

116 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
half interest in this farm to Joseph Severance of Yarmouth46
and the remaining one-half interest was acquired by Manoah
Ellis of Sandwich. The Indians removed to Monomoit.
It is not known when Mr. Lumbert died nor is there any
list of his children.46
William Grefeth or Griffith appears first as a resident of
Sandwich where he assisted in settling the estate of Edward
Dillingham in 1667. He then purchased of Gov. Thomas
Prince one-half of the corn mill on the Sauquatuckett river
(West Brewster), removed thither and became the miller.
He lived on the west side of the river. He sold his place,
together with his interest in the mill, to Thomas Clark in
1677. 47 In 1678 he owned land on thewest side of Herring
river (West Harwich.)48 He was an appraiser of the
estate of Eichard Berry of Yarmouth in 1681 and of tjie
estate of Nicholas Nickerson of Yarmouth in 1682. Before
1685 he bought a farm of forty acres at Monomoit, lying
on each side of the highway leading to the "inlands" and
not far from "the Indian bounds." That part on the north
side of the highway, containing thirty acres, where he built
his house, was purchased of William Nickerson, Sen. ;
that on the south side containing ten acres, of James Maker,
a land owner, but bot a resident, in Monomoit. Together
with his son Philip, he bought a twenty acre lot on the
Great Neck, called the 4th lot, and he also had two acres of
meadow on the south side of the Oyster Pond.49 In 1685
he was sued for cutting wood at the Oyster Pond furlong
and paid damages therefor to John Nickerson, whose lot at
45. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 144,324.
46. Children of Caleb and  Lumbert or Lombard: 1. Caleb, b.  , m.
Elizabeth Small or Smalley, daughter of Edward, Sept. 1, 1704, (East. Rec.) 2. Deliver
ance, (probably) b.  , m. Ensign William Nickerson (William 2, William 1)
about 1700. 3. Probably other daughters unknown.
47. Mr. Josiah Paine in Deyo, History of Barnstable Co., 896.
48. Plym. Col. Deeds.
49. Deed from William Griffith to Thomas Howes dated April 8, 1703. M. L. Luce
papers.

EARLY SETTLERS. 117
the furlong doubtless adjoined the south side of Griffith's
farm, — the usual boundary line dispute.60 This
property he disposed of by deed dated April 8,
1703, to Thomas Howes of Yarmouth, son of Joseph.61
The house and farm appear to have been located in the
Christopher Smith neighborhood. Mr. Griffith owned a
share in the first Monomoit meeting house, which he also
sold to Mr. Howes. It is not known where Mr. Griffith
went after this sale. James Griffith, doubtless a son, re
mained at Monomoit and another son, Stephen, settled at
Harwich.62 Eobert Eldred or Eldredge, as a youth or young man,
entered into a contract of service with Nicholas Simpkins
of Yarmouth for a period of three years from July, 1639.
This was in accordance with the custom of that time. On
May 25, 1639, before the term began, Simpkins assigned
this contract, with the consent of Eldred, to Mr. Thomas
Prence of Plymouth, the latter to pay him four pounds per
annum and an ewe goat at the end of his term, as agreed
by Simpkins, and ten shillings more claimed by Eldred,
provided his claim should be established.63 In August,
1643, Eldred was in the list of inhabitants of Plymouth
able to bear arms.64 On March 3, 1644-5, he was both
plaintiff and defendant in suits with persons residing at
Plymouth.56 Not long after this he came to Yarmouth,
where he married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of William
Nickerson, the last week of October, 1649. M In March,
b0. Plym. Col. Rec. , VII, 288, 289.
51. M. L. Luce papers.
52. Children of William and  Grefeth or Griffith (order uncertain) : 1.
Philip, b.  , m.  . 2. William, b.  , m.  . 3. James, b.  ,
m. Mercy (Nickerson) Mitchell, widow of William, prior to 1709 (see settlement of estate
of said William). 4. Stephen, b.  , m. Apr. 13, 1699. Rebecca Rider, dau. of
Joseph of Yarmouth (Yar. Rec.) and lived in Harwich (now Brewster) . 6. Daughters
not known.
63. Plym. Col. Rec. 1, 122.
54. Plym. Col. Rec. VIII, 187.
65. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 39.
56. Plym. Col. Rec. Yin, 10.

118 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
1652-3, he was engaged in a law suit with Edward Sturgis
of Yarmouth.6' He was constable there in 1657.68 In May,
1659, he received pay for services in testifying and pro
curing testimony in the case of William Nickerson vs.
Edward Sturgis.69 He owned a farm at Little Bass pond
near his father-in-law, consisting of 70 acres of upland ahd
20 acres of meadow, which he sold by deed dated February
25, 1666-7, to Samuel Hall of Yarmouth.60 His wife
Elizabeth, by deed dated January 15, 1661-2, received
from her father a grant of 40 acres of upland and 10 acres
of meadow at Monomoit.61 He appears to have moved
from Yarmouth and settled on this farm at least as early as
1666, when he was sued in trespass "for unjust possession
and improvement" of it,62 and probably a year or
two before that date. The ten acres of meadow
were located at West Chatham on the north side of the
creek which is just below the house of Eichard Young.
Twenty acres of the upland appear to have been laid out on
the west side of the Great Hill, and the remaining twenty
acres (where the house was built) were along the Oyster
Pond river at the Oyster Pond furlong so called and east
of John Downing's land.63
His difficulties on account of the Monomoit lands have
been set forth in a preceding chapter. He died shortly
before January 18, 1682-3, when the inventory of his
estate, amounting to 316 pounds, was taken.64 His widow
Elizabeth and son Nicholas were appointed administrators
March 9, 1682-3. 66 Inasmuch as this is the first inventory
57. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 63.
58. Plym. Col. Rec. VIII, 185.
59. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 92.
60. Plym. Col. Deeds III, 332.
61 . Note 28, page 62 supra .
62. Page 71 supra; Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 132.
63. Deeds to Thomas Crow, Tristram Hedges and John Downing, found elsewhere In
this chapter; Barnstable Probate Records II, 216; Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 288, 289.
64. Plym. Col. Wills, IV (pt 2) 25.
65. Plym. Col. Rec. VI, 104.

EARLY SETTLERS. 119
on record of any Monomoit settler, a brief statement of
what it contained will give the reader a good idea how the
average citizen of that early day lived. His live stock con
sisted of 2 horses, 20 cows, 2 steers, one pair of oxen, 6
two-year-old heifers, 2 three-year olds, 3 yearling calves,
29 sheep, 12 hogs and 17 shoats. He had 4 hives of bees,
3 barrels of tar, an old saddle, 7 old casks, a new plow and
irons, pails, chisels, sickle, pitchforks and other farming
tools. Inside the house the dishes were earthen and
pewter. There were basins, porringers, cullenders, beer
pots, dram cups, pitchers, pudding pans, galley pots,
drinking cups, alcomy spoons, brass kettles, skillets, iron
kettles, iron pots, iron posnett, etc. Among household
articles were also a pair of andirons, a pair of pothooks, a
hatchell, an hour glass, a spit, smoothing irons and heaters,
a gridiron and toaster, a fire pan, pair of brass scales,
sieves, kneading troughs, bellows, churn, wooden trays,
trenchers, milk keelers, woolen wheel, linen wheel, etc.
A back sword and a fowling piece comprised the weapons
of defense. His land, which was in the name of his wife,
was valued at 80 lbs. and the house and buildings on it, at
50 lbs. The latter were accounted the property of the
husband and, with the personal property, were ordered in
1683 to he divided, one-third to the widow and the other
two-thirds to the children, the eldest son receiving a double
share. It is doubtful whether this order was carried out,
as by an agreement dated July 16, 1695, it appears that
" for want of prudence " the estate suffered loss, "so that
there is not enough for to make up each child's proportion,
especially Hannah and Martha, and the abovesd Hannah and
Martha Living att a Distance have had Little or nothing."
Accordingly the widow, by the above mentioned agreement
delivered to Hannah and Martha 20 acres of land westward
of the Great Hill, 3 acres of land at Nick's Cove so called,

120 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
and the house she lived in, which her husband built, with
the furnishings, she receiving a life interest and the sisters
on certain conditions to share with the daughter Bridget.66
The widow probably died just before May 3, 1706, when
this agreement was received and recorded as a will in the
Probate Court.67
Eobert Nickerson, second son of William and Anne
(Busby) Nickerson, was born in England about 1635. He
took the oath of fidelity at Yarmouth in 165768 and removed
to Monomoit when his father did or soon after. In February,
1673-4, he received a deed of 40 acres of upland and 10
acres of meadow from his father. The location of his house
is uncertain. He had upland on the east side of the Great
Hill bounded south on John Savage and east on the high
way ; also a share of land on the Great Neck (Stage Neck),
containing 20 acres, adjoining John Nickerson's lot. His
ten acres of meadow was on Eagged Neck, on the south
side of the creek running west into Cockle Cove (Buck's
Creek) and adjoining and south of Eobert Eldred's
meadow.69 He was grandjuryman in 1679 and constable in
1683. 70 There is no record of his marriage or of his chil
dren and no settlement of his estate. He died before July,

66. Plym. Col. Wills IV (pt 2) 25; Barnstable Probate Records II, 216.
67. Children of Robert and Elizabeth (Nickerson) Eldred (order uncertain after first
child): 1. Nicholas, b. at Yarmouth Ausr. 18, 1650 (Plym. Col. Rec), m. Elizabeth
 . 2. Robert, b.  , probably removed to Duck Creek, Del., about 1711, as ad
ministration was granted Oct. 5, 1732, in Kent Co. Del. to Thomas Eldredge on estate
of Robert Eldredge and cousins of his are known to have gone there In 1711 from Mon
omoit. 3. Hannah, b.  (single in 1695) . 4. Martha, b.  (single in 1695).
5. William, b.  , m. 1st  , 2nd Sarah (Newcomb) Conant, widow of Joshua
of Truro, Jan. 30, 1706-7 (East. Rec.) 6. Joseph, b.  , m. Elizabeth, perhaps
dau. of Teague Jones. 7. Bridget, b.  , m. William Long of Har. May 17, 1714,
(N. E. Hist. Gen. Reg. XXIII, 178). 8. Samuel, b  , m. Elizabeth Hedges, dau.
of Tristram, before 1694, (M. L. Luce papers) . He and his wife sold property at Mon
omoit in May and June, 1711, to Seth Taylor of Yarmouth and probably went to Duck
Creek with his brother Robert, (M. L. Luce papers). Mary Eldredge who married
John Smith of Eastham Nov. 30, 1668, may have been the eldest daughter of Robert.
68. Plym Col. Rec. VIII, 186.
69. See page 113, supra, account of John Savage; account of John Nickerson infra;
account of Tristram Hedges infra.
70. Plym. Col. Rec. VI, 11; 107.

EARLY SETTLERS. 121
1713, when his son, Eobert, then of Harwich, sold and
conveyed to Seth Taylor of Yarmouth 20 acres of his late
father's property in Chatham.71 This son was living in
Harwich as late as October, 1724, when he appealed from
a judgment against him in favor of John Mayo of Har
wich,72 but he is not found in a list made in 1726 of the
families in that town having children of school age.78
Tristram Hedges was married in Boston December 20,
1657, to Ann, daughter of William and Anne (Busby)
Nickerson, by Gov. Endicott. He removed to Yarmouth
and thence to Monomoit. His land troubles there have
been related already. His farm at the latter place, which he
received from his father-in-law by deed dated February 24,
1673-4, comprised the whole of Bagged Neck at West
Chatham except 10 acres of meadow on the north side of
the neck belonging to Eobert Nickerson. This neck is
described in the deed to him as bounded " northerly upon a
Creek that is ye bounds between John Downing meadow
& his ye sd Trustrum Hedges ; and from ye head of ye
Creek it Bang westerly viz it is bounded with stakes &
marked trees to a pine tree that is marked on ye four sides
that was to shew ye bounds between Eobert Nickerson "s
meadow & Bobert Eldred meadow and from Eobert Nicker-
son's meadow ye bounds of ye neck is ye Main Creek which
is ye westermost bounds & ye Southermost bound is ye
Beach & ye easter bound is ye Eiver that come into ye
oyster pond."74 This tract, called Bagged Neck, comprised
all that neck of land between Buck's Creek, Oyster Pond
river and Harding's beach. The north line ran through
71. See deed of Seth Taylor to Thomas Doane dated March 20, 1718-9. M. L. Luce
papers. 72. Files Superior Court ot Judicature No. 18,390.
73. Freeman, History of Cape Cod II, 505.
Children of Robert and  Nickerson: 1. Robert, b.  , m.  . Nothing
more is known about this family. The Robert Nickerson mentioned in Freeman, His
tory of Cape Cod, II, 501, was Robert of Chatham, son of William and grandson of
William Sen. See Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 10,806, 10,278, &c.
74. M. h. Luce papers.

122 History of Chatham.
the middle of the valley lying north of Barn Hill, so called.
Mr. Hedges also had woodland on the Great Hill extend
ing over to Emery's pond By deed dated September
14, 1694, he conveyed to his son-in-law Samuel
Eldredge and his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Samuel,
a parcel of upland and meadow on the westerly side
of this neck adjoining Buck's Creek.76 At the
March term 1710 his recognizance to appear and give
evidence in the case of William and Euhamah Nickerson
was forfeited and at the March term 1711, judgment of 30
lbs. for the forfeiture was awarded against him.76 It is not
known when he or his wife died. There is no settlement
of his estate. The family must not be confounded with the
Hedge family of Yarmouth.77
Samuel Nickerson, son of William and Anne (Busby)
Nickerson, born in New England, married Mary, daughter
of John Bell of Yarmouth, about 1660. 78 Bell lived in the
southeast part of Old Yarmouth on the West side of Her
ring river (now West Harwich). Eemoving to Monomoit,
Nickerson built and settled on the south side of Crow's
pond between it and Eyder's Cove (Alewife river) and near
Nathaniel Covell. He received from his father a deed of
the farm he occupied dated Feb. 12, 1673-4. 79 He also had
76. M. L. Luce papers.
76. Records Superior Court of Judicature III, 247, 257.
77. Children of Tristram and Ann (Nickerson) Hedges: 1. Grace, b. Aug. 20, 1659,
In Boston; d. there Jan. 4, 1660. (Boston Rec.) 2. Elizabeth, b.  , m. Samuel
Eldredge, son of Robert, and probably moved to Duck Creek, Del., in 1711. 8. Others
unknown. 78. Barnstable Probate Records, estate of John Bell.
79. William Nickerson conveys to Sam'l Nickerson by deed bearing date 12th day of
February, 1673 [4].
"Forty Acres of Upland and ten acres of meadow bounded as followeth, his House
Lot lying and being by the Alewife River, butting Southerly upon the highway that is
laid out between the Alewife River and his House Lot and Westerly it buts upon Nathl
Covers House Lot, where there ls a Tree marked on the four sides, that is the Bound
between them, and northerly near to a Swamp where there are marked Trees, as he
has fenced lt, and other lands that lye in the neck of land that we call the Alewife
RJver Neck, butting Westerly upon the highway that lye between the Swamp & his Land
where there are Trees marked for his bounds and Southerly upon the highway to
Nath' Covel's ditch, that way is between their meadows to come into the Neck to fetch

EARLY SETTLERS. 123
six acres of upland at the Oyster Pond furlong and upland
and meadow on the south side of the Oyster Pond.80 He
was of Harwich as early as 1696, having sold his
Monomoit property, and purchased a farm near Coy's Brook
of William Cahoon in that year. The statement in the
petition of William Merrick (State Archives Vol. 113, 351)
that Nickerson signed a petition in 1694 for the incorpora
tion of Harwich, is not correct, as an inspection of the
original petition (State Archives Vol. 113, 59) will show.
He was then of Monomoit. He bought more land near
Coy's Brook in August, 1717. Administration on his estate.
was granted to his widow Mary on Sept. 3, 1719.81
John Nickerson,. son of William and Anne (Busby)
Nickerson, married Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Eliza
beth (Tart) Williams of Eastham.82 He settled and built
his house on an irregular lot of land, lying between the
White pond and Black pond on the south, and Emery's
pond on the north. He had six acres at the Oyster Pond
furlong, twenty acres on Stage Neck, and ten acres of
meadow at Seaquanset or Buck's Creek, all by deed from
out their Hay or Wood, and not to trespass one the other, and Easterly his land but
upon Nath'l Covers ditch and range Northerly upon a straight line to the Harbour and
there are Trees marked upon the line between Nath'l Covel & Sain'l Nickerson, and his
land range from thence Westerly by the Harbour to a way that I have set out for a
landing place for to come to the Harbour for to fetch any Goods that ls landed there,
without Trespassing upon him." A true copy as appears by the 2d Book of Records for
the County of Barnstable, Folio 228, Attest Ebenr Bacon Regr. (M. L. Luce papers.)
80. See deed William Nickerson to Robert Nickerson dated Oct. 13, 1707. (Files Su
perior Court of Judicature No. 7723) ; also notes 83 and 90 infra.
81. Children of Samuel and Mary (Bell) Nickerson: 1. Samuel, b.  , m. Hannah
Hall, dau. of Benjamin of Harwich, about 1707. 2. Daughter (mentioned in the in
ventory of the estate of John Bell, but name not given.) 3. Nicholas, b.  , m.
Lydia  about 1720. 4. Others unknown. As this family continued to live In
Harwich and therefore will not again appear in this work, the following grandchildren
according to Harwich records, are here given for convenience of reference. Children
of Samuel and Hannah: 1. Mehitable, b. Jan. 30, 1708-9. 2. Shaber, b. Aug. 26,
1710. 3. Samuel, b. Feb. 22, 1711-2. 4. Benjamin, b. Sept. 1714. 5. Barnabas, b.
Nov. 7, 1716. 6. Joshua, b. June 16, 1719. Children of Nicholas and Lydia: 1. Seth,
b. Jan. 21, 1722. 2. Mary, b. Oct. 20, 1724. 3. Prince, b. July 8, 1728. 4. Elizabeth.
b. Jan. 30. 1731. 5. Lydia. b. Mar. 1, 1734. Eunice, b. Sept. 17, 1736.
82. Barnstable Probate Records, estate of Thomas Williams.
-(10;-

124 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
his father dated February 1 1 , 1 673-4. 83 His lot at the Oyater
Pond furlong was entered upon in the winter of 1684-5 by
William Griffith, who lived near, and some wood
cut from it, for which Nickerson recovered damages.84
On March 1, 1714, John Nickerson, Sen, as appurte
nant to his farm, received in the division of the common
land the 21st lot, located south of the pond which is near
the highway at East Harwich.86 It would seem that he
must have died or conveyed his property to his sons,
William and John, before May 11, 1714.86 There is no
83. "Fourtie acres of upland & ten acres of meadow lands out of ye lands that I pur
chased of ye Sagamores, Mattaquason & John Quason at Monamoy & places adjacent
butted and bounded as followeth : his house lott lye between two ponds part by a
swamp on ye South side of Thurston Hedges & range Westerly to ye head of ye swamp
& from thence upon a straight line Southerly to ye pond that is caled ye white pond &
Easterly from his house to a swamp & over ye swamp his land butteth Northerly upon
Thurston Hedges land and there is a tree marked between them & rang Easterly to a
marked tree that is marked between Thurston Hedges and him & from thence lt rang
Southerly to a tree marked on ye four sides between Teag Jones & him, & so it rang
Westerly to a marked tree that stand by a pond side. And one parcell of land that is
laid out to him upon ye oyster pond furlong, Westerly it butts upon Samuell Nickerson
land & Southerly to ye Oyster Pond & Northerly it butts upon ye way that is laid out at
ye head of ye lotts & ther stand a tree marked on ye four sides where is his outward
most bound, Easterly upon a straight line to ye oyster pond & one share of land upon ye
great neck on ye south east side of ye oyster pond, lt is ye fourth share between
Nathaniel Covell and Robert Nickerson & ten ackers of meadow neer to Seaquanset
Northerly butting upon Thurston Hedges & an Hand of upland & Southerly bounded by
ye water & Westerly by a stake that stand at ye point of upland which is a bound be
tween my meadow & his, with liberty to feed upon other land according to proportion. "
Plym. Col. Deeds V, 828.
84. Plym. Col. Rec. VII, 289.
85. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's office.
86.  men by these presants yt whaler as thomas Atkins of Chatham & William
Nickerson & John Nickerson  of sd town Having had a Diferance wheair ye line
shuld Run Betwene ye sd Nickersons land & ye 8 lot which sd lot Is ye sd Atknses
lot as also how ye line shuld Run Between ye sd Nickersons land & ye land yt sd Atkens
laltly Bought yt was ye Vickeries land and Deaken Joseph Hall Being presant with his
Compas at ye House of Ebenr Haweses this llth day of May 1714 he ye sd Atkens & ye
sd Nickersons did mutully agre yt for themselves & theair Heirs that ye Boundaries
Heair after menchened shall Be ye Dividing lines Betwixt ye Before menchened lands
forever, which sd Boundres are as foloweth: ye first Boundery is a stone standing In ye
Ground at ye hed of ye Swamp & thence uppon a straight line to another stone stand
ing In ye Dich & from this stone Deken Hall set his Compas & Run a Dewe south line to
another stone yt standeth one ye Bank By ye whit pond, thes are ye true Bonnderes
which wee have agreed uppone to be ye Bounderies for Ever as wittnes our hands this
11 day of May anno qu dominy 1714 Thomas Atkins
Joseph Hall William Nickerson
John Bacon John Nickerson
("A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's office.)

EARLY SETTLERS. 125
settlement of his estate and no record of his children.87
Nathaniel Covell, saddler, was the son of Nathaniel
Covell of Chelmsford, Essex Co., England. His father
dying while he was yet a youth, he agreed in April, 1653,
with Mr. Edward Winslow of Marshfield, who was then in
England, to serve him, according to the custom of the time,
from that date until seven years after his arrival in New
England, receiving therefor his passage over, his support
and ten pounds in goods and commodities, 13 bushels of
Indian corn and "good double apparel " at the end of his time.
He arrived at Boston August 26, 1653, and was soon after
assigned by Mr. Winslow to his step-son, Peregrine
White of Marshfield.88 Young Covell accordingly served
his time in the employ of the first white man born in New
England. He came to Yarmouth soon after the expiration
of his service, where he married Sarah, youngest daughter
of William and Anne (Busby) Nickerson, some time be
tween January 15, 1662, and July 4, 1663.89 He removed
to Monomoit a year or two after this marriage. His connection
with the land troubles there has already been stated.
By deed dated February 11, 1673-4, his wife received from
her father 40 acres of upland and 10 acres of meadow at
Monomoit. On this the family lived. The house and
upland were located on the south side of Crow's pond,
between it and Eyder's Cove, then called Alewife or Her-
rino- Eiver. There were six acres of woodland at the
Oyster Pond furlong and the meadow land was at Muddy
Cove.90 By deed dated April 14, 1677, Covell bought of
87. Children of John and Sarah (Williams) Nickerson (order uncertain) : 1. Sarah,
b.  ,m. Edward Small or Smalley, son of Edward of Monomoit, Apr. 3, 1704.
(East. Rec.) 2. WUliam, b.  , m. Hannah  . 3. John, b.  , m. Mary 
July 11, 1706. (East. Rec.) 4. Others unknown. The preponderance of evidence Is
In favor of Sarah as daughter of John rather than of Joseph Nickerson. See Barn
stable Probate Records, estate of Edward Small.
88. Plym. Col. Deeds, II, (pt. I) 149.
89. See the petition on page 63 and note 28 page 62 supra.
90. "Forty acrees of upland and ten acrees of meddow lands out of the Lands that
I purchased of the Sagamores Mattaquason and John Quason at Mannamoiett and
places adjacent, bounded as followeth: on prte of the land Lying upon the Necke of

126 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
his father-in-law a lot of woodland on the east side of the
Great Hill lying on both sides of the highway and bounded
west on Tristram Hedges' land, north on John Savage
and William Nickerson, Jr., east on the marsh at Frostfish
Creek and south on Edward Cottle.91 In 1674 he was ap
pointed deputy constable of the village, serving under the
constable of Eastham. He died in middle life, probably
before the winter of 1685-6, when Mrs. Covell received a
deed from her father of all his property.92 There was no
settlement of his estate. In 1687 Mrs. Covell, then called
a widow, conveyed to her brother, William Nickerson, Jr.,
one-half of all the real estate she had received from her
father, except the home farm of the latter.93 She and her
brother, therefore, became co-owners of all the undivided
and unpurchased lands at Monomoit. By deed dated
October 6, 1693, they conveyed one-third interest in these
lands to Samuel Sprague of Marshfield, former secretary of
Plymouth Colony.94 She retained one-third interest in
these lands and her ownership of her father's home farm
till 1699, when she apparently divided her property among
land called the Alewife River Necke, Westerly with a ditch between Samuell Nlckerson's
land and Ranging Northerly upon a straight line with trees marked to the harbour and
Southerly abutting upon the highway and Easterly by all the Land upon the Necke
bounded by the water: and one parsell of meddow next to the Creeke on the South
syde of the highway to one point of upland that Joynes almost to the creeke and Joynes
next to a parsell of meddow that Is Samuell Nlckerson's and Easterly on Samuell
Nlckerson's Meddow. all the sedge and meddow is Nathaniel Covell's that is upon the
Necke within the bounds above expressed ; and thes bounds I have Granted to him upon
exchange of his share of Lands upon the Great Necke that is by the Oyster pond: and
six acrees of upland that lyeth upon the oyster pond furlong on the Northerly syde of
the pond, abuting south upon the pond, west upon Teage Jones his land and north upon
the way that is sett out att the head of the lotts and East upon Samuell Nlck
erson's land there; and one parse]] of Meddow that lyeth on the north syde of the Cove
from the head of the Muddy Cove to the point of land by a ware where the Indians
catch Eeles ; and one parsell of Land for a house lott where his house stands, South
upon the highway. East to a tree marked on the four sydes between Samuell Nickerson
and him, North straight to an old Indian Path and West from that path alonge by a
ponde syde to the Cartway." Plym . Col . Deeds IV, 264 .
91. Plym. Col. Deeds IV, 172.
92. See note 42, page 93 supra.
93. See note 43, page 93 supra.
94. Plym. Col. Deeds V, 500.

EARLY SETTLERS. 127
her four sons, Nathaniel, William, Joseph and Ephraim.96
It is quite probable that she was living as late as 17 15.96 No
one of her sons could write his own name, but her grand
children were some of them quite above the average in
intelligence.97 William Nickerson, son of William and Anne (Busby)
Nickerson, was baptized at Barnstable June 1, 1646, and
married Mercy, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Tart)
Williams, sister of the wife of his brother John.98 It is
uncertain where he first settled at Monomoit. Before 1677
he was the owner of a piece of upland lying east of the
Great Hill, between the highway and Frostfish Creek,
bounded south on land of Nathaniel Covell and of another
piece lying southwest from the head of Eyder's Cove on
the south side of land of .Iohn Savage.99 His house may
have been on the latter tract. He was a soldier in King
Philip's war, under Capt. Henry Gold, entering the service
in the latter part of the contest, (E. W. Pierce, Historical
Sketches, &c) and not Eobert Nickerson, as stated in
Bodge, King Philip's War 420, 424. He was grand
juryman in 1681 and constable in 1683. By deed of
December 2, 1687, he received title from his father
and sister Sarah Covell to one-half of all the un
divided and unpurchased lands at Monomoit and full
95. See deed from Sarah Covel to Ephraim Covel dated May 19, 1699, recorded May 27,
1699, conveying to him a part of her father's farm and one fourth of her interest in the
undivided lands and a deed from Ephraim Covel et al to Michael Stewart dated Oct. 12,
1702. M. L. Luce papers.
96. See note 44, page 94 supra.
97. Children of Nathaniel and Sarah (Nickerson) CoveU. (order uncertain): 1,
Nathaniel (eldest son) b.  , m. Judith Nickerson of Monomoit, daughter of
William Mar. 1 or 5, 1696-7 (East. Rec.) 2. William, b. in 1673, m. Sarah
 , died in that part of Eastham now Welltleet June 18, 1760, aged 67 (East. Rec.) 3.
Joseph, b. — : — . m. 1st Lydia, dau. of Hugh Stuard about 1700, m. 2nd Hannah Bas
sett of Eastham, dau. of Nathaniel of Yarmouth Mar. 1, 1703-4. 4. Ephraim, b: in
1677 or 1678; m. 1st Mercy  , who died Feb. 1, 1727-8 (Har. Rec), 2nd, Mrs. Abigail
Ellis of Yarmouth, Feb. 4, 1729-30. (Har. Rec), 3rd, Mrs Mary Taylor of Chatham (Int.
Sept. 20, 1746, Har. Rec), who survived him. 5. A daughter who married Benjamin
Phillips about 1696 and probably died young (Note 23, page 84 supra.) 6. Other
daughters unknown.
98. Barnstable ProbateJRecords, estate of Thomas Williams.
99. Plym. Col. DeedsJIV, 172, 309.

128 • HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
title to Monamesset Neck. By deed dated August 29,
1689, he bought a tract at Cotchpinicut (Old Harbor) where
he built a house and resided for some time.100 He took the
oath of a freeman June 24, 1690, and soon after was
appointed inspector of whales.101 On December 5, 1692,
John Freeman and Jonathan Sparrow of Eastham laid out
to him and Sarah Covell the bounds of the un
purchased lands to which they were entitled.102 By deed
dated October 6, 1693, he and his sister conveyed to
Samuel Sprague one-third interest in their undivided and
unpurchased lands.108 By deed dated June 27, 1694, he
bought, in company with Samuel Smith, of John Quason,
Jr., another tract at or near Cotchpinicut.104 On October
12, 1702, he joined with Sprague and others in conveying
to Michael Stuard a large tract of undivided land at West
Chatham.106 On the following day he conveyed Monames
set Neck and some other property to his son William
Jr.106 On July 11, 1706, he joined with his wife in con
veying to his son Thomas the land at Cotchpinicut which
she had obtained by assignment and foreclosure of a mort
gage given to Samuel Smith by the Indians.107 On Feb
ruary 23, 1709-10, he conveyed to his four sons certain
tracts of undivided land.108 He was the first clerk and
treasurer of the village, serving as clerk 15 years and
treasurer six years. He was selectman six years. He
appears to have disposed of his farm at Old Harbor before
1699 and was then living on a farm lying west or northwest
of Lord's pond in the Stephen Smith neighborhood.109 By
100. See note 60, page 98 supra.
101. See page 97 supra.
102. See page 134 infra.
103. See page 139 infra.
104. See note 52, page 98 supra.
105. M. L. Luce papers.
106. Osborn Nickerson papers.
107. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 7043; note 52 page 98.
108. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 7728.
109. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 3919.

EARLY SETTLERS. 129
deed dated October 13, 1707, he conveyed this farm and
other land to his son Eobert, retaining the use and improve
ment of it during his life and that of his wife.110 Later a
new deal was made and by deed dated February 5, 1713-4
he conveyed one-half of the property to Eobert outright,
retaining the use of the other one-half for life.111 On
August 15, 1716, there was a division of the farm between
father and son.112 In the division of the common land in
1713 he was allotted nine lots, numbered 3, 5, 6, 28, 35, 36,
37, 39 and 42. 113 He and his wife were, doubtless, both
members of Eastham church, from which she was dismissed
to Harwich church, Sept. 7, 1712. Although he was clerk
of the village many years, he never recorded his own family
and but few outside of it. Letters testamentary were granted
on his estate to his widow Mercy April 7, 1719. She sur
vived her husband twenty years, dying April 7, 1739, at a
great age, and leaving many descendants.114
Joseph Nickerson, youngest son of William and Anne
(Busby) Nickerson, was born at Yarmouth in December,
1647, and married Euhamah, whose parentage is not known.
She is first mentioned as his wife in the Colony records
under date of March 5, 1677-8. His farm of forty acres of
upland, which he received from his father by deed dated
February 10, 1673-4, was located on Pleasant bay just west
of Crow's pond. It bounded east on Monamesset Neck.
His ten acres of meadow was at Seaquanset (Buck's
UO. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 7723.
111. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 9607.
112. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 10972.
113. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham." (Town Clerk's office). See the map at
the end of this chapter for the location of these lots.
114. "7 (2) 1739 died here Mrs. Mercy Nicholson (commonly written here Nickerson)
aged ninety years or more (as Is judged) and some say ninety-five (for she could not tell
her own age) . She was born in Eastham and has left a numerous posterity, 146 being
now livlnn In this land. Beside which there was a daughter of hers that above twenty
years ago went to a place called Duck Creek in Pennsylvania or West Jersey of whose
posterity her relations here can not inform who are living ; but she carried seven chil
dren with her when she went. I was afterwards Informed by her son that he had
found 157 of her posterity living here in this country. And Duck Creek I am informed.

130 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Creek.)115 He was constable in 1684 and fence viewer in
1693. Soon after the latter date he sold out to Willliam
Covell, son of Nathaniel. He then, in or about 1697, pur
chased a farm of fifty acres on the West side of Muddy
Cove adjoining the Monomoit line, but within the limits of
Harwich. This farm was deeded to him by Mr. Barnabas
Lothrop of Barnstable, who bought it of the Indian pro
prietor, Popamosset Cowet, or his successors.116 Mr.
Nickerson, although occupying the farm, still considered
himself as of Monomoit. Attempts were made to secure
its annexation to Monomoit. By deed dated November 5,
1709, he conveyed what appears to be the northerly part
of fhis farm to his son William.117 Ebenezer Hawes ap
pears as owner of the southerly portion as early as 1712. 118
Is In Pennsylvania on ye borders of Maryland." Diary of Rev. Joseph Lord, Yarmouth
Register Dec. 17, 1846.
Children of William and Mercy (Williams) Nickerson (order uncertain) : 1. Thomas,
b.  , m. Mary dau. of Jonathan Bangs of Harwich. 2. William, b.  , m. 1st,
Deliverance, probably dau. of Caleb Lumbert, Sen. , about 1700; 2nd Hannah alias Anna
Atwood, dau. of Eldad of Eastham, Oct. 24, 1717 (Yar. Rec.) 3. Nathaniel, b. 1680 or
1681 (see note 60, page 98 supra), m. Katherlne Stuard, dan. of Hugh, May 13, 1702,
(Yar. Rec.) 4. Robert, b.  , m. Rebecca Jones, dau. of Jeremiah of Yarmouth,
Mar. 28, 1706-7, (Yar. Rec) This son received his father's Narragansett Indian lands;
see York Co. (Me.) Deeds XVII, 222. 5. Mercy, b.  , m. 1st William
Mitchell about 1689, 2nd James Griffith before 1709. 6. Elizabeth, b.  ,
m. WiUiam Cahoon (see Records Sup. Ct. of Judicature VII 81, and estate Wm. Cahoon,
Barn. Prob. Rec.) 7.  , who went to Duck Creek in 1711 with her husband and seven
children. 8. Judith, b.  , m. Nathaniel Covell, son of Nathaniel, Mar. 1 or 6, 1696-7,
(East. Rec.) 9. Other daughters unknown. There is said to be a deed from Judith
Covell In 1719, in which Ensign William Nickerson is called her brother; otherwise I
should regard Judith as probably daughter of John Nickerson.
115. "Forty acres of Upland and Ten acres of Meadow Lands out of the Lands that I
purchased of the Sagamors Mataquason and John Quason at Monamoy and Places ad
jacent Bounded as followeth: The Bounds Easterly as we go to Monemese Is the Crick
and Salt Pond where there Stands a Pine Tree Marked on the four Sides near to the
Harhour and upon a Straight Line Northerly to the high Clift and Trees Marked upon
the Range and Range upon the Cllft Westerly to an old fence where there is a Tree
marked on the four Sides, and from thence as the old fence Range Southerly to a Swamp
where there ls a Tree marked on the four Sides and from thence Easterly to a Clift near
to the Harbour where there are Trees marked upon the Range" [said Joseph to have
no share on the Great Neck, his 40 acres being all In one piece] "And also a parcel of
meadow that ls near to Seaquanset Bounded with the Upland Round about and butteth
Southerly upon Trustrum Hedges Meadow near to the Bridge where they bring out their
Hay." "Also all the Meadow upon Monamesset Neck." From a certified copy made
Dec. 10, 1757, by Solomon Otis Regr (Osborn Nickerson papers).
116. Mr. Josiah Paine in Deyo, Hist, of Barnstable Co. 837; note 58, page 76, and note
64, page 100.
117. 8 Mayflower Descendant, 156.
118. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham." Town Clerk's offlce.

EARLY SETTLERS. 131
His wife and son William were charged, in the winter of
1709-10, with aiding and abetting an Indian in burning
the barn of Mr. Edward Bangs at Satucket. The Indian
was not convicted and the whole charge failed, but as his
wife through illness had failed to appear at Court and her
bond was forfeited, Mr. Nickerson had trouble in getting
relief from its payment, finally petitioning the General
Court therefor.119 He died after 1726, when his son is
mentioned as Joseph, Jr., and before 1731, at which date
his widow is mentioned.120 She lived to be very old and
in her last days lived at Chatham at the house of John
Eldredge, where she fell sick. On October 21, 1735, the
Court at Barnstable ordered the town of Harwich to repay
to Chatham the sum it had spent for her in her, presumably
last, sickness there.121
Nathaniel Tomlon or Tumblen was of Yarmouth as early as
1686, when he witnessed the will of Thomas Folland. He set
tled at Monomoit between this date and 1695. He was
grandjuryman in 1698, was hired by tbe village in 1702 to
build a "sufficient pound," was tithingman in 1706 and
constable in 1709. It is supposed that the family removed
from the village about 1710 or 1711, with the first emigra
tion. The location of his farm at Monomoit is not known,
but it is supposed to have been east of Taylor's pond, South
Chatham. The inlet into this pond was known for years
119. Records Superior Court of Judicature III, 247, 248, 257; State Archives XL, 954.
120. Freeman, Hist, of Cape Cod II, 606; Deyo, Hist, of Barnstable Co., 837.
121. M. L. Luce papers.
Children of Joseph and Ruhamah Nickerson (order uncertain): 1. Jeremiah, b
 , m.  . He removed to Duck Creek, Del., in 1711, where he died in 1724.
His will dated Oct. 9, 1724, proved Oct. 31, 1724, mentions the following children:
Joshua, Joseph, Lydia, Ruhamah, Priscilla, Mary, and grandsons Nehemiah and Jere
miah. 2. William, b.  , m. Lydia Maker, dau. of James, Nov. 4, 1703, (Har.
Rec.) His will dated Sept. 15, 1760, proved Mar. 17, 1765, mentions tbe following chil
dren: John, Isaac, Joseph, Silas, William, Rachel, Lydia, Mary, Priscilla. 3. Joseph,
b.  ,m.  — , and lived In Harwich. 4. Josiah, b.  , m. Rachel Maker, dau.
of James, Jan. 20, 1714-5. (Har. Rec.) He died before June 16, 1737, (when his widow's
intention to marry John King was recorded) , leaving probably the fol
lowing children: Shubael, Josiah, Bethiah, m. Samuel Merchant of Yarmouth Feb. 26,
1736. (Yar. Rec.) Deborah, m. Hezekiah Baxter of Yarmouth (Int. Mar. 19, 1743).
5. Perhaps John, b.  , m. Sarah  . 6. Daughters not known.

132 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
as Tumblen's Cove. Matthew Tomlon, supposed to be a
son of Nathaniel, owned ten acres of upland on the west
side of Taylor's pond, purchased of the proprietors of
Monomoit. This he had sold before 1712. 122
These early settlers led lives of hard work and few pleas
ures. They lived in small houses of one story, usually
located in a valley near the shore or near some inlet, bay
or cove. There was no glass for the windows. Oiled
paper was used instead. There were no carriages. Oxen
were used for farm work and for riding men and women
used the saddle exclusively. They had few chairs, no
forks or saucers and ate out of wooden plates, called
trenchers. They suffered much from cold in winter, hav
ing only fire places, and tallow candles afforded their
ordinary light. The duties of the women were manifold,
including spinning, weaving, making soap, candles, butter,
cheese, &c. They were not only their own dressmakers
but tailors for the men as well. Their work was, indeed,
never done. There was no lack, however, of good food.
Tbe new country afforded an abundance of fish and game,
which to-day are delicacies on many tables.
122. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Cleik's office.
Children of Nathaniel and  Tomlon (order and relationship both con
jectural): 1. Matthew, b.  . 2. Robert, b.  . 8.  , m. Ebenezer Sev
erance of Harwich Feb. 14, 1709-10 (East. Rec.) It appears from Eastham records that
Richard Walker m. Joanna Tomlon "of Needham" (Int. Feb. 13,1719 20) and that bis
brother Jeremiah Walker m. Esther Tomlon Sept . 12, 1724. The only Tomlons to be
found on the records of Dedham and Needham (Needham was Incorporated from Ded
ham in 1711) are tbe following: Matthew Tomlon m. Sarah Bullard May 7, 1701: ch.
Elisha, b. Mar. 10, 1701-2; Lydia, b. Mar. 12, 1703-4, Rebecca, b. Sept. 3, 170B; Abigail,
b. July 13, 1707; Seth, b. May 10, 1709; Elizabeth, b. in summer 1711. May 2, 1714,
"voted that Mathew Tambling and John Fisher should teach children to read and
wright " Apr. 22, 1700. Abigail Tomblin m. William Wait. I cannot establish the con
nection between these Needham and Monomoit families, but I very much doubt If
Richard Walker would have gone to Needham for a wife, if he had not already made
her acquaintance at home on Cape Cod . There was an Elisha Tomllns residing in
Eastham about 1730, probably the Elisha born at Dedham Mar. 10, 1701-2. Files
Superior Court of Judicature No. 26,390.

CHAPTEE VIII.

MONOMOIT UNDER MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY.
AN attempt was made in the latter part of Chapter VI1 to
give a list of settlers probably resident at Monomoit
at the time it became a part of the Bay Colony. It did not
purport to be an accurate list and, in fact, new evidence
has come to light since it was compiled, which shows that
the number of settlers was even less than there stated.
John Taylor, it seems, was a resident of Yarmouth as late
as 1698, 2 if not later, and Edward Small did not leave
Dover, N. H., till after 1694. 3 It is doubtful, too, whether
William Cahoon or Nathaniel Tomlon were here before
1692. Indeed, it is not likely that there were at Mono
moit proper, nearly thirty years after its settlement, more
than half a dozen families outside of the original Nickerson
family settlement ! On the other hand, in that part of
Monomoit, now a part of Harwich, there were, besides the
Halls, the families of Joseph Severance (who bought of
Caleb Lumbert in 1687)4 and Manoah Ellis who became
co-owner with Severance.
The first General Court after the consolidation of the
colonies met at Boston in June 1692. Each town and
" place " was entitled to send two deputies or representa
tives to this Court, and Monomoit was, accordingly, repre
sented by two of its citizens, Lieut. Nicholas Eldredge and
1. Page 104 supra.
2. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 4600.
3. Stackpole, Old Kittery and her Families.
4. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 144,324.

134 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Lieut. William Mitchell. This body passed an act making
it optional with places having less than forty qualified
voters,5 whether they would send a deputy or not, and
thereafter for many years Monomoit exercised the choice
thereby offered by voting not to be represented.6 As each
place was obliged to pay its own representative, the in
habitants thereby saved expense.
Mention has already been made of the fact that a large
tract, comprising the easterly part of the place and a por
tion of the westerly part of the place, was not included in
William Nickerson's original purchase from the Indians,
but that the Plymouth Court made provision that he should
have liberty to purchase this adjacent land to the extent
of 1,000 acres, the limits of the same to be laid out by Mr.
John Freeman and Mr. Jonathan Sparrow, both of East
ham.7 This order of the Court was passed in October
1674, but for some reason no action was then taken under
it, Mr. Nickerson proceeding, however, to make purchases
as if it had been done. In December 1692. after the
death of Mr. Nickerson, Messrs. Freeman and Sparrow
finally executed the order of the Court and defined the
limits of the tract to be purchased, thereby confirming to
William Nickerson, the son, and Sarah Covell, the suc
cessors of their father, their title to the tracts he had
already purchased, as well as to those not yet purchased.
The action of Messrs. Freeman and Sparrow appears in
the following record :
These presents witnesseth that wheras the Generall Court
held at Plimouth the first Tuesday of June in ye year of
our Lord one thousand six hundred and sixty-five the
aforesaid Court was pleased to Grant to severall of ye
freemen of ye Ancient Colony of New Plimouth a Certaine
5. A qualified voter must at that time possess real estate of an annual value of 40
shillings or other property worth 50 lbs.
6. The first representative chosen after 1692 was in 1768.
7. See page 75 supra; also Plym. Col. Rec. V, 154.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 135
tract of land at Monamoy which was said to be purchased
of ye Indians by William Nickerson, Senr, of late deceased,
there being nine of the aforesaid freemen and the aforesaid
Nickerson was to have an equall proportion of land with the
said nine men whose names are specified in sd act of Court,
the Court was pleased to Grant unto said nine men &
William Nickerson an hundred acres a peece of ye lands
adjacent at Monamoy that were*not yet purchased, the
said nine men seeing cause to sell their Grant and title to
sd Nickerson as will appear by an Instrument under hand
and seal of said nine men, And sometime since ye afore
said William Nickerson petitioned the Generall Court for
to appoint meet persons for to lay out sd Lands adjacent
at Monamoy purchased by him of the sd freemen or nine
men, sd Court considering of sd Petition Ordered John
Freeman and Jonathan Sparrow both of Eastham to lay
and bound out sd lands. Accordingly we have measured
and set out sd lands to William Nickerson and Sara Covell
as successors and assigns to ye above sd William Nickerson
deceased on ye fifth of December in ye year of our Lord
one thousand six hundred and ninety-two all those lands
betwixt the sd Nickerson's bounds at Monamoy and the Bay
on ye Easterly side of Monamoy contayning eight hundred
acres, with an addition on ye Westerly side of ye lands
formerly purchased by William Nickerson deceased Con
tayning two hundred acres Bounded by ye mouth of ye
creeke that goeth out of ye Oyster pond at Machpoxet and
so ranging Westerly to ye head of ye meadow or marsh
that lyeth on ye easterly side of a Eiver called by ye name
of ye Bed Eiver and so as ye sd Eiver runs into ye Sea till
it comes to the creek that runs out of ye aforesaid Oyster
Pond or Machpoxet. As witness our hands ye day and
year above written. John Freeman
Jonathan Sparrow.8
8. Plym. Col. Deeds VI. 109. "Ye Oyster Pond at Machpoxet" was commonly
called in old documents the Little Oyster pond.

136 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
The territory thereby laid out to Mr. Nickerson and Mrs.
Covell, comprised all the land in the easterly part of Mon
omoit, lying east of a line from Frostfish Creek to the
head of the Oyster Pond and thence to the Mill pond and
secondly, a tract of 200 acres in the southwest part of the
place, being part or all of the tract purchased by William
Nickerson, Sen, of John Quason in March 1678-9. 9
The tract of 800 acres in the easterly part of the place
was never purchased by Mr. Nickerson, but remained in
the occupation of the Indians for many years. It was
called the unpurchased land or Indian land. Mattaquason,
the old sachem of the tribe, early followed the English
custom and parcelled out these lands to members of his
family and tribe in severalty. About 1670 he conveyed to
his daughter Sarah, the wife of Stephen, alias Maskuck,
alias Stephen Mashuasuke,10 that part of the tract called
Cotchpinicut Neck (Old Harbor).11 To another daugh-
9. I think that the description of this second tract was intended to cover all the
land bought by Nickerson in March 1678-9, but the language used Is scarcely adequate
for that purpose. See page 76, note 58, for a description of this purchase of March
1678-9. 10. This is probably the same Indian who, under tbe name of Wasnecksuk, signed
for the Monomoyicks in October, 1675, the pledge of fidelity to the Pilgrims, (page 83,
note 18) . Wasnechsuk and Mashuasuke look much alike In early writings.
11. "The Testimony of Jeremiah Menekosh aged 7* years Doth Testlfie and say That
about fifty years ago Tbe ould sachem of Monemoy called Matequason gave unto his
Daughter Sarah Quason a piece of land called Cochplncah neck, so far up as a great
Rock and some short Trees near sd Rock; so over sd neck to a place Called Wampag,
so all Round sd Neck untill it Com to a place Called pasher where they marked some
pine Trees. This I Heard the above sd sachem say That he Gave all The above sd Land
unto his sd Daughter Sarah and To her Children not To sell or Dispose of, and The sd
sachem Mentioned all The above sd Bounds and also Gave her all sd Land Runing
from the above sd Bounds and also gave her all sd land Runing from The above sd
Pine Trees by an Indian path Through The middle of a valey unto The Round field and
so Round To The Rock above mentioned. And ould Mr. Bourne The minister Then
made a Writing which writing I have since seen In Mercy Nickersons hands, And The
Deponant further saith That The same time The above sd Sarah and her Husband
Lived on sd Land and Improved Thereon and Sarah had Three Sons named Dogomus
Richard Steven, and Mataqultt Who Lived and had famerlys settled on sd Land Long
after The Death of Their sd mother and father Stephen and when Dogomus Stephen
and Mataqultt Dyed They Left each of them a son namely Peter Dogomus Simon
Stephen and Stephen Mataqultt who are now Platts, which Stephen Mataquit hath a
house on sd Land and some of Sarahs family have Lived In the possession of sd Land

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 137
ter, the wife of Cousins, Indian, he gave the tract east and
south of the Mill pond, called then Tom's Neck.12 His
son, John Quason, obtained a tract at Cotchpinicut
near his sister Sarah,18 a part of which he seems to have sold
later to Jeremiah Nickerson. South of him at Hammond's
Hill (now so called) was Menekish or Menekosh, who had
twenty acres, bounded east on the bay, north on John
Ever since. And further saith That Thomas Nickerson Jur Last year sett a house and
fence on sd Land and hath Improved part of sd Land.
Janur 20th 1719 Taken upon Oath In Court Attest Wm. Bassett Cler.
A true copy Compared with vt on file p. Wm. Bassett, Cler.
(Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 13,717.)
John Cousins, minister abont 70 years of age testifies & saith that I formerly very
well knew old Mataquason an Indian sachem of Manamoy formerly so Called. I also
knew an Indian woman named Sarah & she was ye reputed Daughter of sd Sachem &
she married with one Stephen about fif ty years ago. Some time after I was present
when sd Mataquason (ve sachem) bounded out a neck of land called Cotchplnlca neck
& gave it his sd Daughter Sarah & old Mr. Bourne being then present writ ye deed of
gilt which Contained ye whole of sd neck & the sd Sarah with her husband settled on
sd neck & lived thereon all yr Days & had three sons Doggomus, Stephen & Richard
who all three of them married & lived on sd neck of land all their days (some of them
at least) and had each of them a son, namely Simon Stephen, Peter Doggomus &
Stephen Maataquit and these three sons are ye now appellants who have lived on sd
land ever since (some of them at least) one of them ls yet living on sd land: And I re
member sd Doggomus ye eldest of ye three sons sold ye eastermost part of sd neck to
William Nickerson & bounded it out which bounds wear expressed In sd deed which deed
did not comprehend any land now In Controversy that being on ye east side of the neck
& this In Controversy lyeth on ye Westermost side thereof.
April ye 21 1720 then ye abovesd John Cousins m--ide oath to ye truth of ye above
written evidence, Lieut Thomas Nickerson being notified & present
before Peter Thacher Jus. peace.
Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 15,919.
12. See page 76, note 59 supra; also page 98 and notes 51 and 62.
13. See the following deed dated March 25. 1697[-81, from John Quason to William Nick
erson son of William Nickerson of Monomoit: "All yt my land at or near a place com
monly called & known by ye name Kotchplnicut lying on ye north side of a parcel of
Lands of Menekishes &'adjoyning to said lands, a stone marked with M. on the top of
a Clift & so down to ye water & along said waterside till it come to Jeremiah Nlcker
son's Land to a stone marked N & so along by ye side ot said Jeremiah Nlckerson's
Land Westerly as far as I ye said John Quason have any land In yt place & so to ye
land of John Acheheu & from ye Land of John Acheheu unto ye Lands of Wm. Nicker
son and Mr. Samuel Smith deceased & so along sd Nickerson & Smith's Land until It
meets with ye Westerly part of ye Lands of Menekish & so Ranges by ye side of Mene
kishes land Easterly till it Comes to ye first specified stone marked M." Deed also
grants right to Nickerson and his heirs "to cut wood & fencing stuff & timber of any of
my other lands for his use from time to time & at all times as he has occasion." Files
Superior Court of Judicature No. 3641.

138 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Quason's land and west on land of John Quason, Jr.,14
(later sold to Samuel Smith and William Nickerson).
Joseph Quason obtained a tract running from the head of
the Oyster pond east to the bay and adjoining Cousins'
land at Tom's Neck.15 North of him was Nick or Nicholas,
Indian, and probably east of and near the Stepstone meadow
(now so called) was the land of John Acheheu.16
As we have already seen, William Nickerson, son of the
first settler, in 1689, purchased a part of Cotchpinicut neck
from the sons of Sarah, then deceased, and settled there
soon after, and in 1691 Mr. Samuel Smith of Eastham
acquired by purchase the whole of Tom's Neck.17 With
these exceptions, the whole of this tract in the easterly
part of the place was in possession of the Indians, when
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Sparrow laid it out in 1692, as part
of the 1,000 acres which the Court had authorized the first
settler to purchase.
In the year 1693 the first recorded meeting of the in
habitants was held.18 William Nickerson, Sen, son of the
first settler, was then the clerk of the village, chosen at
some former meeting, for there must have been meetings of
the village ten or twelve years before this date in order to
choose the constable, grandjuryman and other village
officers. At this meeting held on June 12, 19 George
Godfrey and Joseph Nickerson were chosen fence viewers
("survaiors to veueue men's fences") and William Mitchell
and Joseph Harding as "towns men," to make up or repair
14. See deed from William Ned, alias Calley, to William Nickerson, Jr., dated Nov.
28. 1733, Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 36,172 and deed from William Cawley,
alias Ned, to Richard Knowles dated Dec. 3, 1733, In said Files No. 86,204.
15. Deed from Samuel Sprague to Richard Sears dated March 3, 1707-8; also deed
Joseph Quason to Samuel Sprague dated Oct. 12, 1702, (Josiah Paine papers).
16. See above mentioned deed to Richard Sears; also note 13 supra.
17 . Pages 98 and 99 supra .
18. The reader will note that the whole history of the place to this point has been
gathered from sources outside of the town records .
19. The exact date of this meeting does not now appear on the town records, the
edges of the old book of records having worn off, and it ls supplied from a copy made
in 1857 by Mr. Dean Dudley of Boston and published In the Yarmouth Register of Apr.
30, 1858. Rev. Mr. Freeman (History ot Cape Cod II, 587) in 1863 gives the date as May
12, but a comparison of Mr. Dudley's copies with those made by Mr. Freeman shows
the former to be a better reader of the old handwriting.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 139
men's bounds.20 Lieut. Nicholas Eldredge engaged at the
same meeting to procure for the village, a half bushel, a
peck and a half peck, that they might have correct meas
ures by which to buy and sell their products. Joseph
Harding above mentioned, son of Joseph Harding of East
ham, was a recent settler. Thomas Atkins, son of Henry
Atkins of Eastham, and Benjamin Phillips, perhaps son of
Thomas of Yarmouth, also settled at Monomoit about this
time. In October of this year William Nickerson Sen. and Mrs.
Sarah Covell, the proprietors of a large part of Monomoit
after the death of their father, sold and conveyed to Samuel
Sprague of Marshfield a third part of their entire holdings.
making him an equal partner with themselves. How Mr.
Sprague came to interest himself in this property so far
distant from the scene of his other activities I have not
been able to discover. It was probably a matter of specu
lation with him. He was the last Secretary of Plymouth
Colony and a man of influence and standing in his day.21
He acquired from them " All that the one-third part of all
our undivided and unpurchased lands at Monamoyet afore
said and places adjacent, which in ye right of our father
William Nickerson deceased we now have, Hold and enjoy
by virtue of Deeds of feoffment Given us under ye hand
and seal of our said father, That is to say more particularly,
we do hereby Give, Grant & sell unto the said Sprague the
one third part of all our right of Lands contained in yo
Deed of Mattaquason & John Quason, Indian Sachems of
20. Rev. Mr. Freeman (History of Cape Cod II, 587) states that at this meeting
William Nickerson and Joseph Harding were appointed "agents for the repairs of
Monomoy meeting house." This is another error due to the difficulty of reading the hand
writing in the early records. It was William Mitchell who was appointed with Joseph
Harding and they were to "mak up or repare men's bounes [bounds]." There is no
evidence that there was a meeting house at Monomoit at this date. The words "men's
bounes" in the records were thought to be "Mono'house" and this was supposed to
refer to a Monomoy meeting house.
21. He was son of William Sprague of Charlestown and a resident first at Duxbury
and later at Marshfield. He died in 1710, leaving a family.
-(ID-

140 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Monamoiet, Given unto our said father under the hands and
seals of ye said Sachems Bearing date June ye 19th 1672,
Together with all our one third of purchasing lands in said
Monamoyet and places adjacent Granted by ye Generall
Court of ye late Colony of New Plimouth unto our said
father, William Nickerson deceased, in ye month of June
1665, onely excepting but of this Grant & Sale all our own
and other persons particular alotments, possessions and
rights of lands Before this Date confirmed unto them by our
said father or ourselves or either of us."22
The Hall neighborhood, which became a part of Mono
moit in 1691, as we have seen, and which then consisted
of "several families,"23 viz, the Halls, Severance and Ellis,
was soon increased by the addition of the families of Benja
min Hall, brother of Gershom, and of Elisha Eldredge, son
of William, of Yarmouth.24 Early in 1694 these settlers were
induced to join with others living at Satucket (now Brews
ter) in petitioning the General Court for incorporation as
a town.25 The petition was dated May 30, 1694, and on
June 5th an order was passed referring it to the next Gen
eral Court, to be then passed " provided there be no just
reason given to the contrary by any person to this Court "
before that time.26 There is nothing on record to show
that any notice was ordered to be given to the Monomoit
authorities, as was customary, and nothing to show that
they knew of the proceedings, although they were, of
course, interested parties. At the next session of the
General Court, without further proceedings, an act was
passed on September 4, 1694, incorporating the town of
Harwich and apparently, but not certainly, including in it
22. Plym. Col. Deeds V, 500.
23. See the petition on page 102 supra.
24. Eldredge bought in 1693 with Severance and Ellis of Jacob Crook, Indian. He
remained only a few years, removing thence to the lower part of Eastham, now Well-
fleet. 25. State Archives Vol. 113, 69.
26. State Archives Vol. 113, 59.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 141
the Hall neighborhood. The act provides that "whereas
there are a competent number of inhabitants already set
tled upon that tract of land commonly called Satuckett,
containing a sufficient quantity of land and lying convenient
for a township, * * * that all the said lands lying betwixt
the bounds of the town of Yarmouth upon the west and
the town of Eastham on the east, running from the head
of Bound Brook to the head of Namskaket, about
ten miles in length and about seven miles in breadth,
extending from sea to sea, be and henceforth shall
be a township, the town to be called Harwich, * * *
provided it doth not intrench upon former grants referring
to townships."27 It is rather singular that no mention was
made of Monomoit in this act and no boundary established
between it and. the new town. The little village appears to
have been entirely ignored throughout the whole proceedings.
The year 1694 presents little else of public interest to
record. George Godfrey seems to have been the constable
this year and William Nickerson clerk, but he did not
record anything, or his record has been lost.
At a meeting of the inhabitants on May 10, 1695,
William Nickerson Sen. was chosen treasurer, being also
clerk. Joseph Nickerson was grandjuryman this year and
William Griffith Sen. constable. On August 10 Mr.
Samuel Smith was chosen commissioner to carry a list show
ing the valuation of the place to the shire town, Barnsta
ble.28 These lists from each place in the county were then
forwarded to Boston and formed the basis for assessing
Colony taxes. This year Edward Small, or Smalley, prob
ably came with his family from that part of Dover, N. H.,
now Durham, and settled. He had brothers who settled in
Truro, the whole family coming to the Cape to secure im-
27. State Archives Vol. 113, 87.
28. Rev. Mr. Freeman (History of Cape Cod II, 587) states that Mr. Smith was
chosen Coroner and Commissioner. How he arrived at this conclusion is not clear.
There was no sucb offlce as coroner in the Cape towns in that day.

142 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
munity from the Indians, from whose attacks they had
suffered on the then northern frontier.29 William Cahoon
also came about this time, and Moses Godfrey, brother of
George, settled at Cotchpinicut Neck as early as this year.80
In February, 1696, a meeting was held at which Lieut.
Nicholas Eldredge and Ensign Hugh Stewart were chosen
to go to Pamet (Truro), but for what purpose is not
stated. The records for the March meeting this year show
a full set of officers chosen: William Nickerson Sen.,
Joseph Harding, Thomas Atkins selectmen, Thomas Nick
erson constable, William Cahoon grandjuryman, Benjamin
Phillips tithingman, and William Nickerson Sen. clerk
and treasurer. At the same meeting it was ordered that
all the householders of Monomoit should kill twelve black
birds or three crows and bring the heads to the selectmen
on pain of forfeiting six shillings, this to be done by the
middle of the next May. Young men who were "at their
own keeping " were to kill six blackbirds or two crows ;
penalty, three shillings in case of failure.'31 This order was
repeated and renewed by the town many times in subse
quent years. It was a common regulation in those days
for the protection of farmers.
On July 1, 1696, Lieut. Nicholas Eldredge delivered to
the village two guns, forty pounds of bullets and two
29. Stackpole, Old Kittery and her Families 733.
30. "Moses Godfree of full age testifyeth & saith that I have lived neer about twenty-
three yeers neer to the land now in controversy between Peter Dogamus, Simon
Stephen & Stephen Mortequit of one piirtie & Thomas Nickerson Jr of the other
partie" * * * . Dated March 24. 1719-20 Files Superior Court of Judicature No.
13,780. In spite of this testimony, he was a householder at Monomoit in March 1696.
See the note following.
31. Robert Tomlon. William Griffith Sen, James Griffith, William Cahoon, William
Nickerson Sen. Joseph Nickerson, Jeremiah Nickerson, Nathaniel Covell and William
Covell complied with this order, but Tristram Hedges, Robert Nickerson, Matthew
Tomlon, Samuel Eldredge, William Griffith Jr. and Moses Godfrey failed to do so. The
"defective persons" were ordered on July 1 to clear the way to mill [I. e. to the water
mill at Satucket, Brewster] and the way to Nauset [Eastham] and the selectmen were to
discount out of their fines so much as their labor amounted to. These roads, the
present Brewster and Orleans roads at East Harwich, were not in the limits of Mono
moit, but this seems to have made no difference.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. . 143
pounds of powder to be in readiness for the use of the vil
lage as its common stock of arms and ammunition. The
inhabitants left it in the hands of Mr. Eldredge to keep for
them. Every community was required to keep such a
common stock for purposes of defense:- It was for the use
of the local military company, which existed in the place
throughout the colonial period, and which was, doubtless,
organized pursuant to the order of the Plymouth Colony
Court dated July 1681, and quoted in Chapter VI.'32
Ensign Hugh Stewart and William Eldredge were chosen
highway surveyors at this meeting. This year Samuel
Nickerson purchased land in Harwich of William Cahoon
and removed thither.88
The highways within the village were at this time still
in a very rough and partially cleared condition.34 The
main road of the place was that from the head of Muddy
Cove running easterly down to the Great Hill, thence
over the hill and northerly, as now, to the head of
Eyder's Cove. The road from the old cemeteries
south to the Hawes corner is, also, a very old
way. The present south road to Harwich was, also,
laid out early and was known as the road to the "inlands,"
by which name the unpurchased or Indian lands in the
easterly part of the place were sometimes called, to distin
guish them from the " outlands " or common lands in the
westerly part of the place. There was, also, an early cart
way leading down to the head of the Oyster Pond, thence
easterly around the Oyster Pond meadows and southerly
to Stage Harbor, where a " stage " or wharf was early
32. Page 89 supra.
33. Page 123 supra.
34. 'This is the number of persons that worked about tlie hiways Inslne Hugh
Stuard, William Grefeth, Nathaniel Tomlon, Nathaniel Nickerson, Joseph Harden,
WiMam Nickerson, John Nickerson Jr., George Godfree, William Nickerson, Jr,
Mathu Tomlon, Thomas Ackens, Trostram Haees. William Eldred. These parsons
worked about clearing the hiways the thirty day of July in the year 1696. Recorded
by me William Nickerson Clark."

144 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
erected for the common convenience.85 All these roads
now exist substantially as they were first laid out, a few
straightenings only having been made. The main north
and south roads to Harwich became later known as the
King's roads or Queen's roads.
The officers of the village for the year 1697, chosen at
the March meeting, were as follows : Selectmen William
Griffith Sen., William Eldredge, William Nickerson, con
stable Thomas Atkins, tithingman Moses Godfrey, grand
juryman Edward Small, surveyors and fence viewers
Nicholas Eldredge and George Godfrey. John Smith
and his sister, the wife of Daniel Hamilton, this year came
into possession of the farms of their father, Samuel Smith,
at Tom's Neck and probably settled there soon after.36
Mr. Jonathan Vickery appears to have settled this year,
also, and to have been employed as the minister of the
place. After the death of William Nickerson Sen., in or
about 1690r it is likely that Eev. Samuel Treat of Eastham,
as the nearest minister, was occasionally heard at Mono
moit. After Eev. Nathaniel Stone came to Harwich,
he seems to have regarded Monomoit as a part of his
charge. Cotton Mather in his "Magnalia Christi" men
tions Mr. Stone as the minister in 1696 of "Falmouth,
Harwich and Manamoy et."8' His oversight of the spiritual
affairs of the place, if any, was short, as Mr. Vickery came as
early as the spring of 1697. 88 He was the son of George
and Eebecca (Phippen) Vickery of Hull, Mass. He was
not an educated man nor an ordained minister, but a lay
preacher. By occupation he was, like all the residents of
36. Wharves were at this time called "stages." Hence arose the name Stage Hai-
bor, which means wharf harbor or the harbor where the wharf is. For a good picture
of these early stages see Winsor, Narrative and Critical Hist, of America IV, 3.
36. Barnstable Probate Records, estate of Samuel Smith.
37. Magnalia Christi I, 87.
38. He witnessed a deed on July 5, 1697, from William Nickerson et al to Samuel
Sprague, Plym. Col. Deeds, V, 601.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 145
Hull, a fisherman.39 He became a freeman of the Colony
May 8, 1678. He was the executor of his father's estate in
1679,40 and appears to have resided at Hull until his
removal to Monomoit. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter
of John and Ann (Eogers) Hudson of Duxbury.
What were the terms on which he consented to preach,
it is impossible to state. The rami of thirty acres located
near the former Hotel Chatham station, on which he lived,
may have been given him by the village at the outset.41 If
so, it was probably procured with money or other com
modities accumulated in accordance with the order of the
Colony Court of June, 1679, mentioned in Chapter VI.42
It is more likely, however, that nothing was ever done
under this order of Court and that Mr. Vickery bought the
farm himself and was simply hired to preach for a stated
period or periods. It should be remembered that, at this
time there was no organized church at Monomoit. Those
who were church members there, were connected with the
Eastham church and subject to its discipline, und a preacher
was then desired at Monomoit only to relieve them of
the long journey to Eastham. Mr. Vickery was
promised a supply of hay and wood for his
use, according to the general custom,48 and was paid,
probably, at the rate of about 20 pounds a year. In
1699 he sold his house at Hull to one John Steel and
cast his lot for life with Monomoit.44
39. N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register Vl,"338. In their fishing excursions the people of
Hull and of the lower part of theoape frequently came into business relations. Benja
min, a brother of Jonathan, married into the Paine family of Eastham. This may ex
plain how Mr. Vickery was induced to come to Monomoit.
40. Suffolk Probate Records, estate of George Vickery.
41. This farm bounded east on John Nlckerson's land, south on the White pond,
north on the common land and west on the road from the old cemeteries across to
the Hawes Corner at West Chatham. See page 124, note 83, and a Proprietor's Book for
Chatham, Town Clerk's offlce.
42. Page 87 supra.
43. "The 3rd day of September, 1697, William NMckerson doth promise to get one
load of hay for Mr. Vickery this year & cart it into his ynrd. Insine Hugh Stewart do.
one load. Nathaniel Covel do. Thomas Nickerson do. Joseph Harden do. Thomas
Atkins do."— Town Records.
44. Suffolk Deeds XXI, 547.

146 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
The year 1697 also marked the termination of the war
with the French, begun in 1689 and known as King
William's War. There were no land hostilities in New
England of any consequence in the latter part of this war,
but sea-board places like Monomoit were, of course, con
stantly in fear of sudden attacks from roving French pri
vateers. In 1698 the inhabitants chose Nicholas Eldredge, William
Eldredge and Thomas Atkins as selectmen, William Ca
hoon constable, Joseph Harding tithingman and Nathaniel
Tomlon grandjuryman. In June of this year Eev. Grindal
Eawson of Mendon and Eev. Samuel Danforth of Taunton
travelled through this section of the Colony to inspect the
progress of the work among the Indians. They found at
Monomoit on the Indian lands in the east part of the place
14 Indian houses, indicating about that number of families.
They reported that their preacher was John Cousins and
their rulers or sachems were John Quason and Menekish.45
In 1699 Hugh Stewart, William Griffith Sen. and Joseph
Harding were selectmen, Moses Godfrey constable, Joseph
Eldredge tithingman, Samuel Eldredge grandjuryman and
William Cahoon and William Covell fence viewers. At a
meeting in August the selectmen were ordered "to make
all the reates that shall come to our place this yeare," also
" to raise 10 pounds of money to pay Mr. Vickery by the
last of October," and to collect all debts owing the village.
The amount raised this year by taxation for Mr. Vickery
and other purposes were "35 pound od money."
In 1700 the village officers were Joseph Harding, Thomas
Atkins and Thomas Nickerson selectmen, William Cahoon
treasurer, William Nickerson constable, Thomas Atkins
tithingman, Hugh Stewart grandjuryman, and Hugh
Stewart and Joseph Harding fence viewers. This year,
acting under the stimulus of Mr. Vickery's work, the village
45. Mass. Hist. Collections (1st Series) X, 133.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 147
voted to build a meeting house, the first one erected for the
use of the white people.46 At a meeting on Feb. 15, 1700,
it was voted to " bild a meten hous of 20 and 2 foot floor
and 13 foot in the wall." For this purpose they "made
chose of Gorg Godfree and William Nickerson to lok after
and see the work be don and at the same meten the inhab-
etence ded agree with Edward Small to be the fore work
man to get the tember and to frame the hous with the help
of the inhabtance and the inhababbetance ded agree to take
thare tornes and goo out with Edward Small to get the
tember two days a pese tell every man had took his torn."
It was also agreed " That every man that had a teme should
drag on lode to plase of the tember."
Having provided for framing the structure, the people
at a later meeting in May of the same year agreed with
William Eldredge to bring them boards and planks to
finish the building, the same to be delivered by the middle
of June. The inhabitants chose George Godfrey and
William Nickerson to receive the finishing, if brought, and
if not brought, they were to look elsewhere and buy boards
and planks and all other finishing for the house. At the
same meeting they made a rate of £6, 14s., 2d. to pay for
the meeting house frame. In August the inhabitants met
and ordered that "those men that had not took ther torn
in going out to get the tember for the meten hous nor drod
ther lod nor help to frame, that they should pay them that
ded the work for them and when the reat is made it shold
be took from thar reat that had don the work and aded to
them that had not took thar torn in doing the work."
46. The order of the Colony Court dated June 1679 (see page 87 supra) establishes
the fact that there was no meeting house at Monomoit at that date. If any had been
erected after 1679 and before 1700, it would naturally have been mentioned somewhere
in the vote of the town in 1700 and some disposition made of it. The vote of 1700 Is to
build "a meten hous," and nothing is said about any former one. It is evident from
the vote that all the timber put into it was new. In 1728, when the second
meeting house was built, tbe vote was to build a "new meeting house" and the
old one was mentioned.

148 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
After the framing which seems to have taken place in the
early summer, the work progressed slowly, but in the
autumn it was so far advanced that at a meeting in October
the inhabitants " ded agree with Thomas Atkenes to look
after the meten hous and sweep it and to lok and unlok it
as occasin sarve and at the same meten the inhabitence ded
agree that thar shold be a reat mad of eleven pound to
defra our town charges and promessed Thomas Atkenes ten
shiling a yeare for his panes of sweping the meten hous."
The finishing was not all completed this year, for in May
1701 the selectmen were instructed to buy more finishing
and go on and finish the meeting house.
The building when completed, was plain and rough, but
was doubtless one of the most pretentious affairs in the
village. There were no shingles nor clapboards upon it
and no glass for the windows. There was no steeple nor
even portico. Inside there were no pews except, possibly, one
for the family of the minister. Long benches were arranged
facing the pulpit on each side of a centre aisle. The men
sat on one side of the aisle, the women on the other side,
the oldest persons occupying the front seats and the others
being arranged in the order of age. It was used for all
public meetings of the village whether religious or secular.
Mr. Vickery gathered his people into this new building
and a period of prosperity and content seemed to stretch
out before them, when suddenly he was taken away
from them by a disaster, which cast the village into a state
of gloom for many months, and which must have seriously
retarded its spiritual and material development. On April
30, 1702, he went out in an open boat with a party of vil
lagers, probably on a fishing or whaling trip. The boat in
some way was overturned, it is supposed, and all in the
party were drowned.47 The names of his companions are
47. Rev. Joseph Lord In his Diary (Yarmouth Register Dec. 17, 1846) writes: "After
his [William Nlckerson's] death there was no one that was settled as a teacher to the

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 149
nowhere given, but it is certain that Lieut. Nicholas
Eldredge, William Cahoon and Edward Small per
ished with him.48 Mr. Vickery left a widow and
seven children, the oldest being of age. His widow
survived him only a few years, dying of a lingering illness
not long before 1706, when the property, neglected on
account of the widow's affliction and therefore depreciated
in value, was assigned to the two sons, Jonathan and David,
they paying certain sums of money to their five sisters.49
Later the Court, for reasons stated, assigned the whole to
Jonathan, subject to the aforesaid payments, who sold it
early in 1714 to Thomas Atkins.60 The family had prob
ably lett the village before this time. The son Jonathan
settled in Truro as early as 1706, and several of his sisters
had married in Eastham.61
Lieut. Nicholas Eldredge, who also lost his life in this disas
ter, was the eldest son of Bobert and Elizabeth (Nickerson)
Eldredge, born at Yarmouth August 18, 1650. He lived
people, that I can hear of, till Mr. Jonathan Viccory became such; ye time of whose
coming among them I am not certified of. But ye first mention of him that I have yet
found in ye town record is in ye year 1697. He continued here till he was drowned by
going in a boat, which was overset (as Is supposed) and all that were with him were
drowned likewise. But ye time of this and how long he continued here, I have not yet
learned. But I find him mentioned in ye record in ye year 1699. Since I wrote what Is
just before, I have found a receipt of his in the year 1700, where he wrote his name
Vickery. But, as I have since learned, he was drowned on ye last day of ye second
month 1702."
48. Administration on the estates of these three men was granted at about the same
time and their Inventories were taken on the same day by the same persons, John
Doane, William Eldredge and Thomas Atkins. The Probate Records state that they
each died on April 30. There is a well defined tradition in the Small family that their
ancestor was drowned.
49. Barnstable Probate Records.
50. See note 86 page 124.
61. Children of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Hudson) Vickery (order uncertain):
Jonathan, b. about 1683, m. Mary, perhaps daughter of Nicholas Eldredge,
about 1705. 2. Elizabeth, b  , m. Jonathan Collins, son of Joseph
of Eastham, Jan. 27, 1704-5 (East. Rec.) 3. Joanna, b.  , m. Samuel
Treat, Jr., of Eastham Oct. 27, 1708 (East. Rec.) 4. Mary, b.  . 6. David, b.
 , m. 1st Mary Cooke Apr. 24, 1718 (Truro Rec), m. 2nd Martha Mayo, dau. of
Samuel of Eastham (int. Apr. 29, 1720). 6. Rebecca, b.  , m. John Wing, son of
John of Harwich July 24, 1723 (Har. Rec.) 7. Sarah, b.  , m. Thomas Higgins
of Eastham Jan. 28. 1724-6 (East. Rec.)

150 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
at Ockpeset on the farm, formerly of Teague Jones, which
he bought in 1686 of Elisha Hedge of Yarmouth. He also
owned the John Downing farm, bought of Hedge at the
same time, and thirty acres of meadow at Eed Eiver Neck.52
He appears to have been the leader of the village in military
matters and was the representative at the first General
Court of the Colony in 1692 after the consolidation. Ad
ministration on his estate was granted to his widow Eliza
beth July 9, 1702. His inventory shows that he had
considerable live stock and owned half a share in a whale
boat belonging to the village and in which, perhaps, the
party were drowned. His widow was living as late as
April 1713.53
William Cahoon may have been related to Joseph
Cahoon, who was under guardianship of Caleb Lumbert
and Joseph Kent in 1681, 54 and was doubtless a brother of
James Cahoon, who was a soldier under Capt. John Gorham
in 1690 in the expedition to Canada.66 He married
52. Deed from Elisha Hedge to Nicholas Eldredge dated March 22, 1685 6 (Certified
copy inM. L. Luce papers). For a detailed description of the property described in
this deed see page 107 supra and notes 10 and 11 page 109 supra.
53. Deed from James Eldredge to Thomas Howes dated April 6, 1713. M. L. Luce
papers ,
Children of Nicholas and Elizabeth Eldredge (order uncertain) : 1 Mary, b. — ^ — .
m. perhaps Jonathan Vickery about 1705. 2. Elizabeth, b.  , m. Samuel Harding,
son of Joseph of Eastham Aug. 28, 1707 (East. Rec ) 3. James, b.  -, m. Ruth  .
(His will, dated in 1757, calls Solomon Collins his "brother-in-law," but this is an error.
Solomon Collins was the fatber-in-law of Rebecca, dau. of James Eldredge, and this
may have caused the mistake. Solomon Collins, son of John, married Eunice, dau. of
Samuel Atkins (see estate of said Samuel . ) James Eldredge must have married a Ruth,
daughter of John Collins, in order to be brother-in-law of Solomon, for Samuel Atkins
had no daughter Ruth, who could have married James Eldredge, but there is no
evidence that John Collins bad a daughter Ruth. His will, dated in 1749, mentions by
name three daughters and a child of a deceased daughter.but does not mention any Ruth .
4. f John, b.  , probably died unmarried, as in his last sickness he
was ill three weeks at the house of his brother James, who was appointed his admin
istrator Feb. 20,1722-3. 5. Martha, b.  .probablym. Benjamin Snow of Eastham,
son of Joseph, as 2nd wife Aug. 7, 1723 (East. Rec.) 6. Nicholas, b.  , m. Hannah
 before 1724, had one child and died about 1768 (Chat. Rec.) He was unfortu
nate. 7. Desire, b.  , m. 1st Charles Galop of Chatham Nov. 10, 1726; 2nd John
Dune of Barnstable Oct. 26, 1749 (Chat. Rec. )
54 Plym. Col. Rec. VI, 69.
55. State Archives, Vol. 114, 116.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 151
Elizabeth, daughter of William and Mercy (Williams)
Nickerson,66 not long after 1690. By deed dated Septem
ber 14 1695, he bought of Abraham Chase of Harwich, son
of William, a tract of about 60 acres in the Hall neighbor
hood at Harwich, bounding west on Coy's Brook. Two
thirds part of this farm he sold, by deed dated June 8 1696,
to Samuel Nickerson of Monomoit and the remaining 20
acres, being the north part of the lot, he sold by deed
dated June 3 1697 to John Smith, later of Harwich,
receiving in each case in exchange the property of
the grantee at Monomoit.57 In 1697 he was living
on one of the farms of Samuel Smith at Monomoit,
bought of John Savage.68 His inventory mentions a parcel
of upland on the north side of the Herring Brook, a meadow
lot at Gregory's Neck and one twelfth of a " whale boat
well fitted."59 Administration was granted to his widow
July 10, 1702.
Edward Small or Smalley was the son of Francis Smalley
of Ossipee, N. H., Kittery, Me., and other places, who
removed to Truro late in life and died there.00 Edward
married Mary Woodman, daughter of Judge John and Mary
(Field) Woodman of Dover, N. H.,61 and was residing
there in that part now Durham as late as 1694. He was of
Monomoit as early as 1696. His brothers, Francis, Daniel
and Benjamin, settled in Truro. He did not buy land here,
as his inventory in 1702 shows only personal estate. He
56. Records Superior Court of Judicature VII, 31; Barnstable Probate Records, estate
of William Cahoon.
57. Josiah Paine papers.
58. Barnstable Probate Records, estate of Samuel Smith.
59. Children of William and Elizabeth (Nickerson) Cahoon: 1. William, b.  ,
m. Sarah  about 1716. (They removed to Harwich soon after 1727. Their chil
dren were Mercy, b. May 7. 1717, Sarah, b. Mar. 4, 1719-20, James, b. May 8, 1721,
William, Nathaniel, John, Reuben, Downing, Deliverance, Ell7abetb, Mary.) 2. James,
b.  , m. Mary  . (They removed to Eastham after 1722. Their children
were Moses, James, Reuben, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Hannah, Lydia). 3. Others
unknown. 60. Stackpole, Old Kittery and her Families 733.
61. Will of John Woodman, Rockingham Co., N. H. Probate Records.

152 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
was a carpenter by trade and had charge of building the
meeting house in 1700. Administration was granted to
his widow July 8, 1702. She appears to have been an
energetic woman. She purchased after her husband's death
from John Smith and Daniel Hamilton a tract of land at
Tom's Neck, where she probably brought up the family.62
In 1707 her brother Jonathan conveyed to her twenty acres
of land at Oyster Eiver, now Durham, N. H.63 She removed
to Harwich and later, before 1717, returned with most of
her family to Oyster Eiver. On July 8, 1717, "Mary
Small of Oyster Eiver in the township of Dover, late of
Harwidg," made Samuel Sturgis her attorney to sell the
land at Chatham bought by her of Smith and Hamilton.64
She was living at Oyster Eiver, then Durham, as late as
1742, when she conveyed land there to some grandsons. Her
son Edward and daughter Elizabeth remained in Mono
moit, Jonathan settled in Harwich, and Zachariah and
Benjamin afterwards returned and settled in Harwich.66
In the year 1701 the village made choice of the following
officers: William Nickerson, Sen., Joseph Harding, and
Thomas Atkins selectmen and assessors, Nathaniel Covell
constable, James Griffith tithingman, Thomas Atkins treas
urer, Joseph Eldredge grandjuryman, and William Griffith,
Jr., and John Smith surveyors and fence viewers. James
Griffith obtained leave to maintain a pair of bars "across
62. Josiah Paine papers.
63. From letter of Mr. Josiah Paine, dated Mar. 14, 1910. I am indebted to Mr.
Paine for many of the facts about Edward Small here stated.
64. Josiah Paine papers.
65. Children of Edward and Mary (Woodman) Small or Smalley (order uncertain):
1. Edward, b.  . m. Sarah Nickerson probably dau. of John April 3, 1704 (East.
Rec.) 2. Elizabeth, b.  , m. Caleb Lumbert of Monomoit, son of Caleb. Sept. 1,
1704 (East. Rec.) 3. Jonathan, b.  , m. Damaris Winslow, dau, of Kenelm of
Harwich July 30, 1713 (Har. Rec.) 4. Joseph, b.  , m. Jemima Davis at Oyster
River Nov. 27, 1718 (Dover, N. H.,Rec) and lived there. 5. Zachariah, b in 1698, m.
1st Jane Davis at Oyster River Mar. 3,1720 (Dover, N. H., Rec.), 2nd Hannah Paine,
widow of Ebenezer of Eastham in 1742. 6. Benjamin, b.  , m. Patience Baker
June 29, 1726. 7. Alice, b.  . Zachariah and Joseph were marriel by Rev. Hugh
Adams.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 168
the way that goes down to the Stage " for one year. This
is the road to Stage Harbor. Griffith was probably living
at this time on the William Mitchell place, lying between
Mitchell's river and the highway, having married Lieut.
William Mitchell's widow.66 This year Thomas Howes,
son of Joseph of Yarmouth, settled at Monomoit, where a
few years later he bought the William Griffith farm, near
the Indian bounds or inlands.67 Jehoshaphat Eldredge, son
of William of Yarmouth, also came about this time and
settled on the west side of Crow's pond, south of and
adjoining the farm formerly of Joseph Nickerson.68
66. The exact time of the death of Lieut. William Mitchell is difficult to determine,
but as be left only one child and is not mentioned in the village records or elsewhere
after 1693, it is thought that he must have died many years before 1709, when his estate
was settled by the husband of his widow, who had married again. He was perhaps
the son of Richard Mitchell of Yarmouth, about whom little Is known. He was a resi
dent of Monomoit as early as 1687, (see note 43, page 93 supra) where he married
Mercy, daughter of William and Mercy (Williams) Nickerson not long after. He took
the oath of a fieeman at Barnstable June 24, 1690, was one of the petitioners in 1691
for the enlargement of Monomoit and was one of its representatives to the General
Court in 1692. His farm of about 40 acres was located on the west side of Mitchell's
river, which was named for him, and lay between tbe river and the road to the wharf
or "stage." Administration on his estate was granted Nov.- 1, 1709, to James Griffith,
who was then the husband of his widow, and on the same day, Nathaniel Nickerson
was appointed guardian of William, his only child, being described as "uncle" of the
minor. This son married 1st Tabitha Eldredge, probably daughter of Joseph, Mar. 19 ?
1713, (N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register XXIII,178) and 2nd Sarah HIgglns of Eastham Apr.'
10,1717 (East. Rec.) He sold a portion of his father's farm to Nathaniel Nickerson
before 1725 and the remainder before 1740 to Richard Knowles. The description of
this remaining part sold to Knowles is as follows : A parcel of upland "lying in the
neck called Hog Neck containing Thirty acres be it more or less Bounded beginning at
a Stone in the ditch near the Highway, thence runing Easterly down to the Salt water
River, thence runing Northerly by said River till It comes to the Land of Nathaniel
Nickerson Deceased, thence runing Westerly in ye Range of sd Nlckerson's land till it
comes to Samuel Bambleton's land thence runing Southerly by sd Hambleton's Range
till lt comes to ye land of David Nickerson, thence runing by sd David Nlckerson's land
to the Highway, fiom thence by sd Highway to the first specified bound." (Extract
from mortgage Richard Knowles to Edward Hutchinson et al dated afout 1740. Osborn
Nickerson papers ) As Knowles In this mortgage says that this tract was bought of
William Mitchell, we have here an accurate description of the Mitchell farm, except
the part sold to Nathaniel Nickerson. Mr. Knowles sold this tract to Mr. Elisha
Doaneof Eastham, who by deed dated Feb. 13, 1762, conveyed it to Joseph Atwood of
Chatham . (JosephAtwoodpapers.)
67. See deed from William Griffith to Thomas Howes dated April 8, 1703, and deed
from Philip Griffith to Thomas Howes dated October 22, 1705. M. L. Luce papers.
68. See deed from William Covell to John Crowell, Jr., of Yarmouth dated Sept.
10,1716, (Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 11,012) and the will of said Eldredge
(Barnstable Probate Records).

154 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
In 1702 Joseph Harding, Thomas Atkins and William
Nickerson Sen. were selectmen and assessors, John
Stewart tithingman, Thomas Howes grandjuryman, William
Nickerson, son of John, constable, and Nathaniel Covell
and William Nickerson Jr. surveyors and fence viewers.
Nathaniel Tomlon was hired to build a sufficient pound for
cattle, but it is not likely that it was built, as in June
1704 John Smith was chosen to go to Court and answer
for the town in the proceedings against it for not having a
pound. William Griffith, William Nickerson, son of John, -and
Thomas Atkins were selectmen and assessors in 1703, John
Smith grandjuryman, Daniel Hamilton constable, Michael
Stewart tithingman, Caleb Lumbert and Nathaniel Nicker
son surveyors and fence viewers. Thomas Nickerson was
chosen a commissioner to join with the selectmen in taking
an inventory of the taxable property and carry it to the
shire town.
The record of the village officers in 1704 has been lost,
but it appears from other sources that William Nickerson,
Thomas Atkins and Joseph Harding were selectmen and
Daniel Hamilton constable.69
In 1705 William Eldredge, Nathaniel Covell and Thomas
Nickerson were selectmen and assessors, Joseph Eldredge
constable, Moses Godfrey grandjuryman, Samuel Eldredge
tithingman, WiUiam Nickerson, son of John, treasurer,
William Covell and Jeremiah Nickerson surveyors and
fence viewers. William Nickerson, son of John, obtained
permission to set a gate across " the highway that goes down
to the Stage" for two years. He had land on each side of
this way, his house being on the west side of the way in
the vicinity of the present Davis residence. About this
time a number of new settlers joined the village, John
69 . State Archives Vol . 113, 376 .

