Chilmark Town (part 1 of 2)

Chilmark Town

This name is first given to the Manor of Tisbury in a deed from Thomas Mayhew to Daniel Stewart, March 26, 1680, where Mayhew calls himself "of the town of Chilmark in the Manor of Tysbery." It is mentioned in another deed under date of April 1, 1693, and appears on Simon Athearn's map of 1694. The reason for the bestowal of this name is found in its relation to the Mayhew family at the time Thomas Mayhew lived in the adjoining parish of Tisbury. It was undoubtedly found that confusion arose from the use of the names of Tisbury Manor and Tisbury, a condition which Mayhew remedied by reviving the old familiar title of one of the ancestral homes of his family.

The English Chilmark

The earliest record of this parish is in the Saxon Chartulary of Wilton Abbey, in which King Athelstan makes a grant of the place called ''ChUdmearc." In the Domesday Book it is designated as Chilmerc, and is placed among the lands of the church of Wilton. It then contained fourteen ploughlands, fifteen villagers, twelve borderers and twelve freedmen, occupying twelve ploughlands. The mill paid

In ''Nomina Villarum" it is mentioned as belonging to the Abbey of Wilton, until the 35th year of King Henry VIII (1545), when it, with the site of the monastery of Wilton and divers other manors, was granted to William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and his wife. The church living is still a gift of the Earls of Pembroke.^

The church is dedicated to S. Margaret, and is an interesting example of early ecclesiastical architecture. It is cruciform in shape, with a steeple, having a clock, rising from the junction of the nave and transept. The doorway is ornamented with curious efiigies carved in stone, supporting the arches. The rector has as a residence a beautiful stone house of Elizabethan architecture, situated on the glebe of the parish. The village is quiet and picturesque, apparently devoted to bucolic pursuits. Its population in 1800 was 406 and in 1886 was 554, about the same general size as our own New England thilmark. It was the birth place of Thomas Macy, the well known settler of Nantucket, and a cousin of our Thomas Mayhew. Macy stones are to be seen in the church-yard now.^

Population

Chilmark was the last of the three original towns to become settled, and it is not until toward the end of the 1 7th century that any appreciable population resided in its limits.^ By reference to the genealogies of the families known to have been living here in 1700, a total of 73 persons can be counted at that date. This makes no account of "others" who may have been here in the capacity of teachers, servants or laborers on the farms, exclusive of Indians. Perhaps ten or a dozen more, at the outside, would cover this class of transient residents. That Chilmark increased more rapidly than the other towns in population in this century is known from taxation and valuation lists, but no definite statistics are available

^A will of Thomas Maycie of Chilmark, dated 1575, was found by the author during his visit to England. It mentions sons Thomas, John, Philip and William, . one of whom was probably the father of the Nantucket settler.

^In 1692 there were about twenty families residing in Tisbury and Chilmark, the exact number in each not known. It is not far from the actual truth to divide this number in two and thus give twelve and eight respectively to these adjoining settlements. We can thus estimate about 40 persons living in Chilmark at that date.

until 1757 in an "alarm list" of males which numbers 91 able to respond. Using 5 as a multiple we have a total of 455 souls at this date. The Provincial census of 1765 is more accurate and from this we obtain the following figures : - families, 114, comprising a total of 546 souls living in 90 houses. Of these 159 were males and 179 females above sixteen years of age; 152 male and 156 female below sixteen; 17 negroes (9 male and 8 female) and 188 Indians, of whom 72 were male and 116 female.

Ancient Plan Of Chilmark, 1694 Drawn By Simon Athearn

It was the second town in population at that date, though the large proportion of Indians living here accounts for this lead over Tisbury. Ten years later, in 1776, the population is estimated at about 700, or about one quarter of the entire enumeration of the island.

The first national census of 1 790 gives us the enumeration by names, and from this the following statistics are drawn: total population 770 (whites), of which number there were 199 males above sixteen years, 157 below sixteen and 404 "free white" females. There were ten "other free persons," presumably negroes.

The following figures show the population of Chilmark as enumerated in the decennial censuses of the United States from 1800 to the present time: -

Chilmark has had an irregular but steady decrease in population since 1800, although the two towns of Gosnold and Gay Head were formed from this population, which in a large measure accounts for losses since i860. The state census of 1905 showed a population of 322.

The crude but valuable sketch plan of Chilmark in 1694 (on the preceding page) is the earliest one of its kind known to the author, and it is a part of a rough map of the whole island. The legends on the plan are as follows: -

This included lands is considrd unsettled but is in propr(ie)ty by a fenc(e) made a Cross the Hand by the people of Chilmark and Chilmark is fenced by the same under their peculiar improvement.

Seven houses are shown on the south road, one near the present Middle road, and two in the Keephiggon district, ten in all. The houses on the south road can in part be identified as the residences of James Allen, Nathaniel Skiff, Benjamin Skiff, Nathan Skiff, Rev. Rodolphus Thatcher, and probably Thomas Mayhew and Nathan Bassett. The house in the region of New Mill river is that of Richard Ellingham, and in Kephigon of Samuel Tilton.

Ancient Landmarks Algonquian Place Names

Arkessah- Arks pah. - In the grant of the Manor of Tisbury, dated July 8, 1671, the "river Arkspah running from the said Wakachakoyck" is mentioned, as one of the bounds of Nashowakemmuck. As far as known this is the only occurrence of this name as applied to a place in Chilmark. As written in the patent of the manor it is probably an error for Arkessah made by the clerk or copyist who engrossed the document, due to ignorance of Indian names. In the opinion of the author it is an abbreviation of Wachap-Arkessah, the Algonquian name for Pease's brook.

Keephikkon. - This place is mentioned in 1663 (Dukes Deeds, I, 93). This word has a great variety of forms, Keephickon (1671), Keipheigon (1675), Cephecand (1678) and Ciphccan (1684). The modern spelHng, Cape Higgon, is a blunder, similar to the error made in Cape Poge. It means ''an artificial enclosure," and the word refers to the land purchased by Thomas Mayhew of the Indians in 1663, which was enclosed by a fence. In the Delaware dialect it is Kup-hei-gan, and in Otchipwe it is K-pah-i-kan, all meaning ''something that shuts in."

In the charter of Tisbury Manor, dated July 8, 167 1, the following description of the bounds of this section are given: - ''Another parcell of Land called Ceep-hickon Bounded on the East by the Westermost Bounds of Takemmy from whence it extendeth about a Mile and halfe Westward along the Sound, which is the North Bounds, and to the South reaching to the middle of the Island."

It is thus described by Matthew Mayhew, May 12, 1685: - "The whole containing by estimation one English aiiile and a halfe by the Sound, and extending to the beforesaid rock (Waskosims) and middle Line from the Sound southerly."

Muckuckhonnike. - In a deed of land from Thomas Mayhew to Daniel Steward, dated March 24, 1680, this name is given to a tract of land in Chilmark, "being on the beach opposite against the point of a neck of Quanaimes which John Mayhews house standeth upon" (Deeds, I, 266). This word is a compound of Mukkonne- and auke, signifying "Land of the congregation or assembly," and probably refers to one of the missions for the natives conducted by one of the Mayhews in this vicinity.

Meshpootacha. - This is the cove at the division line of Quia-naimes and Quanissoowog, first mentioned in a deed dated Aug. 20, 1681, Thomas Mayhew to John Mayhew, as a "cove of watter called by the Indians Mesputache." (Deeds, I, 407.) The modern name for the point designated is Black Point, and it is also applied to the cove adjoining. The word is from Massa-pootoe-ohke, "great swelling-out land." A similar name occurs on Long Island, Masspootupaug, now known as the Great South bay, the definition being "the great spreading-out water place." (Southampton Records, II, 27.)

"Mossommoo" is mentioned (VII, 247). Massachusetts dialect, Mosommo ''where shearing (of sheep) is." Probably a place where it was customary at one time to gather the sheep together for shearing. The word, like many others, is of date subsequent to settlement of the island.

Menemsha. - Monamesha, Unanemshie and Manamshounk are variations of this name in the records. "Westermost land of Nope (alias) Martin's Vineyard which land is distinguished or bounded from the rest of the land of Martin's Vineyard by a certain creek called by the name of Manamshounk, which land is called by the Indians Aquinnah & by the English Gay Head" (Deeds, III, 12). The name originally did not belong to the creek or the pond, but probably indicated a standing tree or pole placed on one of the hills near the creek, or it may have been the name of the locality itself, "as seen from afar." The terminal -unk is an inseparable generic denoting a solitary standing tree, while the adjectival prefix signifies "a vision" (Massachusetts). The reading would therefore be, "the observation tree or pole," erected for the purpose of signalling, when the whales were in sight. Monamansu-auke, meaning, "place of observation," may apply to Prospect hill, the highest on the Vineyard in the region of the Menemsha pond.

Nashowaquidsee. - " Nashawaqueedse " is first mentioned in 1684, and later, in 1703, the neck is called " Nashowaquetset " " Nashaquitsa," " Nashawaqucedsee," "Nashouahquedset." This word in the full Algonquian rendering is Nasawa-aquidenes-et from the radix, Nazhwi or Nizhv/i, the numeral two, which can be translated the divided or doubled; aquiden, meaning an island, es diminuitive, rendering it islet, or a little island, and -et, the locative suffix. The rendering therefore is "at the little divided island," referring, probably to the insular formation between Menemsha and Squibnocket ponds.

NivipanikhickaniLh. - This was the name of the place where the Rev. Experience Mayhew lived in Chilmark. In 1722 he wrote that it signified in English, "the place of thunder clefts," because there was once a tree split by lightning at that spot.

