Proceedings of the Nantucket Historical Association: Fourteenth Annual Meeting

PROCEEDINGS of the

Nantucket Historical Association

TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING, JULY TWENTY-SECOND, NINETEEN HUN­ DRED FOURTEEN

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HON. WALTER FOLGER. Bom on Nantucket June 12, 1765. ability and learning.

Died September 12, 1849.

A man of marked

Inventor of the famous "Walter Folger clock" and of the reflecting

telescope, both of which inventions are still in existence, the telescope being on exhibition in the rooms of the Nantucket Historical Association.

PROCEEDINGS of the

Nantucket Historical Association TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING JULY TWENTY-SECOND, NINETEEN HUN­ DRED FOURTEEN

31;r .Inquirer aitS iHirrnr Jreen Kaniurkrt, {Rase.

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ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Nantucket Historical As­ sociation was held Wednesday morning, July 22, in the old Friends' Meeting House and was called to order promptly at 10 o'clock by the President, Alexander Starbuck. The record of the annual meeting of 1913 was read by the secretary, Miss Bodfish, and being found correct, was approved. The Treasurer's report was read by Miss Hatch and showed the finances in good condition, with a gratifying increase in member­ ship. Certified to by the auditor, it also was approved.

The report of Miss Brock, the Curator, called at­ tention to the need of more room for the collections and that financial assistance to meet this requirement would be exceedingly acceptable.

The annual address of the President followed, which, with the various reports, was ordered included in the proceedings of the meeting.

William F. Macy, of the nominating committee, presented the following as the committee's report: President—Alexander Starbuck.

Vice-Presidents—Dr. Benjamin Sharp, Henry B. Worth, Mrs. Sarah C. Raymond, Moses Joy, Millard F. Freeborn, Mrs. Eleanor W. Morgan.

Secretary—Miss Annie W. Bodfish.

Treasurer—Miss Hannah G. Hatch.

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MINUTES OF MEETING

Curator and Librarian—Miss Susan E. Brock.

Councillors (term expiring 1918) —Mrs. Helen R. Milne, Henry S. Wyer.

Auditors—Irving Elting, Edward A. Fay,Miss Har­ riet A. Elkins.

It was voted to proceed to ballot and the President appointed Mr. Macy and Mr. Elting to act as tellers.

While the vote was being counted, Dr. Sharp read a short communication contributed by Mrs. S. B. Lowden giving some interesting historical facts relating to Nantucket in the war of 1812. (See Page 20.)

The tellers reported 83 ballots cast, the choice of the nominating committee being ratified with substan­ tial unanimity. The nominating committee, composed of Miss Emily Weeks. William P. Codd, W. F. Macy and Mrs. Benjamin Sharp, was then elected.

President Starbuck then alluded to his own school­ boy days and some of the studies of his day, and to the fact that local history is beginning to join a part of the curricula of High Schools. He said that the His­ torical Association is endeavoring to foster in the local High School a spirit of research into this branch of study which cannot fail to have a good effect on other branches. He then asked those who were awarded the prizes for the best work in that direction to step for­ ward and receive them.

The first prize to girls (a five-dollar gold-piece) went to Miss Ruth Chadwick, whose essay was "Leaves From My Grandfather's Log Book." The correspond­ ing prize for the boys was presented to Earl Ray, whose essay was entitled "Nantucket Whaleships." The girls' second prize was awarded to Miss Dorothy Small, whose article was on "Nantucket's Bluefishing Indus­ try."

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In presenting the prizes, President Starbuck spoke of the necessity of having the essays the result of orig­ inal research. While, of course, it was necessary to consult all sources of information, it was not desired that the work of pupils be merely a transcript of some one else's work.

Henry S. Wyer called the attention of the associa­ tion to the oil portraits owned by the society and to a seeming need for some preservative work to be done upon them. He asked Miss Flagg, an expert in that specialty, who was present, to state her opinion, which she did. On motion of Moses Joy the matter was re­ ferred to the Council with full powers.

Mr. Joy told of some very interesting and valuable documents he had been able to secure for the associa­ tion. They belonged to the estate of the late Charles G. Coffin and were presented by his daughter, Mary Coffin Greene. Mr. Joy had two books, a part of the collection, with him. They were books connected with the old Manufacturers & Mechanics Bank, incorporated in 1825, and included records of the stockholders' meetings and the dividend book—the latter containing the signatures of every stockholder receiving dividends whenever they were declared. The President called on the Curator to accept them for the society, which she appropriately did.

Among the recent gifts to the Association was an old and very valuable manuscript book relating to the illustrious Mary Starbuck, which contains data and records many years prior to any heretofore in posses­ sion of the association. The fact that it covers Mary Starbuck's dealings with the Indians makes it of ines­ timable value historically. The book was presented to the association by Mrs. Eunice Barney Swain. Another

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MINUTES OF MEETING

gift, from Alexander Starbuck, was a small piece of twine made by Benjamin Lawrence while on the boat of the wrecked ship Essex, when the crew were com­ pelled to resort to all manner of expedients to preserve life.

The exercises were concluded by the reading of a paper on the Probate Records of Nantucket County, by the president. The hour of 12 and the accepted time for closing made it necessary to cut out much of the paper, but it appears in full in the Proceedings.

The reception was held in the rooms between the hours of 4 and 6 p. m., and was attended by about 150 members and friends. Five young ladies—Misses Flor­ ence and Isabel Worth, Olive and Marion Allen and Lucy Hutchinson—served cake and ice cream,and a reg­ ular Nantucket love feast was enjoyed.

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SECRETARY'S REPORT. Mr. President, Members and Friends of the Nantucket Historical Association: Twelve months have gone by since we greeted you in this place, which is becoming dear to our generation on account of these annual meetings.

Story? I have none to tell you.

The work of the different committees will be re­ ported in the Council meeting and doubtless much has been done in earnest and quietly.

We have to learn that the work of a Historical As­ sociation is not developed in a hurry; nor with the sound of trumpets. Its growth is like that of the trees of the forest or the plants in a garden.

In the year to come we would suggest that more and more effort be made to interest the children and young people in the history, past and present, of their island. We must recruit new members to take our places and develop our work in the years to come.

This last year has brought us one new life member and 26 new annual members. It has taken from us three members—John C. Fremont Gardner, George Luther, Mrs. Annie Coffin Smith.

We are glad to note that the history of Nantucket,

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SECRETARY'S REPORT

just published by G. P. Putnam's Sons and written by R. A. Douglas-Lithgow, M. D., was encouraged by this society.

Our desire for the next year is to enlarge our fireproof building, and also be able to offer our members and friends some satisfactory and entertaining annual meeting celebration.

Respectfully submitted, Annie W. Bodfish, Secretary.

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TREASURER'S REPORT. CREDITS. Balance on hand June 15, 1913 Membership dues for 1914 Membership dues for 1915 Membership dues previous to 1914 Life membership dues Admission fees Historical Rooms Rent of room Siasconset House to Nantucket Atheneum Rent of Mill land Sale of Bulletins, etc.

Cash received for genealogical work Cash withdrawn from Bristol County Savings Bank

$22.44 136.00 128.00 7.00 30.00 363.35 65.00 15.00 16.45 4.46 242.16 $1,029.86

DEBITS. Water bill, Historical Rooms Inquirer and Mirror, Subscription Cook & Turner, Annual Reports Cook & Turner, Printing and Advertising Cook & Turner, Printing and Advertising Cook & Turner, Clasp envelopes Albert G. Brock, Insurance (collection 'Sconset House)

$8.00 2.00 65.25 2.00 10.50 4.50 3.00

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TREASURER'S REPORT

Typewriting Treasurer's Report .75 Secretary, Postage 10.00 Secretary, Postage 10.00 Bay State League dues 2.00 Water Tax, Siasconset House 5.00 C. F. Wing, Couch and pad, Siasconset House 18.00 F. E. Carle, Care taker of Mill land 5.00 M. F. Freeborn, Painter's bill, Siasconset House 26.45 M. F. Freeborn, Painter's bill, Old Mill 40.38 Gas bill 2.20 M. E. Crowell, Cake for Annual Reception 9.60 W. F. Worth, Ice cream for Annual Reception 12.40 Sundries 8.55 Holmes & Pease, Carpenter's bill, Old Mill 109.76 W. B. Marden, Plumbing 2.50 W. B. Marden, Plumbing, Siasconset House 11.10 M. W. Boyer, Copying picture 1.00 W. J. Finlay, Varnishing floors 13.35 W. J. Finlay, Cleaning Historical Rooms 15.20 A. G. Brock, Insurance Mill (5 years) 22.50 C. M. Crocker, Cleaning Historical Rooms 8.00 Stamps 12.00 Salary of Curator 100.00 Salary of Treasurer 75.00 Salary of Secretary 50.00 Salaries of two attendants at Rooms 156.00 Salary of attendant Siasconset House 52.00 Salary of Janitor 60.00 Balance to new account 95.87 $1,029.86

TREASURER'S REPORT

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SUMMARY. Assets.