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 156
Atkins, a brother of Thomas, from Eastham, Ebenezei
Hawes and Edmund Hawes, sons of John Hawes, from
Yarmouth, Robert Paddock, son of Zachariah Paddock, from
Barnstable, and Samuel Tucker.
The act of 1694 incorporating the town of Harwich,
heretofore quoted, was regarded by all parties
for several years after its passage, as including
the Hall neighborhood within the limits of the new
town. The settlers there attended the Harwich town
meetings, paid their taxes in Harwich and one of them, Mr.
Gershom Hall, served one year as constable ol
the town.70 Somewhere about the year 1699, however,
they began to have doubts as to the meaning of
the act, and refused that year to pay their taxes to
Harwich.71 The matter appears to have been much dis
cussed, and in October of that year the Monomoit people
appointed William Nickerson Sen. to go to Boston and
"desire of the Court that we may be a township and that
our bounds may be known between us and Harwich." It
does not appear whether anything was done under this
vote or not, but the " South Sea " or Hall neighborhood
refused thereafter to pay taxes to Harwich, on the ground
that they belonged to Monomoit.72 Whether they
paid taxes to Monomoit or took any part in Monomoit
affairs does not appear, but it seems certain that th^ey were
assessed there. The matter dragged along for several
years without effective action being taken. In 1702 Har
wich voted to reimburse its constable for any trouble in
collecting of the "South Sea" people, in case "our town's
bounds shall not extend so far as to reach them and we
shall faill in our expectations therein."73 Again on Feb. 8,
70. State Archives Vol. 113, 351.
71. Harwich Town Records; Freeman, History of Cape Cod II, 495 note.
72. State Archives, Vol. 113, 351.
73. Harwich Town Records.
-(12)-

156 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
1703, the town voted to protect and indemnify all former
constables in collecting their rates from these people and
at the same time chose Ensign William Merrick to bring
the subject before the General Court, "that our town's
bounds may be fully known."74 Before any action was
taken, under this Harwich vote, it seems that Monomoit
presented a petition to tbe Court praying it to hear and
determine the controversy over the boundary between the
two places. This petition has been lost from the files, but
it appears that on May 29, 1703, the Couucil sent this peti
tion down to the House of Representatives with the rec
ommendation that, in this and some similar cases, a surveyor
general be appointed. Apparently the House did not con
cur, for on July 8 it passed an order that the inhabitants
in controversy between the two places be rated to Mono
moit.76 When the General Court met for its next session,
Mr. Merrick presented a formal petition in behalf of Har
wich under date of October 27, 1703, which was set down
for hearing on November 8.76 It then appearing that Mon
omoit, having lost Mr. Vickery by death, had no one who
might be called a minister, while Harwich had a learned
and capable one in the person of Eev. Nathaniel Stone, the
Court thought it best for the time being to refuse the
74. Harwich Town Records ; Freeman, History of Cape Cod II, 495 note.
75 General Court Records VII, 338; State Archives Vol. 113, 372 a.
76. The Petition of William Merrick Agent for and on behalfe of the town of Harwich In
ye County of Barnstable  Humbly Sheweth That there are about six or seven familys
within the sd Town, the heads whereof are Gershom Hall, Ben]" Hall. Samuel Hall,
Munnoa Ellis, Joseph Sefference, and Samuel Nicholson who were at first Petitioners
together with other, the Inhabitants to be made a Township have all along been ac
cepted and reputed as belonging to the said town, have acted In all Town affairs and
had equal vote and priviledge with other the Inhabitants, the said Gershom Hall
served one year as constable of tbe sd Town, all of them are from time to time assessed
and have pd their proportion of Public Rates & Taxes to the Province with other the
Inhabitants to the Constable of the sd Town, yet so lt is, may lt please your Excellency
and Honor that for three or four years last past they have refused payment of their
Quotas to the Town Taxes on pretence they are belonging to a Constablerick of Mono
moit. Your petr therefore humbly prays that there may be an order of this Honble Court
to oblige the sd persons to pay and discharge their respective parts of the sd Town rates
or Taxes whereof they are In arrears, as of all others which for the future shall be
assessed on the sd Inhabitants according to law. State Archives Vol. 113, 351.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 157
demands of Monomoit, until they should have a suitable
minister. It accordingly passed the following order under
date of November 8, 1703 :
"Whereas the Persons named in the petition of Harwich
viz : Gershom Hall, Benja Hall, Sam'l Hall, Manoah
Ellis, Joseph Seffe ranee & Sam'l Nicholson, being petition
ers77 with others in the obtaining of a grant of the said Town
of Harwich and there being a Learned Orthodox Minister
settled there, Ordered that the said six families do pay
their Arrears of all past Charges in the said Town of
Harwich, and that they continue to pay their respective
Quotas of all future town Charges there, until there be a
Learned Orthodox Minister settled at Monomoit, when this
Court may take further order."78
If the General Court had erred before in drawing an
act leaving the boundaries of the town indefinite,
it had again blundered in attempting to correct its
mistake. The people of Monomoit, true descendants
of William Nickerson, soon found the loophole in this
act. It applied only to the six families mentioned. Since
1694 the taxable population at the "South Sea," had been
increased by the addition of Isaac Atkins, Beriah
Broadbrooks, John Ellis, Joseph Severance Jr., and
Samuel Nickerson Jr. With the exception of Mr. Atkins,
they were the sons or sons-in-law of the first settlers.
The act did not purport to apply to them and the authorities
of Monomoit at once proceeded to tax them. Not only
this, but when they refused to pay, the constable of Mon
omoit, Mr. Daniel Hamilton, under orders from the
selectmen, levied upon and seized the property of some of
them and two of them, Beriah Broadbrooks and John Ellis,
he committed to jail.79 This was on April 23, 1705. The
77 Samuel Nicholson was not In fact a petitioner as stated. He was not then a
resident there. See State Archives Vol. 113, 59.
78 . General Court Records VIII, 7 .
79. State Archives Vol. 113, 376, 377.

158 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
next day Mr. Samuel Sears of Harwich appeared and paid
the taxes and costs claimed by Monomoit and obtained
their release, for which expense he was reimbursed by the
town of Harwich.80 The aggrieved parties thereupon
appealed to the General Court for redress. They presented
a petition under date of May 25, 1705, and an order for a
hearing was made thereon.81 At this hearing, held on
October 30, 1705, agents for both Harwich and Monomoit
were present and heard, and the Court after due considera
tion passed the following order, dated November 3, 1705,
which was this time drawn with care :
"Ordered that all those who are or hereafter shall be
Inhabitants of that tract of land formerly ordered by the
Government of the late Colony of New Plimouth to be
under the Con.-tablerick of Manamoit,82 which was not part
of the purchased Lands called Manamoit, shall pay their
respective Quotas of all Province & town charges to the
town of Harwich until there be a Learned Orthodox Minister
settled in Manamoit, when this Court may take further
Order; and the several sums of money taken for Eates by
the Constable or Constables of Manamoit from any of the
Inhabitants of the aforesaid tract of land since the order of
this Court in November83 last respecting the said Town of
Harwich & Manamoit shall be returned to the persons
respectively from whom they were taken by the said Town
of Manamoit, which being done no trouble shall be given
to the Constable or Constables of Manamoit for his or their
proceedings in the affair aforesaid."84
This order of the Court ended the controversy.
80. Harwich Town Records; State Archives Vol . 113, 377.
81. State Archives Vol. 113, 368, 373.
82. This is the spelling commonly found in the Mass. Colony Records. The name,
however, whether spelled with an "a" or an "o," was always pronounced the same
way, lt Is believed. The "a" in Manamoit had thesound of "a" in the word "want," and
Manamoit was pronounced as if it were spelled Mawnawmolt, or Monomoit, just as
Quason was pronounced Quawson or Quossen, and Asbon, Awsbon or Osbon.
83. This must be a mistake for "November before last."
84. General Court Records VIII, 171.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 159
In June of this year the Court abated to Monomoit nine
pounds of their last year's taxes " in consideration of so
much by them laid on six families then in controversy be
twixt said district and the town of Harwich and were
assessed by Harwich to the same taxes."86
In 1706 the town chose Capt. Joseph Harding, Thomas
Atkins and Ensign William Nickerson selectmen and as
sessors, Daniel Hamilton treasurer, William Covell con
stable, Nathaniel Nickerson grandjuryman, Nathaniel
Tomlon tithingman, Thomas Howes and Joseph Covell
surveyors and fence viewers and William Nickerson Sen.
clerk. The last named had in fact been the town clerk
each year previously, but did not record his election.
Edward Small, formerly Jr., died the latter part of this
year.86 In 1707 the selectmen and assessors were Thomas
Atkins, Daniel Hamilton and Edmund Hawes, the con^
stable Eobert Nickerson, grandjuryman Robert Paddock,
tithingman Caleb Lumbert, clerk William Nickerson Sen.,
surveyors and fence viewers, John Smith and Joseph
Eldredge. This year Jonathan Godfrey from Eastham
settled in the village.
At the regular meeting in March 1708, Thomas Atkins,
Daniel Hamilton and Ebenezer Hawes were chosen select
men and assessors, Thomas Atkins town clerk, Thomas
Howes constable, Jonathan Godfrey tithingman, William
Covell treasurer, John Atkins and Moses Godfre3r sur
veyors and fence viewers and John Nickerson, son of John,
grandjuryman. This year Richard Sears, son of Paul Sears
of Yarmouth, settled at Monomoit. By deed dated March
3 1707—8, he purchased of Mr. Samuel Sprague all the lands
85. General Court Records.
86. Administration was granted to his widow Sarah Jan. 8, 1706-7. She died in about
a year and administration on both estates was granted to William Nickerson Jan . 9,
1707-8. They left one child, Bathsbeba, who in July 1723, had Elnathan Eldredge as
guardian.

160 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
and rights of the latter paying therefor 205 pounds. This in
cluded all that one-third interest in the undivided and
unpurchased lands at Monomoit which he purchased in
1693 of William Nickerson and Sarah Covell, also a farm
in the easterly part of the town which Sprague had bought
of Joseph Quason, extending from the head of the Oyster
pond east to the salt water and bounding south on the
tract at Tom's Neck owned by the Smiths.87 The Sears
family soon became a leading family in the place, retaining
that position for a century and a half and then becoming
one of the leading families of Boston. On April 27, 1708,
Richard Sears was allowed "to fence across the highway
that g — to  [James] head in tow places where it was
convenient for sd Seears to fence his land, only sd Seears
is to make and maintain convenient gates on the highway for
they that have ocation to pass the highway in and out, so
to contenu tell the town sees caus to alter it."
This year the inhabitants " did inact that their should
not a ram run at large upon the commons, that is to say,
the land that lay as common, from the first of August tell
the last of October one penalty of being forfeit or a prize
to him that shall so find a ram as above and it shall be
lawfull for any person that find any ram running as above
sd to kill or dispose of sd ram as he sees cause, further
it is agreed upon the authority abovesd that if any person
shall so find a ram that they shall bring the account of ye
ram and mark to ye town clerk." This order was renewed
and re-enacted in subsequent years.
For 1709 Daniel Hamilton, Thomas Atkins and Ebenezer
Hawes were selectmen and assessors, Thomas Atkins clerk,
William Covell treasurer, Nathaniel Tomlon constable,
Joseph Stewart tithingman, John Atkins grandjuryman,
Nathaniel Covell and Robert Nickerson surveyors and
87. See deed from Samuel Sprague to Richard Sears dated March 3, 1707-8. Josiah
Paine papers.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 161
fence viewers. Daniel Sears, a brother of Richard, settled
in the village this year, becoming a partner with his brother
in the Monomoit lands.
Joseph Eldredge, Moses Godfrey and Thomas Atkins
were selectmen and assessors in 1710, Ensign William
Nickerson treasurer, Thomas Atkins clerk, [John] Nick
erson Jr. constable, Ephraim Covell tithingman. The
surveyors were the same as in 1709. This year Nathan
Bassett, son of Nathaniel Bassett of Yarmouth, settled at
Monomoit, buying an interest in the common land of the
Covells and locating on the south side of the road just
west of the present East Harwich meeting house.88 The
village voted to reimburse Serg. Daniel Hamilton for the
money he had laid out in " looking after Hannah Tucker
when she was not capable to provid for herself."
In 1711 the selectmen and assessors were Ebenezer
Hawes, Ensign William Nickerson and William Nickerson
son of John, Thomas Atkins clerk, Nathaniel Covell treas
urer, Nathaniel Nickerson constable, John Ellis tithing
man, Samuel Taylor grandjuryman. The surveyors of
1710 were re-elected. It was voted that no one should
"drive any sheep for shearing till the last Monday of May,
that is any sheep that runs on the lands that ly as com
mons one penialty of forfeiture of twenty pounds money to
be paid to him or them that shall complain of and prose
cute for the same." Thomas Atkins was chosen to make a
pound and he was to have 35 shillings for his labor. This
time the pound was built. It was located on the corner
opposite the old cemeteries on a lot which was part of the
common land.89 The town also voted to exempt from tax
ation both land, boats and men, in case Mr. Daniel Green
leaf of Yarmouth should purchase a piece of land at Mon
omoit either on an island or on the main land convenient
88. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's office
89. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's office.

162 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
for "feshery" and should set forth a boat or more, not
exceeding three, on that design. Mr. Greenleaf was the
minister at Yarmouth and, as he continued in that work, I
presume this vote amounted to nothing. The "feshery"
referred to was the whale fishery, of which these were the
. halcyon times on the Cape. Nearly all the young men
adopted this pursuit. Watchmen were stationed along the
shore bluffs, who gave the signal when a whale appeared,
a boat's crew was gathered and the attack made on the
monster. These lookouts were maintained for many years,
until the whales were driven into deeper water by the
treatment received.90
The officers of the village chosen in March 1712, the last
officers of Monomoit, were Ebenezer Hawes, John Smith,
and John Atkins selectmen, Thomas Atkins clerk, Nathaniel
Covell treasurer, Nathaniel Nickerson constable, Samuel
Nickerson tithingman, Joseph Eldredge grandjuryman, and
the Same surveyors as in 1711. This year Ephraim Covell
sold his farm and removed to Harwich. John Ellis, a
recent settler, son of Manoah Ellis of Harwich, died on
October 19, leaving a family.91
During the last ten years a second war with the French
and Indians had been in progress in the Colonies and else
where. It began in 1702 and was known as Queen Anne's
War. In May 1704 Col. Benjamin Church sailed with 550
men, 14 transports, 36 whaleboats and 3 ships of war
90. A writer in 1746 reports: "Formerly for many successive years, they [the
whales] set In along shore by Cape Cod, there was good Whaling In Boats, proper
watchmen ashore by signals gave notice when a whale appeared. After some years
they left this Ground and passed further off upon the Banks at some Distance from
Shore. The Whalers then used Sloops with Whale boats aboard and this Fishery
turned to good account. At present, they seem in a great measure to be drove off from
these Banks and take their Course in deep water, that ls, in the Ocean." "This year
(1746) not above 3 or 4 Whales caught on Cape Cod." Douglass, Summary I, 60, 69.
91. John Ellis of Harwich married Martha Severance, daughter of Joseph, June 21,
1706, (East. Rec.) She was appointed administratrix of his estate Jan. 7, 1712-3. On
June 23, 1717, "Widow Ellis' Benjamin, Joseph, John and Thankful" were baptized.
(Har. Ch. Rec.) These four are believed to be his children.

UNDER THE BAY COLONY. 163
against Acadia, whose coasts he ravaged. Probably many
from Monomoit went with him, as Col. Church visited
every town on the Cape the winter before, seeking
recruits for the whale boat fleet. Later in the
war there may have been some, who served under
Col. Nicholson at Lake Champlain in 1709, where he
gathered a force to go against Canuda. Still others
may have been with him in 1710 at the capture of Port
Eoyal, and again in 1711 in the ill-fated expedition against
Quebec, but the detailed record of these interesting move
ments is not to be found.92
92. In general lt can be said that the Cape people In these times were not anxious to
leave their families at the mercy of privateers, in order to fight the French and Indians
on the northern frontier. Capt. John Thacher writing to Gov. Stoughton on Dec. 22.
1694, respecting warrants for impressing soldiers, reports as follows: "From Mono
moy I had one man sent forthwith who watted 7 or 8 days, but not a man more apeerlng
I released him . * * * » I would only crave leave further to say that we in this
County are under very greate disadvantag at this time especialy for our men were
allaramed with the press neare a fortnight before the warrant came to me, souldiers
being prest and sent from the northern towns. So that ours were upon their watch.
2 ly. All our young and strong men are Imployed in whaling and mostly have their
rendlvous remote from the towns and if they see any man coming towards them, pres
ently mistrust; make a shoute and run Into the thickets.
3 ly. Those that can't avoyd being taken, if they have money, pay and If they have lt
not, they will make friends and get it." Proc. Mass. Hist. Society Vol. 43, 507.
But while they avoided impressment as much as possible, it is certain that many
throughout the Cape towns were to be found in the whale boat fleets, which Col.
Church five times led against the northern enemies during King William's and Queen
Anne's Wars.

CHAPTEE IX.

REV. HUGH ADAMS AND THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
After the death of Mr. Vickery, the inhabitants, in Jan
uary 1703, agreed with Mr. Gershom Hall of Harwich
to preach to them, promising to pay him "twenty pound
yearly so long as he continew in that work." It is sup
posed that he served as preacher at this time and also a
part of the next year, as in November 1704, the inhabitants
voted to raise "ten pound to pay Mr. Hall for his coming
and preching for us the last sumer past." In April 1705
they were again on the lookout for a preacher and, in May
1706, they offered Mr. Hall 26 pounds a year, if he would
come and preach to them, but without success.
Mr. Hall was not an ordained minister. He was,
like Mr. Vickery, a layman, who possessed natural gifts
as a speaker. He was the son of John and Elizabeth
(Larned) Hall of Barnstable and Yarmouth, being born in
the former place March 5, 1648. He married Bethiah,
daughter of Edward Bangs of Eastham, and settled on the
east side of the Herring river at the " South Sea,"
a little before 1688, being a pioneer in that locality.
His neighborhood, as we have seen, was annexed to Mon
omoit in 1691 and he was chosen as its first deputy to the
Plymouth Court. He was by occupation a farmer and
millwright. "His house, it is understood, stood on the
high ground which overlooks the meadows, near or upon

INCORPORATION. 165
the spot where the late Isaiah Kelley's house stood."1 He
died October 31, 1732, and was buried at Nobscusset.2
In July 1706 the selectmen were authorized to interview
Mr. Hall again and see if they could not get him for six
months, and if not, then to get "a coleg man as cheap as
they can." They reported to the village on October 31
that they had hired a college man for six months for 15
pounds and his board, his time to begin from the first
Sabbath of October. The person referred to was Eev.
John Latimer, the first educated minister employed in the
place. At the expiration of his six months, he was hired,
March 13 1706-7, for a year longer at the rate of 48 pounds
for the year, he paying his own board, an arrangement
probably more to his liking. In 1708 a strong effort was made
to induce him to settle permanently. The inhabitants voted
to buy the farm late of Mr. Vickery and give it to him, also to
buy boards, shingles, etc., whenever he should wish to
build a new house thereon,3 to pay him 54 pounds yearly
and 10 pounds additional, whenever the "South Sea" people
should be added to the village. For some reason, how
ever, the negotiations failed.
Mr. Latimer was the son of John Latimer of Wethersfield,
Conn. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1703.
It is not likely that he had been settled as a pastor before
coming to Monomoit. He was a young man, unmarried
and just entering upon his life work. He boarded
around at first among his parishioners, among whom he ap
pears to have been popular and with whom he formed some
1 . Mr . Josiah Paine In Deyo, History of Barnstable Co . , 835 .
%. Mr. Hall's first wife died Oct. 15, 1696, and he m. 2nd Martha Bramhall of Hing
ham. Children of Gershom and Bethiah (Bangs) Hall: 1. Samuel, b. in 1669, m.
Patience Ryder of Yarmouth Feb. 7, 1697. 2. Edward, b. in 1671, m. 1st Mercy Stewart,
dau. of Hugh, of Monomoit; 2nd Sarah, widow of Daniel Cole, Nov. 17, 1717. 3. Beth
iah b. about 1672, m. 1st Kenelm Winslow of Harwich; 2nd, Joseph Hawes of Yar
mouth. 4. Mercy, b.  , m. John Chase of Harwich. 6. Jonathan, b.  , m.
1st Hannah Bramhall of Dover, 2nd in 1751, Elizabeth Hedge of Chatham.
3. The house on the place was then old and out of repair.

166 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
strong friendships. He went from Monomoit to that part
of Eastham called Billingsgate (Wellfleet), where he was
resident in 1711. 4 He died in Boston late in 1713 unmar
ried. In his will he remembered two of his friends at Mon
omoit, Mr. and Mrs. Moses Godfrey, with a legacy of
50 pounds.5
On August 1, 1709, the term of Mr. Latimer having ex
pired and further offers being refused by him, the village
chose Daniel Hamilton as town agent to look out and hire a
minister. Two months later (Oct. 20) Mr. Hamilton and
Ebenezer Hawes were chosen "to make preparation for a
minister, that if Mr. Cotten corns to Sandwedg for them to
acompeny him here to this town and provid for him here."
The Mr. Cotton referred to was probably Rev. Theophilus
Cotton, a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1701, and
brother of Rev. Rowland Cotton, who was settled at Sand
wich. If he came at all, his stay was short, as in January,
1710,the inhabitants "agreed to heir Mr. Short for half a year,
if he could be heired." Rev. Matthew Short, who is referred
to, came and preached a few months in the early part of the
year, receiving 15 shillings per Sunday. He was the son
of Henry and Mary or Sarah Short of Newbury, Mass.,
born March 14, 1688, and graduating at Harvard College in
1707. Fresh from his studies, he doubtless gathered expe-
periences from his brief stay not wholly valueless in his later
career. He settled at Attleborough, being ordained there
November 12, 1712, where he remained till May 31, 1715.
He was at Saco, Me., from 1716 to 172 26 and the following
year was settled over the East Precinct of Norton (now
Easton), where he died April 16, 1731. 7
4. State Archives, Vol. 113, 606, 607.
6. In his will dated Nov. 27, 1713, he describes himself as of Eastham. but then re
siding in Boston. John Otis of Barnstable was his executor. Suff. Probate Records,
XVIII., 196.
6. He was Chaplain of Capt. Samuel Hinck's Co. from March 28 to November 21, 1722,
at Winter Harbor, Me. N.E Hist, and Gen. Register XV, 286.
7. For a full account of Mr. Short see Chaffln, History of Easton. See the Appendix
of this history for one of Mr. Short's sermons. See also a pamphlet entitled "A
Thankful Memorial of God's Sparing Mercy," by Mr. Short (Boston Pub. Library) .

INCORPORATION. 167
On June 26 1710, the village voted to raise the balance
due him for preaching and chose John Atkins "town agent"
to procure a successor. It does not appear from the town
records whom Mr. Atkins engaged, but Rev. Joseph
Lord in his Diary states that Rev. Jonathan Russell
Jr. and Rev. Benjamin Allen were heard here about
this time.8 They supplied the pulpit only a short
time, Mr. Eussell succeeding to his father's pastor
ate in Barnstable after the death of the latter on
Feb. 2, 1711, and Mr. Allen settling later at Bridge-
water. It will be observed from the foregoing narrative that the
village had been rather unfortunate in its efforts to secure
preachers. Although, since the death of William Nickerson
Sen., it had been steadily growing in population, although
new settlers, coming from Eastham on the one side and from
Yarmouth on the other, had increased the village to
above fifty families, although it was no longer obliged to
hire lay preachers, but could support a regularly trained
minister, yet it had failed for some reason to keep those who
had come to them for any length of time. Mr. Latimer,
who stayed longest, had remained only two and a half years.
The reason for this probably was that the outlook
for the place was not considered to be bright. It was small
in area and the General Court had refused to increase its
territory. According to the ideas and mode of life of that
time, it could never accommodate many settlers. Moreover
its location was thought to be unfavorable, in those times
when England was almost constantly at war with France, as
it was considered to be peculiarly exposed on two sides to
attacks from French privateers, who occasionally hovered
8. " After Mr. Short was Mr. Russel awhile and Mr. Benj. Allen too. Mr. Russel's
mother has told me that it was likely that he would have settled here. If It had not been
that, his father dying, be supplied his father's pulpit and succeeded his father. " Diary
of Rev. Joseph Lord, Yarmouth Register, Dec. 17, 1846.

168 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
around the coast and threw the people into a panic.
This continued lack of settled church conditions soon had
its effect on some of the settlers. They became discouraged
at the prospect. Others were dissatisfied with the taxes
which the Colony levied upon the place, considering them
to be burdensome. Still others were in fear of impressment
in the frequent drafts made by the Colony for its army and
navy, which would leave their families more defenceless
than ever against the dreaded privateers. There were also
long standing differences among the people themselves as
to the disposition of the common land, on the settlement of
which depended the future growth of the village and to
which no solution appeared.
The outlook to many of the villagers seemed so dark
that, in the spring and summer of 1711, thirteen families
emigrated from the village for one reason or another. Of
this, the first emigration, comparatively little is known.
The greater part of the emigrants went to a place in Dela
ware called Duck Creek, now called Smyrna. It is situated
in Kent County on the Delaware Bay. There were 13
men, of age and liable to pay taxes, in the families who
went to this place, while 11 other men of taxable qualifica
tions went with their families to other places not known.
The emigrants to Duck Creek included the families of
Jeremiah Nickerson, son of Joseph, Eobert Eldredge, son
of Robert, and perhaps Samuel Eldredge.9 The movement
9. Tbe evidence connecting Jeremiah Nickerson with this emigration is quite com
plete. It appears by deed from William Covell to John Crowell, Jr., dated Sept. 10,
1716, (Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 11,012) that Nickerson sold on May 29 and
November 28, 1710, 20 acres of upland and 4 acres of meadow at Monomoit to William
Covell. On October 10, 1711, Nicholas Nixon, conveyed to Jeremiah Nickerson of Kent
Co. Del. a farm of 100 acres on the north side of Murder Creek. (Kent Co. Deeds H. 6) .
On Oct. 31, 1724, the will of Jeremiah Nickerson of Kent Co., Del., was proved, In which
he mentions sons Joshua and Joseph, and daughters Lydia, Ruhamah, Priscilla and
Mary, the last two under 18 years of age. The name of his widow ls not given. Grand
sons Nehemiah and Jeremiah are also mentioned. The appearance of the names
Joseph and Ruhamah among his children is significant. See also the settlement of
estate of Robert Eldredge (Thomas Eldredge administrator) In Kent Co. Del. Wills In
1732.

INCORPORATION. 169
to Duck Creek probably extended all over the lower part of
the Cape, as Elisha and Isaac Snow, sons of John
Snow of Truro, are known to have been among the
emigrants there.10
There were only about 33 families remaining in the vil
lage after this emigration, the heads of which were the fol
lowing, as near as can be ascertained : Thomas Atkins,
John Atkins, Samuel Atkins, Nathan Bassett, Nathaniel
Covell, William Covell, Joseph Covell, Jehoshaphat El
dredge, William Eldredge, Joseph Eldredge, George
Godfrey, Moses Godfrey, Jonathan Godfrey, Daniel Hamil
ton, Joseph Harding, Ebenezer Hawes, Thomas Howes,
Caleb Lumbert, James Griffith, John Nickerson, John Nick
erson, Jr., William Nickerson, (son of John), William
Nickerson, Sen., William Nickerson, Jr., Thomas Nicker
son, Nathaniel Nickerson, Robert Nickerson, Robert Pad
dock, Richard Sears, Daniel Sears, John Smith, John Taylor,
Hugh Stewart, Samuel Tucker.
At this critical juncture Rev. Hugh Adams was induced
to come among them in the spring of 1711. He was the son
of John and Avis Adams of Boston, born May 7, 1676, and
graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1697.
An early missionary movement to establish non-con
formist churches in South Carolina was then at its height
in Boston and vicinity and Mr. Adams was drawn into it.
He took his widowed mother and the four youngest chil
dren and sailed for Charleston in the summer of 1698,
arriving there in July or August. A few months of illness
followed, after which, in the spring of 1699, he was settled
over a parish on both sides of the Wando river about ten
miles north of Charleston. In the fall of this year, his
mother, Avis Adams, died of an epidemic at Charleston,
leaving the four orphan children to his care.11 He married
10 See Kent Co. Del. Deeds and Wills; especially Book E page 3 of Kent Co. Deeds.
11 ' She caught the infection while nursing Rev. John Cotton, who died of the
epidemic at Charleston Sept. 18, 1699.

170 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
here in 1701 Susanna Winborn, probably daughter of Rev.
John Winborn formerly of Manchester, Mass. , but now prob
ably of South Carolina. Not long after he moved to a parish
on the Ashley river about 16 miles west of Charleston, remain
ing about two years. From here he went to a parish on
the south fork of the Edisto river about 50 miles from
Charleston. These parishes were all new settlements, where
the church members were few. He had trouble in getting
his salary and he was harassed by debtors. In this connec
tion a thrilling and interesting incident which happened to
him at Charleston, in 1702, is described by him in
his narrative of providential occurrences in his life.12 Dis
couraged at the niggardliness of his flock and fearing an
12. One "William Scrivener, originally of Kittery in New England, a ship carpenter,
but then pretending to be a mighty preacher of the Annbaptlst error," having preached
several times at a house in Mr. Adams' parish at Ashley River, Mr. Adams determined
to meet him In public discussion and combat his doctrines. He challenged Mr. Scriv
ener to meet him In debate on June 10th, 1702, at this same house, to which Mr.
Scrivener replied by naming June 4th as the day and the city of Charleston as the place
for the discussion. Mr. Adams suspected that this was a shrewd scheme to get him
into the hands of the sheriff at Charleston, who had warrants to arrest him for debt,
but he bravely determined to take the chances, and set out on June 9 with Dr. Fergu
son, one of his leading parishioners, and spent the night at an inn on the borders of
the city. The next morning Dr. Ferguson obtained from the minister of the Church
of England the keys to the church, where the discussion was to take place, and brought
them to Mr. Adams, Informing him that he had seen the sheriff walking along the
highway waiting for him, but that, as he was a fat man, he thought he could slip by
and outrun him. Fortunately, however, some other parishioners of Mr. Adams came
along about this time on their way to hear the discussion, and one of them, John Sul
livan, who was riding a fast "Virginia white steed," dismounted and gave his seat to
Mr. Adams, who whipped up as be neared the sheriff, dashed by him at a fiery gallop
and reached the church in safety, where he locked himself in, admitting only the doctor
and his friends when they came. At the appointed time a crowd came and demanded
admission. Mr. Scrivener sent word that he could not attend on account of Illness, but
would be there the next day. The people dispersed, except the sheriff and his deputies,
who kept watch for Mr. Adams at the church door. The latter and his friends with
him decided to stay In the church, being supplied with food and bedding by thoughtful
neighbors. "So," writes Mr Adams, "was the Church of England my large prison
and the Govenor's pew the bed chamber for mjself and my said companions." The
next day the people collected again at the appointed time and Scrivener sent the same
excuse. Thereupon Mr. Trott, the Queen's Attorney-General, who was to preside at
the discussion, addressed the waiting people outside, telling them of Mr. Adams'
plight, and they were so moved by his bravery in coming to the debate under such cir
cumstances that they subscribed money enough to satisfy the sheriff, and Mr. Adams
returned home a free man. Scrivener found it convenient to seek the country for his
b ealth for several months and the Anabaptist movement In that country met with
rather a severe frost.

INCORPORATION. 171
Indian war which threatened, he returned to New England
in the summer of 1706, leaving his wife and ten months'
old boy to join him later. He went at once to Braintree,
where a new church in the South Precinct was being
formed, and became its first pastor, preaching the first sermon
in the new meeting house Oct. 27, 1706, and beinsr or
dained there Sept. 10, 1707. He had trouble here about
his salary, which was small, the parish being in its infancy,
and remained only three years after his ordination. After
five months in Boston, he came to Monomoit in the spring
of 1711. 1S
Before Mr. Adams came, the number of male church
members resident at Monomoit, who might have been gath
ered into a separate church, had been as high as eleven, but
after the emigration of the spring of 1711 there were only
seven left, who were available for that purpose.
The most of these were members of Mr. Treat's church at
Eastham, but one of them, Mr. Thomas Nickerson, was a
member of the Harwich church, having joined it on October
9, 1709. 14 Moreover, the church building, although in use
for about ten years, was not, it seems, wholly completed,15 and
there was no parsonage for tbe new minister. Several times
since the death of Mr. Vickery, negotiations had been entered
into with his son Jonathan of Truro, for the purpose of buying
his father's farm for the use of the ministry, but
no purchase was actually made.16
13. The above statements regarding Mr. Adamshavebeen obtained chiefly from a man
uscript of his written in 1725, entitled "A Narrative of A Particular Faith and Answers of
Prayeis." <Sc, being an appendix to a "Theosophlcal Thesis" written by him and now
lost. This appendix ls to be found in the Belknap papers belonging to the Mass.
Historical Society, to which I am indebted for the privilege of examining it. See also
N H Genealogical Record VI, I; 5 Mass. Hist. Collections VI, II ; 6 ib I, 324; Pro
ceedings Mass. Hist. Society (2nd Ser.) 1, 158; Pattee, History of Braintree; N. E. Hist.
Gen. Register XXIII, 297.
14. All his children were baptized with him at this time. His wife had been admit
ted to the same church on Nov. 14. 1708. Har. Ch. Rec. 4 Majflower Descendant 247.
15 It was voted, March 23, 1711-12, that the selectmen should forthwith cause the
meeting house to be finished . Whether it was done or not Is uncertain, as many votes
were passed in these early days and never executed.
16. See Town Records. It was finally bought by Mr. Thomas Atkins In 1714. See
page 124, note 86 supra.
-(13)-

172 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
When Mr. Adams came, another effort was made to
provide accommodations for the ministry, and a lot of ten
acres was procured from the proprietors of the common
lands, on which Mr. Adams erected a house and barn,
probably with the help of the inhabitants. Afterwards,
when the common lands were divided, Mr. Adams was
given a lot of 40 acres next to his house, making a farm of
50 acres in all.17 This farm was located on the west side
of the cross road leading southerly from the old cemeteries
and was about 40 rods from the meeting house which stood
on the lot now forming the south part of the old ceme
teries.18 Mr. Adams, who was procured for the village by the as
sociation of ministers of the county, clearly came at a time
when the fortunes of the village were lowest and the emi
gration movement was at its height. He set himself indus
triously at work to stay the tide and it must be allowed that
he did very much for the village at this time. That he did
not succeed in all his plans was probably not altogether his
own fault. His idea was to stop emigration by securing the
exemption of the people from military drafts and by pro
curing a reduction of the Province taxes, and at the same
time to strengthen the church and village by the annexation
of the South Side people and by securing the incorporation
of the place with a suitable English name. He was author
ized by the village in June, 1711, to prosecute in its behalf
a petition to the General Court involving these objects, and
the selectmen were authorized to procure and give him ten
pounds therefor. This petition, in his own excellent hand-
17. See "A Proprietor's Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's Office; Boston News
Letter May 21, 1716; and the following from Mr. Adams' "Narrative of a Particular
Faith," &c. That Summer [1711] I Removed my Family unto the Town of Chatham,
where I was settled with them in a house of our own, which the Lord had Enabled me
to build on my Land of about 60 Acres near the Meeting House."
18. The exact location of the farm may be seen on the map at page 132. The lot of
40 acres is shown thereon as lot 9 and the 10 acres where the house stood adjoins lt on
the north.

INCORPORATION. 173
writing and of his own composition, is still preserved in the
State archives. It gives an excellent account of local con
ditions and is presented in full herewith.
To His Excellency The Governour, To The Honourable The Council, And
The Representatives of This Province, In The Generall Court Assembled :
The Following Address or Petition of The Inhabitants of
Monomoy Humbly Sheweth:
Forasmuch, as tie The Towns in This Province Have happily Ex
perienced, The Christian Rulers of our Land In The General Court
Assembled, To Be Nursing Fathers To The Churches of God In Pro
moting The Interest of Christ's Kingdom amongst them:
We are, therefore, hereby Encouraged also, even in our present
Oppressing Aggrievances, to seek a Redress under The Wings of
Their Honourable Patronage, Hoping that upon This True Declara
tion of our Most Discouraging & almost Ruinating Circumstances,
The Christian Candour & Paternall Sympathy of His Excellency &
Their Honours can not but Compassionate & Relieve us.
Now, although our Settlement for a Township or Village was so
far granted unto us by The Honourable Court of Plymouth Govern
ment in The Year 1690-1, And We have Since been so Populated as
to consist of above Fifty Families, (but now are Reduced by the
Frowns of Providence to about Thirty & Three Rateable Families
& Male Inhabitants) yet have we never been Favoured with a
Gathered Church nor with a Settled Minister: By Reason whereof
all this while hitherto our small Congregation may be Termed For
saken & Desolate, and to an Eye of Reason under its present im
poverishing & diminishing circumstances, is therefore like to be so
worse & worse speedily, even unto utter Desolation, especially If
the Inhabitants of our Village shall go on so u> sell & Desert, and
None others like to come in to Settle in their Room, For Thirteen
Families wherein were about Twenty & Three Rateable men have
lately Removed away from amongst us, for want of a Minister Set
tled amongst us, and some by Reason of Taxes & Lest they should
be again pressed out to War or into the Galley, Thirteen men of
them with the families they belong to, have already Removed away
from us Since Last April unto a Place named Duck Creek In Pennsyl
vania; Besides (except we can speedily obtain some Protection &
Relief) Diverse more are purposing to sell (if they can, tho' it be
for a song) and to Remove their families thither also by the next
Opportunity of a passage, and the other Eleven men with their Fam
ilies they belong to are Removed out of our Village into other Town

174 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ships for the Same Reasons of our Peerless Discouragements, Oppres
sions & hazzards of the Enemy by Sea. For our Village or Neigh
bourhood, being the Very Elbo of all the Cape, the farthest from
Boston on a Direct line South East and Nine or Ten Miles Distant
from the Nearest Town, which is Harwich, We are the most Exposed
to the Invasion & Spoyle of the French Privateers of any Town on
the Cape, We having a Good Harbour for a Vessel of Fifty Tunns to
Run into & to Ride at Anchor within Musket Shot of several of Our
Houses fronting on Oyster Cove & near our Stage Neck. And if the
French Privateer, which has been cruising on our Shore or very near
it at times frequently ever since the beginning of April Last, (who
also chased out to Sea a Sloop belonging to our Place about three
weeks ago, should Take any who are acquainted with the channel
into our Harbour, They might come in and utterly Destroy our Lit
tle Place before we could have any Help from any of the Neighbour
ing Towns, The nearest of which is Nine or Ten miles Distant from
us Moreover We have been so discouragingly burdened with the
pressing away our Men to Weaken & Expose us, and with the Un-
proportionable Quota of our Province Tax, with about Twelve Fam
ilies taken Off from our South Shore (contrary to the Plymouth Gov
ernment's Grant of our Bounds) to be under Harwich, And with the
Removal of so Many Men & Families from us to the said Duck
Creek and Other Places; That we seem to be under No Rational
capacity or Probability of ever Obtaining & Maintaining either an
Orthodox Learned Minister or a Gathered Church State; Except His
Excellency & Their Honours of the General Court will Please to
Grant us the Following Petitions:
1. Seeing Harwich People did sometime ago Prevail with this
Hon ble Court to Order the said Families of Our South Shore to Pay
their Rates with them in helping to Maintain their Minister, The
Rev. Mr. Nathanael Stone, and to be in their Military List, to Mus
ter about Ten Miles Distant from the Place of their own & our De
fence, so to Remain under Harwich untill we should be settled with
an Orthodox Learned Minister; We having been Supplied with such an
One already for a Quarter of a Year (who was procured for us &
is Approved by the Reverend Ministers of the Neighbouring Asso
ciation in Barnstable County) With Whom for his effectual Settle
ment with us we have already Agreed and have obtained his full
Consent, on Condition of our Obtaining a Grant of these Petitions,
Therefore, now We humbly Request that all the said Families of
our South Shore Neighbourhood, from Muddy Cove, Including the
Farm of Joseph Nichoson" & his sons, along Yarmouth Road to
19. This farm was in Harwich limits adjoining the Monomoit line at the head of
Muddy Cove.

INCORPORATION. 175
Herring River West Southerly, May be Restored to Our Village or
Township of Monomoy, from & ever after the Day of the Ordination
of an Orthodox Learned Minister over us; For according to the
Grant of our Village or Township by the Ancient & Honourable
Court of Plymouth Government above Twenty Years ago, our then
allotted Bounds Included the Whole Tract of Land from the Said
Muddy Cove on the Southern Side of the Yarmouth Road to Herring
River including the said Families with their Lands. Herewith also
we humbly Request of This Most Honourable Court a more firm Pri
viledge of a Township according to the Said Bounds, including all
the Islands, Beach and Sedge Marsh Adjacent to the said Tract
within it, and That His Excellency with their Honours would Please
so far to Christianize Our Township with a Proper English Name as
Well as our Neighbours.
II. Since we are so Daily in Danger of the French Privateers (as
Mr. Barnabas Lathrope of Barnstable who sailed out of Our Har
bour this week having one Samuel Billard a Passenger with him to
Boston, can both of them Testifie how we are exposed & how weak
handed both we & our South Shore Neighbours are to Defend our
Selves) That we may a Little Recruit untill the inhabitants of Our
Settlement may multiply by coming in to Dwell on the Desolate
Farms, thereby to Increase in Strength to be able to Defend our
Selves & to Support the Gospel, and that No more of Our Inhabitants
may be Scared away from us (by the fear of a Press) ; We are,
therefore, Constrained earnestly hereby to Petition for a Full Re
lease of all the Men of our So exposed & Diminished Township from
all Danger of being Impressed into any Remote Service for some
Term of Years according to Their Honours Pleasure.
III. Because, as Diminished, Exposed to Danger & Poor as we
are. Rather than be Unchurched & Tjngospelized by being Destitute
of a Learned Orthodox Minister any longer; We have Adventured
(for his Encouragement to Settle amongst us) To Vote — 1. To allow
Fifty-two Pounds a Year under our Present circumstances. 2. To
Raise his Salary gradually to Sixty Pounds in Four Years after our
Regaining our South Shore Neighbours. And Afterwards to Raise
His Salary as Our Minister's Necessity & Our Town's Ability may
grow, Referring any Difficulty herein to the Determination of Eligible
Arbitrators. 3. To Raise an Hundred Pounds forthwith for a Per
sonal Settlement for Our first Ordain'd Minister & His Heires. 4.
To Allow Him Forty Shillings a year Towards Purchasing Hay &
that Every Married Man in our Bounds shall bring him a good Load
of Wood a piece every year; Besides other Freewill Offerings of
Helps in Building, Fencing, Manuring & Furnishing with a Stock of
Creatures to begin withall, All which we Rationally shall Neither

176 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
have Opportunity nor Ability to Perform except we may be helped
accordingly; Therefore We Petition That Our Town May be also
Considered & Eased In the Province Tax, Seeing so many of our
Families are already Removed & Several More are about to go (hav
ing Sold & Purposing to Sell) to go away from us & from our South
Shore to the Said Duck Creek & to other Places & they who may
Abide here are not able to Joyn with any other church or Town in
Going Nine or Twelve Miles to Meeting; seeing also Otherwise We
are not like to Prevail with any such Lawfull Minister to Settle
amongst us, and upon the Supposition of Regaining Our said Neigh
bors at the South Shore there will not be above Nine Families help-
full to us; Now Except His Excellency & Their Honours as our
Political Fathers will Please to Sympathize with us by Granting
these our Petitions, our otherwise Promising Settlement or Town
ship is like to be wholy Desolate by the Removal of its Inhabitants
quite away.
Howbeit, To the Mature Judgment of His Excellency & of Their
Honours We must leave it, Whether for want of Such a Threefold
Remedy Petitioned for, It may not be thought a Pitty to permit the
Total Dissolution, Desertion & Depradation of such a Promising tho'
Little Village as Monomoy it Self, Considering Especially, How as
it has often been heretofore a Place of Relief to Many Ship wracked
Vessels & Englishmen Cast ashore in Storms upon the Beech of
Sandy Poynt or Rack Cove; So may yet be a Shelter for Such; How
Fertile it is also for all Sorts of Provisions & for Good Wheat Es
pecially, It being generally the Best Land of any Town on the Whole
Cape, How Likewise It has the most Pleasant Situation & Incompar
able Conveniency for most Sorts of Fishery. Thus, We being Prob
ably Now on the very turning Point of Making or Marring our
Ecclesiastical & Civil Settlement, so We Plead & so We Pray.
Joseph Harding, Captain of the Village.
Thos. Nickerson,
Hugh Stuard,
Eben'r Hawes, ")
Ensin William Nickerson, I Selectmen.
William Nickerson, )
At A Lawfully Warned Town Meeting at Monomoy, June 27,
1711, Then Unanimously Voted By The Inhabitants, as Witness My
Hand. Thomas Atkins, Town Clerk.

INCORPORATION. 177
By Way of Postscript.
This is to Inform & Certifle that The People of Monomoy Do
not Desire nor Expect the South Shore People to be at any Charge
with us in the Hundred Pound Settlement of Our Minister, as is at
tested by Thomas Atkins, Town Clerk, w
At this time the village was willing to do anything which
the new minister might suggest. At the meeting above
mentioned on June 27, it was voted and "readily granted"
to accept Mr. Adams' proposals just as he offered them
without change. These included an annual salary of 52
pounds, a 100 pound settlement and other stipulations as
mentioned in the petition above quoted, also the grant to him
of rights in the common land and a stipulation that the " pro
prietors " of these lands should endeavor " as soon as posa-
ble to make up the matter of their controversy in peace and
love." On August 24 following it was voted to raise "one-
half of Mr. Adams' salary and one-half of his hundred pound
settlement by the last of October next."
In October the petition of Monomoit was duly presented
to the General Court and an order passed on the 19th, di
recting notice to be given to the selectmen of Harwich and
appointing a day in the following May for a hearing on the
matter.21 It appearing now that a delay of six months or more
was inevitable before the petition could be acted upon, and that
immediate relief from the burdens of the long continued war
was necessary for the village, application was made directly
to Gov. Dudley, in behalf of the village, probably by Mr.
Adams, who was personally acquainted with the Governor,
and in January 1711-12 the following order was issued :
20. State Archives, Vol. 113, 609-612.
21. John Mayo and Joseph Paine were appointed in 1712 by the town of Harwich,
" Agents to answer in the General Court, in the town's behalf , to the petition of Mona
moy and show why the prayer of said petition should not be granted." Harwich Rec
ords.

178 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
"Boston, January 26, 1711-12.
Upon application made to me, setting forth the danger
that the village of Monamoy is in, of the French privateers
and the weakness of the inhabitants to defend themselves,
being so few, I do hereby decree, order and direct that no
men of the foot company of the place be taken by impress
for any service other than their own Village aforesaid, with
out my especial orders, under my hand, for so doing. This
to continue until further order. J. Dudley.

To the Hon. Col. Otis, Barnstable."22
The hearing appointed for May, 1712, did not take place
until June 7, and two days later the House of Representa
tives by formal vote refused to grant the prayer of the pe
tition. Some kind of an understanding was, however,
reached, for on June 11 the following order was passed in
the Council, concurred in by the House, and signed by Gov
ernor Dudley :
" Ordered that the Village or District now called Mono
moit be erected into a Township and the Town named
Chatham."23 The town was named from Chatham in England, but at
whose suggestion and for what reason is not known.
The other towns upon the Cape at that time, Sandwich,
Barnstable, Yarmouth, Harwich, Easthum and Truro, had
all been named for English towns, and the desire of the peo
ple was for the adoption of a similar name for the new town.
That was the custom in those days. It is likely that Mr.
Adams had as much influence as any one in the selection of
the name, which may have been chosen under the impression
22. Town Records ; Freeman, History of Cape Cod II, 594.
23. General Court Records IX, 180, (State Library copy). The copy of the Court
Records in the State Archives shows only the favorable action of the Council, (IX, 207.)

INCORPORATION. 179
that the place might some day become a naval station like
the English town.24
Chatham, England, is situated in the county of Kent, on
the south side of the Medway about 1 5 miles from its junc
tion with the estuary of the Thames and 27 miles east of
London. The streets of the town are irregular and narrow
and with the exception of the docks and fortifications, there
are but few objects of interest. The town possesses churches
and chapels of various denominations, a ragged school, a nauti
cal school, a mechanics' institute and a lecture hall. The for
tifications are among the most elaborate in the kingdom. They
were begun in 1758 and completed in 1807 ; but various al
terations and additions have since been effected. Fort
Pitt which rises above the town to the west, was
built in 1779 and is now used as a general military hospital.
It was regarded as the principal establishment of its kind in
the country till the foundation of Netley in Hampshire.
The main fortifications from which the town derives its im
portance are situated at Brompton village. Till the reign
of Elizabeth the place was a mere insignificant village ; but
before 1588 the queen established the first dock yard on the
site of what is now called the Ordinance Wharf and erected
Castle Upnor on the opposite bank of the river for its de
fence. Under the Charleses extensive additions were made.
The history of the town since the attack of the Dutch in
1667 has been mainly the history of its naval and military
establishments. The population in 1891 was 31,700; in
1901, 40,800.26
24. Chatham was not named for the famous William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. He was
unknown to fame in 1712, being then but four years of age.
I have seen It stated that the town was so named because the ancestor of the Sears
family originally came from Chatham, Eng. This ls also without foundation. The
Sears Genealogy, by Mr. S. P. May, the latest and most authoritative work on the sub
ject, states that the parentage of Richard Sears, the emigrant, and his English home
are still unknown.
25 See Encyclopaedia Brittanica for a plan of Chatham, Eng.
-(14)-

180 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
It will be noted that Mr. Adams did not succeed in
securing the annexation of the South Side neighborhood.
Harwich people opposed it, and for some reason they pre
vailed, notwithstanding the fact that the village of Monomoit
then had an " Orthodox Learned Minister" settled there. As a
result, Chatham became a town without the addition of a foot
of soil outside the original Nickerson purchases and claims,
and its territory has ever since remained practically the
same. The incorporation of the village, at length attained thirty-
seven years after William Nickerson Sen. first petitioned
for it, appears to have been received by the people with
no flourish of trumpets. The fact is not even mentioned
in the town records, nor is any copy of the act of incor
poration to be found therein. The first recorded meeting
of the new town was the annual meeting of March 1713,
at which the usual town officers were chosen : selectmen
Thomas Atkins, John Atkins, Ebenezer Hawes, clerk
Thomas Atkins, treasurer Richard Sears, constable John
Smith, grandjuryman Nathaniel Covell, tithingman Samuel
Tucker, surveyors Daniel Hamilton and Isaac Hawes.
These were the first officers of the town.26
The first few years of Mr. Adams' residence must have
been full of activity for him. In addition to supplying the
pulpit and managing the affairs of his people before the
General Court, his services as a physician were in good
demand and he was also engaged in building a parsonage
and in clearing and breaking in the virgin soil. Mr.
Adams accounted himself very skillful in medicine,27 and he
26. Since 1679, when it became a constablewick, Monomoit had uniformly been rec
ognized as an independent community, not attached to any town, but as far as ap
pears, it had no authority In law to choose any officers except constable and grandjury
man, and after 1691 a deputy. It did, however, assume to proceed and electofflcers like
a town, as we have seen.
27. In his "Narrative ot a Particular Faith" &c Mr. Adams writes of "my Former
Travels Into several Countreys of Europe and Africa [probably as a youth] as well as of
the Continent and Islands of America, my Instruction from Sundry Able Physicians &
Chlrurglons, my hard Studies In the best Books, and my so long Practice and Experi
ence," as giving him unusual skill.

INCORPORATION. 181
claims to have had patients not only at Chatham, but in
nearly every other Cape town.28
It would seem as if, for several years, Mr. Adams and
his people got along very well together. There were dif
ferences, but not serious ones. The first trouble arose
respecting the establishment of a church out of the Chatham
congregation.29 This was a matter on which Mr. Adams
had set his heart, but when application was made to the
County Association of Ministers, according to the practice
of that time, to approve the action of the town and install
Mr. Adams as their pastor, they replied that there was a
dark cloud in the way which they could not see through
and advised delay. What this cloud was does not appear.
Doubtless, it was the weakness of the place and the poor
prospect it then had of ever supporting properly a church,
without the addition of the South Side people. When Mr.
Adams learned the attitude of the ministers, he urged his
people to disregard the advice given and send for minis
ters from outside the County to come in and install him and
organize the church. To this most of them would not agree,
on the ground that it was an irregular proceeding,
would cause trouble with the neighboring churches to
which they belonged, and would prevent their obtaining a
regular dismissal therefrom. They preferred to wait till
harmony could prevail.80
28. He claims to have had patients in Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Harwich
and Eastham, as well as In Chatham.
29. In ecclesiastical language there was a congregation at Chatham, but no church.
To organize a church lt was necessary for the Intending church members to obtain
letters of dismissal from the churches to which they belonged and organize into a new
church. 80. "The testimony of John Atkins and Samuel Tucker of full age ls as followeth,
viz: * * * When we went out to ye sd Minesters [i. e. of the County] In order to
move [them] to bring forward a pastorall charge on Mr. Adams, ye sd Minesters an
swered us that there was a darke cloud which they could not well see through and ad
vised us to suspend the matter for the present. Now when this return was made to sd
Adams, then because we would not strike in with him and fetch other Minesters to
ordain him and Rend ourselves from the churches that we belonged to, (when we told
him that God was a God of order and that this way that he sd Adams proposed was

182 HISTORY OP CHATHAM.
Another source of trouble for Mr. Adams arose out of
his quarrel with the tavern keeper, Mr. Ebenezer Hawes.
The tavern at that time was an important institution. It
not only entertained travellers, but was a meeting place,
where men gathered to hear the news and get refreshment.
Here they bought and sold the products of the farm and
made all sorts of bargains, confirming them with a mug of
liquor.31 Tavern keepers were the most considerable men
of their communities. Mr. Hawes had come from Yarmouth
a few years before and had opened what was probably the first
tavern in the village. It appears to have been located near the
house of the late Cyrus Emery. He was an energetic,
wide-awake man, popular with the village and well con
nected. According to the testimony of Mr. Thomas
Atkins,32 a friend of Mr. Adams, the tavern and the par
sonage were too near together and Mr. Adams saw too
much of what was going on. He thought the place was
not properly conducted and tried to oust Mr. Hawes.
Tavern keepers were licensed by the Court of General
Sessions on recommendation of the selectmen, and as Mr.
Hawes was one of the selectmen of the town and also a
nephew of one of the County Justices, it will be seen that
Mr. Adams had undertaken a difficult task.
About the same time reports reached the village affect
ing Mr. Adams' character.- These reports originated with
Jabez Lewis of Barnstable and Joseph Webber of Yar
mouth, who had probably been South on some coasting
disorderly in our opinions, and instead of bringing Glory to God it Looked as if It was
only a platform laid for contention and thereby would bring dishonour to God and
therefore dare not Joyn with him) this was the cause of our difference att first with Mr.
Adams and then as we supposed Mr. Hawes and sd Adams were very friendly one to
the other and at the same time we dare not Joyn with him sd Adams in such an
ordinance." Adams vs. Hawes. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 10812.
Mr. Atkins belonged to Mr. Treat's church at Eastham, Mr. Tucker joined Mr.
Stone's church at Harwich May 17, 1713. Har. Ch. Rec. 4 Mayflower Descendant
248, 249.
31. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 88,688.
32. Adams vs. Hawes. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 10,812.

I I I

INCORPORATION. 183
voyage and had heard the gossip current along the wharves
of Charleston. It is not likely that there was any truth
in these reports. The clergy paid no heed to them.
There were also complaints that the teachings of Mr.
Adams in the pulpit were not orthodox, that he preached
certain things and afterwards denied it and that he was in
general somewhat unreliable or "unsteady," as they termed
it. Mr. Adams had set his heart on establishing a church at
Chatham and setting things in order there generally and
he labored earnestly to that end. At length, however,
finding success impossible, he seems to have lost his tem
per, thrown discretion to the winds and in a sermon
preached in February 1715, handled those who differed
with him without gloves. His congregation was offended
and many refused to hear him any longer. According to
the testimony of Mr. John Smith and Mr. Robert Pad
dock, they were "two of his constant hearers formerly until
we were deterred from hearing him any longer, finding of
him to be so unsteady and so wilful, which maid us absent
ourselves from his ministry, and not onely us, but ye most
of ye well affected people of ye Town."33 Mr. Hawes,
whom he had rapped in the sermon, was highly offended.
He announced in his tavern that there were two or three
abominable lies in it and repeated the stories circulated
about Mr. Adams' character. This language of Mr. Hawes
was reported to Mr. Adams, who thereupon brought suit
for slander against Hawes. There was a trial in May 1715,
at Barnstable before Justice John Gorham, at which the
evidence of Lewis and Webber and others was heard.
Justice Gorham decided against Mr. Adams. Mr. Hawes
brought a copy of the testimony to Chatham and read it
in his tavern, declaring that Mr. Adams " was no more
33. Adams vs. Hawes. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 10,812.

184 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
lookt upon there (that is, at the said Court) than a little
black dogg !"34 At this point it was alleged that Mr.
Adams agreed to resign, if a majority of the town was in
favor of it, and a town meeting was called and held June
13, 1715, at which it was voted to dismiss him.35 Mr.
Adams denied any such agreement and paid his respects in
his sermons to those who had voted against him.
At this point it seems that he sat down in his library and
wrote a treatise, laying down rules for the guidance of
Justices in making their decisions. He called this a
" Sacred Directory for a Justice of Peace or Civil Ruler "
and in it he laid down seven rules, which he explained and
illustrated by citations from the Bible and other books.
This treatise he sent to the General Court at Boston with
the request that it be printed at public expense and sent
to Justices throughout the Colony, so that they should not
make any more unjust decisions (presumably as they had in his
case) , but as he sent in the request anonymously, no atten
tion was of course paid to it by the General Court.36
The town refusing to pay him his salary any longer, he
then made complaint against the town in the Inferior Court
of Common Pleas at Barnstable in October, but they gave
him no redress, except to order an Ecclesiastical Council
34. Testimony of Sarah Eldridge, wife of William Eldrldge, in Adams vs. Hawes,
Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 10,812.
35. "For asmuch as five out of seven men of members of the church, inhabitants
of Chatham, their bealng no more belonging to sd town, did move to the Selectmen of
sd town to call a town meeting becase Mr. Adams thear minister did so Imprudently
unstldlly and contentiously behave himself In many respects contreary to what they
say he profesed to sum of them in so much that tbey could not in conchance joyn with
him nor set under his ministry any longer and becase Mr. Adams they say did say that
if tbe Selectmen would call a town meettlng 'and if the malger vote was for his leaviDg
them that he would do so for he had a better ofer elsewhere.
Now att a town meeting orderly warned and attended one the thlrtenth day of June
1715 It was then voted by the votable lnhabl tents of said town not to Imploy Mr.
Adams in the work of the ministry any longer." Town Records.
36. This treatise In manuscript may be found in the library of the Mass. Historical
Society. According to the seven rules.lald down by Mr. Adams, Justices should decide
lst;impartially, 2nd speedily, 3rd sincerely, 4th deliberately, Sth resolutely, 6th exactly,
7th as they would have others do to them.

INCORPORATION. 185
of the three neighboring churches at Eastham, Harwich,
and Yarmouth. This council, consisting of the pastors,
Rev. Samuel Treat of Eastham, moderator, Rev. Nathaniel
Stone of Harwich, and Rev. Daniel Greenleaf of Yarmouth,
with their delegates, met in November 1715 at the tavern
of Mr. Hawes in Chatham. No report of its findings ap
pears to have been handed down to us, but it was evidently
favorable to Mr. Hawes, finding the charges against Mr.
Adams sustained and forbidding him to preach at Chatham
any longer. From this Mr. Adams appealed to another
council to be held later.
At the same time he sent an appeal to the General Court
at Boston, reciting his grievances and praying relief. On
this petition the Council passed an order Dec. 9 1715, re
ferring it to the Quarter Sessions at Barnstable, but as the
House took no action, the whole matter fell to the ground.37
The suit of Adams vs. Hawes came up for trial on
appeal in the Inferior Court of Common Pleas at Barnsta
ble on Jan. 19, 1715-6, and resulted in a second victory for
37. "Upon reading the Petition of Hugh Adams Clerk, of Chatham, in the County of
Barnstable Importing that the Selectmen of the Town of Chatham have refused to see
collected his rate for this year according to the town's Arm & unanimous agreement
with him, That he & his family are like to be oppressed for want of it, that he made
complaint & application to the Honble Justices of the Court at Barnstable at their last
Session In October last, but had no Redress otherwise than an order for an Ecclesias
tical Council of the three next neighbouring ministers of Eastham, Harwich and Yar
mouth with their Delegates: which Council accordingly mett and advised so contrary to
his expectations that he was immediately constrained to appeal to another Ecclesias
tical Council, Humbly Requesting
First, that the petition of his friendly Auditors may be heard & granted & that he
be continued in his ministry untill another Council be obtained.
Secondly, that the next Ecclesiastical Council may consist of the Revd Ministry &
Messengers of the Churches of Plymouth, Duxborough, Marshfield and upper Scituate.
Thirdly, that for his Immediate supply Thomas Atkins his Neighbor may be author
ized by Warrant to make & collect his Rate for this year according to agreement.
Fourthly, that the Honble the Justices of tbe Court of the County of Barnstable may
be directed to hear his just complaints against several of his defaming Neighbours.
Fifthly, that the present tavern keeper may no longer be licensed.
In Council Read & ordered that the Prayer of the Petition be so far granted as that
he be recommended to the Quarter Sessions of tbe County of Barnstable and that they
give order for the Inhabitants of the Town of Chatham to pay the Petitioner his due as
per agreement, until he be regularly dismissed." Genera] Court Records X, 22.

186 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Hawes. Mr. Adams however, again appealed to a higher
court, claiming that the jury consisted of friends and rela
tives of Hawes and that he could not get a fair trial in the
County. This appeal was heard in the Superior Court of
Judicature at Plymouth in March 1715-6 and here Mr.
Adams had better treatment.88 The jury brought in a
verdict in his favor, assessing damages, however, at only ten
shillings.80 The second Ecclesiastical Council, to which Mr. Adams
had appealed after the adverse decision of the former one,
met at Chatham April 25, 1716. Its membership is not
known, but it is supposed that it consisted of the pastors and
delegates from Plymouth, Duxbury, &c, as he desired.
This body gave the following decision regarding Mr.
Adams : " We can't but look upon him as a man of val
uable Gifts and Parts and we hope Pious and Zealous, and
one that may yet be Serviceable in the Gospel Ministry in
another place ; and altho' we can't see any falsehood proved
against him ; yet we concur in the Judgment of the Former
Reverend Council, That his Continuance in the Work of
the Ministry in said Town is not desirable, since the dif
ferences seem so incurable" &c.M Mr. Adams had also
about this time received another setback in the appoint
ment by Gov. Dudley of Mr. Hawes as Captain of the vil
lage against his opposition and in spite of his personal
acquaintance with the Governor. This was the last straw.41
38. Adams vs. Hawes, Records Superior Court of Judicature IV, 119.
39. Judge Samuel Sewall who presided at the trial, writes in his diary Mar. 31, 1716:
"The jury bringing in for Mr. Hugh Adams against Haws, In the action of Defama
tion, I said to Adams: Seeing you have Justice done you, hope it will incline you to
govern your tongue and govern your pen, and if I were capable to advise you. I would
counsel you to pay great def erence to the Council of Churches held at Chatham." 6
Mass. Hist. Collections, VII, 76. Sewall's Diary.
40 . Boston News Letter May 21 , 1716 .
41. "And In the Last Place, when in my Distress I had fled for earthly Refuge unto the
Commander in chief [Gov. Dudley] hoping to obtain some relief from him on the
account of our former acquaintance while we had been fellow travellers together and
messmates In a Letter of Mart, ship of H. M. forces. He nevertheless was pleased to
turn against me on the bottle side of tbat Controversie, so as to Commlsslonate That
Antagonist Taverner to be Military Captain of that Town Company; whereby I was
thence utterly routed." Mr. Adams, "A Narrative of a Particular Faith." &c in
Mass. Hist. Society Library.

INCORPORATION. 187
Going to Boston, he advertised his farm for sale in the
Boston News Letter42 and went down to Arrowsic Island,
Me., where he preached a few months.
Returning to Chatham in the autumn with two offers, one
from Arrowsic Island and one from Oyster River, N. H.,
he appears to have passed the winter in Chatham, remov
ing his family to Oyster River in the spring of 1717. Mr.
Adams was installed at Oyster River, now Durham, Mar.
26, 1718, and preached there for twenty years, having
more or less trouble with his parish, but managing to keep
control of it till Jan. 23, 1739, when he was dismissed.
He remained at Durham, where his son was a successful
physician and died there in 1750, aged 74 years.43 A
biographer says of him : "He was a good man, an able
preacher, a faithful pastor, but so eccentric and opinionated
that he made enemies wherever he went."44 At the be-
42. This advertisement, which appeared May 21, 1716, is as follows:
"For asmuch as a difference fell out between tbe People of Chatham and their Minis
ter Mr. Hugh Adams, an Ecclesiastical Council being called, did sit at Chatham on the
25th Day of April last: And upon a full hearing of the Differences there, in their re
sult have thus judged concerning their late Minister, saying: [Here follows the re
port above quoted.]
This ls therefore to inform any Purchaser that the said Minister's Inheritance in
said Town is to be Sold for Three Hundred Pounds, viz: A good Double House and a
Barn not yet 4 years old. about 40 Rods Distant from the Meeting House and about 50 Acres
Land in one Piatt, which will produce very good Winter Wheat, Rie, Indian Corn or any
Grain, and very natural for English Grass, some acres whereof may
be mowed If kept Intire. Near 20 Acres whereof Is cleared, within fence
and arable, a Promising Young Orchard on it & well watered with 2
Pleasant Fish Ponds, the remainder of it a Wood Lott. The whole seated in the very
Center of the Town, about 2 miles from the Sea or Harbour. Any willing Purchaser
may enquire about the same at said House or at the House of Mr. John Carey near
the Bowling Green in Boston." In a slightly different form and with tbe report of the
Council omitted this advertisement appeared again on June 4, 1716.
43 Children of Rev. Hugh and Susanna (Winborn) Adams: 1. Son unnamed b.,
and d. at his Ashley River parish in 1702. 2. Samuel, b. at the So. Edlsto River par
ish in 1705, probably In June, m. 1st Phebe  about 1728, who d. in 1743, 2nd Re
becca Hall, dau . of Joseph of Exeter, N . H . , as early as 1747 . He became a well known
physician at Durham, N. H. 3. Elizabeth, b. at Chatham May 5, 1713. (Chat. Rec.) 4.
Winborn, b. In Boston April 19, 1715. (Bn. Rec.) probably d. young. 5. John, b. at Oyster
River Jan. 13, 1718, probably the one who m. in Boston Dec. 23, 1741, Anna Parker. 6.
Avis, b. at Oyster River Apr. 11, 1723, m. 'William Odiorne. 7. Joseph b. at Oyster
River Apr. 23, 1735.
44. Rev. E. S. Stackpole In N. H. Genealogical Record IV, 1, where will be found the
most complete account of Mr. Adams and his family yet printed.

188 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ginning of his career at Chatham he gave excellent service
at a critical period in its history, and deserves to be
If P Al remembered with gratitude, but he
JTU^n, crt arn^s. goon Decame obnoxious by insist
ing on having everything his own way and paying
little regard to the advice and opinions of others. So far
as appears, he was able to hold the friendship of only a
few of his hearers, Thomas Atkins, his neighbor, Joseph
Harding, into whose family his sister married, Moses God
frey, and Sarah, wife of William Eldridge. Nearly all the
rest turned against him.
He kept a record of marriages and baptisms which is the
first church record we have.46
Capt. Ebenezer Hawes, the other central figure in this
controversy, was the son of Capt. John Hawes of Yar
mouth and grandson of Mr. Edmond Hawes of Solihull,
Eng., who emigrated to Duxbury and thence to Yarmouth.
His mother was Desire (Gorham) Hawes, daughter of
Capt. John Gorham of Barnstable. He was born at Yar
mouth March 24, 1678-9, and married Sarah, daughter of
Isaac and Ruth (Bayes) Norton of Edgartown February
23, 1699-1700. 46 He removed to Monomoit about the year
1706, buying land on the south side of the main highway
between it andthe pond now called Emery's pond. He
45. "A record of such as were married by me, Hugh Adams, minister of the gospel
in the town of Chatham in New England Anno 1713.
March 19 William Mitchel and Tabitha Eldredge at tbe house of his grandfather, Mr.
William Nickerson Senr before many witnesses.
July 23 Joseph Hardlng|and;my sister Jane.Adarns at our house.
1718, Octo. 1 ^William Eldredge, son of Joseph Eldredge and Hannah Taylor.
1714 March 23 Seth Crowell and Mercy Nickerson at the home of her father Lieut.
Thomas Nickerson by me H. A.
1714 May 17 William Long and Bridget Eldredge at our house by me H. A."
N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register, XXIII, 178.
"1714 Oct. 24 Havinglpreached two sermons in my own Congregation at Chatham
from those wordsjwritten in Acts 8, 36, What doth hinder me to be Baptized ? I did then
Adventure to Administer Baptism unto my own child Elizabeth, when she was almost
a year and six months old, being born May 5, 1713." N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register, XXIV,
27. 46. Yarmouth and Edgartown Vital Records.

INCORPORATION. 189
was the first innkeeper, of which we have any knowledge.
He was elected one of the Selectmen in 1 707 and re-elected
ten times between that date and 1720. By deed dated
March 16, 1707-8, he bought of the Covells one-fifth of their
interest in the common and undivided lands at Monomoit,47
and became a leading spirit in the settlement of disputes
and final division of these lands. He was chosen clerk of
the proprietors of these lands in 1713 and recorded faith
fully their doings in dividing the property.48 He acquired
considerable property, including the Benjamin Phillips
place and a part of the Joseph Nickerson farm in Harwich,
meadow at Seaquanset, &c. He removed to Yarmouth
about 1720. There he was soon elected to the General
Court by the people of his native town and served them
four successive years (1722-6.) He was also often selected
P O -y~ /W as VG^ev6e or arbitrator in legal
6 OQn. ZtOZir^ disputes.49 He would probably
have obtained still higher honors, had he not been cut
off in his prime, his death occurring October 7, 1727.
He left a large property, inventoried at 2589 pounds. His
Chatham property fell to his sons Ebenezer and Benjamin,
who did not settle, but disposed of it.
Perhaps the best tribute to his memory that can be given
is to present a copy of the estimate of him sent in to the
Court by his fellow citizens and filed in the case of Adams
vs. Hawes :
"To the Honorable Judges of the Superior Cort to Be
held at plymouth on the 27th day of March 1716 — and to
the Gentmen of the Jury of the same, thes are to signifie
that wee whoos names are hereunto subscribed Haveing
understud that Mr. Adams our lait preacher hath and Doeth
Indever to make Beleve that our Nibor namly Ebenr Hawes
47. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 7,374. '
48. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's Offlce.
49. In 1724 he was appointed by the Superior Court with John Thacher and another
as arbitrator In several Nickerson cases.

190 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
had Discouriged us about and sett us against him the sd
Mr. Adams : By what he the sd hawes had said Consarn-
ing his the sd Mr. Adamses preaching Lyes as also about
***** Now wee can each one for himself
testifie that what he the sd Hawes hath said about either
of thes things Hath not discouraged us about nor set us
against Mr. Adams : and that wee have Each of us Herd
so much from and seen so much by Mr. Adams Before
the time that Mr. Adams chargeth him the sd hawes of
speeking thes things in his writ : that wee are uttrely Dis
couriged about him and forder do Declaier that he the sd
Hawes Hath Bin and still is the most forwardest, forth-
puttingest and nobelest man that wee have in our town
towards the procuring and promoting the gospel to be
preached and settled amongst us : as wittns our Hands this
13th of March 1716.
Jonathan godfre John Atkins
Daniel Sears John Smith
william Eldredge thomas howes
Isaac Hawes Joseph Eldredg
Samuel Tucker Robard paddack
John Taylor . Samuel Atkins
John Taylor Junr Richard Sears
 william Eldredg Junr
John Stuard moras faras
John Colens John eldredg
testifie to the above Ritten only Daniel Hambleton
Reserving that what wee have Ebenezer Stuard
known and seen of Mr. Adams John Rider
which hath Discouriged us Joseph Stuard
hath been mor Laitly. James Eldredg
Samuel Taylor
Samuell Stuard
David Smith
william micheP8
The Hawes family of Chatham is not descended from
Ebenezer, but from his brother Isaac.61
50. Adams vs. Hawes. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 10,812.
61. Children of Ebenezer and Sarah (Norton) Hawes : 1 . Jabez, b in Yarmouth Sept.
13. 1700, d. betw. 1719 and 1728. 2. John, b. in Yarmouth May 3, 1702. m. Susanna Bassett,
dau. of Joseph, 1731-2. 3. Desire, b. in Yarmouth Mar. 2. 1703-4, m. John Hedge of
Yarmouth, son of John, Nov. 26. 1724. 4. Ebenezer. b. in Yarmouth July 15, 1705, m.
Sarah Hedge, dau. of John of Yarmouth, Jan. 16, 1728-9. 5. Isaac, b. at Monomoit
Aug 10, 1707, m. Mary Sargent of Gloucester Nov. 11. 1734. (Glou. Rec.) 6. Ruth, h.
at Monomoit Feb. 3, 1708-9, m. Joseph Thacher. son of John of Yarmouth, Feb. 29,
1727-8. 7. Benjamin, b. at Monomoit Oct. 13, 1710, m. Hannah Paddock, dau. of
John of Yarmouth, Aug. 25,1736. (Bn. Rec.) 8. Solomon, b. at Chatham July 6,
1712, died before 1728. 9. Bayes, b. at Chatham, m . Jane Lewis, dau of Jonathan of
Barnstable, July 1, 1744. 10. Jacob, b. at Chatham, died between Jan. 1733-4 and
Dec. 1741, dates of settlement of his father's and mother's estate.

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CHAPTEK X.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS.
IT would seem as if the lands at Monomoit must have
* been laid out by some one long before the place was set
tled. A fence was erected at an early date running from the
Oyster Pond river northerly just west of the White Pond
and up to the vicinity of the old cemeteries. West of this
fence was the common lands and east of it the lands re
served for settlement. As early as 1674 mention is made
of the place where this "ginerall fence" formerly stood,
"which is near to ye hed of ye white pond," and later a
deed describes it as "ye Rellict of an old fence called ye
Generall fence near a little pond running into ye white
pond or adjoining to ye white pond."1
Whether William Nickerson Sen., or some one before him,
erected this fence is uncertain, but it is certain that Mr.
Nickerson observed in a general way the division of land
thereby made, although he did not follow it strictly. As we
have already seen,2 he reserved all the northerly part of
Monomoit for his own farm, his southerly line running
from the head of Muddy Cove to the head of Ryder's Cove.
The easterly pait of the place was then still occupied by
the Indians, so that there remained only the central part
and a portion of the southern part of the place which was
1. See page 109 note 10; also a deed from Michael Stewart to James Eldredge dated
May 22, 1708. M. L. Luce papers.
2. Page 84 supra; also page 93, note 43.

192 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
open for settlement. This land open for settlement was
divided into shares of 20 acres each and each purchaser of
20 acres was said to own a share of land at Monomoit.8
In 1674, as we have seen, Mr. Nickerson granted farms
of 40 acres each in this tract reserved for settlement, to
certain of his children and also sold parts of it to outsiders,
granting to each purchaser rights of pasturage, cutting
wood, &c, in the common lands. As early as 1674, how
ever, he began to encroach on the commons by selling a
farm at Cockle Cove to Thomas Crow. Still later the Tom-
Ions and Joseph Harding appear to have had lands granted
them out of the commons. Mr. Vickery 's farm came out
of the common lands, aud in 1702 Mr. Nickerson's suc
cessors in title sold a large tract at West Chatham to
Michael Stewart. As a result of these sales, the area of
the commons was cut down, so that it included roughly only
the land between the present north and south roads to
Harwich and west of the road connecting them, which runs
from the Hawes corner, West Chatham, to the old ceme
teries, and the upland at Red River neck. (See the map
at page 132.)
The experience of Monomoit was the same as that of
other places. As the population increased, it was found
inconvenient to maintain even this reduced tract of common
land. There was a demand to have it divided up and
opened for settlement. Conditions changed so rapidly that
only a few years after Mr. Nickerson's death, the question
of the disposition of the commons began to be agitated at
Monomoit. Now, there were two sets of owners pr claimants to these
common lands. One set consisted of those who had suc-
3. See a deed from Old Humphrey, Indian, and Zachariah his son, to Caleb Lum
bert of Monomoit, dated Dec. 2, 1686, the consideration of which was "two shares of
land, containing 40 acres more or less, lying and being at Manamoyet." Files Superior
Court of Judicature No. 8,436.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 193
ceeded to the title of Mr. Nickerson, the original owner
of these lands. These people were called the "proprietors"
or owners of the common land. The other set consisted
of those who had been granted rights or privileges of com
mons in the land from time to time by Mr. Nickerson or
his successors. This latter class were called the "privi
leged men."4 Between these two sets or parties a differ
ence of opinion arose as to their respective rights.
As we have already seen, Sarah Covell and William
Nickerson, formerly Jr., succeeded to the title of their
father in these lands and in October 1693 conveyed one-
third interest to Mr. Samuel Sprague of Marshfield. As
early as 1699 Mr. Sprague appears to have exerted himself
to settle the dispute by making some offer to the "privi
ledged men " for. their rights, but it was clearly without
success.6 This year Sarah Covell appears to have con
veyed all her interest as "proprietor" to her four sons,
Nathaniel, William, Joseph and Ephraim,6 who thereafter
represented her one-third interest or right. Matters re
mained unchanged till March 1707-8, when Mr. Sprague
sold all his one third interest to Mr. Richard Sears,7
and in the same month the Covells conveyed one
fifth of their one third interest to Mr. Ebenezer Hawes.8
Subsequently Mr. Sears conveyed portions of his one third
interest to his brother Daniel Sears, to Thomas Atkins and Na
thaniel Covell.9 The Covells also disposed of their interests
4. See "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," In Town Clerk's office.
6 "Sir: The reason of my not journeying to Monamoy, as Intended when I was last
at Barnstable, is first because I never yet understood that those that claim to have right
to those lands with William Nickerson, Sarah Covell and myself, do accept of what I
then proposed." * * * Letter dated Sept. 5, 1699 from Samuel Sprague to Gov.
Thomas Hinckley. 4 Mass. Hist. Collections, V, 307.
6. Deed from Sarah Covell' to Ephraim Covell dated May 19, 1699. Files Superior
Court of Judicature No. 3919. Also deed to Michael Stewart dated Oct. 12, 1702. M. L.
Luce papers.
7. By deed dated March 3, 1707-8 (Josiah Paine papers.)
8. See deed from Nathaniel, WUliam, Joseph and Ephraim Covell to Ebenezer Hawes
dated March 16, 1707-8. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 7874.
9. These deeds have not been found, but the Proprietors' Book of Records shows
that they must have been given.

194 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
in part to various persons and these interests became
vested in Isaac Hinckley, William Eldredge, Isaac Hawes,
Michael Stewart, Nathan Bassett and Caleb Lumbert, for
merly Jr.10 Mr. Ebenezer Hawes disposed of one-half of
his interest to Mr. Seth Taylor of Yarmouth by deed dated
March 11, 1711-12. As a result, in or about the spring of
1712, the following "proprietors" or owners held interests
in the common lands in the following proportions, as near
as can be ascertained : William Nickerson Sen. one third,
Richard Sears four-thirtieths, Daniel Sears three-thirtieths,
Thomas Atkins two-thirtieths, Nathaniel Covell one-thir
tieth, Ebenezer Hawes one-thirtieth, Seth Taylor one-thir
tieth, and William Covell, Joseph Covell, Michael Stewart,
Isaac Hawes, Isaac Hinckley, Caleb Lumbert, Nathan
Bassett and William Eldredge together eight-thirtieths.
Opposed to these in interest were the "priviledged men,"
who had derived their rights from the deeds William Nick
erson Sen., and his successors had given. It will be in
structive to examine the language of these respective deeds.
In the deed to Thomas Crow, Mr. Nickerson granted "liberty
of pastures, feedings & woods in ye Commons or outlands
as his occasions shall require." To William Griffith as
appurtenant to his farm he granted a " priviledge of Common
for cutting wood, feeding or grasing." To John Nickerson
was granted " liberty to feed upon other lands according
to proportion." To John Savage Mr. Nickerson granted a
" right to feed his cattle on such lands as are not or shall
not be improved for tillage and to cutt hoopoles on the
lands that shall lye for commons." Elizabeth Eldredge had
"liberty to feed cattel in ye other of his lands according to
proportion," John Downing had "priviledge of comons in
10. Caleb Lnmbert bought of Joseph and Ephraim Covell by deed dated Feb. 22,
1709-10, all their right in that part of the common land located in Red River neck, being
two-fifths of one-third interest. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 8005. The
deeds from the Covell to the other parties, Hawes, Hinckley, Bassett and Eldredge,
have not been found.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 105
ye comons of ye place," Joseph Nickerson had "Liberty to
feed Cattle upon Other Lands according to proportion."
" By feed upon Other Lands is to be understood the Lands
that are not fitt for Tillage," and Teague Jones was granted
"Comons of pastuers, woods &c." Similar grants were
made to Samuel Smith, John Taylor, Moses Godfrey and
others as appurtenant to their farms. The successors of
Mr. Nickerson continued this practice for some years after
his death. As late as 1702 Michael Stewart was granted,
in connection with a farm then purchased by him, "a priv
iledge of cutting firewood as he may have occasion, with
herbage & feeding of cattell in & upon ye undivided lands
in sd place."11
These rights were clearly valuable and those who held
them would not give them up without suitable compensa
tion. The "proprietors," however, seem to have held that,
when it came to a division of the common land, these
rights were of not much value and might be disregarded.
It became finally apparent that the Court would have to
decide the controversy and in the spring of 1709-10 Mr.
William Nickerson, acting as spokesman or representative
of the "proprietors," brought matters to a head by beginning
suit against Daniel Hamilton, one of the "priviledged men,"
for cutting wood on the common land the previous winter.
The case was heard first on March 24, 1709-10, before
Justice John Otis and was then removed to the Inferiour
Court of Common Pleas at Barnstable,12 wherein judgment
was rendered in July 1710 in favor of Nickerson. Ser
geant Hamilton appealed to the Superior Court of Judica-
11. For deeds to Thomas Crow, William Griffith, John Downing, Elizabeth Eldredge,
Teague Jones and Michael Stewart see M. L. Luce papers; for deeds to John Nickerson
and John Savage see Plymouth Colony Deeds and for deed to Joseph Nickerson see
Osborn Nickerson papers. See also chapter VII for copies of some of these deeds
passim. 12 . Records Superior Court of Judicature III, 257 .
-(15)-

196 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
ture.18 The case was tried before a jury at the March
term 1711 at Plymouth and a verdict rendered for Hamil
ton, reversing the former judgment. The "priviledged
men" had established their rights, but what was the value
of their interest was still a matter of dispute. At this
juncture Rev. Hugh Adams came to the village and it is
likely that to his influence largely and to that of Capt.
Ebenezer Hawes a final adjustment of the controversy was
made. This was accomplished in the spring of 1712. An
agreement was entered into under date of March 19 1711-
12 between the two parties, by which it was agreed that
the " proprietors " should cause the common land to be sur
veyed and laid out into lots of equal value as near as may
be and that the " privileged men " should have three-eighths
of said lots assigned to them as owners, and the "proprietors"
should have the remaining five-eighths. Pursuant to this
agreement, the "proprietors " met on April 28 1713, selected
Ebenezer Hawes as their Clerk, voted that the common or
undivided lands be divided according to the agreement,
chose two men, Mr. Seth Taylor and Robert Nickerson to
"procure, agree with & assist a surveyor in laying out sd
lands & to procure what other help shall be necesery for
ye better carying one sd work att ye proprietor's charg,"
provided that in drawing lots for the different parcels, the
" proprietors " should have five choices out of eight and the
"privileged men " three choices, provided for the laying out
13. "Joseph Nickerson of full age testifieth and saith that the lands In controversy
where Sarjeant Daniel Hambleton cut wood on In Manamoy for which Ensign William
Nickerson brought a plea of trespass against bim for at the Court of Common Pleas
In Barnstable in April last past which sd action Is now by appeal to be herd & tryed at
the Superiour Court at Plymouth on tbe 27th day of this Instant & to my knolege by
the best Information that I nave herd, sd very spot of land is som part of that land
which I herd my now deceased father William Nickerson often say was part of the
undivided lands in sd Manamoy & I often herd my sd father in his lifetime say that the
lands in Monemoy which was not then laid out shold ly General & shold not be divided
& I never knew or herd that sd land was laid out before I lately herd It was granted to
Ensign William Nickerson." Dated March 15, 1710-1 . Files Superior Court of Judica
ture, No. 8212. See also testimony of Benjamin Phillips, page 84, note 23, supra.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 197
of necessary and convenient ways to the several parcels and
established also the method of drawing lots among the
" proprietors " themselves, after the first drawing between
them as a whole and the "privileged men." It was also
ordered that a piece of land be set off and sold to defray
the expense of the suit, Nickerson vs. Hamilton.
At a subsequent meeting on May 11 Mr. Daniel Hamil
ton was chosen as a representative of the "privileged men"
to be on the committee to procure and assist the surveyor.
This committee selected Mr. Daniel Parker of Barnstable as
the surveyor.14 He entered upon his duties during the follow^
ing summer and completed his work, so that a meeting of the
"proprietors" could be had in the autumn. Forty-three
lots were laid out, leaving various small pieces not in
cluded in any lot. The location of these lots is indicated
on the map at page 132, except lot 24, which can not be
located and does not appear in the division.
The meeting of the " proprietors " was held on October
3. It accepted the report of the Committee and of the sur
veyor and proceeded to the preliminary drawing. The
"privileged men" had eighteen choices or opportunities to
draw and drew the following lots : 1, 10, 11, 15, 20, 21,
22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 38, 41 and 1-2 of the 40th
lot. The "proprietors " had twenty-seven choices and drew
the following lots : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16,
17, 18, 19, 25, 28, 33, 35, 36, 37, '39, 42, 43 and 1-2 of
the 40th lot. Lots 11, 12, 13 and 40 were divided into
halves in order to increase the number of choices. Lot 9
was assigned to Rev. Mr. Adams according to the agree
ment of the village with him at the time of his' settlement
there. Lot 24 appears not to have been laid out. Mr.
Adams had charge of the drawing, numbering the papers
14. William Nickerson and Daniel St ars were employed by the Committee as "ax-
men" to assist the surveyor by marking tbe trees as he proceeded in the work. Files
Superior Court of Judicature No. 19,259.

