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No. 36. 
 
 LIBRARY of 
 
 Cape Cod 
 
 HISTORY & GENEALOGY 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS 
 
 By ^iVilliam C. Smitli, Esq., 
 
 'I 
 
 Author of a History of Chatham. 
 
 Eaily Settlers, hJDi), 1711 — Atkins, Hassett, Covell, Eldredjic, Godfrey, 
 Hamilton, Harding, Howes, Luiubert, Nickerson, l^iddock, Pliil- 
 lips, Sears, Smith, Stewart, Tucker. 
 
 Later Settlers — Collins, Crowell, Doaiie, Eldredge, Farris, Hawes, 
 Kno\vi(\s. Mayo, Mitchell, Ryder, Smith, Stewart, TayloT-. 
 
 YARMOUTHPORT, MASS.: 
 
 C. W. SWIFT, Publisher and Printer, 
 
 The "Register" Press, 
 
 1915. 
 
/ J j 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS 
 
 By VV^iUiam C. Smitk, Esq., 
 Author of a History of Chatham. 
 
 Copyright, 1915, by 
 William C. Smith. 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS.* 
 
 ATKINS. 
 
 Capt. John Atkins, son of Henry 
 and Bethiah (Linnell) Atkins of 
 Eastham, born August 1, 1674, 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Lieut. Andrew Newcomb of Edgar- 
 town, March 5, 1699-1700.. He 
 lived a few years in Eastham, 
 removing to Monomoit about 1705. 
 It is not certain where his farm 
 was located. He was active in local 
 affairs, being selectman five years, 
 treasurer two years, etc. He be- 
 came lieutenant of the military 
 company under Capt. Ebenezer 
 Hawes in 1715 and was appointed 
 captain in 1720. He was one of 
 the first seven members of the 
 church organized in 1720, and was 
 prominent in the controversies, 
 which arose with Rev. Hugh 
 Adams and Rev. Samuel Osborne, 
 the Eastham minister.^ Ho died 
 Janujuy 30, 1732-3, leaving no 
 descendants. His widow was liv- 
 ing as late as 1743, when she 
 conveyed land in Edgartown.^ 
 
 Samuel Atkins, brother of John, 
 born at Eastham June 25, 1679, 
 married Enilen' [Emeline] New- 
 comb, a sislcr of his brother's 
 wife, April 3, 1703, and settled at 
 
 Monomoit soon after. He probably 
 bought a tract of land of the In- 
 dians, adjoining the shore and 
 bounded south on the Sears farm. 
 This tract after his death fell to 
 his only son Henry.* He was 
 selectman in 1737 and 1738. His 
 name does not appear on the tax 
 lists or records of the town after 
 1755, but his estate was not ad- 
 ministered upon till August 26, 
 1768. His widow was not then 
 living. The entire estate was 
 assigned to the son Henry, ho 
 paying his sisters certain sums of 
 money .° 
 
 Dea. Thomas Atkins, an elder 
 brother of John and Samuel, born 
 at Eastham June 19, 1671, removed 
 to Monomoit as early as 1694. The 
 name of his first wife is not 
 known. He bought of the Nick- 
 ersons and Covells 10 acres of land 
 lying between Lord's pond and the 
 highway, which became his home- 
 stead. Tile house; and lour acres 
 of this land, lying north 
 of the meeting house, he 
 sold in 1718 to the town for the 
 use of the ministry and the re- 
 maining six acres he sold in 1729 
 to Thomas Doanc." After the sale 
 to I tic tdwn, he apiH';irs lo have 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 lived on tho Vickery homestead, 
 which he had bought of tho Vick- 
 ery heirs in 1714.^ With Capt. 
 Joseph Harding he bought Sept. 7, 
 ^( t'? ijy?, of Josephus Quason all the 
 interest of the latter in the 
 (Juason lands in the south part of 
 Old Harwich and later, in 1713, in 
 the division of these lands, re- 
 ceived one-sixteenth part, which 
 he later sold.* He was clerk of 
 the proprietors of these lands. 
 He was one of the leading men of 
 thQ town, being selectman 21 years, 
 town clerk 14 years, and holding 
 other offices. He was a leader in 
 the church and a firm friend and 
 confidant of the ministers. He 
 was the first deacon of the church. 
 He married 2nd, June 28, 1739, 
 Hope (Horton) Snow, widow of 
 Ebenezer Snow of Eastham. Ad- 
 ministration on his estate was 
 granted Jan. 16, 1750-1, to his son 
 Joshua. Although town clerk 
 many years, he failed to record 
 any information about his own 
 family." 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 *The author is indebted to Mr. 
 Josiah Paine of Harwich, Mr. 
 Stanley W. Smith of Boston and 
 Mr, William E. Nickerson of Cam- 
 bridge for helpful genealogical in- 
 formation respecting some of the 
 families mentioned in these ar- 
 ticles. 
 
 (1) Rev. Samuel Treat of East- 
 ham writes of him in 1716 as 
 follows: "He is a person born in 
 our town of godly parents who 
 gave him a religious education 
 and he early expressed a pious 
 inclination to the ways of God and 
 a religious profession and has for 
 many years been entertained in 
 
 AUG !7 1915 
 
 our church, adorning his profes- 
 sion by a very laudable conversa- 
 tion and so esteemed by the ad- 
 jacent towns, to many of whom he 
 is well known." Adams v Hawes, 
 Files Superior Court of Judica- 
 ture, No. 10,812. 
 
 (2) Newcomb Genealogy, 20. 
 
 (3) She is called Emlen in the 
 will of Capt. John Atkins. The 
 name has caused trouble for gen- 
 ealogists. In the Newcomb Gene- 
 alogy she is called Emblem, else- 
 where Embling. The forms Em- 
 bling and Emblen (not Emblem) 
 are old forms for Emlen (Eme- 
 line), just as we have Hamblen 
 for Hamlin, Tombling and Tom- 
 blen for Tomlin, Hambleton for 
 Hamilton, etc. 
 
 (4) By deed dated July 29, 1783, 
 Henry Atkins sold to Isaac Howes 
 and John Harding the following 
 tract in Chatham, doubtless his 
 father's farm: "where my dwell- 
 ing house stands, beginning at a 
 stake and stone at the westerly 
 end of the Pond near my Dwell- 
 ing house aforesaid in Mr. Paul 
 Sears his range, thence Westerly 
 as the fence now stands to the 
 highway, thence northerly to 
 Thomas Bee's range, being about 
 twenty-five feet, thence Easterly 
 in said Bee's range till it comes 
 to the Partition fence between the 
 aforesaid Bee and Atkins, thence 
 Northerly as the fence now stands 
 till it comes to the land of Seth 
 Smith, thence Easterly in said 
 Smith's range as the fence now 
 stands till it comes to the land 
 of Constant Nickerson, thence still 
 Easterly as the fence now stands 
 till it comes to the corner of the 
 fence to a stone in the ground, 
 thence Northerly in the aforesaid 
 
 'CI,A41(n:^5 
 %0/ 
 
 //,^ 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Nickcrson's range as the fonre 
 now stands till it comes to another 
 corner to a stone in the ground, 
 thence Southeasterly in the range 
 of the land that was Solomon 
 Collings, as the fence now stands, 
 till it comes to a Ditch near the 
 fore side of the aforesaid John 
 Harding's now Dwelling house, 
 thence Easterly as the Ditch now 
 runs to low water mark, thence 
 Southerly by the water till it 
 comes to Mr. Richard Sears his 
 range, thence Westerly in said 
 Sears his range, as the fence now 
 stands, till it comes to the afore- 
 said Pond, thence Westerly 
 through the Pond to the first 
 specified bounds * * * exclusive of 
 5 or 6 acres which belong to said 
 Atkins his sister." Seth W. Ham- 
 mond papers. 
 
 (5) Children of Samuel and Em- 
 len (Newcomb) Atkins (from Pro- 
 batt» Records, order uncertain) : 1 
 Eunice, b. 1705; m. Solomon Col- 
 lins, son of John, about 1726. 2 
 Elizabeth, b. ; m. 1st Daniel 
 
 Eldredge of Eastham Jan. 31, 
 1727-8, (East. Rec.) who was "sup- 
 posed to be deceased" Jan. 1732-3; 
 m. 2nd about 1735, Solomon Ken- 
 drick, son of Edward of Harwich; 
 removed to Harrington, N. S., 
 about 1762. 3 Desire, b. ; m. 
 
 Sylvester. 4 Anna, b. 171 i; 
 m. Thomas Kendrick, son of Ed- 
 ward of Harwich (int. Jan. 27, 
 173'£-5, East. Rec). 5 Bethiah, Jr., 
 b. ; m. Christopher Taylor, 
 
 son of Abraham of Barnstable, 
 Feb. 3. 1757 (Chat. Rec); d. he- 
 fore 1769. 6 Tabitha, b. ; m. 
 Southworth Hamlin, son of Joseph 
 of Barnstable, May 12, 1757 (Chat. 
 Rec). 7 Henry, b. (not of age 
 Jan. 1733) ; m. Deborah Lothrop, 
 
 dau. of Joseph of Barnstabbv Dec. 
 H, 1768 (Bai'usl. Rec.) ; after sell- 
 ing his farm in 1783 as above, he 
 probably moved to south part of 
 Eastham, where his widow died 
 Nov. 22, 1822, aged 85 (Hdstn.). 
 
 (6) Town Records; M. L. Luce 
 papers. 
 
 (7) Page 12i, nofe 86, Smith's 
 History of Chatham. 
 
 (8) Files Superior Court of 
 Judicature, Nos. 7,626, 9.537, 66,388, 
 30,339; Osborn Nickerson papers. 
 
 (9) Children of Thomas and 
 
 ( ) Atkins (order un- 
 certain) : 1 Thomas, b. ; m. 
 1st Elizabeth Nickerson,. dau. of 
 William, about 1726. She died 
 before Sept. 13, 1739, (date of her 
 father's will) and he m. 2nd 
 Thankful Snow, dau. of Ebenezer 
 of Eastham, May 14, 1741 (East. 
 Rec). 2 Joshua, b. ; m. 
 Sarah Sears, dan. of Daniel, Aug. 
 1, 1734 (Chat. Rec). She died 
 April 30, 1751, and he m. 2nd Mary 
 (l''reeman) Doane. widow of Ben- 
 jamin (int. Oct. 5, 1751, Chat. 
 Rec). 3 Susaima, b. about 1717; 
 m. Reuben Ryder, son of John, 
 Oct. 26, 1740 (Chat. Rec); d. Aug. 
 9. 1743, aged 26. 4 Bethiah, sen., 
 b, ; single in 1757. (See 
 marriage of Bethiah Jr., note 5 
 supra. Bt^tbiab, sen., considering 
 th(» known facts, could have been 
 no one but a dau. of Thomas.) 
 5 Possibly other daughters not 
 identifiefl 
 
 BASSETT. 
 
 Nathan Bassett, son of Nathaniel 
 and Mary or Dorcas (Joyce) Bas- 
 sett of Marsh field and Yarmouth, 
 born , married Mary, daugh- 
 
 ter of Thomas and Deborah Crow 
 of Yarmouth, March 7, 1709, and 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 settled at Alonomoit soon after. 
 Ho bought of one of the Covells 
 (probably Joseph) an interest in 
 the common land and settled on 
 that part of it on the south side 
 of the road to Yarmouth, opposite 
 the farm of Joseph Nickerson. In 
 the division of the common land 
 in 1713, he had all the land be- 
 tween the ponds and the road, 
 from the Indian meeting house 
 nearly to Harwich line, assigned 
 to him.'" He died in 1728, but his 
 estate was not settled. His widow 
 died in 17.42, leaving a will dated 
 Nov. 5. 1741, proved May 6, 1742, 
 disposing of her husband's prop- 
 erty. She gave the homestead to 
 her sons Nathaniel and Samuel.'^ 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (10) A Proprietors' Book for 
 Chatham, town clerk's office. 
 
 (11) Children of Nathan and 
 Mary (Crow) Bassett (from Pro- 
 bate Records, order uncertain) : 1 
 Dorcas, b. ; m. John Nicker- 
 son, Jr., son of William of Har- 
 wich, March 14, 1727-8 (Har. Rec). 
 
 2 Nathan, b. ; m. Elizabeth 
 Rogers, dau. of Eloazer of Har- 
 wich, Jan. 2, 1734-5 (Har. Rec). 
 
 3 Mary, b. ; single in 1741. 4 
 '^i'homas, b. ;m. 1st Deborah 
 (Godfrey, dau. of Moses; 2nd, Mary 
 Ncwcomb, widow of Joseph of 
 Well fleet, Sept. 1.5, 1763 (East. 
 Rec). 5 Hannah, b. ; 
 m. 1st Joseph Covoll, son 
 of Joseph. who died befoi'o 
 4741, and she m. 2nd Asa Mayo of 
 Eastham July 23, 175G (East. Rec). 
 G Nathaniel, b. ; m. Sarah 
 Chase, dau. of Thomas of Yar- 
 mouth, Aug. 23, 1739 (Yar. Rec). 
 7 Samuel, b. ; li\ing in 1741. 
 
 COVELL.^ 
 
 Nathaniel Covell, son of Nathan- 
 iel and Sarah (Nickerson) Covell, 
 born about 1670, married March 
 1, 1696-7, Judith Nickerson, dau, of 
 William and Mercy. He lived on 
 or near his father's farm between 
 Crow's pond and Ryder's cove at 
 Chathamport.'^ H(! was select- 
 man two years and treasurer two 
 years. His will, dated Sept. 19, 
 1746, was proved March 13, 1746-7. 
 He had previously disposed of his 
 real estate to his children. His 
 widow, daughter Elizabeth and 
 granddaughter Daty Nickerson 
 each received one-third of his 
 personal estate.'" 
 
 William Covell, son of Nathaniel 
 and Sarah (Nickerson) Covell, was 
 born at Monomoit about 1673. His 
 wife was Sarah, but her parentage 
 is not known. His homestead, 
 bought of Joseph Nickerson about 
 1005, was at Chathamport, bounded 
 "Easterly by Ensign William Nick- 
 erson, Southerly by the land of 
 Jehosaphat Eldred, SouUierly, 
 Southwesterly and Westerly by ye 
 land of Jeremiah Nickerson's to 
 ye Bank or Glift neer ye Wading 
 place, and Northerly by ye Clil't," 
 containing 60 acres. On November 
 28, 1710, he bought of Jeremiah 
 iNickerson a tract of 20 acres ad- 
 joining the above on the west. 
 All his lands and right at Chat- 
 ham, he sold by deed dated Sep- 
 tember 10, 1716, to John Crowell, 
 ^^., of Yarmouth'^ and removed to 
 Harwich, whci'e he purchased of 
 his brother Ephraim the eastei'ly 
 part of the tatter's farm, lying on 
 the southwest side of Flax pond. 
 It was conveyed to him by deed 
 (tilled February 9, 17J8-9, after he 
 liad l)uill a house upon I hi' tract. 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 5 
 
 This I'arni of 'lO acres he sold hy 
 deed dated August, 17, 1725, to 
 Jonathan Snialley of Harwirh'" 
 and i-eiTioved to that part of 
 Eastham now Wellfleet. He died 
 there January 18, 1700, aped 87.^" 
 
 Joseph Covell, son of Nathaniel 
 and Sarah (Nickerson) Covell, born 
 at Monomoit about 1675, married 
 first Lydia Stewart, daughter of 
 Ensign Hugh of Monomoit, about 
 1700. She died not long after and 
 he married second Hannah Bas- 
 sett, daughter of Nathaniel of Yar- 
 mouth and sisl(>r of Nathan of 
 Monomoit, March 1, 1703-4. His 
 farm was on the east side of 
 Muddy Cove and extended east to 
 the present road from the old 
 cemeteries over to the late Rufus 
 Smith's. R was a part of the old 
 William Nickerson farm. There is 
 no recoi-d of his death or of his 
 chihh'en and no settlement of his 
 estatt!. He was living as late as 
 1732," but does not appear in the 
 tax list of 1755.^'' 
 
 Ephi'aim Covell, youngest son of 
 Nathaniel and Sarah (Nicker'son) 
 Covell. born about 1G77; marriini, 
 first, Mercy , who died Feb. 1, 
 
 1727-8; second, Abigail Ellis of 
 Yarmouth Feb. i, 1729-30, and af- 
 ter her decease, third, Mary Tay- 
 lor of Chatham (intent. Sept. 20, 
 17'i()), who survived him.^" By 
 deed (la led May 19, 1099, he re- 
 ceived from his mother one-foui-th 
 [>art of all her interest in his 
 granilfatliei- Xickei-son's home, 
 farm and in ;ill his other land at 
 Monomoil, his brothers probably 
 receiving their respective shares 
 at the same time.*" His part of 
 his grandfather's farm lay be- 
 tween the two ponds (which ar'e 
 
 next the Slei)lieil Sinilll place) 
 
 and I he road i>ast (be lale Dr. 
 Cii fiord's and extended easterly 
 nearly to IIk^ head of Ryder's 
 Cove. This property he sold in 
 1712 to Edward Bangs of Harwich, 
 rec(nving in exchange thc^ farm of 
 300 acres on the south side of 
 Harwich, formerly belonging to 
 Joseph Severance and Manoah Ellis, 
 which lay between Grassy pond, 
 Flax pond and the sea, and 
 i)0und(,'d west on land of Isaac At- 
 kins and east on land of Scotto 
 Clark." His house was on the 
 south side of Grassy pond. Ho 
 sold the easterly part of this 
 farm to his brother William in 
 1719. In the latter part of his 
 life he was reputed to be a 
 Quaker."" His will, dated July 14, 
 ll'iOr' was proved Sept. 10. 1753."* 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (12) Town Records, 173i. 
 
