Dukes County, Massachusetts - The whole text, 1911 (part 8 of 15)

*Mass. Arch., XCIX, 24. Captain Peter Norton was promoted to be Major of the County Regiment in the place of Benjamin Manter, who had been made a general officer in the regiment. Eliakim Norton succeeded Peter Norton in command of the first company.

Ensign; and the second under command of David Butler as Captain, with Noah Look as Lieutenant and William Foster as Ensign. In 1765, the peace having been established, there was but one company thereafter in the town; and on that date it was commanded by James Athearn as Captain, Noah Look as Lieutenant, and Russell Hancock as Ensign.* Particulars are wanting for details of military matters until the time of the Revolution, when such interests became merged in the general county organization. It is probable that Nathan Smith, who had seen active service in the previous wars, was a leading spirit in the foot company of Tisbury before the Revolution. The part played by this town in that great national struggle has been related. Since then the martial spirit has not been manifest in the organization of parading companies of citizen soldiery in times of peace. It is doubtful if any such existed; but if so, they were short lived and no records remain to tell the tale.

Contemporaneous with Isaac Chase at Homes Hole, Robert Cathcart became a taverner in the present village of West Tisbury. In 1701 he was licensed "to keep publike house of Entertainment," and for many years after, probably till his death about 1719, ''Kith carts," as it was called, was one of the well-known hostelries of that day. It was located on the west side of Old Mill river, not far from the store now occupied by S. M. Mayhew & Co. A diary of the visit of the famous Judge Samuel Sewall to the Vineyard in 1702, describes the local taverns he patronized on his journey. After embarking at Wood's Hole, he says: -

Have a good passage over in little more than hours time. Refresh at Chases; from thence rode to Tisbury. First man I speak with is Joseph Daggett: he tells me Kithcart keeps an Ordinary: we go thither, the daylight being almost spent. Mr. Robinson's son helps us and bears company awhile.

In 1722 Samuel Cobb and Samuel Athearn were licensed as inn-holders, the latter probably to fill the void left by the death of Cathcart. Cobb lived on the lot now occupied by the post office, his land extending to the brook. As he married Isaac Chase's daughter, the instinct for tavern keeping came to him by marriage, and it is probable that he continued the business through his long life. He died in 1786. Samuel Athearn married the widow of Cathcart and doubtless continued the business at the old tavern made famous by his predecessor. He was called in 1722 a '^ shopkeeper," and it is probable that her house was a combination residence, inn and general ''store."

On the opposite side of the road from the old Cathcart House stands the building known in 1850 as ''the Travelers Home," then kept by William Athearn, and in later years called the Tyasquin House.

The situation of West Tisbury has been such that there has been no demand for taverns in its limits, as transient travelers were infrequent visitors to the centre of the island and such as came were guests of private individuals.

The natural topography of the Vineyard does not favor the employment of water-power, because there are no large streams on the island, and the fall of water in the small brooks is not sufficient to develop considerable horse-power. The value of a mill privilege was recognized by every community in the settlement of New England, and Tisbury was the only town on the island able to profit by her natural advantages. Thomas Mayhew, Sr., in a letter to John Winthrop of Conn., Aug. 6, 1 65 1, says, "we here have greate want of a mill and there is one with you that I here is a verry ingenuous man possible you can dispense a while with him that you would be pleased to doe it & wee shall rest much obleidged unto you for it." Whether anything came of this is not recorded, nor is^ it known what kind of a mill was contemplated, as there is no water-power in Edgartown. It is probable that it resulted in the erection of a mill on the large brook flowing

Old Mill On The Tiasquin The View Shows The Ancient Type Of Undershot Wheel

The mills of the early days on the island were all operated by the under-shot wheel, as there was not sufficient fall of water to use the other form. The under-shot wheel was set directly in the running stream or placed close to a sluice leading from the dam. The water was admitted by a gate at the bottom of the dam. The wheel, made of wood securely ironed, had stays projecting from its rim, upon which stout planks, called floats, and also palettes, extended along its length.

The mill privilege on Old Mill river, the larger and more valuable, seems to have been unused for nearly a century after the "first purchase," as we have no record of a mill on that stream until 1760, except that it was a site "where a mill anciently stood." It is probable that the first mill erected there before the white settlement was a crude affair, and that it had fallen into decay. The erection of a mill on the Tiasquin in 1668 or 1669 seems to warrant such an inference, as there could be no urgent business requiring the capacity of two mills so near together. We are reduced to such speculations for want of a definite allusion to the continued existence of a mill on this stream in any records of property transfers covering this ancient site. The location of the mill was on the Josiah Standish home lot, which after several transfers came into the possession, in 1688, of Edward Cottle, and by him was sold in 1700 to his son John. The early death of John in 1705, leaving a widow and three young children, prevented any development of the property and the estate was not divided till 1726, when Sylvanus, the oldest son, attained his majority.

At what time the mill was erected cannot be told, but Sylvanus in a deed dated August 11, 1760, sold to Samuel Cobb his dwelling house, barn "and my Mill with every utensil &c."^ A month later, Manter disposed of his half of this mill to Barnard Case, July 26, 1765,^ and on Sept. 11, 1769, Cobb sold his moiety to Rev. George Daman for ;^24, who thus combined the work of grinding out sermons and corn for the parishioners of his flock. But this association of material and spiritual garnering of wheat and separation of. the chaff, lasted only a brief time, for the parson sold his interest to Case on Jan. lo, 1770,^ and thereafter, till his death, Barnard Case operated the mill. By his will, he bequeathed it in 1792, to his sons William and James, to he held in equal shares,^ the latter of w^hom parted with his half Feb. 7, 1797, to Cornelius Dunham.^ This share passed from Dunham to Samuel Hancock, May 19, 1802,'' and seven years later, July 12, 1809, to David Look.^ Look had purchased, two years previously, William Case's share, March 18, 1807, and thus became the sole proprietor of the two grist mills on the Old and New Mill rivers.^ But he did not intend to enter into competition with himself as a grist miller by this purchase, for he utilized the power for carding wool by machinery, and further enlarged its usefulness by adding looms for weaving woolen cloth. For a quarter of a century under his ownership, the click of the shuttle and the noise of the treadles and looms responded to the swish of the water in the mill-race. After his death, in 1837, the property was managed by his widow for eight years, when she sold it for $1800 to Thomas Bradley, June 12, 1845,^ who continued the business of manufacturing woolen cloths.^ On May 27, 1859 Bradley sold this to Henry Cleveland for $3000,^ and on Nov. 3, 1874 it passed into the hands of the late Thomas G. Campbell for a consideration of $1700.^^ It is now a part of the Campbell estate and its use as a woolen mill ceased in a few years.

Farther up Old Mill river, where Dr. Daniel Fisher built his grist mill, another power was available and was early ulitized. This property belonged to Simon Athearn originally and descended to sons and grandsons. When a mill was erected

*Seven hands were employed and the annual production was 7000 yards of Satinet, 9000 yards of Kersey and 6000 pounds of rolls, of the total value of about $10,000 (Census, 1850).

there is not known, but the brook shows the remains of an old dam, and the grist mill of Ezra Athearn is mentioned in 1792. It had doubtless been in operation many years before that.

Tiasquin River

Benjamin Church of Duxbury built the first grist mill in this town about 1668, ''which mill standeth uppon the westermost Brook of Takemmy," a speculative venture in common with that of his townsmen, Pabodie and Standish. He sold it Nov. 19, 1669 for ;^i2o to Joseph Merry of Hampton, together with one eighth part of the first ''purchase." Merry operated this as a grist mill until March 5, 1675, when he disposed of it to Tristram Coffin, Sr., of Sherbourne, Nantucket,^ from whom it passed into the possession of Jethro Coffin of Mendon, his grandson. The last named sold the "corn or grist mill" July 5, 171 5, to Thomas Look, who resided on the property and had been operating the mill in behalf of the owner. ^ Thomas Look, who was then nearing three score and ten, held this mill but three years, when "for love and good will" he transferred it, Aug. 7, 1718, to his son Samuel.^ The son continued the business of grinding the grist that came to his doors for thirty years, when he in turn "for love and affection" sold it to his youngest sons, Noah and Job, Jan. 29. 1748.^ The two brothers followed in the footsteps of their forbears until Nov. 14, 1763, when Job disposed of his moiety to his older brother Elijah.^

The business was then carried on by the new proprietors until May 7, 1777, at which date Elijah purchased Noah's interest^ and thenceforth conducted the mill alone, until his death, Jan. 29, 1800, at which time it passed by inheritance to his sons, Robert and Elijah, Jr.*^ On Sept. 4, 1804 Elijah, Jr. sold his interest to his cousin David (the son of Job), and on June 19, 1805 Robert sold his right and title to the same person.® David Look kept the mill running for over thirty years until his death, April 28, 1837, when his widow succeeded to the business and kept it in operation during a long widowhood and until near the end of her life. She died Jan, 15, 1877, ^i^d David N. Look, a grandson of Robert, bought it of her executors. For two centuries its wheel had turned to the flow of the Tiasquin river.

Of this time it had been in the possession of the Look family for one hundred and fifty-six years, which is almost an unprecedented record of continuity of occupation in the succeeding generations of one family. The last proprietor closed its career as a mill soon after coming into possession, removed the building and converted it to other uses.

The second mill built on this water-course before 1850 was set further up the stream and was owned by Matthew Allen. It came into the possession of his son-in-law, Captain George Luce, who rebuilt the property about i860 and operated it for twenty years or more as a grist mill.

