Dukes County, Massachusetts - The whole text, 1911 (part 6 of 15)

The English Tisbury

It will be interesting at this point in the story to learn something of the Old Tisbury from which our town derived its name. >In 1898 the author, while on a visit to England, made a special journey to the old parish and spent two days there as sruest of the vicar, the Rev. F. E. Hutchinson. While thus so favorably situated much was open to him to see and learn about the ancient places that were in existence in Mayhew's time. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is the central object in the parish, and is a venerable and curious structure, probably six or seven hundred years old, showing in its cruciform design a composite style of architecture marking the changes and enlargements which have taken place in all these centuries. The present Vicar has extended and decorated the chancel during his incumbency. The illustrations which accompany this text show exterior and interior views of the church, and afford a much better description than can be conveyed by words of the character and appearance of the building. It still retains on its inner walls those mural ornaments and devices originally placed there when the church was erected and used in the worship of the Romish ritual^ before the Reformation. The old stone font, many hundred years old, at which Thomas Mayhew was baptised still stands just within the west porch. Oaken arches, supported by grotesque figures which overhang the nave like gargoyles, tell of the antiquity of the building. On one is carved : IN THE YERE OF OURE LORDE GOD 1569: THIS PECE WAS SET UP AND IN THE 11 DAYE OF MARCH ENDED BY EDWARD BOLE THE PRAYSE BE UNTO GOD."

The name Tisbury is variously spelled in the ancient records: Tisselbury, Tisselburie, Tysbery, Tissbury and Tisburie.^ In the Domes Day Book of William the Conqueror it is called Tisseburie. At that time it had forty ploughlands, forty villagers and fifty borderers who occupied twenty-five ploughlands. It had four mills which were taxed then ; showing the early establishment of its industries, remains of the foundations of which are still extant. These mills were run by water power obtained from a pretty stream, somewhat larger than our own "Old Mill Brook," which flows through the town and is called the Noddre or Nadder. By the time of Henry III Tisbury had been erected into a manor and the grant of it in capite of the King was held by the Abbesses of Shaftesbury. This continued until the dissolution of the religious houses in England at the Reformation and the last Abbess surrendered it to Henry VIII. This famous king, in 1540, granted the manor to Sir Thomas Arundel, Knight, who held it until his attainder, when it reverted to the crown. King James the First, in 1608, restored it to the grandson of Sir Thomas, who was also Thomas, and made

'The Vicar is of the opinion that it was originally Teazelbury, so called because it was a place where woolen cloth was manufactured, and the use of the teazel in the process of raising the nap gave it a name.

Tisbury, Eng

him Lord Arundel of Wardour, by which title and in whose family the lordship of the manor still remains. Within its ancient bounds is the famous ruin of Wardour Castle so gloriously defended by Lady Blanche Arundel during the Civil War. Nearby is the new castle occupied by the present Lord Wardour, who by the way, still retains the faith of his family, the Roman Catholic, held by them for generations.

Tisbury is situated in a beautiful garden spot, a rolling country, the South Downs of England, noted for the splendid sheep raised in that section. It is probable that the early practice of raising sheep on our island was brought here through Governor Mayhew, who had been familiar with the herds that grazed on the hills of his native county and had supplied for ages the people of England with wool and mutton.

Animtissewokset. - In 1679 Josias the sachem sold to William Rogers twenty acres at a "place called in Indian animtissewokset" in North Tisbury (Deeds, III, 288).

In March, 17 16-17, there was a suit in ejectment brought by the Indians against Ebenezer Rogers, his son, and the tract is thus described: "a certain piece or parcel of land

A-nimte-sawohqussuk and is bounded on the South west and North west by the fields of Issac Ompany & Job Soomannau, Ned Chamick and is the land whereon the said Ebenezer Rogerses dwelling house standeth" (Court Records). The derivation is probably from anim-tisashg-auk-es-et, meaning, "at the bad mowing place." There is another possible source, which would include the words, sawoh and qussuck, meaning, "scattered rocks," which is quite descriptive of that locality so prolific in bowlders left on the surface during the ice age.

Aushoepin. - This is the name of a cove near the lower part of Watcha neck, and Aushoepin Cove and Aushoepin Neck are mentioned in deeds as early as 1 748 (Dukes Deeds, VIII, 57). In 1782 it was called Aushaven Cove (Ibid., XI, 388).

Brandy Brow. - This bluff of the bibulous name was a part of the James Skiff home lot. How it came by the appellation of Brandy Brow is not known. It is said a dram shop was once located there. From James Skiff it passed into the possession of Nathaniel Wing and then to William Parslow (1686), James Allen (1695), John Eddy (1696), and Robert Cathcart (1696).*

The last named died intestate and it passed to heirs, of whom Miriam^ m. Whitten^ Manter, whose son Robert* Manter came into possession. On July 3, 1765, Robert Manter and wife Elizabeth sold to Joseph Daggett, of Edgartown, for ;^73-6-8, "a certain tract of land & buildings whereon I now dwell in Tisbury afores'd Bounded as followeth: on the south by land Belonging to Gershom Cathcart, on the west and north By the highway; on the east by the road Leading from the highway to the house of Benjamin Manter, Esq." (Deeds, IX, 449).

On August 10, 1780, Prince Pease (who had m. Hepzibah the dau. of Joseph Daggett, heir to this part of her father's estate) of Edgartown sold to Cornelius Norton, husbandman of Tisbury for £t,6, "a, certain Dwelling House Situate in Tisbury, being the house that was formerly Joseph Daggets together with a piece of land whereon the house stands containing one acre" (Deeds, XI, 173). Cornelius Norton retained possession till his death. He was found dead in bed March 26, 1809. He was succeeded by his son Cornelius, Jr., who in turn was followed by his daughters Damaris (n. cm.) and Lydia. A ruined house on this bluff was a picturesque landmark until very recent years.

Charles^ Neck. - Probably so called from one Amos Charles, an Indian of Tisbury, who may have lived there (Indian Converts, 156). It was known by that name in 1681 and its Indian designation was Seconquit.

Sound" in the northwest corner of Christian town (Cong. Lib. Mss., 1737-8). Josias, the Sachem, sold to Ebenezer Rogers, April 15, 1698, a tract of 150 acres, bounded westerly by Kiphigon lots, north by the Sound, easterly by the east end of a "little pond called Com-a-quaton by the Sound" (Deeds, III, 293). In 1738 certain Indians sold to Ebenezer Rogers

150 acres, bounded west by Kiphigon Lots, north by the Sound, east by the east end of a little pond called Commoquaton by the Sound (Deeds, VI, 240).

Coskenachasoo. - (1669.) Mentioned in a deed of sale to William Pabodie and his partners, to include "all the land or neckes westerly to Coskenachasooway " (Dukes Deeds, I, 2)^). This word is a compound term formed of Coskenukchice-issu, meaning "he is a stooping or staggering old man," and the way probably referred to a path leading to the wigwam of some old chief or head man living on or near the bounds of Chilmark and Tisbury, which became the bounds of Pabodie's purchase.

Duck Pond. - Jonathan Lambert sold to Samuel Luce, in 1722, a tract of land in Tisbury, bounded north by Duck pond, which lies eastwardly from the now dwelling house of widow Desire Luce, extending from the middle of said pond till it meets with the eastern corner bounds of the Indian town or "Onkokemeh" (Deeds, V, 102).

Erashog. - This is the name of a creek, which is the outlet of Great James pond. "So far as Chickamoot goes viz: to the bounds selected for Weachpoquasset which is close to the Crick caled heren Crick or Erashog Crick, just above high water mark, which is the bounds between the Christiantown and Checemoot" (Deeds, IV, 208). Erashog is the Indian word for herring, and describes this creek, which has for years been used for herring fishery.

Maanette. - (1699.) "A place called Maanette," forming the south bounds of Christian town (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789). This is perhaps the same as Maanexit, an Indian village in Connecticut (Trumbull, Indian Names in Conn., 28), which alludes to the establishment of a community of Christian Indians, and is defined "where there is a gathering togetheL" This locality being in Christian town the meaning is applicable.

Mack-kon-net-chas-qua. - Included in the bounds of Christian town (1699) "and so the South bounds running westerly Mackkonnetchasqua including the field where my uncle (Pa)pamick dwelt and dyed" (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789). In a deed, Josias to Isaac Chase, 1682, the land is bounded to the northeast corner of a pond lying in the woods commonly called Mokonnichashquat (Deeds, I, 281). Another

Manaquayak. - A pond in Tisbury, called sometimes "Old House Pond." In 1699 it was in a description of the bounds of Christian town, "a little eastward of a pond called Nanaquayak" (Sup, Jud. Court files, 72,789; comp. Dukes Deeds, I, 357). This word is from Nan-nau-wiy-ack, signifying a "safe or secure place." The pond or the surrounding region was held as a secure place for canoes, or else there was located an Indian stockade close to its shores, to which they could safely retreat. The terminal in its usual signification, (aki, auke, age) means "land" and the preference would be given to the allusion to the stockade.

