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PROYINCETOVN 
 
 OR, 
 
 FEOM m HP 
 
 R brief Historical Descriptior) cf PrcviqcetO"Wri, past ar\d 
 
 present ; Old Records ; Lar\diqg of tl^e Pilgriir[S ; Loss of 
 
 thie Eqglisti Frigate SoiT\erset ; tl^e Fire Departrqeqt ; J. 
 
 C. Freerqari Post 55. G. R. R. ; Wl:|ales ar\a Whial- 
 
 irig ; Codfisliirig : Public Buildir\gs ; R few 
 
 Biograpt)ical SKetcties, ■WIt^^ Portraits; 
 
 Ir\cider\ts, Hriecdotes, Stories of tl^e 
 
 Place, Etc., Etc., Etc. 
 
 OF CO. 
 
 '^7 y 7 ^' 
 
 Illustrated wliY) Tl^irty-Tl^ree £i;)gravir)gs. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, la the year 1890, hy Herman A. 
 Jennings, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at 
 Washington, J). C. 
 
 Eni^raviiigK by the Boston Engraving t'o., 227 Treniont Street, Boston, 
 
 Mass., from Photographs by George H. Nickerson, William M. Smith, 
 
 and Irving Rosenthal, of Provinoetown. 
 
Y 
 
 THIS BOOK WAS PKIMEIi BY . . . 
 
 FRED. HALLETT 
 * JOB PRINTER 
 
 YARMOUTHPORX MASS. 
 
 I carry a Full Lir\e of tl^e Latest aT\d Neatest 
 Styles of Type, and car) furriisti Hriytl^ing 
 yoii nqay need if] 
 
 at Slnort Notice, and Guarantee Satisfaction 
 in Every Particular. 
 
 I MAKE A SPECIALTY OF BOOK AND JOB 
 
 PRINTING AND ATTEND TO ALL 
 
 ORDERS PERSONALLY. 
 
 SAJVtPUES PI^OjVtPTUY S^JBJMJTTED, 
 
 - YAF^jMOUT^POI^T 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Ill preparing this book for the public, I do not lay 
 any claim to its being a work of literary merit, nor 
 that it will fill a long-felt want in American litera- 
 ture. The claim I make for it is full}^ explained in 
 the title, — '' Odds and Ends from the Tip End." 
 I am full}- aware of the fact that there is much of 
 interest in this quaint, old town that I have not re- 
 ferred to, but to describe everything would require 
 years of labor and form a library of many vol- 
 umes, — a task for an abler pen than mine. In the 
 historical part I have endeavored to be as correct as 
 possible, but wliere one has to depend so largely up- 
 on tradition, errors will unavoidably creep in. The 
 " Old Records " have been faithfully copied from 
 the orignal books, and of them I can truthfully say, 
 that they are verbatim copies. In "• Stories, Inci- 
 dents and Anecdotes, " every one is true, with one 
 exception, and that the reader must be very obtuse 
 not to discern. Some of the Organizations which 
 I have described I have submitted my manuscript 
 to members of, who have corrected and approved it. 
 
 And bere I wish to thank all those who have as- 
 
sisted me in obtaining facts and figures, the Board 
 of Selectmen and Town Clerk, especially. 
 
 To the critics, who will say this, that, or the otlier 
 is wrong, I will say, skip those places and read only 
 what is right, and be as lenient as possible with my 
 failings. 
 
 And now to the Provincetowner, here or abroad, 
 and also the stranger that sojourneth with us for a 
 season, I respectfully dedicate this little book, and 
 hoping it will interest them and meet with their 
 approval, I sign myself. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 Herman A. Jennings. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Visit of the Norsemen, _ _ - - 9 
 
 Landing of the Pilgrims, - - - 15 
 
 Histor\^ - - - - - - 19 
 
 Old Records, ----- 27 
 
 Schools, - - - - - - 41 
 
 Fire Department, - - - - 44 
 
 Rebellion of 1861-65, - - - - 52 
 
 Wreck of the Somerset, - - - 70 
 
 Long Point, - - - - - 76 
 
 Whales and Whaling, - - - 80 
 
 Codfishing, - - - - - 97 
 
 Public Buildings, - - - - 105 
 
 Biographical Sketches, - - - 120 
 
 Industries, . - - - - 135 
 
 Benefit and Church Societies, - - - 147 
 
Stories and Anecdotes, - - - 171 
 
 Noteworthy Catches of Fish, - - - 193 
 
 Table of Dates of Noted Events, - - 195 
 
 Business Directory, - _ _ . 200 
 
 Commercial Travellers, - - - 209 
 
VISIT OF THE NORSEMEN. 
 
 That this continent was discovered, visited and a 
 settlement made by Europeans, centuries before Co- 
 lumbus and his contemporaries made their discoveries 
 is a well authenticated matter of history. 
 
 Old Norse records found in the archives at Co- 
 penhagen, Runic Inscription, Icelandic Sagas, have 
 all contributed to establish that fact, just as surely 
 as the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, furnished the 
 key by which Brugsch Bey and other Egyptologists, 
 were enabled to decipher the hieroglyphics of an- 
 cient Egypt, and give its history to the world, which 
 for thousands of 3^ears had been a mystery. 
 
 The hardy Norse Vikings pursuing their piratical 
 voyages to Iceland and thence to Greenland, where 
 a colony was established, gradually worked their 
 way to the South and West and discovered the coast 
 of what is now New England. "Leif, the Lucky," 
 as he was afterward called, hearing of the newly 
 discoverd country, found by Biarni in 989, resolved 
 to plant a colony there. A ship was bought and 
 with thirty-five men he set sail for the newly-discov- 
 ered land. After making the land and coasting 
 
10 
 
 along the shores, he with his litlle band passed up 
 what is now called Seacoiinett River and planted 
 their little Colony on the shores of Mount Hope 
 Bay, near what is now Fall River. They named 
 their little colony Liefs Budir. or Leifs Booths, (for 
 they lived in booths or tents,) and the surrounding 
 country, '' Vineland, the Good." In the spring of 
 1001 with a cargo of grapes and timber they returned 
 to the colony at Greenland and for his succes he re- 
 ceived the title of '• The Lucky." The next year 
 his younger brotlier Thorwald, with a company, 
 sailed for the new country. Arriving at Liefsbudir, 
 there spent the winter. The next spring (1003) he 
 pursued his explorations still further to the South 
 and West, it is supposed as far as the Carolinas, re- 
 turned and wintered again at Liefsbudir. The fol- 
 lowing spring (1004) he again started out and pur- 
 suing his explorations to the North, in rounding 
 Cape Cod, his vessel was stranded on the the ex- 
 treme end of the Cape. Here he hauled his vessel 
 ashore for repairs and to replace the keel which was 
 broken ; he named the place Kilar Ness, or Keel 
 Cape. After completing his repairs he sailed away 
 to the North-west, and in a bay full of islands, per- 
 sumed to be Boston Bay, was wounded in the side 
 by an arrow in an encounter with the savages. 
 Feeling that he had received his death wound, he 
 
11 
 
 charged his followers to return home as quickly as 
 they could. ''But me, you shall carry to the place 
 where we repaired our ship, which I thought would 
 be such a goodly place to dwell in, perhaps the words 
 that fell from me there will prove true, and I shall 
 indeed abide there for a season. There, bury me 
 and place a cross at my head, another at my feet, 
 and call the place Kross-a-Ness, or Cape of the 
 Crosses." His instructions were earned out and 
 here on the end of the Cape, where Provincetown 
 now stands, his comrades laid away in mother earth, 
 the body of that hardy old Norse Viking", Thorwald. 
 The vessel returned to Leifsbudir, and the next 
 spring with a cargo of dried grapes and other pro- 
 ductions of the country, returned to Greenland. 
 Several other voyages were made, but we mention 
 only this, as having direct connection with this place. 
 Chip Hill, so called, situated in the western part 
 of the town, in the year 1805, was graded down 
 some twenty-five feet, and levelled for the purpose 
 of building Salt Works. The works occupied the 
 place till 1853, when the business was abandoned 
 and the land sold for building lots. While digging 
 the cellar for the house now owned and occupied by 
 Mr. Francis A. Paine, at the depth of five feet a 
 wall of masonry was found about three feet in 
 height and two feet wide at the base. These stones 
 were nicely laid in shell-lime mortar, and after clear- 
 
12 
 
 House owned by Francis A. Paine, situated on the old Norse Ruins, 
 
 Chip Hill. 
 
 ing off a space from the bottom of the wall, there 
 was found a liard eartlieii floor composed of peat, 
 clay and fine white sand, hammered and pounded to- 
 gether, making a hard level floor. Upon dig- 
 ging furtlier, tliere was found tlie remains of a 
 flrephice, where tlie stones of wliich it was made, 
 were partially calcined by tlie fire ; near by was a 
 small collection of partially decomposed l)ones most- 
 ly of sea fowl. It is a pity that further excavations 
 were not made at that time and the whole matter 
 brought to light, as things of great interst to estab- 
 lish facts in liistorv mio;ht have been found, butonlv 
 enough work was done to make room for the cellar 
 
13 
 under the porch. The stoues of which this wall is 
 made were evidently Ijroiight from some foreign 
 country, as none are to be found on the Cape, nor in 
 any place in this country. There are a few that 
 closely resemble them, found on the Hudson River, 
 near Rondout, and that is the only place known 
 where there is even a resemblance. The theory has 
 been advanced by scientific men that this was the 
 camping-place of Old Thorwald and his crew, while 
 repairing his ship, and it seems with a great deal 
 plausibility. The stones were probabl}^ the ballast 
 taken from the ship to enable them to draw her fur- 
 ther up the shore, and were built up in this manner 
 as a kind of fort or defence against the savages, 
 covered over with the vessel's sails to protect the 
 crew from the weather, and when the vessel was re- 
 paired the sails were taken aboard, sand being more 
 easily handled was taken as ballast, leaving the stone 
 wall behind to be buried up some thirty feet by the 
 shifting sands during the eight hundred centuries 
 that had elapsed. Some very convincing argu- 
 ments of this theory are the facts, first, that it was 
 used as a habitation is undoubted. Second, if it 
 had been the foundation of a wooden structure, 
 there would have been found marks of discoloration 
 in the sand caused by the decaying of the wood, but 
 such marks were not found. Third, the close resem- 
 blance in the work to that displayed in building the 
 
14 
 
 Old Mill at Newport, R. I. By whom it was built, 
 has never been definitely settled, but tlie strongest 
 evidence is given in favor of the Norsemen. 
 
 The late Hon. Silas Cotterel, of that place, a man 
 well known for his interest in and knowledge of 
 archaeology, at one time connected with the Public 
 Library, gave it as his opinion that there could be no 
 doubt, but both structures were devised and con- 
 structed by the same race of men, and that was the 
 ancient Norsemen. Until this theory can be dis- 
 proved and a more plausible one substituted, this 
 place can claim to be one of the oldest places in the 
 New World visited by Europeans. Coming down 
 through the lapse of centuries, we find it visited by 
 John Smith on his voyage when he discovered 
 Thatcher's Island, Straitsmouth and Isle of Shoals. 
 Also by Bartholomew Gosnold in the Ship Sparrow 
 Hawk, afterwards wrecked at what is now Orleans. 
 It was also visited by French fishermen prior to 1620, 
 Monhegin traders, and the notorious Indian kidnap- 
 per and slaver. Hunt, probably made this harbor his 
 headquarters while engaged in his nefarious traffic 
 along the coast. Still, notwithstanding its being so 
 well known and from its size, security, and close 
 proximity to the fishing grounds, advantages which 
 to-day it possesses over any other harbor on the coast 
 for the fishing business, no attempt was made to 
 to make a permanent settlement till years after the ar- 
 rival of the Mayflower and the very last part of the 
 seventeenth century. 
 
ARRIVAL OF THE MAYFLOWER AND LAND- 
 ING OF THE PILGRIMS. 
 
 We now come to one of the most noted events, 
 not only in Provincetown history, but also most in- 
 timately connected with, and leaving its impress 
 upon the whole nation, — the arrival and stopping 
 in the liarbor of the Mayflower and her little colony. 
 Here it was that the Pilgrim band first landed in 
 the New World after their long and boisterous pas- 
 sage. They hailed with joyous hearts this safe and 
 pleasant harbor of refuge, entered and anchored on 
 Nov. 11th, 1620, O. S. It being Saturday, the next 
 was duly observed in prayer and thanksgiving to 
 God, who had safely brought them through trials 
 and dangers to this haven of rest. Had they been 
 fishermen or mariners, instead of a pastoral and agri- 
 cultural people, Plymouth Rock would never have 
 become so celebrated in history nor so often referred 
 to, as the place where the Pilgrims landed. Certain 
 events took place here of great moment that still 
 bear their impress on the Common wealth and Nation. 
 In this harbor in the cabin of the Mayflower was 
 drawn up and signed the compact for the Govern- 
 
16 
 
 nient of the colony a primitive form of repubicanism 
 and the root from wliich sprang the constitution of 
 the United States. We give an exact copy taken 
 from the original document now in Pilgrim Hall, 
 Plj'mouth, and signed by the men of the company, 
 forty-one in number : 
 
 In ye name of G-od^ Ame7i, 
 
 We, whose names are underwritten the loyal sub- 
 jects of our dread and soveraigne Lord King lames 
 by ye grace of God, of Great Britain, France and 
 Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc; having 
 undertaken for ye glory of God and ye advance- 
 ment of ye Christian Faith and Honor of our King 
 and Countrie a voyage to plant ye first colony in ye 
 ye northern part of Virginia, doe by these presents 
 solemanly and mutually in ye presence of God and 
 of one another covenant and combine ourselves to- 
 gether into a civil body politick for better ordaining 
 and preservation and furtherance of 3'e ends afore 
 said and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and 
 form such just and equall laws ordinances, act and 
 constitution, and offices from time to time, as shall 
 be thought most meete and conveniant for ye gener- 
 al good of ye Colonic. Unto which we promise all 
 due submission and obedience. In witness whereof, 
 we have here under subscribed our names at Cap 
 Codd, ye 11th of November, in ye year of ye raigne 
 of our Soverigne Lord King lames, of England, 
 France and Ireland ye eighteenth, and of Scotland 
 ye fifty-fourth A. D. 1620. 
 
 This brief, but comprehensive document, was the 
 
17 
 
 first written constitution, emanating from the popu- 
 lar will, ever adopted in America, was devised and exe- 
 cuted on the first day of their arrival here, before any 
 other business was transacted. Finding that the 
 place was not suited for agriculture, a party started 
 out, after repairing their shallop, or small boat, to ex- 
 plore the coast for a more favorable location, but 
 we only treat of their doings here, as the outcome of 
 the cruise in the boat is well known. After restinsj 
 on the Sabbath, the next day a portion of the men 
 came ashore and began tlie building of a shallop, cut- 
 ting the trees that grew here to make the timbers, and 
 the women to wash the clothes used on the voyage, thus 
 dedicating Monday to the Goddess of Cleanliness, 
 wliich day has been kept for that purpose by their de- 
 scendants, wherever located. On December 10th, 
 the first affliction befell the little band in the loss of 
 Mary, the wife of Governor Bradford, who, by some 
 cause unknown, fell overboard from the vessel during 
 the night, was drowned amd her body never recovered. 
 There were three other deaths during their stay here. 
 On the 16tu, Peregrine White was born, whose 
 descendents that can trace their lineage direct to 
 him, are now living in Duxbury and other adjoining 
 towns to Plymouth. Thus, here occurred the first 
 birth and death of the Colony. Here, too that large 
 of heart, but small of stature, the " Great Heart of 
 Colony," as he has been called, — Miles Standish mar- 
 
18 
 shalled and drilled liis army of sixteen men, formed 
 an exploring expedition and marched up the Cape as 
 far as what is now Wellflet, intending to do battle 
 with the Indians should they prove hostile, bat find- 
 ing none on which to exercise his warlike skill, confis- 
 cated a lot of corn and returned without a battle. 
 This corn, it is said, was kept for seed, and w^as tlie 
 means of keeping the colony from starvation the fol- 
 lowino' vear at Plvmouth. Tradition has it that res- 
 titution was made to the Indians from wdiom it was 
 taken. It is hardly fair to question the act, as has 
 been done b}' some, for perhaps under the circum- 
 stances it was admissible. Thus, not only the seed 
 of tlie government of the colon}^ was from this place 
 but the seed for its support was taken from tlie im- 
 mediate vicinity. After remaining here till the 20tli, 
 anchor was weighed and attempt made to reach Ply- 
 mouth, but a strong head wind sprung up and their 
 final stopping place was not reached till the following 
 day, and Plymouth Rock from that date began to be 
 a matter of history, and to be known as the place 
 where the Pilgrims landed. Attempt has been made 
 to have some mark or monument erected here in 
 memory of the event, but it has always failed to ma- 
 ture. It is no uncommon thing to-day to find those 
 that are called well versed in history, ignorant of the 
 fact that here was the first landing and stay of the 
 Pilgrims or of events that occurred during their stay. 
 
EARLY HISTORY. 
 
 It was the purpose of tlie writer to give the histo- 
 try of the phice in regiihir chronological order omit- 
 ting anything pertaining to church affairs, and have, 
 wlien treating of that subject, a separate place de- 
 voted exclusively to Church history and affairs. 
 I^utas church and state were combined in the early 
 settlement of the place, and all business pertaining 
 to both departments was done at the regular Town 
 Meeting, the records of which were kept in those 
 early days in a very crude and unsatisfactory man- 
 ner, it would be an impossibility to have a separate 
 place in recording their history. There are no rec- 
 ords of when the place was first settled, and only tra- 
 dition to rely upon until we come to the year 1724, 
 the date of the oldest record book. Prior to this 
 time it was a part of Truro, the boundary line of which 
 crossed the Cape from shore to shore, a few feet to 
 the westward of what is now the eastern school-house- 
 all to the westward of said line was land that belong- 
 ed to the Plymouth Colony at first, and afterwards 
 to the State. This land was reserved for fishing pur- 
 poses and the residence of the squatter fishermen. 
 
20 
 lu 1727 it was incorporated and called Provincetown, 
 I) lit as there were settlers east of the line, the}' pe- 
 titioned to be set off from Truro and joined to Prov- 
 incetown. Accordingly, lots one and two were added 
 to this place, and the boundary-line drawn across 
 tlie Cape where the house known as the Reuben 
 Warehani property now stands, which at that time 
 was the most easterly dwelling-house. As the town 
 grew, buildings were erected still further east, and 
 again the settlers asked to be joined to Province- 
 town, but Truro objected unless some of the waste 
 land was also taken in as well as the dwelling-houses, 
 and the boundary line was again moved and fixed on 
 the top of the western hill of the Great Hollow, so 
 called. Shortly after East Harbor Bridge was built, 
 Truro not wishing to bear all of the expense of keep- 
 ing up what was of so much benefit to Provincetown, 
 the boundary line, was changed to where it now is, 
 about midway of the State Dike at East Harbor. In 
 the early days, before any settlement had been made 
 here, the Pilgrims claiming their right of possession 
 of the fishing privileges in the waters around '' Cape 
 Cod," and the use of the land for curing and making 
 their fish, would come here during the summer sea- 
 son, do their fishing business and return to Plymouth 
 in the fall. Sometimes they would sell the privilege 
 to other parties to fish for mackerel, bass or cod, and 
 use the land for curing purposes at a rate above the 
 
21 
 
 tax that was paid by the colonists, always reserving 
 their right to the land on account of their first land- 
 ing and occupying the place. 
 
 By this means, the harbor and land of this extreme 
 end of the Cape, was quite a source of revenue to the 
 Pilgrim Colony. It is tlie general opinion, that the 
 first permanent settlement was made on, or about 
 the year 1680, but the name of the party that settled 
 i^ lost in tradition, or at least has been so conflict- 
 ing that it is impossible to determine the true one. 
 For a few years after its incorporation it was a pros- 
 perous' little village, but for some cause it began to 
 ofo down, so that in 1748, there was scarcelv a familv 
 left, but in 1755, there were ten dwelling-houses, be- 
 sides some store buildings, making a snug little vil- 
 lage, which has steadily increased to the present day. 
 In 1763, government built for the inhabitants its first 
 place of worship, which was situated on " Meeting 
 House " plain, so called, the location not very definite- 
 ly pginted out, but on or near the extreme north-west 
 end of what is now the " Old Cemetery.'' The es- 
 tablished creed by the state, was the Orthodox, and 
 one Mr. Spear was the authorized minister. In the 
 3^ear 1773, the church building was torn down, and 
 another one erected, using some of the old building 
 in its construction. This building stood on the site 
 of the present Catholic parsonage. It was called the 
 ''the Old White Oak," from the fact that the frame 
 
00 
 
 was of that wood, and cat in Barnstable. The 
 church was finished and dedicated Feb. 20th, 1774. 
 On the preceding Dec. 7th, 1773, at a legal Town 
 Meeting assembled, Rev. Samuel Parker was called 
 upon to take charge of the society. The town re- 
 cords of that date show this entry : 
 
 •'At a meeting of the inhabitans of Provincetown, 
 being legally warned, Thomas Kilburn beiiig Mod- 
 erator at sed meeting, there agreed by vote to give 
 untoe AJr. Samuel Parker for his yearly salerie, the 
 sum of 66 <£-13s.-4d. lawful monie to settel in sed 
 town, and preach ye gospel to ye inhabitans. Also 
 toe give untoe him the frame of hys house and to 
 build haff of it, purposed to be thirty feet in length, 
 twenty-seven wide, eight in the wall ; likewise cut 
 his fii'e wood and toe give him meddo to keep two 
 cows in the best of the meddo." Per me, 
 
 Samuel x\twood. Town Clerk. 
 
 Samuel Parker accepted the call, and preached in 
 the church until his death, which took place April 
 11th, 1811. In 1843, the - Old White Oak" was 
 taken down, and the present church built of the 
 material, with the addition of new lumber. The 
 old white oak frame being all utilized in the building. 
 This building was dedicated Sept. 17th, 1843. 
 In the building owned by the heirs of the late God- 
 frey R3^der, now standing opposite the Town Hall, 
 is a large Gothic window which was taken from the 
 ''Old White Oak" church on its removal. When 
 
23 
 
 ill the churcli, it was in the rear of the pulpit. The 
 seats in the old cliurch went on hinges, and were 
 turned up when the people rose to pra}*; one can im- 
 agine the noise made when the congregation seated 
 themselves, when roguish hids in the back part of the 
 house would turn up a dozen or more, and when the 
 l^reacher would say amen, run along and help make 
 more noise by striking down the seats one after 
 another. In 1873, this church was thoroughly over 
 hauled, a brick basement placed under it making one 
 large vestry, and two smaller ones. This is the 
 church of to-day. It was re-dedicated on Feb. 20th, 
 1874, which was just one hundred years after the 
 building and dedication of the old original "White 
 Oak." It was not a premeditated affair that it so 
 happened, but a singular and remarkable coincidence. 
 In the year of 1793, one Mr. Humbard, a Metho- 
 dist preacher, was onboard of a vessel lying in the 
 harbor here, wind bound, on a passage from New 
 York to Halifax, N. S., came ashore and preached a 
 Methodist sermon in tlie house of Samuel Rider, 
 then standing on what is now the corner of Gosnold 
 and Commercial streets, site now occupied by 
 Adams's drug store andresidence. This was the first 
 introduction of Methodism, and from that sermon 
 several drew off from the established Orthodox creed. 
 At that time, church and state were one, and the 
 religion was not received with favor by the majority 
 
24 
 
 of the citizens. The liberal spirit of the present day 
 had not come forth and persecution of those of a 
 different belief by the stronger party, was thought to 
 be doing God's service. However, a little band of 
 nine joined together, and the Methodist church was 
 established, uuder the charge of Rev. George Can- 
 non, the first preacher stationed here. The society 
 grew and flourished notwithstanding the persecution, 
 and as all church affairs were settled at Town Meet- 
 ing, there were some lively discussions at the meet- 
 ings, and if the reader will notice in the chapter on 
 *• (31d Town Records,'' he will see that some severe 
 laws were passed. A little over two years after the 
 first sermon was preached, the Methodists withdrew 
 and built a house of worship under great difficulties 
 from [)ersecution by the Orthodox, having the timber 
 for the frame of the building cut up by a mob, and 
 used as a bon-fire, on which was also placed the 
 effigy of the Methodist preacher. That the Metho- 
 dists also possessed pluck, and though in the minority, 
 showed that they were not always passive, at one 
 time the keeper of the church where the Town Meet- 
 ings were always held, and one of the selectmen, be- 
 ing Methodist, got possession of the key to the build- 
 ing, and locked out the Orthodox, refused to give 
 them the key to the building so they could hold a 
 parish meeting. A bass viol had been bought by 
 the town for the Church, and Samuel Kilby, the 
 
25 
 
 player, when he turned Methodist, concluded that 
 the viol had turned Methodist also, and took it with 
 him as part of tlie spoils. This viol is in existence 
 to-day, in the keeping of Mr. George C. Hill. The 
 first Methodist cliurch was built on the site of the 
 dwelling-house opposite the residence of Charles B. 
 Snow, on Bradford Street. This building stood un- 
 til 1818, when it was torn down, and another built 
 on the corner of Bradford and Ryder Street, where 
 the house of Dr. Henry Shortle stands. This stood 
 one year, when it was enlarged, forty more pews 
 were added, and the building stood until 1837. By 
 that time, the church membership had so increased 
 that a larger building was required and one was 
 built opposite, on the spot where St. Peter's Hall now 
 stands. This was a large building, with one hundred 
 and thirty-six pews on the lower floor ; it remained 
 until 1860, when the present structure was built, and 
 called the Center M. E. Church. In a fish store on 
 the lower side of Commercial Street, nearly opposite 
 the Town Hall, can be seen a large, heavy, panel 
 dool", this was the vestry door of the old church, and 
 was placed there, by the late Francis Joseph, the 
 owner of the building. From the time of this churcb 
 organization, under the charge of Rev. Geo. Cannon, 
 in 1795, there were eleven preachers in succession, 
 when Rev. Alexander McLane was stationed here, 
 who gave place to Epaphras Kibby in 1812, who on 
 
26 
 
 account of ill health, as the church records state, 
 remained here until 1824, having sole charge and di- 
 rection of the church. During the meantime he 
 married one Betsey Cook, who has recently died 
 in Chelsea (January 30th, 1890) at the advanced age 
 of ninety-five years, three months. Rev. Mr. Kibby 
 returned again and had charge during the years 1828 
 and 1829. It was mainly under his labors that the 
 Society grew to the extent it has, — the largest in tlie 
 place. 
 
COPIES OF OLD RECORDS AS FOUND IN 
 THE OLD TOWN BOOKS. 
 
 Dec. 7th, 1773. "Voted that any purson should 
 be found getting cranberys before ye twentyth of 
 September excedeing one quart should be liable to 
 pay one doler and have the berys taken away." 
 Voted, '' That they who shall find any pursons so 
 gathering shall have them and the doler." 
 
 Samuel Atwood, 
 
 Town Clark. 
 
 Jan. 12th, 1789. Voted. John Conant keeper of 
 the meeting-house, and to swepe it every four weeks 
 and shet and open the winder shetters all the year 
 round for which serves he is to Receave two dolers, 
 one doler to be given out of the treasury to whom- 
 soever shall bring out the parson or parsons that 
 Rites on the plasteren in the meeting-house. Charles 
 Atkins tiden man for which he is to have one doler. 
 Voted to buy a pitch pipe for ye Singers. 
 
 June 25th, 1790. Voted, That the tax bill that 
 was sent down should lay unmedeld with. Voted, 
 That Seth Nickerson should go to Boston to see if 
 he could get the Said taxes off. 
 
 September 12, 1791. At a meeting of the inhabi- 
 tence provincetown Stephen atwood moderater 
 agreed to send Richard perry and Elijah Nickerson, or 
 
28 
 
 Seth Nickerson as a committe, to Mr. Joseph Snows, 
 at Harwich, too meet the other committe in order to 
 try to get the Dutys taken of the Artecal of salt and 
 any other Grevenceses they may think proper. 
 
 July 23d, 1798. Voted for Abner Dunham to be 
 Custom House Officer if he can obtain it without 
 charge to the town. 
 
 Copy of the ivarrant to call a toivn meeting to vote for 
 a Federal Mepresentative^ Jan. lltJi^ 1779: 
 
 To Seth Nickerson Constable of the town of Prov- 
 incetown Greeting, you are hereby, required in the 
 name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to 
 Notify and w^arn the male inhabitants of the town of 
 Provincetown, of twenty-one years of age, and up- 
 ward having a freehold estate within the Common- 
 wealth of the annual income of three pounds, or any 
 estate to the value of sixty pounds too meet at the 
 meeting-house, on Thursday, the seventeenth Day 
 of Jan. Y. next at teen of the Clock in the foar 
 noon to give in their votes for a Federal Reprasante- 
 tive in the Congress of the United States agreeable 
 to the Constitution of the Said Commonwealth given 
 under our hands at Said Provincetown this seventh 
 day of Jan. Y. 1799. 
 
 Stephen Niokeeson, 
 JosiAH Nickerson, 
 Selectmen. 
 At a meeting of the qualified voters, of the town 
 of Provincetown, May 13th, 1799, for the purpose 
 of seeing whether the town would take care of Hannah 
 Rider or not voted, that she should not be supported 
 by the town. Voted, to petion the Gineral Cort to 
 
29 
 
 let them know the Disturbance likely to arize concern- 
 ing the support of the Methodis poor. Voted, for 
 Seth Nickerson to go with the petisson and be paid 
 for his expense and trouble. 
 