Fireproof Building $8,500.00 Meeting House 1,500.00 Old Mill 1,000.00 Collection (Insurance) 1,000.00 Siascoriset House 1.500.00 Siasconset House Collection (Insurance) 300.00 Susan W. Folger Fund: Nantucket Institution for Savings 1,191.78 People's Savings Bank, Worcester, 1,040.40 Bristol County Savings Bank, Taunton, 200.00 2,432.18 $16,232.18 Liabilities—None.

Hannah G. Hatch, Treasurer.

Approved July 10, 1914, the above report of the Treasurer of the Nantucket Historical Association for the year ending June 15, 1914.

Irving Elting, Edward A. Fay, H. A. Elkins, Auditing Committee.

MEMBERSHIP. Life Councillors Life Members Annual Members New Life Members New Annual Members Lost by death, Annual Members Dropped for non-payment of dues (3 years) Withdrawn

4 59 281 1 26 3 11 7

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CURATOR'S REPORT. Mr. President and Members of the Historical Association: The realization of the fact that this date brings us to the close of two decades of organized historical work makes it seem not inappropriate to begin this annual report with a few reminiscent figures—which may serve to bring the result of our gradual growth and de­ velopment most convincingly before us.

In our first annual report we congratulated our­ selves that we had received 295 donations and 120 loans -making the whole number of articles in our collection 415. ^ At the close of our first decade, this small figure had increased to 2,000 donations and rather more than 200 loans while now we ha e nearly 3,000 donations and perhaps 300 loans. Thes , numbers do not include the large collection depositee, with us by the Nantucket Atheneum, which has never been listed, but consists of several hundred articles. It would be a conservative estimate to say that the collection had increased tenfold and that where we had in round numbers 400 articles, twenty years ago, we have upwards of 4000 now.

The last year has brought us the usual quota of ac­ cessions—a few worthy of special mention, viz:— ^ Panting of one more Nantucket whaler—the u nited States," which we are told was the last ship built by John W. Barrett.

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Several interesting portraits, the difficulty of space for these having been solved by hanging them upon the railings of the stairs. Not a very desirable loca­ tion, but the best available at present.

Since well authenticated relics of our notable an­ cestors are becoming extremely rare, it is gratifying to record that we have received a donation of a silver tea­ spoon which belonged to "Miriam" Coffin. This is un­ usually pretty, with decoration and lettering well pre­ served, and is the third article which has come to us from descendants of this remarkable woman.

Another donation, presented by our President, con­ sists of a piece of twine, made by Benjamin Lawrence while in the boat of the wrecked ship "Essex." This is a most interesting relic of the saddest tragedy of our famous whaling days.

The larger number of donations this year, consists of manuscripts which it will be impossible to exhibit, until they can be properly mounted under glass, and until we have space where they may be hung in a good light to be enjoyed and appreciated. Several of these are certificates of marriages amongst Friends, of early date and signed with names of prominent citizens.

One is a copy of a permit issued by Admiral Hotham to Matthew Crosby, allowing the neutrality of his sloop "New Packet" in the war of 1812. This will be read later.

A sheepskin-covered book has just come to light in the attic of a Nantucket house and been kindly brought to us. It is marked on the first page "Mary Starbuck's Acct. Book with the Indians began in 1662— Nathaniel Jun continued it." Needless to say, this is a great treasure and will be carefully preserved.

We have often asked our members to contribute

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CURATOR'S REPORT

any little anecdotes or reminiscences of olden time, and while this request has not received very general re­ sponse, once in a while we are favored with a contribu­ tion of this kind. One such has just come to us and as it is short I will give it to you here.

Somewhere about 1840, in the height of the great Anti-slavery movement, Stephen C. Foster visited Nan­ tucket to address the abolitionists. Being in town on Sunday, he attended the Fair St. meeting, held in the large meeting house on the lot adjoining this,and arose to speak. It was against the rules for a non-member to address the meeting, so Cromwell Barnard arose and politely but firmly requested him to stop. Foster paid no attention but talked on. Then James Austin arose and telling him that this could not be allowed, asked him again to desist, hut with no effect. Next, Obed B. Swain repeated the admonition and when no attention was paid to this third attempt, Samuel Joy went for­ ward and with Obed B. Swain, took the noted man by the arms, and as he would not walk, but dropped limp­ ly between them, they dragged him out by main force —and the marks of his heels, scraping down the aisle, were plainly to be seen for long afterward. They took him out of the door and sat him down upon the step, which, as it was in a pouring rainstorm, seemed rather a harsh proceeding, but effectually dampened the ardor of the fervent abolitionist, and he made no further at­ tempt to disturb the meeting.

The writer of this reminiscence was a boy of ten years of age, and the unexpected and rather startling occurrence made upon his mind a lasting impression of the firmness with which our forefathers enforced their inflexible rules, without regard to time,place or person.

Much of our activity during the past year has been

CURATOR'S REPORT

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in research and copying of genealogical records of va­ rious societies and individuals. This work is increas­ ing rapidly—as our records become more widely known and valued for their accuracy and authenticity, and brings a small revenue to the treasury, but perhaps is of more value to us in its evidence that our labors are of benefit to the present, and will be increasingly so to future generations.

During the first ten years of my service as your Curator, it seemed to be my duty to beg each year for funds for various purposes. In 1905 we were favored to receive Miss Susan Wilson Folger's generous be­ quest, and since that time our resources have general­ ly been sufficient for our needs. Our annual receipts, however, do not quite cover our running expenses and our reserve fund is gradually growing smaller, as you see by the Treasurer's report. The important matter of providing more space for our constantly growing collection came before us last year, and steps were taken by the Council to ascertain the expense of adding a third story to our fire-proof building. The estimate of the Construction Co. is $2,000—and as we know by ex­ perience that the first estimate for such work must gen­ erally be increased one-half,at least, to cover actual ac­ complishment, we are facing an outlay of approximate­ ly $3,000—if we decide to adopt this plan, which, while open to some objection, is the least expensive way to solve the difficult problem before us.

You can see that the time has come again when we must have financial aid if our work is to be properly continued, and it is quite evident that the annual plea must be resumed. So, I warn you, it will be my duty to beg and yours to respond, from this time on,until we reach our new goal.

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CURATOR'S REPORT

I earnestly entreat you all to consider this matter, and plan what each one can do to help our beloved As­ sociation to carry on its legitimate work as successfully in the future as it has, with your co-operation, in the past.

Respectfully submitted, Susan E. Brock, Curator,

In the War of 1812.

(Contributed by Mrs. Susan B. Lowden.)

During the war of 1812 the dwellers on the Island of Nantucket occupied a peculiar and difficult position.

Dependant on the mainland for nearly all their sup­ plies, they were compelled during the period of the war either to suffer great privation, possibly starvation, or to live under an agreement proposed by the commander of the British naval foi'ces, under which the islanders were to observe strict neutrality, while the British on their side were to permit vessels from the island to trade unmolested with ports on the mainland, such ves­ sels being granted permits necessary to insure their protection.

