.Y2 W7 ,-^" .•'■j>:_% ■> ^vn9*^ O > „„„, „ '•^^i''' ,, i^'v-^ -J ' '^^u.^'i •\ o ^V-^ -^^ '^<^ V V^^ "oV >- ^^-v^. .^' V-0^ •4 o \\m^/y'% '°^W.' /\ -_. :- -^^o^ •' O > 3* ^0 •^ -n.-o^ .' ^K ^oV^ ,V O V \ ' "^y* - o , » • G^ >--.*^ .*' .C^% "-^- ^*. « p7H WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES Seventy-Five Years Ago From Parker's River Westward By DANIEL WING. "I do not envy any man, that absence of sentiment which makes some people careless of the memorials of their ancestors, and whose blood can be warmed up only by talking of horses or the price of hops." Blades, in Enemies of Books. It has been asserted by some historian that the Growels or Growells of the Middle states were originally Cromwells and that they dropped the letter M about the time they dropped their an- chor in a harbor of the American continent. It requires but little knowledge of history to convince one that in many instances, during the political struggles between England and France, hundreds of years ago, it was advisable for the safety of one's person to change the family name. For a long period the relations between England and Normandy were in- timate and more or less complex. The Norman French name Le Crochere (pronounced Gro share) was easily abbreviated by dropp- ing the first syllable and the final e. This left Grocher, which, in English, would be pronounced Grocker: hence the changes in spelling and pronunciation. An- other change was effected by eliminating the final syllable of Grochere altogether: hence the names Gro, Grow and Growe, which by the process of evolution have become Growell. It was natural that the descend- ants of John Growe, who lived near Follens pond, should establish their residences along the north- ern shore of the Gape; and that those of Yelverton should settle on the southern coast near the home of their paternal ancestor, where there was an abundance of land suitable for tilling and a natural gro\^i:h of salt grasses for their cattle. The woods furnished an abun- dance of timber for the construc- tion of dwellings and barns, and the waters, both fresh and salt, yielded considerable food for their tables. In later years the coasting trade furnished employment for many, and a goodly number of those who afterwards became masters of / WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES merchant ships, took their first lessons as cooks and "hands" on board the small craft which were largely owned and sailed by their fathers or near relatives. The boys of those days, instead of wasting their time in pursuit of pleasure, worked on the home lands, hoeing corn and potatoes, cutting wood for fuel, milking the cows morning and night, gomg to the district school for a few weeks in the winter and so keeping up the round of duties throughout the year. Those indeed were strenuous times, the like of which the rising generation knows but little from personal experience. But there was a compensaion in the fact that in that way were produced men of sturdy character, energetic, self-reliant, persistent. Some of them have gained an en- viable reputation as ship masters, while others have attained success in other departments of human endeavor. The exact spot on which Yel- verton's dwelling stood is not known; but is supposed to have been in the vicinity of the resi- dences formerly owned and occu- pied by the late Captains Elkanah Croweli and Zadok Crowell. The building may have been con- structed of logs from the adjacent woods. Here Yelverton lived for- ty-four years. His wife Eliza- beth survived him twenty years and died in November, 1703. The will of the former is dated Dec. 23, 1681, and is signed "Yelverton CrowiMl alias Grow," which seems to indicate the period in which the final change in surname was made. The site of the residence of John, son of Yelverton Crowe, is known. A great-great-grandson of the latter showed it to a descend- ant in the seventh generation and he in turn pointed out the spot to one now living. The old Yel- verton farm has been- occupied and worked by his descendants in all the successive generations down to the present time. Captain El- kanah CrowelF, (EIkanah% El- kanah% Simeon*, Ephraim% Thom- as'', Yelverton^) now living in Hy- annis at the age of 85 years, has kindly furnished ihe writer of this article with a list of house- holders along the line of what is now known as South Sea avenue in the order in which they were located 75 years ago. The writer has looked up the male ancestral line of some of these worthies and offers the same in the hope that it will be acceptable to some at least who have not the time or the inclina- tion to unravel the intricasies of genealogical history. Commencing at Great Island, the first residence to be named was that of Captain Nehemiah CrowelP (Abnor*, Thomas% Thomas', Yel- verton^), who died about the year 1849, leaving the house to be oc- cupied by his son Robert. The next was the residence of John Hallet, who married Rachel Crowell of the sixth generation from Yelverton. This house was moved from its original site many years ago and now stands upon land on the county road owned by the heirs of the late F. A. Abel. In still earlier times there had been a dwelling on the "Island" occupied by the family of Free- man Hallet, and later by his SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. widow; but which was removed longer ago than Captain Growell can remember, and became the residence of the late B. K. Chase, who married a daughter of the former owner. Near the Island fence, on the mainland, were a lot of saltworks and an establishment where lamp- black was made. Salt was made in this vicinity as early as 1839, by Gorham Crowell and Ezekiel Crowell. The lampblack was manufactured by a man named John Bangs, who lived in the house later occupied by Timothy Lewis on the easterly side of the highway, now serving as a sum- mer residence. Then, on the west side, was the home of the late Alexander Crowell, a son of Nehemiah, al- ready mentioned, now also a sum- mer residence. Back in the fields was the ruins of an old cellar on the estate of Ezekiel Crowell, where a house had been located; by whom it was built and occupied is beyond the knowledge of any one now living. A little farther north was an old, low, double house, owned by Captain Ezekiel CrowelP (Jeremiah*, Joseph% John^ Yelverton'). This place was occupied by Joshua Hallet and Arven Baker some seventy or more years ago; also by a family of Winslows from Brewster who tended saltworks near by. The building was subsequently torn down and Captain Ezekiel Crowell, son of Jeremiah, built a residence near the site of the old house. One of the daughters of the for- mer married the late Frederic P. Baker; one. Captain Edward I^ew- is, and the third, still living at the advanced age of eighty-nine and one-half years, is the widow of the late Heman Chase of West Yarmouth. This building was moved about 30 years ago to South Yarmouth. Next in order stood the low, double house of Timothy Growell% son of Jeremiah*, previously named in this article. This house in later years was the home of Zenas Wood, who married Sarah Ann, daughter of Timothy, July 1, 1838. Mr Wood's family moved West many years ago, and finally the house was taken down. The late Captain Zadok Crowell" built a house close by the site of that of his father Timothy% and occupied the same with his fam- ily for many years. This house, now known as Greltholme, has been for several years past the residence of Joshua F. Growell* (Isaiah% Elkanah«, Elkanah% Sim- eon*, Ephraim^ Thomas^ Yelver- ton^). The present owner is also a descendant of Yelverton in the eighth generation in the line com- ing down from Thomas, the fourth son of Yelverton, born about the year 1647. On the east side of the way nearly opposite the last named, stood the house of Captain Eben- ezer Crowell'' (Solomon*, Joseph% John^ Yelverton^) who was lost at sea in February, 1828, when about 42 years old. His widow survived him many years. None of their children are now living, but there are grandchildren. The old dwell- ing was bought by Reuben Blach- ford and went into the construc- tion of a new house on Main WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES street, opposite the late Isaac Crowell's, now occupied by Addie F. Crowell. On the west side of the Lane, as it was formerly called, once stood the residence of Captain Elkanah CrowelP, son of Simeon. This building was taken down about the year 1833 and a new structure was erected by Captain Elkanah of the sixth generation near the site of his father's house. Of the children who grew up in this home. Captain Elkanah Crowell of the seventh generation, heretofore named in this article, and a sister living in the West are the sole survivors. The last-named dwell- ing is located near the spot once occupied by the residence of John, son of Yelverton, and presumably quite near also to that of Yelver- ton himself. Almost directly opposite the res- idence of Captain Elkanah Crowell of the sixth generation from Yel- verton, the pioneer of 1639, there had stood for a number of years the district schoolhouse, to which we presume the description of one elsewhere by Whittier would ap- ply: "Within, the master's desk is seen, Deep scarred by raps official; The warping floor, the battered seats. The jack-knife's carved initial; The charcoal frescoes on its wall; The door's worn sill betraying The feet that, creeping slow to school, Went storming out to playing." About the year 1839 or 40 this building of an early period in the educational history of this section wns moved fni'thcr Tiorth ;ind be- came a part of the residence of Captain Zenas Crowell. A new schoolhouse was built on the same site about the year 1839; but that too was sold when the larger building now in use superseded it on Main street, and it was used as a storehouse for a time on the opposite side of the street by El- kanah Crowell, the 6th. Again it was sold and removed to Main street near the old cem- etery and converted into a dwell- ing house by George Taylor, a citizen of the village. On the west side of South Sea avenue, next north of Captain El- kanah Crowell's, stood the resi- dence of the late Captain Henry Crowell* (Nehemiah% Abner*, Thomas', Thomas^ Yelverton^) . This dwelling has been removed south, to a site nearly opposite that formerly occupied by the home of the late Alexander Crowell previously mentioned. Next in order came the residence of the late Davis Crowell, on the east side of the street, now owned and used as a summer residence by Edward Brown. Again, on the west side of the highway, stood the chimney stack of an old dwelling, the original builder of which cannot now be certainly known. Mrs. Martha Chase (daughter of Captain Ezekiel Crowell of the fifth generation from Yelverton), now living at the advanced age of ninety years, remembers distinct- ly that her grandfather, Jeremiah, wlio died in 1827, once lived there. It is quite possible that the building itself was erected by Jo- seph, the father of Jeremiah, and a grandson of Yelvertoii, the pio- SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. neer. This house was locally known as the Molly Gamie house. Jeremiah married Mary Hallet in 1778, and Mary was frequently called Molly in the early days. Then came the home of the late Captain Henry Taylor with its large family of boys and girls, most of whom have passed away. Next came Captain Zenas Crowell's, where were four daugh- ters and five sons, only one of whom, the youngest daughter, is now living. Thus ends the panorama of South Sea avenue as it was seven- ty-five years ago. What changes have taken place since then! Quite a number of the dwellings still remain upon the sites they occu- pied in the long ago; but the oc- cupants are not the same. Chil- dren have been born, have at- tained their three score years and ten, and have passed away, leav- ing their places to be filled by others, who, in their turn will occupy for a more or less brief period. "Like to the falling of a star, Or as the flights of eagles are; Or like the fresh spring's gaudy hue. Or silver drops of morning dew; Or like a wind that chafes the flood, Or bubbles which on water stood: E'en such is man, whose borrowed light Is straight called in and paid to- night. The wind blows out, the bubble dies; The spring entombed in autumn lies; The dew dries up, the star is shot; The flight is past, and man forgot." — H. King. The last line often becomes true sooner than it should. The body of land known as Great Island has been doubtless, in the long ago, an island in fact, as well as in name; but the mighty forces of wind and wave which have extended seaward the bar off Bass river and formed Dogfish bar farther west, have formed a sandy beach which trans- forms the one time island into a peninsula. It is true that the highway leading to it is bridged over an arm of Lewis bay; but this is because the line of the highway, as established, is more direct than the route nearer the sea shore. It is reasonable to presume that this peninsula was a part of the tract taken up by Yelverton Crowe, the pioneer, in 1639. The fact that it would make the area of his territory possibly as great as three square miles is no argument against its probabil- ity. In Middleboro, as well as on the Cape, in the early days, large tracts of land were purchased from the Indians and were known as the Twelve Men's Purchase, Five Men's Purchase, Sixteen Shil- lings Purchase, etc., and the last named seems to indicate the con- sideration paid. The southeastern point of the peninsula was formerly known as Fox point; the southernmost ex- tremity still bears the name Point Gammon. Why this name, which intimates imposture, delusion. WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES trickery, was applied to this head- land is somewhat difficult to as- certain with any degree of cer- tainty; but some investigation by correspondence and a study of maps new and old, has convinced the writer that it originated with mariners and not with landsmen. The writer, in a former article, was led into error by a statement made to him in good faith, that a tradition had been handed down to the effect that a few genera- tions ago, cattle were driven across a narrow channel to Bish- op and Clerk's and pastured there. He invited criticism and sugges- tions from others, and has re- ceived letters from several parties which have convinced him that the following statements can be relied upon. A great many years ago the Bishop and Clerk's ledge was an island about five miles in circum- ference, and sheep used to be scowed across the channel and pastured there. The channel at that time must have been consid- erably narrower than now; but never, since the advent of white men in New England, has it been shallow enough to admit of its being forded. The native Indians accounted for the islands Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard by a mythical story which ran somewhat in this wise: A great many moons ago there lived upon the Cape a giant named