"Bi

t

5^

THE

HISTORT OF CAPETHE ANNALS

CO:

BAENSTABLE COUNTYITS

SEVERAL? TOWNS

INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OF MASHPEE.

m

TWO VOLUMES.

By FREDERICK FREEMAN.

BOSTON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHORBY GEO.C.

'''

y

RAND &'AVERY,

3

CORNHILL.

18 58.

'

/*^'

.J'\

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by

Geo. C.

Rand & Avery,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

ELECTUQy.Y^pi^.^T ;i;9E^ BOSTON STEJ^^Cjt JTPrE F0l7wV>fiY.

THE

HISTORY OF CAPETHE ANNALSOF

C(

BARNSTABLE COUNTY,INCLUDINGS

/'

THE DISTEICT OF MASHPEE.BY

FREDEEICK FEEEMAN.

YOL.

I.

'The bes'efits of God aee to be kept in feesh memoey, akd peotaoatedTO posterity." Rev. William Leverich, first Minister onllie

Cape.

BOSTON:

PRINTKD FOR THE AUTHOR,BY GEO.C.

RAND1

& AVERY,

3

CORNHILL.

85

8.

yof>l

V-xJOiU^'

CL^S^

^

;

;

;

Hox.

DAVID

SEAHS,AND TO THE

Peesident,

VICE PRESIDENTS

AND EXECUTIYE COMMITTEE

Cap

Coir I.ss0:iati0itEACH AND ALL

d

^ostcit,

HIGHLY AND DESERVEDLY DISTINGUISHED AND ESTEEMED;TOGETHEB NOBLY EEPEESENTINO

THE

CIVILIAN,

THE THE

JURIST,

MERCIIxVNT,

NOT COVETOUS OF OFFICE OR FAJIE FOREMOST AMONG HIS PEERS THE ABLE ADVOCATE OF LARGE VIEWS AND PROUD INTEGRITYJ;

THE ENTERPRISING SHIP-O^VNERTHE MAN OF LETTERS ;

THIS FIRST VOLUME,INCLUDING THE HISTORY OF CAPE COD,IS

MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,

THE AUTHOE.

PREFACE.

These volumes are submitted to the public,without claimingfreefor

them that theyerrors.

are entirely

from mistakes or

Such

total

exemp-

tion can hardly be

expected of a work of theis

kind.

But that the present workconfidently believed.its details,

as free from

any

of date or fact, as the

utmost care wouldIt might, indeed,

effect, is

have been, inbeen to avoid

more particular andasalso

circumstantial: but the aim of the writer hasprolixity,

carefully

to

avoid offence to persons or families, so far asobligation to truth would permit.

The constantand

deterioration,

and

sometimes

destruction, of jjublic records,loss of

and the scattering

family documents in the form of

letters

and other manuscripts and private papers,

urge the importance of preserving in more durable form

what may be properinterest.

for .the public eye,

and

of

most

It

has been well remarked,(7)

PREFACE.that "in treasuringfathers,terity."

up the memorials

of

the

we

best manifest our regard for pos-

It is not to

be expected that the

affairs of

a

single county will be greatly interesting to the

public generally; but to such, at least, as are

connected with Cape Cod, these volumestrust,

will,

we

be of some

interest.

They, surely, will not

regret that a portion of its history is rescued

from oblivion.

Even

in regard to those portionsdate, such as shall

of the history of

more recent

be on the stagewill

fifty or

one hundred years hence

have feelings similar to our own in regard

to the long past.

The writer would have been muchcould he have given a fuller view of

gratified

men

of dis-

tinguished reputation, w^ho acted their severalparts well in earlier times.If omissions occur,

or defects, in delineating the characters of the

departed, the unavoidable absence of the requisite

information must be the apology.

Some

of

the

mo

''

meritorious

may have beenIt is

passed by,

whilst others less conspicuous or useful in their

day have been noticed.

much

easier to

regret the necessity, than to supply the remedy.

"None butof toil "

those experienced in this deiDartment

can appreciate the labor, the perplexity,

PREFACE.

9

the disappointments, or the time required by,

and the expense attendant on

it.

If

some land-

marks have beenin vain.

set

up

to

encourage and aid

future researches, the attempt will not have been

To undertake the taskmemoriesof

of doing

ample

justice to the

the more recently

departed, and especially of living

men

of dis-

tinguished claims,

is

a labor too delicate to be

consistent with the present plan.

The writer has endeavored honestly,ject

faithfully,

unbiased by prejudice, to pursue the one ob-

had originally in view, with a determinedHis purpose has beento the senti-

inquiry for the truth in the narration of events

and the relationments,

of facts.

to do this, withoutcivil,

undue regardhe has

political,

or ecclesiastical, ofstill,

any

man, or

set of

men;

felt

nothing

but profound deference to the opinions of thewise and good, of whatever name, station, orparty.

Whatever views may be entertained, by himself or others, of

the religious

dogmas ^.^f somefell,

of the early settlers of theerrors into wdiich theyis

Old Colony, or of the(which he

sometimes

perfectly free to attribute " to the age in

which

they lived," and to the resistless force of circumstances,) he cannotVOL.I.

but thank God that the

first

2

; !

10

PEEFACE.