The islanders were for a time reproached for enter­ ing into such an agreement, but the reproach was un­ deserved ; for, because of their isolation, they were un­ able either to resist the British or to aid the Americans, and, as their existence depended upon their receiving supplies from the mainland, their attitude was entirely correct. .Moreover, it has always been well known that the men of Nantucket who left the island served their

IN THE WAR OF 1812

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country loyally in the war of 1812, just as they have in all other wars in which this country has been engaged.

The Commodore Hotham who signed the permit issued to Matthew Crosby, a copy of which follows,was at one time one of Lord Nelson's captains.

By the Honb'le Henry Hotham Commanding His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed between Nan­ tucket and the Delaware.

Having by the direction of Vice Admiral The Honb'le Sir Alexander Cochrane K. B. Commander in Chief, &c., &c., stipulated with the Magistrates and Selectmen of the Island of Nantucket for the neutrality of that island, and in consideration thereof, granted permission to the inhabitants to import Fuel for their use from Buzzard Bay, these are to require and direct the Commanders of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels, and of the private Armed Vessels of His Subjects, not to molest nor interrupt the Sloop New Packet of about Thirty Nine Tons Burthen, carrying no Guns, nor other arms of any kind, while she is employed on that service and navigated by Inhabitants of Nantucket.

Given under my hand and seal on board His Majes­ ty's Ship Superb, off New London, 28th August 1814. (signed) Henry Hotham

By Command of the Commodore (signed) John Irving.

To The Commanders of His Majesty's Ships and Ves­ sels, and of the Private Armed Vessels of His Sub­ jects.

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PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Fellow Members of the Nantucket Historical Associa­ tion : Again we are gathered, figuratively, around the old hearthstone, here with our historical Alma Mater; you, who are the masters, to learn from us what we have accomplished during the past year; we, who are your servants, to give an account of our stewardship and to tell you what we have done with the talents with which you intrusted us—whether we have given them a fair and reasonable increase, or whether we have wrapped them in the napkin of inactivity and buried them in the ground of neglected opportunities.

To the vast majority of us, Nantucket is still "the old home." We may have wandered far from the old fireside, we may have made yet other homes far re­ moved from that of our childhood, but Nantucket still remains as dear to us as in the olden time, its moon­ light as silvery, its sunlight as golden, its sons as man­ ly, its daughters as fair.

Naturally the first thing that suggests itself is to render to you a report, as your delegate, of what has been done by the Bay State Historical League since the last Annual Meeting of our Association. I have attend­ ed the four meetings of the League held since then.

The Fall meeting was held, by invitation of the

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Holliston Historical Society, in the Town Hall of Holliston on the afternoon of Saturday, October 25, 1913.

There were present on that occasion 88 persons repre­ senting the historical societies of Arlington, Bedford, Bostonian, Brookline, Danvers, Holliston, Hyde Park, Medford, Medfield, Mendon, Milton, Nantucket, Sand­ wich, Sherborn, Somerville, South Natick.Swampscott, Westboro, Weymouth, Needham and Framingham—21 in all.

The topic for discussion was suggested by your President as an outcome of his local study and was "Probate Records as Aids to the Study of History and Genealogy."

The discussion was opened by John Albree, Esq., Recording Secretary of the New England HistoricGenealogical Society. He spoke of the value of this source of information from a general standpoint. Mr. John H. Edmands followed. He spoke of the imperfectness of the early Probate records of Suffolk County, much that should be there being missing. He advocat­ ed searching the original documents when possible as there was too much liability to errors in copying. He gave some amusing instances of quite irrelevant mat­ ter sometimes found on the backs of papers that had become public documents. Your President's remarks are amplified in the paper he expects to read later in this session.

The mid-Winter meeting was held by invitation of the Lynn Historical Society in its new home on Green Street in that city on January 17 of this year. As it was the anniversary of the birthday of Benjamin Franklin the day was devoted to a study of his life.

Mr. Edwin D. Mead, who is surcharged with Franklin reminiscence, read an exceedingly interesting paper on

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PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

his life and career. Several others spoke briefly on the subject. Your President reminded them that the first chart ever made of the Gulf Stream was made by a Nantucket captain at the request of Franklin to con­ vince the English Admiralty that there was still some­ thing for them to learn about navigating the Atlantic.

President Woodbury of the Lynn Society, on request, told how the Society obtained its new home and what changes had been made in it. There were 82 persons present,representing the 26 following-named Societies: Arlington, Bostonian, Brookline, Dedham, Dover, Ha­ verhill, Old Newbury, Holliston, Hyde Park, Lynn, Maiden, Marblehead, Medford, Mendon, Milton, Nan­ tucket, Peabody, Sharon, Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, Somerville, Westboro, Winthrop, Worcester Society of Antiquity, Weymouth, Wellesley, New England Historic-Genealogical Society, Nantucket had three representatives—Mrs. Elizabeth G. M. Barney, Miss Lydia Bunker Gardner and your President.

The Spring meeting of the League was held in Lexington, April 25, 1914,and was one of the most suc­ cessful meetings the League ever has held. The dele­ gates and friends were warmly welcomed by President Locke of the Lexington Society. The death of Past President Ayer was tenderly alluded to and a brief tribute, presented by Ex-Pres. Reed, was read and or­ dered entered upon the records. ^ke topic of the day was on the "Special Activities o Historical Societies to Interest Members." resident Locke of the Lexington Society spoke interes ing y and instructively of the acquirement by the society of the Hancock-Clarke house, the Old Belfry ar> e Munroe and Buckman Taverns. A valuable

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

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historical painting, now in the Town Hall, had been purchased, the Town Records rewritten and the Town History revised and republished. There are 350 mem­ bers in the Society now. The principal difficulty ex­ perienced was in drawing out and interesting members at the meetings, but it was hoped to overcome that when they could invite prominent speakers to address them.

Ex-President Reed laid much stress on the annual observance of the municipal birthday.

President Woodbury of the Lynn Society believed in acquiring a home as soon as possible and making it a center of historical activity and in arranging histori­ cal pilgrimages.

Mr. Titus of the New England Historic-Genealogi­ cal Society would have a society card catalogue all its streets with their residents, as well as local events and similar matter that wouM be of great future interest.

Other speakers were Ex-President Chick, Presi­ dents Waterman of the Roxbury Society, Norcross of the Bostonian, Briant of the Westboro and Mr. Fitz of the Watertown.

A light collation was served.

There were 113 present, representing 31 societies.

They were Arlington, Bedford, Bostonian, Brookline, Concord, Danvers, Dorchester, Fitchburg, Foxboro, Holliston, Hyde Park, Lexington, Lynn, Maiden, Medford, Mendon, Milton, Nantucket, Roxbury, Sharon, Sherborn, Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, Somerville, South Natick, Swampscott, Watertown, Westboro. Winthrop, Weymouth, Wellesley, New England Historic-Genealogical.

The Annual Meeting was held June 27 at the Par­ son Capen House in Topsfield, the home of the Topsfield

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PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

Historical Society. The house was built for the Rev. Joseph Capen and the frame was raised July 8, 1683.

If the Lexington meeting is recorded as one of the most fully attended, the Topsfield meeting may be re­ corded as one of the slimmest in point of numbers, 21 persons only being present, representing Arlington, Bedford, Bostonian, Danvers, Hyde Park, Medford, Nantucket, Sherborn, Somerville and Winthrop. The reports showed the League in a flourishing condition.

Fifty-one societies are now included in the membership and the finances are in good shape. The election result­ ed in the choice of Hon. James P. Parmenter.of Arling­ ton, Judge of the Municipal Court of Boston, for Presi­ dent (a re-election) .N antucket was again recognized in the election for the fourth year of your President to be Secretary. After the meeting those present parti­ cipated in a delightful barge ride through one of the most extensive, picturesque and beautiful estates in the Commonwealth. Those who returned home by way of Boston passed through Salem and had an opportunity to see something of the terrible devastation created by the recent fire in that city. A necessarily insufficient notice was doubtless the cause of the slim attendance, but it was impossible to obtain needed data at an earli­ er time.

The coming Fall meeting will be a two days' outing in the beautiful and historic Deerfield valley with head­ quarters with the Greenfield society, and the mid-win­ ter meeting will doubtless be held in Milton.

