Proceedings of the Nantucket Historical Association: Fortieth Annual Meeting

S58isss58isssis5sssisisisisisisisisis5sisis5sisisi:cssisss5sss5s£s58isisssisis5sssisisssisssis5ss*' i §

PROCEEDIN6S « § s s

:o: ss S :o: § ss

OF THE

Nantucket Historical

Si

§ :o: ff :o: | :o:

Association

s>:

g

a

§ § St

St

St

:o:

:o: :o: Si s: s: St

s Si St

s>:

Si Si

s:

Si Si § Si Si St

Si

I Si s:

Si Si Si

5 Si St

Si

Si Si

Fortieth Annual Meeting

St

July Thirty-First

s>:

Nineteen Hundred Thirty-Four

Si Si Si

Si Si

:o: ss 1

Si Si St g

s 8

ff. iff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff ff ff. ff ff ff ff ff. ff ff ff. ff ff ff ff ff. ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff. ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff. ff ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff. ff ff. ff ff. ff ff. ff ff ff. ff ff ff ff. ff. ff. ff ff ff. ff.

1894—1934 Forty years! And still carrying on.

If not exactly "going strong" we have, somehow or other, at least been "getting by." The four years of depression have forced us to shorten sail, reef down, and steer close to the wind, but so far we have weathered the rocks and kept off the lee shore.

The past season has shown a slight improvement, but it still calls for close figuring to balance our budget. Though we are economizing in every possible way without too greatly impairing our service, un­ expected expenses in the way of absolutely necessary repairs to our buildings and other unforeseen emergencies are constantly rising to cause us many anxious hours.

It is not a pleasant duty to continue harping on finances, but we must still impress upon our members and friends the importance of cooperating with us by helping us to get more members, and we again invite all who feel that they can afford it to become sustaining mem­ bers. We have hesitated to drop anyone for non-payment of dues during these years, believing that many will pay up as times improve.

Gifts for general or special purposes, according to the wish of the donor, are solicited, and bequests of any amount will help to assure our future. Our work is for all time, and we count on our successors to carry it on for the benefit and instruction of our posterity in the years to come.

With gratitude for your loyal support in the past, while bespeak­ ing your continued interest and cooperation.

Yours, now and always for the N. H. A., THE COUNCIL.

FORM OF BEQUEST I give and bequeath to the Nantucket Historical Association, a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massa­ chusetts, the sum of

dollars.

LIST OF OFFICERS President WILLIAM F. MACY Vice-Presidents MILLARD F. FREEBORN G. LISTER CARLISLE, JR. FRED V. FULLER MRS. IRVING ELTING THOMAS H. GIFFIN DR. CHARLES E. CONGDON Secretary MRS. CATHERINE R. EGER Treasurer ROBERT D. CONGDON Curator and Librarian MRS. WALTON H. ADAMS Curator Emeritus MISS SUSAN E. BROCK Auditors MISS EMMA COOK ALBERT G. BROCK MISS HANNAH G. HATCH

4 2 jn-

Councillors BASSETT JONES KENNETH TAYLOR

Term Expires 1935 Term Expires 1935

CHARLES P. KIMBALL MISS OLIVE ALLEN

Term Expires 1936 Term Expires 1936

MRS. H. HOLLIS BENNETT HUNTLEY D. TAYLOR

Term Expires 1937 Term Expires 1937

MRS. PETER M. HUSSEY MISS ANNIE ALDEN FOLGER

Term Expires 1938 Term Expires 1938

Life Councillors MISS ANNIE BARKER FOLGER MRS. FLORENCE OSGOOD LANG

WINTHROP COFFIN SIDNEY MITCHELL

Committees—1933-34 Finance—Mr. Fuller, Dr. Congdon, the Treasurer.

Publications—Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Bennett.

Oldest House—Mr. Fuller, Mr. Kimball, Mrs. Hussey.

Old Mill—Mrs. Ackerman, Mr. Giffin, Mr. Jones.

Historical Rooms and Friends' Meeting House—Mrs. Adams, Mr. Giffin, Mrs. Bennett, Miss Folger.

'Sconset House—Mr. Giffin, Herbert C. Gardner.

Whaling Museum—Mr. Macy, Mr. Fuller, Mrs. Adams, Dr. Cong­ don, Mr. Jones, Mr. Kenneth Taylor.

Publicity—Mr. Congdon, Mr. Kimball, Mrs. Ackerman, Whitman Pearson.

Junior Membership—Huntley Taylor, Whitman Pearson, Clinton T. Macy.

The President member Ex-officio of all committees.

4

3

ANNUAL MEETING The Nantucket Historical Association held its fortieth annual meeting on Tuesday afternoon, July 31st, 1934, with nearly two hundred interested friends assembled in the Old North Vestry.

William F. Macy, President of the Society, presided, and opened the meeting with his customary greeting. The business session con­ sisted of the reading of reports by Mrs. Nancy S. Adams, Curator, William F. Codd, Treasurer, and Mrs. Catherine Ray Eger, Secretary.

All reports were accepted as read.

Alfred F. Shurrocks, chairman of the Nominating Committee, submitted the following nominations for officers for the ensuing year, and by unanimous consent the Secretary was authorized to cast one ballot for the ticket as reported.

President—William F. Macy.

T7i Vice-Presidents—Millard F. Freeborn, Dr. Charles E. Congdon, er Carlisle' Mrs" IrvinS Elting, Thomas h!

GiFffin Secretary—Mrs. Catherine Ray Eger.

Treasurer—Robert D. Congdon.

Curator and Librarian—Mrs. Walton H. Adams M Hus™"n°rS f°r F°Ur Years~Miss Annie Alden Folger, Mrs. Peter President Macy stated that he had no lengthy address for the meeting as he intended reading later an article on his visit to North Carolina this spring. He announced regretfully that the financial condition of the Society was still the subject of some concern. As for our buildings and exhibits, the Whaling Museum has been holding its own and proving a very valuable asset to the Association and to the community. The Oldest House is paying its way and the Old Mill, as we shall subsequently hear, is going to prove another asset. The Fair Street building, however, is not doing as well as might be expected.

While we realized that the Whaling Museum would draw the attend­ ance somewhat, we hoped that the Historical Room would hold its own.

Perhaps a little campaign by our members will help restore the drop in attendance there. He asked for continued cooperation in helping to secure still more members, and especially sustaining members, to increase our income and ease the financial situation.

Mrs. Ackerman, chairman of the Old Mill Committee, submitted an oral report of progress in carrying on the work of repairs at the

S'Jnn"!]#* ^ and Spring" The work has cost around $1,900, of which $1,250 has been raised by loans from five members 4 4 )§••

of the Council, leaving over $600 to be met from the still rather de­ pleted treasury of the Association. The president later suggested that this offered an opportunity for one or two more "angels" to help out on this work by loans or gifts.