Christian Sabbath's light thatfirst settlers

in this

dawned upon the colony was religiously celeof

brated,

and that the shores

Cape Cod wxrefor the future

then and there made vocal with the praises ofthe Almighty.it

It

augured well

was a pleasing comment upon theThat the principles of the gospel

past.

w^ere planted

here,

must be acknowledged by

all

as haying

furnished the palladium of our liberties.trials of

Thefeel

the eaiiy settlers, causing them to the

their

mutual dependence, and

necessity

which forced them

to rely each colony on

the

others for mutual support and defence, contributed, without doubt, to correct

some anomalies

in their views,

and

to a general diffusion, at

length, without alloy, of the true principles ofreligious

and

civil liberty

;

thus preparing the

way

for the

foundation of that national govern-

ment, ultimately, which has been enjoyed bytheir descendants

the

glory of the states, the

perfection of ages, the admiration of the worldIt

can hardly be supposed that our ancestors

fully anticipated the benefits they

were

to deliver

to society; in fact, it

must befirst,

confessed, their

own

course was, at the

in

many

respects

retrograde to the progress of liberty, or eventoleration:still,

we hazard nothing

in saying,

PREFACE.the emigration of these

11

men

eventually produced

the noblest revolution in the public mind, andinpolitical

power,

that the world had

ever

known.

Confined in the beginning to narrow

limits, it advanced, gradually,

with unfolding and

increasing light, until that change of public

sentiment assumed an importance proportionedto

the greatness of the events that were to

follow.

The age was one when the rights

of

society were but just being revealed.It

cannot either be regarded as otherwisefor

than fortunate

our

common

country, that the

early settlers of ISTew

England were emigrantscivilization,

from a country advanced inthat they were sointelligence

and

generally distinguished for

and

enterprise,

and were impressedof

with the importance of universal and early education.

Whether the colonization

any portion

of our land originated in religious persecution,

as is

by some confidentlyas partaking of highit

asserted,it

so confi-

dently and extensively that

is

regarded bytoit

manyadmitto.'

misdemeanor not

without qualification, and not to take

granted almost without inquiry,

or

whether

cliiefly

in schemes for the pursuit of gain, witli

the desire of the undisputed right to maintainpeculiar religious

dogmas and

polities without

12

PEEFACE.is

any contradiction,

a question which

it is

noall

part of our present duty to discuss, least ofto decide.

Perhaps even the seeming admissionat the present day, a Inooted question,

that

it is,

may besion.

sufficient to prejudice the writer in the

view of some, and bring upon him animadverIf so, let it be.

That the early

settlers of

both the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies

were

men

of strong religious feeling, admits of

no doubt.they were

That they werelet

free

from the infirm-

ities of nature,

himand

assert

who

will.

That

men

of stout hearts, indomitable per-

severance, industry,

enterprise,

was never

questioned.

And

that,

although they struggled

long and hard amidst

many impediments, werising, in so

may

well challenge the annals of the world to

produce another instance of a nationshort a spaceof time, to

an equal degree

of

power and freedom, wealth and population, truegreatness and renown,

we

unhesitatingly assert.to civil

That the great advantages derivedreligious liberty

and

by the emigration

of our fathers

and

their settlement of the country were

owing

alone to their personal character and first intentions,

we do not pretend

to claim.

Although

the

first

planters were moral, exemplary, and

pious, their progress towards the present state of

PREFACE.society was,

-

13to

most assuredly, owing

a comhina-

tion of causes,

as has been already suggested.first

Whether

their

and great object wasreligious views

to

establish their

own

and

polity,

or to adventure in their capacity of a trading

company, or both,

it

is

evident they had no

design of founding a nation^ultimately developedquite unforeseen.

and

that what

was the result of events At the same time, theseof,

events and results in good degree grew out

were influenced by, and tended

to,

a state of

things consonant only with stern religious principle.

It

has been well remarked, "It wouldof thesestill

ill

be-

come the descendants

men

to reproach

them

;

but

it

would

less

become

their

posterity tomerits,

show a distrust

of their prevailing

by any attempt

to conceal the defectsaffairs,

that are incident totoo, so

human

defects,

exceedingly overbalanced on the whole by

wisdom, perseverance, and success."settlers

The early

have on;

all

sides

been most unjustly

treated

the character of the Puritans especially

suffering alike from both extravagance of praise

and censure.would often be

The sober certainty

of truth

it

difficult to ascertain, in

the midst

of such violent contrasts.

14

PREFACE.

The succession

of events that finally

brought

the United States to their national union, in-

dependence, and glory, were not without theinstrumentality of a succession of noble men,

men whoto

acted well their several parts in the

great drama.

Their illustrious deeds are worthy

be recorded in the temple of immortal fame,their

names should be perpetuated. Their deeds can never die: their names should live. Their marked traits were religious principle,andpatriotism,

and

valor,

perseverance,

and

enterprise,

joined supportedtoself-denial.

resolution,

by

industry, economy,

and

The revo-

lutionary war, in respect to

its causes, progress,

and

effects, it is true,

belongs to the history of

no particular partnection of subjects

of our country;

hence that

alone which has seemed necessary to the con-

and transactionsthis

of

local

interest, or to explain

matters in hand, has been

given.

Less than

would have

left

the

record measurably unintelligible.

Thetrials;

difficulties

that grew out of diverse views

were the most serious part of the revolutionary

and the violence of

feeling engendered

was, to some of the towns on the Cape, of a

dangerous character.motive to color or

The writer has had no and distort the naked facts;

PREFACE.if it

15

he has erred at

all in

the record he has made,

has been by passing as lightly over somefinal

important transactions, in deference to the

prostration of the royalists, as a regard for truthfulness

would allow.