Maushop. One day he waded out into tlie South sea to a great dis- tance, for his legs were exceeding- ly long and his bodily vigoi won- derful. After a time his moccasins became full of sand, which made walking painful. Thereupon he emptied one, and the island of Nantucket appeared above the surface of the water, while the sand which he poured from the other formed the island known as Marthas Vineyard. He lighted his pipe and volumes of smoke arose, obscuring the vision for miles around. Ever afterward, when fog appeared over the water, the Indians would exclaim in their native tongue, "Here comes old Maushop's smoke." The government lighthouse was established on Point Gammon in 1816 and was kept by Samuel Peak until 1826. He was succeeded by his son, John Peak, who officiated until the light was discontinued in 1859, when the Bishop and Clerk's lighthouse, which had been in process of construction for several years, was put to service. Hyannis Harbor light was estab- lished in 1849; the Range light on Railroad wharf in 1885; the line of the two serving as a guide in entering Hyannis harbor. Captain Elkanah Crowell, who hoed corn and dug potatoes near Fox point and Point Gammon, when a boy, estimates the area of cleared land on the southern and western portions of "The Island" at that time to have been twenty acres or more, and that probably there were thirty to forty acres of woodland. This territory was owned by some dozen or more jM'oprictors, and when the wood was big enough to convert into firewood the area was laid off into lots and the proprietors bid for choice. Captain Crowell himself drew a plat of the woodland for SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. that purpose about forty years ago. The body of water north of Great Island, known as Lewis bay, doubtless received its name from some family residing in that neighborhood. The late Amos Otis, Esq., is authority for the statement that the "South Sea men" of Barn- stable in 1696 included Thomas, Edward and John Lewis, and that the last named fell in battle in the war with the Indian chief, King Philip. The name Lewis does not appear on the Yarmouth tax list for 1676. Additional facts along this line would be welcome, to show the origin of the name and period in which it was applied to this beautiful body of water. It may be that, forming, as it does, a portion of the eastern boundary of Hyannis, it received its name from the Lewis families of Barn- stable. About a hundred years ago, "there were in this bay four coast- ers of about forty-five tons each, and ten fishing vessels of from forty to fifty tons each." The lampblack and salt making indus- tries added to the volume of busi- ness in this section. Today these are all gone and their places taken by summer cottages and pleasure craft. Farming, too, except on a very small scale, has become a thing of the past; although the raising of vegetables is carried on to some extent. A lady is still living who remembers riding home from a party in an oxcart; but oxcarts have been succeeded by carryalls and truck wagons, and they, in tui'n, are being supplanted by automobiles and power trucks. However, the old days were good old days of peace and com- parative contentment; and we of the living should not lose sight of them in our scramble for that which is just ahead of us. To the section of which we write, in 1639, nineteen yaars af- ter the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and one year after the incorporation of the town of Yar- mouth, came Yelverton Crowe, the pioneer, who was not only a man respected by his fellow cit- izens, but one who accepted and performed well liis duties as a citizen. He not only served his town in several official capacities, but served, too, as a soldier in King Philip's war. It would be exceedingly appro- priate to erect some memorial to his memory in the cemetery where so many of the early settlers quite probably including himself are buried, and to mark the his- toric sites of the neighborhood, before they are altogether lost to liuman knowledge. With suitable in'scriptions, no other material would seem to be as appropriate for this purpose as the massive boulders oft the town which he and his descend- ants have done so much to estab- lish and perpetuate. The writer has several times mentioned this name and has dil- igently sought a reason for its bestowal upon the southern head- land of Great Island, He, him- self, has at sundry times, when sailing in Nantucket sound, seen a mirage in that vicinity which so distorted the shore outline as ap- parently to make it possible to 8 WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES sail through several channels, where, in fact, there was no water at all. When the Bishops was an island of considerable extent, as it was a few generations ago, and Great Island extended farther south, a mirage or a more or less dense mist or fog may have made that .portion of the coast even more deceptive than now. Hence the name, as applied by mariners who were gammoned by it — Point Gammon. As particularly interesting in this connection I quote a passage from Thoreau's "The Maine Woods," page 227, descriptive of a canoe trip on Moosehead lake in Maine with one white com- panion and an Indian guide. "Looking northward from this place," writes Thoreau, "it ap- peared as if we were entering a large bay, and we did not know whether we should be obliged to diverge from our course and keep outside a point which we saw, or should find a passage between this and the main land. I con- sulted my map and used my glass, and the Indian did the same; but we could not find our place ex- actly on the map, nor could we detect any break in the shore. When I asked the Indian the way, he answered, 'I don't know,' for he had never been up this side. It was misty, dogday weather. . . It seemed that, if we held on, we should be fairly emi)ayed. Pres- ently, however, the mist lilted somewhat, and revealed a break in the shore northward, showing that the point was a portion of Deer Island, and that our course lay westward of it. Where it had seemed a continuous shore even through a glass, one portion was now seen by the naked eye to be much more distant than the other which overlapped it, mere- ly by the greater thickness of the mist which still rested on it." Another Point Gammon. Captain Loring Fuller of South Yarmouth, who has sailed along the coast of Great Island more than a thousand times, offers no solution of the problem as to the origin of the name Point Gam- mon; but gives a version of the old Maushop myth that is new to the writer of this article. It runs thus: "A very long time ago there lived a great Indian giant named Maushop, who could wade up and down Vineyard sound without finding the water more than knee deep. His home was in a cave called the Devil's Den on Gay Head. He used to sit on a boulder in the sound to smoke, and the ashes from his pipe, taken away by the currents, formed the is- land of Nantucket. He undertook to build a bridge from Gay Head to Cuttyhunk by filling one of his shoes with sand and wading out to empty it on the intended line; but a crab bit him on his uncov- ered foot and made him so angry that he broke off a portion of the cliff and threw it southward, thus forming the island called No Man's Land. He flung his five children into the sea and they were trans- formed into fishes. His wife remonstrated with him and he tossed her across the channel to Seaconnet." There! if that does not equal, in vivid imagination, the myths of the