Quinames. - A neck called "Quanaymes" in Nashowakemmuck, is mentioned in a deed dated May 17, 1664, and again in a deed dated 1678 (I, 265). The definition of this word is "the long fish" (eel), and refers to a locality where the Indians caught them. In the will of Thomas

Mayhew, Sr., this neck is called Quannaimes or Quannissoowauge (Deeds I, 327). Matthew *Mayhew sold to his brother John, Nov. 8, 1687, certain "land called Quanso or Quanimset " (Deeds III, 174). In 1712-13 the neck was described as "called by the name of Quansow alias Nomagua" (Deeds III, 104). There was a Quansue on Nantucket, now called Consue. The modern spelling on the Vineyard is Quansoo.

Saphehogasoo. - John Pachaket, Indian of Gay Head, in a deed to Zachary Hosewit, of land in Chilmark, mentions a neck "called Pachok neck or by the Indian name of Saphehogasoo, 1738" (Deeds VI, 294). John Phillips, one of the sachems of Nashowakemuck, to John Pachaket "my kinsman," a tract of land at a place "known by the Indians Pokawamet small neck called Sapachchogasso" (Deeds IV,

12). This name was intended for Sha-pachaug-as-soo, "at the midway turning place." In 1759 it is called Pechockers neck, near Gunning point (Deeds VIII, 659).

Sqiieppunnocquat. - Squibnocket, modern. The definition is "A place where the red ground nut grows." M'squepun-ock-ut; it was probably the bulb of the orange red lily (Lilium Philadelphicum) which grows in great profusion around this region. In various dialects it is known as the meadow ground nut. The Indians ate the roots, which are long in boiling, and they taste like the liver of sheep.

Tiaskuhkonuh. - In a deed, dated 1719, Experience Mayhew sold land at Quansoo running due north from a cove of water called T(S)iashkuhkonuh (Deeds, III, 248). Experience Mayhew sold to Elishab Adams in 1737 a tract of land in Chilmark and mentions a "cove of water called Siashkakonsett " (VI, 236). It is difficult to say to what this name originally applied. It may have been "a path," "a bridge," "stones laid down for crossing," etc. "a place trodden down," Massachusetts Eliot Tashkuhkan-ah, "he trode down" (2 Chron., 25-8). Tashkuhkon- "Trodden" (Isaiah, 28-8). Tashkuhkon-es-et "at a place trodden down."

Wawaytick. - This was the name of the creek which empties Menemsha pond into the Bight. The first occurence of the work is in the patent of Tisbury Manor, under date of July 8, 1671: "the Harbour on the North side of the Island called Wawattick." In Kendall's "Travels" (1807) it is spoken of as "Wawaytick Creek which runs from Menemsha Pond." In all Algonquian dialects Wawi indicates "round" because it refers to the shape of an egg, called by the same word. The last syllable -tukq, tick, is defined as a tidal inlet, or creek, and the whole in its application is freely rendered as ''round, or winding-about, creek; the winding creek," which is a correct description of this crooked stream (Deeds

Wequohscut. - ''Wequobsket" is first mentioned in a deed dated 1695 (I, 385). "Wequobset Cliffs" mentioned in a deed dated 1697 (I, 387). Thomas Mayhew in his will (1725) writes it Weaquabsqua (Probate I, 160). This word is probably an attempt of the Indians to describe an artificial bound-mark. It is from the words: Wequ-obsk-ut, meaning "at the ending rock," and refers to the well-known "Stone Wall" in Chilmark, at the southwestern boundary of Nashawakemmuck.

Wachapakesuk. - This was a small brook, probably the one next west of the "fulling mill brook," and is referred to in a conveyance from Matthew Mayhew to Benjamin Skiffe, July 20, 1682, viz: a neck called Nathaniel's Neck, in Nashawkemmuck, containing 18 acres, "bounded Easterly by a brook which runneth into a pond which pond is the South bound : westwardly by a small brook called by the Indians Wachapkesuh : North by the foot path or road which goeth towards the west end of the island, crossing the said brook." It is without doubt the stream known to the English as Pease's brook.

Wakachakoyck. - In the grant of the Manor of Tisbury, dated July 8, 1671, the bounds of Nashowakemmuck are described as "beginning at a place called Wakachakoyck." This word is a compound of Wek-adch-ohke (auke), the meaning of which is "land or place at the end of a hill." This is the only occurrence of the word in our records and its location is in doubt.

Beetle Bung Corner. - The junction of the Middle road and the Menemsha road has been called by this curious name for nearly two hundred years. A clump of hornbeam trees growing near this spot gave it the name of Beetle Bound Tree corner as early as 1729 (Deeds V, 67), because the trees marked a boundary. The name Beetle "Bung" corner is a clumsy and meaningless corruption of the original signification of the name. Hornbeam wood was used then in the manufacture of beetles for loosening the bungs of casks and hogsheads, and the trees were sometimes called beetlewood trees.

Fulling Mill Brook. - The Fulling Mill brook is mentioned in a deed dated 1694. It starts in a swamp near the middle road and empties into Chilmark pond.

Mile Square. - The ''Mile Square" in Chilmark was a tract bought by ]\Iatthew Mayhew of Chipnock, an Indian, and his daughter, about 1703, and adjoining Menamsha pond.

Nabs Corner. - The junction of the Chilmark-Tisbury line and the South road has borne this name for over a century. It derived its name from one Abigail Dunham, single woman, who lived near there, before 1800, and achieved considerable notoriety during her life.

N'ew Mill River. - Matthew Mayhew conveyed to Capt. Benjamin Skiffe in 1696, the right to use "New mill river," "to improve for a mill" (Dukes Deeds I, 125). It flows along easterly, parallel to the Middle road, crosses the Tisbury line and continues its course through that town.

Pease'' s Brook. - Mentioned in a deed, 1697, as near the Sugar Loaf rock in Chilmark. It empties into the western end of Chilmark pond, after a long circuitous route starting beyond the Middle road. It is not -known for whom it was named, as none of this island family owned land there. It may have derived its title from some incident connected with one of them.

PamehanniVs Field. - Mentioned in a deed from Matthew Mayhew to Nathan Bassett in 1705. "Pamehannits Field now the top of the Hill," east of the Fulling Mill brook (Deeds II, 25).

First Purchases Of Land By The Mayhews

The first attempt of the Mayhews to acquire the Indian "rights" in the present limits of the town of Chilmark, was made by the younger Mayhew, before 1657, but as the date is not of record, it may only be surmised when it was accomplished. It was the tract beginning at a Place called Wakachakoyck & goeth to the River (Wachap) arkessah, running from the said Wakachakoyck by a streight Line to the middle of the Island where is the middle Line that divides the land of Towtoe and others & the Land sold to the said Thomas Mayhew: and from the Place that Line meeteth the middle Line soe dividing the Land as aforesaid to goe to the Harbour on the North side of the Island called Wawattick.i

This tract was called by the Indians ''Nashawakemmuck," and represents all the territory south of the Middle line, and between the Tisbury bounds on the east and Pease's brook and Menemsha pond on the west. It is not known for what purpose he bought this land, but his early death prevented the carrying out of any design he may have had for the settlement of this region. The next purchase was made by the elder Mayhew on Feb. 3, 1663, when he bought of Kemasaoome and Mamooampete, for the sum of five pounds, the neck called Quanames. The conveyance recites that the said Neck is bounded to the Westward by the Pond: to the Eastward by the midst of Ukquiessa, and so to run up in a straight line into the woods to the path that goes from the school house to Tiasquam, somewhere between the bridge and the school house and not further into the woods: and it is to goe to the sea so far as the bounds is according to the line that runs through the midst of Ukquiessa Pond aforesaid.^

This tract was bounded east by the Great Tisbury pond, west by Chilmark pond, and by the South road on the north. On Sept. 20th of the same year, Mayhew made another purchase comprising land on the north side of the Middle line. The grantors were three brothers of Towtowee, the sachem of that region, and the land purchased was described in the following terms: - which land lyeth from the midst of the Pond Kyphiggon to Koyhikkon way in the natural bounds by the seaside between Nashowakemmuck and Takemmy: and so to run into the middle of the island, and be at the same breadth threw in the midst of the Island as it is by the sound side, for the which land We Konkoononammin, Makekonnit and Keesquish do hereby acknowledge that the said Thomas Mayhew

(pond ?) Keephiggon as shall make the breadth by the sea side three quarters of an English mile Beginning at Keephiggon aforesaid, for which we do acknowledge VvC have rec'd four povmds in full satisfaction.^

'It is probable that Crevecoeur after viewing a scene like this at the time of his visit in 1782 reported the valuable observation that "Chilmark contains stone for fencing." (Lettres d'un Cultivateur Americain.)

On May 17, 1664 Mayhew added to this tract, by purchase from Kessukamiih, of a square mile "beginning at the middle of the pond at Keepehiggon" and running a mile by the Sound, and a mile into the ''midle of the Island."^ This overlapped the other, and increased the tract by a quarter of a mile. It is the land in the extreme northeast part of Chilmark, adjoining the Tisbury line. Likewise on the same day he obtained from Pamehannet, the sachem of Quanames, father of the celebrated Japhet Hannet, a quitclaim of all his rights in that neck.^ Four years later he bought of Josias, the sachem of Takemmy, on June 27, 1668,

Quansooway along by the Fresh Pond till it comes to the issuing forth of Tyasquan: and from thence up to the bridge wch is at the path that comes from the mill: and so from the bridge along the school house path till it meets with the land sold the said Mayhew by the said Pamehannett and Kemesoom: so this land is bounded to the Westward by that which was Pamehannetts: by the Sea on the South: by the Fresh Pond to the Eastward: and Northerly by Teeassquan River to the bridge: and then by the school house path till it meet with aforesaid land which was Pemehannetts.