 (13) Children of Nathaniel and 
 Judith (Nickerson) Covell (from 
 Probate Records, order uncertain) : 
 
 1 Jane, b. ; m. Jonathan Nick- 
 erson, son of Thomas, about 1718. 
 
 2 John, b. ; m. Thankful 
 Bangs, dau. of Jonathan of Har- 
 wich, Aug. 10, 1721 (Har. Rec). 3 
 Nathaniel, b. ; m. Keziah 
 Tuck(M', dau. of Samuel. April 14, 
 1727 (Chat. Rec). 4 Seth, b. ; 
 m. Sarah Hurd, dau. of John of 
 Harwich, Nov. 22, 1732 (Har. Rec.) ; 
 removed to Ridgefield, Conn., 
 about 1747. 5 Hannah, b. ; m. 
 Alexander Cunningham of Nan- 
 tuck(;t, Feb. 8, 1732-3 (Xnii. Rec). 
 Simeon, b. : ni. Thankful Rob- 
 bins of Yai'nioutb, probably dau. of 
 James, Aug. 20, 1740 (Yar. Rec); 
 i-emoved to Ridgefield. Conn. 7 
 Elizabelh, b. ; died single 
 about 1770. This Nathaniel Covell 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 did not settle in the north part of 
 Easthani as stated by Pratt (Hist. 
 of Eastham, 113) ; it was his broth- 
 er William who is referred to. 
 
 (14) M. L. Luce papers. 
 
 (15) Files Superior Court of 
 Judicature, No. 62,893. 
 
 (16) Children of William and 
 Sarah ( ) Cove 11 (order un- 
 certain) : 1 Nathaniel, b. ; m. 
 Esther Atwood, dau. of Medad of 
 Eastham (int. July 29, 1724, East. 
 Rec). Their children probably 
 were Esther, Sarah, Reuben, 
 Philip, Jedidah and Priscilla. 2 
 Ephraim, b. ; m. Mercy Brown 
 of Eastham, July 9, 1730 (East 
 Rec). Their children were Amy, 
 Phebe, Zeruiah, Ephraim, Amy, 
 Solomon, Daniel, Mary, Mercy. 3 
 William, b. ; m. 1st Joanna 
 Atwood, widow of Eleazer of 
 Eastham, June 27, 1734 (East. Rec.) . 
 She died Jan. 16, 1736-7, in her 
 44th year (Hdstn.) and he m. 2nd 
 Elizabeth Webber of Eastham 
 Feb. 16, 1737-8 (East. Rec). Chil- 
 dren: Joanna and David. 4 Prop- 
 ably a son, b. ; m, Mary 
 
 and d. young, leaving a widow and 
 dau. Mary. 5 Prob. a dau., b. 
 ; m. before 1726 Daniel El- 
 dridge of Eastham and d. young. 
 (Files Sup. Ct, of Judicature, No. 
 19,310.) Other children not iden- 
 tified. 
 
 (17) M. L. Luce papers. 
 
 (18) Children of Joseph Covell: 
 By wife Lydia: 1 Lydia, b. July 
 12, 1701 (Chat. Rec), m. Thomas 
 Nickerson, Jr., May 16, 1716 (Chat. 
 Rec). By wife Hannah: (order 
 unceilaiii) 2 Sarah, b. ; m. 
 William Nickerson ("Red Stock- 
 ings"), son of William, about 1723 
 (Osborn Nickerson papei-s). 3 
 James, b. ; m, 1st Mehitable 
 
 Nickerson, dau. of Samuel of 
 Harwich, Aug. 4, 1727 (Har. Rec). 
 She died Nov. 26, 1761, and he m. 
 2nd Ruth (Crowell) Kelley, widow 
 of Amos Kelley of Yarmouth. 4 
 Nathaniel, b. ; m. Mary Chase, 
 
 dau. of Isaac of Yarmouth (int. 
 July 20, 1740, Yar. Rec). 5 Joseph, 
 b. ; m. Hannah Bassett, dau. 
 
 of Nathan, and died not long af- 
 ter marriage, leaving widow and 
 dau. Hannah. 6 Possibly a dau. 
 Constant, who. m. Ebenezer Nick- 
 erson, son of Thomas. 7 Possibly 
 a dau. Dorcas, who m. James 
 Nickerson, son of William. 
 
 (19) The Harwich records give 
 the name of the second wife as 
 Mrs. yVbigail Ellis and of the third 
 wife as Mrs. Mary Taylor, yet 
 one and perhaps both were un- 
 married. Mary Taylor was dau. 
 of John Taylor of Yarmouth and 
 Chatham. Her brother, Seth Tay- 
 lor of Chatham, in his will in 
 1762 mentions "my sister, Mary 
 Covell, which now liveth with me." 
 
 (20) The description in this deed 
 is as follows: "All that part & 
 share of land situate, lying & 
 ])i'ing in Manamoyet aforesaid 
 boumied viz: ye esfern corner a 
 stone marked E near ye harbor, 
 from sd stone Westerly to a stone 
 marked E on ye Southerly side of 
 ye Burling place hill & so from 
 sd stone Westerly to a rock 
 marked C & so westerly to a 
 stone marked E on ye Southerly 
 side of the Comon road wich is 
 ye bounds between sd lands & 
 Joseph Covel's land & so ranging 
 on ye Southerly side of sd Comon 
 highway to another stone marked 
 E & from sd stone Southerly to 
 a white oake tree marked on 
 fuui' sids nere a pond called by 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 ye Indians Nespoxet and so rang- 
 ing by ye North side of sd pond 
 Easterly to a pond called ye pas- 
 ture pond to ye old bounds & so 
 by sd pond untill it come to ye 
 land wich was Abraham Johnson's. 
 [Also a parcel of meadow adjoin- 
 ing meadow of Joseph Covell, im- 
 perfectly described.] With one 
 quarter part of a small neck of 
 laud in said Manamoy comonly 
 called ye short neck, with one 
 quarter part of all my share of 
 the undivided land with all woods, 
 fencings, with whatsoever ys 
 standing, lying or growing on sd 
 lands." Reservation made for 
 "William Nickerson Senr to have 
 a convenient highway from his 
 now dwelling house to ly open to 
 his land at Manamoyet." (Files, 
 Superior Court of Judicature, No. 
 3,919.) 
 
 (21) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, No. 144,324. 
 
 (22) Freeman, History of Gape 
 Cod, II, 512. 
 
 (23) On a stone erected to his 
 memory in Harwich Centre ceme- 
 tery by his grandson, the date of 
 his death is given as Aug. 23, 1748 
 (13 Mayflower Descendant, 239.) 
 This is obviously a mistake, as his 
 will is dated in 1749. 
 
 (24) Children of Ephraim and 
 Mercy Covell (from his will, 
 order uncertain) : 1 Thankful, b. 
 
 ; m. Edward Nickerson, son 
 of Thomas of Chatham, Feb. 24, 
 1724-5 (Har. Rec). 2 Mercy, b. 
 
 ; m. Samuel Burge, son of 
 Samuel of Yarmouth, Sept. 25, 
 1730 (Har. Rec). 3 Sarah, b. ; 
 
 m. Benjamin Nickerson, son of 
 Samuel of Harwich, Oct. 13, 1741 
 (Har. Rec). 4 Mary, b. ; m. 
 
 Thomas Burge, son of Samuel of 
 
 Yarmouth, July 28, 1742 (Har. 
 Rec). 
 
 ELDREDGE. 
 
 Lieut. William Eldredge, son of 
 Robert and Elizabeth (Nickerson) 
 Eldredge, married first, ; 
 
 second, Sarah (Newcomb) Conant, 
 widow of Joshua of Salem and 
 later of Truro, Jan. 30, 170G-7. 
 She was born about 1670. As 
 early as 1700 he had a sloop or 
 small vessel used in coasting 
 trips." He acquired his father's 
 farm at West Chatham in the 
 John K. Kendrick neighborhood, 
 lying between the highway and 
 Oyster pond river, besides con- 
 siderable adjacent land. This 
 property, consisting of about 200 
 acres, he sold by deed dated 
 December 18, 1711, to Mr. Seth 
 Taylor of Yarmouth, a real estate 
 trader,^" and removed to Monomoit 
 Beach, where he had bought land 
 of Joseph Stewart and others. He 
 built a house here and opened a 
 tavern for the entertainment of 
 sailors and others seeking a tem- 
 porary harbor at or near Wreck 
 Cove. After a few years he sold 
 this place to Morris Farris and 
 returned to the main land.*' He 
 was selectman for seven years 
 between 1697 and 1727 and lieu- 
 tenant as early as 1713. His death, 
 which occurred April 27, 1749, is 
 the only one recorded in the first 
 book of town records. There is 
 no settlement of his estate and 
 no list of his children.*' 
 
 Serg. Joseph Eldredge, son of 
 Robert and Elizabeth (Nickerson) 
 Eldredge, perhaps married first a 
 daughter of Teague Jones, a 
 neighbor at Monomoit from 1675 to 
 1683. He acquired hind and prob- 
 
8 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 ably lived for a time in the south 
 part of Yarmoulh nii llie west 
 side of Bass river. His land ad- 
 joined land of Teague Jones and 
 his sons, and the circumstances 
 indicate that it was a family 
 community.^" The Boston records 
 give the marriage of a Joseph 
 Eldredge and Elizabeth Gross Oc- 
 tober 9, 1695. He was living at 
 Monomoit again before 1698, where 
 he settled on a tract of 50 acres 
 on the south side of the Oyster 
 pond, extending from the head of 
 the pond westerly along the pond 
 and river. William Nickerson, 
 son of John, owned and lived upon 
 the farm next southerly, and the 
 present road from Atwood's corner 
 westerly, known as Cedar street, 
 is the old cart way which sep- 
 arated these two farms. His house 
 stood at the east end of the farm 
 in the present John Emery neigh- 
 borhood.^" He was selectman in 
 1710. His will, dated August 27, 
 1728, was proved Soptembor 24, 
 1735. His wife Elizabeth survived 
 him and was living probably as 
 late as 1755. His farm passed to 
 his three sons, subject to the 
 dower of the widow." 
 
 Jehoshaphat Eldredge. son of 
 William and AniK^ (Lumpkin) 
 Eldi'edge of Yarmouth, born in 
 that town about 1658, married 
 Elizabeth , probably daughter 
 
 of Nathaniel and Sarah Govell.''^ 
 He settled on a portion of the old 
 Nickerson or Sarah Covell farm 
 at Chathamport, His house stood 
 on the west side of Crow's pond, 
 near and south of the Williain 
 Covell (latei- Paul Crowell) farm. 
 His will, dated Feb. 9, 1731-2. was 
 proved Nov. 29, 1732. He had a 
 house and lol of land ai Red Riv- 
 
 er neck, which was given to his 
 son Elisha, a neck of land at 
 Chathamport called Short neck, 
 meadow at Ragged nock, meadow 
 at Matchapoxett and woodland near 
 the Red river. His dwelling house 
 and land near Paul Crowell were 
 given to his sons Ebenezer and 
 Barnabas. His wife survived him, 
 and was probably living as late as 
 1755."^^ 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (25) Town Records, 1700. 
 
 (26) Deed from Seth Taylor to 
 Thomas Doane dated March 20, 
 1718-9. M, L. Luce papers. 
 
 (27) See page 209, note 29, 
 Smith, History of Chatham. 
 
 (28) Children of William and 
 Eldredge (order uncertain) : 
 
 1 Rebecca, b. ; m. Ebenezer 
 
 Berry of Harwich, son of John, 
 Oct. 13, 1713 (Hai-. Rec). 2 
 William, b. ; m. Thankful 
 
 Ci'ow(^ll, dau. of John of Yarmouth, 
 March 20, 1718 (Yar. Rec); lived 
 at Harwich. Their children were 
 Reuben, Rebecca, Sarah, Thankful, 
 Bi'idget, W^illiam, Isaac, Jeremiah. 
 3 Isaac, b. ; m. Dorothy ; 
 
 lived at Ilarwiiii. Their children 
 were Ji'i'u.slia. Monica, Mary. 4 
 I'rob. a son Joshua, b. ; m. 
 
 (taxed in 1755). 5 Otht'r 
 children, if any, not identified. 
 
 (29) See a deed from Teague 
 Jones to his son Jeremiah, dated 
 May 29, 1691, conveying land on 
 the west side of Bass river, Yar- 
 mouth. Fil(\s, Superio]- Court of 
 .lodicalure. No. 9,838. 
 
 (30) See a deed from Samuel 
 Sprague to Richard Sears dated 
 March 3, 1707-8. Josiah Paine 
 papers. 
 
 (31) Children of Joseph and 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Eldrodgc (from the will, 
 order uncertain) : 1 Wiliiani, h. 
 
 ; m. Hannah Taylor, dau. 
 of John, Oct. 1, 1713 (note 45, page 
 188, Smith, Hist, of Chatham). 2 
 Tahitiia, b. ; m. William 
 
 Mitchell, son of William. Mai'ch 19, 
 1712-3 (note 45, page 188, Smith, 
 Hist, of Chatham), and died not 
 long after. 3 John, b. ; m. Ru- 
 hamah Doane, dau. of Thomas, 
 Sept. 26, 1728 (Chat. Rec). 4 Jer- 
 emiah, b. ; m. 1st Lydia 
 Hamilton, dau. of Daniel, before 
 1720. She died before Jan. 28, 
 1735-6, and he m. 2nd Thankful 
 
 , perhaps his first wife's 
 sister. 
 
 (32) James Govell mentions Bai-- 
 nabas Eldredge as his cousin. 
 
 (33) Children of Jehoshaphat and 
 Elizabeth (Covell) Eldredge (IVom 
 the will, order uncertain) : 1 Na- 
 thaniel, b. ; m. Sarah Conant, 
 dau. of Joshua of Truro, Sept. 4, 
 1712 (East. Rec). She was b. in 
 Salem April 12, 1605. 2 Elnathan, 
 b. as early as 1694; m. 1st at 
 Yarmouth, Hannah O'Kelley, dau. 
 of Jei-emiah of Yarmouth, where 
 hi^ was living in 1723; m. 2nd 
 Deliverance*, probably dau. of 
 Caleb Lumbert; removed to 
 J)artmouth about 1740. 3 Eliza- 
 beth, b. ; single 1732. 4 Ed- 
 ward, b. July 17, 1702 (Chat. Rec); 
 rn. Mary, dau. of Thomas Nicker- 
 son. 5 Elisha, b. ; m. Fear 
 iNickei'Son. dau. of Robert. 6 
 Ebenezer, b. about 1707, m. Deliv- 
 erance, dau. of William and Sarah 
 iNickerson (tradition through Mr. 
 Josiah Paine), about 1742. 7 Bar- 
 nabas, b. ; m. Mary , about 
 1735. 
 
 GODFREY. 
 
 George Godfrey, eldest son of 
 George and Godfrey of East- 
 
 ham, born January 2, 1662-3, set- 
 tled at Monomoit about 1690. 
 'I'here is no record of his mar- 
 riage. He owned land, probably 
 his homestead, near and north of 
 Ragged Neck.^' He was chosen in 
 1700 with William Nickerson, Sen., 
 to have charge of the building of 
 the first meeting house. There is 
 no mention of him in the town 
 records after this date.'"' 
 
 iMoses Godfrey, son of George 
 and Godfrey of Eastham, born 
 
 Jan. 27, 1667-8, mai-ried Deborah 
 Cook, daughter of Josiah and 
 Deborah (Hopkins) Cook of East- 
 ham. He settled at Monomoit 
 about 1695, in that part called 
 Cotchpinicut (Old Harbor) in the 
 vicinity of the farm of William 
 iXicktM'son, son of the first 
 William.-'" He was early in- 
 terested in r(Migious affairs and 
 was a special friend of Rev. John 
 Latimer, who remembered him 
 and his wife in his will."' When 
 the church was organized in 1720, 
 he and his wife were among the 
 first to join. He soon, however, 
 found himself at odds with Rev. 
 Josei)h Loi'd, the pastor, on ac- 
 count of the attitude of the latter 
 towards Rev. Samuel Osborn and 
 the church at Pochet (now Or- 
 leans) and was excommunicated, 
 together with Mr. Elisha Mayo. 
 They both were at once received 
 again by the Pochet church, to 
 which they had formerly belonged. 
 Mr. Godfrey was selectman in 1710 
 and held other offices. He was a 
 substantial citizen anrl reared a 
 large family, which furnished en- 
 
10 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 ergetic citizens to the town lor 
 nearly two centuries. He died 
 April 16, 1743, aged 75 years, and 
 his wife died seven days later, 
 aged 64. He left a will, dated 
 Feb. 1741-2, proved May 21, 1743, 
 leaving his large property to his 
 seven living sons, Samuel, Moses, 
 David, George, Benjamin, Joshua 
 and Richard, they paying certain 
 legacies. A son Jonathan had 
 died.'* 
 
 Jonathan Godfrey, son of George 
 and Godfrey of Eastham, 
 
 horn June 2i, 1G82, married Mercy 
 Mayo, daughter of Thomas and 
 Barbara (Knowles) Mayo of East- 
 ham, October 30, 1707, and settled 
 at Monomoit soon after. The 
 location of his farm is not known. 
 He appears to have been a worthy 
 citizen, but not prominent. He 
 had an interest in the Common 
 land and was one of those who 
 took pew ground in 1742. His 
 will, dated March 7, 1765, was 
 proved April 23, 1765, and divided 
 his property equally among his 
 children and the heirs of deceased 
 children."" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (34) See deed from William 
 Nickerson and others to Michael 
 SIf'wart dated Oct. 12, 1702, and 
 deed from Samuel Eldredge to 
 Seth Taylor dated May 15, 1711. 
 M. L. Luce papers. 
 
 (35) It is not known whclhor 
 or not he had any clnMren. 
 
 (36) See Smitii, Hist, of Chat- 
 page 142, note 30. 
 
 (37) See Smilh, Hist, of Chat- 
 ham, page 166. 
 