 Mar. 4th, 1800. Voted, that Ebenezear Rider, 
 keep Hannah Rider for forty-five dolers this year, if 
 the selectmen cannot get anybody to keep her for 
 less. 
 
 During the fall of 1801, small pox was prevalent 
 in the place and the following precautions were 
 voted for at a special town meeting, called Dec. 28th, 
 1801: 
 
 Voted that any person who is the head of any 
 family, who shall permit to the number of six per- 
 sons to meet together at his house for frolicking, or 
 any unnescery purposes, shall pay to the use of the 
 town, a sum not exceeding fifty Dollors. Voted, 
 that the houses, together with the hin houses, have 
 a watch set also that a Smoke house be built. Voted, 
 that all Dogs and Cats be Ciled, also that all hogs 
 and Sheep runing at large out of the oners inclosure, 
 shall be Ciled and the oners shall pay fifty Dollors 
 Dec. 28th, 1801. 
 
 Feb. 25th, 1792. Isaac Mayo gave his afformation 
 to use his best indever to preform the office of a Con- 
 stable this year, Before me, 
 
 Samuel At wood, Town Clerk. 
 
 €o]py of an old Bill of Lading entered u2:)on Town 
 .Records. The only one on record: 
 Provincetown, Dec. 10th, 1790. This may certify 
 
30 
 
 all whome it may concern that I the Subscriber 
 have Surved the following articles and that they are 
 put in good and lawful order and that they was 
 actuly Shipt on Board the Schooner Rover Taler 
 Smally master Bound for the West Indies. 
 
 275 bbls pikel fish 
 
 201 Quentels 
 Which in order By me for Shipping Nathanal Hard- 
 ing. Sworn before me, 
 
 Samuel Atwood, Town Clark. 
 Aug. 3, 1795. 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of 
 provincetown warned and assembled. Voted to rase 
 36£ to pay the tax bill that is sent here which is one 
 Shilling, Eight pence per pole. Voted that any that 
 will not pay the Standing minesters Rate Shall have 
 his interest Sesed. Voted that there Shall not Be a 
 a Methodes meetin-house bilt in this town. 
 
 Solomon Cook, Moderator. 
 
 Jan. 16th, 1792. Voted to have a Singing- 
 Scool next fall. Voted to carry brush to Shank 
 painter to prevent tides coming in. 
 
 Jan. 28th, 1784. Voted to buy a bible for the 
 town price IX — Is — 6d. Voted that the Selectmen 
 have a Shilling. Each meeting-house keeper the 
 price of 4 bushels of corn. 
 
 March, 5th, 1810. Voted that guese shall not go 
 at large in the town this year. 
 
 March, 4th, 1811. Voted to Raise by a tax to 
 defray town Charges for the preasant year three hun- 
 dred dollars for the towns Expenses beside the 
 State and county tax and no part Shall go to pay 
 any minerster whatsoever. 
 
31 
 
 Provincetowii, March lltli, 1811. Then person- 
 ally appeared Simeon Conant and took oath Required 
 by law to qualify him to Share as a Selectmen, 
 Assesor of taxes, Health officer, Surveyor of high- 
 ways and Oversearsof poor for town of provincetown 
 for the year Ensuing or until others Shall be Sworn 
 in his Stid. 
 
 Before me, 
 
 Samuel Cook, Town Clerk. 
 
 Oopy of protest noted before the Town Clerk htj 
 Joshua Hoivard^ master of Sloops Peggy ^ 1792 : 
 
 Be it known and made manefest to all whom it 
 may concern that on the 28th day of January, at 
 provincetown, Cape Cod, in the county of Barnstable, 
 State of Massachusetts, came and disered of us the 
 Subscribers, Selectmen of provincetown, to grant 
 him a protest which we have done as far as the law 
 admits upon condition he maketh oath untoe the 
 town clerk of Sed town and the Sed town clerk to 
 make record of the Same, — 
 
 Joshua Howard, master of the sloop peggy, Caleb 
 Howard and Isaac terrel, Seamen on Board the Sed 
 Sloop, and made declaration That on the 21st 
 of inst. January we left Cape ann the wind W. N. 
 W. steered closehauled to the wind, the Proceeding 
 day Being Janery ye 22d, made the Island of Monhi- 
 gin from mast-head Bearing North the wind N. N. W, 
 Wore ship and Stood to the Westward untell the 23rd 
 instant, made Cape ann and stood in with Thatcher's 
 Island, after passing the wind hauled to the north- 
 ward which made it impossible to fetch the Eastern 
 point of Cape ann, hove about but could not fetch 
 
32 
 
 the Cape ann Wore ship and stood too the westward 
 again to keep smooth water iintell 8 o"Clock P. ~SL 
 VVore again and Stood to the E. and N. 24 hours, 
 then wore ship to the westward and southward, the 
 wind W. N. W. and N. W. then wore sliip and Stood 
 to E. and W. 3 hours, then wore ship and stood in 
 West 1 hour, then made the surf but being so near 
 the Shore liad not room to ware Sliip So in an Instant 
 was in the Breakers where we Struck and soon 
 grounded Wherefore I do protest against the wind 
 and weather and seas whereby said sloop & all con- 
 cerned hatli or may suffer any loss or damage this 
 done & protested to at provincetown, in the State of 
 Massachusetts this 28th of Janury A. D. 1792 By 
 
 Joshua Howard J before me 
 Caleb Howard \ Samuel at\vood 
 Isaac terrace ) town clerk. 
 
 Another protest by one of the seamen on his oicn re- 
 sponsihility : 
 
 I, Caleb Howard, of Broad Bay Waldbourgh in 
 the County of Lincoln of lawful age doth declare 
 and make oath that he had his Chist Broke open on 
 thursday morning, ye 2t3th of Janery 1792 by per- 
 son or persons unknown, but judge them to Be ]jeo- 
 ple which came on board the night before, Whilst he 
 and others wass coming in from the Backside of the 
 Cape in Search of houses the Night before in the 
 Sloop peggy Capt. Joshua Howard he further says 
 the Chest he left on the Backside was Lockt he fur- 
 ther Sayth not. 
 
33 
 
 The above was made on oath before rae, 
 
 Samuel at wood, Town Clerk. 
 Januiy 30th, 1792, 
 In presense of 
 
 RiCHD. PARRY, \ 
 
 Solomon Cook, \ Selectmen. 
 Samuel rider, ) 
 
 Form of advertisements of wrecked goods found 
 and recorded. 
 
 Taken up by Gershom Cutter, 5th of January, 
 1803, at a place called wood end, upon Cape Cod, in 
 the Reck of the Schoon. Washington one trunk, one 
 cliest fore bags contents unknown likewise the own- 
 ers of the property. 
 
 JosiAH Nicker SON, 
 Town Clerk. 
 
 When up by amberous Dyer of provincetown, 
 5th of January 1803, near Race point, on Cape Cod, 
 sixteen barrels of flower, two chests, one hammock, 
 two bhmkets and one bedd advertised the same ac- 
 cording to law. 
 
 JOSIAH NiCKERSON, 
 
 Town Clerk. 
 The Embargo bearing heavy on the Citizens of 
 the place, a town meeting was held to devise some 
 means to lift the burden, the meeting was called 
 Aug. 22nd. 1808, when it was *' Voted unanamously 
 to petition the President of the United States re- 
 spectfully to suspend the Embargo either wholly or 
 in part according to the powers vested in him by 
 Congress, or if an}^ doubts should exist as to the 
 
34 
 
 sufficency of those powers that he be requested to 
 call congress together as soon as possible. 
 
 Voted, to have a Committee of five chosen to 
 draft the petition accordingly & send it to the Presi- 
 dent of the U. S. 
 
 Voted, that the Selectmen together with Capt. 
 Solomon Cook & Mr. Daniel Pease be the commit- 
 tee to carry into effect the votes of said Town 
 Meeting." 
 
 A Copy of the Petitioyi draum and jyresented: 
 
 ''To the President of the United States. The in- 
 habitants of the town of Provincetown in legal 
 town meeting assembled beg leave to respectfully 
 represent : 
 
 That they have severely suffered from the opera- 
 tion of the laws laying and enforcing an embargo on 
 all ships and vessels in the ports and harbours of the 
 United States not only in common with tlieir fellow- 
 citizens throughout the union but particularly from 
 their local & peculiar situation their interest being 
 almost totally in Fish and vessels. The perishable 
 nature of the fish and the sale of it depending 
 solely upon a forren market together with the bar- 
 renness of their soil not admitting of cultivation 
 bearing them no resource but the fisheries. They 
 flatter themselves that they are & ever will be ready 
 to manefest their patriotism in making every 
 nesesary sacrifice for the good of their Country and 
 to these laws they have yeilded unlimited respect 
 and submission not a single instance of an evasion 
 or violation has taken place among them but so dis- 
 tressing are the embarrassments produced by the 
 
 I 
 
35 
 
 Embargo that they cannot conteniphite its continu- 
 ance without serious and ahirming apprehentions. 
 Jt is needless to detail to your Excellency tlie vari- 
 ous evils that must result from a total suspension of 
 their business havino- loner been habituated to a 
 maritime employment & whose resources have solely 
 depended upon the Ocean whose shipping and tish 
 thus left to waste and perish on their hands not only 
 to the loss of their property but in some instances 
 of health and life. Feeling as your petitioners do 
 the accumalating pressure of these Evils and Confi- 
 dent that your Excellency is disposed so far as you 
 are constitianally authorized to grant them relief they 
 are happy to find that by the laws of the United 
 States it appears to be within 3'our power to Suspend 
 the Embargo in whole or in part whenever Events in 
 Europe may in your opinion render it safe and Expe- 
 dient Your petitioners regoise in the beleif and trust 
 that Such Events have now taken place. They there- 
 fore pray that the Embargo in Whole or in part may 
 be suspended according to the powers vested in the 
 presedent by the Congress of the U. S. And if any 
 doubts Should Exist of the competency of those 
 powers they would humbly request that Congress 
 might be convened as early as possible for the purpose 
 of taking the Subject into Consideration. 
 
 A true Copy of Said petition. 
 Attest Okasmus 
 
 Thomas, Town Clerk. 
 
 A few items from Treasurer's account book, which 
 is headed with these lines : "This book belongs to 
 the precint of Cap Cod for ye Treasuarys acorn pts 
 
Xfj. 
 
 C 
 fciO 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 
 2 ^ 
 
 CO ci 
 2^> S 
 
 o 
 
 Vh 
 
 O ^-i 
 
38 
 1724." The first entry in the book is dated: 
 
 April 24th, 1724. To Cash paid Mr. Samuel Spear 
 for part his Sailery 10 Shillings. Paid for this book 
 for ye precits acompts 0£ — 10s — 6d. 
 
 Jan. 12th, 1736. iVs pint licker OX — 2s — Od 
 corn and molasses by Done 0<£ — lis — 6d. 
 
 April 13th, 1734. fore curing the School-masters 
 Wife 3 pounds. 
 
 In the year 1738 on May 2nd, the following trans- 
 action was recorded. 
 
 Ye town of Ephrim Done former Trasyer to blong 
 4<£ — 15s — 7d. Mr. Sper ordered me to tack out of 
 my rate he od me 2£ — 6s — Od making 1£ — Is — 7d. 
 
 AN OLD DOCUMENT. 
 
 Mention is made in the chapter of Historical facts 
 of the boundary line between Truro and the Province 
 lands. The following is a Copy of the original 
 document presented by the committee appointed to 
 define the boundary line. 
 
 In Council Octo. 25th, 1714. The report of the 
 Committe for runing ye line between Truro and ye 
 province lands at Cape Codd Viz. — pursuant to an 
 order of the Great and General Court or assises begun 
 and held at Boston the 26th of May, 1714. We the 
 Subscribers being appointed a Committe have made 
 Enquiery for the true bounds or line of division 
 between the lands belonging to the proprietors of 
 ye town of Truro and the province land at Cap 
 
39 
 
 Codd and with tlie assistance of the Selectmen of 
 said Truro have fixed and settled the said line as 
 foUoweth Viz. Begin ing at the Easterly end of a 
 cliff near the cape harbor called by the Indians 
 Kexconeoqet and by the English Cormorant hill at 
 a Jaw bone of a Whale set in the ground There by 
 the side of a Red oak Stump & thence Running by 
 & marked ranged Trees near on a north and by 
 west line about half a })oint more westerly to a mark- 
 ed pine Tree standing by a reedy pond called by the 
 Indians Woooknotchsqisset & from thence by marked 
 range of Trees to a high hill on the backside near 
 the north sea with a red ceder post set in the said 
 hill and thence to run in the same line to the sea and 
 runing back on tlie contrary line to the harbour. 
 Thomas Paine Esq. & Zedekiah Lumbert agents for 
 said proprietors were present and Consenting Thereto 
 as witness our hands here to set. The 24th day of 
 Sepr. — ranno Dom. 1714 — Thomas Mulford, Thos. 
 Paine, Joseph Doane, John Otis, Hez. Purrington, 
 Zed. Lumbert, Saml. Knowls, Will Basset. Read & 
 accepted, concurd b}^ the Representatives. 
 
 Concented to by J. Dudly. a True 
 copy taken by me Solo. Freeman. 
 
 [Having carefully gone over the ranges as laid 
 down in this old document, and with the help of 
 some of the older citizens with their traditions, I 
 have been enabled to fix very definitely this old 
 boundary line. The hill called Kexconeoqet, is the 
 hill on which is now standing the houses of Capt. 
 Daniel Kemp, Henry J. Lewis, George Lewis and 
 
40 
 Daniel F. Lewis. Runninor on the course griveii 
 brings you to the pond called Woouknotchsqisset, 
 which is now called Farm pond. This pond, undoubt- 
 ly, has been filled in a great deal by time, and b}^ 
 the people making meadow and cranberry bog. The 
 high Hill is now known as Oak Head, and the north 
 sea is the depression between that and the beach. 
 Undoubted evidence, both by the configuration of 
 tlie land and the abundance of water-washed stone, 
 as well as the testimony of the older people, prove 
 that at one time there was a large body of water 
 there, and at a no ver}^ distant day. The closing line 
 ''to the sea" must mean the ocean proper. If any 
 one should think that the line runs too far to the 
 eastward I would call their attention to the fact that 
 at that time there was very little variation of the 
 compass, if any, while at present, according to the last 
 surveys, there is over a point westerly. — (Author.) 
 
SCHOOLS. 
 
 In the year 1828, the town was set off into six 
 school districts, six houses were built ; two, of which 
 are still standing to-day. District No. 1 is the house 
 now occupied by the Peach famil}^ at the eastern end 
 of the town, near Fire Engine house No. 1. The 
 second building, district No. 2. was remodeled and 
 stands on the corner of Conwell and Bradford street, 
 occupied by Mrs. Tempa Winn. These are all that 
 remain to-day. The building used at present by 
 Mr, John D. Hilliard, for putting up prepared cod 
 fish, was used as a school-building during the time 
 the school-house in district No. 2. was being built. 
 District No. 3 School-house was built on the corner 
 of Wiiislow and Bradford Streets, at the foot of 
 Town Hill, on the South-east side. District No. 4 
 was at the corner of Prince and Cud worth streets. 
 District No. 5 was located on Cross street, just in the 
 rear of the dwelling-house owned by Captain M. J. 
 Cavanagh. District No. 6 was on Commercial 
 Street, a short distance to the Westward of what is 
 now called West Vine Street, and near the spot 
 where William Newcomb's house now stands. Each 
 
42 
 
 district had a prudential committee of one, appointed 
 to take care and charge of the school-house, provide 
 the fuel for fires, and all other things needed. It was 
 also his duty to call the district together to nomi- 
 nate a school-mas ter for the winter. Usually, the 
 one chosen was the man that had made the poorest 
 season's work fishing. Prior to 1828, their had been 
 private schools taught in several places, but no re- 
 cords of the same liave been kept. The location of 
 the places where they were iield, cannot be definite- 
 ly fixed on account of the contradictory traditional 
 statements. One old school-building, however, can 
 be pointed out. The building owned by Charles B. 
 Snow, known as Snow's Block on Bradford Street, 
 was used at one time for school purposes, and called 
 by the dignified title of Seminary. Old records also 
 state, that there was at one time thirteen families at 
 Race Point, and a school-house was built for their 
 use. The sum of fifty dollars was appropriated by 
 the town for the support of that school each year. On 
 February 9th, 1846, it was voted to build a school- 
 house on Long Point, some forty families residing 
 there. This building was one of the last to be re 
 moved, and now stands on Commercial Street, near 
 the Post Office'. Prior to 1853, there was a High 
 School, where only English branches were taught. 
 This school was held in several different places, one 
 of which, was in the before-mentioned Seminary 
 
43 
 
 building. When the Town Hall was built, on High 
 Pole Hill, in 1853, the High School was then per- 
 manently established, and held in that building, un- 
 til the building was burned. The school, then, was 
 kept in the vestry of the Congregational Church, 
 until the present High and Grammar School build- 
 ing was erected in 1880, the town appropriating 
 eight thousand dollars for the purchase of land, and 
 the erection of the building. In this school the 
 higher branches are taught in connection with several 
 of the foreign languages. 
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Provincetown has long been noted for its excel- 
 lent and efficient Fire Department, and with the 
 recent additions of a Steamer and Chemical it can take 
 precedence over many more wealthy and populous 
 places. Much of its efficiency is due to the board of 
 engineers, and its Chief, Mr. John D. Hilliard, who 
 have used every means possible, for its advancement 
 and welfare. Always prompt at the first alarm, a 
 friendly and wholesome rivalry keeps up the Elan of 
 the organization. It is no small task to run between 
 two and three miles dragging an engine and then be 
 in a state of efficincy to do duty, but such has been 
 repeatedly the case. One particular case will show 
 some of the labors performed by this Departuient : 
 
 On March 4th, 1875, about 7.30 P. M., a severe 
 snow-storm was raging, and the streets were heavily 
 blocked with snow. An alarm of fire was given, 
 which proved to be from a building known as Adams' 
 Hall, a large tw^o-story, wooden building, occupied 
 on the lower floor as a clothing store ; the second 
 story was used by the Catholics, as a place to hold 
 church services. Working and hauling the engine 
 
45 
 
 THE OLD EXfilXE, WASHIXGTOX. 
 
 John I>. Milliard, (^eo. S. Cook, James Yonng, Otis Lovering-, I^aac 
 Higgins, Lemuel Cook, Natlil. Avers. 
 
 through snow-drifts from two to four feet deep, some 
 of the engines being nearly a mile away, yet wlien 
 they arrived and were placed, were worked and hand- 
 led with such skill that the walls of the building were 
 saved, after the roof fell in. A dwelling-house sepa- 
 rated from the burning building by scarcely two feet, 
 was hardly scorched. The wall of the burned build- 
 ing stood for a long time, a monument to the skill 
 of our Firemen. 
 
46 
 
 The rirst movement towards a tire department was 
 made on March 7th, 1-^36, wlien at a town meeting 
 it was voted to buy an engine. Mr. Joseph P. 
 Johnson was appointed to make tlie purchase, and 
 the old Washington was built at the Hunneman 
 Works in Boston, expressly for this place, and after 
 forty years of service is still in good working order, 
 though retired from active service, and given a place 
 in tlie basement of the Town Hall. 
 
 On Nov. I4th, the same year, the town voted to 
 buy thirty second-hand leather buckets, one hundred 
 feet of leading liose, also other necessary fixtures. In 
 1850 another engine was bought and called the 
 Franklin, which is in active service to-day under the 
 name of Tiger No. 5, it is manned by boys from 
 fourteen to eighteen years, who receive their fire 
 education and then enter the other companies. The 
 lads take great pride in their machine, and at an 
 alarm of fire strive hard to get ahead of the older 
 companies. 
 
 In May, 1859, the Board of Engineers was formed 
 with the late E. G. Loring as Chief, followed by Eben 
 S. Smith, who was succeeded by the present incum- 
 bent, Mr. John D. Hilliard, who became a member 
 of the board in 1866. The present board consists of 
 five members including the Chief, who received his 
 appointment as Chief in 1870. Clerk, Lysander N, 
 Paine, appointed 1869, George O. Knowles 1877, 
 
Chief Eii'^ineer, 
 John I). HilUard. 
 
 Clerk. 
 Lysander X. Paine. 
 John (i. "NVhitconib. 
 
 BOARD OF ENGINEERS P. F. D. 
 
 (Jeo. (>. Knowies. 
 (Jeo. H. Holmes. 
 
48 
 
 John G. VVhiteoml) 1877, George H. Holmes 1883. 
 The board hold monthly meetings in their rooms in 
 the Town Hall. 
 
 Tlie date of the addition of the rest of the appa- 
 ratus is as follows: 
 
 Rescue Hook and J^adder Truck, June 3d, 1859. 
 Mazeppa Engine, No. 3, Oct. 12th, 1868. 
 Excelsior Engine, No. 4, Oct. 12th, 186?^. 
 Ulysses Engine, No. 1, July 14. 1869. 
 Franklin Engine, No. 2, August 22d, 1871. 
 Excelsior Chemical, Oct. 17, 1889. 
 Steamer J. D. Hilliard, Oct. 17, 1889. 
 
 The first attempt to get a steam fire-engine was 
 made at the annual town-meeting in February, 1867, 
 when the town voted 811,000 to buy one and its 
 appurtenances. This vote was rescinded at a special 
 meeting, and nothing further was done until the 
 annual town-meeting in 1889, when it was voted 
 almost unanimously to buy a Steamer and Chemical. 
 During the debate on the question in 1869, 
 one strong-headed old fellow, who was opposed to the 
 purchase, clinched his argument with the remark that 
 he believed ''cold water would put out a fire as wall 
 as biling water, and there would be no danger of 
 scalding the people around the fire." There is an 
 abundant supply of water at high tide, and the 
 Steamer can put an effective stream from the wharves 
 
49 
 
 to the most remote building, back from the Main 
 street. There are also thirty well reservoirs, twelve 
 tubular wells; the wells furnish a sufficient supply 
 for all practical purposes. 
 
 The officers of the different Companies, January 
 1st, 1890 : 
 
 Rescue Hook and Ladder Truck, No. 1. 
 
 Foreman James A. Small 
 
 Assistant Joseph A. West 
 
 Clerk Andrew T. Williams 
 
 Ulysses Engine, No. 1. 
 
 Foreman T. Julian Lewis 
 
 1st Assistant James S. Dill 
 
 2d Assistant Charles S. Bickers 
 
 Clevk Fred W. Daggett 
 
 Franklin Engine, No. 2. 
 
 Foreman James Burnett 
 
 1st Assistant Fred E. Williams 
 
 2d Assistant George A. Beatty 
 
 Clerk A. P. Hanniim 
 
 Steamer J. D. Hilliard. 
 
 Foreman Joseph W. Cook 
 
 Assistant Charles P. Rogers 
 
 Clerk C. Austin Cook 
 
 Engine Man Samuel McDonald 
 
 Assistant Engine Man William R. Gayland 
 
50 
 
 Stoker Fred F. Cook 
 
 Chemical Excp:lsioPw, No. 4. 
 Foreman Wallace M. Burch 
 
 1st Assistant Frank Burnett 
 
 2d Assistant L. A. Smith 
 
 Clerk Stephen A. Childs 
 
 Tiger Engine, No. 5. 
 Foreman Joshua Paine, Jr. 
 
 1st Assistant Lemuel N. Swift 
 
 2d Assistant Oren Cobb 
 
 Clerk Eddie M. Law 
 
 The Companies draw [ay from the town for fifty 
 members, but there are from sixty to seventy mem- 
 bers enrolled in each Company, witli the exception 
 of the Hook and Ladder, No. 1. The money paid 
 by the town goes into the general fund, and is spent 
 as the company votes. 
 
 Connected with this department is a Mutual Lisur- 
 ance Co., which was established January 3d, 1&73, 
 to which all firemen are eligible. Upon the death 
 of a member an assessment of fifty cents is levied, 
 which is kept on deposit till another death occurs. 
 The policy-holders receive the amount within twenty- 
 four hours of the death of a member. 
 
 The membership at present is three hundred and 
 twenty. The number of deaths since organized, to 
 January 1st, 1890, have been sixty-three. Amount 
 paid out in benefits 89,683.50. 
 
51 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
REBELLION OF 1861 — 1865. 
 
 When the first call was made for men to put down 
 the rebellion, some of the Provincetown boys were 
 the first to enlist and quite a number enrolled as 
 nine months' men. All through those dark days 
 they could be found at their posts, never shirking 
 duty, and bravely, whenever called upon to act, 
 proudly defended their country's flag. There was 
 hardly a battle fought, but old Cape Cod, if not 
 Provincetown in particular, was represented. In the 
 navy, also, were some of the best volunteer officers, 
 who had been reared on board her fishing fleets, and 
 Commodore Farragut, in an official report, makes 
 special mention of a Provincetwn boy. 
 
 In that memorable battle, at the mouth of the 
 James River, off Newport News, between the Rebel 
 ram Merrimac and the Union fleet, when the Com- 
 berland sank, a Provincetown boy went down in her, 
 fighting his gun manfully to the last. His name was 
 Josiah C. Freeman and to his memory Post G. A. R. 
 have named their Post for him. 
 
 The first one who went from this town was Edward 
 Clark, but whose commission as master's mate bears 
 
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT. 
 
 
 ERE(TKI) BY THK T0» N OF IM{I>VIN< ETOW>. 
 
63 
 
 date May I4tli, 1861. He was ordered to the brig 
 Bainbridge, then on the South American Station. 
 The first to go in the army was George E. Crocker, 
 who was mustered into service in the 29th Regiment, 
 Massachusetts Volunteers, May 18th, 1861. He was 
 taken sick in the service and died in 1863; his body 
 was brought here and now lies beneath the shadow 
 of the monument. 
 
 This town furnished for the war three hundred 
 men, which was fifty-seven men more then her quota 
 and expended in money #37,452. 
 
 The names of those that were killed or died from 
 disease in the line of duty, are as follows : 
 
 AKMY. 
 
 Thomas J. Gibbons, George Lockwood, Henry A. 
 Smith, George E. Crocker, Jeremiah Bennett, El- 
 kanah Smith, Taylor Small, Jr., John C. Lurten, 
 John W. Hobbins, John R. Smith, Solomon R. 
 Higgins, Joseph King. 
 
 NAVY. 
 
 Josiah C. Freeman, Samuel T. Paine, William E. 
 Tupper, John W. Small, William C. Chipman, Asa 
 A. P'ranzen. 
 
 There had been an Army and Navy Association 
 here for some time, but a charter was obtained and 
 the J. C. Freeman Post 55, G. A. R., was organized 
 with twenty charter members on September 23d, 
 
54 
 
 1884. Since its organization up to January 1st, 
 1890, it has lost but three members, one by death, 
 one by removal to another state, and one that had 
 formerly been in the navy was discharged. 
 
 The Post has a well-furnished room in the Free- 
 man Library building, and holds weekly meetings. 
 The present officers of the Post are : 
 
 Commander 
 S. V. C. 
 J. V. C. 
 
 Quarter Master 
 
 Adjutant 
 
 Officer of the Day 
 
 Chaplain 
 
 Surgeon 
 
 Officer of the Guard 
 
 Q. M. Sergeant 
 
 Sergeant Major 
 
 Delegate to Dep. Con 
 
 Alternate 
 
 Joshua Cook, 
 
 J. Harvey Dearborn 
 
 Freeman A. Smith 
 
 Seth Smith 
 
 (jeorge W. Holbi'ook 
 
 Charles W. Burkett 
 
 By ley Lyford 
 
 Samuel Knowles 
 
 Thomas Lowe 
 
 Paron C. Young 
 
 David Cook 
 
 H. P. Hughes 
 
 Georofe W. Holbrook 
 
 The Post now numbers fifty members, whose 
 record as copied from their roster is as follows : 
 
 George H. Nickerson was born in Centerville, 
 Massachusetts, 1835 ; enlisted as private in Compa- 
 ny E., forty-third Reg. Mass. Voluntary Infantry, was 
 promoted to a Lieutenancy. Discharged at the ex- 
 piration of service, July 30th, 1863. Present Resi- 
 
55 
 
 deuce, Proviiicetown ; occupation, photographer. 
 
 George Allen was born in Provincetown, 1844. 
 entered the service in Company I. third Mass. Cav- 
 alry, rose to the rank of Sergeant was discharged ; 
 September 28th, 1865; at the expiration of service; 
 present residence, Provincetown ; occupation, lum- 
 ber dealer. 
 
 Joshua Cook born in Provincetown, 1843 ; enter- 
 ed the United States Navy as master mate promoted 
 to Acting Ensign. Discharged at his own request. 
 Residence, Provincetown ; occupation, ship car- 
 penter. 
 
 Freeman A. Smith born in Provincetown, 1833 ; 
 enlisted as private in Company H. fifty-fifth Mass- 
 Infantry. Discharged July 14th, 1865; at the expi- 
 ration of service. Residence, Provincetown; occu- 
 pation, janitor. 
 
 Alexander Gayland born in Bath, North Carolina, 
 August 17th, 1828; enlisted as private in Company 
 I. forty-seventh Mass. Infantry. Discharged Sep- 
 tember 1st, 1863 ; at the expiration of service. Res- 
 idence, Provincetown ; occupation, machanic and con- 
 tractor. 
 
 J. Harvey Dearborn born in South Ware, N. H., 
 March 15th, 1831 ; enlisted as private in Company 
 G. 16th N. -H. Infantry. Discharged August 20th^ 
 1863 ; at the expiration of service. Residence 
 
56 
 
 ProvincetowD ; occupation, paper hanger and dealer 
 in periodicals. 
 