The consideration for this was a "cow and suit of clothes from top to toe," and seventeen pounds in money. ^ This land is on the western shore of Tisbury pond and extends to the South road, and bounded on the west by an imaginary line from "Nab's Corner" to Mesapootacha cove.

The Middle Line

These purchases from the Indians secured to the Mayhews the fee of all of the southern and eastern portions of Chilmark, leaving a section bordering on the Sound and on Menemsha pond under the control of the natives. The reference to the "Middle Line" makes it desirable to have an authoritative definition of its relations to the lands in question, and the following quotation from an agreement concluded between Matthew Mayhew and the Indians as to this well-known bound mark shows its location : -

These individual purchases of the ''rights" of the Indians by Mayhew gave him undisputed control of by far the largest tract of land in severalty upon the island, and from his subsequent movements irt regard to it, we are justified in concluding that he intended to retain it as a large landed estate, modeled after the medieval ownerships of the land in England and on the continent. ':-,] iv;

Creation Of The Ivianor Of Tisbury

When Thomas Mayhew and his grandson, Matthew, went to New York in the summer of 1671 to settle the questions of jurisdiction and government of this island with Governor Lovelace, as elsewhere related, he probably had in his mind a clear outline of what he wished to secure from the representative of the Duke of York. He was now an old man, and had risen to a unique position among his colonial confreres. Doubtless his thoughts harked back to the place of his birth and the scenes of his childhood, and the recollections of Tisbury with its manor aroused in him a desire to become the head of a like social institution, the first of a line of Lords of the Manor in another Tisbury. He had recollected the Arundels of Wardour, the hereditary Lords of Tisbury Manor in Wiltshire, living but a short distance from his boyhood home, and the grandeur of their position, holding dominion over their broad acres, with tenants filling the manor barn every harvest, as acknowledgments of their fealty, in lieu of knightly service; and having already had a taste of the headship of a community for many years, upon a sort of mutual agreement, or compact plan, he now wanted the legitimate fruit of his position made distinctive. Thus, when he laid his desires before Governor Lovelace, one of them was nothing less than the creation of a manorial demesne on the Puritan Vineyard, with himself and his grandson Matthew as joint Lords of the Manor, and so in succession to their heirs male.

This idea did not meet with the least disfavor in the mind of the royal governor, himself son of a knight, and as there were already several manors erected in the Province of New York, a ready acceptance of it was found. Doubtless he considered it a good idea to plant before the eyes and under the noses of the Dissenters and Puritans of Massachusetts a conspicuous example of the good old customs of "Merrie England" with its arrhorial county families and loyal tenantry.

Accordingly on the day in which the two patents of Edgartown and Tisbury passed the seals, there was issued another, creating Tisbury Manor out of the several purchases made by Mayhew in the present territory of Chilmark, Tisbury and the Elizabeth Islands, heretofore described, the full text of which is herewith incorporated to show the terms and extent of this grant.

FRANCIS LOVELACE Esq: one of the Gentlemen of his Ma'ties Hon'ble Privy Chamb'r and Governor Gen '11 under his Royall Highness JAMES Duke of Yorke and Albany &c of all his Territories in America: To all to whom these Presents shall come sendeth Greeting :

WHEREAS there is a certaine Island within these his Royall Highness his Territoryes in Length over against the Maine neare East and West & being to the North West of the Island Nantuckett wch said Island was heretofore Granted unto Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & Thomas Mayhew Jun'r his Sonn by James Forrett Agent to William Earle of Sterling in whom the Government then was a considerable part or Severall parcells of wch said Island hath by the said Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & Thomas Mayhew Jun'r his Son been purchased of the Indian Proprietors & due satisfaction given for the same whereof for diverse Years past they have been & still are in quiet & Lawfull Possession the Particulars of which said Parcells of Land are as hereafter is sett forth vizt That is to say a Certaine Piece of Land called Chickemote bounded on the East by a Spring called by the Name of Kutta-shim-moo on the West by a Brooke called Each-poo-qua-sitt on the North by the Sound & on the South by the bounds of Ta-kem-my : An other Parcell of Land called Keep-hick on Bounded on the East by the Westermost Bounds of Takemmy from whence it extendeth about a Mile and halfe Westward along the Sound wch is the North Bounds, and to the South reaching to the middle of the Island. Then a piece of Land called Quia-names Bounded on the East by Takemmy Pond on the West by Nashowakemmuck Pond & a foot Path wch Goeth from the said Pond to a Brooke called by the Name of Tyas-quin wch Brooke is its North Bounds: As also the Land called Nashowa-Kemmuck Sold to Thomas Mayhew Jun'r beginning at a Place called Wakachakoyck & goeth to the River Arkessah, running from the said Wakachakoyck by a streight Line to the middle of the Island where is the middle Line that divides the Land of Towtoe and others & the Land sold to the said Thomas Mayhew and from the Place that Line meeteth the middle Lyne soe dividing the Land as aforesaid to goe to the Harbour on the North side of the Island called Wawattick: Together wth two of the Elizabeth Islands called Kataymuck & Nanname-sitt & other Severall Small & Inconsiderable Islands in Monument Bay: NOW for a Confirmacon unto the Said Thomas Mayhew Sen'r & Matthew Mayhew his Grand Childe the Son & Heyre of Thomas Mayhew Jim'r in their Possession & enjoymt of the Premisses KNOW YE that by Vertue of the Commission and Authority unto mee given by his Royall Highness upon whom (as well by the resignacon & Assignmt of the He)a-es of the said Wm Earle of Sterling as also by Graunt & Patent from his Royall Majestye CHARLES the second) the Propriety & Governmt of Long Island Martins Vineyard Nantuckett & all the Islands adjacent amongst other things is settled, I have Given and Granted & by these Presents doe hereby Give Ratify Confirme &: Graunt unto the said Thomas Mayhew & Matthew Mayhew his Grand Childe their Heyres & all the aforementioned Pieces & Parcells of Land Islands & Premisses to bee Erected into a Mannor & for the future to be called & knowne by the name of TYSBURY MANNOR Together wth all the Lands Islands Soyles Woods Meadowes Pastures Quarrys Mines Mineralls (Royall Mines excepted) Marshes Lakes Waters Fishing Hawking Hunting & Fowling within the Bounds & Lymitts afore described And all other Profitts Comodityes Emoluments & Hereditamts thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining To bee holden according to the Customs of the Mannor of East Greenwch in the Coimty of Kent in England in free & comon Soccage & by Fealty only: And the said Mannor of Tisbury shall be held Deemed reputed taken & bee an Entire Enfranchized Mannor of itselfe & shall allwayes from time to time have hold & Enjoy like & equal Priviledges wch other Mannors within the Governmt & shall in noe mannor or any wise bee imder the Rule Order or Direction of any other place but in all Mattrs of Governmt shall bee Ruled Ordered & Directed according to the Instructions I have already given for that Island in General! or hereafter shall give for the Good and Wellfare of the Inhabitants by the Advice of my Councell: To have and to hold the said Mannor with the Lands thereimto belonging with all & Singular the Appertenances &- prmisses unto the said Thomas Mayhew & Matthew Mayhew their Heyres and Assignes to the Proper use and behoofe of the said Thomas Mayhew and Matthew Mayhew their Heyres & Assignes forever Yielding Rendring & Paying therefore Yearly & every Yeare unto his Royall Highness the Duke of Yorke his Heyres & Assignes or unto such Governor or Governors as from time to time shall bee by him Constituted & Appointed as an Acknowledgmt two Barrells of Good Merchantable Cod-Fish to be Delivered at the Bridge in this City.

Given under my Hand and Sealed wth my Seale & wth the Seale of the Province at Forte James in New Yorke on the Island of Manhattans this eighth day of July in the three and twentyeth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c & in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred seaventy & one.

It will be thus seen that practically the whole of the present town of Chilmark, with the district of Chickemmoo, now in Tisbury, and the Elizabeth Islands were erected into a Manor, like unto the ancient form known in England, and the elder Mayhew and his grandson were created joint Lords of the Manor of Tisbury, by virtues of the Patent of Confirmation. This was a strange and unique proceeding for these Puritan people, and is without a parallel in the present limits of New England. The grant gave the Mayhews peculiar legal privileges, by which all persons residing within the boundaries of their manorial lands were tenants, subject to their jurisdiction, in all matters of government. To understand this it will be necessary to define what a manor was and is, in the English system.

The English Manor

In English law a Manor is an estate in land, to which is incident the right to hold certain courts, called courts baron. The legal theory of the origin of manors refers them to grants from the crown, as stated in the following extract from Perkins'

Treatise on the Laws of England: "The beginning of a manor was when the king gave a thousand acres of land, or a greater or lesser parcel of land, unto one of his subjects, and his heirs, which tenure is knight's service at the least. And the donor did perhaps build a mansion house upon a parcel of the same land." A manor, then, arises where the owner of a parcel so granted has in turn granted portions of it to others, who stand to him in the relation of tenants. The name manor is of Norman origin, and signifies the same as the word fief in France. In some of the United States formed by English colonists, a tract of land occupied or once occupied by tenants paying a fee-farm rent to the proprietor, sometimes in kind, sometimes in stipulated services, is the transplanted form of manor as seen in New England and New York. In Colonial times these resembled the old English manors, their possession being in most cases accompanied by jurisdiction.*

Certain domestic courts could be held by the Lord of the Manor, called Courts Leet and Courts Baron. A Court Leet was a court of record held in a particular manor before the steward of the leet, or district covered by the manor, to determine petty offences, indictments to a higher court, and having some administrative functions. A Court Baron was a small court held in the manor, consisting of the freemen or freehold tenants of the manor, presided over by the Lord of the Manor, for the redressing of misdemeanors and settling tenants' disputes.

