History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts - Chapter V, 1890 | 64KB | Ray Sears - LRSears@CapeCod.net

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CHAPTER V.
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
Basis of Civil Government.-Erection of the County.-Political History.-Councillors -
Senators.- Representatives.- Sheriffs.- Registers.-County Institutions.-Federal
Institutions.-Custom House.-Lighthouses,-Life Saving Service.

THE desire for religious freedom possessed by our ancestors, not-
withstanding their peculiar inconsistencies as they seem to us of
the present day, established on a broad and comprehensive
basis the idea of civil liberty. Colonies were settled by churches, and
as such the religious body instituted the law and government. No
one could be a freeman and co-operate in the affairs of the church or
the body politic unless he was a church member; and under this rule
the church gave or refused him the right to settle. The tyranny of
the hierarchy drove the Puritans to this shore; this spirit, continued
by the Puritans, forced malcontents to found new plantations where
they could establish civil and religious liberty for themselves, and
this has thrown open to the land the gates of liberty, never to be
again closed. In 1636, when the trade of the original colony had con-
siderably increased and other plantations were about to be established,
the court of associates set forth the first declaration of rights, which
ordained that no act, imposition, law or ordinance should be imposed
on the colonists, at that or any future time, without the consent of the
body of associates or their representatives, legally assembled. Enact-
ments were made the same year regarding the election at Plymouth
of a governor and assistants by the freemen in person, or by proxy.
and the trial of important suits or offenses by jury. Religion was in-
tended to be the basis of both civil and ecclesiastical government: but
here in the remote wilderness these pilgrims first conceived and ex-
emplified the principle that the will of the majority shall govern--the
foundation of American liberty. In planting a church they founded
an empire.
The first and each succeeding plantation established upon territory
embraced in Rarnstable county was composed of people imbued with
these principles, from which have arisen the present town govern-
ments.

p. 39
In 1643 the towns then existing on the Cape as part of the Ply-
mouth colony were joined with others in the confederation of the
United Colonies of New England, which, with some slight changes,
was continued until 1685, when the charters of the several colonies
of the province were, in effect, vacated by a commission of King
James II. The spirit of confederation had taught the colonies to act
together when common dangers had menaced, and here was the germ
of the present national system, reserving to the towns their own local
government.
In the division of Plymouth colony into three counties-Plymouth,
Bristol and Barnstable-in 1685, the county of Barnstable was incor-
porated June second. The history of this county in its relation to the
European race may be dated from its first exploration; but its civil
history must be regarded as beginning with its incorporation in 1685.
Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth and Eastham had been previously

p.40
incorporated as towns; Falmouth, Harwich, Truro and Monomoy, soon
after made towns, were plantations assuming rights of self govern-
ment; and since the formation of the county, Mashpee has been in-
corporated, Wellfleet and Orleans set off from Eastham, Brewster
from Harwich, Dennis from Yarmouth, and Bourne from Sandwich.
Sippecan, or Rochester, was temporarily annexed to this county, but
was transferred to Plymouth county.
Barnstable was designated as the shire town, where a court house
was at once erected adjoining the old training ground on the south
side of the county road, and nearly opposite the site of the present
Baptist church ih Barnstable village. The second court house was
erected in 1774, and after the completion of the present court house
it was purchased by the Baptist society, turned to face westward, and
remodeled to its present form, and since has been the Baptist church
of the village. The officers for the new county were appointed at its
incorporation, and the body corporate assumed its distinctive civil
jurisdiction over the same territory now comprising its more numer-
ous towns.
In 1691 the rights of general suffrage and more liberal local legis-
lation in the towns were guaranteed by the accession to the English
throne of William and ;Ifary, who united the colonies and formed the
province of Massachusetts Bay. The powers of the towns were in-
creased, and the Sew England town system became a modei for
municipal imitation, inaugurating a method of control over local
affairs that should regulate, like the governor of ‘the engine, the entire
machinery of the government. The county, as a confederation of
towns with sovereign powers, is a concentration of these corporate
bodies, combining increased strength that shall comparatively more
advance the social and civil affairs of the body politic.
An attempt was made in 1734, by peti’tions in behalf of the lower
towns, to have the county divided and those ‘towns set of? as a distinct
county; but failing in this, the towns petitioned for the abolishment
of some of the courts annually held at the court house. In the civil
history of the county no bitter party strife has interrupted the har-
monious execution of its duly constituted powers, and especially may
this assertion be applied to its history since 1774. At that date the
term whig was given to those who were in favor of resisting the tax-
ations and aggressions of Great Britain; and to those who were will-
ing to acquiesce in the demands the name tory was applied. Among
other exactions Great Britain assumed the right to appoint the council,
and also gave the sheriff the right to appoint the jurors-rights be-
longing to and that had long been enjoyed by the body politic. This
aroused the indignation of many of the whigs of the upper part of
the county, who determined to prevent the September sitting of the

p. 41
court of common pleas, and to this end hastened to Barnstable. The
concourse of people that had gathered on the way, and had been in-
creased by additions at the county seat, took possession of the grounds
in front of the court house to await the arrival of the judges to open
the court. 1Vhen the judges appeared they were warned not to open
the session, not to assemble as a court nor do any business as such.
The people were assured by the judges that the jurors had been
drawn from the boxes and the court was legal; but the people per-
sisted in their determined opposition and the session was not held.
Later, the military and civil officers of the county who held appoint-
ments under the king were requested to resign, with which request they
willingly complied. This spirit was abandoned soon after the declar-
ation of peace between the countries, as also were the names with
which the parties: had stigmatized each other. The revolt of the col-
onies and their confederation enlarged the powers and increased the
strength of the existing corporate bodies, in the enjoyment of which
Barnstable county is no exception.
Soon after those stirring times a county building was erected on
the high ground just east of the Sturgis library building in Barnstable,
which contained rooms for *the register of deeds and other county
officers, as the second court house was used for courts only. The
burning of this edifice during the night of October 22-3. lti2’7’, was
the most serious calamity that has befallen the county. On the fly-
leaf or cover of volume 1 of the present records the following account
is written: “ The first record of a deed in the county was made Octo-
ber 5, 16S6, by Joseph Lothrop, Register. Previous to that the records
of deeds were made at Plymouth in the old Colony Records. Since
then 01 volumes had been filled. On the night of October 22,1897,
the brick building erected some years before by the county, and
which was occupied by the clerk of the Judicial and Probate
Courts, and the Register of deeds for the county, was burned. One
volume, Xo. 61, of the record was saved; ninety-three were burned
with a large number of deeds in the office.” Besides the contents of
the register’s office, volumes 29, 44 and 46 of the probate records, and
other valuable records atid papers-were destroyed. To remedy this
loss, and take measures for the erection of new buildings, an extra
term of the court of sessions was held January 16,1828, which was
followed, March 10, by an act of the general court, making it “ the duty
of the selectmen of each town to cause to be fairly recorded all deeds
for conveyance of any real estate or any interest therein, lying in
their respective towns, which shall be brought to them for the pur-
pose, and which shall bear date not more than forty years back and
have been recorded in the registry of deeds of the county before the
23d of October last; the said books of record then to be deposited in