In my address of 1913 I mentioned having had some correspondence with members of the Starbuck family in Indiana. To us they seem quite like the lost tribes of Israel. They are descendants of that branch of the family who went to North Carolina between

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

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1772 and 1779. Each year they hold a Starbuck family reunion. I was especially invited to attend the one held in August of last year and went to Wabash, Indiana, for that purpose. The Reunion was held in Marion and 51 were present. In 1912 nearly double that number at­ tended. I had a delightful time, was most hospitably entertained and enjoyed my stay very much, although it was only for a day and a night.

There is still much to be done. Many points in our local history have not been touched or have been inadequately treated. We need volunteers. It is not the wisest policy to have so many papers written and read by so few persons. It might be well to have sub­ committees on various branches of research and have reports from those committees. The various profes­ sions have yet to be written up in detail. The evidence regarding the forestation of Nantucket might be ac­ cumulated and analyzed—it might upset some conclu­ sions already formed. The story of the Friends Socie­ ty of Nantucket) is yet to be written in detail and it needs a kindly as well as a critical pen to do it jus­ tice. There is the record of what Nantucketers have done—it is worth preserving and repeating. How many know that it is stated on good authority that a Nantucket woman was the first of her sex to vote in Wyoming,the pioneer in "woman suffrage"? How many know that a Nantucket woman started the raisin mak­ ing industry in California? How many know that Nan­ tucket was one of the earliest communities to advocate anti-slavery? How many know that the first white men to see hundreds of islands in the Pacific Ocean were Nantucket whalemen? And the list might be ex­ tended almost indefinitely. What we want is volunteer laborers in these fields of research. It is a singularly

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PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

fascinating study when one enters upon it. Our High School pupils are being interested—make them more so.

Set aside one or two days each season and give them free admission to the rooms. Develop the card cata­ logue system more. Include the houses in the streets and their occupants. Ascertain and make a card record of the date when the various public ways were laid out.

You see the harvest is yet most bountiful—do you real­ ize that the laborers are by far too few? Who will vol­ unteer to take up some branch of the work this year and relegate those of us who are so many times talkers to the rear?

The need for more room for our collection presses on us with increasing force. A committee was ap­ pointed by the Council a year ago to make an investi­ gation as to the cost of putting another story onto our Fire Proof Building. Inquiries of the Aberthaw Con­ struction Co., the contractors for the present building, brought figures that seemed much out of proportion to the original cost. When asked to revise their figures a short time ago they courteously suggested that a local contractor might be able to give a better figure. It will be well to give this prompt, careful and further attention.

This year completes our second decade as a histor­ ical Association. It has seen the publication of three volumes of much local interest—the one by our esteemed associate, Mr. Wyer, which is a timely and valuable compilation of much interesting literary matter relat­ ing to our Island and Islanders; another the hand-book of Nantucket history by Dr.Lithgow.and the third Miss Waller's "An Island Outpost".

Were I to say more it would only be to repeat sug­ gestions made in previous years.

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AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS. The seeker for information in historical or genea­ logical research must plod through many by-ways, delve in many fields and explore many almost forgotten paths, all the time exerting his utmost ingenuity to discover untried directions in which to exercise his ac­ tivities. He must check up the results gained in one direction with those acquired in another, and if they fail to agree, find out which, if either, is correct. He will find "myths of history," whether he pursues his quest in the field of world-wide investigation, in the development of the nation or the state, or only in a study of the past of his own municipality.

Many of us are familiar, annoyingly familiar, with some of the ridiculous legends referring to our own island. With an astonishingly large number those stories, ridiculous as they are, pass current as history.

To the historical and genealogical student the rec­ ords of the Probate Courts afford invaluable sources of information. The story one gets there can be relied on as giving more dependable information than can be found elsewhere of families, divisions of property, ap­ proximate dates of deaths and the general variety and value of real and personal property, and even at times, by reading, as it were, between the lines, one gets something of a glimpse of the home life and of the

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more intimate relation between husband and wife and parents and children. Some of the ' myths of history" can be cleared up, and the "tales of travellers" "with this regard their currents turn awry" and are brought to naught. From many points of view the Probate records are interesting and instructive.

In 1907 a very prominent publishing house issued a beautifully and elaborately illustrated book entitled "Story of the First Cup of Tea at Nantucket." It was an amplification of a story printed in our local paper many years ago, and in substantially its present form it has been printed and reprinted as a newspaper story at intervals during the past twenty years. Early in the same year that the more elaborately illustrated version was issued, Mr. Roland B. Hussey had forestalled the Philadelphia publisher with an inexpensive reprint of the same story. There are several discrepancies be­ tween the two, one of the chief being the opening date line, which in Mr. Hussey's edition is 1735 and in the Philadelphia reprint is 1745. The Philadelphia version, too, is most elaborately colored and our Quaker ances­ tors and ancestresses are most marvelously decked out in Tyrian purple and lace, more like the courtiers and dames that dance attendance at the Court of the King than like men and women to whom the vanities of dress were distasteful.

It is not worth one's time to follow through the variations in text that crop out in the several versions of this story, but it may be well to call attention to some of their errors from a genealogical standpoint.

According to the signature of this somewhat re­ markable document, the writer's name was Ruth Starbuck Wentworth, and she enumerates among her rela­ tives Aunts Esther, Content and Mehitable. Edward

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Starbuck, father of Nathaniel Senior, seems to be her grandfather, Nathaniel Senior, her uncle, and Nathan­ iel Jr., her cousin. She mentions also Lieut. "Macey" and Lydia Ann "Macey." Her grandfather she refers to as walking anxiously to and fro, gazing at times down the "roadway by which our traveler must come."

And when her cousin Nathaniel Jr. does come and sees her she writes "He says it seems to him like a fairy tale that I was the same little dumpling of a cousin he used to toss in the air when last at home."

All this little detail would hardly be worth the time and space required for it, if it were not so good an example of the usefulness of the Probate Records to prick the bubble of inconsistencies. In that regard it is interesting to give it a little attention.

One of the first things to attract the attention of the genealogist, more especially that of one versed in Nantucket families, is the middle name. At the time this letter purports to have been written, taking even the latest date, middle names were unknown, and it is not until 1762 that they appear among the records of Nantucket.

Nor is the reputed author any more successful in other directions. According to the alleged letter, she writes quite glibly about her grandfather, Edward Starbuck, her uncle, Nathaniel Starbuck, and her cousin, the real hero of the romance, Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr. She appears, from her own account, to have been a young and somewhat merry maiden, of a little under the marriageable age, which was then as now about 18 or 20 years, at the time her letter was written, whether that be 1735,as Mr. Hussey has it, or 1745, as the Phila­ delphia version puts it. Now as a matter of genealog­ ical fact Grandfather Edward Starbuck died in 1690.

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His children were Nathaniel, who married Mary Coffin, daughter of Tristram, and who is the ancestor of all the Starbucks in America; Jethro, who died at the age of 12 years; Sarah, who was thrice married, first to William Story, second to Joseph Austin and third to Humphrey Varney, who was the widower of her young­ er sister Esther; Dorcas, who married William Gayer; Abigail, who married Peter Coffin; and Esther, the first wife of Humphrey Varney.

Referring now to the records of the Probate Court, we find that Nathaniel Starbuck, Senior, whose will was dated June 14, 1716, executed a codicil dated the 20th of the 9th month, 1717, and that his will was pro­ bated August 29, 1719, so that his death must have occurred subsequently to November, 1717, and prior to August 29, 1719. If we accept the letter as authentic, we must of necessity, on her own statement,admit that she was very nearly of marriageable age, say a maiden of 16 summers, prior to the death of Edward Starbuck in 1090. If we aceept the date in Mr. Hussey's edition of this remarkable letter she must have been, under the above named conditions, at that period, at least, 61 years old, or by the Philadelphia edition at least 71 years old, rather elderly to be so frivolous. Even tak­ ing the earlier date she has succeeded in rehabililating Edward Starbuck, who died 45 years before, and Na­ thaniel Starbuck Senior, who passed away 16 years prior to its writing.