 (39) Children of Moses and Deb- 
 orah (Cook) Godfrey (from the 
 will, order uncertain): 1 Jona- 
 
 than, b. ; m. Mercy Nicker- 
 
 son, dau. of Robert, Sept^ 2, 1725 
 (Chat. Rec). (Admn. on his es- 
 tate March 18, 1729-30. Children, 
 Caleb, Jonathan, Rebecca.) 2 Sam- 
 uel, b. ; m. . 3 Moses, 
 b. ;m. Martha Collins, dau. 
 of John, about 1726. 4 Desire, b. 
 ; m. Nathaniel Ryder, son 
 of John and Esther of Yarmouth, 
 Sept. 26, 1728 (Ghat. Rec). 5 
 George, b. about 1706; m. 1st 
 Mercy Knowles, dau. of Richard, 
 Nov. 1, 1733 (Chat. Rec). She 
 died May 14, 1758, and he m. 2nd 
 Jane (Collins) Bearse, widow of 
 Prince Snow, Jr., and Benjamin 
 Bearse, Nov. 9, 1758 , (Ghat. Rec). 
 6 David, b. : m. Priscilla 
 Baker, dau. of of Yarmouth, 
 Oct. 14, 1731 (Yar. Rec). 7 Mary, 
 b. Sept. 4, 1711 (old Bible record); 
 m. 1st Caleb Nickerson, son of 
 William, about 1732. He died Dec. 
 ■18, 1749 (Ghat. Rec), and she m. 
 2nd Seth Smith, son of John, Nov. 
 18, 1756 (old Bible record). 8 
 Deborah, b. ; m. Thomas 
 Bassett, son of Nathan. 9 Benja-^ 
 min, b. ; m. Elizabeth Hop- 
 kins, dan. of Elisha, Aug. 23, 1738 
 ( Glial . Rec). 10 Elizabeth, bV 
 about 1717; m. Benjamin Bearse, 
 son of Benjamin of Barnstable, May 
 31, 1733 (Ghat. Rec). 11 Joshua, 
 b ; m. Phebe Gould, dau. of 
 Nathaniel of Harwich (Int. Dec 
 17, 1742, Har. Rec). 12 Richard, 
 b. ; m. Azubah Collins, dau. 
 of Solomon, Jan. 10, 1750-1 (Ghat. 
 Rec). He died in 1759, leaving 
 Enoch, b. April 20, 1752, and War- 
 ren, b. April 6, 1757 (Liverpool, N. 
 S. Rec). 
 
 (40) Children of Jonathan and 
 Mercy (Mayo) Godfrey (from ,the 
 will, ov{\q.v uncertain) : 1 Hannah, 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 11 
 
 b. ; m. James Rogers, Jr., of 
 
 Eastham May 21, 1730 (East. Iltu;.). 
 2 Morcy, b. ; m. 1st Ebenezer 
 
 Burgess, son of Thomas, of Yar- 
 mouth (Int. Feb. 22, 1734-5, Yar. 
 RtH;.) ; m. 2nd Elkaiiah Rogers, son 
 of Joseph, of EasLham (Int. June 
 25, 1748, East. Rec). 3 Thomas, 
 b. ; m. 1st Bethiah Eldredge, 
 
 dau. of Nathaniel, June 7, 1733 
 (Chat. Rec.) ; m. 2nd Mrs. Mary 
 Covell of Eastham, March 8, 1753 
 (East. Rec.). 4 Ruth, b. about 
 1719; m, 1st John Gould, son of 
 Nathaniel of Harwich (Int. Aug. 
 18, 1737, East. Rec); m. 2nd 
 Thomas Myrick of Harwich. 5 
 Lydia, b. ; m. 1st Joseph My- 
 
 rick, son of of Eastham (Int. 
 
 Feb. 5, 1742-3, East. Rec); m. 2nd 
 Samuel Smith, Jr., of Eastham 
 (Int. .July 3, 1756, East. Rec). 6 
 Jephthah, b. ; m. Bathsheba 
 
 Eldredge, dau. of Nathaniel (See 
 deed dated April 1?, 1759, Warren 
 J. Nickerson papers). 7 Mehitable, 
 b. ; m. Nathaniel Hamilton, 
 
 son of Thomas, Sept. 7, 1749 
 (Chat. Rec). 8 Anna, b. : m. 
 
 1st Eldredge; m. 2nd James 
 
 Freeman Dec. 8, 1703 (Chat. Rec). 
 9 Barbara, b. ; m. Young; 
 
 died before her father. 
 
 HAMILTON. 
 
 Serg. Daniel Hamilton, probably 
 son of Thomas and Lydia Hamil- 
 ton of Rhode Island. Sandwich and 
 Eastham," born in 1G70, married 
 at Eastham Mary, daughter of 
 Samuel Smith, about 1693 and 
 r.'sided there till after the birth 
 of their second child. By the will 
 of her father, who died in 1697, 
 his wife came into possession of 
 one-half of two farms at Monomoit 
 locitcd at Tom's Neck, and the 
 
 family removed thither. His first 
 wife having died, he married 
 second August 5, 1708, Sarah 
 (Smith) Snow, widow of Joseph 
 Snow of Eastham,'- and daughter 
 of John and Hannah Smith of 
 Eastham. His third wife was 
 Desire Springer, widow of Edward 
 Springer of Newport, R. I., and 
 daugliter of James Gorham of 
 Barnstable, whom he married at 
 Barnstable Dec 15, 1715. His 
 fourth wife, who survived him, 
 was named Elizabeth, perhaps 
 (laughter of John Taylor. Serg. 
 Hamilton, with his brother Thom- 
 as, served under Capt. John Gor- 
 ham in the expedition to Canada 
 in 1690 and received therefor a 
 share of land at Dunbarton, N. H., 
 in 1735." He was active in local 
 affaii's, being selectman three 
 years, constable several years and 
 holding other positions. He was 
 styled Sergeant as early as 1710. 
 Through his first wife, he was 
 interested not only in the farm at 
 Tom's Neck, but in the Common 
 lands and the Great Beach. He 
 died December 8, 1738, aged 68 
 years. His will, written by Rev. 
 Mr. Lord, dated January 20, 
 1735-6, was proved March 22, 
 1738-9. In it he calls Sarah, Eliz- 
 abeth and Thankful his three 
 youngest da ughters."^ 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (41) Note the following entry 
 in the Sandwich town records: 
 ■'Thomas Hambleton, the son of 
 Thomas Hamblton and lidia his 
 wife was bourne the 17 of Febuary 
 1671, borne at Rohd Hand." 14 
 Mayflowei- Descendant, 170. 
 
 (42) "Nathaniel Snow of Lawful 
 Age Tesfifii'th and Sailh that on 
 
12 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 or aboute ye year 1709 I went to 
 Chatham to Live with my Father 
 in Law, Daniel Hambleton, Late 
 of said Chatham, Deceased, and I 
 saw my said Father, John Atkins, 
 Theophilus Mayo, Thomas Mayo, 
 John Smith and Joshua Higgins 
 Mow and Carry of hay from Mon- 
 omoit Great Beach, so called, for 
 seven years together without Mo- 
 lestation. Sworn in Court July 
 1753. Att. Saml Winthrop Clerk." 
 Files, Superior Court of Judica- 
 ture, No. 71,149. 
 
 (43) State Archives, vol. 114, 
 page 116; petition of Shuhael Gor- 
 ham June 12, 1735. Acts and Re- 
 solves of Mass. 
 
 (44) Children of Daniel Hamil- 
 ton (from the will and Eastham 
 records). 1 Grace, b. Aug. 3, 
 1694; d. Aug. 20, 1694 (East. Rec). 
 
 2 Thomas, b. Sept. 1, 1695, m. Re- 
 becca Mayo, dau. of Nathaniel of 
 Eastham, May 3, 1716 (East. Rec). 
 
 3 Lydia, b. ; m. Jeremiah El- 
 dredge, son of Joseph, about or 
 before 1720. 4 Mary, b. ; m. 
 Judah Mayo, son of Thomas, of 
 I'^astham (Int. Jan. 27, 1721-2, East. 
 Rec). 5 Samuel, b. ; m. 1st 
 -Bethiah Stewart, dau. of Michael, 
 May 25, 1727 (Ghat. Rec); m. 2n(i 
 Mrs. Mercy Ellis of Harwich, Oct. 
 3, 1741 (Har. Rec). 6 Daniel, b. 
 
 ; m. 1st, Abigail , about 
 
 1729; m. 2nd Mrs Sarah Lewis of 
 Harwich (Int. July 21, 1750, Chat. 
 Rec). 7 Sarah, b. ; m. Theo- 
 
 dore Harding, son of Joshua, of 
 Eastham, .Jan. 23, 1728-9 (Chat, 
 Rec). 8 Joseph, b. ; m. 
 
 Martha Atkins, dau. of Joseph, of 
 Eastiiam, .Jan. 22, 1731-2 (East. 
 R<'C) ; lived at Eastham. 9 Eliza- 
 lt<'th, b. ; m. Solh 'J\vyIor, son 
 
 or John, aljouf 1730. 10 Thnnklui, 
 
 b. ; single in 1736; perhaps 
 
 m. Jeremiah Eldredge as 2nd wife 
 after sister's death. The last four 
 children were by wife Sarah. 
 
 HARDING. 
 
 Capt. Joseph Harding, eldest son 
 of Joseph and Bethiah (Cook) 
 Harding of Eastham, born July 8, 
 1G67, married Dinah , probably 
 daughter of Tristram Hedges, and 
 settled at Monomoit prior to 1693 
 in the southwest quarter of the 
 town. He was selectman seven 
 years, treasurer two years and 
 held other local offices. He be- 
 came lieutenant of the military 
 company as early as 1702 and cap- 
 tain as early as 1706, holding that 
 position till 1715. He was prob- 
 ably one of the first members of 
 the church. He had interests in 
 the Common lands and with 
 Thomas Atkins, bought of Josephus 
 Ouason in 1797 tlie interest of the 
 latter in the Quason lands in 
 Harwich, later receiving one-six- 
 teiMith part in the division of 
 these lands'^' In 1721 he took the 
 contract to build a new parsonage 
 for Rev. Mr. Lord, tiut later, after 
 he had begun, the town cancelled 
 the agreement and controversy en- 
 sued. He lived on the neck south- 
 east of Cockle Cove, then called 
 Ragged Neck, the whole of wliich 
 he owned at his death. Harding's 
 Beach, which adjoins this neck, 
 was named for him. His wife 
 Dinah died January 28, 1738, aged 
 76 years. He died early in 1745, 
 leaving a will dated February 16, 
 1738-9, proved May 8, 1745, The 
 homestead at Ragged Neck was 
 given to his son Neheniiah. His 
 soil Maziah had a homestead and 
 land on each side of the road 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 U'adiiif? 'Oiil of the nock to the 
 highway, bought by the testator 
 oi' Samuel Taylor iu part and of 
 Michael Stewart in part.*" 
 
 NO'J'ES. 
 
 (45) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, No. 7,()2G. 
 
 (4G) Children of Joseph and 
 Dinah [Hedges(?)] Harding (from 
 the will, order uncertain) : 1 Jo- 
 seph, b. ; m. 1st Jane Adams, 
 dau. of John of Boston and sister 
 of Rev. Hugh Adams, July 23, 1713 
 (note 45, page IHS, Smith, Hist, 
 of Chatham) ; m. 2nd Mary 
 Stewart, widow of Michael, 
 betw, 1710 and 1720. 2 Maziah, b. 
 about 1G93; m. Bethiah Hawes, 
 dau. of Isaac, about 1721. 3 Dinah, 
 b. about 1700; m. 1st, William 
 Baker, Jr., of Yarmouth, who d. 
 soon after marriage; m. 2nd John 
 Young, son of David of Eastham 
 (Int. March 10, 1721, East. Rec). 
 4 Bethiah, b. ; m. William 
 Nickerson, son of Thomas, before 
 Oct. 1725. 5 Priscilla, b. ; m. 
 Joseph Howes, son of Thomas, 
 Feb. 2, 172G-7 (Chat. Rec). 6 
 (jirace, b. ; m. ; d. before 
 her father, leaving dau. Mary. 7 
 Mary, b. ; m. John Buck, son 
 of , after 1720. 8 Nehe- 
 miah, b. about 1708; m. Priscilla 
 Collins, dau. of Joseph of East- 
 ham, Jan. 14, 1730-1 (East. Rec). 
 The Harding Gen. by Rev. Abner 
 Morse mentions a son John who 
 m. a Deborah Nickerson, bul the 
 will of Joseph Harding does not 
 mention him or any childi-en of 
 ills. Syi\;ni\is Harding, a grand- 
 son of Josi'iih, iiad a son John 
 who m. Doiini'ali Nickerson, Jr., 
 Sept. 15, 17C)7 (Cliaf. Rec). 
 
 HOWES. 
 
 Capt. Thonia.ii Howes, son of 
 Joseph and O-*^"^- Howes of Yar- 
 mouth, born about 1080, married 
 at Eastham Dec. 11, 1701, Content 
 Smith, daughter of Daniel and 
 Mary (Young) Smith of Eastham." 
 By deed dated April 8, 1703, he 
 purchased of William Griffith, 
 S(Mi., all the real estate of the 
 latter at Monomoit, consisting of 
 a homestead lot of 20 acres in the 
 Christopher Smith ncighborood, 
 one-half of 20 acres on the Great 
 Neck and some meadow land (in 
 all about 40 acres).'* Two years 
 later by deed dated October 22, 
 1705, he purchased of Philip Grif- 
 fith a lot of four acres adjoining 
 the homestead, the other half of 
 the 20 acre lot on the Great Neck 
 and anoth(M' lot of meadow."" 
 
 Still lat(M-, by deed dated April 0, 
 1713, he purchased of James El- 
 dredge, the farm inherited by the 
 latter from his father, Nicholas 
 Eldredge, which adjoined a portion 
 of the Howes farm.''" He was 
 selectman two years and treasurer 
 two years. He was ensign of the 
 military (company in 1715, later 
 lieutenant and then captain. His 
 will, dated May 29, 1730, was 
 proved October 19, 1738. His 
 widow survived him. His real es- 
 tate was diviili'd between his three 
 sons." 
 
 NOISES. 
 
 (47) Th(^ Howes Genealogy by 
 Mr. J. C. Howes is incoi'rect in 
 giving the wife of Thomas as 
 Rebecca Howes. See the will of 
 said Daniel Smith in Barnstable 
 Probate Records. 
 
 (48) "Thirty acres of which 
 Farm or Tenement is yt on which 
 yv dwcliinghouse now stands. 
 
14 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 which hath a highway through it 
 down to ye Inlands so Called, ye 
 land on ye North side of sd way 
 where ye house stands was bought 
 of William Nickerson deceased, 
 with ye priviledge of Comon for 
 Cutting wood feeding or grasing 
 as pr deed expressed under hand 
 of ye sd William Nickerson; and 
 ye land on ye South side of sd 
 way bought of James Maker, 
 excepting four acres of sd Tract 
 which was formerly disposed of to 
 my son Philip Griffeth x x x and 
 also one half of a twenty acre lot 
 upon ye Great Neck & is Called 
 ye fourth lot, my son Philip Grif- 
 feth owning ye other half — with 
 two acres of salt and fresh 
 meadow, one acre bought of Trus- 
 trum Hedges & one acre bought of 
 Samuel Nickerson, joyning both 
 together & lyeth on ye South side 
 of ye Oyster pond & is on ye 
 Easterly side of ye meadow of 
 Lieut Eldred deceased. With ye 
 Interest in ye Meeting house ac- 
 cording to charge paid in building 
 ye Same by ye said William Grif- 
 feth." Old Barnstable Deeds, 
 book 4, page 87. M. L. Luce 
 papers. 
 
 (49) Forty acres more or less, 
 bounded "beginning on ye south 
 side at a stone next ye lands of 
 ye sd Thomas Howes & on ye 
 west side it is bounded by ye sd 
 Howesos land & John Paddock's 
 land, from sd stone to a red oak 
 tree, thence to ye Corner of ye 
 fence, thence to a red oak tree by 
 ye Cart way, thence by a sett off 
 Easterly to a pine tree marked, 
 thence a little Southerly to a 
 white oak tree by a swamp side 
 & so through ye Swamp to an- 
 other white oak li'ee & thence by 
 
 ye swamp to ye Indian bounds, 
 leaving ye highway to ye Jury 
 way, thence by ye sd Jury way 
 Westward to ye first mentioned 
 stone. And also ye one half of a 
 twenty acre lot on ye Stage Neck, 
 ye other half of said lot is now 
 in ye tenure & possession of ye 
 sd Thomas Howes. And also half 
 an acre of meadow, lying in 
 Grigeries Neck adjoining to David 
 Melvels meadow & was formerly 
 William Griffith Junrs meadow." 
 Old Barnstable Deeds, book 5, page 
 49. M. L, Luce papers. 
 
 (50) Sixteen acres, "bounded on 
 ye Southwest by an old ditch & 
 post & rail fence down to ye 
 White Pond so called & then 
 bounded Northwest by sd Pond 
 down to ye land of John Eldredg 
 which was set out to him as a 
 part of his Father's farm to a 
 Beach tree marked, thence Easter- 
 ly to a markt red oak tree near 
 ye head of a swamp & stone set 
 in ye ground & thence upon ye 
 same range straight over a fresh 
 pond to ye other side thereof. 
 And then bounded by sd Pond 
 tiowii to meet with ye other land 
 of ye sd Thomas Howes: Then 
 it is bounded Easterly by ye land 
 of ye sd Thomas Howes up to ye 
 land now in occupation of Lieut. 
 Setli Taylor which he bought of 
 Lieut. Eldredge (excepting only ye 
 highway or road throu) And then 
 by ye land of sd Taylor to ye 
 first mentioned ditch & post & 
 rails (only still allowing to Eliz- 
 abeth, ye mother of ye sd James 
 to gather cherrys & other fruit 
 for her spending in ye summer 
 time & ye sd James to take off ye 
 timber & old bords of ye old house 
 thereon)." Old Barnstable Deeds, 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 15 
 
 book 6, page 513, Luce papers. 
 