Israelites, the Assyri- SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. ans and Babylonians of four thousand years ago, then the writer is no judge. This subject (Point Gammon and vicinity) will be continued in No. 9 of this series. Meantime, will those persons who have either fact or tradition bearing upon the topic referred to, kindly forward same to the writer, who will serve as a sort of "clearing house" to receive, as- sort and publish later on. Names will not be printed if anyone ob- jects. The result of correspondence now at hand will be given from time to time. The writer has no pet theories which he is trying to maintain; but is anxious to ascertain facts, before it is too late, and tradition is often helpful. Traditions grow and change as the years pass. As one reaches the three score j'ears and ten of human life he is sometimes tem- porarily in doubt whether certain events that occurred in his early lifetime were actually witnessed by himself, or were so vividly portrayed to him by another as to leave upon his mind and mem- ory an impression as strong and enduring as that produced by per- sonal experience. A correspondent regrets that the writer doubts the fording of the channel between Point Gammon and Bishop's since the advent of the white man in New England; and states that a worthy citizen of say three generations ago said in his hearing that he, himself, "as a boy, waded across." Now, there is no intention on the part of anyone to insinuate wilful mis- representation by any person. The writer for many years believed as did his correspondent; but ac- cumulating evidence shook his faith in the fording; although he still believes that sheep and pos- sibly larger animals were taken across the channel to pasture on the Bishop's island by means of scows. In reply to a query on this subject he received the following from the U. S. Coast and Geodetic survey, bearing date Sept. 9. "There is nothing on file in this department or bureau" (Depart- of Commerce) "to indicate that the locality about Bishop and Clerk's lighthouse was ever an island of any greater extent than at present shown upon the charts. The earliest survey by the coast sur- vey was in 1847, and at that time the water north of the lighthouse was too deep to be forded. The earliest chart of the locality is that of 'Nantucket shoals' by Captain Paul Pinkham, 1791. It shows several rock symbols where Bishop and Clerk's lighthouse is located and three and one-half fathoms of water between there and Point Gammon. We have no information regarding the origin of the name Point Gammon." A U. S. chart of "Hyannis har- bor" whose hydrography is based on surveys made between 1888 and 1902 with certain corrections to Sept. 14, 1914, shows the distance from Point Gammon to the light- house on Bishop's to be about 2% statute miles. There is a channel a little more than three-fourths of a mile wide, in which the water is more than 18 feet deep at its "mean low water;" the 10 WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES depth in that vicinity being from 19 to 26 feet. Summing up, we have as fol- lows: Depth of channel in 1791, SVz fathoms (21 feet). Lighthouse established on Point Gammon in 1816. U. S. survey in 1847 shows chan- nel "too deep to be forded." Latest chart shows channel 19 to 26 feet deep at low water. Tradition says that a man born in 1801 waded across this channel when a boy. There is no doubt that the wearing away of this portion of the coast during the , last three centuries has been very great. It has been estimated that the wear- ing away of the east coast of Nan- tucket in recent times has been as great as a foot per annum, and on parts of the south coast, three feet. Geologists suppose that at least three to four miles have been washed into the sea from the east coast of Cape Cod in ages past. The waste from the land has greatly extended the bar off Bass river. The question under discussion, however, is whether or not the channel referred to has, within a century or two, been shallow enough to be forded. No. 10 of this series will re- view the residences along the county road from Parker's river bridge westward, covering a peri- od of seventy years. On the northerly side of the county road westerly from the bridge and distant from it, say fifteen rods or thereabout, there stood about eighty years ago a low double house occupied by the widow of Simeon Lewis, who was the sister of Elkanah Crowell 1st, born in 1757. Of their chil- dren, Mehitable married Isaiah Parker and Simeon married Thankful, sister of John Hallett. Some twenty rods farther west on the same side of the road and about the same time, was the res- idence of Captain Winthrop Sears; a building of similar design to the one first named. In fact, that was the style of architecture that pre- vailed a century or more ago. It was the custom to have the front toward the south, having no ref- erence to the location or direction of the nearest highway. In South Yarmouth representatives of this class are the Reuben Farris house and the Amos Baker house, the second dwelling south of the Hat- sel Crosby place. The Baker house originally had the front door toward the river instead of on the street side. The most of such homes had a large room each side of the front door; the kitchen in the rear, with pantry and bed- room at one end and cellarway and bedroom at the other, and an immense chimney stack and brick oven directly back of the "front entry." Captain Sears married first Bet- sey Crowell, and second Susannah Crowell. The children of the second marriage were Odlin, Susan, Abbie, Winthrop and Mary. Tlie house is now occupied by Mrs Ticne Taylor, widow of the late Roland Taylor. Still farther on was the low, double house of John Gorham, where he with his moth- er and sister lived some seventy- five or eighty years ago. This SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. H building was torn down many- years since; but the writer re- members its ancient appearance, its white plastered chimney of ample dimensions bearing evi- dence of its having been used as a target by passing gunners. Mr Gorham, who married late in life, was a very pious old gentleman, who used to lead the singing at prayer meetings, and who, the writer thinks, was a pensioner of the war of 1812, having served on the watch for the enemy along the coast from his station on Great Island. It was in that war that the English armed vessel Nymph de- manded a "ransom" of South Yar- mouth to the amount of one thousand dollars, which was paid in two instalments. Nearly opposite the site of the John Gorham house was a small house occupied by Warren Lewis, whose wife's name was Diantha. Their children were Phebe, Alfred, Edwin, Ruth and Thatcher, the last named living at present in Dennisport. This house was moved a number of years ago to South Yarmouth. Still farther west on the north side of the road formerly stood the meeting house of the west precinct, built in 1794, in which the Rev Timothy Alden preached every fourth Sabbath for many years. About the year 1832 this structure was replaced by a more modern one; and this newer build- ing was moved a few years ago to the south side of the highway near the schoolhouse. In the early days many wor- shippers came from "Gray's coun- try" and the Matthews settlement near the mouth of Bass river. A little farther on, upon the same side of the street, was the home of Captain Odlin P. Sears, who married Thankful, daughter of Captain Elnathan Lewis, Senr. Their children were Gyrus and