Mattapaquattonooke. - (1669.) In the region of Christian town and part of its bounds, being a pond called Mattapaquattonooke (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789). There is a small pond just easterly of Obed Daggett's farm at Cedar Tree neck now called Mattaqua, which is probably an abbreviated form of this name. This name originally belonged to the tract of land adjoining, and not to the pond itself. Mat-tapau-quet-tah-hun-auke means "bad, broken up land," i. e. land that had been once planted or dug over. In a report of a Committee of the General Court, relative to the bounds of Christian town, the name Mattapaquaha occurs (1709). Ebenezer Rogers sold to John Lewis, blacksmith, 25 acres, part of the land sold to Rogers by Josias, and mentions "a

Monawquete. - "A place called by the Indians Monawquete being at the Easternmost end of that Great Pond called Taukemey Pond," according to a description in 1735, probably refers to the lower end of Peanaskenamset. It means the "fertilized land," in allusion to the fact that it had been artificially enriched by the whites.

Moohoufs Neck. - This is probably a name derived from an Indian of the place. Samuel Manter sold a tract of land at the North shore in 1740 called "Moohow's Neck" bounded southeast by Great James pond (Deeds, VII, 400). It is written Moohoe's Neck and there was a Little Moohoe's Neck, both being "within the bounds of a deed that Experience

Mossoowonkwonk (alias Mossoonkhonk, Mossoounkwonk, Mussoo-onk-sumkeh). - This is the neck now known as Scrubby neck, and is referred to as such in deeds (II, 244, 317; III, 105, 130). An alias in the Indian tongue was Peanaskenamset (Ibid., II, 245), and another was Wachepemepquah (Ibid.).

Nepissa. - This is a pond at the north shore. In 1699 it made the northwest bound mark of Christian town, "a pond at the north shore called Pissa," (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,789). This is the contracted form of the word, and in that form gives no indication of its meaning. In the report of the Committee on the Indian Lands in Christian town, in 1762, the full orthography appears, "the Pond called Nepisse" (Records, General Court, XXIV, appendix). It means "a little pond," - isse being the diminutive form of the locative the same as -es, in some names. Literally it is "the little water place." In the testimony of some Indians in 1714, relative to the meeting of the Indians when Josias gave the Praying Indians the "mile square," for a town, it is stated that "all agreed that Wonamonhoot should have all the land to the westward of a place called Neppessieh." Another form given in 171 7 was Neppessoo (Sup. Jud. Court files, 72,248).

Newtown. - The name applied generally to the settlement in Tisbury in distinction to Old Town at the east end of the Vineyard. It is more particularly applied to North Tisbury and occurs as early as 1750 (Newman, Mss. Account Book, p. 82).

Nittowouhtohquay . - In the record of the landed possessions of Simon Athearn (1672) is the following entry: "fifteen acres "which lyeth at the turn of the brook on the north side of the brook, which land is caled in Indian Nittowouhtohquay, & is bounded by the old mill river on the south side & a small run of water on the west" (Deeds, I, 306). In 1701 James Allen sold to Simon Athearn a parcel of land "near to a place called Nictowouhtoquoh by Wampache" (Ibid., I, 324). This land is near the present farm and mill of R. W. Crocker in North Tisbury, The meaning of the word is "land sought for use," in allusion to the desire of the Proprietors to extend their purchase to cover the territory to the east of their post line.

Nohcouwohwoothuktack. - This is by far the longest place name on the Vineyard, and is used to describe certain land on the north shore sold Dec. 9, 1703, by Josias the Sachem to Experience Luce (Deeds, III, 19). It is a boundary designation, signifying "the right hand understood tree," in allusion to some boundary mark.

Onkakemniy. - This was a pond described as ''on the East side of the Indian town between the Indian line and the line of this town" (Town Records, 1711), at a place now called Okokame, or Christian Town" (Indian Converts). "At Ohkonkemme, within the bounds of Tisbury" (Report, Commissioners of the Society for Propagating the Gospel, 1698. Variations of this name are Onkkokemmo, Uncakemmo. It is derived from Ong-kone-amaug, which is defined as "beyond the fishing place," and refers probably to Ashappaquonset, as the great fishing station of the Indians on the North shore. Uncacame is a form existing in 1745 (Deeds, VIII, 71).

Papamek^s Field. - This is a tract of land, which is now represented by a portion of the farm of R. W. Crocker, Esq., on the north side of the road leading to the North Shore. It was referred to in ancient documents as the field where Papameck planted and where he died.

Paul's Point. - This was probably named for "Old Paul," one of the pious Indians of Christian town, who died about 1676 (Indian Converts, p. 131).

It is mentioned in a deed of 1730 (VI, 303), and again in 1738 Ebenezer Rogers and others convey land at Paul's Point, bounded west by the Indian line; then east to the brick kiln, or run of water. The grantee was Experience Luce (VII, 400).

Peanaskenamset. - This was the Indian name for Scrubby Neck (Deeds, II, 245). In the proper orthography it should be Uppeanashkonameset. (See under Scrubby Neck.)

Pepekonnoh. - This was a small pond on Scrubby Neck. In 1 71 5 Samuel Nahommon sold to David Paul (Indian), a tract of land on Scrubby Neck, and on the "westward side of neck, bounded southerly by the beach, westerly by Takemmy pond, easterly by the beach, untill it meeteth with a small pond caled pepekonnoh" (Deeds, III, 109).

(Vol. I, 271). In the town records under date of 1707, Seconquet, alias Charles' neck, is mentioned and the " thumb " was included as part of this neck (p. 42). The meaning of this is "at the mouth of a stream," or *' emptying out," of which variations in the Delaware dialect are Sakunit, Sacunk and Saquit.

Seekaquatwaupog. - This is the pond between Charles' Neck and Scrubby Neck, and while the word means ''the spoiled, deserted or broken-up spring," the word was used in connection with the cove that extends up between the necks in 1735-

Squemmechchue. - This was the name for Cedar Tree Neck, as appears in a deposition of Jonathan Luce, made in 1 718, and this date is the earliest mention of the name Cedar Tree Neck (Sup. Jud. Court Mss., 24,769). It is derived from M'squ-mechch-auke, meaning "the red fruit land." This may refer to the cranberry, or some similar fruit or vegetable food.

Tahkenshahakket. - This was the name of a small neck of land "lying within" Scrubby Neck, on the southern side, "near or next the fence of Robert Cathcart" (Deeds, II, 60, 2t8).

Tequanoman^ s Neck. - In June, 1692, this is referred to in a document as "on the south side of the Island" (Mass. Arch., CXII, 422). It is there spelled Tickanoman. It also is referred to in the charter of Edgartown, dated July 8, 1671, as the southwest bound mark of that town. It was probably Watcha Neck.

Tiasquin. - This early Indian name for the New Mill river is of uncertain origin. This stream was crossed by a bridge, probably constructed by the settlers soon after their occupation, and it is referred to often, as in 1664, a deed from the Sachem Pamehannet to Thomas Mayhew, recites certain bounds as "from the bridge of the river called Tyasquan" (Deeds, I, 83). The Algonquian word Tooskeonk, means a fording place, ford or bridge, and while it may be accidental yet it can be the source of this name - the ford or bridge river. Another possible origin is Tisashg-om-(uck), "where we go to cut grass," meaning the meadows along the lower parts of this stream.

known in the records as ''Copeck alias Tississa" (Dukes Deeds, I, 301). It was purchased by Simon Athearn of the Indians in 1674, without the formal approval of Thomas Mayhew, and became in consequence a source of prolonged litigation (Deeds, I, 305). The meaning of Tississa is not known, but Copeck is a compound of two words, Kuppi-ack, signifying " land or a place shut in," being from the same root as Cap-o-ack. The modern abbreviation of the neck is "Sissa." John Manter sold land on Tississa, "in the Point called Sepiessa, alias Manter's Point," bounded east by Deep Bottom pond and on the west by Copeck, Sept. 17, 1736 (Deeds, VI, 137).

Wampache. - Josias the Sachem sold to Simon Athearn certain land "neer to Simon Athearns house and land at Wampache" in Tisbury, the land being Josias' "planting feild for many years," November 18, 1685 (Deeds, I, 29Q). James Allen sold to Simon Athearn in 1702, "a little parcel of land near to a place called Nictowouhtoquoh by Wampache, " with "liberty to dig earth to use to dam the water and drown the swamps there" (Ibid., I, 324). This is believed to be in North Tisbury at or near the site of Mr. R. W. Crocker's mill, where in early days a mill formerly stood.

In the Massachusetts dialect Wompasg, or Wompasket, means a marsh, swamp or bog, a definition which seems to apply to the locality conveyed in the last-named deed. Another later form is Wampatchey, 1735 (VI, 23-4).

Waskosim's Rock. - This is the well-known landmark, now as of old forming one of the boundaries between Tisbury and Chilmark, It is first mentioned in the town records under date of Feb. 9, 1681-2, as "a place called Wasqusims," and again in 1702 as "Waskosims" (pp. 10, 274). It may have obtained its name from some Indian who had a wigwam in that vicinity.