198

HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

and shuffling them for the drawing, and drawing them out.
As their choice came, Mr. Robert Nickerson, chose the lots
for the "proprietors" and Sargeant Hamilton for the "priv
ileged men."
The division between the " proprietors " and the " priv
ileged men " having now been effected, it was necessary for
each party to divide among themselves the lots which had
fallen to them. For this purpose the "proprietors" met on
Feb. 2, 1713-14 and made choice of Sargeant Hamilton to
number and draw forth the papers for them. Before the
drawing began, they voted that Mr. William Nickerson
should have, as one of his lots, the 33rd lot adjoining his
marsh at the Red River neck.
The result of the drawing was as follows :

"Mr
Mr Mr MrMrMr Mi-Mr MrMr

William Nickerson
Nath. Covel in Mr. Sprages Right
William Nickerson
Richard Sears in Mr. Sprags Rigt
Dan'l Sears in Mr. Sprags Right
Willm Covel in M's Covels Rigt15
Seth Taylor in Ms Covels Right
Thos Adkins in Mr. Sprages Rigt
William Nickerson
Ebenr Hawes in Ms. Covel Rigt
Richard Sears in Mr Sprags Rigt
William Nickerson
Isaac hinkely or in Ms Covel Rigt
William Nickerson
Daniel Sears in Mr Sprags Right
William Eldredg in M« Covel Right
William Nickerson
Richard Sears in Mr. Sprags Right
William Nickerson
Richard Sears in Mr. Sprages Rigt
William Nicker—
Daniel Sears in Mr. Sprags Right
William Nickerson
Thomas Atkins in Mr. Sprags Right"

Choice

Lot Cl'osen

7

42

2

4

9

28

15

13

6

16

11

17

4

43

8

8

1

5

3

7

14

25

13

3

22

32

16

35

18

18

5

2

24

39

19

19

23

37

10

14

20

36

21

12

12

6

17

Va40

The reader will doubtless notice that, in the above
drawing, those claiming in Mrs. Covell's right had only
15. It seems that Joseph Harding, William Nickerson, son of John, and John Nick
erson, his brother, were interested with William Covell in this share,

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 199
half as many chances to draw as Mr. William Nickerson
and those claiming under Mr. Sprague. The reason for this
is that by previous agreement, Joseph Covell, Isaac Hawes,
Michael Stewart, Caleb Lumbert and Nathan Bassett, all
claiming in the Covell right, had been assigned, before the
drawing, specific portions of the common land satisfactory
to all parties, and these portions were in full for their
interest. They are shown on the map above referred to.
The procedure for division among the " priviledged men "
was necessarily more complicated than in case of the "pro
prietors." Not only was it uncertain what should be the
share of each one in the division, but there was a dispute
as to what persons were entitled to be called " priviledged
men " at all. In order to settle these questions, the parties
interested entered into a written agreement dated January
29, 1713-14, by which the whole matter was referred to
Justice John Otis, Col. John Gorham and Dea. John Paine,
disinterested parties, for decision. Their report is as fol
lows :
To all people to whom these presents shal come, Know yee yt wee
John Otis, John Goreham & Deacon John paine, being mutually &
indifferently chosen by those who are called privilidged men of ye
Inhabitants of Chatham & desired to determine, arbitrate & award
who were ye proper privilidged psons which ought to shear in & have
a .right unto ye sixteen lots & half of land already laid out by ye
mutual agreement of ye proprietors & those called privilidged men
in sd Town of Chatham to be for ye use & propertie of them ye sd
privilidged men, their heirs & assigns forever as may apear by an
agreement on record in ye proprietors Clerks book of sd Town bear
ing date Aprill ye 28th 1713 Referance to sd agreement being had &
for as much as those which Judg ymselVes to be privilidged men as
aforsd & have right in & unto ye abov sd sixteen lots & half being at
variance and differing about who they are & what proportion each
Claimor may Reasonably have in & unto ye before mentioned sixteen
lots & half of land & being minded to put a final end, peacable issue
& Comfortable determination to ye Controversy, wee ye sd arbi
trators being at ye house of Mr. Ebenezar Hawes of Chatham aforsd:
having given opertunity for al psons who could lay any Reasonable

200 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Claim to ye prmisses or any part thereof to make their pleas, claims &
alligations & duly considered & weiged ye same, have & doe order,
award & set out to each & evirie pson herunder named to have ye
several parts & proportions annexed to each name as followeth: lots
It: to Insign Stuart or his assigns one lott & an half 1—2-4
to Daniel Hamelton one lot and one eight 1—1-8
to Thom. Howes one lot 1—0
to Joseph Stewart half one lot 0—1-2
to John Smith one lot & one eight of a lot 1—1-8
to Jehoshaphat Eldred half a lott 0—1-2
to Robert Paddock half a lott 0-1-2
to John Taylor one lott 1—0
to William Michel one lot 1—0
to Moses Godfree one lot 1—0
to James Eldred three quarters of one lott 0—3-4
to Samuel Taylor one lot 1—0
to Jonathan Godfree half a lot 0—1-2
to John Nickerson Sen as an apendant to his farm one lot 1—0
to Joseph Eldred one lot 1—0
to William Covel one lot 1—0
to Ebenezar Hawes one lot 1—0

15 & 1-2 lots

which distribution & division will take up fifteen lots & half to be set
forth to each privilidged man in a proper method & there will remain
one lot which we propose & advise to be the lot near ye meeting house
(not having much wood thereon) to be at ye disposition of ye above
mentioned Shearers of sd fifteen lots & an half either to sell to pay
charg or otherwise to be disposed of as may be Judged best by ye
major part of ye Interest in a lawful meeting. And wee the sd
arbitrators being chosen to ye service above mentioned as may apear
by an agreement in writing Bearing date ye 29th day of January
1713-14 & axcepting the same, do accordingly give in this our award
& final determination Relateing to ye premisses this seiventeenth day
of february 1713-4 in presence of thes wittness under our hands &
seals Seth Taylor Jno Otis (seal)
Isaac Hawes Jno Goreham (seal)
Jno Paine (seal)
Immediately upon the rendering of this award a meet
ing of the "priviledged men" was called and held on March

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS.

201

1, 1714. The award was unanimously accepted and it was
voted to sell lot 1 to pay the expense of the referees and
other expenses of the division. The half lot No. 40 was
assigned to Jonathan Godfrey, he being entitled to just one-
half a lot in the division. Mr. Godfrey was selected to
draw the lots and the following choice resulted :

Choice

lot

05

31

06

22

07

20

11

27

15

10

01

15

08

23

10

34

13

26

14

38

09

29

03

11

04

41

12

30

02

21

"Joseph Stuard for himself, father & Brethren
Daniel Hamblton
John Smith
Thomas Howes
Joseph Eldredg
Ebenr Hawes
Moses Godfre
William Michal
Samuel Taylor
John Taylor
William Covel
James Eldredg 3 quarters & hamblton & Smith 1 quart
Jehoshaphet Eldredg & Robert padock 1 lot
Joseph Stuard in ye Rights above sd
John Nickerson as an apendant to his farm"

The foregoing proceedings and division, with a full
description of the several lots, are recorded in a book en
titled "A proprietors' Book for Chatham 1713 Ebenr Hawes
Chatham," which is now deposited in the office of the Town
Clerk at Chatham where by law it is required to be kept
and preserved.16 The record was made by Ebenezer Hawes
Clerk for both " proprietors " and "priviledged men." The
lots laid out have ever since been the basis for conveyances
of land in the westerly half of the town. After the divi
sion no meetings of the proprietors were held for many
years and those subsequently held were of minor impor
tance. The dates of these subsequent meetings were
16. About the year 1893 the writer found this book in tbe possession of Mr. James
M. Young of this town, it having been given to his father, Reuben Young, then deceased,
many years before by 'Squire Sears, the last representative of tbe Sears family In the
town. Knowing that the law required it to be deposited In the Town Clerk's Offlce,
tbe writer obtained the consent of Mr. Young to place it in the bands ot Mr. Levi
Atwood, tbe clerk of the town. Tbe book has recently been rebound at the expense
of the State by the Emery process and is now in shape to last for many years.

202 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
March 25 1741-2 (Samuel Stewart chosen Clerk), June 9
1742, July 5 1742, April 26 1749, (Daniel Sears chosen
Clerk) Feb. 18 1752, March 9 1752, June 13 1758 (Paul
Sears chosen clerk), Oct. 22 1787, (John Emery chosen
Clerk).
It is a singular fact that, although this division was re
garded as final and as fixing the ownership of the lots, the
land or at least that part of it which was not settled upon
or enclosed and cultivated, was still regarded as common
land for many purposes for many years after this date.
Cattle, sheep and hogs were still permitted to roam over it
as before and the inhabitants in town meeting continued
for many years to regulate the use of the tract for pastur
age. The rules most frequently made were that swine
should be well yoked and ringed, that rams should not run
at large thereon between the tenth of August and the mid
dle or last of October and that no sheep on the common
should be driven for shearing before the third Monday of
May. It is believed that this common use did not extend
to wood cutting, but that each owner after the division cut
wood on his own lot.
There was another unsettled land problem of long stand
ing, which disturbed the early years of the village, almost
as important as that affecting the common lands. It re
lated to the ownership of Monomoit Great Beach and was
not finally settled till the year 1729. The value of this
beach lay in the large tracts of salt marsh and sedge gra9S
scattered along the inner or westerly side thereof.
Some of the settlers of Eastham, who doubtless claimed
right therein as " Purchasers or Old Comers," were early ac
customed to utilize this beach as pasturage and breeding
ground for their horses, young cattle, etc., for which it was
then well suited, driving them on in the spring and allow
ing them to range its whole length.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 203
The early Monomoit settlers also used it for the same
purpose from the time of the first settlement, and also at
times cut hay thereon. They were anxious to secure con
trol of it, on account of its proximity, but they appear to
have realized that they had no right to purchase it, at least,
without consent of the Court. It appears also that after a
time the Monomoit settlers were put to much trouble and loss
on account of the use made of this beach. Tbey, therefore, in
February 1691, petitioned the General Court for relief, espec
ially for authority to purchase the beach of the Indians.17 They
got no satisfaction, however, as the beach was clearly a part of
the Cape "reserve," and the right to purchase it from the
Indians rightfully belonged only to those "purchasers or
old comers," to whom this "reserve" had been assigned,
as explained in chapter IV.
In the course of time there came to be three sets of
claimants to this beach. First, the Nickersons and Covells
claimed it, as representatives of William Nickerson Sen,
on the ground of long use and possession. It does
not appear that it was any part of the lands
at Monomoit, granted to Thomas Hinckley and others
June 7, 1665, and later purchased of them by William
Nickerson Sen., or that the Nickersons and Covells claimed
17. "To tbe Hond Generall Court of Plymouth . The Humble Petition of ye Inhab
itants of ye Village of Monamoy. [Here follows the petition quoted on page 102 supra]
And whereas there lyeth a Beach called the Great Beach Betwixt us and tbe sea and
several of the Inhabitants of some of our Neighbouring Towns hath many Horses and
mares which go rate tree and are brought and hunted from said Beach by the Indians
being Imployed by the owners of said Horses whereby we suSer great damage by hav
ing our food eaten and our fences broken & coalts drowned.
We humbly request of ye Honored Court for to grant us libertie for to purchase said
Beach and soe leave it to your consideration.
We rest your Humble Petitioners whose names are under written In the Behalf of
ye Town.
Monamoy ye llth of Feb 1690 [ 1] . Nicholas Eldredge
William Griffith
Hugh Stewart
William Mitchell."
State Archives Vol. 113, 353.
-(16)-

204 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
any title to it under any purchase from the Indians. It was
plainly not included in the tracts of "unpurchased land"
laid out to them in 1695 by Jonathan Sparrow and John
Freeman.18 The claim of the Nickersons and Covells ap
pears to have rested solely upon long continued possession
and use, beginning with the first settlement of the village.19
The second set of claimants were Elisha Hedge of Yar
mouth, Samuel Smith of Eastham, David Melville of East
ham and Hugh Stewart of Monomoit, who together pur
chased the beach in 1694 of John Quason and Josephus
Quason. They could not ascertain that the beach had been
granted by the General Court to any one and therefore
thought that they might with safety purchase it. It was
an outlying strip of land near the Nickerson purchase and
it probably was not known to them that it was, in fact, a
part of one of the three great tracts reserved in 1640-1 for
the " purchasers or old comers " as explained in chapter IV,
and that the latter alone had the legal right to purchase it
of the Indians.20
The third set of claimants were the " purchasers or old
comers " themselves, to whom the Cape " reserve " had
been assigned in March 1652, or rather their successors in
title, for the original "purchasers or old comers" had now
all passed away. These persons were said to hold title by
virtue of the Boyal Grant, that is, by virtue of the original
patent from the King to Gov. Bradford. These peo
ple did not attempt to exercise their right of purchase from
18. See page 131 supra.
19. "Benjamin Phillips testifies yt wheras I for thirty years standing have known
ye Nickerson & Covells to be In pursatlon of ye Great beach comonly called Mana-
moltt Great Beach by feeding & cutting ye grass & erblg on sd beach," 24 April 1724.
Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 19,259.
20. General Court Records X, 19. I have not found the original deed to Hedge and
others above mentioned, but the following memorandum, made by some one who con
sulted the County Becords before they were burned In 1827, gives an Inkling of Its con
tents: "grat Beach deed to Samuel Smith and others— Beglnen at Grat Hock in Jere
miah howes bound in his line to the sea & southerly— deed dated 1691[ ?J . " Osborn Nick
erson papers. 1'or "Jeremiah howes bound" see page 49 note 23.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 205
the Indians till the year 1711. At that date those who had
succeeded to the rights of the original "purchasers or old
comers " were John Cole, Daniel Cole, Joshua Hopkins,
Nicholas Snow, Micajah Snow and Nathaniel Doane all of
Eastham and Stephen Hopkins, Prince Snow and John
King of Harwich. These nine men by deed dated May
18, 1711, purchased of the heirs of John Quason, viz. John
Quason, Joseph Quason, Samuel Quason, Josephus Qua
son, Sarah Pompmo, Bettie Nopie, wife of Isaac Nopie,
and Wawhanana "living in Harwich, Eastham, Monamoy
and Yarmouth," a large tract, comprising nearly all of the
present town of Harwich and also such title as the Indians
could give to Monomoit Great Beach, which is described in
the deed as follows : " All that our Great Beach lying be
tween Monamoy and the main sea extending eastwards &
westwards so far as our deceased father, John Quason, his
right did extend, with all the meadow or sedge ground ad
joining & every way thereto belonging from Sandy point
home to Sipson's bounds, together with that one Island
called Cotchpinicut Island lying between said Monamoy &
the Great Beach."21 After making this purchase, these men,
with others who had joined them, entered into an agreement,
under date of March 9, 1712-3, determining their relative inter
ests in the beach as follows : John Cole, Joshua Hopkins,
Nicholas Snow, Micajah Snow, Joseph Doane, Prince Snow,
John King, Thomas Clark, Edmund Freeman and John
Gray each one fourteenth part, Stephen Hopkins two four
teenths, and Joseph Cole, Elisha Hopkins, Nathaniel Doane
and Israel Doane each one twenty eighth.22
21. Osborn Nickerson papers. "Sipson's bounds" were the bounds of the tract
belonging to John Sipson and sold by him to Jeremiah Howes by deed dated Feb. 26,
1691, (see note 23, page 49 supra) . This tract was later known as the Strong Island
propriety. The boundary line between it and the Monomoit Great Beach propriety
ran from the north side of Cotchpinicut Island easterly to a great rock In or near the
channel, called TJntumsket Rock, thence easterly to and across the Beach to the ocean.
See deed dated June 17, 1805, from Abner Freeman & al to Ensign Nickerson. Osborn
Nickerson papers.
22. Osborn Nickerson papers.

206 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
After this purchase, these people appear to have been
active in asserting their rights to the beach and to have
caused disturbance to Mr. Elisha Hedge and partners, who
had been not only using the beach but selling portions of
it to others. The result was that Mr. Hedge and his part
ners in 1715 presented a petition to the General Court at
Boston, asking for protection and confirmation of their
title.23 They got no redress, however, the petition being
dismissed June 6, 1716.
The dispute concerning the ownership of this beach con
tinued for a number of years after this time. Finally, in
or about 1724, there appears to have been some kind of a
lawsuit, which was carried up to the Superior Court of
Judicature and resulted in establishing the rights of the
Nickersons in the beach.24 When this question had been
finally settled, the parties came together and agreed upon
an equal division of the beach between them. The first
meeting of the proprietors and their action is shown by the
following record :
At a Meeting of ye Proprietors of ye Great Beach Meadow and
Sedge ground Lying in ye County of 'Barnstable Called Monemoy
Great Beach Being assembled on ye 22d day of July 1729 In a
Regular Mariner as ye Law Directs To choose them a Clerk &c
23. "Upon Reading a Petition of Elisha Hedge, John Smith, son & Heir to Samuel
Smith late of Eastham Decd, David Melvll& Hugh. Sfawrt of Monomoy Alias Chatham,
Importing that whereas they did in ye year 1694 purchase of the Indians John Quason
& Josephus Quason of Monomoy alias Chatham in the County of Barnstable a certain
Beach comonly called Monomoy Beach lying Eastward of sd Monomoy with severall
parcels of meadow or sedge ground lying adjacent thereunto as may be seen by an in
strument of conveyance under the hands and seals of tbe sd John and Josephus Qua
son, wh said Meadow and Beach was never as they can learn by tbe General Court
granted to any Persons whatsoever and therefore they thought they might with safety
purchase the same, It being no way to the Prejudice of the said Indians to sell a
Beach which was no way likely to be profitable to them, that the said Purchase was
made before any law of this Province was made to the contrary, that they have for
many years quietly enjoyed & possessed the said Beach with its appurtenances & have
since sold and made conveyances of a considerable Part of sd Beach to other Persons,
who have quietly possessed & Improved the same without any manifest dislike to the
Indians, yet notwithstanding some English do trespass upon the said Beach by turning
over Horses & Cattle to graze thereon & they also mollest & disturb the persons to
whom it was sold, Whereby great Inconvenience & Damage Is like to ensue to your
Petitioners unless timely prevented; Humbly Praying that the General Court will
please to take this matter Into Consideration & relieve them by confirming a Grant of
the said Beach with the appurtenauces which are specified in the Deed of Sale made
to them by Jobn'& Josephus Quason.
In the House of Representatives ordered that this Petition be continued until the
next May session and that in the meantime Publick notice be given by the Petitioners
in the town of Chatham That if any persons have any reasonable objection to make
they may then be heard." Dec. 6, 1715. General Court Records, X, 19.
24. See note 19 supra.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 207
then made choise of Edward Kenwrick for their clerk who was
then sworn to that offlce — Then also made choise of Joseph Doane
Esq. Lieut. Prince Snow, Ensign William Nickerson, Joseph Covel,
Capt. John Atkins & Thomas Mayo to be a committee to draw up
proposals to lay before said Proprietors Relating to each claimers
claim to sd Great Beach, meadow and sedge Ground: Lieut. Thomas
Clarke chosen moderator for said meeting.
Attest Edward Kenwrick Proprietor's Clerk.
A true copy as on record examined per James Covell, Cler.
Here follows the abovesaid Committee's return exactly Transcribed:
July 22, 1729. We, John Atkins, Joseph Doane, Prince Snow, Wil
liam Nickerson, Thomas Mayo and Joseph Covell being appointed a
committee of the proprietors of ye Great Beach called Monemoy
Great Beach from Sandy Point Eastward or Northward to Potanu-
macut Harbour so called with the Meadow and Sedge ground ad
joyning and belonging at a proprietors meeting of said proprietors
Lawfully assembled ye 22 Day of July 1729 to consider and ac
cordingly to make report to said proprietors what and how much
of the premises each of the three claimers of said Beach, meadow
and sedge ground shall be in the whole In order that each claimer
may Lovingly unite & Incorporate Into one Intire Distinct propriety
In ye whole of sd propriety and having Discoursed on and concern
ing the premises, Do conclude and accordingly report as followeth,
that is to say:
. 1) that they who call themselves Purchasers in Eastham and Har
wich that purchased of ye Quasons By virtue of ye Royal
Grant their Heirs and assigns to have one third part of said Beach,
meadow and sedge ground.
2) that those who challenge In ye Right of Mr. Elisha Hedge, Mr.
Hugh Stuart, Mr. David Melvel and Mr. Samuel Smith to have to
them their Heirs and assigns one third part of said meadow, beach
and sedge ground.
3) that those that challenge In ye Right of the Nickersons and
Covells or their ancestors to have to them their heirs and assigns
one third part of said Beach, meadow and sedge ground.
And this we give In as our opinion & Report Relating to ye prem
ises. John Atkins
Joseph Doane
Thomas Mayo
Prince Snow
his
Joseph x Covel
mark
July 22 1729.
Then the proprietors at their sd meeting voted the Committee's
Return to be their Mind and Will.
Attest Edward Kenwrik, Proprietor's Cler —
A true copy as appears on the Proprietors Book of Records Ex
amined pr James Covel Cler —
A true copy examined pr John Sturgis Cler.26
25 . Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 23,097 .

208 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
It appears that, at the same, time, a committee was ap
pointed, representing all parties, to divide the beach into
lot3, so that each of the three parties might have their part
separate from the others, and that this committee made a
report, which was recorded in the proprietors' record book,
dividing the beach into six lots of about equal value, and
also dividing the meadow at a place called Webb's Island
(which seems to have been considered as belonging with
the beach) into three lots. As the proprietors' book has
disappeared, it is impossible now to give the location of these
lots.26 After the committee had finished its work, the
three parties met and drew lots for the several parcels laid
out. No record however was made of this drawing, but
the several parties went on and possessed the lots drawn to
them, till the omission in the record was remedied in
1738. 27
The westerly side of this beach, from the earliest times
26. This book was In existence as late as 1800 and is described and referred to in
the case of Proprietors of Monumol Great Beach v. Eogers I Mass. Reports 169.
27. "At a Meeting of the Proprietors of the Great Beach Commonly called Monemoy
Great Beach, Meadow and Sedge Ground Legally Warned, and said proprietors being
Assembled In a Eegular Manner at the house of Mr. Thomas Hammilton's In Chatham
on Friday ye Eighteenth Day of August A. D. 1738 Did then and there Vote and Agree
yt upon Consideration that whereas the Committee that was Chosen in ye year 1729 to
Lay out the Monemoy beach and Sedge Ground aforesd into three parts In Order for
Lotts to be cast that each of the Three Claiming Parties might have their Equal Third
part distinct and Separate from Each other and accordingly sd Committee having Laid
out sd Monemoy Beach and Sedge Ground into nine Lotts and made Return thereof as
appears on Record and the Lotts Being then Drawn or Cast in a Regular manner and
each of the three Claiming parties having Improved said Meadow According to said
Draught Ever Since, yet notwithstanding the said Draught of ye Lotts Being not to be
found on said proprietors Book of Records, ye said proprietors having taken an Account
of ye former Draught of said Lotts to ye Ends yt each of ye three Claiming parties may
know which Is and accordingly enjoy forever the same third part of the abovesd Meadow
and Sedge Ground which fell to them in the aforesd Draught, do Vote and agree as
followeth viz: that the former Draught of sd Lotts shall be Recorded as followeth:
1st That they wbo purchased by Virtue of the Royal Grant Drew and shall have the
Srst Lott, and the fourth Lotts .
2iy And they who Chalenge in the Right of Mr Elisha Hedge and Mr Hugh Stuart &
Mr David Melvel & Mr Samuel Smith Drew and Should have the Second and the fifth
Lotts. Sly And those who Chalenge In ye Right of the Nickerson & Covel's Drew and should
have the Third and the Sixth Lotts.
And of ye Marsh yt Lays to the northward of a place Called Webb's Island those that
have purchased by virtue of ye Royal Grant Drew ye first Lot and those who challenge
In ye Right of ye Nickerson & Covels drew ye second Lott and those who challenge in ye
Right of Mr. Elisha Hedge and ye others aforementioned with him Drew the Third Lott.
William Eldredge Jun Attest James Covel
moderator for sd meeting. Proprietors' Cler.
A true Copy as on Record Copy examined pr
Examined pr James Covel Cler. Jno Sturgis Clerk.
A True Copy Attest
Jno Sturgis Clerk."
Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 47,330.

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 209
was used as a harbor for vessels seeking to round the Cape
and waiting for favoring winds. It was, however, a dan
gerous haven, in case of a sudden change of wind, and even
before 1700 the indentation on the west side of the
beach was known as Wreck Cove and had been the
graveyard of more than one unchronicled voyager.28
Hither about 1711 came William Eldredge, son of
Robert, and built a house and opened a tavern for
the entertainment of sailors making a harbor in
the vicinity. He doubtless bought land there of Mr.
Elisha Hedge and his associates, but the tradition is that
he bought of Joseph Stewart, who was son of Hugh Stewart,
one of the partners of .Mr. Hedge. He lived here a num
ber of years, selling out to Morris Farris, who in turn sold
about 1725 to Joseph Stewart.29 The latter maintained a
tavern at this place for over twenty years and the locality
near his house became known as Stewart's Knoll. A
curve in the easterly shore of the beach in this vicinity
became known as Stewart's Bend. The location of a house in
this vicinity was, of course, a great boon to shipwrecked
sailors. Doubtless, it was shipwreck or some such disaster
which brought the widow Margaret Mitchell and her two sons
to Mr. Stewart's house in 1729, where she died the following
winter, leaving two orphan sons, Thomas and John, their
father, Alexander Mitchell, having died on the passage
over from Ireland. Mr. Ephraim Covell of Harwich be
came their guardian in March 1729-30, but Thomas
28. See petition for Incorporation ot Monomoit, page 176 supra.
29. "Joseph Severance testifieth & saith yt to ye best of my Remembrance about
fourty years ago yt William Eldredge bult a house and went to Live upon ye Beach
called Sandlpolnt alls Rack Cove and that I then understood yt William Eldredge had
bought sd Beach ot Joseph Stuert & yt some time after Morriss Farris bought sd Beach
of Eldredge and about twenty-five years ago sd Joseph Stuert bought sd Beach & tene
ment againe and bult a house there, but how long sd Stuert had Lived there before he
bult his house I Do not Remember, the house yt Joseph bult Is ye house yt has suffered
Damage of Late, as I understand, and I Do not Remember there was any Dwelling
house there before ye above mentioned housing and I am now about sixty-nine years
of age. [Date of testimony, 1753.1 bis
Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 27,319. Joseph X Severance
mark
Sworn in Court Att. Sam'l Winthrop Cler."

210 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Mitchell, probably their uncle, appeared a few years later
and took possession of the boys and their, property.80
There appears to have been no other attempt to settle
on this beach in early times. It was used for pasturing
horses, cattle, &c and also for mowing. In 1733 its use
for pasturing was abandoned, and all the salt grass allowed
to grow for mowing, as the following vote will show :
"At a meeting of the proprietors of the Great Beach Meadow
and Sedge Ground called Monemoyt Beach on July 9th 1733 the said
Proprietors votes that said Beach, meadows and Sedge Ground
Shall be Kepi and Preserved and orderly Improved by and for mow
ing and no other use and it is further voted by the said Proprietors
that no Creatures, as neat Cattle, Horses, hogs and Sheep, shall be
allowed to go at Large on any part of said Beach neither on the
Southwesterly side of the New Harbour, so called, neither on the
Northeasterly side of the said New Harbour, except Mr. Joseph
Stuart for so long as he himself shall keep Entertainment at said
Beach to be allowed to Keep two Cows and two Horses for his
families support. Recorded by Theophilus Mayo Proprietor's
Clerk. A true copy October 17 1748 Examined pr James Covel Pro
prietors clerk." 3i
There was another meeting of the proprietors of the
beach on May 28, 1746, when a committee was chosen to
lay out and divide that part of the beach not already laid
out, some parts apparently not having been divided in the
first division.82 Still other meetings were held up to and
including 1756, between which time and 1783 there appears
to have been no meeting.83
30. "Aug 2nd 1733. Then received of Mr. Ephraim Covil of Harwich in the County
of Barnstable yeoman two Boys named Thomas Michel and John Michel togeather
with seventeen pounds in goods that the sd Covil Received with said Boys at Sandy
poynt so called in the Town of Chatham, sd seventeen pounds being left by Alexander
Michel who died In his passage from Ireland to sd Sandy poynt, sd seventeen pounds
being given to sd Thomas Michel and John Michel by their mother, widow to sd
Alexander Michel aforesaid by her will approved by ye Judge of probate for the County
of Barnstable aforesaid, I say, Received by me In full, as witness my hand. Thomas
Mitchell . " Barnstable Probate Records .
31 . Files Superior Court of Judicature No . 64 ,639.
32. "At a meeting of the Proprietors of the Great Beach, Meadow and Sedge Ground
in Chatham Leagually Warned and attended at the Dwelling House of Mr. Richard
Knowles In Chatham on Wednesday the 28th Day of May 1746 they made choice of Mr.
Samuel Atkins to be Moderator for said Meeting. At the same meeting made choice
of Tjleut. Daniel Howes, Ensign Thomas Hamilton and Judah Mayo, for a committee
for them of the Third callnd the old purchase; tbey also made choice of Mr. Samuel
Smith, Mr. Jeremiah Eldredge, and Thomas Kenwrick for a committee for them of that
Third called Harwich Purchase or the Royal Granters ; they also made choice of Lieut.
Richard Knowles, Mr. William Eldredge and Mr. Thomas Nickerson for a Committee
for them of that Third called Nickersons and Covels Right, to Divide and Lay out that
Part of said Beach, meadow & flats that is not already so don and Cast Lots for the
same." * * * Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 63,273.
33. 1 Mass. Reports 159.

AN INDEX TO THE GENEALOGICAL NOTES

PARTS I and II

Page

Adams, Rev. Hugh,

187

Cahoon, William, .

151

Cottle, Edward,

112

Covell, Nathaniel, . . ...

127

Crow, Thomas,

111

Downing, John, ......

108

Eldredge, Nicholas, ....

150

Robert, . . . .

120

Ellis, John,

162

Griffith, William,

117

Hall, Gershom,

165

Hawes, Ebenezer, ....

190

Hedges, Tristram, ...

122

Jones, Teague,

110

Lumbert, Caleb,

116

Mitchell, William, ....

153

Nickerson, John, ...

125

" Joseph, ....

131

" Nicholas, . ...

64

" Samuel,

123

Robert,

121

" William, Sen., ....

. 56, 64

Jun.,

130

Savage, John, ...

113

Small, Edward, Sen., .

152

" " Jun., . . . •

159

Smith, Samuel, ...••¦

99

Stewart, Hugh, . ¦ • •

114

Tomlon, Nathaniel, .

132

Vickery, Rev. Jonathan, .

149

History of Chatham
Massachusetts

Fortnerly the Constablewick or Village
of Monomoit

WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
AND NUMEROUS GENEALOGICAL NOTES

By
WILLIAM C. $MITH

PAlfcT III
^kimuluiui ilit Ilimuij it liliuuuiuii')

RTANNIS, MASS.
F. B. A F. P. GOSS, PcBLISHMSB
1917

EARLY LAND PROBLEMS. 211
It should be understood that the beach, which was di
vided at these early meetings, consisted of salt meadow
only. No other part was then considered to be
of any value. As this salt meadow extended from
Morris Island southerly on the west side of the beach
to Inward Point, now so called, it is evident that
wo have attained a fairly definite idea of what territory was
divided, although, in the absence of records, we do not
know the exact location of the different lots.34
It was not till about the year 1819 that it was thought
worth while to take any action regarding the remainder of
the beach. The proprietors then met and voted to sell all
the rest of the beach at auction to the highest bidder, which
was done. That part extending from a point opposite
James' Head northerly to the Strong Island propriety was
sold to Richard Sears, Jr., Jonah Crowell, Caleb Nickerson,
Salathiel Nickerson, Mulford Howes and others.35 That
part lying between the above mentioned parcel and a point
opposite the easterly bluff of Morris Island went to Jonah
Crowell, Samuel Doane, Joseph Young, Eichard Sears,
Sears Atwood, Salathiel Nickerson, Simeon Nickerson and
Caleb Nickerson.80 The remaining part of the beach, that
is, the part south of Inward Point was sold to Richard
Sears, Samuel Doane, Reuben C. Taylor, David Bearse and
Jonah Crowell in equal shares. It is described as "the new
Point on Monnamoit Great Beach in said Chatham lying
southward of Wreck Cove and Steward's Knolls, bounded
on the North side by the beach and meadow called the old
purchase, running from the bay easterly to the Atlantic
Ocean, thence Southerly and Westerly by said Ocean and
the sea water and round the point by the Bay to the first
mentioned bound."37
84. It appears that the meadow at Little Beach, Morris Cove, was also a part of
Great Beach propriety.
35. This is probably that part of the beach north of the "New Harbour." See three
deeds dated Feb. 19, 1819, from Richard Sears agent for the proprietors of Great Beach
to Crowell, Sears and Nickerson In Barnstable Registry 2 Chatham Deeds 46, 177 and
295. See also Barnstable County Deeds III. 213.
36. See a deed dated Apr. 26, 1819 from Richard Sears, Jr., agent for the aforesaid
proprietors, Barnstable Registry 1 Chatham Deeds 94.
37. See a deed from Richard Sears to Collins Howes dated In 1835, Barnstable County
Deeds XVII, 254.
-(17)- »

CHAPTER XI.

THE LATER SETTLERS.*
CAPT. John Atkins, son of Henry and Bethiah (Linnell)
Atkins of Eastham, born August 1, 1674, married
Elizabeth, daughter of Lieut. Andrew Newcomb of Edgar-'
town, March 5, 1699-1700. He lived a few years in Eastham,
removing to Monomoit about 1705. It is not certain where
his farm was located. He was active in local affairs, being
selectman five years, treasurer two years, etc. He be
came lieutenant of the military company under Capt. Eben
ezer Hawes in 1715 and was appointed captain in 1720.
He was one of the first seven members of the church or
ganized in 1720, and was prominent in the controversies,
which arose with Rev. Hugh Adams and Rev. Samuel Os
born, the Eastham minister.1 He died January 30, 1732-3,
leaving no descendants. His widow was living as late as
1743, when she conveyed land in Edgartown.2
Samuel Atkins, brother of John, born at Eastham June
25, 1679, married Emlen3 [Emeline] Newcomb, a sister of
••The author Is indebted to Mr. Josiah Paine of Harwich, Mr. Stanley W. Smith of
Boston and Mr. William E. Nickerson of Cambridge for helpful genealogical informa
tion respecting some of the families mentioned In this chapter.
1. Rev. Samuel Treat of Eastham writes of him In 1716 as follows: "He ls a person
born In our Town of godly parents who gave him a religious education and he early ex
pressed a pious inclination to the ways of God and a religious profession and has for
many years been entertained In our Church, adorning his profession by a very laudable
conversation and so esteemed by the adjacent Towns, to many of whom he Is well
known." Adams v Hawes. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 10,812.
2. Newcomb Genealogy, 20.
3. She is called Emlen in the will of Capt. John Atkins. The name has caused
trouble for genealogists . In the Newcomb Genealogy she Is called Emblem, elsewhere
Embling. The /onus Embling and Emblen (not Emblem) are old forms for Emlen
(Emeline), just as we find Hamblen for Hamlin, Tombllng and Tomblen for Tomlln,
Hambleton for Hamilton, etc.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 213
his brother's wife, April 3, 1703, and settlod at Monomoit
soon after. He probably bought a tract of land of the In
dians, adjoining the shore on the east and bounded south
on the Sears farm. This tract after his death fell to his
only son Henry.4 He was selectman in 1737 and 1738.
His name does not appear on the tax lists or records of the
town after 1755, but his estate was not administered upon
till August 26, 1768. His widow was not then living.
The entire estate was assigned to the son Henry, he pay
ing his sisters certain sums of money. His daughter
Elizabeth was the mother of Capt. John Kendrick, the
noted navigator, who in 1789 discovered the Columbia
River, which he named for his vessel, " the Columbia," and
established the claim of the United States to that region.6
4. By deed dated July 29, 1783, Henry Atkins sold to Isaac Howes and John Harding
the following tract In Chatham, doubtless his father's farm : "where my dwelling house
stands, beginning at a stake and stone at the westerly end of the Pond near my Dwell
ing house aforesaid in Mr. Paul Sears his range, thence Westerly as the fence now
stands to the highway, thence northerly to Thomas Bee's range, being about twenty.
five feet, thence Easterly in said Bee's range till it comes to the Partition fence be
tween the aforesaid Bee and Atkins, thence Northerly as the fence now stands till it
comes to the land of Seth Smith, thence Easterly in said Smith's range as the fence
now stands till it comes to tbe land of Constant Nickerson, thence still Easterly as the
fence now stands till it comes to the corner of the fence to a stone in the ground, thence
Northerly in the aforesaid Nlckerson's range as the fence now stands till lt comes to an
other corner to a stone In the ground, thence Southeasterly In the range of the land that
was Solomon Colllngs, as the fence now stands, till lt comes to a Ditch near the fore side
of the aforesaid John Harding's now Dwelling house, thence Easterly as the Ditch now
runs to low water mark, thence Southerly by the water till It comes to Mr. Richard Sears
his range, thence Westerly in said Sears bis range, as the fence now stands, till lt
comes to tbe aforesaid Pond, thence Westerly through the Pond to the first specified
bounds ? * * exclusive of 5 or 6 acres which belong to said Atkins his sister." Seth W.
Hammond papers.
5. Children of Samuel and Emlen (Newcomb) Atkins (from Probate Records, order
uncertain): 1 Eunice, b. 1705; m. Solomon Collins, son of John, about 1726. 2 Eliza
beth, b. ; m. 1st Daniel Eldredge of Eastham Jan. 31, 1727-8, (East. Rec.) who
was "supposed to be deceased" Jan. 1732-3; m. 2nd about 1735, Solomon Kendrick, son
of Edward of Harwich; removed to Barrington, N S., about 1762. 3 Desire, b ;
m. Sylvester. 4 Anna, b. 1714; m. Thomas Kendrick, son of Edward of Har
wich (Int. Jan. 27, 1734-5 East. Rec). 5 Bethiah, Jr., b. ; m. Christopher
Taylor, son of Abraham of Barnstable, Feb. 3, 1757 (Chat. Rec); d. before 1769. 6
Tabitha, b. ; m. Southworth Hamlin, son of Joseph of Barnstable, May 12,
1757 (Chat. Rec). 7 Henry, b. (not of age Jan. 1733); m. Deborah Lothrop, dau. of
Joseph of Barnstable, Dec. 8, 1768 (Barnst. Rec); after selling his farm in 1783 as
above stated, he probably moved to the south part of Eastham, where his widow died
Nov. 22, 1822, aged 85 (Hdstn.) .

214 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Dea. Thomas Atkins, an elder brother of John and
Samuel, born at Eastham June 19, 1671, removed to Mon
omoit as early as 1694. The name of his first wife is not
known. He bought of the Nickersons and Covells 10
acres of land lying between Lord's pond and the highway,
which became his homestead. The house and four acres of
this land, lying north of the meeting house, he sold in 1718
to the town for the use of the ministry and the remaining
six acres he sold in 1729 to Thomas Doane.6 After the
sale to the town, he appears to have lived on the Vickery
homestead, which he had bought of the Vickery heirs in
1714.' With Capt. Joseph Harding he bought Sept. 7,
1697, of Josephus Quason all the interest of the latter in
the Quason lands in the south part of Old Harwich and
later, in 1713, in the division of these lands, received one-
sixteenth part, which he later sold.8 He was clerk of the
proprietors of these lands. He was one of the leading men
of the town, being selectman 21 years, town clerk 14 years,
and holding other offices. He was a leader in the church
and a firm friend and confidant of the ministers. He was
the first deacon of the church. He married 2nd. June 28,
1739, Hope (Horton) Snow, widow of Ebenezer Snow of
Eastham. Administration on his estate was granted Jan.
16, 1750-1, to his son Joshua. Although town clerk many
years, he failed to record any information about his own
family.9 6. Town Records; M. L. Luce papers.
7. Page 124, note 86, supra.
S. Files Superior Court of Judicature, Nos. 7,626, 9,537, 66,388, and 30,839; OsbornNlck-
erson papers.
9. Children of Thomas and ( ) Atkins (order uncertain) : 1 Thomas.
b. ; m. 1st Elizabeth Nickerson, dau. of William, about 1726. She died before
Sept. 13, 1739, (date of her father's will) and he m. 2nd Thankful Snow, dau. of Ebene
zer of Eastham, May 14, 1741 (East. Rec). 2 Joshua, b. ; m. Sarah Sears,
dau. of Daniel, Aug. 1, 1734 (Chat. Rec). She died April 30, 1751, and he m. 2nd Mary
(Freeman) Doane, widow of Benjamin (Int. Oct. 5, 1751, Chat. Rec). 3 Susanna, b.
about 1717; m. Reuben Ryder, son of John, Oct. 26, 1740 (Chat. Rec); d. Aug. 9, 1743,
aged 26. 4 Bethiah, Sen., b. ; single in 1757. (See marriage of Bethiah, Jr.,
note 5 supra. Bethiah, Sen., considering the known facts, could have been no one but
a dau. of Thomas.) 5 Possibly other daughters not Identified.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 215
Nathan Bassett, son of Nathaniel and Mary or Dorcas
(Joyce) Bassett of Marshfield and Yarmouth, born ,
married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Deborah Crow of
Yarmouth, March 7, 1709, and settled at Monomoit soon
after. He bought of one of the Covells (probably Joseph)
an interest in tho common land and settled on that part of
it on the south side of the road to Yarmouth, opposite the
farm of Joseph Nickerson. In the division of the common
land in 1713, he had all the land between the ponds and the
road, from the Indian meeting house nearly to Harwich
line, assigned to him.10 He died in 1728, but his estate was
not settled. His widow died in 1742, leaving a will dated
Nov. 5, 1741, proved May 6, 1742, disposing of her hus
band's property. She gave the homestead to her sons
Nathaniel and Samuel.11
Nathaniel Covell, son of Nathunieland Sarah (Nickerson)
Covell, born about 1670, married March 5, 1696-7, Judith
Nickerson, daughter of William and Mercy. He lived on
or near his father's farm between Crow's pond and Ryder's
cove at Chathamport.12 He was selectman two years and
treasurer two years. His will, dated Sept. 19, 1746, was
proved March 13, 1746-7. He had previously disposed of
his real estate to his children. His widow, daughter Eliza
beth and granddaughter Daty Nickerson each received one-
third of his personal estate.13
10. "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's office.
11. Children of Nathan and Mary (Crow) Bassett (from Probate Records, order un
certain): 1 Dorcas, b ; m. John Nickerson, Jr., son of William of Harwich,
Mar. 14, 1727-8 (Har. Rec). 2 Nathan, b. ; m. Elizabeth Rogers, dau. of
Eleazer of Harwich, Jan. 2, 1734-5 (Har. Rec). 3 Mary, b. ; single in 1752.
4 Thomas, b ; m. 1st Deborah Godfrey, dau. of Moses; 2nd, Mary Newcomb,
widow of Joseph of Wellfleet, Sept. 15, 1763 (East. Rec). 5 Hannah, b. ; m.
1st Joseph Covell, son of Joseph, who died before 1741 ; m. 2nd Asa Mayo of Eastham
July 23, 1756 (East. Rec). 6 Nathaniel, b. ; m. Sarah Chase, dau. of Thomas
of Yarmouth, Aug. 23, 1739 (Yar. Rec). 7 Samuel, b. ; living In 1741 ; prob .
d. at Louisburg, C. B.
12. Town Records, 1734.
13. Children of Nathaniel and Judith (Nickerson) Covell (from Probate Records, or
der uncertain) : 1 Jane, b. ; m. Jonathan Nickerson, son of Thomas, about
1718. 2 John.b. ; m. Thankful Bangs, dau. of Jonathan of Harwich, Aug.

216 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
William Covell, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Nickerson)
Covell, was born at Monomoit about 1673. His wife was
Sarah, but her parentage is not known. His homestead,
bought of Joseph Nickerson about 1695, was at Chatham-
port, bounded " Easterly by Ensign William Nickerson,
Southerly by the land of Jehoshaphat Eldred, Southerly,
Southwesterly and Westerly by ye land of Jeremiah Nick
erson's to ye Bank or Clift neer ye Wading place, and
Northerly by ye Clift," containing 60 acres. On Novem
ber 28, 1710, he bought of Jeremiah Nickerson a tract of
20 acres adjoining the above on the west. All his lands
and rights at Chatham, he sold by deed dated September
10, 1716, to John Crowell, Jr., of Yarmouth14 and removed
to Harwich, where he purchased of his brother Ephraim
the easterly part of the latter's farm, lying on the south
west side of Flax pond. It was conveyed to him by deed
dated February 9, 1718-9, after he had built a house upon
the tract. This farm of 40 acres he sold by deed dated
August 17, 1725, to Jonathan Small or Smalley of Har
wich16 and removed to that part of Eastham now Wellfleet.
He died there January 18, 1760, aged 87. 16
16, 1721 (Har. Rec). 3 Nathaniel, b. ; m. Kezlah Tucker, dau. of Samuel,
Apr. 14, 1727 (Chat. Rec). 4 Seth, b. ; m. Sarah Hurd, dau. of John of
Harwich, Nov. 22, 1733 (Har. Rec); removed to Ridgefield, Conn., about 1747. 5 Hannah,
b. ; m . Alexander Cunningham of Nantucket, Feb. 8, 1732-3 (Nan. Rec). 6
Simeon, b. ; m. Thankful Robbins of Yarmouth, probably dau. of James, Aug.
26,1746 (Yar. Rec). 7 Elizabeth, b. ; died single about 1776. (This Nathan
iel Covell did not settle In the north part of Eastham as stated by Pratt (Hist, of East
ham, 113) ; it was his brother William who ls referred to.)
14. M. L. Luce papers.
15. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 62,893 .
16. Children of William and Sarah ( ) Covell (order uncertain) : 1 Nathaniel
b. ; m. Esther Atwood, dau. of Medad of Eastham (Int. July 19, 1724 East.
Rec). Their children probably were Esther, Sarah, Reuben, Philip, Jedldah and
Priscilla. 2 Ephraim, b. ; m. Mercy Brown of Eastham, July 9, 1730 (East.
Rec). Their children were Amy, Phebe, Zerulah, Ephraim, Amy, Solomon, Daniel,
Mary, Mercy. 3 William, b. ; m. 1st Joanna Atwood, widow of Eleazer of East
ham, June 27, 1734 (East. Rec). ShediedJan. 16, 1786-7, in her 44th year (Hdstu.)
and hem. 2nd Elizabeth Webber of Eastham Feb. 16, 1787-8 (East. Rec.j. Children:
Joanna and David. 4 Probably a son, b. ; m. Mary , and d. young,
leaving a widow and dau. Mary. 5 Dau. , b. ; m. before 1726 Daniel Eldrldge of
Eastham and d. young. (Files Sup. Ct, of Judicature, No. 19,310.) Other children not
identified.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 217
Joseph Covell, son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Nickerson)
Covell, born at Monomoit about 1675, married first Lydia
Stewart, daughter of Ensign Hugh of Monomoit, about
1700. She died not long after and he married second
Hannah Bassett, daughter of Nathaniel of Yarmouth and
sister of Nathan of Monomoit, March 1, 1703-4. His farm
was on the east side of Muddy Cove and extended east to
the present road from the old cemeteries over to the late
Rufus Smith's. It was a part of the old William Nicker
son farm. There is no record of his death or of his chil
dren and no settlement of his estate. He was living as
late as 1732, " but does not appear in the tax list of 1755.18
Ephraim Covell, youngest son of Nathaniel and Sarah
(Nickerson) Covell, born about 1677; married, first, Mercy
, who died Feb. 1, 1727-8; second Abigail Ellis of
Yarmouth Feb. 4, 1729-30, and after her decease, third,
Mary Taylor of Chatham (intent. Sept. 20, 1746), who
survived him.19 By deed dated May 19, 1699, he received
from his mother one-fourth part of all her interest in his
grandfather Nickerson's farm and in all liis other land at
Monomoit, his brothers probably receiving their respective
shares at the same time.20 His part of his grandfather's
17. M. L. Luce papers.
18. Children of Joseph Covell: By wife Lydia: 1 Lydia, b. July 12, 1701 (Chat.
Rec ), m. Thomas Nickerson, Jr., May 16, 1716(Chat. Rec). Bywife Hannah: (order
uncertain): 2 Sarah, b ; m. William Nickerson ("Red Stockings''), son of
William, about 1723 (Osborn Nickerson papers) . 3 ' James, b. ; m. 1st Mehita
ble Nickerson, dau. of Samuel of Harwich, Aug. 4, 1727 (Har. Rec). She died Nov.
26,1761 (Chat. Rec.) and hem. 2nd Ruth (Crowell) Kelley, widow of Amos Kelley of
Yarmouth, Sept. 16, 1762 (Yar. Rec). 4 Nathaniel, b. ; m. Mary Chase, dau.
of Isaac of Yarmouth (Int. July 20, 1740, Yar. Rec). 5 Joseph, b ; m. Hannah
Bassett, dau. of Nathan, and died not long after marriage, leaving widow and dau.
Hannah. 6 Possibly a dau. Constant, whom. Ebenezer Nickerson, son of Thomas. 7
Possibly a dau. Dorcas, who m. James Nickerson, son of William.
19. The Harwich records give the name of the second wife as Mrs. Abigail Ellis and
of the third wife as Mrs. Mary Taylor, yet one and perhaps both were unmarried. Mary
Taylor was dau. of John Taylor of Yarmouth and Chatham. Her brother, Seth Taylor
of Chatham, in his will in 1762 mentions "my sister, Mary Covell, which now llvelh with
me." 20. The description In this deed is as follows : "Ail that part & share of land situate,
lying & being In Manamoyet aforesaid bounded viz: ye estern corner a stone marked E
near ye harbor, from sd stone Westerly to a stone marked E on ye Southerly side of ye

218 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
farm lay between the two ponds, which are next the
Stephen Smith place, and the road past the late Dr. Clif
ford's and extended easterly nearly to the head of Ryder's
Cove. This property he sold in 1712 to Edward Bangs of
Harwich, receiving in exchange the iarm of 300 acres in
the south part of Harwich, formerly belonging to Joseph
Severance and Manoah Ellis, which lay between Grassy
pond, Flax pond and the sea, and bounded west on land of
Isaac Atkins and east on land of Scotto Clark.21 His house
was on the south side of Grassy pond. He sold the easter
ly part of this farm to his brother William in 1719. In
the latter part of his life he was reputed to be a Quaker.22
His will, dated July 14, 1749,23 was proved Sept. 10,
175.3. 24
Lieut. William Eldredge', son of Robert and Elizabeth
(Nickerson) Eldredge, married first, ; second, Sarah
(Newcomb) Conant, widow of Joshua of Salem and later of
Truro, Jan. 30, 1706-7. She was born about 1670. As
early as 1700 he had a sloop or small vessel used in coast-
Buriing place hill & so from sd stone Westerly to a rock marked C & so westerly to a
stone marked E on ye Southerly side of the Comon road wich is ye bounds b'etween sd
lands & Joseph Covel's land & so ranging on ye Southerly side of sd Comon highway to
another stone marked E & from sd stone Southerly to a white oake tree marked on four
sids nere a pond called by ye Indians Nespoxet and so ranging by ye North side of sd
pond Easterly to a pond called ye pasture pond to ye old bounds & so by sd pond untill
It come to ye land wlch was Abraham Johnson's. [Also a parcel, of meadow adjoining
meadow of Joseph Covell, Imperfectly described.] With one quarter part of a small
neck of land In said Manamoy comonly called ye short neck, with one quarter part of all
my share of the undivided land with all woods, fencings, with whatsoever ys standing,
lying or growing on sd lands." Reservation made for "William Nickerson Senr to have
a convenient highway from his now dwelling house to ly open to his land at Mana
moyet. " (Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 3,919) .
21. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 144,324.
22. Freeman, History of Cape Cod, II, 512. -
23. On a stone erected to his memory In Harwich Centre cemetery by his grandson,
the date of his death is given as Aug. 23, 1748 (13 Mayflower Descendant, 239) . This Is
obviously a mistake, as his will is dated In 1749.
24. Children of Ephraim and Mercy Covell (from his will, order uncertain) :
1 Thankful, b. ; m. Edward Nickerson, son of Thomas of Chatham, Feb. 24,
1724-5 (Har. Bee). 2 Mercy, b. ; m. Samuel Burge, son of Samuel of Yar
mouth, Sept. 25, 1730 (Har. Rec). 3 Sarah, b-. ; m. Benjamin Nickerson, son
of Samuel of Harwich, Oct. 13, 1741 (Har. Rec). 4 Mary, b. ; m. Thomas
Burge, son of Samuel of Yarmouth, July 28, 1742 (Har. Rec. ) .

THE LATER SETTLERS. 219
ing trips. In it he brought lumber from Oyster River,
N. H., tor the first meeting house.26 He acquired his
father's farm at West Chatham in the John K.
Kendrick neighborhood, lying between the highway
and Oyster pond river, besides considerable adjacent
land. This property, consisting of about 200 acres, he
sold by deed dated December 18, 1711, to Mr. Seth Tay
lor of Yarmouth, a real estate trader,26 and removed to
Monomoit Beach, where he had bought land of Joseph
Stewart and others. He built a house here and opened a
tavern for the entertainment of sailors and others seeking
a temporary harbor at or near Wreck Cove. After a few
years he sold this place to Morris Farris and returned to
the main land.27 He was selectman for seven years be
tween 1697 and 1727 and lieutenant as early as 1713. His
death, which occurred April 27, 1749, is the only one re
corded in the first book of town records. There is no set
tlement of his estate and no list of his children.28
25. See page 147 supra in connection with the following letter to Edward Small, the
"fore workman" of the meeting house. "Son Edward and daughter Mery Smalle: A
store of Love to you; by thes you may k nowe that I received yours and that we ar not
without feres of further trobeles by tbe Indons: by Reson thereof: I can not aduyss
you: to macke anny preparation Homward: until wee heve further proved thayr
keeping of the peace: Lest your Return should be so unsesonabel that lt might be as
much dameg to you : as your Removing thether: thay have not as yet yous'd anny Hos
tility: towrds ye English / have sent you a thousand of good bords by William El-
dredge your brother Jonathan can not sell your Hors : any thing Lick to the Worth of
Him: senc His order to sell Him wee ar all in Resonebel good Haith threw gods marsy:
your brothers and sisters Remember thayer Loves to you.
Oyster River. from your Loving father
July 26, 1700 John Woodman This for Edward Smalle
(Hist, of Durham, N. H. 99.) at Monamoy."
26. Deed from Seth Taylor to Thomas Doane dated March 20, 1718-9. M. L. Luce
papers. 27. See page 209, note 29, supra.
28. Children of William and Eldredge (order uncertain): 1 Rebecca, b.
; m. Ebenezer Berry of Harwich, son of John, Oct. 13, 1713 (Har. Rec). 2
William, b. ; m. Thanklul Crowell, dau. of John of Yarmouth, Mar. 20, 1718
(Yar Rec.) ; lived at Harwich. Their children were Reuben, Rebecca, Sarah, Thankful,
Bridget, William, Isaac, Jeremiah and Thomas. 3 Isaac, b. ; m. Dorothy
, lived at Harwich . Their children were Jerusha, Monica, Mary and Elizabeth,
m. John Smith of Har. 4 Prob. a son Joshua, b. ; m. (taxed In
1755) . 5 Other children, If any, not Identified.

220 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Serg. Joseph Eldredge, son of Robert and Elizabeth
(Nickerson) Eldredge, perhaps married a daughter of
Teague Jones, a neighbor at Monomoit from 1675 to 1683.
He acquired land and probably lived for a time in the south
part of Yarmouth on the west side of Bass river. His land
adjoined land of Teague Jones and his sons, and the cir
cumstances indicate that it was a family community.29 He
was living at Monomoit again before 1698, where he settled
on a tract of 50 acres on the south side of the Oyster pond,
extending from the head of the pond westerly along the
pond and river. William Nickerson, son of John, owned
and lived upon the farm next southerly, and the present
road from Atwood's corner westerly, known as Cedar street,
is the old cart way which separated these two farms. His
house stood at the cast end of the farm in the' present John
Emery neighborhood.30 He was selectman in 1710. His
will, dated August 27, 1728, was proved September 24,
1735. A wife Elizabeth survived him and was living prob
ably as late as 1755. His farm passed to his three sons,
subject to the dower of the widow.31
Jehoshaphat Eldredge, son of William and Anne (Lump
kin) Eldredge of Yarmouth, born in that town about 1658,
married Elizabeth , probably daughter of Nathaniel
and Sarah Covell.82 He settled on a portion of the old
Nickerson or Sarah Covell farm at Chathamport. His
house stood on the west side of Crow's pond, near and
29. See a deed from Teague Jones to his son Jeremiah, dated May 29, 1691, conveying
land on the west side of Bass River, Yarmouth . Files Superior Court of Judicature,
No. 9,838.
30. See a deed from Samuel Sprague to Richard Sears dated March 3, 1707-8. Josiah
Paine papers.
31. Children of Joseph and Eldredge (from the will, order uncertain): 1
William, b. ; m. Hannah Taylor, dau. of John, Oct. 1, 1718 (note 45, page 188,
supra). 2 Tabitha, b. ; m. William Mitchell, son of William, Mar. 19, 1712-3
(note 45, page 168, supra), and died not long after. 3 John, b. ; m. Ruhamah
Doane, dau. of Thomas, Sept. 26. 1728 (Chat. Rec). 4 Jeremiah, b. ; m. 1st
Lydia Hamilton, dau. of Daniel, before 1720. She died before Jan. 20, 1735-6, and he m.
2nd Thankful , perhaps his first wife's half sister.
32. James Covell, son of Joseph, mentions Barnabas Eldredge, son of Jehoshaphat,
as his cousin.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 221
south of the William Covell (later Paul Crowell) farm.
His will, dated Feb. 9, 1731-2, was proved Nov. 29, 1732.
He had a house and lot of land at Red River neck, which
was given to his son Elisha, a neck of land at Chuthamport
called Short neck, meadow at Ragged neck, meadow at
Matchapoxett and woodland near the Red river. His
dwelling house and land near Paul Crowell's were given to
his sons Ebenezer and Barnabas. His wife survived him,
and was probably living as late as 1755.33
George Godfrey, eldest son of George and God
frey of Eastham, born January 2, 1662-3, settled at Mono
moit about 1690. There is no record of his marriage. He
owned land, probably his homestead, near and north of
Ragged Neck.34 He was chosen in 1700 with William
Nickerson, Sen., to have charge of the building of the first
meeting house. There is no mention of him in the town
records after this date.85
Moses Godfrey, son of George and Godfrey of
Eastham, born Jan. 27, 1667-8, married Deborah Cook,
daughter of Josiah and Deborah (Hopkins) Cook of East
ham. He settled at Monomoit about 1695, in that part
called Cotchpinicut (Old Harbor) in the vicinity of the
farm of William Nickerson, son of the first William.36 He
was e~arly interested in religious affairs and was a special
33. Children of Jehoshaphat and Elizabeth (Covell ?) Eldredge (from the will, order
uncertain): 1 Nathaniel, b. ; m. Sarah Conant, dau. of Joshua of Truro,
Sept. 4, 1712 (East. Rec). She was b. In Salem Apr. 12th, 1695. 2 Elnathan, b. as
early as 1694; m. 1st at Yarmouth, Hannah O'Kelley, dau. of Jeremiah of Yarmouth,
where he was living in 1723; m. 2nd Deliverance, probably dau. of Caleb Lumbert; re
moved to Dartmouth about 1740. 3 Elizabeth, b. ; single 1732. 4 Edward, b.
July 17, 1702 (Chat. Reel; m. Mary, dau. of Thomas Nickerson. 5 Elisha, b. ;
m. Fear Nickerson, dau. of Robert. 6 Ebenezer, b. about 1707, m. Deliverance, dau.
of WUliam and Sarah Nickerson (tradition through Mr. Josiah Paine), about 1742. 7
Barnabas, b. ; ra . Mary Hurd of Eastham, dau. of Oct. 20, 1735 (East.
Rec). 34. See deed from William Nickerson and others to Michael Stewart dated Oct. 12,
1702, and deed from Samuel Eldredge to Seth Taylor dated May 16, 1711. M. L. Luce
papers. 35. It is not known whether or not he had any children .
36. See page 142, note 30, supra.

222 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
friend of Rev. John Latimer, who remembered him and his
wife in his will.37 When the church was organized in 1720,
he and his wife were among the first to join. He soon,
however, found himself at odds with Rev. Joseph Lord,
the pastor, on account of the attitude of the latter towards
Rev. Samuel Osborn and the church at Pochet- (now Or
leans) and was excommunicated, together with Mr. Elisha
Mayo. They both were at once received again by the
Pochet church, to which they had formerly belonged.38 Mr.
Godfrey was selectman in 1710 and held other offices. He
was a substantial citizen and reared a large family, which
furnished energetic citizens to the town for nearly two
centuries. He died April 16, 1743, aged 75 years, and his
wife died seven days later, aged 64. He left a will, dated
Feb. 1741-2, proved May 21, 1743, leaving his large prop
erty to his seven living sons, Samuel, Moses, David,
George, Benjamin, Joshua and Richard, they paying cer
tain legacies. A son Jonathan had died.39
Jonathan Godfrey, son of George and Godfrey of
Eastham, born June 24, 1682, married Mercy Mayo, daugh-
37. See page 166, supra.
38. See Chapter XIII.
39. Children of Moses and Deborah (Cook) Godfrey (from the will, order uncertain):
1 Jonathan, b. ; m. Mercy Nickerson, dau. of Robert, Sept. 2, 1725 (Chat Rec).
(Admn. on his estate March 18, 1729-30. Children, Caleb, Jonathan, Rebecca.) 2
Samuel, b. ; m. .3 Moses, b. ; m. Martha Collins, dau. of John,
about 1726. 4 Desire, b. ; m. Nathaniel Ryder, son of John aud Esther of
Yarmouth, Sept. 26, 1728 (Chat. Rec.) . 5 George, b. about 1706; m. 1st Mercy Knowles,
dau. of Richard, Nov. 1,1733 (Chat. Bee). She died May 11, 176S, and hem. 2nd Jane
(Collins) Bearse, widow of Prince Snow, Jr., and of Benjamin Bearse, Nov. 9, 1708
(Chat Rec). 6 David, b. ; m. Priscilla Baker, dau. of of Yarmouth,
Oct. 14, 1731 (Yar. Rec). 7 Mary, b. Sept. 4, 1711 (old Bible record): m. 1st Caltb
Nickerson, son of William, about 1732. He died Dtc. 18, 1749 (Chat. Rec), and she in.
2nd Seth Smith, son of John, Nov. 18, 1756 (old Bible record). 8 Deborah, b. ;
m. Thomas Bassett, son of Nathan. 9 Benjamin, b. ; m. Elizabeth Hopkins,
dau. of Elisha, Aug. 23, 1738 (Chat. Rec). 50 Elizabeth, b. about 1717; m. Benjamin
Bearse, son of Benjamin of Barnstable, May 31, 1733 (Chat. Rec). 11 Joshua, b.
; m. Phebe Gould, dau. of Nathaniel of Harwich, Apr. 27. 1743 (Har. Rec).
12 Richard, b. ; m. Azubah Collins, dau. of Solomon, Jan. 10, 17E0-1 (Chat.
Rec). He died in 1759, leaving Enoch, b. Apr. 20, 1752, and Warren, b. Apr. 6, 17t7
(Liverpool. N. S. Rec).

THE LATER SETTLERS. 223
ter of Thomas and Barbara (Knowles) Mayo of Eastham,
October 30, 1707, and settled at Monomoit soon after.
The location of his farm is not known. He appears to
have been a worthy citizen, but not prominent. He had an
interest in the common laud and was one of those who took
pew ground in 1742. His will, dated March 7, 1765,
was proved April 23, 1765, and divided his property equal
ly among his children and the heirs of deceased children.40
Serg. Daniel Hamilton, probably son of Thomas and
Lydia Hamilton of Rhode Island, Sandwich and Eastham,"
born in 1670, married at P^astham Mary, daughter of
Samuel Smith, about 1693 and resided there till after the
birth of their second child. By the will of her father, who
died in 1697, his wife came into possession of one-half of
two farms at Monomoit located at Tom's Neck, and the
family removed thither. His first wife having died, he
married second August 5, 1708, Sarah (Smith) Snow,
widow of Joseph Snow of Eastham,42 and daughter of John
40. Children of Jonathan and Mercy (Mayo) Godfrey (from the will, order uncertain) :
1. Hannah, b. ; m. James Rogers, Jr., of Eastham May 21, 1730 (East. Rec).
2. Mercy, b. ; m. 1st Ebenezer Burgess, son of Thomas, of Yarmouth (Int. Feb.
22, 1784-5, Yar. Rec) ; m. 2nd Elkanah Rogers, son of Joseph of Eastham (Int. June 25,
1748, East. Rec). 3. Thomas, b. ; m. 1st Bethiah Eldredge, dau. of Nathaniel,
June 7, 1733 (Chat. Rec); m. 2nd Mrs. Mary Covell of Eastham, Mar. 8, 1763 (East.
Rec). 4. Ruth, b. about 1719; m. l«t John Gould, son of Nathaniel of Harwich (lut.
Aug. 18, 1739. East Rec.) ; m. 2nd Thomas Myrick of Harwich in 1750. 5. Lydia b.
; m. 1st Joseph Myrick, sou of William of Eastham (Int. Feb. 5, 1742-3, East. Rec)
who d. in 1754; and she m. 2nd Samuel Smith, Jr., of Eastham (Int. July 3, 1756, East.
Rec). 6 Jephthah. b. ; m. Bathsheba Eldredge, dau. of Nathaniel (See deed
dated Apr. 12, 1759, Warren J. Nickerson papers). 7. Mehitable, b. ; m. Nathan
iel Hamilton, son of Thomas, Sept. 7, 1749 (Chat. Rec). 8. Anna, b. ; m. 1st
Eldredge; m. 2nd James Freeman Dec. 8, 1763 (Chat. Rec.) . 9. Barbara, b.
;m. Young; died before her father.
41. Note the following entry In the Sandwich town records: "Thomas Hambleton, the
son of Thomas Hamblton and lldia his wife was bourne the 17 of Febuary 1671, borne at
Rohd Hand." 14 Mayflower Descendant, 170. Note that Daniel Hamilton had children
Thomas and Lydia.
42. "Nathaniel Snow of Lawful Age Testifieth and Saith that on or aboute ye year
1709 1 went to Chatham to Live with my Father in Law, Daniel Hambleton, Late of said
Chatham, Deceased, aud I saw my said Father. John Atkins, Theophilus Mayo, Thomas
Mayo, John Smith and Joshua Hlgglns Mow and Carry of Hay from Monomoit Great
Beach, so called, for seven years together without Molestation. Sworn in Court July
1753. Att. Sami Winthrop Clerk." Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 71,149.

224 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
and Hannah Smith of Eastham. His third wife was Desire
Springer, widow of Edward Springer of Newport, R. I.,
and daughter of James Gorham of Barnstable, whom he
married at Barnstable Dec. 15, 1715. 43 His fourth wife,
who survived him, was named Elizabeth, perhaps daughter
of John Taylor. Serg. Hamilton, with his brother Thomas,
served under Capt. John Gorham in the expedition to
Canada in 1690 and received therefor a share of land at
Dunbarton, N. H., in 1735. 44 He was active in local af
fairs, being selectman three years, constable several years
and holding other positions. He was styled Sergeant as
early as 1710. Through his first wife, he was interested
not only in the farm at Tom's Neck, but in the Common
lands and the Great Beach. He died December 8, 1738,
aged 68 years. His will, written by Rev. Mr. Lord, dated
January 20, 1735-6, was proved March 22, 1738-9. In it
he calls Sarah, Elizabeth and Thankful his three youngest
daughters.45 Capt. Joseph Harding, eldest son of Joseph and Bethiah
(Cook) Harding of Eastham, born July 8, 16j67, married
Dinah , probably daughter of Tristram Hedges, and
settled at Monomoit prior to 1693 in the southwest quarter
of the town. He was selectman seven years, treasurer
two years and held other local offices. He became lieu
tenant of the military company as early as 1702 and cap-
43. See 13 Mayflower Descendant 50.
44. State Archives, vol. 114, page 116; petition of Shubael Gorham June 12, 1785.
45. Children of Daniel Hamilton (from the will and Eastham records). 1. Grace, b.
Aug. 3, 1694; d. Aug. 20, 1694 (East. Rec). 2. Thomas, b. Sept. 1, 1695, m. Rebecca
Mayo, dau. of Nathaniel of Eastham, May 3, 1716 (East Rec). 3. Lydia, b. ; m.
Jeremiah Eldredge, son of Joseph, about or before 1720. 4. Mary, b. ;m. Judah
Mayo, son of Thomas, of Eastham (Int. Jan. 27, 1721-2, East. Rec). 5. Samuel, b.
m. 1st Bethiah Stewart, dau. of Michael, May 25, 1727 (Chat. Rec); m. 2nd Mrs. Mercy
Ellis of Harwich, Oct. 13, 1741 (Har. Rec). 6. Daniel, b. ; m. 1st Abigail
about 1729; m. 2nd Mrs. Sarah Lewis of Harwich, Aug. 20, 1750 (Har. Rec). 7. Sarah
b. ; m. Theodore Harding, son of Joshua, of Eastham, Jan . 23, 1728-9 (Chat
Rec.). 8. Joseph, b ; m. Martha Atkins, dau. of Joseph, of Eastham, Feb. 15.
1731-2 (East. Rec.) ; lived at Eastham. 9. Elizabeth, b. ; m. Seth Taylor, son of
John, about 1730. 10. Thankful, b. ; single in 1736; perhaps m. Jeremiah
Eldredge as 2nd wife. The last four children were by wife Sarah.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 225
tain as early as 1706, holding that position till 1715. He
had interests in the Common lands and with Thomas At
kins, bought of Josephus Quason in 1697 the interest of
the latter in the Quason lands in Harwich, later receiving
one-sixteenth part in the division of these lands.40 In 1721
he took the contract to build a new parsonage for Rev.
Mr. Lord, but later, after he had begun, the town can
celled the agreement and controversy ensued. He lived on
the neck southeast of Cockle Cove, then called Ragged
Neck, the whole of which he owned at his death. Hard
ing's Beach, which adjoins this neck, was named for him.
His wife Dinah died January 28, 1738-9, aged 76 years.
He died early in 1745, leaving a will dated February 16,
1738-9, proved May 8, 1745. The homestead at Ragged
Neck was given to his son Nehemiah. His son Maziah had
a homestead and land on each side of the road leading out
of the neck to the highway, bought by the testator of
Samuel Taylor in part and of Michael Stewart in part.47
Capt. Thomas Howes, son of Joseph and Howes of
Yarmouth, born about 1680, married at Eastham Dec. 11,
1701, Content Smith, daughter of Daniel and Mary
(Young) Smith of Eastham.48 By deed dated April 8,
46. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 7,626.
47. Children of Joseph and Dinah [Hedges (?)] Harding (from the will, order un
certain) : 1. Joseph, b. ; m. 1st Jane Adams, dau. of John of Boston, and sister
of Rev. Hugh Adams, July 23, 1713 (note 45, page 188, supra.); m. 2nd Mary Stewart,
widow of Michael, betw. 1716 and 1720. 2. Maziah. b. about 1693; m. Bethiah Hawes,
dau. of Isaac, about 1724. 3. Dinah, b. about 1700; m. 1st, William Baker, Jr , of Yar
mouth, who d. soon after marriage; m. 2nd, John Young, son of David ot Eastham (Int.
Mar. 10, 1721, East. Rec). 4. Bethiah, b. ; m. William Nickerson, son of
Thomas, before Oct, 1725. 5. Priscilla. b. ; m. Joseph Howes, son of Thomas.
Feb. 2, 1726-7 (Chat. Rec). 6. Grace, b. ;m. ; d. before her father,
leaving dau. Mary. 7. Mary, b ; m. John Buck after 1726. 8. Nehemiah, b.
about 1708; m. Priscilla Collins, dau. of Joseph of Eastham, Jan. 14, 1730-1 (East Rec ).
The Harding Genealogy by Rev. Abner Morse mentions a son John who m. Deborah
Nickerson, but the will of Joseph Harding does not mention him or any children of his.
Sylvanus Harding, a grandson of Joseph, bad a son John who m. Deborah Nickerson,
Jr., Feb. 4, 1768 (Chat. Rec).
48. The Howes Genealogy by Mr. J. C. Howes is incorrect In giving the wife of
Thomas as Rebecca Howes . See the will of Daniel Smith in Barnstable Probate Records.

226 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
1703, he purchased of William Griffith, Sen., all the real
estate of the latter at Monomoit, consisting of a homestead
lot of 26 acres iu the Christopher Smith neighborhood, one-
half of 20 acres on the Great Neck and some meadow land
(in all about 40 acres.)49 Two years later by deed dated
October 22, 1705, he purchased of Philip Griffith a lot of
four acres adjoining the homestead, the other half of the
20 acre lot on the Great Neck and another lot of meadow.60
Still later, by deed dated April 6, 1713, he purchased of
James Eldredge, the farm inherited by the latter from his
father, Nicholas Eldredge, which adjoined a portion of the
Howes farm.61 He became owner of all the land on both
49. "Thirty acres of which Farm or Tenement ls yt on which ye dwelllnghouse now
stands, which hath a highway through It down to ye Inlands so Called, ye land on ye
North side of sd way where ye house stands was bought of WUliam Nickerson deceased,
with ye priviledge of Comon for Cutting wood feeding or graslng as per deed expressed
under hand of ye sd William Nickerson; and ye land on ye South side of sd way bought
of James Maker, excepting four acres of sd Tract which was formerly disposed of to my
son Philip Grtffeth , * * and one half of a twenty acre lot upon ye Great Neck & Is
Called ye fourth lot, my son Philip Griff eth owning ye other half— with two acres of salt
and fresh meadow, one acre bought of Trustrum Hedges & one acre bought of
Samuel Nickerson, joynlng both together & lyeth on ye South side of ye Oyster pond &
is on ye Easterly side of ye meadow of Lieut Eldred deceased. With ye Interest in ye
Meeting house according to Charge paid in building ye same by ye said William
Grlffeth." Old Barnstable Deeds, book 4, page 87. M. L. Luce papers.
50. Four acres more or less, bounded "beginning on ye south side at a stone next ye
lands of ye sd Thomas Howes & on ye west side It Is bounded by ye sd, Howeses land &
John Paddock's land, from sd stone to a red oak tree, thence to ye Corner of ye fence,
thence to a red oak tree by ye Cart way, thence by a sett off Easterly to a pine tree
marked, thence a little Southerly to a white oak tree by a Swamp side & so through
ye Swamp to another white oak tree & thence by ye swamp to ye Indian bounds, leaving
ye highway to ye Jury way, thence by ye sd Jury way Westward to ye first mentioned
stone. And also ye one half of a twenty acre lot on ye Stage Neck, ye other half of said
lot is now in ye tenure & possession of ye sd Thomas Howes. And also half an acre of
meadow, lying in Grigeries Neck adjoining to David Melvels meadow & was formerly
William Griffith Junrs meadow." Old Barnstable Deeds, book 5, page 49. M. L. Luce
papers. 51. Sixteen acres "bounded on ye Southwest by an old ditch & post & rail fence down
to ye White Pond so called & then bounded Northwest by sd Pond down to ye land ot
John Eldredg which was set out to him as a part of his Father's farm to a Beach tree
marked, thence Easterly to a markt red oak tree near ye head of a swamp & stone set in
ye ground & thence upon ye same range straight over a fresh pond to ye other side
thereof. And then bounded by sd Pond down to meet with ye other land of ye sd
Thomas Howes: Then it ls bounded Easterly by ye land of ye sd Thomas
Howes up to ye land now in occupation of Lieut. Seth Taylor which he bought
of Lieut. Eldredge (excepting only ye highway or road throu). And then by ye land ot
sd Taylor to ye first mentioned ditch & post & rails (only still allowing to Elizabeth, ye
mother of ye sd James to gather cherrys & other fruit for her spending in ye summer
time & ye sd James to take off ye timber & old bords of ye old house thereon) ." Old
Barnstable Deeds, book 6, page 513. M. L. Luce papers.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 227
sides of the highway from Thomas Doane's farm east to the
Indian bounds. He was selectman two years and treasurer
two years. He was ensign of the military company in
1715, later lieutenant and then captain. His will, dated
May 29, 1736, was proved October 19, 1738. His widow
survived him. His real estate was divided between his
three sons in 1769.62
Caleb Lumbert, son of Caleb and Lumbert of
Barnstable and Monomoit, born ; married Sept. 1,
1704, Elizabeth Small, daughter of Edward and Mary
(Woodman) Small. By deed dated Feb. 22, 1709-10, he
purchased of Joseph and Ephraim Covell all their interest
in the Common lands at Red River Neck and was the first
to settle there.63 In the division of the Common lands in
1713, a considerable tract in this neck was laid out to him,
on which he had, no doubt, previously settled. He had
trouble with the adjoining owners. In 1722 he was sued by
Robert Nickerson, son of William, for cutting wood over
the line, but successfully defended himself on appeal.54 In
or about 1733 he was attorney for Katherine, widow of
Nathaniel Nickerson, having charge of her property in the
52. Children of Thomas and Content (Smith) Howes (from the will, order uncertain) :
1. Daniel, b. about 1702; m. Elizabeth Doane, dau. of Thomas, about 1723. 2. Elizabeth,
b. ; m. Samuel Stewart, son of Hugh, as his 2nd wife about 1730. 3. Mary, b.
; single in 1736; m. Lieut Zachariah Sears of Yarmouth, as 3d wife, Dec. 14, 1768
(Chat. Rec). 4. Joseph, b. about 1708; m. Priscilla Harding, dau. of Joseph, Feb. 2,
1726-7 (Chat. Rec). 5. Thankful, b. ; m. Paul Ryder, son of Ebenezer of Yar
mouth (Int. Oct. 1,1742, Yar. Rec). 6. Thomas, b. about 1712; m. 1st Rebecca Sears,
dau. of Daniel, about 1730. She died of smallpox Dec 10, 1765, and he m. 2nd Hope
(Sears) Doane, widow of Nehemiah. 7. Hannah, b ; prob. m. Joseph Harding,
son of Maziah, Sept. 17, 1747 (Chat. Rec).
53. "All that our right & Interest In & to a neck of land called the Red River Neck in
said Manamoy, that is, our right in & to the upland of said neck, being two fifths parts
of one third of sd neck the whole of sd neck is bounded viz : at the Northeasterly corner
where a spring Issues out into the pond thence running on a straight line to the cart
way to a little swamp neer adjoining to said Cart way to the Easterly side of said Swamp,
thence running Westerly by said Cartway as fit] runs to the head of the Red River hol
low." Old Barnstable Deeds, book 5, page 563. Files Superior Court of Judicature,
No. 8,005.
54. Records Superior Court of Judicature, V, 171; Files of said Court, No. 19,259.
-(18)-

228 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
town in her absence.66 By deed dated Feb. 14, 1739, he
conveyed to Shubael Gorham, Jr., his rights in Narragan
sett Township No. 7, (Gorham, Me.) derived from his
father.56 In 1741 he brought suit against Ebenezer and
Barnabas Eldredge on account of the adjoining meadow land
of said Eldredges.67 He removed to Rochester, Mass.,
with all his family soon after this date.68
William Nickerson, son of John and Sarah (Williams)
Nickerson, married Hannah . He settled on the
Great Neck (Stage Neck) probably on the lot conveyed to
his father Nickerson in 1674 (seepage 124, note 83, supra).
His house stood on the west side of the road to the wharf
near the present Davis place and his land extended west
along the south side of Cedar street to and beyond the
Cedar Swamp.69 He also had land on the east side of the
road near the Joseph Atwood place. He was selectman
two years and treasurer one year. He and some of his
children signed their names Nicholson, doubtless through
the influence of Rev. Mr. Lord, who evidently considered
it the proper spelling. His will, written by Mr. Lord, was
dated August 6, 1735, and proved October 19, 1738. His
wife Hannah survived him and was living as late as 1755.
He gave the land on the east side of the road to his son
David, that on the west side, with the dwelling house and
outbuildings, to his son William. He had land at Seaquan-
55. Files Superior Court ot Judicature, Nos. 37,166 and 38,588.
56. York Co., Me., Deeds, book 27, page 78.
67. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 55,602.
58. Children of Caleb and Elizabeth (Small) Lumbert (Chat. Rec): 1. Mary, b.
June 4, 1705. 2. Deliverance, b. Apr. 4, 1710; m. probably Elnathan Eldredge, son of
Jehoshaphat. 3. Elizabeth, b Apr. 1, 1714; m Seth Hammond of Dartmouth Aug. 23,
1738 (Chat. Rec), and lived there. 4. Caleb, b. Sept. 20 1717; m. Nelly Eldredge,
dau. of Nathaniel about 1740. 5. Edward, b. Mar. 11, 1721-2; m. Jemima Lewis of
Rochester, Mass. (Int. Oct. 24, 1747, Roch. Rec.)
59. A deed dated Mar. 16, 1767,' from William Nicholson to Joseph Atwood gives the
following description of this land : Thirty acres bounded "Easterly by the Road to Stage
Harbour, Northerly by the land of John and Jeremiah Eldredge, Westerly by land of
Solomon Eldredge as the fence stands and by other land of the grantor and in ye Swamp,
Southerly by land of Seth Eldredge's heirs." Joseph Atwood papers.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 229
set, which he gave to Thomas Bee, son of his daughter
Martha, deceased, also meadow land bought of David
Melvil at a place called Melvil's flats.60
John Nickerson, son of John and Sarah (Williams) Nick
erson, married Mary July 11, 1706. He lived on
his father's farm between the White pond and Emery's
pond near the centre of the town at that time. He was
selectman three years and held other offices. His will,
dated May 27, 1762, was proved Sept. 7, 1762. His only
son Elisha having removed to Nova Scotia, he gave his
farm and other property to his maiden daughters, Mary and
Elizabeth. He had meadow bought of David Melvil and
land and meadow adjoining John Buck's.61
Lieut. Thomas Nickerson, eldest son of William and
Mercy (Williams) Nickerson, born at Monomoit about
1670, married Mary, daughter of Jonathan Bangs of Har
wich. She was born April 14, 1671. He settled at Cotch
pinicut Neck (Old Harbor) on land lying just west of his
father's farm there. He was selectman two years, town
clerk twice for short periods and held other offices. His
wife joined the Harwich church Nov. 14, 1708, and he and
his children were all baptized Oct. 9, 1709. His wife was
dismissed to the church in Chatham July 7, 1728. 6'2 He
was lieutenant of the military company as early as 1708.
By deed dated July 11, 1706, he acquired the interest which
60. Children of WUliam and Hannah ( ) Nickerson (from the will, order un
certain): 1. Martha, b. ; m. John Bee of Eastham Mar. 30, 1729 (East. Rec).
2. Hannah, b. ; single in 1735. 3. David, b. ; m. Elizabeth Mayo, dau. of
Nathaniel, of Eastham, Sept. 30, 1731 (East. Rec). 4. Elizabeth, b. ; single in
1735. 5. Sarah, b. ; m, Thomas Ash before 1735. 6. William, b. ; m. Han
nah Baker, dau. of Jonathan (?) of Yarmouth (Int. Jan. 28, 1738-9, Yar. Rec). 7. Rutb,
b. ; single in 1735. 8. Zilpha, b. ; m. Thomas Baxter, son of Thomas, of
Yarmouth (Int. Nov. 8, 1740, Yar. Rec.) .
61. Children of John and Mary ( ) Nickerson (from the will, order uncertain) :
1. Elisha, b. Mar. 7, 1706-7 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. Desire ; moved to Harwich and about
1761 to Liverpool, N. S., thence to Argyle, N. S. 2. Mary, b. ; single in 1762. 3.
Elizabeth, b. ; single in 1762. 4. Bethiah, b. about 1715; died Aug. 7, 1759, aged
44 (Hdstn.) . 5. ;m. Prince Young, son of John, and died leaving a dau. Pati
ence. 62. Harwich Church Records; 4 Mayflower Descendant, 247; 6 lb. 155.

230 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
his mother had by foreclosure in the land adjoining him on
the west and in the possession of Dogamus, Stephen and
Mortiquit, Indians. They disputed his title and success
fully defended themselves in the courts.63 There were,
about 100 acres in this tract, which bordered on Ryder's
Cove and Pleasant bay.64 His will, dated Aug. 4, 1735,
was proved August 3, 1736. He devised his dwelling house
and land connected with it and one-half of Ram Island to his
nephew, Samuel Hinckley, who lived with him. His son
Nathaniel received the other half of the island. His other
sons hud already received their portions.65
Ensign William Nickerson, second son of William and
Mercy (Williams) Nickerson, born about 1675, married first
Deliverance, probably daughter of Caleb Lumbert, Sen., of
Monomoit. She died probably about 1716 and he married
second Anna Atwood, daughter of Eldad Atwood of East
ham, October 24, 1717. 66 By deed dated March 25, 1697-8,
he purchased of John Quason a lot of land at Cotchpinicut,
63. Files Superior Court of Judicature, Nos. 7,043 and 13,779; Records Superior Court
of Judicature.
64. Page 99, note, supra.
65. Children of Thomas and Mary (Bangs) Nickerson (all baptized at Harwich Oct. 9,
1709, by Rev. Nathaniel Stone, who records their names In the following order, doubtless
according to age) : 1. Jonathan, b ; m. 1st Jane Covell, dau. of Nathaniel, about
1718. She died about 1728, and he m. 2nd Sarah Collins, dau. of Jonathan of Chatham
and Truro; moved to Harwich about 1735 and to Provlncetown about 1742. 2. Mercy, b.
; m. Seth Crowell, son of Thomas of Yarmouth, Mar. 23, 1714, (page 188,
note 45, supra). 3. Thomas, b. Dec. 24, 1696 (Chat. Rec); m. 1st Lydia
Covell, dau. of Joseph. May 16, 1716 (Chat. Rec). She died Oct. 18, 1750 (Chat.
Rec), and he m. 2nd Mrs. Sarah Crowell, widow of John (Int. July 5, 1751, Chat. Rec.) ;
m. 3rd Mrs. Bethiah Harding, widow of Maziah, Dec. 26, 1763 (Chat. Rec). 4. William,
b. ; m. 1st Bethiah Harding, dau. of Joseph, before Oct. 1725: m. 2nd Sarah Bas
sett; moved to Rldgefield, Conn., In 1747. 5. Ebenezer, b. ; m. Constant, prob.
a dau. of Joseph Covell. 6. Edward, b. ; m. Thankful Covell, dau. of Ephraim
of Harwich, Feb. 24, 1724-5 (Har. Rec); lived In Harwich. 7. Nathaniel, b. ; m.
Hannah ; moved to Rldgefield, Conn., in 1747, thence to Putnam Co., N. Y. 8.
Mary, b. ; m Edward Eldredge, son of Jehoshaphat. 9. Thankful, b. ;
prob. m. Nathaniel Nickerson, son of William, about 1738.
66. " William Nickerson and hannah Ells ann atwood were joyned in marriage on the
24th day of October 1717 at Chatham by Peter Thacher jus. of peace." (Yar. Rec). This
entry probably means "Hannah alias Ann Atwood," "alls" and possibly "ells" being a
common spelling of "alias." The marriage to Deliverance appears in Osborn Nicker
son papers.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 231
on which he probably lived.67 His father, by deed dated
October 13, 1702, conveyed to him the land at Monamesset
Neck.68 He was plaintiff for tho "proprietors" in the dis
pute over the division of the Common lands. He is styled
Ensign as early as 1706. He was selectman two years and
for many years carried on the business of tanning hides.
There was a demand for leather in those days not only
for shoes but for making the leathern trousers which
nearly everyone wore at his work. About 1740 he bought
of the heirs of his brother Nathaniel a part of the real estate
of the latter. He took pew ground in the church in
1742. He died between October 19, 1742, date of the
codicil to his will, and November 15, 1742, date of its pro
bate. His wife Anna survived him and married August 25,
1747, Benjamin Bearse, Sen., of Barnstable, who died the
following year. He gave the tan house and tanning business
to his sons Caleb, Nathaniel and Eldad.69
Nathaniel Nickerson, son of William and Mercy (Wil
liams) Nickerson, born about 1680, married Katherine
Stewart, daughter of Hugh, May 13, 1702. He settled
67. Page 137, note 13, supra.
68. Osborn Nickerson papers.
69. Children of William Nickerson (from the will, order uncertain) . By wife Deliver
ance: 1. WilUam, b. May 15, 1701 (Osborj Nickerson papers) ; m. Sarah CoveU, dau. of
Joseph, about 1723. 2. Deliverance, b. ; m. Abraham Chase of Harwich ; moved
to Tisbury before 1744. 3. Mercy, b. ; m. Seth Paddock, son of Robert, Apr. 13,
1727 (Chat. Rec); died before her father, leaving two children. 4. Elizabeth, b. ;
m. Thomas Atkins, son of Thomas, about 1726; died before her lather. 5. Caleb, b.
; m. Mary Godfrey, dau. of Moses, about 1732. 6. James, b. ; m. Dorcas,
prob. dau. of Joseph Covell; moved to Ridgefield, Conn , about 1747. 7. Joshua, b. (of
age In 1734) living in 1739. 8. Nathaniel, b. (under age In 1734) ; m. prob. Thankful
Nickerson, dau. of Thomas, about 1738. By wife Anna: 9. Anna. b. ; m.
Jonathan Crowell, son of Isaac of Yarmouth, July 13, 1738 (Chat Rec.) ; moved to Bar
rington, N. S., about 1762. (Their children, according to Barrington records, were
David, Joanna, Deborah, Azubah, Mary, Jonathan, Ruth, Sylvanus aud Freeman. They
did not have a son Samuel, who went to Connecticut, and other chiliiren. as given In
Freeman's History of Cape Cod, II, 598, In Crowell Genealogy, and elsewhere. These
latter were children of Jonathan Crowell (son of Paul) and Anna (Collins) Crowell, who
moved about 1762 from Chatham to Liverpool, N. S.). 10. Deborah, b. ; m.
William Padlshall between Sept. 1739, and Oct. 1742. 11. Eldad, b. about 1723; m.
Mary Cahoon, dau. of James of Eastham, Oct. 31, 1744 (East. Rec. ) ; moved to Barring-
ten, N. S. , about 1762.