p. 42
the office of the registry of deeds for the county: and to be as effectual
in law as the first records destroyed by the fire.” As the result of
the act several volumes of records were accumulated, which, with the
rapidly increasing volumes of the usual registry, fill the available
space of the register’s office.
In 1828 arrangements for the erection of the present court house
were perfected by the county, and in its erection the people have
taken the precaution to have each of its ofices fire proof. It is a neat
and substantial stone building, with ample accommodations for all
courts and other business of the county. The first payment on the
contract for its erection was ordered by the county commissioners in
September, 1831, and the last in July, 1834. The historic bell, sold to
the county for the court house by the church in Sandwich, in 1763, is
preserved with care, and may be seen hanging from an arch in the
office of the clerk of the court.
The exact date of the erection of the first jail can not be deter-
mined. The loss of the records of the county has, without doubt, ex-
tinguished all recorded evidence, and the date cannot be determined
by tradition. In 1886 we find a court was called by proper authority
to consider the erection of a jail or place of confinement in each of
the new counties. Whenever erected it was a primitive concern, and
stood upon what is known as Jail street, near the premises of GLIS-
tavus A. Hinckley, Barnstable; and about 1820 the second was erected
near the first, and was a substantial stone structure. used as a iail un-
til 7878, when the material was utilized in the foundation of the en-
largement of the present court house. The present jail, in rear of
the court house, was erected in 1875, and the prisoners were trans-
ferred to it on the 16th of May, lS79.
COuXc‘Ir~r.or<s.-This office was created by the charter of William
and Mary in 1691, and the following year, under Governor Phipps,
these officers were first elected. Of the governor’s council four of the
number were elected from that portion of the province formerly
known as Plymouth colony, and of these two were chosen from this
county, and one other had formerly resided here. From the adoption
of the state constitution until 1840 the governor‘s council each year
consisted of nine persons, chosen by the legislature from those elected
as senators and councillors. By the Thirteenth amendment, promul-
gated in April, 1840, the nine councillors were for fifteen years chosen
by the legislature from among the people at large, but the Sixteenth
amendment, promulgated in May. 1856, inaugurated the present sys-
tern, whereby the state is divided into eight districts, each of which
annually elects one of the councillors. Prior to 1855 Elijah Swift of
Falmouth, Seth Crowell of Dennis, Solomon Davis of Truro, and John
Kenrick of Orleans had been councillors, each two years. Barnstable

p. 43
county has, since 1855, formed a part of the First district. The fol-
lowing named residents of this county have been members of the
executive council since the state was divided into councillor districts:
Charles F. Swift of Yarmouth, in 1860; Marshall S. Underwood of
Dennis, in 186991871: Joseph K. Baker of Dennis, in 1875-7878.
The present councillor from this district is Isaac N. Keith* of
Bourne, who was elected in 1888 and re-elected in 1889. He is a lineal
descendant of Rev. James Keith, who came to America about 1660,
and was settled in the ministry at Bridgewater, where he labored
fifty-six years, and where he died in 1719, aged seventy-six. From
him are descended all who bear his family name in this country. The
family, which is a very ancient one, came originally from Scotland.
The following historical sketch is from the “ Peerage of Scotland,”
published at Edinburgh in 1834. “This ancient family derived its
origin from one Robert, a chieftain among the Catti, from which came
the surname Keith. At the battle of Panbridge, in 1006, he slew
with his own hands Camus, general of the Danes; and King Malcom,
perceiving this achievement, dipped his fingers in Camus’ blood and
drew red strokes or pales on the top of Robert’s shield, which have
ever since been the armorial bearings of his descendants. In 1030
he was made hereditary Marischal of Scotland, and was rewarded
with a barony in East Lothian, which was called Keith-Marischal after
his own name.” It should be said that Rev. James Keith was educated
at Marischal College, Aberdeen, an institution founded by one of the
family, George, fifth Earl.
The father of ?VIr. Keith was Isaac, who was born at Tamworth
Iron Works, N. H., July 13, 1807, and removed to Bridgewater, the
home of his ancestors, in 1814. He came to Sandwich In 1828, and
settled in West Sandwich, now Sagamore, in the town of Bourne,
commencing business there with one Mr. Ryder, under the firm name
of Ryder & Keith, carriage manufacturers. Mr. Ryder retiring from
the firm in lS30, from that time until his death Mr. Keith conducted the
business under his own name, laying the foundation of the present Keith
Slanufacturing Company. Mr. Keith was a prominent and estimable
citizen, alwavs interested in the welfare of the town of his adoption.
He was married in 1829 to Delia B. Swift of Sandwich. He died April
8, 1870, leaving two daughters and two sons. The youngest is Isaac
N., the subject of this sketch, who was born November 14, 1838.
He was educated in the public schools of Sandwich. In 1868 he
learned the business of telegraphy, which he followed for two years;
was then chosen superintendent of the Cape Cod and Cape Ann dis-
tricts of the American Telegraph Company. September 7, 1865, he
* This sketch of Mr. Keith is by his friend and neighbor, Charles Dillingham. The
CouncilIor’s home at Sagamore is the subject of an illustration in the history of that
village.

p.44
was married to Miss Eliza Frances Smith, daughter of Eben S. Smith,
Esq., of Provincetown. In October, 1867, he resigned his position
with the telegraph company and commenced with his father the busi-
ness of railway car manufacturing, of which he is now the sole
owner and general manager. In these days of labor troubles, his
relations with his employees have always been of the most pleasant
character. His sound judgment, business capacity and strict integrity
have secured to him a large property as well as the high esteem and
confidence of his fellow townsmen and business acquaintances. As
an evidence of this it may not be out of place to mention that when-
ever he has been presented to the electors of his native town he has
invariably run ahead of his ticket. 31x-. Keith was twice elected to
the Massachusetts house of representatives, 1874 and 1176; twice sen-
ator from the Cape Senatorial District, lS86 and lF87; and in IS&Y and
again in 1889 was elected one of the executive council from the First
Councillor district, which office he now holds.
If it ever be allowable to write of the living, what perhaps more
appropriately belongs to the province of the historian, it can truth-
fully be said of Mr. Keith, that the ancient tnotto of the family.
‘* I’idas li’nci~,” has never suffered violence at his hands.
SENATORS.-The constitution of 1780, providing that the senate
should consist of forty members, made Barnstable county a district
entitled to elect annually one senator. By frequent reelections six-
teen men only were elected within the first sixty years. Their names
and the term of service, with year of first election. were: 1780, Solo-
mon Freeman, Harwich, 19 years; 1768, Thomas Smith, Sandwich,
1; 1798, David Thacher, 7iarmouth, 1; 1801, John Dillingham, Har-
with, 5; 1804, Richard Sears, Chatham, 1; 1806, James Freeman, Sand-
wich, 2; 1808, Joseph Dimmick, Falmouth, 3: lSl1, Timothy Phinney,
Barnstable, 1; 1813, Wendell Davis, Sandwich, 2; 1816, Solomon Free-
man, Brewster, 6; 1821, Elijah Cobb, Brewster, 2: lS%3, Braddock
Dimmick. Falmouth, 3; 1826, n’ymphas Xarston, Barnstable, 2; 1828,
Elisha Pope, Sandwich, 4: 1831, John Doane, Orleans, 3; 3834, Charles
Marston, Barnstable, 6.
1 By the terms of the Thirteenth amendment to the constitution.
promulgated April, 1840, the county was for seventeen years entitled
to two seats in the state senate. They were occupied by the follow-
ing named persons, the number of years noted after each: 1841, Seth
Crowell, Dennis, 2 years; 1841. Charles Slarston, Barnstable, 1; 1842,
Solomon Davis, Truro, 4; 1843, John B. Dillingham, Sandwich, 2; 1846,
Zeno Scudder, Barnstable, 3; 1846, Barnabas Freeman. Eastham, 2;
1848, George Copeland, Brewster, 2; 1849, John Jenkins, Falmouth, 2:
1850, Stephen Hilliard, Provincetown, 2; lS51, Zenas D. Basssett,
Barnstable, 2: 1852, Cyrus Weeks, Harwich, 2; l&53, James B. Cracker,