At the present

day,

we

can look with discrimination on the opposersof therevolution, distinguishingloyalists,

between the

honest, conscientioussort

and the baserThat the whigs

whose ends were mercenary.

were only desirous of carrying out what theysincerely believed were patriotic views, is evident

from the fact that no personal considerationsof consanguinity, or otherwise, prevented theirinflexible determinationfor the right,

and that

no

spirit

of

revenge urged them beyond theVictors are usually

attainment of the object.

magnanimous.

That the adverse party, becauseit difficult

they were prostrated, foundor even to forgive,

to forget,

may

be inferred by any one

conversant with the workings of

human

nature.

As

to the

men

of our

ownthey

day, they are alldiffer

patriots,

however much

one from

another; so that in the present age

may beexcellence,

found, in different parts of our country, descend-

ants from tories

whoof

are democrats

par

and descendantsrejoice

whigs of the revolution whoall patriotic,

under other appellations;

16all friends of

PREFACE.freedom, all true to their country,all

all

abhorrent of monarchists,

glorying in therights,

advocacy of liberty and equal

whether

democrats, whigs, republicans, Americans, Americanrepublicans, national

democrats, or

we

indeed quite forget the various and often chan-

ging names

assumed, or sobriquets by which;

parties are designated

the recollection of themgift or vocation.

being entirely beyond our

:It

mustviews

suffice for

the writer, that, whatever minor

now

divide the

American people, we enjoy

a system of

civil, religious,

and

literary institu-

tions, so free, pure,

and

perfect,

protected

by

military discipline so independent in true merit,

and supported by a balance

of

power in the three

departments of government so complete,

thatto

what the Saxon heptarchy of the fifth century endeavored to conceive, and what the ninthcentury,

under Alfred

the Great,

labored

improve, has with us, as nowhere besides, beenrealized

and established,toils

the

result

of toJN'ot

theseeto

wisdom andthis,

of our fathers.

Not

would

provethis,

us

blind indeed.

acknowledge

would prove us ungrateful.

In recording the occurrences of the war of1812, and matters both prior to and consequent

PREFACE.

17

upon

it,

for the

we have been content to be very brief; time has not arrived when the full history

of that period

may be

written in a work like the

present.

Our ownit

recollection

would furnish usfor

withera,

muchwere

of local incident

and anecdote

that

permissible.

The

history, however,

of the almost entire of Massachusetts,

would be

the history of conflicting party views on theCape,

with

this

important

exception

thatits

Barnstable County lent the influence of

ma-

jority to sustain the national administration.

The recordconfinedinterest.

of

more recent dates

is

purposely

to

few occurrences of more general

In respect to ecclesiastical

aflairs,

our object

has been to follow the order of events with someparticularity, so long as the quasi

union of state

and church

existed.

As denominations begansufficient that

to multiply, it

has been deemed

more prominent events simply being to thosedivisions

noticed, leav-

who

choose to dwell on ecclesiastical

and

strifes to look to other sources for

information.

For any defects that may exist in the present[

VOL. OL.

I.

3

18

PREFACE.of its errors,

work, the author begs indulgenceif

;

such there be, he can only say, they wereIf,

undesigned.to cover

with an impartiality scorning

up

all infirmities of

men he

reveres,

and

with an honesty of purpose too stern to denytheir delinquencies, he has failed to secure

com-

mendation from the narrow-minded and bigoted,or has fallen short of the apprehensions of the

wise and good, he must be allowed to add, inthe language of another, that "he never had inview, in this work,

an object so contemptible

as that of writing eulogy under the guise ofhistory."

We

are not

unaware

of the popular impression

of the day, that history, to

be attractive, must

be clothed in the garb of hyperbole, or the guiseof fiction;

and

that,all

whilst the public tasteis

demands that

that

written shall be init

heroics to satisfy the partiality of admirers,

may be

quite convenient for literary caterers toIt is

yield to that taste.

not strange that a

judicious observer has seen occasion to remark," It

might be well that some modern Cervantes

should send us another knight errant, of peerless honor, stainless virtue, dauntless courage,

and truthful

love, to

make us

so laugh at our

own

follies,

by his whole-souled and simple-

; :

PREFACE.

19

hearted extravaganza, as to bring back thingsto the

modesty of

nature.''

But we doubt

if the,

cure could be thus effected.

The disease hasto

proceeded soinflexible

far,

that the

demand seemsmost

be

that every thing

serious

be

presented in paradox, whether in history, theteachings of the pulpit, or elsewhere.It

has

become absolutely necessary,attention.

in order to attract

Learning must be made picturesque

that which should be sober narrationhistorical novel bewildering

must be a

by;

its

adroit mix-

ture of truth and falsehood

the most sublime

mysteries and awful truths must be presented

with at least a

fair

equivalent of humor; andlife

the commonest incidents ofatized, to give effect.

must be dram-

With

this popular mania,

the writer confesses he has no sympathies.

He

aims only at a plain, unvarnished expose of factsthe reader musthis

make

his

own

inferences, form

own

opinions,

and draw upon his own im-

agination for embellishments.

If there shall

appear

a-

paucity of material forof our progress

so full a history of

some periods

as

might be

desired, or of incidents to give zest

to the recital, it

must be remembered thatduty tocreate;

it is

no part

of our present

the records,

20

PREFACE.

scanty as they

mayall

be,

take as

we

find them.

we are necessitated to The inhabitants of the

Cape have atpositionj)eaceful,

times been

men whose

dis-

was

to pass their life in industrious,

and useful occupationsdoings

with

little

taste for parade, with little ambition to chronicletheir

own

;

and

if

at

any time they havehas been simplyit,

mingled in

political heats, it

because the occasion and duty required

and

not that they were ambitious of notoriety.