Richard. The old house was torn down and a new house erected on the same site. This is now owned and occupied by the heirs of the late Captain William Peak, son of John Peak, a onetime keeper of the lighthouse on Great Island. Next on the south side of the road was the home of Thomas Crowell, who married Lydia, sis- ter of Jabez Lewis. Their chil- dren were Serena, Eliza, Warren and Lydia. This residence stood just east of the cross roads lead- ing to South Sea avenue on the one hand and North Lane on the other, the place being known as "The Four Corners." The dwelling was taken down some years ago and moved to Hyannis by George Miller. Thomas was of the seventh generation from "John Crowe of Bass Ponds." On the northerly side of the highway and across North lane from the Odlin P. Sears homestead, stood the residence of Jabez Lew- is, which was probably occupied by his father at a still earlier date. This also was a "low double house" corresponding to the style of architecture of the period when il was built. By his first wife, Thankful, the children were William, Thankful and Prentiss; by his second wife, Rebecca How- land, Edgar, Lothrop, Leonidas, Irene, Amelia, Elizabeth, Melora and George. The dwelling was 12 WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES burned some twenty-five years ago. The ancient cemetery is located just beyond the site of the Jabez Lewis home and is bounded on the west side by a road which leads to the former site of the town house. In the days when this cemetery was laid out, it was cus- tomary to have the burial ground in the immediate vicinity of the meeting house; but at that time the people of "South Sea" at- tended service on the north side of the town, hence the desirabil- ity of a burial place nearer the home village. It seems a pity that so few of the earlier burials are marked by headstones; but this lack is easily accounted for by the fact that most of the pioneers were people of limited means, and the needs of the living were rather to be looked after than the marking of the resting places of the dead. The old wooden fence which had heretofore enclosed the grounds was replaced in 1884 by a sub- stantial stone and iron fence at a cost of $1755.23, the funds being raised by subscription, under the devoted management of the late Captain Sturgis Growell, of the sixth generation from Thomas, son of Yelverton. The town of Yarmouth con- tributed $300.00 and the following named persons each gave $100.00 or more: Captain Sturgis Crowell, Elisha Taylor, Esq., Elkanah Crowell, Jr., and Mrs Albert Chase. In addition to cash donations, many persons gave their labor and the use of their teams to forward this worthy object. Across the highway from the cemetery are the recently built residences of Lothrop and Fer- dinand Baker, and across a way which connects with South Sea avenue is that of Joshua Baker. A short distance west from the residence last named, stands a small concrete structure recently built for the use of Christian Sci- entists. Opposite this is the home of George Taylor. The building was formerly the district school- house located on South Sea avenue, which was referred to in No. 5 of this series. Next west, stands the low double house formerly occupied by John Seymour and later by the late Benjamin Blachford. This dwell- ing has had many occupants, is in a good state of preservation and is now owned by Rev Lester Lewis, a descendant of Jabez Lewis hereinbefore mentioned. Nearly opposite the place last named there stood many years ago au old-time dwelling known as the "Aunt Brown house." Aunt Brown was the mother of Blind Frank, a character known for miles around. At the annual sheep washings and sheep shearings on Nantucket in the first half of the last cen- tury. Blind PYank filled the position of chief "fiddler" for the dancing in the evenings. In those days, as many as seven thousand sheep were pastured on Nantucket and the annual sheep shearing was an occurence of great inter- est. Close by, Benjamin Blachford, who married Lydia Seymour, built a small house of more modern style. His children were Henry, John, Benjamin, Reuben, Frederic, SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. 13 Lydia and Elizabeth. The late Henry Blachford of the Yarmouth board of selectmen, was the last survivor of this large family. Still farther west on the north side of the county road, was the low double house of Captain El- nathan Lewis, who used to have charge of the West Yarmouth postoffice when the stage brought the mail from Plymouth, not very regularly, some seventy-five or eighty years ago. The original dwelling was taken down some sixty-five years ago and a more modern structure built by Captain Lewis, who occupied it during the remainder of his life. This house came into possession of Captain Elkanah Crowell, 3d, and was moved in 1894 to Railroad avenue, Hyannis, where it is now occupied by him. Captain Lewis owned a large tract of land extending from the county road to Lewis bay, a dis- tance of more than half a mile, together with salt works near the shore. A road to the saltworks was laid out just west of the house. His children were Chris- topher, Thankful, Betsey, Phebe, Joseph and Edward. Captain Christopher Lewis married Susan Sears and established his home about seventy years ago directly opposite his father's. Christopher's children were Elnathan, Susan and Adelbert. The dwelling is now occupied by Mr E. B. Matthews, who married the daughter. A little distance west from Cap- tain Elnathan Lewis's old house, Captain Edward Lewis built a more up to date residence on the same side of the highway. He mar- ried Lucretia, daughter of Cap- tain Ezekiel Crowell. Their chil- dren were Mary, Martha, Lavinia and Joseph. The last named, now living in Boston, is the sole sur- vivor of that family. A fire in the woods, some fifteen years ago, kindled by sparks from a locomo- tive on the railroad caused the complete destruction of this fine residence. Nearly opposite the Edward Lewis home, there stood for many years one of the old district schoolhouses which were super- seded by the three larger struc- tures now in use, and this one was moved about a half mile farther west to the woods back of the Downs cottage. On its former site, Captain Jo- seph Bourne, who married Sarah, the daughter of Sylvanus Crowell, built a house. One son, Joseph, now resides in Boston, and the cottage is occupied by the superin- tendent of the Barnstable Water Co. When the late C. B. Corey bought Great Island, he purchased a right of way across the old fields in this vicinity, of Elna- than and John Lewis, the same extending to South Sea avenue, as it now lies open to travel. A few rods farther west, and on the same side of the county road, the Congregational church built a parsonage not far from sixty years ago, which was afterward sold to Captain Arthur P. Blachford and occupied by his father, Captain Henry Blachford. Captain Blach- ford's first wife was Mary, daugh- ter of the late Rev. Enoch E. Chase, Two children were the result of this marriage, both of whom died in their youth. The 14 WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES captain married for his second wife Huldah Robbins. They also had two children. None of the members of this family are now living. On the north side of the high- way was the low, double house of John Lewis, which was probably owned by his ancestors before him, for it had the appearance of being very old. Many different tenants have resided in it during the last fifty to sixty