Wechekemmipihquiah or Wechepemepquah. - This was one of the Indian names of Scrubby Neck, known also as Pasquanahomman's Neck, one of the planting fields of the Indians before the advent of the white settlers. The meaning of this word is "cornfield," from Wachimin, corn, and pequauke, clear place, or field. This is mentioned in a deed dated 1700 (Dukes Deeds, I, 46), under that designation, but it has had several aboriginal titles. It is mentioned in the town records, under date of 1700 (p. 35), as Pasqunahammans

Neck, and later (1743) it had been shortened to Nahamons, and at the present day it is curtailed to Homers, and the name is given to the adjoining pond. Another alias was Mossoowonkwonk (Mossoonkhonk, Mosoounkwonk, Mussoo-onksumkeh), as recorded in the County books (Deeds, II, 317, 244; III, 105, 130). Another alias was Peanaskenamset (Deeds, II, 245), occurring in 1693. I^ its full form this should be written as Uppeanashkonameset, meaning "a place where flags grow," or literally, "at the covering-mat place," designating a low marshy spot where the cat-tail flag (Typha Latifolia) grows in abundance. This plant was used by the natives for covering their wigwams, in making mats, baskets and such like articles, while the down which surrounds the fruit was used for the filling of cushions for the head. The same name designates other Indian localities in New England. Mossoonkhonk (1693): a field in Tisbury where meadow grass was cut and which became the subject of a dispute with the Indians as to proprietorship. Mos-soon-khonk, means "that which is sheared, or made bare" hence "a mowing meadow."

Weechpoquassitt. - This name is commonly written and spoken Eachpoquassit. It is a boundary designation, probably, as the word means, "as far the opening out," from Wekshe- ^'as far as, or extending to," and pocasset, "the open out or widening." Weechpoquasset was the natural boundary line between the sachemships of Takemmy and Nunnepoag, at that part of the island. It was also the west bound of Chickemmoo.

James Allen

who remained as a settler, except James Skiffe, was James Allen, the progenitor of the Vineyard Aliens now scattered over this land from Maine to California. He was the son of Samuel Allen of Braintree and Anne his wife, and was probably born in that town in 1636, the year after his father was made a freeman. Of his early years we have no knowledge, as the records of Braintree and Suffolk county are entirely silent about him, and it is more than likely that, after 1657, when he became of age, he may have removed to some other town in the colony. His sister Sarah married Lieut. Josiah Standish of Bridgewater about this time, and possibly he might be found in that town where his brother Samuel lived, or in that vicinity. About 1662 James Allen married, his wife's name according to family tradition being Elizabeth Perkins, who was born about 1644, and therefore eight years his junior.^ It is believed that about this year he removed to Sandwich, Cape Cod, where the births of three children known to be his are recorded, 1663 to 1667, and where he probably formed his personal and business connection with James Skiffe of the same town.^ In the summer of 1668 he was here making the preliminary arrangements with his partners and Mayhew about the purchase of Takemm.y, and in the summer of 1669 the bargain with the Indians was consummated. His coming here is almost coincident with the death of his father, which occurred in Brain tree in 1669, where he had been town clerk for many years. ^ By his will, dated Sept. 16, 1669, Samuel Allen bequeathed to his son James five pounds to be paid ''within three years after my decease," and to his "sonn in Law Josiah Standish" he devised double that amount. James Allen's settlement here can be assigned fairly to that year, as no more births of children are recorded in Sandwich. From this time on for forty-five years he was the leading spirit in the towns of Tisbury and Chilmark, and one of the largest land holders. At one time or another he owned seven of the original home lots on the west side of Old Mill brook, besides all the dividends accruing to them, and there are no less than thirty conveyances from him recorded on the county land records. The first home lot drawn by him is thus described: -

Thes are the Lands of James allin Lieng In the tounship of tisbury one Lot containing forty 8 ackers bounded on the south by nathannil skiffs Lot and on the north by Jaremiah whittons Lot Lieng in bredeth forty 8 pols by the reiver and runeth westward from the reiver 8 skore pols in lenght with one Lot in the gret neck bounded on the est by the middel of the watar which partth the neck and on the west by goodman

^James Allen's sister Abigail married John Cary and lived in Bridgewater and later in Taunton. Benjamin, son of James, preached in Bridgewater after his graduation from Yale.

Tliis land, wliich is now tlie property of Everett Allen Davis, Esq., was doubtless the location of his residence for twenty years until his removal to Chilmark. He sold it in 1692 to John Pease, Jr., of Edgartown, whose heirs deeded it to Gershom Cathcart in 1723, and it remained many years in the possession of the latter's descendants.^ When he removed to Chilmark is not definitely known. He began his purchases of the large estate he finally owned there early in February, 1677-8, a tract bounded south by the pond, and he is called ''of Tisbury." In 1686, when making another purchase, he is called "of Nashowakemmuck," and this may be the probable date of his change of residence.^

His estate or home farm amounted to about 250 acres, by successive purchases, and this he gave to two of his sons before his death. Ebenezer received one half of the entire property in 1698, to be available after the decease of his father and mother,^ and Samuel received the Keephiggon lot in 1705 near the Tisbury line.^ Ichabod had acquired large holdings in Chickemmoo and John and Joseph were probably provided for, through their mother's inheritance. Benjamin was the youngest son and not of age till just before his father's death. This probably accounts for the absence of a will or administration on such a large and valuable estate - these antemortem transfers of property.

His public services were characterized by quality and not quantity. In 1675 he was an Assistant under the Mayhew regime, equivalent to a justice on the bench. How long he held this is not known.** Besides this he held possibly one town ofiice and but one other county office during his long life. He was appointed on a committee ''to procure a new charter" for Tisbury in 1687 (a thing that was never done), and after the inclusion of the island in Massachusetts he was one of the first three justices of the peace.' He was recom-

'Council Records, II, 207. He had served but once as a juryman in all his twenty years of residence up to this date, an unusual record. James Allen was Selectman of Chilmark in 1704, but it may have been his son.

mended for his appointment by Simon Athearn, who stated that Allen was "reputed wealthy and having such Influence in the people there," and at the same time he advised that Allen be made captain of the military company/ It is evident that he had no taste for arms, as he had petitioned the court two years before on the subject, as appears by this record : -

Whereas James Allin of Chilmark did apere before the Coart in order for a dismission from Irayning: The Coart hath granted him a dismission provided he doth apere in time of mustering: and doth help

His standing in the community as stated by Athearn was that of a man of influence, wielding more power than if he had held a score of minor ofhces in the course of his life. Now he was in the most exalted one to which men in those days could aspire, a justice on the King's Bench, and in this capacity he served the people for at least six years at the Quarterly Sessions of the Peace. As the first one to hold any considerable office of honor or profit on the Vineyard since its settlement, not connected either by blood or marriage with the Mayhew family, Mr. Justice Allen had some distinction beside that of the position itself.

In 1 701 he gave to the town of Tisbury its first "God's Acre" for the burial of the dead and as a location for the new meeting-house under contemplation, and within this enclosure lies his body marked with a well-preserved slate stone. His declining years were passed in Chilmark, where a large family of a dozen children were reared, married and half of them settled in homes of their own. All the daughters left the island, but seven sons have perpetuated the name of James Allen, their honored father and the parent of sons who maintained his splendid reputation.

Simon Athearn

an adequate portrayal of the strenuous life and fruitful career of this unique character among the early settlers of the Vineyard, Simon Athearn of

Tisbury. Amid the settings of a most peaceful and bucolic life he managed to stir up more contrary breezes than any man of his time, and was a continual thorn in the flesh of the ruling family on the island. It is a matter of regret that the author has not been able to ascertain his antecedents. Indeed, his name is unique, and nowhere has it been observed in the scores of volumes containing the records of English parishes; and a professional genealogist of London stated that he had never seen the name in his long experience. No other family of this name emigrated to New England in the 17th century, and as far as known he was the sole and first bearer of it in this country. It has been suggested that the name is of similar origin to Attwood, Att-water, Att-well, being originally Att-hern. Sewall spelled it Atturn in his Diary in 171 2.

His gravestone at West Tisbury records the name Attharn and the only early English instance with a spelling approaching it - Atturn - occurring before 1600, seems to bear out this theory rather than the supposition of its identity with Atherton. It may be identical with Hathorn, now Hawthorne. But whatever the mystery attaching to his antecedents, and it covers as well his previous residence if any in this country before his appearance at the Vineyard, his subsequent life and doings after his settlement are an open book.

If the record on his tombstone is correct he was born about 1643, ^i^d the first mention of his name in the town records of Edgartown is under date of 1659, when he served on the jury. This presupposes an error somewhere; either on the gravestone or the Edgartown records, which are a transcript, not too carefully made, for he would have been at that date a minor sixteen years of age, and therefore ineligible for that duty. The occasion of his first appearance, however, on the record seems to be plausible as wtII as characteristic, for he spent most of the remainder of his career in court, as he had begun. He stated in a deposition that he was aged about 56 years in 1698, which carries us back to 1642. It is the belief of the author that he came to this country as a boy in the employ of Nicholas Butler of Edgartown, who was a man of property, and kept a number of servants. According to tradition he selected his future wife as she was romping with her playmates near her father's house, having about her dolls and other childish evidences that her thoughts were far away from matrimony. The girl was Mary, daughter of John Butler, and according to Judge Sewell "his wife was not fourteen when he married her." The young husband had probably taken up land at Tississa in the present limits of West Tisbury, by a purchase from the Indians before the settlement of Tisbury, contrary to the rights of Thomas Mayhew, the patentee, who had prohibited the purchase of Indian titles without his consent. Athearn thus began his long course of opposition to the Mayhews and their official control of affairs on the Vineyard. Out of this Tississa incident endless litigation arose. As soon as Peabody, Standish, Allen and Skiff e made their purchase in Tisbury Simon Athearn purchased a lot of land in 1670 and was admitted, May 20, 1671, as an associate proprietor. In 1672 his dwelling house was located on Great Neck on the east side of the Old Mill river on a lot of land comprising twenty acres. He also owned fifteen acres "at the turn of the brook" where the well-known Dr. Fisher mill property was afterwards developed. Here on his home lot were born to him and his wife nine children, all of whom married save one, and the sons maintained the high standing and distinction in Vineyard affairs that their father had set.