Educational

One of the first landmarks in the town was a building designated in 1669 as ''the school house," situated on the path that now is known as the South road, near the Chilmark line. The time of its erection could not have been much earlier than that date, unless it was one of the places where the Indian youths were taught by the younger Mayhew as a part of the missionary work. No actual reference to a school in the town appears in the records until nearly seventy years after this date, and we are left in doubt as to the existence of a public school during this time. In 1675 Simon Athearn bewailed the lack of "a scool master to teach our children." There were, perhaps, at that date fifty children of school age in the town, and we cannot suppose that the absence of any records on the subject means that educational matters had no part in the life of the people. In 1724 James Smith "late of Tisbury, schoolmaster," is mentioned in the court records in a suit, and from this casual reference we may conclude that the teaching of the youth was then a private business arrangement among the parents whose children needed instruction. The first action of record taken by the town was in 1737, when a committee was appointed " for Considering & Settling a schoole." This language indicates that no public school system was then in existence. The committee made the following recommendations : -

"The aforsd schoole to be held & keept in Tisbury near the house of Whitten Manter seven months & a half in a year from the time of its Commencing.

2: To be kept & held att Checemmoo near the Common Road betwixt the Dwehng houses of David Butler & John Cottle eleven weeks next Ensuing the aforsd Terme.

The town accepted the report and voted "that there should be a schoolehouse built forthwith as Conveniently may be & to stand at the Easterly corner of Whitten Manters field in sd Tisbury which is to be Twenty feet in length & Sixteen feet in breadth six foot & an half between joints which is to be built & finished suitable for such a use having a Chimney to itt."^ Fifty pounds were appropriated for this building and "a schoole master Provided for that End to Teach children & youth to Read & Write &c."

As far as our knowledge goes this was the beginning of the public school system in Tisbury. From this time forward the yearly disposition of the subject of schools became a matter of quite regular record, and this confirms the above conclusion. The large area of the town, sparsely settled, in three separated village districts, turned the question of teaching children into an inevitable annual quarrel about the time and places where the school sessions should be held. It began almost immediately after the above plan was inaugurated and the townsmen resorted to the usual committee of outsiders to settle the difficulty. Samuel Bassett, Ebenezer Smith and Tristram Coffin of Chilmark and Edgartown were asked to determine whether the school should be "fixed" or "moving" and to devise plans for either method.^ The latter alternative was recommended and a moving school, to be held seven months in West Tisbury and five months each year at Lambert's Cove, was agreed upon by the town.* At this time Samuel Draper, a native of Boston, was employed as school

'Tisbury Records, loi. The house of Whitten Manter was next north of the old cemetery. The school house at Chickemmoo was near the turn of the North Shore road at Lambert's cove.

*Ibid., 103. In 1739 "a house of 14 foot square Conveniently finished for that use," was built at Lambert's cove at a cost of £^0, "together with (what) might be gathered by free Contribution."

In the first place to be keept at homeses hole two months begining at the first begining of the school & then at the School hous at Chickemmo for three months, and then at the place Called Kiphigan that is all to the northward & North westward of the River or Runs of water from Chilmark line to Wasksha so on Including Timothy Luces for two months & then at the School house in Tisbury near the meeting house for the space of five months.'

This plan lasted ten years. In 1758 the school-house near the cemetery was removed to the west side of the road ''near about opposite to a pair of barrs of John Luces near the Dividing Line between sd John Luces Land & the Land of Mercy Luce or her family." This was on the road leading to Middletown, about half way between the two. villages. Another decade almost passed during which the old plan was followed, until 1765, when a revision of the "moving" school plan was determined upon. In that year the town left the question to ''Squire Jeams Athern Mr Maletiah Davis (of Edgartown) and abijah Athern to Purfix a Place Wher It Should Be Cept," for seven months of each year. The spelling and writing in the records just quoted imply the need of considerable schooling, but we are to learn that in 1768 the town abandoned its work in this line and was indicted at the County Court for neglecting to provide school facilities.' Abijah Coye was the next schoolmaster, following Samuel Draper. He came to Tisbury about 1762, married Judith Luce and was first employed in 1770 "to keep the Town Chool the yeare In Suing." In 1776 and 1777 the teaching was done by Henry Young' and in 1 778 by Ebenezer Skiff e (105), afterwards an attorney-at-law.* Fifteen years later (1783) the town again fell under the indictment of the grand jury for

'Tisbury Records, 129. There were no school-houses at the first two named districts and the people resident therein were required to provide suitable "houseroome" during the sessions assigned to them.

'Ibid., 293. There were two persons of this name resident in West Tisbury at that time, Levi and Henry, and it is not possible to say which one served as teacher, but the latter is believed to be the one.

In 1792 a redistricting of the town for school purposes was devised by a committee selected from the various sections. Four districts were laid out, substantially as follows: ist, all residents south of the Old Mill brook, including a line drawn southeast from the turn of the brook in North Tisbury to the bounds of Edgartown; 2nd, all residents north of this brook to the Sound as far as Christiantown ; 3rd, Chickemmoo; 4th, Homes Hole. The sum of £60 was raised "to Support a Lawful School in Tisbuary" and the committee above named was further directed to ''devide the Monney already

District Sett forth as above Males from Twenty one year old and under, and Females from Eighteen years old and under. "^ In 1793 the school appropriation was increased to £70, and after this certain persons in each district were chosen to arrange equitable divisions of these funds raised by taxation. This was probably the beginning of the ofhce of school committee in the town. In 1801 these persons were specifically chosen '*to provide for and Superintend the Schools in the several School districts."^ After this time they were annually elected to attend to these duties.

The first school census of record, in 182 1, shows that there were 255 children in attendance in the three districts now comprised in the bounds of West Tisbury. In 1825 the number was 262 and in 1835 it had fallen to 248 pupils, while in 1870 a further decrease to 124 shows the losses in the town's population. The annual appropriation at this period was $200, or less than one dollar for each child. In 1870 the amount spent averaged about $8.75 each, while in 1900 the total school expenses amounted to nearly $3,000 for sixty scholars, an average of $50 each pupil. This most creditable record must demonstrate the gain in the last century in the estimation of the townsmen of the importance of their public school system.

'Indictments were presented against the town in 1783, 1792 and 1793 for these neglects. In 1787 the town refused to vote any money for schools (ibid., 248, 260, 285, 290). As late as 1810 the town was indicted for the failure to maintain a school (ibid., 353).

In 1797 a movement was started to establish an Academy in this county for the higher education of selected pupils, and Rev. Asarelah Morse, Edmund Cottle and Peter West were chosen in Tisbury "to Join the other Commites that are or may be Chosen in Dukes County for to Consult about the Establishment of an academy."* Nothing definite resulted from this early effort, as far as known, but the seed thus sown bore fruit in the next century. During the term of David Look as Representative to the General Court (1830- 183 5), he secured from the State an appropriation of $3,000 for a County Academy to be located in this town.^ It was completed about 1833, and was located on a commanding site next the Congregational church.^ The original building was sold about 1850 and became the dwelling house of the late Obed Nickerson.

Leavitt Thaxter was the first teacher and he was followed by Robert Coffin. The following list comprises the successive pedagogues to the merging of the institution into the town school system: -

About 1850 a new building was erected and remained in use about twenty years, when it was found to be unsuited for the requirements of its growing patronage. After serving as an "annex" to its successor it was sold and now exists as a carriage house.

^The grave stone of David Look records the fact that "thro' his influence a grant of Three Thousand Dollars was obtained from the state." He died April 28, 1837 aged 70 years.

In 1869-70, during the service of Moses C. Mitchell, and largely through his efforts, a new building was erected with funds in the treasury and added contributions of the citizens, and on Nov. i, 1870 was ready for occupancy. The General Court, in April, 1871, appropriated $5,000 towards this new building, almost the last grant of this kind made by the legislature, and thus the academy fund was reimbursed.

Since 1894 the town and academy have merged their interests in educational matters. A grade equivalent to a High School curriculum is provided, in addition to the grammar and primary grades.

The Public Library

In the autumn of 1890 the late Professor Nathaniel S. Shaler proposed the establishment of a public library in the town, and Rev. Caleb L. Rotch canvassed this section of the Vineyard for the purpose of obtaining financial aid in starting such an institution. Encouraging results were obtained, and on Dec. 29, 1890 a meeting of persons interested was held to perfect a temporary organization. Rev. Mr. Rotch was chosen president, with a secretary, treasurer, executive committee, and Dr. Lyman H. Luce as librarian. This meeting selected the name of "Dukes County Library Association," adopted a constitution and made arrangements for quarters in the Dukes County Academy. Books were purchased with the funds subscribed, many were donated by friends, and from this time until July, 1892 the library was operated in that building. Sanderson M. Mayhew succeeded Rev. Mr. Rotch as president in 189 1 and in May, 1892, it was voted to purchase "Mitchell's School" for a library building. This was accomplished by the aid of outside subscriptions, and the exterior and interior fitted up for the special purposes of a public library.^ The association in 1893 became incorporated under the name of "West Tisbury Free Public Library," and Everett Allen Davis was chosen its first president. At this time it had 11 00 volumes and at the present time about 2500 have been accumulated.

Agricultural Society

The Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society, founded in 1858, has its headquarters in this town. The Hon. Leavitt Thaxter was its first president, and a fair was held that year, the exhibits being displayed in the Academy. In 1859 the Agricultural hall was built, next the church lot and annual fairs have been held ever since in this large and commodious structure.