We learn, too, from the Probate records that Na­ thaniel Starbuck, Junior, was not the sea-faring man this alleged letter represents him to be, and it is not at all likely that he ever made a prolonged voyage any­ where. An order of the Court dated June 20, 1707, mentioning him as an administrator of the estate of

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Peter Coffin, calls him a blacksmith. His own will, executed on the 7th of the 4th month, 1742, also gives his occupation as a blacksmith. The will was probated November 12, 1753, and the Probate order mentions him as a yeoman. It would hardly seem necessary to pur­ sue this criticism further. It is given in detail merely to illustrate how Court records may raise havoc with romance.

Prior to 1848 the Public Statutes relating to vital statistics did not require the attention to detail that has been demanded since then and the Probate Records prior to that date are, in some cases, the only source from which we ean learn, even approximately, save from private family records, the dates of individual deaths. The majority of men seem then, as in later years, to have delayed making a will until their last sickness, although there are instances where the sick ones seem to have recovered, apparently unexpectedly, and to have lived several years longer. John Swain made his will in February 1714-15, at which time he says he is "somewhat weak," but as the will was not probated until January 1717-18 and the usual custom is to probate such an instrument almost immediately after the testator's death, it is reasonably manifest that he survived his serious illness and lived nearly three years longer. William Bunker's will is dated June 22, 1712.

He is described in it as "sick and weak." As the will was probated August 5 of the same year it seems quite evident that he died at some period between those dates. The will of Peter Folger was executed February 24, 1707, and admitted to probate June 19, 1707. It seems clear that his death must have occurred between those dates. Similar conditions follow in the case of William Gayer, whose will, dated September 21, 1710,

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was admitted to probate October 24 of the same year; of Nathaniel Gardner, whose will, dated 18th 1st mo 1710-11, was probated May 15, 1713; of Stephen Hussey, whose will was dated 17th, 5th mo, 1716, and pro­ bated May 13, 1718; of Nathaniel Barnard, whose will was dated April 7, 1718, and probated June 11 of the same year; and hundreds of others.

It is easy in many cases, in the ahsence of exact data, to determine, approximately, the dates of birth of many of the people of the early days. Under the law then, as now, the minor over 14 years of age could choose his or her own guardian, subject to confirmation by the Probate Court, but in the cases of children under 14 the Court made the appointments upon other grounds.

September 27, 1706, Stephen Coffin, Jr., was ap­ pointed guardian over Eunice Coffin,daughter of Peter, deceased, and on the same date Jethro Starbuck was appointed guardian over Jemima Coffin, another daugh­ ter of Peter. Because of these appointments, with no record of their preferences, it is quite evident that in 1706 neither girl was over 14 years of age. The will of Stephen Hussey, dated 17th, 5th mo., 1716, devises £7 to his daughter Theodate when she is 18 years old or married, and to his grandson Stephen, son of Bachelor, he wills his law books, when he is 21. December 27, 1728, Peter Barnard,son of Nathaniel, deceased, nomin­ ated "his trusty friend," Stephen Barnard, to be his guardian, and the Court confirmed his choice so that Peter at that date must have been more than 14 years old.

In February, 1734-5, Clothier Pierce was appointed guardian over Paul, minor son of Mary and the late Paul Coffin, and Peter Coffin, about 17 years of age, son of the same parents, nominated George Hussey for

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his guardian, indicating that Paul at that time was less than 14 years of age and giving very closely the age of Peter. An entry in the record of a division of the es­ tate, which inventoried £4876, certified to October 3, 1735, shows that it was divided between Mary Coffin, widow, now Mary Pierce, Mary Coffin, the daughter, and Paul Coffin, the son, showing that the widow soon married again and indicating quite clearly the reason for the selection of Mr. Pierce as a guardian for Paul.

It would seem to show, too, that Peter was not living at the date of the settlement.

Under the will of Stephen Coffin, executed 3d of the 2d mo. 1725, he devised certain property to his daughters Hephzibah and Dinah and "if either die be­ fore 18 or marriage, her share is to go to the other."

In 1731 Hannah Manning, widow of William, was ap­ pointed guardian of her two children, David and Phebe, who were too young to nominate, hence under 14 years of age. In May, 1750, Timothy and Mary, two children of Grindell'Gardner, chose a guardian. The record gives the age of the former as 17 and of the latter as 18. In an inventory of the estate of Daniel Bunker, dated February 17,1746-7, the ages of two of his five children are given—Joseph, aged 19, and Tristram, under 14.

In 1749, Abigail Folger, daughter of Daniel, chose Jonathan Folger to be her guardian, showing that she was then over 14 years old. And these are but a few of a large number of similar instances.

The records of wills filed in the Probate Court settle, as a rule beyond dispute, the Christian names of the testators, and, if married, those of the husbands and wives; also the number and names of the children, for, even in the few cases wherein property is nor devised to a child, the reason for the omission is given. In

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case a child has deceased and left heirs that fact is usually apparent, and, if the legatee is a married daughter or her children, her married name is given.

Forkinstance, the will of James Coffin, drawn May 17, 1720, names his sons Nathaniel, John, Jonathan and Ebenezer; his daughters, Mary Gardner, Dinah Starbuck, Deborah Bunker, Elizabeth Bunker and Ruth Gardner; his deceased daughter Abigail Gardner; his grandsons, Zaccheus and Hezekiah and their sisters; his deceased son Joseph; and his grandson,Micah Coffin, and his sisters. The will of Peter Folger, dated Febru­ ary 24, 1707, mentions his "well-beloved wife," Judith Folger, his daughter, Kezia Folger (who is to receive £10 on the date of her marriage,) his son Daniel Folger, another daughter (who also is to receive a marriage dowry of £10), his uncle Nathaniel Gardner and his brother-in-law, Stephen Coffin, Jr. The will of Edward Cartwright, drawn about 1706, names his wife Elizabeth, his sons Nicholas, Sampson and Edward, and his daughters Susanna and Mary.

The will of John Gardner, made December 2, 1705, names his wife Priscilla, his son George, his daughters, Priscilla Arthur, Rachel Gardner, Anne Coffin, Mary Coffin, MehetableDaws and Ruth Coffin, and his grand­ sons, Jeremiah and Nathaniel Gardner, both alleged to be minors. Among the assistant executors he names his "cousin" Samuel Gardner. The will of William Bunker, executed June 22, 1712, names his wife Mary, his sons George, Jonathan, Peleg and Jabez, and his daughters Jane Bunker, Ann Paddack, Abigail and Mary Bunker.

The will of John Swain, drawn Febru­ ary 9, 1714-15, names his sons John, Joseph, Benjamin and Stephen, his daughters Sarah, Hannah, and Patience Swain, Elizabeth Sevalle and Mary Nason. His wife's

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37

name not being mentioned makes it reasonably certain that she must have deceased prior to the making of his will. In the settlement of the estate of John Coleman, in February 1716, by his widow Johanna, the children as named are John, Jeremiah, Thomas, Isaac, Benja­ min and Solomon Coleman, Phebe Cathcart and Abigail Tisdale.

The law of primogeniture materially affected the settlement of those estates whose owners died intes­ tate and frequently by will the eldest son received a larger share of the property than the other children.

By the will of Richard Gardner, in 1728, his son Joseph received a double share of the estate. John Swain, by his will drawn in 1750, devised his property to the oldest son "in succession forever." When the divisions are made on those lines the eldest son is indicated.with reasonable certainty.

Frequently, however, the wills provided for share and share alike. Nathaniel Gardner died in 1710, leav­ ing two daughters and a son. His will specifically pro­ vided that when they arrived of age the property should be equally divided between them.

By following closely the wills and other settlements of estates it is possible to rehabilitate quite a portion of the whaling and coasting fleet in the early days.