p. 45
Barnstable, 2; lS.54, Robert Y. Paine, Wellfleet, 1; 1855, Sylvester
Baster, Parmouth, 2; 1855, Lewis L. Sellew, Provincetown, 1; 1856,
Alfred Kenrick, Orleans, 7; 1857, John W. Atwood, Chatham, 2.
By the Twenty-second amendment of May, 1857, the state was re-
districted, and Falmouth, Sandwich and Barnstable were joined with
Dukes and Nantucket counties to compose the Island district, while
the Cape district comprised Yarmouth and the nine towns below.
This apportionment existed until 1877, during which time the Cape
district was represented in 18.58, 1859 by Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth;
1860, 1861 by Marshal S. Underwood, Dennis: 1862, 1863, R. H. Libby,
Wellfleet; 1,964, 1863, Freeman Cobb, Provincetown; 1866, Reuben
Nickerson, Eastham; 1867, 1868, Chester Snow, Harwich; 1869-1871,
Nathaniel E. Atwood, Provincetown; 1872, 1873, Joseph I(. Baker,
Dennis; 1874, 1875, Thomas N. Stone, Wellfleet; 1876, Jonathan Hig-
gins, Orleans.
The Island district was represented within this twenty years by
Barnstable county men as follows: 1861, 1862, Charles Dillingham,
Sandwich; 1863, 1864, Nathan Cracker, Barnstable; 1867, 1868, Eras-
mus Gould, Falmouth; 1869, 1870, George A. King, Barnstable; 1873,
1874, Francis A. Nye, Falmouth; 1875, 1876, Ezra C. Howard, Sand-
wich.
Since 1577 and until the present the three counties-Banstable,
Dukes and Nantucket-have composed the Cape district, which was
represented in 1877--1879 by John B. D. Cogswell of Yarmouth; 1880,
1881, by Samuel Snow, Barnstable: 1882, 1883. Joseph P. Johnson,
Provincetown; 1854.-1886, Howes Sorris, Cottage City; 1887, 1888,
Isaac N. Keith, Bourne.
David Fisk of Dennis was elected in 1588 for the session of 1889,
and by re-election is the present senator. He is one of four brothers
of that family name residing in South Dennis, who are intimately
blended with the civil history of their native town, as well as the
county. Of his ancestors little is known beyond his grandfather, Nathan
Fisk, who settled during the last century in Dennis. His son Nathan,
born in 1801, married Polly, daughter of Eliphalet Baker, one of the
descendants of the large family of that name scattered over thecape.
Their children were eight in number, four of whom survive: Uriah
B., Luther, David and Henry H. Fisk.
David Fisk was born May 6, 1835, at West Dennis, where his boy-
hood was passed in acquiring such an education as was obtainable in
the public and private schools, until the age of fifteen, when he went
to sea, before the mast. Several years were passed in ascending the
scale, and at the age of twenty-two he acted as master. In this capac-
ity he continued for a period of fifteen years, coasting and occasion-
ally making a voyage to foreign ports. In 1874 he retired and has

p.46
since acted as the agent for Fisk Brothers, in building vessels and in
other shipping business. He was married in 1860 to Mary E. Wixon,
who died leaving two daughters: Marion and Alice 31. In 1886 he
married for his second wife, Mary E., daughter of &no Gage.
As soon as he was permanently retired from the sea he was chosen
by the republican party to serve as selectman, assessor, overseer of
the poor, and surveyor of the public roads, which duties he declined
after serving six years. He also served his town in the school com-
mittee three years, commencing with 1875. His ability being appre-
ciated, he was, in the autumn of 1881. elected to a seat in the legisla-
ture, and re-elected in 1832. No happier tribute could have been paid
to him than his nomination by acclamation and the election in 1888 to
a seat in the senate and again in 1889-the highest honor of his dis-
trict. His advancement has been as marked and he has been as suc-
cessful on land as on sea, every position being filled with that natural
energy and decision which inspires confidence in his ability.
He is liberal in his views in all matters of church and state, and is
endowed with a firm and lasting friendship. In his business and
official relations he is indefatigable in the discharge of every duty.
His social proclivities induced him to unite with the Masonic frater-
nity, and there, too, he has been elevated to the highest offices of the
lodge. In every position where he has presided or mingled in the
affairs of his fellow townsmen, the same firmness, tempered with jus-
tice, has characterized him, and his success is established.
REl’REsEs,r.~,l.r\.rs.-Xfter Governor Bradford was elected his ill-
ness in 1621 made it advisable that he have an assistant; this was
continued, and in 1624 five assistants were chosen. In 1633 the num-
ber was increased to seven, and not until the arrival of ,-2ndros was
this branch of the civil government discontinued.
The election of deputies by the towns, as soon as they were legal11
incorporated, was a change to a representative form of government.
The first representative assembly met June 4, 1630, at Plymouth, to
which Sandwich, Yarmouth and Barnstable sent each two deputies.
This was an enlargement as well as division of the powers of the gov-
ernment, as in these deputies were coniointly invested powers which
heretofore had been exercised by the g;vernor and his assistants only.
The extension of the settlements had created a necessity for delega-
ting power to deputies and representatives, and thus the present repre-
sentative form of government was inaugurated. The constitution of
1780 provided that towns already incorporated and having 150 ratable
polls or less, should be entitled to one representative, to be elected in
?Ilay of each year; and corporate towns containing 375 ratable polls,
two representatives. Under this provision the representatives of the
respective towns arc given in the history of each, being considered as
town officers until 1857.

p. 47
Since lS:31 the legislntivc year begins the first VTednesday in Jan-
uary, by amendment Ten, promulgated May 11th of that year, the elec-
tions being held in November. The amendment of 1836, article Twelve,
changed the basis of representation, the census of ratable polls bl
towns to 1~ taken in Ma>-, lS37, and every tenth year thereafter. This
provided that each town of three hundred ratable polls might elect
one, and for every additional 450 polls, another representative might
be elected. By an equitable rule, towns having less than three hun-
dred polls were to be represented a portion of the ten years only; and
the reader may not expect to find the smaller towns represented every
year, while the larger may have more than one for a portion of the
time.
This arrangement was superseded in 1840 by article Thirteen of
amendments,which provided that the next decade should begin in 1841;
that the rate of representation be one for twelve hundred ratable polls
and two for thirty-six hundred. rnder this rule the apportionment
of 1841 entitled each town of the county to one representative, except
the towns of Barnstable, Sandwich and Eastham, the first two to have
two each, and the latter only to have five within the ten years. This
rule of apportionment existed from 1841 to 1850, inclusive.
The apportionment of 7851 gave Barnstable two representatives
each year; Brewster one for seven years within the ten; Eastham for
four of the same period: and every other town one each year.
In May, 1537, article Twenty-one provided that the house of repre-
sentatives consist of 240 members, to be apportioned according to the
census of 18.57, and the county commissioners were to district the
county at the beginning of each decade, after the legislature had as-
signed the number of representatives to the county. The same amend-
ment provided that the census should again be taken in May, 1866,
and every tenth year thereafter, and the legislature should apportion
the representatives to the counties at the first session after the enume-
ration. This made a radical change in the system of apportionment,
and since the election of the representatives in the fall of 1867, they can
no longer be regarded as officers of the town, and are accordingly
noticed in the following lists. The county was entitled to nine rep-
resentatives b\- this act, and the commissioners divided the towns as
follows: The First district included Barnstable, Sandwich and Fal-
mouth. and was to elect three representatives: the Second included
Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich and Chatham, with three; the Third,
Brewster, Orleans and Eastham. one; and the Fourth, Wellfleet, Truro
and Provincetown, with two.
,1s each person elected represented the district in which he lived,
.znd the residence being indicated with the name, the following lists
are believed to be explicit as showing the district and years in which
each man served:

p.48
1858. Zenas D. Bassett, Barnstable: John A. Baxter, Barnstable; Paul
Wing, Sandwich; John W. Atwood, Chatham; Thomas Dodge, Chat-
ham; Luther Studley, Dennis; Ira Mayo, Orleans; Nathaniel E. At-
wood, Provincetown; Thomas H. Lewis, Wellfleet.
1869. Nathaniel Hinckley, Barnstable; John S. Fish, Sandwich;
William Nye, jr., Falmouth; Benjamin H. Matthews, Yarmouth;
James S. Howes, Dennis; Nathaniel Doane, jr., Harwich: Elijah Cobb,
Brewster: Daniel Paine, Truro; James Gifford, Provincetown.
1860. Ansel Lewis, Barnstable; Joseph Hoxie, Sandwich; William
Nye, jr., Falmouth; Benjamin H. Matthews, Yarmouth; James S.
Howes, Dennis; Edward Smalley, Harwich; Nathan Crosby, Barn-
stable; Simeon Atwood, jr., Wellfleet; James Gifford. Provincetown.
1861. John S. Fish, Sandwich; George W. Donaldson, Falmouth;
Ansel Lewis; Samuel Higgins, Chatham; John K. Sears, Yarmouth;
Edward Pmalley, Harwich; Jesse Snow, Orleans; Lewis Lombard,
Truro; James Gifford, Provincetown.
1862. Asa E. Lovell, Barnstable; Zebedee Green, Sandwich, John
K. Sears, Yarmouth; Samuel Higgins, Chntham: George W. Donald-
son, Falmouth; Danforth S. Steel, Harwich; Sylvanus Smith, East-
ham; John P. Johnson, Provincetown; Benjamin Oliver, Wellfleet.
1863. Charles Marston, Barnstable; Elisha G. Burgess, Falmouth;
Zebedee Green, Sandwich: Isaac B. Young, Chathnm; Marshall S. Un-
derwood, Dennis; Danforth S. Steel, Harwich; Truman Deane, Or-
leans; Smith K. Hopkins, Truro; Benjamin Oliver, TVellfleet.
1564. Charles Marston, Barnstable, E. G. Burgess, Falmouth; Ezra
T. Pope, Sandwich; Isaac B. Young, Chatham; 11. S. vnderwood,
Dennis; David G. Eldridge, Yarmouth: Sylvanus Smith, Eastham;
David Wiley, Wellfleet; Henry Shortle, Provincetown.
1865. Ezra T. Pope, Sandwich; Silas Jones, Falmouth: Simeon L.
Leonard, Barnstable; David G. Eldridge, Yarmouth: Joseph Hall,
Dennis: Solomon Thacher, Harwich: Tully Crosby, Brewster: Henry
Shortle, Provincetown; Amass Paine, Truro.
lS66. Isaac K. Chipmnn, Sandwich: Silas Jones, Fnlmouth: S. L.
Leonard, Barnstable; Edmund Flinn, Chntham: Joseph ITall. Dennis;
Solomon Thacher, Harwich: Truman I>oane, Orleans: Freeman A.
Smith, Provincetown; Sathaniel I-I. Dill, Wellfleet.
The apportionment of 1865 for the next decade put Barnstable,
Sandwich, Falmouth and \-armouth into the First district for three
representatives; Dennis, Harwich and Brewster composed the Second,
for two: Chatham and Orleans made the Third. for one; and the four
lower towns made the Fourth district, which was entitled to two rep-
resentatives, all to be elected in November, 1866. The several incum-
bents’ names and year in which each was in office stand thus:
1867. Isaac K. Chipman, Sandwich; George Marston, Barnstable;

p.49
Heman B. Chase, Yarmouth; Solomon Thacher, Harwich; Frederick
Hebard, Dennis; Edmund Flinn, Chatham; Nathaniel H. Dill, Well-
fleet; Jesse Pendegrast, Truro.
1868. Alvah Holway, Sandwich; Lemuel B. Simmons, Barnstable;
Heman B. Chase, Yarmouth; Samuel H. Gould, Brewster; Seth Cro-
well, Dennis; Ensign B. Rogers, Orleans: Henry Shortle, Province-
town; John H. Bangs, Eastham.
1869. Lemuel B. Simmons, Barnstable; Francis A. Nye, Falmouth;
Alvah Holway, Sandwich; Samuel H. Gould, Brewster; Shubael B.
Kelley, Harwich; Ensign B. Rogers, Orleans; John C. Peake, Well-
fleet; Obadiah S. Brown, Truro.
1870. Francis A. Nye, Falmouth; Warren Marchant, Sandwich;
Henry Goodspeed, Barnstable; Shubael B. Kelley, Harwich; Joseph
K. Baker, jr., Dennis; Thomas Holway, Chatham; Joseph P. Johnson,
Provincetown; George T. Wyer, Wellfleet.
3872. Henry Goodspeed, Barnstable; J. B. D. Cogswell, Yarmouth;
Ezra C. Howard, Sandwich; Erastus Chase, Harwich; Joseph K. Baker,
Dennis; Thomas Holway, Chatham; Joseph P. Johnson; Provincetown:
George T. Wyer, Wellfleet.
1872. Ezra C. Howard, Sandwich; J. B. D. Cogswell, Yarmouth;
Sathaniel Sears, Barnstable; Erastus Chase, Harwich; Zoeth Snow,
jr., Brewster; Lot Higgins, Orleans; Jesse S. Pendergrast, Truro;
Reuben G. Sparks, Provincetown.
lS73. J. B. D. Cogswell, Yarmouth: Nathaniel Sears, Barnstable;
Philip H. Robinson, Sandwich; David P. Howes, Dennis; Zoeth Snow,
jr., Brewster; Lot Higgins, Orleans; R. G. Sparks, Provincetown;
Thomas N. Stone, Wellfleet.
1874. Levi L. Goodspeed, Barnstable: Philip H. Robinson, Sand-
wich; Joshua C. Robinson, Falmouth; David P. Howes, Dennis; George
D. Smalley, Harwich; Solomon E. Hallett, Chatham; Henry Shortle,
Provincetown; Lewis Lombard, Eastham.
1875. Levi L. Goodspeed, Barnstable; Joshua C. Robinson, Fal-
mouth; Isaac N. Keith, Sandwich: George D. Smalley, Harwich;
Luther Fisk, Dennis; S. Eldredge Hallett, Chatham; Isaiah A. Small,
Provincetown; Edward W. Noble, Truro.
lS76. Samuel Snow, Barnstable; Daniel Wing, Yarmouth; I. N.
Keith, Sandwich; Freeman Doane, Orleans; Isaiah Small, Province-
town; Noah Swett, Wellfleet; Elisha Cracker, jr., Brewster; Luther
Fisk, Dennis.
The relative decrease in population at the next decade left Barn-
stable county entitled to six representatives from 1877 to 1886, inclu-
sive. Six districts were formed, with one representative to each, the
first embracing Sandwich and Falmouth; the second Barnstable and
Mashpee; the third Yarmouth and Dennis; the fourth Harwich and
4