 (51) Children of Thomas and 
 Content (Smith) Howes (from the 
 will, order uncertain) : 1 Daniel, 
 b. about 1702; m. Elizabeth Doane, 
 dau. of Thomas, about 1723. 2 
 Elizabeth, b. ; no. Samuel 
 
 Stewart, son of Hugh, as his 2nd 
 wife about 1730. 3 Mary, b. ; 
 
 single in 1736; m. Zachariah Sears 
 of Yarmouth, as 2nd wife, Dec. 14, 
 17C8 (Ghat. Rec.) 4 Joseph, b. 
 about 1708; m. Priscilla Harding, 
 dau. of Joseph, Feb. 2, 1726-7 
 (Ghat. Rec). 5 Thankful, b. ; 
 
 prob. m. Paul Ryder, son of 
 of Yarmouth (Int. Oct. 1, 1742, Yar. 
 Rec). 6 Thomas, b. about 1712; m. 
 1st Rebecca Sears, dau. of Daniel, 
 about 1730. She died of smallpox 
 Dec 10, 1765, and he m. 2nd Hope 
 (Sears) Doane, widow of Nchemi- 
 ah. 7 Hannah, b. ; prob. m. 
 
 Joseph Harding, son of Maziah, 
 S<'pt. 17. 1747 (Ghat. Rec). 
 
 LUMBERT. 
 
 Caleb Luinbci't, son of Caleb and 
 Lumbert of Barnstable and 
 Monomoit, born ; mai-riod Sept. 
 
 1. 1704, Elizabeth Small, daughter 
 of Edward and Mary (Woodman) 
 Small. By deed dated Feb. 22, 
 1709-10, he purchased of Joseph 
 and Ephraim Covell all their in- 
 terest in the Common lands at 
 Red River Neck and was the first 
 to settle there." In the division 
 of the Common lands in 1713, a 
 considerable tract in this neck 
 was laid out to him, on which he 
 had, no doubt, previously settled. 
 He had trouble with the adjoining 
 owners. In 1722 he was sued by 
 Robert Nickerson, son of William, 
 for cutting wood over the line, 
 but successfully defended himself 
 
 on appeal."* In or about 1733 he 
 was attorney for Katherine, widow 
 of Nathaniel Nickerson, having 
 charge of her property in the 
 town in her absence."* By deed 
 dated Feb. 14, 1739, he conveyed 
 to Shubael Gorham, Jr., his rights 
 in Narragansett Township No. 7, 
 (Gorham, Me.) derived from his 
 father." In 1741 he brought suit 
 against Ebenezer and Barnabas El- 
 dredge on account of the adjoin- 
 ing meadow land of said El- 
 dredge.''" He appears to have 
 moved from town or to have died 
 soon after this date, there being 
 no further mention of him. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (52) "All that our right & In- 
 terest in & to a neck of land 
 called the Red River Neck in said 
 Manamoy, that is, our right in & 
 to the upland in said neck, being 
 two fifths parts of one third of 
 sd neck, the whole of sd neck is 
 bounded viz: at the Northeasterly 
 coi'ner where a spring Issues out 
 into the pond thence running on 
 a straight line to the cartway to 
 a little swamp neer adjoining to 
 said Cart way to the Easterly side 
 of said Swamp, thence running 
 Westerly by said Cartway as [it] 
 runs to the head of the Red River 
 hollow." Old Barnstable Deeds, 
 book 5, page 563. Files, Superior 
 Coin^t of Judicature, No. 8,005. 
 
 (53) Records, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, vol. 5, page 171; files 
 of said Court, No. 19,259. 
 
 (54) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, Nos. 37,166 and 38,588. 
 
 (55) York, Me., Deeds, book 27, 
 page 78. 
 
 (56) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, No. 55,602. 
 
16 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 (57) Children of Caleb and Eliz- 
 abeth (Small) Lumbcii (Chat. 
 Rec): 1 Mary, b. June 4, 1705. 
 2 Deliverance, b. April 4, 1710; m. 
 probably Elnathan Eldredge, son of 
 Jehoshaphat. 3 Elizabeth, b. April 
 1, 1714; m. Seth Hammond of 
 ]3artmouth Aug. 23, 1738 (Chat. 
 Rec), and lived there. 4 Caleb, b. 
 Sept. 20, 1717; m. . 5 Edward, 
 
 h. March 11, 1721-2; m. . One 
 of these sons m. Nelly Eldredge, 
 dau. of Nathaniel. 
 
 NICKERSON. 
 
 William .Mckerson, son of John 
 and Sarah (Williams) Nickerson, 
 married Hannah . He settled 
 
 on the Great Neck (Stage Neck) 
 probably on the lot conveyed to 
 his father Nickerson in 1674 (see 
 note 83, page 124, Smith, History 
 of Chatham). His house stood 
 on the west side of the road 
 to the wharf near the present 
 J3avis place and his land extended 
 west along the south side of Cedar 
 street to and beyond the Cedar 
 Swamp." He also had land on 
 the east side of the road near the 
 Joseph Atwood place. He was 
 selectman two years and treasurer 
 one year. He and some of his 
 children signed their names Nich- 
 olson, doubtless through the in- 
 fluence of Rev, Mr. Lord, who 
 evidently considered it the proper 
 spelling. His will, written by Mr. 
 Lord, was dated August 6, 1735, 
 and proved Oct. 19, 1738. His wife 
 Hannah survived him and was 
 living as late as 1755. He gave 
 the land on the east side of the 
 road to his son David, that on 
 the west side, with the dwelling 
 house and outbuildings, to his son 
 William. He had land at Soaquan- 
 
 set, which he gave to Thomas Bea, 
 son of his daughter Martha, de- 
 ceased, also meadow land bought 
 of David Melvil at a place called 
 Melvil's flats.''" 
 
 John Nickerson, son of John and 
 Sarah (Williams) Nickerson, mar- 
 ried Mary July 11, 1706. He 
 lived on his father's farm between 
 the White pond and Emery's pond 
 near the centre of the town at 
 that time. He was selectman 
 three years and hold other offices. 
 His will, dated May 27, 1702, was 
 proved Sept. 7, 1762. His only son 
 Elisha having removed to Nova 
 Scotia, he gave his farm and other 
 property to his maiden daughters, 
 Mary and Elizabeth. He had 
 meadow bought of David Melvil 
 and land and meadow adjoining 
 John Buck's."" 
 
 Lieut. Thomas Nickerson, eldest 
 son of William and Mercy 
 (Williams) Nickerson, born at 
 Monomoit about 1670, married 
 Mary, daughter of Jonathan Bangs 
 of Harwich. She was born April 
 14, 1671. He settled at Cotchpin- 
 icut Nock (Old Harbor) on land 
 lying just west of his father's 
 farm there. He was selectman 
 two years, town clerk twice for 
 shoL't periods and held other of- 
 fices. Ills wife joined the Har- 
 wicli clim'cli Nm-. 14, 1708, and he 
 and his childi'cn were all bap- 
 tized Oct. 9, 1709. His wife was 
 dismissed to the church in Chat- 
 ham July 7, 1728." He was lieu- 
 tenant of the military company as 
 (!arly as 1708. By deed dated July 
 11, 1706, he acquired the interest 
 which his mother had by fore- 
 closvu'e in the land adjoining him 
 on the west and in the possession 
 of Dogamus, Stephen ond Morti- 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 17 
 
 quit, Indians. They disputed his 
 title and successfully defended 
 themselves in the courts."* There 
 were about 100 acres in this tract, 
 which bordered on Ryder's cove 
 and Pleasant bay.*^ His will, 
 dated August 4, 1735, was proved 
 August 3, 1736. He devised his 
 dwelling house and land connected 
 witli it and one-half of Ram 
 Island to his nephew, Samuel 
 Hinckley, who lived with him. His 
 son Nathaniel received the other 
 half of the island. His other sons 
 had already received their por- 
 tions.** 
 
 Ensign William Nickerson, second 
 son of William and Mercy 
 (Williams) Nickerson-, born about 
 1G75, married first Deliverance, 
 probably daughter of Caleb liUm- 
 Ix'rt, Sen., of Monomoit. She died 
 probably about 171G and he mar- 
 ried second Anna Atwood, daugh- 
 ter of Eldad Atwood of Eastham, 
 October 24, mi."^ By deed dated 
 March 25, 1697, he purchased of 
 John Quason a lot of land at 
 Cotchpinicut, on which he prob- 
 ably lived."" His father, by diu'd 
 dated October 13, 1702, conveyed 
 to him the land at Monomesset 
 Neck."' He was plaintiff for the 
 "proprietors" in the dispute over 
 the division of the Common lands. 
 He is styled Ensign as early as 
 1706. He was selectman two years 
 and for many years carried on 
 the b\isiness of tanning hides. 
 There was a demand for leather 
 in those days not only for shoes 
 but for making the leathern 
 trousers which nearly everyone 
 wore at his work.- About 1740 he 
 bought of the heirs of his brother 
 Nathaniel a part of the real estate 
 of the latter. He took pew ground 
 
 in the church in 1742. He died 
 between October 19, 1742, date of 
 the codicil to his will, and No- 
 vember 15, 1742, date of its pro- 
 bate. His wife Anna survived him 
 and married August 25, 1747, Ben- 
 jamin Bearse, Sen., of Barnstable, 
 who died the following year. He 
 gave the tan house and tanning 
 business to his sons Caleb, Na- 
 thaniel and Eldad."* 
 
 Nathaniel Nickerson, son of 
 William and Mercy (Williams) 
 Nickerson, born about 1680, mar- 
 ried Katherine Stewart, daughter 
 of Hugh, May 13, 1702. He settled 
 at Ghathamport on the west side 
 of Frostfish creek. His home- 
 stead is described in 1728 as 
 bounded "by Capt. Thomas Howes' 
 land on ye South side and by 
 Ellsha Mayou's land on ye west 
 and north side and by a salt creek 
 on ye East side.""' He was town 
 treasurer in 1723 and 1724. Ad- 
 ministration on his estate was 
 granted to his widow Katherine, 
 May 20, 1725. He left, beside the 
 homestead held by deed from his 
 father, a parcel of upland, meadow 
 and woodland held by deed from 
 Ebenezer Stewart, upland at "the 
 Stage" by deed from William 
 Mitchell, and land at Cotchpinicut 
 by deed from his father. Elisha 
 Mayo was appointed guardian of 
 his daughter Mercy Sept. 8, 1726. 
 His widow leased the homestead 
 in 1728 to Sanmel Godfrey'" and 
 probably removed with most of 
 the family to Falmouth, where 
 her daughter Experience had mar- 
 ried. She appointed Caleb Lum- 
 bert an attorney for her, who had 
 trouble with Godfrey, and in 1733 
 leased the property to Elisha Hop- 
 kins.'' The widow Katherine died 
 
18 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 about 1740. There is no list of 
 the children." 
 
 Robert Nickerson, youngest son 
 of William and Mercy (Williams) 
 Nickerson, born about 1084, mar- 
 ried Rebecca Jones, daughter of 
 Jeremiah of Yarmouth, March 28, 
 1706-7. He lived on his father's 
 farm and came into full possession 
 of it on the death of his father 
 in 1719, subject to the life estate 
 of the widow. By deed dated May 
 15, 1729, he conveyed all his 
 property to his sons James, Rob- 
 ert, Sylvanus and Elkanah, re- 
 serving the use and improvement 
 to himself and wife.'''' Soon after 
 this his creditors became more 
 pressing. Richard Knowles, Thom- 
 as Doane, Samuel Godfrey, Ben- 
 jamin Ashton and others secured 
 judgments against him about 
 1730.^* His will, dated January IC, 
 1755, and proved February 4, 1755, 
 mentions no other son but El- 
 kanah. His widow died about 
 1765." 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (58) A deed dated March IG, 
 1767, from William Nicholson to 
 Joseph Atwood gives the following 
 description of this land: Thirty 
 acres bounded "Easterly by the 
 Road to Stage Harbour Northerly 
 by the land of John and Jeremiah 
 Eldredge, Westerly by land of 
 Solomon Eldredge as the fence 
 stands and by other land of the 
 grantor and in ye Swamp, South- 
 erly by land of Seth Eldredge's 
 heirs." Joseph Atwood papers. 
 
 (59) Children of William and 
 Hannah ( ) Nickerson (from 
 the will, order uncertain) : 1 Mar- 
 tha, b. ; m. John B(ui of East- 
 ham March 30, 1729 (East. Rec). 
 
 2 Hannah, b. ; single in 1735. 
 
 3 David, b. ; m. Elizabeth 
 Mayo, dau. of Nathaniel, of East- 
 ham, Aug. 7, 1731 (East. Rec). 4 
 Elizabeth, b. ; single in 1735. 
 5 Sarah, b. ; m. Thomas Ash 
 before 1735. 6 William, b, ; m. 
 Hannah Baker, dau. of Jonathan (?) 
 of Yarmouth (Int. Jan. 28, 1738-9, 
 Yar. Rec). 7 Ruth, b. ; single 
 in 1735. 8 Zilpha, b. ; m. 
 Thomas Baxter, son of Thomas, of 
 Yarmouth (Int. Nov. 8, 1740, Yar. 
 Rec). 
 
 (60) Children of John and Mary 
 ( ) Nickerson (from the will, 
 order uncertain) : 1 Elisha, b. 
 March 7, 1706-7 (Chat. Rec); m. 
 Desire ; moved to Harwich and 
 about 1761 to Liverpool, N. S., 
 thence to Argyle, N. S. 2 Mary, b. 
 
 ; single in 1762. 3 Eliza- 
 beth, b. ; single in 1762. 4 
 Bethiah, b. about 1715; died Aug. 
 7, 1759, aged 44 (Hdstn.). 5 
 
 ; m. Prince Young, son of 
 John, and died leaving a dau. 
 Patience. 
 
 (61) Harwich Church Records; 
 IV Mayflower Descendant, 247; VI 
 ib. 155. 
 
 (62) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, Nos. 7,043 and 13,779; 
 Records, Superior Court of Judica- 
 ture. 
 
 (63) Page 99, note, Smilh. His- 
 tory of Chatham. 
 
 (64) Children of Thomas and 
 Mary (Bangs) Nickerson (all bap- 
 tized at Harwich Oct. 9, 1709, by 
 Rev. Nathaniel Stone, who records 
 their names in the following or- 
 der, doubtless according to age) : 
 1 Jonathan, b. ; m. 1st Jane 
 Covell, dau. of Nathaniel, about 
 1718. She died about 1728, and 
 he m. 2nd Sarah Collins, dau. of 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 49 
 
 Jonathan of Chatham and Truro; 
 moved to Harwich about 1735 and 
 to Provincetown about 1742. 2 
 Mercy, b. ; m. Seth Growell, 
 
 son of Thomas of Yarmouth, 
 March 23, 1714 (note 45, page 188, 
 Smith, History of Chatham). 3 
 Tliomas, b. Dec. 24, 1G90 (Chat. 
 Roc.) ; m, 1st Lydia Covell, dau. 
 of Joseph, May 16. 1716 (Ghat. 
 Rec). She died Oct. 18, 1750 
 (Chat. Rec), and he m. 2nd Mrs. 
 Sarah Crowell, widow of John 
 (Int. July 5, 1751) (Ghat. Rec.) ; m. 
 3rd Mrs. Bethiah Harding, widow 
 of Maziah, Dec. 20, 1763 (Ghat. 
 Rec). 4 WilHam, b. ; m. 1st 
 
 Bethiah Harding, dau. of Joseph, 
 Jx^fore Oct. 1725; m. 2nd Sarah 
 Bassett; moved to Ridgefield, Conn., 
 in 1747. 5 Ebenezer, b. ; m. 
 
 Constant, prob. a dau. of Joseph 
 Covell. 6 Edward, b. ; m. 
 
 Thankful Covell, dau. of Ephraim 
 of Harwich, Feb. 2i, 1724-5 (Har. 
 Rec.) ; lived in Harwich. 7 Na- 
 thaniel, b. ; m. Hainiah ; 
 moved to Ridgefield, Conn., in 
 1747, thence to Putnam Co., N. Y. 
 8 Mary, b. ; m. Edward El- 
 dredge, son of Jehoshaphat. 9 
 Thaid<ful, b. ; prob. m. Na- 
 thaniel Nickerson, son of William, 
 about 1738. 
 
 (65) "William Nickerson and 
 haimah Elis ann atwood were 
 joyned in marriage on the 24th 
 day of October 1717 at Chathani 
 by Peter Thacher jus. of peace." 
 (Yar. Rec.) This entry probably 
 means "Hannah alias Ann Atwobd," 
 "alls" and possibly "elis" being a 
 common spelling for "alias." The 
 marriage to Deliverance appears 
 from Osborn Nickerson papei's. 
 
 (06) Note 13, page 137, Smith, 
 History of Chatham. 
 
 (07) Osborn Nickerson papers. 
 
 (68) Children of William Nick- 
 erson (from the will, order uncer- 
 tain). By wife Deliverance: 1 
 William, b. May 15, 1701 (O. 
 Nickerson papers) ; m. Sarah 
 Covell, dau. of Joseph, about 1723. 
 