The domain was held intact by the Lord Proprietor, and farms let to tenants who were required to pay a "quit-rent" which was due the Lord from the free-holders and copyholders as an acquittance from other services, such as military duty, or other forms of fealty to the proprietor of the soil.*

Quit-Rents Of Tisbury Manor

Payment of these quit rents was to be in perpetuity, and constituted an "acknowledgment" of the continued sovereignty of the Lord of the Manor and his heirs or assigns. In the management of the Manor granted to the Mayhews, they alienated portions of the soil, but retained the "acknowledgment" of certain annual, or more frequent, payment of trifles to signify their manorial privileges. During the lifetime of the elder Mayhew none of the manor was alienated, except two pieces in the Quansoo region, to his grandsons John and Thomas Mayhew, and it is not known that he demanded any quit-rents from them. In a sale of a part of the Elizabeth Islands, however, he instituted the custom of requiring quitrents, and the first case was that of John Haynes, who agreed to pay "2 good sheep at the Manor House on November 15 th yearly and every year."^ It is not known where the "Manor House" was, if it existed in anything more than name. Possibly it was the house occupied by John Mayhew at Quansoo, or Quanames. After his death, Matthew Mayhew, as surviving patentee, kept to the custom of requiring the annual payments of such ''acknowledgments" in true English style. Usually in the mother country the quit-rent was "a good fat capon," to be delivered at Christmas or Whitsuntide, or oftener, but Mayhew varied his requirements to all sorts of small articles. One was obliged to bring annually to him "a good chees,"^; another "one nutmegg" as a tribute,^ and he required "his beloved brother John," who was permitted to occupy certain land, "one mink skin" to be paid yearly "at my mannor house in the mannor of Tisbury," on the 15th of November each year.^ Benjamin Skiffe was made to bring "six peckes of good wheat," annually.^ As late as 1732, Sarah, widow of Thomas Mayhew (3), in a deed to her two daughters conveying land in Chilmark, referred to the "Quitt-rents which shall hereafter become due unto the Lord

As may be imagined, this transplanted form of manorial government with its suggestions of "lords" and tenantry and "acknowledgments" was not favorably received by the people in the adjoining towns. It gave them an insight into what would occur if the ideas were carried out to their logical sequence. But Mayhew proceeded with his plans for an exclusive domain which should be separate from all the rest of the settlements on the Vineyard. Very early he had surrounded a part of this territory with a fence, and the name of one of his divisions, Kuppi-egon, or Kupegon, meaning an artificial enclosure, is a survival of this fact. Simon Athearn gives us a commentary on the situation, which doubtless voiced the sentiments of the settlers, when he said that they ^'have impropriated a Cuntery by a fenc to themselves" and again referring to the same subject in describing Chilmark: "This included land is considered un settled but is in propr(ie)ty by a fenc made a Cross the Hand by the people of Chilmark and Chilmark is fenced by the same under their peculiar improvement."'

Thomas Dongan, Earl Of Limerick, And The Society For Propagating The Gospel

It has been related elsewhere (Vol. I, pp. 174-6) how Matthew Mayhew, in April, 1685, was created Lord of the Manor of Martha's Vineyard, by Governor Dongan, and after enjoying the honor for nearly three weeks, he sold the title and privileges to the creator himself. Thenceforth Dongan was Lord of the Manor, or what remained after Mayhew had excepted most of the Vineyard in the transfer of title. As portions of the land which actually passed to Dongan were situated in this town, his connection with it becomes of interest to students of its early annals. These tracts were the eastern half of the Kephigon district of Chilmark and Squibnocket, for which annual quit-rents were exacted.^ Dongan appointed Mayhew as his steward, and this relationship was maintained for twenty-five years, until the latter' s death. Most of this territory, including the Gay Head peninsula, which formed the bulk of his "manor," was inhabited by Indians, and as tenants, they were poor pay and much care. It is not to be presumed that the lambs, nutmegs, corn and mink skins which they paid ever found their way to his cupboards, though they were religiously collected by his agent. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, by reason of its missionary work on the island among the natives, came to feel that with an absentee land-

^Thomas Mayhew paid to Matthew, as agent for Colonel Dongan, who succeeded to the Lordship of the Manor, one lamb yearly "for the neck of Land called Squpnockett" (ibid., V, 89), and the Society for Propagating the Gospel in New England, which bought Dongan's rights in 1715, continued to receive the annual tribute of "one Lamb" for the same property as late as 1724 (ibid., V, 89).

lord disinclined to part with his broad acres, their efforts to uplift the Indian to the plane of civilization would be of little avail under such conditions. When Mayhew died, in 1 710, the earl of Limerick was living in London, and the society determined to buy out if it could, the manorial rights of Limerick, and give the Indians the benefit of sympathetic landlordism. Accordingly, after some negotiations initiated by Jeremiah Dummer and conducted by Sir William Ashhurst, Governor of the company, and Judge Sewall, a sale was effected on May 10, 1711, and the Society in its corporate capacity

Arms Of Gov. Thomas Dongan Lord Of The Manor Of Martha'S Vineyard

Three years after this Judge Sewall visited the Vineyard and saw the Chilmark portion of the property, and recorded this incident as follows: -

April 9, 1 7 14. Go to the top of Prospect Hill, from thence to the Sound and by Mr. Thomas Mayhew's direction viewed the River falling into the Sound, [Roaring Brook], and the Shoar all along to the end of the 327 Rods which extends Southward to the middle Line, containing about 1000 Acres which belongs to the corporation.*

'Records of the New England Co., pp. 93-96; comp., Sewall, Letter Book, I, 422, Dukes Deeds, II, 311, 327. The Governor of the Company, in a letter expressing bis satisfaction with the acquisition, said: "I hope it will be the means to make the Indians live comfortably upon it and prevent their scattering abroad, which would certainly have brought their offspring back again to their old Idolatry."

The Society subsequently acquired other property in this region by purchase, and for many years acted in the capacity of guardian of the spiritual and material interests of the native.^ The property was gradually sold to them individually as they obtained means to purchase.

The First Settler

The peculiar relations which the Manor of Tisbury, or Chilmark, bore to the Mayhew family, being a sort of personal appanage of the successive Lords of the Manor, make it somewhat difficult to determine the conditions of early settlement in this territory. In other words, to separate tenants from land owners and actual residents, when the charter was granted in 1671, is a difficult matter. For example, the first recorded deed of sale of any part of the present territorial limits of Chilmark made by the proprietors, is under date of Feb. 26, 1677-8, when Matthew Mayhew, Lord of the Manor, sold fifty-five acres to James Allen, of Tisbury, and in this deed the ''land of John Manter" and ''Meadow of William Swift" are mentioned. This would indicate that Manter and Swift were then either living in or owning land there, but no deeds to them are of record, showing such ownership. It is known that Allen, one of the Tisbury proprietors, was a great land speculator, but it is reasonably certain that he, then and for some years after, resided in Tisbury. Manter also was one of the original proprietors of Tisbury, lived and died there, and his holdings in Chilmark must have been as a non-resident, merely for agricultural purposes. As to William Swift, the county records contain no records of purchase or sale by him, and yet, in addition to this "meadow" in Chilmark, he had a "lot" on Eddy's Neck in Tisbury the same year. How he came by it, or in v/hat way it passed out of his hands, is not known. It is doubtful if he was anything more than a non-resident land owner in either town.^ It is thus apparent that Allen, Manter and Swift can be eliminated as residents of Chilmark at that time, and we then come to the first definite evidence of an actual setrter. This is shown in a deed executed by Governor Mayhew, in 1680, to Daniel Steward, in which is

'He was the son of William Swift of Sandwich, and at the date of the deed above referred to, he represented that town in the General Court of the Colony of Plymouth. Savage, Gen. Diet., IV, 242.

From this we can safely conclude that for some time prior to March 26, 1680, young John Mayhew had been living at Quanaimes, and he may he reckoned as the first actual white settler in the limits of Chilmark.^ It is probable that his residence dated from about 1672 or '3, when he married and reached his majority, and presumably ''set up his Ebenezer" as a consequence. The life work of this young man had already been chosen, and he selected Chilmark as the field for his labors among the Indians of the town. He had acquired of Toohtowee, Sachem of the north side of Martha's Vineyard, half of his rights as such, and on Feb. 4, 1673, the son, John Toohtowee, "confirmed" the purchase,^ which gives us|^an indication of the time of his adoption of this town as his home. In the little house at Quanaimes, built by John Mayhew, was born in the year 1673 the famous Experience,'; author of "Indian Converts," and after the property had descended to him, as the "first born son," it disclosed the light of day in 1720 to his no less famous scion, the Rev. Jonathan Mayhew, the great pulpit orator. This spot, therefore, may well be regarded as the cradle of Chilmark's most distinguished sons, and is worthy of perpetual designation as the homestead of its earliest resident.

Subsequent Settlement And The Early Settlers Before 1700

Next in point of time, as respects the acquisition of property, is James Allen, whose earlier connection with the settlement of Tisbury has been recorded in the annals of that town. His first purchase of land in Chilmark consisted of fifty-five acres, situated near Abel's hill on the south side of the road, under date of Feb. 28, 1677-8." Shortly after he bought ninety acres extending from the road southward to the pond,'^ and eight years later, May 7, 1686, twenty acr^s more adjoining

'He was in Tisbury in 1677, but whether as a settler or transient is not clear. (Letter to Joseph Norton, in possession of Wm. J. Rotch.) ^Deeds, III, 201.

the last purchase/ When he ceased to be a resident of Tisbury» and became a citizen of this town, is not known. It was sometime after 1682 and before 1690, on which latter date he is referred to as "of Chilmark,"^ and again in 1692 he is described as ''of Chillmark."^ From these dates, and an unknown period before, we may consider him a resident, and claim continuity therefrom till his death. It is traditional that he lived half a mile north of the old meeting-house, and this is probably correct.