Wein-

hazard nothing in sayingfluence exerted

that

had thesome

and the services rendered beenof the of eventsinterest.

as tenaciously registered here as inISTew

England towns, the history

would

have been of more animatinghas well remarked,"

As alittle

learned and eloquent descendant of Cape Cod

Our

village

fathers

imagined how the eyeafter,

of posterity

would strain

every simple record

they should leave.

What

they did, they did for the peace of theirthe safety of their country, for the

firesides, for

satisfaction of their consciences

and their

feel-

ings

:

that

it

should

thing they did not soSandwich,April, 1858.

make them famous, much as dream of."

Avas a

CONTENTS.CHAPTERSituation,

I.PAGB

Name, and Extent.

quent Visits by Dermer, Pourtrincourt, Hudson, &c and others.

First Discovery by Gosnold. SubseNavigators. De Monts, Weymouth, Captain Smith,

27

CHAPTERPrior Discoveries,

II.

and Prominent Theories and Keminiscences. Columbus, Americus Vespucius, De la Vega, the Cabots, Willoughby, Frobisher, Gilbert, and Raleigh. The Ancients .

46

CHAPTERThe Assay of Cape Cod.Sabbath

III.

the

Leyden Pilgrims at a Settlement, and Election of Governor. The Compact.

First

their Arrival at

Christian

59

CHAPTERExplorations of the Cape by the Pilgrims. Natives

IV.Policy towards the

MistakenV.

69

CHAPTER

Further Explorations by the Company, and final Departure of the MayPatent for Northern Virginia. Pierce's Patent. flower for Plymouth.

80

CHAPTER

VI.

Subsequent Intercourse with the Cape. -^ lyanough of Cummaquid. Aspinet of Nauset. Effects of Hunt's Perfidy. Indian Tribes. The Cape Cod a Granary for the Early Ship Fortune touches at the Cape. Mattachiest. Monamoyick. Settlers at Plymouth. Manomet visited by Dutch, French, and English

94

CHAPTERContinued Intercourse with the Cape. Manomet. Great Storm. Patent. of Rights

VII.

Trading House established at Troublous Times. DeclarationIll(21)

22

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

VIII.

Settlements on the Cape begun. Sandwich. Important Events, and Progress of the Colony. Yarmouth and Barnstable. Deputies to the

General Court. Qualifications for Habitancy restricted. Surveillance over the new Settlements

A

rigid

127

CHAPTER

IX.

Patent surrendered and Charters granted. Court instituted. Laws, Vindication of the Clergy, and Lands granted. Narragansetts. The Ministry. An Abandonment of Plymouth and Removal to Nauset contemplated. Lands bounded. Differences adjusted. Confederation. Nauset Laws enforcedsettled.

151

CHAPTERCustoms, Dress,

X.the Colony.

Mode

of Living in the Early

Days of

Gen178

eral Simplicity, Industry,

and Economy

CHAPTER dians.

XI.

Progress of the Colony. Toleration. Municipal Regulations. Extension of Settlements on the Cape. Witchcraft. Long Hair and Beards. Society in England for propagating the Gospel among the In-

Watch over the Churches. Eisheries. Civil and Moral Delinquencies. Preparations War. towards the Quakers. Remarkable Eventsfor Severities

192

CHAPTERat at

XII.

Laws enacted. Religious Dissensions and Insubordi.Lation. Quaker Troubles. Lands Yarmouth, Sandwich, Barnstabia, &c. Oath of Eidelity. Selectmen. Settlement at Monamoyick. Saconnessit. Indian Church Mashpee. Divers Troubles, Complaints, and Accusations

215

CHAPTER

XIII.

Doings of the Royal Commissioners. Concessions in Favor of Religious Freedom. Grant of Lands at Monomoyick, and attendant Difficulties, Religious Instruction of the Indians. Remarkable Events. Schools. Difficulties with the Indians apprehended. Settlement of Ministers required. The Fisheries. Free Schools. Indians give in their Adhesion 254

CHAPTERThe Indian War. King Philip

XIV.

Great Sacrifice of Life and Property. Distress of the Colonies. The Cape vindicated. Irish Sympathy. The Acquisition of Mount Hope. Severe Laws against the Indians, Commission from England. Select Courts. Oath of Fidelity. Charters vacated Its Progress.slain... ,

277

CONTENTS.

23

CHAPTERThe Colony dividedinto Counties,

XV.

and Barnstable County erected. ArExtension of Cape rival of Andros, and the Governor superseded. Revolution in England, and Restoration of the Government. Towns. Annexation of Plymouth Colony to French and Indian War. Andros Massachusetts, and Extinction of the former Government.

dismissed.

Efforts to obtain a Charter

309

CHAPTER

XVI.

Arrival of the new Charter, and Assumption of Government by Sir WilPhipps superseded. Passing Harwich incorporated. liam Phipps. Earl of Bellamont. Extension of Cape SettleEvents. Pirates. Gov. Dudley. MonaThe Fisheries. ments. Gov. Stoughton. Dangerfield incorporated, and Name changed Bills of Credit. moyick. The Precinct of Cape Cod. Chatham incorporated. to Truro. . 327

.

CHAPTERGov. Shute.

XVII.

New Town. Governor's SalSingular Project. Gov. Burnet. Ecclesiastical Discontents. Bills of Credit. ary. Courts in Barnstable. Speculations. Provincetown incorporated. Gov. Belcher. Difficulties with Government. Expedition to Cuba.

A

A

Land Bank. Gov. Shirley. Great

352

Awakening

CHAPTER

XVIII.