232 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
on the west side of Frostfish creek, now so called. His
homestead is described in 1728 as bounded "by Capt. Thomas
Howes' land on ye South side and by Elisha Mayou's land
on ye west and north side and by a salt creek on ye East
side."70 He was town treasurer in 1723 and 1724. Admin
istration on his estate was granted to his widow Katherine,
May 20, 1725. He left, beside the homestead held by deed
from his father, a parcel of upland, meadow and woodland
held by deed from Ebenezer Stewart, upland at "the Stage"
by deed from William Mitchell, and land at Cotchpinicut
by deed from his father. Elisha Mayo was appointed guar
dian of his daughter Mercy Sept. 8, 1726. His widow
leased the homestead in 1728 to Samuel Godfrey71 and
probably removed with most of the family to Falmouth,
where her daughter P^xperience had married. She appointed
Caleb Lumbert an attorney for her, who had trouble with
Godfrey, and in 1733 leased the property to Elisha Hop
kins.72 The widow Katherine died about 1740. There is
no complete list of the children.73
Robert Nickerson, youngest son of William and Mercy
(Williams) Nickerson, born about 1684, married Rebecca
Jones, daughter of Jeremiah of Yarmouth, March 28, 1706-7.
He lived on his father's farm and came into full pos
session of it on the death of his father in 1719, subject to
70. Flles'.Superior Court of Judicature, No. 21,870.
71 . Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 21,870 .
72. Files Superior Court of Judicature, No. 37,166.
73. Children of Nathaniel and Katherine (Stewart) Nickerson (order uncertain): 1.
Experience, b. ; m. Thomas Parker of Falmouth Feb. 12, 1726-7 (Chat. Rec).
2. Mercy, b. about 1709; m. Abraham Chase in Falmouth Mar. 5, 1732-3 (Fal. Rec), and
lived In TIsbury. (Their children according to Tisbury records were Valentine, Zaccheus,
David, Waitstill Mercy, and Margaret). 3. Nathaniel, b. about 1718, m. Ruth Young
of Falmouth (Int. June 21, 1742, Fal. Rec). 4. Samuel b. ; m. Jane
Hunt, dau. of William of Chilmark, July 5, 1744 (Cbil. Rec) . (They bad children: Jane,
Beriah and Nathaniel). 5. Shubael, b. ; m. Mary Hamilton, dau. of Samuel of
Chatham, Dec. 23, 1748, (Chat. Rec), and removed to Tisbury. He, his wife and child
ren, Catherine, Samuel and Job, were warned from Boston July, 1753 (Files Superior
Court of Judicature, No. 71,573) . 6. Probably Temperance, b. ; (Int. to marry
Ensign Rogers of Harwich, Aug. 5, 1755, Chat. Rec). 7. Other children, if any, not
identified.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 233
the life estate of the widow. By deed dated May 15, 1729,
he conveyed all his property to his sons James, Robert,'
Sylvanus and Elkanah, reserving the use and improvement
to himself and wife." Richard Knowles, Thomas Doane,
Samuel Godfrey, Benjamin Ashton and others secured judg
ments against him about 1730.76 His will, dated January 16,
1755, and proved February 4, 1755, mentions no other son
but Elkanah. His widow died about 1765. 70
Serg. Robert Paddock, son of Zachariah and Deborah
(Sears) Paddock of Yarmouth, born January 17, 1670-1,
married Martha Hall, daughter of John and Priscilla
(Bearse) Hall of Yarmouth, March 6, 1701-2. He moved
to Monomoit soon after the birth of his second child in 1705
and settled on a farm in the north part of the town near
Great Hill. He was selectman in 1720 and 1721, and was
living at Chatham as late as 1730, but removed soon aitcr
to Mansfield, Conn., where Joseph, William und Benjamin
Hall and other relatives of his wife had ss tiled.
He probably died there before 1750 and his children or
most of them moved to the "Oblong" (Putnam Co., N. Y. )"
74. M. L. Luce papers.
75. Records Superior Court of Judicature.
76. Children of Robert and Rebecca (Jones) Nickerson (order uncertain): 1. James,
b. ; grandjuryman 1732. 2. Mercy, b. ; m. prob. 1st Jonathan Godfrey,
son of Moses, Sept. 2, 1725 (Chat. Rec). He died in 1730 and she m. 2nd Stephen Kid
der. 3. Robert, b. ; m. 4. Fear, b. ; m. Elisha
Eldridge, son of Jehoshaphat. 4. Sylvanus, b. ; (taxes abated
1742). 6. Elizabeth, b. ; m. 1st, June 19, 1733, Peter Ray, son of
Peter of Edgartown, and had children Joseph, Peter, Elizabeth. He
died before 1741 and she m. 2nd Alexander (?) Cunningham and died before 1755. 7.
Elkanah, b. Feb. 14, 1721-2 (Chat. Rec); m. Bethsheba Snow, dau. of Ebenezer ot
Eastham, Oct. 18, 1741 (East. Rec.) ; moved to Liverpool, N. S., about 1762. 8. Rebecca
b. ; m. John Hopkins, son of Elisha, about 1741; moved to Dartmouth, Mass.
about 1750, and to Liverpool, N. 3. , about 1762.
77. Children of Robert and Martha (Hall) Paddock (order after third child uncer
tain): 1. Son, unnamed, b. Feb. 2, 1702-3; d. seven veeks later. 2. Seth, b. Mar 13,
1704-5 (Yar. Rec) ; m. 1st Mercy Nickerson, dau. of William, Apr. 13, 1727 (Chat. Rec.) .
She died leaving children Deliverance and Zachariah, and he m. 2nd Zeruiah Storrs,
dau. of Capt. Thomas Storrs of Mansfield, Conn., Oct. 10, 1735 (Mansf. Rec). She
died Jan. 3, 1737-S, and he m. 3rd Ruth Arnold, dau. of Lieut. Robert Arnold of Mans
field, Feb. 17, 1744-5 (Mansf. Rec). 3. Deborah, b. about 1706; m. Joseph Doane, Jr. ,
of Eastham, Sept. 30, 1725 (Chat. Rec). He died in 1745 and she moved to Middletown,

234 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Benjamin Phillips, probably son of Thomas Phelps or
Phillips of Yarmouth, whose estate was settled in 1674 by
Hugh Stewart, (who may have brought Benjamin with him
to Monomoit) married about 1696 , daughter of
Nathaniel and Sarah Covell. He received from his mother-
in-law a lot of land near and east of the head of Muddy
Cove, whereon he erected a house.78 It is supposed that his
wife died in a few years and that he married second Tem
perance Stewart, daughter of Hugh,79 and removed to Har
wich. He sold his place at Monomoit to Ebenezer Hawes
between 1706 and 1713. He was of Harwich as early as
1712, having located at East Harwich near the house lately
of James T. Smalley. In a lay out of land in 1713 Briggs
pond, East Harwich, is described as "the pond southward of
Benjamin Phillips." He was living as late as July 8, 1744
when his wife was admitted to Harwich church.80 His
widow married Beriah Broadbrooks in 1747. There is no
settlement of his estate and no record of his children.81
Conn., where she died of small pox Aug. 27, 1752. 4. Zachariah, b. ; m. prob.
in Chatham, moved to Mansfield, Conn. 5. Bethiah, b. ; m. Nehemiah Easter
brook, son of Rev. Samuel of Mansfield, Sept. 2, 1786 (Mansf. Rec). She died about
1743. 6. Martha, b. ; m, Elnathan Doane. son of Israel of Eastham, Feb. 25,
1736-7 (East. Rec); moved to the "Oblong" about 1754. 7. Robert, b. ; m.
Ruth Fletcher, dau. of John of Mansfield, June 19, 1740 (Mansf. Rec). 8. Priscilla, b.
• ; m. Elisha Eldredge, son of EUsha of Mansfield, Jan. 1743 (Mansf. Rec). 9..
Eunice, b. ; m. Thomas Storrs, Jr., of Mansfield, Feb. 27, 1742-3 (Mansf. Rec).
10. Silas, b. ; m. AbialRuss, dau. of Nathaniel of Coventry, Conn., Nov. 5,
1747 (Mansf. Rec.)
78. See page 84, note 23, supra.
79. Temperance and ber sister Joanna were unmarried In March, 1711, tbe date of
their father's will, but it is believed that they married soon after, Joanna becoming tbe
wife of one Oaker. The widow Joanna Oaker is mentioned in the Chatham records.
Note that two of the children of Benjamin Phillips are named Joanna and Oaker.
80. 8 Mayflower Descendant, 119.
81. Children of Benjamin Phillips (order uncertain): By 1st wife probably: 1.
Anna, b. ; m. Samuel Atkins, son of Isaac of Harwich. Feb. 23, 1720-1 (Har.
Rec). 2. Henry, b. ; estate settled in 1725. 8. Micah, b. ; m. Joanna
Baker of Yarmouth, dau. of William, Aug. 25, 1726 (Yar. Rec). 4. Jane, b. ;
m. Gowell Chase, son of Isaac of Yarmouth, Nov. 1727 (Har. Rec). Probably by wife
Temperance: 5. Benjamin, b. ; m. Maria Broadbrooks, daughter of Beriah of
Harwich, Aug. 23, 1735 (Har. Rec). 6. Joanna, b. ; m. Ebenezer Berry of
Yarmouth as 2nd wife Dec. 20, 1738 (Har. Rec). 7. Oaker, b. about 1720; m. Mary
Small or Smalley Dec. 4, 1741 (Har. Rec). 8. Joseph, b. about 1721; m. Mercy Small
or Smalley Nov. 8, 1744 (Har. Rec). 9. Hannah, b. ; m. Samuel Nickerson,
Jr., of Harwich Dec. 6, 1745 (Har. Rec).

THE LATER SETTLERS. 235
Richard Sears, son of Paul and Deborah (Willard) Sours
of Yarmouth, born in 1680 or 1681, married May 15, 1706,
Hope, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Howes of Yarmouth.
By deed dated March 3, 1707-8, he bought of Samuel
Sprague of Marshfield all the lands and rights of the latter
at Monomoit. This included a farm, formerly of Joseph
Quason, Indian, extending from the head of the Oyster
pond east to the bay or salt water, and from the Black pond
south to the head of the Mill pond, also one-third interest
in the undivided lands.82 He settled at Monomoit soon after
this purchase. He was treasurer in 1713, constable in
1714-5 and selectman in 1717. He died May 24, 1718, at
the early age of 37 years. His gravestone is the oldest in
the old cemetery at West Chatham. His widow married,
second, Dea. John Rich of Eastham (Int. Aug. 2, 1723)
and his children were brought up in that place, but Paul, the
son, returned to Chatham, and settled upon the real estate
assigned to him out of his father's estate.83
82. "All those my lands and rights of land I now have or of right I ought to have with
in the precinct or Village of Monamoy in the County of Barnstable aforesaid, that Is to
say more particularly all that my farm or tract of land which I lately purchased of
Joseph Quason, Indian of Monamoy aforesaid. The said farm being bounded towards
the east by the Bay or Salt Water & towards the north by certain boundaries that
is to say ptly by the ditch called Indian Nicks ditch so extending westerly over a pond
W  oak tree marked so continuing the same range westerly till it comes to a tall pine
tree marked which is the corner boundary of the farm and bounded towards the South
by the land lately John Cussens, Indian, as an old fence & dry ditch directs to a pine
tree near the house of Joseph Eldridges & is bounded towards the West partly by the
Oyster pond & ptly by tbe lands of particular persons, That is to say all my lands per
taining to said farm & not formerly sold or passed away by the said Joseph Quason be
fore the 12th day of October A. D. 1702 as in & by one instrument or deed of feofment
of the date aforesaid given me under the hand and seal of said Quason may appear at
large, reference thereto be had for the westerly bounds of the said farm— And also my
two parcels of meadow land, The one called Stumpy Marsh esteemed at eight acres
more or less environed with upland and meadow of the heirs of Samuel Smith deceased .
The other being a small piece of marsh esteemed at one acre more or less bounded
westward by a creek southward by a pine tree standing on the upland which tree Is the
Northerly bounds of the meadow of the heirs of the said Samuel Smith, Eastward bv
the upland till lt comes to point thereof near ye creek, together also with my one third
part of all the common or undivided land within the limits of Monamoy aforesaid, ex
cepting such priviledges of herbage or feeding for cattle and firewood as hath been for
merly granted to any person or persons in or on the said Commons or undivided land
by Mr. William Nickerson deceased or by his son William Nickerson, Sarah Covel & her
children or myself or any one of us." (Josiah Paine papeis.)
83. Children of Richard and Hope (Howes) Sears: 1. Thankful, b. at Yarmouth
Mar. 18, 1706-7; m. John Rich, Jr., of Eastham Apr. 13, 1727, (East. Rec), 2. Paul, b.

236 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Capt. Daniel Sears, brother of Richard, born 1682 or 1683,
married Feb. 12, 1708-9, Sarah Howes of Yarmouth, sister
of his brother's wife.84 He became interested in the farm at
at Monomoit about 1710,;m.»Anna Atkins, dau. of Joseph of Eastham (Int. Jan. 31,
1729-30, East. Rec). 3. Samuel, b. at Chatham about 1712; d. Dec. 21, 1738, aged 26
(Hdstn.). 4. Hannah, b. at Chatham about 1717; m. Feb. 23, 1737-8, Zoheth Smith of
Eastham (East. Rec).
84. THE SEARS ANCESTRY. In the south section of the old cemeteries at West
Chatham there standsga large granite monument, erected about;l848 to the memory of
Capt. Daniel Sears and some of his descendants by Hon. David Sears of Boston.^son of
David Sears, the distinguished merchant. It states that Capt. Daniel Sears married
"Sarah Hawes" and that be was the son of "Knyvet Sears of Yarmouth. " These state
ments were in accord with what was then considered by some to be the facts. Sub
sequent investigations have shown that they are not true, and that the early investiga
tors of the family history grievously blundered, to say the least.
The story briefly is as follows: About the year 1845 the late H. G. Somerby was em
ployed to make Investigations in England for the Sears family and from the data col
lected by him and from alleged papers in the Sears family, a, line of descent from the
Sayers of Colchester, Eng., was constructed. The account of this English connection
was first given to the general public by Sir Bernard Burke in his "Visitations of Seats
and Arms," published in 1852. The material was supplied to him by Mr. Somerby.
Later, in 1857, Rev. Edmund H. Sears in his book entitled, "Pictures of the Olden Time,"
amplified the story, adding a genealogy of the Sears family, made up partly from Burke's
book and partly from family papers. The subject was further treated in an article in
1863, entitled "A Pilgrim Father," In Burke's "Vicissitudes of Families," third series.
Rev. Frederick Freeman in his History of Cape Cod (1, 137; II, 209, 591, 599 &c) and oth
ers have copied this pedigree.
According to these authorities, Richard Sears, the emigrant, who settled at Yar
mouth, was the eldest son of John Bourchier Sayer of Amsterdam, Holland, an English
exile, who had been robbed of his share of the family estates in England. Richard's
eldest son, named Knyvet, born In 1635, was, it wassald, married at Yarmouth to Eliza
beth Dymoke and had two sons, Daniel born 1682 and Richard born 1684. Knyvet went
over to England to recover the family estates, died there in 1686, and his two sons were
brought up by his brother, Paul Sears of Yarmouth, who treated them as his own sons.
Daniel and Richard settled at Chatham on land purchased from legacies left by their
uncle. Daniel had among other children two sons, Richard and David, who also went
to England "on the luckless errand of their grandfather Knyvet," to recover the pat
rimonial estates, and while there joined the army of Charles the Pretender and fell at
the battle of Culloden, April 16, 1746.
This interesting story, unfortunately, is not sustained by anything that appears In
the public records and cannot possibly be correct, as has been clearly shown by Mr.
Samuel P. May in his "Sears",Genealogy," published In 1890. Sir Bernard Burke himself
has since denied responsibility for the Sears articles appearing in his books. Not only
ls there no foundation for the connection with the Sayer family of Colchester, but not a
particle of evidence has been found in any contemporary public or private papers to
show that such a man as Knyvet Sears ever existed on Cape Cod. Richard Sears, the
emigrant, In his will, dated May 10, 1667, and recorded at Plymouth In the Colony Rec
ords, does not mention any son Knyvet. but mentions sons Paul and Silas and calls Pi.ul
his "eldest son." There is no marriage of Knyvet Sears and Elizabeth Dymoke on
record and nothing to show her parentage. No deed or olher paper showing that a
Knyvet Sears owned land in Yarmouth has yet been found, nor does he appear as wit-

THE LATER SETTLERS. 237
Monomoit bought by his brother and removed thither. The
purchase was doubtless made on their joint account. Dur
ing his long career he was one of the leading citizens of the
town, being town clerk 24 years between 1715 and 1753,
selectman 8 years, and holding other offices. He was ensign
as early as 1722, lieutenant as early as 1733 and later cap
tain of the local military company. He died August 10,
ness to any recorded will or deed, so far as known. There was no settlement of his es
tate or that of his wife, there ls no record of their deaths, and no guardianship of their
children . Paul Sears of Yarmouth, "eldest son" of Richard, had the following children
whose names are recorded on the Yarmouth records: Mercy born July 8, 1659; Bethia
born JulyS, 1661; Samuel born last of Jan. 1663-4; Lydia born Oct. 24, 1666; Paul born
June 15, 1669; Mary born Oct. 24, 1672; Ann born Mar. 27, 1675. He had other children,
whose names are not on record, as his will dated Feb. 20, 1707-8, and on record at
Barnstable shows. By this will be left his estate to his wife and his sons, Samuel, Paul
and John, these sons to pay certain sums of money "to their brothers Richard and
Daniel, towards their purchase of land at Manamoy," (Chatham.) This language
(quoted from the will) is perfectly clear and very strong documentary evidence would
have to be shown to prove that Paul Sears did not use words in his will in their ordinary
sense, but meant "cousins" when he wrote "brothers." Again, gravestone records
show that John Sears, a son of Paul, was born 1677 or 1678, that Richard was born 1680 or
1681 (not 1634) and that Daniel was born 1632 or '1683. They come along in regular
order, two or three years apart, after the recorded children of Paul, showing that the
youuger ones did not get on record. Finally, If Richard and Daniel had been sons of
Knyvet and Elizabeth, would not one of them have named a child after one or the other
of their parents, instead of after Paul and his wife Deborah, as they did ?
With reference to the story that Richard and David, two sons of Daniel Sears of Chat
ham, went to England to recover the family estates and died on the field of Culloden April
16, 1746, it should be said that Benjamin Bangs, a merchant of Harwich, being In Boston
June 7, 1746, writes in his Diary on that day that he had "lately heard of the death of
Richard and David Sears of Chatham . " The news of the battle of Culloden was not
received in Boston until nearly a month later, viz. July 2nd, and was first published in
the Boston News Letter, a newspaper, July 3, 1746, In the following manner : "A letter
from Belfast, April 25, gives undoubted Intelligence of the entire defeat of the rebels on
Culloden muire on the 16th " By no human possibility could Benjamin Bangs have
learned of the death of Richard and David Sears early in June 1746, if they had fallen on
tbe field of Culloden. Daniel Sears, the father, was appointed administrator of the
estate of these two brothers May 13, 1747, nearly a year after. They are styled "mari
ners" in the Probate records and probably either died at sea or In the "whale boat
fleet" against Canada.
The statement on the monument above referred to should be that Capt. Daniel
Sears married Sarah Howes, not Hawes. The marriage record on the Yarmouth book
is clearly Howes and the will of Samuel Howes of "Yarmouth, dated June 8, 1722, on rec
ord at Barnstable, mentions daughters "Sarah Sears" and "Hope Sears." The con
clusion of the whole matter is this: Unquestioned public records clearly ebow that
Richard Sears, the emigrant, left only two sons. Paul, "tbe eldest," and Silas, that
Paul (who married Deborah Willard) left sons surviving him, Samuel, Paul, John,
Richard and Daniel, of whom the two latter settled at Chatham. No evidence of equal
weight has been produced to disprove these records. See Sears Genealogy by Samuel
P. May in connection with the hooks by Burke and Rev. E. H. Sears above mentioned.

238 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
1756, aged 73, leaving a will dated January 30, 1753. His
wife died November 9, 1748, aged 62. He gave all his real
estate to his son Daniel. His descendents have probably
attained more wealth and distinction than those of any other
Chatham family. His grandson, David Sears, long a
prominent merchant and financier of Boston, director of the
first Bank of the United States, was accounted at his death
the richest man of that city and founded a family long and
prominently known. His grandson Richard of this town
also attained a local prominence, which the family main
tained till its extinction here about 50 years ago.85
John Smith, son of Samuel and Mary (Hopkins) Smith
of Eastham, was born May 26, 1673, and married Bethiah
Snow, daughter of Stephen and Susanna (Dean) Snow, May
14, 1694. He resided at Eastham till after the birth of his
second child. Having received by the will of his father
one-half of two farms at Tom's Neck, Monomoit, he removed
thither and became one of the substantial citizens of the
place. The boundaries of the two farms are described in
the note on page 99, supra. He was selectman one year
and held other offices in the town. In 1716 he testified
against Rev. Mr. Adams in the suit of Adams vs. Hawes.86
He was a large owner in the Great Beach and the Common
lands. He died in middle life, administration on his estate
being granted to his son Samuel, F'eb. 25, 1717-18. His
widow was living as late as 1734, when his estate was
finally settled among the children.87
85. Children of Daniel and Sarah (Howes) Sears (Chat. Rec): 1. Rebecca, b.
Mar. 19, 1710-11; m. Thomas Howes, son of Thomas, about 1730. 2. Daniel, b.Junel,
1712; m. Fear Freeman, dau. of Benjamin of Harwich, July 11, 1745 (Har. Rec). 3.
Sarah, b. Apr. 11, 1714; m. Joshua Atkins, son of Thomas, Aug. 1, 1734 (Chat. Rec).
4. Mercy b. July 17, 1716; m. Stephen Ryder, son of John, about 1738. 5. Richard, b.
Apr. 26, 1718; died unmarried in 1746. 6. David, b. Apr. 21, 1720; died unmarried in
1746. 7. Deborah, b. Oct. 13, 1722; m. Joseph Atwood, son of Joseph of Eastham (Int.
Apr. 14, 1742, East. Rec).
86. Page 183, supra.
87. Children of John and Bethiah (Snow) Smith (from Probate and Eastham Rec):
1. James, b. Feb. 13, 1694-5; died May 27, 1696. 2. Samuel, b. May 25, 1696; m. Mercy

THE LATER SETTLERS. 239
Michael Stewart, eldest son of Hugh and and Wait Stew
art, born in Yarmouth probably about 1670, married Mary
. He was a mariner. By deed dated October 12,
1702, he bought of the then proprietors of Monomoit, viz:
William Nickerson, Sen., Nathaniel Covell, William Covell,
Joseph Covell, P^phraim Covell and Samuel Sprague, a large
irregular tract at what is now West Chatham, on both sides
of the highway, lying between the ponds there and Ragged
Neck and extending from the present Doane neighborhood
westerly to the present George Buck neighborhood.88 The
easterly end of this tract at Ockpeset he sold in part by
deed dated March 31, 1703, to William Eldredge, receiving
in exchange a parcel of meadow near his own land 'at or
near a place commonly called Nick's place," and in part by
Hlgglns, dau. of Isaac of Eastham (Int. July 19, 1718, East. Rec). (He did not m. 2nd
Sarah Snow of Eastham, Sept. 25, 1736, and have children born In Eastham, as fre
quently stated. See N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg. LI, 204, "Wellington Smith and his Fam
ily" etc. He lived at Chatham, was selectman there in 1737 and 1743, member of the
church, and so far as known, had but one wife and ch. : Samuel, Eleanor and Bethiah,
all baptized at Chatham May 25, 1712. N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg. LXIV, 188). 3. Dean,
b. about 1698; m. Esther Ryder, dau. of John of Yarmouth, Oct. 13, 1720 (Tar. Rec).
4. Mercy, b. betw. 1698 and 1702; m. Nathan Kenney of Chatham, "Sept. 24, 1728-9"
(Chat. Rec). 6. Mary, b. about 1702; m. Obadiah Chase, son of Isaac of Yarmouth,
about 1732; died about 1767. 6. John, b. Apr. 7, 1703 (old Bible rec); m. 1st Eliza
beth Brown, dau. of George of Eastham, Sept. 21, 1727 (East. Rec); m. 2nd Lydia
Snow, wid. of Ebenezer of Eastham, Apr. 7, 1763 (Chat. Rec) ; moved to Eastham after
second marriage. 7. Stephen, b. about 1706 ; m . 1st Hannah Collins, dau. of John,
about 1727; m. 2nd Bathsheba Brown, dau. of George of Eastham, Apr. 9, 1729 (East.
Rec). 8. Bethiah, b. about 1708; m. Elisha Young, Jr., of Eastham Dec 15, 1731
(Chat. Rec). 9. David, h. about 1711; living in 1734. 10. Seth, b. about 1713, ace to
Probate Rec. (Nov. 13 or 14, 1711, old Bible rec); m. 1st Elizabeth , Mar. 15,
1737 (old Bible rec. ) . She was b. Mar. 15, 1718 (old Bible rec), and died Apr. 12, 1756,
(Hdstn). Hem. 2nd Mary (Godfrey) Nickerson, wid. of (jaleb, Nov. 18, 1766 (Chat.
Rec). 88. This tract Is described as follows: "Beginning at ye Northerly Corner of ye land
of Hugh Stewart thence ranging Easterly to a fresh pond, so ranging further Easterly
by ye sd pond on thwart a neck of land to a Run or (low of water that runs into a pond
Called ye white pond & bounded westerly by ye lands of ye sd Hugh Stewart & Southerly
partly by ye meadow sometime of Robert Eldredg deceased & partly by ye upland of
George (iodfree & partly by ye land formerly reputed to be ye land of John Downing
deceased & Easterly by ye reputed lands of ye sd Robert Eldredg & Northerly by ye re
puted lands of Teague Jones deceased * * reserving a Convenient highway through sd
land & a way Issuing out of ye sd highway to ye six acre lots so called & another way to
ye neck of land called ye Ragged Neck." Recorded Book 4, folio 86, Old Barnstable
Deeds. (M. L. Luce papers.)

240 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
deed dated May 22, 1708, to James Eldredge.89 That part
on the south side of the highway between it and Ragged
Neck appears to have been sold to Samuel Taylor, son of
John, before 17 ll.90 He died in middle life. Administra
tion was granted on his estate to his brother Samuel Sep
tember 26, 1716. His widow married Joseph Harding, Jr.,
before 1720, and 3rd Henry Wilson, October, 1732.91
John Stewart, probably son of Hugh and Wait Stewart,
married Elizabeth . He was tithing man in 1702,
but appears later to have moved away, returning to the
town again about 1715. 92 Administration on his estate was
granted to his widow July 11, 1722. He left an estate
valued at £360, of which £290 was in real estate. His
widow was left with several small children, among whom
was probably a son John, who married Jenny, daughter of
Joseph Harding, Jr. , and was a resident of the town as late
as 1744.
Samuel Tucker, probably son of John and Susanna
Tucker of Tisbury and brother of John Tucker of Harwich,
married Hannah Mayo, daughter of William and Elizabeth
(Ring) Mayo of Eastham, about 1706 and settled at Mono
¬moit soon after.93 On May 17, 1713, he joined the church
at Harwich and his children, Keziah, Elizabeth and Thank
ful, were baptized there July 3, 1715, and his daughter
Hannah, July 29, 1716. 94 Later he doubtless joined the
Chatham church under Mr. Lord. He had the care of the
church building for many years, receiving an annual stipend
from the town "for his panes of swepen the meten hous."
89. M. L. Luce papers.
90. See "A Proprietors' Book for Chatham," Town Clerk's offlce, and deed from
Samuel Eldredge to Seth Taylor of Yarmouth dated May 15, 1711 (M. L. Luce papers.) .
91. Children of Michael and Mary Stewart (Chat. Rec): 1. Bethiah, b.
Sept. 21, 1704; m. Samuel Hamilton, son of Daniel, May 25, 1727 (Chat. Rec). 2.
Patience, b. Aug. 27, 1713; prob. m. at Liverpool, N. S., Dec. 25, 1760, George Winslow
(Liverpool Recj.
92. See page 190, supra.
93. 14 Mayflower Descendant, 117 ; 6 lb. 95.
94. Harwich Ch. Rec, 4 Majflower Descendant, 248, 249; 5 ib. 17.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 241
He was often chosen tithingman and in 1750 was the town
schoolmaster. Pie died about 1765. Plis wife died a few
years before him.96
The foregoing families all settled in or became connected
with the village between 1690 and the emigration of 1711.
After that emigration the following families came in or be
came connected with the place before or about 1720, when
the period of settlement may bo said to have ended.
John Collins, son of Joseph and Ruth (Knowles) Collins
of Eastham, born December 18, 1674, married Hannah
Doane, daughter of John of Eastham, February 12, 1701-2.
He lived for some time at Pl'istham, selling his farm there
by deed dated Sept. 5, 1715, to Ichabod Higgins.96 The
same year he purchased land at Tom's Neck, Chatham, of
John Smith or Daniel Hamilton or both and settled there.
He was one of the first seven church members and one of
the earliest pew owners. He was a man of energy and
ability and accumulated considerable property. He and his
children together formed by far the wealthiest family in
the place in the period before the Revolution. His oldest
son, Solomon, became in time the largest taxpayer, and
several of his other sons had large properties for the time.
From him, through his son Joseph, who went to Nova
Scotia, descended Hon. Pmos Collins, a distinguished mer
chant of Liverpool, N. S., who married a daughter of Chief
Justice Brenton Haliburton of that colony. From him,
through his daughter Anna, who married Jonathan Crowell,
descended Hon. John Crowell of Ohio, member of Congress
in 1846, and prominent in Ohio in his time. He died
95. Children of Samuel and Hannah (Mayo) Tucker (Chat. Rec): 1. Keziah, b.
Nov. 1707; m. Nathaniel Covell, son of Nathaniel Apr. 14, 1727 (Chat. Rec). 2. John,
0. Sept. 1709; died Sept. 1709. 3. Thankful, b. Sept. 1710. 4. Elizabeth, b. Sept.
1712. 5. Hannah, b. Sept. 1714; prob. m. Isaac Hawes, Jr., and moved to the Oblong
about 1747. 6. John, b. Mar. 20, 1715 6. 7. Samuel, b. Mar. 16, 1719-20. 8. Eunice,
b. June 12. 1722. •
96. Stanley W. Smith papers.

242 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
March 24, 1765, at the age of 91. His widow died June 6,
1765, aged 85. His will dated March 12, 1749, with codi
cil of later date, was proved June 28, 1765. It divides the
real estate among his sons and shows that he lived in the
easterly part of Tom's Neck.97
John Crowell, son of John and Hannah Crowell of Yar
mouth, born December 5, 1689, married Alice Gross,
daughter of Simeon and Mary (Bond) Gross of Hingham
(published Aug. 21, 1714). He was a carpenter by trade
and lived at Hingham a year or two, removing to Eastham
about 1716 and to Chatham two or three years later. His
house was at the head of Muddy Cove, near the Plarwich
line and opposite the Indian meeting house.98 Adminis
tration on his estate was granted to his son Jabez July 9,
1746. In the inventory of his estate appears the following
item: "Cash being the dec'ds wages at Cape Breton £44-
06-04." His widow, whose name was Sarah, a second wife,
married second Thomas Nickerson, Sen., July 5, 1751 ."
97. Children of John and Hannah (Doane) Collins (all born In Eastham except the
last two): 1. Solomon, b. Feb. 6, 1703-4; m. Eunice Atkins, dau. of Samuel, about
1726. 2. Samuel, b. Nov. 26, 1705; m. 1st ; ra. 2nd Patience (Howes) El
dredge, widow of Jonathan Eldredge and of Seth Eldredge, Oct. 19, 1758 (Chat. Rec).
3. Martha, b. Jan. 26, 1707-8; m. Moses Godfrey, son of Moses, about 1726. 4. John,
b. Nov. 2, 1709; m. Thankful Taylor, dau. of Samuel, about 1740. 5. Hannah, b. Nov.
2,1711; m. Stephen Smith, son of John, about 1727; died young leaving child Stephen.
6. Joseph, b. Aug. 14,1713; m. Abigail Crowell, dau. of Paul, about 1737; moved to
Liverpool, N. S.. about 1760. 7. David, b. Apr. 20, 1715; m. Desire . 8. Jane,
b. at Chatham about 1717; m. 1st Prince Snow, Jr., of Harwich (Int. Sept. 10, 1737,
Har. Rec); m. 2nd Benjamin Bearse of Chatham, son of Benjamin of Barnstable,
about 1743; m. 3rd George Godfrey, son of Moses, Nov. 9, 1758 (Chat. Rec.) . 9. Anna,
b. at Chatham; m. Jonathan Crowell, son of Paul, about 1740; moved to Liverpool, N.
S., about 1760. (The list of the children of John Collins who were born in Chatham,
given by Dean Dudley In his Genealogy of the Bangs Family, p. 39, is wholly erroneous.)
98. Town Records— renewals of boundary with Harwich.
99. Children of John and Alice (Gross) Crowell. 1. Abigail, b. at Hingham
JuneS, 1715 (Hlng. and East. Rec); m. Hincks Gross, son of Thomas ot Eastham,
July 25, 1734 (Chat. Rec). 2. Jabez, b. at Eastham June 4, 1717 (East. Rec); m.
Lydia Gross about 1743. 3. Jonah, b. mentioned in the list of his father's
creditors 1746. 4. Rhoda, b. 1733; m. John Williams ot Rochester Mar. 5, 1752 (Roch.
Rec). The Rochester records contain the following marriage Intentions, probably of
children of the above John Crowell: 1. Mercy Crowell "of Chatham," and Ebenezer
Meggs, Jr., int. Feb. 17, 1765. 2. Experience Crowell and Barzlllah Stetson, int. Nov. 3,
1765. Other children, if any, not Identified.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 243
Col. and Dea. Paul Crowell, second child of John and
Bethiah (Sears) Crowell of Yarmouth, born April 20, 1687,
married first Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan Hallett of
Yarmouth, October 21, 1714. She died November 17,
1723, aged 34 years, and he married second Margery Hall,
daughter of Dea. Joseph Hall of Yarmouth, February 15,
1724-5. He settled at Chatham in 1717 on the farm at
Chathamport purchased for him by his father of William
Covell.100 The house of the late Osborn Nickerson, Esq.,
stands on this farm, which bordered on Pleasant Bay. He
soon became an active and highly respected citizen. He was
town treasurer seven years and selectman six years. Pie
became a deacon of the church as early as 1738. Pie was first
a lieutenant (1739) and then captain (1744) of the local
military company, then major (1749) and finally colonel of
the county regiment of soldiers. From him, through his
son Jonathan, descended Hon. John Crowell, member of
Congress from Ohio in 1846. 101 Col. Crowell died October
11, 1765, aged 78 years. He left a large estate, most of
which was divided by his will among his three sons. The
homestead was given to his son David. ' The widow, Mar
gery Crowell, died May 26, 1773, aged 78. 102
100. See account of William Covell, page 216, supra.
101. Hon. John Crowell, member of the Ohio State Senate and elected to Congress
In the fall of 1846, v as born at East Haddam, Conn., Sept. 15, 1801, son of William and
Ruth (Peck) Crowell of East Haddam. His grandparents were Samuel and Jerusha
(Tracy) Crowell, of whom Samuel was born at Chatham, Mass., March 16, 1742-3, re
moved with his parents about 1760 to Liverpool, N. S., and thence removed to East
Haddam, Conn., where be was married about 1770. (For evidence of this removal see
land records of Queens Co., N. S.) The parents of Samuel were Jonathan and Anna
(Collins) Crowell of Chatham and Liverpool, N. S.
102. Children of Paul Crowell (from family Bible) : By wife Elizabeth: 1. Abigail,
b. Sept. 13, 1715; m. Joseph Collins, son of John, about 1737; removed to Liverpool, N.
S., about 1760. 2. Paul, b Apr. 4, 1717; m. 1st Rebecca Paine, dau. of Ebenezer, about
1738. She died Dec. 30, 1746, and hem. 2nd Reliance Cobb, dau. of Eleazer of Barn
stable, Apr. 27, 1717 (Barn. Rec). She died Nov. 9, 1774, and he m. 3rd Mehitable
(Snow) Ryder, widow of Samuel Hopkins of Harwich and of Reuben Ryder of Chatham,
May 4, 1775, (Chat. Rec). 3. Jonathan, b. Feb. 25, 1718; m. Anna Collins, dau. of
John, about 1740 (not Anna Nickerson, as stated in Freeman, Hist, of Cape Cod, II, 598) ;
removed to Liverpool, N. S., about 1760. By wife Margery: 4. Elizabeth, b. Apr, 7, 1726;
m. Hezekiah Doane, son of Elisha of Eastham, Oct. 25, 1750 (Chat. Rec.) . 5. David, b.
Aug. 3, 1730; m. Thankful Atwood, dau. of James of Eastham, Dec. 6, 1759 (East. Rec).
(19)

244 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Thomas Doane, son of Ephraim and Mary (Knowles)
Doane of Eastham, born Sept. 4, 1674, married Patience
Mulford, daughter of Thomas and Hannah of Eastham,
February 28, 1700-1. He learned the trade of a blacksmith,
but early engaged in whaling. He removed his family to
Chatham in or before 1719, where he purchased by deed
dated March 20, 1718-9, of Seth Taylor of Yarmouth, a
large farm of about 300 acres at West Chatham lying be
tween the Oyster pond river and the White pond, formerly
belonging to William Eldredge and others.103 He was for
many years one of the leading citizens and the largest land own
er and taxpayer of the town. He was selectman ten years be
tween 1725 and 1745, frequently moderator of town meetings
and often chosen to serve the town in other capacities. He
was one of the first to take pew ground in the church in 1742.
He was often engaged in litigation. His deeds and papers
(herein referred to as the M. L. Luce papers) have come
down to us and throw a flood of light on the early history
103. "All that my Messuag, Tenement, Dwelling House and house lot of land situate
In Chatham x x with all my Lands and Medows lying In sd Chatham, Together with
all tbe Right and Interest that I have Devided & undevided In the bounds of Harwich,
being all my Housing, Lands & Medows, Rights and Interest, acordlng as tbey are
expressed In & by one Deed Pole of Conveyance from William Eldred of Manemoy now
Chatham, Planter, bearing date the 18th day ot December 1711 Recorded In the Registry
of sd County In the sixth book of Evidences of Lands, folio 300, to me given & Granted,
signed sealed & delivered : sd Granted premises Containing by estimation two hundred
acres more or less. Together with all my Rights In & to the Lands lately Divided or to
be Divided in sd Chatham so far as my Right extends by virtue of what I bought of
Capt. Ebenezer Hawes of sd Chatham. Together with all that my parcel & parcels of
Land & Medow lying In Chatham above sd, being by estimation forty acres more or less,
which is all the Lands that I have In sd Chatham & all the Medows there that I have &
hold by Deed from Samuel Eldredg of Manamoy formerly so called & is buted & bounded
as by one Deed Pole under the band & seal of sd Samuel Eldrege to me signed, sealed
& Delivered may appear baring date the 15th of May 1711 Recorded in the Registry of sd
County in the sixth book of Evidences of Lands in folio 49 & 60 & 51 : Together with all
that my parcel of Land Messuage or Tenement lying In sd Chatham which I have &
hold by one Deed Pole from under the hand & seal of Robert Nickerson of Harwich son
of Robert Nickerson Deceased baring Date the 22nd Day of July 1713 Recorded in Seventh
book of Evidences of Lands page 97 buted & bounded as in & by sd Deed ls expresst:
Together with all that my parcel of medow & sedge ground lying in sd Chatham which
I have & bold by one Deed Pole from under the band & seal of John Eldredg of sd
Chatham, Labourer, baring Date the 7th day of June 1716 Recorded in the Eighth Book
of Evidences of Lands folio 195 buted & bounded as In & by sd Deed ls exprest." M. L.
Luce papers.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 245
of the town. His wife died Feb. 8, 1744, aged 70, and
his death occurred May 8, 1756, at the age of 82 years.
His will, dated Mar. 17, 1756, was proved Sept. 22, 1756.
His three sons had died before him and his real estate went
to his grandsons. His youngest child, Anna, married Dr.
John Osborn (son of the minister at Eastham, a graduate of
Harvard college, a poet, physician and man of talent) and
lived at Middletown, Conn., where there was a colony of
Cape settlers.104
James Eldredge, eldest son of Lieut. Nicholas and Eliza
beth Eldredge, married Ruth . He lived at West
Chatham on the John Downing farm set off to him in the
division of his father's estate in 1708. By deed dated May
22, 1708, he bought of Michael Stewart, a tract of 10 acres
between the highway and the White pond.106 This he sold,
together with six acres more inherited from his father, to
Thomas Howes by deed dated Apr. 6, 1713. 106 He died
July 19, 1757. He gave his homestead by will to his sons
James and Abner. His widow Ruth removed with several
of her children in 1762 to Liverpool, N. S., but returned a
few years later.107
104. Children of Thomas and Patience (Mulford) Doane (all born at Eastham): 1.
Thomas, b. Jan. 10, 1701-2; m. in 1729, Sarah Barnes, dau. of Jonathan of Plymouth.
2. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 5, 1703-4; m. Daniel Howes, son of Tbomas.about 1723. 3. Reu
ben, b. Mar. 21, 1705-6; in. Sarah Haugh, dau. of Samuel of Boston, (Doane Gen.)
about 1730. 4. Abigail, b. Mar. 28, 1708; m. John Hawes, son ot Isaac, about 1735. 5.
Ruhama, b. about 1709; m. John Eldredge, son of Joseph, Sept. 26, 1728 (Chat. Rec).
6. Benjamin, b. Dec. 26, 1710; m. Mary Freeman, dau. of Nathaniel of Harwich, Nov.
7, 1734 (Har. Rec). 7. Anna. b. ; m. Dr. John Osborn, son of Rev. Samuel of
Eastham. He died May 31, 1753, and she m . 2nd Thomas Smith of East Haddam, Conn.
May 27, 1756.
105. Described as follows: "Bounded Southerly by ye land of ye sd James Eldredge,
& at ye Easterly end Is bounded by ye land of William Eldredge & ls bounded Northerly
by ye land of Nicholas Eldredge [deceased] & Is bounded westerly by ye Relict of an old
fence called ye General fence near a little pond runing Into ye white pond or adjoining
to ye white pond, containing ten acres more or less." M. L. Luce papers.
106. See note 51 supra for description.
107. Children of James and Ruth ( ) Eldredge: 1. Seth.b. ; m.
; lived in R. I. 2. Mary, b. ; single In 1757. 8. Zepbaniah. b.
Dec 2, 1788; m. 1st Phebe Eldredge Nov. 29, 1752 (Chat. Rec); m. 2nd Martha (Sears)
Eldredge, widow of Joseph, Jan. 31, 1787 (Chat. Rec). 4. Rebecca, b. Nov. 16,
1735; m.Cyrenus Collins, son of Solomon, July 13, 1756 (Chat. Rec). 5. Rnth, b. Feb.
16, 1737; m. Jonathan Bearse, son of Benjamin, May 19, 1755 (Chat. Rec). 6. Abner,
b.Oct 11, 1738; m. Sarah Eldredge, Apr. 19, 1762 (Chat. Rec.) 7. James, b. Apr. 8,
1742; m 1st Experience Sears dau. of Paul, Nov. 21, 1765 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd Hannah
Collins, dau. of Reuben, May 2, 1771 (Chat. Rec.) .

246 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Morris Farris, whose origin the author has not learned,
married at Nantucket June 18, 1708, Mrs. Orange (Rogers)
Cartwright, widow of Nicholas of Nantucket. He was a
resident of Chatham as early as 1715,108 living first on Quit-
nesset (Morris) Island109 and later keeping tavern on Mono
moit Beach. This tavern he sold to Joseph Stewart about
1728.110 It is supposed that he died not long after, leaving
a son William, who was of Chatham in 1736, a sea faring
man, and gave bond on that date to Sylvanus Bourne of
Barnstable.111 In 1745 William Farris was one of the
creditors of the estate of Elisha Hopkins.112 It is supposed
that this William (or a son of William) removed to Fal
mouth, where he was living as late as 1790. 113
Lieut. Isaac Hawes, son of Captain John and Desire
(Gorham) Hawes of Yarmouth, born Mar. 9, 1679-80,
married Jan. 8, 1700-1, Bethiah Howes, daughter of Jere
miah ot Yarmouth, and lived there till about 1712, when he
removed to Chatham. He purchased a part of the interest
of the Covells in the common land and received in the
division of 1713 a tract on each side of the road which runs
from the late Samuel D. Clifford's to the late Rufus Smith's.
His house was in or near this tract. In the latter part of
his life he lived in or near the place late of Ephraim
Steele.114 He was sergeant of the military company as
early as 1720 and later lieutenant. Administration on his
108. See page 190, supra. His stepson Nicholas Cartwright, came with him to Chat
ham. 109 . See page 92, note 38, supra .
110. See page 209, note 29, supra.
111. Bourne Mss. Harvard Coll. Library.
112. Barnstable Probate Rec, estate of EUsha Hopkins.
113. See U. S. census, 1790.
114. See a deed dated July SO, 1750, from John Hawes, administrator of Isaac, to
Ebenezer Paine of a tract of land "where the dwelllnghonse of the late Isaac Hawes
last stood, containing six acres more or less, bounded Westerly on the said Ebenezer
Paine. Southerly on the way until It comes to the land that James Covell bought of
Simeon Covell, then Northerly to the pond and Westerly by the pond to James Covells
land where the fence stands and by the fence and James Covells land to said Palne's
land." Josiah Paine papers.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 247
estate was granted to his widow Bethiah March 18, 1730-1.
She married second John Smith of Eastham, son of John
(Int. Apr. 11, 1741). He died in 1742 and she married
third Nov. 16, 1743 Rev. Joseph Lord of Chatham. She
died between March 7, 1746-7, when she is named as
one of the executors of Mr. Lord's will, and June 30, 1748,
when the will was proved and she was not appointed with
the others.115
Lieut. Richard Knowles, son of Samuel and Mercy (Free
man) Knowles of Eastham, born the latter part of July,
1688, married Martha Cobb, daughter of James and Sarah
Cobb of Barnstable, about 1712.116 He came to Chatham
about 1719 and succeeded Capt. Ebenezer Hawes as the
tavern-keeper of the place. He undoubtedly bought of
Hawes the tavern and land adjoining owned by the latter,
and carried on the business for many years. He was select
man three years and treasurer two years. He was active in
local affairs, but appears to have lost his property in his old
age. His wife died Oct. 31, 1763, aged 81. He died about
1769. m His son James succeeded to the tavern business.
115. Children of Isaac and Bethiah (Howes) Hawes: 1. Bethiah, b. July, 1701; m.
1st Maziah Harding, son of Joseph, about 1721; m. 2nd Thomas Nickerson, Sen., Dec.
26, 1763 (Chat. Rec). 2. Isaac, b. Apr., 1703; m. Hannah, prob. dau. of Samuel
Tucker; removed to the "Oblong," N. Y , about 1747, and thence to Kent, Conn. 3.
Thankful, b. Mar., 1705; m. Moses Young, son of Henry of Eastham (Int. Mar. 6, 1724-5,
East. Rec). 4. John, b. Jan. 22, 1706-7; m. Abigail Doane, dau. of Thomas, about
1735. 5. Desire, b. Jan. 14, 1708-9. 6. Jeremiah, b. Apr. 5, 1711; m. Phebe Young of
Eastham. prob. dau. of Jonathan, Aug. 8, 1734 (East. Rec); lived at Eastham. (The
foregoing children were born in Yarmouth). 7. Hannah, b. at Chatham; m. 1st John
Slater, Feb. 21. 1749-50 (Chat. Rec.;; Int. to marry James Ryder Nov. 15, 1760 (Chat.
Rec.) 8. Sarah, b. May 31, 1719 (Bible record); m. Cornelius Higgins, son of
Ebenezer of Eastham, Sept. 29, 1743 (Bible record); int. of m. Feb. 19, 1742-3 (East.
Rec.) ; removed to Haddam, Conn., about 1747.
116. See Barnstable Probate Rec, estate of Jane Snow.
117. Chlldrenof Richard and Martha (Cobb) Knowles (Chat. Rec): 1. Martha, b.
Jan. 28, 1713-4; m. John Shaw of Eastham (Int. Nov. 10, 1729, East. Rec). 2. Rich
ard, b Mar. 26. 1715; died Aug. 20, 1736. aged 21 (Hdstn. 1. 3. Mercy, b. Aug. 9, 1717;
m. George Godfrey, son of Moses, Nov. 1, 1733 (Chat. Rec). 4. James, b. Nov. 11,
1719; m. 1st Sarah Doane of Eastham, dau. of Joseph, Nov. 25, 1742 (East. Rec). She
died Dec. 26, 1748, aged 28 (Hdstn), and hem. 2nd Ruth Mayo, dau. of Theophilus of
Eastham, July 20, 1749 (East. Rec.) She died Sept. 17, 1766, aged 45 (Hdstn.), and he
m.3rd Sarah (Llnnell) Mayo, widow of Gideon of Eastham, Nov. 19, 1767 (East. Rec).
She died about 1774 and he m. 4tb Alice Paine, dau. of John of Eastham, Dec. 12, 1775
(East. Rec). She died Apr. 18,1777, and he m. 5th Hannah , who survived
him. 5. Cornelius, b. Apr. 10, 1722; m. Mary. prob. dau. of Elisha Hopkins; removed
to Liverpool, N. S., about 1760. 6. Rebecca, b. Mar. 2, 1723-4; died unmarried about
1784.

248 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Elisha Mayo, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Wixon)
Mayo of Eastham, born Apr. 28, 1695, married Hannah
Linnell, daughter of Jonathan of Eastham, Feb. 20, 1716-7,
and settled in Chatham soon after. He had lands and mea
dow lying north of the road by Ensign William Nickerson's
and running northward to the Herring brook. He was one
of the seven first members of the Chatham church, which
was organized in 1720, but with Moses Godfrey soon got
into a controversy with Rev. Mr. Lord, who excommunica
ted them.118 They were at once received into the church at
Pochet (Orleans). He was town treasurer in 1727. His
wife died about 1727 and he soon after removed with his
family to Provincetown, a more convenient place for the
fishing industry, selling out to Elisha Hopkins of Eastham.
His second wife was Martha -119
Judah Mayo, son of Thomas and Barbara (Knowles)
Mayo of Eastham, born Nov. 25, 1691, married Mary
Hamilton of Chatham, daughter of Daniel by his first wife,
Mary Smith (Int. Jan. 27, 1721-2). He settled at Chat
ham on a farm lying between the farm of Menekish, the
Indian sachem, and that of Samuel Atkins, and probably
bounding east on the salt water.120 His house stood west of
Menekishes land. His will, dated December 5, 1758, was
proved October 6, 1761. He gave all his real estate to his
surviving son Judah.121
118. See chapter xiii, Infra.
119. Children of EUsha Mayo: by wife Hannah : 1. Elizabeth, b. at Chatham. By
wife Martha (Prov. Rec): 2. Lemuel, b. Sept. 11, 1729. 8. Jerusha, b. Oct. 21, 1733.
4. Sarah, b. July 11, 1736. 5. Elisha, b. July 3, 1788. 6. Martha, b. July 81, 1743, bap
tized at Truro Sept. 4, 1743.
120. See will of Menekish, Barnstable Probate Records.
121. Children of Judah and Mary (Hamilton) Mayo (from the will, order uncertain):
1. Lydia, b. Jan. 23, 1722-3 (East. Rec); m. Prince Young, son of John, as second
wife. 2. Mary, b. about 1725; m. 1st Joseph Doane, son of Hezekiah of Truro, about
1744; m. 2nd Freeman, before 1758; removed to Liverpool, N. S., about 1762.
3. Richard, b. ; m. Mary Ann Hale of Boston, June 14, 1750; died before 1758,
leaving child Augustine. 4. Barbara, b. ; m. George Smith, son of Stephon,
Oct. 16, 1765 (Chat. Rec). 5. Ruth.b. ; m. Benjamin Gardner of Nantucket
Nov. 3, 1756 (Chat. Rec). 6. Elizabeth, b. ; m, Caleb Nickerson, sou ol

THE LATER SETTLERS. 249
William Mitchell, only child of William and Mercy
(Nickerson) Mitchell, born about 1691, married first Tab
itha Eldredge, daughter of Joseph, March 19, 1712-3. She
died in a few years, probably without children, and he
married second Sarah Higgins of Eastham, probably daugh
ter of Isaac, April 10, 1717. He inherited his father's
farm on the west side of Mitchell's river, but sold it in part
to Nathaniel Nickerson before 1725 and in part to Richard
Knowles before 1740.122 He removed to Dartmouth, Mass.,
about 1737, where he purchased a farm of 94 acres of
Lemuel Pope,128 on which he was living as late as 1769.124
John Ryder,125 son of John and Esther (Hall?) Ryder of
Yarmouth, born May 28, 1692, married Mehitable Crowell,
daughter of John and Bethiah Crowell of Yarmouth, May
20, 1713. He settled at Chatham as early as 1715 on land
formerly the homestead of William Nickerson, Sen. His
farm appears to have extended from Muddy Cove across to
Herring river (later called Ryder's Cove) and to have
bounded north on land of Paul Crowell and of Jehoshaphat
Eldredge. He and his wife both died in the great small
pox epidemic of 1766, which fell upon this family with un-
Caleb, May 4, 1758 (Chat. Rec). 7. Judah, b. about 1736; m. 1st Mary Rogers, dau. of
of Harwich Dec. 21, 1758 (Har. Rec). She died about 1776 and he m. 2nd
Mrs. Sarah Fuller in 1779; removed to Rutland, Mass., about 1780 and to Woodstock, Vt. ,
about 1797. 8. Hannah, b. ; m. William Mitchell of Liverpool, N. S, Sept. 11,
1761 (Liverpool Rec.) . 9. Sarah, b. about 1742; m. Benjamin Godfrey, son of George,
Apr. 26, 1764 (Chat. Rec). 10. Priscilla, b. ; m. Eleazer Simmons of North-
field at Chatham Apr. 2, 1767 (Liverpool Rec) ; removed to Liverpool, N. S.
122. See page 153, note 66, supra.
123. See a deed from Pope to him dated Feb. 23, 1737, book 41, page 294, Bristol Co.
Deeds. 124. Children of William and Sarah (Higgins) Mitchell (Chat, and Dart. Rec): 1.
James, b. Nov. 4, 1718; m. Hannah about 1788 2. Tabitha, b. July 19, 1720;
m. Joseph Burgess of Rochester, Mar. 15, 1737-8 (Dart. Rec.) . 3. Mercy, b. May 4, 1722;
m. Nathaniel Jenney of Dartmouth Dec. 15, 1743 (Dart. Rec.) . 4. William, b. June 30,
1725; m. Pernal Jenney of Dartmouth (Int. Feb. 10, 1746, Dart. Rec). 5. Desire, b.
about 1727; m. Jethro Jenney of Dartmouth Feb. 14, 1750 (Dart. Rec). 6. Hallett, b.
; m. Ruth Winslow of Freetown (Int. Sept. 22, 1759, Dart. Rec.) . 7. Seth, b.
Dec. 11,1738; living in 1800. 8. Betty.b. Mar. 22,1741; m. William Ryder of Plymouth
(Int. Sept. 22, 1759, Dart. Rec.) . Possibly one or two other children.
125. He ls not styled "Col." in the town or probate records or elsewhere, and is not
entitled to that designation, given bim by some writers.

250 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
exampled severity. Not only did the father and mother
succumb to this disease, but a daughter Bethiah, a son
Zenas and his wife, a son Stephen, his wife and nine of his
ten children, and the wife of a son Reuben — making in all
seventeen people out of this one family.126 Mr. Ryder died
January 10, 1766, and his wife March 26, 1766, aged 76.
His will dated March 30, 1762, was proved March 11, 1766,
the son Reuben being the only surviving executor. He
gave the homestead to his son Zenas and equivalent prop
erty to his other two sons in Chatham. Two- other of his
sons had removed to the "Oblong," nearly twenty years be
fore.127 John Taylor, son of Richard and Ruth (Whelden) Tay
lor of Yarmouth, born about 1652, married Sarah Mat
thews, daughter of James of Yarmouth, December 15,
1674. He was a soldier in King Philip's war, going out on
several expeditions.128 He lived most of his life at Yar
mouth. There is no evidence of his removal to Monomoit
till the year 1711. As he owned land adjoining Tumblen's
or Tomlon's Cove and came to Monomoit about the time the
Tomlons appear to have moved away, it is supposed that he
126. See account of this epidemic, chapter xiv. infra.
127. Children of John and Mehitable (Crowell) Ryder (Chat. Rec. and will): 1.
John, b. about 1715; m. Mary Paine, dau. of Ebenezer of Chatham , and re
moved to the Oblong about 1747. 2. Reuben, b. about 1717; m. 1st Susanna Atkins,
prob. dau. of Thomas, Oct. 26, 1740 (Chat. Rec). She died Aug. 9, 1743, aged 26, and
hem. 2nd Hannah Paine; dau. of Ebenezer. She died of small pox Jan. 11, 1766, aged
42. and he m. 3rd Mehitable (Snow) Hopkins, wid. of Samuel of Harwich, Oct. 16, 1766
(Har.Rec). 3. Stephen, b. about 1718; m. Mercy Sears, dau. of Daniel, about 1789.
4. Simeon, b. Apr. 4, 1720; m, , and removed to the Oblong about 1747. 5.
Mehitable, b. Jan. 27, 1724-5; m. Samuel Taylor, son of Samuel, about 1743. 6. Zenas,
b. Apr. 27, 1726; m. Elizabeth Howes of Yarmouth, dau. of , Mar. 30, 1749
(Yar. Rec). 7. Bethiah, b. Sept. 11, 1728; d. unmarried Jan. 17, 1766, of smallpox.
8. Zerulab, b. Jan. 12, 1733-4; m. 1st Reuben Collins, son of Solomon, July 11, 1751
(Chat. Rec). Hed. Feb. 4, 1762 (Hdstn.), and she m. 2nd Joseph Harding, son of
Maziah, Oct. 2, 1766 (Chat. Rec.) . 9. Esther, b. Mar. 4, 1734-5; m. Joshua Nickerson,
son of Caleb, Dec. 15, 1754 (Chat. Rec), removed to Barrington, N. S.; about 1763.
128. Freeman, Hist, of Cape Cod II, 193; deed from Samuel Taylor to Shubael Gor
ham, Jr., York (Me.) Deeds, XXVII, 75.

THE LATER SETTLERS. 251
bought the farm of Nathaniel Tomlon, which was doubtless
located on the east side of Taylor's pond, now so called,
formerly known as Tomlon's Cove.129 He also had an in
terest in the common lands both at Yarmouth and at Mon
omoit. His will, dated June 23, 1718, was proved Janu
ary 18, 1721-2. He devised his real estate to his son
Seth.180 129. The exact location of this farm appears in a deed from Seth Taylor, grandson
of John, to Sears Atwood, David Atwood, John Taylor and Elizabeth Howes, dated June
30, 1821, as follows: "All my real estate situate in the south west quarter of the town of
Chatham, consisting of upland and meadow ground with tbe buildings tbereon stand-
tag, bounded, Beginning at the Northeast corner of the premises at a drain of water
near the old Bridge so called in the range of Mathls Taylor and Stephen Smith, thence
Westerly in said Mathls range to a corner of fence near my dwelling house, thence
Northwesterly by said Mathis to another corner of fence, thence Northerly by said
Mathls Taylor, as the fence stands to the Public Road, thence Westerly by the said Road
to Enoch Bassett his land, thence Southerly by said Bassett to Taylor's Pond so called,
thence Southeasterly In a straight line to Nathaniel Bassett and Ebenezer Barse's range
at the Pond, then Easterly a short distance by said Bassett and Barse to a fence, thence
Southerly and Southwesterly by said Bassett and Barse as the fence now stands to the
Eldredge meadow so called, thence Southerly and Westerly by the meadow round points
of land and nooks of meadow into Chatham Bay at the Southwesterly part of Taylors
Neck so called, thence Easterly by said Bay to a Harbor or Neck near Fox hill so called ,
then Northerly through the middle of the main Creek to Edward Kendrick bis meadow,
then Westerly by said Kendrick to the upland or fence, thence Northerly by said Ken
drick and Barse's meadow to an old Watering place and the main Creek near by, thence
Northerly and Easterly by said Creek which parts my meadow from Stephen Smith and
others to the first mentioned bounds . ' ' Joseph Atwood papers .
130. Children of John and Sarah (Matthews) Taylor (all born at Yarmouth, order
uncertain): 1. Samuel, b. Dec. 14, 1675; m. Elizabeth about 1713. 2. John,
b. June 15, 1678; m. Hannah ; d. 1734. 3. Hannah, b. ; m. William
Eldredge, son of Joseph, Oct. 1, 1713 (page 188, note 45, supra.) 4. Elizabeth, b. ;
single in 1722; perhaps m. Daniel Hamilton as fourth wife. 5. Mary, b. ; in.
Ephraim Covell of Har. (Int. Sept. 20, 1746, Har. Rec.) 6. Seth.b. ;m.
Elizabeth, dau. of Daniel Hamilton, about 1780.

CHAPTER XII

THE PERIOD OF REV. JOSEPH LORDS MINISTRY.
1718-1748.
AFTER the departure of Rev. Hugh Adams, the town,
in April, 1717, again called upon Mr. Gershom Hall
to serve them as preacher, until a suitable successor could
be found. Mr. Hall preached apparently about a year.
On March 3, 1717-8, the town voted "to rais the remainder
of Mr. Hall's salary," and it was also voted "to make appli
cation to Mr. Lord to com and preach the word of god
amongst us for half a year."
Rev. Joseph Lord, who is above referred to, and who
accepted the call, was the son of Thomas and Alice (Rand)
Lord of Charlestown. He was baptized June 23, 1672, and
graduated from Harvard College in 1691. He taught
school for several years at Dorchester, where he was ad
mitted to the church of Rev. Samuel Danforth September 2,
1694. In the autumn of 1695 Mr. Lord became the leader
of a movement to plant a church of the Puritan faith in
the soil of South Carolina. He was ordained pastor of the
proposed church at Dorchester on October 22, : and on De
cember 5"set sail from Boston with his flock, arriving at
Charleston December 20. The colony settled on the Ash-
1. The records of the Dorchester, Mass., church contain a full account of tbe ordi
nation ot Mr. Lord. Tbe first members of bis church were Joshua Brooks and Nathan
iel Billings, Concord; William Norman, Carolina; William Adams, Sudbury; Incrcape
Sumner and William Pratt, Dorchester; George Fox, Reading; and Simon Dakin, Cor.-
cord. Others joined them in 1696 (Dorchester Church Records and N. E. Hist. & Gen.
Register XI, 321) and in 1698 (N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register XXVIII, 468.) Rev. Samuel
Danforth preached a sermon, published in 1697, on the departure of Mr. Lord and bis
flock.

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The handwriting (reduced) of Rev. Joseph Lord, — showing also a
partnership agreement, dated March 27, 1723, between Thomas Doane,
Sen., Benjamin Ashton, and Thomas Doane, Jun. The author is in
debted to Mr. Benjamin H. Doane of New York City, owner of the M.
L. Luce or Thomas Doane papers, for the photograph of the original,
from which this cut has been made.

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY 253
ley river near Newington, about eighteen miles from Charles
ton, at a place which they named Dorchester. This early
missionary movement owed its origin to the friendly atti
tude of the government of William and Mary towards Non
conformists, and was followed by the emigration of other
churches and ministers to Carolina, notably Eev. Hugh
Adams, Rev. John Cotton of Plymouth and others. Mr.
Lord entered with zeal upon the work of establishing the
settlement,2 and after it had been well advanced, returned
to Boston in the spring of 1698 for recruits. He was mar
ried at Barnstable on June 2, 1698, to Abigail, daughter of
Gov. Thomas Hinckley by his second wife, and remained
in the North till the following November, arriving at
Charleston on his return trip December 7. He found that
other sects had been active in his vineyard during his ab
sence, one William Scrivener (with whom Rev. Mr. Adams
also had trouble) having almost converted some of his peo
ple to the Anabaptist faith, which was the name then given
to the beliefs of Calvin.3 In 1702 a new government came
in under Queen Anne, a subsidy out of the Province tax
was no longer allowed to Non-conformists, and the move
ment in Carolina soon began to languish.4 Mr. Lord, how
ever, remained with his flock for many years after this, and
established his church on a firm foundation.5 He did not
return to Massachusetts till about 1716. 6
Mr. Lord came to Barnstable, the home of his wife,
and in 1717 preached for a short time at Eastham after
2. For an account of the founding of the settlement, see Matthew Pratt Genealogy,
26. See also Ramsay, History of South Carolina II, 30.
3. See a letter from Mr. Lord to his father-in-law, 4 Mass. Hist. Collections V, 132.
For William Scrivener see also supra page 170, note 12. He was the first Baptist min
ister in South Carolina, for many years pastor of a church in Charleston.
4. Rev. Mr. Adams ("A Narrative of a Particular Faith" &c.) states that only two
Non-conformist preachers were left in Carolina after his departure in 1706. These
were probably Mr. Lord at Dorcbester and the pastor of tbe church at Charleston.
6. For glimpses of Mr. Lord's life in Carolina see N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register XIII,
299; also Sewall's Letter Book, 6 Mass. Hist. Collections I, 324, 326, 408; 4 ib V, 132.
6. The church continued to worship in the building first erected for many years,
finally removing to M idway, Ga. , where lt is still In existence and still uses tbe Congre
gational form of worship. It took the lead against British oppression in 1776 and op
posed secession in 1861. See American Quarterly Register (1841) 68; Allen's Biographi
cal Dictionary; Holmes' Annals II, 34.

254 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
the death of Rev. Samuel Treat, but was not called to that
church. Mr. Lord came to Chatham at a time, when the
place had just recovered from the effects of the emigration
of 1711, and was entering upon a new period of develop
ment. The period of immigration into the place from Ynr-
mouth and Eastham had practically closed, the forests had
been cleared, and the desirable farming land occupied. The
time was ripe for development along religious and educa
tional lines, and in this work Mr. Lord soon became a
strong guiding force.
Mr. Lord began his service in the spring of 1718 under
a temporary arrangement. On March 18, 1718, the town
"agreed and boet a Dwelling hous and fouer akers of land
of thomas atkins to lie for the yous of the ministre," the
said Atkins to repair the house to a reasonable extent, ex
cept plastering, and the town to pay him 75 pounds there
for the following February. On April 28 the above vote
was confirmed and Mr. John Collins was chosen "to snrve
as town agent to take a deed of the said hous and land and
to give a bond for the money in the town's behalf." In
October Mr. Lord was hired for another half year, the use
of the house and land being given him, and a salary of 35
pounds for the period. Toward the close of this half year
it was voted to make him the permanent pastor, and at a
meeting on June 3, 1719, his terms of settlement were ac
cepted by the town.' It was agreed that his salary should
be 80 pounds annually, payable one-half in the fall and
one-half in the spring, that within four years he should be
7. Mr. Lord published this year a book which he had written iu South Carolina, to
refute tbe heresies spread by tbe Anabaptists there. It was doubtless a scholarly work
and may have convinced some hesitating souls, but to the reader of today it ls a dreary
production, full of whimsical reasoning and interesting only as being the first book pub
lished by a resident of the town. The title ls a sufficient indication of its character.
It Is entitled "Reason Why not Anabaptist Plunging but Infant Believers Baptism Ought
to be Approved Is because the Lord Jesus Christ Preached it and Practiced it. In
Answer to the Anabaptist Reason Why, Wilh Remarks Pointing to the Notable Fallacies
that are everywhere to be found In the Notes on the forty-one Texts of Scripture, the

PERIOD OF MR. LORDS MINISTRY. 255
paid 100 pounds for a settlement, that he should have the
use of the house and land purchased for the ministry, that
the house should be repaired and kept in repair by the
town, and that such further buildings as should be found
necessary for the use of the ministry hereafter should be
built by the town.
Having been permanently settled by the town, Mr. Lord
now, like Mr. Adams, became desirous of organizing his
congregation into a separate church, free from the control
of the neighboring churches. This time there appears to
have been no objection from these churches. Mr. Lord
was a man well seasoned in the profession, strictly ortho
dox, of high character, and good connections. The fact that
he was also a brother-in-law of Rev. Nathaniel Stone of
Harwich, the leading divine of this part of the Cape since
the death of Rev. Mr. Treat of Eastham, doubtless, made
his path easier. On April 25, 1720, the town voted that
Mr. Lord might be "ordained as Pastor when it may bc
thought convenient." Accordingly a church council was
duly convened at Chatham on June 15, 1720, at which the
proposed new church was regularly organized and officered,
and Mr. Lord installed as pastor, himself preaching the in
stallation sermon.8 No account of this interesting function
has come down to us, but it was attended by ministers and
messengers from nearby churches, if not from all the Cape
churches. The town paid Mr. Richard Knowles, the tavern
keeper, for the entertainment of the visiting delegations.
Arguments and Answers to Objections and other things contained in that Book. To
gether with Sundry Evidences of the Churchmembership of Infants of Believers and
Regularity of Sprinkling. In Old Testament Scripture attested to in the New Testa
ment. Old Testament prophecies relating to New Testament Times and New Testa
ment testimonies. By Joseph Lord." It w,as "Printed by S. Kneeland for Samuel
Gerrish at his Shop In Cornhill [Boston] 1719." It appears from the preface that the
greater part of the book was written In 1702, and subsequently revised and enlarged .
It ls a book of 170 pages, three inches by four, bound in leather. There ls a copy in the
Massachusetts Historical Society Library, Boston, in the American Antiquarian Society
Library, Worcester, and in the John Carter Brown Library, Providence, R. I. Doubt
less, at this early time when books were few, its publication was an event of prime Im
portance. It is referred to in Thomas, History of Printing in America, II, 382.
8. American Quarterly Register (1843) 68.

256 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
The number of male members of the new church was
only seven, no greater than when Mr. Adams sought to
form the church ; the female members were probably three
or four times as many. The church was organized on the
plan of the "half-way covenant," and two of the seven mem
bers dissented from this provision of the creed, but agreed
to the rest of it.9 Mr. Lord, Thomas Atkins, John Atkins,
John Collins, Moses Godfrey, Elisha Mayo, and probably
Jonathan Collins were the first seven pioneers.10 Of these
Thomas Atkins and possibly his brother John were chosen
deacons. Owing to the loss of the church records, the
succession in office is not certain. Samuel Taylor" is called
9. The "half-way covenant" provided for a kind of half-way membership In the church,
in addition to the regular membership. By virtue of lt, persons baptized in infancy,
who were willing to subscribe to the church covenant and articles of faith and were
correct in their life, were to be considered church members, so far as to entitle them
to have their children baptized, tbe same as the children of church members. Such
persons were not allowed to unite with the church in the celebration of "the Lord's Sup
per. This half-way membership was first sanctioned by a Council of the New England
churches in 1662. It met with much opposition. The Massachusetts churches gener
ally adopted the practice; those of Connecticut for many years refused, and in some
churches the rule was never Introduced. It was not popular in Chatham. Only 13 per
sons were admitted to the half-way covenant by Mr. Lord and after his time the prac
tice was dropped. On this subject see Barber's Historical Collections; Freeman, His
tory of Cape Cod II, 197. It was introduced into Harwich church Id 1727. 6 Mayflower
Descendant, 164-156.
10. These names, except that of Jonathan Collins, appear in the pamphlets Issued
during the so-called Osborn Controversy. (See next chapter.) Jonathan Collins
who is thought to be the unknown seventh member, removed from town to
Truro In 1724, where he and his wife were admitted to the church Sept. 13, 1724 (9 May
flower Descendant 76, 77) . It does not seem likely that they would have at once joined
tbe church there, unless by letter from the Chatham church. Note also that his
brother, John Collins, was one of the seven Chatham members.
11. Dea. Samuel Taylor, eldest son of John and Sarah (Matthews) Taylor, b. at
Yarmouth Dec. 14, 1675, married Elizabeth . His farm was at West Chatham
between the highway and Buck's Creek, bounded west on Hugh Stewart's farm and
east on the cartway to Ragged Neck. He was selectman seven years and frequently
moderator of town meetings. He received an Interest in the Narragansett lands on
account of his father's service In King Philip's War (York Co. Me. Deeds XXVII, 76).
He was living In 1756, but died before 1761, when his son is no longer called junior In the
town records. There is no settlement of his estate. Children of Samuel and Elizabeth
( ) Taylor: 1. Joseph, b. Jan. 22, 1718-4 (Chat. Rec); m. Hannah ;
removed about 1747 to the "Oblong," N. Y., and thence to Kent, Conn. 2. Thankful,
b. ; m. John Collins, son of John, about 1740. 3. Samuel, b. about 1722; m.
Mehitable Ryder, dau. of John, about 1743. 4. Matthews, (commonly written "Mat-
this") b. May 15, 1724 (Chat. Rec); m. Desire Harding, dau. of Maziah, Aug. 3, 1747
(Chat. Rec). 5. James, b. about 1732; died May 19, 1758, aged 26 (Hdstn).

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 257
deacon as early as 1736 and Paul Crowell as early as 1738.
Stephen Smith12 was chosen deacon in 1749. The church so
organized has continued through many vicissitudes, but
without a break, to the present day. Its history, however,
has been for the most part lost.
The house, which had been bought by the town for Mr.
'Lord's occupancy, was old and soon proved unsuitable for
his family. It was accordingly voted June 7, 1720 to build
a new house. In this affair the town by its vacillating
course got itself into much trouble. It first chose Mr.
Thomas Doane and Ensign William Nickerson to have
charge of the work and appropriated 120 pounds therefor.
On Jan. 25 following this vote was rescinded and Capt.
Joseph Harding was chosen to have full charge of the work
and specifications for the building were decided upon.
About ten days later all former votes were rescinded, new

12: Dea. Stephen Smith, son of John and Bethiah (Snow) Smith, b. at Chatham about
1706, m. 1st about 1725 Hannah, dau. of John Collins, by whom there was one child,
Stephen. She died young and he m. 2nd Bathsheba, dau. of George Brown of East
ham, Apr. 9, 1729 (East. Rec.) . He and his wife, Hannah, were received into the Chat-
bam church Dec. 18, 1726, and their son Stephen baptized. His second wife and ber
children were likewise all baptized later and he was chosen deacon Sept. 6, 1749. He
was a farmer and lived not far from the Samuel Clifford place, so-called. He was foi
many years a useful and highly esteemed citizen. He and his wife and two unmarried
daughters all died in the great small-pox epidemic of 1766. They He burled under tbe
pines In a field just west of the Samuel Clifford place, beside the family of Stephen Ryder,
their neighbor, wbo died of tbe same disease. Tbe names of the daughters are chiselled
on tbe foot-stones of their father and mother. He died Jan. 13, 1766 and his wife three
days later. Children of Dea. Stephen Smith : 1, Stephen, bapt. Dec. 18, 1726; m. Mehitable,
dau. of Nathaniel Eldredge (see deed dated Apr. 12, 1769, Warren J. Nickerson papers) ;
removed to Liverpool, N. S., about 1762. 2. James, bapt. Dec. 8, 1730; probably did not
marry. 3. George, bapt. Dec. 16, 1731; in. Barbara, dau. of Judah Mayo, Oct. 16, 1765
(Chat. Rec). 4. Archelous, bapt. Apr. 23, 1734; m. Elizabeth, dau. of WUliam and
Sarah Nickerson, July 16, 1752 (Chat. Rec); removed to Barrington, N. S.. about 1762.
5. Elijah, bapt. Feb. 24, 1737; m. 1st Elizabeth Myrick Aug. 24, 1760 (Chat. Rec), who
died of small-pox Jan. 15, 1766, and he :n. 2nd, July 8. 1766 (Chat. Rec.) Mary (Taylor)
Collins, widow of Solomon Collins, Jr., and dau. of Seth 'Taylor; removed to Barnstable.
6. Hannah, bapt. Jan. 5, 1739; m. Uriah Nickerson, son of Ebenezer, Apr. 17, 1760 (Chat.
Rec). 7. Obadiah, bapt. Jan. 14, 1741-2; m . Susannah Taylor, dau. of Samuel Jr., Jan.
15, 1767 (Chat. Rec). 8. Bathsbeba, bapt. Jan. 5, 1744; died of small-pox Jan. 18, 1766.
9. Phebe, bapt. Jan. 8, 1747; m. Thomas Kendrick, Jr., of Harwich Nov. 8, 1766 (Chat.
Rec) . 10. Betty, b. ; died of small-pox Feb. 6, 1766.

258 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
specifications were adopted, and Jonathan Collins,18 Dean
Smith14 and Benjamin Ashton15 were chosen agents to build
the house. Trouble then arose with Capt. Harding, who
had started upon the work. On Feb. 20 Capt. John Atkins
and Richard Knowles were chosen agents to forbid Capt.
Harding from laying any timber or wood on the ministerial
land and to take care that the timber and wood that is car
ried on by the said Harding be taken off. At the same
time it was voted that Capt. Harding be paid reasonably for
what timber he obtained for the house before he was for
bidden by the selectmen. On March 27, 1721, it was voted
to leave the whole matter of the difference between Capt.
Harding and the town "to indifirant men indifirantly chosen
one both sides, whether ye said harding oarte to have any
thing of the town ; if anything legaly, what it shal be."
Elisha Mayo was chosen agent to act for the town in this
mutter. What was the result of this arbitration does not
appear. On June 21 it was voted to pa}r Mr. Mayo for his
time and expense therein.
The house was constructed in the spring and summer of
13. Jonathan Collins, carpenter, son of Joseph and Ruth (Knowles) Collins of East
ham, b. Aug. 20, 1682, m. at Eastham Jan. 27, 1704-5 Elizabeth Vickery, dau. of the early
Monomoit minister. She died about 1714 and he m. 2nd Susanna Walker, dau. of Wil
liam of Eastham, June 27, 1716 (East. Rec). He probably removed to Chatham soon
after this marriage. In 1723 he was executor of the will of Menekish, the Indian Sachem .
Removing to Truro the following year, he and his wife were admitted to the church
there Sept. 13, 1724. His will, dated Dec. 12, 1753, was proved Apr. 23, 1765. His chil
dren were: By wife Elizabeth; James, Gamaliel, Elizabeth, Sarah (who m. Jonathan
Nickerson. son of Thomas of Chatham) and Ruth. By wife Susanna; Andrew, Susanna,
Deborah, and Joseph.
14. Dean Smith, carpenter, son of John and Bethiah (Snow) Smith, b. about 1698, m.
Esther Ryder, dau. of John of Yarmouth Oct. 13, 1720 (Yar. Rec). He and his wife
were admitted to Chatham church Dec. 18, 1726. Administration on his estate was
granted to Samuel Smith and Hester Smith Mar. 18, 1729-[30]. Children: 1. Esther,
b. July 6, 1721 (Chat. Rec); died before July 1734. 2. Dean, b ,m.
Rachel Hopkins, dau. of Benjamin of Harwich, Mar. 14, 1744-[5] (Har. Rec.) . 3. Miriam,
b. May, 1725; m. Lot Gray of Harwich June SO, 1743 (Har. Rec). 4. Heman, b 1726,
m. Mary Lincoln , dau . of Nathaniel of Harwich, Dec. 5,1751 (Har. Rec ). 5. Asaph,
b. Feb. 19, 1728-9; died at Harwich before June 23, 1752, when Lot Gray was appointed his
administrator. 15. Benjamin Ashton, blacksmith, appeals to have settled at Chatham about 1720.
He agreed in 1723 to teach Thomas Doane, Jr., the blacksmith's trade (see Illustration
page 252) . He was of Chatham as late as 1730 (Records Sup. Ct. of Judicature VII, 281) .

PERIOD OF MR. LORDS MINISTRY. 255
1721 by Messrs. Collins, Smith and Ashton, who were to
receive therefor 135 pounds, 60 on the last of May and 75
on the first of November. It was voted on May 13 that it
be set "on ye ministerial land to the west of the old house
a little above the sun-dial," but the builders got it in a
different place, and the town voted on July 31 that it
"should stand where it now standeth," and that the workmen
might go on and finish it the same "as if it stood upon the
hill a little to the west of the old house." The specifications
finally adopted provided for a building 21 feet long, 17 feet
wide, and 15 feet in the wall, both back and front, with a
leanto 12 feet wide, 27 feet long and 8 feet in the wall.
There were to be two ground chimneys and one chamber
chimney. It was to be built with good oak posts and braces
and good cedar or white onk sills. For that time it was a
very pretentious structure, such as only the wealthy built.
It was, doubtless, the largest and best dwelling house in the
place, probably the only two story building except the
church, and a fit residence for the Governor's daughter. It
closely resembled the old Squire Sears house of later times.
It was situated just west of the north section of the old ceme
teries, which was then the easterly part of the ministerial
land. This year (1721) the town received" Province bills of
credit to the amount of 149 pounds 5 shillings as its share
of the 50,000 pounds issue authorized by the General Court,
known as Middle Tenor. Out of this money the balance of
75 pounds due the builders of the parsonage was paid. It
was voted March 22, 1722, that the remainder should go to
Mr. Lord toward his 100 pound settlement, after the Prov
ince and County tax and town debts had been paid. Mr.
Lord got about 50 pounds under this vote, the remaining
50 pounds due hiin being raised by taxation soon after.
In 1728 the town voted to allow Mr. Lord the use of the
old parsonage for a barn.
(20)

260 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
There is little doubt that the town expected, after the
settlement of Mr. Lord, that the "South Side" people, so
called, could be induced to join them in forming a compact
and strong township of good size, as the General Court by
its language in the act of November 1705 had evidently con
templated.10 Accordingly, in February 1722-3, the town
voted "for ye receiving of ye South part of Harwich to be
adjoyned unto our town for ye enlargment of our township
and to be held in all duties joyntly as a township forever."
Mr. Thomas Doane and Ensign William Nickerson were chos
en town agents " to discours with said people about ye same
and with them to prepare som regular way and method for
having ye Generall Courts approbation and order for ye
settling and setting over said part and people to our town."
It seems, however, that there were still obstacles in the way,
as there had been in 1711, when Mr. Adams sought to
secure the same thing, and so far as appears, no petition was
ever presented to the General Court and nothing further
was done in the matter.
About the time of Mr. Lord's settlement, the town was
compelled to assume the additional burden of maintaining
public instruction. Doubtless, there had been some occa
sional private instruction provided for the youth before this
time, but no public school was maintained till 1720. The
population of the place had been gradually increasing since
the emigration of 1711, until it contained again fifty or
more householders, and under the law at that time, such
places were required to have a regular "schoolmaster to
teach children and youth to read and write."17 Accordingly
the town in March 1720 voted to hire Samuel Stewart "to be
our scule master for the following year."18 His salary was
16. See page 158 supra. They were called first "South Sea," later "South Side"
people. 17. Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts Bay I, 63.
18. Samuel Stewart, youngest son of Hugh and Walt Stewart, b. ; m. Deborah
Lothrop, prob . dau. of Thomas and Experience of Barnstable, Nov. 2, 1721 (Chat. Rec).
She died and he m. 2nd Elizabeth Howes, dau. of Thomas before 1736. Besides being

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 261
25 pounds and his "diet." He served two years at this time.
In May 1722 the town voted to appeal to the General Court
to be exempt from fine for not keeping a schoolmaster and to
be allowed to keep only a school dame, but without result.
In October 1722 Mr. Daniel Legg of Yarmouth19 was se
cured as teacher and the town was divided into four quarters
or districts, school to be kept three months in each quarter.
This division of the town for school purposes continued
unchanged throughout the colonial period.20 The quarters
were known as the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and
Northwest respectively, corresponding to the different sec
tions of the town in which they were located. A line run
ning from the head of Ryder's Cove southerly through
Lord's pond to the Oyster Pond river at the Lime Hill,
divided the town into halves. A line from this line running
westerly through Emery's pond, the Goose pond, and other
ponds to Harwich line separated the Northwest from the
Southwest quarter. Another line from the Black pond,
which lay north of the Sears' farm, westerly to Flinn's pond
divided the Northeast from the Southeast quarter.21
Mr. Legg served as schoolmaster six months and in April
school teacher and fisherman, he was town clerk In 1722 and 1723, and employed to draw
deeds and wills . He removed to Charlestown about 1748, where he kept the Penny
Ferry Tavern a short time (Wyman, Charlestown 902). The next year he moved to
Tisbury (Files Sup. Ct. of Judicature No. 71319), after which all trace of him ls lost by
the writer. His son, William, b. Jan. 11, 1725-6, remained here.
19. Mr. Legg was school master at Falmouth in 1714. On Aug. 12, 1728, being then
of Yarmouth, he m. Mrs. Sarah (Hubbard) Hall of Harwich, widow of Daniel Cole and
of Edward Hall (Har. Rec.) . In 1732 he was of Eastham (Barnst. Prob. Rec. V, 103).
20. The only exception was In 1723, when thare were six districts. The change back
to four districts was made the following year (see town vote June 11, 1724; compare also
votes of Mar. 27, 1732-3 and Nov. 8, 1742). The vote of 1723, providing that the school
master "should have six Removals," I. e. six different locations for the school, appears
to have led to a curious error by Rev. Frederick Freeman (History of Cape Cod ff, 697)
who states that "many removals from town occurred about this time." I have found no
evidence of such an emigration.
21. The town records iu 1745 describe the quarters as follows: "the Norwest corner
from ye heren brook Including Let tenant Richard Knowlses and from thence Westerly to
ye goos pond and so Westerly — the Southwest corner from said Knowlses southerly In
cluding Mr. Thomas Doanes— the Southeast corner from Samuel Atkinses pond so run
ning Westerly to howes pond Including Joseph Howes."