When in 1671 Thomas Mayhew came back from New York with town charters for Edgartown and Tisbury, a manorial grant for Tisbury Manor, and a commission as governor for life, the spirit of Simon Athearn rose within him as he saw the destinies of the island confined to the personality of one man and the government of one family. He felt that there was no place in the Massachusetts system for governors for life. The details of the abortive rebellion against this undemocratic form of government have been elsewhere related, and it will only be necessary to explain the part played by Athearn. His growing estate, comprising his sole worldly possessions, constrained him after its failure to throw himself on the mercy of the legally established government, however distasteful it may have been to him personally, rather than to accept the full consequences of his act, and seek or be driven to a new home elsewhere. So he cleared himself as best he could, as appears by the following record: -

Jan: 8: 1674-5. Simon Athearn desiring by way of petition that whereas himself was by the Authoritie Reputed one of the Ringleaders in the late Resisting of the Govourment that being lead and induced thereunto by others the Govemour and Associates would so looke uppon him and Judge him accordingly and testified uppon oath that Thomas Burchard was a principall instigator of him whereby he was induced to act in the opposition of Authoritie.

The Court fined him twenty-five pounds, one half to be paid "forthwith," five pounds and ten shilHngs in money and seven pounds in cattle or corn. And for speaking against the fine and sentence of William Vincent he was fined ten pounds, one half "forthwith" as above and the other half in produce. "And (the Court) doe take from him his freedom during the pleasure of the Court And doe revoke the former sentence against him of sending him to New Yorke." But Athearn, though defeated, was not conquered in spirit.

Before the year had expired we find him continuing agitation against the Mayhew government, as shown in a letter dated Oct. 8, 1675, addressed to Gov. Andros of New York. It is an interesting statement of the difficulties experienced by those not in the favor of the official circle, but is too long to be given in full.

The death in 1682 of the aged Governor removed one cause of complaint on the part of Athearn against that feature of the government of the island, the life tenure of the chief magistrate, and though no change occurred in the tenure of the Mayhew family upon the offices of the island, yet it is evident that Athearn chose to accept the inevitable conditions and bide his time. The only change in the results of his appearances in litigation after the decease of Gov. Mayhew as shown by the court records, is a series of decisions in which he is enabled to compromise or divide with his opponent. Prior to this they had all been adverse verdicts. But a new enemy soon appeared on the scene in the person of William Rogers, and he kept Athearn constantly before the court for two years. He charged him with stealing a cow the year previously and killing it privately. Athearn was non-suited. He sued him for slander and asked damages to the amount of fifty pounds. The jury returned a verdict of non-liquet. The next year he complained against him for stealing a black cow, but the charge was withdrawn. Athearn had evidently reached the limit of his patience, and proceeded to take the law into his own hands by personally chastising his persistent persecutor. Rogers forthwith complained against Athearn "for hailing or pulling sayd Rogers by the eres and caueling him sayd William Roge and thefe with other Skurvie words in court." The court found for the defendant, though the act took place in its presence.

An amusing incident occurred at this time in which Athearn again figures as a defendant in an action for slander with damages claimed to the amount of ;^ioo. The plaintiff was Thomas Peat "Skoole master of Edgartown" and his declaration relating his grievance so dramatically sets forth the circumstances constituting the offence, that it were best told in his own language and it is here quoted: -

The plaintiff stated that he was in the house of Richard Arey on the 14th of March, 1686-7, "teaching som of his skollers then in skoolle, when in came Simon Athearn, who asked the plaintiff to give him his dafter Marys Coppy book & sum Coppys the sayd playntiffe was Ready to pleasure the said defendant, but in the entrem" the defendant was writing in his daughter Mary's book "without the liberty and privity" of the schoolmaster. The defendant "tok a pen of one of the skollers and writ in a Coppy boock som Skandloues & in which the defendant undervalewed & disparraged the sayd plant : to his skollers, counseling them to forsak him. Rendering him to be an Idell wasting person in the way of his caulling in the very Instant that the sayd playntiffe was bisied in the performance of his Douty in his Skoole, yet was the sayd defendant so Impudent before the sayd plantiffes face, Subtilly & fox like to Record the sayd Plaintiffes name in a mock verse in the skoole."

The jury found "it a trespass for a man to com into a Skolle and take a pen of one of the Skollers in Skool & whrit in one of the Skollers books without the aprobation of the master of the Skoole," and the plaintiff was awarded twelve pence damages and costs of court. It is only to be regretted that the "mock verse" which Simon Athearn composed that day in his daughter Mary's "coppy boock" has not been preserved in order that we might enjoy a perusal of the lines which so incensed this pedagogue.

Notwithstanding all these evidences of a litigious life Athearn retained the confidence of his neighbors. He was one of the committee of the town of Tisbury to lay out sixteen shares in the new purchase in 1675. He was chosen county commissioner in 1686; constable of Tisbury in 1687; assessor in 1692; commissioner for the town (for the trial of small cases) in 1693; selectman in 1695. Such a character as the subject of this sketch is not made of the material that enters into the composition of a popular man, and although easily the first citizen of Tisbury in his day in point of energy, progressive spirit and interest in the public welfare, yet viewed from the standpoint of office-holding his true dimensions are obscured.

Athearn's possession of Tississa, which he purchased of the Indian Jude in 1674, and held without confirmation from the Lord Proprietor, or approval of the town, involved him in a long series of differences with his townsmen and litigation with a number of them on account of trespass, defamation of title and assaults. In 1678 he reached an agreement with the town, concerning this neck of land by the terms of which Athearn yielded his claim to the largest part of the neck, receiving ten pounds as a return for his purchase money, out of which he was required to pay two pounds for the portion that was confirmed to him. It appears, however, that the town failed to live up to the agreement, and he felt free to act accordingly. As the neck was declared to be common lands, x'\thearn proceeded to acquire the shares of others from time to time ; but this arrangement did not settle the contention and two years and a half later, at a town meeting, held on June 18, 1680, the following vote was passed: - indian necke but the towne voted that the said simon Attharne should but have his share with the reste of the inhabitants and tendred the saide simon Attharne if hee youlde sine the dedes the yould pee him themony.

Whatever the hitch in the negotiations depended upon, it appears that the town authorities undertook to dispose of this neck of land by grants in 1683, and Athearn caused his protest to be recorded in the town book. This was immediately followed by the reciprocal protest of the townsmen against the entry of his caveat. He took this matter finally to the county court, and on June 22, 1684, the following record of the case appears: -

Simon Athearn complaineth against the Constable and overseers of the Town of Tisbury for non-payment of certain monies due by contract about a neck of land caled Copeck alias tississa.

of his manorial rights as lord of the manor to Thomas Dongan by sale, was not to the satisfaction of Athearn, but he was helpless to prevent this situation and was obliged to await the adjustment of these difficulties till a more fortunate time. It was not far off and came unexpectedly. The accession of William III brought in a government which exercised less of the ancient prerogative and seemed to give expectation to Athearn that the rights of the people would be heard and considered and that the liberality of the Prince of Orange would be reflected in his Colonial representative in New York. So when Gov. Henry Slaughter, the new appointee, arrived in New York in March, 1691, he was scarcely seated in his new office before Athearn addressed him on the condition of affairs at the Vineyard.

This letter is printed elsewhere (Vol. I, pp. 179-80), but it was not in this direction a change in the Athearn 's horizon was to occur. The procurement of the new charter for Massachusetts in 1 69 1 became the opportunity for Simon x'Vthearn to establish himself in new relations with the authorities of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He wrote a letter of information and advice to Sir William Phipps and recommended some of his friends for local offices, and Sir William appointed one of them to the most important office on the island. If he had aspirations for official preferment himself the following recommendation from prominent residents of the Vineyard seems to show that he was a candidate for the bench. This testimonial with its curious phraseology, is worth printing in full: -

Wee whose names under writen present our most humbel duty to your Excellency & your honnored Consesell & ar redy upon all demand or Command from your Exsellency to Sarve you with our Lives & fortine & pray for your exsellencys happines & prosperuty & for the happines & prosperity of your honoured Consell and we Count our sealfs happi that we are under the shaddow of your Exsellency & wee are willing to acquaint your Exsellency that wee were not willing to specke when the Gentlemen were here. Because that your Exsellencys orders might be setteled in Peease & quitnes now wee are willing to give your Exsellency an aCount of Mr. Simon Athearn we Looke upon him to be a well acompHsh man he is no drunkerd nor no Card player nor a man that freequint tavoms but wee doe know but he may have his feialing as well as other men: for estate: few or none upon our Hand goeth beyond him & for a Justes wee Looke upon him as fit a man as any here: so wishing & praying for your Exsellencys happines & the god of paese Bles you with al Spritual Blessings & give you a hart after his owne hart that he may tack a delight in you to doe you goode & save you from all your enemies:: wee

This interesting document was signed by Andrew Newcomb, Joseph Norton, James Pease, Jacob Norton, John Butler, Thomas Norton, WilHam Vinson, Thomas WoUing, Thomas Butler, Isaac Norton, Benjamin Norton, Moses Cleaveland, John Pease and Thomas Vinson. It is to b noted that no member of the Mayhew family appended hi;, name to this testimonial.