p. 50
Chatham; the fifth Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet; and the
sixth including Truro and Provincetown. The representatives dur-
ing this decade with the year of service were:
1877. .Crocker H. Bearse, Falmouth; Samuel Snow, Barnstable:
Daniel Wing, Yarmouth: Abiathar Doane, Harwich; Noah Swett,
Wellfleet; Henry Shortle, Provincetown.
1878. Isaiah Fish, Sandwich; Asa Lovell, Barnstable; Thomas
Prince Howes, Dennis; Abiathar Doane, Harwich; Freeman Doane,
Orleans; Henry Shortle, Provincetown.
1879. Isaiah Fish, Sandwich; Asa Lovell, Barnstable; Thomas P.
Howes, Dennis; Rufus Smith, Chatham; Elisha Cracker, jr., Brewster:
Bangs A. Lewis, Provincetown.
1580. James E. Gifford, Falmouth; Clark Lincoln, Barnstable;
Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth; Erastus Kickerson, Chatham; Jesse H.
Freeman, Wellfleet; Joseph P. Johnson, Prorincetown.
1881. James E. Gifford, Falmouth; Clark Lincoln, Barnstable;
Charles F. Swift, Yarmouth; Watson B. Kelley, Harwich; Jesse H.
Freeman, Wellfleet; Atkins Hughes. Truro.
1882. Bradford B. Briggs. Sandwich: F. D. Cobb, Barnstable; Dal-id
Fisk, Dennis: Watson B. Kelley, Hnrwich; John X. Clark, Eastham:
Atkins Hughes, Truro.
1883. Bradford B. Briggs. Sandwich; F. I ). Cobb, Barnstable: David
Fisk, Dennis; Clarendon X. Freeman, Chatham: Solomon Linnell 2d.
Orleans: Edward E. Small, Provincetown.
1584. Meltiah Gifford. Falmouth; Zenas E. Crowell, Barnstablc:
Joshua Crowell, Dennis; Clarendon X. Freeman. Chnthnm: Solomon
Linnell, 2d, Orleans; Edward E. Small, Provinccto\vn.
lS8.5. Xsa 1’. Tobey, Falmouth: %. E. Crowell, Harnstable: Joshua
Crowell, Dennis; Ambrose S. Deane, Harwich; Tulle- Crosby, jr.,
Brewster; Benjamin D. Atkins, Provinceton-n.
1%;. Charles Dillingham, Sandwich: Watson F. Hammond, Mash-
pee; George H. Loring, Yarmouth; ,%mbrose S. Doane, Harwich:
Isaiah C. Young, Wellflcet; Benjamin D. Atkins, Provincetown.
The present apportionment, made in ISS(i from the census of 18%.
entitles the county to four representatives. The First district includes
Dennis and the six towns west of it, and elects two representatives.
Charles Dillingham, Sandwich, and George H. Loring, Yarmouth,
represented this district in lSS7: A. R. Eldridge, Bourne, and Joshua
Crowell, Dennis, represented it in 1888 and 1889; and Sathan Edson,
Barnstable, and George E. Clarke. Falmouth, in lS90.
The second district, with one representative, includes the. towns
of Harwich, Chatham, Brewster and Orleans. It was represented in
1887 by John H. Clark, Brewster; in 1885 by Joseph W. Rogers, Or-
leans; in 1889 by George Eldridge, Chatham: and in 1890 by Dr.
George X. Nunsell, Harwich.

p.51
The lower four towns are embraced in the third district, which
was represented in 1887 by Isaiah C. Young, Wellfleet; in 1888 and
1889 by David Conwell, Provincetown; and in 1890 by Richard A.
Rich, of Truro.
StIE:KrFF;s.-William Bassett was the first sheriff of the county. He
was appointed under the charter, May 27, 1692. The successive in-
cumbents have been: From 1699, Samuel Allen; 1713, Shubael Gor-
ham; 1715, Joseph Lothrop; 1721, John Russell; 1731, John Hedge; 1734,
Shubael Gorham; 1748, John Gorham; 1764, Nathaniel Stone; 1775,
Enoch Hallett: 1788, Joseph Dimmick; 1808, James Freeman; 1816,
Wendell Davis; 1823, David Cracker; 1843, Nathaniel Hinckley; 1848,
Charles blarston; 1852, Daniel Bassett; 1853, David Bursley; 1856,
Charles C. Bearse; 1563, David Bursley; 1878, Levi L. Goodspeed; 1880,
Thomas Harris; 1584, Luther Fisk; 1890, Joseph W7hitcomb, of Pro-
vincetown.
In 1720 Shubael Gorham was appointed “to be joint sheriff
with Mr. Lothrop.” The office of “ joint sheriff” and “ sole sheriff ”
are occasionally noted in the records of those years.
REGISTER  OF DEEDS.-The early deeds were recorded at Plymouth,
but in 1086 Joseph Lothrop, as register for the new county, recorded
on the fifth of October the first deed at Barnstable. The succeeding
registers have been: William Bassett, John Thacher, Solomon Otis,
Edward Bacon, Ebenezer Bacon, Job C. Davis, Lothrop Davis, Fred-
erick Scudder, Smith K. Hopkins from 7874, Asa E. Love11 from 1877,
and Andrew F. Sherman from 1857.
COUNTY ISSTIT~Trc~ss.---Associations for more effective work in
the church, and societies for the advancement of agriculture and
other arts, have been formed in the county during the present cen-
tury, of which the conference of the Congregational churches is the
oldest. This was formed October 28, 1828, for the promotion of.a
closer union of its ministers and societies. No written constitution
was adopted until April 26, 1837, and of this a revision was made in
January, 184.5. The pastors of the churches of the county, also those
of Dukes county, with two lay members from each society, constitute
the membership. The meetings are held in different towns, accord-
ing to appointment, twice in each year.
The Barnstable Baptist Association was organized in 1832, embrac-
ing the societies of that faith on the Cape, and at Nantucket and
Martha’s Vineyard. The association, consisting now of fifteen
churches, has a constitution for its government, and holds its sessions
at least annually, commencing on the second Wednesday in Septem-
ber in each year. Each church is allowed to send its pastor and four
lay members, called messengers. The officers are a moderator, clerk
and treasurer. To this association each church sends a communica-
.

p. 52
tion containing an account of its condition and prosperity. The body
has certain powers of its own, and has for its object the promotion of
piety.
The Barnstable County Mutual Fire Insurance Company was char-
tered in March, 1833, and in August of the same year openeditsprin-
cipal office at Yarmouth Port. The executive officers are the pres-
ident and the secretary, who is also treasurer. The presidents in suc-
cession, have been: David Cracker, Eben Bacon, Zenas D. Bassett,
David K. Akin and Joseph R. Hall. The first secretary and treas-
urer was Amos Otis, succeeded by his son, George Otis, and he, in
January, 1882, by Frank Thacher, the present incumbent. The career
of this institution has been uniformly successful. Careful manage-
ment has reduced the average net cost of insurance to one-third the
usual rates.
The Cape Cod Historical Society was organized at a meeting held
at the camp meeting grove in Yarmouth, August 5, 1882. Its object,
as stated in its constitution, is “ the collection, preservation and dis-
semination of facts of local history.” The fee for membership was
placed at two dollars, with a liability to assessment not exceeding one
dollar per year. For life members the fee is ten dollars, without any
additional charges. The annual meetings of the society are held on
the 22d of February, or the day of its legal observance. At these
meetings original papers are read, and discussions of historical sub-
jectsare conducted. When practicable a summer meeting is held or
an excursion provided to some spot of historic interest. Three such
occasions have occurred during the existence of the society-one in
1883, when a clambake was served near the site of the ancient trad-
ing port of the pilgrims, at Slanomet, when an address was delivered
by Hon. Thomas Russell, and appropriate speeches made by other
gentlemen. The following year the party visited Sandwich and
inspected the site of the Cape Cod ship canal. One year some fifty
members and their friends visited Plymouth and thoroughly explored
its historic sites, burial grounds and record halls, and the rooms of
the Pilgrim Society. Papers have been prepared and read at the
annual meetings of the society which are worthy of preservation in
a permanent form, and would make an interesting and instructive
volume. They were written by Josiah Paine, Thomas P. Howes,
E. S. Whittemore, Shebnah Rich, C. C. P. Waterman and Charles F.
Swift.
The officers of the society are: Charles F. Swift, president: Josiah
Paine, secretary; Samuel Snow, treasurer. These persons have held
their positions since the organization of the society. The follow-
ing are the additional officers in 1689-90: Vice-presidents, Thomas
P. Howes, Alonzo Tripp, Sylvanus B. Phinney, Ebenezer S. Whitte-