262 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
1723 was hired for a year longer, but failed to serve. The
teachers subsequently employed, their length of service and
salary, so far as shown by the town records, arc as follows :
June 1723, John Covell,22 3 mos., £30 per annum.
Feb. 172-t, Samuel Stewart, 1 year, £38 per annum.
Jan. 1726, John Hallett,23 6 weeks.
June 1726, Samuel Stewart, 3 mos.
Feb. 1729, John Bea,24 3 mos.
Feb. 1730, David Nickerson,25 1 year, £30 per annum.
M:ir. 1733, John Covell, 1 year, £40 per annum.
Oct. 1734, Thomas Atkins, 3 mos., £40 per annum.
Feb. 1735, John Hallett, 6 mos., £40 per annum.
1736, Samuel Stewart, 3 mos., £56 per annum.
1737, John Hallett, 3 mos., £40 per annum.
Oct. 1737, Samuel Stewart, 3 mos.
Mar. 1738, David Nickerson, 1 year, £50 per annum.
22. John Covell, son of Nathaniel and Judith (Nickerson) Covell, b. about 1700; m.
Thankful I'angs, dau. of Jonathan of Harwich, Aug, 16, 1721 (Har. Rec). He was a
man of ability, employed not only as teacher, but also In legal and clerical matters. He
died at Chatham of small pox Dec. 1, 1760 (Benj. Bangs Diary). Administration on his
estate was granted Mar. 3, 1761 to Thomas Covell of Harwich, and after the death of the
latter, to Jonathan Covell of Harwich Aug. 7, 1761. Children: 1. Elizabeth, b. July 9,
1722 (Chat. Rec). 2. Thomas, b. ; m. Mercy Nickerson, dau. of Edward of
Harwich, Jan. 25,- 1758-4 (Har. Rec.) . 3. Jonathan, b. ; m. Abigail Nickerson,
dau. of Edward of Harwich, (Int. July 19, 1757 Har. Rec.) . 4. Nathaniel, b. ;
m. Rebecca Ryder, dau. of Zachariah of Yarmouth, Fob. 24, 1761 (Yar. Rec). 5. Other
children not Identified.
23. John Hallett of Eastham ni. Mehitable Brown of Eastham Mar. 14, 1714-5 (East.
Rec). They lived at Chatham. There is no record of children. His wife Is called a
widow In 1764. She died about 1774 (Town Rec.) .
24. John Dea of Eastham m. Martha Nickerson, dau of William and Hannah of
Chatham Mar 80, 1728-9 (East. Rec). She died soon, leaving child Thomas anl he m.
2nd Oct. 14, 1731 Mercy (Harris) Mulford, widow of John of Eastham. He was then of
Harwich and later of Eastham. Children: By 1st wife: 1. Thomas, b. about 1730; m.
Dec. 8, 1752 Elizabeth Vickery of Eastham (East. Rec). He lived at Stage Neck,
Chatham. By 2nd wife: 2. Rebecca, b. July 3, 1732; m int. Sept. 20 1755 to Michael
Collins of Truro. 3. Mercy, b. Dec. 1, 1733. 4. Martha, b. Aug 5, 1739; in. Eleazer
Smith of Eastham Mar. 20, 1760. 6. Jane, b. ; m. int. Oct. 1762 Thomas Snow
of Eastham.
25. David Nickerson, son of William and Hannah Nickerson, m. Elizabeth Majo,
dau. of Nathaniel of Eastham, Sept. 30, 1731 (East. Rec). He died between 1738 and
1750, when his widow Is mentioned in the town records. His children were Daniel and
David. Widow Elizabeth Nickerson m. 2nd Judah Rogers of Harwich, son of Judah,
Aug 27, 1751 (East Rec).

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 263
Mar. 1739, Samuel Stewart, 1 year, £60 per annum.
May, 1741, John Hallett, 6 mos., £10 per annum.
Jan. 1742, Samuel Stewart, 3 mos., £60 per annum.
Nov. 1742, Samuel Stewart, 6 mos., £76 per annum.
June 1743, John Hallett, 3 mos., £60 per annum.
1743, John Covell, 6 mos., £70 per annum.
Mar. 1744, John Covell, 6 mos., £66 per annum.
Jan. 1745, Samuel Stewart, 1 year, £80 per annum.
Dec. 1745, Ammiel Weeks,20 1 year, £75 per annum.
1747, Richard Mayo,27 £75 per annum.
May 1748, David Smith,28 6 mos., £65 per annum.
Mar. 1749, Samuel Tucker, 6 mos., £60 per annum.
No doubt school was kept more regularly than these items
indicate, the town clerk failing to record all votes on school
affairs. Nearly all the teachers were residents of the town ;
men who had acquired a little more knowledge of reading,
writing and arithmetic than the rest. Of these Samuel
Stewart appears to have been the favorite and to have com
manded the highest salary. Next to him was John Covell.
At this early period the schools were very crude affairs.
They were held two or three months in the year in each
quarter of the town at some private house.29 There were no
26. Ammiel Weeks, b. Apr. 10, 1720, was son of Rev. George and Deborah (Wing)
Weeks of Harwich .
27. Richard Mayo, son of Judah of Chatham, b. about 1725, m. Mary Ann Hale of
Boston June 14, 1750. He died before 1758, leaving a child Augustine.
28. There was a David Smith, son of John, b. about 1711, who was living as late as
1734 (page '239 supra). Another David Smith, supposed to be son of Thomas Smilh of
Eastham and b. in 1691, was of Chatham In 1716 (page 190 supra) and again in 1723 (M.
L. Luce papers) . He perhaps in. Sarah Higgins of Eastham (Int. Feb. 26, 1717-8, East.
Rec.) and bad these children: 1. David, b. ; m. 1st Sarah , who died Mar.
20, 1750, aged 28 (Chat. Rec); m. 2nd Thankful (Godfrey) Reynolds, widow of John
Reynolds and dau. of Samuel Godfrey and removed to Barrington, N. S., about 1762
(Benj. Bang's Diary). 2. Solomon, b. ; m. Rebecca Hamilton, dau. of Thomas
and Rebecca ; removed to B.irrington, N. S. , about 1762. 3. Jonathan, b. ; m. Jane
Hamilton, dau. of Thomas and Rebecca Nov. 9, 1752 (Chat. Rec.) removed to Barrington,
N. S., about 1762. 4. Elkanah, b. about 1734; m. Elizabeth Kendrick, dau. of Solomon
and Elizabeth (Int. Nov. 17, 1753, Har. Rec.) and removed to Barrington, N. S., about
1762. (According to the notes of Mr. Arnold D jane, late of Barrington, N. S., these
four Smiths were brothers) .
29. Voted that school be kept "one quarter at Joseph Hardens, one quarter at John
Riders, one quarter at Samuel Smiths, one quarter at Daniel Searses . " Town Records
June 11, 1724.

264 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
school houses till after the Revolution. The pupils were of
all ages from ten to twenty-five and no one attended unless
he wished to do so or his parents so ordered. The girls
never attended. At that early period, it was considered
useless for a girl or woman to know how to read or write.
Early deeds show that the wives and daughters of the best
informed citizens could not write their own names. Read
ing, writing, spelling and arithmetic were the only subjects
taught. The master taught according to his own ideas.
Text books were few. The New England Primer- was
probably used for beginners in reading and spelling ; when
that was finished, the Psalter was taken up, then the Testa
ment and then the Bible. If any arithmetic was used, an
English book, known as Hodder's Arithmetic, was probably
used by the teacher. It is doubtful if the scholars had
copies. About 1750 a speller and grammar combined, called
Dillworth's Speller, came into common use.
When Mr. Lord began his ministry, there still remained
in the easterly part of the town a considerable number of
Indians, who would naturally come under his supervision.
The death of Rev. Samuel Treat ot Eastham in 1717, to
whom the natives of this part of the Cape were warmly at
tached, doubtless left to the local ministers the oversight of
the scattered Indian communities. At this time the Mono
moyick tribe was already divided and decadent. A part
only lived at Chatham. Mattaquason had long since passed
away.30 John Quason, his son, had been dead at least ten
30. The exact date of the death of Mattaquason is uncertain, but it would seem that
he was living as late as 1682 (Plym . Col. Deeds V, 608) . He appears to have been a man
of firmness, shrewdness, and character, friendly to and trustful of the Colonial author
ities. In his long controversy with William Nickerson, he never signed any deed of his
lands except the one sanctioned by the Court. His children, so far as known, were 1.
John Quason. 2. Sarah, who m. Stephen, Indian. 3. A dau. (name unknown)
who m. Cussens. 4. A dau. (name unknown) who was the wife of
John Stlnlcut, Sen., Indian, of the South Side. (See pages 136 and
137 supra; also Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 29,776). Sarah
had three sons, Dogamus, Richard Stephen, and Mortiquit, all of whom were dead before
1720. Dogamus left a son Peter Dogamus, who lived at Yarmouth, Richard Stephen

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 265
years and his children were living in Harwich and Yarmouth,
having sold out their lands here.31 The descendants of
Sarah, the wife of Stephen, and of another daughter of
Mattaquason, who was the wife of Cussens, had nearly all
of them removed from town and entered the service of the
English in Yarmouth and Eastham. So far as known, only
the following Indian families were living in Chatham in
1720; Menekish, the Sachem, at or near Hammond's Hill;
Stephen Stephens alias Mortiquit, at the Old Harbor near
Ryder's Cove; John Acheheu or Chehu, or his children,
near the Stepstones ; Zachariah, son of Old Humphrey, for
merly of Harwich; William Ned, alias Cauley ; Thomas
Quanset, and some of the descendants of Great Tom.
To what extent Mr. Lord interested himself in these
people, we do not know. Doubtless he received something
from the Society in England for Propagating the Gospel
among the Indians, and preached occasionally in the little
Indian meeting house, standing about a mile west of his own
church, and near the head of Muddy Cove.32 How long ser
vices were held in this meeting house, we do not know, but
left a son Simon Stephen, who lived at Eastham (both being in the serviced' the
English), and Mortiquit had a son Stephen Mortiquit, who lived at Chatham. 'Cussens
and his wife had John Cussens, the Indian preacher here. Ebenezer Cussens and Daniel
Cussens, probably sons of John, were living in Eastham In 1725, and enlisted In the
expedition to Maine. John Stintcut had a son John Stlnicut, Jr.
31. John Quason, alias Towsomet, is mentinod as one of the Sachems of the tribe
as early as 1665. He had a wife, Bappanum, whom he appears to have put awaybefore
1692 (N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register, XVI, 23). In 1671 he signed for the Monomoyicks
the pledge of fidelity exacted by the Pilgrims (Plym. Col. Rec. V, 66) . He died shortly
before 1711. His children were: 1. John, who was of Chatham in 1711 (14 Majflower
Descendant 211), of Yarmouth in 1712 (Files Sup. Ct. of Judicature No. 63,888), and died
there after 1727 and before 1734, leaving Amos Quason as his only son and heir (8 May
flower- Descendant 159) . 2. Joseph, of Harwich In 1711, and ot Yarmouth, servant to
Joseph Sturgis, in 1725. 3. Samuel, of Harwichinl711; administration on his estate Jan.
23,1718. 4. Josephus, of Yarmouth as early as 1689 (Osborn Nickerson Papers). 5.
Jeremiah, who died before his father without issue. 6. Sarah, who married Pompmo ot
Potanumaquut. 7. Bettle, who married Isaac Nopie of Potanumaquut. 8. Wawhanana,
who married Little James of Potanumaquut.
32. The date of the erection of this meetirg house is not exactly known, but as the
Indian meeting house at Potanumaquut was erected in 1691. It is supposed that the ore
at Monomoit was built about the same time. The report of Rev. Mr. Treat in 1693 (page
106 snpra) tends to show that lt was then In existence.

266 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
probably not long after 1730. Mr. Josiah Paine writes:
"The meeting house has been spoken of by the old people
as gone some years before 1800. The graves of the Indians
around it were visible early in the nineteenth century." That
Mr. Lord exercised some influence over the natives is shown
by the fact that in the winter of 1723, when Menekish was
near his end, Mr. Lord was called in to make his will, the first
and only will of a Monomoyick Indian ever made.33
After the death of their leader, the settlement continued
to dwindle. Many of those remaining perished in the
autumn of 1730, in what may have been a sort of Indian
plague or pestilence. At this time died Zachariah and
Patience and Naomi Quansett, daughter of Menekish (all on
the same day, October 30) ; and Jonathan Tom, Jeremiah
Quansett, son of Naomi, and Stephen Stephen alias Morti
quit.34 In a report of the Indians made in 1762, it is slated
that the Sachem was Samuel Quason, aged 60 years ; the tribe
called Quason "now not 30 men, women and children."36
Probably none of these were then living in Chatham.
It should be remembered of these Indiaus that they were
good whalers and good soldiers, frequently going out to
33. This will, dated Jan. 12, 1722-[3], proved Jan. 20, 1722-3 devises different portions
of his farm to his wife Martha, his daughters Naomi and Leah, and his grandson,
Jeremiah Quansett. The farm, of 20 acres, was 'bounded Northerly by Land of Ensign
William Nicholson alias Nickerson, Westerly and Southerly by land of Judah Mayo, and
Easterly by the salt water." (See Files Superior Court of Judicature Nos. 36,204 and
36,172). He also had land at the head of Muddy Cove. He had evidently adopted the
Englisb style of life. He mentions bis house and barn, his cows and sheep, his horse,
his chest and his canoe. He appoints "my friend Jonathan Collins executor," "impower-
Ing him to substitute another in his room if be shall remove from these parts." The
witnesses were Samuel Smith and Joseph Lord. Menekish left a wife and two daugh
ters, Naomi, wife of Thomas Quansett, a Potanumaquut Indian, and Leah, tbe wife of
William Cauly alias William Ned, also from Potanumaquut. Naomi's son, Jeremiah
died in 1730. She had other children. Leah had a daughter Lois, who married
Richard Atteman, a Potanumaquut Indian. Leah was living at Chatham at the bead of
Muddy Cove as late as 1757. She was then a widow and her dau. was dead. (Josiah
Paine papers.)
34. See Barnstable Probate Rrcords. Thomas Atkins was appointed Jan. 23, 1730-1 ad
ministrator of the estate of Zachariah, Patience, Naomi Quansett, and Jeremiah Quan
sett. Richard Knowles was appointed Jan. 26, 1730-1 administrator of the estate of
Stephen Stephens alias Mortiquit, and guardian of bis minor children, Joshua, David,
Stephen and Samuel Stephens. Thomas Doane was appointed Jan. 21, 1730-1 guardian
of Samuel Tom, minor son of Jonathan Tom.
36. 1. Mass. Hist. Society Collections, X, 114.

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 267
help the English in their wars against the French and In
dians of the north.86 Their chief failing was their love of
strong drink, which frequently got them into serious trouble
and also enabled the unscrupulous to outwit them.3'
When Mr. Lord settled here, his family consistod of his
wife and seven children, all of whom were born in South
Carolina. Madam Lord was well fitted to fill the high posi
tion, which the minister's wife was then expected to hold.
Beautiful, intellectual, devout, well-reared, she fully met
the requirements expected of a daughter of Gov. Hinckley.38
Her influence on the life of the town was, however, of com
paratively brief duration. She passed away on the night of
Dec. 14, 1725, aged 56 years, and for nearly twenty years
thereafter her husband cherished her memory by leading a
single life.39 Her oldest son, Joseph, was then attending
Harvard College, from which he was graduated in the sum-
36. Note the following petition of Peter Dogamus, son of Dogamus and grandson oi
Sarah, to the Governor and Council, Jan. 1750: "The petition of Peter Dogamus of Yar
mouth &c, Indian man & Labourer, Humbly shews that your poor petitioner was In ye
Service of this Province as a Soldier so long ago as ye Reduction of Auapolis Royal [in
1710] & yt your sd poor petitioner has been in ye Province Service a.s a soldier on ye
frontiers & at other places five or six times since In ye last of which (lo wit, when he was
one of ye Auxiliaries sent to Anapolls) he was there taken Prisoner by ye French & In
dians and In ye month of May 1745 and from thence was carried to Canada, there
detained Prisoner till ye last Summer when he returned and as your Petitioner ls now
grown old & spent great parts of his life in je service & not able to support himself, he
humbly prays your Honrs Compassion & yt in your known wisdom and generosity you
would grant him an allowance of so much as shall seem lit" * * State Archives, Vol. 73,
folio 744.
Among those who went out under Capt. Richard Bourne in Lieut. Thomas West-
brook's expedition to Maine In 1725 were Amos Quason, David Quason, Joseph Quason,
Peter Dogamas, Ebenezer Cousins, and Daniel Cousins. N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register
(1895) 183. William Cauly alias Ned died In 1746 of yellow ftver while on military duty
at the Castle In Boston Harbor. (Benj . Bangs' Diary) .
37. A few Indians, not already mentioned in the text or notes, appear in the records;
among them Will and Great Tom, who with Cosens were sued by Wm. Nickerson, Sen.,
In 1669 for alleged defamation (Plym. Col. Rec VIII, 155) ; also Tom, Jeremiah and Mary
Acheheu, probably children of John Acheheu.
38. Mrs. Hinckley was "beautiful in person and the most accomplished and Intelli
gent woman in the Colony. Her daughters bore a striking resemblance to the mother.' '
Otis, Barnstable Families, II, 33.
39. He kept ber line apparel, ornaments, &c, till bis death. "Madam Lord's wearing
apparel, buckles & buttons £46,2s" is the entry in his inventory.

268 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
mer of 1726, being the first college graduate from this
town.40 The first meeting house, erected in 1700, was a small
building 22 feet square, with roof running up to a point.41
It was a modest affair, suited to the needs of the small vil
lage of that time. It had no galleries, although there was
room for them, and being built by the voluntary work of the
people, was probably not well constructed. At all events,
soon after Mr. Lord had become well settled in his work,
it had not only been outgrown, but was also out of repair,
and it was deemed necessary to replace it with a larger and
better building. Many urged delay on account of the fail
ure of crops and fishing, and some desired that galleries be
built and the old house continued in use for a time, but
finally in March 1727 it was voted "to be in preparation to
build a new meeting house and for to have our timber and
finishing-stuf to be ready by next May com twelve month
which will be in ye year 1728." How much was done under
this vote does not appear, but in June 1728 it was voted to
raise 500 pounds for the new meeting house, one-half to be
raised that year and one-half in 1729. Capt. Joseph Hard
ing, Ensign William Nickerson, and John Rider were chosen
agents to have charge of the work. It was also voted "to
bild our meetting house of ye sam dementions as ye South
meetting house in Eastham ;" also "to set the meetting house
40. Joseph Lord, Jr., physician, preacher, judge, &c , b. In So. Carolina Sept. 27,
1704, settled soon after his graduation at Sunderland, Mass., where he married Apr. 22,
1728, Sarah Rand, sister of Rev. William Rand of Sunderland. Here he was the phy
sician and justice of the peace. In Sept. 1735, he led a small company of settlers to
Pequage, now Athol, Mass., where he was for twenty years the virtual ruler of the set
tlement, being physician, preacher, justice of the peace, treasurer, tax-gatherer, sur
veyor, and clerk of the proprietors. . Differences finally arose, no accounting could he
obtained from him, and when legal proceedings were begun, he left tbe Colony^ taking
his records with him. He settled at Putney, Vt., in 1769, where he received better treat
ment, and was highly esteemed. In 1766 he was chosen Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas of Cumberland County, a position which he held as long as he cared to perform
Its duties. In his old age he lived with his son at Westmoreland, N. H., and died there
Dec. 7, 1788, aged 84. He had seven children. See Histories of Sunderland and Athol,
Mass., and Putney, Vt.; also Temple's History of Northfield, Mass.
41 . See page 147 supra.

PERIOD OF MR. LORDS MINISTRY. 269
neer or on yo sam spot or lot of land as the old meetting
house now stands." A similar vote had been passed in the
previous year. There was still further delay, for which the
records give no reason, and the actual work of construction
did not begin till 1729.
In July 1729 it was voted "to pull down ye old meeting
house and lay it out in finishing ye new meeting house," and
in August it was voted "that there should not be any pewes
made in our new meeting house save one for ye ministers
wife." Rev. Mr. Lord, writing in 1730, says : "There had
been essays to have [the meeting house] built two or three
years sooner, but it met with great opposition and one of
the Pleas against it was that our crops and Fishing voyages
failed. However, at last a major vote overruled the oppo
sition and it was carried on with great difficulty last year.
It is observed that the success of our Fishing the last year
is wonderful. For they (of observers) that say the least of
it, say it is double to what was ever known before, and ac
cording to the exactest account that I can get at present the
prices of the Fish that has been all sold amounts to
£744-10s."12 From which the pastor concludes that it pays
to cast one's bread upon the waters.
Concerning the cost and method of construction the town
records are singularly silent, but apparently about 525
pounds was appropriated by the town in all. It was several
years before the financial end of the matter was straightened
out. In Sept. 1731 Mr. Thomas Doane and John Nicker
son were chosen agents "to call ye selectmen and agents to
a Compt, that was in ye year 1729, and if the}' refuse to
give a Compt, than to sue them to a Compt, agents and se
lectmen which cared on ye work of ye new meetinghouse."43
42 Letter of Rev. Joseph Lord dated Sept. 7, 17S0, Josiah Paine Papers (being a
copy made by Alfred A. Doane of Everett, Mass., author of the Doane Genealogy) .
43. The selectmen for 1729 were Thomas Atkins, Daniel Sears and Samuel Taylor.
If the town records are complete, these men with the agents, Capt. Joseph Harding,
"Ensign William Nickerson and John Rider must have had charge of the building opera
tions.

270

HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

The building, when completed, proved to be a substantial,
permanent structure, and served its purpose about a hundred
years, "being once enlarged and repaired in 1773, and repair
ed in 1792 again. Its dimensions were to be those of the
"South meetting house in Eastham," but there is no record
of what those dimensions were. Judging, however, from
other meeting houses built on the Cape and elsewhere about
this time, it is safe to say that it was a square building, or
nearly square, and that its four roofs rose to a point, sur
mounted by a turret,44 substantially as shown in theillustia-
tion below.

i,^^-. yp-J r -**» -rtW^wy*

17

I Z. ... i o

f**- ¦ i Z

In 1719 the town of Truro voted "to build a new meet
ing house 22 feet in the wall, 40 feet long, and 36 feet
broad." It is probable that this was about the size of the
44. It was voted July 1, 1741, "to build or repair iAe turret on tbe meeting-house.''

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY 271
Chatham building, possibly a little larger.46 The vote was
that the new building be placed "neer or on ye sain spot
or lot of land" as the old one. It was in fact placed on
the north side of the road, in front of what is now the
north section of the old cemeteries, then a pint of Mr.
Lord's parsonage lot. Whether it was on the same site as
the old meeting house is extremely doubtful. Such evi
dence as we have tends to show that the first meeting house
stood on the south side of the road, as stated heretofore
(page 172). 40 This new meeting house had galleries on the
east, west and south sides. The entrance was on the south,
opposite the pulpit. There was no plastering on the in
side, simply rough boards and beams. Benches arranged
on each side of a centre aisle, were used to seat the people.
In June 1728 agents were chosen by the town to bring
from Boston its share of the £60,000 of money made by
the Colony, called later "New Tenor." The amount allotted
the town was £181-10s. It was put into the hands of Capt.
Harding, Daniel Sears, and Samuel Taylor to manage, they
paying the town towards the meeting house £10 for the
privilege. In the autumn of 1729 the quiet little village was thrown
into a state of great excitement by the news that a party
45. At an early date the ground around the meeting house for some distance was
paved with good sized cobble-stones, many of which remain Intact to this day, and
seem to prove that the breadth of the house could not have been over 35 feet.
46. This evidence Is as follows: -By deed dated Feb. 23, 1709-10, William Nickerson
Sen. conveyed to his four sons his one-third Interest In certain common lands In Chat
ham, among others, "the third part of yt piece of land by the pond and where the
meeting house stands" (Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 7723). This shows
that the lot on which the meeting house then stood, bordered on a, pond. By the rec
ords of the Proprietors of the Common Lands, made In 1713, lt appears that lot 1 of the
common lands bounded east on "the meeting house lot." The boundary ls described
as beginning "att ye meeting house lot att a stake No. 1 by ye highway, thence sets S.
S. E. about 10 Rod to ye pond." By consulting the map at page 132, the reader will see
that lot 1 bounds east on what Is now the south section of the old cemeteries, which
adjoins a pond and is on the south side of the highway, where It would appear that the
first meeting house stood .
Note also the vote of the town July 1729 "to pull down ye old meeting house and lay It
out In finishing ye new meeting house," as showing that the new house was partly con
structed at that date and therelore could not have been on the same spot as the old one.

272 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
of starving emigrants, some of whom died while being
landed, had come ashore at the tavern of Joseph Stewart47
on Monomoit Great Beach, where they were being cared
for. The following account of the affair is taken from the
New England Weekly Journal of Nov. 10, 1729: "We
hear from Martha's Vineyard that some time last month
Capt. Lothrop in his passage from [Boston] to that island,
off of Monomoy espied a vessel which put out a signal of
distress to them. He, making up to her, went aboard,
found her to be a vessel from Ireland bound for Philadel
phia (as they said), who had been from thence 20 weeks
and brought out 190 passengers, 30 of whom were children,
being destitute of provisions (having then but 15 biscuit on
board) 100 of them were starved to death, among which
were all the children except one, and the remainder of the
passengers looked very ghastfully. They craved hard for
water, of which one drank to that degree that he soon after
died ; and two more died while Capt. Lothrop was aboard.
Only three of the sailors were alive (besides the master
and mate) and they sick. They entreated him to pilot
them into the first harbor they could get into, but the mas
ter was for bringing them to Boston. They told him if he
would not let the pilot carry them into what place he should
think fit, they would throw him overboard; upon which
Capt. Lothrop, having brought the vessel off of Sandy
47. Joseph Stewart, son of Hugh and Wait Stewart, m. Mary about 1712.
He kept a tavern on Monomoit Beach near Wreck Cove for- about 25 years, beginning
about 1725 (page 209, note 29 supra). In or about 1753 bis house there, which he had
left some time before, was either blown down or torn down by maliciously disposed
persons (Files Superior Court of Judicature Nos. 70,958, 27,319, and 71,055). At that
time he appears to have been living In Harwich or Yarmouth, but later returned to
Chatham, where he and his wife were living as late as 1763. There is no settlement of
hlsestate. Children (Chat. Rec): 1. Temperance, b. Mar. 15, 171S-4; m. William
Penney, son of William of Harwich (Int. Mar. 15, 1734-5, Har. Rec). 2. Prob. Lydia,
b. ; m. Shubael Baker, son of Samuel of Yarmouth, June 19, 1733 (Chat. Rec).
3. Prob. nugh, b. ; tax abated 1741 and 1745. 4. Prob. Michael, b. ;
tax abated 1740 and 1741. 5. James, b. May 9, 1722. 6. Mary, b. Mar. 26, 1724; m.
Hezekiah Baker, son of Samuel of Yarmouth, Sept. 2, 1744 (Yar. Rec). 7. Abigail, b.
Mar. 15, 1726. 8. Samuel, b. Oct. 25, 1727. 9. Alice, b. Feb. 19, 1729. 10. Mercy,
b. July 17, 1735; m. Thomas Crowell, son of John of Yarmouth, June 25, 1753 (Yar. Rec).

PERIOD OF MR. LORDS MINISTRY. 273
Point, told them there was but one house near and spoke
of going somewhere else, but they were all urgent to put
them ashore anywhere, if it were but land. Accordingly
he carried them in and loft thom there with provisions ;
'tis thought many are since dead."
So many loose and traditional accounts of this voyage
have been written that it is safe to state only a few facts
as established truth. The leader of the emigration was
Charles Clinton, a man of considerable wealth, who was
born in County Longford, Ireland, of Scotch parentage.
Having formed the resolution 6i emigrating to America,
he persuaded a large number of his relatives and friends
to join with him. They chartered the ship "George and
Ann" of Dublin, about 90 tons burthen, Capt. Rymer
master. Among the papers of Charles Clinton is a docu
ment showing that he himself paid the passage money for
94 persons. Other passengers, not of his party, appear
to have been taken on board before leaving Ireland, among
others one Gerald Cruise, a wealthy man with many ser
vants (12 of whom died on the voyage), who appears to
have been a stranger to Clinton. They set sail from Dub
lin May 20, 1729, and after touching at Glenarm and
Green Castle, reached the Azores on July Sth. They were
poorly supplied with provisions for an ordinary voyage,
but as the mortality began among the children and servants
as early as June 5th, only fifteen days out, it seems likely
that at first some terrible epidemic broke out, and that
starvation did not face them till the latter part of the
voyage. Before reaching the Azores ten children and
three servants had died. After leaving the Azores they
met with severe storms, which many times drove the ship
back. It is also charged that the captain roamed aimlessly
about the sea, hoping that all would die and their large
possessions fall into his hands, and that they had to pay

274 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
him a large sum of money before he would bring them to
the coast. However this may be, they did not reach Cape
Cod till October 4th, four and one-half months after their
departure, and during that time, according to the diary of
the voyage kept by Mr. Clinton,48 not less than 101 pas
sengers perished from disease or starvation or both, of
whom at least 42 were children and 14 servants.
The account above quoted from the Weekly Journal
does not correctly state the number of children, nor did
they all die but one. At least four are known to have sur
vived and probably there were more. A few of the pas
sengers died of their sufferings after their arrival at Stewart's
tavern, among them Margaret the widow of Alexander
Mitchell, who had died on the voyage.49 As Mr. Stewart's
tavern was small, the unfortunate survivors were doubtless
transferred to the mainland of Chatham and Harwich as
soon as possible, where the}'- were entertained in the hos
pitable homes of the people during the following winter.50
48. This Diary Is printed in the History of Orange Co., N. Y., by Ruttenber and
Clark, 216; also in Penn Magazine of History (1902), 112.
49. See page i.09 supra. The writer had not discovered her history when that page
was printed.
50. Rev. Enoch Pratt ("Capt. James Delap, Account of his Trials") writing from
traditional information, states that these emigrants were landed on Nauset Bar in
what is now Orleans and were cared for there. This statement ls copied by Freeman,
History of Cape Cod II, 291, and followed by Otis, Barnstable FaniilifS I, 305 et seq. It
Is not correct. Capt. Lothrop (see his account above) states that he "brought the
vessel off of Sandy Point, told them that there was but one house near" &c. Sandy
Point, then as now, was tbe name of the South end of Monomoy Beach (see pages 205
and 207 supra) . Mr. Otis (Barnstable Families I, 308) thinks that Capt. Lothrop, an
experienced navigator, must have made a mistake or did not know the locality, as Sandy
Point was then, according to Mr. Otis, "a barren, desolate region, where neither shelter
nor provisions could be procured," but Mr. Otis is mistaken. There was shelter on
Monomoy Beach at that time at the tavern of Joseph Stewart (see page 209 note 29 and
page 210 supra) . Mr. Otis did not know this. Capt. Lothrop's account is perfectly
clear, when the real facts are known .
If any further proof of my contention is needed, it may be found in the settlement of
the estate of Margaret Mitchell in Barnstable Probate Records. She was the widow of
Alexander Mitchell, (who died on the passage over), and was probably too HI, when
landed, to be removed to the main land. She "died at Sandy Point," and her will,
dated Oct. 19, 1729, appointing Charles Clinton her executor, has for its first witness
Joseph Stewart and for another witness Chris. Beatty, one of the Clinton party. Is it
likely that she would have been at Sandy Point, if the emigrants had landed at Orleans,
now so called? Finally the Probate Records plainly state that Alexander Mitchell
"died in his voyage from Ireland to sd Sandy Point," and that said Sandy Point was "In
the Town of Chatham." (See page 210 note 30 supra) . •

PERIOD OF MR. LORDS MINISTRY. 275
In the spring of 1730 Mr. Clinton and a small party
sailed along the coast to New York in search of a place of
settlement, and selected and purchased a site for the colony
at a place in Ulster County, which they called Little Brit
ain. Thither the colony went in the spring of 1731,
except an orphan boy, James Delap, who was apprenticed
at Barnstable, the two orphan children of Alexander and
Margaret Mitchell, and perhaps Henry Willson.61
The significance of this incident, aside from the terrible
sufferings, which were relieved by the kindly offices of
Capt. Lothrop, Mr. Stewart and others, lies in the fact
that this remnant of Scotch-Irish emigrants, probably not
over 75 in number, contained some of the noblest stock
ever brought to this country. Charles Clinton, himself an
influential man in his day, was the founder of the famous
Clinton family of New York State. He was the father of
Gen. -James Clinton, distinguished Revolutionary general,
and of Hon. George Clinton, Governor of New York for
18 years and second Vice-President of the United States.
His grandson, the son of Gen. James Clinton, was Hon.
DeWitt Clinton, United States Senator, Mayor of New
York City, and Governor of New York State for 10 years,
under whom the Erie canal and other large public works
were carried through.02
"There has been an awful Death here of late," writes
Rev. Mr. Lord under date of Sept. 7, 1730. 63 "On the
25th of last month Joseph Harding [Jr.] going for a load
51. A Henry Willson m. Mary Harding, probably widow of Joseph Harding, Jr., Oct.
1732. As I can And no trace of any other Willson on Cape Cod at that time, and there
was a Willson family In the Clinton party, lt seems probable that Henry Willson was one
of the emigrants. He had a son Henry, who m. Sarah Chase, dau. of Obadiah. Jan. 4,
1759, (Chat. Rec.) and removed to Barrington, N. S., about 1762. The tradition In
the Nova Scotia family is that they are of Scotch origin, which was the origin of
most of the Clinton emigrants.
52. On this topic see Freeman and Otis above referred to; also Eager, History ot
Orange Co., N. Y. ; Ruttenber & Clark, Hist, of Orange Co., N. Y. ; Hoosach, Life of
DeWitt Clinton; Biographical sketch of the Clinton family by Hon. Charles A. Clinton.
53. From a letter of Mr. Lord published in a Boston newspaper.
(21)

276 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
of hay, his Cattle and Cart ran over him and killed him,
but the manner of his death is not certainly known. The
most that we know is by the Information of an Indian boy
that was with him, who says : his Master went before the
team driving some Cows and left him to Drive the Cart,
but one Cow that was left behind running to overtake her
Company frightened the Cattle that drew the Cart and set
them running, whereupon his Master that was before, turn
ing about and endeavoring to stop them, they ran over him."54
Doubtless there were many other noteworthy local in
cidents occurring at this early period, but the record of
them has been lost, and we are therefore compelled to con
sider chiefly general conditions. It should be remembered
that the town was one of the smallest in area in the County.
Its population was small in comparison with most of the
other towns and it remained for many years one of the
least populous towns of the Cape. A few new families
came in from time to time. Lancelot Clark66 of Yarmouth
settled on Taylor's Neck about 1730, and a few years later
Elisha Hopkins of Eastham located on Stage Neck,, where
he opened a general store. Another desirable addition was
Ebenezer Paine66 of Harwich, who settled in the north part
54. Joseph Harding, son of Joseph and Dinah Harding, m. 1st Jane Adams, dau. of
John and Avis Adams of Boston and sister of Rev. Hugh Adams July 23, 1713 (page 188
note 45 supra) ; m. 2nd Mary widow of Michael Stewart between 1716 and 1720. Adminis
tration on his estate was granted to his father Oct. 31. 1730. Children: 1. Jenny b.
about 1715, prob m. John Stewart (see will of James Ryder, Barnstable Probate Rec.) .
2. Mary b. in 1720 or 1721 ; m . James Ryder, son of Ebenezer of Yarmouth, about 1739.
55. Lancelot Clark, son of John and Mary Clark of Yarmouth, b. Dec. SO, 1703, m. 1st.
Mary Harding (Int. Oct. 12, 1728. Har. Rec); m. 2nd Patience Brown of Eastham (Int.
Jan. 27, 1737-8 East. Rec); be was living as late as 1775. Children: 1. Mary, b. Feb. 10
1729-30. 2. Elizabeth, b. May 11, 1731; also prob. John, Benjamin, Thomas, Hannah
and Isaac.
56. Ebenezer' Paine, son of Joseph and Patience (Sparrow) Paine of Harwich, b.
Apr. 8, 1692, m. Rebecca Mayo dau. of John, Aug. 12, 1714. (Har. Rec.) He lived In
that part of Harwich now Brewster till about 1734, when he sold out and removed to
Chatham, locating In the northwest part of the town, near the later residence of Eph
raim Steele. He died Aug. 1, 1762, aged 71. (Hdstn ) His will dated June 17, 1762, was
proved Sept. 7, 1762. His wife survived him. Children: 1. Patience, b. Mar. 29, 1716; not
mentioned in herfather's will. 2. Joseph, b. Mar. 29, 1715; m. Abigail Lord, dau. of Rev.
Joseph Lord. 3. Rebecca, b. Apr. 3, 1717; m. Paul Crowell Jr. about 1738. 4. Mary,
b. Oct. 3. 1719; m. John Rider Jr. ; removed to the Oblong about 1747. 6. Hannah, b.
Apr. 5, 1721, m. Reuben Rider, son of John, about 1745. 6. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 1, 1725;
d. young. 7. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 3, 1728; m. Susanna Hall, dau. of Dea. Daniel of Tar-
mouth, Nov. 23, 1749 (Yar. Rec); removed to Harwich .

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY.

277

of the town. Isaac Smith of Harwich came about 1745,
and Joseph Doane of Eastham settled on property here
belonging to his father about the same time. Other new
families which appear from time to time were chiefly off
shoots of families already located here.57 From a settlement
of about 50 families in 1720, it grew to contain at the end
of Mr. Lord's ministry about 100 families. The number

67. Among those who married Into the families of the town and settled here were
John Young, son of David of Eastham, John Buck of Harwich, Nathaniel Ryder, son of
John of Yarmouth, Nathan Kenney, Theodore Harding, son of Joshua of Eastham,
Obadiah Chase, son of Isaac of Yarmouth, Henry Willson, Benjamin Eearse, son of
Benjamin of Barnstable, Alexander Cunningham of Edgartown, James Ryder, son of
Ebenezer of Yarmouth, Jonathan Crowell, son of Isaac of Yarmouth, William Batte-
sball of Eastham, Joseph Atwood, son of Joseph of Eastham, Joseph Doane, Jr., son of
Hezekiah of Truro, &c.

278 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
of houses increased from about 40 to 80 or 85 in the same
time.68 Of these the church and parsonage and perhaps
one or two private houses were the only two-story build
ings. The old fashioned single house (see preceding
page) w-as the usual type of building used. There may
have been a few double houses, like that built by Rev. Mr.
Adams. There were no villages such as there are to-day.
The dwellings were quite evenly distributed over the north,
east, and south parts of the town. The centre of the place,
so far as there was any centre, was in the vicinity of the
church and cemetery, in what is now a deserted part of the
town. Here was the sun dial to give the correct time, the
pound for stray cattle, the tavern where people met to make
trades ahd to hear the news, and the windmill where their
products were ground into meal.
Farming and fishing (including whaling) were almost the
only occupations. Agriculture was carried on quite dif
ferently from what it is today. Little or no English hay
was raised. Salt hay, of which there was an abuudance
along the shores, was considered good enough for horses
and cattle in winter, when pasturage could not be had.
Flax was largely raised and flaxseed sent to market. Con
siderable wheat was grown, also rye, barley, Indian corn,
and tobacco. Every well ordered family had its tobacco
garden, for both men and women smoked. Sheep, cattle
and hogs were important products of the farm. Enough
were probably kept to meet the local demand. Young cat
tle, sheep and hogs were allowed to run at large on the
commons foi" many years after they were divided. They
were also pastured on the Great Beach. Cattle marks
were recorded on the town records. Farm work was car
ried on chiefly by the aid of oxen. The horses which they
had were small and used mostly for riding with the saddle.
58 . The census of 1765 gives the number of dwellings then as 105.

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 279
Negro and Indian servants or slaves were not uncommon.
As in all new countries, the farmers took little thought for
the future. Crops were taken with" little attempt to keep
up the soil. The poorest soils soon became worn out.
The forests were rapidly cut down and no attempt made to
replace them. For this early waste the later generations
had to suffer the penalty.
Whaling was still pursued as an occupation during Mr.
Lord's time, though the whales had been largely driven off
shore. The farmers often took up this occupation for a
part of the year during the whaling season, which began in
the autumn and continued into the winter.69 Fishing off the
Nova Scotia coast and on the Giand Banks gradually came
to-be a leading occupation. Probably a dozen or more
fishing vessels were owned in the town. Cod, mackerel,
menhaden, and a few other kinds of fish were caught and
salted for market or local use. There was no fresh fish
business. A few vessels were engaged in the coasting trade,
which was carried on not only with Boston, but with points
along the Connecticut shore and as far west as New York.
About 1740 Chatham men began to secure command of
vessels sailing to the West Indies and to European ports,
though both were then rather hazardous tiips.60 Capt.
Joseph Atwood was one of the first of these captains,
sailing in command of ships owned by Boston parties.
Capt. Atwood made several voyages in the Snow Judith,
"a square-sterned ship of 80 tons," tothe Bay of Honduras
and thence to Amsterdam and back. In the Schooner Isle
59. See a bond signed by Moses Pigaens, Indian of Harwich dated Apr. 24, 1707, con
ditioned that he "go In tbe lmploy of Thomas Doane for saide insueing year on a whal
ing vlage" from the first day of November next ensuing till the fifteenth day of the fol
lowing January. (M. L. Luce papers.)
60. In a letter of Instructions to Capt. Joseph Atwood, dated Nov. 12, 1749, tbe owners of
the vessel and cargo, after directing him to proceed to Cuebucta.N. S., and thence to the
Bay of Honduras and thence to Amsterdam, add the following caution: "While you are
loading [at the Bay] you must keep a good look out lest you should be overpowered by
the Spaniards, and as you are well fitted for defense, we expect you to make a manly
defense, in case you are attacked." (Joseph Atwood papers.)

280 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Sables Galley he went to England, Amsterdam and back in
1747. At other times he commanded the Sloop Falmouth.
The crew of these vessels consisted of captain, mate and
three or four sailors.61
Outside the foregoing occupations there was little other
business. There were one or two blacksmiths, a few car
penters, a few coopers, and a few shoemakers. A tannery
was run by Ensign William Nickerson, where hides were
turned into leather for local use. The local tavern was
kept for many years by Mr. Richard Knowles, successor to
Mr. Ebenezer Hawes. The tavern of Joseph Stewart at
Wreck Cove for sailors has already been described. About
1700 the first windmills were constructed on the Cape.
Previously water mills had been depended upon. The first
windmill in Chatham was erected not before 1720. It stood
on the hill east of the old cemeteries and just south of
Lord's pond. It was doubtless built and owned in shares
by some of the inhabitants. It is mentioned in the town
records in 1741. Four years later it was sold and taken
down and removed to what is now Brewster.62 Doubtless
there were other windmills in the town at this time and
61. Joseph Atwood, son of Joseph and Bethiah (Crowell) Atwood of Eastham, b.
Feb. 19, 1720-1, m. Deborah Sears, dau. of Daniel, in 1742. By deed dated Feb. 13, 1752,
he purchased of Col. Elisha Doane of Eastham a tract of thirty acres between the road
to the Stage and Mitchell's river, formerly the William Mitchell farm (note 66, page 153
supra.) On this tract he erected a dwelling house, probably the present "Old Atwood
House." By deed dated Mar. 16, 1767, he acquired tbe farm of William Nickerson,
grandson of John, containing 30 acres, and extending on the South side of Cedar Street
from the road to tbe Stage to the Cedar Swamp. He bought other parcels, becoming
one of the large land owners of the town In his day. He died Feb. 18, 1794, aged 73,
his widow died Jan. 8, 1796, aged 73. Although it ls understood that he left a will,
there was no settlement of his estate. The bulk of his property passed to his only sur
viving son, Sears. Children: 1. Bethiah, b. Feb. 3, 1743-4; m. Benjamin Godfrey
July 27, 1762. (Chat. Rec); removed to Liverpool, N. S. 2. David, b. Feb. 3, 1746-6;
d. June 26, 1751. (Hdstn.) 3. Deborah, b. Sept. 3, 1748; m. Isaiah Young, son of John
Dec 9, 1767. (Chat. Rec). 4. Joseph, b. May 25, 1752; d. May 30, 1774. (Hdstn.) 5.
Sarah, b. May 15,1754; d. Apr. 3, 1828, unmarried. (Hdstn.) 6. Salome, b. Aug.
31,1758; m. Mlal Cushman of New Bedford Mar. 8, 1783. (Chat. Rec.) 7. Sears,
b. July 26, 1761; m. Azubah Collins, dau. of Solomon Oct. 31, 1782. (Chat. Rec.) The
birth record of this family In the town records Is Incomplete and inaccurate.
62. June 1745. "Our windmill was built this month in 9 Days— brot from Chatham
and set to work by John Wings House. " Benj . Bangs' Diary,

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 281
this one was no longer needed. We know that there was a
mill on the road to Stage Harbor, owned by William El
dredge and others, which may have been in operation at
this time. The mill of Solomon Collins on Tom's Neck
may have been in existence at this time, as well as that of
Thomas Nickerson at the Old Harbor.
So far as known, there were no local merchants until
about 1735, the people going to Mr. Edward Kenrick's at
Potanumaquut (So. Orleans) or to the north part of Har
wich to trade. About 1735 Mr. Elisha Hopkins, who had
resided in Eastham about twenty years, removed to the
vicinity of Stage Harbor and opened a general store. He
had acquired already considerable property. He purchased
all the land on Stage Neck between Mitchell's river, Stage
Harbor and the Cedar Swamp up to William Eldredge
Jr.'s land. "He was a man of good judgment, full of
energy and self-reliant," and was uncommonly successful.
His business activities extended not only over this part of
the Cape, but also as far as Connecticut ports. The record
which he made was long remembered. He died Feb. 1,
1741-2, after a short and distressing illness, leaving a pivp-
erty larger by many times than any other man in this sec
tion. The business was closed after his death.63
63. Elisha Hopkins, son of Joshua and Mary (Cole) Hopkins, b. in Eastham Dec. 17,
1688, m. Experience Scudder. dau. of John Scudder of Barnstable Oct. 9, 1712. (Barns.
Rec). He resided in that part of Eastham now Orleans the greater part of his life.
About 1727 he purchased the farm of EUsha Mayo at Chatham and a few years later he
acquired the large tract at Stage Harbor, on which he settled. He died Feb. 1, 1741-2, at
the age of 53, and lies burled in the old cemetery. His will dated Jan. 29, two days be
fore his death, was proved Mar. 8, 1741-2. He left an estate inventoried at £8,840, of
which £6,000 was In real estate. The property was divided among his widow and chil
dren. To his son John he gave all the lands and swamps lying west of the "Cart way
Leading d-^wn to the Stage adjoyning to the Tennament whereon the house stands and
the Tennament of Benjamin Godfree." To son Elisha he gave the house and land
bought of Joseph Hamilton, botb upland and meadow; also a piece of land and meadow
on the east side of the road to the Stage extending easterly toward the river. To son
Barzillai was given the lands and meadow bought of Elisha Mayo, lying north of the
road by Ensign William Nlckerson's and running north lo the Herring Brook. To his
daughter Mary was devised his remaining land on the east side of the road to the Stage
from the land given to Elisha to the land of Richard Knowles. His widow married 2nd
Rev. Samuel Osborn, former minister at Eastham (Int. Oct. 19, 1743, Boston Rec.) .

282 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
It is thought that Daniel Sears, Jr., opened a store after
Mr. Hopkins' decease. Money was scarce. Land
was the chief source of wealth, and a man's financial
standing was chiefly determined by the real estate he
owned.64 There were no resident physicians till Dr. Samuel Lord,66
son of the minister, began practice about 1735. His father
was frequently called upon in sickness and there were
physicians in Harwich, Eastham, and Yarmouth, who were
called upon.66 There were no resident lawyers. The men
most frequently consulted in writing wills, deeds, &c. were
Rev. Mr. Lord, Thomas Atkins, Samuel Stewart, and James
Covell. Travelling was a difficult undertaking. There were no
regular lines of travel. Persons desiring to reach Boston
either waited for a vessel going from Chatham, or crossed
the Cape to the North side and took a vessel there, or
started on horse back over the uncertain roads.
During the winter months wrecks along the shore were,
as now, of frequent occurrence, but the sad story of these
tragedies of the gale and the night have not been preserved
Children (order uncertain) : 1. Elizabeth, b. ; m. Benjamin Godfrey, son of
Moses, Aug. 28, 1738 (Chat. Rec). 2. John, b. Apr. 29, 1719 (East. Rec); m. Re
becca Nickerson, dau. of Robert, about 1741; removed to Dartmouth, Mass., about
1750 and thence about 1762 to Liverpool, N. S. 3. Mary, b. Mar. 12, 1726 (Chat. Rec);
prob. m. Cornelius Knowles, son of Richard about 1737; removed to Liverpool, N. S.,
about 1762. 4. Experience, b. ; m. Joseph Wing, Jr. of Harwich, Feb. 22,
1749 (Chat. Rec) . 5. Elisha, b. ; m. Hannah Wing of Harwich July 12, 1703
(Har. Rec); removed to Liverpool, N. S., about 1762. 6. Barzillah, b. ; m.
1st Lydia Eldredge, prob. dan. of Jeremiah, Jan. 12, 1758 (Chat. Rec); she died Jan. 6,
1778, aged 34 (Hdstn) and he m. 2nd Martha (Godfrey) Howes, widow of Joshua Howesi
and dau. of George Godfrey, son of Moses, Aug. 19, 1773 (Chat. Rec); removed to
Orphan's Island, Me., shortly before 1790 and thence to Orrlngton, Me.
64. Leading land owners of this period were Thomas Doane. John Collins Sen., Solo
mon Collins, Daniel Sears, Ensign William Nickerson, Paul Crowell, John Ryder, Joseph
Harding, Joseph Eldredge, Elisha Hopkins, James Eldredge, Thomas Howes.
65. Dr. Lord, who never married, died in the small-pox epidemic of 1766.
66. Among these were Dr. Jonathan Bangs, Dr. John Duncan, Dr. Joseph Brown
and Dr. Jonathan Kenrick of Harwich, Dr. Thomas Holker, Dr. John Whitney and Dr.
Peacock Griggs of Eastham and Dr. James Hersey of Yarmouth.

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 283
to any great extent.07 Likewise tho many bravo deeds of
rescue of human life must go unchronicled.
Aside from the church, about the only public organiza
tion was the military company. As early as 1681, Mono
moit was directed to choose a fit man "to exercise theire
men in amies."08 A local company was doubtless formed
soon after, but there is no record of its officers before 1696.
At that time Nicholas Eldredge was the lieutenant and
Hugh Stewart ensign. Lieut. Eldredge was drowned in
1702 and was succeeded by Joseph Harding, who in 1706
was appointed Captain of the company by the Colonial Gov
ernor, being the first Captain of the village. At this time
Thomas Nickerson became lieutenant aud William Nicker
son, son of William of the second generation, became en
sign. In 1715 Ebenezer Hawes succeeded Harding as
Captain, John Atkins became lieutenant, and Thomas Howes
ensign. In 1720 on account of the removal of Capt.
Hawes to Yarmouth, Lieut. Atkins became Captain, Thomas
Howes lieutenant, and Daniel Sears ensign. The company
also had a sergeant, Daniel Hamilton holding this position
as early as 1710. It is impossible to give the exact suc
cession in office, but the following were Captains before
1750: Thomas Howes, Ebenezer Nickerson (as early as
1734), Daniel Sears (as early as 1744), Paul Crowell (as
early as 1744), and Daniel Howes (as early as 1749.) The
lieutenants were Isaac Hawes, Daniel Sears (as early as
1733), Richard Knowles (as early as 1739), Paul Crowell
(as early as 1739), Daniel Howes (as early as 1744), and
Thomas Hamilton (as early ns 1748.) The sergeants in
cluded Joseph Eldredge, Isaac Hawes, and Robeit Pad-
67. The following from the Diary of Benjamin Bangs of Harwich gives the story of
one winter's disasters; "Dec 21, 1745, A sloop from West Indies cast away at Chatham-
men saved."
"Jan. 1, 1745-6, Capt Bourn is here— was cast away at Chatham lately."
"Feb. 25, 1745-6, A Spanish prize is cast away at Chatham & lost— ye men saved ,"
68, See page 89 supra.

284 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
dock. Some good soldiers were developed. Capt. Paul
Crowell became Major of the County regiment in 1749,
and later Colonel and head of the County militia. There
were regular training days and a stock of arms and ammu
nition was provided by the town.
There was fortunately very little use for these soldiers
during the period we are considering. The long peace
which the Colony had enjoyed since the close of the French
and Indian wars in 1712, was not broken till 1739, when
war was declared by England against Spain. In America
an expedition against Cuba was planned, and some en
listed from the Cape, but there is no record of their ser
vice. The following on His Majesty's Snow Prince of
Orange from March to November 1741 were probably
Chatham men ; John Crowell gunner's mate, Samuel Steward,
John Smith and John Steward, foremast.69 Benjamin
Bangs of Harwich writes in his Diary July, 1741; "Tom
Doane,70 David Sears & Ed. Taylor71 of Chatham got home
from the Spaniards."
About the year 1739 a movement was begun to improve
and modernize the interior of the meetinghouse. It was
voted March 19, 1739 "to build puies in our meeting hows
in ye vacant room and also to plaster ye sd meeting hows."
There was a pew for the minister's family and no more
at that time. On June 25 following, Mr. John Collins,
69. Year Book, Soe Colonial Wars (1899), 99.
70. Thomas Doane, son of Thomas and Patience (Mulford) Doane, b. Jan. 10, 1701-2;
m . in 1729 Sarah Barnes, dau. of Jonathan of Plymoulh. He was a blacksmith by
trade and also engaged in whaling. Administration was grantt d on his estate In. 1747.
His widow died of smallpox Dec. 27, 1766. Children: 1. Nehemiah, b. Feb. 15, 1730;
m. Hope Sears, dau. of Paul, Jan. 11,1749. (Chat. Rec.) 2. Reuben, b. ; d. 1767; ad
ministration to Sarah Doane Jan. 8, 1758. 3. Mary,b. ; m. Hezekiah Eldredge, son of
William, Jr. May 30, 1759 (Chat. Rec). 4. Thomas, b. Mar. 1737; m. 1st Lattice El
dredge of Chatham Oct. 4, 1769 (Chat. Rec) ; removed to Barrington, N. S. about 1762.
She died July 26, 1766, aged 30 (Hdstn), and hem. 2nd in 1768 Elizabeth Lewis, widow
of Solomon, of Barrington. 5. Elizabeth, b ; m. Israel Nickerson of Yar
mouth Jan. 7, 1768 (Chat. Rec).
71 . Edward Taylor was probably son of John and Abigail (Hopkins) Taylor of Eastham
b. Apr. 24, 1723.

PERIOD OF MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 285
Mr. Thomas Doane, Dea. Paul Crowell, Thomas Hamilton,72
and Thomas Nickerson78 were chosen to set out the pew
ground, to set a valuation on the same, and to decide who
should have the first and succeeding choices. The build
ing about this time appears to have suffered some damage
by lightning or otherwise, as it was voted at the same
meeting to raise 30 pounds "to mend the breach" in the
meetinghouse. On August 2, 1739, it was decided that
those who had paid the highest tax for building the meeting
house should have the privilege of taking the pew ground
at the price the committee had set and that the whole pew
ground should be fixed at 100 pounds. On Dec. 5 Lieut.
Paul Crowell, Robert Nickerson and Samuel Stewart were
72. Lieut. Thomas Hamilton, son of Daniel and Mary (Smith) Hamilton, b. at East
ham Sept. 1, 1695; m. Rebecca Mayo, dau. of Nathaniel of Eastham May 3, 1716 (Eai-t.
Rec). He was a man of Influence, a selectman 13 years and served the town in many
other capacities. He is styled "gentleman" in his will. He lived on Tom's Neck on
part of the farm inherited by his mother from her father, Samuel Smith . He died May
1, 1772, aged 76. (Hdstn). His will dated Apr. 9, 1772, was proved May 12, 1772. His
wife survived him. Children: 1. Maryb. ; m. Henry Saunders Jr. of Wareham
Dec. 13, 1742 (Plym. Rec). 2. Hannah, b. 1718 or 1719; d. Oct. 19r 1736, aged 17.
(Hdstn). 3. Rebecca, b. Nov. 21, 1720; m. Solomon Smith and removed to Barrington,
N.S. .about 1762. 4. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 23, 1722, m. Mehitable Godfrey, dau. of
Jonathan, Sept. 7, 1749 (Chat. Rec; . 5. Grace, b. July 24, 1724; d. Apr. 29, 1753, aged 28,
(Hdstn). 6 Lydia, b. Apr. 24, 1726; unmarried 1772. 7. Jane, b. Apr. 19, 1728, m.
Jonathan Smith, prob. son of David Nov. 9, 1752 (Cliat. Rec), removed to Barrington,
N.S., about 1762. 8. Zeruiah, b. Apr. 27, 1731; m. Samuel Smith, Jr. Jan. 3, 1750
(Chat. Rec.) removed to Gianvilie (now Tolland) Mass. . 9. Delilah,
b. June 28, 1784; m. John Colman, Jr. of Scituate Dec. 6, 1769 (Chat. Rec). 10,
Thomas, b. Sept. 14, 1739, m. Mrs. Elizabeth Wesson of Harwich, Jan. 4, 1769 (Har.
Rec); removed to Granville, Mass.
73. Thomas Nickerson, son of Thomas and Mary (Bangs) Nickerson, b. Dec. 24, 1696,
m. 1st Lydia Covell dau. of Joseph, May 16, 1716 (Chat. Rec). She died Oct. 18, 1760
tChat. Rec.) and he m. 2nd Mrs. Sarah Crowell, widow of John, (Int. July 5, 1751 Chat.
Rec). Hem. 3d Mrs. Bethiah (Hawes) Harding widow of Maziah Dec. 26, 1763 (Chat.
Rec). He lived at Cotchpinicut Neck near his lather. He was selectman five years and
held other local offices. There is no settlement of his estate. - He was living in 1766,
but died soon after that date. Children: 1. Desire, b. Feb. 5, 1718, 2.
Thomas, b. Feb. 28, 1720, m. Dorcas Sparrow, dau. of Jonathan of Eastham, May 6, 1742
(East. Rec.) 3. Lydia, b. Mar. 30, 1722; d. Aug. 16, 1722. 4. Lydia, b. Feb. 16, 1724;
5. Ansel, b. May 2, 1727, m. Bathsbeba Small or Smalley, dau. of Zachariah of Harwich
(Int. May 21, 1748, Har. Rec.) and had son Ansel, b. Nov. 20, 1748. Ansel Sen. d. Nov. 1,
1760. 6. Prince, b. Aug. 10, 1729, m. 1st Lydia Cahoon, dau. of James, of Eastham,
(Int. Oct. 7, 1750, Chat. Rec); m. 2nd Ruth (Covell) Atkins widow of Thomas Jr.
Aug. 22, 1769 (Chat. Rec). She d . In 1760 and he in. 3rd Mary Crowell of Cbathan^
dau. of Jonathan and Anna (Nickerson) Crowell Mar. 12, 1761 (Yar. Rec); moved to
Barrington, N. S., about 1762.

286 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
chosen agents* to examine the old tax lists and ascertain to
whom the pew ground belonged according to the agreement
of the town. On August 13, 1741, Mr. John Collins and Mr.
Thomas Doane were chosen to superintend the lathing and
plastering of the meeting-house, and at the same meeting the
agents formerly appointed brought in their account relative
to the pew ground and it was accepted. On January 26,
1742, pew ground was finally allotted as follows :
"Mr. Thomas Done's pew ground £12 10 0
Mr. John Collens " "
Insin William Nickerson " "
John Covel's "
John Eldredg " "
Daniel Seares " "
Daniel Howes " "
Ebeneser Eldredg " "
John Nickerson " "
Joshua Atkins " "
William Nickerson the 4 " "
Meziah Harding " "
Jonathan Godfree " "
On November 16, 1743, Rev. Mr. Lord was united in
marriage with Mrs. Bethiah Smith of Eastham. She had
formerly been a faithful member of his flock and doubtless
cheered and comforted his last years. She was the widow
of Lieut. Isaac Hawes of Chatham and daughter of Jere
miah Howes of Yarmouth, having married as her second
husband Mr. John Smith of Eastham (intention April 11,
1741), who lived about a year, leaving her again a widow.
In 1744 war with France again broke out and the Col
onies on this side of the Atlantic again engaged in hostili-
ties. An expedition was planned and equipped to capture
the strongly fortified city of Louisburg in Cape Breton,

10

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0

08

00

0

08

00

0

11

10

0

09

10

0

08

10

0

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04

00

0

05

00

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PERIOD OF MR. LORDS MINISTRY. 287
belonging to the French. Many Cape men were in this
expedition under Sir William Pepperell in the regiment
commanded by Col. Shubael Gorham. Among those from
Chatham were Stephen Nickerson, Samuel Bassett and
Thomas West in Capt. Elisha Doane's company,74 also
John Crowell and others. The expedition which set out in
the spring of 1745 was brilliantly successful ; tho city with
all its booty surrendered on Juno 16, and a severe blow
was given to the French power in America. After the
capture of the city sickness broke out among the soldiers
and many returned home.76 The next year when the French
sent out a fleet to recapture the place (which failed through
shipwreck and sickness), Col. Gorham's regiment was again
mustered into service. He then had Samuel Stewart and
Nathan Kenney as Sergeants in Capt. Elisha Doane's com
pany, and John Nickerson, William Ned and Samuel Tucker
were privates in the same company, which was on duty from
June 8 to Aug. 24 and again Oct. 23 to Oct. 31. 70 Peace
was made in 1748 and much to the disgust of the colonists,
Louisburg was handed back to France.
Although Mr. Loid in Chatham was not troubled
by the Anabaptists, as he had been in South Caro
lina, he had his troubles, some of which will appear in the
next chapter. There were a few people in the town who
dissented from the religious ideas of the time and were
called Quakers. Some of the Covells were of this belief,
also Jehoshaphat Eldredge and perhaps William Eldredge.
In January 1732 the town chose Paul Crowell to go to
Barnstable and find out whether "those that call themselves
quakers in our town are clear from our minister's rates or
74. 25 N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register 260.
75. I'enjamin Bangs writes in his Diary under date of Aug. 27, 1745: "Abundance of
sick people from Cape Breton landed at ye Cape Cod, come Fcattering along, some drop
ping along In every town. Uncle Joseph Doane died at Eastham and divers others died
at Cape Cod. It has been very sickly at Cape Breton . ' '
76. Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 65,640.

288 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
not," with what result does not appear. These people did
not offer any serious hindrance to Mr. Lord's work. In
the summer of 1744, however, near the close of his career,
there came to the Cape one Elisha Paine of Canterbury,
Conn., an itinerant preacher arid exhorter of the Anabap
tist faith. He was a son of the Cape, his parents having
removed from Eastham to Connecticut about 30 years be
fore, and being a fluent and fervid preacher, he produced
a great impression on his hearers. He held open air meet
ings, chiefly in Harwich, and many people were brought to
his standard.77 Mr. Paine did not long remain on the Cape,
but the movement which he inaugurated, continued to grow
under the leadership of Joshua Nickerson of Harwich, son
of Samuel, who appears to have developed talents as an
exhorter. A churih was formed at Harwich, having fifty
or more members, and on February 23, 1749, Joshua Nick
erson was ordained their pastor.78 These people were va
riously styled "Separatists," "New Lights," and "Ana
baptists." The members or attendants of this church from
Chatham included Stephen Ryder, Ebenezer Nickerson,
Ebenezer Nickerson Jr., Barnabas Eldredge, Joshua El
dredge, Nathaniel Covell, and Nathaniel Bassett.79
Almost contemporary with this religious awakening, was
a social upheaval, which extended over the greater part of
the Cape. The young people who had become dissatisfied
77. In a letter to bis wife dated Chatham, July 8, 1744, Mr. Paine writes: "The pine
woods of Harwich ring with hallelujahs and hosannas, even from babesl" "Our rela
tions, most of them, stand at a distance. Cousin Ebenezer Paine and bis family seem
exceeding opposite, except one daughter and her husband, I hope, are made to love
Christ. Uncle Doane and his family seem to be created anew, except his wife." •**
"|Sut the most wonderful shower began on the 28th of June, a Colony fast. I preached
from Ez. 14. 3. and from Rev. 2. 21. After servlce'we sang a hymn. I felt the spirit of
the Lord come upon me. I rose up and exhorted and persuaded them to come to
Christ, and immediately there was a screeching and groaning all over the multitude
a id hath been very powerful ever since. " Backus, History of New England II, 67.
78. Feb. 24th, 1748-9, "Yesterday the New Lights ordained Joshua Nickerson for their
minister at ye back side this town . It ocations a Deal of Discourse. I don't know what
to think about lt. To-day they have ordained Will. Nickerson & Richard Chase for
Deacons & Intend to set up a church by themselves." Benj. Bangs Diary.
79. Town Records, 1755; Files Superior Court of Judicature No. 28,476.

period of mr. lords ministry. 28&
with the prospects at home, in large numbers sought to
better their condition by going forth and taking the unset
tled lands on the eastern border of New York, then almost
on the frontier. The region to which they went was known
as the " Oblong." This was a strip of land nearly two
miles wide along the Connecticut border, which had been
ceded by that state to New York in 1731 in exchange for
lands along Long Island Sound claimed by Connecticut.
This exchange of territory was made in settlement of a long
standing boundary dispute.80 The Colony of New York
granted this strip to a private company of individuals and
also guaranteed the title. This guaranty of title and the
low price of the lands rendered them very attractive to
Cape Codders. Settlers from Yarmouth, Harwich and other
places occupied these lands as early as 1740, but there is no
evidence of any emigration from Chatham till 1747.
Among those who went from Chatham in this the second
emigration, or the emigration of 1747, were William Nick-
so, "By the Charter of 1662 the territory of Connecticut extended westward to the 'South
Sea,' and by the Patent granted in 1664 to the Duke of York his territory was bounded
east by the Connecticut river. These conflicting grants gave rise to conflicting claims.
Commissioners were sent over from England In 1664 to settle the controversy, when itwas
agreed that tbe line should run 'from a certain point on Long Island Sound north-
north-west to the Massachusetts line,' under the Impression that this line would be par
allel to the Hudson river and twenty miles east from It. At that time the country north
of the Sound was an unknown land and Its geographical features little understood,
hence the manifest error, for such a course would strike the river below West Point."
Although the error was admitted, nothing was done to correct It till a commission was
finally appointed in 1723 to fix tbe line. At this time those people who had settled near
the Sound within the Connecticut line of 1664 being very desirous of retaining their civil
connection with the Connecticut Colony, the latter agreed to cede to New York an
equivalent in territorial extent to the present towns of Greenwich, Stamford, New Ca
naan and Darlen retained by her. This agreement was signed by the Commissioners
May 14, 1731 . "The equivalent land or Oblong, as lt is now generally called, was a
strip of land 580 rods wide extending along the east side of the New York counties of
Dutchess, Putnam, and the north part of Westchester, comprising 61,440 acres. This
strip was divided into two tiers of square lots, called 600 acre lots, though exceeding
that amount. A patent embracing this territory was granted to Thomas Hawley and
others, and allotments made to Individuals of the company, and by them sold to emi
grants, who received a guarantee of title from the Colonial government. It was the
security of this title that caused these lands to be eagerly sought after." Smith, His
tory of Dutchess Co. N. Y. 45. See also Hasbrouck, History of Dutchess Co. N. Y., which
contains a map of the "Oblong."

290 History of Chatham.
erson and Nathaniel Nickerson, sons of Thomas Nickerson
Sen., James Nickerson, son of William Nickerson Sen.,
Seth Nickerson, son of Capt. Ebenezer Nickerson (fol
lowed later by his brothers Constant and Thomas), Seth
Covell and Simeon Covell, sons of Nathaniel Covell, Joseph
T.iylor, son of Samuel Taylor, Isaac Hawes, son of Isaac
Hawes, Sen., and John Ryder and Simeon Ryder, sons of
John Ryder, Sen.31 The family of Robert Paddock, who
moved from Chatham to Mansfield, Conn., about 1732,
joined the colony at the " Oblong" about 1750. At a later
date James Covell, son of James, Zenas Eldredge, son of
Barnabas, and others joined relatives in the same region.
For some reason the greater part of those who went from
Chatham did not at first secure lands within the limits of
the " Oblong," but settled in the north part of Ridgefield,
Conn., (a town adjoining the "Oblong,") in that part of
the town called the " New Patent,' and later known as
Ridgebury.82 Later they nearly all crossed the line into
that part of Dutchess Co., N. Y., now called Putnam Co.,
settling in the town of Southeast (later so called) and vi
cinity. On June 6, 1748, died Rev! Joseph Lord, who completed
his ministry and passed to another life at the age of 76.
He had been pastor of the church for 28 years and a
preacher in the town for 30 years. Few people of this
day realize the great place that the minister held in village j
life in Colonial times. Mr. Lord was the only educated
man in the town and he was expected to know about every
thing and to be helpful in all sorts of ways. He not only
preached on Sunday, but was called to prescribe in sick-
81. See Pelletreau, History of Putnam Co., N. Y. ; Rldgefield Land Record*.
82. The "New Patent" was a tract of land granted to the town of Rldgefield in 1731
by the State of Connecticut In compensation for the loss of a section in the west par
of the town, which was ceded to New York as a part of the "Oblong." The "New Pa
tent" is described as bounded south by Rldgefield, east by Danbury, north by New Fair
field and west by the New York line. See Teller, History of Ridgefield, Conn.

PERIOD OF. MR. LORD'S MINISTRY. 291
ness, to draw deeds, wills and agreements, and to give
advice in all sorts of trouble. He was preacher, pastor,
doctor, surgeon, lawyer, and judge all in one. That Mr.
Lord understood and practiced medicine is shown by the
number of "physical books " in the inventory of his estate ;
that he understood law is attested by the number of wills,
deeds, arbitration bonds, and other papers drawn up by
him, now^ to be found in public or private hands. The
early years of his ministry here were marked by serious
troubles within and without the church, as the next chapter
will show, but in his later years the society appears to have
enjoyed tranquility and prosperity. It appears from his
church record, now unfortunately destroyed, that he ad
mitted 143 persons to full communion, 13 to the "half way
covenant," and baptized 492. The male members of his
church, at first only seven, numbered probably over 40 at
his decease.83
In additiou to his other work, he found time to interest
himself in the Indians, and occasionally to preach elsewhere,
as well as to attend church councils. On Nov. 26, 1729, he
preached at the ordination of Rev. Joseph Bourne over the
Indian church at Mashpee,84 and in February, 1731, he de
livered a sermon at Eastham, which was published.86 On
Jan. 13, 1732, he preached a century sermon at the rooms
83 The following persons, who agreed April 26. 1749, to build the fence around the
ministerial land, were doubtless all members of Mr. Lord's church at his decease: "Mr.
Thomas Doane, Mr. John Collings, Major Paul Crowell. Capt. Daniel Howes. Lieut.
Thomas Hamilton. Mr John Kider, Capt. Daniel Sears, Mr. John Young, Mr. William
Nickerson, Jur., Nehemiah Harding, Solomon Collings, Stephen Smith, Caleb Nicker
son. Samuel Smith. Joseph Atwood, Maaziah Harding. John Eldredge, James Covel,
Joshua At kins."' Town Records. Others known to be members were Dea. Thomas
Atkins, Dea. Samuel Taylor, Paul Crowell. Jr., John Covel, Ebenezer Eldredge, John
Nickerson, Jonathan Godfrey, Samuel Tucker.
84. "Marsbpee, Nov. 26. 1729. This day was ordained here Mr. Joseph Bourne. The
council were the Rev. Mr. Lord of Chatnam and two Indian pastors of Martha's Vine
yard Mr. Bourne preached In tbe Indian language I Tim. iv, 16. Mr. Lord preached
in English John I, 7. Oneot the Indian pastors bngan the solemnity with prayer, the
other gav* the right hand of fellowship. The service was concluded with singing and
the benediction both in Indian and English." Mass. Historical Collections V, 206.
85 "The Great privilege of children of God is their Liberty to be ever with Him,
and their Interest in all that ls His: Shewed in a Sermon preached In the North Pre
cinct of Eastham. commonly called Billingsgate, on the 24th day of the 12th month, com
monly called February 1730-1. By Joseph Lord, Pastor of the Church of Christ in
Chatham, pp (4) II, 29. Boston. Printed by S. Green, 1731." (Copy in Mass. Hist. Society
Library, aud in Harvard College Library.)
(22)

292 HISTORY 6F CHATHAM.
of Mrs. Abigail Lothrop, widow of Samuel Lothrop and
daughter of Dea. John Doane of Eastham.86
Mr. Lord's annual salary, at first 80 pounds, was raised
to 90 pounds in 1732, but even at that figure it was ex
tremely moderate for the times.87 As the Colonial currency
depreciated, it was gradually raised to 150 pounds.
Mr. Lord demanded of his people the same high standard
and obedience to the faith that he himself lived and preached.
As one writer says: "He seems to have been a rigid dis
ciplinarian, extending the watch and censure of the church
to the baptized children."88 He held rigidly tp the letter of
Scripture. Liberal views had no place in his make-up. His
sermons, therefore, though scholarly, were mathematical ex
positions of scriptural texts, containing little that would at
tract the reader of the present day, but doubtless the usual
type of discourse in those days. He was a man of forceful
personality and carried through his plans relentlessly, if he
believed he was right. Like all Harvard graduates of that
day, he was a splendid penman, as the illustration at pages
252-3 shows.
It is unfortunate that by the burning of the parsonage on
Sunday evening, September 29, 1861, his records of the
church should have been entirely lost. So far as the writer
knows, no copy of them exists, except of that part relating
to the Smith family.89 Mr. Levi Atwood, long clerk of the
66. Freeman, History of Cape Cod. II, 370; see also ibid. II, 213.
87. On Dec, 1725, the Committee at Boston having charge of distributing 400 pounds
sent over by Rev. Thomas Cotton of London decided that of the 50 pounds which they
determined to devote to needy ministers, 8 pounds should go to Rev. Mr. Lord, and In
Feb., 1726, it was delivered to his son, Joseph Lord, to give to bis father. Diary of
Judge Samuel Sewall.
88. American Quarterly Register (1843) 68,
89. "Account of the Smiths taken from the Church records :
1726. Dec. 4. Mercy Smith was received into full communion with this church.
Dec. 18. Dean Smith & Esther his wife were rec'd into full communion with yschh.
The same day Mary Smith . Also Stephen Smith and Hanah his wife were received
into full communion & Stephen there son was baptized.
1729. Jan. 80, Asaph, a son of Dean & Esther Smith, was baptized.
Nov. 9. John a son of Nathan Kinney and Mercy his wife (who was formerly Mercy
Smith) was baptized.
Dec. 8. James, a son of Stephen Smith was baptized.
1731. Dec. 16 George, a son of Stephen Smith was baptized,
1733. Sept. 30. Obadiah, a son of Obadiah Chase and Mary (formerly Mary Smith) was
baptized.

PERIOD OF MR. LORDS MINISTRY. 293
church, describes them as "full, minute and beautiful!
penned." They contained not only a record of admissions
and baptisms, but also an account of some of the shortcom
ings of the members of his flock.
Mr. Lord's will, dated March 7, 1746-7, was proved June
30, 1748. His wife Bethia, his son Samuel and son-in-law
Joseph Paine were named as executors, but his wife must
have died before him, as she was not appointed by the Court
with the other two and administration on her thirds as widow
of Lieut. Isaac Hawes was begun July 7, 1748. Mr. Lord
gave his son, Dr. Samuel Lord, all his "English books that
relate to Physick and Chirurgery," appraised at 8 lbs. 15 s.
His other books were appraised at 100 lbs. 13s. 9d. 90
Mr. Lord left a diary and other manuscripts, mostly ser
mons, but unfortunately they seem to have all, or nearly all,
met the same fate as his church records.91
He enjoyed the unique distinction of founding and bring
ing to success and stability two different churches in two dif
ferent parts of the English Colonies, one in the South and one
in the North. Both ot these churches are still in existence.
During his long life he held only these two pastorates.
1734. April 23d. Archelous, a son of Stephen Smith was baptized.
1737. Feb. 24th. Elijah, a son of Stephen Smith was baptized.
1739. Jan. 5. Hanah, a child of Stephen Smith was baptized.
1741. March 17. Bashsheby the wife of Stephen Smith was baptized.
1741-2. Jan. 14. Obadiah, a son of Stephen and Bathsheba bis wile was baptized.
1742. May 18. Samuel Smith was received into full communion with this church, on
the 25 Samuel, Elanah and Bethia, children of Samuel Smith, were baptized.
1744. Jan. 5. Bathsheba, a child of Stephen and Bathsheba Smith, was baptized.
1747. Jan. 8. Pheba, a daughter of Stephen and Bathsheba Smith was baptized.
1749. July 5. Freeman, the son of Isaac and Mary Smith was baptized.
1749. Sept. 6. Stephen Smith was chosen Deacon of this Church . "
(Rufus Smith papers), See also N. E. Hist. & Gen. Register, LXIV, 188.
90 Children of Rev. Joseph aud Abigail (Hinckleyj Lord (all born In So. Carolina) :
1. Mercy, b Mar. 2, 1699; m. Shubael Taylor of Yarmouth, son of Elisha, (Int. Sept. 13,
1729, Yar. Rec.) 2. Mary, b. Apr. 19. 1701; m. Apr., 1724, Moses Hatch, son of Moses of
Falmouth. 3. Thomas, b. Aug. 25, 1703; d. Nov 1704. 4. Joseph, b. Sept. 27, 1704.
m. Sarah Rand of Sunderland, Mass.. Apr. 22, 1728. 5. Abigail, b. Sept. 27, 1704; m.
Joseph Paine, son of Ebenezer of Chatham. 6. Samuel, b. June 26, 1707; d. of small
poxjan 2, 1766, unmarried. 7. Robert, b. Feb. 28, 1711-2; not mentioned in his father's
will 8 Alice, D. Mar. 26, 1714; m. Benjamin Kettle, son of Benjamin of Charlestown,
May 17, 1737. (CbstnRec.)
91 Amos Otis, Esq., of Yarmouth had "a volume ot his sermons and a portion of
his Diary beautifully executed," as late as 1866. Otis, Barnstable Families, II, 36. The
"portion of his Diary" was printed in the Yarmouth Register, Dec. 17, 1846, and has
been uuoted in these notes. Diligent search has failed to find these MSS now. Mr.
Charles E Mayo of St Paul, Minn. , had in 1866 a small book written by Mr. Lord, con
taining sacramental lectures given by bim between Sept. 24, 1727, and Oct., 1729, all
from 1st Corinthians, 10-16. After Mr. Lord's death, his papers in some way passed
into tbe hands of his brother-in-law, Rev Nathaniel Stone of Harwich, or his children,
from whose descendants Mr. Mayo and Mr. Otis obtained these MSS.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE GREAT OSBORN CONTROVERSY.
MR. LORD'S long and successful pastorate was not
without its unfortunate and disagreeable incidents,
some of which, on account of their importance, it becomes
my plain, though undesirable duty, as a truthful historian
of the period, to relate. No sooner had Mr. Lord estab
lished his church on a secure basis than he was drawn into
a long and bitter controversy, arising out of the settlement
of Mr. Samuel Osborn as pastor by the neighboring church
at Eastham. From the conflicting statements which were
made during this dispute, it is difficult to ascertain the
exact facts, but the following account, it is believed, is sub
stantially correct.
Mr. Osborn came to this country, a young man, in the
latter part of October, 1707, bringing letters of recommen
dation from Rev. Robert Rainey of Newry, County Down,
Ireland. It is probable that he had had some University
training.1 He soon came to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard,
where he was employed as a school teacher. Heie he mar
ried on January 1, 1710-11, Jedidah Smith, a daughter of
the leading citizen of the place, Benjamin Smith, Esq., and
1. There are conflicting accounts of Mr. Osborn's birthplace and education. Rev.
James Freeman (1 Mass. Historical Collections VIII, 183) says that "be was born In
Ireland and educated In the University of Dublin." Mr. Osborn's grandson, Israel
Doane, who died very aged In 1814 at Argyle, Nova Scotia, in an account of his grand
father, states that "he was born of Irish parents In Scotland and was educated at Glas
gow, and at the age of 22 came over to America," landing in Boston. It is quite likely
that Mr. Doane meant rather that he was born of Scotch parents In Ireland. The
Scotch-Irish sent their sons to Glasgow rather than to Dublin to be educated. There ls
no record of his matriculation at Dublin.

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 295
his wife, Jedidah (Mayhew) Smith.2 A few months after
this marriage, charges were preferred against him by a
young lady of the place, which it should be said he per
sistently denied on all occasions, although admitting that he
had been foolish and indiscreet in some of his actions with
her. The Edgartown Court, however, in October, 1711,
found the charges sustained,8 and it is this court record
against him that became the source of all his subsequent
troubles. Whether or not the action of the court is entitled
to credit, it is impossible to state at this date, but it can be
said not only that he refused to admit its justice, but that
his subsequent life was not only correct, but highly com
mendable. In 1712 he was employed as school teacher at Sandwich,4
where he and his wife joined the church and were highly
esteemed. The next year he taught at Harwich,5 and in
1717, when he was first invited to preach at Eastham, he
was teaching at Plymouth, was active in the church there
and supplying pulpits occasionally. He appears to have
been a man of attractive personality and of undoubted
ability and energy. He was first engaged to preach at East
ham in November, 1717. The following April the church
there, according to-custom, applied to the ministers of the
county for their consent to settle him as their pastor. The
ministers replied, on April 9, that they could not advise his
settlement, at least at present, on account of "some scandal
that Mr. Osborn lies under, which we cannot understand
was ever yet cleared up." It was understood that Rev.
Nathaniel Stone of Harwich brought this matter to the at
tention of the clergy and urged this action. Further corre-
2. Jedidah (Mayhew) Smith was a daughter of Rev. Thomas and Jane (Paine) May
hew, and granddaughter of Thomas Mayhew, grantee and governor of Martha's Vine
yard. 3. Dukes County Court Records, Oct., 1711.
4. Freeman, History of Cape Cod, II, 89.
5, Freeman, History of Cape Cod, II, 600; Harwich Town Records.

296 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
spondence between the church and the ministers developed
the fact that Mr. Osborn, not being an ordained minister,
would also have to pass an examination before the ministers,
to test his knowledge and qualifications, before they could take
action. This was according to regular church practice. At
this point the Eastham church appears to have acted rather
hastily and regardless of the advice given it by the minis
ters. It was informed by letter, dated May 8, of the neces
sity of examining Mr. Osborn, and yet on May 19 it
unanimously voted tp give him a call and the town unan
imously concurred in the action of the church. He was
then summoned to meet the ministers at Sandwich, where
he preached before them and answered ten questions in the
ology propounded to him. It does not clearly appear what
action the ministers took at this time, if any, but it is clear
that Mr. Stone was not present and took no notice of the
meeting. He was strongly opposed to Mr. Osborn's en
trance into the ministry, holding that, according to Holy
Writ, no one should be elevated to the ministry except men
of the highest character, who were without known blemish.6
It is also certain that the ministers at Sandwich and Ply
mouth, where Mr. Osborn had lived, were loath to believe
anything against him, remaining his firm friends, and that,
when the Eastham church, now called the church at Pochet
or the South Precinct (the town having been divided into
two precincts) sent out invitations for his ordination on
6. This is the reasoning of Mr. Stone and bis adherents: "No man of the seed of
Aaron the priest, that hath a blemish, shall come nigh to offer the offerings of Jehovah
made by fire; he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy; only he shall
not go In unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, bpcause he hath a blemish."
Leviticus, xxi, 21-23. So that we see here his having a blemish that was otherwise cap
able of ministering at the altar, rendered bim uncapable of It, tho' it did not make him
uncapable of partaking of holy things, py which it is plain that sin unrepented of is
not to be understood by the blemish, for that renders the person unclean, so that he
may not touch any of the most holy things . Haggai II, 13 . So that the pretence of his
having repented of his sin could not render Mr. Osborn's Introduction Into tbe ministry
regular. The New Testament also requiring blamelessness in the ministry, I
Timothy III, 2; Titus I, 7.

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 297
September 17, 1718, to all the churches of the county and
to Plymouth church, the churches at Sandwich, Barnstable,
Falmouth and Plymouth responded. Rev. Rowland Cotton
of Sandwich gave the charge, Rev. Ephraim Little of Ply
mouth gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Joseph
Metcalf of Falmouth assisted in the laying on of hands. It
is also clear that Mr. Stone and his followers were a
minority of the clergy in the county.
At this ordination Justice John Doane of Billingsgate
(now Wellfleet) appeared and presented a written protest
signed by his wife, Hannah (Hobart) Doane and sixteen
other residents there, stating that they had no notice of the
meeting when Mr. Osborn was called, did not consider him
qualified for the ministry (citing as a reason the advice of
the ministers April 9, 1718) and should not recognize him
as their pastor. This act was resented by the Pochet
Church, because these objectors, though actually members
of the church, lived so far away that they had almost noth
ing to do with the church affairs, having a minister of their
own to preach to them. They belonged to the Pochet
Church, but formed a congregation by themselves, being
yet too few to maintain a distinct church organization.
Mrs. Doane, who was the leader in this matter, said that
she was induced to take this action through reading a copy
of the Edgartown court records in Mr. Osborn's case.
Mr. Osborn claimed that she was incited thereto by Mr.
Stone. A few days after the ordination, thirteen of the
signers of the protest acknowledged their mistake, saying
that they did not understand what they were signing, and
made their peace with the church. As Mrs. Doane and
three others continued obstinate, the church sent them an
admonition, requiring them to appear and give satisfaction
for their conduct, especially for non-attendance, and sus
pending them from the privileges of communion until they

298 HISTORY OF CHATHAM. /
complied. This resulted in the submission of all except
Mrs. Doane. At length after Rev. Benjamin Webb had
been settled over the Middle Precinct in Eastham in Octo
ber, 1719, Mrs. Doane applied for a letter of dismissal to
that church (which was near her), but a clear dismissal was
refused her, the matter of her admonition being referred to
in the letter. She then began to express her opinion of Mr.
Osborn and his church with considerable freedom, which
resulted in the church putting her under admonition again
on October 22, 1720, for her "railing and reviling," as they
termed it.
She replied by calling an Ecclesiastical Council of the five
neighboring churches, to meet at her house at Billingsgate on
November 8, 1720, and consider the conduct of the church
towards her. In this call scant courtesy was shown to Mr.
Osborn and his church, and an evident lack of fairness.
Notices of the meeting of the council were not sent out till
November 5, only three days before it was to sit, and one
of these days was Sunday. It is at this point that Mr. Lord
and his new church at Chatham appear in the controversy.
On receiving the invitation to attend the council, Mr. Lord
called a meeting of the church, at which six of the, seven
male members were present, Dea. Thomas Atkins, Capt.
John Atkins, Mr. John Collins, Moses Godfrey, Elisha
Mayo and the pastor. It appears that nearly all of them
felt disinclined to send representatives to a council called to
judge the conduct of a church from which they all had re
cently been dismissed, but none except Capt. John Atkins ex
pressed his feelings. Mr. Lord was anxious to have the
church represented, and some one suggested that Dea.
Atkins would be a proper delegate to go with the pastor.
The meeting was informal, no vote was taken, and when at
the end Mr. Lord said, " Well, then, it is concluded that

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 299
Deacon Thomas Atkins shall go," no one dissented, and
Mr. Lord and Dea. Atkins went.'
Harwich and Truro churches were also represented at
this council, but no others. Yarmouth and Barnstable
churches were not represented, because, according to Mr.
Osborn, the pastor was away in the one case and the notice
given was defective in the other case. Mr. Osboin did not
appear because, as he says, he had not time to prepare a
defense. The council heard the ex parte testimony of Mrs.
Doane and her friends and proceeded to condemn the Pochet
church and assail Mr. Osborn in the following manner:
1. "We find no just Ground for any Person to be censured for not
attending Special Ordinances dispensed by a Minister whom they do
solemnly declare (as she hath publicly done) that they can't in Con
science accept as their Pastor; because by so doing, they would (so
far as appears to them) sin against their own Conscience, which
seems also to be the concurring Judgment of Dr. Ames and the Synod
which composed the Platform, which cite the words of Dr. Ames to
that effect in their Preface to the Platform.
2. We find such Blemishes on Mr. Osborn's Name, as render it, at
least, very questionable whether his Admission to the Pastoral Office
be Consonant with the Scriptures; in that * * * [Here follows a
statement of the charges based upon the Edgartown Court record].
3. We do not find any matter of just Blame for non-attendance to
Publick Ordinances, when as Persons are known to be unable by
Reason of bodily Indisposition, which was proved to be the case with
the wife of Justice John Doane, from the time of Mr. Osborn's settle
ment in Eastham to the time of her being admonished.
These things considered, we determine the Admonition to be in
that Church a Male Administration and do solemnly advise them, that
having manifested a sense of their Sin and Error, they do absolve her
from the Censure and give her, if desired, Letters of Dismission, and
further that the several Members of the Church, with herself, do
avoid all exasperating Reflections, one on another, cherishing a Spirit
of Love and Unity, as becomes Christians. Nathaniel Stone,
Joseph Lord,
John Avery,
Thomas Atkins."
7. It appears that after the meeting was over some of the members got courage to go
to Mr. Lord's bouse and tell him that they really did not want him to go, and also for
bade Dea. Atkins going, but they paid no attention to this, considering that it came too
late, doubtless.