We find that in 1734, Benjamin Barnard owned a part of the sloop Ranger; in 1744, John Swain owned a part of the sloop Humburd; in 1750, Thomas Brock, an un­ usually wealthy man in his day, owned portions of sloops Jemima, Nantucket, Tryall, Susanna, Content, Hannah, Pearl, Fortune and Fame, Eliakim Swain was an owner in the sloops Dove and Ranger; Daniel Hussey was part owner in the sloops Mary, Hephzibah and Two Brothers; in 1752, John Macy was an owner in

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sloops Friendship, Nantucket, Kingfisher and Hannah; in 1755, William Macy was part owner of the brig Friendship; in 1757, Thomas Carr was part owner of the sloop Desire; in 1759, Thomas Macy owned parts of the sloops Bounty and Ranger; in 1761, John Way uwned parts of the sloops Baltimore, Phoenix and Abi­ gail; in 1767, Joseph Swain was part owner of the schooners Rose, Dighton, Brothers and Sherborn; and in 1773 Daniel Hussey was part owner of sloops Harle­ quin and Mayflower, The cancellation of his propriet­ orship in the Harlequin before the settlement of his es­ tate in 1774 would naturally lead to the opinion that that sloop was lost between the two dates of the filing of the inventory and the settlement of the estate. In these schedules we find the names of one brig, four schooners and 24 sloops.

We get little glimpses of domestic harmonies and discords around which an imaginative writer could easily weave a romance. Not a few,happily not a few, of the wills follow somewhat in the line of that of Nathaniel Starbuck, Senior, who says "I give and de­ vise unto my beloved wife Mary Starbuck all my hous­ ing on Lands on the Island of Nantucket with the fence standing thereon for and during the term of her natur­ al life, but all the Residue or Remaining part of my Estate on sd Island of Nantucket of what nature or kind soever I give unto my sd beloved wife forever for her to order and dispose of the same according to her own discretion." She was also made sole execu­ trix. She died before her husband, however, and a codicil to the will is attached. Occasionally the maker of a will, recognizing, as Nathaniel Starbuck recog­ nized, that the wife is entitled to a full recognition in the ultimate disposal of an estate, devises to her his

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entire property to be at her disposal without restric­ tion, but the more frequent way in which the claim of the wife is recognized is to give her a life interest in a part or the whole of the property. In many cases this interest is completely terminated if she marries again; in other instances a second marriage results in a diversion of her rights to a part of the property, varying in amount apparently as the testator's estimate of her deserving varied.

Several instances are on record in which the widow refuses to be bound by the terms of the will and insists on being awarded her widow's one-third of the estate as provided in the law. One with a lively imagination may interject a thought between the lines and, as his fancy may lead him, draw a picture of domestic infe­ licity, of conjugal carelessness or of undue influence.

The will of Peleg Gardner, executed August 10, 1761, contains some curious provisions. He gives his trusty friend Samuel Bunker and his heirs all the es­ tate he purchased of Susanna Gardner, widow, and rights in the estate under mortgage on Paul Bunker and Bartlett Coffin, provided said Bunker will acquit his widow of all trouble concerning them by reason of the testator's being a guardian of Peter Bunker, a minor and son of Peter. In case Samuel Bunker de­ clines to enter into this engagement the property is to go to the executrix named in the will, who was his wife Eunice.

There is an interesting document on file among the records, dated 22d 4 mo 1794 and addressed to Francis Brown and wife and all their children. It is an address by Zaccheus Macy, one of the proprietors of Nantucket, to the heirs under Tristram Clark's will, which was made in 1787 but was void for lack of wit-

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nesses. The address states that Clark had a due re­ gard for his mother, but if his will had been fully exe­ cuted he would have "shaved" his mother, his brother and his sisters "clear of the whole," a condition he would not have intended. If the property had been put into the hands of his mother while she was the wife of Francis Brown said Brown might have given the entire estate to his children. Mr. Macy reasons from that that it was fortunate the will was not completed. He alludes to an ante-nuptial contract between Francis Brown and his wife Deborah, and, without specifying what its provisions are, says it was strangely worded.

Mr. Macy, who seems to be an arbitrator in the matter, advises all interested to join and divide the estate equally among the mother and her children. This, he says, will be likely to keep peace in the family, which is of more value than money. Evidently the proposition of Mr. Macy carried much influence with it, for two days later a settlement was made dividing the property, a considerable portion of which was in London, in equal parts between the mother, Daniel and George Clark, the heirs of Reuben Clark, Lydia Clark and Deorah Myrick, as the document says agreeably to the a vice of friend Macy. It is possible to weave quite a little romance with this story from the Probate Rec­ ords as a foundation.

In the early Records, that is, more particularly prior to 182-5, the details in the inventories of property are exceedingly interesting. We can learn there what books interested or instructed our forefathers, and what constituted the library of the physician or the sc 00 master In almost every case where there were oo s the Scriptures are prominent.

In many cases ere are the large, or family Bible, and a smaller one,

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45

and they are often disposed of by will. Barclay's Apol­ ogy was another work which after 1735 or 1740 was almost as frequently recorded as the book of Holy Writ. As a rule the library of the family wa3 com­ plete with six or eight volumes, and the care and thor­ oughness with which they are inventoried attests the importance placed upon them.

The Husseys seem to have been the attorneys of the earlier days. Stephen Hussey, in his will drawn in 1716, devises his law hooks to his son Bachelor, for the use of his grandson Stephen when he is 21. In the in­ ventory of the estate of Daniel Bunker in 1746 are en­ umerated Law Books and Dictionary; in that of John Swain, in 1744, are scheduled the Book of George Fox, Sacred History and Life of David; in the estate of Ben­ jamin Worth, in 1750, were two Bibles, an Epitome Book and a Mariner's Compass Book; in that of Daniel Chadwick in the same year were inventoried a Bible, Seller's Practical Navigation, A Nocturnal, Thompson's Poems, Stodder's Arithmetic, and a Vade Mecum; among the household goods of Simeon Bunker's estate in 1753 were a Bible,Elwood's Life,Barclay's Geology,* Seneca's Morals, Map of the Mediterranean, Book on Navigation, Penn's Maxims and No Cross No Crown.

'Possibly "Barclay's Apology" is meant.

It is in the inventories of the estates of Zebulon Butler, schoolmaster, taken in 1790, and of Dr. Benja­ min Tupper, taken in 1794, that we fully realize what the professional library of the time included. Mr. Butler's library comprised two Bibles, Middleton's Geography, first volume, Concordance to the Bible, English & Latin Dictionary, 2 volumes of the Precep­ tor, Greek Lexicon, J hn Mellings' Discourses, Bar­ clay's Apology, Enquiry on the Human Mind, French

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Grammar, Arithmetic, Cyrus' Travels, Watts' Logic, Essay on Prayer, 2 Singing Books, Latin Syntax, Young Man's Companion, Greek Testament, French Grammar, 8 volumes of the Spectator, 5 volumes of Pope's Works, 4 volumes of Young's Works, Homer's Iliad, Boar's Poems, Independent Whigs, Pope's Poems, Congreve's Works, Fennings Algebra, Christiany, Method of Prayer, Watts' Psalms, Calendar, Phedrus' Fables, Epitome, Latin Tonge, Hebrew Grammar, The Fox, Turkish Spy, 2 French books. Customs and Man­ ners, The Way of the World, 12 small books (titles not given), 16 sermon books.

That was the library of a schoolmaster.

Turning now to the record for 1794 we find an in­ ventory of the books that comprised the library of Doc­ tor Benjamin Tupper, a physician as noted in Nantuck­ et for his medical ability as he was abroad for his To­ ryism. Those books as inventoried were: Quincy's Dispensatory, Concordance, Vanhelmont, Province Laws, Treatise on Surgery, Young's Night Thoughts, Law of Evidence, Compleat Arbitrator, Gazeteer, Ob­ servations on the Resurrection, Defence of Infant Bap­ tism, View of Internal Evidence of the Christian Re­ ligion, Treatise of Spleen and Vapours, Anatomical Ex­ positions, Salmon's Modern History, Natural Philoso­ phy, Dupin's Universal History, Shaw's Practice of Physic, Modern Pleas, Enquiry into the Mind.Ratcliff's Dispensatory, Johnson's Dictionary, Roholt's System, Latin Testament, New Curiosities, Works of the Minor Poets, Principles of Medicine, Anatomy, Art of Sur­ gery, Law of Arrests, History of England, Greek Lex­ icon, Works of Oldham, English Malady, Puffendorf's Introduction of Logic, Wisdom of God, etc., Every Man His own Lawyer, Latin Grammar, Quincy's Lexicon,

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Description of the Netherlands, Supplement to Dispen­ satory, Chymistry, Theology, Cheyne's Cure Body & Mind, Boerhaves Aphorisms, Ciceros' Orations, Greek Testament, Greek & Latin, Defence to an Answer, 2 Treatises on Diseases, Modern Theory and Practice.