The layout of the first roads in town, the Mill road, the Scotchman's bridge and the road leading from Nashowakemmuch to North Tisbury, is not of record. The earliest reference to a road is found under date of 1699, when a way "of about 3 Rods broad" from the Old Mill brook to the Sound, was laid out, "between the Ministers Lot & Israel Luces to no other." This road had no real existence elsewhere and probably was never staked out. "Ways" and "Paths" were in existence and in common use, without legal acceptance by the town, from the earliest times. Their course changed at the convenience of the people in driving their carts through the woods and over the hills. ^ Most of them were closed "by Gates and Bars" until within the last hundred years.' Those roads which have some definite history are as follows : -

Mill Path. - The first road in town was the "path" leading from Edgartown to the Old Mill brook. It has already been described (vol. I, p. 460). It was the "great road" of the settlement and a part of the county system of highways.

School House Path. - Contemporary with the Mill path and a continuation of it from the brook to the Chilmark line, was this highway, now the south road. Both of these were old Indian trails.

Scotchman's Bridge Road. - This was the first highway mentioned in the records, as early as 1671, and was doubtless laid out when the home lots were plotted. It was originally the road midway of the lots running east and west the entire section.

Homes Hole Path. - This road led from the Mill path on the east side of the Old Mill brook to Homes Hole, following very nearly the present road over the plain. It is first

*An example of this is to be found in the following record of a layout in 1741: "both sd ways meet Each other at the old way that before Lead from sd Hametts house: the aforesd new way being Cleared of the wood that Grew upon itt by sd agents by Consent of the Owners of the Land."

map of Des Barres (1781), which was the best map of the Vineyard up to that date, shows but one road in West Tisbury, the way leading from Chilmark to the old church and on past the cemetery.

Meeting- House Way. - A path leading west from the School House path (South road), at a point where the Congregational meeting-house now stands, to the head of the home lots, existed before 1 700 and has continued to the present day. It was a "way" used by residents of the Kephigon section to reach the first meeting-house.

The Back Road. - In 1726 there was a formal layout of the road bounding the west headline of the home lots. It began at the meeting-house way and extended to the Scotchman's Bridge road. In 1741 this way continued northward to intersect in Middletown the road on the east side of the brook that led to Christiantown.

Pow-wow Hill Way. - Starting from the Homes Hole path, about sixty rods north of Scotchman's Bridge road, and running along parallel to the brook, a way two rods wide was laid out in 1700 to the present village of Middletown.

LamherVs Cove Road. - This was a way laid out in 1751 by the owners of land as a combination of the North Shore road from West Tisbury village, and it was provided that it should extend through Chickemmoo,'' towards the Northeast as may be best for Conveniancie of Said Road and as may be Leaste for Dammage on each Mans Land untill it comes to goe thro Saviges Line." It then intersected the Homes Hole path near its present junction. In 1770 there was a petition to the Court reciting the need of a road in this section to connect Tisbury and Homes Hole. It is probable that it had never been accepted.

The U. S. Government Services

But one branch of the general government has a representation in the town, the Post Office Department. A mail service was doubtless in operation for a considerable time ^prior to the establishment of a local office here, and it is probable that it was served through the Homes Hole office until 1828, when it was established as an independent mail station. The first postmaster was Willard Luce, who was commissioned Jan. 25, 1828, and the office was designated as Tisbury. The next year it was changed to West Tisbury, and Mr. Luce continued in office for twenty-three years. He was succeeded in 1 85 1 by William A. Mayhew for a short term, and in sequence

Rufus Spalding was the earliest practitioner of medicine in this town before 1800, and he lived in a house opposite the post office. Here was born his son, Rufus Paine Spalding, distinguished in later life as a member of Congress from Ohio and a judge of the Federal Court. Dr. Spalding removed to Homes Hole about 1805 and later to Connecticut. Dr. T. J. E. Gage came about 1837, remaining ten years, and a Dr. Philbrick about 1845, living opposite Agricultural hall, followed. Dr. W. H. Luce succeeded to the practice of Dr. Gage and remained here throughout his long life. His son. Dr. Lyman H. Luce, formerly in practice in Falmouth, took up his father's work and continued until 1892, when a mortal disease terminated his career. Dr. C. D. N. Fairchild came from Fairhaven about 1893 and still practices here. Dr. D. A. Cleaveland, until his death in 1903, had practised here at intervals, having been settled elsewhere for a considerable period of his professional career.

In 1782 the town voted that James Athearn should "Examine the Records of this Town county or the Registree of Probate and See wt Land Said Town has Reserv'd for a Bureying Place." It is not known what he found, but besides a few private places of interment there are only two public enclosures in the town.

Old Cemetery. - The first burying place owned by the town was the ''acker of Land" donated by James Allen in 1 70 1, and with several subsequent enlargements it continues to be used for this purpose at the present day, a record of over two centuries.

LamberVs Cove. - There is a cemetery on the North Shore near the John Look place which has been used for public interments for more than a century. The oldest stones in it bear date of 1771, and the land was probably set apart for a burial place about that date, though there are no records of its acquisition by the town, nor is it known how it was dedicated to such uses.

Division Of The Town

In 1850 the village of Homes Hole had outgrown in population the western section of Old Tisbury and was gradually developing at the expense of the smaller settlements in the rest of the town. The interests of these two portions of the town were not homogeneous - the one was a compact village with a maritime and manufacturing population, and the other was chiefly devoted to agriculture and fishing.* Several miles of "ragged plain" separated West Tisbury, Homes Hole and North Tisbury, and the inevitable jealousies and disagreements arose between the village and the town regarding improvements to roads, school facilities and the proper balance of appropriations. This became more and more acute as the village of Homes Hole thrived and grew and demanded modern streets, sidewalks, fire protection, lighting, water supply and all the requirements of a compact settlement. The farmers of the western section were outnumbered in town meetings, and chafed under the load of enforced taxation for those things which they could not utilize. Each year these troubles became accentuated and would be temporarily composed under some form of truce between the two parties. It was a case of the offspring outstripping the parent, for the older men could remember the time when the "Hole" was an insignificant part of Tisbury town. They remembered, too, that Governor Mayhew in his original grant of West Chop to Tisbury in 1673, had in view its ultimate separation as a distinct corporation. It was to be a part of Tisbury he wrote "until the said necke of Land be a particular township. " Early in the decade of 1880-90, the farmers of West and North Tisbury began to agitate for this separation decreed by history and topography. Each year the subject was discussed with much spirit and considerable acrimony at times, as the people of the village of Vineyard Haven objected to a division. In 1890, after much political agitation, a petition was sent to the General Court by the people of West Tisbury asking for a division of the town, but it was referred to the next session. In 1 89 1 the General Court enacted a permissive bill for division, provided it should be accepted by a majority vote of the townsmen at either of two meetings called for the purpose at Vineyard Haven and Middletown.

At the first meeting, held in the former village, the proposal failed by a vote of 115 yes to 161 no; and at one of the largest town meetings ever held the second test vote, 150 yes to 204 no, resulted in its final rejection. The people of "\Vest Tisbury renewed the contest the next year, and it was decided by the General Court in favor of the petitioners without use of the referendum. It became a law April 28, 1892, when signed by the Governor, William E. Russell, and the new town of West Tisbury celebrated its victory by a torch-light procession and a jubilation meeting at Agricultural Hall.^

The New Town At The Present Time

The first town officers, elected May, 1892, were the following: William J. Rotch, Horatio G. Norton, Edwin A. Luce, Selectmen; George H. Luce, Horatio G. Norton, Edwin A. Luce, Assessors; George G. Gifford, Clerk; Sanderson M. Mayhew, Treasurer; Ulysses E. Mayhew, David Mayhew, Frank L. Look, School Committee; Richard Thompson, Walter G. Cottle, Constables; Henry H. Lovell, Auditor; James F. Cleaveland, Collector of Taxes; Henry L. Whiting, William J. Rotch, Cyrus Manter, Cemetery Committee.

^The leading spirit in this movement was William J. Rotch of West Tisbury and the satisfactory results which have followed the years of bickering between the two sections, justifies the wisdom of his contentions during the campaign.

This village is now about two hundred and forty years old, and the town sixteen years in its independent standing. Its material progress and present prosperity, as indicated by the following statistics taken from the assessors' books. May I, 1908, shows in contrast to the lone mill of 1669 on the ancient stream of Taakemmy: Personal estate assessed, $155,373; ^^^1 estate assessed, $379,414; total, $534,787. Total tax assessed, $2429.14, with about $700 additional, which is appropriated from other income. Acres of land, 12,821; dwelling houses, 190; horses, 125; cows, 164; neat cattle, 40; sheep, 685; fowl, 2589.

Waskosim'S Rock Manitouwattootan, The Praying Town

The beginnings of Christiantown carry us back to the year 1659, when according to the evidence of Josias, the sachem, ''there was only Known but four Praying Indians in my Sachimshipp Whose names was Pamick my uncle and Nonoussa and Tahquanum & Poxsin." In the winter of 1659-1660, continues the sachem, "I gave one mile square of land unto my uncle Pamick Nonoussa, Tachquanum & Poxsin of Taukemey to be a township for them."^ It is believed that Papamick, the well-known Indian of Takemmy is meant as the uncle of Josias, to whom the grant was made, as "Papamek's Field" was one of the bounds of this tract. ^ This grant was laid out to these four Christianized natives for a "praying town," so-called, and the condition of the grant provided "That the Praying Indians should give Twenty Shillings every yeare to me Their Sachim," but it appears that in after years this ceased to be observed by the grantees, through death and removal.^ There was no formal record of this transaction, and it obtained a standing in the knowledge of men through common report, that this square mile of land at the North Shore, in the bounds of Takemmy, had been set apart for the sole use of these converts. This arrangement lasted for about a decade.