p.53
CIVIL HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS.
more, James Gifford, Jesse H. Freeman; executive committee, the
president, secretary and treasurer, and Joshua C. Howes and E. B.
Cracker.
On the fifth of &Iay, 1543, pursuant to notice published in the two
newspapers in the county, a meeting was held at the court house in
Barnstable to take measures for forming a county agricultural society.
The project was greeted with a smile of incredulity on the part of
many who gauged the agricultural resources of the Cape by the
description of the witty scribbler, who said that it chiefly produced
“huckleberry bushes and mullein stalks.” Those who assembled on
this occasion had a better appreciation of the situation and resources
of the county. They were called to order by Hon. John Reed of
Yarmouth, and Mr. H. C. Merriam of Tewksbury, who was a practical
agriculturist, made an address. Discussion ensued, and the organ-
ization of the Barnstable County Agricultural Society resulted there-
from. The following were the first officers of the society: President,
Hon. John Reed of Yarmouth; vice-presidents, Clark Hoxie of Sand-
wich, and James Small of Truro; secretary, Charles H. Bursley of
West Barnstable; treasurer, Joseph A. Davis of Barnstable; trustees,
John Jenkins, Falmouth; Meltiah Bourne, Sandwich: Charles Sears,
Yarmouth; William Howes, Dennis; Enoch Pratt, Brewster; Obed
Brooks, jr., Harwich; Isaac Hardy, Chatham; John Doane, Orleans;
John W. Higgins, Eastham; John Newcomb, Wellfleet; Joshua Small,
Truro; Thomas Lothrop, Provincetown.
A constitution was subsequently formed and sixty members were
soon enrolled. During the winter of 1844 an act of incorporation was
granted by the legislature, which was accepted by the society May 8th
of that year, and the office of corresponding secretary was added,
Frederick Scudder of Barnstable being chosen to that position. This
office was discontinued in 1861. The first exhibition and fair of the
society was held in the court house, at Barnstable, September 4,1844.
It was a gratifying success, but the amount of premiums awarded was
only $146. These annual fairs were continued in Barnstable, except
in the years 1851, when Orleans was the place of meeting, and 1852,
when the fair was held at Sandwich.
In 3857-58 a lot of land was acquired at Barnstable, and on it a
building was erected for exhibition purposes, and a hall for public
meetings. This building and lot, with improvements on the same,
cost $4,268; $2.050 of which was paid by voluntary subscriptions. An
additional plot of land, valued at $250, was given to the society by
Messrs. Francis Bacon and James Huckins. The building committee
were: S. B. Phinney, Frederick Parker, S. F. Nye, James G. Hallet,
Elijah Cobb, John A. Baxter, and Obed Brooks, jr. George Marston
and Simeon N. Small were subsequently added, in place of Mr. Nye,

p. 54
deceased, and Mr. Brooks, resigned. In the spring of 1862, this build-
ing having been destroyed in a severe gale and storm, a new one was
erected on the same site, largely by subscriptions in the county and
in Boston. This building was dedicated October 15, 1862, in an
address by Hon. George Marston. It has since been considerably
improved, and is in all respects well adapted to the wants of the
society.
The society has been the recipient of two donations to its perma-
nent fund. The late Captain John Percival left five hundred dollars,
the income of which is devoted to premiums to exhibitors. Mrs.
Ellen B. Eldridge has also given the sum of five hundred dollars, in
recognition of the interest which her late husband, Dr. Azariah
Eldridge, took in the affairs of the society, the income of which is
devoted to the same purpose. The late Hon. William Sturgis of Bos-
ton presented the society the sum of twelve hundred dollars to cancel
the indebtedness incurred by the building of a new hall.
The officers of the society during the forty-seven years of its
existence have been as follows: Presidents--John Reed, chosen in 1843;
Zenas D. Basset, 1848; C. B. H. Fessenden, 1851; Charles Marston,
1852; S. B. Phinney, 1856; George Marston, 1859; Nathaniel Hinckley,
1864; Nathan Cracker, 1866; Charles C. Bearse, 1869; Levi L. Good-
speed, 1871; Charles F. Swift, 1873; A. T. Perkins, 1875; Azariah El-
dridge, 1878; John Simpkins, 1888 to present time. Secretaries- I
Charles H. Bursley, 1843; George Marston, 1853; S. B. Phinney, 1859;
Frederick Scudder, 1862; George A. King, 1865; Charles F. Swift,
1867; Charles Thacher, 2d, 1871; F. B. Goss, 1876; F. P. Goss, 1879;
Frederick C. Swift, 1882 to present time. Treasurers-- Joseph A.
Davis, 1843; Ebenezer Bacon, 1845; Daniel Bassett, 1853; S. P. Holway,
1858; S. B. Phinney, 1860; Walter Chipman, 1861; Frederick Scudder,
1867; Walter Chipman, 1868; Freeman H. Lothrop. 1875; Albert F.
Edson, 1882 to present time. Delegates to State Board of Agricul-
ture-George Marston, 1859; S. B. Phinney, 1862; John Kenrick, 1866;
S. B. Phinney, 18’70; Augustus T. Perkins, 1879; Nathan Edson, 1883
to present time.
The officers for 1889-90 are: President, John Simpkins; vice-presi-
dents, John Kenrick and A. D. &Iakepeace; secretary, Frederick C.
Swift; treasurer, Albert F. Edson; executive committee, John Ken-
rick, James F. Howes, Nathan Edson, David Fisk, A. D. Makepeace,
James H. Jenkins, John Bursley, Ebenezer B. Cracker, James A. El-
dridge, Oliver Hallet, H. B. Winship, Alexander Walker, Samuel H.
Nye; auditing committee, Freeman H. Lothrop, Samuel Snow, G. A.
Hinckley; superintendent of hall and grounds, Russell Matthews.
The Cape Cod cranberry men have an organization, including
ninety-eight members, of which J. J. Russell of Plymouth is presi-