Whitman Pearson, who is in charge of the Mill this year, sup­ plemented Mrs. Ackerman's report by a brief statement, telling of the increased attendance at the Mill, already over twice that of last year, and of the renewed interest since the vanes are once more turning and grinding corn.

Clinton Macy, youthful custodian of the Oldest House, and said to be probably the youngest custodian in the country, read a poem entitled "To Her"—written by him in memory of his aunt, Sarah Lucretia Macy, custodian of the Oldest House from 1925 to 1933, who died this spring. The lines were full of feeling and splendidly rendered.

The prize for the best Historical Essay this year was awarded to a freshman, Miss Ethel Gardner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison G. Gardner, and a descendant of one of the first settlers on the island, Richard Gardner. The title of her paper was "The Nantucket Indians."

One of the most delightful features of the meeting was the reading of a paper called "Our Beginnings," by Miss Mary Eliza Starbuck, who had written it especially for this occasion. It was a fine review of the early work and later progress of our Association.

Henry K. Bush-Brown, well-known sculptor of Washington, D. C., then unveiled his finished bas-relief of George A. Grant, custodian of' the Whaling Museum, which he presented to the Association. The President suggested the opportunity to have a cast made in bronze from the plaster model as a permanent memorial to be exhibited at the Whaling Museum. The cost, he said, would not be over $100 and voluntary subscriptions were solicited, to which a few responded after the meeting.

President Macy then read a paper on the "North Carolina Nantucketers," an account of his recent visit to New Garden in North Carolina, where many descendants of the Nantucket migration there in 1771 are now living.

Before the close of the meeting Moses Joy had a few remarks to make, proving as usual an interesting speaker.

The meeting adjourned at 5.10 p. m„ after an enjoyable and profitable session.

Respectfully submitted, CATHERINE RAY EGER, Secretary.

5 }§«•

SECRETARY'S REPORT Mr. President, Members and Friends of The Nantucket Historical Association: Another year with its encouragements and reverses has closed, and again we are assembled in this Old North Vestry to take note of time, not by its losses but by its achievements.

The officers and members of the Association extend cordial greet­ ing to old friends and new who have gathered here today with the love for former years, and perhaps with suggestions of new values and new estimates of historic interest.

The Council anticipates from year to year this annual gathering, seeking to find new ways and methods to interest returning friends and members. We have been taught to believe that the world's noble en­ terprises have been matured in silence. Then truly our association has grown during the past year, because all has been quiet.

I need not tell you how the Treasurer has busied himself, nor how the Curator has directed the growth of our collections. They speak for themselves. Your Secretary has been busy with correspondence and the list of members. Our membership continues to increase in spite of unsettled times. Response to roll call at the close of the fiscal year, June 30, 1934, should reveal the following numbers: Life Members 106 Sustaining members 18 Annual members 1,065 Junior members 96 Total New members since June 30 Present total

1,285 44 1,329

In connection with the above let me again urge that your Secre­ tary and Treasurer be informed promptly of any change in address of members so that our mailing lists may be correct and complete.

More sustaining members would be a great help to us in meeting our annual budget.

The Council during the past year has held its regular meetings for the consideraton of minor matters incidental to our work and for the transaction of routine business, all of which have been well at­ tended. There is no falling off of interest among the resident members of our Council, which is gratifying, as it is most important to the welfare of our Association that these meetings be well attended. Our first meeting was called according to custom as soon after the Annual Meeting as possible on August 14, 1933, and committees were chosen •«{ 6 }•>

for the ensuing year. Other council meetings for the transaction of necessary business were held on October 2, 1933, May 16, 1934, and June 11, 1934. Again with your permission I will dispense with the summary of details concerning the business of the year.

The outstanding event during the past year was the repairing of the Old Mill, which has renewed its youth and usefulness and is again a source of income to the Association. As of old it is grinding corn daily, and many small bags of meal are sold each day. The attendance has shown a big increase over recent years. Mr. Pearson, Custodian of the Old Mill this year, reports three times as large an attendance to date as in any of the recent years.

The visitors from foreign parts have included five from England, two from the Canal Zone, one from Switzerland, two from the Philippines, one from Austria, and one from Scotland. It is interesting to note that there is no mill operating in the country today that is any where near its age of 188 years.

And now, while we have been rejoicing in the year's gains, the joy of our coming together is marred by the absence of those whose presence has long been an inspiration to us in our work. We would pause for a moment in loving tribute to the memory of all who have been taken from our ranks this year. We no longer shall have the assistance and advice of Walter Gilman Page, for several years one of our vice-presidents, who died on May 24, 1934. Miss Sarah L. Macy, custodian of our Oldest House since 1925, when we acquired this priceless relic of the past, died on January 27, 1934. Many other members have been called from us, and their presence will be sadly missed by us all. In memoriam I would offer these lines: "Somewhere back of the sunset, Where loveliness never dies; They live in a land of glory 'Mid the blue and gold of the skies."

The extent of our correspondence gradually increases. Each year the Association seems to become more widely known throughout the world. Copies of our Proceedings have been sent far and wide to the various members, and the correspondence and exchange of publications with other Historical Institutions have been duly carried on.

In closing we ask you whose names are not yet on our membership list to come to us, to know us better, to become members of our Association, and by so doing claim for yourselves a place in our ever widening and increasingly important work in the onward march of history.

Respectfully submitted, CATHERINE RAY EGER, Secretary.

< 7 }§•

TREASURER'S REPORT CASH ACCOUNT RECEIPTS Cash balance July 1, 1933 Pledges paid Sale of duplicate equipment, Whaling Museum

$240.00 125.00

Admissions at Admissions at Admissions at Admissions at

$240.00 81.75 244.75 1,341.45

Fair Street Old Mill Oldest House Whaling Museum

$140.56 365.00

1,907.95 100.00 7.50 108.35 527.67 639.50 11.30 15.00 195.23 1,000.00

Use of 'Sconset house Use of land at Mill Insurance Rebates on Fair St., Mill, Oldest House Interest on Investments Dues paid Gifts Life Members Sale of Publications, cards, etc.