When Thomas Mayhew, the elder, on July i, 1668, gave permission to William Pabodie and his partners "to buy what they cann uppon this Island withm the compass of the bounds of Takemmy, of the Indian sachims, the right owners," the rank and file among the natives did not relish the idea of their sachem selling territory, which belonged to them, to a new lot of "pale-faces." Already the eastern half of the Island had been alienated by Tequanomin to the settlers of Great Harbour, and when the prospectors for a new township came to the fertile meadows of Takemmy, in 1668, and began to negotiate with Keteanummin, alias Josias, the sachem, for the purchase of that land, the discontent was openly expressed. It came to the knowledge of Mayhew, and it was

'Experience Mayhew calls one of the Indians Pockqsimme (Indian Converts, 73). ^Dukes Deeds, IV, 173. The date of the agreement was February 23, 1658, probably 1658-9.

determined to appease them in some way. The land desired by Pabodie and his associates was known to them as being valuable, and they would not derive any benefit from the sale of it by the sachem. However, Josias sold to Pabodie the tract known as the First Purchase on Aug. 2, 1669, as elsewhere described, and was negotiating with the buyers for the sale of more territory. There were constant quarrels between the sachem and the angry braves of Takemmy, and Mayhew called a general meeting of the natives to hold a "pow-wow" over the matter. It was held early in March, 1669-70 and one of the earliest settlers of Tisbury has left on record his recollections of the matter. The deponent is Joseph Daggett, who, as a young man, was a witness of the proceedings. He was able to understand the native language and frequently acted as interpreter for the town. His evidence is as follows: -

The Testimony of Joseph Daged aged 51 years or thereabouts testifieth & Saith, that about 28 or 29 years agoe [1670-167 1] I was at a Meeting of the Indians at Tacamy and there was a great quarrell between the Indians and Josias commonly called Sachim for that he the sd Josias had Sould so much land to the purchasers of Tisbury in so in so much that mr Thomas Mayhew Esqr deced who was then present had very much adoe to quiet the Indians untill at length sd Josias did agree to and oblige him Self that he would Sell no more land with out the Consent and approbation of a Certain number of Indians who were then named & Confirmd as Trustees for and in behalfe of the sd Indians: '

It is absolutely agreed by us Thomas Mayhew, Kiteanumin, Tichpit, Teequinom(in) Papamick and Joseph, and wee doe hereby promise for our heirs and successors that all the lands in Takemmy that is not sold unto the English shall remain unsold for the use of the Indians of Takemmy and their heirs forever; except the said Thomas Mayhew, Kiteanumin, Tichpit, Teequinomin, Papamick and Joseph their heirs successors doe all and everie one of them consent to the sale thereof of any part of the same.

Further it is agreed that noe person that buyeth any land except it be of all the aforenamed trustees shall enjoy the same; and whosoever shall presume to sell land without the consent of the trustees, shall be liable to be fined att the will of the major part of the trustees.

This is to testify that Keteanummin hath noe power to sell any more land; but hath made a pubHque promise that all the land imsold is to remain for the Indians of Takemmy forever, except he hath sold not half already: yet not then may he sell till one half be sold.

The last codicil, if it may be so termed, attached to this agreement by Mayhew is thus explained, in part, by Joseph Daggett, in the sanie deposition. He states that when the agreement about the trusteeships and the powers under which they held these relations to the Indians and to "eachother was Concluded and Effected," he says: -

I went away from the Meeting but have often been Informed that at the same Meeting the sd Josias confirmed a Grant of a certain tract of land which adjoyneth to the Northern line of the purchased Township of Tisbury for a Christian Town or for the Settlemt for the praying Indians and that ever since the sd Meeting it hath generaly been esteemed to be the Indians and called by the name of the Indian Town.^

The motives which actuated the elder Mayhew and the sachem Josias may, or may not, have been altruistic. It looks like a bone thrown to snarling dogs to keep them quiet. Accordingly, to satisfy the discontented, it was decided by the governor and the sachem to renew the old grant of a ''mile square," formerly given to Papameck and his fellow converts so that the praying Indians should always have a place by themselves, which they could call their own. The governor testifies : -

Josias and Wannamanhutt Did in my Presence give the Praying Indians a Tract of Land for a Town and Did Committ the Government Thereof into my hand and Posteritie forever: the Bounds of the said Land is on the North sid of (the) Island bounded by the land called Ichpoquassett and so to the Pond called Mattapaquattonooke and into the

A supplemental agreement was drawn up several months later to provide for the defect of a proper succession, in case the ''Praying Indians" should recant, die out or leave. Accordingly the following document was drawn up on Jan. 9, 1670: -

Agreed by myself and Keteanummin that the town Manettouwatootan in Taukemey Shall Remain forever in the possession of the Praying men - That is Thus: That if the Inhabitance Turn from god his Ways Other Praying Indians of Taukemy shall have their land If there Be Anny: If not Then other Praying men of this Island: Further Keteanummin Saith That When 20 Families are settled in this town it shall be enlarged with Land the same say I it is fitt itt should: This Town for the Govement of it was put by the Sachims Keteanummin and Wanamanhut into the hands of Thomas Mayhew and his posterity for ever: The meaning is If all do forsake the Worship of God They shall loose their Predecessors Land.'

Thirty years later Josias, then an old man, confirmed this grant and amplified the description of the boundaries in a deed, dated Aug. 26, 1699, as follows: -

Boimded on the north by the North shore and bounded on the East by Ichpoquassett the black water, and so to run southerly in the bound line Between Taukemy and Chickemoo land, untill it come to a little Eastward of a pond called Manaquayak and boimded on the south from that mile end near the Pond called Manaquayak, and so to the south bounds runing westerly Mackkonnetchasqua including the field where my imcle Pa(pa)- mick Dwelt and Dyed and so the south bounds to Come to a Place called Maanette and from that mile end Bounded on the West to a Pond at the north shore called Pissa: so this mile square of land Lyeth in Taukemmy on the north east corner of my Sachemship.^

Ten years after this, owing to some disputes about the territory in the possession of the remnants of these ''Praying Indians," and in response to a petition of the town authorities, a committee, appointed by the General Court, consisting of John Otis and William Bassett, made a re-survey of the tract in October, 1 709 and defined the bounds as follows : -

Beginning att the Stake standing on the Easterly side of the Ware att the beach att of neare the place Caled Itchpoqueassett and thence Runing westerly by the sea or Sound imtill it come to a Stake standing att the

*The date of this paper is May 28, i66g, probably written shortly after the meeting above referred to, and written down for permanent record (Dukes Deeds, I, 378).

East corner of Mattapaquaha pond by the fence, and thence Runing up Southerly on a Streight line to a great Rock, extending Easterly unto a stake with stones about it standing on the plain land over against the house in which Robert Luce now dwelleth, and thence Runing down a streight Line to a marked tree with stones about it standing att the head of the pond caled Great Jameses Pond at Itchpoqueassett pond and thence down on a streight Line across the s'd pond unto the first mentioned stake standing: on the beach.'

Alienation Of Land To The English

From contemporary documents, it is certain that Josias adhered to the compact which he had made with the braves of his tribe. James Skiff e gives testimony of this in a statement made thirty years after. In it he says : - but the said Josias refused to let us have any land further Eastward of said bounds, alledging that he had already granted it to the praying Indians; and the next year after when we the said purchasers were about to purchase another parcel of Land of the said Josias in Tacomy the Indians who then dwelt on the said Tacomy were much displeased at Josias for inclining to sell any more land and would not consent thereto untill Josias did confirm the remainder to them the said Indians.^

Joseph Daggett gives similar testimony as to the general observance of the conditions by the whites, when he says that those ''imployed to buy lands of the Indians by and in behaife of the Town of Tisbury have refused to buy any lands there as concluding properly belonging to the Christan Indians."' But Josias was not above the temptations which beset human nature, especially the simple nature of the red man. He never embraced the Christian religion, and as a consequence failed to be embalmed among the "good men" in Mayhew's Indian Converts." Indeed, Mayhew goes out of his way to give him a doubtful certificate of respectability. ''Of him I can give no very good character," says the author of that volume of praise for all sorts and conditions of converted natives. In an explanation of his predicament, in his old age, he says : -

Now long since miy uncle Pamick Dyed and his sons are dead Nonoussa and Taquanum and Poxsin are all dead and they never Pay'd me my fifteen pounds: - so the Praying Indians Being Dead and Removed and forsook that place so I had Nothing as they had Promised That the Praying Indians should give Twenty Shillings every yeare to me Their Sachem ans Being grown old and Poor not able to work Proposed to sell the land to the English for my maintenance.*

So he began to sell, first to Simon Athearn, on Nov. lo, 1674, a tract of land, which became, in after years, the origin of a fam.ous law-suit which extended over many years, and was the occasion of many exciting encounters, due to alleged trespass. It will be, therefore, well to have a copy of this deed for reference: - with there corners almost three square bounded on the south and south west and west sides with the land I sold to William Peaboddie and his friends and it is bounded on the north and by west side through marked trees one old dead tree with a forked toppe and one white oak butt standing by a crook of the brook of water and one old tree standing on the north side of a little bushy swamp and so this Hne do runne west norwest and east south east until it come to the land I sold to William Peaboddie and his friends on both ends ^