 Seth Smith born in Baldwin, Elaine, March 20th, 
 1837 ; entered the service as private Ahirch 11th, 
 1864; in the sixteenth iMass. St. Art. attached to the 
 twenty-second Army Corps, was at the defence of 
 Washington during the three days' fight with the 
 Rebel General Early in his attack upon the forts. 
 Discharged as Corporal June 2Tth, 1865; at the ex- 
 piration of service. Residence, Provincetown ; oc- 
 cupation, town clerk and treasurer. 
 
 Raymond Ellington born in Lexington, Kentucky, 
 1841; enlisted as private in Company A. thirty-third 
 Mass. Infantry, August 5th, 1862; was transferred 
 to the third Mass. Cavalry, promoted to Adjutant; 
 resigned February 5th, 1865. Residence, Province- 
 town ; occupation, depot master. Old Colony Rail- 
 Road. 
 
 William H. Hammond born in Busselton, Penn- 
 sylvania, 1821 ; enlisted as private in Company H. 
 fifty-sixth Mass. Infantry. Discharged January 30th, 
 1865 ; for disability. Residence, Provincetown ; oc- 
 cupation, landscape gardener, and is a pensioner. 
 
 Paron C. Young borii in Provincetown, 1838 ; en- 
 tered service as private in Company I, 3d Mass. Cav- 
 alry June 4th, 1864. Was present during the " Wil- 
 derness" fight, and was shot through the throat by a 
 minie-ball, at the battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia ; 
 
57 
 
 was discharged on account of wound, July 2nd, 1865, 
 Residence, Provincetown ; occupation, postmaster, 
 and is a pensioner. 
 
 Nathan S. Hudson born in Provincetown, 1837 ; 
 entered the service as private in Company H., fifty- 
 sixth Mass. Infantry, June 4th, 1864. Discharged 
 May 18tli, 1865, for disability. Residence, Prov- 
 incetown ; occupation, laborer, and is a pensioner. 
 
 Charles W. Burkett born in Provincetown, 1844; 
 enlisted as private in Company H. fifty-sixth Mass. 
 Infantry. Discharged on surgeon's certificate of 
 disability, June 15th, 1865. Residence, Province 
 town ; occupation, mechanic and dealer in pumps. 
 
 John Connelly born in Galway, Ireland, 1820 ; 
 enlisted in the army, was assigned to Company C, 
 twenty-second Mass. Infantry ; was transferred to 
 the Navy, and discharged for disability September 
 1st, 1865; is an invalid pensioner. Residence, Prov- 
 incetown. 
 
 David Cook born in Provincetown, 1837 ; enlisted 
 as private in Company E, forty -third Mass. Infantry, 
 September 26th, 1862; re-enlisted in Company A. 
 third Mass. Cavalry, was discharged September 28th, 
 1865, at the expiration of service. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, book agent. 
 
 Joseph P. Bickers born in Nova Scotia, 1835 ; en- 
 listed September 8th, 1862 ; Company K. fiftieth 
 Reg. Mass. Infantry. Discharged at expiration of 
 
58 
 
 service, August 24th, 1863. Time of service, nine 
 months. Residence, Provincetown ; occupation, 
 ship joiner. 
 
 Michael A. Parker born in Provincetown ; entered 
 the service as private in Company H. fifty-sixth Reg. 
 Mass. Infantry, January 4th, 1864. Discharged May 
 24th, 1865, at expiration of service. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, wood sawyer, and is a 
 pensioner. 
 
 Manuel Williams born in Pico, Azor Islands, 1821, 
 entered the service as private in Company H, fifty- 
 sixth Reg. Mass. Infantry, was promoted to corpo- 
 ral. Discharged at the expiration of service. Resi- 
 dence, Provincetown ; occupation, fisherman. 
 
 George W. Holbrook born in East Boston, April; 
 23d, 1844 ; enlisted as private in Company C, twentv- 
 fifth Reg. Mass. Infantry, October 30, 1861 ; promo- 
 ted to corporal. Discharged December 16th, 18.63 ; 
 re-enlisted December 17th, 1863, in Company A. 
 Veterans, promoted to sergeant, was mustered out at 
 the close of the war July 30th, 1865. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, passenger conductor 
 Old Colony Railroad. 
 
 Charles C. Wyman born in Manchester, N. H., 
 1857; entered service as drummer boy of Company 
 K, sixth N. H. Infantry. Discharged Jul}- 15th, 1865, 
 at the close of the war. Residence, Provincetown ; 
 occupation, section boss Old Colony Railroad. 
 
59 
 
 James R. Atwood born in Provincetown, 1846 ; 
 entered the Navy as landsman April 29th, 1861 ; 
 was on board the Frigate Congress in the fight with 
 the Rebel Ram Merrimac, off Newport News, when 
 the Confess was sunk. Dischargjed February 18th, 
 1863. Residence, Provincetown ; occupation, mas- 
 ter mariner. 
 
 Nathaniel W. Freeman born in Provincetown, 
 1842; entered the navy February 12th, 1864; as 
 master's mate, served till May 1 7th, 1865 and resign- 
 ed. Residence Provincetown ; occupation, mariner. 
 
 Charles H. Marston born in Barnstable, 1842 ; en- 
 tered the service as private in Company A, third 
 Mass. Cavalry, January 4th, 1864. Discharged Sep- 
 tember 28th, 1865, at expiration of service. Resi- 
 dence, Provincetown ; occupation, master mariner ; 
 employed in the whaling business. 
 
 Reuben W. Rich born in Provincetown, 1832; en- 
 tered the service as private in Company H, fifty-sixth 
 Mass. Infantry, February 17th, 1864. Discharged 
 July 21st, 1865; expiration of service. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, mariner. 
 
 Samuel Knowles born in Truro, February 26th, 
 1831 ; mustered into service July 27th, 1862, in 
 Company A, thirty-tliird Reg. Mass. Infantry. Dis- 
 charged May 24th, 1863, for disability. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, dealer in flour and grain, 
 and keeper of livery. 
 
60 
 
 John P. Grozier born in Truro, 1840 ; entered tlie 
 service September 20tli, 1862, as private in C'o]n})a- 
 ny E, forty-third Reg. Mass. Infantry. Diseliarged 
 at expiration of service Jnly 80th, 1863. Residence, 
 Truro ; occnpation, farmer. 
 
 William W. Smith born in Barnstable, 182H; en- 
 tered the service as private in (Company I, forty- 
 seventh Reg. Mass. Infantry ; promoted to corpora!. 
 Discharged September 1st, 1«63, at expiration of 
 service. Residence, Provincetown : occupation, 
 boat builder. 
 
 Byley Lyford born in Dover, Me., August 1st, 
 1832; enlisted as private in Company K, tliirty-fifth 
 Reg. Mass. Infantry August 1st, 1862 ; was at the 
 battle of South Mountain, September 14th, 1862: at 
 Anitetam September 17th, 1862 ; and in that battle 
 was wounded in the arm by a bullet. Discharged 
 by reason of the wound December 7th, 1862. Resi- 
 dence, Provincetown ; occupation, house cai-penter. 
 
 Philip Freeman born in Fayal, Azorean Islands. 
 1846; entered the service as private in Company I, 
 fifty-sixth Reg. Mass. Infantry. Discharged at ex- 
 piration of service. May 29th, 1865. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, seaman. 
 
 Levi B. Kelley born in South Yarmouth, 1827 ; en- 
 tered service as pilot in the United States Navy No- 
 vember 20th, 1864 ; promoted to Acting Ensign. Dis- 
 charged Septemberl6th, 1865, at expiration of ser- 
 
61 
 vice. Residence, Provincetown ; occupation, seaman. 
 
 James Cashmauborn in Liverpool. England, lS2o; 
 enlisted as private in Company I, third Mass. Cav- 
 alry January 5th, 1862. Discharged at expiration of 
 service September 28th, 1865. Residence, Province- 
 town ; was keeper of Race Point Liglit for fifteen 
 years, but now retired. Received a gun sliot wound 
 at the battle of Winchester, Va., and receives a [)en- 
 sion. 
 
 John Rosenthal born in Alsace, under the French 
 government in 1833; came to this country in 1853 ; 
 enlisted in the United States Army, in lialtimore, in 
 October 26, lHb4: ; was assij^ned to the 5th Reof. Reo-u- 
 lar Infantry, was sent to Texas against the Comanche 
 and Lepreau Indians; in 1857 was witii (leneral 
 Harney, in Florida, engaged against the Seminoles, 
 under Chief Billy Bowlegs. In the fall was ordered 
 to Utah, against Brigham Voung and the Mormons. 
 In 1859, with General Canby, was in New Mexico 
 where he served twr) years against the Navajo Indi- 
 ans. At the breaking out of tiie Rebellion was in 
 Texas under General Sibley ; was promoted to Ser- 
 geant Major of the Regiment; In 1864 appointed by 
 the Secetary of War, Ordnance Sergeant in the 
 United States Arm3% and placed in charge of the 
 batteries at Long Point, Provincetown Haibor, He 
 remained in charge of the batteries twelve years, 
 when he was ordered to Fort Selden, New Mexico, 
 
62 
 where he was stationed for two years. He was then 
 sent to Standing Rock Agency, Dakota, and served 
 there until 1885, when he was ordered to Fort Pre- 
 ble, Me.; here he served for three months, when 
 for long and faithful service in the United States 
 Army, he was placed on the retired list of the Army ; 
 when in Dakota, he helped organize the first G. A. 
 R. Post in the territory, the George A. Custer Post, 
 No. 1, was Inspector General of the department, and 
 aid de Camp to the Department Commander. Resi- 
 dence, Provincetown ; occupation, secretary of the 
 Nickerson Oil Works Co., at Herring Cove. 
 
 Thomas Lome born in Charlestown, Mass., 1830 ; 
 entered the service as private in Company A, thirty- 
 third Reg. Mass. Infantry, July 20th, 1862, was 
 transferred to Company I, third Mass. Cavalry ; pro- 
 moted to sergeant. Discharged at the close of the 
 was as quarter-master sergeant May 20th, 186'). Res- 
 idence, Provincetown ; occupation, keeper of Wood 
 End Lighthouse. 
 
 Hezekiah P. Hughes born in North Truro, 1838 ; 
 entered the service as private July 28th, 1862 ; was 
 assigned to Company A, thirty-third Reg. Mass. In- 
 fantry ; was transferred to Company I, third Cavalry ; 
 promoted to second Lieutenant. Discharged at ex- 
 piration of service June 13th, 1865. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, drj^ goods merchant. 
 
 James A. Small born in Truro, Februay 14th, 
 
63 
 1840; enlisted from Truro August 5th, 1862, as pri- 
 vate, assigned to Company A, thirtj'-third Reg. 
 Mass. Infantry ; transferred to the forty-first Reg. 
 Infantry ; which was reorganized as third Cavalry ; 
 promoted to sergeant major of Company I ; mustered 
 out of service at Falls Church, Va., May 22nd, 1865. 
 Residence, Provincetown ; occupation, grocer and 
 ship chandler, and one of the board of selectmen. 
 
 George O. Brown born in New Hampshire, 1846 ; 
 enlisted as private in Company E, thirty-first Maine, 
 Vol., September 19th, 1863. Discharged at expira- 
 tion of service, September 20th, 1865. Residence, 
 New Bedford, Mass. ; occupation, employe Old Col- 
 ony Railroad. 
 
 N. Frank Lane born in Wellfleet, 1842 ; enlisted 
 as private and was assigned to Company D, Frontier 
 Cavalry, December, 1864. Discharged July 16th, 
 1865, by the disbandment of Company. Residence, 
 Charlestown, Mass. ; occupation, employed in the 
 Navy Yard in the sail-making department. 
 
 Daniel McCrillis born in Boston August 9th 
 1845 ; enlisted in 1863 for three years, or during the 
 war, as private ; was assigned to first Mass. Veteran 
 Cavalry Company B. Discharged at the close of 
 the war ; was in active service at the '' Wilderness " 
 fight and in the Shenandoah Valley under Gen. Sheri- 
 dan till the surrender of Gen. Lee, and the close of 
 the war. Residence, Wellfleet ; occupation, mariner. 
 
65 
 
 Albert Taylor born in Yarmouth, Mass., 1842 ; 
 entered the service February 23 J, 1864, in Compa- 
 ny G, twenty-fourth Reg. Mass. Infantry, as private ; 
 was wounded in the right arm, at Petersburg, Va. 
 Discharged September 16th, 1865. Residence, 
 Yarmouth ; occupation, laborer, and is a pensioner. 
 
 Joseph W. Tuck born in Boston, September 8th, 
 1824; entered the United States Navy as sailing 
 master, commission dated August 14th, 1861 ; vvas 
 assigned to the Colorado, afterwards transferred to 
 the Commodore McDonahueas executive officer and 
 subsequently placed in charge ; was present at both 
 bombardments of Fort Sumter and at Stone Inlet ; 
 assisted at the capture of the blockade-runner John 
 C. Calhoun, alias Cuba, off South Pass, Mississippi 
 River, and was put on board as Prize ^Master, brought 
 the prize safely in ; was appointed Harbor Master, 
 at Port Royal, S. C, which position he held until the 
 close of the war. Discharged Dec. 15th, 1865. Res- 
 idence, Provincetown ; occupation, retired. 
 
 William F. Peirce born in Sandwich, 1841 ; enter- 
 ed the service as seaman in the United States Navy 
 August 17th, 1864. Discharged August 22d, 1865, 
 by orders from Washington. Residence, Buzzards 
 Bay ; occupation, employe Old Colony Railroad. 
 
 Sumner Bragdon born in Boston, Januar}^ 8th, 
 1839; mustered in as private July 20th, 1862, pro- 
 moted to sergeant. Discharged as sergeant of Com- 
 
66 
 
 paiiy I, third Mass. Cavalry, at the close of the war. 
 May 20th, 1865. Residence, Provincetown ; occu- 
 pation, mechanic. 
 
 C. E. Stinchfield born in Brunswick, Me., 1841; 
 mustered into service in Company I, eighth Me. Vol. 
 September 7th, 1861 : mustered out at the expiration 
 of service March 27th, 1866. Residence, Wellfleet ; 
 occupation, shoe-maker. 
 
 Isaiah Snow born in Truro, 1838 ; entered the ser- 
 vice as private September 2nd, 1862 ; was assigned 
 to Company E, forty-third Mass. Infantry. Dis- 
 charged at expiration of service Julv 30th, 1863. 
 Residence, Truro ; occupation, travelling salesman. 
 
 Daniel Cole born in Wellfleet, Mass., March 26th. 
 1844; enlisted at Quincy, Illinois, November 1st, 
 1864, as private; was assigned to the twelfth Reg 
 111. Infantry, Company K, fourth division, fifteenth 
 Army Corps; was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, 
 July 10th, 1865. Took an active part in the cam- 
 paign in Tennessee, under General Thomas ; was 
 sent to Morehead City, N. C, actively engaged at 
 the battle of Kingston, had gun shot out of his hand 
 and equipments shot away, but not wounded. Sent 
 to Gouldsboro, N. C, March 23d, 1865 ; remained 
 with regiment until discharged ; was present at the 
 general review of troops at the close of the 
 war at Washington, D. C. Residence, Wellfleet ; 
 occupation, keeper of Cahoon's" Hollow United 
 
67 
 States Life Saving Station. 
 
 E. C. Peck born in Groton, Vermont, May 29tli, 
 1840 ; entered the service as private in Company K, 
 third Vermont Infantry, June 20th, 1861 ; was pro- 
 moted to a first Lieutenancy, thence to Captain of 
 the Company. Discharged for disability brought on 
 in the line of duty January 19th, 1862. Residence, 
 Provincetown ; occupation, physician and surgeon. 
 
 Charles G. Thompson born in Waternich, Sweden, 
 1829 ; entered the service December 24th, 1863, in 
 Company H, fifty-sixth Reg. Mass. Infantry. Dis- 
 charged at expiration of service June 9th, 1865. 
 Residence, Portland, Me. ; occupation, seaman. 
 
 John Connelly born in Castle, Bellingham County, 
 South Ireland, 1836 ; enlisted from this town and 
 was mustered into service January 5th, 1864 ; 
 assigned to Company B, third Mass. Cavalry ; pro- 
 moted to corporal, and was mustered out at expira- 
 tion of service September 26th, 1865. Died Novem- 
 ber 23d, 1887, from lung disease, contracted while 
 in the line of duty from exposure. Aged fifty-one 
 years, leaving a widow, two sons and a daughter. 
 
 Thomas V. Mullins born in Halifax, N. S., August 
 11th, 1835, came here a mere lad and apprenticed 
 himself to the blacksmith's trade ; enlisted Decem- 
 
68 
 
 ber 25th, 1863, in Company H, fifty-sixth Reg. 
 Mass. Vol. Infantry, as private. Discharged as cor- 
 poral July 1, 1865 ; at expiration of service, was 
 with the Army of the Potomac until the surrender 
 of Lee. Present residence, Race Point, and keeper 
 of the Light at that place. 
 
 Note.— The Thirty-third Mass. Infantry was the regiment to whicli 
 quite a number of Provincetown boys were af^tiigned upon enlistment; 
 this regiment was made the Forty-first Infantry, and hiter on in the ser- 
 vice was organized into the Third Cavalry. 
 
 Note. — Since the manuscript has been finished up for the i)rinter, past 
 Commander of the Post, Lieutenant George H. Nickerson has i)assed 
 away to join his comrades. He died April 11th. 1890, of heart disease, 
 leaving a widow and a little adopted daughter. The Post, in his death, 
 also lose one that had done much for the success of that organization. 
 
 RECORD OF PROVINCETOWN BOYS NOT MEMBERS 
 
 OF THIS POST. 
 
 Parron C. Paine enlisted in April, 1861, in the 
 1st Reg. Mass. Vols. ; commissioned May 22d, 1861 ; 
 mustered into service June 15th, 1861. It was the 
 first three years Volunteer Regiment that reached 
 Washington after passing through Baltimore on the 
 ever memorable 17th of June, when the attack on 
 the Northern troops was made, the anniversary of 
 the battle of Bunker Hill. It was mnstered out of 
 service. May 26th, 1864. Mr. Paine's residence is in 
 Boston, and he holds a position in the Post Office 
 Department. 
 
69 
 
 Julin E. Smith enlisted in Proviiicetowu Jaiuuiiy 
 2ik1, 1864:; wns assigned to Company H, fifty-sixth 
 Mass. Vol. Reg., Col. Charles E. Griswold." Dis- 
 charged at Readville, Mass., July 22d, 1865. This 
 Regiment took an active part in the hard-fought 
 battles of the ''Wilderness" from May 6th, to June 
 17th. In August he was taken sick and sent to the 
 hospital, at City Point, Va., from thence 
 to New York. When he got well he returned 
 to his Regiment at Fort Hayes, in front of 
 Petersburgh, Va. At the opening of the spring 
 campaign April 2d, lh65, he followed up 
 Lee's army until the surrender on the 9th, after 
 which, he was detailed as Clerk, at Regimental 
 Head Quarters. There is certainly a mistake in the 
 State Records of Mass. Vol. Soldiers, for the records 
 say that he died of wounds, in a Philadelphia Hospi- 
 tal ; when at present, he is alive and well at Borden- 
 town, N. J. ; engaged in the photograph business. 
 
 Rawlins T. Atkins born in Provincetown ; he- en- 
 listed as private at the breaking out of the war, was 
 assigned to the Mass. first Reg. Vol., was discharged 
 as sergeant. He received a commission as second 
 Lieutenant November 21st, 1863, and recruited a com- 
 pany here which was attached to the fifty-sixth Reg. 
 Mass. Vol. ; was promoted to first Lieutenant Jan- 
 uary 21st, 1804, and discharged February 17th, 
 1865, for disability. He at present is in the Soldiers' 
 Home, at Togus, Maine. 
 
WRECK OF THE ENGLISH FRIGATE 
 SOMERSET. 
 
 About one mile westward from the Peaked Hill 
 Life Saving Station, buried beneath the sands, lies 
 the wreck of the English Frigate Somerset. A stone 
 bound-mark has been placed near the spot, but the 
 wreck lies buried some twenty feet in the sand. 
 This vessel has a history intimately connected with 
 Provincetown. Authentic records give the informa- 
 tion that she was a third rate frigate, built in Chatham 
 dock-yards, England, and launched July 18th, 1748, 
 and carried sixty-four guns, thirtj^-two, eighteen, and 
 twelve pounders. In 1774 she left England for tlie 
 North American Station, returning to London in 1776- 
 Left England again in 1777 to take an active part in 
 the war of the Revolution ; was present at the bom- 
 bardment of Charlestown, being stationed the third 
 ship up the river in the line, and covered the landing 
 of the British troops, when the battle of Bunker Hil} 
 was fought. The poet Longfellow mentions the fact 
 in one of his poems. Commanded by the notorious 
 Capt. Bellamy, who took every means to annoy the 
 people of the defenceless coast, she often made 
 
71 
 
 a rendezvous in Provincetown harbor and levied on 
 the people for supplies, and instead of paying 
 for the same in money, would allow his chap- 
 lain to come ashore Sundays and preach to 
 the people, giving that as an equivalent for the eggs, 
 butter and fish taken from the citizens Such was 
 the dread of seeing the vessel that mothers would 
 tell their refractory children that the frigate would 
 carry them off if they did not mind their parents. 
 Such threats would cause the most incorrigible to 
 mind. The people here were entirely unprotected 
 during the Revolution, and the English held complete 
 sway over the place. At length, one day the citizens 
 saw the frigate, which had been absent for some time, 
 returning, chased by some French men-of-war. The 
 wind was blowing heavy from the north, and the 
 Somerset was trying to make this port for safety. 
 Being unable to weather Race Point, in tacking ship, 
 she miss-stayed and struck on the outer bar ; the 
 French vessels seeing her ashore, fired a few shots at 
 her, and tacking ship stood out to sea and safety. 
 The beach was soon lined with the citizens, who 
 tried to save the lives of her crew, with all the means 
 that lay in their power, though they were their 
 enemies. On board the ship, boats were launched, 
 but they were dashed to pieces alongside, and those 
 that were in them drowned. Guns, shot, and other 
 heavy articles were thrown overboard, her masts, 
 
4t. 
 
 72 
 
 tliat had been broken off near the deck, were cut 
 adrift, and finally, at high water, the strained and 
 leaking hulk was driven, by the force of the wind 
 aijd seas, over the bar aiid up on the shore, where 
 those that were alive of her crew, were i-escued by 
 the people, and held as prisoners of war. Word 
 was sent to Truro and a company of Militia from 
 that place, with a company here, under the com- 
 mand of Captain Enoch Hallett, (jf Yarmouth, tocjk 
 the prisoners to Harnstable, and thence to Boston, 
 with the exception tjf one, whose history will be 
 given further on. (.'(donel Abijah Doane, of Well- 
 fleet, was ])Ut in charge of the wreck, but such wa& 
 the feeling among the people on account of the treat- 
 ment they had received, that almost every one tried to 
 get what they could out of the wieck, to partially pay 
 them for what tliey had previously been paid in preach- 
 ing and prayers, that the laws of Mauni and Tiium were 
 disregarded. After a while a sheriff was appointed 
 to take charge and wliat material was saved a sal- 
 vage was paid on. What few guns that were on 
 board were landed and afterwards used in some of 
 the fortifications along the coast. Fire was set to 
 the hull, but only a small portion of the upper-works 
 and deck were burned. After the hulk was aban- 
 doned by the authorities, occasionally a beach-comb- 
 er would try to get some of the ircjn-work, but in 
 most cases they were poorly paid for their labor. 
 
73 
 
 As the \ ears rolled by, the ever-shifting sands of the 
 Cape buried her from sight. During the winter of 
 '?S5 and ''^6, at a ver}^ high course of tides and a suc- 
 cession of north-east gales prevailing, the beach was 
 so cut away that a portion of the charred timbers 
 and planking were exposed. For upwards of fifty 
 years it had been buried, and tradition only told 
 somewhere near the spot of the wreck, but there 
 could be no mistake as to its identity ; those heavy, 
 massive timbers and the six-inch planking of live 
 oak \v\t\] portions charred by fire, the port-holes and 
 general build told plainly that it was the almost for- 
 gotten wreck of the Somerset, that had been lying 
 there for over a century. For some months hund- 
 reds of people visited the wreck and cartloads of 
 timber, })lanking and iron bolts, more or less corro- 
 ded by time and salt water, were taken from it and 
 brought to town ; transformed into canes, vases, mod- 
 els of vessels, watch charms, etc., as mementoes of the 
 craft. By digging the sand away a large portion of 
 of the hull was laid bare. Gunpowder and wedges 
 tore the planking and timbers apart, but work coidd 
 only be carried on at low water, the incoming tide 
 would wash in the sand, and all the digging would 
 have to be done over again. Finally, ilie beach shore 
 began to make out again, and soon the old hulk was 
 buried from sight, there to remain till the ever-shifting 
 sands of the Cape, perhaps in a century more, dis- 
 
74 
 
 close her again ; beach grass is growing over her and 
 she lays some distance from high water mark. In Pil- 
 grim Hall, Plymouth, is a large block of wood which 
 was formerl}^ one of her bitt heads ; it is about four- 
 teen inches square, with the holes where the main- 
 stays went through; it is clear from rot and almost 
 as hard and firm as iron. A citizen of this place 
 presented it, with a short description of the wreck, 
 for which he w^as rewarded by a diploma from the 
 Pilgrim Societ}'. The date of her wreck was Nov- 
 ember 3d, 1778. Parties can be found that can show 
 the exact location of the wreck at the present time 
 to visitors, souveniers, articles of various shape and 
 form made from the wood, can be found in almost 
 every store in the place, they are authentic and can 
 be had at very reasonable prices. Mention has been 
 made of one of her ciew, that was not taken to 
 Boston with the rest of the surviving crew. The 
 ship's surgeon. Dr. William Thayer, was paroled and 
 stayed here, to give aid to the people ; he practiced 
 both here, and in the ajoining town of Truro. 
 In one of his visits to that place, he became acquaint- 
 ed with one Susan Rich, which ripened into love and 
 they were married, the Doctor taking up his abode 
 in Truro. To this couple four daughters were born, 
 Anna, who married Reuben Rich, Wellfleet ; Phebe, 
 who married Elisha Newcomb, of Truro ; Susan, 
 who married Simon Hopkins, of Wellfleet and 
 
 I 
 
75 
 
 Rachel, who was never married. (3f the three first, 
 there are direct descendants living here and in Truro 
 to-day. These records are authentic, having been 
 received from a direct descendant. 
 
 REMAINS OF THE S03IEBSET BY 3100MJ(iHT. 
 
LONG POINT. 
 
 This narrow strip of sand which forms the extreme 
 end of Cape Cod was at one time quite thickly set- 
 tled, there being thirty-eight families residing there 
 permanently. The first building that was put up 
 there was built by John Atwood, and occupied No- 
 vember, 1818. Prince Freeman, Jr., built the second, 
 and Eldridge Smith the third. The nearness to the 
 fishing grounds, and the abundance of fish that 
 could be taken from the shore induced many faniilies 
 to locate there. Prince Freeman, Jr., now living. 
 was the first child born on the Point : he was bom 
 November 7th, 1822. 
 
 When the scliool-house was built in 1846, there 
 were sixty scholars attended, and the inhabitants num- 
 bered over two hundred. The adult population were 
 engaged in fishing, and the manufacture of salt. 
 Eldridge Nickerson built the first set of works, 
 which comprised about three thousand feet : others 
 were built, and at one time there were six mills for 
 pumping wiiter for about seven or eight thousand feet 
 of works, with an annual out-put of between five 
 and six hundred hogsheads of extra quality of salt. 
 
78 
 
 Fishing from the shoie was carried on extensive- 
 ly with sweep seines, catching plenty of mackerel 
 and shad ; bass also were taken in large numbers. 
 As many as seventy-five barrels of white shad have 
 been brought ashore there at one haul ; Mr. John 
 Atwood caught that many, three years in succession, 
 and on the same day of the month. These fish 
 brought a good price, selling for sixteen dollars a 
 barrel of two hundred pounds; the seines were all 
 knit by hand ; the women, for the most part, did the 
 knitting. There were over twenty Ijoats engaged in 
 cod-fishing, and they would take from forty to sixty 
 quintals'to a boat during the spring season ; there 
 was no fresh water on the point, plank cisterns were 
 laid and afterwards some were made of cement. 
 During along ja'otracted drouth, the drinkable water 
 had to be brought from the town in barrels. 
 
 The first school that was kept there, was kept in 
 the lighthouse, about 1830; there were only three 
 children, who were taught by ]Miss Hannah Sanborn, 
 who afterwards married Deacon John Dyer, a well- 
 known citizen, who was a mover of buildings, and 
 moved about all of the buildings from the Point 
 over to the town. John Atwood built a wharf on 
 the north side of the point, which is standing to-day, 
 used by the Cape Cod Oil Works, the only buildings 
 now left excepting the lighthouse. 
 
 About the year 1850, some families moved off, and 
 
79 
 each year increased the number so that at the break- 
 ing out of the Rebellion, there were but two houses 
 left, besides the school-house, which was also used as 
 a church, preachers from the town coming over occa- 
 sionally Sundays and holding service. 
 
 The ruins of two sand batteries that were put up 
 durino' the wiir of '61 — '65 are still to be seen ; a com- 
 pany of soldiers were stationed there, under the 
 charge of John Rosenthal, who had the officers head 
 quarters in the last dwelling house left on the Point. 
 The men were quartered in barracks built for the 
 
 occasion. 
 