Daniel Steward was the third land owner, chronologically, by his purchase of a parcel of meadow, before referred to, March 24, 1680, situated "on the beach opposite against the point of a neck of Quanaimes."* Whether he ever lived on this property is open to much doubt. He is called "of Tisbury" and did not retain the land long, selling it on August 14, 1684, to Simon Athearn. He resided in Edgartown till his death.

With the advent of Benjamin Skiffe, another resident of Tisbury, we are on surer footing, as he became identified with this town, and at his death was one of its best known citizens. He made his first purchase Feb. 6, 1681, consisting of land on the west side of Roaring brook. '^ The next year, July 20, 1682, he bought a neck of land called Nathaniel's neck, containing eighteen acres, "bounded Eastwardly by a brook which runneth into a pond, which pond is the South bound: westwardly by a small brook called by the Indians Wachapakesuh : North by the foot path or road which goeth towards the west end of the island, crossing the said brook."*

The location of this land is so carefully described that the reader can easily determine its boundaries, between the Fulling mill and Pease's brook, and south of the road.

Richard Ellingham, who came here from Barnstable, bought of Matthew Mayhew in 1683, eighty acres of land, eighty rods wide on the New Mill river and running one hundred and sixty rods northerly therefrom, being the second lot from the Tisbury-Chilmark line, on the present Middle road. He

A younger brother of Benjamin Skiffe, also a resident of Tisbury, began to make purchases of land in this town a few years later. Nathan Skiffe was one of the early settlers in the adjoining town, where he had, as a young man, held property and acted as one of the officials, but he decided to remove, and on Aug. 16, 1686, he purchased of Matthew Mayhew fifty acres of land bounded southerly and westerly by Pease's brook, which means at the turn of this stream at the end of the South road.^

Samuel Tilton, who had previously owned land at Homes Hole and Tisbury, became a purchaser of property in this town March 30, 1688, when he bought of Matthew Mayhew, eighty acres described as follows : - or bottom of a field called Japhets, on the same line as fence to a swamp near the River called Milne in length about 80 poles: Southwardly by a fence in the valley about 80 poles westwardly: and bounded Westwardly by a parallel line drawn from the westward part or end of said Southern bounds paralel to said eastern line till it meet or cometh to the aforesaid Swamp, and Northwardly by said Swamp '

The next new resident was Nathaniel Skiffe, the third of the Skiffe brothers to become identified with the town. He bought, Oct. 3, 1689, one hundred acres to the south of Pease's brook, extending to the cliffs, and from time to time, as long as he resided on the island, added to his estate.^ He removed about 1 713 to Windhahi, Conn.

The next new land owner was Ephraim Higgins, who came here from Rhode Island, and bought a tract of land March 14, 1689-90 near the ''Stone wall." It is presumed that he occupied and improved it, and it was held by him until his death, about fourteen years after.® He was probably a single man.

resident, in the occupation of school teacher. He did not remain as a permanent resident, although he acquired some property April 3, 1690, at Squibnocket.^

Reverend Rodolphus (or Ralph) Thacher, who had come to the town in a pastoral relation to the people, became a proprietor of forty-five acres on the South road, Feb. 13, 1694, and built a house thereon, which he occupied with his family.^ This lot adjoined Benjamin Skiffe's on the east.

Nathan Bassett came from Sandwich, on the Cape, and settled in town, next in order of time. His first purchase was thirty-five acres, July 4, 1694, the land being situated near Abel's hill.'

In 1697 another permanent resident was added to the little settlement in the person of William Hunt from Dorchester. He bought, September 9th, in that year, a tract of land situated near the Wequobsket cliffs, and settled there with his family.*

There were several non-resident owners of property who bought land in town before 1700, Richard Sarson and Thomas Harlock of Edgartown and John Case of Tisbury, but they cannot be reckoned as actual settlers of Chilmark.^

Thus, at the close of the 17th century, about 25 years after John Mayhew first built himself a house at Quansoo, the town population compi'iscd the following heads of families : Experience Mayhew, John Mayhew, Pain Mayhew, Thomas Mayhew, James Allen, Ebenezer Allen, Nathaniel Skiffe, Benjamin Skiffe, Nathan Skiffe, Samuel Tilton, William Tilton, John Tilton, Nathan Bassett, William Hunt, and Rodolphus Thacher, fifteen households in all.

Sketches Of The Early Settlers Nathan Bassett

had married Mary, daughter of John and Hope (Chipman) Huckins, about 1690, at Barnstable. He came to Chilmark about 1694, bringing two children and established his residence on his purchase near Abel's hill. By occupation he was a blacksmith, and he carried on his smithing in a shop near his house. Parson Homes said of him, *'he was one that feared God and was peaceable and industrious," and this character he. maintained throughout his long life. His public services were of a modest nature, being chosen surveyor of highways in 1713, 171 8- 21, 1724-6, 1736, and fence viewer on several occasions. He was an invalid for a long time, being a sufferer from palsy before his death, which occurred Nov. 16, 1743, in the 77th year of his age. His will, dated Jan. 31, 1740, in which he styles himself *' gentleman," was probated Nov. 29, 1743, and the inventory of his estate amounted to £256-18-8 as reported by appraisers. His wife, "a peaceable, industrious and pious woman," predeceased him eight days, and left a will dated Jan. 31, 1739-40, which was probated the same time with her husband's will.^ He was a public spirited man and gave to the town, in 1724, the site for a meeting-house.

Joeln Hillman

There is a tradition common to all the scattered descendants of this pioneer that he was "shanghaied" and brought to this country when 16 years of age, being taken from a fishing boat in the river Thames.

As he was born in 165 1 this would make it about the year 1667 when he landed here. The intervening time (1667- 1675) is a blank, for being only a youth on arrival he was probably employed as a servant or apprentice until he reached his majority. It may be surmised that he lived in the vicinity of Salisbury or Hampton, whence came so many of the earliest settlers of this island and Nantucket. Where this place was is not known, and the first definite knowledge we have of him is at Tisbury some time between 1675 and 1678, when he came into possession of the half lot and share of Samuel Tilton, on the east side of Old Mill brook. This he sold in ijanuary, 1679, to Elizabeth Norton, and the next record we have about him is at Nantucket. At that place his oldest child was bom in 1682, and there he had found his wife, Hannah, daughter of Edward Cottle. One account states that he was a Welchman and a gardener, but the others call him a worsted comber, and the records describe him as a weaver. In a legal document he is called ''an Englishman," which may be taken in the restricted sense, or as an English subject.

the which he quietly dwelt on 3 years of the time."* This tract of land was called the "Red Ground" and became the source of prolonged litigation between Athearn and the Praying Indians, who claimed it belonged to Christian town. There is likewise no record to show when he removed to Chilmark unless we accept the purchase of Oct. 3, 1711, consisting of twenty acres and a quarter share of common rights, as the date of his settlement in the town.^ This leaves thirteen years unaccounted for since the expii-ation of his lease from Athearn, and so far the gap cannot be bridged. In fact, his whole residence here, covering a period of perhaps forty years, till his death, has given us but few indications of his presence during that entire time.

William Hunt

Weymouth, born about 1655, and prior to his removal to Chilmark he had resided in Dorchester for a time. His purchase of land in 1697 is the probable date of his coming here, and that he was married, his wife's name being Jane, and brought a family with him, appears from collateral evidence. His life here was without incident as far as the records show and the only public office he held was selectman in 1705, which he kept one year. Homes, in his diary, makes the following note of his death under date of January 8, 1726-7: "Last night before sundown Old William Hunt departed this life he was a man of good age, had been long fraile. He died suddenly none of his family knowing when he died." His age was "about 73 years," according to the gravestone. He made his last will March 13, 1 721-2, and it was proven April

'Deposition of John Hillman in 1698 aged 47 years (Sup. Jud. Court files, No. 4974). The deposition means that he resided on this farm the whole time, but that the latter part of his occupancy was in litigation.

5, 1727. In it he bequeathed the personal property to his grandchildren and the residue to his son William, who was appointed as executor.^ His wife died some years before him on May 7, 1720, and some of their descendants live in Nova Scotia. The name is extinct in the town.

Thomas Little

Early in the i8th century there came to Chilmark this young man, son of Lieut. Isaac Little of Marshfield, born Dec. 15, 1674, and graduated in the class of 1695 from Harvard College. He had married, Dec. 5, 1698, Mary Mayhew (42) of Edgartown, and in May, 1 709, purchased two twenty acre lots in Chilmark, which is the presumed date of his settlement here. While a resident here he practiced law and presumably medicine, for his education warranted, in those days, the employment of his talents in all the arts and sciences.^ He died early, however, in 1715, leaving a widow and six minor children. His estate was divided in June, 1725, at which time his eldest son Thomas was residing in the town, succeeding to his father's professional work.^ The widow married Jonathan Bryant of Pembroke before 17 19, and the younger children became residents of Plymouth and Middleborough. The family became extinct here a decade before the Revolution.

John Mayhew

and was born in 1652 at Edgartown. An excellent contemporary sketch of his life, written by Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston, is here quoted in full, as published. (Indian Converts, pp. 302-6).

This Gentleman being but about five Years of Age at the Loss of his Father, thereby unhappily missed the Advantage of a learned Education; for want of which, together with his full Employment at home, and his not being inclined to appear abroad, he very much confined himself to the Island, and was not so extensively known: and thence it is, there has been too little hitherto publickly said of this Gentleman, con- sidering his great Worth and Usefulness. But I can assure my Reader that he fell not short either of the eminent Genius or Piety of his excellent Progenitors.