The sale of this land by Josias gave rise to prolonged litigation in subsequent litigation with abutting owners, perhaps owing to the usual indefinite description of its bounds, and in order to settle the controversy, Richard Sarson and Matthew Mayhew were chosen arbitrators by the litigants. The two arbitrators, who could not be called friendly to Athearn, on account of the family and political differences in the past, nevertheless made an award, in the following terms, entirely in his favor: -

In the Controversy left to the arbitrament of us Between Simon Athearn & the Town of Tisbury concerning a tract of land bought by said Athearn neer William Rogers his land we award as followeth, viz: - that the said Simon Athearn shall enjoy said land and that the other proprietors or sharers in said townshipp shall be each of them allowed and allotted as much land as said purchase and one eight more in the two necks and half last purchased, and what it may want if there be not sufficient, to be made up to each man out of the next land that shall be purchased: before he hath any allotment, having the land aforesaid witness our handes this 24th of December 1682.^

The next purchase was made by William Rogers, twenty acres, Jan. 29, 1679,^ and on Jan. 13, 1686, another tract was sold to Arthur Bevan, adjoining the Rogers purchase on the east.^ This latter transaction caused considerable unfavorable comment, and Bevan "tendered to the Town of Tisbury at a Town Meeting some land which he had bought, which land was a part of s'd land which s'd Josias had barred him self from selling without the approbation of the Trustees afores'd and the Town refused to Meadle with it for the Reasons aforesaid (viz) that they looked at it to be Indians Town."^ But Josias put on record his justification for these sales, in which he states: - "Having sold som of the Land to Isaac Chase and to John Manter and others, for which Mr. Mayhew Witt(nessed) the Deed, and Mr Mayhew contented That I might sell it now."^ After this the old sachem made four more sales, before his decease, to the following named persons: To Henry Luce, on Feb. 3, 1687, of sixty acres;"^ to Experience Luce, on Dec. 9, 1693, ^^ sixty acres; ^ to John Lambert, on May 17, 1694, of sixty acres,' and to John Manter, on Aug. 17, 1694, of forty acres. ^

These continuous sales incensed the members of the tribe and there arose, as William Parclow of Tisbury testifies, "a great Contest between Josias Indian Sachim and the Christian Indians, so called, about the Title of some lands called the lands of the Christian Town." This was "sometime in or about the year 1688." He continues: - and the s'd Christian Indians having committed their Deed of Gift from sd Sachim unto my Custody, which Deed was subscribed and sd Josias told me it was by himself; and sometime after the sd Sachim came to me & desired me to Burn sd Deed or writing, saying that if I would do it he would give me some of the land, but I refusing sayd I would not undoe those praying Indians to whom it was granted. The Sachim replyed saying it may be you think I will give you but a little piece, then

'The purchase made by Rogers was authorized by the town of Tisbury, when it was voted "that Will. Rogges shall purchchis therty eakers of land of (Jo)sias

I sayd how much will you give me if I burn the Deed he then answered I'Ue will give you halfe, then I told him he had no love for the Christians & I will not do it if you will give me all of it.^

The sale to Isaac Chase, to which he refers, was made on Aug. 15, 1682, and comprised the tract between Great James pond and the Black Water brook, as far south as Old House pond, and the town of Tisbury gave authority to Chase to make the purchase less than a month before the transaction was completed.^ Notwithstanding the premises stated, there was growing up a continued opposition to the alienation of this territory, and as Josias himself avers, "Ev(er)y(man) have made much Trouble about Land (I) have sold to the English and some men say that the Praying Indians Must have their Town I formerly gave them." Accordingly, on Aug. 26, 1699, the ancient Sachem executed a deed of confirmation, of the mile square previously granted, describing the bounds as above given. It was the last recorded act of this "bad" Indian chief, in which he left to his people the original tract, in perpetuity, as he had given it to them in his simple way, forty years before. xA.lthough not a Christianized native, his recognition of the portion of his sachemship which had embraced the new religion, was an act which measures up well with the attitude of the whites who dealt with him. He died somewhere between that date and Aug. 17, 1702, and on the highest hill of Christiantown, some monument should be erected to this historic sachem of the Takemmy tribe of the Algonquian race, as a memorial of an Indian who dealt fairly with his own people and justly with the whites. In his last words to "the great English Justices to helpe me who am an Indian," he solemnly announced in his appeal for justice, in the legal proceedings growing out of the greed of the whites for his territory: "I have don the English no hurt nor don anything out of the Indian custom." This well might be the epitaph on the place marking his memorial.^

On Aug. 18, 1702, Zachariah Peeskin, "son and heir to Josias Keteanummin, late deceased, sachem," executed a deed amplifying the grants of his late father of the territory of Christiantown, in the following terms, in favor of the Indians Wekommooinnin, Ashahhowanin, Isaac Ompanit, Cottoowan-

Upon serious reflections finding that my said father Josias as well jointly together with Wanamanhut firstly as latterly before his own decease, being sole lord and sachim of the said domionion of Takemmy, had and did not only according to the usual custom of the time in use but for better affirmance thereof, by request of my father said Josias, obtained the favor of the then English Governour, Thomas Mayhew, late deceased, of his assistance to commit the same to writing, give and convey a considerable part of said sachimship and lands to the same belonging, for and to the use of all such, within his said sachimship as did to the said grant all and every the lands, soils, waters, fishing and fowling, royalties and privileges, woods, marshes and all other rights, estate, of

The regulation of this grant was provided for in the person of the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, for the time being, and exception was made in favor of the sachem's "right of drifts, ^vrecks on the beach or sea-shore." The deed was "approved" by the following Indians, probably to conform to the requirements of the ancient trustees, in the following manner : -

Civil Government

The government of Christiantown, as far as the management of the land was concerned, was vested in Governor Mayhew and five Indians as Trustees, and their heirs and successors from the year 1669, as before related. From fragmentary references it is certain that a form of civil government, like the town organization of the whites, was settled in this little Indian village. Governor Mayhew is authority for the statement that Josias and Wannamanhutt "Did Committ the Government Thereof into my hand and Posteritie forever."^ The form of government instituted by Mayhew

*Dukes Deeds, I, 417. In the report of a committee on Christiantown lands, in 1762, it is stated that Zachariah gave a deed previous to this on April 6, 1702, but if so it was not recorded.

was probably suited to the monarchial customs of the Indians at first, rather than the democratic order. An Indian ''magistrate" of this town is mentioned in 1690, and it is altogether likely that native courts were instituted here, as in the other parts of the island very early. How soon a regular town government was formed cannot be stated, but while there is no record of such before 1 700, it is probable that one existed then.

The trustees of the Indian Town in 1696 were Isaac Ompanit, Stephen Nashokow and Obadiah Paul, and in a case relating to disputed land, they refer to the rights "of them selves and body politick as a town.'" In 1703 Stephen Shokow (an abbreviation of Nashokow) was "Justice of peace for the Indians of Takymmy."

The Indians, however, as a tribe, were under the guardianship of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in material as well as spiritual matters. An instance of this occurred in 1 714 respecting the use of a house belonging to the town, and evidently built by the society.^ In addition to this, agents were appointed by the provincial authorities to attend to certain defined duties regarding their legal rights. In 1731 Experience Mayhew held this office, and he presented a petition to the General Court, setting forth "the inconvenience they are under for want of the power of chusing officers among themselves" and praying that they may be constituted "a Seperate Town or Precinct or have the priviledges necessary for the Chusing & Appointing of officers among themselves for the ordering & managing of their own Affairs."* The latter

^In answer to Thomas Paul of Christian Town, who is angered that Isaac Ompane, of the same town, lives in the Town's English House Rent free. It is directed and ordered that Isaac Ompane for the future pay twelve shillings per annum Rent for the said House so long as he dwells in it, which shall go towards reimbursing the Widow Abigails Lease. And it is very necessary that the Town speedily join together as one Man, and pay what is owing to the said Widow. And the twelve shillings per annum shall be employed in some other public use of the Town, and shall be paid accordingly to the Select-Men thereof by Isaac Ompany, who has been the principal Doer and Sufferer in Recovering the Same. Sewall, Thaxter, Thomas Mayhew, Esq. Benjamin Skiff, Esq. April 8, 1714. (Sewall, Diary, II, 432.)

alternative was adopted and they were given restricted civil rights of election of officers to conduct their business. There is a record of ''a Legall Town Meeting held on the Fifteenth Day of March A.D. 1735 at Christian (town) whereof Amos Oyeninkesit was Moderator," and the record is attested by Zachariah Papamek as the Town Clerk. A similar record exists in 1743/ In 1762 a committee appointed by Governor Bernard, to correct certain abuses against the Indians, reported that they were "further of the opinion that they be no longer under Guardians," But this consummation was not reached for a century.

Religious History

In pursuance of the object of their existence as a religious community, a meeting house was built for them in the time of the Governor, before 1680, and this was replaced about 1695 by another. How long this building, or any of its successors, existed is not known, as no records remain to throw light on the subject. That a meeting-house was standing in 1770 appears from a contemporary document, and scattered references to "the Indian meeting" occur throughout that century. In 1732 two flagons of silver were presented to this congregation by the Old South church of Boston.

The local English ministers of Tisbury, beginning with Torrey and followed by Hancock, exercised a supervision over the native church and frequently preached to them in Algonquian and administered the sacraments. In addition to this, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel supported a general missionary for the island until the Revolution. After this the society organized in Boston in 1787, continued the patronage of the mission for a century. Indian preachers conducted the regular services, assisted by native deacons. In 1858 it was reported that "for some years past this tribe has had no regular stated worship."