Bequest of Joseph E. C. Farnham Notes payable from four members at $2.50 each, due in 5 years at 5%

1,000.00 $6,018.06

ASSETS Fair St., Land, Building and part of contents Old Mill, Land, Building Oldest House, Land, Building, contents 'Sconset House, Land, Building, contents Whaling Museum, Land, Building, contents U. S. Government Bonds Nantucket Institution For Savings Old 'House Fund Ella M. Starbuck Fund William Swift Fund Mary E. Macy Fund Permanent Fund, Life Membership Whaling, Carnegie Fund

$9,860.00 4,500.00 4,000.00 2,200.00 14,540.00 35,100.00 200.00 $538.19 3,045.00 5,075.00 507.50 2,540.77 2,537.50 14,243.96 25.00

Note receivable

$49,568.96 4 8 )*•

CASH ACCOUNT—Continued PAYMENTS Investment, Life Member, Nantucket Institution For Savings Equipment for Fair St. Equipment for Oldest House Equipment for Whaling Museum Fair St. Museum, Attendants Janitor and Sundry expenses

$3.00 160.00 14.96 $259.00 139.20

Old Mill, Attendant Small repairs and Insurance

81.75 28.05

Old House, Attendants Insurance and miscellaneous

$176.00 140.28

'Sconset House, repairs and Insurance Whaling Museum, Attendants Repairs Interest on Mortgage Insurance Sundry items

$730.85 170.02 600.00 140.13 119.24

General Account, Postage Printing and Advertising Books Salaries of Officers, including Treasurer's salary for 2 years Prizes Sundries Account receivable Notes Payable, $200 to each of 5 members on loans advanced without interest Special repairs to Old Mill

$102.65 301.04 96.83 500.00 17.50 56.20

$15.00

177.96 398.20 109.80 316.28 122.07

1,760.24

1,074.22 25.00 1,000.00 995.49 $5,994.26 23.80

Cash balance, July 2, 1934

$6,018.06 LIABILITIES Due 5 members at $400 each on notes without interest Due 4 members at $250 each on 5 year notes at 5% interest, given for special rebuilding and repairs of Old Mill Due Nantucket Institution Savings, mortgage at 6% on Whaling Museum property Due balance of bill for Mill repairs

$2,000.00 1,000.00 10,000.00 682.72

$13,682.72 Respectfully submitted, WM. F. CODD, Treasurer.

<

9 H-

CURATOR'S REPORT On July 1st, 1895, the Nantucket Historical Association opened its museum to the public with an exhibit containing about four hun­ dred articles; today we have over 3000 articles listed in the catalogue.

At the close of the season of 1933 over 900 visitors had viewed the exhibition. A few changes have been made in the display of exhibits, which makes a less crowded condition. On the second floor we have a case containing interesting documents which will be changed from time to time. Many of the portraits have been re-hung.

The accessions of the past year have been fewer in number, with nothing particularly outstanding. Perhaps the most interesting of these is the old bell, the familiar tones of which were heard through the streets prior to 1908, when our town crier, "Billy" Clark, carried it about when he was crying news of the day or selling the daily papers. This bell was left in the office of The Inquirer and Mirror when "Billy" was taken sick, and there it has remained until it has finally come to the museum.

Another relic is a piece of red cedar taken from the window frame of the George Gardner house, built in 1696. This was obtained by a man who helped to tear down the old house, and was retained by him and passed on to his daughter.

We have added to our collection of Indian relics a spear-head of stone and an implement used for cutting. A very beautiful silver lustre pitcher has been donated from an old Nantucket family, and we have received by bequest a Quaker bonnet, kerchief, cap, and a fancy picture made of human hair.

To the collection of genealogical data we have added a very in­ teresting record of the Taylor-Farwell-Washburn family and several papers pertaining to Nantucket families. Also a record containing Nantucket names of Friends in the Monthly Meetings in North Carolina. Many inquiries come to us for information about old Nan­ tucket families, and in most cases we are able to give the required information.

We have received the register of the West Grammar School of 1852 to 1860, and many names are written therein which would be familiar to the older generation. One of the publications of the

«( 10 j3=-

Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio has been sent to us.

This is a collection of letters written in a diary of Col. Alfred West Gilbert, a citizen of Cincinnati, during the Civil War. When we closed the doors of the Oldest House in 1933 it was with no thought that before the next season opened the custodian would not be with us. We have filled the vacancy caused by her death with one very able to carry on the duties which had been so lovingly and devotedly carried on by his aunt, and we find Clinton Macy, our youngest custodian, a most willing and efficient successor.

It seems to me that no more fitting tribute could be paid to our late friend than that which I found written by her nephew on the pages of the Register at the Oldest House at the close of the year 1933. It reads: "During the winter the Custodian of this house from 1925 to 1933, Miss Sarah Lucretia Macy, passed to her reward in the King­ dom of God. No more shall her faltering footsteps fall On the floors of the house on the hill; No more shall she tell its story, For her voice is forever still."

We have transferred to the Oldest House from the Old House in 'Sconset and from the Fair Street Museum many articles of furniture, kitchen utensils, and other things which add to the attractions of the house. We have purchased an old blanket chest, a bed, and an eld chair of the early American period, which have been in the house as loans. The attendance last season was nearly one thousand, and so far this year it is a little ahead of last year's record.

At the Whaling Museum we have added to the collection many new books, pamphlets and photographs; a fine new piece of Tappa Cloth, an oil portrait of Capt. Moses Brown, and various odd items.

Our catalogue shows that just over one thousand articles are listed here. A season in which over five thosuand people visited the Museum is proof that it is appreciated.

The initials "W. M." stand for Whaling Museum, but they also stand for William Macy, and I can assure you they are closely allied.

I wonder sometimes if President Macy dreams of whales and sea stories at night, for surely the museum is his first thought during the day. The custodian, Capt. Grant, still tells salty yarns and demonstrates the catching of a whale. We have re-discovered an in­ teresting letter this year which was written in Pitcairn's Island in February, 1851, giving information which may be of interest to you.

Quoting from the letter: My Dear Friend: We number now in all on the island, man, woman and child, 160 souls, 18 males and 82 females. My brother William died since you left us, and so did the old Bounty woman Susannah. Mrs. Palmer 4 n>

also, the wife of Capt. George Palmer, died at this place on the 27th of September last. Mrs. Grant is still among us and the little boy which was born of the 24th of Dec. last. I have two children since you left us, the one three years old and the other one month. As regards other matters we are doing well and I thank God we are at present well provided for. A ship from New Zealand for California came here and landed five of her passengers and the ship being blowed off in the night the Capt. of her left the above named pas­ sengers and one of them kindly undertook to teach us music, they (the passengers) were with us three weeks how far they succeeded in teaching us music we leave to our hearers to judge.

Your friend and well wisher, Matthew McCoy. The baby boy mentioned was the brother of Capt. Grant, our custodian.

To all the attendants we owe the usual expression of apprecia­ tion, for they are most loyal and devoted to their various duties. Our season this year opened with a steady gain over last year's attend­ ance, and we hope to finish with the best record yet.

In closing may I ask your loyal support of a Society, the aim of which is to collect and conserve anything pertaining to the history of Nantucket, and I plead with you not to permit old histori­ cal Nantucket relics of any sort to be carried "off island." Help us to keep them here where they belong and in the custody of our Society for all time.