He was early inclined to the Ministerial Work: and having the Benefit of the Grandfather's wise Instructions, and of 'his Father's Library; and being a Person of more than ordinary natural Parts, great Industry and sincere Piety, he made such a large Proficiency in the Study and KLnowledge of divine Things, that about 1673, when he was twenty one Years of Age, he was first called to the Ministry among the English in a new and small Settlement, at a Place named Tisbury, near the middle of the Island; where he preached to great Acceptance, not only of the People imder his Care, but of very able Judges that occasionally heard him.

But he also naturally cared for the Good of the Indians, and, understanding their Language well while he was a very yoimg Man, he used frequently to give them good instructions, and even the chief Indians on the Island often resorted to him for Counsel. And being arrived at the Age above-said, they would not be contented till he became a publick Preacher to them likewise: so ardent and urgent were their Desires, that he could not deny them, even tho his thrice honoured Grandfather was then a laborious and acceptable Preacher among them.

He taught alternately in all their Assemblies a Lecture every Week, and assisted them in the Management of all their Ecclesiastical Affairs. And tho what was allowed him was very inconsiderable indeed, yet he went steadily on in this pious Work, and would not suffer any Affairs of his own to divert him from it, nor was there scarce any Weather so bad as to hinder him.

And having both the English and Indians under his Care, his Diligence was now to be doubled, especially after his Grandfather's Death in 1681; and this much the more, by reason of certain erroneous Opinions in danger of taking Root in the Island. Mr. IMayhew was rightly for repelling them with spiritual Weapons: and being a Person of very superior Abilities, and Acquaintance with the Scriptures, he used to desire such as began to imbibe those Principles, to produce their Reasons; and those who wanted to be resolved in their Difficulties, to give him the advantage to resolve them in pubhck, that others might also receive Light and Satisfaction; whereby they came to be more clearly instructed, and more fully convinced and satisfy'd, than in the ordinary Way of Preaching, which yet always preceded the other. In short, he had such an excellent Talent for the Defence of the Truth against Gainsayers, that those who would have spread their Errors, foimd themselves so effectually opposed by the Brightness of his Knowledge and Piety, and the Strength of his argumentative Genius, that they could make no Progres in their Designs on the Island: and the churches and People, and in them their Posterity were happily saved from the spreading of those erroneous Opinions, and the Disturbance and Troubles they would have produced among them.

And as for the Indians, his Custom was to tarry some time with them after the publick Exercise was over, allowing them to put Questions to him for their own Instruction, and also trying their Knowledge, by putting Questions to them. And he was so well skilled in their Language, as to be able to discourse freely with them upon any kind of Subject, and to preach and pray in their Tongue with the greatest Readiness.

He was a person of clear Judgement, great Prudence, and of an excellent Spirit; and the Indians very much repaired to his House for Advice and Instruction, and also for Relief in their Wants. And as he was fully persuaded, that many of them were truly religious he would sometimes say, "that tho he had but little Reward from Men, (having but about five Pounds a year for his Labours among them) yet if he might be instrumental in saving any, he should be fully satisfy'd, and think himself to be sufificiently recompensed." But after the honourable Commissioners came to be acquainted with him, and the eminent Service he did, they raised his Salary to thirty Pounds, which was about two years before his Death.

He walked in his House with a perfect Heart; having his Children and Servants in all Subjection, they both loving and fearing him, and being frequently and seriously instructed and counselled by him.

He lived and dy'd within the Bounds of Chilmark, but constantly preached to the English at Tisbury, for the space of fifteen Years to his Death, and about as long once every Week to one or other of the Indian Assemblies on the Island; besides abundance of Pains he took more privately with them. He rather made it his aim to serve his Generation by the Will of GOD, than to be known or observed in the World; and therefore went but little abroad. The whole of what was allowed him for his incessant Labours both among the Enghsh and Indians, put together, would scarce amount to ten Pounds per Annum, except the two last years of his Life as aforesaid; and yet he went on chearfully, in Hopes of a rich and joyful Harvest in Heaven.

And having finished what GOD in his all-wise and perfect Providence saw meet to imploy him in, he deceased on February 3, 1688-9, about two in the Morning, in the 37th Year of his Age, and the i6th of his Ministry; leaving the Indians in a very orderly Way of assembling on the Lord's Day for publick Worship in four or five several Places, and of hearing their several well instructed Teachers, who usually began with Prayer, and then after singing of a Psalm, from some Portion of Scripture spake to the Auditors: as also an Indian Church, of one hundred Communicants, walking according to the Rule of the Scriptures.

In his last Sickness he expressed a Desire "if it were the Divine Will, that he might five a while longer, to have seen his Children a little grown up before he died, and to have done more Service for CHRIST on the Earth." But with respect to his own State before GOD, he enjoyed a great Serenity and Calmness of Mind, having a lively Apprehension of the Mercy of GOD, thro' the merits of CHRIST; Far from being afraid to die, having Hopes, thro' Grace, of obtaining eternal Life by JESUS CHRIST our Lord. He counselled, exhorted and incouraged his Relatives and others who came to visit him: And with respect to himself, among other things, said, "He was persuaded that GOD would not place him with those after his Death, in whose Company he could take no Delight in his Life-time."

His Distemper was an heavy Pain in his Stomach, Shortness of Breath, Faintness, etc. and continued from the End of September to the time of his Death. And thus expired this third Successive Indian Preacher of this worthy Family; after he had set another bright Example of disinterested Zeal for the Glory of GOD, a lively -Faith of the invisible and

And now I need not saj', that his loss in the Flower of his Age, and especially so soon after his Grandfather, was much lamjented by both English and Indians; and many good People yet li\ang express a very grateful Remembrance of him.

in 1650 chose this town as his home, although he resided for a while in Tisbury, where from 1674 to 1679 he was town clerk. In 1680 he purchased sixty acres of land in the new settlement at Chilmark, and thenceforth spent his life here as a resident. His birth gave him prominence through family influences and during all of his adult life he was an office holder. He was an associate justice of the King's Bench from 1692 to 1699 and chief justice 1699 to 1713 of the same court. Parson Homes, in his diary, gives us this account of his last days : -

On the twenty first of July Anno 17 15 being Thursday about two of the clock in the morning Thomas Mayhew Esqu'r of Chilmarke departed this life he had been for several yeares troubled with the distemper called the kings evil by which he was brought neere the gates of Death but by some applications made to him by an Indian doctor he recovered so far that he was able to rid about and look after his affairs, but in the latter end of the spring or begining of summer this year he was suddenly taken with a stopag of his urine and a violent pain in his right leg, after some time his left leg swelled pretty much yet the paine continued in the other leg, by the use of means the stopag of his mrine was removed, yet the other symptoms continued. After some time there came a doctor to the Island that thought the swelling and pain in his legs might be removed by bathing and sweathing, which preceded accordingly in some measure, but after some time the swelling proceeded upwardly and he was siesed with an inwerd fever and shortness of breth which prevaild upon him till it carried him off. His nostril and throat grew so sore some days before he died that he could not speak so as to be understood, he was a man of good sense considering his education and seemed to be piously inclined tho he did entertain some singular opinions in religion.

He was long impowered in the Government of the Indians there, and was both singularly spirited & accomplished for that service: as he was on divers other accounts a very excellent Person/

He married Sarah Skiffe (5), who was born Oct. 12, 1646, and survived her husband until Dec. 30, 1740, when she passed away in the 95th year of her age.

Benjamin Skiffe

' ' and held a commanding position in civil and military affairs throughout the county. Indeed, he was the leading citizen of the Vineyard, after the death of Matthew Mayhew. Benjamin was next to the youngest of the four sons of James Skiffe, Senior, who came to the Vineyard. He was born Nov. 5, 1655, probably in Sandwich, where his father resided and had been a prominent citizen for many years. He was a witness to a deed in Tisbury on Dec. 24, 1677,^ and it is probable that he had gone to Tisbury before that with one of his brothers, either James or Nathaniel, as an inmate of their homes. ^ There he first saw the young girl who had lately moved there from Hampton, and who first attracted his admiration.

The girl, Hannah, daughter of Joseph Merry, was five years his junior, and on Feb. 20, 1679-80 they v/ere married. Where they set up housekeeping is not known, but the next record we find of him is a purchase of land in this town on Feb. 6, 1 68 1, consisting of a tract on the west side of Roaring brook.* The next year on July 20, 1682, he bought the land called "Nathaniel's Neck," but it cannot be determined whether either of these were used by him as a place of residence."^ From all evidences he still remained in Tisbury and is called of that town in 1681, 1682 and 1688, and on March 17, 1687, was chosen town clerk there. ^ He was elected county com-

^James came to Tisbury in 1671 and Nathaniel before 1674. The younger brother Nathan does not appear on record till 1675. ^Dukes Deeds, I, 233. 'Ibid., I, 346. ^Tisbury Records, 18.

missioner in 1686, apparently to represent Chilmark, as the other two were citizens of the sister townships. He continued to act as town clerk of Tisbury from his first election in 1687 to 1693 inclusive, and not until 1695 is he called ''of Chilmark." He was a proprietor of one share in the town, however, in 1692/ His residence was on the east side of the Fulling Mill brook, not far from the site of the mill which stood on its banks, in sight of the South road. He bought one hundred acres on Feb. 13, 1694, jointly with Pain Mayhew, and it is supposed that it was for the purpose of carrying on the mill which he had erected there for fulling cloth. ^ Two years later he bought the mill privileges of New Mill river "to improve for a mill," but it is not known whether another one was built there by him.'