In 1870 a church of eight members was formed and services were held in a building originally built for a school. No regular minister was attached to this organization, but it had occasional services supplied by the North Tisbury Baptists. After a precarious existence for about twenty years it ceased to be used for religious services and is now unfit for occupancy as such.

John Amanhut. - He was son of Wannamanhut, the sachem, and was a preacher in this town. He was the father of Hosea Manhut, also a preacher, and an ordained Pastor of ''the Indian Church at the West End of this Island." He died in March 1672.^

Joel Sims. - He was son of Pockqsimme, and being well instructed in his youth, was called upon to preach to his people in this town. He died young, about the year 1680, ''much lamented."^

James Sepinnu. - He was a brother of Tackanash, the colleague of Hiacoomes, the first Indian convert on the island. He was one of the early preachers in this town, and died here about 1683.^

The foregoing persons appear among the "Godly Ministers" of Experience Mayhew's book, and those which follow are classed as "Good Men," who resided in Christian town during his knowledge: -

Noquittompany. - Beyond the fact that he was a "praying Indian," and the father of Isaac Ompanit, nothing remains to be said further of him. He died about 1690, probably of the "distemper" which carried off so many of the Island Indians at that time. His daughter married the sachem Josias.*

J oh Somannan. - His father was a "praying Indian" bearing the last name, and his mother was classed as a "heathen." Job was taught to read in his native tongue, and in later years could read and write in English. He was a weaver by trade and "a great Lover of good Books." While a " good " Indian, according to May hew, yet he "had such Apprehensions of the Holiness that was necessary to qualify Persons for the Enjoyment of Church Privileges, that he thought it not safe for him to venture to lay claim unto them." He died in 1718.®

Henry Ohhunnut, alias Jannoquissoo. - This native "meeting with some Trouble on Marthas Vineyard, which made his Mind uneasy," left the island and went to Natick, where he sat under the Apostle Eliot's preaching, and became a ''Peantamaenin, i. e. a praying Man." Later he returned hither, married, and lived a ''sober life" ever after. He died in 1724.*

Of the noted Indians who were connected with the Church in Christiantown from the earliest times, according to the author of ''Indian Converts," the following named have been given special notice : -

Wunnanauhkomun. - An Indian minister, and perhaps the first who exercised that office here. His wife was called Ammapoo, and by the English, Abigail. She was a daughter of Cheshchaamog, sachem of Homes Hole and a sister of Caleb Cheshchaamog, who took a Degree at Harvard in 1665. This preacher died about the year 1676.^

Assaquanhut, alias John Shohkow. - He was a son of a "praying Indian" of Takemmy, called Nashohkow, being one of five sons of his parents. He was a ruling elder of the church of which Tackanash was pastor. He died in this settlement about 1690.'

Micah Shohkow. - He was a brother of the foregoing, and is classed with the "Godly Ministers" in Mayhew's book. He "was a lover of strong Drink the former part of his life," but he reformed, and "frequently preached to the Indians on the Island, but especially to those in that Town in which he lived and died." His death occurred in 1690.'*

Stephen Shohkow. - He was a brother of the two previously named, and being brought up" in a pious English Family," where he received an education, he became a preacher to his people in after years. He was drowned in the year 1713, by the oveturning of a canoe. ^

Isaac Ompanit. - He was a ruling elder of the church in this town, and the son of an Indian called Noquitompany. Isaac was a civil magistrate, as well as a leader in religious matters. Mayhew gives him a good character for piety and honesty. "He was much vexed by some controversies which arose betwixt the Indians of the Place where he lived, and some of their English Neighbours, respecting the Title of the Land which the Indians claimed, "says Mayhew, "the Trouble

Paul, commonly called Old Paul, who died at Christiantown about the year 1676, "was generally esteemed a godly Man," says Mayhew, "being a Serious Professor of Religion, constant in the Performance of the Duties of it, and as far as I can learn, without any Stain in his Life and Conversation."

Pattompan. - He was a brother of John, Micah, Stephen and Daniel Shokow, all preachers, "and esteemed like them for Piety." He died in 1688.

The Indian population of Christiantown is first reported in 1698 as 82, and no other record is known for the next sixty years. In 1762 it was 54; in 1790 it was 40; in 1828 it was 49 and in 1858 it was 53, of which number 23 were males and 30 females.

Ancient Landmarks Algonquian Place Names

It is a singular fact that this Indian settlement has preserved scarcely any local names of Algonquian origin. The few that have come down to us in the records are here noted.

Waakesha. - In a deed dated 1742, transferring land in Tisbury, "a place called by the Indians Wackesha" and near to the dwelling house of John Merry, is mentioned. (Deeds, VI, 512.) In 1 743 Waakesha in Christiantown is mentioned. The word is probably a boundary designation, Wequshau, "as far as it goes," and it forms the basis of several local placenames on the Vineyard.

Dancing Field. - This place, where the aborigines held their ceremonial dances, was situated on a level plateau to the northeast of the (true) Indian Hill.

Hester's Field. - This was a part of the Western portion of Christian Town, as described in a document of 1737-8. (Cong. Lib. Athearn, Mss.)

Educational privileges for the Indians have been provided by the several societies devoted to missionary work among that race; but definite information is wanting to warrant particulars. In 1714 Job Somannan was the schoolmaster and in 1724 the ''school" was mentioned. These are the earliest references to this subject. In the middle of the next century the school had an allowance of $100 from the state and in 1858 there were reported fifteen children of school age, with an average attendance of nine scholars during the five and a half months annually devoted to term work.

Later Encroachments Of The English

The settlement of the bounds of Takemmy and Christiantown in 1709, by the survey of Otis and Bassett, kept the English in check for a number of years, but the cupidity of the white man, and the ignorance of the red man, worked out its inevitable result. Gradually in the course of time, as the decades passed and the memory of the restrictions was lost, purchases were made by the whites of the complacent native, sometimes for a valuable consideration, oftentimes for an inadequate payment. An instance of the former class is that of Deacon Stephen Luce, who paid in specie ;^i46-i3-4 for a tract in the Indian town. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was notified in 1760 of this condition of affairs, and immediately petitioned Governor Bernard to investigate these violations of local and province laws. A committee was appointed and made an exhaustive examination of the premises and the history of the land rights of the natives. They made a report in 1 762, in which they declared all purchases made by the whites since 1699, when Josias confirmed his grant, to be illegal. This required a wholesale eviction, for between three and four hundred acres had been sliced off three sides of Christiantown, but it will be no surprise to learn that such a proceeding met with but scant consideration. The committee said: - if those Indians had the Right in the Land they Sold, it is plain it was against the Law of the Province for them to Sell, or the English to buy, and yet for those English late Purchasers in Christian Town, to be turned out of their Houses, which are eight in number: and their Improvements, loose all their Labour in the Stone Walls and the great Improvements they have made, and the money they paid as the purchase consideration for said Lands, seemed very hard: And on the other hand for the Indians to be deprived of their Inheritance, and not thro: any Fault of their own seemed as hard. This put your Committee to a great Plunge at last the following Expedient was fhought of; namely, That the English late Purchasers at Christian Town, should return to the Indians of the Lands they purchased, more than a sufficient Quantity for the Indians comfortable support, which are but fifty four in number Men Women and Children. This proposal both English Proprietors and Indians acquiesced in, and unanimoulsy came into. The bounds were made and Agreed upon by both, as by their respective Petitions more fully will appear.

The committee "upon the whole" gave it as their final opinion that about i6o acres should be returned to the Indians by the purchasers by deed to the Society, according to metes and bounds detailed by them; and that the land remaining to the Indians be confirmed to them as in common and undivided. These recommendations were carried out.

Final Division In Severalty

This condition of common ownership as obtained, lasted for sixty-five years longer, when the General Court, in 1828, passed an act to parcel out the undivided lands to the existing descendants of the Praying Indians, then resident in the town. About three hundred and ninety acres were so divided into nineteen lots, of which one was left for a meeting-house, three for the support of the poor, and a ''common" of about ten acres. This gave about twenty-five acres to each share.

The undivided common lands remained in this state for sixty years longer. On Dec. i, 1878 Judge Defriez, sitting as a probate court, under the provisions of an act of the legislature ordered their division. Joseph T. Pease and Richard L. Pease were the commissioners for this purpose, and exactly one hundred persons, mostly living in other places, participated in the division of these few remaining acres of little market value.*

The present representatives of the ''praying indians" of Manitouwattootan are few in number, Joseph Quannowill Mingo and wife, and his son, Samuel Mingo, a widower, constituting this remnant. The former, now over four score years of age, an upright and inteUigent citizen, has given the author valuable help in a clearing up many obscurities in the early annals of this place.

The Sign Manual Of Josias, Sachem Of Takemmy Purchased By Thomas Mayhew

One of the earliest acquisitions of property made by the elder Thomas Mayhew, outside of his home lot at Great Harbor, was the section of land on the North Shore, then and ever since known as Chickemmoo. Although the owner of the soil by purchase, yet in accordance with his custom of honorable dealing with the native inhabitants of the districts where he obtained special titles, he bought from the sachems their rights in Chickemmoo, for which he paid them in coin or its equivalent.