 Nearly all of the houses were moved on scows 
 
 and were placed at the western end of the town, 
 near what is now called Gull Hill. About the last 
 building was the school-house, which now stands on 
 Commercial Street, a few doors east of the Post 
 Office. 
 
 Government now lays claim to all the lands on 
 the Point ; some attempts have been made by those 
 that once lived there to get pay for the land they 
 left, but no one has succeded as yet. No industry 
 is carried on there but the Cape Cod Oil Works, and 
 no fish of any amount have been taken there for 
 many years, except a few cod off Wood End Light- 
 house. 
 
THE WHALING BUSINESS. 
 
 INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF THE BUSINESS. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF WHALES 
 
 AND WHALING. 
 
 Tlie wlialiug business of this place, that at one 
 time was second in importance of any place ^\•he^e 
 tlie husii.ess was carried on, has fallen off so that 
 at present there are but seven vessels employed. 
 In tlie early settlement of the place, whaling- was 
 carried on from the shore by boats. Right v/hales 
 then used used to visit this harbor, but it has l)een 
 many years since one was taken here. As the whales 
 became scarce, vessels were fitted out, and tl:e indus- 
 try grew until a fieet of fifty-six vesseLs, — barques^ 
 brigs, and schooners, — went from this port. The 
 most of the officers, and some of the crew were cit- 
 izens of the place. The sperm whale was the one 
 most sought for, on account of its oil being of more 
 value than an}' other specie. The sjicrmaceti whale, 
 or sperm, as they are called by whalemen, are the 
 highest type of the cetacean. Their oil is of the 
 
81 
 finest kind, iind brings the highest price of any in 
 the market. The sperm is the only whale having 
 teetli, and those are only In the lower jaw ; in the 
 upper jaw there are cavities, into which the teeth fit 
 snugly when the jaw is closed. These teeth are fine 
 ivory, but do not command a great price in the mar- 
 ket only as curiosities, for they will discolor with age, 
 whicli unfits them for use in any of the arts for 
 which ivory is employed. The habitat of this specie 
 of whale, in the North Atlantic Ocean, is on the 
 coast of Central America, the borders of the Gulf 
 Stream, on what is called Hatterras and Charleston 
 Grounds, off Cape DeVerde Islands and several other 
 places in the North Atlantic, known to whale-men 
 as the Cornell, Twelve-forty, etc. The principal 
 food of this whale is the squid or cuttle fish, that 
 are plenty in the warm waters of these grounds. 
 The yield of oil in a full-grown whale will be about 
 one hundred barrels; from one-third to one-half will 
 be contained in the head. One peculiarity of this 
 specie is the case, so called. This is a cavity in the 
 head, from which clear oil is bailed with buckets, 
 amounting sometimes to twelve or fifteen barrels. 
 This makes the best of oil, and only requires heating 
 so that it will not become rancid. The junk, which 
 is the huge cheeks and lips, yield oil very freely, 
 and as they are part of the head are counted as such. 
 These whales are not, as a general thing, much for 
 
82 
 
 fighting, seeking safety rather in flight, but occasion- 
 ally a lone bull, that has been driven out of the 
 school or herd, is fallen in with, and his ugly disposi- 
 tion, made more sour and morose by the want of 
 companionship, makes him an ugly customer to deal 
 with, often charging on the boat and crushing it like 
 an egg-shell with his ponderous jaw, leaving the 
 whalemen minus boat and gear and lucky if they 
 escape with their lives. 
 
 A story is often told, by old whalemen, of a whale 
 of this kind, who was well known by old veterans 
 by the name of Moby Dick, who made his home and 
 cruising ground off the west coast of South America. 
 Nearly every New Bedford and Nantucket whaler 
 had had an encounter with him, and were worsted in 
 the battle, Dick always coming off conqueror, until 
 as last no one cared to risk an engagement with him. 
 When the explosive bomb lance was invented, an 
 old Nantucket skipper, who had suffered severely in 
 several encounters with Dick, swore that he would 
 have revenge, and the bomb lance was just the thing 
 to do it with. Accordingly, laying in a good stock 
 of the article, sailed on his voyage to the Pacific. 
 Arriving at Talcuhano, Chili, a great rendezvous for 
 whalers, he there fell in with some of his old chums, 
 and told them that he was going to capture Dick, if 
 he did not get another whale. His comrades laughed 
 and tried to dissuade him, but the old veteran was 
 
83 
 not to be bluffed. Sailing, he soon reached the 
 whaling-grounds, and for a long time cruised with- 
 out seeing Dick, and he began to fear that the whale 
 had left the grounds or had died, and he would lose 
 his revenge. One bright, sunny morning, the look- 
 out at the mast-head sung out, ''There she blows!" 
 '^Where away? ^'Broad on the lee bow." The ship 
 was kept oft' before the wind, and run down towards 
 the whale, when it was soon discovered to be the 
 long sought for Moby Dick. The boats were lowered, 
 whale-guns and bomb lances were placed in them, 
 and everything made ready for the battle. The 
 whale paid no attention to the boats, so the captain 
 pulled up close to him, and instead of fastening in 
 the usual manner, fired a bomb lance into him. This 
 new specie of warfare, seemed to take the whale by 
 surprise, as it was something new to him, but his 
 aggressive nature asserted itself, and he charged upon 
 the boat with his usual fury. The mate's boat com- 
 ing to the rescue, fired another shot, which took his 
 attention from the captain, and the mate was charged 
 upon, to be relieved in turn by the captain. This 
 kind of warfare was kept up, and when seven lances 
 had been shot into him, every one of which took 
 effect, he rolled fin out, — dead. Brought alongside 
 and stripped of his blubber, but a small quanity of 
 oil was made. In whalemen's language, he was 
 what is called a '' Dry Skin." Twenty-three har- 
 
84 
 
 pooDS were found imbedded in his flesh, bearing tlje 
 names of eighteen different vessels, showing who 
 had been in engagements with him. The other five 
 were so corroded by time, that it was impossible to 
 decipher the marks on them. The largest whale of 
 this specie ever known to be taken, was by the bark 
 Wave, of New Bedford, Capt Briggs, which made one 
 hundred and sixty-five barrels, fifteen gallons of 
 oil. Capt. Wm. Curran, of this place, took one 
 that made one hundred and fifteen barrels, and lost 
 the entire head and junk ; had all been saved it would 
 doubtless have been as large, if not larger, than the 
 one taken by the Wave. 
 
 AMBERGRIS. 
 
 A valuable secretion is found in this specie of 
 whale, called Ambergris. This is found in hard 
 bunches in the whale's intestines ; it is of a dark choc- 
 olate color, and in most cases the specific gravity is 
 greater than water, though there are cases where it 
 has been known to float. It is one of the best 
 known articles, as a base on which to fix perfumes, 
 and is largely used in France for that purpose. A 
 good article is worth more than its weight in gold, 
 or at present prices about two hundred dollars a 
 pound. It has a strong pungent odor, but by no 
 means unpleasant. Its formation is not fully known, 
 but is supposed in some way to be connected with 
 the food this specie eats. The short, sharp bills of 
 
85 
 
 the iii{uk\ or cuttle fish irritating the bowels, causing 
 
 this fungus growth. It is most frequently found in 
 
 whales caught off the coast of Central America, 
 
 where the squid are of small size. It is generally 
 
 found in lumps weighing from five to fifteen pounds; 
 
 occasionally, though the cases are very rare, pieces 
 
 have been found weighing as much as one hundred 
 
 pounds. 
 
 A LOST FORTUNE. 
 
 Schooner Monteguma, of this place, while engaged 
 in sperm whaling on the Mosquito Coast, Central 
 America, killed a large sperm whale. In ''cutting 
 in '" the whale, the spade struck a hard substance, 
 which upon further investigation proved to be a large 
 piece of ambergris, somewhat larger than a quarter 
 barrel, and judged to weigh over one hundred pounds. 
 The wind was blowing heavy at the time, and the 
 sea rough ; all hands were excited over the find and 
 due precaution was not taken to secure it ; in haul- 
 ing it on board the vessel it slipped from the slings, 
 and falling between the whale and vessel, slowly 
 sank from sight in sixty fathoms of water. At the 
 price of the article at that time, the crew had the 
 mortification of seeing over twenty-five thousand 
 dollars sink slowly from their possession. A dead 
 whale drifted ashore on one of the West India Is- 
 lands. A negro at work on the whale found a small 
 piece; he had heard of ambergris but knew nothing 
 
86 
 
 of its real value. Saving it, he offered it for sale to 
 a trader, who generously (?) gave him a suit of thin 
 dungaree clothes, and a five-doUar gold piece, the 
 negro congratulating himself on his lucky find. 
 The trader, wlien he returned to the states, realized 
 the sum of one thousand dollars on his harofain. 
 
 A H>-|{A(K WHALE. 
 
 The wliale shown above was one of tlie largest of 
 the Finback species ever taken here. It was killed 
 b}^ Captain Joshua S. Nickerson, in the whaling sch. 
 A. B. Nickerson, and measured sixty-five feet, four 
 inches in length ; across the tail tourteen feet, six 
 inches : lengtli of lower jaw, eleven feet ; 
 length of fins, ten feet ; girth, thirty-seven feet; 
 estimated weight, one hundred and thirty-six tons; 
 
87 
 capacity of mouth, when closed, thirty Ijarrels. Some 
 idea of its imense size can be formed by noticing the 
 two men and dog that are on it. It was sold to a 
 Chicago syndicate ; special cars were made to trans, 
 port it, and it was taken through the western 
 country on exhibition. Captain Newton P. West 
 going as descriptive lecturer. This engraving was 
 made from a photograph taken on the beach at low 
 water, and gives a true and correct picture of this 
 great cetacean. 
 
 THE RIGHT WHALE. 
 
 There are several species of this whale and some 
 of them grow to an enormous size, being the largest 
 specimens of known animal life, weighing upwards 
 of 100 tons, and yielding in known instances three 
 hundred pounds of oil. The one most sought after 
 is the bow-head or Arctic whale, who makes his home 
 and cruising grounds in the far North, up Behring 
 Sea, and near Wrangel Land. The season for taking 
 this whale is short, rarely extending over six weeks. 
 Nature has provided them with a thick coat of blub- 
 ber to withstand the rigors of the Arctic climate, and 
 it is no uncommon occurrence to kill a whale where 
 the thickness of the blubber is two feet and up- 
 wards. This whale also furnishes the best article of 
 the whale bone of commerce which readily sells in 
 the market for two dollars per pound. This whale 
 
88 
 
 has 1)0 teeth, but tlie mouth is furnished with hirge 
 plates of this bone, twelve to fourteen feet in length, 
 and two feet and over in breadth where it is attached 
 to the jaw. A whale yielding one hundred barrels 
 of oil, will have about one thousand pounds of bone ; 
 this bone around tlie edge lias a long coarse fiber, by 
 which the whale obtains its food. Swimming 
 through the water with open mouth, it takes in im- 
 mense quantities of small slirimp and other animal- 
 culee, called whale feed ; it then closes the moutli and 
 ejects the water, the long fibers retaining the 
 food collected, which is then taken off by the tongue 
 and conveyed to the stomach ; the amount that a 
 whale will eat is immense, and can only be estimated 
 b}^ barrels. These whales are not fighters, and there 
 is no sport nor great danger in capturing them ; very 
 rarely an accident happens, and then it is due more 
 to carelessness and mismanageuient of the boat, then 
 from an}' design on the part of the whale to inflict 
 an injury. VVIjen struck with the harpoon, the 
 whale will run slowly for a short distance and then 
 stop ; the boats crew haul in the lire, bringing the 
 boat right up against him, the officer then, with hand 
 lance, probes the whale in its vital parts ; the whale, 
 with head raised out of water, uttering a loud groan- 
 ing noise, and showing no disposition to defend it- 
 self. It finally dies, and in the death agony a boat 
 is sometimes injured by being too near him. The 
 
89 
 ship is then brought alongside, and the huge strips 
 of blubber taken off and stowed below in the blub- 
 ber room ; the bone taken out of the mouth, the 
 carcass is then turned adrift to become food for shark, 
 and tlie innumerable sea fowl that inhabit the Arc- 
 tic regions. This whale is also found on the west 
 coast of Greenland, and in Hudson's Bay,, up an inlet 
 called Rowe's Welcome ; vessels engaged in this 
 branch of whaling, often remaining out two seasons, 
 wintering in some of the harbors, the vessel being 
 stripped of sails, and rigging housed over, and bank- 
 ed up with snow ; the crew spending the long winter 
 night in idleness, the monotony onl}- being broken by 
 an occasional reindeer or bear hunt, or a visit from 
 the Esquimaux natives. For weeks the sun does 
 not rise above the horizon, but upon its return, all 
 is activity and bustle, getting the ship out of winter 
 quarters, and fitting up for the short season of whal- 
 ing, urged on by the thoughts of soon returning 
 home with a good catch of oil to pay for their forced 
 absence and hardships endured. Many Arctic ex- 
 plorers like Tyson Hall, and others, obtained their 
 Arctic knowledge on board of a New Bedford or 
 New London whaler, thus fitting them to be the 
 most successful explorers in the far distant North. 
 The long sought North-west passage was first known 
 to exist by the capture of a whale on the west coast 
 of Greenland, a harpoon being found imbedded in 
 
90 
 
 the flesh, bearing a ship's name that was known to be 
 at that time, off the Alaskan Coast. The flesh of 
 the whale is eaten by the natives, and though 
 coarse, it resembles lean beef in texture and taste, 
 when taken from a newly-killed whale. The natives 
 of Greenland, pickle the outer cuticle or skin, and it 
 is very palatable, and an excellent antiscorbutive. 
 Portions of the fins and tail, when boiled in salt and 
 water, make a toothsome dish, and one not to be 
 despised by epicures, the flavor resembling some- 
 what soused pigs' feet. To the poor Greenlander 
 and Esquimaux, the whale is a perfect godsend ; 
 utilizing every part ; the oil serves to warm their 
 huts during the long winter, taking the place of 
 wood and coal, the flesh is eaten, lines and ropes 
 made of the sinews, the intestines scraped and 
 cleansed, are used in lieu of glass to let light into 
 their huts. If one or more whales are not taken dur- 
 ing the season, it amounts to almost a famine in 
 the little community, and great hardships have to be 
 endured during the long winter to obtain food from 
 the seal and bear. 
 
 THE HUMPBACK WHALE. 
 
 This specie seems to be the connecting link be- 
 tween the sperm and the right whale, partaking of 
 of some of the qualities of each. The oil is not so 
 valuable as the sperm, nor the bone as good as the 
 right whale ; still they are much hunted around the 
 
91 
 
 West India Islands, where they are most abundant. 
 Unlike other whales, they do not go in herds or 
 schools, but in pairs, unless the calf or young are 
 present. Like all other cetacean, the young are born 
 alive, and suckled till able to provide for themselves. 
 One young is only brought forth at a birth ; the 
 period of gestation is not known. The principle 
 places in the West India Islands where this whale is 
 hunted, are Marie Galante, Guadaloupe, Isle Blanco 
 and around Barbadoes. Short-voyage vessels, from 
 Frovincetown and other ports, hunt the whale in the 
 early spring, from February till June ; then leaving 
 for the sperm whale grounds to finish the season. 
 . When a whale is killed by one of the vessels, near 
 one of the Islands, the negros flock on board in num- 
 bers eager to get the whale beef, and many a captain 
 has filled his decks full of oranges, bananas and co- 
 coanuts in exchange for whale meat ; occasionally a 
 humpback will sink when killed, and the sharks are 
 so plenty in that warm climate, that the whaleman 
 lose their whale, it being eaten so badly that it would 
 not come to the surface. When cutting in a whale, 
 a man has to stand in the gangway with a sharp 
 spade to keep the sharks away, they are so abun- 
 dant ; if the whale should be left alone it would soon 
 be eaten, all but the bones ; occasionally a humpback 
 whale is seen north of the Gulf Stream and along 
 the coast of New England, but the cases are rare. 
 
92 
 
 THE whale's enemies. 
 
 Though the largest thing that swims the ocean, 
 the whale is by no means king, and man is not the 
 only one that preys upon the whale. The sword- 
 fish, who is the John L. of the sea, delights in at- 
 tacking the whale, plunging his long, sharp sword 
 again and again into the whale's body ; unable to pro- 
 tect itself, the whale is killed. Why the sword-fish 
 should make this onslaught on the wliale is a mystery, 
 as the sword-fish cannot eat any part of the whale, 
 and it must be done purely out of spite, and a wish 
 to destroy. Not so with the thresher or killer, 
 another of the whale's enemies, who will liover 
 around the whale, watching for a chance when he 
 comes to the surface to blow or breath ; the killer 
 will then throw himself on top of the whale, and 
 strike heavy blows with his tail over tlie spout hole, 
 thus smothering the whale, which dies of suffocation. 
 The killer then feasts eagerh* on the tongue, touch- 
 ing no other part, leaving the rest to the sharks, — 
 scavengers of the deep. 
 
 anecdotes and incidents. 
 
 Of whales attacking vessels and inflicting serious 
 damage there are but three known instances. The 
 ship Essex, off the west coast of South America, the 
 Am. Alexander, off the mouth of the Rio De La 
 Plata, both of which are a matter of history and the 
 incidents have been published many times. The 
 
98 
 
 other instance we believe was never printed, which 
 was the case of the barque Parker Cook, of Province- 
 towii, Mass., Caj)t. John Cook. This vessel was 
 cruising off the Azores or Western Islands and struck 
 a large, lone sperm whale, which [)roved to be an 
 ugly customer and showed fight. After demolishing 
 the boats it attacked the vessel and, rushing towards 
 the vessel with open mouth, bit the forefoot clean to 
 the wood ends of the planking, causing the vessel 
 to leak badly. Apparently satisfied with the dam- 
 age done, it then left the vessel, and layed by about 
 a fourth of a mile to windward of the ship. Capt. 
 Cook patched up one of his boats and, notwithstand- 
 ing the second mate had lost a leg in the encounter 
 and the rest of the crew more or less demoralized^ 
 again went for the whale and killed him ; after cutting 
 him in, the vessel was put for Fayal, Azores, and by 
 pumping and bailing, was kept afloat till she reached 
 the port. Upon examination, it was found that 
 only about one-lialf inch of wood was left forward, 
 where the damage was done. Had that been re- 
 moved the vessel would have gone to the bottom. 
 The whale made about ninety barrels of oil. 
 
 A NARROW ESCAPE. 
 
 Mr. Franklin Atkins, a veteran in the whaling 
 business from Provincetown, while engaged in 
 sperm whaling near the West India Islands, fastened 
 to a large sperm whale. The whale struck the boat 
 
94 
 with his flukes, thvowiDg it up into the air aiid spill- 
 ing out the crew. When Mr. Atkins fell, he struck 
 directly into the whale's mouth, which was lying with 
 the jaw open. Terribly bruised and mangled by 
 falling on the wliale's teeth, he fortunately extricated 
 himself before the jaw closed ; he then managed with 
 much exertion to get on to the botton of the boat, 
 which was badly shattered. Anotlier boat came to 
 theia^ relief, and he was taken on board and his 
 wounds, which were frightful, were attended to- 
 For four weeks he lay in a very critical condition, 
 and at times his life was despaired of, but a strong, 
 healthy constitution enabled him to pull through, but 
 he carried many a large scar from the effects, on his 
 back and side, till the day of his death. Had the 
 jaw closed when he was iu the whale's mouth, he 
 would have been crushed to pieces. The whale was 
 finally captured, and yielded nearly a hundred barrels 
 of oil. The old gentleman in his declining years 
 after retiring from the sea, in relating the adventure 
 would close his Uile by saying that, ''He and Jonah 
 were the only two persons that had been into a 
 whale's mouth and come out alive." 
 
 A ludicrous incident happened to a boat's crew, 
 engaged in humpback whaling near the Spanish 
 Main. A whale was struck, and capsizing the boat, 
 one of the crew landed on the back of the whale, 
 close to the harpoon, which was in the whale's flesh. 
 
95 
 
 The man, through excitement and fright at his situ- 
 ation, grabbed firmly hold of the staff. The whale 
 instead of sounding, swam quickly off with the man 
 
 clinging on to his back ; the whale had cleared itself 
 from the boat, but was dragging the line after it. 
 After it had swam a short distance, it turned and 
 came back near the vessel, the man during the mean- 
 time still keeping his seat on the whale's back. A 
 boat pulled up to within a short distance, the man 
 then struck out and swam to the boat, carrying the 
 line which was fast to the harpoon with him, and the 
 whale was finally killed. True and authentic anec- 
 dotes like the foregoing could be related without 
 number, but enough has already been said to show 
 the public some of the dangers connected with 
 the business. The whaling business was, at one time, 
 one of the principal industries of New England. 
 Large fleets of ships, barques, schooners were engag- 
 ed, and no place in either of the three great oceans, 
 but was visited by these vessels in search for whales. 
 Nantucket (at one time mistress of the seas in that 
 business) wharves are now silent, and not a vessel 
 sails from the place. New Bedford, now the largest 
 whaling port, has not over one-fifth of the tonnage 
 employed that it had in the palmy days. Province- 
 town, that had at one time fifty-six barques, brigs 
 and schooners, now numbers only seven, and Edgar- 
 town, Mattapoisett, New London and Sag Harbor, 
 
96 
 
 collectively, send but few vessels. The discovery of 
 petroleum, and other causes have al)out ruined the 
 industry. And the hardy, old whaleman, that has 
 endured the heat of the torrid, and the extreme cold 
 of the Arctic zores, will soon be numbered with tlie 
 things that have passed away. The Civil War was 
 also a great damage to the business. Confederate 
 cruisers capturing and burning a large number of 
 the vessels in the North-west and Ochotsk seas, some 
 of which were taken after the war closed. 
 
 VESSELS EMPLOYED. 
 
 The name and tonnage of the whaling fleet from 
 this port at present are as follows: 
 
 KUi. >AJIE. <nV>EK. T()>>A<JK. 
 
 Brig. D. A. Small. Wm. Curran. IVS.'^S tons net. 
 Schr. ('arrie D. Knowles. 
 
 George O. Knowles. llo 09 " 
 
 Schr. Alcyone. George O. Knowles. 87.61 " " 
 Schr. Gage H. Phillips. 
 
 George O. Knowles. 101.37 " " 
 
 Schr. Baltic. Emmons Dyer. 80.5 " " 
 
 Schr. Wm. A. Grozier. 
 
 John Dunham. 111.09 "' *' 
 
 Schr. Rising Sun. Thomas Taylor. 6o.99 " " 
 
 These vessels are mostly engaged in the sperm 
 whale buisness, and hardly ever fit for more than one 
 season. The Captain and most of tlie <jfficers are from 
 this place, while tlie crews are mostly negros from 
 the West India or Cape DeVerd Islands. 
 
COD-FISHING. 
 
 One oi the most iinportaiit iiiclustries of this place 
 is the cocl-fishiiig. Pi;obably no branch of fishing 
 has gone through so many changes as this. In the 
 early days the vessels were small, some of them pink, 
 or sharp sterns carrying only about five or six hun- 
 dred quintals of fish, and making two trips a season, 
 which generall}^ lasted from iMarch to October. The 
 fishing in those days was all done with hand lines 
 and the crew fished from the vessel, standing watch 
 and fishing half and half, one part catching while 
 the others dressed the fish. The crews in those days 
 were mostly citizens of the place and each man was 
 paid according to the amount of fish he caught. 
 The business, however, was carried on on a very small 
 scale at first, but in the early part of this century it 
 had grown to be, next to whaling, the chief industry 
 of the place. The war of 1812 and ' 14 was a check 
 to the business, but after peace was declared it was 
 pursued with renewed activity. Some of our older 
 citizens, to-day, remember when the Welcome Return, 
 Widow Wadman, Yazo, Bion, North Cape, Abba- 
 thule, and the old Billy Gray were crack vessels of 
 
98 
 
 the fleet. It is told of the Billy Gray tliat in com- 
 ing home from the Labrador with a load of fish, dur^ 
 ing a heavy gale of wind the schooner was drugged 
 by putting an anchor over the stern and riding out 
 the gale in tliat wa}', never shipping a drop of water. 
 The reason the crew did so, was because the vessel 
 was so much sharper aft that she rode the seas better. 
 There has been no great change in the hand- 
 ling of the fish after the vessel has returned home 
 with a fare. The fish are brought ashore in boats, 
 and thrown into the water wliere they are washed, 
 and then spread on flakes to dry Some, however, 
 at present are put into l)utts with a strong brine or 
 pickle, which are called j)ickle-cured fisli. Tlie 
 first decided change in the business was the intro- 
 duction of dory fisliing, each one of the crew hav- 
 ing a dory and pulling away from the vessel, anchor 
 and fish with hand lines. Old experienced fisher- 
 men claim, to-day, that a fare of fish could not l»e 
 taken in the old way from, the vessel. Ti-awls were 
 also used on the banks, which fr)r the benefit of the 
 uninitiated I will say, means a long line, in some in- 
 stances over one mile in length, with iKoks fastened 
 to short lines about three feet lono-, and fastened to 
 the long line at equal distances, — about six feet 
 apart. The expense of this mode of fishing has 
 caused the almost total abandonment of it in the 
 Grand Bank fishery. During the war of the Rebel- 
 
99 
 
 3IAKI>« FISH, MILLIARD'S WHARF. 
 
 lion, this industry made a rapid stride onward ; the 
 high price of fish during those years, and the years 
 immediately following gave the industry such a boom 
 that it was known as the " flush times." New and 
 larger vessels were built, and crews numbering be- 
 tween twenty and thirty men were carried. Dry 
 fish sold for five and six dollars a quintal, and in 
 some instances for seven dollars and upwards. The 
 captain and owners of the vessels would assume all 
 the risk and ship crews, paying them from two hun- 
 dred to as high as five hundred dollars a man, ac- 
 cording to his known qualities as a fisherman. The 
 fleet, at present, engaged in this industry, is composed 
 of some of the finest vessels afloat and from one 
 
100 
 hundred and twenty up to nearly two luuidred tons 
 burden. They sail in April and May, returning 
 about September. The crews are all liired, the cap- 
 tain, and sometimes the owners, assumino- tlie risk 
 of the voyage. If there should be a scarcity of fish 
 or prices rule low, the summer's work would be a 
 failure, and the coming year would see a depression 
 in the crew's wages. The year 1889, was an excep- 
 tionally poor year, and but one vessel, the Cora S. 
 McKay, succeeded in getting anywhere near a fare 
 of fish. But very few got over half a fjire, while 
 the majority did not get but some few hundred quin- 
 tals. There are, at present, forty-one vessels en- 
 gaged in the Grand Bank fishery, which are owned 
 and managed by the following persons: Of this 
 fleet, two are three-masters, Lizzie W. Matheson, 
 one hundred and ninety-three tons burden, owned 
 by H. and S. (\)ok & Co. : (xrace F. Littleton, one 
 hundred and sixty-nine tons burden, owned by Phil- 
 lip A. Wharf. Owners: William Matheson, eight 
 vessels ; Henry Cook, six ; P. A. Whorf, six ; David 
 Con well, four ; S. S. Swift, four ; John D. Hilliard, 
 three ; J. & L. N. Paine, three ; John B. Matheson, 
 two; the remaining five are each one owned and 
 managed by a different party. Owing to tlie rapid 
 growth of the fresh fishing industry, and the facili- 
 ties for keeping the fish fresh for some length of 
 time so that they can be shipped to all parts of the 
 
101 
 
 States, the salt fishery lias faileii cff gi-eatly, the 
 market for them being in a great measiire limited 
 to foreign exportation. The fresh fishing industry 
 has thirty-three vessels that belong here, and the 
 larger part of them fish the whole year round, 
 with the exception of a short time during mid-win- 
 ter, when they liaul off to paint and refit for the work. 
 The majority of the captains and crews of these 
 vessels are Portugese citizens from the Western Is- 
 lands. The owners of the fieet are as foUow^s : Cen- 
 tral Wharf Co., five vessels; Joseph Maiita, five; 
 fJohn Adams, three ; Joseph Matthews, three ; David 
 Conwell, two; Charles A. Cook, two; Andrew T. 
 Williams, two ; P. A. Whorf, two ; the remaining 
 ten vessels are owned singly, either by the ca[)tain 
 or not belonging to any firm. In this tieet there are 
 some crack sailers that have made their mark, and 
 a record. The I. J. Merritt, Julia (\)sta, Isaac 
 Collins and Joseph I*. Johnson are among the most 
 noted. The fishing fleet from tliis place is not large, 
 but for quality of vessels there is no place in the 
 State that has any better. Besides the number of 
 fresh fishermen mentioned here, there are, at present, 
 eight vessels from other places sailing from here, 
 commanded and manned by Provincetown men. This 
 fleet cruise from the South Channel, off Nantucket, 
 to Cape Sable on the Nova Scotia shore ; the time 
 taken on these trips rarely extends over two weeks. 
 
102 
 When the fisli diaw in off the Cape here, some ([iiick 
 trips have been ina<le. One of the most notable 
 was that of the Jnh"a (yosta. Captain Costa, whicli 
 sailed from this port at six o'clo(3k in the mornino-, 
 sailed to the fishing^ oTonnds about fifteen miles 
 north-east of the Hio'hland Lio^ht. eauGfht fifteen 
 thousand pounds of cod-fish, cUid was in Boston, at 
 the wharf at eleven o'clock that nicrht ; havinof sailed 
 about one liundred miles in the mean time. A great 
 deal of ronoh weather is experienced by these 
 vessels, but the fieet since this has been an industry 
 here, has been exceptionally free tVom meeting with 
 disaster. 
 