 2 Deliveranse, b. ; m. Ab- 
 raham Chase of Harwich; 
 moved to Tisbury before 1744. 
 
 3 iMercy, b . ; m. Seth 
 Paddock, son of Robert, April 13, 
 1727 (Ghat. Rec.) ; died before her 
 father, leaving two children. 4 
 
 "Elizabeth, b. ; m. Thomas At- 
 
 kins, son of Thomas, about 1726; 
 died before her father. 5 Caleb, b. 
 ; m. Mary Godfrey, dau. of 
 Moses, about 1732. 6 James, b. 
 ; m. Dorcas , prob. dau. 
 
 of Joseph Covell; moved to Ridge- 
 field, Conn,, about 1747. 7 Joshua, 
 b. (of age in 1734) living in 1739. 
 8 Nathaniel, b. (under age in 
 1734) ; m. prob. Thankful Nicker- 
 son, dau. of Thomas, about 1738. 
 By wife Anna: 9 Anna, b. 
 m. Jonathan Crowell, son of Isaac 
 of Yarmouth, July 13, 1738 (Ghat 
 Rec.) ; moved to Barrington, N. S. 
 about 1762. (Their children, ac- 
 cording to Barrington records 
 were David, Joanna, Deborah 
 Azubah, Mary, Jonathan, Ruth 
 Sylvanus and Freeman. They did 
 not have a son Samuel, who went 
 to Connecticut, and other chil- 
 dren, as given in Freeman's His- 
 tory of Cape Cod, 11, 598, in 
 Crowell Genealogy, etc. These lat- 
 ter were children of Jonathan 
 Crowell (son of Paul) and Anna 
 (Collins) Crowell, who moved 
 about 1762 from Chatham to Liv- 
 erpool, N. S.) 10 Deborah, b. ; 
 m. William Padishall between 
 Sept. 1739, and Oct. 1742. 11 El- 
 
20 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 dad, b. about, 1723; m. Mary Ga- 
 boon, dau. or Jaines of Eastbarn, 
 Oct, 31, 1744 (East. Rec.) ; moved 
 to Barrington, N. S., about 1762. 
 
 (09) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, No. 21,870. 
 
 (70) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, No. 21,870. 
 
 (71) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicature, No. 37,100. 
 
 (72) Cbildren of Nathaniel and 
 Katberine (Stewart) Nickerson 
 (order uncertain) : 1 Experience, b. 
 
 ; m. Tbomas Parker of Fal- 
 mouth Feb. 12, 1726-7 (Chat. Rec). 
 2 Mercy, b. about 170!); m. Abra- 
 Jiam Chase in Falmouth March 5, 
 1732 (Falmouth Rec), and lived 
 in Tisbury. (Their children ac- 
 cording to Tisljury records were 
 Valentine, Zaccheus, David, Wait- 
 still Mercy, and Margaret.) 3 Na- 
 thaniel, b. about 1718; m. Ruth 
 Young of Falmouth (Int. Jan. 21, 
 1742, Fal. Rec). 4 Samuel (prob- 
 ably) b. ; m. Jane Hunt, dau. 
 of William of Chilmark, July 5, 
 1744 (Gliil. Roc). (They had chil- 
 dren: .Jane, Boriah and Nathaniel.) 
 5 Shubael, b. ; m. Mary Ham- 
 ilton, dau. of Samuel of Chatham, 
 Dec. 23, 1748 (Ghat. Roc), and re- 
 moved to Tisbury. He, his wife 
 and children, Katberine, Samuel 
 and Job, were warned from Bos- 
 ton July, 1753 (Files, Superior 
 Court of Judicature, No. 71,573). 
 Other children, if any, not 
 known. 
 
 (73) M. L. Luce papers. 
 
 (74) Records, Superioi' Court of 
 Judicature. 
 
 (75) Children of Robert and 
 Rebecca (Jones) Nickerson (order 
 uncertain): 1 .James, b. ; 
 gi-andjui-yman 1732. 2 Mercy, b. 
 
 m. pzob. Isl. Jonathan Godfrey, 
 
 son of Moses, Sept. 2, 1725 (Chat. 
 Rec). He died in 1730 and she 
 m. 2nd Stephen Kidder. 3 Robert, 
 b. ; m. Mercy Cole, dau. of 
 
 Daniel of Eastham, Sept. 17, 1728 
 (East. Rec), 4 Fear, b. ; m. 
 
 Elisha Eldredge, son of Jehosba- 
 phat, 5 Sylvanus, b. ; (taxes 
 
 abated 1742). 6 Elizabeth, b. ; 
 
 m. 1st, Sept, 19, 1733, Peter Ray, 
 son of Peter of Edgartown, and 
 bad children Joseph, Peter, Eliz- 
 abeth. He died before 1741 and 
 she m. 2nd Alexander (?) Cun- 
 ningham and died before 1755. 7 
 Elkanah, b. Feb. 14, 1721-2 (Chat. 
 Rec); m. Bathsheba Snow, dau. of 
 of Eastham, Oct. 18, 1741 
 (East. Rec.) ; moved to Liverpool, 
 N. S., about 1762. 8 Rebecca, b. 
 ; m. John Hopkins, son of 
 Elisha, about 1741; moved to Dart- 
 mouth, Mass., about 1750, and to 
 Liverpool, N. S., about 1762. 
 
 PADDOCK. 
 
 Serg. Rob(M't Paddock, son ol' 
 Zachariah and Deborah (Soars) 
 J*addock of Yarmouth, born Jan- 
 uary 17, 1670-1, marrie<l Martha 
 Hail, daughter of John and I^ris- 
 ciila (Bearse) Hall of Yarmouth, 
 March 6, 1701-2. He moved to 
 Monomoit soon aftcsr the birth of 
 his second child in 1705 and set- 
 tled on a farm in the north part 
 of the town near Great Hill. Jle 
 was selectman in 1720 and 1721, 
 and was living at Chatham as late 
 as 1730, but removed soon after 
 to Mansfield, Conn., where Joseph, 
 William and Benjamin Hall of 
 Yarmouth and other relatives of 
 his wife had settled. He probably 
 died there before 1750 and his 
 ciiildron or most of thorn removed 
 

 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 ' 
 
 21 
 
 to Uic 
 
 "Oblong." 
 
 (Putnam Co., N. of Coventry, Conn., 
 
 Nov. 
 
 5, 1747 
 
 Y,)7« 
 
 
 (Miinslield Roc.) 
 
 
 
 NOTES. 
 (7G) Children of Robert and 
 Martha (Hall) Paddock (order af- 
 ter third child uncertain) : 1 son, 
 unnamed, b. Feb. 2, 1702-3; d. 
 seven weeks later. 2 Seth, b. 
 March 13, 1704-5 (Yar. Rec.) ; m. 
 1st Mercy Nickerson, dau. of 
 William, April 13, 1727 (Chat. 
 Rec). She died leaving children 
 Deliverance and Zachariah, aiul he 
 m. 2nd Zeruiah Storrs, dan. of 
 Capt. Thomas Storrs of Mans- 
 field, Conn., Oct. 10, 1735. She 
 died Jan, 3, 1737-8, and he ni. 
 3rd Rntii Arnold, dau. of Lii^ut. 
 Robert Arnold of Mansfield, Feb. 
 17, 1744-5 (Mansfield Rec). 3 
 Deborah, b. about 1706; m. Joseph 
 Doane, Jr., of Eastham, Sept. 30, 
 1725 (Chat. Rec). He died in 1745 
 and she moved to Middletown, 
 Conn., where she died of small 
 pox Aug. 27, 1752. 4 Zachariah, b. 
 ; m. prob. in Chatham, 
 moved to Mansfield, Conn. 5 
 JJethiah, b. ; m. Nehemiah 
 
 Easterbrook, son of Rev Samuel 
 of Mansfield, Sept. 2, 173G (Mans- 
 field Rec). She died about 1743. 
 Martha, b. ; m. ElnaHian 
 
 Doane, son of Israel of Eastham, 
 Feb. 25, 1737 (East. Rec) ; moved 
 to the "Oblong" about 1754. 7 
 Robert, b. ; m. Ruth Fletcher, 
 
 dau. of John of Mansfield, June 
 19, 1740 (Mansfield Rec). 8 Pris- 
 cilla, b. ; m. Elisha Eldredge, 
 
 son of Elisha of Mansfield, Jan. 
 1743 (Mansfield Rec). 9 Eunice, 
 b. ; m. Thomas Storrs, Jr., 
 
 of Mansfield, Feb. 27, 1742-3 
 (Mansfield Rec). 10 Silas, b. ; 
 
 m. Abial Russ, dau. of Nalliaiiici 
 
 PHILLIPS. 
 
 Btmjamin Phillips, probably son 
 of Thomas Phelps or Phillips of 
 Yarmouth, whose estate was set- 
 tled in 1674 by Hugh Stewart, 
 (wiio may have brought Benjamin 
 with him to Monomoit) married 
 about KiDG , daughter of 
 
 Nathaniel and Sarah Covell. He 
 received from his mother-in-law 
 a lot of land near and east of 
 the head of Muddy Cove, whereon 
 he erected a house.''^ It is sup- 
 posed that his wife died in a few 
 yi'ars and that he married second 
 Temperance Stewart, daughter of 
 Hugh of Chatham," and removed 
 to Harwich. He sold his place 
 at Monomoit to Ebcnezer Hawes 
 between 1706 and 1713. He was of 
 Harwich as early as 1712, having 
 located at East Hai'wich near the 
 house lately of James T. Smallcy. 
 In deeds of land in 1713 Briggs 
 pond, East Harwich, is described 
 as "the pond southward of Ben- 
 jamin Phillips." He was living as 
 late as 17i4.'''' His widow Tem- 
 perance mari'ied Beriah Broad- 
 brooks in 1747. There is no settle- 
 ment of his (^sfate and no record 
 of his children.'" 
 
 NOU'ES. 
 
 (77) See note 23, page 84, Smith. 
 History of Chatham. 
 
 (78) Temperanci; and hnr sister 
 Joanna were unmarried in March, 
 1711, the date of their father's 
 will, but it is believed that they 
 married soon after, Joanna becom- 
 ing the wife of one Oaker. The 
 widow Joanna Oaker is mentioned 
 in the Chatham i-ecords. Note that 
 
22 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 two of the children of Benjamin 
 Phillips are named Joarnia and 
 Oaker. 
 
 (79) 8 Mayflower Descendant, 
 119. 
 
 (80) Children of Benjamin Phil- 
 lips (order uncertain) : By 1st 
 wife probably: 1 Anna, b. ; 
 m. Samuel Atkins, son of Isaac of 
 Harwich, Feb. 23, 1720-1 (Har. 
 Rec). 2 Honry, b. ; estate set- 
 tled in 1725. 3 Micah, b. ; m. 
 Joanna Baker of Yarmouth, dau. 
 of William, Aug. 25, 1726 (Yar. 
 Rec). 4 Jane, b. ; m. Gowell 
 Chase, son of Isaac of \armouth, 
 Nov. 1727 (Har. Rec). Probably 
 by wife Temperance: 5 Benjamin, 
 b. ; m. Maria Broadbrooks, 
 daughter of Beriah of Harwich, 
 Aug. 23, 1735 (Har. Rec). 6 Joan- 
 na, b. ; m. Ebenezer Berry 
 of Yarmouth as 2nd wife Dec. 20, 
 1738 (Har. Rec). 7 Oaker, b. 
 about 1720; m. Mary Small or 
 Smalley Dec. 4, 1741 (Har. Roc). 
 8 Joseph, b. about 1721; m. Mercy 
 Small or Smalley Nov. 8, 1744 (Har. 
 Rec). 9 Hannah, b. ; m. 
 Samuel Nickerson, Jr., of Haj'wich 
 Dec 6, 1745 (Har. Rec). 
 
 SEARS. 
 
 Richard Sears, son of Paul and 
 Deborah (Willard) Sears of Yar- 
 mouth, born in 1680 or 1081, mar- 
 ried May 15, 1706, Hope, daughter 
 of Samuel and Rebecca Howes of 
 Yarmoutli. By deed dated March 
 3, 1707-8, he bought of Samuel 
 Sprague of Mai'sh field all the lands 
 and rights of the latter at Mono- 
 moit. This included a farm, for- 
 merly of Joseph Quason, Indian, 
 extending from the head of the 
 Oyster pond east to the bay or 
 salt water, and from the Black 
 
 pond south to the head of the 
 Mill pond, also one-third interest 
 in the undivided lands." He set- 
 tled at Monomoit soon after this 
 purchase. He was treasurer in 
 1713, constable in 1714-5 and 
 selectman in 1717. He died May 
 24, 1718, at the early age of 37 
 years. His gravestone is the old- 
 est in the old cemetery. His 
 widow married, second, Dea. John 
 Rich of Eastham (Int. Aug. 2, 1723) 
 and his children were brought up 
 in that place, but Paul, the son, 
 returned to Chatham, and settled 
 upon the real estate assigned to 
 him out of his father's estate."* 
 
 Gapt. Daniel Sears, brother 
 of Richard, born 1682 or 1683, mar- 
 ried Feb. 12, 1708-9, Sarah Howes 
 of Yarmouth, sister of his broth- 
 er's wife. He became interested 
 in the farm at Monomoit bought 
 by his brother and removed 
 thither. The purchase was doubt- 
 less made on their joint account. 
 After the death of Richard, the 
 management of the whole farm 
 doubtless fell upon Daniel, During 
 his long career he was one of 
 the leading citizens of the town, 
 being town clerk 2'i years between 
 1715 and 1753, selectman 8 years, 
 and holding othei- offices. He was 
 ensign as early as 1722, lieutenant 
 as early as 1733 and later captain 
 of the local military company. He 
 died August 10, 1756, aged 73, 
 leaving a will dated January 30, 
 1753, His wife died November 9, 
 1748, aged 62, He gave all his 
 ]'eal estate to his son Daniel. His 
 descendants have probably at- 
 tained more wealth and distinction 
 than tliose of any other Chatliam 
 family. His grandson, David Sears, 
 long a prominent merchant and 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 23 
 
 financier of Boston, director of the 
 first Bank of the United States, 
 was accounted at his death the 
 richest man of that city and 
 founded a family long and prom- 
 inently known. His grandson 
 Richard of this town also attained 
 a local prominence, which the 
 family maintained till its extinc- 
 tion here about 50 yoars ago."" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (81) "All those my land and 
 rights of land I now have or of 
 right I ought to have within the 
 precinct or Village of Monomoy 
 in the County of Barnstable afoi'e- 
 said, that is to say more particu- 
 larly all that my farm or tract of 
 land which I lately purchased of 
 Joseph Quason, Indian of Mono- 
 moy aforesaid. The said farm 
 being bounded towards the east 
 by the Bay or Salt Water & 
 towards the north by certain 
 boundaries that that is to say ptly 
 by the ditch called Indian Nicks 
 ditch so extending westerly over 
 
 a pond w oak tree marked so 
 
 continuing the same range wester- 
 ly till it comes to a fall pine tree 
 marked which is the corner boun- 
 dary of the farm and bounded 
 towards the South by the land 
 lately John Cussens, Indian, as an 
 old fence & dry ditch directs to 
 a pine tree near the house of 
 Joseph Eldridges & is bounded 
 towards the West partly by the 
 Oyster pond & pty by the lands 
 of particular persons, That is to 
 say all my lands pertaining to 
 said farm & not formerly sold or 
 passed away by the said Joseph 
 Quason before the 12th day of 
 October A. D. 1702 as in & by one 
 instrument or deed of feofment of 
 
 the date aforesaid given me 
 under the hand and seal of said 
 Quason may appear at large, ref- 
 erance thereto be had for the 
 westerly bounds of the said farm 
 — And also my two parcels of 
 meadow land, The one called 
 Stumpy Marsh esteemed at eight 
 acres more or less environed with 
 upland and meadow of the heirs 
 of Samuel Smith deceased. The 
 other being a small piece of 
 mai'sh esteemed at one acre more 
 or less bounded westward by a 
 creek southward by a pine tree 
 standing on the upland which tree 
 is the Northerly bounds of the 
 meadow of the heirs of the said 
 Samuel Smith, Eastward by the 
 upland till it comes to point 
 thereof near ye creek, together 
 also with my one third part of all 
 the common or undivided land 
 within the limits of Monomoy 
 aforesaid, excepting such priv- 
 iledges of herbage or feeding for 
 cattle & firewood as hath been 
 formerly granted to any person or 
 persons in or on the said Com- 
 mons or undivided land by Mr. 
 William Nickerson deceased or by 
 his son William Nickerson, Sarah 
 Covel & her children or myself 
 or any one of us." March 3. 1707- 
 8, Samuel Sprague acknowledged 
 before Elikem Brett, Justice 
 Peace. Witnesses, Abraham Sam- 
 son and John Mm-do. Recorded 
 July G, 1708, William Bassett Reg. 
 (Josiah Paine papers.) 
 
 (82) Children of Richard and 
 Hope (Howes) Sears: 1 Thankful, 
 b. at Yarmouth March 18, 170G-7; 
 m. April 13, 1727, John Rich, Jr., 
 of Eastham (East. Rec). 2 Paul, 
 b. at Chatham about 1710, m. 
 Anna Atkins, dau. of Joseph of 
 
24 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Eastham (Int. Jan. 31, 1729-30, 
 East. Rec). 3 Samuel, b. at Chat- 
 ham about 1712; d. Dec. 21, 1738, 
 aged 26 (Hdstn.). 4 Hannah, b. 
 at Chatham about 1717; m. Feb. 
 23, 1737-8, Zoheth Smith of East- 
 ham (East. Rec). 
 
 (83) Children of Daniel and 
 Sarah (Howes) Sears (Chat. Rec.) : 
 1 Rebecca, b. March 19, 1701-11; 
 m. Thomas Howes, son of Thomas, 
 about 1730. 2 Daniel, b. June 1, 
 1712; m. Fear Freeman, dau. of 
 Benjamin of Harwich, Oct. 31, 
 1745 (Har. Rec). 3 Sarah, b. 
 April H, 1714; m. Joshua Atkins, 
 son of Thomas, Aug. 1, 1734 (Chat. 
 Rec). 4 Mercy, b. July 17, 1716; 
 m. Stephen Ryder, son of John, 
 about 1738. 5 Richard, b. April 26, 
 1718; died unmarried in 1746. 6 
 David, b. April 21, 1720; died un- 
 married in 1746. 7 Deborah, b. 
 Oct. 13, 1722; m. Joseph Atwood, 
 son of Joseph of Eastham (Int. 
 April 14, 1742, East. Rec). 
 
 SMITH. 
 