Respectfully submitted, NANCY S. ADAMS, Curator.

4

12 >

Clinton T. Macy, the new custodian of the Oldest House, was then introduced, and he read with much feeling and spirit the follow­ ing original tribute to his aunt, the former custodian of the house, whose assistant he had been for the last few summers.

TO HER The shadows of life's short evening Have lengthened and darkness is come.

With darkness her soul has gone quietly Back to its heavenly home.

She has gone to our loving father, Gone to peace and rest, Gone to dwell eternally With the saints who are ever blest.

Although the darkness has settled And her no longer I see, The memories of life's bright mid-day Golden forever will be.

Of the days when we worked together In the old house on the hill, Where her smile welcomed every visitor, Where she toiled with a loving will.

Of the days when she tilled her garden With a skillful loving care, For she loved the little rootlets That grew and blossomed there.

No more will she tend that garden That grew by the old front door, No more will she greet her neighbors As they pass on their way to the store.

For she has gone—but not forgotten, Her I will never forget; And when I am old and weary I will long for her sweet voice yet.

In the long, hard journey before me In life's most difficult ways, I'll never—no, never—forget her, The light of my childhood days.

In my garden of cherished memories All other pictures will blur But one golden, priceless memory, A beautiful tribute—to her. *

—Clinton T. Macy. * * * * * * * To Sarah Lu-cretia Macy October 27, 1856—January 26, 1934 *

4

13 )§*-

OUR BEGINNINGS Not unlike many another important work the beginning of the Nantucket Historical Association seems to have been almost accidental.

In 1893 Mrs. Maria L. Owen, born and bred on Nantucket, but at that time living in Springfield, happened to be in Boston. At a historical exhibition then being held in the Old North Meeting House she saw among the antiques some wall paper identical with that on one of the rooms of her father's house in Nantucket. This house, built in 1818, is on the north corner of Union and Coffin streets.

It occurred to Mrs. Owen that, since the paper was of sufficient interest to be shown at such an exhibition, a photograph of that still on the wall of her former home might be acceptable to the Nantucket Atheneum. So with the help of Miss Gertrude King, to whom she wrote at once, prints were made, and, together with Mrs. Owen's letter, were presented at the next Annual Proprietors' Meeting, held in the library of the Atheneum, where the Presiding Officer always sat under the bust of Socrates, while above the Secretary's chair" Benjamin Franklin surveyed with disinterested urbanity the group of persons assembled, chiefly composed of his own relatives.

After a vote of thanks had been passed in recognition of Mrs. Owen's gift, a temerarious "stranger"—though he was a resident and the able pastor of the Congregational Church, in whose vestry we are now gathered—thought that it was an opportune moment to speak of a matter that had been long on his mind. He suggested widening the sphere of the Atheneum's activities by the formation of a Histor­ ical Chapter. There was no more thought of altering in any way the existing management of affairs than there was of starting a new society.

But a bomb had been dropped! Here was a proposition to tamper with a sacred institution! The reaction was instantaneous— and unfavorable!

Howevei, nothing was to be decided in haste, and in some way a committee was appointed to consider the feasibility of organizing a "historical and antiquarian department to be connected with the Athen­ eum." The report was to be given at the next Proprietors' Meeting.

It was ready at the time appointed. But although this meeting voted that one of the rooms might be used for the meetings of the said committee, it was also voted that the reading of its report should be deferred, and that "further consideration of the matter be laid upon the table." It was not, however, allowed to lie there undisturbed for very long.

«8f 14

As soon as Mrs. Owen heard about the suggested new work, she wrote with great enthusiasm to an old friend, one of the prominent women of the town. She said "I have long wanted a historical society in Nantucket. I know there are treasures still in old trunks and desks, and in attics generally, in spite of the ravages of the Great Fire." Her Nantucket friend was not convinced. It was quite natural that those who as "young people" had seen the new Atheneum rising from the ashes of the former building destroyed by the fire, who had later on, as Trustees, directed its activities, then entirely suited to the needs of the town, should look with disfavor upon any sug­ gestion of change—even an increase of work without alteration of that already in hand. No! The system was perfect. A change of any kind was not to be thought of!

However, it was true that a committee had been appointed to consider the matter, and by the time the next meeting of the Pro­ prietors was called two definitely opposing factions had come into existence, each with its chosen speaker. The meeting was far from noisy. Each leader had his chance, and amid dead silence had his say. The vote was called.

The Historical-Chapter Measure was voted down, and the Pro­ prietors having "given their testimony," peace was restored. The Atheneum and its management were intact. A finished product was not to be tampered with, especially by off-islanders! This, remember, was forty years ago!

Somewhat cast down but by no means destroyed by the reception of their report, the projectors of this historical-chapter idea recon­ sidered their original suggestion in favor of a more startling prop­ osition. If a new department of an already existing organization was out of the question, why not found an independent society for the work whose importance was slowly becoming more apparent to some of the Nantucket men and women, even among the Proprietors of the Atheneum? Mrs. Elizabeth Starbuck was from the first a strong ally of Mr. Dudley's, and as spring came on she felt that something must be done. So in May, 1894, in the "west parlor" of the western­ most of the three brick houses on Main Street, a meeting was held of about thirty persons.

There was much talk and there were various degrees of interest, of optimism and of pessimism regarding the possibilities. A young man who was living here for a year or two said that it wasn't any good to start such a society, for in twenty years there wouldn't be anybody on Nantucket anyway but a few fishermen and scallopers!

He went away not long after that meeting, and we never heard of him again.

That night the Nantucket Historical Association was organized, and the next week at another meeting held in the same place an 4 15 )S«-

executive board was chosen, consisting of two Vice Presidents—Rev. Myron S. Dudley, Henry S. Wyer; Recording Secretary, Miss Mary E. Starbuck; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Susie Starbuck; Treas­ urer, Mr. Alex. H. Seaverns; Councillors: Mrs. Maria T. Swain, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Bennett, Mrs. Judith J. Fish, Miss Susan E. Brock, Rev. Edward C. Gardner, Mr. Wendell Macy, Mr. Arthur H. Gardner.

No president was chosen. We begged Mrs. Elizabeth Starbuck to serve as President. She was firm in her refusal and in her in­ sistence that the President must be a man, "so that he can wear a white waistcoat when he presides at the annual meetings!"

The energetic and invaluable Mr. Dudley was made first VicePresident, but there was a strong feeling that the President should be "one of our own." So we cast about for the right man. It was suggested that if J. Sidney Mitchell would accept the office "the thing would be sure to go."