In the meantime the Mayhews had made their peace with the new regime, and Athearn failed in his aspirations. He had to swallow his feelings as he saw the same old officials reinstated in the Vineyard courts. Thereafter he devoted his time to an agitation in favor of consolidating Tisbury and Chilmark as one township, the details of which are elsewhere narrated. Although he was representative of Tisbury at the General Court for several sessions he was unable to effect anything of personal advantage to himself or for the benefit of his town. In 1696-7 he was engaged in another litigation arising from alleged trespass on his property, and personal assaults which followed this. Voluminous papers in the case prepared by him detail the injustice he received at the hands of Richard Sarson and Matthew Mayhew, who imprisoned his son and refused to allow him an appeal to the superior court at Plymouth; Athearn states that he had been under indictment without trial for two years, on a charge of felony, and declared that there seemed to be no law by which the accused may be "discharged from such vexatious imprisonment espetially when a father-in law and his two sons are the rulle in such Infeariour Court."

It is thus that Athearn pays his respects to Richard Sarson and his stepsons Matthew and Thomas Mayhew. It is not possible to weigh the equities of this long controversy, but the recital of his grievances caused Gov. Stougton to address a letter to these justices, in which he "Signified" to them that Athearn should have the proceedings against him conducted "equal and agreeable to the Rules of Law and Justice, which is all that is expected." It must have been a strong case that induced the executive to interfere with a judicial proceeding. After the recital of all his experiences for so many years and the unfortunate results of his litigations, we may

The remainder of his life, as far as external evidences warrant the conclusion, was devoted to the care of his estate and the enjoyment of the declining years of an active if not a politically fruitful life. In worldly possessions ''few or none 'ipon our Iland goeth beyound him" as stated by his friends ^,, 1692, and with extensive acres at Great Neck, Tississa, Charles' Neck, and scattering parcels of land in Chilmark, Edgartown and Tisbury, he doubtless found greater satisfaction than in the bootless campaigns he waged against the family that held sway over the island in his day and generation.

On the several visits of Judge Sewall to the island in 1702 and 1 712 he mentions dining with and meeting Mr. Athearn, and again in 1714 he notes in his diary under date of April 10: "ViewJd Watsha Neck all over, being conducted by Mr. Simon Athearn. " We thus have trace of him to within a year of his death.

He had a family of nine children - four boys and five girls - growing up about him, of whom his eldest, Samuel, remaining a bachelor until after his father's death, inherited many of the pugnacious qualities of his famous parent. His daughter Sarah was the wife of his clergyman, the Rev. Josiah Torry. His second son, Jabez, destined to lead a distinguished life on the Vineyard, had contracted an advantageous alliance with Miss Catherine Belcher. His daughter Mary became the wife of Thomas Waldron, and before Simon Athearn paid the debt of nature his latter years were doubtless made happy by the coming of grandchildren to play on his knee. He had passed three score years and ten, and on the 20th day of February, 1 714-15, his earthly career was closed. The enumeration of his real and personal property disclosing, as it does, varied possessions of a man of wealth in that time, aggregating £1639, 14 shillings, 11 pence, equivalent at this time to about $50,000 is worth of the space required for its presentation. The items of tankard, cordial-cup and drinkingcup indicate that he maintained the hospitalities required of a country gentleman. Judge Samuel Sewell of Boston was a guest at his house in the spring of 1702, while on a journey to Gay Head, and doubtless sipped sack-posset from these same cups.

the Vineyard in his letters regarding affairs upon the Vineyard written during the period of his pohtical activities. They are the only documents extant dealing with the personal phases of that remote time, and the motives actuating the characters in the drama, as they appeared to him. To him also are we indebted for two manuscript maps of the island drawn before 1 700, and although crude in execution and sadly lackin§^ in typographical accuracy, yet they contain valuable informatic'^ nowhere else to be found. Facsimiles of various portions ot these maps appear in other portions of this work.

In the graveyard at West Tisbury carved with the gruesome emblems of mortality a slate stone tells the passing stranger where lies the m^ortal remains of Tisbury' s first great citizen.

or homestead The land in Tississa Neck The land in Charles Neck The land in the Oldtown or Edgartown the meadow in Chilmark the land at Keephegon the small parcels lands between the Pine

4thly Money and household stufif Province bills one silver tankard 6 silver spoons one silver cup one silver porringer one bed with furniture one do do

John Case

This early settler came to Tisbury from parts unknown about 1 68 1, as the first knowledge we have of him is found in a town vote on December i6th of that year, when a home lot was granted to him on the north side of New Mill river, adjoining the Chilmark boundary line. His connection with any of the contemporary families of this name in other parts of New England has not been established/ He married, probably after his settlement here. Desire (13) daughter of

'There were several Case families in Connecticut and Rhode Island before 1700 and the indications point to the former colony as the early home of our settler. Most of his children removed there after his death.

John Manter, by whom he had eight children of record as shown by his will. His career was uneventful and scarcely any references to him appear in the town or county books. He was undoubtedly a young man, perhaps had just reached his majority when he came to Tisbury, and his death occurred in 1705 or 1706, when he was in the prime of life. His will, dated Feb. 5, 1704-5, was probated February 11, 1706, but the estate was not divided until 1720, when the minor children became of age.^ The estate was inventoried at ;^io5, and his son William, a weaver by trade, was made administrator in 1 719, before the final settlement was effected. Descendants of this son William remained in Tisbury till about 1800, but the name became extinct here after that time.^ or derived its name from the Barony of Cathcart in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is not known when he came to this country, nor when he was born. The tradition in the family is that he had been engaged in some of the numerous border or clan wars of the period, and received a wound from a bullet which he carried to his death. The first record of him on the Vineyard is in 1690 when he purchased a lot of land in Tisbury from Arthur Biven, a tract of twenty acres in the northernmost home lot on the west side of Old Mill brook.^ He married about this time, Phebe, daughter of Thomas Coleman of Nantucket, and it is probable that the young Highlander "set up his Ebenezer" at once in the new town.* Here he began the occupation of innkeeper, which he followed throughout his life,^ and in March, 1693, he was chosen town clerk, an office which he likewise held to the date of his decease. In 1696 he bought a new homestead lot on the west side of the South (Chilmark) road, just south of the Whiting estate, and in 1706 added the southern half of this lot, making in all about thirty acres. Here he conducted a "shop," kept an ordinary and acted as town and proprietors' clerk until the spring of 1 718 when death terminated his career.^ His birth is estimated as in 1650, and he was therefore about 68 years of age. His widow Phebe, who was evidently many years his junior (she was b. June 15, 1674), married Samuel Athearn the following year. Five sons and six daughters of Robert and Phebe Cathcart are known, though no record of their birth exists, and while the family was prominent in Tisbury through that century, it is now extinct in the male line on the island.^ Branches of it resided in Nantucket and western Massachusetts during the last century, and descendants may be traced throughout the United States.^

It is supposed that the name "Scotchman's Bridge" in West Tisbury derived its name from Robert Cathcart, who may have built it, or from one of his sons.

Edward Cottle

This early settler of Tisbury was born about 1628, and although a discrepancy exists in the records a^ to this point*, it is considered more probable that this represents the date of his birth, rather than ten years earlier. He first settled in that part of Salisbury now known as Amesbury, Massachusetts. There is extant a statement made by him of his experiences there which is printed here as the best account of the reasons which caused him to move from that place: -

* * * "I the sd Edward Cottle obtained among other lands a tract called the Lion's mouth being a neck of land * * * & built a sufficient house - sd lands possessed many years, which house being providentially burnt together with my goods, I then built a small house att a place called Jamaica, w'thin same township, w'ch being burnt by the Indians (1668) & not being so able in estate as some other of my associates in said parts was necessitated to try what .success I might have by removing to the south-

'He died between Jan. i6 and March 24, 17 18. Administration of his estate was granted to the widow Oct. i, 17 19, two months after her remarriage. He died intestate, and his estate was finally divided in 1739, when the youngest child had come of age (Dukes Co. Prob., Ill, 121).

^he last member of the family to live on the Vineyard was Mrs. Ann Judson (Cathcart) Johnson, widow of Henry C. Johnson and mother of Norman Johnson of Vineyard Haven. She died in 1907.

'Mr. Wallace Hugh Cathcart (Salmon*, Hugh^ Thomas*, Robert^ Gershom', Robert') of Cleveland, Ohio, President of the Western Reserve Historical Society, is a distinguished scion of this Vineyard family and a patron of this work.

wardly part of New England, hopeing the Eastern parts might in time obtain a settled peace that I might then Return, to my inheritance again: but matters occuring Contrary, I purchased a small settlement at ye town of Tisbury in Dukes County afores'd, & being now grown aged & out of hopes of Ever returning" etc., etc.^

This interesting and valuable statement does not disclose his intermediate place of residence, before coming to Tisbury, but we learn that he removed from Amesbury with his wife Judith and a family of six or seven children and migrated to Nantucket about 1668-9, where he resided about seven or eight years. ^ At least four children of record were added to his family there, and then he probably returned to the mainland, taking up a residence at a place called "Mannamoiett." This is probably identical with Monomoy on the southeastern part of Cape Cod. He is mentioned as of that place in 1677, and on March 5, 1677-8, "Edward Cottle & his wife of Mannamoiett, for prophaning the Sabath by quarrelling [were] fined 40s - " with the alternative "to be whipt."^ His stay there was brief, not exceeding three years.