 John Smith, son of Samuel and 
 Mary (Hopkins) Smith of Eastham, 
 was born May 26, 1673, and mar- 
 ried Bethiah Snow, daughter of 
 Stephen and Susanna (Dean) Snow, 
 May 14, 1694. He resided at East- 
 ham till after the birth of his 
 second child. Having received by 
 the will of his father one-half of 
 two farms at Tom's Neck, Mono- 
 moit, he removed thither and 
 became one of the substantial cit- 
 izens of the place. The boundaries 
 of the two farms are described in 
 the note on page 99, Smith, 
 History of Chatham. He was 
 selectman one year and held other 
 offices in the town. In 1716 he 
 testified against Rev. Mr. Adams 
 
 in the suit of Adams vs Hawes.^* 
 He was a large owner in the Great 
 Beach. He died in middle life, 
 administration on his estate being 
 granted to his son Samuel, Feb. 
 25, 1717. His widow was living as 
 late as 1734," when his estate was 
 finally settled among the children. 
 NOTES. 
 
 (84) Page 183, Smith's Chatham. 
 
 (85) Children of John and 
 Bethiah (Snow) Smith (from Pro- 
 bate and Eastham Rec) : 1 James, 
 b. Feb. 13, 1694-5; died May 27, 
 1696. 2 Samuel, b. May 25, 1696; 
 m. Merr.y Higgins, dau. of Isaac of 
 Eastham (Int. July 19, 1718, East. 
 Rec). (He did not m. 2nd Sarah 
 Snow of Eastham, Sept. 25, 1736, 
 and have children born in East- 
 ham, as frequently stated. See N. 
 E. Hist. Gen. Reg. [1897] 204, 
 "Wellington Smith and his Fam- 
 ily" etc. He lived at Chatham, 
 was selectman there in 1736 and 
 1743, member of the church, and 
 so far as known, had but one wile 
 and ch.: Samuel, Eleanor and 
 Bethiah, all baptized at Chatham 
 May 25, 1742. N. E. Hist. Gen. 
 Reg. [19 ] ). 3 Deane, b. 
 al)out 1698; m. Esther Ryder, dau. 
 of John of Yarmouth, Oct. 17, 1720 
 (Yar. Rec). 4 Mercy, b. betw. 1698 
 and 1702; m. Nathan Kenney of 
 Chatham, Sept. 24, 1729 (Chat. 
 Rec). 5 Mary, b. about 1702; m. 
 m. Obediah Chase, son of Isaac of 
 Yarmouth, about 1732; died about 
 1767. 6 John. h. April 7, 1703 (old 
 Bible rec); m. 1st Elizabelh 
 Brown, dau. of George of East- 
 ham, Sept. 21, 1727 (East. Rec); 
 m. 2nd Lydia Snow, wid. of 
 Ebenezer of Eastham, April 7, 
 1763 (Chat. Rec) ; moved to East- 
 ham after st^('ond marriage. 7 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 25 
 
 Steplion, b. about 1700; m. 1st 
 Hannah Collins, dau. of John, 
 about 1727; m. 2nd Bathshcha 
 Brown, dau. of George of East- 
 ham, April 9, 1729 (East. Reo.) . 
 8 Bothiah, b. about 1708; m. Elisha 
 Young, Jr., Dec. 15, 1731 (Chat. 
 Roc). 9 David, b. about 1711; liv- 
 ing in 1734. 10 Seth, b. about 
 1713, aco. to Probate Rec. (Nov. 13 
 or I'l, 1711, old Bible roc); ni. 1st 
 Elizabeth , March 15, 1737 
 
 (old Bible rec). She was b. 
 March 15, 1718 (old Bible rec), 
 and died April 12. 175G (Hdstn.). 
 He m. 2nd Mary (Godfrey) Nick- 
 erson, wid. of Caleb, Nov. 18. 175C) 
 (Chat. Rec). 
 
 STEWART. 
 
 Michael Stewart, eldest son of 
 Hugh and Wait Stewart, born in 
 ^arniouth probably .about 1670, 
 married Mary . He was 
 
 a mariner. By deed dated October 
 12, 1702, he bought of the then 
 proprietors of Monomoit, viz: 
 William Nickerson, Sen., Nathan- 
 iel Covell, William Covcll, Joseph 
 Covell, Ephraim Covell and S:im- 
 uel Sprague, a large irregular tract 
 at wliat is now West Chatham, on 
 both sides of the highway, lyinir 
 between the ponds there and 
 Ragged Neck and extending from 
 the present Doane neighborhood 
 westerly to the present George 
 Buck neighborhood."" The easter- 
 ly end of this tract at Ockpeset 
 he sold in part by deed dated 
 March 31, 1703, to William El- 
 drcdge, receiving in exchange a 
 parcel of meadow near his own 
 land "at or near a place com- 
 monly called Nick's place," and in 
 part by deed dated May 22, 1708, 
 to James Eldredge."" That part 
 
 on the south side of the highway 
 between it and Ragged Neck ap- 
 pears to have been sold to Sam- 
 uel Taylor, son of John, before 
 1711."" He died in middle life. Ad- 
 ministration was granted on his 
 estate to his brother Samuel Sep- 
 tember 20, 1710. His widow mar- 
 ried Joseph Harding, Jr., before 
 1720."" 
 
 John Stewart, probably son of 
 lln,i.^h and Wait Stewart, married 
 Klizat)etli . He was tithing 
 
 nian in 1702. hut appears later to 
 have moved away, returning to 
 the town again about 1715.'" Ad- 
 ministration on his estate was 
 granted to his widow July 11. 1722. 
 11(> left an estate valued at £300, 
 of which £290 was in real estate. 
 His widow was left with several 
 small children, among whom was 
 probably a son John, who mar- 
 ried Jenny, daughter of Joseph 
 Harding, Jr., and was a resident 
 of the town as late as 1744, and 
 pei'haps E!izab(»th, who married 
 Seth Smith. 
 
 NOTES. 
 (80) This tract is described as 
 follows: "I^eginning at ye North- 
 erly (Corner of ye land of Hugh 
 Stewart thence ranging Easterly 
 t!» ;i IVesh pond, so ranging tvu^- 
 tlKM' Easti.Tly by ye sd pond on 
 thwart a neck of laiul to a Run or 
 flow of water that runs into a 
 pond Calletl ye white pond it 
 bouniled westerly by yc lands of 
 ye sd Hugh Stewart & Southei'ly 
 partly by ye meadow sometime of 
 Robert Eldredge deceased tS: partly 
 by ye upland of George Godfree & 
 partly by ye land formerly re- 
 puted to be ye land of John 
 I^ownin^^ deeensed iS: Easterly by 
 
26 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 ye reputed lands of ye sd Robert 
 Fldredge & Northerly by ye re- 
 puted lands of Teague Jones 
 deceased x x reserving a Conven- 
 ient highway through sd land & a 
 way Issuing out of ye sd highway 
 to ye six acre lots so called & 
 another way to ye neck of land 
 called ye Ragged Neck." Recorded 
 Book 4, folio 86, Old Barnstable 
 Deeds. (M. L. Luce papers.) 
 
 (87) M. L. Luce papers. 
 
 (88) See "A Proprietor's Book 
 for Chatham" and deed from Sam- 
 uel Eldredge to Seth Taylor of 
 Yarmouth dated May 15, 1711. (M. 
 L. Luce papers.) 
 
 (89) Children of Michael and 
 Mary Stewart (Chat. Rec.) : 
 1 Bethiah, b. Sept. 21, 1704; m. 
 Samuel Hamilton, son of Daniel, 
 May 25, 1727 (Chat. Rec). 2 
 Patience, b. Aug. 27, 1713; prob. 
 m. at Liverpool, N. S., Dec. 25, 
 1760, George Winslow (Liverpool 
 Rec.) . 
 
 (90) See page 190, Smith, His- 
 tory of Chatham. 
 
 TUCKER. 
 
 Samuel Tucker, probably son of 
 John and Susaima Tucker of 
 Tisbury and bi'other of JoJm 
 Tucker of Harwich, mari'ied 
 Hannah Mayo, daughter of William 
 and Elizabeth (Ring) Mayo of 
 Eastham, about 1706 and settled at 
 Monomoit soon after.*^ On May 
 17, 1713, he joined the church at 
 Harwich and his children, Keziah, 
 Elizabeth and Thankful, were 
 baptized there July 3, 1715, and 
 his daughter Hannah, July 29, 
 1716.'" Later he doubtless joined 
 the Chatham church under Mr. 
 Lord. He had the care of the 
 church building for many yeai's, 
 
 receiving an annual stipend from 
 the town "for his panes of 
 swepen the meten hous." He was 
 often chosen tithingman and in 
 1750 was the town schoolmaster. 
 He died about 1765, leaving no es- 
 tate. His wife died a few years 
 before him.'* 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (91) 14 Mayflower Decsendant, 
 117; 6 ib. 95. 
 
 (92) Harwich Ch. Rec; 4 May- 
 flower Descendant, 248, 249; 5 ib. 
 17. 
 
 (93) Children of Samuel and 
 Hannah (Mayo) Tucker (Chat. 
 Rec): 1 Keziah, b. Nov. 1707; m. 
 Nathaniel Covell, son of Nathaniel, 
 April 14, 1727 (Chat. Rec). 2 John, 
 b. Sept. 1709; died Sept. 1709. 3 
 Thankful, b. Sept. 1710. 4 Eliza- 
 beth, b. Sept. 1712. 5 Hannah, b. 
 Sept. 1714; prob. m. Isaac Hawes, 
 Jr., and moved to the Oblong 
 about 1747. 6 John, b. March 20, 
 1715-6. 7 Samuel, b. March 16, 
 1719-20. 8 Eunice, b. June 12, 1722. 
 
 COLLINS. 
 
 The foregoing families all settled 
 in or became connected with the 
 village between 1690 and the em- 
 igration of 1711. After that emi- 
 gration the following new families 
 came in, completing the settlement 
 of the town. By 1725 the period 
 of settlement may be said to have 
 ended. Very few new families 
 came in after that date. 
 
 John Collins, son of Joseph and 
 Ruth (Knowles) Collins of East- 
 ham, born December 18, 1674, 
 married Hannah Doane, daughter 
 of John of Eastham, February 12, 
 1701-2. He lived for some time at 
 I'^astham, selling his farm there by 
 (iced dated Sept. 5, 1715, to Tcha- 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 bod Higgins."* The same year he 
 purchased land at Tom's Neck, 
 Chatham, of John Smith or Dan- 
 iel Hamilton or both and settled 
 there. He was interested in the 
 church and was one of the earli- 
 est pew owners. He was a man 
 of energy and ability and accu- 
 mulated considerable property. 
 Although not the richest man in 
 the place, he and his children 
 together formed by far the weal- 
 thiest family in the place in the 
 period b(U'ore the Revolution. His 
 oldest son, Solomon, became in 
 time the largest taxpayer, and 
 several of his other sons had 
 large properties for the time. 
 J''rom him, through his son Jo- 
 seph, who went to Nova Scotia, 
 descended Hon. Enos Collins, a 
 distinguished merchant of Liver- 
 pool, N. S., who married a daugh- 
 ter of Chief Justice Brenton Hali- 
 burton of that colony. From him, 
 through his daughter Anna, who 
 married Jonathan Crowell. des- 
 cended Hon. John Crowell of 
 Ohio, member of Congress in 18iG, 
 and prominent in Ohio in his 
 time. Although he lived to be 
 very old, he left a large estate for 
 his time. He died March 24, 1765, 
 at the age of 91. His widow died 
 June 6, 1765, aged 85. His will 
 dated March 12, 17 i9, with codicil 
 of later date, was proved Jmie 28, 
 17G5. It divides the real estate 
 among his sons and shows that 
 he lived in the easterly part of 
 Tom's Neck."" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (9'i) Stanley W. Smith papers. 
 
 (95) Children of John and Han- 
 nah (Doane) Collins (all born in 
 Eastham except the last two) : 1 
 Solomon, b. Feb. 6, 1703-i; m. 
 
 Eunice Atkins, dau. of Samuel, 
 about 1726. 2 Samuel, b. Nov. 26, 
 1705; m. 1st ; m. 2nd 
 
 Patience (Howes) Eldredge, widow 
 of Jonathan and of Seth Eldredge, 
 Oct. 19, 1758 (Chat. Rec). 3 
 Martha, b. Jan. 26, 1707-8; m. 
 Moses Godfrey, son of Moses, about 
 1726. 4 John, b. Nov. 2, 1709; m. 
 Thankful Taylor, dau. of Samuel, 
 about 1740. 5 Hannah, b. Nov. 2, 
 1711; m. Stephen Smith, son of 
 John, about 1727; died young 
 leaving child Stephen. 6 Joseph, 
 1). Aug. I'l, 1713: m. Abigail 
 Crowell, dau. of Paul, about 1737; 
 moved to Liverpool, N. S., about 
 1760. 7 Oavid, b. April 20, 1715; 
 m. Desire . 8 Jane, b. 
 
 at Chatham about 1717; m. 1st 
 Prince Snow, Jr., of Harwich (Int. 
 Sept. 10, 1737, Har. Rec.'i ; m. 2nd 
 Henjamin Bearse of Chatham, son 
 of Benjamin of Barnstable, about 
 1743; m. 3rd George Godfrey, son 
 of Moses, Nov. 9, 1758 (Chat. Rec). 
 9 Anna, b. at Chatham; m. Jona- 
 than Crowell, son of Paul, about 
 1740; moved to Liverpool, N. S., 
 about 1760. (The list of the chil- 
 dren of John Collins born in 
 Chatham given by Dean Dudley 
 in his Genealogy of the Bangs 
 Fnmily. P- 39. is wholly ei-roneous.) 
 
 CROWELL. 
 
 .lohn ('I'owell. son of John and 
 Hainiah Crowell of Yarmouth, born 
 December 5. 1689, married Alice 
 Gross, daughter of Simeon and 
 Mary (Bond) Gross of Hingham 
 (published Aug. 21, 1714). He was 
 a caipiMiter by trade. He lived at 
 Hingham a year or two, removing 
 to Eastham about 1716 and to 
 Chatham two or three years later, 
 ilis house was at the head of 
 
28 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Muddy Covo. near I he Harwich line 
 and opposite the Indian meeting 
 house."" Administration on his 
 estate was granted to his son 
 Jabez July 9, 1746. In the inven- 
 tory of his estate appears the 
 following item: "Gash being the 
 dec'ds wages at Cape Breton £44- 
 06-04." His widow, whose name 
 was Sarah, a second wife, mar- 
 ried second Thomas Nickerson, 
 Sen., July 5, 1751.«^ 
 
 Col. and Dea. Paul Crowell, 
 second child of John and Bethiah 
 (Sears) Crowell of Yarmouth, born 
 April 20, 1687, married first Eliz- 
 abeth, daughter of Jonathan Hal- 
 lett of Yarmouth, October 21, 1714. 
 She died November 17, 1723, aged 
 34 years, and he married second 
 Margery Hall, daughter of Dea. 
 Joseph Hall of Yarmouth, Febru- 
 ary 15, 1724-5. He settled at 
 Chatham in 1717 on the farm at 
 Chathamport purchased for him by 
 his father of William Covell."'^ The 
 house of the late Osboru 
 Nickerson, Esq., stands on 
 this farm, which bordered 
 on Pleasant Bay. He soon 
 became an arti\o and hiphly 
 respected citizen. He was town 
 treasurer seven years and select- 
 man six years. He became a 
 deacon of the church as early as 
 1738. He was first a lieut(>nant 
 (17.39) and then captain (1744) of 
 the local military company, then 
 major (1749) and finally colonel of 
 the county regiment of soldiers. 
 From him, through his son Jona- 
 than, is descended Hon. John 
 Crowell, menibei- of Congress from 
 Oiiio in 1840."" Col Crowell died 
 October 11, 17G5, aged 78 years. 
 He left a large estate, most of 
 which was divider) by his will 
 
 among his three sons. The home- 
 stead was given to his son David, 
 The widow, Margery Crowell, died 
 May 26, 1773, aged 78."" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (96) Town Records — renewals of 
 boundary with Harwich. 
 
 (97) Children of John and Alice 
 (Gross) Crowell: 1 Abigail, b. at 
 Hingham June 3, 1715 (Hing. and 
 East. Rec.) ; m. Hincks Gross, son 
 of Thomas of Eastham, .July 25, 
 1734 (Chat. ReC). 2 Jabez, b. at 
 Eastham June 4, 1717 (East. Rec.) ; 
 m. Lydia . 3 Jonah, b. ; 
 mentioned in the list of his 
 lather's creditors; perhaps d. 
 young. 4 John (?) (a John Crowell 
 removed from town or died in 
 1763). 
 
 (98) See account of William 
 Co\ell, Smith, History of Chatliam. 
 
 (99) Hon. John Crowell, member 
 of the Ohio state Senate and 
 elected to Congress in the fall of 
 1846, was born at East Haddam, 
 Conn., Sept. 15, 1801, son of 
 William and Ruth (Peck) Crowell 
 of East Haddam. His grandparents 
 were Samuel and Jerusha (Tracy) 
 Ci'owell, of whom Samuel was 
 born at Chatham, Mass., March 16, 
 1742-3, removed with his parents 
 about 1760 to Liverpool, N. S., and 
 thence removed to East Haddam, 
 Conn., where he was married about 
 1770. (For evidence of this re- 
 moval see land records of Ouoimis 
 Co., N. S.) The parents of Sam- 
 uel were Jonathan and Anna (Col- 
 lins) Crowell of Chatham and Liv- 
 erpool, N. S. 
 