It was true that Dr. Mitchell lived in Chicago and was a busy man, but he came every summer with his family, and his life-long popularity in, and love for his birthplace were well-known. Dr. Mitchell agreed to serve, and he remained President until his death.

An article was written for The Inquirer and Mirror relating to the new organization. And then came the question of the location of the Museum that we already saw in our imaginations. The first plan of renting two rooms in the Reuben Joy Homestead was soon given up. We wanted a building of our own.

It happened that about that time the two or three remaining members of the Wilburite Quakers had become too old and infirm to hold meetings in the Meeting House on Fair Street, and there was a rumor that certain possible purchasers were considering its acquisition and planning to alter it out of all resemblance to a Quaker Meeting House. We didn't have the money to buy it, but it seemed to the Council that this old and valuable landmark should be preserved, and that it would suit our purposes with no alteration, until we could buy or build, later on if our needs ever required. Small donations began to come iit, and a few hundred dollars were on hand when we ventured to purchase the Old Meeting House. Two or three friends of the new organization went on notes for one or two hundred dollars apiece, and one of the banks was willing to take a mortgage on the property. We had already obtained our charter, and so two months after that first meeting at Mrs. Elizabeth Starbuck's, fully equipped and "all clear," we took the water with a membership of one hundred and thirty. Seven of these who were present at the meeting of July 25th, 1894, became life-members, viz., Dr. J. Sidney Mitchell, Henry S. Wyer, my brother, Henry P. Starbuck, George B. Upton, Miss Susie Starbuck, Mrs. Judith Mitchell, and Miss Annie Barker Folger.

Another article was written for the local paper, I quote its last para­ graph since it has never ceased to be timely: -g{ 16 )§•

"I would again call attention to the fact that all who care for the Island and its traditions are welcome as members of the Association.

The satisfaction of being a Nantucketer is not for all the world, and we would mitigate, as far as possible, the lot of those less fortunate than ourselves, by instructing them in our past history, and by sharing with them the privilege of perpetuating its memory.

Our Presidents should have a chapter for themselves. Marked men they were, in their several callings, and loyal Nantucketers each one. Dr. Mitchell saw us safely through the first then uncharted shoals. He was succeeded by William F. Barnard, whose life-work was the Five Points House of Industry in New York, and of which he was Superintendent for more than thirty years. But his summers were spent at Nantucket, and his vacation was given gladly to fur­ thering the interests of the Historical Association.

At his death in 1903, Alexander Starbuck, editor of the Waltham Free Press, was elected President, and since he was able to devote far more time than his predecessors to the work, the progress of the Association was carried forward with rather amazing results. His interest and ability were unfailing, and at his death his valuable collection of historical material came to the Association, together with a legacy of three thousand dollars.

Mr. Arthur H. Gardner, a resident Nantucketer, was our next President, again an able and devoted Islander, whose term of office was all too short, for he died within two years of his election. For the last ten years Mr. William F. Macy has laid the course, and our annual reports will tell you what he has done in that time.

In the fall of that first year a small pamphlet was published, with the Constitution and by-laws and the names of the charter members.

Several designs were submitted for a seal, and finally one was chosen with a harpoon, an arrow and two beaver hats, all enclosed in a circle of thirty disks, representing the thirty pounds that, together with the two hats, were paid for the Island by the original purchasers.

At a special meeting of the Historical Association held in Atheneum Hall just before the town's Centennial celebration in 1895, it was announced that a "friend," who was later known to be Miss Caroline W. French, of Boston, had advanced the money to pay off the remaining indebtedness on the Meeting House. The condition attached to this gift was that a like sum should be raised as soon as possible by the Association, in order that it might buy the Old Mill whenever it should be on the market. That had been Miss French s first plan, but on Mr. Dudley's representation, the immediate use of the money was generously granted the Association for the pur­ pose of buying the Meeting House. In 1897 the Old Mill became the property of the Historical Association, which had raised the sum advanced by Miss French, who also readily paid the amount re­ quired beyond her original gift.

«[ 17 }>

It was of course at least twenty years too late when the Associ­ ation was founded. Moreover there was slight local encouragement for any such undertaking. The older people said sadly "You cannot restore the glory of Nantucket." The younger ones said lightly, "Who cares for two old tea-pots anyway?" But we were off soundings and we forged ahead. It was quite true that even the younger ones had lived to see many of the old houses closed, or sold at auction for "summer cottages" after the last tenant had died. And we shared the heartbreak when as neighbors, or as second or third generations of family friends, we saw old furniture sent down to be sold at auction on the Lower Square. There was no room in the newer homes of legatees "away" for huge mahogany or cherry bedsteads, three-decked bureaus and great painted blanket-chests with iron handles, so they had to be disposed of somehow. People must "settle up and get back."

Often the thoughtless purchasers of these treasures would turn out then and there the contents of little hair trunks, or big Fayal baskets, of the drawers of desks and work-tables, which had been for­ gotten by equally thoughtless inheritors, sometimes of alien blood as well as of alien experience, and after the auction all this "litter" was swept from the cobblestones and carried to the public dump, or in those early days of "summer-resort" life, this "trash" was often carted to the docks then being filled in for replacement or extensions of the wharves.

Occasionally some curiosity seeker would find something valuable among the rubbish of these dumps; a log-book once, not even wet, was rescued from the dock rubbish, and a beautiful little lantern was brought home in pride by another person. But countless records, family letters, diaries, invaluable as history, were carelessly destroyed.

The local members of the Association, especially the younger ones who yet were old enough to have begun to realize the value of some of the household furnishings, among which they had grown up and taken for granted—Canton china, English silver, coats of arms, lac­ quered boxes, fiddle-backed chairs—now began to explore the town, and for the first time in our lives we entered houses and saw people of whose existence we had never dreamed.

A curious feature of Nantucket was a certain clannishness, not only of the family or "the set," but of the neighborhood. "Over North" or "down New Town" or "up Egypt way" might have been on Cape Cod from the remoteness conveyed by the tone in which these localities were referred to.

So our explorations became adventures, and if the resultant treasures that were brought home were not always regarded with favor by our families during their temporary housing while they were being cleaned and made ready for placing in the museum, our own <{ 18

pride in and appreciation of our Island ancestry had steadily in­ creased, growing by what it fed on as long-forgotten incidents of the famous whaling days were brought to mind, suggested by some article found in the search undertaken in response to our request.

Our enthusiasm soon equalled that of the progenitors of the work, and the original Council worked together steadily and harmoniously for several years, with few changes in its personnel. Kev. Mr. Dudley, interested and energetic, was invaluable in this work which he had started. Miss Susan E. Brock was soon made Curator, and she kept that office thirty-four years until ill health caused her resig­ nation a few years ago, when by unanimous vote she was made Curator Emeritus.