He came to Tisbury about 1680 and is called a "freeholder" in the records as early as 1683. He was chosen one of a committee to procure a new town charter in 1687; to divide proprietors' lands in 1688; a fence viewer in 1688; a constable in 1689, and surveyor of highways in 1699. It is not known where he lived before 1688, but in that year he bought of Thomas Mayhew the eastern half of the home lot of Josiah Standish, consisting of twenty-four acres, now owned by the heirs of the late Henry L. Whiting. It is probable that this had been the site of his residence for some years prior to that date. This he sold to his son John in 1 700, and his declining years were probably spent in Chilmark, perhaps with his son James, as in 1 710 he calls himself a resident of that town and is so designated by others.* There is no record of his death either in the town or probate records. He had disposed of all his property to his son and nothing remained to be divided and made a matter of record. As he was at least 82 years old in 1710 and "grown aged" it is probable he died not long after. By his wife Judith, of whom nothing further

^Essex Co. Deeds, XXI, 231. It is quite probable that he lived in Chickemmoo, then a part of Chilmark, rather than in the present town limits of Chilmark. His son James owned land in Chickemmoo.

Edward Cottle was probably from Wiltshire. In the church at Bradford-upon-Avon in that county there is a mural coat of arms of this family, and the name is frequently found in the records there. The earliest form of the name (1250) is Cotele or Cothele, and the family was early seated at Atworth, Wilts, now called Cottles, near Melksham.^

Joseph Daggett

The youngest son of John Daggett, the pioneer of the family on the Vineyard, was the only representative of that distinguished family in Tisbury. He was born about 1647^ and is particularly noted as having married a native whom we can designate as the Pocahontas of our island. It is believed that she can be identified as the daughter of Thomas Sissetom, a Sagamore of Sanchacantacket, named Alice by the English, and that the marriage occurred some time prior to 1685, as at that date two children of this union were old enough to receive property. Presuming they were eighteen and sixteen respectively that would carry the date of assumed marriage back to 1667, when Joseph was about twenty years of age. It is doubtful if a lawful marriage was consummated. This strange fact is established by a deed on record in which " Puttuspaquin of Sanchacantacket gives to his cousins [nieces] Ellis [Alice] & Hester Daggett" a tract of land which is now known to be in the present limits of Eastville adjoining the ponds on the east bank of the Lagoon.^ This territory is identical with a tract of land granted sixteen years before in 1669 by the sachem Wampamag to ''Ales Sessetom and and probably was a gift in confirmation to the children of Alice of the property originally given to the Indian sisters.* It remained as an inheritance of the two half-breed Daggett girls, Alice and Esther, and was divided between them in 1698, after the latter had married Edward Cottle.^

The Lands & Accomadations of Joseph Doggatt which Leieth in the Township of Takymmy or tisbury on the vineyard as foloeth One halfe house Lot which containeth twenty-five Acres Leying on the east side of the brook where his dwelling house is this present year 1673 bounded the brook on the west ( & the halfe lot which James Redfield hath taken on the south) ( & the halfe lot which Charls Crossthwat hath taken on the north) laid out twenty five rods in bredth by James Allen & Thomas Mayhew & Runing eight score rods Easterly from the brook being twenty five Acres mor or lesse

And halfe the sixth part of the neck by John Eddys of which; halfe the fifth lot is Joseph Doggats leying next to henery lewis his lot leying Acrosse the neck as the neck is devided to every mans lot Contained in the neck As before spoken in the order of devision of the three necks baring date february the first 167 1

This property had its north boundary at the Scotchman's Bridge road on the east side of Old Mill brook, and extended half way down to the Post Office corner. Here his house stood and there played in the front yard the two half-breed children born of the romantic union, Alice (Ellis) and Esther. He maintained his residence until sometime between 1711 and 1 715, when in a deed on latter date to his grand-daughter Esther Cottle, he describes himself "of Edgartown, wheelwright." There is nothing to indicate that he ended his days on his home lot in Takemmy, where he had lived so long.

His public services were of the average kind and quantity. He was surveyor of highways, 1687; committee to divide common lands, etc., 1689, 1690, 1703, 1708; selectman, 1689, 1693, 1695; pound keeper, 1690; constable, 1697; and had other small duties at various times till 1716. When he died is not known, nor the place of his burial. Equal uncertainty exists as to his Indian wife. It is probable that he was living on March 5, 1720, when as one of the proprietors of the town he executed a deed with fourteen others to a purchase of some common lands.

Of his children, Joseph,^ the only known son, married and had issue, descendants of which are represented to-day in the lines shown under his family in the genealogical portion of this work in the Daggett, Huxford and Enoch Norton lines. Through these claim can be made of descent from the Vineyard Pocahontas, Alice Sessetom, the Indian bride of Joseph Daggett. Esther^, the second daughter, married Edward

Cottle sometime between 1690 and 1698, and she had deceased before June 10, 1708 (Deeds, II, 184). Issue of this marriage was but one daughter named Esther, who probably married (i) a Harding (and had a son Shubael) and (2) Manasseh Kempton. It is not possible to say whether issue is now represented on the Vineyard. The oldest daughter of Joseph, Ellis^ (Alice) left quite a record for a girl of her age and antecedents. She had three children born out of wedlock named for their presumptive fathers, Henry Luce, Samuel Look and Patience Allen. This unfortunate half-breed was made of better stuff than would be inferred from comtemplating this promiscuous progeny. She was evidently honest, honorable and thrifty, and true to her offspring. She did not live beyond middle life, as her will dated March 19, 1711, when she must have been not much over forty, was probated two months later. It is a legal condition that illegitimate children cannot inherit property, but her will devises real and personal estate to each of her children by name, and as the will was allowed and the real estate passed to the one called Henry Luce, who later disposed of it, this would seem to act as a legitimation of this anomalous family. Henry Luce so-called received his share of the property originally given by the Sachem Wampamag to Alice Sessetom; Samuel Luce was given fy, and Patience Allen the movable estate. Her father, Joseph Daggett, was named as executor, and fulfilled the trust (Probate, I, 31). Altogether it was a very creditable transaction on her part. It is not known what became of these children, but the presumption is that they became united with their Indian associates, and finally lost identity among them, if they survived to adult life.

John Eddy

Among the passengers for New England in the ship "Handmaid," sailing in 1630, ' I ^ was Samuel Eddy, who settled at Plymouth and became a resident of that town until his death. The name as spelled in the Colony records is Eedy, Eedey, Edeth, Eddy and Edy.^ He was a tailor by trade and by his wife Elizabeth "having many children and not able to bring them up as they desire" he bound them out to their neighbors as they became old enough to be of service. The first of these apprentices of record is Jolin Eddy, born on Christmas day, 1637, who was placed in the care of Francis Goulder of Plymouth, yeoman, April 3, 1645, being then under eight years of age/ Contemporaneously with this Plymouth family of Eddys there lived in Watertown, Mass., another family, the father of whom was John, and who also came to Plymouth in 1630 in the "Handmaid."^

John Eddy left Plymouth prior to 1632 and settled at Watertown, where he became a freeman in 1634 and resided there until 1684, the year of his death, being then ninety years of age.^ By his wife Amy he had a son John, b. (February 6, 1636-7, just ten months before our John of Plymouth came along, and who is the one entered as "Deced December 27: 1707" in the Watertowm records.* It does not appear that he left any issue, as his brother Samuel in his will dated Aug. 6, 1702, makes provision for the maintenance of "my brother John Eddi during his natural life."^ It is evident that he was then without a family, in straitened circumstances and perhaps ''a little distempered" mentally as his father had been. This Watertown family had the names of John, Samuel, Caleb and Benjamin, as did the Plymouth branch.

Another John Eddy lived contemporaneously with these two just mentioned, in the person of John Eddy or Eddway, carpenter of Taunton in 1660, and as John of Plymouth bought land in Taunton that year, which was bounded by John the carpenter's land, it makes a pretty good foundation for some confusion which earlier investigators did not successfully escape.^ Whence came this John to Taunton is not known,

'In 1647 and 1653 his younger brothers, Zachary, aged 7, and Caleb, aged 9, were "put out" to John Brown of Rehoboth. The town records contain only the names of five children born to Samuel and Elizabeth, not enough to be called "many," so a number of others must have been born and died early.

''Ward, 274. There is no proven connection yet established between Samuel and John, though it is a reasonable supposition that they were near relatives. It is stated that John of Watertown, born about 1595, was son of Rev. William Eddy of Bristol, later of Cranbrook, England, who had been educated at St. Johns and Trinity Colleges, Cambridge, and received the degree of Master of Arts in 1591 at Cambridge University. The young graduate became a clergyman and received the appointment as Vicar of St. Dunstan's, Cranbrook, Kent, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1616, after a service of twenty-five years. (Bond, Watertown, 203.)

*He had married, probably, before 1677, the date of his father's will. A bequest of £30 was made to him contingently, payable in £^ installments, annually, by his brother Samuel (Middlesex Probate, VI, 301).

but he is distinct from our pioneer. He may have been a half brother, or even a full brother, though bearing the same name, as there are a number of vi^ell-known instances of this double nomenclature in New England families. John of Taunton had two wives, Susanna Paddock and Deliverance Owen, and died in 1695 leaving three sons and five daughters.*

Having disposed of two other Johns whose contemporary life has possibly some family interest, the fortunes of our John of Plymouth will now be related. His apprenticeship with Francis Goulder terminated in 1658 and he had during that period learned the trade of a blacksmith. In what way he became attracted to the Vineyard is only a matter of conjecture, but presumably through the representations of John Daggett, senior, whose daughter he married later. Under date of Dec. 28, 1659, the following entry occurs in the Edgartown records: The town [of Great Harbor] voted "to pay the charge of the Smiths Transportation hither if he Desires: this is John Edy of Plymouth."^ This offer made to the young blacksmith was accepted by him in the next year as we find that on Oct. 22, 1660, he was the owner of one share in the town lands "given him by the Town."