 (100) Children of Paul Crowell 
 (fr-om family Bible) : by wife 
 Elizabeth: 1 Abigail, b. Sept. 13. 
 1715; m. Joseph Collins, son of 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 29 
 
 John, about 1737; removed to Liv- 
 erpool, N. S., about 17G0. 2 Paul, 
 b. April 4, 1717; m. 1st Rebecca 
 l^aiiio, dau. of Ebenezcr, about 
 1738. She died Dec. 30, 17i6, and 
 bo in. 2nd Reliance Cobb, dau. 
 of Eleazer of Barnstal)le, April 27, 
 1747 (Barn. Rec). She died Nov. 
 9, 1774, and be m. 3rd Mebitable 
 (Snow) Ryder, widow of Samuel 
 Hopkins of Harwicb and of Reuben 
 Ryder of Ghalbani. 3 Jonathan, b. 
 Feb. 25, 1718; in. Anna Collins, 
 dau. of John, about 1740 (not 
 Anna Nickerson, as stated II Free- 
 man, Hist, of Cape Cod, 598) ; re- 
 moved to Liverpool, N. S., about 
 17()0. By wife Margery: 4 Eliza- 
 beth, b. April 7, 1726; m. Hezekiah 
 Doane, son of of East ham, 
 
 Oct. 25, 1750 (Chat. Rec). 5 
 David, b. Aug. 3, 1730; m. Thank- 
 ful Atwood, dau. of James of East- 
 bam, Dec. 0, 1759 (East. Rec). 
 
 DOANE. 
 
 Thomas Doane, son of Ephraim 
 and Mercy (Knowlos) Doane of 
 Eastham, born September 4, 1074, 
 married Patience Mulford, daugh- 
 ter of Thomas and Hannah of 
 I'iastham, February 28, 1700-1. He 
 learned the trade of a blacksmith, 
 but early engaged in whaling. He 
 removed his family to Chatham 
 in or before 1719, where he pur- 
 chased by deed dated March 20, 
 1718-9, of Seth Taylor of Yar- 
 mouth, a large farm of about 300 
 acres at West Chatham lying be- 
 tween the Oyster pond river and 
 the White pond.^"^ He was for 
 many years one of the leading 
 citizens and the largest land 
 owner and tax payer of the town. 
 He was selectman ten years be- 
 tween 1725 and 17i5, frequently 
 
 moderator of town meetings and 
 aften chosen to serve the town in 
 other capacities. He was one of 
 the first to take pew ground in 
 the church in 1742. He was often 
 iMigaged in litigation. His deeds 
 and papers (herein referred to as 
 the M. L. Luce papers) have come 
 down to us and throw a flood of 
 light on the early history of the 
 town. His wife died February 8, 
 1744, aged 70, and his death oc- 
 curred May 3, 175(5, at the age of 
 82 years. His will, dated March 
 17, 1750, was proved September 
 21, 1750, His three sons had died 
 b(>fore him and bis real estate 
 went to his grandsons. His 
 youngest child, Anna, married Dr. 
 John Osborn, son of the minister 
 at Eastham, a graduate of Har- 
 vard college, a poet, physician 
 and man of talent, and lived at 
 Middletown, Conn,, where there 
 was a colony of Cape settlers.^"" 
 
 NOTES. 
 (101) "All that my Messuag, 
 Tenement, Dwelling House and 
 house lot of land situate in Chat- 
 ham X X with all my Lands and 
 Meadows lying in sd Chatham, 
 Together with all the Right and 
 Interest that I have Devided & 
 undevided in the bounds of Har- 
 wich, being all my Housing, Lands 
 & Meadows, Rights & Interest, 
 acording as they are expressed In 
 & by one IVed Pole of Convey- 
 ance from William Eldred of Man- 
 emoy now Chatham, Planter, bear- 
 ing date the 18th day of December 
 1711 Recordefl in the Registry of 
 sd County in the sixth book of 
 Evidences of Lands, folio 300, to 
 me given il- Granted, signed sealed 
 & delivered: sd Granted premises 
 
30 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Containing by estimation two hun- 
 dred acres more or less. Together 
 with all my Rights in &, to the 
 Lands lately Divided or to be 
 Divided in sd Chatham so far as 
 my Right extends by virtue of 
 what I bought of Capt Ebenezer 
 Hawes of sd Chatham. Together 
 with all that my parcel & parcels 
 of Land & Meadow lying in Chat- 
 ham above sd, being by estimation 
 forty acres more or less, which is 
 all the Lands that I have in sd 
 Chatham & all the Meadows there 
 that I have & hold by Deed from 
 Samuel Eldredg of Manamoy for- 
 merly so called & is buted & 
 bounded as by one Deed Pole 
 under the hand & seal of sd Sam- 
 uel Eldrege to me signed, sealed 
 & Delivered may appear baring 
 date the 15th of May 1711 Re- 
 corded in the Registry of sd 
 County in the sixth book of Evi- 
 dences of Lands in folio 49 & 50 
 & 51: Together with all that my 
 parcel of Land Messuage or Ten- 
 ement lying in sd Chatham which 
 I have & hold by one Deed Polo 
 from under the hand & seal of 
 Robert Nickerson of Harwich in 
 the County al)0vesd son of Robert 
 Nickerson Deceased baring Date 
 the 22nd Day of July 1713 
 Recorded in Seventh book of Ev- 
 idences of Lands page 97 buted <fc 
 bounded as in & by sd Deed is 
 expresst: Together with all that 
 my parcel of meadow & sedge 
 ground lying in sd Chatham which 
 I have & hold by one Deed Pole 
 from under the hand & seal of 
 John Eldredg of sd Chatham, La- 
 Ijourer, baruig Date the 7th day 
 of June 1716 Recorded in the 
 Eighth Book of Evidences of Lands 
 folio 195 butt'd & bounded as in iK: 
 
 by sd Deed is exprest." M. L. 
 Luce papers. 
 
 (102) Children of Thomas and 
 Patience (Mulford) Doaup (all 
 born at Eastham) : 1 Thomas, b. 
 Jan. 10, 1701; m. in 1729, Sarah 
 Barnes, dau. of Jonathan of Ply- 
 mouth. 2 Elizabeth, b. Feb. 5, 
 1703-4; m. Daniel Howes, son of 
 Thomas, about 1723. 3 Reuben, b. 
 March 21, 1705; m. Sarah Haugh, 
 dau. of Samuel of Boston, (Doane 
 Gen.) about 1730. 4 Abigail, b. 
 March 28, 1708; m. John Hawes, 
 son of Isaac, about 1735. 5 Ru- 
 hama, b. about 1709; m. John El- 
 dredge, son of Joseph, Sept. 26, 
 1728 (Chat. Rec.) . Benjamin, b. 
 Dec. 26, 1710; m. Mary Freeman, 
 dau. of Nathaniel of Harwich, Nov. 
 7, 1734 (Har. Rec). 7 Anna, b. 
 ; m. Dr. John Osborn, son 
 of Rev. Samuel of Eastham. He 
 (lied May 31, 1753, and she m. 2nd 
 Thomas Smith of East Haddam, 
 Conn., May 27, 1756. 
 
 ELDREDGE. 
 
 James Eldredge, eldest son of 
 Lieut. Nicholas and Elizabeth El- 
 dredge, married Ruth . He 
 liv(ul at West Chatham on the 
 Jolm Downing farm set off to 
 him in the division of his father's 
 estate in 1708. By deed dated 
 May 22, 1708, he bought of Michael 
 Stewart, a tract of 10 acres he- 
 twenn the highway and the White 
 pond.^"-' This he sold, togctiier 
 with six acres more inherited 
 from his father, to Thomas Howes 
 by deed dated April 6, lliS.'"* He 
 died July 19, 1757. He gave his 
 homestead by will to his sons 
 James and Abner. His widow 
 Itulh removed with several of her 
 cliildreii in 1702 to Liverpool, N. 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 31 
 
 S., but returned in a few years.^"'"' 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (103) Described as follows: 
 "Bounded Southerly by yo land of 
 ye sd James Eldredge, & at ye 
 Easterly end is bounded by ye 
 land of William Eldredge & is 
 bounded Northerly by ye land of 
 Nicholas Eldredge [deceased] & is 
 bounded westerly by ye Rellict of 
 an old fence called ye General 
 fence near a little pond runing 
 into ye white pond or adjoining 
 to ye white pond, containing ten 
 acres more or less." M. L. Luce 
 papers. 
 
 (iOi) See note 50, supra, for 
 description. 
 
 (105) Children of James and 
 Ruth ( ) Eldredge: 1 Seth, 
 
 b. ; m. ;lived in R. T. 
 
 2 Mary, b. ; single in 1757. 
 
 3 Zephaniah. b. Dec. 2, 1733; m. 
 Phebe Eldredge Nov. 29, 1752 
 (Chat. Rcc). 4 Rebecca, b. Nov. 
 IG, 1735; m. Cyrenus Collins, sou 
 of Solomon, July 13, 175G (Chat. 
 Roc). 5 Ruth, b. I'>b. IG, 1737; m. 
 Jonathan Bearse May 19, 1755 
 (Chat. Rec). G Abner, b. Oct. 11, 
 1738; m. Sarah Eldredge, April 19, 
 17G2 (Chat. Rec). 7 James, b. 
 April 8, 1742; m. Hannah Collins, 
 dau. of , March 2, 1771 (Chat. 
 Rec). 
 
 FARRIS. 
 
 Morris ]"'arris, whose origin and 
 parentage is unknown, man-led at 
 Nantucket June 18, 1708, Mrs. 
 Orange (Rogers) Cartwright, 
 
 widow of Nicholas of Nan- 
 t\icket. He was a resident 
 of Chatham as early as 
 1715,''"'' living first on Quituesset 
 (Moi-ris) IslaiuP"" and iaier keep- 
 
 ing tavern on Monomoit Beach. 
 This tavern he sold to Joseph 
 Stewart about 1728.'"" It is sup- 
 pos(Ml that he dii'd not long after, 
 leaving a son William, who was 
 of Chatham in 173G, a sea faring 
 man, and gave bond on that date 
 to Sylvanus Bourne of Barn- 
 stable.i"" In 1745 William Farris 
 was one of the creditors of IIk^ 
 estate of Elisha Hopkins."" Tt is 
 supposed that this William (or a 
 son William) removed to Fal- 
 mouth, where he was living as late 
 as 1790."! 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (KKi) See page 190, Smith, His- 
 tory of Chatham. His stepson, 
 Nicholas Cartwright, came with 
 him. 
 
 (107) See page 92, note 38, 
 Smith, History of Chatham. 
 
 (108) See page 209, note 29, 
 Smith, History of Chatham. 
 
 (109) Bourne Mss. Harvard Coll. 
 Library. 
 
 (110) Barnstable Probate Rec, 
 est. of Elisha Hopkins. 
 
 (HI) See U. S. census, 1790. Tn 
 Dec. 1784, William Farris and 
 others, described as of Falmouth, 
 signed an inquest on the body of 
 Elizabeth Cator of Mashpec. Files, 
 Superior Court of Judicature, No. 
 li '1.470. 
 
 HAWES. 
 
 Lieut. Isaac llawes. son of Cap- 
 tain John and Desire (Gorham) 
 Haw(>s of Yarmouth, born March 
 9, 1G79-80. married January 8, 
 1700-1, Belhiah Howes, daughter of 
 .leiiMuiah of Yarmouth, and lived 
 there till about 1712, when he re- 
 moved to Chatham. He piu'chased 
 a part of Hie interest of the 
 
32 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Covells in llie common land and 
 received in the division of 17] 3 a 
 tract on each side of the road 
 which runs from the late Samuel 
 D. Clifford's to the late Rufus 
 Smith's. His house was in or 
 near this tract. In the latter part 
 of his life he lived in or near the 
 place late of Ephraim Steele."^ He 
 was sergeant of the military com- 
 pany as early as 1720 and later 
 lieutenant. Administration on his 
 estate was granted to his widow 
 Bethiah March 18, 1730-1. She mar- 
 ried second John Smith of East- 
 ham, son of John (Int. x\pril 11, 
 1741). He died in 1742 and she 
 married third November 16, 1743, 
 Rev. Joseph Lord of Chatham. 
 She died between March 7, 1746-7, 
 when she is named as one of the 
 executors of Mr. Lord's will, and 
 June 30, 1748, when the will was 
 proved and she was not appointed 
 with the others.''" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (112) See a deed dated July 30. 
 1750, from John Hawes, adminis- 
 trator of Isaac, to Ebenezer Paine 
 of a tract of land "where the 
 dwellinghouse of the late Isaac 
 Hawes last stood, containing six 
 acres more or less, bounded West- 
 erly on the said Ebenezer Paine, 
 Southerly on the way untill it 
 comes to the land that James Co- 
 veil bought of Simeon Covell, then 
 Northerly to the pond and Wester- 
 ly by the pond to James Covells 
 land where the fence stands and 
 by the fence and James Covells 
 land to said Paine's land." Josiah 
 Paine papers. 
 
 (113) Children of Isaac and 
 Bethiah (Howesl Hawes: 1 Bethi- 
 ah, b. July, 1701; m. 1st Maziah 
 
 Harding, son of Joseph, about 
 1721; m. 2nd Thomas Nickerson, 
 Sen., Dec. 26, 1703 (Chat. Rec). 2 
 Isaac, b. April, 1703; m. Hannah, 
 prob. dau. of Samuel Tucker; re- 
 moved to the "Oblong," N. Y., 
 about 1747, and thence to Kent, 
 Conn. 3 Thankful, b. March, 
 1705; m, Moses Young, son of 
 Henry of Eastham (Int. March 0, 
 1724-5, East. Rec). 4 John, b. 
 Jan. 22, 1706-7; m. Abigail Doane, 
 dau. of Thomas, about 1735, 5 
 Desire, b. Jan. 14, 1708-9. 6 Jere- 
 miah, b. April 5, 1711; m. Phebe 
 Young of Eastham, prob. dau. of 
 Jonathan, Aug. 8, 1734 (East. Rec), 
 li\'ed at Eastham. (The forego- 
 ing children were born in Yar- 
 mouth), 7 Hannah, b, at Chat- 
 ham; m, 1st Jolni Slater, Feb, 21, 
 1749-50 (Ghat. Rec.}. 8 Sarah, b. 
 May 31, 1719 (Bible record); m. 
 Cornelius Higgins, son of Ebenezer 
 of Eastham, Sept. 29, 1743 (Bible 
 record), int. of m. Feb. 19, 1742-3 
 (East. Rec); remoM'd to Iladdam, 
 Conn., about 1747. 
 
 KNOWLES. 
 
 Lieut. Richard Knowles, son of 
 Sanniel and Mercy (Freeman) 
 Knowles of Eastham, born July, 
 1688, married Martha Cobb, daugh- 
 ter of James and Sarah Cobb of 
 Barnstable, about 1712."' He 
 came to Chatham about 1719 and 
 succeeded Capt. Ebenezer Hawes 
 as the tavern-keeper of the place. 
 He undoubtedly bought of Hawes 
 the tavern and land adjoining 
 owned by the latter, and carried 
 on the business for many years. 
 He was selectman three years and 
 ti-casurer* two years. He was 
 aclJNc ill local affairs, but appears 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 to ha\e lost his property in his 
 old age. His wife died October 31, 
 17G3, aged 81. He died about 17G9, 
 If^aving no estale."" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (Hi) See Barnstable Probate 
 llec, estate of Jane Snow. 
 
 (H5) Children of Richard and 
 Martha (Cobb) Knowles (Chat. 
 Roc): 1 Martha, b. Jan. 28, 1713-/£; 
 in. John Shaw of Eastham (Int. 
 Nov. 10, 1729, East. Rec). 2 Rich- 
 ard, b. IMarch 26, 1715; died Aug. 
 20, 1730, aged 21 (Hdstn.). 3 
 Mercy, b. Aug. 9, 1717; m. George 
 Godfrey, son of Moses, Nov. 1, 
 1733 (Ghat. Rec). 4 James, b. 
 Nov. 11, 1719; m. l*st Sarah Doane 
 of Eastham, dau. of Joseph, Nov. 
 25, 1742 (East. Rec). She died 
 Dec 26, 1748. aged 28 (Hdstn.), and 
 ho m. 2nd Ruth Mayo, dau. of 
 Hioopbilus of Eastham, July 20, 
 1749 (East. Rec). She died Sept. 
 17, 1766, aged 45 (Hdstn.), and he 
 m. 3rd Sarah (Linnell) Mayo, 
 widow of Gideon of Eastham, Nov. 
 19, 1767 (East. Rec). She died 
 about 1774 and ho m. 4tb Alice 
 l\aino, dau. of John of Eastham, 
 Dec 12, 1775 (East. Rec). She 
 died Api'il 18, 1777, and he m. 5th 
 Ihvnnah , who survived him. 
 
 5 Cornelius, b. April 10, 1722; m. 
 Mary, pi'ob. dau. of Elisha Hop- 
 kins; removed to Liverpool, N. S., 
 about 1760. 6 Rebecca, b. March 
 2, 1723-4; died unmarried about, 
 1784. 
 
 MAYO. 
 
 Elisha Mayo, son of Nathaniel 
 and Elizabeth (Wixon) Mayo of 
 Eastham. born April 28, 1695. mar- 
 ried Hainiah Linnell, daughter of 
 Jonalban of Eastham, Feb. 20, 1717, 
 and settled in Cliatliam soon af- 
 
 ter. He was one of the seven first 
 members of the Chatham church, 
 wbich was organized in 1720, but 
 with Moses Godfi'oy soon got into 
 a conti-oversy with Rev. Mr. Lord, 
 who excommunicated them."" 
 'J'hey were at once received into 
 the church at Orleans. His wife 
 died about 1727 and he soon after 
 removed with his family to Prov- 
 incetown, a more convenient place 
 for the fishing industry, selling 
 out to Elisha Hopkins of Eastham. 
 His second wife was Martha 
 
 IIT 
 
 .hulali Mayo, son of Thomas and 
 Barbara (Knowles) Mayo of East- 
 ham, born November 25, 1691 ; 
 married Mary Hamilton of Chat- 
 ham, daughter of Daniel by his 
 first wife, Mary Smith (Int. Jan, 
 27, 1721-2). He settled at Chat- 
 ham on a farm lying between the 
 farm of Menekish, the Indian 
 saidiem, and that of Samuel At- 
 kins and probably bounding east 
 on the salt water."'* His will, 
 dated December 5, 1758, was 
 proved October 6, 1761. He gave 
 all his real estate to his surviving 
 
 son Judah."" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (116) See chapter xiii, Smith, 
 History of Chatham. 
 