Miss Brock was the Perfect Curator. As time went on and the hundreds of items in our collection increased to thousands, all care­ fully arranged in her mind, she could tell off-hand in which corner of which drawer in which cabinet might be found the daguerreotype or the manuscript that was required, where the article came from and when, and the pedigree of the donor. The work had become the absorbing interest of her life, and her regret at laying it down was only alleviated by the knowledge that an able under-study, Mrs. Nancy S. Adams, would carry it on.

Council meetings were frequently held, ten or twelve during the early years. One year seventeen were recorded, besides general meetings. We had made no alterations in the Meeting House other than by removing the plain wooden benches which were carefully stored away. At the west end the Elders' seats, being built in solidly, were allowed to remain. Cases with glass doors were placed against the walls on the sides of the room, and gradually the Old Meeting House became filled to overflowing with treasures from the past life of the Island.

The Museum was open every week-day from nine in the morning until five o'clock, "there or thereabouts," for often people wanted to stay on, perhaps to take notes, or ask further questions. For ten years six of us gave a day each week as volunteer attendants, each having her specialty, and her special following, one attendant being keen on dates and statistics, one on whaling, one on yarns about Nantucket generally.

In spite of what had been lost there was much left, and loans and gifts continued to come in, until more space became necessary.

How that could be obtained was a problem. Every possible penny was saved from annual dues, gate money and gifts, beyond the amount required for repairs and other unavoidable expenses. No salaries were paid. It was truly a labor of love for the first six years.

4 19 fa

Then in the tenth year our dream came true for by means of the large bequest from Susan Wilson Folger, together with gifts and smaller legacies, it became possible for the Association to erect a fire-proof building. Our collection had not only increased in ex­ tent, but greatly in value. Our exhibit was moved to its new quarters, and the Old Meeting House restored to its condition at the time of our acquiring it. Later on the Association, with the help of its friends, was able to buy the Jethro Coffin house, the oldest on the Island. Under the direct superintendence of Mr. William Sumner Appleton, who gave freely his services, with Mr. Alfred F. Shurrocks in charge of the work, the house has been restored as far as possible to its original condition. The expense of this undertaking, far in excess of the first estimate, was most generously borne by Mr. Winthrop Coffin of Boston—but of Nantucket ancestry.

As time went on, our collection steadily increasing in extent and value, even the fire-proof building was becoming inadequate for its con­ venient housing, and when Mr. Edward F. Sanderson turned over to the Association his valuable collection of whaling implements and other articles relating to that industry, our need became imperative, and a plan that had been maturing in the minds of some of the Council was brought forward for consideration.

The old Richard Mitchell building, known to a later generation as the Hadwen and Barney Candle House, was then owned by Mr. Sanderson. A fund was started and at last, because of most gen­ erous concessions on the part of Mr. Sanderson, and also largely through the efforts of our President, Mr. Macy, the Association came into possession of a building perfectly adapted to our needs. And there, together with the very valuable Sanderson collection, will be found the Admiral William Mayhew Folger collection of naval prints and souvenirs, and countless other articles, gifts or purchases, all relating to Nantucket, or whaling, and whose history is intensely interesting, especially as told by Captain George Grant, whose ready response to the questions of the many visitors is based upon his first-hand knowledge of the subject. We are also residuary legatees under the will of Admiral Folger and some time in the future we should receive a considerable sum of money from his estate.

And now, since the President has asked me to be as brief as possible, this story of our beginnings must be brought to a close.

But to quote Graham Robertson in his chronicle, When Life Was Worth Living, "a really interesting book could be compiled from my omissions!"

MARY E. STARBUCK.

4 20

NORTH CAROLINA NANTUCKETERS *

Last year I told you of my visit to Indiana and of the many de­ scendants of Nantucketers I found there. You may recall that most of these Nantucket Hoosiers traced their lineage through the Quaker families who migrated from here to North Carolina during the Rev­ olutionary period. There are so many of these people in the Middle West that I rather assumed that there could be but few of the descendants of the original stock left in the South, but I found that I had, as we say, "another guess coming."

Most of us knew that the Nantucket migrants settled in or near a place called New Garden. I had often looked for such a place on maps of the State, but had never been able to find it. Last year, through my Indiana connections, I succeeded in getting in touch with Miss Laura D. Worth, custodian of the vault containing the records of the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends, which are in the library at Guilford College, in Guilford County, between the cities of Greensboro and Winston-Salem. I then learned that Guilford College is on the very site of the New Garden settlement, the original E'riends' Meeting and burying ground being immediately adjacent to the College campus, and that Miss Worth, my correspondent, was "one of us"—a direct descendant of William Worth and Sarah Macy, whose marriage, in 1665, was the first solemnized on Nantucket.

I also learned that there are still many hundreds, if not thous­ ands, of the Nantucket sons and daughters still living within a com­ paratively short radius of New Garden Meeting House, many still bearing the names of our "immortal nine," but many more of the stock with other names, who trace through the maternal line; for it should be remembered that this whole section was settled by Quakers from various parts of the Colonies, the first comers arriving prior to 1754, the date when New Garden Meeting was set up, while the first Nantucketers did not appear, as far as I could learn, until about 1771. Naturally, when these Friends from other parts met the Nantucketers they soon intermarried, and so many of those of island lineage bear names unfamiliar to us. The interesting thing, however, is that a surprisingly large proportion of them have re­ mained, as in Indiana, true to the Quaker faith. New Garden Monthly Meeting has today nearly five hundred members. One meeting, that at Springfield, near New Garden, has outgrown its old meeting house and has recently moved into a new one, a sub­ stantial brick building seating several hundred, and well filled, I was 4 21

told, at all services. The old meeting house has been turned into a very interesting museum of early Quaker days. There are sixty-four monthly meetings in the State, and the North Carolina Yearly meeting has an enrollment of over ten thousand members. So Quaker­ ism is still in force in that part of the world.

Having seen something of the Hoosier Quakers, and learned some­ thing of their ancestry, I "had a concern" to meet some of the "Tar­ heels." So on my return from a short trip to Florida this last March I stopped off at Guilford College and spent four days among them; and a most delightful and memorable experience it was.

I was very pleasantly entertained at the college, and was kept on the move every minute, driving about the countryside and meet­ ing scores of the Nantucket descendants. Miss Worth, being one of the old stock herself, was a most competent guide, and knew just where to find the people we wanted to see. The sites of the original homes of the Starbucks, the Macys, the Coffins and others of the Nantucket families, were pointed out to me; I was shown the grave­ stones bearing the familiar names in the old burying grounds; for it is interesting to note that these Quakers, even in the early days, soon after the settlement, permitted gravestones. For a long time they placed a limit on the headstones of ten inches height from the ground, and if any of the bereaved families exceeded that height, pressure was brought to bear compelling them to saw off the stone to the prescribed limit. In some cases, after the discipline on this point had been somewhat relaxed, the excess top-piece which had been sawed off was cemented on again. Later on the ban seems to have been lifted, and in the more recent burying grounds the stones and monuments were of normal proportions, much as in any modern cemetery.