 I 
 
HIGHFLYERS OF THE FRESH-FISHING 
 FLEET. 
 
 I. .1. 3It'rritt. Jr., from a Photo Itj >V. }l. Siuitli ;is slif n|)|)(>ar('<l in the race 
 
 Fast-day. isss. 
 
 The I. J. Merritt, Jr., as she appeared ill the fisher- 
 man's race, Fast Day, 1888, and took second prize, 
 commanded by Capt. Charley Harty, of Gloucester. 
 She competed with Carrie Phillips, Carrie Habson 
 and Roulette. She is now owned by John Adams 
 and others, and commanded by Capt. Souza. 
 
/ 
 
 Jiiliii ( osta, iiassiiiti: Miintt's LiulitliouNO. troiii a iihototfrapli by Wni. M. Smith. 
 
 'i1)e Julia Costa is owueel by (^apt. Josepli Maiita ; 
 she was built for ('apt. Costa. She was ihe first of 
 the elii)per fleet to e(Uiie hei'e. In the fisherman's 
 race before nieutioued, l*roviucetowii was uot rei)re- 
 seuted. Capt. Mauta had this vessel designed and 
 built, intending if another race took place, to have 
 entered in the contest. A record of her doings on a 
 trip will be louiid in another place. 
 
THE OLD TOWN HALL. 
 
 OLD TOWN HALL, FROM AN OLD PICTURE. 
 
 This building was erected on High Pole Hill, and 
 was a conspicious landmark, it could be seen from a 
 
106 
 
 vessel's deck nearly half-way to Boston Light. In 
 1853 the town bouoht wliat was known as Hio^h 
 Pole Hill from Godfrey Kyder, Jonatlian Cook, Asa 
 S. Bowley, Philip Cook, Seth Kickerson, 2d, Joseph 
 Atkins, Samuel Chapman, for the sum of three hund- 
 red and fifty doHars. The deed was recorded June 
 9th, 1853. The next year the top of tlie hill was 
 cut down some feet, and the buikling put up at a 
 cost of nearly fifteen thousand dollars. The up[)er 
 part of the building was used for a High School. 
 On Feb. 16, 1877, at 8.25 P. M. it was burned to the 
 ground : the origin of the fire was never known : 
 various theories were set afloat, but nothing ever 
 definate was arrived at. Situated as it was and 
 beinof built larp-elv of hard idne, every effort of the 
 firemen was of no avail and the building was a total 
 loss. The only memento ever put in this place to 
 record the landino- of the Pilo^rims here, was a mar- 
 ble tablet set in the front of the building : this was 
 destroyed "by tlie fire. 
 
 THE NEW TOWN HALL. 
 This building was commenced Sept. 10. 188-", 
 and dedicated August 25, 1886, with imposing 
 ceremonies, Gov. Robinson and other noted State 
 officials being present. Rev. William Henry Ryder, 
 a former citizen of this place, but now desceased, 
 generously gave the homestead place for the site, 
 but the town officials not deeming it large enough 
 
107 
 took the two adjoining estates, Dr. Ryder paying for 
 all the land taken. The cost of the building was 
 •^=50,400. John A. Fox, of Boston, architect; William 
 J. Jobling, contractor and builder ; Samuel C. John- 
 
 NEW TOWN HALL, FROM A PHOTO. BY WM. M. SMITH. 
 
 son, master carpenter; Alfred Small, superintendent 
 of building. The building committee were Marshall 
 L. Adams, Charles H. Dyer, B. O. Gross, Atkins 
 
• 108 
 
 Nickersoii, James A. Small, John D. Hilliard, 
 George O. Knowles, Alfred Small. The first 
 three names were the board of selectmen at tlie 
 time. This building throughout is built in the very 
 best manner, and is the finest structure of tlie kind 
 in southeastern Massachusetts. All of the modern 
 appliances are to be found here, steam heating, gas 
 lighting, etc. In the hall proper, wliich is capable 
 of seating one thousand persons, there is a large 
 stage with a fine and full set of scenery, sufficient 
 for any dramatic play ; this cost over -^1000. The 
 clock in the tower was the gift of the Hon. Jose})!) 
 P. Johnson, a citizen and resident. The bell was 
 the gift of Mr. John F. Nickerson, a former citizen, 
 but now residing in Boston. All of the town ofiicials 
 have their rooms on the lower floor, and the Ryder 
 Street entrance is always open to the public during 
 business hours. In the large basement there are 
 tables and dishes, with all the rest of the appliances 
 for getting up a collation or supper. One interest- 
 ing relic of the town is also kept there, the old liand 
 fire engine, the first tliat ever came to this place, 
 built in 1836, and called the Washing'ton. 
 
PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING. 
 
 Piil)li( Liliraii ami HeadiiiiarlciN J. ('. Krt'Ciiian Pn^t .'),■). G. A. U. Pho- 
 to 1)} Wiliiani M. Sinltli. 
 
110 
 
 This building was erected in 187o b}^ Mr. Nathan 
 Freeman, an old and respected citizen of the town, 
 and donated to the town to be used as a Public Libra- 
 ry Building on the lower floor, the second story for a 
 Young Men's Christian Association Room. The 
 upper part of the building to be used for photograph 
 business, the income to be applied to keeping the 
 building and grounds in order. I Inive been allowed 
 by the Trustees of the Building to copy from the 
 original indenture the following articles wdiich are 
 of the most interest in tliat document. 
 
 Article Sixth : The first floor of the building, 
 excepting the entrance hall, shall be used and occu- 
 pied solely for the pnr[)oses of the Pul)lic Library, 
 The second flooj- of the same, except as aforesaid, 
 for the sole use of tlie Young ATen's Christian As- 
 sociation, and the third story may be occupied and 
 rented for photograph rooms or for (jtlier reputable 
 purposes. 
 
 Article Eighth : If at any time either the room 
 assigned to be used for a Public Library or the room 
 assigned to the use of, and occupancy of the Young 
 Men's Christian Association, shall fail to be used for 
 the several purposes herein named, for three consec- 
 utive years, then such rooms shall rebut to my heirs 
 at law, but such rooms shall never be used for any 
 purpose whatever, that may be objectionable to the 
 Board of Trustees, and if at any time, both objects 
 
Ill 
 
 for which this trust is instituted shall fail, the whole 
 property shall revert to my lawful heirs. 
 
 The building was dedicated on Thursday evening, 
 December lltli, 1873, the ceremonies taking place 
 in the Center M. E. Church, Hon. Nathaniel E. 
 Atwood presiding. After making a few remarks 
 Mr. Freeman was called upon and in a few well 
 chosen remarks, in which he stated his motives for 
 erecting the building, he passed the deed of convey- 
 ance to the Board of Trustees, wliioh was read by 
 his son, Mr. Nathan T. Freeman, after which Mr. 
 Andrew T. Williams made the speech of acceptance, 
 followed by speeches by Hon. James (Tifford, Dr. 
 Henr}' Shortle and others. The Young Men's (Chris- 
 tian Association having given up the rooms allotted 
 to theui, the Board of Trustees, together with Mr. 
 Nathan D. Freeman fitted up the rooms and they are 
 now used by the Josiah C. Freeman Post 55^ G. A. 
 R., The Women's Relief Corps and other beneficial 
 organizations. The present Board of Trustees is A. 
 Lewis Putman, Pres. ; John D. Hilliard, Sec. and 
 Treasurer; Lj^sander N. Paine, Joshua Cook, Henry 
 Shortie, John G. Whitcond), Andrew T. Williams, 
 Hon. James Gifford. 
 
 THE LrURAKY. 
 
 The first movement towards a Public Library' was 
 in 1863, when the Mayflower Division of the Sons 
 of Temperance donated to the town and deposited 
 
112 
 
 ill the Seamairs Saving Bank, a sum of money 
 amounting to nearly three lumdred dollars. This 
 to form a nucleus, for the purpose of raising a sum 
 of money to establish a Public Library. The first 
 movement made by the town was at the annual 
 meeting in 1872, when it was voted to appropriate 
 the sum of twenty-five dolhirs and the dog tax re- 
 funded to the town by the county for the three 
 preceding years, amounting to the sum of >'191.45 
 for the [jurpose of establishing a Public Library. 
 At the annual meeting 1(S73, 858.58, the amount of 
 the dog tax for 1872, was added to tlie fund. In 
 1874 seven Trustees were chosen and the accumulat- 
 ed funds wei'e placed in their hands, the town also 
 appropriated -^^2000 for the purchase of books, pro- 
 vided that ><1000 shor.ld be raised by subscription. 
 Throuofh the efforts of Hon. James (xiftbrd a sufti- 
 cient amount was raised, and the Trustees received 
 the total amount of ><3,46(3.12. AL*. Augustus Mitchell 
 was chosen to make the selection of books, which 
 selection was made with great care and met with unan- 
 imous approval by all. The Library was open to the 
 public June 13th, 1874. In 1889 an aged and res- 
 pected citizen of this town, Mr. Benjamin Small, 
 donated to tlie Library the munificent sum of -85000 
 in stocks and bonds as a perpetual fund, the income 
 of which should be applied to purchase books for 
 the Library, the principal to remain intact. The 
 
113 
 
 first librarian was Miss Salome Gifford, followed by 
 Mr. William K. Mitchell, who was succeeded by 
 Miss Mattie W. Bangs, the present librarian. At 
 the opening of the library there were 2202 volumes ; 
 on Jan. 1st, 1890 there were 4809, exclusive of 
 Public Documents. There are 2433 names on the 
 register. The yearly circulation last year was 
 9208. There . has recently been placed in the 
 Library room a fine picture of Mr. Nathan Freeman, 
 who erected the building. 
 
FIRST NATIONAL BANK PROVINCETOWN, 
 
 First National Bank. Photo by William M. Smith. 
 
115 
 
 This bank was incorporated first as a State Bank. 
 The act of incorporation was passed March 28th, 
 1854. The first meeting of the stockliolders was 
 held at the Town Honse, May 8th, 1854, Daniel 
 Small as Chairman, Elijah Smith as Secretary. The 
 act of incorporation was accepted, and a code of 
 by-laws adopted. The first Board of Directors chosen 
 at that time, were Nathan Freeman, 2d, Daniel Small, 
 Isaiah Gifford, Joseph P. Johnson, Henry Cook, 
 Enos Nickerson, Samuel Soper, Eben S. Smith, 
 Nathaniel Holmes. Samuel Soper having declined 
 serving, at a subsequent meeting held May 11th, 
 Joshua E. i^owley was chosen in his place. The first 
 meeting of the Directors was held at the house of 
 Eben S. Smith, and choice was made of Nathan 
 Freeman as President, and at the next meeting, June 
 14th, 1854, Elijah Smith was chosen Cashier. The 
 estate of Joshua Cook was bought and the building 
 of which a view is given was erected on the premises. 
 The Bank opened successfully and has done a good 
 business always, paying good dividends and contin- 
 ued to do so during the time it was a State bank, grad- 
 ually increasing its capital. In April, 1865, it was 
 organized as the First National Bank, with an in- 
 creased capital to two hundred thousand dollars 
 (•^200,000). Elijah Smith, the first cashier of the 
 Bank, continued in that capacity until his death 
 which took place January, 1867- Mr. Smith, by his 
 
116 
 
 kind and genial manners, won many friends and did 
 much towards making the Bank popular with the 
 community. At his decease, Mr. Moses N. Gifford 
 was chosen cashier. Mr. Nathan Freeman, the Pres- 
 ident from the organization as a State bank, filled 
 that position when it became National, and by his 
 keen judgment and conservativeness placed it in a 
 sound financial condition and hiade its stock a very 
 desirable investment. Mr. Freeman held the i)osi- 
 tion until he died, which event took place in InTH. 
 His successor, Mr. Stephen Cook, who had been one 
 of the Directors for many years, having been elected 
 on the Board when it was a State bank, was elected 
 to the office, and by his skilful management the 
 bank's stock was sold at the highest point it ever 
 reached. Mr. Cook died September, \H^S. Mr. 
 Moses N. Gifford, the cashier, was chosen to fillthe 
 the vacanc}^ ; Mr. Gifford's long and faithfid service 
 of twenty-six years as cashier eminently fittijig 
 him for that position. Reuben W. Swift, assistant 
 cashier, took Mr. Gifford's place as cashier, which 
 position he held until his death, which took place 
 December, 1889. He entered service at the bank 
 in 1867, as clerk, and for his faithful service was 
 appointed assistant cashier. Mr. Swift was a man 
 that was beloved by the whole community for his 
 urbanity, kindness and pleasant ways to those with 
 whom he transacted business, and not onlv the 
 
117 
 bank, but the entire comniuiiity, felt liis loss when 
 his life's journey ended. Mr. J. Hersey Dyer, who 
 for seventeen years had held the position of Secretary 
 and Treasurer of the Seaman's Savino- I>aid^. took 
 the i)osition at Mr. Swift's death. Isai;ih A. Small 
 is the [)resent book-keeper. The Board of Directors 
 are, Henry Cook, Joshua Paine, William A. Atkins, 
 Joseph P. Johnson, N. P. Holmes, John I). Hilliard, 
 (leorge (). Knowles, Joseph A. West Moses N. (rif- 
 ford. Since the Bank was made a National liank 
 it has paid in dividends •1i«437,0l)0. and has an accum- 
 lated sujplus on hand of about 'tTO.'Mio, When the 
 bank was first organized there was a In-anch of tlie 
 Freeman's bank, of Boston, located in the Old Uidon 
 Wharf store ; David Fairbanks had charge of the 
 business, the Boston account of the Provincetown 
 baidv w as taken to the Freeman's bank and has been 
 kept there ever since. 
 
 The history of the baidv would be incom- 
 plete without especial mention of Mr. Henry 
 (\)ok, who was one of the first Directors 
 chosen, and is at present serving, after thirty-five 
 consecutive years labor. He is very i)unctual in his 
 attendance on the meetings, and no small share of 
 the bank's prosperity is due to his counsel and 
 advice. 
 
 Note.— The Freeman's bank, at Union Wharf .store, was rohhed hv bur- 
 glars Auguit 17th, 1840 ; abf)ut 820.000 were taken. A portion of the 
 jnoney was recovered, but not sutHcient evidence could be produced t(t 
 convict the culprits. 
 
SEAMAN'S SAVINGS BANK. 
 
 This institution, one of the most beneficial in the 
 place, and one tliat has done a large amount of 
 good to the people here, is certainly worthy of 
 mention. An act to incorporate the Seaman's Sav- 
 ings Bank was granted to David Fairbanks, Joseph 
 B. Hersey, Thomas Nickerson, their associates and 
 successors; passed the House, April 9th, 1851 ; passed 
 Senate, April l*2th, 1851 ; was approved by the Gov- 
 ernor, George S. Boutwell, April 14th, 1851. The 
 first President was John Adams, who served four 
 years, followed by David Fairbanks, who held the 
 position eighteen years. At the expiration of that 
 time Mr. Lysander N. Paine was chosen, who holds 
 the office to-day. The Vice Presidents were Wm. 
 Atkins, Atkins Nickerson, and Jolni D. Hilliard, the 
 present incumbent. The Secretaries and Treasurers, 
 who have held the office to date, and time of service 
 are as follows : David Fairbanks, four years, three 
 months ; R. E. Nickerson, two years ; Enos Nicker- 
 son, nine years ; John Young, Jr., five years, three 
 months ; Joseph Hersey Dyer, seventeen years ; 
 Lewis Nickerson, recently appointed on account of 
 
Ill) 
 
 the resignation of Mr. Dyer, he being called to a 
 position in the First National Bank here. When 
 this bank first commenced Inismess it was carried on 
 in the Old Union Wharf store, but shortly after Ex- 
 change Building was built for that purpose. This 
 bank, like all institutions of the kind, has seasons of 
 greater prosperity than otliers, but has always been 
 on a sound basis and ably managed, so much so, that 
 not a dollar has ever been lost by a depositor, and 
 there has been paid out to depositors in interest and 
 dividends, since organization, over a half million dol- 
 hirs. The capital stock at present is '^322,453 ; num- 
 ber of depositors 1593. The bank has recently pur- 
 chased the vacant lot of land on Commercial street, 
 near the dwelling-house of Capt. Angus McKay, and 
 will erect on it a new building for the bank in the 
 near future. 
 
JOSEPH PROSPER JOHNSON, 
 
 JOSEPH P. JOHNSON. 
 
121 
 
 The subject of this .sketch, wliose likeness we pre- 
 sent, is onu v)f tlie most prouiiiient men of the place, 
 having identitieil himself with much of the public 
 business and ever tried for the advancement and in- 
 terest of iiis adapted town. Horn in Essex, Con- 
 necticut, July I'Sth, 1813, of English and Scotch 
 lineage, his grand-parents having come from Devon- 
 sliire and Ayr ; his parents were born in Connecti- 
 cut. At ihe age of seventeen he came to this place, 
 June 17th, 1827, and apprenticed himself to his 
 brother, 'rimothy P. Johnson, until he was twenty- 
 one, to learn the sail-making business. After com- 
 l)leting his apprenticeship he went into business on 
 liis own account, in which he remained till 1850. 
 Me then formed a co-partnership business, under the 
 tirm name of Hilliard, Johnson & Co., general 
 groceries and ship chandlery, on what is now Hil- 
 liard's Wharf. This business was carried on for two 
 years, when he withdrew from the firm and entered 
 into a co-partnership with Reuben F. Cook, and did 
 business on Market wharf (now occupied as a lum- 
 ber wharf b}^ George Allen) under the name of John- 
 son & Cook, vessel outfitters, packers and dealers 
 in cod and mackerel, which business was carried on 
 successfuU}' for five years. He was connected with 
 the Boston Board of Underwriters for twenty years 
 and had charge of the interest of that company here 
 for fifteen years. In 1850, he was elected a repre- 
 
122 
 
 tentative to the state Legislature from this District 
 and was returned in ' 51 ' 55, ' 56. ' 62, ' 70, ' 71, ' 80. 
 Afterwards to the Senate where he served two terms, 
 in the years 1882 and '83. He was elected one of 
 the Board of Selectmen in 1845, and served five 
 years in succession ; then served again for three 
 years ; was again elected, but resigned to go to South 
 Carolina on a wrecking voyage, having formed a part- 
 nership with the late Isaiah Gifford in that business. 
 For twenty-eight consecutive years he presided over 
 the annual town meetings. When he resigned. 
 Resolutions were passed, in a legal town meeting 
 assembled, unanimously thanking him for his long 
 and faithful service in filling the unsolicited office ; 
 which Resolutions wer^ fiamed and presented to 
 him and are carefull}- preserved as a momento of the 
 esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen. 
 When Mr. Johnson came to this place there were 
 but three trees in the town, and those were willows, 
 which tradition says were propagated from slips 
 brought by a whaling captain from Bonaparte'e grave 
 at St. Helena. None of these trees are standing to- 
 day, but the many willows here are from the slips of 
 the original trees. At that time there were no 
 wharves, nor bulkheads nor obstructions of any kind, 
 along the shore. The vessels that went to the Grand 
 Banks, after discharging their fish, would be hauled 
 into holes dug on the shore, there to remain until the 
 
123 
 
 following spring. The sidewalk was not laid, neither 
 was there any street. A narrow road, from 
 the present Post Office, ran to the westward 
 to Cutter's Corner now called Kelley's ; this 
 road was soft sand and the vehicles used had 
 four to six-inch rims to the wheels to keep them 
 from burying in the sand. Mr. Johnson was appoint- 
 ed by the Board of Selectmen in 1836 to buy the 
 first fire engine that came to this place, and it is 
 amusing to hear him tell the astonishment of the 
 builders when he ordered the wide wheels. This 
 engine is serviceable to-day, and is kept in the Town 
 Hall basement. In the year 1845 he took out a li. 
 cense as public auctioneer, and has held it every 
 year since. He has five children living, two sons 
 
 and three daughters, one of which is the wife of our 
 present postmaster, Paron C. Young. He is a mem- 
 ber of the following secret beneficial orders : Blue 
 Lodge F. and A. Masons, of this place ; Royal Arch 
 Chapter, Knight Templars, also of the Boston Lodge 
 Royal and Select Masters ; Marine Lodge I. O. O. F., 
 and the Boston Lodge of Ancient Odd Fellows. 
 Having for some time been retired from active 
 business life, he can be seen nearly every day at the 
 Post Office relating some anecdote, of which he has 
 a large store, to eager listeners, and as it is told in 
 his pecular way it never fails to be greeted with ap- 
 platise, nor does it tire the patience of his audience. 
 And that he may still be spared to us long, is the 
 wish of every good citizen. 
 
JOHN PAINE HAVENDER, 
 
 Tlie old Veteian (ir;m:l Haiikc:-. 
 
125 
 
 He was 1) irii in Proviiicetowii, October 1st, 1S16. 
 where at the early age of nine years lij bei^'an liis 
 fisliino; life as cook on board the schooner ()n]\- Son. 
 Captain Thomas Hilliard, engaged in the mackerel 
 fishery. Tliis was in the year 1825. The next year 
 lie went cook to the Grand Banks, which business 
 he followed nntil he retired frf»m sea, passing tlirongli 
 all the different grades of cook, hand, mate or second 
 hand, to captain. He was in the latter position 
 tliii'ty years. During his Grand Bank experience he 
 made fifty-seven voyages, which is more than has 
 been made by any otlier man in the town. The first 
 vessel of wliich he took charge wjis the schooner 
 Ouselond, from her to the Raritan, these two being 
 the only vessels that lie had charge of during his 
 tliirty veais as master. During this time he never 
 was wrecked nor carried away a [)rincipal spar, never 
 liad a man drowned, and always got a full fare of 
 fish. When he first began going to the Banks and 
 for many years after, it used to be the fashion to fish 
 from the rail, the crew fishing half and half, that is, 
 one portion fishing, the other dressing the fisli as 
 caught, alternately relieving eachother at their labor. 
 When master, the fares that he brought in would 
 average about six hundred and fifty (juintals, but 
 would occasionally make two trips in one season. On 
 one voyage in the Raritiin he was absent just seven 
 weeks from home, brought in a full fare and received 
 
126 
 
 as the reward of his labors the snug little sum of 
 •'1^2200; this was the best voyage he ever made. He 
 lias seen codfish sell for $'2 per quintal and during 
 the war of the rebellion and at its close as high as 
 •17.25. For the past eighteen years he has remained 
 ashore, only going fishing in his little boat off the 
 shore here. He had, at one time, a very narrow 
 escape from loss of vessel and all hands, which we 
 will relate in his own words: ''We were at anchor 
 t) the windward of the Main Shoal on the Grand 
 lUinks ; there was quite a large fleet there with us. 
 A heavy gale came up, but the fleet thought they 
 could ride it out and remained at anchor. The gale 
 increased, and the shoal water to leeward was break- 
 ing mast-head high, a n>ass of white foam. It was 
 useless to get underweigh ;in the strength of the gale 
 it would be folly and the only hope of safety was in 
 the anchors holding on, apparently it was sure des- 
 truction to 2:0 adrift. All at once the vessel made a 
 heavy plunge into the sea, and I knew by the after 
 motion that we were adrift. Rushing on deck, I saw 
 that we were driftinor down on to the breakers where 
 it was sure destruction, but while there is life there 
 is hope, and grabbing an axe I rushed forward and 
 cut the cable at the windlass telling the crew to 
 hoist the jib, I than went aft and put up the helm ; 
 as I done so I saw a tremendous breaker which was 
 as high as our mast-head rushing down on us, I 
 
127 
 
 tliought that our last voyage Was ovei, but just be- 
 fore reaching us the jib and helm brought the vessel 
 stern to the sea and rising on it we were sent ahead 
 at the rate of twenty miles an hour. We hardly 
 dared to breathe, such was our speed, and expected 
 every second that the schoooner would go end over 
 end. It was all done quicker than I can relate it. 
 we were over the shoal and in comparatively smooth 
 water. The foresail was reefed, the vessel hove too, 
 and we rode out the rest of the gale without any 
 damage. When the gale moderated we returned to 
 tlie fishing grounds, and finished up our trip of fish. 
 The rest of the fleet held on and upon our return 
 expressed astonishment in seeing us, as every one ex- 
 pected that we had gone to the botton, never for one 
 moment thinking that a vessel could go over the 
 Main Shoal in a gale of wind and through the break- 
 ers, and come out of it all right. I hardly think it 
 could be done again ; at any rate, I would not like 
 to take the chances voluntarily." 
 
MRS. BETSEY JOHNSON. 
 
 MKS. IJKTSEY JOHNSON. 
 
129 
 
 Mrs. Betsey Johnson, the snbject of this sketcli, 
 was born in Waltham, Mass., January 12, 1800. 
 Her parents were Joseph and Abigail Hager, who 
 were also born in that town ; her motlier's maiden 
 name was Fla^o'. Mrs. Johnson was one of a fam- 
 ily of twelve cliildren. When a gro\vn-u[) girl she 
 came to Boston and married Timothy P. Johnson, of 
 Essex, Conn., who also was one of a large family, 
 there beino- fourteen cliildren in the faniiiv. The 
 marriage took place October 8, 1824. To this cou- 
 ple were born ten children, seven of whom are liv- 
 ing to-day. Susan, born August 8, 1825 ; Mary C, 
 born January 2, 1829 ; Martha A., born September 
 r>, 1830 ; John W., born March 31, 1832 ; Phebe C, 
 born November 27, 1834; Bethia G., born December 
 5, 1840 ; Joseph S., born October 5., 1847. Martha 
 A., married Albert Sweetser and resides in Tarpon, 
 Florida. The rest of the children, with the excep- 
 tion of Mary C, who married William W. Smith, 
 and Bethia, who resides here, are living in Wauseca, 
 Minnesota. She came to this place with her husband 
 in November, 1825, where he established himself in 
 business as a sailmaker. ''Grandma Johnson," as 
 she is familiarly called, notwithstanding her advanced 
 age, is hearty and healthy and bids fair to see the 
 century. Her hearing is good, and she reads with- 
 out the use of glasses. She remembers quite dis- 
 tinctlv when she first came here. At that time there 
 
130 
 
 was not a wharf in the place, and only one old, white 
 horse and that was owned by the parson. There 
 were no roads, and when the first one was laid out 
 some of the people were so angry, at what they 
 deemed a useless waste of land, that they would not 
 walk in it. There weie plenty of wind mills the 
 whole length of the town, which were used for 
 pumping water into shallow vats for the purpose of 
 making salt. In her younger da3-s she learned to 
 card, spin and knit, and tells of how she used to go 
 to meeting barefoot with slioes and stockings under 
 her arm, to be put on when she arrived at the meet- 
 ing-house. In those days calico cost eighteen cents 
 per yard and a girl with a dress of that goods was 
 as proud of it as a y9ung miss to-day would be with 
 a seal skin sacque. When a young girl she used to 
 help the men in the hay field, and could rake hay 
 with the best of them. She had been married ten 
 years before she had a stove in the house, and then 
 it was one of the old James" patent, costing >s40, 
 with copper teakettle and boiler. When her hus- 
 band was driven with work she has taken light sails 
 to make, for which he used to pay her men's wages, 
 one and half cents per yard. With this money she 
 would buy what she needed without drawing on his 
 purse, and would occasionally go to Boston, taking 
 her own money to pay her way. In her 3^ounger 
 davs she used to attend the Unitarian church, and 
 
131 
 
 was brought up in that religion. She does not take 
 kindly to corsets and bustles and other new-fangled 
 things in the feminine wardrobe of the present day, 
 having never worn one of the above-mentioned arti- 
 cles. She has recently had her ninetieth birthday, 
 which was made a day of celebration by her numer- 
 ous relatives and she was made the recipient of 
 many presents. Of her descendants now living, 
 besides her seven children, she has fourteen grand- 
 children and ten great-grandchildren. Endeared to 
 those that know her, when the Master calls, she will 
 be greatly missed from the place. 
 
 ''Her children rise up and call her blessed ! 
 Her husband, also, and he praiseth her." 
 
JOSEPH ELLIS. 
 
 The veteran Fisherinaii, Hunter and Trapper. 
 
133 
 
 He was born in Harwich, May 15th, 1816 ; came 
 to this phice when a mere hid, and has been a citizen 
 for over half a centur3\ He married Judith B. Hav- 
 ender, a native of this place, and by her has had a 
 famil}^ of nine children, — six boys and three girls, 
 five of whom are now living, married and have child- 
 ren. Mr. Ellis has passed through all of the grades 
 of a fislierman's life from boy to captain. He has 
 made several voyages in his younger days wlialing, 
 and always went boatsteerer or harpooner, his skill 
 in striking wliales always securing for him that po- 
 sition. The most of his active sea life has been 
 spent in the Grand l)ank fishery, having seen thirtv 
 consecutive years' service, part of which as master 
 of schooner Maiden. During his long sea life he 
 was never wrecked nor met with any disaster of 
 note, being always considered as one of the luck\ 
 ones. VVheii he quit the sea, not wishing to remain 
 in idleness, he bought a small boat and turned his at- 
 tention to the shore fishing for codfish, and the net- 
 ting of mackerel. Tlie likeness shows him engaged 
 in mending one of his nets, which he also knits, 
 saying ^Hliat it may take longer to knit one by hand 
 than by uKichinery, but a hand-knit net is worth two 
 of those machine-made things." During the winter 
 season lie is by no means idle, for with his gun and 
 traps he finds plenty of game to keep him busy. His 
 nerves are stead}', eyesight keen and when he draws 
 
184 
 
 a bead on game of any kind, fox, rabbit or birds, 
 they come to a full stop. There are very few gun- 
 ners to-day that can shoot with '' Uncle Joe," and 
 none that can beat liim at a mark. He has trapped 
 and tcjken from the ponds in the rear of the town a 
 hundred and twenty muskrats in one winter, and 
 occasionally an otter, though the last mentioned 
 are not plenty, but when ''Uncle Joe " gets on the 
 trail of one, the otter's skin is sure to be '' Uncle 
 Joe's " projjcrty and his 23ocket-book is from six to 
 ten dollars better off from the sale of the pelt. Hale 
 and hearty, Mr. Ellis bids fair to be with us many 
 years yet, though men of his type are growing scarce 
 and a new generation is springing up to take the 
 place of the old-time typical fisherman. 
 