Rev. George Whitefield. Cape Breton. Peace. The French War. Union of the Colonies. England and France again at Variance. Expeditions to Nova Scotia, Crown Point, and Niagara. Gov. Pownal Sir Francis Bernard comes into Power. succeeds Shirley. The Cape

Towns

desire fewer Courts.

as Districts.

England becomes arrogant.

Wellfleet

is

incorporated, also Mashpee,. .

.

379

CHAPTERThe Mother Country becomesoppressive.

XIX.

Stamp Act. Taxes imposed. Soldiers sent over. Convention. Certain offensive Acts repealed. Duty on Tea retained. Pocasset a Parish. Gov. Hutchinson. Public Meetings. Tea destroyed. Tea Ship ashore at Cape Cod. League Fire in Sandwich Woods. Gen. Gage. Boston Port and Covenant. General Congress. Diverse Views among the People. Movement in Barnstable CountyBill.

406

CHAPTERsolves.

XX.at

Proceedings of the Body of the People. Gathering at Sandwich. Re General Agreement. Leader chosen. March to Barnstable. Respect shown Col. Assemble the Court House. Previous Proceedings reaffirmed by an increased Assemblage. The Court not permitted to proceed to Business. Liberty Pole. Confessions and Recantations. Demands made of the Court. Committees of Vigilance. Address to Hon. James His Reply. Resolutions adopted. toOtis.Otis.

24

CONTENTS.

Address to the Court, and Reply. Resignation of Crown Officers. Subsequent Proceedings. Tories are enraged, insolent, and revengeThe Assassins secured. ful. Desperate Eifort at Vindictivcness. Conciliatory Address. Whigs indignant fly to avenge the Act. Deference to the Laws. Three thousand People accompany their late The Assassins humbled, implore Forgiveness, Leader to Barnstable. and submit to the Will of the People 430

CHAPTER

XXI.

The Cape Towns awake to the Importance of the impending Crisis. A Countermands his Orders County Congress. Gov. Gage alarmed. The Court meet and denounce for a Meeting of the General Court.

Battle of Resolve themselves into a Continental Congress. him. Call to Arms. Bunker Hill. Congress prepares for Lexington. Commander ^ui-Chief. Defence. Local Items. Vigilance to counImportance of Cape Cod Harbor. teract the Tories. Letter from Hon. James Otis. Defence of the Coast 466

A

CHAPTERGen. Gage

XXII.

retires, and Howe is in Command. Gen. Washington takes The Council the Administration, with Hon. Possession of Boston. James Otis of Barnstable President. The Cape Towns instruct their Representatives to obtain from the Continental Congress a Declaration

ish.

Independence declared. The Colonies reduced to Application from South Carolina. British Transportship ashore. Loyalists. French Ship ashore. Captures by the Brit Loyalists. Ship ashore at Provincetown with Refugees. Salt Manufactures. Local Affairs. New Constitutionof Independence.

great Straits.

488

CHAPTER

XXIII.

New Constitution. Refugees. Requisitions for the Army. Home Defences. Tories. Ship Somerset. Depredations by the Enemy. Reijnlistments for the Army. General Distress. Decease of Col. Otis. Magee Storm. Alliance with France. Vigilance to counteract the Designs of Tories. Prices regulated. Gloomy Aspect, Grievous Exactions. Dissensions. State Constitution. Requisitions and Defences. Importance of the Fisheries. A dark Hour. Cessation of 510 Peace. Effect. Decease of James Otis JrHostilities.

CHAPTER XXIV.The Anniversary of Independence a perpetuallion.

Institution. Shays' Rebel Constitution of the United States. First President of the United States. National Bank. Dennis incorporated. Revised Constitu Whiskey Insurrection. Ecclesiastical Changes. Mails. Orleans incorporated. Troubles with France. Washington's Decease. Political Contests. Brewster incorporated. Embargo. Non-Intercourse Act. Port of Entry. Local Legislation. Impressment of Seamen. Domestic Manufactures. Preparations for Wartion.

51G

CONTENTS.

25

CHAPTER XXV.The

Religious Freedom. The Courts. Embargo. Po Declaration of War. Prostrating Eifect on the of the Cape. Exposure. Cape. Position of the Country. Demands of the Enemy. Local Legislation. Liternal Dissensions. Peace. Returning Prosperity. Algerine War. Bank of the Awful Storm, Manufactures. Hersey Bequest. UnitedAlternative.litical

Asperities.

Politics

States.

Lighthouses

593

Commercial Reverses.

CHAPTER XXVI. The Mails and Post Florida. Separation of Maine. Missouri Compromise. Falmouth Bank. Pirates. Cape Cod Harbor. Glass Political Exasperations. The Manufacture. Disasters Sea. Barnstable Bank. Public Offices destroyed. Political Changes. TreatiesOffices.Tariff.

at

613

CHAPTER XXVII.Bank Veto.ened.posits.

Nullification threatSpoliations. New The Cholera. Mashpee, enlarged Privileges The De Panic. Surplus Revenue. Commercial Celebration at Barnstable. Agricultural Society. Disasters at Sea. The Cambria. Cajje Cod Railroad. Severe Winter. Successive Events. Mashpee Indians. Cape Cod Association organized. Province Lands. Celebration. Provincetown Bank. Bank of Cape Cod. Telegraphs. Propagation of Fish. Representation. Canal. .631 French:

Tariif.

to.

Crisis.

.