300 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Dea. Lincoln of Harwich, messenger with Mr. Stone, re
fused to sign the result.
After receiving notice of this decision, the Pochet Church
sent an appeal for relief to the County Conference of minis
ters held at Yarmouth November 29, 1720, and received a
reply. that they did not think non-attendance was sufficient
ground for refusing Mrs. Doane a clear dismissal, but if
she had been guilty of other offenses against religion (as
they had been informed she had been), it should not be
givejn her until she hsd "first been proceeded with accord
ing to Gospel Rule." This reply was signed by Messrs.
Cotton of Sandwich, Greenleaf of Yarmouth and Russell of
Barnstable. Messrs. Stone and Lord dissented. Therefore
the Pochet church, finding a majority of the ministers in
their favor and deeming Mrs. Doane guilty as above stated,
proceeded to send her a further admonition on December 4,
1720, for her "ungodly conversation," and then, as she paid
no attention to this, they excommunicated her.
Messrs. Stone, Lord and Avery, who saw their findings
at Billingsgate in this way ignored by the Pochet Church,
remained quiet for a time until the death of Mr. Cotton of
Sandwich, the firm friend of Mr. Osborn, gave them a bet
ter chance of success. They then all proceeded to renounce
communion with Pochet church on account, as they alleged,
of her utter disregard of the findings of the Billingsgate
Council. They also labored with other churches to take the
same step and read the Pochet church out of the denomina
tion. There were four or five families worshipping with
the church at Harwich and as many more at Chatham, who
were members of the Pochet Church, and the result of this
declaration was that they would not be allowed to partake
of communion at either place, because they belonged to a
church which was considered to be under censure. After a
time Mr. Russell of the church at Barnstable was induced to

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 301
take the same stop with regard to Mr. Israel Cole of East
ham, who had recently settled there.
At this juncture the Pochet church called a second Eccles
iastical Council to meet at Eastham on October 24, 1722,
and decide first, whether the Council at Billingsgate was a
regular council; second, whether its action was just. Six
churches were summoned, but only a part being present, it
was deemed best to adjourn to May 8, 1723, and call six
churches more, making a council of twelve churches. Be
fore this council met, Messrs. Stone, Lord and Avery pub
lished a pamphlet entitled "The Result of a Council held at
Billingsgate in Eastham Nov. 8, 1720," etc., giving in de
tail their version of the controversy. This was circulated
among the churches just before the meeting and was offered
in evidence at the Council, but the latter refused to listen to
it, on the ground that it was a surprise to Mr. Osborn and
that he had not had time to prepare a reply.
At the appointed time eleven churches, represented by
eleven pastors and eighteen laymen, assembled at Eastham
and carefully considered both sides of the controversy.
Both sides were ably represented, and the Council itself,
containing as it did many ministers, lawyers, judges and
business men, itself an imposing and authoritative body,
was a guarantee of cautious and wise action. No council
of such size had ever before sat on Cape Cod, and its find
ings, by all rules of church discipline, should have
been conclusive. In regard to the dealings of the Pochet
Church with Mrs. Doane it took a middle course, approving
some acts and disapproving others, but with regard to the
methods employed by Messrs. Stone, Lord and Avery in
their warfare on Mr. Osborn it had only one opinion. Its
principal findings were as follows :
" Secondly. Inasmuch as the Reverend Council (which sat of late)
at Billingsgate took off an admonition sent to Mrs. Hannah Doane

302 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
by this church [Pochet] purely on account of her not attending
on the holy ordinances of Christ under Mr. Osborn's ministry, having
heard and considered her Reasons for not attending, we are of opinion
that said Council might be justified therein had there been no other
matter alleged against her, but inasmuch as there was, we apprehend
it would have been better if said Council had not charged this Church
with male administration in their Result, as they did, and look upon
that censure not obligatory to this or any other of our Churches for
the future.
Thirdly. We find that this Church had just Grounds to send a second
admonition to Mrs. Doane, as they did, on account of her Railing,
&c, and at the same time we judge this Church was too hasty and
sudden in proceeding to excommunication, as they have done. We
therefore, advise this Church to take off the Sentence of Excommuni
cation and look upon her as a member under admonition, as before,
and we advise that she sign the Confession left by the Council for her
and then at her Request, that the Church give her a Dismission.
Fourthly. Among other things offered to our Consideration, which
were matters of Lamentation to us, to observe among the People of
God, in the Papers given in to us by both Parties, containing very un
becoming Reflections on each other, there was a printed Pamphlet
containing The Results of the Billinysyate Council, &c, in which we ob
served things which have a tendency not to heal but to stir up strife in
the holy church of Christ and do therefore bear our Testimony against
such Publick Exhibitions, which by the Subtilty of Satan may occasion
further contention in our Churches. And further we do advise the
Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in the South part of Eastham not to
answer this Pamphlet in such a way, notwithstanding there are some
assertions in it which appear to us to want Truth to support them.
John Chushen Nathaniel Eells
John Otis Moderator
David Parker Ephraim Little
Peter Thacher Daniel Greenleaf
Isaac Lothrop Samuel Hunt
Samuel Smith Samuel Wiswel
Jacob Cook Joseph Metcalf
Eleazer Ring Timothy Ruggles
Moses Hatch Jonathan Russell
Samuel Willis Benjamin Fessenden
William Spooner Joseph Stacy
Joseph Hall Experience Mayhew."
Thomas Dexter
Haverland Terry
Edward Winslow
John Parker
Israel Tupper
Eliakim Tupper

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 303
These severe strictures of the Council on their course,
and its evident lack of sympathy with their case, so angered
Messrs. Stone and Lord that they refused to consider the
assembly at Pochet a Council at all or to pay any attention
to its findings. They did exactly what they had before
censured Mr. Osborn for doing, viz. : not obeying a church
Council. Their course from this time on violated all rules
of church discipline. The most that can be said for them is
that they were contending for a ministry over the churches
of the highest type without flaw or blemish. They did not
consider Mr. Osborn, even if he had repented, a suitable
man for the ministry, and they believed that the Bible sus
tained them in their attitude. They would not compromise
in such a case, and accused the Council of seeking
to secure peace at the expense of righteousness. They
got no sympathy, however, from this time on from
the rest of the churches. These churches evidently felt
that the Pochet Council must necessarily be considered final
(if there was to be any church discipline), and that further
wrangling: was scandalous to the church.
Mr. Lord was specially provoked at the testimony which
two of his own church members gave before the Pochet
Council. Mr. Moses Godfrey and Mr. Elisha Mayo de
posed on oath that not only was there no vote taken at Chat
ham to send representatives to the Billingsgate Council,
but that a majority of the meeting was opposed to it, Mr.
John Atkins speaking against it.8 Mr. Lord denied this
8. Testimony of Messrs. Godfrey and Mayo: "Capt. John Atkins made objection and
said we were but a small cburch and had our dismission from the South Church at East
ham, and therefore It did not look to htm well to send any from our church to said
' Council. It was said by some one If any went from tho church to said Council Thomas
Atkins might be a suitable person, but we do affirm that In our hearing there was no
vote called either for Mr. Lord or any of our members going to Council. And we per
ceiving that Mr Lord was designed to go to Council, we with all the rest of the Breth
ren of our church excepting two, went presently to Mr. Lord's House and told him we
didn't approve of his going from the church to said Council . Further we told him that
we would not hinder his going there himself, but we did not consent for him to go as
from the cburch . We also told him we should forbid Thomas Atkins his going, and
accordingly we appointed Elisha Mayo to go and do this message to Dea. Thomas
Atkins."

304 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
and put on the stand a majority of the members present
at the meeting to deny it.9 There was, in fact, no vote
taken, the meeting being informal, but there seems to have
been a complete misunderstanding as to how the members
felt about the matter. Mr. Lord at once put the offending
members under admonition, suspending them from com
munion privileges, until they should show proper repen
tance. This and other acts of Mr. Lord toward them led
them to call another Ecclesiastical Council to consider their
case. This Council met at Chatham in the latter part of 1723
probably, but the exact date is not known. It was com
posed of nearly the same members as the Council at Pochet.
Mr. Lord appeared before it and gave a long defense
of his course. He was called by the Council harsh and
severe. With reference to the members under admonition,
the Council advised as follows : " We advise that Moses
Godfrey and Elisha Mayo acknowledge that they have not
been so cautious and careful in their evidence as they should
have been ; and that they are sorry to have given such oc
casion of offense to Mr. Lord and their Brethren as they
have done." With regard to Mr. Lord and the church, it
doubtless advised that upon receiving this acknowledgment,
they take off the admonition and admit Messrs. Godfrey
and Mayo to good standing again. Knowing, however, the
uncompromising nature of Mr. Lord, the Council further
added : " We advise that, in case the Rev. Mr. Lord and
this Church refuse to comply with this Result, then the said
Godfrey and Mayo, they complying with it, may be and
hereby are recommended, notwithstanding the Discipline
they have been under in this Church, to the communion of
9. Statement of Mr. Lord: "For they justify them [Messrs. Godfrey and Mayo] In
saying there was no vote called for, in their hearing, thereby to make it seem as if
there were no messenger chosen, when one of these very men proposed the messenger,
and neither the other of them nor any other in the church said anything against It,
when at the conclusion of the meeting, f said, 'Well, then, it is concluded that Deacon
Thomas Atkins shall go.' " *

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. &0fc
oilier churches, and may be taken under the watch of any
church in the neighborhood, that they shall think most con
venient for them." In other words they told Mr., Lord that,
if he did not comply with the advice of the Council, they
would not pay any further attention to his own action or
that of his church. Messrs. Godfrey and Mayo submitted
an apology, which they thought covered the case, but which
differed somewhat in its form from that prescribed by the
Council, aud Mr. Lord declined to accept it.10 He then ad
monished them to make a full compliance with the terms of
the Council, and as they would do no more, he sent them a
second admonition and then excommunicated them. They
then went over to the church at Pochet and were admitted
to membership with open arms. The new church at Chat-'
ham was now nearly rent in twain, but the majority re
mained loyal to Mr. Loid. These events probably occurred
in the latter part of 1723 or in 1724. n Mr. Mayo remained
in Chatham only a few years after this, removing with his
family to Provincetown in 1728 for business reasons.12
Mr. Godfrey remained in the town.
The decision of the Council at Pochet was considered to
be final by all, except Messrs. Lord and Stone. Mr. Avery
of Truro made no more opposition, and the church at Barn
stable resumed communion with Pochet Church. On the
other hand Messrs. Stone and Lord, not long after, came
out with a second pamphlet, defending themselves from the
10. This Is the apology submitted: "If our not advising with yourself before we gave
our testimony to the church of Christ in the South part of Eastham, when they desired
it of us, was offensive to you or any of our Brethren, we are sorry that we did not advise
with yourself about lt. And doubtless we should have done lt, if it had appeared to us
to have been our duty, which it did not ; nor do we remember that ever yourself or
any of our Brethren blamed us for not doing it. Further we say that if it was offensive
to yourself or any of tbe Brethren that we did not remember that passage In Mrs.
Doane's letter (which we had heard but once read) just as it was, we are sorry for it. "
11. Aug. 7, 1724, Cotton Mather in his Diary writes: "What shall be done for the
poor People at Chatham, whose minister deals foolishly with them?" 7 Mass. Hist.
Collections VIII, 747, "
12. For an account of Moses Godfrey see page 221 supra; for an account of Elisha
Mayo see page 248 supra.

306 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
strictures laid upon them by the findings of the Council.
Their excuse was that the findings of the Council had been
widely read in the churches and they had no other way of
reaching all the people. This pamphlet was printed in the lat
ter part of 1723, and was entitled " Tbe Veracity and Equity
of the Members of the Council held at Billingsgate in East
ham 1720 Asserted and Maintained." It is chiefly devoted
to defending themselves from the charge of the Pochet
Council that their former pamphlet contained untruths, and
a curiously lame defense it is. They refused to consider
the Pochet gathering as a Council at all, but presumptuously
characterized it as a body of gentlemen happening to meet
together and taking upon themselves to give their views on
"the Billingsgate Council P
The church at Pochet began to think at length that
Messrs. Stone and Lord had thundered against it about
enough, and that it was time for it, also, to state its case in
black and white. Accordingly, in the early part of 1724, it •
published a pamphlet of 56 pages in its own defense entitled
" A Church of Christ Vindicated," signed in behalf of the
church by several of its members, but in fact probably writ
ten by Mr. Osborn. This is a plain and respectful presen
tation of their case, which rather adroitly slides over the
weak points, for there were weak points on each side.
Here the contest might well have been dropped, but
Messrs. Stone and Lord were not made of such metal. It
was useless for them to appeal to any council of Cape
churches. Their only hope was that a council representing
churches from some other part of the colony might be more
favorable to them, but when it was broached to some of the
Boston ministers, they would not listen to them. The uni-
13. This ls Mr. Lord's amazing pronouncement: "I shall never more regard any
assembling as such, a Council, unless the churches do bear their testimony against that
church [Pochet] for rending from the communion of other churches and their scandal
ous railing at and reviling of the Billingsgate Council, as either to bring them to re
pentance or renounce communion with them."

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 307
versal advice given to them was to keep still, abide by the
Pochet Council and stop wrangling, even if they did not
think they had been justly dealt with. To these arguments
they invariably replied in substance that they must follow
God, not men ; that the Scriptures required blamelessness
in ministers ; that their view of the Scriptures was right
and all the rest were wrong and must be convinced of their
error.14 They therefore entered upon a systematic campaign
to convince the churches and the world that they were right.
They wrote letters to the ministers far and near, challeng
ing them to show by Scripture evidences that they were
wrong, but claimed that they could get no satisfactory re
plies.15 In 1728 Mr. Lord wrote a long letter to the General Con
vention of Ministers in the Colony justifying his attitude
towards Messrs. Godfrey and Mayo and the Chatham and
Pochet Councils, and complaining of the Pochet Church for
receiving members which he had excommunicated. The
letter was not even read in the convention and others which
he sent were similarly treated. The following year Mr.
Stone and Mr. Lord together published their third
pamphlet, entitled " Additional Proposals for Conviction
14. "Why can't you be silent, having done what you think is your duty? Ans. Being
silent is inconsistent with our duty, being commanded to contend earnestly for truth,
Jude 3, and implicitly condemned if therein we be not valiant, as in Jeremiah IX, 3."
From "Additional Proposals," &c.
"But It will be said (as lt has been) Do Mr. Stone and you know more than all men ?
To this I answer for myself * * I don't assume tp myself any greater measure of
knowledge than others. * * Nevertheless I dare not shut my eyes against the light,
because others do not see, as I do.
But here I am met with another banter, Do Mr. Stone and Mr. Lord think that all
must come into their schemes ? To which I answer, We do not lay down any schemes
for others to follow, but what we think we have the warrant of the Word of God for.
And If the Word of God warrant our schemes, I do not see but we may well expect that
such as profess to be the servants of God will come Into them. And if they be not ac
cording to the Word, we would gladly see some other evidence of it, than persons saj-
lng, They are our schemes." From "A Letter," &c.
15. Aug 14, 1724, Cotton Mather writes in his Diary: "Something should be done by
the ministers of this Place to rebuke the wicked Spirit of the Minister at Harwyche,
who incessantly labours |to disturb the Peace of the Churches." 7 Mass. Hist.
Collections VIII, 760; see also page 759.
(23)

308 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
of the Churches." This restated their case against Mr. Os
born and the Pochet Church, defended their course and
called upon all churches to join them in declaring non-
communion with Pochet. They characterized the result of
the Pochet Council as " palpably self-contradictory and anti-
scriptural and consequently a nullity," but their reasons
therefor are not plain. This pamphlet they sent to all
members of the General Court, to many ministers in and
outside the Colony and to in my laymen, their object being
to give it. as wide a circulation, and to discredit their oppo
nents as much, as possible.
They found, however, that the clergy outside of the Cape
were not much interested in their quarrels. They could get
no replies to their pamphlet, except from one minister, who
thought they were right if things were as they represented.
They then, in May 1732, sent some questions to the Gen
eral Convention of Ministers, to which the Convention
answered in effect that they were not the proper judges in
the case. Unable to get any satisfaction, they printed
this year a fourth pamphlet entitled "Postscript in 1732," the
burden of which was to upbraid the churches for their in
consistent attitude in holding communion both with their
churches and with Pochet Church, one of whom must be
wrong.16 In 1734 Mr. Lord published the letter he had
written to the General Convention in 1728, and Mr. Stone
published a pamphlet entitled " Serious Reflections on lait
publick Concernments in these Churches." In 1735 Mr.
Stone followed this with another pamphlet entitled "A
Caution to Erring Christians Relating to the Ministry," all
on the same general topic.
They had now kept up their guerilla warfare against Mr.
Osborn for about fifteen years, and had been unable to find
16. See also a letter dated July 9, 1733, from Mr. Lord to Rev. Thomas Prince on the
same subject In Proc. Mass. Hist. Society, 2nd Ser IV, 312, sent to Mr. Prince with a copy
of pamphlet, "Postscript In 1732." /

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 309
anyone outside of their own churches to uphold them, after
the Pochet Council had decided against them. At length,
however, some of Mr. Osborn's parishioners became dissat
isfied with his preaching. They held that he was teaching
dangerous doctrines; they accused him of Arminianism,
and finally called a Council to consider his case.17 This
Council, which met at Eastham on June 27, 1738, consisted
of the elders and messengers from eight churches, bein°-
nearly all the churches on the Cape except Harwich and
Chatham. Its conclusions were as follows :
I. "It appears to the Council that the Rev. Mr. Osborn hath in his
preaching to this people said that what Christ did and suffered doth
nothing abate or diminish our obligation to obey the law of God, and
that Christ's suffering and obedience were for himself, both parts of
which, we think, contain dangerous error. * * *
II. It hath been said and doth appear to this Council that the Rev.
Mr. Osborn, both in public and in private, asserted that there are no
promises in the Bible but what are conditional, which we think also to
be an error, and do say that there are promises which are absolute
and without any condition— such as the promise of a new heart, and
that He will write His law in our hearts.
III. As to the third article that redemption is conditional and not
absolute, voted by this Council that the charge, in the sum of it, is
sufficiently proved, but yet, inasmuch as Mr. Osborn has retracted the
conditionality of it, we therefore don't leave it as a charge upon him.
IV. It hath been alleged and doth appear to us that Mr. Osborn
hath declared that obedience is a considerable cause of a person's jus
tification, which, we think, contains very dangerous error, and upon
which we say that our best works, which are our obedience, have need
to be justified, neither are they good till they be justified, and there
fore can not justify us till we have the holy law of God.
V. It hath been alleged that Mr. Osborn did assert that the Rev.
Peter Clark's book on Jeremiah 31st Chapter 18th Verse, from which
text the doctrine was that the efficacious grace of God is necessary to
conversion was wrong and erroneous, we find that now Mr. Osborn de
clares that the influence of God's spirit is necessary to conversion by
which he says he understands the same with the efficacious grace of
God mentioned in the Book.
17. See Chamberlain papers in Boston Public Library, for a copy of the charges
against Mr. Osborn,

310 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
VI. We say it appears to us by sufficient evidence that Mr. Osborn
has from time to time frequently used strange, obscene, erroneous and
unguarded expressions too numerous to be mentioned here, concerning
God and his moral perfection, as also concerning Election, Redemp
tion, and other great tenets of our holy faith, which expressions we
judge to be contrary to that plainness, simplicity and soundness of
speech, which a gospel minister ought to use; and upon the whole it is
our judgment and advice that the Rev. Mr. Osborn cease and forbear
the exercise of his ministry and be suspended therefrom until the 25th
of October next, to which this Council shall be adjourned.18
It would seem that this suspension was later made per
manent. Messrs. Stone and Lord, therefore, at length secured
their object of getting rid of Mr. Osborn, but the desired
result was not due to any efforts of theirs, but chiefly, it
would seem, because Mr. Osborn in his theological ideas
was a little ahead of his time. Mr. Osborn's attitude
throughout the whole controversy, it should be said, was
uniformly consistent and conciliatory, while that of his op
ponents was far from being so. It was admitted even by
his opponents that the ministry of Mr. Osborn had been
outwardly successful and his sermons, clear and forcible,
overmatched easily the efforts of the average Cape clergy
man of that day.
After he had been dismissed, the Pochet Church in a fit
of repentance, sent to Mr. Stone an apology for their for
mer action in settling Mr. Osborn, and presumably a similar
apology was sent to Mr. Lord. This satisfied them and the
great controversy was finally ended after nearly twenty
years of friction.19
18. Pratt, History of Eastham, 56.
19. "The'.Brethren of;ye Church in Pochet having sent to me a written confession of
their sins in precipltantly settling Mr. Osborn, in their not having yt charity and
truth for Mr. Lord and me, which 'they ought to have had for us, inadmitingto their
communion excommunicate members, in what they did as to ye Billingsgate affair and
havlng'asked pardon of God and inan.'.mentlonlng us in particular as to that, I read
this their confession inlmy Congregation on Nov. 5, 1738; and publlckly declared my for
giveness of.ym." Harwich Church Becords, 7 Mayflower Descendant 97.

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 311
Mr. Osborn did not submit, however, without a struggle.
With some of his friends in the church he undertook to
worship separately, but his meetings were adjudged con
trary to lavv and were suppressed. He also interviewed
many of the leading ministers in Boston and elsewhere and
endeavored to appeal from the Eastham Council to a larger
council of 32 churches, which would have included nearly
all the churches of eastern Massachusetts Bay outside of
the Cape. A day was fixed wheu they agreed to meet at
Eastham, and Mr. Osborn made ready for their entertain
ment, but they never came. He then personally visited
each of the churches and received in writing a promise to
meet at Eastham on a fixed day, but they again disappointed
him. After this he gave up the fight, and in 1742 sought
to obtain a pastorate at Brunswick, Me., but the leading
clergymen of Boston advised the people there against
him.20 20. Authority for nearly all the foregoing statements made in this chapter will be
found In the following pamphlets, printed by one side or the other during the continu
ance of this controversy :
1. The Result of a Council held at Billingsgate in Eastham Nov. 8, 1720, with Illustra
tion of the Reasons against joining with Eastham in calling a Council; and the Narra
tive of Hannah Doane, briefly giving an Account of the Proceedings of the Church,
whereof she was a Member against her, and the Occasion thereof. By Nathaniel Stone,
Joseph Lord and John Avery. Boston, Printed by Tho. Fleet In Pudding Lane near
the Town House. [1722] pp.56.
(Copy in the Mass. Historical Society Library and iu the American Antiquarian Society
Library.) 2. The Veracity and Equity of the Members of the Council held at Billingsgate in
Eastham, 1720, Asserted and Maintained. By Nathanael Stone and Joseph Lord. Bos
ton, Printed by Tho. Fleet in Pudding Lane, 1723. pp. 16.
(Cony In Boston Public Library and Mass. Historical Society Library. y
3. A Church of Christ Vindicated. A Short and Plain Relation of Some Transactions
in the South Chnrch at Eastham Forced Into the Publick by several Fallacious Pamph
lets that have been lately published . [Signed in the name of the Cburch by John Paine,
Samuel Knowles, Joseph Doane, Nathaniel Freeman and Jonathan Higgins. A post
script is signed by Mr. Osborn, who doubtless wrote the whole.] Boston, 1723-4.
pp. 66. (Copy in Boston Public Library and the American Antiquarian Society Library.)
4. A Letter to the General Convention of the Ministers of the Province of Massachu
setts Bay In New England In the year 1728. Together with the Sentence of Excommuni
cation passed on Two that were Members of the Church in Chatham and the Transla
tion of a Latin Paragraph of Dr. Mather's Magnalia containing Mr. Nathaniel Rogers
his Thoughts of Impediments to Reformation. By Joseph Lord, Pastor of the Church
of Christ in Chatham. Boston 1734 pp.12. (Copy in Boston Public Library.)

312 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
He lost his wife about this time, and in J 743 married in
Boston (intention October 19, 1743, Boston Rec.) Mrs.
Experience (Scudder) Hopkins, widow of Elisha Hopkins,
a well-to-do merchant of Chatham. They lived at Chatham
several years, during which he was engaged in settling the
business affairs of Mr. Hopkins. About this time he he-
came interested in a large tract of land at Dartmouth, which
he bought of Joseph Ellis of Harwich and his wife Martha,
formerly Martha Tinkham of Dartmouth, by two deeds
dated in 1744. 21 Later he disposed of part of this land to
Ellis again and conveyed the re-t to his sons, Samuel and
Joseph, they agreeing to care for him, if necessary.22 His
business adventures appear to have mot with little success.
In 1746 he and his wife were living in Nantucket, where he
was practicing medicine, and remained several years.23
5. Some things briefly offered for Information of the Churches. By Nathanael Stone
and Joseph Lord. 1729 pp.4. (Copy in Harvard College Library.)
6. Additional Proposals for Conviction of the Churches. Dec. 3, 1729. By Nathanael
Stone and Joseph Lord, pp, 8. (Copy In Bjston P.iblic Library and in Harvard College
Library.) 7. Postscript in 1732. By Nathanael Stone and Joseph Lord. pp.8.
(Copy in Boston Public Library and in Harvard College Library.)
8. Serious Reflections on laifc publick Concernments in These Churshes. By Nathan
ael Stone. Boston 1734. pp.8. (Copy In Harvard College Library.)
9 A Caution to Erring Christians Relating to the Ministry. By Nathanael Stone,
Dec. 13, 1735. pp. 7. (Copy in Boston Public Library and in Harvard College Library.)
10. The Case and Complaint of Mr. Samuel Osborn, late of E istuam, as It was repre
sented in a Letter to the Reverend Dr Coleman to be Communicated by him to the Con
vention for their Consideration. Boston 1743. pp. 30. (Copy In Boston Public
Library and in Mass. Historical Society Library )
21. See Bristol County Deeds, Vol. 36 and later volumes.
22. "Honoured Sir: When last with you. you gave me reason to hope yt your hon'r
was disposed to extricate me out of my distressing circumstances & recover for me
something of my losses, the nature of which yon are not a stranger to. * * * [My
request is] yt you get my bond out of my wife's hands, which thing none but yourself
can do, Sir, you having seen lt you may remember these Vords viz: 'We your two sons
Samuel & Joseph for & In consideiation of the Lands which our father hath given us
at Dartmouth, we bind ourselves our heirs, &c to supply our fathers. 0 &cwith
money, clothes and provisions from time to time as he shall need, * * When you
have obtained [yt bond] & transfer'd it to me, then can I have money, Sir.'" * * Ex
tract from letter dated Boston, Nov. 10, 1756, from Siimuel Osborn to Col. James Otis.
Otis Papers 1, 139, Mass. Hist. Soe. Library.
23. Bristol County Deeds above cited,

OSBORN CONTROVERSY. 313
Later he and his wife appear to have disagreed and separ
ated. In 175(i she was living at Chatham and ho in Boston,
probably with his daughter, the wife of Capt. John Homer,
a merchant of that city. He kept a privato grammar school
there eight or ten. years. He doubtless went to Nova Scotia
in or about 17ti2 in the emigration, which carried some of
his children thither. His name is in the list of the original
proprietors of Barrington, N. S. In every instance, how
ever, where his name is mentioned in the land records of
Barrington, it is always accompanied by the statement
"drawn by John Homer " or "sold to John Homer," indi
cating that he was acting for his son-in-law, and in the
census of 1770 his name appears without any family or pos
sessions and with the note "Left the Province."24 His
grandson, Israel Doane of Barrington, states that he "died
in Boston about the year 1774." R.ev. James Freeman in
1802 writes that "he died about thirty years ago, aged be
tween ninety and a hundred." 25 It is likely that his wife
lived and died at Chatham, where her son Barzillah Hopkins
lived, but there is no record of the fact.20
Thoreau, in his book on Cape Cod, writes of him as fol
lows : "He is said to have been a man of wisdom and
24. Information from Alfred A. Doane, Everett, Miss., author the Doane Genea-
ology. 25. 1 Mass. Hist. Soe. Collections VIII, 195.
26. Children of Rev. Samuel and Jedidah (Smith) Osboin (order uncertain) : 1. John,
b. at Sifhdwich, 1713; m. Anna Doane dau. of Thomiis of Chatham— graduated at Har
vard College In 1735, a physician at Middlerown, Conn, and man of letters; d. there May
31,1753. 2. Elizabeth, baptized at Sandwich in 1715; m. 1st, William Myrick, son of
Nathaniel of Eastham Jan. 23 1733-1 (East. Rec.) who was lost at sea in 1742; m. 2nd
William Paine of Eastham Jan. 14, 1744-5 (East. Rec), who died at Lonlsbnrgh. C. B.,
in Aug. or Sept. 1746; m. 3d Edmund Doane of Eastham Nov. 10, 1749 (East. Rec.) and
removed to Barriugton, N. S., about 1762; died there May 24, 1798.. 3. Mary, baptized
at Harwich Mar. 30, 1718 (5 Majfl. Descendant 17); probably died young. 4. Samuel
D m. Margaret ; died in Boston, a mariner (Administration
to his widow Mar. 16, 1753). He left a son Samuel, b. In Boston Apr. 14, 1748. 5. Abi
gail b. ; m. John Bonier in 1749; lived in Boston, removing to Barrington,
N S in July 1775. 6. Joseph b. probably a mariner; nothing discovered about
him- living in 1745. 7. Sarah b. m.'Epbraim Morton of Plymouth about 1745.

314 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
virtue, and taught his people the use of peat and the art of
drying and preparing it, which, as they scarcely had any
other fuel, was a great blessing to them. Fie also intro
duced improvements in agriculture. But, notwithstanding
his many services, as he embraced the religion of Armirj-,
ius, some of his flock became dissatisfied. At length an
ecclesiastical Council, consisting of 10 •(?) ministers with
their churches, sat upon him, and they naturally enough de
stroyed his usefulness. The Council convened at the desire
of two divine philosophers, Joseph Doane and Nathaniel
Freeman."

HISTORY of CHATHAM
MASSACHUSETTS WITH GENEALOGICAL NOTES

BY
WILLIAM C. SMITH
PART IV.

Published by -the
CHATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Printed by

CHATHAM PRESS

1N£.

Harwich* Mass.

— 19 4 7

HISTORY of CHATHAM
MASSACHUSETTS WITH GENEALOGICAL NOTES

BY
WILLIAM C. SMITH
PART IV.

Published by the
CHATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Printed by
CHATHAM PRESS INC.
Harwich, Mass.

19 4 7

This book has been published by the Chatham Historical
Society from the original manuscript of the late Mr. William
C. Smith as a mark of respect.
This is the fourth volume of the History of Chatham by
this same author, the manuscript for this book having been
made available to us by his children, Mrs. Marjorie S.
Broberg and Mr. C. Illsley Smith.
CHATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Chatham, Mass.,
November 25, 1946.

CHAPTER XIV
THE PERIOD OF REV. STEPHEN EMERY'S MINISTRY
1748-1782
/£T FTER the death of Mr. Lord, the pulpit was supplied for several
[r-j months by ministers invited by the church to preach. Rev. Benjamin
Webb of Eastham and others were heard at this time. On August 31, 1748,
Mr. John Ryder was chosen by the town as agent to procure a suitable
successor in the pastorate, and doubtless through his efforts Rev. Stephen
Emery of Exeter, N. H., was induced to come as a candidate. Mr. Emery
was not unknown on the Cape, being a brother-in-law of Rev. Joseph
Crocker of the South Parish in Eastham, and having visited the Cape the
year before and preached acceptably at Harwich and other places.1 After
hearing him several weeks, the town on October 21 offered him favorable
terms for his settlement. Having taken several months for consideration,
Mr. Emery finally came to an agreement with the town in April, 1749. The
terms of his settlement were in substance as follows: 1st. 800 pounds should
be paid him as a settlement, 400 pounds that year and 400 pounds the
next year, in public bills of credit. 2d. His annual salary should be 170
pounds, one-half payable on May 21st, the other half on October 21st of
each year. 3d. He should have four loads of salt hay delivered in
September annually. 4th. In lieu of a parsonage, he should have 20 pounds
paid him annually, one-half in May and one-half in October. 5th. He
should have 20 cords of wood delivered him annually by the first of
November, 16 of oak and four of pine. He was installed pastor May 17,
1749. On May 30, 1749, the town agreed with Capt. Joshua Godfrey to
go with his vessel to Exeter, N. H., and bring Mr. Emery's goods for 50
pounds. Daniel Sears, Jr., agreed to go by land, finding himself and two
horses, and bring Mr. Emery's family for 47 pounds. As Mr. Emery
preferred to build and own his own house, the town voted in August to
sell the house which Mr. Lord had occupied and to let the ministerial land
for a term of years, which was done.
1. See Diary of Benjamin Banprs of Harwich : May 24, 1747, "Mr. Emery preached here,
exceedingly well." January 22, 1748-9, "Mr. Emery preached here from Galatians 2:19th, two
excellent sermons."
(24)

316 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Rev. Stephen Emery was the son of Rev. Samuel and Tabitha (Littlefield)
Emery of Wells, Maine, born August 3, 1707, and graduating from Harvard
College in 1730. His father was a faithful and esteemed pastor of what
was then a growing frontier settlement. After graduation the son prob
ably spent some time teaching school and preparing for the ministry. His
first charge appears to have been at Nottingham, N. H., to which he was
called by vote of the church there September 8, 1742, at an annual salary
of 200 pounds. On October 8 following, he was married at Falmouth,
Maine, to Hannah Allen, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Allen of that place.
Nottingham was then a new and outlying settlement, exposed to Indian
depredations, and when the war with the French broke out in 1744, the
situation soon became so threatening, on account of the alliance of the
French and Indians, that many settlers removed from ,the place. This and
the refusal of the place to increase his salary to meet the depreciation of
the currency or to furnish him with a guard, led to the severance of
relations between him and them about 1747.2 He removed to Exeter, N. H.,
where he was living when called to Chatham, to enter upon one of the
most successful pastorates the town has ever had.
Mr. Emery came to a fairly prosperous settlement of about 100 families
and about 500 people, partly farmers, partly fishermen and sailors, small
in comparison with the other Cape towns, but with a long established
government, and fully organized and well supported church. It was a
community similar to that in which he had been born and reared; and he
doubtless found it easy to understand its aims and aspirations. A list of
the inhabitants of the town at this period has fortunately been preserved,
from which we can see with whom the new minister had to deal. This-
list is a copy of the assessors' valuation of the town in 1755, or the "Rate
Bill," as it was then termed, — being the earliest one preserved.
RATE BILL, 1755

OT
ft

M

¦
11
Ph

c3
Ph

'rt PS

Ph

Thomas Doane,

1

£106

£20

Thomas Bassett,

1

4

4

John Collings,

1

72

28

Nathaniel Bassett,

1

6

6

Richard Knowles,

1

34

50

John Smith,

2

8

6

2. History of Nottingham, N. H., 108.

PERIOD' OP MR. EMERY 'iS MINISTRY.

317

1
Paul Crowel,

1 ¦a
1 104

OT<V
Ph
18

Stephen Smith,

£"3Ph 2

¦a&
25

OTU
Ph
16

John Nickerson,

1 50

11

Joseph Atwood,

1

54

12

John Rider,

1 104

36

Elishua Eldredge,

1

8

7

James Eldredge,

1 76

18

Mr. Daniel Howes,

1

2

Samuel Atkins,

39

18

Mr. William Nickerson,

1

16

6

Thomas Hamilton,

1 50

17

Thomas Godfree,

2

3

2

Ebenezer Paine,

1 32

11

George Godfree,

2

10

10

Jonathan Godfree,

1 20

16

James Rider,

1

25

13

Thomas Nickerson,

1 50

13

John Hawes,

1

17

10

Capt. Daniel Howse,

3 32

12

Joshua Atkins,

1

22

13

Nehemiah Harding,

1 96

28

Joshua Eldredge,

1

9

7

William Nickerson,

2 91

29

Nathaniel Rider,

2

3

2

Daniel Hambleton,

3 25

11

Col. Elishua Doane,5

100

Samuel Hambleton,

2 12

10

Joseph Doane,

1

10

5

Joseph Howse,

2 30

13

Thomas Clark,5

26
Thomas Howse,
2 30
12
Ebenezer Eldredge,
1
7
12
Samuel Godfree,
1 14
4
Barnabas Eldredge,
2
6
10
Moses Godfree,
1 16
28
Mathes Taylor,
1
10
7
Benjamin Berce,3
1 22
14
Mr. Seth Taylor,
1
John Young,
1 50
20
James Taylor,
1
John Eldredge,
1 40
15
Barnabas Taylor,
1
Samuel Smith,
1 26
14
Wid. Elizabeth Eldredge,
50
Jeremiah Eldredge,
1 48
12
Wid. Hannah Eldredge,
34
Ebenezer Nickerson,
1 50
15
Wid. Hannah Nickerson
9
2
Judah Mayo,
2 22
13
Wid. Marcy Nickerson,
1
40
19
Seth Taylor,
I 20
14
Wid. Hannah Taylor,
21
12
Paul Sears,
1 54
19
Wid. Sarah Doane,
1
7
2
Solomon Collings,4
1 119
31
Wid. Elizabeth Eldredge,
2
Maziah Harding,
i 28
10
Theophilus Hopkins,5
5
Thomas Atkins,
1 12
2
James Knowles,
1
10
7
James Covel,
1 46
14
Samuel Lord,
1
2
Daniel Sears,
I 64
94
Samuel Hinckley,
1
3
2
Seth Smith,
L 16
12
Reuben Rider,
2
38
14
Dane Smith,
L 15
8
Stephen Rider,
1
23
5
John Collings,
L 20
10
Zenas Rider,
1
14
10
Joseph Collings,
I 37
15
Paul Crowel,
1
10
13
David Collings,
1 20
11
Jonathan Crowel,
1
16
11
Samuel Collings,
L 30
Joshua Godfree,
1
20
19
3. Benjamin Bearse, blacksmith, aon of Benjamin and Sarah (Cobb) Bearse of Barnstable,
b. Mar. 26, 1710; m. lat Elizabeth Godfrey, dau. of Moses, May 31, 1733 (Chat. Rec). She
died Dec. 1, 1742, aged 26 (Hdstn.). He m. 2d Jane (Collins) Snow, widow of Prence Snow,
Jr., of Harwich and dau. of John Collins, who survived him and m. 3d George Godfrey, son
of Mosea. He lived at Stage Neck on the road to the Stage. He died Oct. 16, 1766, aged 44
318

HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

¦a

B
Ph

Beal

gOTUV
Ph

Nathaniel Covel, 1

12

4

Nathaniel Nickerson, 1

20

8

Eldad Nickerson, 1

20

5

William Batteshal, 1

8

15

Mr. Thomas Nickerson, 1

5

8

Jonathan Eldredge, 1

53

15

John Buck, 1

3

1

Lancelot Clark, 1

10

6

Jabez Crowel, 1

6

11

Mr. Samuel Taylor, 1

40

19

Mr. John Young, 3

4

2

Joseph Paine, 1

6

5

Joshua Hopkins

for Barzillah's rate, 1
12
Elishua Hopkins, 1
23
6
Isaac Buck, 1
2
Archelous Smith, ]
4
4
Josiah Godfree,
4
Seth Harding,
Joseph Harding,
Nehemiah Eldredge,
3
2
George Smith,
1
Nathaniel Hambleton,
8
4
Richard Godfree,
2
Elkanah Nickerson,
16
2
Joseph Eldredge,
13
23
Hezekiah Eldredge,
I 13
4
Solomon Eldredge,
1 13
4
Heman Smith, 1 11
Capt. Jonathan Smalley,5 10
Mr. Ebenezer Nickerson, 1 3
Nathan Nickerson, 1 3
Nehemiah Nickerson, 1 6
Prince Nickerson, 1
Absalom Nickerson, 1
Stephen Nickerson, 1
James Nickerson, 1
Silvanus Harding, 1 2
Joseph Harding, 1 4
Isaac Howes, 1 3
Mr. William Eldredge,5 12
Mr. Zachariah Smalley,5 4
Thomas Kenwrick,5 4
John Atwood,5 16
Henry Atkins, 1
Nathan Bassett,5 5
Nathaniel Godfree,
Cornelius Knowles, 1 18
Mr. Ebenezer Paine,
Nehemiah Doane,
Thomas West,
Thomas Bee, 1 , 6
Heman Kinney,
John Kinney, 1 6
David Crowell,
Elcanah Smith,
Ph 2 3
17 2 232 \
8 9
8
(Hdstn.). His will, dated Aug. 21, 1766, was proved Dec. 2, 1756. It mentions land near John
Eldredge's bought of Mra. Hannah Nickerson, widow, land bought of Daniel Nickerson, of
John Hopkins, of Elkanah Nickerson and of Samuel Hamilton. Children by 1st wife: 1.
Jonathan, b. about 1733 ; m. Euth Eldredge, dau. of James, May 19, 1765 (Chat. Bee.) ; moved
to Barrington, N. S., 1762. 2. Moses, b. about 1786 ; a mariner ; sold land in 1786 to Sears
Atwood (Joseph Atwood, papers) ; probably did not marry. 3. Elizabeth, b. about 1737 ;
m. Thomas Eldredge, son of John, Dec. 7, 1764 (Chat. Bee). 4. George, b. about 17S9 ; m.
Mercy Godfrey, Jr., dau. of George, July 12, 1762 (Chat. Rec). 5. Benjamin, b. about 1741;
m. Mercy Smith, prob. dau. of David, Nov. 8, 1764. (On Dec. 26, 1768, George Bearae was
appointed guardian of Moses Bearse, David Bearse and Sarah Bearse, minor children of
"Benjamin Bearse, yeoman, deceased.") Children by 2nd wife: 6. David, b. ;
mentioned in 1765 in his father's will, but probably died young, as no guardian was named
for him in 1758, when Jane Bearse was named guardian for her other three children.
7. Hannah, b. ; m. . 8. Sarah, b. ;
m. Gideon Nickerson, son of William, Aug. 30, 1764 (Chat. Bee.) ; removed to Barrington,
N. S. 9. Martha, b. ; m. 1st Bichard Gould, son of John, of Harwich, Sept.
12. 1765 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2d, Joseph Dexter, Jan. 10, 1788. (Chat. Rec).
4. Solomon Collins, son of John and Hannah (Doane) Collins, b. at Eastham Feb. 6,
1703-4, m. Eunice Atkins, dau. of Samuel about 1726. He was a man of energy and so
successful that he became one of the largest land owners in the town. He lived on Tom's
Neck near his father. He died Nov. 26, 1765, aged 61 (Hdstn.), leaving a large property.
PERIOD OP MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY.

319

at<3
Ph

1

Ph

OT
Ph

1

e
Ph

William Eldredge,

1

13

4

Joshua Nickerson,

1

2

Reuben Collings,

1

3
Thomas Eldredge,
1
Mr. Stephen Smith,
1
3
2
Jonathan Berce,
1
2
Daniel Nickerson,
1
Nehemiah Harding,
1
5
Solomon Smith,
1
2
Michael Hamilton,
1
Davied Smith,
1
James Eldredge,
1
2
Isaac Smith,
1
3
Joseph Godfree,
1
Jonathan Smith,
1
Reuben Doane,
1
Mr. Samuel Smith,
1
2
Roger King,5
4
Total valuation, real and personal, £4,174.
JOHN YOUNG,
THOMAS HAMILTON,
THOMAS NICKERSON, Selectmen.8
The first few years of Mr. Emery's ministry appear to have been
uneventful years for the town. The people followed quietly their usual
occupations undisturbed by untoward events or by war. In 1754, how
ever, war again showed its ugly front. The French and English in all parts
of the world were again in conflict. The following year an expedition
against Crown Point was undertaken under command of Gen. Johnson.
Early in the autumn men were called for from the Cape to reinforce this
expedition, and Eliphalet Hamilton, Daniel Nickerson and Peter Dogamus,
Indian, from Chatham, saw service from September to the end of December
in Capt. Lawrence White's company of Col. Thomas Winslow's regiment.7
In 1756 Isaac Smith (age 32) was Sergeant, Elkanah Smith (age 22)
Corporal, and Henry Wilson (age 21), private in Capt. Samuel Knowles'
Administration on his estate was granted to James Covell, Apr. 16, 1766. His widow died
Jan. 2, 1790, aged 85 (Hdstn.). Children: 1. Hannah, b. June 5, 1728; m. 1st Daniel
Eldredge ; m. 2d Oct. 3, 1776, Isaac Smith ; d. 1778 leaving no children. 2. Reuben, b. June
10, 1730: m. Zeruiah Eyder, dau. of John, July 11, 1761 (Chat. Rec); died Feb. 4, 1762.
leaving 5 daus. 3. Enoch, b. Dec. 3, 1731 ; administration of his estate July 1, 1778 ; did not
marry. 4. Azubah, b. June 10, 1733 ; m. 1st Bichard Godfrey, eon of Moses, Jan.' 10, 1761
(Chat. Rec), who died leaving 2 sons; m. 2d at Liverpool, N. S-, Joseph Dexter before 1768;
returned to Chatham. 5. Cyranus, b. June 26, 1735 ; m. Rebecca Eldredge. dau. of James, July
13, 1766 (Chat. Rec) ; removed to Liverpool, N. S., about 1760 and later returned. 6. Solomon,
b. Mar. 23, 1737-8 ; m. Mary Taylor, dau. of Seth, Nov. 16, 1758 (Chat. Rec.) ; died Mar. 8.
1760, aged 22 (Hdstn.). 7. Eunice, b. June 23, 1742; m. Joseph Howes, son of Daniel, Nov.
26, 1761 (Chat. Rec). 8. Tabitha, b. ; m. Richard Howes, son of Thomas, Apr.
15, 1766 (Chat. Rec). 9. Desire, b. ; died unmarried in 1767.
5. Non-residents.
6. In the above list the oldest people appear first and the youngeat last, but the list is not
made up strictly according to age. The original was to be found in the office of the Select
men of the town, until destroyed in the Town Hall fire of Jan. 10, 1919.
7. State Archives, Vol. 93, fol. 201 ; Vol. 94, fol. 56.
320 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
company of Col. Joseph Thatcher's regiment, on a similar expedition
against the same place.8 These men also served in 1757.
In Capt. Peleg West's company the following Chatham men served from
February 12, 1757 to October 21 following: Thomas West, corporal; David
Buck, Thomas Doane, Thomas Hamilton, Samuel Smith, James Taylor,
Henry Willson and Daniel Eldredge.9
The Crown Point expeditions having failed, a new plan of action was
undertaken in the year 1758. Among other things a new army was raised
to proceed against Ticonderoga and Canada. In this army in Capt. Samuel
Knowles' company of Col. Thomas Doty's regiment were a number of
Chatham men, serving from March 13 to December 23, viz. : Thomas West,
1st Lieutenant, Thomas Hamilton, Sergeant, Jonathan Barce, Hardin Rider,
Prince Snow, David Harding, Judah Mayo, Lumbard Nickerson, Uriah
Nickerson, Moses Rider,10 James Freeman, Samuel Hambleton.11
In other companies in this expedition were Thomas Crowell, Benjamin
Howes, William Nickerson, Jr., Nathaniel Godfrey, Thomas Harding,
Josiah Godfrey and Elkanah Smith.12
April 8, 1759. "A petition of Abner Eldredge and Others setting forth
that on the 10th of July last they were impressed into His Majesty's service
and billetted themselves for three weeks before they had orders to march
and were then sent to Georges Fort, from whence they returned home the
24th of December following and praying that they may be allowed for the
billetting and that their pay may be made equal to the pay of other soldiers
in the Province Service," received favorable action from the General Court.
The petitioners were Abner Eldredge, George Barss, Jonathan Godfrey,
Daniel Howes, Jr., Thomas Harding, Henry Wilson, Archelus Smith, Caleb
Nickerson and Jethro Higgins. They each received 14 shillings for bil-
8. State Archives, Vol. 64, fol. 316 and 559 ; Vol. 95, fol. 15. In March, 1756, the town
voted that Stephen Smith, Jr., and Henry Willson, in case they went "on the expedition to
Crown Point," should have their wages made up to 40 s. a- month, the Colony allowing
them less.
9. State Archives, Vol. 96, fol. 16. In March, 1757, the town raised 25 pounds and voted
to allow each man who enlisted and went into the service "under Gen. Lord leading, in an
expedition against the enemy," the sum of 4 pounds, in addition to his bounty and wages
from the Colony
10. April 2, 1760-1, "A petition of Nathaniel Rider setting forth that his son, Moses
Rider, a soldier in Col. Doty's regiment, in the year 1758 returned his gun at Fort Stanwix,
notwithstanding which there was deducted from his wages on account of said gun and pray-
ing an allowance, read and ordered that the prayer of the petition be granted and that there
be allowed and paid out of the Public Treasury' the sum of three pounds to Nathaniel Stone,
Esq., for ye use of ye petitioner, it appearing his son, Moses Rider, returned his gun into the
King's stores at Fort Stanwix." General Court Records.
11. State Archives, Vol. 97, fol. 10.
12. State Archives, Vol. 97, fol. 139; Vol. 96, fol. 433.

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY. 321
leting and one pound 11 shillings, 8 pence each for wages, except Abner
Eldredge, who received 18 shillings and ten pence for wages.13
. In April, 1759, the following Chatham men enlisted under Gen. Amherst
for the invasion of Canada: Thomas Crowell, son of Paul (age 19),
Benjamin Howes, son of Daniel (age 20), Elijah Smith (age 22), James
Crowell, Jr. (age 16), Asa Nickerson, son of John (age 18), James Free
man (age 19), Samuel Hamilton, Jr. (age 21), William Nickerson, Jr.
(age 19), Thomas Harding (age 21), Hardin Rider, son of James
(age 23), Nathaniel Godfrey (age 24), David Harding, son of Nehemiah
(age 19), Josiah Godfrey (age 31). 14 The most of these men appear to
have been assigned to Capt. Jabez Snow's company, Col. John Thomas'
regiment, and were stationed at Annapolis Royal, where they served all
through 1759 and 1760, and some of them through 1761 to January, 1762.
Pay rolls show that Thomas Hamilton, Lieutenant; Thomas Crowell, James
Freeman, Samuel Hamilton, Jr., Benjamin Howes, Elijah Smith, James
Covell, William Nickerson and Hardin Ryder served there from March 31
to November 1, 1759, from November 2, 1759 to July 1, 1760, and from
July 2, 1760 to December 15, 1760.15
From April 18, 1761, to January 8, 1762, there served in the same
company, at the same place, Thomas Hamilton, Lieutenant ; Asa Nickerson,
Corporal; James Covell, Samuel Covell, Barnabas Eldredge, Jr., Prince
Godfrey, Thomas Nickerson, Jr., and Wm. Hamilton, son of Daniel.18
In 1760 a complete company was raised in Chatham and Harwich to
join the forces against Canada and complete its subjugation. Capt. Thomas
West of Chatham was the head of this company, which was mustered in at
the North parish in Harwich March 18, 1760. It took up its line of march
from the public house of the widow Howes in Harwich April 26 and
proceeded to Worcester by way of Boston. It was on duty at Worcester in
May and thence proceeded to Springfield where it joined the regiment
commanded by Col. Benjamin Ruggles. It was in the service from Feb
ruary 13 to December 26. The company consisted of the Captain, two
Lieutenants, one Ensign, four Sergeants, four Corporals, one drummer and
sixty-eight privates. It was the largest body of soldiers ever sent out from
13. State Archives, Vol. 78, fol. 480.
14. State Archives, Vol. 97, fol. 139. In April, 1759, the town raised 30 pounds and voted
that "each effective soldier that had or should enlist into His Majesty's service (in the
expedition forming against Canada) this year," should have 40 shillings paid him and hia
P° 15. XState" Archives, Vol. 97, fol. 284 ; Vol. 98, fol. 155 ; Vol. 98, fol. 268. May 15, 17«0,
"Soldiers coming home from Annapolis — except those enlisted again." Benjamin Bangs' Diary.
16. State Archives, Vol. 99. fol. 131.

322 HISTORY OF CHATHAM
this part of the Cape, its membership will be of interest. The names in
italics are believed to be Chatham men.
Thomas West, Captain; Isaac Smith, 1st Lieutenant; Nehemiah Done,
2nd Lieutenant; William Gage, Ensign; Thomas Done, Seth Smith, Henry
Willson, NatJianiel Godfrey, Ezekiel Andrews, Joseph Mayo, Edward Rider,
Prince Freeman, Corporals; Zephaniah Eldredge, Drummer, privates
Ebenezer Arey, Isaac Arey, Jonathan Buck, Jacob Burgis, George Barse,
Ebenezer Bassett, Nathaniel Baty, Ephraim Burgis, Samuel Burgis, Jona
than Burgis, Nathan Bangs, Gideon Baty, Nathaniel Covell, Watson Crosbey,
John Chase, Isaac Clark, Samuel Covell, Joseph Covell, Shubael Downs,
Thomas Gross, Thomas Godfrey, Prince Godfrey, Jeptha Godfrey, John
Godfrey, Benjamin Godfrey, Thomas Gould, Joshua Harding, Benjamin
Higgins, Jesse Higgins, Thomas Hinckley, Edward Hall, Joshua Hallett,
Stephen Hopkins, John Higgins, Archeleus Harding, John Jarvis, Thomas
Jolley, Nathan Kinney, Seth Kelley, Thomas Lincoln, David Ned, Nathan
Forster, Elisha Mayo, Samuel Mayo, John Miller, Josiah Miller, Lombard
Nickerson, William Nickerson, Elkanah Nickerson, Joshua Nickerson,
Uriah Nickerson, Enoch Nickerson, James Oliver, Richard Paine, Moses
Rider, James Rider, William Rider, Josiah Rider, John Ralph, Henry
Rogers, Jesse Rogers, Nathaniel Rogers, Doane Snow, Edward Smith,
Samuel Smith, Nathan Snow, John Tarron, George Webb.17
There were, also a number of Chatham men in the Company of Capt.
Nathan Brigham serving from March 4, 1762, to January 1, 1763, including
Joshua Nickerson, son of William, Thomas Nickerson, Jr., John Buck,
Thomas Hawes, son of John, and John Harding, son of Sylvanus.18
The contest was ended by the Peace of Paris in 1763, by which Canada,
Nova Scotia and Cape Breton were conceded to England and have since
remained British Colonies.
In the autumn of 1755 occurred one pf those terrible mistakes to which
17. State Archives, Vol. 97, fol. 425 ; Vol. 98, fol. 305, 306 ; Bourne, Mss., Harvard College
Library. Benjamin Bangs of Harwich in his Diary makes the following entries regarding
S"s S,?mp?ny: "Mar- 14> 176°- Here is Capt. West with his Chatham officers and young
Ben Thatcher waiting for commission. They have got 100 likely men, but ye officers are
what they are." March 18, 1760. "It is muster day for Capt. Thos. West's company Inlisted
»* Ben. Thatchers & Coll Saltonstall, Coll. Winslow and abundance of people there." Mar.
24, 1760. "Capt. West is here for me to carry his muster rolls & letters to Boston. His
Lieuts. are Isaac Smith & Nehemiah Doane of Chatham & Ensign William Gage." April 28,
1760. Military company ordered to Boston & thence westward." Nov. 10, 1760. "Soldiers
coming home from ye Western Army." Nov. 19, 1760. "This Day was an impress of Stephen
Sears House & men to move John Miller, a soldier, just come home from ye Western Army;
now broke out with small-pox at Esq. Kenelm Winslows ; there is 2 soldiers at Chatham also
that Have it & we fear it's spreading." Nov. 21, 1760. "Joseph Mayo, soldier with small
pox moved to Sears house." Both Mayo and Miller died.
18. State Archives, Vol. 99, fol. 205, 284.

PERIOD OF MR. EMEiRY'S MINISTRY. 323
prejudice and fanaticism always lead — the expulsion of the Acadians or
neutral French from Nova Scotia. After this event the British government
was extremely anxious to attract English settlers to the vacant lands formerly
occupied by the French, and in 1758 Gov. Lawrence of Nova Scotia issued
a proclamation offering extraordinary inducements to immigrants, promis
ing to furnish vessels to transport them, giving them farms free and partially
supporting them till they had built and had started a crop. Copies of this
proclamation doubtless reached the Cape and aroused great interest. Many
of the Cape Cod fishermen had fished in the waters adjoining this territory
and some of them had had a part in the expulsion of the neutrals. They
knew that the waters abounded in fish and they found the offer of the
Governor very tempting. Families from Nantucket and from all along
the eastern shore of Cape Cod accepted the terms of the proclamation.
In the years 1760 to 1763 over fifty families went from Chatham alone
to this region. The greater part settled at Liverpool and vicinity, but many
went to Barrington.
Among those who settled at Liverpool were Joseph Collins, Cyrenus
Collins, Daniel Eldredge and Prince Snow, who were there in 1760, Thomas
Bee, Benjamin Bearse, Jonathan Bearse, Jonathan Crowell, son of Paul,
Samuel Crowell, Joseph Collins, Jr., widow Ruth Eldredge, Zephaniah
Eldredge and Abner Eldredge, her sons, Joseph Godfrey, Nathaniel God
frey, Jonathan Godfrey, Benjamin Godfrey, Joshua Harding, John
Hopkins, Cornelius Knowles, Jonathan Nickerson, Elkanah Nickerson,
Ebenezer Nickerson, Jr., Daniel Nickerson, Nathan Nickerson, William
Nickerson, 3rd, James Nickerson, Elisha Nickerson, Elisha Nickerson, Jr.,
Stephen Smith, Jr., Acus Tripp, William Tripp, John Young, Jr.19 Many
of these were among the original grantees bf the township of Liverpool.
Among those who went to Barrington were Barnabas Baker, Jonathan
Crowell, son of Isaac of Yarmouth, David Crowell, his son, Thomas Crowell,
Thomas Doane, Samuel Hamilton, Theodore Harding, Elisha Hopkins,
Heman Kenney, Nathan Kenney, Thomas Lincoln, Richard Nickerson and
Joshua Nickerson, brothers, Eldad Nickerson and Stephen Nickerson, half
brothers, Prince Nickerson, Archelaus Smith, Thomas Smith, Benjamin
Smith, Reuben Smith, David Smith, Solomon Smith, Jonathan Smith, Elka-
19 Of these Cyrenus Collins and Daniel Eldredge returned to Chatham in a few years ;
also Zephaniah Eldredge, Abner Eldredge and Benjamin Bearse. Samuel Crowell removed to
East Haddam Conn. Nathaniel Godfrey returned to New England in 1778. Joshua Harding
and John Young, Jr., were killed by the Indians at Liverpool in March, 1761, soon after
their arrival (Liverpool Rec). Daniel Nickerson removed to Argyle, N. S., and thence
about 1792 to Litchfield, Me.

324 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
nah Smith, Henry Willson.20 Many of these were also among the first
grantees of the township.
Probably as many as 300 people emigrated from the town in this, the
third emigration, and the greatest of them all. Most of these people
remained in the Province and their descendants are to be found there
today. A few returned to the Cape before the Revolution and others crossed
over to Maine. The town was so depleted by this exodus that, in May
1762, it was voted to petition the General Court in Boston for some abate
ment of the Province Tax and also for permission to hire a "school dame,"
except in winter, in order to reduce school expenses. The town chose Mr.
Chillingsworth Foster, Jr., the representative from Harwich, the town
having no representative, to present the petition and to "set forth the
Declining and Difficult Circumstances of the Town." Nothing appears
to have been accomplished under this vote, as in June 1765 the town
chose John Hawes to petition the Court for an abatement "by reason of
the Removal of so great a number of families from the Town." No
success attended this petition, probably because no evidence of the number
of the emigrants or the extent of the loss to the town was submitted.21
20. Of these settlers Thomas Smith, Benjamin Smith, Reuben Smith and Barnabas Baker
removed in 1774 to Pownalboro, (now Dresden) Me. and in 1779 to Litchfield, Me. Thomas
Lincoln returned to the Cape and settled in Harwich
21. The following statement was later submitted to the General Court, probably in 1769,
the year in which Nathan Bassett, who signed it, first became town clerk.
"Here followeth a true list of the Eatable polls that Removed out of the Town of Chatham
aince the last Valuation before the assessing the said Town for the Province tax for the
year 1763. viz:

Polls

Polls

Samuel Godfrey

2

Edward Eldredge

1

Benjamin Berce

1

Jonathan Berce

1

Joseph Godfrey

1

Thomas West

1

Jonathan Crowell

2

Henry Wilsson

1

Joseph Collings

3

Reuben Cash

1

John Smith

1

Daniel Eldredge

1

Eldad Nickerson

1

Jephthah Godfrey

1

John Buck

1.

Daniel Nickerson

1

Jun'r Thomas Godfrey

1

Archelious Smith

1

Comelious Knowles

1

Jun'r Ebenezer Nickerson

1

Elisha Hopkins

1

Prence Nickerson

1

Zephaniah Eldredge

1

Stephen Nickerson

1

Jonathan Nickerson

1

Jun'r Stephen Smith

1

wid. Ruth Eldredge

2

Heman Kenney

1

Elkanah Nickerson

2

Thomas Bea

1

Solomon Smith

1

Jonathan Godfrey

1

Jun'r John Young

1

Thomas Crowel

1

Joshua Nickerson

1

Nathaniel Godfrey

1

Joshua Harding

1

Nathan Nickerson

1

Ackos Tripp

1

3rd William Nickerson

1

John Covel

1

Jonathan Covel

1

Jonathan Smith

1

Jun'r Barnabas Eldredge

1

Prence Snow

1

Ebenezer Basset

1

John Crowel

1

The above is a true list of ye State Bills from ye last Valuation to ye State Bills 1763.
Examined and Compaired by me Nathan Basset, Town Clerk." State Archives, Vol. 88.
fol. 233.
The above list includes not only those who were stricken from the tax list by reason of
removal, but also those who were dropped by reason of death. I find that Ebenezer Bassett
died Nov. 1760 (Barn. Prob.) ; that John Covel died Dec. 1, 1760, administration on his estate
PERIOD OF MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY. 323
A few years after this emigration, the population and resources of the
town were further depleted by an unexampled epidemic of small-pox.
Isolated cases of the disease had previously appeared in the town from
time to time among soldiers returning from the frontier armies or sailors
from the West Indies.22 Unusual precautions were always taken to prevent
the spread of the dreaded disease, and in nearly every case it had been
confined to the person or family first attacked. In the autumn of 1765,
however, it appeared in the town in its most virulent form and in a short
time became epidemic. It seems to have originated in the family of Dea.
Paul Crowell,23 a well-to-do citizen, but from what cause is probably
uncertain. One traditional account says that it originated from a bale
of cotton brought from the South and on sale at a local store near the
residence of Reuben Ryder.24 Another account says that it was imported
in a package of clothing sent from the West Indies and washed in the house
of the Deacon.25 It raged throughout December 1765 and January 1766.
In all 61 persons were attacked, of whom only 24 recovered.
"A Short Journal of those that Died of the Small-pox in Chatham from
November 23rd, 1765 and onward as followeth, viz:
November 23rd Paul Crowell Jun'r.
being taken out March 1761 ; and that the estates of John Buck, Thomas Godfrey, Jr., and
Jephthah Godfrey were settled in 1763. I do not find these names either on Liverpool or
•Barrington records. John Smith, after his second marriage April 7, 1763 to widow Lydia
Snow of Eastham, removed to the latter place, his children, Thomas, Benjamin, &c, removing
to Barrington, N. S. Barnabas Eldredge, Jr. removed to Harwich, Jonathan Covell removed
to Harwich. 22. Mr. Benj. Bangs writes in his Diary Nov. 19, 1760. "There is 2 soldiers also at Chat
ham that Have it r small-pox) & we fear its spreading." Dec. 1, 1760 he adds : "John Covill
of Chatham died of small pox."
May 18, 1763, James Ryder, Sen., died of the same disease (Hdstn.).
23. Dea. Paul Crowel], son of Col. Paul and Elizabeth (Hallett) Crowell, b. Apr. 4. 1717 ;
m. 1st Rebecca Paine, dau. of Ebenezer of Chatham about 1738. She died Dec. 30, 1746, aged
29, (Hdstn.) and he m. 2nd Reliance Cobb, dau. of Eleazer of Barnstable in 1747. She died
Nov. 9, 1774, aged 46 (Hdstn.) and he m. 3rd Mehitable Ryder, widow of Reuben Ryder and of
Samuel Hopkins of Harwich. He built a house on the west side of the road leading past
Rufus Smith's house and nearly opposite the grave of Ebenezer Paine. His son Hallett occupied
it after his death. He died Nov. 10, 1808 in his 92nd year (Hdstn.). His will dated Apr. 4,
1801 was proved Dec 13, 1808. He gave the homestead to his son Hallett Children of Dea.
Paul Crowell : By wife Rebecca— 1. Thomas, b. Oct. 27, 1739 ; m. Sarah Kenney, dau. of
Nathan ; removed to Barrington, N. S. about 1762 ; 2. Betty, b. Nov. 2, 1740 ; m.
Knowles. 3. Rebecca, b. Oct. 18, 1742 ; m. Nathan Sears of Rochester, Dec. 4, 1764 (Chat.
Rec) 4 Paul, b. Mar. 18, 1744-5; died of small-pox Nov. 23, 1765 (Hdstn.). By wife
Reliance; 5. Eleazear. b. Aug. 7, 1749; died Aug. 28, 1749. 6. Eleazer b. Feb 15 1750-1 ;
died of small-pox in May 1766 while on a whaling voyage. 7. Joseph, b. Apr. 27, 1762; m.
Azubah Smith, dau. of Isaac, Dec. 9, 1773 (Chat. Rec.) ; living 1801. 8. Benjamin, b. Feb.
19 1754 • d before 1801. 9. Abigail, b. May 7, 1756 ; died Aug. 10, 1756. 10. Zadock, b. Aug.
I,'l757. Hdstn. old burying ground; died before 1801. 11. Reliance, b. July 11, 17o9 ; m.
James Hopkins, son of Samuel of Harwich, Mar. 7, 1776 (Chat. Rec.) 12. Patience b. Feb.
23, 1761; m. Simeon Ryder, son of Stephen, as 2nd wife (Int. 1788). 13. Hallett, b. June 27,
1763; m. Betsey Paine of Harwich (int. Jan. 26, 1793 Chat. Rec.) 14 Ezra b. May 28,
1765; m. Bathsheba Smith, dau. of George, Jan. 13, 1788 (Chat. Rec). 15. Paul, b. June 4,
1768; m. Olive Dexter Apr. 10, 1792 (Chat. Rec). By wife Mehitable. 16. Betty, b. July 1,
1776 ; m. Solomon Smith of Barnstable.
24. Josiah Paine Papers.
25. Genealogy of Sears Family by S. P. May, 61.

326 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
December 9th Rebecka, the wife of Mr. Thomas Howes
December 23rd Mercy, the wife of Stephen Rider
Decr. 27th the widow Sarah Doane \
January 6th 1766 Mercy, the wife of Joseph Doane Jun'r.
Janry 6th Desire Atkins
Janry 7th Jerusha, the wife of Knowles Godfrey
Janry 9th Stephen Rider Jun'r.
Janry llth Mr. John Rider
Janry llth Hannah, the wife of Reuben Rider
Janry 12th Doctor Samuel Lord
Janry 12th Hannah, the wife of Joseph Harding
Janry 12th David Rider, son of Stephen Rider
Janry 13th Deakn Stephen Smith
Janry 14th Elizabeth, the wife of Zenas Rider
Janry 14th Thomas Basset
Janry 15th Experience, Daughter of Stephen Rider
Janry 15th Elizabeth, the wife of Elijah Smith
Janry 16th Stephen Rider
Janry 16th Richard, the son of Stephen Rider
Janry 16th Bathsheba, the wife of said Deakn Smith
Janry 17th Zenas Rider
Janry 17th Bethiah Rider
Janry 17th Mary, the wife of Hezekiah Eldredge
Janry 17th Nehemiah Doane
Janry 18th Bathsheba Smith, Jun'r.
Janry 19th Knowles Godfrey
Janry 20th Hezekiah Eldredge
Janry 22nd Ebenezer Paine
Janry 22nd Abigail, the wife of John Hawes
Janry 24th Ruhama, the wife of John Eldredge
Janry 25th Elisha Nickerson
Janry 27th Mary, the Daughter of Capt. Joseph Doane
February 4th Nathaniel Nickerson
Feby 6th Betty, the Daughter of Deakn Smith
March 20th Mrs. Mehitabel Rider, wife of said John Rider
May — Eliezer Crowel, son of Deakn Paul Crowel died with the small
pox on a whaling voiage.
The above is a true account. of the names and time of the death of

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY ^S MINISTRY. 327
those that Died with the Small-pox in Chatham drawn from my own
journal and compared with several others by me, James Covel, one of
the selectmen of said town.
The number of the Deaths (37). The number of those persons which
had the Small-pox within the above said time in said Town is (24) "28
Medical science was then in its infancy and the nature of the disease,
which appeared at first seemingly without cause, was not suspected, until
many had been exposed to infection. The local physician, Dr. Samuel
Lord, early succumbed to the disease. Mr. Thomas Freeman, who lived
in Harwich at the head of Pleasant Bay not far from the Chatham line,
and was considered skilful in medicine, also caught the disease and died.27
Physicians and nurses were then obtained from Boston and every known
method of combatting the disease was employed. Schools were closed,
business abandoned, and the community generally was in a state of fear
and consternation. Whole families were almost wiped out. Mr. John
Ryder and his wife, aged and well-to-do people, were taken away, their
maiden daughter Bethiah, their son Zenas and his wife, their son Stephen,
his wife and nine of his ten children and the wife of their son Reuben.
Dea. Stephen Smith, his wife and two of his daughters died and other
families lost two or three members each. At length in the early part of
February 1766 the disease was finally brought under control. When its
ravages were stopped, a fever broke out among the people, of which
some adult persons died and several families lay sick a long time.28
Some idea of the powerful effect this terrible visitation had on the devout
people of that time may be obtained from a letter written by one of the
sons of Dea. Stephen Smith to his half brother in Nova Scotia, a copy of
which is given in the notes below.29 Thomas Hamilton, Jr., a young man
26. State Archives, Vol. 87, fol. 370.
27. His gravestone may still be seen in the field at So. Orleans near where he lived. He
died Jan. 19, 1766.
28. State Archives, Vol. 87, fol. 371. „ 
29. Chatham, Aprel ye 19 Dat 1766
Loving Brother and Sister:
We tak this oppertunity to right to you to Let you know that we are all in a mesure of
health at present and blessed be God for it, and I hope that God will give us Grace to serve
him more excepteble then ever as yet we have dun for his great goodnes to us when in great
danger of having the small pox, that he has kept us from it as yet, and I hope that he will
go on in mercy to us that are alive, and I hope that God will santify to us all his holy hand in
the death of so meny of our dear friends, and I desire your prayers to God for us that he
would keep us from sin and from sickness also, for 'tis very sickly amongst us with the
fevour but I hope that the small pox will be stoopt now. if it doth not brak out again.
I have' received the Letter that you sent to me and I would have you send me another Letter
as soon as you can if you can't com up and send a power of aturny to sum boddy to act for
you and if you entend to sell your part of the real estate we should be glad to have it, and I
would have you send us letters how 'tis with you as ofen as you can.

328 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
of no little native wit and talent, was so deeply moved that he wrote a letter
or address of sympathy and condolence to the survivors, entitled "Some
Account of the Small Pox in the Town of Chatham in the year 1766,"
which so impressed them that it was afterwards printed at their request-
being probably the first printed pamphlet by any native of the town. See
the appendix of this book for a copy of this pamphlet.30
To avoid the danger of spreading the disease, the usual funeral services
were omitted, and the bodies of the deceased were taken out by members
of the family and buried in the rear of their respective farms, where many
of them lie buried today, their resting places being marked in some cases
by substantial slate gravestones.31
The sad plight of the people elicited the sympathy of the neighboring
towns. Money was raised probably in some or all of the neighboring
Cape churches for the relief of the town. How much was so contributed
we have no means of knowing. In June 1766 it was voted by the town
that "what money was or might hereafter be contributed by the Neighboring
Towns for the Reliefe of those that had been Sufferers in the Town by
the Small pox of late should be Disposed of to Defray the Charges of those
poor people among us which had been Exposed to Great Charges and
had little or nothing to pay the same and to help some others that had
been Exposed to so Great Charges by said Sickness that they could not
pay the Same without selling Great Part or all of their Inheritance and
had families which they could not comfortably support, if they so did."
Mr. John Hawes was chosen to receive the money and a committee consist
ing of Mr. John Young, Mr. Barnabas Eldredge and the Selectmen were
chosen to distribute the money "for the uses aforesaid."
The town at the same time appointed Mr. Barnabas Eldredge as its
agent to petition the General Court "for some help and relief on account
of our great sufferings of late by the small pox and other ways whereby
No more at present but we remain your well wishing Brother and Sister til death.
George Smith
Barbara Smith."
Obadiah remembers his love to you all.
Address: "To Mr. Stephen Smith in Leverpool, this with Cair and Speed." Rufus Smith
papers. 30. Thomas Hamilton, Jr., author of this pamphlet, b. Sept. 14, 1739, son of Lieut.
Thomas Hamilton (see note 72, page 285 supra) must not be confounded with another Thomas
Hamilton, his cousin, son of Samuel Hamilton. The latter m. Ruhamah Doane Mar. 19, 1759
fOhat. Rec), was prominent in military affairs during the Revolution and died about 1800.
The author of this pamphlet m. Mrs. Elizabeth Wesson of Harwich Jan. 4, 1769 (Har. Rec)
and removed to Granville, Mass. He later returned and died at Chatham.
31. Some of these stones may still be found in the fields north west of the former residence
of the late Samuel Clifford. Others have been removed to cemeteries in the town. See 19
Mayflower Descendant 49.

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY. 329
we have suffered of late." Such a petition was presented, but as no proof
accompanied it, no action was taken upon it by the Court. The town by
this time began to think that it would be for its interest to have a repre
sentative of its own at the General Court to look after its interests, and
accordingly in 1768 Capt. Joseph Doane was chosen and by re-election
was continued in office about ten years.32 Capt. Doane presented a petition
in behalf of the town (accompanied by written evidence from the Select
men), and on April 26, 1770, a law was finally passed as follows: "A
petition of Joseph Doane Agent for the Town of Chatham setting forth
That since the last Valuation a great number of the Inhabitants of the
said Town have removed to Nova Scotia and other parts, That the said
Town hath been at the Expense of 901 lbs. 7 shillings for the Relief of
Poor persons and others, who were visited with the Small Pox in said
Town from the first of November 1765 to the first of August 176633 &
Praying Relief, Resolved, that the prayer of the petition be so far granted
as that the Town of Chatham be remitted the sum of £98, 7s, 9d, being
32. Col. Joseph Doane. son of Lieut. Col. Elisha and Hannah (Cole) Doane of Eastham,
b. about 1720 : m. Dorcas Eldredge, dau. of Elisha of Eastham, Apr. 12, 1739 (East. Rec.) He
settled at Chatham a few years later, occupying a part of the large real estate holdings of his
father here. He engaged in farming and whaling and for a long time also prior to 1765 "kept
a Public House of Entertainment which hath been of great benefit to the Fisheries." He was
a leader in the town for many years, being selectman, justice of the peace and representative
in the General Court from 1768 on, being the first sent by the town, since 1692. "He was an
ardent patriot and when the Revolution came on he was foremost in that town to prepare for
the conflict." He became colonel of the 2nd Barnstable County Regiment in 1776. Administra
tion on his estate was granted to his son Joseph May 12, 1778. His wife Dorcas survived him.
Children : 1. Lydia, b. May 25, 1741 ; m. Richard Godfrey, son of George, Dec. 23, 1756 (Chat.
Rec.) ; moved to Orrington. Me., about 1790. 2. Dorcas, b. Nov. 2, 1742; m. Elisha Cobb of
Wellfleet, Jan. 23, 1759 (Chat. Rec.) and lived there. 3. Joseph, b. Feb. 10, 1744; m. 1st
Mercy Ryder, dau. of Stephen, May 15, 1763 (Chat. Rec). She died of small pox Jan. 6, 1766
and he m. 2nd Abigail Gould, dau. of Thomas of Harwich, Dec. 25, 1766 (Chat. Rec). 4.
Hannah, b. Oct. 29, 1745 ; m. William Padishall, son of William, May 1, 1765 (Chat. Rec.) ;
moved to Orrington, Me. about 1790. 5. Ruth, b. Mar. 25, 1748 ; m. Elisha Doane, son of
Hezekiah of Wellfleet, Dec 27, 1764 (Chat. Rec). 6. Mary. b. Apr. 22, 1750; died young.
7. Rachel, b. June 1752; died Oct. 26, 1753 (Hdstn.). 8. Elisha, b. Feb. 26, 1755; m. Tamsin
Kent, dau. of William, Dec. 31, 1775 (Chat. Rec.) ; died before 1779, when his widow married
again. 9. Rachel, b. Feb. 2, 1757; m. Simeon Fowler of Westerly, R. I., Mar. 11, 1773 (Chat.
Pec.) ; moved to Orrington. Me., about 1790. 10. Ephraim, b. July 15, 1759; m. 1st Experience
Hopkins, dau. of Barzillah, Mar. 9, 1780 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd at Orrington, Me., Nancy
(Buck) Cole, widow of Peter; moved to Orrington, Me., about 1790. 11. Mary, b. Apr. 22.
1760; died of small pox Jan. 27, 1766. 12. Sarah, b. Jan. 5, 1762; m. Richard Kent, son of
William, Oct. 6, 1780 (Chat. Rec.) ; moved to Orrington, Me., about 1790. 13. Eliza, b. Oct. 6,
1764; m. Heman Smith, Jr., July 15, 1782 (Chat. Rec.) ; moved to Orrington, Me., about 1790.
33. "Here followeth a Just and True Account of the Charges of the Small pox In the
Town of Chatham since the first of November A.D. 1765 to the first of August A.D. 1766 by
the Best Computation that Can be obtained by us the Subscribers Selectmen of said Town from
those that have been visited therewithal That are now Living and from the Executors and
Administrators of those who Died with that Destemper, Exclusive of the Charges of Remov
ing families &c and of what was Done by Neighbours Gratice which In the time of the
Extremity was Considerable, viz: i s. d.
The Charges of the Reverend Mr. Stephen Emery 40—0—0
of John Eldredge 26— " ~ *
of Barzilla Hopkins 2°— J— J
of Hezekiah Eldredge »"— 0—0

of John Hawes

3— 6—8

of John Rider «~ ls~ *
of Stephen Rider 8Q— °— "

330 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
their Province Tax laid on said Town for the year 1769. In full consid
eration of the reasons mentioned in said Petition and that the Province
Treasurer is hereby Directed to conform himself accordingly."34
On November 19,1772, the following news item appeared in the Massa
chusetts Gazette, a newspaper printed at Boston: "On Sunday the 15th
Current Capt. Joseph Doane Jun. sailed from Chatham Harbour on the
Back of Cape Cod and soon after, viz: about ten o'clock in the Forenoon,
saw a Schooner with a Signal of Distress and, going on board, found one
man only in her, who appeared to be in a great Fright and gave the
following Account, viz: That the Day before the said Schooner, Thomas
Nickerson, Master, sailed from Boston Harbour bound to Chatham— that
at two o'clock the next morning they saw a topsail Schooner — that the
man who gave this Account, fearing he should be Impressed, slung himself
with a Rope and let himself down over the Stern — that four Boats with
armed men came on board — that whilst he was there hanging over the
Stern, he judges by what he heard that the Master, Mate and one Man were
murdered and a Boy carried away alive — that he heard talk of burning
the Vessel, but it was finally agreed to leave her to drive out to Sea with
her Sails standing — that after they left her, he came up on Deck, found
none of the Crew, but saw the marks of their being murdered, and Capt.
Doane says that when he came on board, the Decks were bloody, the
of Reuben Rider 40 — 0 — 0
of Capt. Joseph Doane & Knowles Godfrey together 73 — 0 — 0
of Richard Godfrey 33 — 6 — 8
Lieut. Nehemiah Doane & sister together 53 — 6 — 8
of Ebenezer Paine 33 — 10 — 8
Doct Samuel Lord 16 — 0 — 0
Deak Paul Crowell 40 — 0 — 0
of Zenas Rider 30 — 13 — 4
of Nathaniel Nickerson & his Sons 42 — 14 — 4
of Thomas Bassett 10 — 13 — 4
Deak'n Stephen Smith 73 — 13 — 4
of Betty Eldredge 30 — 0 — 0
of Joseph Harding 40 — 0 — 0
of Elijah Smith 20 — 0 — 0
of Desire Atkins 15 — 0 — 0

Total 873 — 11 — 8
N.B. The Charges of Several of the persons above Named by Reason of
Poverty was paid by the Town.
And more which was paid to Divers persons & out of Town that was
Imployed by the Selectmen and paid by the Town as follows : 27 — 15 — 4

901— 7—8
In the Time of the Visitation of the Town with the Small pox, many of the Inhabitants of
said Town were visited with a grevous feavor whereof Divers Adult persons Died and Several
Families lay Sick a Long Time. James Covel, John Hawes, Nathan Bassett." State Archives,
Vol. 87, fol. 371.
Some of these charges doubtless include expense of demolishing houses to avoid recurrence
of the disease. The executor of the estate of Hezekiah Eldredge charges off the following :
"Also with the House and Barn Taken down of Necessity by reason of the Small Pox and
Appraised at £17."
34. Acts and Resolves Province of Mass. Bay, Vol. 18, page 453.

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY. 331
Chests all broke open and plundered and the Head knocked out of a
Barrell of Rum and two or three Gallons only left in it." Capt. Doane
brought the Schooner to the Harbour at Chatham and early the next day
repaired to Barnstable and gave this account to Edward Bacon Esq, who
forwarded it to the Governor and the same day went to Chatham to
examine the person found on board. His name was Ansel Nickerson, a
cousin of the captain. The Governor gave orders to Admiral Montague
to search the coast, but it being so late in the year, only the frigate Lively
was ready for the service. She started from Boston Wednesday the 18th,
over three days after the event. By this time any pirate could have had
ample chance to escape and of course search was fruitless. Nickerson was
arressted on suspicion by order of the authorities and brought to Boston,
arriving on the 23rd. At a Court on Dec. 16th he was ordered to be
tried for murder on the high seas, the date of trial being June 2nd follow
ing. At this trial which aroused great interest, the prisoner was ably
defended and the Court returned a verdict of not guilty — a result which
from the account of the affair which we have, would seem to be inevitable.
That one man on a vessel should have been able to despatch four others
without a scratch himself and then should have gone through the chests
of the vessel, concealed the plunder successfully and then should have done
his best to bring the vessel to its destination, does not look reasonable.
The authorities and presumably the public were not satified, however, and
he was arrested again, charged with piracy and robbery on the high seas.
He was tried for this offence at a special Court of Admiralty, beginning
July 28 and lasting nearly two weeks. John Adams and Josiah Quincy
Jr. were counsel for the prisoner, who as before stoutly asserted his
innocence. He was again found not guilty by the Court, the evidence
not being sufficient.35 "Thus," says the Massachusetts Gazette, "ended a
Trial for the most surprising Event which has happened in this and
perhaps any other age of the world!" "Two of the persons missing viz:
Thomas Nickerson and Sparrow Nickerson, were cousins german to the
prisoner, the third, Elisha Newcomb, married their Sister and the fourth,
William Kent Jr., was a Boy of the same Town about thirteen years of
Age."36 35. See Massachusetts Gazette Nov. 19 and 26, 1772, Dec. 16. 1772 and Aug. 12, 1773.
36. Administration on the estates of Thomas Nickerson, Sparrow Nickerson and Elisha
Newcomb was taken out Nov. 9, 1773. Barnstable Probate Rec.
Thomas Nickerson, son of Thomas and Dorcas (Sparrow) Nickerson, b. Mar. 19, 1744-5 ; m.
Puth Hinckley, Jr. of Harwich Oct. 27. 1765 (Har. Rec). Children: 1. Myrick, b. Mar. 27,
1767; m. Esther Nickerson. dau. of Caleb, Sept. 3, 1788 (Chat. Rec). 2. Isaiah, b. Apr. 10,
1769 ; m. Lydia Godfrey, Jr., dau. of Richard, Oct. 12, 1793 (Chat. Rec.) ; removed to Orring-

332 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
The meeting house erected in 1729 had now seen nearly fifty years of
service and was not only out of repair but had been outgrown. Some
desired that it be placed in a different location. At a town meeting held
March 22, 1773, it was voted not to remove the meeting house, but to
enlarge and repair it "as or where it stands." One week later it was
voted that the "mens and womens seets should stand frunting the pulpit
after the Meeting House is Inlarged and Liberty if the Town can agree
to take up some of the hindmost seets and set some pews in the place of
said seets." Samuel Collins37 was chosen agent to see what bargain could
be made with carpenters with regard to the proposed improvements.
Richard Sears was chosen to procure for the town the necessary boards,
timber &c, to be brought "from ye Eastward" and landed on shore at Old
Harbor. He was to get it all "in this Countrey excepting Joice." Mr.
Sears went with his vessel during the summer of 1773 to "ye Eastward"
and procured the necessary building materials, as the following bill
rendered the town will show :
"Town of Chatham Dr to Richard Sears
October ye 20th 1773.
to 9 M. Marchantable boards at
to 1329 feet of Clear Board at

ton, Me. 3. David, b. July 18, 1771 ; m. Priscilla Snow, dau. of Joseph of Harwich, Oct. 8,
1797 (Har. Rec) ; removed to Harwich.
Sparrow Nickerson. son of Thomas and Dorcas (Sparrow) Nickerson, b. Feb. 23, 1742-3 ;
m. Abigail Burgess of Harwich, Feb. 11, 1762 (Har. Rec). Children: 1. Tamsin, b. ;
m. Moses Barlow of Nantucket, Nov. 24, 1785. 2. Abijah, b. ; m. Hannah Snow ;
died before 1799 leaving children. 3. Dorcas, b. ; m. Joseph Howes. Jr., of Chatham,
May 27, 1791 (Chat. Rec). 4. Lewis, b. ; mentioned in his grandfather's will in 1799.
Elisha Newcomb, son of Joseph and Mary (Eldredge) Newcomb of Wellfleet, b. ;
m. Phoebe Nickerson, dau. of Thomas, Oct. 28, 1765 (Chat. Rec). She m. 2nd Constant
Nickerson, son of Ebenezer, Nov. 11, 1773 (Chat. Rec). Child: Phebe, b. ;
m. Hamilton.
Ansel Nickerson, son of Ansel and Bathsheba (Small) Nickerson, b. Nov. 20, 1748 (Chat.
Rec.) and named Levi (name later chanced to Ansel after death of his father) ; m. Mary
Smith of Barrington, N. S., Nov. 14, 1771 (Har. Rec). He was lost at sea. Children: 1.
Levi, b. ; m. Betsey Phillips of Harwich. Feb. 23, 1794 (Har. Rec); drowned in
Boston Harbor. 2. Rhoda, b. Sept. 27, 1777: m. Ziba Ellis of Harwich (Int. Oct. 1, 1796
Har. Rec). 3. Sally, b. ; m. Ensign Baker, son of Shubael of Harwich. Dec 4, 1800
(Har. Rec). 4. Deliverance, b. ; m. Absalom Howes, son of Isaac of Chatham, Dec.
14, 1782 (Chat. Rec.) ; removed to Madison, Maine, after 1800.
37i Samuel Collins, son of John and Hannah (Doane) Collins, b. Nov. 26, 1705, m. 1st
m. 2nd Patience (Howes) Eldredge, widow of Jonathan
Eldredge and of Seth Eldredge Oct. 19, 1758 (Chat. Rec). He was a man of means, prominent
in church and town affairs, being one of the Selectmen nine years. He died Aug. 6 1799
(Hdstn.). His widow died in Danvers, Mass., Oct. 29, 1810. aged 85 (Hdstn.). Children: 1.
Ruth, b. 1757; m. Shubael Hinckley, son of Samuel, Jan. 22, 1781 (Chat. Rec.) ; d. Aug. 8,
1781, aged 23 (Hdstn.). 2. Samuel, b. ; m. Tenny or Content Howes Jan. 24, 1789
(Chat. Rec) who died in Danvers, Mass., Sept. 20, 1806, aged 43 (Hdstn.) ; moved to Danvers,
Mass., in 1806. 3. Seth, b. 1760 or 1761 ; m. Bethiah Hall of Harwich, (int. Oct. 15, 1782 Har.
Rec.) ; died Aug. 16, 1794, aged 33 (Hdstn.) leaving son Benajah. 4. John, b. 1767 or 1768 ;
m. ; drowned May 18, 1795, aged 27 (Hdstn.), leaving son Samuel.