This doth witness that I Cheesechamuk, the Sachim of Holmses hole doe by these presents sell and set over unto Thomas Mayhew the Elder of the Vineyard one Quarter part of all that land which is called Chickemmow for him the said Thomas Mayhew his heires and assignes to In joy for ever: the said one quarter of the land of Chickemmow is to begin at Itchpoquaset Brook and so to run by the shore till it comes to the sea side ward and so the said quarter part of land is to runne into the Hand from the sea side to the Middle line of the said land called Chickemmow; the said Thomas Mayhew is to have four spans round in the middle of every whale that comes upon the shore of this quarter part and no more: the hunting of Deire is common, but no trappes to be set:

Having acquired the rights of the sachem of the Homes Hole territory in this property, the elder Mayhew next bought out the rights of another sachem, Tewanquatuck, which is recorded in the following deed of sale: -

This doth witness that I, Towanquatuck, sachim, for him his heirs and assigns the one quarter part of that land called Chickemmoo, joining to that land I bought of Cheeschamuck, by the sea side, with all the priviledges thereunto belonging unto Thomas Mayhew his heirs and assigns to enjoy forever and I do acknowledge that I have had in full payment for that land aforesaid the full sum of ten pounds:

By these two purchases, Mayhew had acquired half of the Chickemmoo region and it was ten years before he obtained the remainder. On Feb. 2, 1669, he bought of Maquaine, a praying Indian, one eighth part, and on April 25, 1669, Towanquatuck sold to him three eighths, thus completing the acquisition of the entire property.^ It will be noticed that there is no description of the extent or limits of the territory involved and this very question arose later. In the charter granted to Tisbury Manor in 1671 the bounds of Chickemmoo are thus stated : -

Chickemmoo is an Algonquian word and in the last two centuries and a half it has retained its proper spelling with but little and unimportant variation in the records. In 1684 it was written in one deed Kutchickemmo,^ the prefix, meaning great, thus only qualifying its definition, which is "a. fish weir" or "a place of the fish weir," perhaps ''place of great fish weir."^ This had reference probably to the present Herring creek on the east corner bound of Chickemmoo, where our aboriginal predecessors undoubtedly set their nets for the alewives that annually ran up into Chappaquonset pond to spawn. In local parlance it is pronounced Chekamy. This tract of land became a well defined section of two towns, widely separated from the parent settlements of both, and was always given special treatment by them. For this reason it is here treated as a distinct local entity.

Conaconaket. - This word is used to describe a "Line" or boundary in Chickemmoo in 1701. John Daggett sold to Thomas Butler certain land "where was a brick kill," and from thence "northerly till it meets with Conaconaket line." (Deeds, II, 44.) In a subsequent instrument John Daggett, in 171 1, sold to James Cottle certain land near Thomas Butler's, and referred to the "Nowconaca line," which is probably one and the same with the first named reading, the letters k-e-t being omitted from the termination, and N-o being prefixed (ibid. III, 83). "Necorneca head line" is mentioned in 1734 (ibid., VI, 140). The modern spelling is Makonikey. This line bisected Chickemmoo into a northern and a southern half, running at right angles with Savage's line.

The name is the equivalent of the Massachusetts Nukkonohkee, meaning "old land" or "ancient place," and the Narragansett "Necawn-auke". Like many similar words, it came to describe a location inclosed by the line and is now applied to Makonikey Heights and Makonikey Head.

Ponkquatesse. - The spring, called by this name in 1703, was one of the sources of the Black Water brook. In Plymouth there was a name of like derivation, Ponkatesett, a marsh in that town. (Plymouth Deeds, I, 87).

Weechpoquassit (1658), or commonly written Eachpoquasitt, is a boundary designation. Eachpoquassit was the natural boundary line between the sachemships of Takemmy and Nunnepoag, at that part of the island; it also was the west bound of Chickemmoo. The meaning of the word has already been explained.

Black Pond. - There were two small ponds called by this name, (i) near Lambert's Cove, as one of the chain of ponds, visible from the road, and (2) in the northeast part of Chickemmoo (1765).

Halj Moon Pond. - This was alluded to in 1727, in a deed from Israel to David Butler, wherein the grantor says: - "beginning at the North East part of a pond called half moon pond, then westerly to a fence and then Northerly to Great James Pond" (Deeds, IV, 260). Samuel Lambert lived close to Half Moon pond in 1732. (Deeds, V, 279).

James Pond. - The first occurrence of this name is in 1682 and it probably was so called on account of James, Duke of York, as in 1700 it was designated as "Pond Royall." Before this it had been called Onkakemmy pond and Each-

Spectacle Pond. - A small pond in the central part of Chickemmoo. This is not an uncommon name for small bodies of fresh water at that period. The word is used in its ancient signification of a reflection or mirror, meaning a clear sheet of water like a mirror. There is a Spectacle pond in Falmouth, one in Sandwich and one in Wareham.

Annexed To Tisbury Manor, 1 67 1

When the elder Mayhew and his grandson Matthew secured the town charters for Edgartown and Tisbury in 1671, it will be recalled that a third grant was made to them personally at the same time, for the Manor of Tisbury. The particulars of this grant will be detailed elsewhere, and it will be only necessary to say that this latter manorial grant included several scattered tracts of land in Chilmark and the Elizabeth Islands, including Chickemmoo, which was within the bounds of Tisbury. Chickemmoo being administered by the Lords of the Manor of Tisbury thus became an independent parcel of territory within the chartered limits of another town, and such an anomalous situation speedily led to complications that set two towns by the ears and became the basis of legal entanglements between property owners and tax collectors. During the life of the elder Mayhew his personality prevented any difficulties arising from this situation, but after his death when the lordship passed to Matthew his- grandson and later to Thomas Dongan, the dissatisfaction in Tisbury grew into open expression. As soon as Massachusetts assumed jurisdiction, in 1692, over the Island, Simon Athearn persistently complained of these incongruous subdivisions, as elsewhere related, and advocated a consolidation into two towns. In one letter to the General Court dated Oct. 20, 1694, he says: - to Elizabeth lis: The end of this motion is to heal our being cut in pieces, and to reduce us all in to a competent Township to maintain the worship of God & sen'C the King & Cuntry.*

During the lifetime of Governor Mayhew, the proprietor of the land and its manorial lord, no attempt was made to settle this region and at the time of his death not an acre of it had been sold by him. In his will, dated June i6, 1681, he disposed of it in two equal parts to his daughters, Hannah Daggett and Martha Tupper, of which the western half fell to the favorite daughter, the wife of Thomas Daggett. This became an accomplished fact when his will was admitted to probate, March 8, 1682, just after his death. Three months after this a definite step towards settling this region was taken by Isaac Chase, a recent arrival from Hampton, N. H., and he applied to the selectmen of Tisbury for permission to acquire property there. The following record shows the action taken by them : -

The tounsmen of tysbury do give liberty vmto Isack Chace to purtch asartain parsel of land it being forty acres lying one the east side of wechpaquaset pond upon the condison that the foresid Izack chace shall and do setel a mann well proved Among men upon the aforesaid land within fore years after the date of this record and if the fore said Izack chace

With this authorization Chase proceeded to negotiate with the Sachem Josias, and on August 15th following he had succeeded in securing a large tract which was thus described : - bounded eastwardly by a river or small brook called Echpooquaset River; westerly by a pond called Echpooquasit pond by the English James his pond and the middlemost of these small runnes of water at the southern end of the said pond from the Southern end of which runne of water to goe by a straight line to the north east corner of a pond lying in the woods commonly called Mekonnichashquat; and from thence extending by a straight line to the middle of a small swamp lying near the head of the aforesaid brook caled Eachpooquasit; and from the middle of sd swamp by a straight line to the head of said river or brook called Echpooquasit which sd brook runeth through the woodes to a little pond called the black pond &|;^from thence into the Sea or Sound which is the North boundes.^

Mekonnichashquat pond is now known as Old House pond and the rest of the description is so clear, an unusual merit in those days, that it scarcely requires any further statement to locate it accurately.

It is presumed that Chase fulfilled his part of the bargain made with the selectmen, and settled ''a man well A proved Among men upon the aforesaid land within fore years after," but if he did so there is no record of his personality. This purchase and the Governor's death had the efifect of opening up Chickemmoo for the sons of the pioneers who wished for broad acres of their own. Joshua and John Daggett (12), sons of Mrs. Hannah Daggett, had built a house there, on their mother's portion before 1688, and in order to invest them and her with the full panoply of patentees' rights, Matthew Mayhew in August, 1688, confirmed to "his loving aunt" and his two cousins a tract about a quarter of a mile wide "by the Sound from said Eachpoquassit Eastward."^ It is not believed that Joshua lived on this land, as he was a resident of Edgartown, but the house of John Daggett is frequently mentioned in later years and it is believed that this place was his home in 1688 or earlier.^ Three years later Mrs. Hannah sold to her son, Capt. Thomas Daggett late of Bristol, R. I., March 18, 1691, one quarter of Chickemmoo, and on Sept. 16, same year, gave her son Joshua another quarter.^

The other daughter of the old Governor, Mrs. Martha Tupper of Sandwich, who owned the eastern half, found a purchaser for the entire tract of twelve hundred acres [by estimation] in Isaac Chase, who on Feb. 20, 169 1-2, completed this great transfer, probably the largest on record on the island between individuals." Two years later Chase added to his already large holdings on Jan. 2, 1693-4, by acquiring the rights of Captain Thomas Daggett just mentioned. Chase now owned both ends of Chickemmoo and probably three quarters of the entire territory. Still he continued to purchase and on Nov. 16, 1698, he bought one hundred acres next adjoining the Tupper tract of Ephraim Savage of Boston and

^The plan of Tisbury in 1694 shown on p. 6 shows two houses in Chickemmoo. It is certain that one was John Daggett's and we may surmise that the other was oh the Chase property occupied by his tenant, "a man well A proved."

from that day to this, over two centuries, the dividing line between the two halves of Chickemmoo has been called Savage's Line.^ Meanwhile on the other half the Daggetts were transferring to each other, until it became necessary to straighten out ownerships, and a division of their property by metes and bounds was made before 1 700.