years. John's wife was Ruth, daugh- ter of Joyce Taylor, and their children were Simeon, Isaiah, Alice and Dora. The dwelling is now occupied by Anthony Mont- calm. Still farther west, Captain Arunah Whelden built a house some sixty years ago. He mar- ried Serena, daughter of Daniel Hallet. Of their two children, James and Carrie, the latter is still living. The dwelling was burned down about ten years ago. Upon the same side of the high- way, a little farther on. Captain Zimri Whelden, an older brother, established a fine residence. His first wife, who died young, was Mary, daughter of Captain Win- throp Sears, Senr. His second wife was Betsey, daughter of Cap- tain Charles Baker, who lived a short distance east of Parkers river bridge. They had one son. Captain Charles Whelden, who married Hattie May, daughter of the late Captain Elbridge Growell of South Yarmouth. Connected with this couple, who are now living, there are many memories which are exceedingly pleasant to the writer. The dwelling last named was later owned and occupied by the late Captain Ephraim Crowell, and now by his son Julius, a former postmaster in that locality, A short distance west from the home of Julius Crowell we see a small house, which, some seven- ty-five years ago, was the resi- dence of Captain Hiram Crowell, born Jan. 12, 1804, who married Betsey, daughter of Captain El- nathan Lewis, in January, 1828. Christopher, a son of the above, died at sea some years ago. The house has of late been occu- pied by Mr Thacher. Next, on the south side of the road, stands the small structure used for some ten or twelve years past for postoffice purposes and kept by Captain Richard Sears, the present postmaster. Next comes a dwelling erected about sixty-five years since by Captain Benjamin Crowell, in which Postmaster Sears and wife, a daughter of the captain, now reside. Still farther on, Captain Erastus Chase built a house of the same type as the one last mentioned. He married Betsey, daughter of Captain Higgins Crowell, Senr. Of the children, Alonzo, Erastus and Susan, the second son, a sea cap- tain, died some years ago. On the north side of the road, about opposite the Benja- min Crowell house, stands the home formerly of David Downs, Senr., now occupied by a son bear- ing the same, name. Back of the last named place, the old district schoolhouse stood for a time in the woods, as stated in a previous article. It was transformed into a hall and was SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. 15 subsequently destroyed by fire. Close by, on the same side of the highway, was the old house of Sylvanus Growell, who was born July 11, 1786, married Susan Baker in 1809 and died April 17, 1856. He was a lineal descendant of John Crowe of Bass Ponds in the eighth generation. His children were Freeman H., Lot, Sylvanus, Betsey, Susan, Sarah, Christina and Orlando. This old house was torn down about forty-five years ago and to its site, Freeman H., the oldest son, who married Olive, the daughter of Captain John Hal- let of Great Island, moved the Captain Hallet house as mentioned in the fourth chapter of this series. The premises finally passed to the ownership of the late F. A. Abell of Pawtucket. By him, the dwelling was enlarged and the grounds extended and greatly improved and beautified. Both Mr and Mrs Abell have re- cently died and this fine estate is now held by their heirs. Next to the Abell estate, on the corner at the junction of the county road and an old road lead- ing to the "North side," stands a small house which has changed owners several times and is now occupied by the heirs of the late Dustin Baker. On the diagonal corner, next to Berry avenue, so called, Captain Higgins Crowell, Jr., established his residence. He was a descend- ant of John Crowe of Bass Ponds in the 8th generation, was born in 1809, and married Abigail, daugh- ter of Captain Winthrop Sears, Senior, in 1835, whose children were Odlin, Susan, Abbie, Win- throp and Mary. The dwelling was destroyed by fire several years ago and a new house erected on its site by Mr Chester Stacy. Across the highway and a short distance west. Captain Kelley H. Crowell, who also was descended from John of Bass Ponds in the eighth generation, built a resi- dence similar to that of Captain Higgins Crowell. His wife was Mary Lee, daughter of Anthony Chase. Their children were Howes and Ella. The last named mar- ried Dr W. J. Nickerson, former- ly of South Yarmouth. None of this family are now living. The dwelling is now owned and occu- pied by Miss Flora Baker. Next, on the same side of the road, is the low, double house of Thomas^ Crowell— Abner% Thom- as^ Thomas% Yelverton\ Thomas was born in 1766 and married Mary, daughter of Gorham Growell, in 1789. Mary survived her hus- band, dying in 1853 at the age of 81 years. The residence was known for many years as "the Molly Thomas house" to dis- tinguish it from "the Molly Growell house" down "the Lane," now South Sea avenue. The chil- dren of Thomas and Mary were Washington and Mary Ann. The last named married Jabez Perry and the old home is occupied during the summer season by their heirs. Across the county road, nearly opposite the old "Molly Thomas house, stands a dwelling formerly occupied by Leander Crowell and subsequently by the late Captain Washburn Baker, who married Cordelia, daughter of Anthony Chase, in 1834. Their children, none of whom are now living. 16 WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES were Albert, Delia, Howard and Edward. The house is now owned and occupied by Prescott H, Baker, son of the late Isaiah F. Baker, and in the sixth genera- tion from Silas Baker, Senior, who was born not far from the year 1700. Still farther west on the same side of the highway, and on the hill a short distance from it, is the two story schoolhouse erected in, or about, the year 1854. On account of the small number of attending pupils, one of the lower rooms has been used for library purposes. There is considerable contrast between the methods of instruc- tion now prevailing and those in 1693 when it was voted to divide the town into "five squadrons," of which "South Sea" was to be known as No. 5, the boundaries to be as follows: "Beginning at Thomas Bills', all the west side of Bass River and South Sea, and to Thomas Batter's." A committee was appointed "to agree with some fit person to teach school" and South Sea's share of his labors was to extend "from July 15, to last of August" annually. "In 1712, Mr. Jaquesh, school master, was allowed £24 salary, and 5 shillings per week additional for board." He was to teach children to read, write and cypher and to give them some knowledge of grammar and Latin. Close by the schoolhouse stands the meetinghouse, which was moved from its former site a half-mile farther east, about eight years ago. Across the road is the low double house of the late .Tames Crowell or "Squire James" as he was popularly known. The squire was born in 1767, was of the fifth generation from Yelverton, the pioneer, in the line of Thomas, son of the latter. He married, first, Ruth Howes, by whom he had two children: Marten, who died at sea at the age of twenty- one years, and Ruth H., born in 1798, who married Silas Baker of South Yarmouth, and was well known locally for many years as a preacher in the Society of Friends or Quakers. For his second wife. Squire James mar- ried Deborah Robbins, generally known in that community as "Aunt Deborah." To her were born the following named chil- dren: Harrison, Russell, Lucy Ann, James, Rufus, Winslow, Al- ger, Olive A., Edwin, Randall, Mary H., and one other who ap- pears to have died young. None of this large family are now liv- ing, and the dwelling is now owned by a family from Paw- tucket. About sixty-five years ago Cap- tain Benjamin Adams Crowell of the eighth generation from John Crowe of Bass Ponds (vicinity of Follens pond) purchased the build- ing which previously had been the store of Deacon Anthony Chase, moved it to a site a little west from the Congregational meetinghouse, and converted it into a dwelling. The captain was . born in 1813 and married Cyrene Crowell in 1838. Their children were Philena, Herbert and Good- rich. The house is now occupied by the widow of Herbert, above named, who after his decease mar- ried Lewis Taylor. SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. 