 (117) Children of Elisha Mayo: 
 by wife Hannah: Elizabeth, b. at 
 Chatham. By wife Martha (Prov. 
 Hoc): Lemuel, b. Sept. 11. 1729; 
 Jorusha, b. Oct. 21, 1733; Sarah, b. 
 July 11, 1736; Elisha, b. July 3, 
 1738; Martha, b. July 31, 1743, bap- 
 tized at Truro Sept. 4, 17'i3. 
 
 (118) See will of Menekish, 
 Barnstable Probate Rec. 
 
 (119) Children of Judah nnrl 
 Maiy (Hamiltonl Mayo (from the 
 will, ordei' uncertain): 1 Lydia. b. 
 
34 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Jan. 23, 1722-3 (East. Rec.) ; m. 
 Prince Young, son of John, as 
 second wife. 2 Mary, b. about 
 1725; in. 1st Joseph Doane, son of 
 Hezekiah of Truro, about 1744; m. 
 2nd Freeman, before 1758; 
 
 removed to liiverpool, N. S., about 
 17C)2. 3 Richard, b. ; m. 
 
 Mary Ann Hale of Boston, June 
 14, 1750; died before 1758, leaving 
 child Augustine. 4 Barbara, b. 
 
 ; m. George Smith, son of 
 Stephen, Oct. IG, 1755 (Chat. Rec). 
 5 Ruth, b. ; m. Benjamin 
 
 Gardner of Nantucket Nov. 3, 
 1756 (Chat. Rec). Elizabeth, b. 
 
 ; m. Caleb Nickerson, sou 
 of Caleb, May 4, 1758 (Chat. Rec). 
 7 Judah, b. about 173G; m. 1st 
 Mary Rogers, dau. of of Har- 
 
 wich Dec 21, 1758 (Har. Rec). 
 She died about 177(3 and he m. 
 2nd Mrs. Sarah Fullei- in 1779; re- 
 moved to Rutland, Mass., about 
 1780 and to Woodstock, Yt., about 
 1797. 8 Hannah, b. ; m. 
 
 William Mitchell, son of William, 
 at Liverpool, N. S., Sept. 11, 1701 
 (Liverpool Rec). 9 Sarah, b. 
 about 1742; m. Benjamin Godfrey, 
 son of George. April 20, 1704 
 (Chat. Rec). 10 Priscilla, b. ; 
 
 m. Eleazer Sinnnons of Nortli- 
 field at Chatham April 2, 1767 
 (Liverpool Rec) ; removed to 
 Liverpool, N. S. 
 
 MITCHELL. 
 
 William Mitchell, only child of 
 William and Mercy (Nickerson) 
 Mitchell, born about 1091, married 
 first Tabitha Eldredge, daughter 
 of Joseph, March 19, 1712-3. She 
 died in a few years, probably 
 without children, and he married 
 second Sarah lliggins of East ham. 
 
 probably daughter of Isaac, April 
 
 10, 1717. He inherited his father's 
 farm on the west side of Mitchell's 
 river, but sold it in part to 
 Nathaniel Nickerson befoi-e 1725 
 and in part to Richard Knowles 
 before 1740,"" Nothing more is 
 known about him."' 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (120) See page 153, note 66, 
 Smith, History of Chatham. 
 
 (121) Children of William and 
 Sarah (Higgins) Mitchell (Chat. 
 Rec.) : 1 James, b. Nov. 4, 1718. 2 
 Tabitha, b. July 19, 1720. 3 Mercy, 
 b. May 4, 1722. 4 William, b. June 
 31, 1725; m. Hannah Mayo, dau. 
 of Judah, at Liverpool. N. S., Sept. 
 
 11, 1701 (Livei'pool Rec). 
 
 RYDER. 
 
 -loiui Ryder,'"' son of John and 
 Esther (Hair?) Ryder of Yar- 
 mouth, born May 28, 1092, married 
 Mehitable Crowell, daughter of 
 John and Bethiah Crowell of Yar- 
 mouth, May 20, 1713. He settled 
 at (Chatham as early as 1715 on 
 land formerly the homestead of 
 William Nickei'son, Sen. This 
 farm appears to have extended 
 from Muddy Cove across to 
 lleriing river (later called Ryder's 
 (^ove) and to have bounded north 
 on land of Paul Crowell and of 
 Jehoshaphat Eldredge. He and his 
 wife both died in the great small 
 pox (Epidemic of 17()(), which fell 
 upon this family with lux^xampled 
 severity. Not only did the father 
 and mother succumb to this 
 disease, but a daughter Bethiah, 
 a son Zenas and his wife, a son 
 ^'tephen, his wife and nine of his 
 l(Mi cliildi'en, and the wife of a 
 soil Uciilx'ii making in all seven- 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTT.ERS. 
 
 35 
 
 tpon people out of this one fam- 
 ily.'" Mr. Ryder died Janviary 10, 
 1706, and his wife March 26, 
 1766, aged 76. His will dated 
 March 30, 1762, was proved March 
 11, 1706, the son Reulxni being 
 the only surviving executor. He 
 gave the homestead to his son 
 Zenas and equivalent property to 
 his other two sons in Chatham. 
 Two other of his sons had I'e- 
 moved to the "Oblong," nearly 
 twenty years before.'-* 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (122) He is not styled "Col." in 
 the town or probate records or 
 elsewhere, and is not entitled to 
 that designation, given him by 
 some writers. 
 
 (123) See account of this epi- 
 demic, chapter xiv. Smith, History 
 of Chatham. 
 
 (12i) Children of John and M(>- 
 hitabie (Crowell) Ryder: 1 Jolm, 
 b. about 1715; m. Mary I'aim', dau. 
 of Ebeiiezer of Chatham , and 
 
 removed to the Oblong about 1747. 
 2 Reuben, b. about 1717; m. 1st 
 Susanna Atkins, prob. dau. of 
 Tiiomas, Oct. 26, 1740 (Chat. Rec). 
 She died Aug. 9, 1743, aged 26, 
 and he m. 2nd Hannah Paine, dau. 
 of Ebenezer. She died of small- 
 pox Jan. 11, 1766, aged 42, and lu' 
 m. 3rd Mehitable (Snow) Hop- 
 kins, wid. of Samuel of Harwich, 
 Oct. 16, 1706 (Har. Rec). 3 
 Stephen, b. about 171S; m. Mercy 
 Sears, dau. of Daniel, about 1739. 
 4 Simeon, b. April 4, 1720; m. 
 , and removed to the Ob- 
 long about 1747. ["o* Mehitable, b.- 
 Jan. 27, 1724-5; m. Samuel Taylor, 
 son of Samuel, about 1743. i 6 
 Zenas, b. April 27, 1720; m:"ETiz- 
 abi'tb Howes of Yai-montb, dau. of 
 
 , March 30, 1749 (Yar. Rec). 
 7 Rethiah, b. Sept. 11, 172S; d. 
 unmarried Jan. 17, 1766, of small- 
 pox. 8 Zeruiah, b. Jan. 12, 1733-4; 
 m. 1st Reuben Collins, son of Sol- 
 omon, July 11, 1751 (Chat. Rec). 
 He d. Feb. 4, 1702 (Hdsln.), and 
 she m. 2nd Joseph Harding, son of 
 Maziah, Oct. 2, 1706 (Cliat, Rec). 
 9 Est tier, b. March 4, 1734-5; m. 
 Joshua Nickerson, son of Caleb, 
 Dec 15, 1754 (Chat. Rec), removed 
 to Harrington, N. S., about 1703. 
 
 SMITH. 
 
 r)a\id Sniilli, son of Thomas 
 and Mary Smith of Eastham, born 
 in the last part of March, 1091, 
 married Sarah Higgins of East- 
 bam, daughter of Jonathan (Int. 
 i-'eb. 20, 1717-8.). It is believed 
 that he is the David Smith who 
 was of Chatham in 1716 and again 
 in 1723,"" and that ho had the 
 cliildren given below. Very little 
 is known about him."" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (125) See page 190, Smith, His- 
 tory of Chatham. 
 
 (120) Chiltlren of David and 
 Sarah (Higgins) Smith: 1 David, 
 b. ; m. 1st Sarah , who 
 
 died March 20, 1750, aged 28 (Chat. 
 Rec). He m. 2nd Thankful (God- 
 l'r(iy) Reynolds, widow of John 
 Reynolds and dau. of Samu(>l God- 
 frey, and removed to Harrington, 
 N. S.. about 1762 (B. Bangs Diary). 
 2 Solomon, b. ; m. Rebecca 
 
 Hamilton, dau. of Thomas and 
 Rebecca, removed to Harrington, 
 N. S., about 1762. 3 Jonathan, b. 
 ; m. Jane Hamilton, dau. 
 of Thomas and Rebecca, Nov. 9, 
 1752 (Chat. Rec), removed to Har- 
 rington, N. S., about 1702. 4 El- 
 kanali, b. about I73i; m. Elizabeth 
 
36 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Ivondriek, dan. of Solomon and 
 Elizabeth (Int. Nov. 17, 1753, liar. 
 Rec), and removed to Barrlngton, 
 N. S., about 1762. 5 Daughters not 
 known. According to the notes of 
 Mr. Arnold Doane, late of Barring- 
 ton, N. S., these four Smiths were 
 ]>rothers. 
 
 STEWART. 
 
 Joseph Stewart, son of Hugh 
 and Wait Stewart, born , 
 
 married Mary about 1712. He 
 
 kept a tavern on Monomoit Beach 
 near Wreck Cove for about 25 
 years, beginning about 1725.'^" The 
 starving immigrants of Charli'S 
 Clinton landed at his tavern in 
 October , 1729, and were saved, 
 as also were many sliipwrecked 
 sailors, cast ashore on the beach 
 from time to time. In or about 
 1753 his house there, which he 
 had left' some time before, was 
 either blown down or torn down 
 by maliciously disposed persons.^-"* 
 At that time he appears to hav(^ 
 been living in Harwich or Yar- 
 mouth, but later retiu'iied to Ghaf- 
 ham, whei'e he and his wile were 
 living as late as 17(>3. He left no 
 estate.'-" 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 (127) Sei! page 209, note 29, 
 Smith, History of Chatham. 
 
 (12S) Files, Superior Court of 
 Judicatui'e, Nos. 70,958, 27,310 and 
 71,055. 
 
 (129) Childi'en of .Joseph and 
 Mary ( ) Stewai't (Chat. 
 
 Rec.) : 1 Temperance, b. Mareli 
 15, 1713-i; m. William Peruiey, 
 prob. son of .loim of Harwich (Int. 
 March 15, 1734-5, Har. Rec). 2 
 Prob. Lydia. 1>. ; m. Shubael 
 
 Baker of Yarmouth, son of Sam- 
 
 uel, June 19, 1733 (Chat. Rec). 3 
 Prob. Hugh, b. ; tax abated 
 
 17il and 1745. 4 Prob. Michael, b. 
 ; tax abated 1740 and 17-41. 
 5 James, b. May 9, 1722. 6 Mary, 
 b. March 26, 1724; m. Hezekiah 
 Baker of Yarmouth, son of Sam- 
 uel, Sept. 2. 1744 (Yar. Rec). 7 
 Abigail, b. March 15, 1726. 8 Sam- 
 uel, b. Oct. 25, 1727. 9 Alice, h. 
 Feb. 19, 1729. 10 Mercy, b. July 
 17, 1735; m. Thomas Crowell, son 
 of John of Y'armouth, June 25, 
 1753 (Yar. Rec) 
 
 TAYLOR. 
 
 John Tayloi', son of Richard and 
 Ruth (Whelden) Taylor of Yar- 
 mouth, born about 1652, married 
 Sarah Matthews, daughter of 
 James of Yarmouth, December 15, 
 1674. He was a soldier in King 
 Philii)'s war, going o\it on several 
 expeditions.^''** He liviMJ most of 
 his life at YaiMiioutli. There is 
 no evidence of his removal to 
 Monomoit till the year 1711. As 
 he owni'd hind adjoining Tum- 
 lilen's or Tomliu's Gove and came 
 to Monomoit about the time the 
 Tomlons appear to have moved 
 away, it is supposed that he 
 itouglii tlic fai'in of Nathaniel 
 Tomlon, which was doubtless 
 located on the east side of Tay- 
 lor's pond, now so called, formerly 
 known as Tomlin's Cove.'" He 
 also had an interest in lln^ 
 connnon lands both at Yarinoulh 
 and at Monomoit. His will, dated 
 June 23, 1718, was proved January 
 18, 1721-2. He devised his real 
 estate lo his son Selh.'"" 
 
 NOTES. 
 •130) Freeman, Hist, of Cape 
 Cod II, 193; deed from Sanmel 
 
EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 Taylor to Sliubael Oorhani, Jr., 
 York (Me.) Deeds, XXVII, 75. 
 
 (131) The exact location of this 
 farm appears to a deed Irom Seth 
 Taylor, grandson of John, to Soars 
 Atwood, David Atwooil, John Tay- 
 lor and Elizabeth Howes, dated 
 June 30, 1821, as follows: "All 
 my real estate situate in the soutii 
 west quarter of the town of Chat- 
 ham, consisting? of upland and 
 meadow ground with the buildings 
 thereon standing, bounded, Begin- 
 ning at the Northeast corner of 
 the premises at a drain of water 
 near the old Bridge so called in 
 the range of Mathis Taylor and 
 Stephen Smith, thence Westerly 
 in said Mathis range to a corner 
 of fence near my dwelling house, 
 thence Northwesterly by said 
 Mathis to another corner of fence, 
 thence Northerly by said Mathis 
 Taylor, as the fence stands to the 
 Public Road, thence Westerly by 
 the said Road to Enoch Bassett 
 his land, thence Southerly by said 
 liassett to Taylor's Pond so called, 
 thence Southeasterly in a straight 
 line to Nathaniel Bassett and 
 Ebenezer Barse's range at the 
 l^ond, then Easterly a short dis- 
 tance by said Bassett and Barso 
 to a fence, thence Southerly and 
 Southwesterly by said Bassett and 
 liarse as the fence now stands to 
 the Eldredge meadow so called, 
 thence Southerly and Westerly liy 
 the meadow round points of land 
 and nooks of meadow into Chat- 
 ham Bay at the Southwesterly part 
 of Taylors Neck socalled, thence 
 Easterly by said Bay to a Harbor 
 or Neck near Fox hill socalled, then 
 Northerly through the middle of 
 the main Creek to Edward Ken- 
 drick his imvidow, then Wi'slcrly 
 
 by said KiMidrick to the upland or 
 lence, thence Northerly by said 
 Kendrick and Barse's meadow to 
 an old Watering place and the main 
 Creek near by, thence Northerly 
 and Easterly by said Creek which 
 parts my meadow from Step In mi 
 Smith and others to the first 
 mentioned bounds." Joseph At- 
 wood papers. 
 
 Dea. Saimnd Taylor, eldest son 
 of John Taylor above, born De- 
 cember 14, 1075, at Yarmouth, 
 married Elizabeth . His farm 
 
 was at West Chatham between the 
 highway and Buck's Creek, bound- 
 ing west on Hugh Stewart's fai-m 
 and east on the cai'tway to Ragged 
 Neck."" He is styled Deacon as 
 early as 173'i. He was selectman 
 seven years and frequently mod- 
 erator of town meeting. He re- 
 ceived an interest in the Narra- 
 gansett lands on account of his 
 father's service in King Philip's 
 war. He was living in 175G, but 
 died before 17(')1, when his son is 
 no longer called Samuel Jr. in the 
 town records. There is no settle- 
 ment of his estate.'''* 
 
 NOTES. 
 (132) Children of John and 
 Sarah (Matthews) Taylor (all born 
 at Yarmouth, order micertain): 1 
 Samurl. 1). Dec. I'l, 1(')75; m. Eliz- 
 abeth about 1713. 2 John, 
 b. Junt^ 15, 1(')7S; in. Hannah ; 
 <!. 173't. 3 Hannah, b. ; m. 
 William Eldi'edge, son of Joseph, 
 Oct. 1, 1713 (page 188, note 45, 
 Smith, History of Chatham). 
 4 Elizabeth, b. ; single in 
 1722; perhaps m. Dani(>l Hamilton 
 as fourth wife. 5 Mary, b. ; 
 in. Ephraim Covell of Har. (Int. 
 Sept. 20, 17 U), liar. Her.) ('. Seth. 
 
38 
 
 EARLY CHATHAM SETTLERS. 
 
 t). ; m. Elizabeth, dau. of 
 
 Daniel Hamilton, about 1730. 
 
 (133) See "A Proprietor's Book 
 for Chatham," and a deed from 
 Samuel Eldredge to Seth Taylor 
 dated May 15, 1711. (M. L. Luce 
 papers.) 
 
 (134) Children of Samuel and 
 Elizabeth ( ) Taylor: 1 Jo- 
 seph, b. Jan. 22, 1713-4 (Ghat. 
 Rec.) ; m. Hannah ; removed 
 about 1747 to the "Oblong," N. Y., 
 
 and thence to Kent, Conn. 2 
 Thankful, b. ; m. John Col- 
 
 lins, son of John, about 1740. 3 
 /Samuel, b. about 1722; m. Mehit- 
 / able Ryder, dau. of John, about 
 j 1743. 4 Matthews, (commonly 
 written "Matthes") b. May 15, 1724 
 (Chat, Rec.) ; m. Desire Harding, 
 dau. of Maziah, Aug. 3, 1747 (Chat. 
 Rec.) . 5 James, b. about 1732; 
 died May 19, 1758, aged 26 (Hdstn,). 
 
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 H195 
 
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