When the great political change of jurisdiction over the Vineyard took place in 1692, it appears that Skiffe was one of those who did not like the transfer, and he took sides with the Mayhews in the policy of passive opposition. "Capt'n ben Skiffe," wrote Simon Athearn in October of that year, "have bene very bussie against the government from this place," *and as a consequence he recommended that Skiffe be superseded as Captain of the military company as "the most likely way to bring the company to obediance."*

But Athearn was not able to carry his point in this matter, and Skiffe continued to be a leader in military affairs as well as in civil life. He was for some time prior to 1692 Captain of the Foot Company of Militia of Tisbury and Chilmark combine;d, and is referred to as Captain Skiffe in 1693 ^^^ i^QSIn 1703 he appears as Major Skiffe and thereafter is known by that title, and late as 1709 he was in command of this body of troopers.^

The town availed itself little of his services in an official capacity. For three years only, 1706-7-8, he served it as selectman, but his time was in requisition for more important duties to which the whole island unanimously called him. In those days the three towns, as at present, sent but one repre-

'Court Records, Vol. I. It is difficult to separate the relations of proprietors and residents, as there were non-resident proprietors who were entitled to hold office and draw lots.

^Savage says he was employed "in an important trust" by Governor Dudley in 1704, but the author has no data in confirmation of it (Gen. Diet., IV, 706).

sentative to the General Court, and for five years, 1 707-1 711, 1 715, and 1 71 7, he was the "member from the Vineyard."^ In 1 716 Edgartown voted to send him again if Chilmark would join, but it does not appear that this was done.^ In 1700 he was one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for this county, and on the death of Matthew Mayhew in 17 10, Major Skiffe was appointed Judge of Probate for this county in succession and held the office until his own decease eight years later. It will thus be seen that this man was one of the foremost men of his time, whom all were ready to honor with such marks of confidence and respect as was in their power to bestow. He seemed to have stood well with the influential Mayhews and thus steered clear of the difficulties into which his brother fell by antagonizing them. There is an entry in the town records of Edgartown significant of the esteem in which he was held by other communities. On Jan. 22, 1707-8, the town voted that ''Major Benjamin Skifte, Esqr. shall be requested by their Clerk, Thomas Trapp, to be at their next meeting at Edgertown to assist them in their public or common affairs as moderator; and do order their said clerk to request the same in their behalf."^ This appears to be an unusual and unique compliment.

Major Skiffe, in his last illness, made his will on Feb. 15, 1 71 7-18, and died two days later. He left a large property which was inventoried by the appraisers on Feb. 23, 1719, and returned as amounting to £2748-10-5, probably being the richest man in the town.* He was childless, but had adopted young Beriah Tilton (23), born in 1703, and to him he bequeathed, subject to Mrs. Skiffe's contingent interest, the homestead and mill adjoining. He also gave bequests in his will to his niece, Sarah Athearn, daughter of his brother Nathan, and to his brother-in-law, Thomas Pease. The following is an abstract of his will : - the same in her life time then my will farther is that Beriah Tilton, a lad that now dwells with me, shall have my housing, mill and lands adjoining partly purchased of the Indians & part not purchased - the lands intended being held by me under Col. Thomas Dongan. I give her the whole of said tract as well the right to purchase as the already purchased.

I give to my brother Nathan Skiffe the right of purchase or patent right in a certain tract of land lying at Monamesha in the town of Chilmark, which patent or right of purchase I had of Major Malthew Mayhew, deceased.

His widow survived him many )''ears and died Feb. 27, 1758, at the great age of 98 years. They lie buried in the Chilmark burying ground on Abel's hill. She was a woman who partook of the distinctions accorded to her honored husband, and was called and known as Madame Skiffe. At her death she bequeathed to Beriah Tilton her "whole and sole personal estate" and made him executor. She had disposed of her real estate by deeds of gift and otherwise, but the homestead and mill remained in his possession as designed by her husband.^ This property descended to Beriah's son William and thence to his children, and was held by descendants till about 1897, when it was sold to George \V. Blackwell.

Samuel Tilton

This progenitor of a family, prominent in the annals of Chilmark for two and a half centuries, was the son of William Tilton of Lynn, Mass., by his second wife, Susanna. He was born in 1637-8, probably in that town, and at the age of sixteen was orphaned by the death of his father. The widow remarried shortly after, Roger Shaw of Hampton, N.H., whither the young family of Tiltons moved and resided with their step-father. His mother died before 1660, and the young man, left without either parent, learned the trade of carpenter, and on Dec. 17, 1662, married Hannah Moulton of that town.^ About 1673 he came to the Vineyard with his wife and three children, probably in company with Isaac Chase and Jacob Perkins, his Hampton neighbors. He was granted a lot of land in Tisbury, Feb. 5, 1674, on the east side of Old Mill Brook, and two years later in partnership with

'Hampton Town Records. It is not known who her parents were. Two families of Moultons lived in Hampton at this time, headed by Robert and William, both from Ormsby, County Norfolk, England.

Chase and Perkins, bought one-sixth of Homes Hole neck.* He sold out his home lot in Tisbury before 1678, and took up his residence in this town about that date. By various purchases he acquired a large tract in the Kephigon district, bordering on the Sound and extending to the Middle line. Here he lived an uneventful life, without known public service for nearly sixty years. His wife died April 11, 1720, and he survived her eleven years. He died Nov. 29, 1731, *'in the 94th year of his age" and Parson Homes thus characterizes him: "He was a man of good understanding, was an antipedobaptist in his judgment, but pious and regular in his conversation. He was against swearin and usery." His will dated June 15, 1718, and probated March 7, 1732, disposes of his property, including carpenter's tools, to his sons, and the daughters received shares of personal and real estate.^

Early Transient Residents John Chipman

This transient resident came in the early part of the 18th century from Sandwich. He was related by marriage to Nathan Bassett, being a native of Barnstable, the son of Elder John and Hope (Howland) Chipman. He was born March 3, 1669-70, and resided in Sandwich from 1691 to 171 2, when he removed to Chilmark and staid a couple of years. Returning to Sandwich, he lived there from 1714 to 1720 and again settled here. He was a man of distinction, versed in legal knowledge which he exercised in a professional way, though calling himself a "cordwainer."^ While here he was local agent for the Society for Propagating the Gospel. He removed to Newport, R. L, about 1727, soon acquired political prominence and became one of the Governor's assistants. He died in 1756, aged 86 years. He was thrice married, (i) to Mary Skiffe, (2) widow Elizabeth Russell and (3) to a Miss Hookey of Rhode Island.

Richard Ellingham

'Tisbury Records, 7; comp., Deeds, I, 283. He was called "of Homes Hole" in this deed and this section was probably his actual residence from the time of his settlement on the Vineyard until removal to Chilmark.

builder, as in 1685 a committee of Edgartown were empowered ''to treat with Richard Ellingham about finishing the Meeting house" in that town. His residence here extended over a period of nine years, until 1692, when, with his wife Hannah, he sold his property on the Middle road and returned to the Cape. It is not known whether he left any descendants here in the female line, there being none of his own name after his departure.

Divisions Of Land

There were no proprietors, nor ''home lots" as in the other towns for the reasons already explained. Consequently there was no formal division of the original territory of Chilmark, as occurred in Edgartown and Tisbury. The disappearance of the early proprietory records compels us to resort to collateral sources for information as to what was done in the matter of establishing a system of proprietorship. The land owners were actually tenants of the Lord of the Manor with right of purchase, not possessors in fee simple. In 1695, Matthew Mayhew executed a document, which is quoted below in part, to adjust the conditions of ownership in Chilmark to like circumstances in other towns on the island. By this document he created a proprietary of thirty shareholders, or owners of common land, of which number he retained eighteen in his own hands, or a majority of the shares, so that he still controlled the material interests of the new corporation. The deed of gift is as follows: - ^

Whereas Matthew Mayhew of Edgartown hath late stodd ceased of an estate in lands on ^Martha's Vineyard commonly called Nashowakemmuck or town of Chilmark, bounded on the east by a line crossing sd Island .... between the said Nashowakemniuck and Takenny, on the west by a Hne drawn from the westermost part of the lands of Wequobscutt now or late in the tenure and occupation of Nathaniel skiffe directly to the mouth of the harbor on the north side of sd Island called Wa-we-attake or menamesha harbor: northward by a line drawn from the great rock lying in sd east line and southerly by an highway between sd Tysbuarie and Chilmark a pond caled Nashowakemmuck pond and the sea or ocean; and whereas the sd Mayhew intending the settlement of sd land and premises & granting the same imto such parts & proportions as might entertain inhabitance sufficient for a town of at least thirty famihes. Hath at several times under his hand & seal given and granted several parts or allotments or portions or sd tract of land with right in common within the commons of the same, viz. land now or late in the tenure of Thomas Mayhew, Esq., one ri^ht,; land &c of James Allen Esq. three & ^ rights; land &c of Samuel Tilton, one right,; land &C of Pain jMayhew; son of sd Matthew Mayhew one right; Capt Benjamin Skiff e one right; land &c of Nathanel Skiffe one right, land &c of Nathan Skiffe one right; land &c of Nathan Bassett one half common or right; and to Thomas son of sd Matthew one right; Mr. Ralph Thacther one right; And whereas it may happen that question and debate might hereafter arise of the true intent and meaning of libertie in common to be holden by the several grants by him the sd Matthew Mayhew granted and made.

Know ye that Hee the sd Matthew Mayhew doth by these presents declare grant and promise that every right in common by the sd Matthew Mayhew granted doth and shall be construed, deemed and taken to intend to contain one thirtyieth part in common of and in all and evrie the lands within the afore mentioned bounds and limits of Nashowakemmuck or town of Chilmark.