p. 55
dent. All the other officers are residents of this county. Emulous
Small of Harwich, and Abel D. Makepeace of West Barnstable, are
the vice-presidents, and I. T. Jones is the secretary and treasurer. The
executive committee for 1890 consists of Calvin Crowell, Sagamore;
A. Phinney, Falmouth; G. R. Briggs, Plymouth; 0. M. Holmes, Mash-
pee; James Webb, Cotuit; James S. Howes, East Dennis; and D. B.
Cracker, Yarmouth. The second annual meeting of this society was
held last year at Falmouth.
FE:I)EKAI, INSTITUTIoNS.-Among the institutions in the county
belonging to and erected by the federal government, are the custom
house buildings, lighthouses, and life saving stations. The collector,
deputies, keepers and crews employed in the various duties of these
necessary institutions are residents of the county, and our history
would be incomplete without their mention.
As early as 1749 a collector of excise was chosen for Barnstable by
the general court, and that harbor was then made, in a limited sense,
a port of entry. Joseph Otis was appointed naval officer for this
county November 27,1776, and was succeeded February 61779, by
William Taylor, and he by Samuel Hinckley. Thus far it had been
an affair of the state; but in 1789, while Samuel Hinckley was in office,
an act of congress made Barnstable the seventh of the twenty districts
or ports which that act established in Massachusetts for the collection
of duties. General Otis succeeded Mr. Hinckley by President Wash-
ington’s appointment, and served until his death. His son, William
Otis, was collector from March 22, 1809, until the appointment of
Isaiah L. Green. Mr. Green had been member of congress three
terms, but had failed of re-election because of his vote. in favor of the
war of 1812. The president, as his friend, appointed him collector
February 21, 1814, an office which he held until succeeded by Henry
Cracker, Xpril 1, 1837. The successive appointments have been as
follows: Ebenezer Bacon, March 23, 1841; Josiah Hinckley, April 1,
1845; S. B. Phinney, April 4, 1847; Ebenezer Bacon, June 10, 1849; S.
B. Phinney, April 1, 1853; Joseph IM. Day, July 1, 1861; Charles F.
Swift, November 12, 1861; S. B. Phinney, November 11, 1866; Walter
Chipman, special deputy, March 5, 1867; Charles F. Swift, March 17,
1867; Franklin B. Goss, July 8, 1876; Van Buren Chase, August 8,
1887: and Franklin B. Goss, August 1, 1889.
Prior to 1855 each collector had kept the office at his own place of
business, and that year the present custom house was commenced at
Barnstable.
The federal act of 1789 provided that Sandwich,Wellfleet, Chatham
and Provincetown should be ports of delivery in the Barnstable dis-
trict. In 1790 the shores and waters of the entire county wereformed
into what has since been known as the Barnstable district. The re-

p. 56
districting of the coast in 1799 enlarged the powers of the collector of
this port; but the unlading of foreign vessels here was not permitted
until the year 1809. That year delegates from the towns of the county
assembled, and by petitions to congress new privileges were obtained.
Until 1817 the collector for the district was the only government
officer empowered to act; but the act of March third, that year, gave
collectors authority to employ deputy collectors, with the approval of
the secretary of the treasury. These deputies have since been vested
with full powers at the respective ports for which they were appointed.
There are now in this district seven ports of entry, at each of which a
deputy is appointed. They are: Walter 0. Luscombe, Falmouth; John
J. Collins, Barnstable; William Cracker, Hyannis; Henry H. Fisk,
Dennis; Erastus T. Bearse, Chatham; Simeon Atwood, Wellfleet;
Myrick C. Atwood and Robert 31. Lavender, Provincetown.
NO equal area of land presents to the navigator a more dangerous
coast, nor a greater perimeter, than this county; and probably no
coast presents to the sea-faring man more changes from drifting
sands. Surveys and soundings must be continually made, and charts
and directions are printed yearly for the safe navigation of the waters
around the Cape. Lightships-off Chatham and along the sound-are
manned and sustained by the government; and lighthouses and bea-
cons of various kinds have been erected on the coasts. As early as
1797 the town of Truro sold to the United States ten acres of land
upon which to erect the first lighthouse of the Cape. The lighthouse
stations of this county, now numbering seventeen, form a portion of
the Second Lighthouse district, and are situated as follows:
Wing’s Neck light, near the head of Buzzard’s bay, east side of the
entrance to Pocasset harbor, has been a government station for some
time. A lantern giving a white light, visible twelve miles, has been
displayed from the top of a white house with a red roof. A light-
house of the usual form is now being erected near by.
Nobsque light is situated on the knoll east of Little harbor, Woods
Hall. The tower is thirty-five feet high and contains a fixed white
light, with a red sector, and is visible thirteen miles. This station
has a fog signal-a bell struck by machinery. The signal is two strokes
of the bell in quick succession, followed by an interval of thirty sec-
onds.
Bishop & Clerk’s light is on a ledge of the same name off Gammon
point, where still remains the tower of a former station. The tower
of the present lighthouse is forty-seven feet high, has a flashing white
light with intervals of thirty seconds, and is visible for thirteen miles.
It also contains a red sector, and a fog bell which is rung by ma-
chinery.
Hyannis light has a tower twenty-one feet high, and is situated on

p. 57
the main land at the head of the harbor. The light is a fixed red,
visible nearly twelve miles.
Hyannis Beacon light is a framed building, containing a red light
visible nine miles. This is used in connection with surrounding lights
in giving courses for safe navigation.
Bass River light is just east of the mouth of the river of that name,
and is situated in West Dennis. It is a fixed white light in the tower
of the keeper’s residence, and is visible 113 miles.
Stage Harbor light is situated on Harding’s beach, at the entrance
of Stage harbor, Chatham. The tower is thirty-five feet high and has
a fixed white light that can be seen twelve miles at sea.
Monomoy Point light, on the south end of the beach of the same
name, is a fixed white light in a tower thirty feet high, and is visible
twelve miles.
Chatham light station is on the main land, in Chathamvillage. It
consists of two round towers, each forty-three feet high, placed north
and south, one hundred feet apart. In each is a fixed white light,
visible 14& miles.
Nauset Beach light is in Eastham, on the ocean coast, and has three
towers, each eighteen feet high, ranging north and south, with a dis-
tance of 1.50 feet between. Each tower contains a fixed white light,
visible fifteen miles out on the sea. Abreast this light the tides divide
and run in opposite directions.
Cape Cod light station-the Highland light-is on the east shore of
Truro, on a blue clay bank, 142 feet above the sea. The tower still
rises fifty-three feet higher, from which a fixed white light sheds its
rays twenty miles out to sea. A Dab011 trumpet is used for a fog sig-
nal, which is a blast of eight seconds, with an interval of a half minute.
Vessels passing this light can communicate with Boston if the Inter-
national Code signals are in use on board.
Race Point light, situated on the northeast point of Provincetown,
has a tower thirty feet high, with a white light varied by flashes every
ninety seconds, which can be seen by mariners 12+ miles at sea. It
also contains a steam whistle for fog signals.
Wood End light, on Wood End,near the entrance of Provincetown
harbor, is a tower thirty-four feet high, using a red, flashing light in
intervals of fifteen seconds. It is visible twelve miles.
Long Point light is on the eastern point of the peninsula that en-
circles the west side of Provincetown harbor, the square tower thirty-
four feet high being erected on the extreme point, southwest of the
entrance to the harbor. A fixed white light is used, which is visible
nearly twelve miles. A bell, run by machinery, gives the fog signal,
which is two quick, successive strokes, then one after half a minute,
followed by a longer interval.