17 Next to the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Taylor, Captain John Orlando, a native of Sweden, erected his dwelling. Captain Or- lando married Betsey, widow of Solomon Howes of Dennis and daughter of George and Olive Crowell. Captain Orlando was an able mariner and became master of a fine large schooner, which was wrecked on a voyage from Boston to South America. The captain was four days on the wreck, and by exposure became paralyzed to such an extent that he was unable to walk. His in- genuity came to his assistance, and he constructed a vehicle pro- pelled by hand power, which en- abled him to go about the village quite freely. He also built a large boat, so arranged as to have ev- ery rope within easy reach as he sat in the stern. He could make sail, weigh anchor, reef sails, and come to anchor without moving from his -seat; and he even went to Marthas Vineyard summers and took parties out for a sail upon the "briny deep." Since his decease his residence has been sold and is at present occupied by strangers. About opposite the former home of Captain Orlando stands a low single house which was once the residence of Ebenezer Crowell, commonly known as "Ebenezer Daniel" to distinguish him from Captain Ebenezer who lived on South Sea avenue. He was the brother of Squire James, was born in 1784 and married Dorcas Lewis. Their children were Ben- jamin, Ann and Ephraim. The former occupants have all passed away and the old home is owned and occupied by strangers. A little beyond, on the same side of the highway, Osborn, son of Captain Lysander Chase, erected a structure to be used for store purposes below and for a dwelling on the second floor. This prop- erty was later sold to the late Isaiah Crowell, son of Captain Elkanah, 2d, who carried on the grocery business there for some twenty years or thereabout, and about fifteen years ago was bought by the late Winchester Johnson. The dwelling next to the store, in which Captain Daniel Taylor now lives, was once the home of Amos Crowell, a descendant in the seventh generation of John Crowe of Bass Ponds. He married Rhoda, daughter of Judah Crowell of Bass Ponds ancestry, in 1817. Their daughter Ruth became the wife of Lysander Chase, Senior, and the last named and their chil- dren, Amanda, Osborn, Ruth and Lysander, occupied the premises for a number of years. Just opposite the last men- tioned place is the house of Cap- tain Reuben Blachford, built some twenty-five years ago. It is the old Captain Ebenezer Crowell house moved from South Sea avenue, as stated in No. 4 in this series, and rejuvenated. It is now owned and occupied, the writer is informed, by Mrs. Addie F. Crowell, one of his contempo- raries in the early school days in the new schoolhouse in South Yarmouth. He recalls the time when the upper room was so crowded that several of the boys were obliged to sit on the girls' side, himself being one of the 18 WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES number; and now after some sixty years have passed, he still lives to testify to the uniformly good nature and genial disposition of his nearest neighbor and to ex- press the wish that years of happiness and comfort yet await her. Her husband was the late Orris B. Crowell, son of Captain Elkanah, 2d, formerly of South Sea avenue. On the north side of the road and a little to the west is the fine two story house built by Captain Heman B. Chase, a grandson of Anthony, Senior. By his first wife, Emily F. Hinckley of Barn- stable, he had one son, Heman B., and by his second, Clarence, Ed- ward, Emily and Walter, The fine homestead later became the property of Isaiah, a brother of Orris B. Crowell named above. He married Mercy B., daughter of Captain Zadock Crowell of South Sea avenue, their children being Joshua F., Thomas and Isaiah. Beyond, on the same side of the highway, still stands the low double house of Captain Heman Chase, who, with his family, oc- cupied it for many years. His children were Lysander. Joshua, Heman B., Mary, Abbie, Davis, Andrew and Louise. Later, the house was owned by David Mer- chant and now by his heirs. Opposite is the former home of Luke Chase, son of Deacon An- thony. The building was moved from Hyannis some seventy years ago. Since the decease of Mr Chase in 1855 the place has beon owned by several parties, is still in good condition and occupied by strangers. Crossing a narrow road that extends southerly to Lewis bay, we come to a house that is "an old timer," indeed. With its low underpinning and its curb roof it is calculated to attract more than a passing notice from the strang- er who travels that way. The building has within a few years been considerably enlarged but the shape of the original struc- ture can still be traced. The writer remembers very distinctly taking a long walk in that vicin- ity in 1878, and of meeting Rev. Enoch E. Chase, who then lived in the old house referred to above. He said that his father, Deacon Anthony, moved to that home in 1799 and that he himself was born there in 1804 and had resided there ever since. In reply to an inquiry concerning Indians who had lived thereabout tv/o centuries or more previously, the rev. gen- tleman pointed out the old Indian burial place which the town had ieserved in the early days, and which is located on a peninsula of upland extending into the low ground on the east side of Chase's brook, so called, on the northerly side of the county road. The peninsula, which is about ten rods in width, was partly covered with a small growth of wood, mostly pine, with a clump of oaks on the easterly part. Mr Chase said that the burial place had been en- croached upon by cultivation of the adjoining field. At a town meeting, possibly thirty-five years ago, at which it was proposed to place stone bounds upon each one of the town's reservations, this old burial place being one. Mr. Chnse said that his father and SEVENTY-FrV^E YEARS AGO. 19 himself had occupied the premises for many years; but if the town had any Indians to be buried, they could be brought along and he should not object to their burial near the graves of their fathers. The children of Deacon Anthony Chase by his second wife, Mary Eldridge, were Enoch E. and a son who was lost at sea. The children of Rev. Enoch E. Chase were Mary, George, Rebecca and Alexander. Opposite this ancient structure stands a small house owned for- merly by Anthony Chase, Jr., whose children were Albert, Eras- tus, Cordelia, Leonard, Mary, An- thony and Benjamin. Crossing the brook already men- tioned, which unites with the Baxter's mill stream before reach- ing Lewis bay, we come to the small dwelling formerly the resi- dence of Captain William Howes, a successful