£ s.

d.

£ s. d.

2— 1-

- 4

18—12— 0

2—13-

- 4

3—10—10

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY. 333

10— 8

16— 0— 0

6— 8

05— 0— 0

£ s. d.

2— 5— 4

2—14—10

to 30 M. Shingles at
to 15 M. Laths at
to 1210 feet of Joice at

45—17—8"
On November 30, 1773, it was voted "to open and Enlarge our Meeting
House East and West Seventeen feet," "to have all new windows and all
new glass and the whole House all new shingled, if the Committee thinks it
needfull" — "to plasture the walls and overhed, all that is wanting and to
paint the Meeting House all over outside and inside where it is needfull" —
"where the old stuff is good as to the frunt of the gallerys and all other
places, to put it in again" — "to take up two hind seets on the Loar flore
on Each side the Great Alley of mens and womens Seets and make Pews
in there Roome," — "to Inlarge and add one foot forward in the East
and West Gallerys of mens and womens Seets" — "to build a convenient
porch at the frunt door of the Meeting House." A committee was appointed
to superintend this work consisting of John Hawes, Seth Smith, Joseph
Atwood and Samuel Collins, being the Town Clerk and the . Selectmen.
The offer obtained from the carpenters was submitted to the town at a
meeting held Dec. 21, 1773, and was accepted. They agreed "to rebuild
our Meeting House, the Town finding all the Lumber, for the new Room
that shall be made on the lower floor for Pews, the carpenters to find all
the material for finishing." At the same meeting it was voted "to paint
the Meeting House as follows (viz) the frunt and the two Gable Ends
to be painted with a Stone Couler and the Porch, back side and all over
the Roofe with Spanish Brown and the inside as followeth, the Pulpit and
the frunt of the Gallerys and the Sids all with Stone Couller." It was also
voted to take up three of the women's hind seats "and make the mens in
proportion to them, in order to make the Alley one foot wider that Leads
up Gallerys and the men's and women's seets to be made wider apart."
It was voted to make "the Porch nine feet East and West and ten feet
North and South." The town agreed "to find all the Licker that shall
be expended in opening and Raising the Meeting House and the necessary
Rigging and Blocks." The carpenters, Thomas Knowles and Benjamin
Hinckley, were to begin work May 1st, 1774 and to finish the building by
November 1st following.

334

HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

The meeting house, as so enlarged and repaired, remained practically
unchanged until its demolition about 1830, with the exception of minor
alterations made in 1792. It was virtually a new building. Seventeen
feet had been added on the east and west sides of the old building and a
porch built in front. The roof of the old building had been changed and

"m

FJ v 01 O I*
L-Jin i „

$.-Zz.-*i'..*U

General appearance of Second Meeting House after enlarging and remodeling
in 1773, showing also the lines of the original house.

the "turret" had disappeared. There was an entrance not only in front
through the porch, but on the east and west sides through the "gable ends."
Mr. Levi Atwood, who remembered the building as it appeared in his
boyhood, describes it as "a plain building of good size with no steeple,
with a red roof and yellow walls." "For a front door step a millstone or
perhaps a half one was placed, over which all had to pass on entering."
"The ground about the building was paved solid with small pebble stones,
covered with grass."38 The pews were square and high, nearly hiding the
small people and sometimes contained a chair or two where the family
was large. The seats of plank were on hinges and during the long half
hour prayer were turned up on edge, so that none could sit during their
devotions. When the prayer ended, there was a general slam-bang of
falling seats throughout the house. There was a wide gallery on three
sides of the house, the singers occupying the one opposite the huge pulpit,

88. Some of these stones may be found on the site of the old meeting house today.

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY IS MINISTRY. 335
which nearly filled the space between the two galleries, extending half
way to the ceiling and above it was suspended a pretty sounding board.
The pulpit was entered by two flights of stairs. The minister on entering
closed the pulpit doors and shut himself away from his congregation."39
A few years after these improvements to the meeting house, additional
ground for cemetery purposes was secured by the Town by the purchase
of land in the rear of the meeting house. The first cemetery at the head of
Ryder's Cove, which was laid out by William Nickerson Sen. and given
to the town by his daughter about 1715,40 appears to have remained little
else than a Nickerson family burial lot. How early it was superseded, we
do not know, but doubtless interments began to be made in the rear of
the first meeting house soon after its erection in 1700. The earliest grave
stone in the lot where the first meeting house stood, is that of Richard
Sears, who died May 24, 1718. From this time until as late as 1780 this
was virtually the only burial place used by the town. The latest known
interment there was made in 1812. In April 1781 a town meeting was held
"to see if the Town will purchase the Land (agreeable to the Bargain made
by our Agent with John Pain) Lyirjg to the Northward of our Meeting
House and they voted they would by it for a burying [place] and for
Parsonage for the Town and they agreed to give said Pain twenty-eight
hard Dollars for said Land if they paid him in six weeks, and if not paid
then, to give him twenty-nine Dollars for said Land." What is now the
north section of the old cemeteries was acquired by the Town under this
vote. The first original interment therein was probably that of Ruth, wife
of Shubael Hinckley, who died August 8, 1781, aged 23. It remained the
only burial place for about fifty years. After the building of a new meeting
house in 1830 in a different part of the town, this old cemetery was little
used. The last interments therein appear to have been made in 1842.
Since that date there has been no town cemetery, all burials being made
in denominational cemeteries attached to the several denominational
churches of the town.
During Mr. Emery's ministry the schools were gradually strengthened,
but wars and disasters seriously interfered with them. Although money
was regularly appropriated for schools, the town records for some years
after 1750 give little information how it was spent. We are informed
39. Mr. Levi Atwood in an address June 20, 1895 on the 176th anniversary of the
organization of the Church.
40. See supra page 94 and note 44.

336 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
that John Young41 was chosen schoolmaster in September 1754. Thomas
Paine of Harwich or Eastham taught in 1760 and James Ryder42 in 1762.
Men of maturity were chosen at this time. In the latter part of 1762
Thomas Hamilton Jr. was schoolmaster two months and Dea. Paul Crowell
Jr. three months. Thomas Hamilton Jr. was chosen again in April 1764.
The salary at this time was at the rate of £26-13s. per year. In June 1764
the town was presented at Court for not having a "grammar school master."
It contained at this time over 100 families and under the law was required
to maintain "a grammar school," taught by a man of superior education
or, as the statute reads, "some discreet person of good conversation, well
instructed in the tongues."43 As the school appropriation was this year
increased to £67, it is supposed that a "grammar school master" was pro
cured forthwith. At all events this is the last we hear of schools in the
town being taught by the ordinary untrained residents of the place. In
June 1765 Rev. Mr. Emery, being "agoing to Commencement," was
empowered to get a teacher of suitable qualifications for the town. It is
supposed that he obtained Mr. Benjamin Shattuck,44 as he was the school
master in 1766 and 1767, his salary being £40 per year. In 1768 Mr.
41. John Young, son of David and Ann (Doane) Young of Eastham, b. Majr. 20, 1695 : m.
Dinah (Harding) Baker, widow of William Baker of Yarmouth (Int. Mar. 10, 1721, East.
Rec). He settled first in Harwich where his first child was born and where he was living
as late of 1726. He removed to Chatham before 1730. He was Selectman 24 years between
1736 and 1766, probably the longest service in the history of the town. According to Mr.
Josiah Paine, he lived in the north part of the town on the north side of the King's road, not
far from the head of Muddy Cove. His wife died Jan. 3, 1779, aged 78 (Hdstn.). He died Apr.
2, 1788, aged 93 (Hdstn.). Children (so far as known) : 1. Prince, b. at Harwich, May 1,
1723 ; m. 1st Nickerson, dau. of John of Chatham, about 1742. She died and he m.
2nd about 1745 Lydia Mayo, dau. of Judah of Chatham. 2. Zipporah, b. at Chatham, Aug. 5,
1730; m. Edmund Hall, son of Joseph of Yarmouth, Dec. 23, 1748 (Chat. Rec) ; m. 2nd Seth
Tobey of Yarmouth, Aug. 27, 1767 (Yar. Rec). 3. John, b. July 2, 1733; m. int. to Sarah
Lewis of Chatham, Sept. 14, 1751 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd Mary Doane, dau. of Daniel of Har
wich, June 5, 1755 (Har. Rec). 4. Jedidah, b. Mar. 7, 1737-8; m. Prence Harding, son of
Maziah, Feb. 4, 1761 (Chat. Rec). 5. Isaiah, b. ; m. Debby Atwood, dau. of Joseph,
Dec 9, 1767 (Chat. Rec).
42. James Ryder, son of Ebenezer and Experience (Hall) Ryder of Yarmouth, b. Apr. 16,
1717 ; m. Mary, dau. of Joseph and Mary Harding of Chatham. She died June 1760, aged 39
(Hdstn.) and his intention of marriage to Hannah (Hawes) Slater, widow of John, is
recorded Nov. 15, 1760. It is doubtful whether the marriage took place. He died of small
pox May 8, 1763, aged 46 (Hdstn.). His will, dated May 5 and proved June 7, 1763, mentions
only his deceased wife. He disposes of real estate inherited by his wife from her father and
grandfather, also land bought of John Stuart and Jennie, his wife. Children (order uncer
tain) : 1. Harding, b. about 1740 ; m. Hannah Eldredge, dau. of Seth, Nov. 20, 1760 (Chat.
Rec) ; moved to Orrington, Me. 2. James, b. about 1742 ; m. Tabitha Collins, dau. of David,
Aug. 19, 1766 (Chat. Rec). 3. Mary, b. ; m. Elisha Eldredge, Jr., Dec 17, 1767
(Chat. Rec). 4. Joseph, b. ; m. Elizabeth Eldredge, dau. of Seth, Sept. 4, 1769
(Chat. Rec). 5. Jennie, b. , m. Joshua Eldredge, Jr., Jan. 11, 1770 (Chat. Rec).
6. Abner, b. ; living 1763.
43. Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts Bay I. 63.
44. Benjamin Shattuck, son of Stephen Shattuck of Littleton, b. Nov. 11, 1742, was a
graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1765. After several years teaching at Chatham,
he studied medicine with Dr. Oliver Prescott of Groton and settled at Templeton, Mass.,
where he married in 1772. He became a very successful and highly respected physician,
practicing till his death in 1794.

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY. 337
Richard Burton45 became schoolmaster and remained five or six years.
His salary was the same as that of Mr. Shattuck. The town was still
divided into quarters and school was kept three months in each quarter.48
In May 1775, on account of the expense to the town caused by the war
of the Revolution, it was voted "not to raise any money for a school at
present." The following March it was voted "not to have any grammar
school master." In October 1779 the town chose Richard Sears to get a/
schoolmaster. In May 1780 he was chosen "to get a Grammar School
master for the town." As the records do not show appropriations for
schools till 1785, it is doubtful, if any were held during the war, the money
going to pay bounties to soldiers.
At a town meeting in 1755 it was put to vote whether Ebenezer Nicker
son,47 Stephen Ryder, Barnabas Eldredge, Nathaniel Covell48 and Nathaniel
45. Richard Burton, son of Philip and Mary Burton of Castle Island, County Kerry,
Ireland, may have been a resident of Eastham before coming to Chatham. He was of Chatham
as late as 1775 when he was taxed as a Baptist. He removed to Nantucket where he engaged
in business, and where he died unmarried in 1779, leaving a will. He appears to have led a
double life in Chatham. Nantucket Probate Records.
46. The following division of the town into quarters made Jan. 6, 1768, appears on the
town records. It follows about the same lines as those first adopted in 1722, but the descrip
tion is more definite and complete. "Beginning at the River Between Fox Hill and Richard's
Point, thence as the River runs to the herrin brook, thence westerly as the Brook runs to the
pond to the north of Mr. Emery's House, thence Southerly to the Lime Hill, leaving Mr.
James Knowles House in the West Half, and from the Lime Hill to the Oyster Pond, thence
Southwesterly as the Crick runs to the Stage Harbour. The first Bounds to quarter the
Town ; Beginning at a Gully in the Brook that Runs out of the pond south of Mr. Henry
Atkinses House, thence Westerly into the pond aforesaid, thence Westerly to the North of
Capt. Howeses House and Barn, thence Southerly to the way, taking in Elisha Howeses
House to the Northeast quarter, thence Westerly as the way is now till it meets with the
Bounds or line that Divides the Town in Halves. The West Half: Beginning at Mr. James
Knowlses pond, thence Westerly in the range of the ponds to the Goose pond, thence Westerly
in the range of the ponds till it meets with Harwich line." Signed Joseph Doane, John
Hawes, Barnabas Eldredge, Seth Smith, Samuel Taylor, Paul Crowell, Joseph Atwood, George
Godfrey, Committee.
47. Capt. Ebenezer Nickerson, son of Thomas and Mary (Bangs) Nickerson, b. about
1700 ; m. Constant, probably dau. of Joseph Covell. He was Capt. of the Military Co. as early
as 1734, and was one of the leaders of the Baptists in Chatham. His will dated Mar. 25, 1762
was proved April 12, 1768. His wife survived him. Children (order uncertain) : 1. Ebenezer,
b. ; m. Mehitable Gray of Harwich, Feb. 24, 1746 (Har. Rec.) ; removed to Liver
pool, N. S., about 1761. 2. Seth, b. ; m. Mary, ; removed to Ridgefield,
Conn., in 1747 (see Ridgefield Rec). 3. Nathan, b. ; m. Abigail Eldredge, dau. of
John, May 17, 1749 (Chat. Rec.) by whom he had two children. They were of Boston in 1758.
He m. 2nd in Chatham Susanna (Godfrey) Cole, widow of Richard Cole, Oct. 8, 1761 (Chat.
Rec.) ; moved to Liverpool, N. S., in 1762. 4. Dorcas, b. ; m. Stephen Nickerson,
son of William, about 1750 ; removed to Barrington, N. S., about 1761. 5. Thomas, b.
; m. Mercy Nickerson, dau. of James of Ridgefield, Conn., Apr. 18, 1762 (Chat.
Rec ) ¦ removed to the Oblong. 6. Uriah, b. about 1740 ; m. Hannah Smith, dau. of Dea.
Stephen Apr. 17, 1760 (Chat. Rec). 7. Timothy, b. ; m. Elizabeth Farris of Yar
mouth, May 8, 1766 (Yar. Rec). 8. Constant (a son), b. (not 21 in 1762) ; m. Phebe New
comb, widow of Elisha, Nov. 11, 1773 ; moved to Maine about 1790.
48 Nathaniel Covell, son of Joseph and Hannah (Bassett) Covell, b. ; m. Mary
Chase, dau. of Isaac of Yarmouth (Int. July 20, 1740). She was b. Jan. 9, 1720-1. This
family having joined the Baptist Church of Harwich, removed to that town about 1770, where
most of their children married. Children : 1. Joseph, b. July 3, 1741 ; m. Mercy Nickerson of
Harwich (Int. Apr. 23, 1760, Har. Rec). 2. Nathaniel, b. Apr. 27, 1743; no record of him.
3 Obadiah b Jan. 28, 1744 ; no record of him. 4. Dorcas, b. June 1, 1747 ; died May 16, 1763.
5 Isaac b' Apr 6, 1749; m. Ruth DoaHe of Harwich, Nov. 8, 1769 (Har. Rec). 6. Judah,
b Mar. 25, 1751-2; m. Jane Gage of Harwich, Nov. 4, 1773 (Har. Rec). 7. Ebenezer, b.
Dec 6, 1752; died Nov. 27, 1754. 8. Dorcas, b. Apr. 4, 1755; no record of her.

338 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Bassett,49 "which are called Separatists or New Lights," shall be exempt
from paying rates and it was decided in the negative. In April 1759,
however, Ebenezer Nickerson, Joshua Eldredge, Stephen Ryder and
Barnabas Eldredge were exempted from paying poll taxes for support of
the ministry. This exemption of Separatists or Baptists appears to have
become an established practice soon after this. In the tax list of 1773
the Baptists are given a separate page and their names are recorded as
follows: Samuel Bassett, Reuben Cash, Nathan Phillips, Lomber Nickerson,
Barnabas Eldredge, Solomon Eldredge, widow Abigail Ellis, Ebenezer
Eldredge, Ebenezer Eldredge Jr., Isaiah Eldredge, David Bassett, Bassett
Chase. The list in 1774 and 1776 differs somewhat from the above, being
as follows: Jeremiah Eldredge, Barnabas Eldredge, Nathaniel Bassett Jr.,
Jabez Crowell, Lomber Nickerson, Jeremiah Kelley, Reuben Cash, Joseph
Smalley, Nathan Phillips, Samuel Bassett, Stephen Phillips, Christian
Nickerson. In 1784, in addition to the above list, the following were taxed
as Baptists: Samuel Covell, Constant Nickerson, John Allen, Obadiah
Eldredge, Samuel Ryder, Ebenezer Eldredge Jr. There was no Baptist
church in the town during this period. These people attended church in
Harwich. So far as appears, there was no regular appropriation for the town poor
before 1740, but from time to time there is an occasional record of a
few pounds voted for that purpose. There was one man who for about
40 years, beginning about 1724, caused the town much trouble by his
shiftlessness and was more or less a dependent till his death in 1768. After
1740 the usual course of the town was to appropriate a sum "for schools,
poor and other town charges," so that the amount actually devoted to the
poor does not appear. It would seem, however, that it gradually increased
till it reached £30 per annum at the beginning of the Revolution. In 1753
and for several years thereafter Nehemiah Harding was chosen overseer
49. Nathaniel Bassett, son of Nathan and Mary (Crow) Bassett, b. ; m. Sarah
Chase, dau. of Thomas of Yarmouth, Aug. 23, 1739 (Yar. Rec). She was b. at Yarmouth,
May 20, 1722. He lived upon his father's place on South side of the road at East Harwich and
just west of his brother Nathan's place. He espoused the belief of the Baptists and attended
the Baptist Church in Harwich. His children married among people of that persuasion.
Administration on his estate was granted to Samuel Bassett, Apr. 10, 1781. His widow Sarah,
died about 1803, in which year her estate was settled. Children: 1. Ede, b. Oct. 3, 1740; m.
Job Chase of Harwich, Nov. 6, 1760 (Chat. Rec). 2. Happy, b. Apr. 25, 1743; m. Smalley
Phillips of Harwich, Oct. 20, 1763 (Chat. Rec). 3. Phebe, b. Mar. 17, 1744-5; m. Joseph
Chase, Jr., of Yarmouth, Mar. 16, 1766 (Yar. Rec). 4. Samuel, b. Mar. 10, 1746-7; m.
Peninah Bassett, dau. of Nathan, Jan. 14, 1768 (Chat. Rec). 5. Richard, b. Mar. 13, 1748-9;
m. Phebe Phillips of Harwich, Feb. 26, 1768 (Har. Rec). 6. Sarah, b. Feb. 24, 1760-1; m.
Reuben Eldredge, Jr., of Harwich, Jan. 30, 1772 (Chat. Rec). 7. Nathaniel, b. Mar. 20, 1766;
m. Mercy Phillips of Harwich, Jan. 29, 1772 (Har. Rec). 8. Huldah, b. Mar. 19, 1756; m.
Christian Nickerson of Harwich, Mar. 10, 1774 (Chat. Rec). 9. Hannah, b. Oct. 20, 1757;
m. John Dyer of Sherborn, Apr. 24, 1777 (Chat. Rec).

PERIOD OF MR. EMERY'S MINISTRY. 339
of the poor, but prior to that time and afterwards the care of the poor was
determined by the town in town meeting, each case being assigned to some
suitable person, who was willing to take and care for papupers at an agreed
price. The growth of the town during Mr. Emery's ministry was seriously
retarded by a series of misfortunes. The French and Indian Wars, the
emigration to Nova Scotia, the small pox epidemic and finally the Revo
lution all contributed to interrupt its natural growth. Indeed it was
scarcely able to hold its own. Not until after the Revolution was any
substantial progress made, as the following table of polls assessed and of
assessed valuation of property will show.50
50. This table was compiled from such of the original "rate bills" of the town as were
preserved in the office of the Selectmen in 1918. These very old and interesting documents
were unfortunately destroyed in the Town Hall fire of Jan. 1919.

340 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

CHAPTER XV

THE REVOLUTION

The first local symptoms of approaching trouble with another country
appears in the town records in 1768. There had already been much agita
tion in Boston and other large centers on account of the Stamp Act and
other oppressive measures, but the country-side had been only mildly
aroused. On September 12, 1768, however, it was decided at a town
meeting in Boston to invite the whole Colony to send delegates to a general
convention to be held in Boston on September 22nd for the purpose of
devising ways and means of obtaining redress of their grievances. Letters
were sent out by the selectmen of Boston to every town. Those to the town
of Chatham were probably delayed in transmission, as no meeting of the
inhabitants was held to consider its contents till September 26th, when it
was too late to send delegates. On account, as the records say, of "the
low declining circumstances of the Town, as being a very small and poor
town which had of late been exposed to several Distressing Reductions",
it was voted to send a letter, in place of delegates, and the selectmen were
chosen a committee to frame a suitable reply, which was sent. It approved
the calling of the Convention and thanked the citizens of Boston for their
public spirit, but made no suggestions. The convention met at Boston at
the appointed time and was in session six days. Its action was a protest
against taxation of the British Parliament and against a standing army
and other usurpations of power.
In November, 1772 the citizens of Boston, on motion of Samuel Adams,
appointed a committee of correspondence.
1. "We assert the wisdom and prudence of the Gentlemen the Inhabitants
of the Town of Boston in their motion for a Convention, as in their Letters
mentioned (in this critical juncture) to consider and advise what measures
may be proper, in a loyal, constitutional and peaceable manner, to redress
the many grievances this Province labors under, and also to consider and
advise what measures in their wisdom and prudence may be most proper
and expedient to prevent such disaster and difficulties as may otherwise
happen through the Anxiety of the peoples minds. And we do heartily
acquiesce in the Resolve of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the

THE REVOLUTION. 341
town of Boston, as it was communicated to us in their aforesaid Letters.
And we Return our thanks for your Care and Concern for the peace and
well being of this Province.
"And we remain, gentlemen, with the greatest esteem,
Your obedient humble servants
JOSEPH DOANE
JAMES COVEL
JOHN HAWES
Selectmen"
"to state the rights of the Colonists and of this Province in particular, as
men and Christians and as subjects; and to communicate and publish the
same to the several towns, and to the world, as the sense of this town, with
the infringements and violations thereof that have been or from time to
time may be made." A letter having been received by Chatham from
this committee, a town meeting was called for December 17, 1772, at which
the following persons, James Covel, Paul Sears,2 Seth Smith, John Hawes,3
Barnabas Eldredge,4 Samuel Collins, Joseph Atwood, Thomas Hamilton
and Richard Sears, were appointed a committee to consider the subject
matter of the communication and report at an adjourned meeting. While
by law loyal voters had to have certain property qualifications, it was agreed
that at this meeting all males over 21 years should have a vote. On
December 29th, the Committee, styling itself the "Committee of Corres
pondence", reported the form of a letter to the Selectmen of Boston, which
after careful consideration was approved. The reply of the town was
as follows :
2. Paul Sears, cooper, son of Richard and Hope (Howes) Sears, b. about 1710 ; m. Anna
Atkins, dau. of Joseph of Eastham (int. Jan. 31, 1729-30 East. Rec). He lived on his father's
farm. He was selectman in 1743 and Town Clerk in 1752. There is no settlement of his estate
and no record of his death. He may have died in Maine, where one of his daughters lived.
His wife died Oct. 17, 1783, aged 69. (H. ? ). Children: 1. Hope, b. Feb. 11, 1730-1; m. 1st
Nehemiah Doane, son of Thomas, Jr., Jan. 11, 1749 (Chat. Rec). He died of small pox Jan.
17, 1766 and she m. 2nd Thomas Howes, son of Thomas, Sept. 10. 1767 (Chat. Rec). He died
Dec. 4, 1768, and she m. 3rd Jobs. Chase of Warwich. Feb. 17, 1774 (Chat. Rec). 2. Martha,
b. Nov. 14, 1732; m. 1st Joseph Eldridge, son of William. Jr., Mar. 22, 1750-1 (Chat. Rec).
He died in 1783 and she m. 2nd Zenharian Eldredge, son of James, Jan. 31, 1787 (Chat. Rec).
3. Hannah, b. Nov. 27, 1734 ; m. Samuel Wing, Jr., of Harwich, Feb. 26, 1756 (Chat. Rec.) ;
removed to Winthrop, now Readville; Me. 4. Thankful, b. July 27, 1736 ; died Apr. 4, 1747.
5. Anna, b. Feb. 16, 1737-8 ; died Mar. 26. 1747. 6. Ruth, b. Nov. 12. 1740 ; died Apr. 11, 1747.
7 Experience b. Oct. 20, 1743 ; m. James Eldredge, son of James, Nov. 21, 1765 (Chat. Rec.) ;
died about 1770. 8. Elizabeth, b. July 11, 1745; died May 26, 1776 (H. 7 1. 9. Thankful, b.
Mar. 2, 1747-8. 10. Anna, b. July 10, 1753 ; m. Hezekiah Higgins of Eastham, Nov. 10, 1774
(Chat. Rec).
3. John Hawes, son of Isaac and Bethiah (Howes) Hawes, b. Jan. 22, 1706-7 ; m. about
1736 Abigail Doane, dau. of Thomas of Chatham. His house was at West Chatham on South
side of the main highway. He was selectman for 14 years beginning in 1765, also constable

342 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
"The Committee of Correspondence appointed by ye Inhabitants of ye
Town of Chatham in their Town meeting the seventeenth day of December
1772 at their meeting House to make answer to a committee's letter of
Correspondence and ye votes and proceedings of ye Inhabitants of ye
Town of Boston beg leave to report. Gentlemen, we carefully perused your
votes and proceedings and letter of correspondence and can not but agree
with you in opinion that our rights are fairly and properly stated and also
the grievances under which we Labour and we hope such measures will
be taken in a constitutional way as shall affectually redress the same and
also prevent those which further threaten us: We are greatly alarmed at
the Governors being made Independent of ye grants of this province and
at ye prevelent report of ye Lef tenant Governors and judges of ye supearor
Court of Judicature as also the King's aturney and Silistor General being
soon on ye same footing, which if it should take affect (what will come
next we know not but may safely guess) we can not but think it hath a
direct tendancy soon to compcass our slaveres, but what measure to advise
for redress we know not. Should there be a General assembly soon, we
should submit to them willingly, but as we imagine there will be none soon
and when we know not and when we compair the Governors answer to your
petition No. 3 in your pamphlet, what measures to take we are at a Loss.
But as you are yet Metrophilus and have all ye acts of ye Government and
of ye British parliament, and the bills of rights with you, we hope you wilt
use your joint endeavours in a Constitutional way to save from impending
ruin this distressed people and as we are willing to use our best endeavors
to support Government, so on ye other hand, we are most concern for our
Charter rights and Privilidges and as we look on our Sevil and Religious
priviledges the sweetest and assential Just of our Lives, so we think when
these are torn from us the remainder is scarce worth presarving, therefor
several years and frequently called upon in public matters. He died about Feb. 3, 1779. His
wife died in the small pox epidemic Jan. 22, 1766. Children: 1. Samuel, b. Feb. 7, 1736-7;
died Sept. 14. 1739. 2. Anna, b. Aug. 6. 1738 : m. Joseph Hunter of Nantucket (int. Feb. 20,
1766 Chat. Rec). 3. Patience, b. Nov. 26, 1740; died unmarried. 4. Bethiah, b. Sept. 7, 1742;
m. 1st Elisha Howes, son of Joseph. He died May 3. 1772. and she m, 2nd Barnabas Taylor,
son of Samuel. 5. Thomas, b. Apr. 10, 1744; died 1779 or 1780. 6. John, b. 1752 or 1753; m.
Mercy Hopkins, dau. of Samuel of Harwich, Jan. 5, 1777.
4. Barnabas Eldredge, youngest son of Jehoshaphet and Elizabeth (Covell) Eldredge, b.
about 1710; m. Mary Hurd of Eastham, dau. of Oct. 20. 1735 (East. Rec). He lived
at Chatham on Eldredge Neck adioining his father's farm. There is no settlement of his
estate. Children: (Chat. Rec) 1. Edward, b. Sept. 9, 1736; m. Adne Hammond of Dartmouth
(int. Nov. 19, 1762) : lived at Dartmouth, later moved to Duanesbury and then Sharon, N. Y.
2. Asabel, b. Oct. 27, 1739; died Jan. 18, 1743. 3. Barnabas, h. Oct. 7, 1743; m. Patience
Crowell of Yarmouth about 1763 and lived there. 4. Zenes. b. Apr. 11 1746 ; m. Dorcas
Eldredge, dau. of Aug. 9. 1765 and soon joined the emigration to Dutchess Co., N. Y.
(Oblong) and lived at Amenia, N. Y. 5. Marah (Mary 7), b. June 12, 1750; iperhaps m.
Samuel Doane. Dec 17, 1771 (Chat. Rec). 6. Asabel. b. Aug. 12. 1762; died Jan. 8, 1763.
7. Asabel, b. Bar. 6, 1756 ; died soon. 8. Levi, b. Nov. 21, 1756 ; died Dec. 23, 1756.

THE REVOLUTION. 343
resolved to stand firmly as one man by our Charter priviledges in a Lawful
constitutional way to all intents and purposes. And we can not but think
that if we by any means could Exhibit a Petition to ye Ears of our most
Greatious Sovereign who is Equel the father of his American subjects as of
his British subjects, setting forth our unanimous complaints, but that he
would lend his Royal Ear to our humble prayer and redress our grievances,
so we his Majestyes dutiful and Loyal subjects conclude with our harty
thanks to you for your letter of correspondence to our Selectmen and also
to our representative. Gentlemen, your Humble Servants, James Covel,
Paul Sears, Seth Smith, Samuel Collins, Joseph Atwood, John Howes,
Barnabas Eldridge, Thomas Hamilton, Richard Sears." Baring in his
History of Massachusetts referred to this letter from Chatham, a small and
exposed town, in a complimentary tone.
At a town meeting June 22, 1773, a standing committee of correspon
dence with the town of Boston was chosen as follows: James Covel, Seth
Smith, Samuel Collins, Joseph Atwood and Thomas Hamilton. On Sept.
27 and 28, 1774, there was a public meeting of citizens of the county and
others, assembled at the Court House, Barnstable, for the purpose of over
awing the Court, which succeeded in preventing its sessions and in securing
a guarantee from it that it would not enforce against the people any of the
oppressive Acts of Parliament to which the people objected. This meeting
voted that "a committee for every town be appointed to desire of the military
officers that they would no longer hold commissions under the present
captain general, who is appointed to reduce us to obedience to the late
unconstitutional acts, and who has actually besieged the capital of this
province with a fleet and army, and is making hostile preparations against
us; or under any unconstitutional regulations". Dea. Nathan Bennett and
Richard Sears were appointed for Chatham.
On October 9, 1774 the town chose Capt. Joseph Doane, Dea. Nathan
Bennett and Thomas Hamilton a committee to attend a County Congress
at Barnstable, which met November 16th. After conference, it appointed
a committee consisting of Hon. James Otis, Col. Joseph Otis, Col. Nathaniel
Freeman, Capt. Joseph Duane, Mr. Thomas Paine, Daniel Davis, Esq. and
Capt. Jonathan Howes "to consider further the public grievances and the
state of this County and report at the time to which this meeting shall be
adjourned".

344 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
It would appear that at the adjourned meeting, a series of resolutions
were adopted, but their exact nature is not known.
The Legislature having been called to meet at Salem, October 4, 1774
and the call being countermanded, the members met nevertheless and on
the 7th resolved themselves into a Provincial Congress: "to take into
consideration the dangerous and alarming situation of public affairs in
this province and to consult and determine on such measures as they shall
judge will tend to promote the true interest of his majesty and the peace,
welfare and prosperity of the Province". Chatham was reported at the
Congress by Capt. Joseph Doane. It passed resolves recommending among
other things a boycott on tea. Capt. Doane the Town at a later
Congress which met March 31, 1775 being then still At a town
meeting held December 21, 1774 it would appear that the resolves of the
Provincial Congress and the County Congress were read, but that the
resolves of the former were not approved although "a considerable number
of persons signed the association of the tenth article of the Provincial
Congress not to drink or use any tea after 1st of March next."
On January 18, 1775 the town military company was reorganized, Lieut.
Benjamin Godfrey being chosen Captain, Richard Sears, Lieutenant, Joseph
Crowell, Ensign and John Emery, Military Clerk. The town records state
that this change was very pleasing to the citizens. Capt. Godfrey com
manded a company at the battle of Bunker Hill.
At this period the Cape towns were busily engaged in preparing for
their own defense. Permanent committees of correspondence, inspection
and safety were appointed to take up public matters relating to the conflict.
Companies of sea coast men were formed for coast defense, and exports
of provisions, arms, etc. rigidly repressed. The danger' of raids from
British ships of war was constantly imminent.5 In May the island of
Nantucket was so raided, and an attempt made to carry off all the sheep,
arms, etc. from the island. For this and other reasons, few, if any, men
from the Cape were present at the battle of Bunker Hill June 17, not
withstanding claims made to the contrary. A company of sea coast men
authorized by Resolves of Gen. June 27th, composed of men
from Chatham, Harwich and Yarmouth, and commanded by Capt. Thomas
Hamilton was on duty in this part of the Cape from July 7th to December
31st, as the following pay roll shows:
5. May 3, 1775, the town voted "that all whale, sain, and other Boats that my be of use
tor tne ^ollonice to be Secretted in some convenant and safe place."

THE REVOLUTION. 345
"Pay Roll of Capt. Thomas Hamilton's Company from the day of their
enlistment till the last day of December, 1775, stationed in Barnstable
County. "Thomas Hamilton, Capt., Joseph Griffeth, 1st Lieut., Samuel Bassett,
2nd Lieut., Joseph Paine, Sergt., Freeman Smith, Sergt., Hyatt Young,
Sergt., David Hall, Sergt., Hezekiah Doane, Corporal, Samuel Covell, Cor
poral, Gowell Chase, Corporal, Samuel Tayler, Corporal, Hugh Smith,
Drummer, Stephen Nickerson, Fifer, William Atkins, Ephraim Burgess,
Samuel Burgess, Jr., Gediah Burgess, Philip Burgess, William Cheever,
Benjamin Clark, Seth Crowell, Ephraim Crowell, Reuben Eldredge, Jr.,
Ebenezer Eldredge, Atkins Eldredge, Hezekiah Eldredge, Nathaniel Hamil
ton, James Hopkins, Joseph Hunter, Joseph Howes, Jr., Seth Harding, Jr.,
Isaiah Howes, Simeon Howes, Isaiah Hall, Barnabas Howes, Elisha Howes,
Jr., Nathaniel Hall, Jr., John Hawes, Jr., Shinbael Hinckley, Josiah
Matthews, Jeremiah Nickerson, Isaac Nickerson, Ezecher Nickerson,.
Gideon Nickerson, Miller Paine, Ebenezer Snow, Jonathan Sears, Joshua
Vincent, Thomas Wrist, Thomas Welch. Endorsed on back — 'Pay roll of
Sea Coast men.' Barnstable Co."6
August 5, 1775 the General Court authorized Prince Gorham and Benja
min Cobb, both of Barnstable, to export from Chatham to the Island of
St. Enstalia 40 hogsheads of Old Jamaica and New Seale Fish, 40 barrels
of Alewives and 2,000 bunches of Onions, "under the Inspection of the
Committee of Inspection of said Chatham" on their promise to return with
powder and other warlike stores.7 About this time other exports of fish
to the West Indies and of provisions to Nantucket from Chatham are
alleged to have been made without the consent of the General Court.8
In the autumn of this year the Schooner Williams belonging to John
Prince formerly of Salem, but then a Tory refugee in Halifax, N. S., was
seized by armed cruisers belonging to the States and brought into Chatham
harbor. The General Court on November 10 ordered that she and her
cargo be taken charge of by the Committee of Correspondence of the Town
till further orders were given.9
On January 31st, 1776 the County Militia was divided into two regiments
and officers were appointed by the General Court. Colonel Joseph Doane
of Chatham was appointed head of the lower Cape regiment, Elisha Cobb,
6. Name of Chatham men in italics.
7. Acts & Resolves, Province of Mass. Bay XIX, 29.
8. Acts & Resolves, Province of Mass. Bay XIX, 62.
9. Acts & Resolves, Province of Mass. Bay XIX, 154.

346 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Lt. Colonel, Zenas Winslow, 1st Major, and Gideon Freeman, 2nd Major.
General Washington having issued calls for soldiers in January and
February, a regiment of Plymouth and Barnstable County men was raised,
of which Col. Lewis Carey of Bridgewater was commander,
Bassett of Falmouth, Lt. Col., and Thomas Hamilton of Chatham, Adjutant.
This was one of six regiments raised to serve before Boston. They con
tinued in service till after the evacuation of the British in March. A number
of men from Chatham were in this regiment employed in of
entrenchment etc. before the city. Probably most of them were in Capt.
Benjamin Godfrey's Company, in which it appears Thomas Hamilton was
1st Lieut., Isaac Bangs of Harwich, 2nd Lieut., and Joseph Doane, Ensign.
Unfortunately no list of the men in this company is to be found, but in
addition to the above, Hiat Young and John Hawes are known to have
been in it. 2nd Lt. Isaac Bangs writes in his Diary: "The men which
constituted our company were chiefly from the Town of Chatham — a
very civil set of people, with whom I lived very quietly."
From May to November 1776, the following Chatham men served in
Capt. Nicols Hamlin's Company, of Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment,
being stationed at Castle Island, Boston: Freeman Doane, Jonathan God
frey, Thomas Welch, Southworth Hamblen, John Young. In Captain
Isaiah Higgins' Company, same regiment, were Simeon Fowler, 1st Lt.,
Isaac Buck, Heman Smith, Joseph Paine, Sergt. and James Lankford.10
In Capt. Samuel King's Company, Colonel Jonah Whitney's Regiment,
Thomas Wing served from May to December 1776 at Hull, Mass.
In the latter part of August 1776 the Sloop Elizabeth, a British vessel
bound from Jamaica Island to Halifax, N. S., was captured by an armed
brigantine belonging to the States and brought into Chatham harbor as a
prize of war.11 By order in Council dated September 13, 1776, the com
mand of the privateer sloop "Wolf", belonging to the Colony, was given
to Capt. Nathaniel Freeman of Harwich, his second officer being Joseph
Doane, Jr. of Chatham. A crew of Chatham and Harwich men was secured
and in the winter of 1776-7 they must have obtained several prizes,12 but
their career was cut short by a British man-of-war disguised as a merchant
man, which captured them and brought the crew to New York, where they
10. Aug. 13, 1776. The town voted £32 for bounty for soldiers "that enlisted for the
Northern Department." Also £16 45s for "powder brought for the town stock."
11., Acts & Resolves, Province of Mass. Bay 4.
12. In the spring of 1777 prize money was distributed to members of the crew. I have
copies of receipts each for £8 prize money "obtained on bord the sloop Wolf" signed by John
Hawes, Samuel Taylor, Christian Nickerson, and Gowel Chase.

THE REVOLUTION. 347
were thrown into prison. On February 11, 1777 they were exchanged with
others at Newport, R. I., for a corresponding number of British prisoners.
The Ust of those exchanged includes the following from Chatham : Joseph
Doane, John Hawes, Samuel Taylor, Christian Nicheson, Richard Smith,
Richard Kent, Josiah Hardy, Joseph Godfrey, Hezekiah Doane, Richard
Hamilton.13 Thomas Hamilton, taken in the "Viper" was brought to
Boston January 23, 1777, and exchanged.
In the latter part of 1776 a company was formed under Capt. Benjamin
Godfrey of Chatham, which served in Col. John Cushing's Regiment at
Rhode Island, beginning September 23. They were engaged on fortifica
tions and drilling, and saw no active service. Samuel Doane and Reuben
Cash were corporals in this company and Samuel Cash, Peter Cole, Heber
Eldredge, Seth Harding, James Hopkins, Joseph Taylor and Lewis Young,
all from Chatham were privates. There were fourteen Chatham men in
this regiment, of which I have but ten names.
From December 13, 1776 to March 1, 1777 there served in Capt. Abijah
Bangs' Company of Col. Dike's Regiment at Rhode Island, Peter Cole,
John Emery, who was 2nd Lieut., Judah Nickeson, Salathiel Nickerson,
Theophilus Smith and Philip Hinckley, all from Chatham.14
Early in 1777 Capt. Thomas Hamilton was in charge of a company at
Rhode Island. Isaac Snow of Eastham writes: "Early in 1777 I enlisted
in another company, under Capt. Hamilton of Chatham, and marched to
Rhode Island, where I was employed with others in building fortifications
and drilling with the army quartered there, till the term expired for which
I enlisted." (six months)
From May to July 1777 Capt. Benjamin Godfrey's Company served in
Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment in South Kingston, R. I. There were in
this company from Chatham under Capt. Godfrey, the following men:
John Paine, Corporal; Hezekiah Doane, Sergeant; Seth Collins, Heber
Eldredge, James Hopkins, and Abner Kelley. There also served at Rhode
Island Theophilus Smith, Joseph Young, Jonathan Godfrey in Capt.
John Crocker's Company, Col. Nathan Sparkwork's Regiment for six
months from July 1st, 1777, and Abijah Baker in Capt. Asa Fairbank's
13. Mass. Archives.
14. Dec. 16, 1776, a Committee consisting of Joseph Hawes, Capt. Benjamin Godfrey and
Lt. James Ryder reported that nine men had been hired to go to Rhode Island for three
months bounty £2 14 s. each.

348 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Company, Col. Benjamin Hawes' Regiment, one month from September 30,
1777.15 In Capt. Abijah Bangs' Company of Col. Nathaniel Freeman's Regiment,
on a secret expedition to Rhode Island, the following Chatham men served
16 days in October, 1777: Simeon Barse, Seth Collins, David Eldredge,
Nathaniel Eldredge, Seth Harding, Richard Kent, Joshua Nickerson,
Thomas Nickerson, David Ralph, Christopher Taylor.16
The following Chatham men enlisted in the Continental Army and served
from November 1777 to May 1778 with the eight months' men so-called.
They served in Col. Henry Jackson's Regiment, but in different companies:
Nathan Bassett, Benjamin Bearse, Joseph Buck, Samuel Cash, Peter Cole,
Solomon Collins, Samuel Covil, Hezekiah Doane, Doane Godfrey, Jona
than Godfrey, Joseph Godfrey, Nathan Phillips, Thomas Wing, Joseph
Young, Lewis Young, Joseph Paine, Theophilus Smith, Southworth
Hamblin, Samuel Rider — in all 20 men.17
About this time the following from Chatham enlisted for three years or
for the war: Hiat Young, Jonathan Harding, Benjamin Bassett, John
Young, Abner Ryder, Abner Ryder, Jr., Thomas Welch, Isaac Buck, Cor
nelius Tigh (transient) , David Hess — in all, 10 men. Of these only Hiat
Young, Benjamin Bassett and John Young saw much actual service. There
are no pay rolls showing service of any of the rest except David Hess, who
served from February 1 to October 21, 1777, when he deserted at Albany,
It is likely that the others were not mustered in. Tigh and Hess were
probably negro servants of families of the town.
The following Chatham men served three months from April 2, 1778
in Capt. Simeon Fowler's Company, Col. Jonathan Reed's 1st Regiment of
Guards at Cambridge: Simeon Fowler, Captain, David Buck, 2nd Lieut.,
Isaac Buck, musician, Prince Nickerson, Ansel Nickerson, Richard Smith,
Herman Smith, John Taylor, Herman Young, Sergeant.18
16. May 19, 1777. The town voted a bounty of £20 for each man that should enlist till
Jan. 10 next. Also for each man who should enlist for three years or for the war, same to be
paid at passing muster.
16. Sept. 1777, the town voted a bounty of £10 for soldiers who should enlist for one
month from Oct. 1st and £10 more to be joined by those that had not given anything to
procure the 8 months men.
17. Sept. 1777, the town voted to divide the town into 20 parts and each part to furnish
one soldier. Four agents were appointed to raise money by subscription to pay off the soldiers.
18. March 1778, the town voted to raise $40 per month for 10 soldiers "for gards to gard
Burgoyne's men to be paid at their return."
April 1778, the town voted to procure "the things and clothing" that the General Court
requested for the Continental soldiers.
May 11, 1778, the town voted to raise money "to hire 5 men for the Continental Army and
4 for the State."
July 13, 1778, the town voted to raise £150 10s for 7 soldiers for the State and 2 for
Burgoyne's men as guards" so as to make each soldier's wages up to $40 per month for
6 months."

THE REVOLUTION. 349
In Capt. Joseph Griffith's Company, Col. John Jacobs' Regiment, Solo
mon Collins and Joseph Young served six months from June 19, 1778.
This company was in the battle of Quaker Hill, R. I., under Gen. Sullivan,
August 29, 1778.
"A Pay Roll of Capt. Benjamin Godfrey's Company of Militia in Maj.
Zemas Winslow's Regiment on an alarm at Bedford and Falmouth in
September 1778. Charles Atkins; Henry Atkins; Joseph Atwood, Clerk;
George Barse, Thomas Bee; Samuel Covil, Sergt.; Cyrenus Collins; David
Collins; Peter Cole; Joseph Doane, Lieut.; Samuel Doane, Sergt.; Ephraim
Doane; James Eldredge; Seth Eldredge; Benedict Eldredge; Jeremiah
Eldredge; Joshua Eldredge; Thomas Eldredge; Isaac Eldredge; Zephhmiah
Eldredge; John Eldredge; James Eldredge, 3rd; John Emery; Simeon
Fowler; Richard Gould, Sergt.; Benjamin Godfrey, Capt.; Nathaniel
Godfrey; Solomon Godfrey; David Godfrey; Joshua Godfrey; Joshua
Godfrey, Jr.; Richard Howes; Joseph Howes; Isaac Howes; Thomas
Howes; Daniel Howes; Mulford Howes; Eliphalet Hamilton; Thomas
Hamilton; Richard Hamilton; Brazillai Hopkins; Paul Harding; Seth
Harding; John Harding; William Kent; Richard Kent; Elijah Loveland;
Judah Mayo; Seth Morse; Constant Nickerson, Sergt.; James Nickerson;
Judiah Nickerson ; Salathiel Nickerson ; Hugh Nickerson ; Ansel Nickerson ;
Caleb Nickerson; Harding Ryder; Joseph Ryder; Richard Sears; Isaac
Smith; Heman Smith; Samuel Smith; Obed Wing; Prince Young; Heman
Young." "The following persons, members of Capt. Nathan Bassett's Company,
Major Zenas Winslow's Regiment, served from one to six days on an alarm
to New Bedford and Falmouth in September 1778: William Atkins;
Nathan Bassett, Capt.; Samuel Bassett; Jonathan Bassett; Simeon Barse;
Jonathan Buck; Joseph Buck; Samuel Cash; Gowel Chase; Benjamin Clark,
Sergt.; Thomas Clark; Samuel Collins; Jonathan Collins; Jomah Crowell,
Left.; Jabez Crowell, Jr.; Zenas Crowell; Joseph Crowell; Timothy Davis;
Joseph Doane, Sergt.; Hezekiah Doane; John Doane; Stephen Eldredge;
David Eldredge; Antony Eldredge; Nathaniel Eldredge; John Eldredge;
Barnabas Eldredge; Salvenas Harding; Seth Harding; Shubail Hinckley;
James Hopkins; Paul Mayo, Clerk; Gideon Nickerson; Christian Nicker
son; Jeremiah Nickerson; Ensign Nickerson; Lumbert Nickerson; Joseph
Paine, Sergt.; Nathan Phillips; James Ryder, Left.; Kimbal Ryder;
Samuel Ryder; Josiah Ryder; Reuben Ryder; Simeon Ryder; Joseph

350 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Smalley; Elijah Smith; Obediah Smith; Richard Smith; Seth Smith;
George Smith; Seth Taylor, Sergt.; Samuel Taylor; Thomas Taylor;
Christopher Taylor; Isaiah Young; Lewis Young."
A company of men served in the latter part of 1779 under Capt. Benja
min Godfrey in. Col. Zenas Winslow's Regiment. They were called nine
months men, their term of service beginning in August at Springfield.
Moses Nickerson and Solomon Collins of Chatham were in this company.19
In Capt. Joseph Franklin's Company, Col. Nathan Tyler's Regiment,
there served from August 11 to December 31, 1779, at Rhode Island,
Heman Young, Sergeant, and Knowles Godfrey.
In Capt. Nathaniel Freeman's Company, Lt. Col. Enoch Hallett's Regi
ment, there served at Rhode Island for three months, from July 15, 1780,
John Paine, Sergeant, David Buck, Ebenezer Eldredge, Seth Eldredge,
Knowles Godfrey, Samuel Smith, Thomas Eldredge.
In Capt. John Turner's Company, Cpl. John Jacobs' Regiment, Richard
Smith and Samuel Taylor served at Rhode Island from July 24 to October
29, 1780.
In Capt. Jesse Sturtevant's Company of the same regiment, Benjamin
Barse served from August 2 to November 1, 1780.
The following men enlisted for six months in the Continental Army and
served from July 1780 to January 1781, under Capt. Soper. They went to
camp at Springfield, July 24, 1780.20
Abijah Baker age 16 yrs. height 5 ft. 4 in. complexion, light
Reuben Cash age 16 yrs. height 5 ft. 1 in. complexion, light
Jonathan Collins age 17 yrs. height 5 ft. 10 in. complexion, light
Solomon Collins age 17 yrs. height 5 ft. 7 in. complexion, dark
Under Capt. Burbank
Joseph Godfrey age 17 yrs. height 5 ft. 4 in. complexion, light
Moses Nickerson age 17 yrs. height 5 ft. 4 in. complexion, light
Salathiel Nickerson age 20 yrs. height 5 ft. .7 in. complexion, light
19. May, 1779, the town voted to find provisions for Highat Young's family, after he goes
again in the Continental service.
June, 1779, the town voted to get from Boston the guns and warlike stores belonging to the
town "imported from France."
July 5, 1779, the town voted to send the soldiers required by the General Court. Appointed
Capt. Benjamin Godfrey and Left. Joseph Doane a Committee to get the men and agree with
them what they will go for per month to be paid in grains.
Oct., 1779, the town voted to send 4 men to Falmouth agreeable to a. Resolve of Court.
Voted to pay them in grains.
20. July, 1780. The town voted to raise money to pay the wages of 13 men to go into the
Continental Army for 6 months. Voted to raise £6 per month including State wages to be
paid in produce at certain prices.
Aug., 1780, the town voted to raise 234 Spanish melted dollars to pay the soldiers for
three months.

THE REVOLUTION. 351
Under Capt. Burbank
Heman Smith age 20 yrs. height 5 ft. 6 in. complexion, dark
Joseph Young age 17 yrs. height 5 ft. 6 in. complexion, light
Reuben Young age 16 yrs. height 5 ft. 3 in. complexion, dark
Jodson Young age 17 yrs. height 5 ft. complexion, ruddy
Thomas Hamilton enlisted July 18, 1780 for three years in Capt. Wm.
Moore's Company, Col. Wm. Shepard's Regiment, at Continental Village
and was transferred December 1, 1781 to Col. George Webb's Company.
Sick in camp January 1782. 21
In Captain John Hayward's Company, Col. Webb's Regiment, Joseph
Buck served three months from August 21, 1781.22
By this time the resources of the town both in money and men were
running very low and it had become increasingly difficult to procure
recruits. The town had sent out many men, and was willing to do its part,
but its power was wanting, as the following votes will show.23
The foregoing list includes practically all that can be found regarding
the service of Chatham men in the Revolution. A few names stand out
prominently, Sargeant Hiat Young, Joseph Young, John Young, Benjamin
Bassett, Capt. Thomas Hamilton, Col. Benjamin Godfrey, Capt. Joseph
Doane, and perhaps a few others. On the monument in the Universalist
Cemetery erected to the memory of Sargeant Hiat Young, by his son Joseph,
the inscription states: "In the French War he served in Major Rogers'
Rangers and was taken captive by the Indians. He also served six years
in the War of the Revolution and was engaged in several battles: 1st at
the seige of Boston; 2nd in the battle of Long Island; 3rd, at Princeton;
4th, Trenton; 5th, taking of Burgoyne; 6th, Monmouth; 7th, Rhode Island;
8th, Cornwallis." At Princeton and Trenton he was a private in Capt.
Peter Harwood's Company of light Infantry, serving with Lt. (later Capt.)
21. July 9, 1781, the town voted to send 4 men to the Continenal Army according to the
Resolve of the General Court and voted to send them to Rhode Island. Committee appointed
to enlist men.
22. Aug. 21, 1781. the town voted to raise 3 men according to the call and to send them to
West Point and a Committee chosen to procure them.
23 Dec 1781, the town voted to raise 4 men to go into the Continental Army according
to the Resolves of the General Court, and Dec. 28, 1781, it was voted to give £70 as a bounty
to each soldier that will enlist for 3 years or the duration of the war, one third down and two
thirds by annual payments in money or produce at market prices. There is nothing to show
whether any men were procured or not. _ '
Feb. 6, 1782, voted that the grain in James Eldredge s hands should be paid to the soldiers
that were to have grain. Voted not to make a rate to pay the deficiency of soldiers.
Apr. 16, 1782, voted to raise our quota of men according to the Resolves of the General
Court and a committee was appointed for that purpose.
Apr 29 1782. Committee appointed Apr. 16, reported that they could not find any that
would go into the service on any terms and then agreed to class the town agreeable to the
Resolve of Court.

352 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
George Webb of Harwich. After that he served most of the time through
the rest of the war as Sergeant of the Company commanded by Capt. George
Webb in Col. Wm. Shepard's Regiment of light infantry. He was at Valley
Forge during the long and trying winter of 1777-8 and was on duty in
Col. Shepard's Regiment at the hanging of Maj. Andre, the spy, at Tappan,
N. Y., October 2, 1780.24
The son, Joseph Young, left at the age of 13 years to take care of the
family, at the age of 16 years followed his father into the service. A memo
randum left by him says: "I was nine months in Jackson's regiment, six
months at Providence under Capt. Job Crocker, eight months under Capt.
Griffith of Yarmouth, nine months in Shepard's regiment in my father's
name, and the last 24 months of the war under Shepard, a part of the time
in my father's name and part in my own name. I stayed until peace was
declared and was discharged back of Newburg before Gen. Washington took
possession of New York, without a cent to pay my expenses home, which I
reached after suffering many privations, to find my father and family in
distressed circumstances, as neither of us had received any compensation
24. For almost all we know about the private life of this interesting man we are indebted
to the above monument erected by his son Joseph, and to other references to- him left by his
son. He died Oct. 10th, 1810, aged 71 years, and his widow, Oct. 4th, 1824, aged 84 years,
says his monument. He was therefore born about 1739 and his wife about 1740. They were
married about 1760. In all probability he was the son of John and Dinah (Harding) Young of
Chatham, long a selectman of the town. She, it appears, was the eldest child of Samuel
and Hinckley of Chatham. She had a brother and a grandfather named Shubael
which may account for the name Shubael borne by one of her children. In the list of those
who emigrated to Nova Scotia about 1760 (page 327, note 21 aufra) appears the name of John
Young, Jr., who was drowned or killed Mar. 15, 1761, soon after his arrival at Liverpool
(Liverpool Rec). He left a wife and two young sons. Another son was born at Liverpool
Nov. 6, 1761. This family later returned to Chatham. The list above referred to does not
mention Hiat Young as going with his brother, but he is found at Liverpool not long after, as
his oldest child Joseph was born there Sept. 25, 1762, according to his own statement. It is
quite reasonable to suppose that he went with or followed his brother thither and returned to
Chatham, with his brother's family. The son Joseph states that when the Revolution broke
out, Hiat Young was about 36 years old, living at Chatham. "He was extremely poor" says
his son, "with a large family of children, but the blood of the brave soldier who had fought
through the French War leaped through his veins at liberty's call and go he must. On the day
that he left home there was not a dollar in money or a barrel of provisions in the house. Only
the cow in the shed." His oldest son, Joseph, then a bright boy of 13, must help his mother
and they must do thfe best they could. That he had a large family of young children is
undoubtedly true, but almost none of them are recorded on the town records, in fact only
those born after his return from the service. Truly the mother must have been of sturdy
material to bear the trials that came upon her ; that she was is evidenced by the record of 84
years of life engraved upon her tombstone. The father went to the war and an old mem
orandum records the fact that on his return, after six years of battling for its liberty, the
town refused to pay him the bounty which was his due, amounting to £30. A faint recollec
tion of him remained in the mind of a very aged citizen of the town, who, when a child of 3
or 4 years, saw him at his little adobe at South Chatham, a tall, gaunt-looking man, then
much enfeebled and near his end.
The following list of his children is incomplete as above stated: Children: 1. Joseph, b.
Sept. 29, 1762, at Liverpool, N. S. ; m. Oct. 17, 1785, Anna Nickerson, dau. of Moses Nickerson
of Chatham, at Chatham (Chat. Rec). 2. John, b. Oct. 11, 1765, at Chatham; m. Hannah
Ryder, dau. of of Chatham (int. Mch. 15, 1788 Chat. Rec). 3. Samuel, b ;
m. Molly about 1790. 4. The rest of the early children were probably girls. 5. Hiat,
b. Aug. 18, 1784. 6. Shubael, b. Mar. 23, 1787. It is probable that the above two last named
sons were short lived, as after the death of Mercy Young the various heirs of Samuel Hinckley
conveyed some lots of his woodland to the sons of Joseph Young. In one of these deeds the
heirs of Mercy Young are given as Joseph, John and Samuel, no daughters being named.

THE REVOLUTION. 353
for our services." His experience in enlisting at that early age is described
as follows: "I was so very small and short of stature that I had to resort
to stratagem in order to pass even the very yielding eye of the enlisting
officer. I put on a pair of my father's big cowhide boots and filled under my
feet all that I could to raise me up. Then I put on all the clothes I could to
make me look stout. When I went before the examining officer I stretched
myself all I could and was accepted." He further says, "I travelled to Boston
to secure our wages which the government was paying by issuing notes, and
found that Lieut. Hamblin of the 4th regiment, who was paymaster, had
disposed of our notes and run away to Canada with the proceeds, so that
was the last I ever heard of our wages. I was in the battle of Rhode Island
under Gen. Sullivan and in many other scrimmages; one at Moriserry,
another near Redden between Valley Forge and Philadelphia, and many
others, which we stood our ground bravely and not daunted to see a red
coat."25 John Young, a cousin of Joseph, was doubtless at the seige of Boston.
From May to November 1776 he was in Capt. Micah . Hamblin's Company,
Col. Thomas Marshell's Regiment, at Castle Island, Boston. In the latter
part of 1777 he enlisted for the war and served under Capt. George Webb,
being in the engagements that preceded the surrender of Burgoyne at Sara
toga, October 1777. He died of exposure the following winter at Valley
Forge, Pa. Pay rolls show service in the Continental Army from May 1777
to March 1778.*6
Benjamin Bassett, son of Thomas and Deborah (Godfrey) Bassett, born
about 1758; enlisted October 4, 1777 for the war, described as 19 years old,
5 ft. 3 in. tall, light complexion. He served in Capt. Thomas Towner's
Company, Col. Henry Jackson's Regiment, till 1781 and was undoubtedly
at Valley Forge, Monmouth, Bunker Hill, and other historical places of the
war. In 1782 and 1783 he was in Capt. James Tisdale's Company, Col.
John Greaton's Regiment. Leave of absence was granted him by Gen.
Washington for five months from January 1, 1783, doubtless on account of
injuries received. He died unmarried not long after the war ended.
25. Joseph Young, eldest child of Hiat and Mercy (Hinckley) Young, was born at Liver
pool, N. S., Sept. 25, 1762, returning to Chatham with his father while a young child and
living at South Chatham in his youth. After the Revolution, he m. Oct. 17, 1786, Anna
Nickerson, dau. of Moses and Rebecca (Atkins) Nickerson of Chatham. Children: 1. Betsey,
b. Mar. 28, 1786. 2. Reuben, b. Aug. 19, 1788. 3. Mercy, b. Sept. 9, 1790. 4. Anne, b. July 3,
1793. 5. Joseph, b. Feb. 21, 1796. 6. Polly, b. Sept. 20, 1798. 7. Nably, b. June 10, 1801.
8. Samuel Hinckley, b. Dec. 24, 1803. 9. Liviany, b. Apl 7, 1806.
26 This John Young, son of John Young, Jr., and his second wife, Mary (Doane) Young,
was born at Liverpool, N. S., after the death of his father, Nov. 5. 1761, and must have been
a young man of 15 or 16 in 1776.

354 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Capt. Thomas Hamilton, son of Samuel and Bethiel (Stewart) Hamilton,
was Captain of a Company of Sea Coast men in 1779, Adjutant of a Regi
ment at the seige. of Boston, 1776, Captain of a Company at Rhode Island '
early in 1777, engaged in throwing up fortifications. July 14, 1781 enlisted
for three years in the Continental Army in Capt. William Moore's Company,
Col. William Shepard's Regiment, transferred December 1, 1781 to Col.
George Webb's Co. Sick in camp January 1782 but evidently recovered
later.27 Col. Benjamin Godfrey, son of George, was Captain of the local Military
Company in 1775, was Captain of a company at the seige of Boston in 1776,
and later in the same year was Captain of a company in Col. John Cushing's
regiment employed from September 23rd on at Rhode Island on fortifica
tions and drilling, but saw no fighting. From May to July 1777 his
company served in Col. Josiah Whitney's regiment at South Kingston,
R. I. In September 1798 his company served in Maj. Zenas Winslow's
regiment on an alarm at New Bedford and Falmouth, and in the latter part
of 1775, he led a Company of nine months men under Maj. Zenas Winslow,
also in a campaign beginning at Springfield in August. He was active
throughout the war in securing enlistments and rose to the rank of Colonel
before its close. He was Colonel and in charge of affairs when in June
1782, toward the end of the war, a British privateer operating along the
coast attempted to seize a brigantine and several smaller vessels harboring
here by entering the harbor and hoisting the British flag and seeking to
make off with them. The inhabitants were aroused in time and under
the lead of Col. Godfrey succeeded in preventing the attempted steal, of
which more will be shown later.28
Capt. Joseph Doane, son of Joseph, was ensign in Capt. Benjamin God
frey's Company early in 1776 at the seige of Boston, later in the same
year he was appointed second officer on the privateer sloop "Wolf",
belonging to the Colony and commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Freeman of
Harwich. In the winter of 1776-7 after taking several prizes, they were
27. Capt. Thomas Hamilton, son of Samuel and Bethiah (Stewart) Hamilton, b. ;
m. Ruhannah Doane, dau. of Benjamin, Mar. 19, 1759 (Chat. Rec). He lived in the Nathan
Bassett neighborhood. He died about 1*00. Children : 1. Mary, b. Sept. 29, 1759 ; m.
Nathaniel Young, son of Prince, Dec. 27, 1781 (Chat. Rec). 2. Bethiah, b. July 2, 1761; m.
John Allen of Harwich, Nov. 10, 1783 (Chat. Rec). S. Ruhannah, b. May 11, 1763; m. Isaac
Smith of Harwich, Nov. 17, 1783 (Chat. Rec). 4. Benjamin Doane, b. ; m. Polly,
probably dau. of Seth Taylor, who was appointed administrator of his estate, Apl. 14, 1801.
5. Tatrlnce, b. . 6. James (?).
N.B. John Smith of Harwich appointed guardian of last three, Mar. 19, 1785.
28. Col. Benjamin Godfrey, son of George and Mercy (Knowles) Godfrey, b. in 1742 ; m.
Sarah Mayo. dau. of Judah, Apr. 26, 1764. He had no children. She died Jan. 23, 1816, aged
74 years. He died Apr. 1, 1818, aged 77 years. His will is dated Apr. 10, 1816.

THE REVOLUTION. 355
captured and sent to New York to prison and in February 1777 they were
exchanged at Newport, R. I. He was Lieutenant in Capt. Godfrey's Com
pany in September 1772 on an alarm at New Bedford and Falmouth. He
was also active throughout the war in securing enlistments as well as seeing
service himself and when Capt. Benjamin Godfrey had been promoted to
be Colonel, he became Captain under him and in June 1782 was active in
rescuing the brigantine and other smaller vessels which a British privateer
attempted to seize and take out of the harbor at Chatham, of which more
later.29 In addition to the foregoing, a few other soldiers may be worthy of
special mention. Capt. Simeon Fowler was 2nd Lieutenant in Capt. Solo
mon Higgins' Company of Sea Goast men, July 1 to December 31, 1775.
He also served from May to November 1776 as 1st Lieutenant in Capt.
Isaiah Higgins' Company of Col. Thomas Marshall's Regiment at Castle
Island, Boston ; then he served as Captain in Col. Jonathan Reed's Regiment
of Guards at Cambridge for three months after April 1778. In September
1778 he was in Capt. Benjamin Godfrey's Company on an alarm at New
Bedford and Falmouth.30
Four of the sons of John Buck are worthy of mention also. Their father,
who died about 1763, was himself a soldier in the French and Indian Wars
and among his assets is listed "his wages as a soldier — 8 lbs.-3s-lld." The
sons undoubtedly inherited their father's love for warlike exploits. Isaac
Buck served from May to November 1776 in Capt. Isaiah Higgins' Com
pany at Castle Island, Boston and in 1778 served for three months in Capt.
Simeon Fowler's Company at Cambridge. His older brother, David Buck,
29. Capt. Joseph Doane, son of Col. Joseph and Dorcas (Eldredge) Doane, b. Feb. 10, 1744 ;
m. 1st, Mercy Ryder, dau. of Stephen, May 15, 1763 (Chat. Rec). She died of small pox Jan.
6, 1766, leaving no children, and he married, 2nd, Abigail Gould of Harwich, dau. of Thomas,
Dec. 25, 1766 (Chat. Rec). She died April 30, 1820, aged 75. In his early life he was master
of a schooner, fishing and trawling along the coast. During the Revolution and after he was
a prominent man and represented the places in the Mass. Legislature in 1788, 1789 and 1790.
Children : 1. Mercy, b. Sept. 25, 1767 ; m. Theodore Harding, son of , Sept. 30, 1787
(Chat. Rec). 2. Joseph, b. July 11, 1769; died young. 3. Dorcas, b. July 20, 1771; m. 1st,
William Hopkins, son of , July 27, 1787 (Chat. Rec). He died and she m. 2nd, in
1809, Timothy Loveland. 4. John, b. July 23, 1773 ; m. Eunice Howes, dau. of Joseph, Jan. 4,
1793 (Chat. Rec). Moved to Norwick, Conn., after 1805. 5. Elisha, b. Apr. 11, 1776; m.
Naomi Godfrey, dau. of Moses, Oct. 14, 1797 (Chat. Rec). 6. Abigail, b. Jan. 8, 1778; m. Dr.
James Hedge, June 15, 1799 (Chat. Rec). 7. Isaiah, b. Apr. 7, 1779; m. Marinda Nickerson,
dau. of , Mar. 8, 1804 (Chat. Rec). % Joseph, b. Aug. 19, 1780; m. 1st, Betsey
(Howes) Eldredge, dau. of Joseph Howes, Oct. 28,1803 (Chat. Rec). She died July, 1810, and
he married, 2nd, Dec. 19, 1811, Jerusha Young. M. 3rd, Oct. 26, 1822, Bethia Walker. 9.
Thomas Gould, b. Dec. 24, 1784 ; m. Susanna Keindrick of Harwich, dau. of Henry, Dec 3,
1807 (Chat. Rec). 10. Hezekiah, b. Sept. 26, 1786; m. Eunice Nickerson, dau. of ,
May 21, 1806 (Chat. Rec). He and Isaiah lost at sea 1825. 11. Nehemiah, b. Feb_17, 1789;
m. Mary Nickerson, dau. of , Jan. 3, 1814 (Chat. Rec). '
30. Capt. Simeon Fowler was of Westerly, R. I., and m. Rachel, dau. of Col. Joseph Doane
of Chatham, Mar. 11, 1773 (Chat. Rec). After the Revolution about 1790, he in common
with a number of his wife's family removed to Orrington, Me.. »«d continued to reside there.

356 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
served in the same Company at the same time. Joseph Buck served from
November 1777 to May 1778 in Col. Henry Jackson's Regiment, again
in September 1778 in Capt. Nathan Bassett's Company on an alarm at New
Bedford and Falmouth, and again in August 1781 for three months in
Capt. John Hayward's Company, Col. George Webb's Regiment. Jona
than Buck served in September 1778 on an alarm at New Bedford and
Falmouth. Near the close of the war the town became the scene of events more
stirring perhaps than any that had occurred before during the struggle.
On the 20th of June 1782 a British privateer daringly entered the harbor
on the east side of the town and attempted to seize and carry away some of
the shipping in the harbor. It appears that among the vessels at anchor
within the harbor was a brigantine called the Joseph, Peter Wells, master.
The Captain and most of the crew, deeming the vessel safe, were spending
the night on shore. About sunrise the next morning those living.near the
harbor discovered a British flag hoisted upon the brigantine. A boat's
crew from a British privateer outside the harbor had ventured in and
seized the vessel, together with a schooner and sloop then in the harbor,
and were intending to make off with them. An alarm gun was immediately
sounded and a flag was hoisted "on the hill opposite the harbor, that being
used as the alarm post of the town."31
According to the account that has come down to us, "Col. Benjamin
Godfrey, Joseph Doane, Esq., Mr. Richard Sears, and a number of others
assembled on the said hill armed." They were members of the local
militia and proceeded at once to the beach opposite where the brigantine
lay. "At this time the people on board the brigantine were lightening her
by hoisting out casks and putting them on board the small sloop. This
they did in order to get the brigantine out of the harbor." The sloop and
the schooner which had been taken, then proceeded out of the harbor,
but were met by the British privateer coming in and returned therefore to
the brigantine. "In about the space of an hour after this, the brigantine
and privateer as also the sloop (the schooner having grounded) got under
way and were going out of the harbor, the privateer about half-a-mile*
ahead." "As soon as they got under way, the said Godfrey, Doane and
others to the number of fifty and upwards, assembled on the beach as
aforesaid, commenced and kept up a constant fire on the privateer till
81. This is

THE REVOLUTION. 357
they got out of the harbor, the privateer returning their fire incessantly
with cannon and swivels, as they were going out. After the privateer had
got out of the range of their guns, the said people kept up a constant fire
on the said brigantine, whose crew in the meantime kept up a constant
fire on the said people with bow chases and with rough and grape shot
as also with small arms and endeavoring to get out of the harbor, which
they undoubtedly'would, had it not been for the constant fire of said
Godfrey and Doane and others." It appears at this point the brigantine
ran aground on the flats and listed over to one side. "Col. Godfrey ordered
the brigantine to strike and they should have good quarters, upon which
they on board ceased firing and taking to their boats, ran out of the
harbor and got on board the privateer, not withstanding they were chased
by our boats manned by some of our people. Thereupon Col. Godfrey, Esq.
Doane and others ordered some of their people aboard the said brigantine,
which they immediately boarded, took possession of said brigantine, struck
the English and hoisted the Continental colors. After this the said God
frey's people, the said Godfrey being the Colonel of the Regiment and
said Doane being Captain of the Company of Militia in said Town, pur
sued in boats the said sloop who was gone off, supposed for New York,
and as afterward appeared with part of the said brigantine's cargo on board
and retook her and brought her into the harbor." Capt. Doane ordered
about 20 of his men to remain on board the brigantine and dismissed the
rest with orders to appear again at the alarm post upon the firing of three
cannon. After the privateer had disappeared, it was noticed that there were
then four sloops at anchor "about a league to the windward of the harbor"
and Capt. Doane ordered a boat duly manned to go to them and if they
were friends to warn them of their danger. They proved to be Connecticut
coasters laden with provisions, and asked assistance in getting into the
harbor out of danger. Two boat crews were then dispatched to their relief
and piloted them safely into the harbor.
Soon after this there appeared in the offing a large brigantine, supposed
to be another British cruiser and the same privateer with her, both
standing in for the harbor. After getting in near to the bar, the brigantine
anchored and the privateer proceeded alone. An alarm was fired from
the recaptured brigantine in the harbor and two cannon were gotten on
the beach by Capt. Doane's orders. The militia reassembled again upon

358 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
the beach and a gun or two was fired, upon which the privateer stood out
again and went off. It was claimed that one of the British was killed and
two wounded in this action, but no casualties are recorded among the
militia.32 The recaptured brigantine was libelled and salvage money
claimed by Capt. Doane and his company.
' The effect of the war upon the town, on account of its maritime situation
and business was extremely disastrous. The fishing and coasting business
was practically ruined by the British privateers which patrolled the coast.
Many of the vessels which ventured out were captured and the crews taken
and thrown into prison ships, where many died. At the beginning of the
war Chatham had 30 vessels and 200 men engaged in the fisheries. At its
close only four or five vessels remained in the harbor, "but of sorrowing
mothers and lonely widows the town was full." Moreover the people had
lived in constant fear of attacks, which naturally shriveled all business
enterprise. Not only were the people bereft of relatives and property,
but the town itself was almost bankrupt. The calls for soldiers, necessi
tating the payment of bounties to secure enlistments, had proved a great
burden. Appropriations for schools were suspended; the minister's salary
was in arrears, and debts incurred to various individuals were unpaid.
Such was the situation that, as we have seen, calls for soldiers could not
be met after a time.
As soon, however, as victory for the colonies appeared to be in sight,
the town bravely set to work to straighten out its tangled affairs. The first
serious effort to rehabilitate its credit appears to have been made at a
Town Meeting held February 6, 1782, when the following votes were
passed :
"Voted that Samuel Collins should have a treasurer's note for what
was due him.
Joseph Doane, do.
The money that Col. Doane hired of Myrick and account Col. Doane
left for the year 1774, voted that they would not pay without more Lite of
the truth of their being due.33
Voted not to give a note to Mr. Emery for his salary due.
Voted that Mr. Richard Sears should have his demands.
Voted that Paul Mayo should have a note for his money.
32. Testimony of Wm. Stewart in libel of Brigt. Joseph printed in Chatham Monitor of
Aug. 20, 1889.
»t33' i.C°1- Joseph Doane died early in 1778, administration on his estate May 12, 1778.
Joseph Doane and Esq. Doane" above mentioned refer t.o his son, Capt. Joseph Doane.

THE REVOLUTION. 359
Voted that Esq. Doane should have a treasurer's note for his security.
Samuel Covell to have a treasurer's note for his two notes given to his
father. James Eldredge to have a treasurer's note for his security.
Joseph Howes to have a note for all his demands.
Joshua Godfrey, Jr. to have a treasurer's note for his money.
Joseph Wing, do.
Voted that the grain in James Eldredge's hands should be paid to the
soldiers that are to have grain."
In September 1782, Rev. Mr. Emery having died, the town appointed a
committee to settle with his widow. This committee submitted the follow
ing report to the town, showing that the town owed the estate of the late
minister about 200 pounds.
"Dr. of the Rev. Mr. Stephen Emery Deceased to the Town of Chatham:
Jan. 15, 1782 to Cash Paid Mr. Emery as per Receipt £85—17—3
To overpaid in wood three months and half for the year
beginning Oct. 21, 1781 agreeable to Contract 8 — 8 — 0
To Ditto for parsonage 0 — 8 — 0

94— 9—3

By his Sallery from October 21st, 1777 to July the Sixth
1782, being four years and eight months and half, agree
able to the Receipt in full for ye year beginning 1796 at
£61—6—8 per year £288—15—6
By Salt Hay due for the year beginning October ye 21st 1781,
agreeable to contract, eight months and a half at 39/
a ton 5—10—0

£294— 5—6
On the basis of which settlement was doubtless made.
Petitions for abatement of the State tax were presented to the General
Court of the Town for several years after the war, but without much suc
cess. In July 1784 it was voted to raise 100 to pay "former debts of the
town. In March 1785 it was voted to raise 46, for the two negroes who
went into the Continental service during the war."

360 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

CHAPTER XVI
THE PERIOD OF REV. THOMAS ROBY'S MINISTRY
1783 - 1795
Federal Census of 1790 — Immigration to Maine
After the death of Rev. Mr. Emery, the town in June 1782 chose Col.
Benjamin Godfrey as a committee "to enquire and gett a man to preach
to us as soon as he can". He doubtless secured the services of Rev.
Thomas Roby, as in August 21 following the town voted unanimously
"their desire that Mr. Roby would preach a longer time" and he agreed
to stay till the middle of October. On September 30 it was voted unani
mously to call Mr. Roby to preach till next Spring and on January 28,
1783, it was voted again unanimously "to give Mr. Thomas Roby a call
to preach" and a committee was chosen to agree with them on the terms
of his settlement. Several town meetings were held before it was decided
finally to give him 230 pounds as a settlement, 80 pounds yearly salary,
four loads of salt hay and 18 cords wood yearly and the use and improve
ment of the ministerial land.
Rev. Thomas Roby was the son of Rev. Joseph Roby of Saugus (now
Lynn), Mass., born March 2, 1759. It is said that he was in the Revo
lutionary Army in 1775. He graduated at Harvard College in 1779, and
probably studied for the ministry under his father. He was a young man
without previous experience in the ministry and was called to succeed a
veteran. He had grave doubts as to his duty in the matter, but the
unanimous opinion of the people in his favor decided him to undertake
the work.1 On July 14, 1783, the town chose a committee to prepare for
his ordination, which took place October 22, 1783. He was, as we have
seen, a young man and also unmarried, receiving the use of the ministerial
land of the town, which at the time had no house on it, the house of Rev.
Mr. Ford having been sold and moved away, and Rev. Mr. Emery having
his own private residence at his own request.
It came about, however, that on October 13, 1786, Mr. Roby was married
1. See his excellent letter to the church in the town records.

THE PERIOD OF REV. THOMAS ROBY'S MINISTRY. 361
to Lucretia Sturgis of Barnstable, daughter of Samuel Sturgis, Esq., then
deceased; Rev. Oakes Shaw performing the ceremony. Thereupon, as a
matter of course, a house on the ministerial land was needed and must have
been erected at least soon after.
Mr. Roby's congregation contained in addition to the Chatham mem
bers, a considerable delegation from families in Harwich living around
Pleasant Bay. As early as 1781 some arrangement was entered into with
these people, by which they agreed to contribute to the minister's salary
in return for the privilege of attending church in Chatham. In the
Assession tax list for 1784, we find the following entry: "Harwich men
that pays to the minister in Chatham: Thomas Kenwrick est.
Edward Kenwrick, Jonathan Kenwrick, Thomas Kenwrick, Henry Ken
wrick, Stephen Kenwrick, Jonathan Bassett, Prince Young, John Young,
Jr., Moses Rogers, Joshua Rogers, Hezekiah Doane, John Long." These
families continued to worship at Chatham for some time, probably through
out Mr. Roby's ministry, although the town, it appears, had some trouble
in getting some of them to pay their notes according to agreement. In 1794
an attempt was made to procure the annexation of this part of Harwich
to Chatham, but without success.
Mr. Roby's pastorate began when the town was still suffering from the
misfortunes of war, and it continued long enough for him to witness its
gradual recovery and rehabilitation. Business on the sea and on the land
revived, old debts were discharged and the scars of conflict gradually
effaced. A new era of freedom and prosperity began to dawn. But this
period was not without its misfortunes.
In the year 1786 occurred one of the worst disasters of the sea that had
ever taken place in the history of the town. A fishing schooner belonging
to New Haven, and bound for the Grand Banks, was lost with all her crew
of Chatham men on board. A chest and some other articles belonging to
the crew were found and brought home by fishermen. The event has been
handed down to us through some verses dated November 20, 1786, written
by Isaiah Young in memory of the disaster and subsequently printed.2 The
men lost were Capt. Sylvannus Nickerson, Nathaniel Young, Christopher
Taylor, Seth Eldredge, Adam Wing, Joseph Buck, Nehemiah Nickerson,
Stephen Eldredge, Brazillai Nickerson and Seth Dunbar.
On December 15 of the same year Capt. Josiah Hardy left Chatham in a
2. See Chatham Monitor of SeT?t. 20, 1892, for a copy of these verses. Isaiah Young was
son of John and Dinah (Harding) Young (see note 41, page 342).

362 HISTORY OF1 CHATHAM.
schooner bound for Boston, having with him Solomon Godfrey, Paul Hard
ing, and Joshua Harding, a boy. The wind and weather were fair, but
a terrible storm arose that night and no tidings came from them until the
following spring, when on April 10, 1787, after the snows had melted, the
whole party were found in Great Pamet Hollow, Truro, shipwrecked and
dead from exposure.3
The town records of this period contain a number of entries showing
that the local fisheries had begun to be matter of special public concern.
Herrings, clams and oysters were subjects of discussion. Herrings were
first considered. In early deeds and in fact, down to 1800 and later
Reden's Cove was known as the Alewife or Herring River, and the brook
which runs into it from the pond near the old Stephen Smith place was
called then as now the Alewife or Herring brook. It is evident that in early
times any one who wished to do so, resorted to the brook for his supply
of herring and that it was customary for the people on notice at certain
seasons to turn out and keep the brook clear of obstructions. March 30,
1743 the town meeting "chose Samuel Tucker and Seth Covell to notify
ye town to clear the herring brook before the 10th of April next." The
following March the same persons were chosen "to notify ye town to clear
out ye heren brook and keep it in order that ye fish may have a free cors
into ye pond." March 1745 Seth Covell was chosen to look after the
Herring brook. In March 1746 Samuel Tucker was chosen "overseer"
of the Herring brook for the following year, and again in March 1747.
After 1746 there is very little in the town records about the Brook till
after the Revolution. It is evident, however, that after a time a dispute
arose between the owners of the land along the Brook and the inhabitants
of the Town as to their respective rights, which was finally settled by an
agreement dated May 1786, giving the town one half of all the benefit to
be derived from the Brook and the abutting owners of the land the other
half.4 With regard to clams, it appears that the town had suffered loss for some
time because the inhabitants of other towns would invade the clam flats
3. See a brief account of the Harding family by Josiah Harding, published in 1878.
4. "This covenant and Agreement Made and Concluded upon between Deacon Paul Crowel,
John pain, Samuel Covel, and Mehitable Crowel in behalf of the heirs of Reuben Ryder late
of Chatham, Deceased, owner or proprietor in the Herring Brook in Chatham on the one part
and Caleb Nickerson, Elijah Smith and Jonah Crowel, a Committy in behalf of the Town of
Chatham on the other' part, all of Chatham in ye County of Barnstable, do mutually
Covenant and agree as Followeth : First the Town shall have one-half of all the advantages
that is or ever may be made by the Herrings that may from Time to Time be taken in the
said Brook, when it may be the least Damage to the owners of the land as to open said Brook
or to stop said Brook or Do anything that may appear for the advantage Both of the Town

THE PERIOD OF REV. THOMAS ROBY'S MINISTRY. 363
and provide themselves with bait for their fishing voyages, free of expense.
The first effort to stop this practice and to conserve the shell fish supply
of the Town was made, according to the Town records, in 1771, when, at
a special Town meeting, it was voted "that it is the mind of the Town that
no person but inhabitants of the Town should have liberty to catch clams
for bait on the shores of the Town, unless they cure their fish here." It
was also voted to petition the General Court for authority to this effect,
and Joseph Doane was appointed their agent for this purpose, he being
their representative. It is probable that nothing was done under this vote.
The General Court mentioned above was the old General Court under the
Colonial Government. Other important things were transpiring fast. The
agitation for independence had begun and in a short time the Revolution
was beginning to get under way. Big events were transpiring and this
vote was perhaps swamped by the press of bigger matters. So it was
that this matter was not thought of again till after the Revolution was
over, when on May 3, 1786, the Town returned to the subject again. It
was then voted "that no person shall get their Bate that is on any of the
Flats that Belongs to the Town, Except the Inhabitants and those persons
that cure their fish in this place, without paying three shilling per Bushell
for Pickled Clambs and two pence for Bushell for Clambs in their shells.
Then made choice of Joseph Doane, Esq., Mr. Caleb Nickerson and Mr.
Isaac Smith for a Committee to Inspect the matter and to Collect the
money that strangers are to pay and to Prosecute any persons in behalf
of the Town that should Trespass in the affair."
Voted "that no persons should catch oysters for any market in the
and the owners or proprietors of said Brook and if it should be necessary, should have Land by
the Brook in some Convenient place to set a fish House and to be at one half the Expense that
may be Necessary both for the advantage of the Town and owners. And it is mutually agree
uron that the other half should be Divided in the following manner. First, Deacon Paul
Crowel is to have one fifth part of the advantage that may arise by the said Brook, and to pay
one Fifth of all the charges in proportion to his Fifth, which is one Tenth of the whole profits
and Expenses ; and John pain is to have Two Fifths and one Quarter of another Fifth of this
half and to be at the Expense according to his Share; and Samuel Covel is to have one Fifth
of their half and to have the same proportion of charge, according to what his share is, and
Mehitable Crowel in behalf of the heirs of Reuben Ryder late of Chatham, Deceased, is to
have three Quarters of one Fifth of the advantage and to pay the Expense that shall atill arise
in proportion to her share and this Agreement is made and finally Concluded on this third
Day of May one thousand seven hundred and sighty-six, and have hereunto set our hands
and seal. „ , _, . ,
Paul Crowel seal
John Paine seal
Mehitable Crowell seal
Caleb Nickerson seal
Elijah Smith seal
Town Records,
At°the Le date John Paine was chosen to take care of the Brook for this year and given
one half of the town's part of the Herrings for his trouble in catching them, the rest he ls to
sell or dispose of them to the town who wish to buy them for the best he can get.

364

HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

Oyster Pond in Chatham without paying a fine of three shillings per
Bushell" and Joseph Howes who lived on the north side of the Pond near
its head was chosen "to Inspect the affair" and prosecute trespassers.
The first Federal census of the country was taken in 1790. It was more
complete than either of those taken during the Colonial period, giving the
names of the heads of families and the size of each family. The total
population of the Town under this census was found to be 1140. There
were 193 families.
A copy of this census is hereto appended.
CENSUS OF 1790

ft) u
So

SiS

E

Over Male Unde

1

Mary Atkinss

4
Joseph Crowell
1 4
3
Wm. Atkins
3
3
Zenas Crowell
1 4
5
Joseph Attwood
3
Paul Crowell
3 2
Sears Attwood
4
1
Ezra Crowell
1 1
Nathan Bassett
1
Seth Crowell
2-1
David Bassett
3
5
Joseph Dexter
1 1
6
Sarah Bassett
4
Hezekiah Doane
1 4
4
Nathan Bassett, Jr.
3
3
4
Samuel Doane
1 1
6
Samuel Bassett
2
2
6
Joseph Doane, Esq.
2 6
2
Reuben Bass
3
2
Ephraim Doane
1 1
3
Ebenezer Base
1
2
Nath'l Eldridge
1 4
5
George Bearse
1
3
5
Ebenezer Eldridge
1 1
1
Stephen Bearse
1
2
Barnabas Eldridge
2
Simeon Bearce
3
1
4
Jonathan Eldridge
1 1
2
Thomas Bee
1
3
2
Desire Eldridge
2
Jonathan Buck
3
3
5
Heber Eldridge
1
David Buck
1
1
1
Elijah Eldridge, Jr.
2 3
4
Thomas Clark
1
1
5
Elijah Eldridge
3
Thomas Clark
1
1
5
Nath'l Eldridge
1 1
4
Wido Cole
1
2
James Eldridge
2 2
1
Thomas Howes
3
2
5
Joshua Eldridge
3 3
3
Seth Collings
1
2
3
Daniel Eldridge
1 1
1
Samuel Covel
1
3
6
Abner Eldridge
1
Joshua Covel
1
2
2
James Eldridge, Jr.
1 3
3
Nathan Covel
1
Thomas Eldridge
1 1
1
David Crowell
2
2
5
John Eldridge
1 4
1
Jonas Crowell
2
1
4
. Seth Eldridge
1 3
2
THE PERIOD OF REV. THOMAS ROBY'S MINISTRY. 305

a a

rt

j 0

So

SID

h.