This undoubtedly marks the date of his removal hither, as from that time forth his name is found on the town and county records each succeeding year. It is quite certain that he came here in 1660 as a married man, as it is known that his wife was Hepzibah Daggett, daughter of John, and that a daughter Alice was born to them May 3, 1659. John Daggett sold to his son-in-law a homestead six acres, a portion of a ten-acre lot in that town believed to be on the "Line," but it has not been possible to identify the exact location.^ There were born to him his first five children prior to his removal to Tisbury. Meanwhile he was attending to his smithing and qualifying as an inhabitant under the requirements. He was a member of the train band in 1662 and constable the same year. On May 11, 1663, having remained three years a town, it was voted that he should "have a lot tery on Tower Hill, having a frontage of 14^ rods on the harbor. As proprietor he participated in all the divisions of land during his residence in Edgartown, and in 1667 was granted one sixth of the West Chop neck by Governor Mayhew/ This incident will be found explained elsewhere. At this time the project for the purchase of Takemmy was under consideration, and he entered into negotiations with the three partners for admission as a proprietor in the proposed new settlement. Accordingly he offered his lands at Homes Hole as an exchange for this right, as shown in the following document : -

Know all men by these presents that I John Eddy of the town of great-harbour upon the Vineyeard do for myself my heires and assignes sell unto William Pebody Josias Standish and James Allin I say I do sell my whole accomodations lying at Holmes his hole being on sixth part of that which was bought of the Indians by thomas Layton of Rode Island and this I do for and in consideration that the for s'd William Pebody Josias Standish and James Allin are to lett me the said Eddy have five pounds worth of Land at Takemmy at the same Rate as they bought it of the Indians provided that the sd Eddy demand it within two years after the date hereofe as also they shall let me have one Lote among them to live upon I the sd Eddy paying for it at the rate that they buy of the Indians the afores'd five pounds worths to be part of the Lote if I do not demand the Land and live upon it then to pay me five pounds at the end of the s'd 2 years the payment to made in current pay at prices current and in wittness of the premises I have hereunto set my hand this 29 of June 1669

Memorandum - that the lote mentioned is to be one whole accomodation of the town now to be setled and that if ye town be not settled then the fores'd land at holmes his hole to be returned to me the s'd Eddy in wittness to all the premises I haye set hereunto my hand the day and year above s'd John Eddy '

Within two years, the new township being an assured success, he was granted a lot by the proprietors, on May 20, 1671, "if he com according to compacicion," and he came.' Thenceforth he was identified with Tisbury till the close of his life. Eight years ilater he sold all his Edgartown property to John Coffin, with the exception of some small divisions on the necks.'* In 1680 he was a defendant in a suit brought by Simon Athearn for trespass and defamation, and acted as a juror later in the same year.^ He was chosen constable of Tisbury in 1683, 1684, 1692; selectman, 1687, 1688, 1693, 1696, 1697, 17005 tithingman, 1699; besides acting in several minor capacities on committees appointed by the proprietors or freeholders. His last public office was held in 1711, when he was chosen constable, being then in his 73rd year. He had provided for his declining years by an arrangement with his son Benjamin in 1706, by which all his property was given to this only son on attaining his majority in consideration of support during the remainder of his life.^ But this was destined to be broken by the early death of Benjamin, May 19, 1709, in his 24th year. By a will however the son, who had married, required his wife as executrix to see "that agreement I have with my honored father and mother, John and Hepsibah Eddy touching their annual allowance shall be well and faithfully observed."^ In the month following his death, Hannah, the widow of Benjamin, on June 4th, evidently desirous of being relieved of the support of the aged couple, transferred the entire property to John^ Manter, grandson of John Eddy, in consideration of his assuming the "agreement between John & Benjamin Eddy about his son to the value of fy annually for the support of John Eddy and wife living in one end of the house." The Eddy homestead property became absorbed into the Manter holdings on Dec. 20, 17 10, by a deed to his grandson, the son of his daughter Hannah Manter.' This homestead of forty acres was located on the east side of the Old Mill brook abutting the Mill path, on which it had a frontage of 160 rods, running east, and a depth of 40 rods. During the following five years of his life John Eddy requires but little notice. He held no public office and beyond disposing of scattered property holdings to his children and others his name does not occur on the records. He died May 27, 171 5, aged 78 years, and his widow died May 3, 1726, aged 83 years, both lying together in the West Tisbury cemetery, having wellpreserved stones. His estate was almost all disposed of during his lifetime, except a few pieces of outlying property and personal estate which he bequeathed in an unrecorded will dated Dec. 24, 1715.

In the name of God amen: This Twenty Fourth Day of December Anno Domini 17 14, I John Eddy of the Town of Tisbury in Dukes County in New England being of perfect mind & memory Yet Considering the

^Dukes Probate, I, 27. The son had probably married in Boston. His will is dated there, and after his death the widow removed to that place and remarried. A Hannah Eddy m. Thomas Cole June 22, 1710 (Boston Record Com. Reports, XXVIII, 277).

mortallity of my Body do make & ordain this my Last will and Testament, viz: Principally and first of all I Give & Recomend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recomend to the Earth to be Interred in decent Christian manner att the Discretion of my Executors, and as to my worldly Estate I give & dispose the same in the following manner and form: -

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Hepzibah Eddy the sole and entire use and Improvement and Comand of all and singular my reall and personall estate that I sd John Eddy shall Decease seized of in my own proper right During her Natural Life together with all my Just Dues and Debts from any person or persons whatsoever Excepting out of my personal estate one chest comonly called and known by the Name of My Chest (By the family) and which I give to my grandson Samuel Manter, and one Iron Dripping pan which I gave to my Daughter Hannah Manter.

2. I give & bequeath all my household goods which may remain and be Left att the death of the sd Hepzibath Eddy my wife & all my Live or quick Stock or any moneys that may then be Due to me unto my Daughter Abigail Eddy & to her proper use and benefitt.

3. I give & bequeath to my Daughters Hannah Manter and Beulah Coffin all the lands belonging to me sd Jno Eddy Lying on the East side of the old mill Brook in Tisbury to be equally Divided between them.

4. I further give & bequeath to my Daughters Abigail Eddy all the Lands belonging to me sd Jno Eddy on the West side of the Old Mill Brook in Tisbury being Part of Two of those Lotts of Land Comonly called the Hill Lotts with all the priviledges and appurtenances thereunto Belonging And I also give to my Daughter Abigail Eddy & my Grandson Sam'l Manter all my share and Part of the Comon undivided Lands throughout the Township of Tisbury which Contains one whole share in Commons to be divided equally Between them.

5. Furthermore I give and bequeath to my grand son Sam'l Manter all that percell and tract of Land which belongeth to me sd Jno Eddy Lying in the Township of Chilmark, (which was formerly purchased by me and my son in Law John Manter of Major Matt: Mayhew of Edgarttown) to be his and his heirs ferever with all Priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging

And I do Constitute make and ordain my well beloved and Trusty friends Mr. Benjamin Manter of Tisbury & Mr. James Allen of Chilmark the Executors of this my Last will and Testament.

And I do hereby utterly revoke disallow and make void all and every other former wills & Testaments Legacys bequests and executors by me in any ways att any Time before named Willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will & Testament.

Signed sealled Published and ordared by the Sd John Eddy as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers, viz: Josiah Torrey Sarah Torrey William Case

The death of this prominent citizen and his only son without male issue before him removed the name of Eddy henceforth from our records, but it has survived as a baptismal name in several families. The following are his children :

Edward Hammett

The first of this name to reside in Tisbury came here from Taunton, at the solicitation of Matthew Mayhew, who deeded to him in 1706 a tract of land in Chilmark, "to give incouragement to Cloathing."^ Edward Hammett was by trade a worsted comber, and took up his residence in that part of the town now known as North Tisbury. He was married in Taunton in 1704 to Experience Bowles of that place and brought his wife and one child to his new home. Here ten more children were born to him, four sons and seven daughters in all, of whom Jonathan and Robert remained on the Vineyard to perpetuate the name. The daughters married here also. Beyond doing his citizen duty as juryman occasionally, he held few public offices during his residence here. He served as constable, tithingman, and surveyor of highways, the latter for a considerable period till his death, and these compose his career as a town officer. He died March 20, 1745, in the 66th year of his age, which makes the year 1679-80 the date of his birth. His wife survived

'Dukes Deeds, II, 72. Nothing has been developed regarding his antecedents. There is a fantastic legend about him to the effect that his mother, a beautiful English girl was captured from a ship by some Algerian pirates and she became the consort of the chief. A son was born who bore the name of Hamid and when he grew up his mother told him the secret of his birth and bade him escape to her own people, which advice he followed. Those who wish to believe this story will probably do so. There were Hammets living in Plymouth, Newport and Boston contemporaneously with Edward of Tisbury, but no relationship between them is evident.

him. In his will dated March i6, 1744-5, which was probated on May 7th following, he mentioned all his children.^ In the census of 1850 three families of this name lived in the town.