CHAPTER XXVIII.Mashpee,isters.

and Extent. Natural Divisions. Missionary Lands secured. Church constituted. Succession of Min Adaptation for Plantation. Character of the People. Laws extended over them. Good Soldiers. An amusing Letter. Discontents. to secure Freedom. Rights of Government. Improvement. Reviewits

Situation

Ground.

Efi'orts

Self-

674

Statistics.

CHAPTER XXIX. Government. Representatives to Congress. State Senate. Massachusetts House of Representatives. Coiirts of Justice. Qualification of Civil Officers. Probate. Deeds. Treasurer. Coroners. Military. Clerks. County Attorney. HighSheriff..

720

CHAPTER XXX.Conclusion.

The Right Arm of Massachusetts. Inhabitants. Occupations. Love of Home. Education. Schools. Religion. Sa Topography. Winds and lubrity of Climate. Agriculture. Tides. Maniifactures. Fisheries. Migrations. Census. GradSoil.

uates*^

7-il

APPENDIX.VOL.I,

.

763

4

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Engraved by,/1.

To. .

face page,

Richard SeahsJames Otis,

Bradford.Grozelier,

&c.,

marked

the gentleman

;

the superb head-dress, the silks and

satins with long waists, the long white kid gloves, the

circumambient

hoop, the gold beads, the high-heeled shoes, &c., were the outward

adornments of the lady.

VOL. L

24

A

186

THE HISTORY OF CAPE COD.

when

broken,

or, in later times,

ground, the meal was

not bolted, but simply passed through the sieve.

we

are told, " the chiefest corn they planted at;

But first wasno

Indian grain, before they had ploughs

and

let

man

make

a jest at pumpkins, for with this food the Lord

was pleased to feed his people to their good content The corn, before till corn and cattle were increased." mills were provided, was pounded in a mortar, usually with a wooden or stone pestle. The mortar used wasgenerally a large log, hollowed at one end.supplied malt for beer.

Barley

The first houses had steep roofs, generally thatched. The fireplaces were so large that children might sit within the corners, and look out in the evening at the stars, through the chimney, if they would. The fuel, being abundant, was used in large quantities logs four;

feet long

and several

feet in circumference, Avhich re-

quired all the strength of a strong man to roll them in, were placed back, a forestick of corresponding dimensions was laid in front, and smaller wood was then filled in and heaped up, a plenty of light wood or " fat pine," being at hand to revive the fire and in the evening to keep up a bright and pleasant light. Oil or candles were used only occasionally. The hearth wasof largeflat

stones similar to those used for sidewalksfireplaces

were constructed of stone, and sometimes the chimneys of layers of wood, notched at the crossings, the interstices filled in with clay and the whole interior plastered with the same. The floors were always cleanly white from frequent washing, and were nicely protected by a fine, washed, white sand. The immense andirons, with hooks to receive the spit holding over the dripping pan thenow.roast,

The

enabled the housewife to furnish, with the aid of

ANNALS OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

187

frequent turning and basting, a

clisli

that the epicure

now

covets in vain.

Roasts

tvere ilien roasts.

In a few years, houses of better construction beganto appear

two

stories in front, the rOof in the rear

sloped

down

to within six feet of the

ground.

The

windows were supplied with hinges, opening outwards, and were quite small. The glass was in the diamond shape, and set in sashes of lead. The dwelling houses were always so placed as to front to the south, without regard to the street or road, and the house thus uniformly served for a

Like Tanaquil,

sometimes

dial.

designated as Caia,

the wife of one of the ancient kings, so remarkable for

her devotion to domestic duties that herpreserved in

distaff

was

Eome for ages as a sacred relic, and her example handed down to posterity as a pattern of housewifery, the matrons of those days exhibited, and taught their daughters to practise that which is so highly commended by the wise man " She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She layeth her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff." Home was the scene of domestic industry, " Her husband is known quiet, peace, and happiness. in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land," or " Domiim mansit, lanam fecit^" might well have been the encomium uttered in respect to many ay, in reference to females generally, whose industry and skill provided ample comfort for all around them. Every body went to "meeting" in those days, however distant they resided from the place for public worship. Those who owned horses held them as justly liable to:

^

^

Thus not unaptly

translatedbirlet at the

" She keepit close the hous, and

wheel."

Gawain Hamilton.

188

THE HISTORY OF CAPE COD."

do service for any of the neighbors on

meeting days/'his wife^

and

it

was no unusual thinglittle

for the

owner and

the one on a saddle and the other on a pillion, with

boy or girl before the man and an inwoman's lap, to ride half way to the place of worship, and then to dismount, on arriving at " the half-way block," and hitch the horse for the neighbors who set out on foot, walking themselves the rest of the Young men and maidens rarely thought of ridway.^ ing to meeting, even though the distance might be six " Horse blocks " were always placed near or ten miles. " meeting house," as well as near their dwellings, the and at convenient stations, and were as indispensable as the well-pole and the oaken-bucket. Horses were all accustomed to pace, that they might carry the rider gently. The almost universal mode of travelling was on horseback, and long journeys were thus made. The duty of the sexton then required that he should attend to the turning of the hour-glass. It was to be turned at the commencement of the sermon, and the minister was expected to close his sermon at the end of the hour. If he either exceeded or fell short of that time, it was alike regarded as furnishing just cause ofperhaps afant in the.

complaint.

By order of the General Court, corns and beans were used in voting, the corns representing the ayes, and the beans the nays. A heavy penalty was imposed if anyindividual put into the

box more than

one.

The

.

can-

^

Chaises, or such like vehicles, were then unknown.

Travelling

in stage-coaches

was hardly dreamed

of.