%

o Sp

Thomas Eldridge 3

2

3

Theodore Harding

1 1

Anthony Eldridge 2

6

John Haws

1 4

Isaiah Eldridge 1

1

3

Joseph Higgins

1 1

Benedick Eldridge 3

1

4

Sam'l Hinkley

Zephaiah Eldridge 1
1
2
Shubal Hinkley
1 1
Solomon Eldridge 2
4
James Hopkins
1 2
Ezekiel Eldridge 1
1
3
Isaac Howes
4 2
Thomas Eldridge 1
1
1
David Howes, Jr.
Hezekiah Eldridge 1
1
1
Daniel Howes
3 1
Ebenezer Eldred 1
3
3
Milford Howes
1 2
AbigalAlles (Ellis) 1
1
2
Samuel Collins, Jr.
John Amory (Emery) 1
4
4-1
Joseph Howes
4 1
Ruben Gage 1
2
Enoch Howes
David Godfrey 1
1
Richard Howes
2 2
Benjamin Godfrey 1
1
1
Barbara Jackson
Nathaniel Godfrey 1
4
2
Edward Kent
1 3
Knowles Godfrey 1
2
1
William Kent
1 1
Joshua Godfrey 1
2
Hannah Knowles
Richard Godfrey, Jr. 1
1
John Knapp
Mary Godfrey
3
5
Elijah Loveland
1 3
Josiah Godfrey 1
2
1
James Loveland
David Godfrey 3
1
4
Timothy Loveland
1 1
Joshua Godfrey 1
1
7
Paul Mayo
1 1
Richard Godfrey 1
2
3
Thos. Mayo
1 2
Samuel Gray 1
3
1
Jacob Morris
Ruhannah Hamelton 1
3
Seth Morse
2 3
Elizabeth Hambleton 2
0
3
Jeremiah Nickerson
2 4
Nath'l Hambleton 1
2
4
Lambert Nickerson
1 1
Rich'd Hambleton 1
2
4
Ensine Nickerson, Jr.
1 3
Nath'l Hambleton 2
1
3
Ensine Nickerson
1 2
Eliphalet Hambleton 4
2
Eli Nickerson
1 1
Jeptha Hambleton 1
2
3
Moses Nickerson, Jr.
Melter Hambleton 1
2
1
Moses Nickerson
2 2
John Haman (Hammond) 1
1
2
Mary Nickerson
Kesiah Harden 2
2
James Nickerson
3 3
Silvanus Harden 1
4
5
Jonathan Nickerson
3 1
Seth Harden 1
2
4
Warren Nickerson
1 1
Elizabeth Harden
4
Salathiel Nickerson
1 2
Seth Harden 1
5
1
Caleb Nickerson
4 1
Content Harden 2
2
5
Richard Nickerson
Isaiah Harden 1
2
1
Judah Nickerson
1 1
John Harden 1
3
7
Constant Nickerson
1 1
366

HISTORY OF CHATHAM.

a S
So

s£

a E4)

Malei Over Malei Unde

ra s

Content Nickerson

5

2

Hugh Smith

1 4

3

Thomas Nickerson

3

2
Isaac Smyth
2
2
Miruck Nickerson
1
1
Hugh Smith
1 4
3
Abijah Nickerson
1
1
1
Herman Smith, Jr.
1 2
2
John Wooderson
1
2
1
Herman Smith
3 3
4
Wm. Padishell
4
2
3
Nathaniel Snow
2
Nathan Phillips
2
2
6
Aaron Snow
3
David Collins
1
2
6
Atheton Snow
1
Samuel Collins
1
3
Crowell Stetson
1 1
3
Rev. Thomas Roby
1
2
4
William Steward
1 2
3
Josiah Ryder
3
2
7
Mathias Taylor
1
Samuel Ryder
1
5
2
Mathias Taylor, Jr.
3
Jonathan Ryder
1
1
3
Bethiah Taylor
3
Simeon Ryder
1
3
4
Seth Taylor
3 2
5
Kemble Ryder
2
2
5
Thomas Taylor
1 3
3
Ruben Ryder
1
1
5
SamuelTaylor
6
Moses Ryder
1
2
3
Simeon Taylor
3
Harden Ryder
2
2
4
Daniel Veall
1 2
1
Joseph Ryder
2
4
4
Joseph Wing
1
Richard Sears
2
1
6
Simeon Young
1 1
4
Jonathan Small
1
3
2
Tilson Young
1 2
4
Elijah Smith
2
3
3
John Young
1 1
1
Abeal Smith
2
3
Isaiah Young
1 1
6
George Smith
5
3
Joseph Young
1 1
3
John Smith
1
2
2
Zoeth Young
2
George Smith
1
2
2
Prince Young, Jr.
1 2
3
Richard Smith
1
1
Levi Young
1 1
1
Isaac Smith
1
1
3
Herman Young
1 2
4
In the early part of 1792 the Town appointed a committee to consider
the matter of repairs and improvements to the meeting house. On May 9
this committee reported as follows: "It is the opinion of us that the
meeting house should be repaired on the outside; the men's and women's
stairs taken away and the passage ways stopt; the porch enlarged and
raised so as to make the stairways up the porch for the men and women.
Windows made and the others repaired; one seat in the men's and women's
front gallery taken up for the allaway and what room there is in stairways
in the gallery each side to be made into seats, as the agent that the town
shall choose to see that the business is done shall think most convenient for
THE PERIOD OF REV. THOMAS ROBY'S MINISTRY. 367
the whole; the outside of the meeting house and windows colored and
pews made where the stairs now stand. ELIJAH SMITH
CALEB NICKERSON
SIMEON BEARSE
RICHARD SEARS."
"and the Town voted an addition to said report, which is as follows: viz:
to shut up the end doors and make pews where the said doors are now
and the Town voted that. there should be two pews on each side of the
broad alley, made in the most saving manner that could be, so as not
to take more than two feet on each side away, and the Town voted that
the money arising from the sale of the pews should be appropriated to
defray the expenses of the repairs of said Meeting house." David God
frey, Elijah Smith and Lt. Jonas Crowell were appointed agents to make
these repairs, who attended to their duties during the summer. The work
being completed, the pews were sold at auction by Joseph Doane, Esq. on
the fourth Monday of October 1792 at the meeting house.
Shortly before 1790 began the fourth and last of the notable emigrations
from the Town. It extended over a term of years and had for its objective
the unsettled lands along or near the rivers of Maine. The first of the
emigrants went to the Penobscot country so called, being the region
near the Penobscot river. Later others went to the Kennebec country,
in the vicinity of the Kennebec river. The leaders in the emigration
to the Penobscot country were Cyrenus Collins, Barzillai Hopkins and
William Nickerson, the fifth generation of that name, who settled at
Orphans Island in the Penobscot River shortly before 1790, and Simeon
Fowler and James Freeman, who were at Orrington, further up the river,
at the same date. To this colony were added some of the following settlers
from Chatham: Richard Godfrey, son of George; Ephraim Doane, son
of Col. Joseph; Richard Kent, son of Edward; Heman Smith, Jr.; John
Smith, his brother; William Pedishall; Levi Young, son of Heman; Heber
Eldredge, son of Ebenezer; Hezekiah Eldredge, Jr.; Isaiah Nickerson,
son of Thomas, Jr.; Harding Ryder, son of James; Joshua and Nathan
Covel, sons of James, and others. Orphan's Island, Orrington, Orland,
Mount Vernon, and Buckstown were where most of these people settled.
Later about 1795 the exodus, to the Kennebec Country began. The
emigrants going largely to a place called Readville. Among these emigrants

368 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
were Levi Eldredge, son of William; David Nickerson, son of Jonathan;
Constant Nickerson, son of Ebenezer; Samuel Taylor, Jr., Simeon Taylor,
his brother; Ezra Bearce and David Bearce, sons of Simeon, and others.
These emigrants went to the unsettled parts of Northern Maine, where
cabin life was at first necessary and where wolves infested the virgin
forest. The frontier life had its many disadvantages.
By a resolve of the General Court of the States approved June 26, 1794
each Town in the State was required to have a careful survey made of its
entire territory and an accurate plan prepared in accordance with the
survey, and filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth before
June 1st, 1795. This plan was to be drawn at a scale of 200 rods to the
inch and was to show the country roads, public buildings, bridges, etc.
Pursuant to this resolve a plan of Chatham was made by a committee
appointed by the town for that purpose; Joseph Howes, Col. Benjamin
Godfrey and Richard Sears. They completed their work May 22, 1795
and it was duly filed. A reduced copy is herewith presented.

THE PERIOD OF REV THOMAS ROBY'S MINISTRY. 369

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Z%>*5Lrr/,m Unci Sfan^LrdaJ-d, ~rr#^r 22 ' /}?<- /~I7?

\x

370 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
On February 6, 1795, Mrs. Lucretia Roby, wife of Rev. Mr. Roby,
passed away, aged 37 years, and three days; later her mother, Mrs.
Abigail Sturgis, who was living with her, died at the age of 63 years. The
young minister was thus suddenly left with no wife or mother-in-law and
three small children, with no near relative to care for them. The town
was in arrears for his salary; and there were differences as to how much
it owed him. Under these circumstances, he naturally asked for his dis
missal, which was granted him at a town meeting held September 28,
1795. He had held the pastorate 12 years with apparent success. He
admitted to the church 66 persons during that time. He appears to have
removed at once to Windham, Maine where he doubtless acted as a tem
porary supply. Here he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Osgood) Knight, a
widow, who cared for his young children. He then settled in Otisfield,
Maine where he was installed January 23, 1797. This was a new settle
ment and Mr. Roby was the first pastor of a church just organized. He
was dismissed from this church September 4, 1810, after about 13 years'
service. He then removed to Harrison, Maine, an adjoining town, where
he died April 24, 1836, aged 77 years. He did not have a church after
leaving Otisfield.5 His widow died August 13, 1854.
5. Children of Rev. Thomas Roby: By wife Lucretia (born in Chatham). 1. Joseph, b.
Jan. 28, 1788 ; removed from Maine to Canada. 2. Samuel S., b. May 28, 1789 ; removed to
Ohio; died about 1829. 3. Abigail S., b. Apr. 28, 1790; m. John Sampson of Portland, Me., in
1810. By wife Elizabeth. 4. William K., b. in Windham, Me., Feb. 11, 1795-6. B. Henry, b. in
Otisfield, Me., July 17, 1798 ; m. Martha Cary ; lived in Harrison. 6. Betsey O., b. in Otisfield,
Me., Mar. 7, 1800 ; m. David R. Morse in Harrison. 7. Thomas, b. in Otisfield, Me., Mar.
29, 1805.
I am indebted to Mr. Howard L. Sampson, town clerk of Harrison, Me., for some of the
above items about Mr. Roby's family in Maine.

THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 371

CHAPTER XVII
THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS' MINISTRY
1795 - 1816
Strong Island Annexed — The Methodists — Visit of Rev. James
Freeman 1802 — Salt Works Started — Wind Mills — Schools
Revived — Stores — Physicians — War of 1812
Mr. Roby's pastorate having terminated, the town on September 28,
1795 chose Mr. Reuben Ryder, agent, to secure a candidate to preach,
and Rev. Ephraim Briggs was hired for a few months on trial. In March
following the Town offered him terms of settlement, but much parleying
took place and it was June 22 before the parties came to terms. It was
then agreed that his annual salary should be 80 pounds, that his settlement
should be 230 pounds payable in' three years, one third each year, that
he should have 16 cords of wood and four tons of salt hay, and the use
of the parsonage of the town.1 This was in substance the same terms as
were made with Mr. Roby.
Rev. Ephraim Briggs, son of Rev. Ephraim and Rebecca (Watesman)
Briggs of Halifax, Mass., born there March 3, 1769, was graduated from
Harvard College in 1791. He probably studied theology for a time,
perhaps teaching some. His first permanent pastorate was doubtless at
Chatham, where he was ordained' July 20, 1796. Like his predecessor,
Mr. Roby, he was a young man and unmarried, and his first act after his
ordination was to seek a helpmate. He was married on November 28,
1796 to Deborah Sampson, daughter of Capt. Simeon of Plymouth. In
spite of his youth, Mr. Briggs appears to have been successful in securing
the esteem and confidence of the people and to have maintained the strength
of the church in a difficult time.2 When Mr.. Roby retired, the town had
1. This parsonage of the town was clearly the one built for Mr. Roby (see page ). Of
it Mr. Lewis Atwood writes in 1890 : "To the south (from the old burial hill at the head of
Ryder's Cove) may be seen the greatly improved building, once the old parsonage, in which
Rev. Ephraim Briggs and later Rev. Stetson Raymond lived to serve the old church, which
stood near by." This house the writer remembers as standing south of the Samuel D. Clifford
place on the west side of the road and then known as the Freeman Lewis place.
2. June 22, 1796, the town appointed a committee to put "the meeting house in order by
studding the galleries."

372 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
largely recovered from the strain and stress of the War and was in condition
to make a forward movement. His pastorate, though lasting only about
20 years, was therefore full of activity compared with that of his prede
cessor. First in order of time occurred the annexation of Strong Island
to the town, then the dejection of the Methodists began, in 1802 Rev.
James Freeman visited and described the town, the salt making industry
sprang up, schools began to be of importance again, then came the War
of 1812 and so on.
By an Act of the General Court in February 1697-8 Strong Island and
the adjacent portion of Pleasant Bay was annexed to Chatham, having been
for many years a part of Harwich. The history of their part of the town
is interesting and deserves examination. The boundary between Mono
moit and Harwich, first fixed in 1675, was, as already shown, further
established in 1703 by agreement between the two towns.3 There is no
record to show that the bounds then agreed upon, were renewed or re
established till January 1733-4, when Mr. Thomas Doane and Dea. Thomas
Atkins for Chatham and Mr. Chillingsworth Foster and Mr. Kenelan
Winslow for Harwich fixed the boundary as given below.4 There was
another renewal of bounds in 1743, another in 1749 and another in 1756.
In all these cases the line was fixed on the land substantially where it is
now, but no attempt was made to define its location through Pleasant Bay.
It appears to have been understood, however, that the line followed the
channel! south of Strong Island and thence to the sea, for in private
deeds of land from 1708 on, Strong Island is uniformly accounted a part
of Harwich. In the renewal of bounds in April 1763 the first attempt was
made to define clearly the Pleasant Bay line. In the language of this
renewal the line ran "as the (Muddy) River or Cove runs to the Bay and
as the Bay goes out to the southward of Strong Island and so out of the
Old Harbor to the Sea." This language is rejected in the renewal of
bounds in 1769. By act of the General Court of July 14, 1772 that part
of Harwich known as Polammagunt and the islands adjacent in Pleasant
Bay including Strong Island, were taken from Harwich and annexed to
Eastham, thereby making the latter town our neighbor on the north.
3. See page 100 supra and notes thereto.
4. Beginning at a pine knot standing in ye meadow on ye south side of the Red river and
near ye mouth of ye said river and from thence south into ye sea and from that knot northerly
by the east side of Lieut. Howes meadow land till it comes to ye cart way and so over ye way
to a heap of stones on ye north side of ye way and so northerly till it comes to a stone sett in,
ye ground by a stump by the road that leads from Chatham to Yarmouth a little to ye east
ward of Joseph Nickerson's dwelling house, thence easterly as said road leads towards Chatham
till it comes to ye West end of John Crowell's barn, thence easterly to ye eelware by Mudy
Cove river and so running down ye. middle of said river till it comes into ye sea."

THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 373
Strong Island and the fiats, water and beach east of it, later known as
the "Strong Island purchase", was acquired of the Indians by Jeremiah
Howes of Yarmouth by two deeds in 1689 and 1691.5 Howes conveyed
this tract to Thomas Freeman of Harwich, son of Maj. John Freeman,
by deed dated October 5, 1697 and Freeman by deed dated April 2, 1708,
disposed of one half of the Island to John Rogers of Harwich. By deed
and descent the property remained for many years in the Freeman-Rogers
families, who lived in that part of Harwich called Potomamagunt. All
these Potomamagunt families controlled the property, there was no com
plaint that this island, so near to the limits of Chatham, should still be
regarded as belonging to another town. About 1770, however, Lambert
Nickerson and Ensign Nickerson of Chatham began to acquire interests
in the island and before 1796 had bought out a large number of owners.
The first deed of later deeds are as follows:6
An agitation was then begun for its annexation to Chatham, the claims
being set up that it really belonged to the town. There appears to have
been , no real foundation for this claim. The records are all against it.
Petitions were presented to the General Court early in 1796 by both
Eastham and Chatham praying that the Court settle the dispute which had
5. See page 49, note 23 supra.
6. Thomas Freeman of Harwich to Lambert Nickerson of Chatham dated Dec. 22, 1769,
conveying 4 at Strong Island "the lands' are on the easterly part of said Island and
is all that parcel of land on said Island that is now settled to me of the estate of my Honored
Father Thomas Freeman Deceased and is bounded westerly on the lands that is set of to my
mother as part of her Dower in sd Deceased's Estate and Easterly on the land of Theophilius
Hopkins, Northerly and Southerly by the edge of the said Island Banks and together
with the whole of my right to the Banks of said Island. The meadow is described as followeth :
Two-fifths parts of all the meadow, sedge ground or flatts that is now settled to me that is
laying & being to the Southwest of the above said Island."
2. Josiah Ryder and Huldah his wife of Chatham to Lambert Nickerson of said Chatham
deed dated 20 February 1782 recorded Barnstable Deeds Bk. 43, pg. 132 conveying a parcel of
meadow and sedge ground in Eastham "adjoining to an Island called Strong Island, it being
one-fifth and one half of a fifth of a sixteenth and the half of a ninth part of a sixteenth of
the meadow on the flat adjoyning to the Southerly side of said Strong Island, and likewise one
half of all that meadow I bout of Isaac Freeman on the Southerly side of said Island in the
new flat, that is to say one half of an eighth and one half of a ninth part of an eighth of the
Freeman's half of said new flat bounded from the other flatt called the Aere flat."
3. Surrended deed from Sarah Spenks of Plymouth to dated 8 Nov. 1782 con
veying ail right to meadow that her brother Absalom Nickerson died seized of.
4. Deed from Theophilus Hopkins of Eastham to Lambert Nickerson & Ensign Nickerson
of Chatham dated 7 Dec. 1784 recorded with Barnstable Deeds Bk. 43 pg. 145 conveying "all
that parcel of land lying and being in Eastham at a place called Strong Island, being all my
right on all the said Island which is three sixteenths of the said Island now undivided and
the three sixteenths above mentioned aU lye in that half of said Island called Freeman's half."
5. Deed from Alvin Arey and Thomas Arey of Eastham to Ensign Nickerson of Chatham
dated 27 April 1795 not recorded conveying "all our riuht on Strong Island our rite being three
6. Deed from Daniel Rogers & Mulford Rogers of Eastham to Ensign Nickerson of Chat
ham dated 1 Feb 1797 not recorded conveying all right to the land on the Island called Strong
Island lying in Eastham it being three eighth's parts of the Ian our Deceased father Moses
acors more or less."
Rogers owned on said Island together with all our right to the shore or beach on said Island
also all our right to the salt pond and shore meadow on the North side of sd Island."

374 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
arisen.7 Therefore a resolve was passed June 7, 1796, appointing Hon.
Isaac Thomson, Ebenezer Crocker, Esq. and Mr. John Dillingham a com
mittee to visit the locality and ascertain and establish the boundary at the
expense of the towns and to report to the General Court at the next session '
after completing their work.8 This Committee made a report dated August
1, 1797 in favor of the annexation of the "Strong Island property or
purchase" to the town of Chatham, which report was accepted by the
General Court February 7 and 8, 1797-8. The line which they established
began "at the Southeasterly corner of the Town of Harwich in Pleasant
Bay from thence running Easterly to the Northward of Strong Island to
a stake set in the ground on Pocha Beach marked E. C, which stake bears
South 73 degrees East from a black rock situated on the edge of the water
of said Bay and is a known bound in the line between the town of Eastham
and Harwich and from said stake a due east course to the sea."9 On
March 3, 1797-8 the south part of Eastham was incorporated as the town
of Orleans, which then became our neighbor on the north.
Before long it was discovered that an error had been made in the report
of the Committee, the course expressed in their return not running to the
northward of Strong Island as stated in their return, wherefore on petition
of the Selectmen of Chatham, a resolve was passed February 3, 1800
appointing Messrs. Thomson and Dillingham a committee to visit the
locality again and correct their former report, "establishing the line be
tween the two towns by such courses and as shall be permanent."10
This committee reported as follows: "We place a bound on Posha
Beach by putting two stones of considerable bigness one on the top of
7. Deed from Elbredge of Harwich and Dorothy his wife to Ensign Nickerson of
Chatham dated 24 March 1803 recorded with Barnstable Deeds Bk. 58 pg. 59 conveying "all
that our Banks and Beaches Lying Round an Island called Strong Island which we bought of
Timothy Freeman allso all our right to all the undivided meadow, flats and beach lying in the
sd Strong Island purchase which fel to us from our Deceased father Thomas Freeman."
7. "The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Eastham humbly sheweth that whereas
there is a disagreement between the towns of Eastham and Chatham in regard to the line
between the two towns and considerable property of Island and meadow is claimed by each
town, which property has been till the last year even peaceably preserved by the people of
Eastham, but in the course of the last hay season the inhabitants of Chatham did come on, cut
and carry away a considerable number of lots of meadow grass, notwithstanding we on our
part have endeavored to agree with them in regard to the line, but have no longer any prospect
of settling it by mutual agreement." Dated Jan. 29, 1796. State Archives.
"The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Chatham humbly sheweth that wherever
there is a disagreement between the towns of Eastham and Chatham, in regard to the line
between the two towns, some property on islands and meadow is claimed by each town, and
for a considerable part of that property the Inhabitants of Chatham have been subjected to a
t^x to the town of Eastham, notwithstanding the Inhabitants of Chatham always conseived
that it lay within the limits of that town, hut wishing to avoid a contention it remained in
that situation until this last year." Dated May 2, 1796. State Archives.
8. Mass. Resolves of 1796 Chp. 8.
9. Town Records.
10. Mass. Resolves 1799 Chapt. 96.

THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 375
the other which stones bear north 72 y2° East from a Rock standing
Northerly of the most Northerly point of Strong Island, which said Rock
is marked with a milt pick with the letter C on the South side and with the
letter (1) on the North side and from those stones pleaced on the beach
we run a line South 72V2° East to the sea, we then run a line from said
stones thus placed on said beach North 72^2° West to the said Rock
marked as aforesaid and from said Rock Westerly to the Channel, thence
to follow the principal chief Channel on the Northerly side of said Strong
Island and still on in the middle of said channel after it passeth said
Island until it comes to the Southeasterly corner of the Town of Harwich
in the middle of Pleasant Bay, which line leaves the whole of Strong
Island to belong to the Town of Chatham."11 This report was accepted
by the General Court in June 1800; but it seems that the commissioners
had not yet done their work faithfully. The following resolve, passed
February 13, 1806, shows: "As petition of the Selectmen of the Town of
Chatham and Orleans, praying that a mistake in the report of a committee
appointed by the General Court in the year 1800 to ascertain and settle
the boundary line between the said Towns of Chatham and Orleans may
be rectified — Resolved for Reasons sett forth in said petition that the first
course in the Report of said Committee which bears north 72%° East
shall be considered and taken to be South 72%° East, anything in the
said Report to the contrary not withstanding.12
It will be noted by examining the foregoing map that the territory
annexed in 1797, when finally corrected, comprised practically the tract
known as the "Strong Island purchase", which lay between the "Mono
moit Great Beach purchase" on the south and the "Seven Share purchase"
on the north. The limits of the "Monomoit Great Beech purchase" are
fully set forth in the latter part of Chapter X supra. The tract known as
the "Seven Shore purchase" was purchased by Samuel Mayo and Joshua
Hopkins of Eastham of John Sipson and Tom Sipson, Indians, by deed
dated July 20, 1713 and is therein described as follows: "All that our
flatts & Sedge Ground that now is or ever hereafter shall be Lying in the
Township of Harwich Lying Scituate between the Main Channel that
comes in at the Harbour called Potomanogut alias the Middle Harbour and
Runs up to Namacoyik point and the Channel that comes in at Sd Harbour
and Runs up Between Stronge Island and Esnne Island and so Runs up
11. Town Records.
12. Mass. Resolves of 1806, Chap. 83.

376 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
to the Wadeing place that Goes over to Chatham, that is all the flats and
Sedge ground between said Two Channels up home to the main land."13
Mayo and Hopkins conveyed undivided portions of the tract to others,
so that there were seven whole shares owned among the proprietors, thence
the name, Seven Share Purchase.
Please take notice that at this time the channel from Pleasant Bay out to
the ocean was at about the center of the beach opposite Pleasant Bay and
in the location shown on the map of Des Barres in 1781, a copy of which
is shown at the beginning of Chapter XVI. Hence the name "Old Harbor."
The opening through the beach east of Chatham, if it then existed, was not
used when the early settlers lived. This entrance through Nauset Beach
was not closed till about 1750. The present boundary between Chatham
and Orleans on Nauset Beach is where the old entrance to Pleasant Bay
was formerly located.
It is worth noting that it appears from Senate and House documents
that the Town of Harwich at the time of this transfer to Chatham and
even down as late as 1832 sought to secure the annexation to it of the
Strong Island -territory, in order that its inhabitants might have the right
to dig clams for bait on the extensive flats, but they had no success.
Almost simultaneously with the coming of Mr. Briggs, a movement of
the Methodists began to break out in the north part of the town, although
it did not perhaps immediately affect the Congregationalist Church attend
ance, yet it showed that a new sect was beginning to grow. There had
been for some years a sect in the town who were called Baptists who
attended regularly the Baptist Church in Harwich. A new sect, followers
of John Wesley, now began to be active in or near the town, and to secure
converts therein, largely at first through the efforts of Rev. Jesse Lee,
who travelled up and down the Cape, preaching in the open air, in private
houses or wherever listeners gathered together. He was especially suc
cessful at Provincetown where a Methodist meeting house was erected as
early as 1795. Converts were secured in Chatham and Harwich and in
1797 the East Harwich Methodist Episcopal Society was organized. The
preachers up to this time had- been Mr. John Kenney, a local preacher,
a native of Chatham, but living then in Provincetown, and Rev. John
Broadhead. The first meeting house, a small structure without paint or
plaster, was built in 1799, in the east end of the old cemetery there. After
13. 18 Mayflower Descendant 132.

TIIE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 377
Mr. Broadhead the preachers were Rev. John Bigson, who was pastor
when the meeting house was built, Rev. John Merrick and others. A
number of people from Chatham, especially in the north part of the town,
joined the society. In March 1809 it was incorporported by the Legis
lature as the First Methodist Society in Harwich. So many Chatham
people had then become interested in the society that they started in 1811
to build a new meeting house about a mile or more to the east of the old
meeting house and near the borders of Chatham and therefore the old
meeting house was vacated and sold. The leading man in securing the
building of the new meeting house appears to have been Ensign Nickerson
of Chathamport who subscribed $500. Other Chatham subscribers were
Salathiel Nickerson who gave $300, Joshua Buck, $100, Isaiah Nye, $150,
Ebenezer Bearce, $30, Isaac Eldredge, $30, and Isaac Eldredge, Jr., $40,
a total of $1,150. These were joined with others at East Harwich, Mr. Eli
Small subscribing $150, James Small $100, William Eldredge $50, Zeb-
eder Small $50, Zachariah Small $50, Samuel Eldredge, 3rd $50, Elnathan
Eldredge, Jr. $50, Seth Cahoon $30, Ellery Eldredge $100, a total of $630,
and making a grand total of $1,780 for all subscribers, which is believed
to have been the original cost of the house. Mr. Eli Small and Mr. William
Eldredge were chosen the agents for the proprietors of the new meeting
house. It appears that from time to time a large number of persons in
Chatham, in addition to those above mentioned as subscribers to the
building fund, became affiliated with the Society, including Samuel Bassett,
Jr. Jsaac White, Samuel Nye, Jonathan Eldredge, Elijah Kendrick, Zenas
Eldredge, Anthony Eldredge, Nathaniel Eldredge, Jr., Archelan Eldredge,
Sylvanus Eldredge, Samuel S. Rogers, Amos Harding, Lemuil Hunt, Josiah
Kendrick, Tabitha Harding, Bett Harding, Micajah Howes, Henry Gor
ham, Mulford Kendrick, James Taylor, Jr., William Eldredge, Tully
Nickerson, Enos Bassett, Jeremiah Nickerson, Bani Eldredge, Seth Nick
erson, Simeon Eldredge, William Hamilton, Michael Hamilton, Christo
pher Taylor, Jr., Abijah Eldredge, Levi Eldredge, Samuel Mayo, Howes
Ryder, Ensign Nickerson Jr., June Nickerson.
Having traced the growth of the East Harwich-Chatham Methodists, we
are next brought to the visit in 1802 of Rev. James Freeman, one of the
leading clergymen of Boston, to the Cape, of which he was a native. He
travelled throughout the Cape, visited his native town of Wellfleet, and
gathered facts and statistics about each of the Cape towns, which he pub
lished in 1802 in the reports of the Massachusetts Historical Society. These

378 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
articles are very valuable and interesting. The following extracts from
the article on Chatham give an excellent idea of the town at this period
(1802). "The township consists of hills and ridges, with narrow valleys, small
depressions, ponds and swamps between them. As the hills are nearly of
the same height and the valleys at a short distance are not perceived, the
land appears like an elevated plain. Great Hill, which is a third of a
mile east of the meeting house, towers above the rest of the township.
This is the first land made by seamen, coming on this part of the coast.
From its two summits there is an extensive prospect and even Nantucket
is visible when the dusk looms. The tops of the ridges and small hills
also command a fine view of the sea. There are two principal roads in
Chatham, the first leading through the south precinct of Harwich to
Barnstable. The other, to the north precinct of Harwich. From tl^is second
road there is a third, which passes through Orleans to the lower Cape.
These roads are sandy, but they are better than those of Wellfleet.
"There is a number of small swamps, several of which have been cleared
and converted into pastures and meadows. From these swamps, within
the past five years, considerable quantities of peat have been dug.
"Not a fruit tree grows in Chatham, and not more than 65 acres of
woodland are left. It is situated near the line of Harwich and consists
principally of pitch pine.
"Very little English hay is cut, but the marshes yield salt hay enough
for the use of the inhabitants. Butter is made in summer, but butter for
winter and cheese are procured from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Bos
ton. Beef and provisions of all kinds for the fishermen are brought from
the last mentioned place. Not more than half enough Indian corn for
the consumption of the inhabitants is raised, the average product to an
acre is 12 bushels. Rye, the average produce of which is six bushels, is
raised in the same proportion. Thirty years ago a small quantity of wheat
was grown, but at present it is wholly neglected. There are many good
gardens, in which a sufficient quantity of roots and herbs are produced.
As the land, particularly in the centre and south part of the township is
every year growing worse, by the drifting of the sand, there is little to
encourage agricultural industry.14
"Besides sea weed and the king crab on their shores there are also spots
14. Dr. Freeman doubtless refers to the sand dunes near Great Hill, through which the
Railroad now follows and which are now covered with a growth of pines.

THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY 379
which contain clay, — a well known fertilizer of a sandy soil. But hus
bandry is pursued with little spirit, the people in general passing the flower
of their lives at sea, which they do not quit till they are fifty years of age,
leaving at home none but the old men and small boys to cultivate the
ground. "A few of the young and middle aged men are engaged in mercantile
voyages and sail from Boston, but the great body of them are fishermen.
Twenty-five schooners, from 25 to 70 tons, are employed in the cod fishing.
They are partly owned in Boston and other places, but principally in
Chatham. About one-half of them fish on the banks of Newfoundland,
the rest on Nantucket Shoals, the shores of Nova Scotia and in the straits
of Belle Isle. On board these schooners are about 200 men and boys,
most of whom are inhabitants of Chatham; and they catch, one year with
another, 700 to 800 quintals to a vessel. Besides these fishing vessels,
there are belonging to the Town five coasters which sail to Carolina and
the West Indies.
"Shell fish are found in great abundance on the shores, particularly
quahaugs and clams. Great quantities of bait are dug for the use of the
fishermen. There are excellent oysters in Oyster pond, but they are
scarce and dear, selling for a dollar a bushel. In no part of the country
can wild fowls be obtained in such plenty and variety.
"A breakfast among the inhabitants, even among those who are called
the poorest, for there are none really poor, consists of tea or coffee, brown
bread, generally with butter, sometimes without, and salt or fresh fish,
fried or broiled. A dinner affords one or more of the following dishes,
roots and herbs, salted beef or pork, fresh butcher's meat not more than
twelve times a year ; wild fowl frequently in the autumn and winter, fresh
fish boiled or fried with pork, shell fish, salt fish boiled, Indian pudding,
pork baked with beans. Tea or coffee also frequently constitutes a part
of the dinner. A supper consists of tea or coffee and fish as at breakfast,
cheese, cakes made of flour, gingerbread and pies of several sorts.
"Chatham contains more inhabitants in proportion to its extent than
any other township in the County. By the census of 1800 there were 1351
souls and they have increased a little since that time. The number of
dwelling-houses, as returned in the valuate of last year, is 158. They are
small, four only being two stories in height. The meeting house near
the centre of the township is in good repair. There are five schools, in

380 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
which reading, writing and arithmetic are taught to children of both sexes;
education is encouraged. The other buildings are a rope walk,15 a tan
house,16 a number of barns and six windmills." "The principal business
of the town is done near Old Harbor."
This picture of the town drawn by Rev. Dr. Freeman is very clear and
invaluable. Naturally it does not go into much detail regarding the busi
ness life of the citizens, outside of farming and fishing. He does not
here mention the saltworks, which were just beginning to be an important
industry and of which there were at this time in Chatham six collections,
embracing altogether 11,500 feet in area.17 Mr. Reuben Ryder is said
to have been the first one in this business here. He conceived the idea
of making salt by evaporation from sea water, and tried the experiment on
a small scale by the use of boxes, and was encouraged to find the particles
of salt gathering on the bottom of the boxes. He learned the method of
constructing salt works, went "down east", purchased lumber and built
2,000 feet of works. Mr. Elnathan Mayo of -Brewster, grandfather of the
late Elnathan Mayo of Chatham, was the boss builder and worked through
the winter without losing a day, walking to his home in Brewster Satur
day nights and returning to his work on Monday mornings. The works
were built in strings usually about 250 feet in length and 18 feet wide.
The tops or roofs were divided into lengths of 12 feet called doors, each
of these doors was on rollers and were rolled off in dry weather to expose
the salt water to the sun, and closed in rainy weather. The bottoms or
vats containing the water were divided into five different parts. The sea
water was pumped by windmills into the first apartment and drawn to
the others which were on a little lower level, as they became stronger and
nearer the salt producing point. We cannot give the rule for measuring
salt works, but the practice was to multiply twice the width of the string
by the length. This business developed so rapidly that in 1809 when
Kendal published an account of his travels on the Cape, he found in
Chatham the following then engaged in the business: Reuben Ryder,
69,000 feet; Ezra Crowell, 50,000; Stephen Smith, 19,000; Salathiel Nick-
15. Said to have been built by Cobb Nickerson near his house in the north part of the town.
As I can find no Cobb Nickerson ever living in the town, I suppose this is a misprint for Caleb
Nickerson, who did have a rope-walk at about this time. It did good service during the first
part of the century.
16. The Registry of Deeds contains a deed from Watson Berry of Chatham to Nathan
Crosby of Brewster dated in 1818. Thereafter Nathan and his brother, Roland F. Crosby,
conducted this tannery, which seems to have been in existence in 1808, grinding bark for it in
a windmill. It was abandoned about 1830. It was located near the shore north of Chatham
Bars Inn.
17. Mass. Historical Society, Coll. 1st Series VIII 138.

THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 381
erson, 15,000; Zenas Ryder & Co., 25,000; Joseph Young, 10,000; Edward
Kent, 10,000; Jonathan Crowell, 18,000; David Crowell, 13,000; Jona
than Eldredge, 6,000; Ensign Nickerson, 18,000; Leonard Nickerson,
9,350; Simeon Nickerson, 18,000; Timothy Loveland, 10,000; Joseph
Doane, 18,000; Caleb Nickerson, 18,000; Benjamin E. Dunbar, 6,000;
Zenas Taylor, 12,000; Richard Sears & Son, 48,000; Richard Nickerson
10,000; John Ryder, 10,000.18 Of the six windmills which Dr. Freeman
saw in 1802 there were three of the four already referred to in a previous
chapter which were still standing, namely: the Collins mill at the village,
the Thomas Nickerson mill at Old Harbor; and the mill near the church.
The Eldredge mill on Atwood Street west side had then been either
demolished or moved. It is not shown in the town map of 1795. In
addition to the three above mentioned, there were three others all shown
on the town map of 1725. First, a mill at West Chatham on the east side
of the road to the Oyster Pond River, built before 1784, owned by James
Eldredge at his death in 1804. It descended to his son Jesse, who sold it
to Daniel Eldredge in 1806. Second, a mill on the bluffs at Chatham-
port near the Muddy Cove River and known as Ensign's mill, owned in
1784 by Ensign Nickerson, Jr. and two others. It was not demolished till
about 1870. Third, a mill at the head of the Oyster Pond on the bluff
where a later mill afterwards stood. This old mill was erected about 1790
and was owned by Joseph Howes at his death in 1808. It is referred
to in successive deeds as late as 1865 as standing on this property. In
1795 Col. Benjamin Godfrey is said to have constructed a mill on the
bluff east of Atwood Street overlooking Stage Harbor. He died in 1812,
and it passed to his grandnephew Christopher Taylor. This is the only
mill now still standing in the town. Soon after 1795 a mill was erected
at East Harwich, so called, on the bluffs south of the road within the
Chatham boundary by Simeon Bearse. He died in 1811, leaving it in
his family. It was run by his son Madock and later by his grandsons
Ebenezer and Isaac. There were at least seven different windmills in
more or less active operation in Chatham about 1800 and for some time
afterward. After the close of the Revolution, the schools of the town formerly kept
for a part of the year in each of the four quarters of the town, may have
been gradually reopened, but there is very little information in the town
records with regard to them or in regard to the teachers employed, if any.
18. Kendall's Travels II 131.

382 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
The only information we have of early conditions is found in a statement
in the "Hawes Family Genealogy" which says that on December 14, 1727
Dea. John Hawes began a school in Thomas Taylor's house, December 31,
1798 in Sylvanus Harding's house and on December 25, 1795 at Amos
Harding's house. There is a whole volume in this record of a few words.
It shows first that the old pre-Revolution practice of having school in
private houses was still in force, that there were no school houses yet
built, that there was no regular appropriation for schools, because they
employed only local talent as teachers. In 1785 the town first raised 40
lbs. for a school master, but probably it all went to local talent. By
Chapter 19 of the Acts of 1789 the State enacted a new school law, which
doubtless followed the colonial statutes quite closely. Towns were author
ized tp divide their territory into school districts, but the authority of
these districts was not defined. Every town or district having 50 families
or over must have a schoolmaster "to teach their children to read and
write and to instruct them in the English language, arithmetic, ortho
graphy, and decent behavior" for a period of six months each year. Towns
or districts having 100 families must have a schoolmaster for the whole
year. By Chapter 66 Acts of 1799 the inhabitants of school districts were
authorized to hold meetings, locate a schoolhouse, raise money to build
and equip the same, choose a clerk for the district and provide for the
school needs of the district. This act supplied the deficiency in the legis
lation of 1789 and really inaugurated the school district system, as later
understood. It is clear that there were no public school houses in the
town till after this legislation.19 Exactly when the first school house was
erected is not known, but probably after this date. Doubtless the first
four quarters of the town were first provided with very rude affairs to
take the place of the rooms used theretofore in private houses. In 1802
according to Dr. James Freeman, who published in that year his travels
on the Cape, there were five school houses then in use in Chatham. In
1811 there were six school districts. I should here make note that begin
ning with 1800, the town records abandoned the custom long providing
of using pounds, shillings and pence, and adopted the use of dollars and
cents instead. In 1811 and for some years after, each school district was
allowed $40 a year by the town. The first appropriation was 1785. In
1815, 1816, 1817, 300 a year was appropriated for schools.
19. It appears from the settlement of the estate of Daniel Sears in 1761, that there was a
school house as early as 1750 on the Sears farm near what is now Sea View St., but it was
private property, perhaps built by Mr. Sears to avoid having a room in his home adjoining
being used for school purposes,

THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 383
The leading storekeeper of the place, during Mr. Briggs' pastorate, was
Richard Sears, Esq. commonly called "Squire Sears", whose store first
opened by his father, Daniel Sears, Esq. "was attached to the old Sears
mansion at the southeast corner and situated on the spot now occupied
by the Congregationalist parsonage. Mr. Sears was a gentleman of the
old school with a sort of pompous air and wore his hair tied up in a cue
behind. He had a large farm, fitted out fishermen, manufactured salt,
had many cattle, sheep and some horses, and in one way and another
employed many men and women, who were paid largely out of the store
which furnished nearly everything they needed." This store catered to
the wants of the lower portion of the town. Another store of importance
at this time, but catering to a different part of the town, was kept by Ezra
Crowell in what was then the principal village of the town. The minister,
the church, the doctor, the squire, and the merchants were located in this
neighborhood, and the outlying districts with their scattering houses made
this the centre for various purposes. The principal store at this time in
this vicinity and a place of no little attraction was kept by "Squire Crow",
as he was called, and located on the east side of the old road a little to the
west of the old cemetery and the only church then in town. "His store
was a one story building and like most of the buildings of that time painted
red, if at all. His house stood near the store. He kept a general variety
store, and had a good run of trade. He was a ready penman and was
called upon to prepare documents of various forms and settle disputes
and differences between his neighbors. He was a quiet, ruddy, chubby
little man and respected by the town.20
In this connection it should be stated that "Esq. Crow" had in the
latter part of his life, a rival in the person of Mr. John Topping who came
from Sag Harbor shortly before 1816 and married Patia Ryder, daughter
of Simeon. ( June 28, 1816). He built a house on the road
north of Squire Crow's and opened a general store containing both wet
and dry goods, which he carried on till about 1870 when he sold out to
Dr. Daniel B. Clifford. He was chosen one of the school committee in
1827. He had four children, the last born in 1824. He probably removed
from Town soon after his sale to Dr. Clifford.
20. Ezra Crowell, son of Dea. Paul and Reliance (Cobb) Crowell, b. May 28, 1766 ; m. 1st,
Bathsheba Smith, dau. of George, Jan. 13, 1788 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd, Betsey Hamilton, dau.
0f > Feb. 14, 1819 (Chat. Rec). Estate settled 1838. Children: 1. Theophilus, b.
Nov 25 1790 • m. Dorcas, dau. of . 2. Thomas, b. Oct. 19, 1791. 3. Ezra, b. May
30 1793 4 Rebecca, b. May 18, 1796. 6. Betsey, b. Nov. 14, 1796. 6. Polly, b. May 20,
1799 7 Thomas, b. Apr. 2, 1801. 8. Reliance, b. Jan. 2, 1803. 9. Barbary, b. Feb. 9, 1807.

384 HTSTORY OP CHATHAM.
About this time a well known institution was the tavern kept by the
widow Hannah Knowles near the Great Hill. It was situated on a road
now grown up with pines. Mrs. Knowles probably did not keep a stock
of goods for sale beyond the popular liquors used at that time of which
rum was the principal they sold. The town's blacksmith's shop was near
Mrs. Doane's house and managed by Mr. Paul Mayo, who made about
everything in the iron and steel line from a clapboard nail to a plough
share, including tools of various kinds and all hardware used in house or
ship building. Mr. Mayo did quite a thriving business and was a good
patron of the widow, whose stock was just adapted to his wants. It was
the custom for the town meetings at that time to adjourn to the Widow
Knowles' in the evening to swear in the newly elected town officers. Why
this was so can only be surmised, but no doubt there was some attraction
and considerable celebrating by the Town Fathers around the widow's
punch bowl, which is still in existence.21
There is not much evidence of a resident physician in the place for many
years after the death of Dr. Samuel Lord in 1766 until soon after the
coming of Mr. Briggs. No one in the tax list of 1775 above given, or in
the U. S. Census of 1790, appears to be a physician. Doubtless the place
was considered too small' and the people were satisfied to call upon Dr.
Samuel Kenrick or Dr. Joseph Seabury both of Eastham now Orleans,
or Dr. William Fusenden or Dr. Nathaniel Hopkins both of Harwich, now
Brewster. The Town records, however, show that on June 15, 1799, Dr.
James Hedge of Chatham married Abigail Doane, daughter of Joseph
Doane. He was evidently a young man who had recently come to town
to engage in practice. He was appointed the first postmaster of the place
January 1, 1798, a position, which he resigned after a few years and
was succeeded by Eleazer Cobb appointed January 1, 1801. He probably
removed from town soon after this and settled in Yarmouth where he
found a better field for his profession, and where he practiced nearly fifty
years, dying there March 8, 1854, aged 82 years. No sooner had he
removed from town than another young doctor appeared. Dr. Cyrus
Chamberlain, who married in November 11, 1804, Elizabeth, oldest child
of Salathiel Nickerson, and practiced here some ten years or more, remov
ing thence to Barnstable, where he continued to practice for many years.
Next in town came Dr. Daniel P. Clifford, who came from Enfield, Mass.
21. See p. 247 note 117. The Widow Knowles, widow of James Knowles, was the 5th and
last wife of James Knowles, who was able to survive him for a number of years. She married
him as Hannah Doane, Jan. 28, 1779 (Chat. Rec).

THE PERIOD OF REV. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 385
where his father was a physician. He married Betsey Emery, daughter
of John Emery, May 10, 1812, and continued in practice here through his
long life, dying here September 22, 1863, aged 77 years.
There were no lawyers resident here during Mr. Briggs' pastorate.
Richard Sears, Esq. and Ezra Crowell, Esq. wrote deeds and wills and
settled disputes often.
Besides the men above mentioned there were other leading men at this
time, including Joseph Doane, Esq., James Salathiel Nickerson, 22, Caleb
Nickerson,23 Simeon Nickerson,24 Lambert Nickerson,25 Ensign Nicker
son,26 Joseph Howes,27 Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, Reuben Ryder,28 Dea.
Stephen Smith,29 Jonah Crowell,30 John Hawes,31 Isaac Howes,32 Paul
Mayo.33 22. Capt. Salathiel Nickerson, son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Mayo) Nickerson, born Feb.
22, 1760 ; m. Sahra Nickerson, dau. of Thomas, June 12, 1780 ; died at Chatham, Oct. 7, 1847.
Children: (Chat. Rec.) 1. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 13, 1780; m. Dr. Cyrus Chamberlain, Nov. 11,
1804 (Chat. Rec). She died in 1820. 2. Sahra, b. Jan. 23, 1783; m. 1st, William Oliver, July
2, 1803 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd, Cobb. She died in 1874. 3. Joshua, b. June 30, 1785 ;
m. 1st, Tabitha Howes, dau. of Richard, Mar. 1, 1810 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd, Ruth Baker
(Nickerson) Smalley, June 24, 1855 (Dennis Rec). He died in 1870. 4. Polly, b. July 1, 1787 ;
m. James Cunningham of Belfast, Me., Sept. 20. 1804 (Chat. Rec). 5. Salathiel, b. Nov. 1,
1789; m. Martha McClure of Belfast, Me., July 27, 1812. He died in 1868. 6. Ruth, b. May 14,
1792 ; m. Jacob Cunningham of Belfast, Me., May 17, 1808. 7. Dorcas, b. Mar. 10, 1794 ; m.
Mulford Howes, Jr., July 3, 1812 (Chat. Rec). She died in 1876. 8. Lurana, b. Jan. 22, 1796;
m. 1st, Howes Ryder, son of Reuben, Mar. 2, 1815 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd, Raylor
before 1847 ; m. 3rd, Howes. She died in E. B. in 1871. 9. Rhoda, b. Feb.
25, 1798 ; m. James Nickerson, son of ; both lost at sea in 1823. 10. Sally, b. May 3,
1800; m. Christopher Ryder, son of Reuben, Dec 24, 1818 (Chat. Rec). She died in 1869.
11. Emily, b. June 6, 1802; m. Sylvanus Mayo, son of , Sept. 15, 1819 (Chat. Rec).
She died in 1885. 12. Thomas Jefferson, b. Feb. 26, 1805 ; m. Rebecca Howes, dau. of
Mar. 18, 1827 (Chat. Rec). He died on Schooner Oct. 3, 1844. 13. Franklin; b. Sept. , 1807;
m. 1st, Lurana Young, dau. of ; m. 2nd, Esther Nickerson. He died at Chatham
in 1877 14. Simeon, b. Sept. 9, 1809 ; m. Angeline M. Anderson, dau. of John F. He died in
1848. 15. Caleb, b. Feb. 24, 1812 ; m. 1st, Clarinda Nye, dau. of Isaiah, Nov. 29, 1832 (Chat.
Rec) ; m. 2nd, Julia Ann Hamilton, Jan. 5, 1857 (Chat. Rec). He died in 1877.
23 Caleb Nickerson, son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Mayo) Nickerson and brother of Capt.
Salathiel, b. Nov. 3, 1778; m. 1st ; m. 2nd . Although he was twice
married, he had no children. He died Mar. 29, 1841.
24 Simeon Nickerson, son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Mayo) Nickerson, and brother of Capt.
Salathiel, b. Jan. 22, 1725; m. Jedidah Harding, dau. of Trenee, May 4, 1797. He died in
1825, leaving no children.
25. Lumbert Nickerson. son of William and Sarah Nickerson, b. at Chatham about April,
1739 ; m. Eunice Ryder, dau. of Nathaniel of Chatham, Feb. 22, 1769. He hid no children.
He died Feb. 14, 1804. His widow survived him, dying in Dec, 1808.
26. Ensign Nickerson, son of Abraham and Sarah (—) Nickerson of Chatham, and
„ 'hew of Lumbert ¦ b about 1753 ; m. 1st, Alice Mayo of Chatham, Apr. 1, 1779, dau. of
ffideas Mayo o?Eastham?m. 2nd. Mehitable Crowell Apr. 12 1787. Died 1834 Chi dren by
2nd wife • 1 Polly b Aug. 11, 1787. 2. Absalom, b. Oct. 2, 1788. 3. Ensign, b. May 13, 1790.
4 Jelse i> Mar 7 1792 5. Seth, b. Oct. 9, 1794. 6. Lumbert, b. Mar. 24, 1797. 7. Sally b.
179S l-of'died 1 Oct. 31, 1800 8. Catherine, b. June 28, 1801. 9. Sally, b. Nov. 2. 1803. 10.
Eunice, b. Jan. 31, 1807.
27 Joseph Howes, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Doane) Howes, b. about 1737 ; m. Eunice
nZiL* ¦£,,, nf ilomon Nov 26 1761 (Chat. Rec). His farm was on the North side of the
Svster'Pond' nL? Jhrhekd of the pond. He was a selectman ten years between 1776 and 1796.
a^d tofe tfmef elected to the General Court His wife died Aug. 4, 1809, aged 67 ( )
?t j- j a«~ ft isns ai/prl 71 ( ). Admn. to son Micajah July 1&, 18UB. wmaren .
? PatfenteP b May 14, 1765 ; m. Mulford Howes, son of Daniel, Aug. 12, 1782 (Chat. Rec).
1. Patience, D. may i% '¦•"'' . M ,. g ith dau of Elijah, and had 2 sons. 3. Joseph, b.
An?eifT7?i m Dorcas & ckerTon dau. of Sparrow, May 27, 1791 (Chat. Rec). 4. Solomon.
^PTune 1 1774 mEHzabeth Ryder, dau. of Kimbal. 5. Eunice, b. Nov. 9, 1776; m. John
Doane son of Joswh Jan. 4, 1793 (Chat. Rec). 6. Micajah, b. Nov. 19, 1780; m. Rebecca

386 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
Ryder, dau. of , 1808 ; she died and he m. 2nd Luranny Ryder, dau. of Salathiel
Nickerson and widow of Micajah Howes. 7. Betty, b. Mar. 10, 1782; m. 1st, Eldredge;
m. 2nd, Joseph Doane, Jr., Oct. 28, 1803 (Chat. Rec). 8. Desire, b. ; m. Daniel
Havens, son of
28. Reuben Ryder, son of Zeneas and Elizabeth (Howes) Ryder, aged 63 yrs. (no dates).
Children: 1. Bethiah, b. Aug. 25, 1780. 2. Rebecca, b. Nov. 25, 1782; m. Micajah Howes, Bon
of Joseph, 1808. 3. Keziah, b. Jan. 22, 1785. 4. Susanna, b. Mar. 28, 1787. 6. Reuben, b.
Apr. 13, 1789. 6. Enos, b. Sept. 18, 1791. 7. Howes, b. Apr. 8, 1794 ; m. Luranna, dau. of
Salathiel Nickerson, Mar. 2, 1825. 8. Mehitable, b. Dec 11, 1796 ; m. .9. Christopher,
b. July 8, 1799; m. Sally, dau. of Salathiel Nickerson, Dec 24, 1818. 10. Isaiah, b. Apr 1,
1802. 11. Hannah, b. Jan. 2, 1S06. 12. Mary, b. Sept. 6, 1808.
29. Dea. Stephen Smith, son of George and Barbara (Mayo) Smith, b. Nov. 18, 1763 ; m.
Margery Cromwell, dau. of David, Aug. 25, 1791. She was b. Jan. U3, 1763. He died Sept. 14,
1832. She died Aug. 13, 1850. Childien: 1. Betsey, b. Dec 10, 1791; m. Samuel Taylor, son
of . 2. Lucy, b. Sept. 16, 1793 ; m. Solomon Atwood, son of Sear. 3. Levi, b. Feb.
4, 1796; m. Priscilla Smith, dau. of ; died May 15, 1819. 4. Thomas, b. Dec 20„
1796 ; m. Betsey Howes, dau. of , Dec. 10, 1818. 5. Sally, b. Jan. 28, 1799 ; m. 1st,
Warren Long ; m. 2nd, Levi Long. 6. Stephen, b. Sept. 2, 1800 ; m. Clarrion Lewis, dau. of
, Dec 18, 1823. 7. Margery,, b. Feb. 1, 1804; m. John Atwood, son of
8. Thankful, b. July 23, 1802 ; died June 25, 1822. 9. David, b. Mar. 13, 1807 ; died Oct. 30, 1807.
30. Jonah Crowell, son of Jabez and Lydia (Gron) Crowell, b. Jan. 10, 1749-50 ; m. Bethiah
Collins, dau. of Reuben Dec. 16, 1773 (Chat. Rec.) ; died May 18, 1833. Children: 1. Joshua,
b. Mar. 16, 1782 ; m. 1st, Hannah, dau. of Thomas Howes. She died June 12, 1847, and he m.
2nd, Sally Paine. 2. John, b. ; m, 1st, Rebecca Howes, dau. of Thomas, 1799 ;. m.
2nd, Temperance' Bascom. 3. Miriana, b. ; m. 1st, Elijah Howes ; m. 2nd, Edmund
Kendrick. 4. Lydia. b. ; m. James Ryder. 5. Bethiah, b. ; m. Isaac Bea.
6. Johan, 7. Johan, both died young.
31. Dea. John Hawes, son of John and Abigail (Doane) Hawes, b, in 1752 or 1753 ; m.
Mercy Hopkins, dau. of Samuel, formerly of Brewster, Jan. 5, 1777. He died Oct. 6, 1824, in
his 72nd year. She-died Jan. 27, 1834.
When the "Revolution broke out he was a young men. He assisted in throwing up intrench-
ments on Dorchester Heights in March, 1776, which led to the evacuation of Boston. As a
privateer he was one of a crew of a sloop commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Freeman of Har
wich, called the "Wolf" which sailed in 1777, Joseph Doan of Chatham lieutenant. She was
soon captured by a British Man-of-War, disguised as a merchantman and the crew were
carried to New York and thrown into prison. John Hawes, seamon of Cape Cod, was on a
list of prisoners exchanged in Rhode Island at Newport, Feb. 11, 1777. John Hawes, Jr., was
a private in Capt. Thomas Hamilton's Company stationed in Barnstable County for defense
of the seacoast, serving from July 7 to Dec 21, 1775. It is likely that he saw other Revolu
tionary service. Early in life he was a seafaring man, but later settled down to cultivating
his farm, with incidental public and private business. He was one of the selectmen seven
• years from 1790 and town clerk and treasurer 20 years from 1803. He was often moderator of
the town meeting and held other public offices. He was deacon of the church for 20 years
from 1798 in Mr. Briggs' pastorate and after.
Administration to his son Samuel, Jan. 11, 1825.
Children: 1. Child that died young about Dec. 21, 1778. 2. Samuel, b. Mar. 17, 1780; m.
Oct. 27, 1804, Molly Doane, dau. of 3. John, b. May 10, 1782 ; m. Experience Rider,
dau. of , Feb. 13, 1808. 4. Thomas, b. Aug. 29, 1784 ; died Dec. 5, 1800. 5. Abigail,
b. Mar. 6, 1787 ; m. Ansel A. Kendrick of Harwich. 6. David, b. Apr. 21, 1789 ; frozen to
death on Nanset Beach Jan. 13, 1809 ; unmarried. 7. Joseph, b. July 21, 1791 ; m. Elizabeth
Kent., dau. of Edward, Dec. 31, 1818. 8. James, b. Oct. 12, 1795; m. 1st, Susannah Taylor,
dau. of Reuben Collins, Dec. 13, 1821 ; m. 2nd, Desire Smith, dau. of Lemuel Hunt and wife
of Zaeth Ryder and Enoch Smith, Sept. 11, 1859. 9. Patience, b. July 23, 1799 ; m. in 1823,
Seth Howes of Chatham. 10. Bethiah, b. Oct. 16, 1803 ; unmarried.
32. Isaac Howes, son of Joseph and Priscilla (Harding) Howes, b. about 1728 ; m. 1st,
Tabitha Taylor, dau. of Seth, Sept. 20, 1753 (Chat. Rec). She died Apr. 25, 1759, aged 24
( ) and he m. 2nd, Susanna Nickerson, dau. of William "Red Stockings," Mar. 16,
1762 (Chat. Rec). He died Feb. 28, 1797, aged 69 ( ). His will dated Apr. 20,
1793, was proved Mar. 9, 1797. Children : by wife Tabitha : 1. David, b. 1755 ; died July 17,
1758, aged 3 ( ). 2. Tabitha, b. , 1757; m. Eldredge. 3. David, b.
1758; died Nov. 28, 1759; aged 1 year ( ). By wife Susanna: 4. Isaac, b. 1768; m.
Temperance Sears, dau. of . 5. Joshua, b, 1764 ; m. Jenny Ryder, 1796. 6. Joseph,
b. 1766 ; m. Elizabeth Bee, dau. of Thomas. 7. Absalom, b. 1766 ; m. Dillah Nickerson. 8.
Molly, b. 1767 ; m. James Loveland, son of Joel of Glastonbury, Conn., Dec. 17, 1781, and
removed to Maine in 1818. 9. Thankfull, b. 1768 ; m. Timothy Loveland, son of Joel of
Glastonburry, Conn., Feb. 12, 1787 (Chat. Rec); died Dec. 8, 1808. 10. Content, b. 1770;
m. Collins. 11. Sarah, b. ; m. . 12. Mary, b.
33. Paul Mayo, son of ; m. Azubah Crowell, dau. of , Apr. 7, 1776
(Chat. Rec). Children: 1. Ruth, b. Feb. 26, 1777. 2. Hannah, July 13, 1778. 3. Mentha!,
b. Feb. 6, 1780; died Sept. 26, 1780. 4. Paul, b. July 23, 1781. 6. Azubah, b. Nov. 4, 1784.
6. Deborah, b. June 14, 1786. 7. Emma, b. June 14, 1786.

TIIE PERIOD OP REY. EPHRAIM BRIGGS MINISTRY. 387
The War of 1812 which occurred during Mr. Briggs' ministry, did not
draw many Chatham men into its service. Many of the young men, being
driven from the sea, went to Rhode Island and other inland places to
work on farms. The majority of the town voted against the war, as did
many other seashore places. Zenas Young was on the Constitution in 1813
in the fight, when she captured the Cyane and the Levant. In one of the
fights he received a pike wound in boarding. Levi Eldredge, a native
of the town, but then resident in Maine, was wounded in the battle of
Lundy's Lane, July 25, 1814, and died of his wound in Buffalo, N. Y.
David Godfrey was an officer on the privateer Reindeer, of which Joseph
Doane was lieutenant. Locally the town suffered much trouble through
the presence of British war vessels entering or cruising near the harbor
and threatening to fire upon the place. Some of the experiences of the
town at this time are related by an old lady, who at 94 years of age could
remember well what happened in her youth and was able to tell about it
to a reporter of the Boston Globe, who published her article in the issue
of May 30, 1888. The old lady was Mrs. Rhoda Howes, widow of Collins
Howes of Chatham, who was born in Brewster, August 1, 1794, and came
to Chatham with her parents when she was about 10 years of age. Mrs.
Howes says: "The War of 1812. Yes! Yes! I remember them British
ers. One of their big ships anchored off here and plagued us dreadfully.
She hung around here a long time and when a storm came up she would
get away for a time, as she drew too much water to come into the harbor.
Then our fishing boats would run out. But she would soon come back
and our packets couldn't run, so we couldn't get fish or coin either. Once
in a while a fishing smack would slip out and in, but fortunately she never
got hold of one of our boys. There was old Squire Crow, he was a Tory
and sympathized with the Britishers. He killed a creetur and carried the
beef over to the ship to make friends with them. He owned a top sail
schooner then, and she was bound this way and they thought she would
run in here on her way to Boston. They did come in and the Britishers
caught sight of her and chased her and drove her ashore and burned her,
not stopping to find out who she belonged to. Most of them thought it
was good enough for him and he did not get much sympathy in town.
"Isaiah Nye then had a small store down near the harbor and he used
to watch nights for fear of a boat's crew landing and setting it afire.
They threatened to bombard the town, because we would not pay tribute,
but there wasn't much of any town then to fire on. The men were always

3g8 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
on the watch and used to have training days to keep them in condition to
repel any land attack. After the ship had got away, I went over to Nan
tucket in a sloop with Uncle Josiah Gould to visit my grandmother. In a
few days to our astonishment, that Britisher came up in front of the
harbor and anchored. We wanted to go back home dreadfully after a
while, so in the dead of night we started out, and we succeeded in getting
by her, arriving home the next day."
Mr. Briggs established close and cordial relations with his people, his
brother, Rev. Isaac Briggs, marrying a daughter of Hon. Richard Sears,
a leader in his church and community, and his untimely death on April 22,
1816 at the age of 47 years was deeply lamented. He held the pastorate
twenty years and during that time, admitted 91 members to the church
and baptized 349 persons.34 His salary was 85 pounds annually. Not only
was he a faithful pastor, preaching till three days before his death, and
often working far into the night for the good of his people, but he was
also an ingenious chemist, being the first who succeeded in manufac
turing epsom salts.35
34. American Quarterly Register (1843) 68. Apr. 30, 1804. Rev. Mr. Briggs preached a
sermon at the funeral of Rev. Nathan Stone at Dennis, which was published. See copy in
Boston Public Library.
35. We and Our Kinsfolk by Mary Bulah Briggs 17. Children of Rev. Ephraim and
Deborah (Sampson) Briggs : 1. Henry, b. Nov. 7, 1797 ; educated at Phillips Exeter Academy •
was mate of a vessel lost off the Isle of Shoals, Jan. 1, 1820. 2. Thomas Waterman, b. Sept
8, 1801 ; lost at sea. 3. Ephraim, b. July 1, 1803 ; died Aug. 4, 1808. 4. Isaac Sampson, b
July 1, 1807 ; studied medicine with his Uncle John and at Harvard Medical School where he
graduated in 1829 ; practiced in Dryden, N. Y. ; m. 1st in 1836, Mary Smith, dau. of N. R
Smith of Howes, N. Y. ; m. 2nd, Diana Goodyear, dau. of John of New York City, Oct. 18, 1866.

FIVE DISTINGUISHED NATIVES OF CHATHAM. 389

CHAPTER XVIII
FIVE DISTINGUISHED NATIVES OF CHATHAM
1749 - 1887
Hon. David Sears of Boston — Capt. Benjamin Godfrey of Godfrey,
Illinois — Capt. Simeon Ryder of Alton, Illinois — Hon.
Alpheus Hardy of Boston — Hon. Richard Sears
of Chatham
Hon. David Sears1 was born in Chatham, November 29, 1752, the son
of Daniel and Frear (Freeman) Sears of that town. His father died
February 10, 1761 and his mother married 2nd Samuel Ballard of Boston,
hay weigher, November 1, 1763. She and her five Sears children went
to Boston to live and David was brought up by his stepfather who lived
on the corner of Common Street and Turn-again Lane, now known as
Tremont Street and Temple Place. David was then twelve years of age.
Under his mother and father in law he received some early training and
soon started in business, for which he developed exceptional capacity. His
application was so unremitting and his investment of his small capital so
judicious, that within little more than ten years he had become known as
a successful and sagacious merchant and by the close of the century he
was reputed to have accumulated one of the largest properties in New
England. His constitution, tastes and quiet habits did not incline him to
become a candidate for public office. In 1775 he sailed for London in
company with Daniel Green and others (who desired to avoid the troublous
times consequent upon the outbreak of the Revolution) travelled on the
Continent during some years, and made his business connections useful
to his country. Upon his return he narrowly escaped capture by an English
frigate. He engaged to some extent in privateering, and during the Presi
dency of the elder Adams, he was the chairman of a committee of the
citizens of Boston for building a frigate, the "Boston", at their private
expense to be presented to the Federal government, himself subscribing
$3,000. He was in favor of Jay's treaty and suffered considerable loss
1. David Sears and Ann fWinthrop) Sears, children 4. David, b. Oct. 8, 1787 ; m. Merriam
Mason, dau. of Hon. Jonathan and Mason, 13 June 1809.

390 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
from French spoliations prior to 1800. He was largely engaged in the
India and Canton trade and became widely known as an intelligent and
able financier. He was Director of the First Bank of the United States
from its beginning to its termination; was often a referee in intricate cases
of equity and mercantile usage; and his whole career was marked by
incorruptible integrity.
That large tract of Land in Maine, known as the Waldo Patent, having
been confiscated by the Government, was sold three-fourths to Gen. Knox,
his wife owning the remaining fourth and by him mortgaged to Israel
Thorndike, David Sears and William Prescott of Boston, who foreclosed
on it on or about 1806. The territory was originally 30 miles square, and
included all the Islands of Penobscot Bay and the sites of the towns of
Searsmont, Prospect, Knox and Searsport.
He married in Providence, R. I., June 6, 1786, Ann Winthrop, daughter
of John Still and Jane (Borland) Winthrop of New London, Conn. She
died October 2, 1789 aged 33 years, leaving one child, a son David, who
survived. He was a direct descendant of Gov. Alvan Winthrop. Mr. Sears
was a benevolent man and a contributor to many charities. He was a
founder of the "Widows Fund" in Trinity Church, in which he was a
worshipper and in which he was honored as a benefactor. He died in
Boston, October 25, 1826, aged 64 years, leaving an estate believed to
be larger than any other of that time in the city.
Capt. Benjamin Godfrey,2 fourth and youngest son of Knowles and
Mary (Ryder) Godfrey, was born at Chatham, December 4, 1794. He
began his dramatic career by running away to sea at the age of nine years.
His first voyage was to Ireland, where he made his home for nine years,
the most of it spent on the sea. The War of 1812 brought him home. He
then spent some time with his great uncle Col. Benjamin Godfrey, with
whom he studied and acquired a fair practical education, including knowl
edge of navigation. He was connected with the naval service during some
part of the War of 1812. Returning to the mercantile marine, he soon
rose to command of merchant ships and made voyages to various parts of
the world, including Italy and Spain.. Later in command of his own ship,
he made voyages to Baltimore, New Orleans and West Indies. On his
last voyage he was shipwrecked near Bragos, Santiago, and lost nearly
all he had and came near losing his life. In 1826 he located at Matamore,
Mexico, where he carried on a very successful mercantile business. Before

FIVE DISTINGUISHED NATIVES OF CHATHAM. 391

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Benjamin Godfrey
Successful Merchant of Alton.
Founder of the
Monticello Seminary,
Whose Name Honors the Present Town
of Godfrey ; and a Parner in the Firm
of Godfrey & Gilman, in Whose
Warehouse Love joy's Printing
Press was Stored on that
Fateful Night in 1837.

392 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
he came out of Mexico he had accumulated a very handsome fortune and
was transporting the silver across the country on the backs of mules, when
he was robbed of the whole — some $200,000— by guerrillas. For the time
his courage left him, but soon we find him in business again at New
Orleans where he remained till 1832 and again accumulated a competence.
Seeing an opening in the growing West, he invested some of his property
in merchandise, west of the Mississippi River above St. Louis, to the
growing town of Alton, Illinois and with W. S. Gilman founded the trading
firnxof Godfrey and Gilman.
He united with the Alton Presbyterian Church on profession November
3, 1833. The same year he erected with his own means a commodious
stone church, with a basement and spire and gave the use of it to the
Presbyterian and Baptist Churches who occupied it jointly for a time,
the Presbyterians using it till 1845. About 1838 he gave the church
building to the Trustees of Monticello Seminary. As his success in busi
ness grew, his benevolences took on larger proportions. He conceived
the idea, wholly independently of others, of providing for the liberal
education of young ladies, a project unheard of before in that section
of the country. The idea came to him in the following manner, as stated
by him in the following letter written in 1842 to Rev. Thomas Baldwin,
principal of the school he founded.
"One morning, in 1832, while lying in my bed somewhat indisposed,
my wife came into the room, and as she went out made some remark. One
of our little children, that had just begun to lisp a few words, caught the
remark, and while playing by itself on the floor, repeated it over and
over for some time. This led me to reflect on the powerful effect of a
mother's example on the minds, manners, and habits of their offspring,
and the no less powerful influence that women have over society at large.
The mind is formed to a great extent in childhood, and while under the
direct care- of the mother. From the time it can lisp, and even before, it
goes to her with all its little troubles and difficulties, its pleasures and pains,
and her kind participation in all its concerns endears it so closely, and
2. Capt. Godfrey was twice married, 1st to Harriet Cooner of Baltimore, Md., Nov. 27.
1827, by whom he had twelve children; m. 2nd, Aug. 15. 1832, R. E. Pettit of Hempstead,
Long Island, by whom he had three children. Of his children five died in infancy. The rest
lived to adult yearn. Only four out of the seven adults survived him. viz.: 1. Byder
b. at Baltimore. Md., Aug. 27. 181S : d'sabled by paralysis in later life and helpless. 2. Emily!
b. Jan. 19, 1830 ; m. Joseph R. Palmer at. Brownsville, Texas, aud later resided at Brunswick,
N. J. 3. Catharine, b. at Monticello. Jan. 20. 1835 ; m. Hon. John M. Pearson. 4. Beniamin,
b. at Alton, June 28, 1840. Captain Godfrey died at his residence, Godfrey, III., Aug. 13, 1862.

FIVE DISTINGUISHED NATIVES OF CHATHAM. 393
gives it such implicit confidence in her, that it takes for granted anything
she does or says is right, and is actuated accordingly.
"In regard to the effect of female example over society, I need not make
any remarks. It is a fact long since acceded, that to a very great and
important extent women govern and control it. Hence, the great necessity
of their being qualified for these important and responsible situations in
this life which God, in his infinite wisdom, has assigned to them.
"With these reflections, the idea came into my mind to erect a Seminary,
in which females could, with the blessing of God, be prepared to discharge
their numerous, arduous and responsible duties. After consulting my
wife she acceded unhesitatingly, and being desirous to act the part of a
faithful steward of what God had placed in my possession, I resolved to
devote so much of it as would erect a building, to be devoted to the moral,
intellectual and domestic improvement of females, particularly those whose
means were limited."
This idea, it will be seen, Capt. Godfrey arrived at, entirely independ
ently of others. Thoughtful men in New England were already thinking
and following along these lines but Capt. Godfrey knew nothing of this.
Wheaton Seminary for Girls was founded at Norton, Mass. in 1835 and
Mt. Holyoke Seminary in 1837 and the founders of these institutions have
received the credit of pioneers in higher female education in this country,
but Capt. Godfrey in the West is equally entitled to share with them in
these honors, for while Wheaton and Mt. Holyoke were going up he
was from 1832 on also thinking and planning and building. Monticello
Female Seminary was planned in 1832, its building was begun February
20, 1835, and it opened its doors for students April 11, 1838, the first
institution of its kind outside of Massachusetts. Capt. Godfrey expended
$53,000 upon the building, besides endowing it handsomely. Such a novel
scheme was ridiculed at the time in the West and its sponsors jeered at.
It was styled "Godfrey's Folly", but it proved in time a great and com
plete success. It was located at Godfrey, Illinois, a township adjoining
Alton, where Capt. Godfrey owned large tracts of land, and what was
named in his honor.
The first building erected was destroyed by fire November 4, 1888, but
was replaced two years later by a larger and up to date structure. At its
75th anniversary which occurred in 1913, it had graduated over 500 pupils
and given instruction to several times that number and is now in the

394 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
most flourishing condition in its history. It has had but four principals
in its entire history, all of them leaders in their work, Rev. Dr. Theron
Baldwin 1838-1843, Miss Philena Fobes 1843-1865, Miss Harriett N.
Haskell 1867-1907, Miss Martina C. Erickson, 1910-
Of the hundreds of young women who have been aided by this now
almost venerable institution, perhaps the best known of all the graduates
was the poetess Lucy Larcom formerly of
Capt. Godfrey purchased large tracts of land in Illinois, and at the time
of his death, in 1862, had unsold in his own name 4,000 acres in Madison
county alone. After closing his business in Alton, he devoted himself to
farming, with his residence at Godfrey. But his active nature could not
long rest content with his quiet life. He became a large railroad con
tractor, and constructed the road between Alton and Springfield. This
was perhaps the most perplexing and harassing business of his life. His
private property became deeply involved, and much of it was entirely
lost; but notwithstanding these losses and his large benefactions, he died
a wealthy man.

Capt. Simeon Ryder3 was born in Chatham July 24, 1795, son of Simeon
and Patience (Crowell) Ryder. He was educated in the common district
schools and received a fair English and mathematical education. He began
his sea faring career as a fisherman on the Grand Banks and Labrador,
marketing his fish in the ports of the Mediterranean and other countries.
In this way he soon acquired some fame as a navigator, became part owner
of his vessel and secured the confidence of his associates, both as a sailor
and a man of business. During the Spanish and Carthagenian war, when
he was 22 years of age, his vessel made a voyage from New York to Cadiz
on Spanish account with an assorted cargo ' valued at $100,000, besides
some $20,000 in Mexican coin. After discharging his cargo and loading
with salt for ballast, when 40 miles from land, pirates boarded his vessel
and looted it, he having no arms except a shot gun and a pair of pistols.
In 1830 he abandoned nautical pursuits and located in New York, where
he conducted successfully for four years, a commercial shipping business.
In 1834, he moved to Alton, Illinois, with a capital of about $50,000. His
3. He married 1st, Esther Nickerson, dau. of of Chatham, Apr. 29, 1818, by whom
he had three children two of them dying in infancy. The third was a daughter, Selina, who
married Horatio Bliven Browman of Alton. His first wife died at Alton, Aug. 25, 1828, and
he was married 2nd, Ann Eliza Pettit of Hempsted, Long Island, Apr. 3, 1832. Their children
were first, Esther Ellen Ryder, b. in New York Apr. 21, 1833 ; died at Alton, Dec. 24, 1835,
aged 2 yrs. 8 mos. ; second, Simen Webster Ryder, b. Aug. 3, 1836,

FIVE DISTINGUISHED NATIVES OF CHATHAM. 395

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Captain Simeon Ryder

A Leading Citizen and Projector of the Terre Haute & Alton
and Chicago' & Alton Railroads.

396 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
failing health had caused him to leave New York. He regained his health
at Alton, built a large stone warehouse and went into the wholesale general
merchandise business. He was for 12 years one of the leading merchants
of Southern Illinois. He took the incipient steps to build one of the first
railroads in the State, the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad, and after a
hard struggle of seven years, he got a charter through the Legislature,
took the presidency of the line and brought it to completion in the year
1854. He continued in the presidency of it for some time afterwards.
He was also President of the Alton Marine & Fire Insurance Company for
seven years, about the same time. He died at Alton, Illinois, August 28th,
1877, aged 82 years.
"He was the originator and finisher of the Alton and Terre Haute Rail
road and to his untiring energy, business skill and liberality, was due
the building of this road, in opposition to the Brough road (now the
Vandalia) from Terre Haute to St. Louis, Capt. Ryder was President of
the road from 1851 to 1858 and subsequently a member of its directory.
The importance of this road in opening and developing the Southern part
of the State cannot be overestimated and its successful inauguration would
have crowned the life work of any man ; but the Captain was not satisfied
with this single scheme, but was, at the same time, deeply interested in
the progress of the Alton and Sangamon Railroad (now the C & A) of
which he was also the originator. It will thus be seen that, for many
years, Capt. Ryder was the leading man in promoting the commercial
enterprises of Alton. He was ambitious for the growth and progress of
this city and although his early labors in this respect have not been
crowned with the success he perhaps dreamed of, still it is a potent fact
that Alton is mainly indebted to Captain Ryder for her railroad system
and the present prosperity and importance of the place."

Hon. Alpheas Hardy,4 son of Capt. Isaac and Betsey (Eldredge) Hardy,
was born at Chatham, November 1, 1815. He attended the district schools '
of his native town until twelve years of age, when he entered his father's
store and began what proved to be a long business career. At the age
of 16 he went into a store in Boston, but a crushed foot necessitated
his lying by for a while and during this period of enforced idleness, he
conceived the idea of entering Phillips Andover Academy with a view
4. Hon. Alpheas Hardy, son of Capt. Isaac and Betsey (Eldredge) Hardy, b. in Chatham,
Nov. 1, 1816 ; m. ; died in Boston, Aug. 7, 1887.

FIVE DISTINGUISHED NATIVES OF CHATHAM. 397
to a collegiate education. Here he applied himself to his studies with
such ardor that a severe sickness ensued, making it imperative that he
leave intellectual work at once. He went to sea for three months and when
19 entered upon business in Boston on his own account. He early made
the acquaintance and secured the friendship and confidence of Joshua
Sears, one of Boston's leading merchants, who assisted his young friend
in the early stages of his career in many of his financial ventures. Mr.
Hardy early established a reputation for strict financial integrity which
inspired confidence in his operations. He built up a very large shipping
and importing trade by his mercantile ability and his fidelity to all trusts
reposed in him. His ships sailed in every sea and his agents were to
be found in all the leading ports of the world. In his early career he
became senior partner of the firm of Hardy, Baker & Morrill, shipping
and commission merchants. Later this firm was dissolved, Mr. Hardy
continuing alone and the other two members continuing together. Not
long after the close of the Civil War, seeing that the shipping business
was declining and conditions changing, he gradually sold out his vessels
and retired from active business.
As his fortune grew he became interested in many local financial enter
prises. Among others he was for years president of the old Granite
Bank, now the Second National Bank of Boston. He also became extens
ively interested in Western railroads and at the time of his death, was
president of the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad. When Mr.
Joshua Sears, his patron, came to make his will, he fixed upon Mr. Hardy
as one of the trustees to manage his large estate and he performed his
trust so efficiently as to more than repay all former favors of Mr. Sears.
Under his care the estate increased with remarkable rapidity.
In 1855 Mr. Hardy was elected trustee of Amherst College, which insti
tution he very generously assisted during his life. He established the
Hardy prizes for extemporaneous speaking. He was trustee of the Andover
Theological Seminary from 1855 to 1885, the trusteeship including that
of the Phillips Andover Academy. He was a member of the Massachu
setts senate in the stormy days of 1861, and sat in that famous "extra
session" that the news of Sumter's fall called forth. He was a corporate
member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,
and one of the leading spirits of the prudential committee for 29 years,
and was elected for the 30th year in 1886, but declined owing to his

398 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
sympathy with the new departure in the Andover creed. Mr. Hardy was
an extensive and observant traveller. He made three trips to Europe and
was twice in Egypt and the East, including Sinai and Palestine.
He joined the Old South church in Andover by profession becoming
later a member of the Central church, and still later and up to the time
of his death a communicant of the Old South in Boston.
Mr. Hardy was not, however, narrow or bigoted in his religious views.
However rigidly he might have confined himself to satisfy his own con
victions to a rule of life, he was ever ready to grant the fullest liberty of
conscience to others. Many of his warmest personal friends are found in
the ranks of other religious faiths.
A prominent trait of Mr. Hardy's mind was his rare ability to discrimi
nate among men, to recognize hidden merit, and to select from the masses
men whom he perceived to be men of parts. Not a few of the prominent
business men of Boston owe their start in a successful career to this trait
of Mr. Hardy's mind and to his kindly aid.
A remarkable instance and one fruitful of wonderful results is found in
the case of Joseph Nessima. This was a poor Japanese lad who, before
Commodore Perry had visited Japan as an emissary of the United States,
and opened up the ports of that strange and remarkable country to the
world, longed for something better than he found in his native country.
At the peril of his life Nessima escaped from the country and reached
Hong Kong. Here he found one of Mr. Hardy's ships loading for Boston,
and secured a passage. Arrived in this country, he attracted the attention
of the owner of the vessel. He discerned the possibilities in the lad and
sent him to school. The lad passed through the Phillips Andover Academy
and Amherst College. Returning to Andover he passed through the theo
logical school and became an ordained minister. He fulfilled the dearest
wishes of his patron and friend. Japan was now open to the world, and
he could return to his native land with safety. He went out as a mission
ary. His splendid education and his thorough command of the English
language attracted the attention of those in authority, and when an embassy
was sent out by Japan to study the. educational methods of this country and
of Europe, Mr. Nessima was made the interpreter. He accompanied the
embassy throughout its journey. So conversant was he with the educa
tional methods in the United States that he succeeded in impressing the
members of the embassy with their value. The greatest heed was given
to his advice and many of the ideas which he advanced were adopted by

FIVE DISTINGUISHED NATIVES OF CHATHAM. 399
the government. Mr. Hardy, therefore, may be said to have been the
indirect instrument of organizing and promoting the present movement
for popular education in Japan.
Mr. Hardy died in Boston, August 7, 1887.

Hon. Richard Sears,5 familiarly known as "Squire Sears", son of
Daniel and Fear (Freeman) Sears, born at Chatham January 30, 1749,
was the last representative of the Sears family in this place. His father
died when he was eleven years old and two years later his mother married
Samuel Ballard of Boston, a hay weigher and removed with her children
to that town, living on the corner of Common Street and Turning-in Lane,
now known as Tremont Street and Temple Place. Richard soon returned
to Chatham while his brothers David and Daniel remained in Boston, and
was brought up there, receiving a common school education. He spent
seven years of his youth in the family and store of Gen. Joseph Otis of
Revolutionary fame, and arriving at manhood settled upon the old home
stead farm and devoted himself to its cultivation. He became the largest
real estate owner in Chatham, carried on his farm on an extensive scale,
having a farmer to superintend, and a number of farm hands and always
kept considerable live stock, a goodly number of cattle and sheep. He
kept a variety store next to his house, which was on Main Street, just
north of the Soldiers' Monument, engaged in the manufacture of salt and
to some extent in shipping in connection with his brother David in Boston.
He was appointed coroner in 1781, Justice of the Court in 1814;
Justice of the peace 1814; was elected Representative from the town to the
General Court 1780, 1781, 1783, 1785, 1786, 1792, 1796, 1806, 1809,
1813 and 1814; Senator 1804 and Town Clerk and Treasurer 1775 and
1776. He was Lieutenant of the town militia in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Sears was tall and of great dignity of manner, calm in speech and
5. Children of Hon. Richard Sears and Mehitable Marshall : 1. Sarah, b. Oct. 5, 1779 ; m.
Chatham, Oct. 17, 1799, to Rev. Isaat Briggs of Halifax, Mass. She died Apr. 29, 1812, at
Boxford, Mass., aged 32 years, leaving five children, and he m. 2nd, Mehitable Sears, the sister
of his first wife, at Chatham, Nov. 16, 1813. She died at Boxford, Aug. 1, 1814, aged 30 years,
and he married 3rd, Feb. 6, 1816. Henrietta Dexter, dau. of Leonard C. of Canterbury, Conn.,
and had one child. 2. Richard, Capt., b. Oct. 29. 17S1 : died without offspring Nov. 28, 1830 ;
m. in Chatham. Mar. 18, 1815, Alathena Marshall, dan. of Gilbert and Jane Marshall of
Ashland, Mass., his cousin. In early life he sailed as supercargo and master and after retiring
from the sea, kept a store on the beach at Chatham, where the salt works were, in partnership
with Isaac Hardy. In connection with his father in law, he built a laundry and also a saw
mill in the Sudbury River. His residence was next to that of his father on the old homestead.
He was very fine looking, extremely gentlemanly and courteous in manner, resembling his
father in many ways. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1822 ; and chosen Town Clerk
in 1827 He represented the Town in the Legislature in 1826-1827. His will dated Oct. 5,
1828 and codicil Oct. 5, 1830, was Feb. 9, 1831, Charles Scudder of

400 HISTORY OF CHATHAM.
action; civil and attractive in his intercourse with his fellows. His dress
up to a very short time before his death, was of the late Revolutionary
period; he wore long hose, shoe and buckles, ruffled shirts at all times
and his iron gray hair brushed over and tied with a black ribbon. The
Squire, as he was called, would frequently invite his city friends to Chatham
for the fishing and gunning and many distinguished men as- Webster, Otis,
Quincy and others, enjoyed his hospitality. The clergy ever found a
home there and always made it their stopping place when in town.
Mr. Sears married in Framingham, November 25, 1778, Mehitable
Marshall, daughter of Ebenezer and Mehitable Marshall, who survived
him, dying July 8, 1852 at the great age of 94 years. Squire Sears died
May 13, 1839, aged 90 years. They survived all their children except
their son Daniel, deformed on account of an accident, who died unmarried
in 1854.
During the many years that he represented the town in the Legislature,
he was in the habit of riding all the way to Boston, where he remained
during the session, the guest of his brother David at his residence on
Beacon Street, enjoying its luxurious apartments and the cultured society
to which he had access.
Executor. 3. Daniel, b. Dec. 4, 1783 ; died single Oct. 10, 1854, aged 73 years, the last of his
line in Chatham. 4. Mehitable, b. Dec. 4, 1783, twin ; m. Mar. 4, 1813, Rev. Isaac Briggs, her
brother-in-law ; died at Boxford Aug. 1, 1814 ; aged 30 years old. 5. Ebenezer Marshall, b.
Nov. 24, 1788'; died in Havana, Cuba, Aug. 10, 1810, aged 22 years. He was a clerk in Boston
and went to Cuba on his employer's business. 6. Fear, b. Nov. 4, 1788, twin ; m. July 2, 1817,
Charles Scudder, son of David and Desire (Gage) Scudder of Barnstable. He was a prominent
merchant of Boston, deacon in the Essex Street Church and for many years an officer of the
A. B. C. F. M. of the Congregational Church. His wife died in Boston, Aug. 8, 1822. and he
m. 2nd, his wife's cousin, Jane Marshall, dau. of Gilbert and Jane Marshall of Ashland, Mass.,
Oct. 27, 1823. Two children.
Mrs. Seprs "grandma," as she was called by her intimates, was by nature a courtly lady,
capable of gracing any position, and uniting with her husband in practical religion. She was
ever doing good, especially among children, aiming to instill into their minds the iesson,
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."