But, best of all, we met and talked with many of the people who trace their descent from the Nantucket stock, and, as in Indiana, I fcund them greatly interested in their Nantucket ancestors and in our island itself. Many of them had been here; they were keen on their genealogy, and several had old family heirlooms, brought from here by their forbears a century and a half or more ago, which they took great pride in showing me. One family produced an old silver spoon which belonged to Edward and Damaris (Worth) Starbuck, with their initials and the date (1742) engraved on the handle.

Another relic shown me was a Starbuck-Hussey spoon of an early date.

In yet another house was an old desk brought from our island. Many had the old family bibles with records dating well back into the early eighteenth century.

One amusing story was told me of a Nantucketer who brought with him a quantity of whale oil (whether sperm or right was not known), but having erected his buildings and having no paint or 4 22

the usual makings thereof, he is said to have taken some of the bright red clay soil which is characteristic of that region, mixed it with his Nantucket whale oil, and applied the improvised pigment to his house and barn.

On one morning I was asked to address a group of several hun­ dred of the students and faculty in the college chapel. A number of the neighbors of Nantucket stock came to the meeting. Whether of island lineage or not, however, I found, as is always the case, that they all seemed interested in what I could tell them of our past and present and in the stock anecdotes which, though somewhat hackneyed to most of us, were all new to them.

In Winston-Salem, we called on Judge Henry Starbuck and on his cousin, Clarkson Starbuck, both worthy representatives of that clan. At Greensboro, we found the Pettys, who are of the Macy lineage, keenly interested in Nantucket lore. Among the Nantucket descendants not bearing the old names whom I met, I noted the fol­ lowing other names: Benbow, Blair, Boron, Bryan, Frazier, McAllis­ ter, Merriman, Osborn, Perisho, Ragsdale and Shaw, representing in their ancestry besides the Starbucks and Macys referred to, the Bunkers, Coffins, Colemans, Folgers, Husseys, Gardners, Swains and Worths, with lines from the Beards, Stantons and other names not of our earliest group but later identified with Nantucket.

Perhaps a few words about Guilford College itself might be of interest. In 1837, the "New Garden Friends' Boarding School for Boys and Girls" was founded, apparently on a shoestring, as the total endowment, after several years of work, was only $6291, but with unbounded faith in the future. After nearly a hundred years it is still going strong. I owe the institution an apology for referring to it last year as a "Quaker School." For the past forty-five years it has been a full-fledged college. Its standards are high, and it ranks now among the best of the smaller colleges of the South, if not of the country. From the start Guilford has been "co-ed." It opened with fifty pupils, twenty-five boys and twenty-five girls.

They invested $200 of their limited resources in a farm of one one hundred acres, and an adjoining farm of seventy-five acres was given them by Elisha Coffin, whose ancestry is unmistakable. Dis­ cipline was very strict. Everyone rose at five.

There was an hour and a half of school before breakfast at seven-thirty, dinner was at twelve and supper at six; bed at eight-thirty. Most of the time between meals was devoted to study, recitations and religious services.

Imagine such a schedule in a "prep-school" today!

The college now has an enrollment of about three hundred, in the proportion of two boys to one girl. The site is a picturesque one, with a broad tree-shaded campus surrounded by about nine sub­ stantial and attractive brick buildings, one of which, the girl's dormi4 23 ^

tory, is known as New Garden Hall. While there are now no lessons before breakfast, the meal is served at 7:00 a. m., and a few minutes after that hour the dining- room entrance is locked, so the late comers go without their coffee. (I had one or two narrow escapes while there.) The boys and girls eat together at commons in the big dining room adjoining Founders' Hall, the original building of the old school, some boys and some girls at each table, with perhaps one or more members of the faculty. Both sexes work and play together in what seems a natural, simple fellowship, and there seemed to be little if any of the usual constraint and prejudice characteristic of so many co-educational institutions as we know them. While most of the students come, I think, from Quaker families, non-Quakers are admitted on equal terms, and there are many such. Both students and faculty dress much as in any other college group, and there is little, on the surface at least, to indicate the Quaker origin or char­ acter of the institution. There is a short service in the chapel every morning and a regular service on Sunday. President Binford, of the college, preached the morning I was there. These Friends have so far modified the rigid rules of the old Quakers as observed here as to have paid ministers. They have music with their services and congregational singing of the the old hymns. The only difference I noted, as compared to the usual Protestant church service, was that "the spirit moved" a few of the congregation at the close of the service to testify in a few words, supplementing the remarks of the preacher.

Such innovations would doubtless have shocked our Quaker ancestors here, but the impression I gained was that these people seem to have kept the best of the spirit and quality of the old Quaker­ ism while discarding or allowing to pass into disuse most of the more rigid forms and canons of the early discipline.

I reported last year the receipt from Miss Worth, of Guilford, and from Mr. Thomas W. Marshall, of Washington, of a large number of records from the North Carolina meetings of the Nantucket Quakers who were received on certificate from here during the migrations, and of their descendants. Also many individual gen­ ealogies and other information from various sources connected with this group. Many more such documents have come to me this year, and these are all now on file in our genealogical library at the Fair street building. These comprise some two thousand separate entries on the records, involving about a thousand different individ­ uals. They constitute, I believe, a valuable addition to our records for reference by Nantucket descendants who come here to look up their ancestry.

A monumental work of incalculable value is now being under­ taken by Mr. William Wade Hinshaw, of Washington. This is a •»3f 24

compilation of a complete record of all the Friends in America, from the earliest arrivals in the seventeenth century down to the present time. It is a tremendous task and a very expensive one, entirely a labor of love on Mr. Hinshaw's part, but when completed it will be priceless as source material to genealogists and research students everywhere. There are no records in existence so complete as those which have been kept for three centuries by the Friends' meetings.

I made a rather startling discovery during my visit to New Garden—one which I think may surprise most of you as much as it did me. I learned for the first time that the celebrated Siamese twins were Bunkers. These twins, Eng and Chang, were born in Siam in 1816. After many years touring the world as exhibits, they settled at Mt. Airy, in Surrey County, North Carolina, and, by a special enabling act of the State Legislature, assumed the name of Bunker, presumably from some Nantucket descendant of that name in the vicinity who had befriended them. In 1843, they were married in a double wedding ceremony to two sisters, Sarah and Adelaide Yates.