p. 58
Mayo’s Beach light is a round tower, twenty-five feet high. situated
at the head of Wellfleet bay. It has a fixed white light, visible over
eleven miles.
Billingsgate light station is on the island of that name, on the west
side of the entrance to Wellfleet bay. The tower is thirty-four feet
high, containing a fixed white light, visible twelve miles.
Sandy Neck light, on the neck at the entrance of Barnstable har-
bor, has a tower forty-four feet high, which contains a fixed white
light, visible to the mariner twelve miles out in the bay.
These stations are under the supervision of the Lighthouse Board
at Boston: but the keepers are generally residents of the Cape.
Not until 1818 was the beneficent plan of establishing life saving
stations seriously contemplated by the federal government. That
year, in August, Hon. William A. Newell, a member of the house of
representatives, portrayed in a speech the terrible dangers to naviga-
tion as presented by the coasts, and strongly urged the action of con-
gress to render assistance to vessels cast ashore. During the same
session a small sum was appropriated for surf boats and other appara-
tus for the New Jersey coast, which was to be under the supervision
of the Revenue Marine. More was appropriated at the next session,
and Captain Douglass Ottinger is said to have invented a life car for
the transportation of persons from a wreck through the surf to the
shore. In 1851 stations were erected along the ocean coast of Long
Island, and more public interest was manifested in securing well
equipped stations.
The occurrence of several very fatal disasters along the Atlantic
coast during the winter of 1870-71 revealed the fact that the service
was not only inefficient for want of more complete organization, but
must be extended to other portions of the coast. By the act of March
3, 1871, better facilities for saving life and property were furnished
to the first organized stations-two new stations were erected on the
coast of Rhode Island. By the act of June 10, 1372, the system was
extended to Cape Cod, and money was a.ppropriated for the erection
of nine stations along its ocean shore. They were completed and fur-
nished with apparatus the following winter. The number of stations
on the Cape provided for by the act of 1872 was subsequently increased
to ten, and they are named and located as follows: Race Point, two-
thirds of a mile northeast of Race Point light; Peaked Hill Bars, 23
miles northeast of Provincetown; High Head. 34 miles northwest of
the Highland light: Highland, nearly one mile northwest of the
Highland light: Pamet River station, 33 miles south of the High-
land light, in Truro; Cahoon’s Hollow, in Wellfleet, south of the
last: Nauset, 14 miles south of Sauset light: Orleans station, at East

p. 59
Orleans; Chatham, near the Chatham light; and Monomoy station,
2a miles north of the Monomoy light.
We have dated the life saving service from 1848: but the exten-
sion and reorganization of the service in 1871, 1872, marks the be-
ginning of the efficiency for which this branch of the public ser-
vice is justly distinguished. After congress had appropriated two
hundred thousand dollars, in April, 1871, the treasury department de-
tailed Captain John Faunce, of the Revenue Marine, to visit the sta-
tions already established, and ascertain their condition and needs..
His report showed t&e practical waste of the government money and
the utter uselessness of most of the stations. No discipline among
the men, no care for the preservation of apparatus, and no super-
vision of the stations, were evils which he pointed out. Several seri-
ous disasters served to call further attention to the service, and re-
sulted in the inauguration of the present system of districts with
superintendents. Of the twelve districts in the United States, the
Second includes the entire coast of Massachusetts, of which Benjamin
C. Sparrow, of East Orleans, is superintendent. His selection and
appointment in November. 1872, was a part of the plan to prevent
the evils above mentioned, while extending the service under liberal
appropriations. He had been in the United States regular army from
1861 until November, 1864, in the engineer battalion, attached to the
headquarters of the army of the Potomac, and was a prisoner at
Belle Isle in the summer of 1862. He had taught public schools in
Eastham, and from 1861 had been successfully engaged in wrecking.
When the war broke out he was at Phillips Academy preparing
himself for the legal profession. Since his birth, October 9, 1839,
he had, like his ancestors, resided at Orleans, where they had been
fully familiar with the scenes of shipwreck and disaster.
The success of Superintendent Sparrow in securing discipline and
efficiency in this hazardous service, and his popularity among the
captains and crews of the stations under his official care, have retained
him to the present time. He is a worthy descendant of that Richard
Sparrow who came over in the ship Ann and landed at Plymouth,and
from whom those of the name on the Cape have sprung. Richard”
came to Eastham in 1650, bringing his only child, Jonathan’, whose
last resting place is now marked by a stone in the first burial ground
of that town. His son by a second marriage with Hannah, daughter
of Governor Prince, was Richard”, born March 17, 1669. He married
Mercy Young (or Cobb), and died in Eastham in 1727, leaving seven
daughters and a son, Richard’. This only son married Hannah Shaw
in 1724, and died in 1774. Of their children three only grew to man-
1:ood and womanhood-Isaac and two daughters, one of whom mar-
ried Daniel Hamilton, whose son Paul was the first Methodist preacher

p. 60
heard in Orleans. Isaac” was born in 1725, and married Rebecca
Knowles in 1747, to whom eight children were born-five daughters
and three sons, of whom Josiah’ was the youngest. He married
Mercy Smith, of Chatham, January 11, 1782. Their nine children
were: Lydia, born October 19, 1782; Josiah, jr., born March 13,1785;
Mercy, born May 28,1788; Zerviah, born March 151790; Samuel, born
November 8, 1792; Harvey, born November 14, 1795; Sarah, born
March 21, 1798; James L., born June 2, 1801; and Hannah Shaw Spar-
row, the youngest of the nine, born January 1,1805.
James L. Sparrow, father of the superintendent, married Sukey
Crosby, of Orleans, December 16, 1824. Their four daughters were:
Julia M., who died young: Anna E. (Mrs. Freeman H. Snow), Susan
M. (Mrs. Joseph K. May) and Sarah E., who died at eighteen. James
H., their oldest son, was a well known citizen of Cambridgeport, Mass.,
until his death there in 1880; William F. enlisted in the civil war and
was killed at Goldsboro, N. C., in December, 1862. Benjamin C., the
sixth child and youngest son, is the Superintendent Sparrow of this
sketch. He is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post, No. 141, G. A.
R., and has found time to serve his town on the school board more or
less for the past twenty-three years. His ability in the life saving ser-
vice was early recognized by his appointment on the board of experts
to examine new appliances and methods proposed for use by the de-
partment. This position he has held until the present time.
He was married to Eunice S., daughter of Moses 0. Felton, Decem-
ber 25,1866, and they have two children living-Susan F. and Joseph-
ine M. Mrs. Sparrow was a resident of Shutesbury, Mass., and was a
teacher here in 18641866. They reside upon the home farm in East
Orleans.
The life saving stations on the Cape are generally officered and
manned by men residing in the towns where the stations are located.
Provisions have been made by the government for some compensation
in cases of death or disability while in this service; and still greater
liberality would be no more than a just recognition of the perils en-
countered by the courageous men. Year by year improvements have
been made in the buildings and apparatus. The selection of men by
ascertainment of health, habits, age and professional acquirement has
been enforced; thorough inspection of stations and exercise of the
keepers and men in the use of the apparatus and maneuvers of an es-
tablished drill have been regularly instituted, and a patrol system
practiced. The men are instructed in the most approved methods of
restoring the apparently drowned persons with whom they often come
in contact in their line of duty. A code of signals for day and night
has been devised, to enable patrolmen to communicate with stations,
whereby preparations for hasty assistance can be made. In fact the

p. 61
appropriations by congress have been annually su’iticient to render
this humane service efficient, rescuing hundreds of lives and saving
large amounts of property, as the following table fully demonstrates.
The Second district comprises the stations of the Massachusetts coast,
ten of which are on the Cape. The accompanying table contains the
statistics of the entire district. Of the number of vessels reported in
distress, those assisted by the Cape stations are fully proportionate in
the comparison of its number of stations with those of the district.
_I-
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
-
--
y;$j;
$5’000
245:000
234,300
77,056
90,290
229,795
95,270
189,030
266,805
285,935
217,230
373,470
696,250
648,695
374,655
I- $ ;;;,;g
135:450
111,127
129,506
16,983
66,700
110,865
42,202
80,350
51,405
57,450
139,600
204,305
217,420
864,490
iO3,823
i-
$,“5”!g;
22b:“a5(
212,90(
160,05(
24,904
112.57:
260,13:
96,32:
207,20:
283,251
265,0X
265,48(
283,28:
854,01(
1,146,19(
357,601
--
-- --
1::
112
211
158
121
128
144
122
162
168
239
242
398
136
395
403
.-
ZZ
147;:
22
157
102
124
144
122
162
168
239
242
398
133
395
394