The

rapid rounding of a

corner by a driver with " four in hand," his horn announcing in ad-

vance the " arrival of the mail," was an exploit reserved for a fardistant day.tible of

The

roads, as

may

well be supposed, were

still

suscep-

some improvement.

ANNALS OF BAENSTABLE COUNTY.

189

didates nominated were, of course, voted for separatelyuntil

one was elected.

In illustration of the unsophisticated frankness andsimplicity of the times, an anecdotefamiliar to

which

is

doubtless

all, has been related of the adventures of two notables of the Plymouth Colony the result of their occasional business excursions to the Cape. Both gentlemen were frequently here, dispensing their good offices in the settlement of boundaries and the com-

posing of

difficulties

of one kind or another

;

but,

we

confess, there are circumstances that quite incline us to

the belief that the anecdoteertheless, as

may

be apocryphalit is

:

nev-

we do

not feel that

any part of our

mission to

question too minutely long-received andhistor}^, we give down When John

universally-admitted data of this kind involving noth-

ing absolutely essential to Cape Codthe facts as they have been handed

Aldenthe

Plymouth Colony, and one of company settled at Plymouth) was commissioned by his friend. Captain Miles Standish, for an(a magistrate offirst

errand which Standish had not the courage to undertake in person,viz.,

to

make

proposals of marriage tois

Miss Priscilla Mullens of Barnstable, - it

said,

the

young womanthyself?"asit

replied

with perfect

naivett,

perhaps

simplicity, " Prithee,It

John,

why

dost thou not ask for

may have been leap year; but, be that may, however much Alden may have been takenseem to have by what he concluded was an intimationgirl

by

surprise, the depths of his verj^^ soul

been stirred from the lips of the beautifulerence for himself

of a decided pref-

At

all;

the chagrin of Standish

descended

ilhstrissimi

vii\

events, he married her, to and from that union have of vfhom were tvvo presi-

dents of the United States.

190

THE HISTORY OF CAPE COD.here, speaking of the fair Priscilla,is

And

we may

as

well say (for the fact

too important to be omitted,

and must besprightliness

said

the girls of Cape

somewhere in our annals of the Cape) Cod have not deteriorated in their arid personal charms since the time of

Miss Mullens.'^

It is true, the

Rev. Dr.

B

,

in

an account of histo eonfiict

visit in

1850this

to different

towns in

this county,

seems

somewhat withit

statement

;

nevertheless, as the testimony that he volunteers, although

a

little

defective, as

we

think, in not being so

emphatic as

should

have been,accurate,to

in reference to those of

Miss

Priscilla's sex, is generally

and as such worthy of a place here, we

shall venture

insertto

comesthoughto

we do it be analyzed, we thinkit.

In

fact,

theit

morefor to

readily, because,

when

it

will;

be pronounced high praise,

indirectly, of the gentler sex

commend

the children

is

commend

the mothers.

Weit

hope the reader will be strongly imthis consideration alone that induces

pressed with the idea that

is

the reference to the reverend doctor's testimony, and that the creditwill

be charitably awarded us of being

in

no degree influenced by the

paltry feeling of vanity.charitable a construction,

Should any, however, enviously refuse so

was

too apt to be severe,

and

think, in the language of Swift,

who

"

'Tis

an old

maxim

in the schools,fools,"

That vanity's the food of

we may

then be obliged

to retort, in continuation of the dean's satire,

" Yet, now and then, you^^^21^

men

of wit

Will condescend to take a bit."

But, really,

we

are a long time in coming to the remarks of that

accurate observer ofreader,

men andfeel

things, the

reverend doctor.

It

is,

somewhat embarrassed by their overwhelming truthfulness. And now, making one bold push, we clip from his "editorial correspondence in the New York ChristianbecauseInquirer " the valuable morceau;

we

here

it is

:

"

occasion was a large, attentive, and good-looking one.

The audience on this The Capeprofess to have

people are in person a fine race

;

the children are peculiarly hand-

some, with well-cut, regular features.seen

We

will not

much

female beauty,

(it

is

rare every where,) but the men, in

ANNALS OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

191

Tradition says, that at the time of Mr. Alden's marriage excursion, there

travelHng equipage in the colony, and that

was a destitution of horses and it was not

uncommon for oxen or bulls to supply the place. Mr. Alden went from Plymouth to Barnstable, riding on the back of a bull, with a piece of handsome broadcloth for a saddle, and, on his return, his bride was seated on the same, the happy bridegroom leading the bull carefully

by a cord fastened

to the nose-ring.

frame and features, are a handsome race

tall,

straight, full,

and

with the ground of what would be called an aristocratic appearance.

Weless

see

where the

Otises, theit

Quincys, the

Thatchers, got their

noble looks.

Whether

is

that the English race has intermingled

with others here than in other parts of Massachusetts, or on

account of the climate, or because the calling of theacquainted with the world, and so fashions them,

men makes them we will not guess

butto

we

think Cape

New

England."

Cod has -given some of the finest faces and forms The " audience," candor requires us to say, was

in Barnstable.

192

THE HISTORY OF CAPE COD.

CHAPTER XI Extension Municipal Progress Colony. Long Hair and Beards. Settlements on Cape. Gospel among propagating England and Moral Dehnquencies; Watch over Churches. Preparations War. Quakers. Remarktowardsof theToleration.

Regulations.

of

the

Witchcraft.the

Society in

for

the

Indians.

the

Fisheries.

Civil

for

Severities

the

able Events.

In 1646 Governor Bradford

was

reelected,

and Mr.