NICKERSON'S WHALE AND MENHADEN OIL 
 
 WORKS. 
 
 This establishment is situated in the Herring Cove 
 near the Race Point Lighthouse. It was bliilt in 
 1886, together with a steamer to he used for taking 
 whales named the A. B. Nickerson. The total cost 
 of steamer, factory buildings and machinery in that 
 year was 112,302. In 1887 a bone mill, crusher 
 and encjine were added at a cost •ir'1,440. In 1888 
 further improvements were made, steam hoister, 
 
136 
 
 seine boats and seines to be used by the steamer for 
 taking menhaden were added at a cost of -3^1,077. 
 Ill 18^9 a whnrf was extended from shore four hundred 
 feet, to enable vessels to lay and load and the facto- 
 r}^ steamer to bring the whales and other fish along- 
 side to be handled. A hydraulic press and buildings 
 for the purpose of making a fertilizer were put up 
 at a cost of •i'2,800. This is one of the most perfect 
 plants of that kind on the coast, and during the sea- 
 si^n, steamer and factory employ from twenty-five to 
 thirty hands, and circulate in the town about >r^lO,000 
 yearly. It is well worth a visit by the tourist, and 
 the visitor will be courteously received and shown 
 the working of the plant. The present manager 
 and captain of the steamer is Captain Joshua S. 
 Nickerson ; Secretary and Treasurer, John Rosen- 
 thal ; Board of Directors, J. F. Snow, B. H. Dyer, 
 Luther Nickerson. 
 
BENNETT'S ICE PLANT, WEBBER'S POND. 
 
 Bennett's Ice House ; Mr. Bennett in the Foreground. 
 
 One of the industries of the place that has grown 
 up with the town is the ice business. There are sev- 
 eral parties now engaged in the business, but this 
 plant is the most extensive. Mr. Bennett began 
 business in 1870 by cutting and storing forty 
 tons, building himself an ice-house and stable. That 
 summer he only disposed of one-half of his stock, 
 
138 
 
 and it all went to families. The most money he 
 took in for one day's ^York, for himself and team, 
 was one dollar and forty-two cents. The next year 
 there was but a slight increase. On the third year 
 a little vessel trade began, and that fall a building 
 capable of holding one thousand tons was put up on 
 what is called Bennett's Pond. For some years this 
 supplied the town, but when weirs began to be put 
 down and fresh fishing^ became one of the industries 
 of the place, the demand for ice increased. In 1884 
 Webber's Pond was bought, and a building capable 
 
 of holding five hundred tons was put up. The busi- 
 ness now increased so rapidly that in 1885 the build- 
 ing was enlarged to one thousand tons ca[)acity. 
 In 1886 an addition holding four hundred tons was 
 built. In 1887 a new building capable of holding 
 one thousand tons was put up. He has facilities 
 now for storing and handling ice, to the amount of 
 five thousand tons. Pie employs, when harvesting 
 the crop, from one hundred and ten to one hundred 
 and twenty men and nine horses. When getting 
 in his forty tons he used to be a week, but he now 
 puts away five thousand tons in about three days, 
 paying for labor about -^1000. His family and hotel 
 trade amounts to about nine hundred tons, the bal- 
 ance goes to the fish business. Six men are kept 
 constantly employed delivering, while he, with his 
 fine span of coal-black horses, attends to the family 
 and hotel trade. Since he has been in the business, 
 there have been three years that not a pound was 
 cut, the ponds not freezing sufficiently. 
 
MATHESON SISTERS. 
 
 Millinery and Fancy Goods. 
 
140 
 
 This building was erected in 1851, by Joshua E. 
 and Gideon Bowly for a generaloutfittin g store for 
 vessels ; a wharf was also built in the rear. The Equi- 
 table Insurance Office was also in the buildinor for 
 some years. At the death of Mr. Joseph E. Bowl}^ 
 the senior partner, which took place in 1884, Cap- 
 tain William Matheson bought the entire property. 
 The store was remodelled and the front part, as 
 shown in the engraving, was fitted up for and occu- 
 pied by the sisters Mamie S. and Jessie T. Matheson, 
 for their business. In the rear part of the store is 
 the office of Captain Matheson, who controls and 
 manaofes a small fleet of vessels that are engrao-ed in 
 the Grand Bank and West India business. The 
 wharf that is in the rear of the building, extends 
 so far that vessels can come to it at low water. It 
 is also the landing place for tlie Boston steamer and 
 other excursion boats. 
 
D. A. MATHESON'S, 
 
 Boots, Shoes and Clotliiiit; Store. 
 
 This building is of historic interest to the town. 
 Originally built on Long Point as a school and 
 meeting-house in 1846. When the people moved off 
 the Point, it was sold to Dr. Jeremiah Stone, and 
 floated across the harbor in scows and casks to its 
 present site. In October 1871, it was in use as the 
 Post Office and during a severe gale an old ship 
 
142 
 
 came ashore auJ damaged the building badly. It 
 was repaired and used for various purposes until the 
 present owner leased it. After he had leased it for 
 some years, he bought it and made improvements 
 upon it in the shape of additions, until but little 
 more than the frame of the old building is left. The 
 second story has been used for a band room and 
 school-room, but now the extensive business done by 
 the owner requires the use of the whole building. 
 The wharf shown in the engraving to the right is 
 the Old Colon V Railroad wharf, built in 1873. 
 
JOHN ADAMS. 
 
 ♦irorery. Meat ami Frovi>ioii Market. 
 
 The first building that oCL-upied the site of the 
 present building was eietted by Simeon Giffurd 
 and James Chandler. The old schoul-liouse that 
 stood at the foot of T(»\vii Hill formed a part of the 
 building. Dr. Albion S. Dudley bought the build- 
 ino- and carried on denti>trv in nne part, and a peri- 
 
144 
 
 odical store was kept in the other by John S. Lom- 
 bard. Reuben A. Adams, later on, bought the build- 
 ing and sold it to ^i. L. Adams in 1863. In 1865 
 he took down the old building and put up the pre- 
 sent structure, where he was in business for eleven 
 years. In 1876 Simeon C. Smith leased the build- 
 ing and carried on the grocery and provision busi- 
 ness some three years. During the Butler campaign 
 of ' 79 it was used as a reading room and Butler 
 headquarteis ; from 1^80 to 1883 Warren Fielding 
 occupied it as a grocery and provision store. In 
 1884 the present occupant, John Adams, took pos- 
 session ; the inside of the building has been remodel- 
 ed, and the two stores connected, a large refrigera- 
 tor, or cooling-room for meats, has been built, and a 
 railway to facilitate the handling of the same. 
 This is the largest store of the kind in the 
 town, and a full assortment of everything that 
 pertains to that business can always be found there. 
 
PILGRIM HOUSE. 
 
 Samuel S. Smith, Proprietor. 
 
 This is the oldest hotel in town, and has been kept 
 as one for over three-fourths of a century. The 
 date of the building of the original structure is not 
 known, but indications are chat it was built in the 
 latter part of the last century, or the very first of 
 tliis. About 1810 ]\Ir. Benjamin Gifford bought the 
 jjlace from tlie builder, Mr. Phineas Nickerson, much 
 against the wishes of Mrs. Nickerson, who express- 
 ed a wish that an earthquake would destroy it. Sin- 
 
146 
 
 guliirly enough, one did happen, which shook and 
 rattled the dishes and did a slight amount of dam- 
 age to the building. In 1847 it fell into the hands 
 of his son, the present Hon. James Gifford, who 
 made large and extensive alterations and improve- 
 ments and continued on the business for some years. 
 It has been kept as a hotel by several different par- 
 ties, until April, 1878. the present proprietor, Sam- 
 uel Sands Smith, (Uncle Sam) leased the bnilding 
 from Mr. Isaiah Gifford, a son also of the Benjamin 
 Gifford. From time to time alterations and improve- 
 ments have been made, until now but very little re- 
 mains of the original building, excepting the frame 
 work of the part shown in the engraving. The house 
 has always born an excellent reputation, and the 
 present i)roprietor is known from Maine, his native 
 state, to California, as one who caters for the pleas- 
 ure and comfort of weary pilgrims who come to him 
 for rest. 
 
ST. PETER'S AID SOCIETY. 
 
 Coat of Anns St. Peter's Aid Society. Photo, William M. Smith. 
 
 This Societ}' is a mutual benetit society connected 
 with, but not governed by, the Catholic church. 
 Any one can join this Society, after passing the usual 
 examinations called for in benefit institutions, the 
 only stipulation required being tliat the applicant 
 must be a member of that church. The first move- 
 ment towards the organization of this Society was 
 made in October, 1874 ; names were secured and in 
 
148 
 
 March, 1875, the society was formed with sixt}- mem- 
 bers ; Rev. Father McGiiire, the prime mover in the 
 matter and pastor of the church, at tliat time, was 
 elected President ; Walter Connor, Vice President ; 
 Capt. Joseph Manta, Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 Wlien it first started, it paid to its memhers five 
 dollars a week, for thirteen weeks, wlien sick, and 
 twenty-five dollars uj)on the death of a member, 
 towards the funeral expenses. Latterly there has 
 been a clause added to the by-laws, whereby the 
 sum of fifty cents is assesesd from each member, to 
 be paid to whomsoever a member shall will it. One 
 assessment is alwa}s kept in fund to be i)aid out at 
 the death of a member, upmi the payment of which 
 another assessment is called. Since this hiw was 
 passed there have been only two deaths to date, (Jan. 
 1st, 1890.) Since the organization of the Society 
 there has been paid out for sick l)enefits and funend 
 expenses nearly >'5000, exclusive of the fifty-cent 
 assessment. The Society now numbers three hun- 
 dred and sixty members, with Capt. Joseph Manta, 
 President; Victor J. Leonard, Vice President; Rich- 
 ard J. Days, Secretary ; Frank J. Corea, Treasurer. 
 The initiation fee is five dollars, with twenty-five 
 cents monthly dues ; this is all the expense except 
 the fifty -cent assessment, upon the death of a mem- 
 ber. The members are mostly Portuguese, and 
 every year they hold a regular meeting and turn out 
 
149 
 on a parade. They are a fine body of men, a credit 
 to any town, and as their annual parade and muster 
 takes place during the winter, when the largest part 
 are at home, they always sliow full ranks. Each 
 man is dressed in regalia, the American flag fore- 
 most in the [)rocession, followed by the Society's 
 banner and that by the flag of their native land. In 
 the evening of that day an entertainment of some 
 kind is usually gotten u[). ending with a ball, in 
 which many of their native dances as well as others 
 are given The order has leased the old skating 
 rink, where regular meetings are held, and made it 
 their headquarters under the name of St. Peter's 
 Hall. 
 
 Perhnps it will not be amiss in this phice to make 
 especial mention of a race tliat forms a large percen- 
 tage of the population of this town. They are 
 mostly from the Azorean Islands, and the first who 
 came here were brought by our whalers that put into 
 those Islands to recruit provisions and crew. The 
 first one to come to this place who is living at pre- 
 sent is Captain Joseph Cross, who was born in Lis- 
 bon, Portugal, in 1813, came here in 1826, and fol- 
 lowed the sea for a living, passing through all of the 
 several positions up to master, in which capacity he 
 served many years. He sailed quite a number of 
 different vessels, and was counted one of our most 
 successful captains. He married his wife, who was 
 
150 
 
 born here, and alwaj^s made this his home. For the 
 past few years he has retired from active service. 
 Mr. Frank G. Cook has been liere nearly forty years ; 
 he came in a whaler from Pico, one of the Azores, 
 where he was born. Mr. (>ook has spent most of 
 his life on board of a vessel, sometimes in the whal- 
 inoj business, and also made several vovages to the 
 Grand Banks. The i)osition he lias held was cook 
 and steward, one that he so ably filled that his ser- 
 vices were always in demand at a good salary. He 
 at present is keeping a grocery and provision store 
 on the corner of F'ranklin and Bradford streets. 
 These two men are l)ut a sample of the many who 
 are now here. Of the fresh fishing fleet of over 
 forty sail of vessels, some of which are yachts in 
 bnild, nearly all of the captains, and a large majori- 
 ty of the crew are of this nationality, and make a 
 success of that industry. They follow this branch of 
 the fishing business nearly all the year round, and in 
 midwinter visit George's Bank. Good citizens, pru- 
 dent and saving, their indusry can be no better 
 proven than b}^ referring to the large number of cot- 
 tages that have been built by them the past few 
 years. They and their immediate descendants are 
 fully one-half of the population of this place. 
 They have brought here with them some of their 
 old country customs and also religion. A fine church 
 building, with a dwelling-house near by, is their pro- 
 
151 
 
 perty, and they have a surplus in the church treasury. 
 ^Though retaining some of their old customs and a 
 love for their mother country, still their loyalty and 
 fidelity to the country of their adoption is unques- 
 tionable, in proof of which can be mentioned those 
 that went from here during the rebellion, some of 
 whom never returned, but died on the battle field. 
 
CATHOLIC CHURCH, 
 
 < atliulic riuirrli and Parsonage. IMioto l».v William M. Smith. 
 
 With the i]]tiax of a foreign element the Roman 
 Catholic creed came here. For some time they were 
 few in numler, and services were held in private 
 dwellings. The ti]-st priest to come here and hold 
 services was the Rev. Father Phinota, who came 
 here in August, 1852, and celebrated the first mass 
 in Dennis Cahill's honse on Franklin Street. Mass 
 has also been said in the house owned by Thomas 
 
153 
 
 Welch and in the Pilgrim House. The same year 
 (1852) a Sunday School was started at Mr. Cahill's 
 with three of his children as members. Mr. Jere- 
 miah Qiiinn was the organizer and first teacher. 
 This continued until the parish house was fitted, 
 when mass and Sunday School were held there. 
 The building is now known as Snow's Block, situa- 
 ted on Bradford street and used as a tenement house. 
 As the society increased, the place became too small 
 and the building known as Adams's Hall was leased 
 and fitted up for church services. In this building 
 services were held until it was burned, which was 
 March 4th, 1875. A new and commodious church 
 building was at that time in process of construction, 
 for the number of members had largely increased by 
 the coming in of the Portuguese from the Azores. 
 The present church building was completed on 
 October 11th of that year. The first service held 
 in the Adams' Hall building was on December 24th, 
 1871, Rev. Father O'Connor conducting the services, 
 who succeded Rev. Father Phinota. This Rev. 
 Father Cornelius O'Connor did a great deal of good 
 for his flock during his stay, a burial ground was pur- 
 chased and laid out and consecrated. The next to 
 follow him was Father J. J. McGuire, who inaugurat- 
 ed the St. Peter's Aid Society of which mention is 
 made in another place. Fathers Tuite and Ward 
 succeded him in turn, followed by Rev. Father T. P. 
 
154 
 
 Elliott, under whose administration the present 
 parish house was built near the church. The present 
 incumbent is Rev. Father B. F. McCahill, who appar- 
 ently has the welfare of his parishioners, both spiritual 
 and temporal, at heart. At present there are about 
 two thousand five hundred people connected with 
 this church. A fine organ, presided over by a Prov- 
 incetown lad}', with a choir of excellent singers ren- 
 der the celebration of High Mass, according to the 
 Catholic ritual, in a very solemn and effective man- 
 ner. 
 
CENTRAL HOUSE. 
 
 James A. Reed Proprietor. 
 
 This l)otel is the only one in the place that is sit- 
 uated on the Main street and also the shore beach. 
 It was bnilt by Timothy P. Johnson, but nothing 
 definite can be found as to the date of building. It 
 was first used as a public hall where shows and en- 
 tertainments were given. At one time a bowling 
 alley and saloon was kept in it, under the manage- 
 
156 
 
 ment of William Crowell. In 1868 it was purchased 
 from the heirs of Timothy P. Johnson by Allen Reed, 
 and the whole building underwent an alteration ; 
 it was enlarged, a billiard hall attached to it and 
 more sleeping rooms added, making it at that time 
 the largest hotel in the place. Mr. Reed managed 
 the business until his death, which took place in 
 1881, when he was succeeded b}- his son, Mr. James 
 A. Reed, the present proprietor and manager, who 
 also has held the position of Customs Officer and 
 conducted the business from a room fitted in the 
 building for that purpose. This house has accommo- 
 dations for about seventy-five guests, has a fine 
 billiard and pool-room attached, ladies' parlor and 
 sitting-room, gents' reading and smoking-room, fronts 
 the principal street of the town, while from the 
 veranda at the rear a fine view of the harbor and 
 its shipping can be obtained ; the facilities for bath- 
 ing are also good. 
 
CENTENARY CHURCH. 
 
 The Methodists had so increased up to 1846 that 
 it was thought advisable to make two separate 
 churches, and place one of them towards the west- 
 ern end of the town to accomodate the residents 
 there. About that time the Christian LFnion, or as 
 they were afterwards called Universalists, built their 
 present building and offered the old building for 
 sale. Rufus L. Thatcher, Freeman Atkins, and 
 Samuel Soper, Methodists, bought the old Christian 
 Union Church building in the beginning of the year 
 1848. The price paid was 11,400. The building 
 was throughly overhauled and remodelled, the cupo- 
 la taken off and a steeple put on instead, a new front 
 was made to the building, and a bell placed in the 
 belfry. A church was then formed by the Metho- 
 dist residents at the western end of the town, num- 
 bering about one hundred communicants; Rev. Sam- 
 uel Fox was appointed by conference to the pasto- 
 rate, and the Church was dedicated in that year un- 
 der the name of the Wesley Chapel. The church 
 membership increased, and it was thought advisable 
 to build the present structure, which was begun in 
 
158 
 
 1865. The bell was removed from the old chapel 
 and placed in the present church tower. The church 
 was dedicated in June, 1866. Rev. G. W. Bridge 
 was the first pastor, followed by G. M. Hamlin in 
 1868. The church has been very prosperous, and 
 at present writing has a membership of one hundred 
 and seventy-seven, with parishoners that attend and 
 help support the gospel enough to make up the total 
 amount of two liundred and fifty. There are 
 twenty-seven olficers and teachers connected with 
 the churcli and Siinda\' School. The number of 
 Sunday Scljool children two hundred and twenty- 
 five ; Andrew T. Williams is the Superintendent. 
 Tlie Sunday Scliool library contains five hundred 
 volumes. Tlie present pastor. Rev. Samuel McBur- 
 ney, is in his second year of pastorate. 
 
JOHN L. RICH'S 
 
 Eniporiuiii, C'lotliiii^. Boots and Shoes, Etc. 
 
160 
 
 This building was built in 1845 and '46 by James 
 Chandler, Lemuel Cook, and Joshua Bowly ; tlie 
 wharf attached was called Market Wharf; the busi- 
 ness done was general fitters of vessels and buyers 
 of cod and mackerel. A sail-loft was also connect- 
 ed at one time in the building, the work carried on 
 under the management of Benjamin Allstrum. The 
 general fishing business was carried on by different 
 parties, the last being Joseph P. Johnson and Reu- 
 ben F. Cook, who conducted it for five years. In 
 1857 the entire place was bought by Captain Ben- 
 jamin Rider and was made a lumber wharf and the 
 upper part of the building fitted up for a dwelling. 
 It remained in his possession until his death, when it 
 reverted to his heirs, who are the present owners. 
 The lower floor has been used for various kinds of 
 business, — grocery, fancy articles, etc. In 1873 the 
 present occupant leased the left side portion of the 
 lower floor and fitted it for boot and shoe business ; 
 as business increased the rest of the building was 
 leased and fitted up for the clothing and gents' fur- 
 nishing goods, — this was done in 1887. Mr. Rich 
 has now been carrying on a successful business here 
 for seventeen years and keeps one of the largest 
 stocks in his line in the town. 
 
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. 
 A church was built in 1829 on the plot of ground 
 now the site of the house occupied by Captain Ab- 
 ner B. Rich on Commercial street, at the head of 
 Central wharf. This church was called the Chris- 
 tian Union Church and cost when completed -^3,105. 
 One Jonathan Farr preached the first sermon, April 
 19th, 1829, and also on the following Sabbath, the 
 26th. He was succeded by a Mr. Wiswell, and a 
 Mr. Thomas Snow, who were candidates. The pul- 
 pit was occupied by candidates during the remaining 
 part of 1829 and until July, 1830. During the pe- 
 riod of candidates one, Stephen Bailey, was called, 
 who preached one Sabbath, but refused to be located 
 unless the name was changed to something designat- 
 ing a Trinitarian society. This the society refused 
 to do, and other candidates preached until Mr. A. 
 Davis was located in July, 1830. The dedication of 
 the church took place November 3d, 1830, Rev. H. 
 Hersey, of Barnstable, preaching the dedication ser- 
 mon, after which the church was organized and the 
 following officers were elected. Clerk, David Fair- 
 banks ; collector, Samuel Parker ; treasurer, Jona- 
 
162 
 
 than Nickersou ; assessors of taxes, Charles O. 
 Brown, Thomas Lothrop, Henry Williard; wardens, 
 Elisha Nickerson, Samuel Parker; sexton, Elisha 
 Nickerson. Rev. Mr. Davis preached nntil 1838. 
 when Rev. John liouvee Dodds was called to take 
 charge of the church, where he remained six consec- 
 utive years. From 18-1-1 until the present church 
 was built there were several candidate preachers, but 
 their names were not recorded. The present struc- 
 ture was built in 1847, ai^d the clock now in the 
 church was preseuted at that time by Mr. Josepli 
 Atkins, a man whose name is often mentioned in 
 the church records. He took a great interest in the 
 welfare of the church, and had reached the advanced 
 age of eighty-seven years. The name of the society 
 was then changed to the Universalist society and 
 Rev. Emmons Patridge was the first to preach in the 
 new church. This church has sent out since its or- 
 ganization more preachers of the gospel than all the 
 other churches in the place combined. Some of 
 them have become men of note, and have acquired a 
 worthy notoriety in other places. Rev. William 
 Henry Ryder, who recently died in Chicago, a man 
 that was well known in this and other countries, was 
 from this church. William Stull, Joseph Hatton 
 Weeks, William Arnold, Charles Galacar, Gamaliel 
 Collins, who during the war of the rebellion was 
 chaplain in the service ; William Henry Ryder and 
 
163 
 
 Charles W. Ryder, sons of Godfrey and Phebe 
 Ryder, and nephews of Rev. William Henry Ryder ; 
 R. Perry Bush, and Caleb Fisher, who though 
 at present has not tinished his studies, shows 
 talent in his sermons and bids fair to become a use- 
 ful and noted member of che ministry. 
 
KING HIRAM LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED 
 
 MASONS. 
 
 This organization is one of the oldest in the place. 
 Its charter was sisfned bv Paul Revere. The first 
 record we find is dated December 12th. 1795, John 
 Young. W. M. A code of by-laws was drawn np 
 and adopted March 21st. 1796, and the following 
 officers chosen : Jonathan Cook. S. W. ; Benjamin 
 Wilcox. J. W. : Samuel Cook, Secretary: Jonathan 
 Nickerson. Gen. Steward ; Thomas Smalley, Jr. 
 Steward; George Nickerson. Gen. Deacon : Abner 
 Dunham. Jr. Deacon : Solomon Cook, Treasurer : 
 Stephen Atkins. Tyler. Work was begun with 
 twenty-six members, at the house of Solomon Cook, 
 which stood near the site of the First National Bank. 
 December 20th. 1796. On the records I find that 
 it was '• Voted to bild a lodge house March 23d. 
 1797.** '• Brother Allen Hinckley should bild the 
 lodge house for the same sum of money as the Well- 
 fleet lodge house was built, ten feet bigger, and that 
 in proportion.*" All the members which is twenty- 
 six are to build a lodge house. '• Voted that Bros. 
 Thomas Smallev. Allen Hincklev. Jonathan Nicker- 
 
16o 
 
 son. should buy the stuff to bild the lodge house. 
 It was also voted to bild the buildiug not only for 
 a lodge house, but also for a school-house.'' This 
 building was put up by the brothers at the foot of 
 High Pole Hill, and is now owned bv the heirs of 
 Thomas G. Atkins : a considerable lot of the orion- 
 nal frame work and boards are in the present build- 
 ing. The. brothers, in a body, carried all of the tim- 
 ber, planks and boards from the shore to the site, 
 on their backs. The buildinor was finished as asfr^ed 
 upon, and a school kept in the lower story. Here 
 the brotherhood did their work until the persecution. 
 known as the Morgan time, drove them out. A few 
 of the band would then meet occasionally, where- 
 ever a place could be found, and by this means tliey 
 held their charter and are now working under their 
 old original document. When the persecution 
 ceased, the building getting old and dilapidated, it 
 was sold and the brothers met for business in what 
 is now called Odd Fellows' Hall, where they remain- 
 ed until their present building was finished March, 
 1870. The present board of officers (January 1st. 
 1890) is as follows: 
 
 Jerome Smith, W. M. 
 Simeon C. Smith. S. W. 
 William Curran. J. W. 
 A. Louis Putnam, Treasurer. 
 J. Hersey Dyer. Secretary. 
 
166 
 Joseph P. Johnson, Chaphiin. 
 Joseph Whiiconib, ^Marshall. 
 George VV. Holbrook, S. D. 
 Dr. VV. S. Bilge, J. D. 
 Francis P. Cook, S. Steward. 
 J. H. Livermore, Jr. Steward 
 John W. Reatty, Tyler. 
 
 Tlie Jo.^c[)h Warren K(\val Arch Chapter was in- 
 stitnted June 8tli, 1869, with the following compan- 
 ions as the charter members. Jeremiah Stone, 
 J(»^L'l)h P. Jolnisoii, Lanren Young, (^iiarles Young, 
 Ji)shua E. Howly, George T. VVyer, Eben T. At- 
 wood, Warien Newcond), Josliua F. Tobey, James 
 E. Kiel), Joseph S. Atwood, Joseph B. Baxter, 
 William H. H. Weston, Joseph H. Bird, John W. 
 Atwood, Sylvester D. Rich, Albert Sweetser, John 
 \1. Freeman, Darius A. Newcomb, Frederick W. 
 Harding. 
 
 The Past High Priests of this chapter, with the 
 hites of service, are as follows. 
 
 Jeremiah Stcme, M. D., from 1869 — 1870 
 Joseph P. Johnson, - 1870 — 1873 
 
 Lauren Young, ^' 1873 — 1874 
 
 John W. Atwood, - 1874—1876 
 
 John M. Crocker, '^ 1876 — 1877 
 
 Lanren Young, '' 1877 — 1878 
 
 Horace A. Freeman, " 1878 — 1879 
 Harvey O. Sparrow, '' 1879 — 1880 
 
167 
 
 Artemus P. Haiinum, '^ 1880 — 1881 
 Frederick A. H. Gifford, " 1881 — 1882 
 Joseph H. Dyer, '' 1882—1883 
 
 ^ Frederick A. H. Gifford, - 1883 — 1884 
 
 * Harvey O. Sparrow, - 1884—1887 
 
 James'^E. Rich, '' 1887 — 1888 
 
 Frederick A. H. Giffoi'd, November, 1888: 
 now in office, January 1st, 1890. 
 
 The foUowinor list of officers was elected Novem- 
 ber, 1889, for the ensuing year. 
 
 Frederick A. H. Gifford, M. E. H. P. 
 Artemus P. Hannum, E. K. 
 Angus McKay, E. S. 
 Joseph Prosper Johnson, Treasurer. 
 James A. Small, Secretary. 
 I John G. Whitcomb, Chaplain. 
 
 Harvey O. Sparrow, C. of H. 
 Joseph H. Dyer, P. S. 
 Jonathan H. Little, R. A. C. 
 Moses N. Gifford, M. 3d Veil. 
 John Ro-Benthal, M. 2d Veil. 
 Eli McKay, M. 1st Veil. 
 Francis P. Cook, S. Steward, 
 Hezekiah P. Hughes, J. Steward. 
 Sentinel, John W. Beatty. 
 This chapter holds its regular convocations on 
 the first Friday of each month, and the annual con- 
 vocation first Friday in November. 
 
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 
 
 Oil October 29tli, 1845, eleven members of this 
 Order met in the store loft of one Leander Crosb}^ for 
 the purpose of establishing a lodge in this place. 
 The store stood on tlie vacant lot between what is 
 now Macoors cooper shop and Bangs's lin-ware and 
 stove shop ; the lower part of the building was used 
 by Mr. Crosby for carrying on the tin-ware business. 
 The names of these persons were Leander Crosby, 
 owner of the store. Rev. Emmons Patridge, pastor 
 of the Universalist Church, Joseph P. Johnson, one 
 of tlie l^oard of Selectmen at that time, Josiah 
 Sturgis, Kilborn W. Freeman, Warren Smith, Josiah 
 S. Fuller, David Crowell, John L. Lothrop, Joshua 
 Small, Jr., Jonatlian Crosby. A charter was applied 
 for and granted, and on the 21st of November foL 
 lo\ving, the lodge was instituted and called the 
 Marine Lodge, No. 96. The officers from the Grand 
 Lodge that instituted this lodge were Merrill A. 
 Thompson, Grand Master, assisted by George Alex. 
 Smith, L^ist. Dept. Grand ^Lister, and the following 
 members of the order were admitted: Eben S. 
 Smith, William A. Atkins, William Smith, Thomas 
 
169 
 
 Lothrop, Jonathan Nickerson, Jr., John Smith, 
 Warren Newcomb. Thus the lodge at its organiz- 
 ation comprised only eighteen members. The fol- 
 lowing are the first officers of the Lodge : 
 Leander Crosby, N. G. 
 Josiah Sturgis, V. G. 
 Emmons Patridge, Secretary. 
 Jonathan Crosby, Treasurer. 
 Josiah S. Fuller, Warden. 
 Eben S. Smith, Conductor. 
 I Kilborn W. Freeman, O. G. 
 