The number of shares was thirty, and as far as informa- - tion is available on this point, there was no change in this common denominator.^ The lots in this division were about thirteen acres each.

Some time before 1704 a division known as "Woodland Lots," of about fifteen acres each, situated along the Middle line, were divided to the proprietors.

About 1714 the "Second Division" of common land was made and before 171 7 another division, designated as "Hill Lots" on the west side of New Mill river.'

Incorporation Of The Town

Owing to its peculiar legal status Chilmark had no corporate existence as a township for many years. In a law of 1697 it is called the "Town of Chilmark," but this was an error, due to lack of information on the subject on the part of the General Court. ^ Still the inhabitants, as -early as 1696, were organized into a body politic and had chosen selectmen for that year.* This situation lasted until 1714, when a petition was presented to the General Court for incorporation. The town records of Chilmark have no reference to the subject, and the following entry from the state archives is our only knowledge of the fact : -

30 October 17 14 Upon Reading a Petition of Experience Mayhew, Agent for the Manour of Tisbury, otherwise called Chilmark, Praying that the said Manour of Tisbury, alias Chilmark, and all the Lands belonging thereto in Marthas Vineyard, and all other Lands Westward of the Township of Tisbury on said Island (Gay Head excepted), with an Island called No Mans Land, may be made a Town or Township, by the name of Chilmark with the Powers and Privileges to a Town or Right appertaining and belonging:

ORDERED that the Mannor of Tisbury, commonly called Chilmark, have all the Powers of a Town given and granted them, for the better Management of their publick affairs. Laying and Collecting of Taxes granted to his Majesty for the Support of the Government, Town charges and other affairs whatsoever, as other Towns in the Province do by Law enjoy.*

At the town meeting held Oct. 25, 1716, Captain Zachariah Mayhew was chosen as agent of Chilmark "to present petision to the' general Court for the inlargment of sd town," but it does not appear what extension of powers or limits was desired, unless it related to the addition of Nomans Land to the jurisdiction of Chilmark, as seems probable. It will be explained in the section which deals with that island.

Town Annals, 1717-1742

A chronicle of the happenings in this small community for a quarter of a century in provincial times, may afford us an insight into the life of the people at that period. Such a glimpse is obtained in the diary of the Rev. William Homes, and the following extracts from it cover the twenty-five years, 1 71 7 to 1742, and include the things good and bad that befell them: -

February the 18 (1716-17). A violent storm of snow and Sleet is described, lasting several days, during which "many sheep were burryed under the snow."

March 22, 171 6- 17. I found some sheep that had been hurried under the snow that fell Feb 21 one of wch was still aUve. She was taken out the 23d of March alive and continued to live for several days; she had continued under the snow without any food about 31 days.

August 15. 1718. * * * This day about two of the clock after noon several children particularly Ben: Ward and Thomas Allen having got a shot gun and some powder v/ere diverting themselves near John

'Records, General Court, IX, 428. It will thus be apparent that the date of incorporation shown on the town seal as Sept. 14, 1694 is an obvious error. The "Vital Records of Chilmark," published 1904 by the N. E. Historic Genealogical Society, contain the statement that Chilmark "was established September 14, 1694, from common land." The source of this statement is not known, but it is incorrect.

Allen's barn, where were a considerable quantity of English grain and hay, some in the barn, and some near it in stacks. Ben: Ward having a brand of fire in his hand, seeing his uncle Captn Mayhew riding by to sermon, threw the brand out of his hands, that his uncle might not see it. It chanced to fall near some English grain, which presently took fire, and consumed the barn and all the English grain to ashes in a very short time. All or most of the men in town presently came with an intent to extinguish the flames, but they did not effect anything.

8ber 19. 17 18. On Monday last the house of Mr Zephaniah Mayhew was burnt to the ground by an accidental fire and much of his household stuff and wearing clothes were consumed in the flames. On Thursday James McLelland came here to look after his sons effects and went last week to Nantucket on that designe

Dec. 16. 1718. This evening about 8 of the clock. Capt Zaccheus Mayhew his barn catched fire. How is not certainly known, and burned down to the ground, together with all his hay, except one load.

Jany. 10 1719-20. The week past hath been very cold especially Thursday last. Mr Bryce Blair by a fall yesterday in the evening broke his left arm above the elbow.

July 12. 1724. * * * On friday last we raised our new meeting house. Gershom Cathcart, a young man belonging to New town fell from the third story, and was very much bruised. His recovery is uncertain [his] reason seems not to be impaired by his fall. Lord make the providence a wakening to others!

August 23. 1724. * * * I took occasion to reprove some young folk publickly for their irreverent and profane deportment in the time of Gods publick worship

8her 25. 1724. * * * I am informed that 7 Indians belonging to Gay Head coming from Rhod Island home in a whale boat were all lost, as is generally thought. It is said they were in drink when they went on board.

Xber 5. 1725. * * * Last week a sloop came ashore on the south side of the island, the men and cargo were saved, the master having been long sick died Friday night last and was buryed this day. His name was Cash, the sloop belonged to Rhod Island.

August 27. 1727. We had an account last week that King George died June nth last past in Germany on his journey to Hanover, and that his son the prince of Wales was proclaimed King under the title of George 2.

9ber 5. 1727. Last Lords day, in the afternoon, about 11 of the clock we had a shock of an earthquake, that continued above a minute: it was considerably great, but seemed to be greater in some places than others, whether it hath been felt all the country over or not I have not yet heard.

July 7. 1728. We appointed Wednesday last to be observed as a publick fast, but we had a plentiful rain on Tuesday, which occasioned our changing the fast into a thanksgiving.

July 9 [1737] and the night after it, we had excessive rains which raised the rivers upon this island to such a degree that the dams of the water mills were carryed away by them, and the mowing grovmd near the rivers was very much damnified, to the great loss of several of the inhabitants.

August II, 1737. The sky towards the N. and N.W. appeared with an unusual redness, which continued for some time extending itself more and more easterly. About 11 the red was mixed with white streaks that were very luminous, being broad below and gradual growing narrower till they ended in a point. About midnight there appeared a bow reaching from east to west in the form of a rainbow, only there was no diversity of colors, the whole bow was luminous so that the air was lighter than it is at full moon, tho, it was 2 or 3 days before the change [of] the moon. It did rather resemble day light before the sun rises than moonlight.

November 21. 1738. There came a ship ashore on the South side of this island, belonging to New York. She came last from Jamaica: the lading and mens lives were saved, but it is supposed the ship cannot be got o£f again.

The first that was seized with that called the throat distemper in this town was Susan Allen; the next was Abigail Hillman, both these died. The next Katharine Smith, she also died. Next Mrs Little, she is in a fair way of recovery. Next Sam: Bassett's daughter, she also is in a hopeful way: next Bethia Clark and my grand daughter Mary Allen

7ber 17. 1740. Was observed through the island as a day of fasting and prayer to beg mercy of God that the distemper that has prevailed among

7ber 6, 1741. We had this summer a drought that hurt both the grass and the Indian corn very much. This was accompanied with an unusual number of grasshoppers that devoured both grass and corn.

Oct. 19. 1724. About three afternoon the chimney in the room where I commonly stay catched fire, and being very foul, burned very fiercely, which put the whole house in no small danger. It continued to burn till within the night. It was a day time and the wind very high, yet through the mercy of God we received no great damage, only the mantle tree catched fire and is part damnified. Several of our neighbors came to our assistance seasonably. I desire to bless God for our preservation.

Ecclesiastical Affairs Ministry Of John Mayhew

The beginnings of the church history in this town date from the coming of John Mayhew, who settled here about 1673 and estabhshed himself in the work of a missionary to the English and natives. His connection with this special field of labor has already been detailed (I, 247-9) and it will only be necessary to say that the people in this town, because of the fewness in numbers, formed a union with those of Tisbury under the pastorship of John Mayhew. This combination existed until his death in 1689 when, as his gravestone states, he was ''Minister of the Gospell to the Inhabitants of Tisbury & Chilmark united." The language makes it clear that there was no organized church at that date, although it is quite certain that a meeting house had been built for their accommodation in this town,^ When it was erected cannot now be determined, though we know that it was located on Abel's hill, probably in or adjoining the old cemetery inclosure.

Ministry Of Ralph Thacher

When the successor of Mayhew came is not known. The loss of the church records, prior to 1787, makes much of our present knowledge fragmentary, as obtained from many scattered sources. In a docum.ent dated Feb. 13, 1694, Mr. Ralph or Rodolphus Thacher was spoken of as "now minister of the Gospell at the Town of Chilmark," and this probably affords us a close intimation of the time of his coming hither. He was a native of Duxbury, born about 1647, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Partridge) Thacher, and named for his maternal grandfather, the Rev. Ralph Partridge of Duxbury. He was not a college graduate, and prior to his pastorate here had lived in his native town, where he served as constable and town clerk. He had married Ruth Partridge of Duxbury in 1669 and was the father of nine children, all of whom, with the possible exception of the oldest son, who was of age, he brought with him to Chilmark.^ There is no record of his ordination, and as he was not bred to the ministry, his work here partook of an irregular mission- ary character. He lived on the South road, and both he and his son of the same name acquired considerable property here.* In 1714, when Judge Sewall visited Chilmark, Parson Thacher and his son called to "Welcom me to the Island," as the diarist records it.^ At this time he had been in continuous pastoral work here for over twenty years, of which no memorials remain. He was then nearly three score and ten and early in the year he had severed his connection with the church and removed to Lebanon, Conn., whither some of his children had already gone.^ During the last years of his pastorate a middle-aged Scotch-Irish clergyman had come to Chilmark and was engaged in teaching the town school, and when the aged minister departed this younger man was selected to take the vacant pulpit.