They became well-to-do farmers. Eng Bunker became the father of eleven and Chang of ten children, of whom three of Eng's and two of Chang's are still living. The twins died in 1874, within a few hours of each other, and are buried at Mt. Airy. It's a far cry from Bangkok to Nantucket, and though we can't claim Eng and Chang as Nantucketers, it speaks well for the Bunkers (that being a corruption of the French Bon Cceur—good heart) that they lived and died under that name.

WILLIAM F. MACY.

THE NANTUCKET INDIANS PRIZE ESSAY BY ETHEL GARDNER When the whites settled on Nantucket Island it was populated with Indians. Before the coming of Macy and Starbuck in 1659 the Indians had had little or no contact with this race. The white men bought the island for two beaver hats and thirty pounds. It was occupied by two tribes whose names are not known. One lived at the western end of the island and was supposed to have come from Martha's Vineyard; the other lived at the eastern end. Sales of land went on until 1774, when the white men had possession of nearly everything.

The number of Indians occupying the island at the time of the arrival of the whites varies in different statements by different writers. It is known, however, that they numbered about three

4

25 }§>•

hundred and sixty before they became victims of an epidemic, as told later. At the time of the settlers' arrival there were two Chief Sachems, Wanackmamack and Nicanoose, and two other Sachems, Autopscot and Potconet. At this time Wauwinet probably was feeble and aged. His eldest son, Nicanoose, signed all the deeds for his father. Among the tribes there were generally one of two chief Sachems. Wanackmamack's territory was the southern part of the island and the Autopscots had the southwestern part. Wauwinet's was out toward Squam and Wauwinet.

Wanackmamack had one son; then his son had two sons of his cwn. These sons married and one of them had a daughter and the other had two sons. Wanackmamack died before June 9, 1682.

Wauwinet had two sons and one daughter. His daughter, Wonoma, married Autopscot. One son had two sons and the other one a daughter. Nicanoose's son, Joshua, disgusted with his father for leaving his mother, left home and did not return for fifty years.

Autopscot had a daughter by Wonoma. One of his grandchildren was Tashama. Potconet had two sons, neither of whom claimed his rights until eleven years had passed. No one knows why. Potconet must have died before March 6, 1681.

Wanackmamack was kind-hearted, judicious and courageous, and he had good principles. Autopscot was a great warrior. Wauwinet was old when the settlers came, so not much is known about his character.

The Indians became used to the Whites, and for a while they worked side by side. They engaged in fishing and farming.

When King Philip, on his visit to the island in 1665, tried to persuade the Indians to join in the war with the English they stated that they wished to remain friends with the white men.

Civilization soon brought destructive habits to the Indians. They were happy before they knew about fire-water (liquor.) When they drank it, much destruction was wrought. Thomas Macy wrote a letter to the Governor about drinking, but every measure taken to stop it and to help the Indians overcome this habit was thwarted.

Fines and whippings were dealt out as punishments, but the death penalty was given only in murder cases.

Quibby was the first and only Indian executed in Nantucket since the whites settled here. The Indians were cruel because some whites had treated them thus. An attempt to introduce Christianity among the natives was made quite successfully.

The Whites taught the Indians how to fish.

The Indians were sometimes punished for their misdemeanors by being made to go on whaleships, but they received their share of the cruise.

From August, 1763, to February, 1764, was a sad time for the 4 26

Indians. They suffered from an epidemic which was either yellow fever, typhoid or smallpox. The English who took care of them did not catch the disease. Before it broke out there were 358 Indians and only 136 remained afterwards.

Among Wanackmamack's Indians there were James Mamack, a minister and justice of the peace, Old Aesop, a weaver and also a justice of peace, and Old Saul, a stern looking man. One Indian, Corduda, was a very sharp justice of the peace and would punish them by flogging them ten times on the back.

The Indians were very sober at worship meetings. They imi­ tated the Quakers. They held meetings on the first and fifth days of the week. Their minister was called a cooutaumuchary. They had justices, constables, jurymen, weavers, carpenters and others.

Benjamin Tashama was the grandson of Sachem Autopscot. He was an esteemed preacher and a successful school teacher. He lived on the eastern boundary of Gibbs Swamp, about forty rods northeast of the fifth mile stone on 'Sconset Road. The cellar of the house stood for a long time, and the stone which formed his door-step may be seen at the entrance of the Nantucket Historical Rooms on Fair street.

He was often called the last Sachem of Nantucket. He lived here with his son, Isaac, and the daughter, Sarah. He died in 1770. His daughter married, and on April 27, 1776, a child was born to her.

Her name was Dorcas Honorable. When this child grew up she be­ came a domestic in the family of a Mr. Cartwright. She died in 1822, the last full-blooded Indian on Nantucket.

Abraham Quary was the half-breed son of Judith Quary, a halfbreed fortune teller, and the notorious Quibby. He lived at Shimmo for many years, dying there at the age of eighty-three. A fine por­ trait of him in oils hangs in the Nantucket Atheneum.

Many Indian bones, arrowheads, and other relics have been found.

The Indians usually buried their dead near the coast. It is probable that some may be buried at Pocomo, Folger's Hill on Polpis Road, Shawkemo, Quaise, and near Miacomet. It is recorded that Benjamin Tashama was buried near Miacomet.

Many say that the Indians were a savage race. But this was only because we made them so. We took away their land, and when some of the white men treated them badly they thought the rest were unjust also.

4 27

PUBLICATIONS of the Nantucket Historical Association

Quakerism on Nantucket since 1800, by Henry Barnard Worth.

Vol. 1, 1896, out of print.

Timothy White Papers, by Rev. Myron Samuel Dudley.

Vol. 1, No. 2, 1898, 50cts.

Nantucket Lands and Land Owners, by Henry Barnard Worth.

The Title and The Nantucket Insurrection.

Vol. 2, No. 1, 1901, 50cts.

The Settlers, Their Homes and Government.

(Map).

Vol. 2, No. 2, 1902, 50cts.

The Indians of Nantucket.

Vol. 2, No. 3, 1902, 50cts.

Sheep Commons and The Proprietary.

Vol. 2, No. 4, 1904, 50cts.

Ancient Buildings of Nantucket.

Vol 2, No. 5, 1906, (reprinted in 1928), $1.00.

Indian Names, Wills and Estates, Index.

Wills and Estates Continued.

Vol. 2, No. 6, 1910, 50cts.

Vol. 2, No. 7, 50cts.

A Century of Free Masonry on Nantucket, by Alexander Starbuck.

Vol. 3, No. 1, 1903, 50cts.

Proceedings of the Annual Meetings of the Nantucket Historical As­ sociation, from 1895 to 1933, (with the exception of 1899, which is out of print).

25cts.

The Horseshoe House, by William F. Macy.

50cts.

"Ye Olde Mill," by William F. Macy.

25cts.

28 )3<-