 I Joseph P. Johnson, I. G. 
 
 I William A. Atkins, R. S. N. G. 
 
 I Warren Smith, L. S. N. G. 
 
 I Jonathan Nickerson, R. S. V. G. 
 
 I William Smith, L. S. V. G. 
 
 r Thomas Lothrop, R. S. S. 
 
 John L. Lothrop, L. S. S. 
 Their present building was bought in 1846 and 
 the upper part fitted up for a lodge room. The 
 building was buirlt in 1832 by a share company and 
 called the ''Village Hall," and was used for public 
 meetings, dances and social gatherings. This order 
 has rapidly increased and now numbers about two 
 hundred and twenty members, being the largest or- 
 ganization outside of the churches in this place. 
 Besides caring for a sick brother, there is an insur- 
 ance among the brotherhood connected with the 
 
1 iV 
 
 order. The meetings are held weekly on Wednesday 
 evenings. The present officers of the Order are : 
 
 Otis M. Knowles, N. G. 
 Franklin E. Hill, V. G. 
 Francis S. Miller, Secretary. 
 Heman S. Cook, Treasurer. 
 Williard T. Biirkett, Warden. 
 Thomas W. Sparks, Conductor. 
 George W. Tuttle, O. G. 
 Nathaniel H. Small, I. G. 
 David B. Rich, R. S. N. G. 
 John Rosenthal, L. S. N. G. 
 Jesse Nickerson, R. S. V. G. 
 Silas C. Mott, L. S. V. G. 
 Lewis B. Pinckney, R. S. S. 
 William C. Sparrow, L. S. S. 
 James A. Small, Chaplain. 
 Fred. E. Williams, P. G. 
 
PROF. GEORGE WASHINGTON READY SEE- 
 ING THE SERPENT. 
 
172 
 
 111 1886, Professor Ready alleges tliat he saw this 
 monster and furnished a reporter with the facts, 
 whicli were written out and published in the Cape 
 Cod Iteni^ at Yarnnjuthport, from wliich paper it was 
 largely copied into otlier papers throtighout the 
 country. I believe that there has been no reHahle 
 account of the apj)earance of the serpent since. At 
 considerable expense, I have been able to secure the 
 original document, together with the professor's 
 likeness and affidavit. 
 
 SEA SERPENT IN PliOVlNCETOWN. 
 
 The recent earthquakes have so disturbed the 
 bottom of the ocean, that many of the huge creat- 
 ures which it is believed exist there have come to 
 surface. Sea serpents and other nondescript mon- 
 sters, it is alleged, have been seen in various places 
 besides Marblehead, the sea serpent's home. The 
 latest and most colossal in dimensions has visited 
 Provincetown. Mr. George W. Ready, a well-known 
 citizen here, was going from the town to the back- 
 side of the Cape, and in crossing one of the sand- 
 dunes, or hills, saw a commotion in the water, about 
 a half a mile from the shore in the Herring Cove. It 
 looked like a whirlpool and from his standpoint ap- 
 peared to be about twenty feet in diameter, from the 
 center of which jets of spray, looking like steam, 
 were ejected to the height of fifty feet. Intently 
 watching this strange phenomenon, he presently saw 
 
173 
 
 a huge head appear above the surface, and point for 
 the shore. The head was as hirge as a two hundred 
 gallon cask, concave on the under side and convex 
 on the upper. Mr. Ready saw the creature coming 
 towards the shore and secreted himself in a clump of 
 beach plum bushes, where he got a good view of the 
 monster. The creature swam to the ,shore with a 
 slow and undulating motion and passed within about 
 thirt}^ feet of where Mr. Ready was secreted. It 
 was about three hundred feet long, and in the thick- 
 est part, which was about the middle, he judged as 
 it passed him to be about twelve feet in diameter. 
 The body was covered with scales as large as the 
 head of a fisli barrel, and were colored alternately 
 green, red and blue. They did not overlap each 
 other, but seemed as if they were joined together by 
 a ligature some four inches broad. 'The most curi- 
 ous feature was the head. The open mouth disclosed 
 four rows of teeth, which glistened like polislied 
 ivory, and were at least two feet long, while on the 
 extreme end of the head or nose, extended a tusk 
 or horn at least eight feet in length. The creature 
 had six eyes as large as good-sized dinner plates, and 
 they were placed at the end of moveable projections, 
 so they were, at least, three" feet from the head. In 
 the creatures moving along these projections were con- 
 tinually on the move so that the reptile could see be- 
 fore, behind, and sideways, at the same time. Three 
 
174 
 
 of the eyes were of a fiery red hue, while the others 
 were of a pale green. A strong sulphurous odor 
 accompanied him, and intense heat was emitted, so 
 much, that the bushes and grass over which he moved 
 have the appearance of being scorched with fire. 
 When the tail came out of the water it was seen to 
 be of a V shape, the broadest part towards the body, 
 to which it was joined by a small bony cartilage 
 about twenty feet long, and only ten inches in diam- 
 eter. This tail on the broad part was studded with 
 very hard, bony scales, shaped like the teeth of a 
 mowing machine, or reaper, about one foot long, and 
 eight inches at the base, and cut everything smooth 
 to the ground as it was dragged over the surface ; 
 pine and oak trees, nearly one foot in diameter, were 
 cut off as smoothly as if done by a saw, and have 
 the appearance of being seared over with a hot 
 iron. The creature made for one of the large fresh 
 water ponds called Pasture Pond. When in the 
 center the head, which had all the time been raised 
 some thirty feet in the air, began slowly to descend 
 and was soon under water, the body slowly follow- 
 ing it. As the tail disappeared, the water commenced 
 to recede from the shore till the pond was left com- 
 pletely dry with a large hole in the center some 
 twenty feet in diameter, perfectly circular, down 
 which sounding leads have been lowered two hun- 
 dred and fifty fathoms and no bottom found. By 
 
175 
 
 standing on the brink of the hole, what appears to 
 be water, can be seen at a long distance down. Prep- 
 arations are being made to investigate the matter, 
 and thousands are going to see and examine the 
 track of the huge sea monster. For fear that this 
 statement should be doubted, and any one try to 
 contradict it, I here append a copy of Mr. Ready's 
 affidavit and signature : 
 
 " I, George Washington Ready, do testify that the 
 foregoing statement is correct. It is a true descrip- 
 tion of the serpent as he appeared to me on that 
 morning, and I was not unduly excited by liquor or 
 otherwise." George W. Ready. 
 
 NOTE. Mr. Ready resides at the head of Pearl Street in this place, 
 and can he interviewed on the suhject at any time. 
 
INTERESTING ANECDOTES. 
 
 REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE. 
 
 The schooner Bion, Capt. Isaac Mayo, was in Bos- 
 ton fitting for a voyage to the Grand Banks. After 
 having obtained her fittings, started to come to Prov- 
 incetown. The wind was to the north-east with a 
 drizzling rain. After passing Boston Light the course 
 was laid for Wood End. Xiglit was coming on and 
 a strong flood tide setting up the bay. After sailing 
 about the time required to make the Light on Long 
 Point a light was seen off the port bow, which was 
 taken for it. After passing it, the vessel was hauled 
 on the wind and stood over to what was supposed to 
 be the Truro shore. Judging that they were near 
 enough the vessel was tacked and headed up, as they 
 thought, for anchorage off the wharves. After sailing 
 what was thought to be the right distance to the 
 anchorage, the anchor was let go and sails furled. It 
 being late at night and storming, the crew concluded 
 that they would not go ashore until morning. When 
 morning came, upon coming on -deck a strange sight 
 met their eyes : the vessel was aground, and a num- 
 
177 
 
 ber of large rocks were out of the water just ahead 
 of the vessel. A low, sandy beach could be seen 
 through the mist, but it was all a strange place to 
 captain and crew. A boat was lowered, the shore 
 reached and examined, but still no one could tell 
 where they were. Returning on board they waited 
 until the vessel floated with the flood tide, when the 
 wind hauled to the north and the weather cleared 
 off. Far away to tlie north could be seen the outlines 
 of the land at Provincetown harbor. Sail was made 
 and home finallv reached. The strongr flood tide had 
 set the vessel up the bay and Billingsgate Light was 
 the light taken for Long Point. Standing over 
 towards the Eastham shore they tacked, and coming 
 through the narrow channel uf James's Harbor had 
 anchored on the outside, near the rocks on the south- 
 ern part of Great Island. The channel through 
 which they came is very narrow, not more than two 
 vessels' length in width and a large rock in the mid- 
 dle. This channel is only available on extreme high 
 water, and then only used by very skilful pilots in 
 the day-time. There are parties residing here to-day 
 that were on board the vessel, and made the passage 
 with Capt. Mayo. 
 
 QUICK VOYAGE. 
 
 Schooner Estelle, Capt. James E. Rich, made the 
 voyage from Boston to Bermuda, discharged and load- 
 ed a full cargo and returned to Boston, making the 
 
178 
 round voyage in thirteen cla^s. The quickest time 
 between the two ports on record. 
 
 TOUGH STEAK. 
 
 Old John S. was a noted character, and some of his 
 yarns, that he was wont to spin, were noted for tlieir 
 being too strong to be true. Around the stove in 
 some of the stores durins^ the Ions: winter evenins^s, 
 he would tell them for hours on a stretch, when he 
 could find listeners. One that he often told was 
 this : A butcher had sold the old man some meat, 
 and he was tellino^ the crowd how touoh it was. 
 He said, '^ I carried it home and fried it, but could 
 not do anything with it. The next day I biled it all 
 day long, and at night it was tougher tlian the day 
 before. I then threw it out of doors and a dog com- 
 ing along tackled it. Tlie dog took one end of the 
 meat in his mouth, and placing his paw on the meat 
 tried to tear off a piece. The meat stretched like a 
 peice of Injy rubber, the more the dog pulled the 
 more the meat stretched ; soon his paw slipped and 
 the meat flying back, knocked the dog over stiff! '' 
 Here the narrator stopped. " Did it kill him ? " was 
 asked. The reply was, " No, but the dog has not 
 seen a well day since, besides being a cripple for life !'* 
 
 HE VOTED HIS SENTIMENTS. 
 
 Dennis S. was well known for his Irish wit and 
 
179 
 
 ready repartee. The person who altempted to ridi- 
 cule him in an argument was sure to come off sec- 
 ond best. At a town meeting, when a vote was ta- 
 ken on the license question, Den marched boldly 
 up to the ballot box holding his vote so that every 
 one could see the big '' Yes" that was printed on it, 
 he being strongly in favor of license. When the 
 votes were counted liis was the onl}' yes vote cast. 
 Considerable chaffing and laughter was indulged in 
 by the crowd, but Den took it all in good part, re- 
 plying, '' Be gorra byes, I voted my sintimints ona- 
 how." When it came to voting on appropriations, 
 •i^SOO was called for to be used for temperance pur- 
 poses. Dennis had been quietly waiting his chance 
 to get even, and before the vote was taken rose to 
 his feet and said : " Musther Moderator, if it is 
 in order, I would like to make an amindmint to that 
 motion. I move you, sir, that it be fufty dollars 
 instead of three hundred; according to the vote on 
 license, I am the only man in town that drinks whis- 
 key, I'll guarantee that I can be kept straight for fifty 
 dollars, making a clane saving to the town of -$250." 
 This brought down the house. When quiet was re- 
 stored, the vote was taken and the article carried 
 without the '' amindment." Den then rose and said, 
 " I now know, domed well, some of yees voted 
 against yer principles." 
 
180 
 
 THE PEAR TREE. — WHEN YOU :MAKE A DOXATIOX 
 BE CAREFUL HOW YOU ^VORD IT. 
 
 The followingr story comes from Truro. A father 
 had two sons, whose names were Ephraim and Mnl- 
 ford. Ephraim was noted for beiog quite a rogue, 
 though not a bad boy by any means. Mulford was 
 more sedate, and rather a favorite with his father, 
 ^ho would make him presents at times and not give 
 any to Ephraim. thinking to punish him in this way 
 for his roguish tricks. A hue pear tree was standing 
 in the garden that bore an abundance of nice fruit. 
 One day, for some trifling misdemeanor of Ephraim, 
 the father to punish him, took the two boys into the 
 crarden and reading^ them a lecture, said, '' I am ^o- 
 ing to make you. Mulford, a present of that tree, 
 and as for you, Ephraim. you might have had it, if 
 you had only behaved yourself, but I give the tree 
 to Mulford to punish you." When fall came the 
 tree was loaded down with nice fruit. One evening 
 when sitting around the fireside, Mulford and his 
 father were estimating how many pears there were 
 on the tree, and how much money they would bring 
 in Wellfleet. Plans were laid to pick the fruit the 
 next day. In the morning Mulford went to pick 
 the pears, and not a pear was to be found on the 
 tree. Sorrowincr over his loss, he went and told his 
 father, who went in search of Ephraim. mistrusting 
 full well that he was the culprit. When found and 
 
181 
 
 asked if be had taken the pears, he freely answered 
 '* Yes.'" The father said. '• Don't you know I gave 
 that tree to Mulford?" With feigned innocence 
 he answered. '' Yes. father, I know you gave the tree 
 to Mulford. but yer didn't say pears n'all." 
 
 BIG DiscorxT. 
 
 One of the noted men of this place is the " Dea- 
 l con. who is well versed in equine matters and a not- 
 
 : ed horse-trader. DriWng an old horse along the 
 
 street, one day. he fell in with a noted jockey, who 
 in a baiiterincr manrier asked the Deacon what he 
 f wcuild take for the horse. '* One hundred and fiftv 
 
 * dollars," was the replv. •' Will ^ive vou twentv-five." 
 
 isaid the jockey. *' Take him." replied the •• Deacon." 
 but I must say it is oneh — 1 of a discount for that 
 I animal. " 
 
 I SHE LOST HEE TOWELS. 
 
 4 
 
 ] The English steamship Caledonia came ashore 
 
 : near Race Point. January 1st. 1863. The vessel had 
 
 ' on board a verv valuable carcro, amoncr which were 
 
 •' cases of broadcloth, woollen groods. linen in bolts, 
 
 I cotton cloth, and thread. As all of the cargo was 
 
 I discharged there was a great quantity and it could 
 
 not be expected that all of it would be returned to 
 the underwrit-ers' agent, more or less being taken by 
 the workmen and people on the beach. A story is 
 told how one of the workmen brous^ht home one 
 
182 
 
 night a bolt of Irish linen toweling. It being some- 
 
 what .stained by being wet in salt water, the wife of 
 
 the man that bronght it in, washed it and knowing 
 
 if hnngont to dry, passers by would notice it, and 
 
 know where it came from, thonght it a good idea to 
 
 !iang it on a neighbor's clothes line, as the two clothes 
 
 vards adjoined. When tlie linen was dry, the owner 
 
 *f the clothes line went and took it in, reasoning to 
 
 iiorself that if she was o-oino- to have the name of 
 
 1 ivijig some of the Caledonia's stnff, she might as 
 
 veil have the article. It is needless to say tliat the 
 
 :i'st])arty never called for their toweling, and there 
 
 /as a coldness between the families ever after, and 
 
 ihey were not on speaking terms, 
 
 C )0D FISHING. — THREE FISH CAUGHT ON ONE 
 HOOK AT THE SAME TIME. 
 
 A trawler had set his trawl off the Trnro shore 
 : 'r cod-fish. A small tish, in taking one of the baits, 
 ':ad swallowed the hook ; a dogfish happened along 
 ;nd becjan to eat the small cod-fish and was cancrht 
 :i the mouth by the hook. A large goose-fish swal- 
 ' wed both, and the trawler had, to his surprise 
 v. hen he hauled in his trawl, three fish on one hook. 
 
 A GOOD day's work. . 
 
 The schooner Richard, of Truro, Captain Richard 
 ' ich, in the year 1848, when fishing for mackerel on 
 ^ hat is known as the '' Middle Bank," between Cape 
 ^ "od and Cape Ann, with a crew of twelve men and 
 
183 
 
 two boys, caught in one day, on hook and line, one 
 hundred and seventy-five barrels of extra good mack- 
 erel. This, we think, is the largest catch ever made 
 in one day with hook and line by any Cape Cod 
 vessel. 
 
 A GOOD SWALLOW. 
 
 The before-mentioned '' Deacon," in the summer is 
 often employed to take parties around the town and 
 on excursions to the Race or Highland Light Houses. 
 Now the '' Deacon" believes in the words of St. Paul, 
 '' That a little wine is good for the stomach's sake," 
 and indulges moderately when he wants it. It hap- 
 pened one day that he was called to take a party of 
 young city bloods on an excursion to Kace Point 
 Light. They were amply provided with the usual 
 remedies against snake bites and other accidents. 
 After getting out of town and into the woods, one 
 of the party pulled out a flask, and taking a drink, 
 it was passed from one to another. Not knowing the 
 " Deacon" and hearing him addressed by that title, 
 thought that he was a deacon of some church and 
 did not offer him any. The " Deacon" drove along, 
 inwardly regretting that such a name should deprive 
 him of taking something, as he mistrusted what was 
 the truth. After a while cigars were produced, and 
 thinking there could be no liarm in offering him one, 
 he was asked to take one. This was his chance and 
 his reply came quickly. " No, gentleman, I never 
 
184 
 
 use tobacco in any form, uor never did, I am getting 
 too old to learn, but I can swallow just as well as if 
 I was vounofer."' Roars of laughter greeted this re- 
 mark, and it is needless to say the bottle was pro- 
 duced and the " Deacon'' took the first pull. After- 
 wards, whenever the tlask was produced, it would 
 be tendered to him first, with the remark, *' Deacon 
 tr}^ your swallow."" 
 
 WRECK OF THE (ilOVANNIA 
 
 On March the 4th, 1875, the Italian bark Giovan- 
 nia, from Palermo, Sicily, came ashore about two 
 and one-half miles to the eastward of the Peaked 
 Hill Life Saving Station. It was blowing fresh at 
 the time from the north-east, with thick and heavy 
 snow squalls. The bark grounded on the bars, it be- 
 ing low water at that time. As soon <is the vessel 
 was seen from the station preparations were made to 
 rescue the crew. The mortar, shot lines and hawsers 
 were taken out, and the station men started for the 
 wreck. It was heavy and toilsome work dragging 
 the cart along the shore, as there was a heavy ice 
 wall along the beach at high water mark. The 
 wreck was not reached initil after five o'clock, taking 
 over three hours to make the distance The crew 
 from the Highland Station were at the scene of the 
 wreck, but without any of their apparatus. A con- 
 sultation was held by the two captains, Atkins and 
 Worthen, and it was thought best to go to the lat- 
 
185 
 
 ter's station at Highland and get the life car. Leav- 
 ing one of the men at the wreck, the rest of the sta- 
 tion men went after the car. During their absence 
 tlie steward and boatswain of the bark put a plank 
 overboard and tried to reauh the shore. The plank 
 was turned over and over, but the men clung to it 
 with desperation until they reached the breakers on 
 the beach, when the boatswain lost his hold and was 
 drowned. A young man of this place named Ber- 
 nard Jacint, tying a line around his body, while the 
 other end was held by some of the people on the 
 beach, rushed into the surf and grasping the steward, 
 both were hauled safely back ashore out of the un- 
 dertow. It was a daring deed of young Jacint and 
 he should have been rewarded, but a casual mention 
 in the local paper was all the notice ever taken. The 
 station men hauling the life car through banks of 
 snow three and four feet deep assisted by some of 
 the people from Pond Village, arrived at the wreck 
 at eleven o'clock that night. It was then so dark 
 that the vessel could not be seen. A fire was kept 
 burning on the beach, and the station men went to 
 their station for something to eat, leaving a watch 
 on the beach, knowing that it would be impossible 
 to do anything until daylight. As soon as daylight 
 dawned the vessel was seen in the same position she 
 was in at dark, apparently uninjured. The mortar 
 was loaded and a shot, with line attached, fired, but 
 
186 
 
 it fell over sixty feet short. Another and another 
 were fired, each one falling short of the mark; at 
 last the ammunition giving out, the station men and 
 spectators that had gathered on the beach were talk- 
 ing of coming in to town for a boat. During the 
 time of firing the shots, only one man was to be seen 
 on the wreck standing in the port main channels. 
 When the firing ceased, the crew, who had been un- 
 der the topgallant forecastle, came out one by one ; 
 going up the fore rigging, they went out on the fore 
 yard arm and dropping overboard, endeavored to 
 reach the shore by swimming. Not a soul reached 
 the beach alive. Some would stay up for some time, 
 but would be seen to throw up their hands and go 
 down, never more to rise. One man, supposed after- 
 ward to be the captain, kept on top of the waves 
 for nearly three-quarters of an hour, but such was 
 the strength of the current and undertow along the 
 shore, that when he sank he was no nearer the shore 
 than when he went overboard. His body was pick- 
 ed up about one mile westward of the station, and 
 when found was clad only in his underclothing. The 
 rescued steward was able to identify him as the cap- 
 tain. It was a heart-rending sight to witness the 
 death of these men without the power to save. 
 Shortly after the crew went overboard, the vessel 
 began to break up and in less then an hour there 
 was nothing visible of the wreck, but a portion of 
 
187 
 the bow. The shore for miles along the beach was 
 strewn with the cargo and the debris of the wreck. 
 The steward, who was a native Palmerese, was 
 named Salvadore Chappira ; he was kindly cared for 
 by the station men, and upon his arrival in town, he 
 being a Catholic, was taken in charge by the priest 
 here and forwarded to New York, and thence home. 
 Thirteen lives were lost in this wreck, and no such 
 large loss of life has happened since, the gun and ap- 
 paratus now used being more efficent. The vessel 
 was also poorly built, and bilged on the bar, which 
 was the reason she never came in any nearer to 
 the shore. Had she come up on the beach there is 
 no doubt but every man would have been saved. 
 
 CHASED BY A BARREL. 
 
 Before the Life Saving Stations at the backside 
 shore were built, it was a common thing during a 
 heavy breeze for parties to go out on the beach 
 seeking for anything that the gale might drive on 
 shore. Old John P. was one that often frequented 
 the beach on these occasions. One night there was 
 a heavy north-west wind blowing, the sand on the 
 beach was frozen hard, the night was quite dark, but 
 starlight. Old John started for the backside in hopes 
 to pick up something whereby he could make a dollar. 
 Arriving at the beach he walked back and forth 
 until nearly midnight, but met with no luck. At 
 last, being tired with his tramp and not meeting 
 
188 
 
 with any success, he turned liis steps towards the 
 town for home. As he got into the hollow of the 
 beach, the sand hill broke the wind and made it 
 quite lee ; he started to fill and light his pipe. Just 
 as he was going to apply the lighted match, he lieard 
 a loud, dismal groan and a huge, black object ap- 
 peared on the top of the sand hill, towards the shore, 
 and was coming down the hillside directly for him, 
 Dropphig match and pipe he started on the keen run 
 for the town, the object coming after him at full 
 speed and occasionally uttering its dismal groan. 
 Fear increased John's speed, but occasionally glanc- 
 ing backwards could see that the object was gaining 
 upon him. He felt that his strength was leaving 
 him, and feeling in his pocket for his jack knife, de- 
 termined to fight to the last. Taking it from his 
 pocket, he turned one more look backward, when 
 he accidently stumbled, and fell on the frozen sand. 
 The object, with a fearful groan, came rushing on ; 
 John determined, though trembling with fear, to pre- 
 pare for the struggle that he thought would surely 
 come. However, the object passed him by close to 
 his side, not offering to make an attack and going 
 some fifty feet further on, stopped in a bunch of 
 beach plum bushes. He now assumed the aggressive, 
 and going to the bushes found he had been chased 
 by an empty water barrel. The heavy north-west 
 wind was blowing it over the hard frozen sand and the 
 
189 
 
 noise was caused by the wind blowing in at the bung- 
 hole. Putting it on his shoulder he brought it to 
 town and for a long time would relate his adventure 
 and produce the barrel for proof. 
 
 A KNO^YING HORSE. 
 
 A citizen of this place had a white horse that had 
 been for a long time in his service. The owner was 
 never tired of telling, when he could find listeners, 
 of the wonderful actions and intelligence of the ani- 
 mal. One day the horse was taken to the black- 
 smith's shop to be shod. After the work was done 
 the owner said to several persons who were in the 
 shop at the time, and to whom he had been telling 
 the good qualities and actions of the animal: "Gen- 
 tlemen, to show you how much that horse knows I 
 will, by word only, make him leave the shop and 
 place himself in the shafts of my wagon." Leaving 
 the horse in the shop the owner went out and called, 
 " White}^ come, get into place ; we will go for our 
 dinner." The horse never moved ; the owner repeat- 
 ed the call several times, but still the horse refused 
 to move. The owner was much vexed, as the by- 
 standers began laughing, when the blacksmith came 
 to the owner's relief with the remark that if the shoe- 
 ing was paid for the horse would go, as undoubtedly 
 the animal did not want to go away in debt. Out 
 came the owner's pocket-book and the bill was paid, 
 after which, at the first call, old Whitey took his 
 
190 
 
 place when told. The blacksmith saying to the ow- 
 ner that it was a remarkable horse indeed, and it 
 would be a benefit to him if there were more horses 
 that knew enough not to run their masters in debt. 
 davie's dream. 
 Old Davie was one the old-time characters who 
 could tell a good story and would often draw largiy 
 on his imagination. If any one offended him ha was 
 sure to come under a tongue lashing from Davie. It 
 so happened that there were two men that Davie 
 iiad a pecular dislike for, and he never let slip by a 
 chance to annoy them. One morning, when going 
 to his work, he went in a store where there was quite 
 a crowd assembled, and wishing them good morning 
 said, ''Boys, I had a queer dream last night, I 
 dreamed that I had died and gone to that place 
 where about everybody says I will go when I die. 
 The Old Nick himself said he had been expecting 
 me for some time and that I was welcome. " Now 
 Davie, we always manage here to have things go 
 along peaceably, but if Sam. S. and Nat. H. get in 
 here, and I know they are coming, there will be no 
 more peace here. I put you in door-keeper and be 
 sure they don't come in." "I took my stand at the 
 door, and soon I saw them coming. As they attempt- 
 ed to pass me I began to kick at them and tell them 
 to go away. I had just given a smart kick to old 
 Sam. S., when he roared out, "what in the devil are 
 
191 
 
 you doing ? '' so loud that it waked me up and I found 
 I had kicked my Jack, who was sleeping with me, out 
 of bed on to the floor. Those two fellows, if they 
 don't go there when the time comes, at least they 
 ought too." 
 
 LOSS OF WHALING BRIG ARDENT. 
 
 The whaling brig Ardent sailed from this port for 
 a cruise off the Western Islands. She was manned 
 by the following persons, most of whom were citizens 
 of this place: captain, Samuel Soper ; mate, Hicks 
 Snialley ; crew, John Savage, Stephen Cashiu, Thomas 
 Stull, Jonah Gross, Amos Nickerson, Thomas K. 
 Hudson, Solomon Crowell, Philip Rich, Cyrenius 
 Siually, Franklin Cartright, Elisha Hopkins of 
 Rhode Island; John Austin of Boston. They met 
 with good success, and were on their passage home, 
 when they encountered a severe hurricane on Sep- 
 tember 28tli, 1823, which hove the vessel down and 
 washed off Cashin, Gross and Nickerson. The 
 masts were carried away close to the deck, then the 
 vessel righted, but was full of water, only a small 
 portion of the after part being out of water, and 
 there was where the remainder of the crew took re- 
 fuge. The cargo of oil barely keeping this part from 
 being submerged, when the sea was rough it would 
 break over it. Attempts were made to get into the 
 cabin for provisions and water, but proved futile. 
 Occasional rain squalls gave them, by wringing out 
 
192 
 
 their clothes, a few drops of brackish water, and 
 for food all they subsisted on was a few barnacles 
 and occasionall}' a small hsh was caught swimming 
 around, being attracted by the wreck. One after 
 another died from starvation and exposure and drop- 
 ped off the wreck. After twenty-six days of un- 
 told suffering there were only five left, captain, mate, 
 Hudson, Rich and Cy renins Smally. The British 
 packet Lord Sudmouth, bound for Falmouth, Eng- 
 land, sighted the wreck and took off the sufferers, 
 who could not have lived but a sliort time longer. 
 Every thing was done for the comfort of the wreck- 
 ed men, but the mate. Hicks Smalley, died shortly 
 after they were taken from tlie wreck and the lives 
 (^f the remaining four were barely saved. All of 
 tlie crew are now dead; tlie hist survivor was the 
 late Philip Rich, who died at an advanced age. He 
 very rarely alluded to the circumstance and was not 
 disposed to give many of the details of the disaster. 
 It was always supposed that the last survivor would 
 tell the story, but Mr. Rich passed away without 
 relating it. A granddaughter, now residing in Mid- 
 dleboro, has for a middle name the name of the ship 
 that rescued the survivors. 
 