Our ancestors were not abundantly supplied with a variety of books, but we may feel sure they knew those they had very thoroughly from cover to cover. One who is at all familiar with the career of Dr. Tupper during the Revolution would be inclined to query if the legal books in his library had any association with his Tory activities.

Those of us who recall the musing doggerel which assures us that "The Rays and Russells coopers are" may be quite interested in tracing our ancestral voca­ tions as shown by the wills. Going back as far as 1718 we find that Isaac Acsoah was a cooper, and the same occupation was followed by Francis Coffin and Eliphalet Smith in 1728, William Gardner in 1739, Daniel Allen in 1753, and Reuben Clark in 1791. Between those dates the Rays and Russells assume the role; thus, ac­ cording to the Probate Records, David Ray was a cooper in 1769, Benjamin Russell in 1775, Samuel Ray in 1776 and Simeon Russell in 1788.

The occupations of many of our people are set forth in their wills or in the orders of the Court and hence may fairly be relied upon as authentic. The larger number of them are set down as yeomen, but in many instances a specific trade or employment is indicated.

Taking a few of them as shown by the records we find that in 1727 Joseph Marshall was a cordwainer; in 1729 Nathaniel Gardner, a carpenter; in 1731, Charles Clasby, a wigmaker; in 1737, Thomas Brock, a distiller; in 1746, Uriah Gardner, a boatwright; in 1748, James

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Gardner, a haberdasher; and Daniel Folger, a black­ smith; in 1749, John Swain, a weaver; in 1750, Benja­ min Leach, a woolcomber, in 1754, Benjamin Coffin, a schoolmaster,and Paul Starbuck, a glazier; in 1766, John Band, a mason; in 1790, John Ramsdell, a cabinetmak­ er; in 1792, John Waterman, a trader.

A study of the inventories of estates affords quite a good opportunity for ascertaining comparative values of property as it then stood and as it is valued now, and, in a measure the comparative values of money.

There is a necessity, too, for keeping in mind the rela­ tive values of money at the time as expressed by the terms "lawful money" and "old tenor," as used in the records between 1745 and 1775. In the early part of the 18th century the exigencies of the Colonial wars, financed largely by the Colonies themselves, the natu­ ral expansion of the growing country and the draining of specie from the agricultural to the manufacturing community- that is, from the Colonies to the mother country, had stimulated an issue of paper money. Cre­ ating values with a printing press seemed so easy a so­ lution for monetary stringency that it was overworked and the early issues became so depreciated that by 1 ^60 to 1765 the ratio of the "old tenor," as it was called, to the then lawful money standard, was as 7\ to 1. In many of the entries between 1745 and 1765 both values are recorded.

In the inventory of the estate of Tristram Coffin, ^aken in October, 1706, there are scheduled a silver cup ^ ^2.10s; three guns valued respectively at £2, shillings and 6 shillings; a belt and rapier valued at -shillings: two heifers, £4; two oxen, £9; two steers, ^3.10s; 238 sheep, £47.4s.—a trifle less than 4 shillings each, a horse, £6; a cow, £2.5s; two calves, £1; whale-

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bone at 10" pence per pound and short bone at 6 pence per pound.

In the inventory of the es­ tate of Nathaniel Barnard, in 1728, his dwelling house is valued at £180 and his barn at £55. In the inventory of the estate of Joseph Coffin, Esq., taken in 1726, one-quarter of a share of land he owned was val­ ued at £1,000, his dwelling house at £180 and his fishhouse at £8. The value of a share of land varied ma­ terially,according to its location, as,for instance, in the estate of Nathaniel Gardner in 1716 one-quarter of a share was appraised for £180, while in the estate of Nathaniel Coffin was included one-eighth of a share in­ ventoried at £800. In the appraisal of the estate of William Manning in 1731 were enumerated an old house, fence and crib at £23 and a new house at £265. In the inventory of the estate of Paul Coffin in February 17345 are enumerated J a share of land on Nantucket, £3,200, 1-24 of the Island of Tuckanuck £550, 1-12 of Masquetuck £300, a dwelling house £400, a barn £50 and a shop £10. Mr. Coffin was a very wealthy man and his entire estate inventoried £4876, 5. 2. In the inventory of the estate of Benjamin Barnard in 1734 are included 1-36 of the old wharf £60, 5-12 of the sloop Ranger £175, 1-4 of the mill £85, a well £18 and a dozen new silver spoons £35, 7, 8. In the estate of John Arthur, in 1737,a cow's commons is appraised at £45. In Octo­ ber, 1728, Francis Coffin left an Indian boy who was valued at £25. Samuel Barker, of Falmouth, left an estate on the Island of Nantucket valued at nearly £1500. Included in it were four slaves—a man Primas, valued at £60, woman, Zubinah, valued at £80,a child, Boston, invoiced at £5,and a mulatto Pero.who was ap­ praised at £30. It will be noticed that the woman was valued almost as higftly as both men combined. In the

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inventory of the estate of Bartlett Coffin made in Au­ gust, 1762, are scheduled 75J sheep's commons on Nan­ tucket, £240, and 36 sheep's commons on Tuckanuck, £8G. In the estate of Damaris Coffin, in 1764, were included a clock £8, a large Bible £3, a silver tankard £10. 0. 8. and a silver cup, £2, 18. Quite a number of silver cups and silver tankards are included in the many estates and one wonders what has become of them all.

In the matter of household goods we get some idea of values from the inventory of the estate of Peter Bunker in April, 1761. Mr. Bunker had some new goods. New, home-made ticking was valued at 33.5|d a yard; 200 yards of new blanketing was valued at £3,4s; 14 yards of new calico for curtains, £3, 6s, 8d; \ doz. new silver spoons £4, 17s, lOd. Those prices doubtless were old tenor. In the appraisal of the estate of David Baschard in March, 1770, we get a little more compre­ hensive idea of prices. Mr. Baschard was a trader and the articles quoted were a part of his stock in trade.

Russia sheeting is valued at 2 shillings per yard; Ger­ man serge at 4s, 6d; white flannel at Is, 9d; broadcloth at 8s, 8d; claret shalloon at 2s; calimanco at Is, 2d; tammy at 2s; calico at 3s; large pewter tea pots at 4s; small pewter tea pots at 3s; pint pewter cups at 2s; white stone cups and saucers 8d a dozen; loaf sugar lOd a pound; chafing dishes 3s,8d; silk mitts 4s; New Eng­ land rum Is, 9d. a gallon: West India rum 2s, 5d a gal­ lon ; molasses Is, 4d a ga'lon; Frontenac wine 18s, a case; warming pan 3s.

In the inventory of the estate of Wm. Butler in 1791 were included 2221 Continental paper dollars, ap­ praised at 42 shillings a thousand.