skipper in the mack- erel fishery. This home has changed owners several times and is now owned and occupied by Mr. Lysander Chase. On the opposite side of the highway Captain Leonard Chase, a son of Deacon Anthony by his first wife, Keziah Baker, built a house which was owned and occu- pied by himself and family. Later this dwelling came into the poses- sion of Captain Gorham Crowell of the sixth generation from Yel- verton the pioneer. Some forty years ago an attempt was made to establish a trout hatchery in the brook close by. The pools were carefully laid out and kept in excellent condition for some years by Mr. Eben Per- ry, a son of Jahez Perry; but were finally abandoned as the venture proved unsuccessful. Without any special information as to the cause of failure, one might easily conceive it to be a lack of pure, cold spring water, which seems to be the natural habitat for brook trout. Mr. Per- ry was certainly entitled to much credit for the time, energy and funds which he expended upon this experiment. A short distance west of the William Howes residence lived, some sixty years ago, Mr. Asa Crocker with his large family. He was a shoe cobbler and worked for Mr. Daniel Crowell in Hyan- nis. About a quarter of a mile still farther west, on the south side of the highway, on Eleazer's hill, so called, stands the old-time home of Eleazer, a brother of Captain Timothy Baker, Senr., and in the fifth generation from Francis, a pioneer. Eleazer, or '"Uncle Eleazer" as he was called, was miller in the "Baxter's mill" near by, some seventy-five years ago, and for many years after the "Little mill" in West Yarmouth ceased its labors. The dwelling has had many different tenants during the long period of its ex- istence. Away back "in the forties," on the left hand side of the highway, stood the residence of Captain Alexander Baxter, quite an ex- tensive owner in shipping, who married Sophronia, a half-sister of the Rev. E. E. Chase. Some years later this building was moved farther west to the corner next to a road leading to Lewis bay, and a large double house 20 WEST YARMOUTH HOUSES was erected on the old site. Here the captain and his good wife re- sided for many years, and after their decease the property came into the possession of Captain John A. Baxter, a brother of Cap- tain Alexander, who occupied the premises for some years. In 1876 this fine residence was destroyed by fire. Captain Crowell, in writ- ing of this event, says: "It was a beautifully clear night. The moon casting its golden rays over the old mill pond upon the high land in the background, formed a picture which it would be difficult for an artist to equal in the beauty and grandeur of its scenic effect. But, mingled with the beauty of the scene was the sad- ness of such an ending of so beautiful a place." The old gristmill directly oppo- site the Captain Baxter residence was known as Baxter's mill. It was at one time owned by Captain Timothy Baker, Senr., (born in the first half of the eighteenth century) and later by his son, Captain Joshua Baker, born in 1766. The mill pond was fed by several streamlets which came down from the north; but, its work having been completed, the dam has been allowed to wash away; and, there being some question as to ownership, we learn that this once beautiful and interesting spot is now grown up with rushes. It seems as if the water power here might, in this day of improved machinery, be made again to serve a useful pui'poso. Returning now to the "Four Cor- ners" at the head of South Sea aveinie, we take the North lane, so called, and proceed northerly. This roadway was doubtless, in the early days of the settlement, an Indian trail, which, with its branches, led to Bass river and the Indian settlements lying north- erly and easterly. Near the Corners, on the left hand side, stood the home of Jer- emiah Gorham, generally known as Jeremy, a brother of John, here- tofore mentioned. On the same side of the way, a little farther north, was the resi- dence of James Whelden, whose sons, Zimri and Arunah, became prominent masters both of sailing ships and steamers. Several other members of the same family be- came officers of steam vessels. Nearly opposite was the home of Thomas Sherman, who married Rebecca Burgess, a daughter of Isaiah Burgess. Th^ir children were Stephen, Mary, Thomas and Lydia. The father of Thomas, Senr., was Ichabod Sherman, a blacksmith, who came to Indian town (South Yarmouth) from New Bedford not far from the year 1790 in company with Captain Benjamin Tripp and Abiel Akin, father of the late David K. Akin. He died in 18ii. Isaiah Burgess and his wife Nancy were near neighbors of Thomas Sherman, Senr. A little to the north, and on the west side of the lane, we come to the site of the old house of Hig- gins Crowell, Senr., whose children were Higgins, Ruth, Betsey and Benjamin. His second wife was J^atience Coleman. On the east side of the road wliifh led from North lane directly to the "little mill," more than eighty years ago lived Mr. Joyce SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. 21 Taylor, father of a large family. Several of the sons were noted skippers of mackerel catchers fifty to sixty years ago. Joyce, Free- man, Henry and Dustin, who be- came captains, were worthy of their ancestry. The little mill ceased its labors more than thirty years ago. North lane proper extends across the mill stream just north of the site of the little mill and was, in the early days, bordered by home- steads as far as Long pond; for this was the main highway until Parkers river bridge was built. Now, we believe, not a single building remains on this once frequented way. The fact that the site of the John Crow house is several rods west of South Sea avenue has led some people to suppose that the highway has been relocated. To the writer of this article, the evidence points to the contrary. In the earliest days of settlement, when the danger of attacks by In- dians was great, the pioneer who wished to establish a home at a distance from his neighbors, so placed his dwelling within his clearing as to have an open space on all sides, in order that he might more easily detect the pres- ence of an enemy and also to diminish the danger from forest fires. When Yelverton came to this locality in 1639 or -40 his nearest neighbors were probably located some four miles or more distant. About ten years later his nearest neighbor on the east was Richard Berry, who established a home near the mouth of Bass river. At the time of his decease, in 1683, his son John was forty-one years old, and he had but two grand- children living in Yarmouth, the elder being less than two years of age. It is quite reasonable to suppose that the spot known by reliable tradition as the site of John's residence, marks also the location of the home of his father, Yelver- ton. One other season for locat- ing the residence at a distance from the well marked trail might have been that water was more easily to be obtained from a spring or shallow well on the ground near at hand. In closing this series, the writer would earnestly invite any infor- mation respecting the Baxter's mill and the little mill; the dates of their establishment and of their falling into disuse; together with any other facts relating to the history of the section in which they are located; and especially does he invite correction of any errors which may have appeared, and a criticism of any portion of the series; for in this way is gained a more definite knowledge of historic facts. tD 18 1