Jonathan Lambert

This pioneer of a numerous family came from the Cape as one of the later settlers, about 1692-3, having been previously a resident of Barnstable. He was born in 1657 and had married Elizabeth Eddy, daughter of John Eddy of this town in 1683, and this relationship was doubtless the influence which brought him here. He had served in the famous expedition to Quebec in 1690 under Sir William Phips, but after this single essay in military life he settled down on the Vineyard to follow the peaceful occupation of carpenter.^ In 1694 he bought a tract of land bordering on Great James pond of the Sachem Josias, and ever since that date the name of Lambert's Cove has been a memorial of his residence in that region.^ Here he lived until his death, and his sons and grandsons remained on the paternal acres until it became thoroughly indentified with the family. His life was uneventful as he was a deaf mute, and the records give but little to indicate any public activities. Two of his children were also unfortunately afflicted with congenital deaf mutism, the first known cases on the Vineyard. Sewall refers to him during his visit in 1 714 to the island: "We were ready to be ofif ended that an Englishman, Jonathan Lumbard in the company spake not a word to us, and it seems he is deaf and dumb."* His will, dated March 23, 1736-7, was probated Oct. 3, 1738, and his death occurred between those dates. ^ He left three sons and four daughters, the latter of whom married on the mainland. Ebenezer and Beulah, the mutes, remained single.

Thojvias Look

^He received a share in Narragansett township No. i (Gorham, Me.) for military service. In 1695 Jonathan Lambert, master of the Brigantine Tyral, was despatched to Quebec to bring back prisoners from that place. This may be our early settler.

^Dukes Probate, III, i. In his will he provides as follows: "considering my two Poor children that cannot speake for themselves, I Earnestly Desire that my son Jonathan and my Trusty Beloved friend David Butler, after the understanding hereof would Please as they have oppertunity to help them in any Lawful way as they shall see need."

father, born about 1622, settled in Massachusetts, whither he had come probably from Scotland to follow his trade at the newly established iron foundry at Lynn. The name Look is derived from the biblical Luke, and the first settler so spelled it. It is a name found in Scotland before 1600 among the rentallers of the Archbishop of Glasgow.^ Thomas, the collier, became one of the original ten associates of Salisbury in 1659 who purchased Nantucket, and through this transaction his son Thomas, born June, 1646, removed to that island about 1670 and took up the share as a settler. There he married Elizabeth Bunker, and four of his six known children are recorded as born there.

The date of his removal to Tisbury may be placed about 1685-6, as he made the first purchase of land in town on Feb. 15, 1686, acquiring of Joseph Merry the valuable water and mill privilege on the Tiasquin which his descendants improved for over a century.^ Here he spent the rest of his days, following the occupation of a miller until his death. He was a selectman in 1688 and 1695, surveyor of highways in 1689, and deputy sheriff of the county in 1699, besides the usual services as juror. He was one of four dissenters against extending a call to Rev. Josiah Torrey as minister, but the reasons for this are not known. ^

His will, dated Dec. 4, 1725, when he was four score years of age, was signed with "his mark," probably because of infirmities or disability from illness. It was probated in January, 1726, and we may conclude that he had died in the latter part of the previous year, making some allowance for the time before the will was presented for the action of the court. ^ He called himself ''miller" in this testament, and bequeathed all his property to his son Samuel and five daughters.

Henry Luce

'In the next century there were several opulent merchants of the name of Luke in the city of Glasgow. It is also of record that a considerable number of Scotchmen were employed at the Lynn Iron Works (Essex Antiquarian, XII, 70). A Thomas. Lucke was a merchant of Penthurst, Co. Kent, in 1662 (Suff. Deeds, IV, 35).

on November 13, 1666, when he was a juror in Scituate, where he may have resided, and in 1668 he was admitted as a proprietor of purchased lands in Rehoboth/ The similarity of the name to Lewis, together with the varieties of spelling both names in early records, renders identification difficult. Lewis was written Luis, Luice, Lewes; and Luce appears as Lews, Lewse, Luice and Luse. The origin of the name is unknown to the author, as it is of the rarest occurrence in early English records, though the name Lucie or Lucy is well known. The Connecticut branch has a tradition that the family is of Huguenot extraction, while another statement is to the effect that it originated in Wales. ^ When he came to the Vineyard, or through what connection, is not known, but he had acquired before Feb. i, 1671, a home lot on the west side of Old Mill river about forty rods north of Scotchman's Bridge road.^ There is no record of the purchase, and he is not known to have been related to any of the settlers in the town. When he came here he had already married, probably in Scituate, Remember, daughter of Lawrence and Judith (Dennis) Litchfield of that town, about 1666, and had brought with him two or more children to his new home. His wife was born about 1644, and estimating him a few years older it would make 1640 as the probable date of his birth. He joined the "Dutch Rebellion" of 1673; was chosen surveyor of highways, 1675; juror, 1677, 1681, and selectman, 1687; the last recorded appearance of his name being on May 12 of that year. In March, 1689, his widow Remember is mentioned, and his death occurred between those dates. He was then a comparatively young man, but left behind him ten sons, all of whom married and seven of them begat large families to perpetuate the name. In 1807 there were 41 distinct families of Luce on the Vineyard, the largest quota of any of the island patronymics, and it has probably maintained the supremacy in the century which followed.

Besides his home lot, he owned at Great Neck, and by the several proprietors' divisions had land at Kepigon. To this he added by purchase 60 acres in Christian town border-

^History of Windham, Conn; comp. N. E. Hist. Gen. Reg., XXXI, 415. The spelling of the name in the island records is uniformly Luce and his signature is in that form. There was a Thomas Luce in Charlestown, according to Farmer (Gen. Dictionary), who had a son Samuel b. 1644, but of whom nothing further is heard. It is probable that this was Lewis.

ing on Great James pond. There is no record of any division of his estate among the heirs, all minors probably at the time of his death, but there are scattering references to such an allotment. The same obscurity attends the wife and widow of Henry Luce as followed him. This grand old Puritan mother of ten children was living as late as 1708, but the date of her death or burial place is not known. She left not less than 42 grandchildren, of whom twenty were boys, on the Vineyard, which is exclusive of those of the Connecticut and New Jersey branches.

John Manter

This early settler in the town was one of the Cape Cod men. He was first known there at Eastham, when in 1657 he was admitted as a freeman, under the name of John Mantah.' From this, supposing him to have been at least 21 years of age, the date of his birth can be placed at 1636 or thereabouts. In 1668 he was on a coroner's jury in the case of the accidental death of Isaac Robinson, Jr., of Barnstable, older brother of our Isaac. ^

John Manter married Martha, daughter of Bernard Lambert, July i, 1657, who was born in Barnstable Sept. 19, 1640, and died in Tisbury Oct. 3, 1724. Eight children of record were born to them. At some date unknown, probably before 1668, he removed to Falmouth, then called Succonessit, where he acquired considerable property. He remained there until 1677, when he became attracted to the Vineyard and effected an exchange of his house and lands there on Dec. 24, 1677, with Nathaniel Skiff e, one of the early proprietors of this town. He gave Skiff e

"my house with threescore acres of land adjoining thereunto; all other housing appertaining thereunto lying and being in the township of Sacconessit in the Collonie of New Plymouth with a whole share of meadow lying in the great marsh with a share of meadow in the little marsh which I bought of Jonathan Hatch with all my meadow lying at the Bass pond with half a town right in all undivided lands and meadows with all and singular privileges and apputrenances whatsoever thereunto belonging.'"

'The name being an unusual one was frequently misspelled in the Cape Cod records and appears as Martin occasionally. 'Plymouth Col. Rec, V, 7. 'Dukes Deeds, I, 272.

For some reason this did not suit his purpose and on May 4, 1678, he bought of Thomas^ Mayhew the seven-acre lot on the east side of the Chilmark road, at the turn opposite the church, together with that part of a "neck of land" adjoining on the south, and east of ''Merrys Field," and a half lot to the north, formerly belonging to James Skiffe, Jr. These properties remained in the family by inheritance for several generations. Two years later he sold the Standish lot to Mayhew.^

John Manter began early a career of usefulness in the town. He was on a committee to lay out land, Sept. 29, 1677,' his first recorded appearance here, and in 1679 and 1689 was chosen surveyor of highways. In 1681 he was a juror and in 1692 was appointed as Ensign in the Foot Company of Tisbury. This military instinct seemed to be transmitted to his descendants, particularly through the line of Whitten,' whose sons Robert and Jeremiah served in the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. He was chosen selectman in 1699, 1703, 1704, 1705, and had acted in behalf of the town in minor capacities previous to those dates. ^ By this time he was about three score and ten and sons had grown up about him to take his place, both destined to follow in the footsteps of their father as useful citizens.

He died probably early in 1708, as his will, dated Sept. 12, 1698, was admitted to probate May 25, 1708, and the last time his name appears in the town records is March 28, 1707, in a division of land.* The following is an abstract of his will : -

To Son John all my land at "Keephegon" and all my several shares of land in the necks eastward from the Old Mill Brook, and half a common write in said town.

To Son Benjamin my Dwelling house, with all my lands both meadow land and upland ajoining thereto with all out housing and fencing whatsoever thereto belonging and also half a common write in said town.

It will be seen that Benjamin inherited the homestead, and then, after his father's death, added by purchases of his own, the entire section bounded by the Chilmark road, Mill