Thomas Prince as assistant, as was also Mr. Edmund Freeman of Sandwich for the seventh time. Nausetwas now incorporated as a township. And it was ordered by the Colony Court that every town within the government shall have a clerk to keep a register of marriages, births, and burials.

A

movement on

the part of certain persons

dis-

on account of the want of toleration, was supported by numbers of the deputies, but was overruled by the governor. To their honor it is recorded, that they asked the court " to allow and maintain full and free tolerance of religion to all men that would preserve the civil peace and submit to government." Mr. Edward Winslow wrote to Governor "VYinthrop, of Massachusetts, "How sweetaffectedthis

carrion!

relished

to

the palate

deputiesin the

"

A

similar effort

of most of the was made simultaneouslyIt is ^pleasant, at this

Massachusettsthusto

Colony.

day, totian

look back andearly

see the spirit of true

Chris-

liberty

exhibited,

even

was

destined

be

for

a

time

discouraged

though it and

ANNALS OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.crushed.^

193

Who

will

now

say

tliat

the prayer of the?

discontented was not most reasonable

They

asserted

most truly, that the fundamental laws of England were not acknowledged by the colony as the basis of government, according to patent that the exclusion from civil privileges of those of good life and principles, because they might not coincide in their religious views with the dominant sect, and the denial to them of religious privileges, even to those who were members of the Church of England, was a violation of their rights as good citiThey asked for civil liberty and religious freezens. dom for all not scandalous in their lives and conversation or that, if this was refused, they might be freed from the heavy taxes imposed upon them and from impressment. The time, however, had not yet come when they might be disenthralled. Still, we say, it speaks well for the colony that there were some, and even a majority, of the deputies, who did " relish " the proposition which the governor found it necessary, by kn arbitrary act, to suppress. It is a gleam of light,;',

^

Judge Davis

says, "

Upon examination

of the views of the

'

dis-

contented persons,' they do not appear soas they

mahgnant or unreasonable"

were esteemed when they were in agitation." The " heresy which Roger Williams had been charged with in Salem, in 1634, andit

which,

was averred, was as

seditious as heretical, " tending equally

to sap the foundations of the establishment in

church and

state,"

and

for

which he was banished

to seek the hospitality of

savages in the

wilderness, was, says Bancroft, asserting " that the civil magistrate

should restrain crime, but never control opinion

;

should punish

guilt,

but never violate the freedom of the soul."

Mr. Williams was

settled

in Salem, April 12, 1631, as teaching elder, in connection with

Mr.

Shelton

;

on which occasion " a

letter of

reproof was written from thecourt marvelled that the peo-

court in Boston, to

Mr. Endicott.persecution

Thewas

ple would choose Mr. Williams without advising with the council."

Winthrop.Bentley.

"The

then

already

commenced."

V0L.*L

25

194

THE HISTORY OF CAPE COD.

radiating tlirougli the darkness of those early times,

that augured well for the future, andinfluenceis

its

redeeming

grateful to the heart of the descendants of

men whoso just a

supported the measure.

The strength which

measure had already acquired may be judged from the fact that intolerance was made to tremble for the result.^ Mr. Winslow, as if anticipating its ultimate triumph, says, " If God have such a judgment for thisplace, [colony,] I trust

we

shall find a resting place

amongst you, [the Massachusetts Colony,]of our feet."It is

for the soles

truly painful to contemplate the

intolerance that reigned supreme at that time, esjoeciallyin Massachusetts, interdicting, if not persecuting, all

who

dissented in the least from the popular faith andpolity.

church

If

some now

retired

from

office,

or

were superseded, particularly in the magistracy, it be presumed they were not sufficiently practicable. Jealousy and mistrust prevailed. The "factious and turbulent " must be subdued and greater caution must be exercised in regard to the views of such as are to

may

;

be placed

in

authority;

for,

notwithstanding everyfirst

precaution hitherto, there had from theinfusion of settlers

been an

whose views were not strictly in sympathy with the exclusiveness that now prevailed. How far any portion of the Cape partook of a spirit of1 This movement was made first in the Plymouth Colony, month of October of the previous year. How it was opposed

in the

in the

Massachusetts Colony, the histories of that day sufficiently attest. It were a long story to tell how the petitioners were summoned to

court, put

under bonds, fined for " seditious proceedings," watched and even imprisoned lest they should leave for England to advocate thein support of their complaints, papers seized, &c.

cause of the petition, their trunks searched for documents designed to

be sent

The move-

ment has been charged with beingadvancement ofreligious freedom."

" a formidable league for the

ANNALS OF BAKNSTABLE COUNTY.liberality inconsistent

195

events

may

with the age, the succession of enable the reader to determine.this

The court record

year contains a memorandum,

that "something be done to maintain the liberty of

the churches without intermeddling or wronging eachother."

was also ordered, " that when the inhabitants of Sandwich have paid a debt of seventeen or eighteen pounds owing to the old company, and paid the charge and purchase of their township, or such a sum as Mr. Thomas Prince and Captain Miles Standish shall agreeIt

upon, then the committees or undertakers shall yieldforth

up the land undisposed of, to the town, to be given and disposed by such persons as the town shall apshall contributeIt

point; and that every inhabitant having lands granted

him

proportionably to the said pay-

was further " ordered, that the committees of every town shall send the names of all their males from sixteen years of age to sixty, to thement."governor."

The following table of upon by the court:

excise shows the rates agreed

" Liberty to strangers to fish at the Cape, 5^. per share.

Spanish wine, drawn by

retail, Sd.

per gallon. per gallon.per hogshead.

French wine,Beer,

""

"" " "

"" " "

4:d.

2^.18