The Ancient Boundaries In Dispute

The question began to arise at this time concerning the limits of Chickemmoo on its western boundary. Some claimed that it extended to Great James pond, which would seem to have been the natural delimitation instead of the little Black Water brook just east, as held by others. But this did not prevent the sale of property in that region. Thomas Butler (11) of Edgartown made the first of his many purchases in Chickemmoo of Joshua Daggett in Feb. 6, 1700, a sixth of the western or Daggett half, excepting tracts disposed of to his brother, John Daggett.^ On Dec. 27, 1700, Butler purchased another sixth of the same grantors,^ and on March 6, 1 700-1, Butler bought of Chase the tract between Great James pond and the Itchpooquassit river or brook which had been sold to Chase in 1682 by the Sachem.^

Meanwhile the Tisbury proprietors were agitating the boundary question and levying taxes on the strip sold by Chase to Butler, who resisted payment. On Sept. 27, 1703, the town met to consider and voted : - that Simon Athern Joseph daggit and John Cottle shall in the behalf of this Town forthwith go and procure three Indifferant Indians of good Report to Joyn with them to settle and Run the Lyne between Nashowkemuck and Tisbury & on the Est side Tisbury *

This committee took with them Sam Mackakunit, an Indian preacher, from Edgartown, Pattook an Indian magistrate and Isaac, a Christian Indian, to give evidence in person on the spot, but they were warned off by Butler as trespassers. However the Indians unanimously agreed that the bounds

'Ibid., I, 3QI. It is not known how Ephraim Savage obtained his title. He was a Boston merchant and probably got it through business dealings with one of the Daggetts, although his name does not appear as a grantee in the land records. This effectually disposes of the legend that it was called after the savages of the region who annually fought at that line.

that is at the black water or weechpoquasit being the pond and Run of water: into the sound and said bounds to Run southwardly as the said Run of water Cometh from the spring, Called, ponkquatesse, and from said spring of water to the midle of watchet. on the south side of this Hand so that all the Est side of said bounds to belong unto nunpoak, and on the west side of said ponds unto Takymmy,'

Thomas Butler'S Legal War With Tisbury

Thomas Butler did not, and he promptly had warrants served on the committee of Tisbury townsmen for trespass and on Oct. 5, just eight days after, the case was tried and Butler won the suit.^ It is to be supposed that such would be the result with all the family influences at work on and off the bench to uphold the Daggetts in their warranty sales to Butler. However, the case was clearly misjudged, as the evidence of the Indians was unanimous and further investigation only confirmed their contention. Accordingly the selectmen of Chilmark, as the titular proprietary of Chickemmoo, and the selectmen of Tisbury agreed to submit it to the arbitration of a committee of Indians, to be chosen by Experience Mayhew, in order that the question might be settled according to right and justice. The committee of Indians and all concerned met as agreed and their findings are thus recorded: - whereas we Japhet hannit Isaac wannatta Jacob sokkokkono Joshua seiknout sachim samuell mackkacunit and pautoh. Late sachim of Checkemmo was notified by mr Experience Mayhew or his order that wee are Chosen by mr Nathon skiff and nathon Bassit sellect men of Chilmark: and by simon Athem and John Manter of Tisbury to be a Committy of Indians to goe on monday the seventh day of Feburary and shew the place that is Called weechpooquasset: brook of water and the bounds between the Land Called Cheeckemmo: and the sachimship of Takymmy. and we being met together at the north shore, on marthas vinyerd at the place Called weechpoquasset: with divers others of our adged and Cheif Indian men being preasent & alsomr Nathon skiff and nathon basset, sellect men of Chillmark being preasent and mr Josiah Torrey and John daggit. being preasent. and Simon Athern Joseph daggit and John manter men appointed of Tisbury being preasent at weechpooqusset on the seventh day of February anno domy 1703-4 we whose names are under written doe Determine that the brook of water that runneth into the sound : being to the Estward of onkkekemmo pond is the only aintient place Called weechpooquasset and the True line and bounds between Checkemmo: and Takymmy as the said brook or run of water lyeth from a sartain spring of water Called ponquatisse which spring is to the north Est of Thomas butlers now dweUing house, and the land on the Est side of the said ponquetissee run or brook of water is Checkemmo land hear to fore belonging to the sachim Towantaquit: and on the west side of the saide ponquetissee and wechpoquassit watter: is the land of Takymmy sachimship now Called Tisbury: here to fore bellonging to the sachm Josias. (signed) Joshua seiknuit Japhet hannit Jacob sokkono patoo Isaac wanata Sam mackkacunit^

Thus was the ancient bound of Chickemmoo finally "settelled" as it had existed to mark the dividing line between the Sachems of Nunpoag and Takemmy.

Compromise Reached

Butler acquiesced in the decision and, as a result of a conference between him and the Tisbury people, a compromise was reached. This is best explained by quoting the agreement as it is spread out on the town records : -

For & in Consideration of an Isue of a Controversie depending Between the freeholders of Tisbury in dukes County & Thomas Butler of sd place viz: that sd Butler have and doe by these preasents release and discharge Isaac Chase Simon Athern & Joseph daggit of Tisbury from suffering any loss or damage by vertue of a Judgment of the inferiour Court held in Dukes County in October 1703 so that no Excicution of any Judgment found for sd butler against sd Chase Athern & daggit at sd court shall be taken out but for Ever bard & stayed as a thing dead in law and also the sd Isaac Chase simon Athern & Joseph daggit do by these presents release & discharge the sd Thomas butler from answering an apeal or renew about sd Judgment: moreover for peace sake the freeholders of Tisbury so far as it Concerns them do grant & it is voted by the maior of the freeholders of Tisbury preasent at a Leagoll Town meeting held there the 20th day of march 1703-4 that Thomas Butler is granted to have the feesimple right of all that land which Isaac Chase bought of the sachim Josias at wechpoquasset in Tisbury the deed bareing tate the 15th of august 1682 with his now dweUing house possesion to the southward of sd purchase to Thomas Butler to unite with town of Tisbury in peace & love; further more it is voted by the freeholders of Tisbury abovesd that if the inhabitants of chillmarke shall at any Time: destrane upon the aforesd butler on the west of wechpoquassit or ponquatesse by vertue of any rat bill that shall by them from this time forward be made or procured and also provided that sd butler do prosecute against the said In- habitants of Chillmark for sd money so distraned then said inhabitants of Tisbury to stand by and defend sd Butler in sd sute or sutes so prosecuted to afect and make up to sd Butler all his damages sustained if any be in sd prosocutions by and if at any Time the sd Thomas Butler for with within the bounds of Chillmark by vertue of any lyne fairly made then we the Inhabitants of Tisbury to Reimburs all the money heretofore Taken by Distrant by any Constable belonging to Tisbury from sd Thomas Butler Consented by me Thomas Butler'

From this interesting treaty of peace we learn the location of Butler's house among other things and can be reasonably certain in placing it not far fr.om Old House pond, which was the limit of the Chase purchase.

Agreement With The Praying Indians

Butler thereupon endeavored to satisfy the chief Indians of Christiantown, who were abuttors on the west side of Chickemmoo, and on May 15, 1705, he reached the following agreement with Isaac Ompanit, trustee, Asa Howwanan, minister, Thomas Paul and Zachariah Papameck concerning their dividing line because of the "many years of contest and discord," viz.: -

Beginning at a Swamp wood tree standing on the beach about four or five rod from the pond, being the Eastern side of sd pond called Aukekemmy pond, and from thence extending southwardly into the island to a white oak tree marked and a heap of stones laid at the root thereof for a bound mark: near the head of the pond about the middle between two springs at the head of sd pond; and from thence to a stick pitched into the ground and heap of stones laid thereto for a boundary being at the east side of the fielde commonly (called) White Pockets field; which forementioned boimdary said parties have set and made and as for the

This divisional line was more definite than any of the preceding general "testimonies" of Indians and the subject may now be better understood by further reference to the accompanying map of this region.

Although Butler had legislated himself out of Chilmark and into Tisbury, yet he was between two fires and still a lawful denizen of an outlying section of Chilmark. This latter town "rated" him as did Tisbury, owing to the fact of one community holding jurisdiction over a portion within the bounds of another.^ To add to the anomalous situation Chilmark was not an incorporated township under the Massachusetts law. It was still the Manor of Tisbury doing business as a town. Consequently Butler refused to pay taxes to Chilmark and did pay the assessments laid on his property by the Tisbury tax gatherers. In order to free himself of legal or financial consequences he made a further agreement with the townsmen of Tisbury: - it is voted at a Legal Town meeting held this 14th day of May 1708. that whereas Captain Thomas Butler having been Rated divers years to Two towns to witt Tisbury and Chilmark to his grate detrement & and damage and now the saide thomas butler doth freely put himself under this Town Tisbury for the futter in the payment of all publique Taxes, wherefore it is now voted that the saide Thomas butler shall sit Rate free in this Town for the space of three years and halfe after the date of these preasents provided that Chilmark doth wholly omit Raleing the said Butler till such time as the bounds be setled between Tisbury and Chilmark on the Est side of Tisbury^