NOTEWORTHY CATCHES OF FISH. 
 
 November 29th, 1870, a school of black fish was 
 driven ashore in Well fleet harbor, some of which 
 were upwards of twenty feet in length, and made 
 over four barrels of oil each. There were seven 
 hundred and sixty-seven fish in the school, yielding 
 one thousand twenty barrels of oil in all. These 
 fish were bought by Wellfleet and Provincetown 
 parties, and over two hundred men and boys were 
 employed in saving the oil. 
 
 During the month of December, 1884, there were 
 taken in Cape Cod Bay, over two thousand black 
 fish by boats from Provincetown, Truro and Well- 
 fleet. This is the largest catch ever known to have 
 been taken, and but very few fish of that kind have 
 been seen in these waters since. 
 
 The largest whale ever known to have been cap- 
 tured Oil this coast was taken in South Channel, 
 south-east of Chatham, on May 11th, 1843, by the 
 little, pink-stern schooner Cordelia, of Province- 
 town, Capt. Ebenezer Cook, and a crew of Province- 
 town men. This whale was of the right whale 
 species, and was estimated that it would have made 
 
194 
 nearly three hundred barrels of oil, and about one 
 and a half tons of bone. The little craft not having 
 the facilities for handling the monster, saved only 
 about one hundred and twenty-five barrels of the 
 oil and three hundred pounds of the bone, which 
 was over fourteen feet in length. The little craft 
 was then full, hold and deck. Signals were made 
 to a passing vessel, but no notice was taken, so the 
 rest of the whale was abandoned. The value of 
 the fish was over 112,000. 
 
 Schooner Willie A. McKay, Capt. Angus McKay, 
 of Provincetown, in the year 1882, fitted for the 
 Grand Banks and was absent three months, bringing 
 in the largest fare of cod-fish ever brought to this 
 port. After the fish were dried and ready for the 
 market, they weighed 4,062 quintals and sold for a 
 little over -122,000. Capt. McKay has always made 
 successful voyages, and in 1889, known as the scarce 
 year, brought in nearly a full fare of fish, — the only 
 one in the place. 
 
TABLE OF DATES. 
 
 First visit of Europeans, Thorwald and 
 
 Icelandic Viking, 
 Second visit of Europeans, Thorbin Karlsfeni, 
 Visited by Cortereal, a French navigator. 
 Visited by French Fishermen, 1597 — 
 
 Bartholomew Gosnold landed, 
 John Smith, from Virginia, 
 Landing of the Pilgrims, Nov. 11, 
 
 Gov. Bradford's wife, Mary, drowned from 
 
 the Mayflower, Dec. 10, 
 
 Peregrine White born on board the May- 
 flower, Dec. 16, 
 Peregrine White died in Marshfield, July 20, 
 First settlement, about 
 
 First recorded birth, Ephraim Doane, April 1, 
 Was made a precinct under Truro, June 17, 
 The Kings Commissioners defenitely lo- 
 cated the boundary line, Sept. 24, 
 Was made a town, the line being the eastern 
 boundary, and called Provincetown, 
 
 June 14, 
 
 1004 
 1007 
 1501 
 1601 
 1602 
 1614 
 1620 
 
 1620 
 
 1620 
 1704 
 1680 
 1696 
 1714 
 
 1714 
 
 1727 
 
196 
 Law passed fixing January for town-meet- 
 ings, Oct. 3d, 1730 
 Oldest tombstone record, June 10, 1724 
 First place of worship built, 17(53 
 
 First Free Mason building was built, 1795 
 
 Light House at Highland, Truro, first lighted, 1797 
 
 Memorable gale ; three East Lidia ships 
 
 Volusia, Ulysses, and Brutus, were 
 wrecked, Feb. 22, 1802 
 
 Small pox raged ; many deaths took place, 
 
 winter of 1800 -- 1801 
 
 Rev. Samuel Parker, for many years appoint- 
 ed by the government as minister, 
 died April 11, 1811 
 
 Act passed establishing the M. E. Church, 
 
 June 22, 1811 
 Bridge built across Race Run, Hatch's Harbor, 1839 
 Long Point made a separate school district, 1832 
 Race Point made a school district, 1835 
 
 First building built on Long Point, November, 1818 
 Hon. N. E. Atwood moved from Long Point 
 
 to town, December, 1856 
 
 Lighthouse on Race Point built, 1816 
 
 Lighthouse on Long Point built, 1826 
 
 Lighthouse on Wood End built, 1872 
 
 Ship Warren wrecked, a part of the crew 
 
 saved, December, 1832 
 
 Equitable Insurance Co, incorporated, 1845 
 
197 
 
 I. O. of O. F. instituted, Nov. 21, 1845 
 
 Marine Railway at Central Wharf built, 1848 
 
 Abundance of mackeral caught, known as 
 
 the Chatham Years, 1848 — 1849 
 
 First bridge across East Harbor built, 1854 
 
 Destroyed by a gale and ice, 1856 
 
 Rebuilt, " 1857 
 
 Discontinued and solid road built, 1877 
 
 Sudden squall, with snow, twenty-one ves- 
 sels wrecked in this vicinity, Dec. 3d, 1853 
 Severe gale known as the October Gale, 
 seven vessels and fifty-seven persons 
 lost from Truro on George's Bank. 
 
 Oct. 2d-3d, 1841 
 Severe gale in the Bay St. Lawrence, many 
 vessels lost from here and other places 
 on the Cape, Oct. 3d-4th, 1851 
 
 Old Town Hall built, 1853 
 
 Burned down, Feb. 16th, 1877 
 
 New Town Hall completed, Aug. 25th, 1886 
 
 English Steamship Calendonia came ashore 
 
 near Race Point, Jan. 1st, 1863 
 
 Mason & Slidell Gale, so called, from their 
 being on board English Steamer Rinaldo 
 and leaving port that day, Jan. 1st, 1862 
 
 Great catch of mackerel, known as the 
 
 Boon Island Year, 1864 
 
 Railroad opened for traffic, July 22nd, 1873 
 
198 
 President Grant's visit, Aug. 28th, 1874 
 
 Ex. President Grover Cleveland visited 
 
 here, August, 1889 
 
 Provincetovvn Bank incorporated, March 28th, 1854 
 Seaman's Savings Bank incorporated, 
 
 April 14th, 1850 
 Marine and Fire Insurance Co. incorporat- 
 ed, April 13th, 1854 
 Union Marine Railway built, 1851 
 Bradford street built, 1873 
 Severe gale and tidal wave, ship Nina came 
 ashore and damaged the Post Office, 
 
 October, 1871 
 Wreck of ship Peruvian, from Singapore 
 
 for Boston, Dec. 26th, 1872 
 
 U. S. Life Saving Stations manned, Jan. 2lst, 1873 
 Wreck of Italian bark Giovanni, thirteen 
 
 lives lost, only one man saved, March 4th, 1875 
 Adams's Hall burned, March, 1875 
 
 New Masonic Hall built, 1870 
 
 Schooner Annie Freeman, Capt. Sylvester 
 D. Rich, lost on a voyage from Prince 
 Edward's Island, ten lives lost, Dec. 12th, 1872 
 Seven hundred and sixty -seven black-iish, . 
 making one thousand and twenty 
 barrels of oil, taken, Dec. 5th, 1870 
 
 Over two thousand black-fish taken during 
 
199 
 
 the month of December, in Cape Cod 
 Bay, 1884 
 
 Town liglited with street lamps, April 12th, 1884 
 Goverment Dike built at East Harbor, 1868 — 1869 
 Seaman's Aid Society established, April 13th, 1882 
 Fireman's Insurance Co. organized, Jan. 4th, 1873 
 High and Grammar school building built, 1880 
 
 School-house on Long Point built, 1846 
 
 Public Library building built, 1874 
 
 Wreck of schooner Sarah J. Fort, part of 
 
 the crew saved by volunteers, April, 1879 
 
 Loss of Captain David H. Atkins, Frank 
 Mayo, Elisha Taylor, crew of Life Sav- 
 ing Station at Peaked Hills, Nov. 30th, 1880 
 High Head Life Saving Station built, 1883 
 
 Sidewalk laid, 1838 
 
 First wharf or pier of any kind built, about 1835 
 
BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 
 
 AETISTS. 
 
 William M. Smith, photographer, three doors west 
 Central House : Xickersoii Photograph Rooms, L 
 Rosenthal, manager, next to Post Office ; Lewis H. 
 Baker, ferrotypist, Gifford Block ; Mamie Xiokerson, 
 teacher of oil painting, opposite Gifford Block : 
 Leah Mathescn, decorative work, Conant Street ; 
 Mrs. Ada H. Miller, teacher and artist in oil paint- 
 ing. 11 Winthrop St.; Mrs. Cora Fuller, decorative ar- 
 tist, West's Block. 
 
 BARBERS. 
 
 Vincent F. Silva. Head Steamboat Wharf; John 
 Lucas,, corner Carvet and Commercial Street : 
 Manuel J. Davis, Commercial St., near First Na- 
 tional Bank: John W. Myrick, SmalFs Building, 
 near Post Office : James Henderson, Commercial St.^ 
 east R. R. Crossing ; John Francis, Commercial St., 
 nearly opposite Public Library. 
 
 (ALKERS. 
 
 John W. B'iatty, Good Templar Street ; Atwood 
 Mott. Union Marine Railway. 
 
 BLACKSMITHS. 
 
 J. H. Livermore, Union Wharf; Wrn. H. Herbolt 
 Commercial St., Head Central Wharf; Amasa 
 
•201 
 Taylor, R. R. Wharf, rear Post Office; Philauder 
 Crocker. Hilliard's Wharf: W.C. Snow. S. G. Cook's 
 Wharf. 
 
 rHXTORS, PHTSI1IA5S 1>D SURtEOXS, 
 
 E. C. Peck. Commercial St., foot of Carver; 
 Adiu H. Newton, Commercial, between Gosnold St.. 
 Masonic Place ; William E. Moore, corner Gosnold 
 and Commercial St. : Rich'd C. Dailey, Smith's Block, 
 Custom House Building : W. S. Birge, corner of 
 Bradford and Prince St. : Mrs. W. S. Birge, M. D., 
 office, corner Bradford and Prince St. 
 
 HOrSE tARPEXTERS JLXD JOINERS, 
 
 Willis Higgins, 9 Court St. ,• Richard J. Days, Wash- 
 ington Ave. : Victor J. Leonard, Cudworth St. : 
 James Cobb. Bradford St., rear of Town Hall ; By- 
 ley Lyford, 6 Cook St. : Solomon D. Xickerson, Com- 
 mercial St., West End : Josiah Snow, at the Pilgrim 
 House ; C. H. Hoi way, 211 Commercial St. : Geo C. 
 Hill, corner Johnson and Bradford Sts. : 
 
 SHIP CIRPEXTERS AXD SPAR MAKERS. 
 
 George W. Standish. Commercial St., near R. R. 
 Wharf; John G. Whitcorab, Railroad Wharf: Ezra 
 Ewell, Central Wharf: Nathaniel Hopkins, Union 
 Wharf and Marine Railway. 
 
 COXTRAiTORS AXD BllLDIXti MOVERS. 
 
 Alex. Gayland »S: Sons, near Post Office. 
 
 TIBUL-IR WELLS A>"D DBITEX PI MPS, 
 
 Charles W. Burkett. Standish Street. 
 
202 
 
 HOTELS AXD BOAKI)IN(i HOI SES. 
 
 Gifford's Summer Hotel, corner Carver and Brad- 
 ford Sts. ; Pilgrim House, off Commercial, near Free- 
 man St. ; Central House, 234 Commercial, near (tos- 
 nold St. ; Atlantic House, Masonic Place ; Seaside 
 Cottage, Mrs. E. C. Mayo, for summer visitors only,' 
 493 Commercial St. ; Chapman House, opposite 
 Central House ; Atkins Hcnise, East End ; Ellen F. 
 Atkins, Proprietor. 
 
 WAT( H-MAKEKS AM» .IE1VELLEKS. 
 
 A. I^ouis Putman, Masonic Block ; W. C. Healey, 
 Small's P>lock, coi'uer (commercial and (xosnold St. 
 
 nun, (KJAItS. (<)NFE( TIO.NEin. 
 
 Charles S. Hopkins, 129 (Commercial St., near 
 Pleasant ; E. J. Kilhurn, corner (^ourt and (commer- 
 cial Sts. ; Walter Welch, Commercial St., foot of 
 Carver ; F. N. Smith, (yommercial St., next to Cen- 
 tral House : Joseph P. Martin, 263 Commercial St. : 
 Matthias Morris, 3d door east of tlie Post (JfHce ; 
 Ed. S. Berry, (-ommercial St., head of Conwell's 
 Wharf; Timothy T. (^hase, next building to I^urchs 
 C'lothing Store ; James P. Holmes, next to Mason- 
 ic Block ; S. S. Gross Commercial, opposite (rood 
 Templar St. 
 
 ItAKEHS. PIES, ( AKES, KKEAI), BEANS, EK . 
 
 Joshua T. Small, SmalFs lilock, corner Commer- 
 cial and Gosnold Sts. ; George Ellis, Commercial St. 
 West End. 
 
203 
 
 liRlMKKS. 
 
 J. Brown, corner Commercial and Conant St. : F. 
 (\ Miller, 76 Commercial St. ; George O. Knowles. 
 Knowles's Wharf, foot Pearl St.: John D. Hilliard, 
 Hiiliard's Wharf, near Freeman St. : R. S. Laven- 
 der, Commercial, foot Cornell St. : Moses S. Turner, 
 5 Cornell St. : Union Fish Co., Railroad Wharf: Ira 
 K. Small, -201 Commercial St.: John Adams, 202 
 Commercial St. : T. W. Sparks, 285 Commercial St., 
 head Railroad Wharf. : James E. Rich, ITS (\-)mmer- 
 cial St. : W. E. Rogers, 175 Commercial St. ; Frank 
 Ct. Cook. Bradford, corner Franklin St. ; Joseph 
 l*erry, Jr., Bradford, corner Franklin St. : Mrs. R. 
 W. Loring, 2 Atkins St., opposite No. 1 Engine 
 Honse : Jeremiah A. Rich. Freestone ^Market. 
 
 MtVTS. POILTKY. PROVISIONS. 
 
 W. C. Dearborn, at T. W. Spark's Store: John 
 Adams, 202 Commercial St. : F. E. Hill, Freestone 
 market : James E. Rich, 178 Commercial St., :M. S. 
 Turner, 5 Cornell St. : J Brown, corner Conant and 
 Commercial St. 
 
 RETAIL nE\l.ERS I> FRESH KISH. ( l.AMS. LOBSTERS, ETl . 
 
 A. T. Powe, U."* Commercial St. : J*>hn Martin, 
 head of Kn»nvles"s wharf : M. Bradshaw, 282 Com- 
 mercial St., near Railroad Crossing. 
 
 HACKS, KARt;ES, PLEASURE (ARRIAtiES. 
 
 Samuel Knowles, opposite First National Bank ; 
 11. J. Snow, (^the Deacon), Lancy's, corner Commer- 
 
204 
 
 cial St. ; Newell C. Brooks, Lancy's, corner Commer- 
 cial St. ; R. E. Mayo, corner Montello and Commer- 
 cial St. ; Charles L. Young, Adams's Block ; Thomas 
 Welch, Commercial St., foot of Carver. 
 
 TEAMSTERS AXI) JOBBERS. 
 
 Barnett Brothers, James H. R. Frank, Union 
 Wharf; James Campbell, James E. Rich's store; 
 Charles L. Young, Adams's Block; R. E. Mayo, cor- 
 ner Montello and Commercial St. ; Newell C. Brooks, 
 Lancy's, corner Commercial St. ; Thomas Welch, 
 Commercial St., foot of Carver. 
 
 VESSEL FITTERS AXD WHOLESALE DEALERS IN FISH. 
 
 William Matheson, head of Steamboat Wharf ; 
 Joseph Manta, 180 Commercial St., first wliarf west 
 of Steamboat Wharf; John D. Hilliard, Hilliard's 
 Wharf; Union Fish Co., Railroad Wharf; Philip A. 
 Whorf, Commercial St., East End ; H. &; S. Cook & 
 Co., 438 Commercial St. ; David Conwell & Sons, 
 Con well's Wharf, east of Pearl St. 
 
 HOUSE, SHIP AND SIGN PAINTERS. 
 
 Thomas W. Dyer, 97 Commercial St. ; Benj. H. 
 Dyer, 172 Commercial St. ; Joseph W. Cook, rear 
 344 Commercial St. ; D. W. Snow, Decorative Artist 
 and Letterer, 274 Commercial St. 
 
 MANUFACTURES AND DEALERS IN OIL. 
 
 Myrick C. Atwood, (successor to N. E. Atwood,) 
 Pure Medicinal Cod Liver Oil, 70 Commercial St. ; 
 Caleb Cook, manufacturer of fine Lubricating Watch 
 
.205 
 Oils ; works, on Miller Hill, Bradford St.; George O. 
 Knowles, wholesale dealer and importer of Sperm, 
 Whale, Cod and other Oils, 350 Commercial St. ; also 
 agent and fitter for whaling vessels. 
 
 LArNDRY. 
 
 Newton P. West, 271 Commercial Street. 
 
 FIRNITIRE DEALER. 
 
 Joseph A. West, 248 Commercial St. 
 
 IXSl RAM'E AGENT. 
 
 Edward N. Paine ; office, J. and L. N. Paine's 
 vstore. Commercial St. 
 
 PAPER HAX«ERS. 
 
 J. Harvey Dearborn, 224 Commercial St. ; A. E. 
 Dearbbrn, dealer in wall paper, 224 Commercial St., 
 
 SAIL AND TENT MAKERS. 
 
 Artenuis P. Hannnm, Union Wharf; F. A. Paine, 
 Central Wharf; Cook Brothers, Knowles's Wharf; 
 Charles H. Dyer, S. G. Cook's Wharf; George W. 
 Pettis, Hilliard's Wharf; George H. Lewis, H. & S. 
 Cook & Co.'s Wharf. 
 
 BOAT BUILDER. 
 
 W. W. Smith, 142 Commercial St., 
 
 APOTHECARIES AND DRlCiGISTS. 
 
 John D. Adams, corner Gosnold and Commercial 
 St. ; Frederick A. H. Gifford, Gifford's Block. 
 
 MILLINERY AND FANCY GOODS. 
 
 Mamie and Jessie Matheson, head Steamboat 
 Wharf; William A. Smith, 232 Commercial St. ; 
 
•20(J 
 Mis!s Lucy Paiiie, opposite Town Hall. 
 
 <AKPETS. ( K(HKEKY, (iLASSWARE. ORIiANS. MISK. ET( . 
 
 Obadiali Snow, opposite Town Hall. 
 
 DRY <aMH>S. 
 
 Hezekiah P. Hughes, Masonic Block; Samuel J. 
 Ricli, Central Block, near Railroad (^rossing ; Ben- 
 jamin T. Crocker, 70 and 156 Commercial St.; Mi-s. 
 J. S. Hatcli, Commercial St., Kiley's Block. 
 
 ( EOTHIXC;, BOOTS. SHOES, (iEXTS FIRMSHIX; <;<KH)S. 
 
 I). A. Matheson, 304 (Commercial St. ; John L. 
 Rich, 19H Commercial St.; J. M Buicdi, 2(18 Com- 
 mercial St. ; Silas C. .Mott, 319 ('ommei-cial St. 
 
 nER( HA.NT TAILORS. 
 
 Albert Fuller, 247 Connnercial St. ; A. F. Sn)all, 
 801 Commercial St. ; I). A. Smith, opposite Town 
 Hall. 
 
 K(M)T AND SHOE DEALER. 
 
 R. E. Mayo, 141 Commercial St., coi-iicr Montello. 
 
 STOVES AND TIN WARE. 
 
 William B. Bangs, 190 Connnercial St. ; Herbert 
 Engles, 306 Commercial St. ; 
 
 WATER BOATS. 
 
 William Atkins ; office, Central Wliai'f Store : 
 Xeno])hon Rich : office, R. S. Lavender's Store. 
 
 H MBER DEALERS. 
 
 Lewis & Browi], Commercial St. opposite Masonic 
 Hall ; (xeorge Allen, Atwood's Wharf. 
 
207 
 
 MASON AND PLASTEKER. 
 
 Jame^ Fuller vS: Sou, head of Central Wharf. 
 
 AKTIONEEHS. 
 
 Heiiian S. Cook; oflfice, 844 Coiuinercial St.; 
 Joseph V. .lohnsoii ; office. Masonic Place; H. A. 
 Jeiniino-s; office, 2 Pilgrim House Court. 
 
 DEMISTS. 
 
 William P. Hudson Ov: Sou ; dental rooms, 231 
 Commercial St., 2nd door west from the Central 
 House ; A. F. ConwelL D. D. S. : rooms, 8 Pearl St. 
 
 OlSTEKS SERVED IX EVERY STYLE. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Young, opposite Town Hall liuilding. 
 
 D. S. ( ARLOW X ((►. 
 
 Keep a large stock of Fancy Articles, Wall Paper, 
 Tin and Hardware, (^itlery, etc., 810 (V)mmercial St. 
 JONATHAN HICGINS. 
 
 Attorney and counsellor at law; office, opposite 
 Town Hail Building; in Provincetown Thursdays 
 P. M. and Fridays A. M. 
 
 MUSIC. 
 
 Mrs. Hannah C. Buck, teacher, 171 Commercial 
 St.; Mrs. Sadie N. Johnson, teacher. Masonic Place ; 
 Geo. C. Hill, Jr., leader HilFs Orchestra, teaches 
 violin; office, corner Ih^adford and Johnson St.; 
 Puritan Band, Town Hall. 
 
 JOSEPH WHITCOMB. 
 
 Florist and Undertaker, first building west Rail- 
 road Crossing on Commercial St. 
 
208 
 
 B. ROLLINGS. 
 
 Agent for the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Ma- 
 chine ; office, Bradford St., between Montello and 
 Con ant Sts. 
 
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 
 
 Geo. F. Johnson, agent for Everett & Harvard 
 Piano Co. ; office, Masonic Place. 
 
 MARBLE WORKS. 
 
 Reuben Nickerson, Monumental Sculptor and 
 dealer in Marble and Granite, oj^jposite First National 
 Bank. 
 
CAPE COD COIVIIVIERCIAL TRAVELLERS. 
 
 Our ho//s tritli then' (jrlpii. 
 Who o)t the (Jape make ihe'ir trips, 
 A}i(l tell ijon true talei< 
 When tJieif are mak'oKj their Kales. 
 
 uvAmuv: m. ( akpemek. 
 
 Keiiret^ents F. natclu'lder. dealer in Fresh Meats and I'rovisious, 55 
 Blaekstone St., lioston. .Mass. 
 
 JOSEPH F. B.4KK0N. 
 
 Keiiresents Frank*). Scjuire vK: Co., dealers in Meet. I'ork. Lard. Hams 
 et(t.. (iO lilackstune St., Boston, Mass. 
 
 GEORGE H. SYLVESTEK. 
 
 Reiiresents .lojin F. Xickerson. Wholesale (Jrocer. aiul dealer in Flour, 
 Produce and Provisions. 
 
 F. L. HAXDY. 
 
 Kepresents M. S. Ayers & Co., wholesale dealers in Flour, I'roduce and 
 Provisions, 18!) State and 8(i Central St., Boston, Mass. 
 
 WARKEX FIELDING. 
 
 Represents J. C. Frye ».K: Co., wholesale dealers in Flour, Produce, Pro- 
 visions, etc., 29 Coumiercial St., Boston, Mass. 
 
 W. N. STETSON. 
 
 Represents I. W. Munroe &|Co., Wholesale (Irocers and stealers in Flour, 
 73 Commercial St., Boston, Mass. 
 
 GEORGE A. JERAULD. 
 
 Represents Isaac Locke & Co., wholesale and commission dealer in 
 F'ruits and Produce, Faneuil Hall Market, Boston, Mass. 
 
210 
 
 V. E. ROGERS. 
 
 Represents Charles H. Orclway, wholesaler of all kinds ot Fruit and 
 Country Produce, 191 Arlington Ave., Boston, Mass. 
 
 AL. S. BACKl S. 
 
 Represents F. P. AVashl)urn, Crackers and Pilot Bread, P.roc'kton, Mass. 
 
 GEORGE WM. NICKERSON. 
 
 Wholesale Dealer in Confectionery, Welltleet, Mass. 
 
 F. y\. BRYANT. 
 Manufacturer of Laundry Soaps and 15-2 Washin<i Powder, corner Wa- 
 ter and Mi<ldle St., New Bedford, jNIass. 
 
 GEORGE W. BERRY. 
 Wholesale dealer in Cif;ars, Brewster, Mass. 
 
 JOSIAH F. KXOWLES. 
 Represents Batchelder & Lincoln, jobbers in Boots. Shoes and Rubbers 
 % Federal St., Boston. Mass. 
 
 FRANK E. SEARLL. 
 Represents Green, Anthony & Co., wholesale dealers in B«.ots, Shoes »\: 
 Rubbers, 23 Pine and 2 Harkness Court, Providence, R. I. 
 
 DAVI1> LOVE. 
 Represents Parker, Holmes & Co., dealers aiid jol>l»ers in Boots, Shoe< 
 and Rubbers, 141 Federal St., Boston, Mass. 
 
 GEORGE W. POPE. 
 Represents New En<rland <)r};an Co., 12t>9 ^^ ashin^ton St., B(»ston. Mass. 
 
 J. S. CLARK. 
 Represents Jordan, Marsh & Co., importers aiul jobbers of I>ry (ioods. 
 Shawls, Cloaks, etc., 450 Washinjiton, .'J8 Avon Sts., Boston, Mass, 
 
 H. L. LAMBERT. 
 Represents Walker, Sawyer, Stetson & Ci^i., imi»orters and jobbers of 
 Hosiery, Gloves, Laces, TTnderwear, etc., 83 Lincfdn St., Itoston, Mass. 
 
 W. H. MANSFIELO. 
 
 Represents Farley, Harvey c^- Co., importers and joblters of J)ry Goods, 
 Hi to G7 Chauncy St., and oit, 41 and 43 Bedford St., ISoston, Mass. 
 
 W. L. GOILD. 
 
 Represents Brown, Durrell &: Co., importers and manufacturers of Hos- 
 iery, Handkerchiefs, Underwear, etc., corner Kingston and Essex Sts., 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 I 
 
211 
 
 >V. S. HAYNES. Jr. 
 
 Itoi.re.ents Clatlin, Larral)ee .V Co., importers au.l .iohl.ers ..t Hosiery. 
 Cloves ami lu»U'r\vtar, >i.s Lincoln St.. F.o<ton. Mass. 
 
 H. L. SOI THE U. 
 Kepresents ('..leman. .Mea.l v\; To., <lealersan<l importers ot Small War.-. 
 Fanry (Joods. Hosiery, etc. I'l Chauncy St.. Boston. Mass. 
 
 WILLIS r. IIAKOY. 
 Rei.resfnts Non-ross. Mellen v^" <o.. i.ui.orters ot rUii.a Ware. Croek- 
 vvy. <;ia^s and I'late.l Ware. Lamps. 14 to Jo Menhants- IJow. l^.ston. 
 Mass. At stoH'. Momlays. 
 
 E. H. 3LV(IM>SAL». 
 IToprictor of tin- llarvanl Extract Co. The tiuest tlavored. purest .nihil- 
 ity an.l stron-est Kxtra.ts in the market. Camlm(l,i:ep<.rt. Mass. 
 
 W. S. ALLEN. 
 Itepresent- 1). A. Sncll. dealer in I'lain and Fancy Crackers. 1 WiUian. 
 
 St rner Water St.. New IJedford. .Mass. 
 
 A. P. YOr><iMA>. 
 Keprevents W. H. ilnpman \- Co.. importers an.l manula.turers of tine 
 <Mrpetin-s. Straw Mattinirs. et... 2- Be.lf-.r.l St.. li..st..n. Mass. 
 
 JOHN H. (OMEY. 
 Represents Cnn.ner. .J.mes .V C.... €h»thiers an<l Taih.rs Trimminj;s. 
 s:? an.l s.-, Sunnncr an.l IJ an.l 14 Kin-ston St.. Hoston. Mass. 
 
 \\. S. GAYLORIL 
 F.epre.<ents Nonatn.k Silk Co., 18 Summer St., lioston M:uss. 
 
 WALTER r. (iRAST. 
 FenresentsE .^- F. Kin- .V: C.... manufa.-turers an.l .lealers in Faints. 
 Oils and Varnishes. 2.; and 27 India Street, corner Milk. F.oston. Mass. 
 
 {. E. ("ARRITH. 
 Represents C. .1. Carrutl. ^ <o.. n.u.nfacturcrs ^nl jol.hers of Fine 
 riixars, Toha.-.-. Fipes. etc., 4.; Hanover St.. Hoston. Mass. 
 
 M. E. ARNOLIK 
 Represents Sealmrv .'v" .I..hnso«. nmnufacturers of Fharmacopa-ia. 
 Antiseptic Dressings, etc.. New York an.l London. 
 
 FR.iNK E. MAYO. 
 Fenresents Hanu'. St,.d.lar.l & Kendall, importers an.l manufacturers 
 ./ c!uS^! Fishin. Ta,:kle, Ka^e Rail an.l Athletic Ooo.ls. .74 Wash,n.t..n 
 St.. Ronton. Mass. 
 
212 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 52, bottom lines, Edward Clark, slioiild l>e 
 Edward Clark lUirt. 
 
 Page 62, line 13, Thomas Lome, should be Thom- 
 as Lowe. 
 
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