It is interesting to note from the Records of the Probate Court the early appearance of names of resi-

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

47

dents aside from those of the first settlers. The records do not tell us just when they came to the Island. In­ deed we are assured from other sources of information that some of them must have been some time resident before their names were recorded in the Probate Court, but the record is infallible evidence of their presence at the time the entries were made. The names appear not alone as those of principals in wills, but as execu­ tors, administrators, appraisers or witnesses. Many appear also as debtors or creditors to estates. The list is much longer than the average person would expect to find, and includes several names that afterwards helped to add to Nantucket's fame, as well as others that have long been obsolete here. Limiting ourselves to the time prior to and including 1750 we find the following names on the Records: In 1705, Arthur, Daws; 1706, Fitch: 1707, Marshall: 1708, Brown [Dr. Joseph Brown is mentionedin 1718] ; 1710, Foot: 1714-15, Giles, Long, Sevalle, Nason; 1716, Tisdale, Gorham, Hathaway, Clarke; 1717, Russell; 1718, Currier, Chase, Ellis,Trott, Odar, Long, Wilcox; 1719, Stretton; 1722, Wadson or probably Watson; 1723, Peas(e), Skiff, Jenkins, Smith; 1724, Daggett, Norton; 1725, Williams, Look, Meader; 1726, Renuff, Joyes, Bartholemew; 1727, Hamlin, Ellis, Galley; 1728, Barney, Calef, Upham, Dingle, Paddack, Baxter, Brock, Whippey, Gabriel, Johnson; 1729, Man­ ning, Wyer, Ungar, Newell; 1730, Stubbs; 1731, Carr, Clasby; 1734, Frost. Coram (possibly a curruption of Gorham), Pierce; 1735, Moores, Myrick, Lumber, Bar­ ker, Beard, Sadler, Bennett, Gundy, Sevolle; 1738, Ramsdale, Kidder, Harper, White, Aldridge; 1740, Crook, Lovell; 1743, Stanton; 1746, Hunt, Pollard, Loker, Fosdike, Claghorn. Abrahams: 1748, Rand; 1749, Hovey, Osborn, Sherman, Davis, Cathcart, Chadwick;

48

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

1750, Townsend, Hammond, Joy, Leach, Deland, Fitz­ gerald, Maxcy, Way, Phillips, Mason, Jones, Ease, Rotch, Durf(y)ee, Black.

The first mention of things inanimate is second only to that of individuals in interest, and it is worth study to note that a variety of things that may seem of comparatively recent introduction were fairly familiar objecs in the homes of our early forefathers.

William Gayer, in his will drawn in 1710, mentions a "try-house," seeming to indicate that at that time whaling was of sufficient importance to require special buildings for its prosecution.

In the will of Deborah Coffin, who at the time of her decease appears to have been a resident of Edgartown, executed in March, 1717-18, she devises to her son Tristram and to her daughters Hannah Gardner and Deborah Macy, a new table-cloth and a dozen new nap­ kins of the particular weave of linen known as diaper; brass kettles larger and smaller; little bell metal skil­ let; a "great Chest which is of Joyners work"; a look­ ing-glass; two pairs of gold buttons and a silver bod­ kin. In the will of Nathaniel Starbuck Sr., in 1717, mention is made of three feather beds. James Coffin, in his will drawn in 1720, devises to his son James his "great silver Tankard." Jonathan Bunker in his will in 1719 mentions his whaling and fishing craft. Among the effects in the estate of Samuel Stanton in 1744 is a "sucking-bottel," which would indicate that "bottlebabies", so-called, were not unknown in those days. In the will of Matthew Hamlin, made in December, 1727, he bequeaths his watch to Lydia Coffin.

The inventory of the estate of Francis Coffin taken in 1728, includes "trouzers." Whether those were of the long-legged variety, as distinguished from those

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

49

terminating at the knee, and commonly called "breech­ es," is perhaps a matter of conjecture.

In the inventory of the estate of Eunice Arthur, who died in 1729, is included a chafing-dish.

Included in the estate of Benjamin Barnard in 1735 was 1-36 of what he designated as the "old wharf." Also included are i of the mill, a cooper's shop and a shoe­ maker's shop. In the inventory of the estate of Na­ thaniel Barnard in 1744 are named gold buttons, a watch and a China punch bowl. Among Joseph Mar­ shall's property in 1748 were a fish house, a stage and flakes, indicating that Mr. Marshall must have had considerable practice in the art of curing fish.

In the same year we find Daniel Folger was the owner of a calash.

The year 1750 seems quite prolific in novelties.

We find enumerated in the estate of Benjamin Worth a "Nun's basket," "wigg," "brigs sheets," "garlick sheet" and "garlick pilobers"—a corruption of pillowbier or what we now know as pillow-slips or pillow­ cases. It is quite likely that the "brigs sheets" is an abbreviation for oznaberg, a quite coarse grade of goods woven from flax, but I have not been able to de­ termine the kind of cloth indicated by "garlick." In the inventory of Robert Leach's estate are recorded 10 yards of homespun serge and a lanthorn.

In Timothy Barnard's inventory were a clock reel, curtain rods, quilting bars and a Dutch Bible. In Daniel Chadwick's inventory are recorded "cotton wool," a term quite peculiar to Nantucket, a lignum vitae punch bowl, a china punch bowl, Bible, Thomson's Poems, a spoon mould, "stone piccle pots," three spinning wheels, clock reel and two wigs. Incidentally we as­ certain from the record of Robert Leach's the expense

50

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

of settling an estate. Mr. Leach's estate was insolvent and commissioners were appointed to settle it. The bills as approved by the Court were £1. 17s. 4d. for the two commissioners;£2.5s.4d. for administration;5s.4d. for two appraisers; Mary Barnard for medicine 6Jd.; charges of the Probate Court £L 15s. 9d; burial ex­ penses £2. 12s., of which 13s. 4d. was for a coffin, and £1. 18s. 8d. to the undertaker; a total of £8. 16s. 3£d. lawful money. Daniel Hussey's inventory included a Gunters Scale, two maps of the City of London, an 8day clock, Lockyer's pills, and two "shares in the Latin school house." John Macy's estate in 1752 included a pepper mill, a bark mill house, a beeming house, a tan house and a bake house, and Simeon Bunker's included blue and white china, flowered china, raised china, wine glsses with a flowered edge, mustard pot, glass beaker with a church, and boxes of chocolate. Simeon evidently was a trader, but think what a bargain feast this inventory would open up to the modern dealers in antiques I Thomas Carr's inventory, made in 1757, included a baby basket, which will bring tender memories to every motherly heart, and also a riding chair.

Among the personal estate of Thomas Macy in 1759 is recorded a wheelbarrow; in that of John Bunker Esq. in 1761 a couch bed, a black walnut oval table, a maple table and chocolate bowls; in John Way's estate about the same time salt cellars and Delft ware; in Peter Bunker s (1759) a trundle bedstead,turkey work chairs, pair of Dowlas," damask and huckabuck towels; in Joseph Starbucks, in 1760, a black walnut desk, high chest of drawers, maple table, chopping tray, a brack­ et table, Delft plates, Delft wash basin and a new corn harrow.

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

51

In Samuel Coffin's estate in 1764 are noted shares in the North, Middle and South wharves; Damaris Coffin in the same year has recorded a spice mill, watering pot, a foot wheel and a pair of spectacles; in 1765, Robert Barnard by will devises to his son Robert land "in the Newtown shares;" Silvanus Hussey in his will, in 1767, leaves to his heirs his "Interest in the New Rope Walks lately built at Nantucket;" in Benjamin Chase's estate in 1768 are mentioned an ironing box and heater, and "syder glasses."

In 1769 Samuel Ray owned some tin milk pans, a flesh fork, a silver watch, and a "good blanket half worsted," showing that the art of weaving a cheaper material into the texture of a better one is by no means a modern invention; Nason Meader owned a hand piggen, sugar box, keeler, "rowling-pin," soldering iron, hand saw, knife box, bonnet box, cream pots, horn spoon, Grogram jacket, a yard and a half of stamped paper, razors, sheath and strop, "pail with Iron hoops" and an eel spear ;and in the same year David Baschard's estate owned Pew 43 in the Congregational meeting­ house.

The inventory of Zebulon Butler in 1790 included a backgammon table and a "pounding barrel"; that of Henry Clark in 1790 names a "CuckowClock," a globe, "junk bottles" and blacking ball.

It would be possible to quite definitely locate es­ tates of many of the old settlers by reference to their wills, not perhaps with sufficient accuracy to satisfy the professional pride of a trained civil engineer, but with a fair certainty as to their relative positions with regard to each other. In the will of John Swain, drawn in 1750, he mentions a "lot between my garden and Moses Giles's land." Jabez Bunker in February,

52

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

1747-8, devises land described as "adjoining my first piece that Francis Barnard's house stands on," Jona­ than Upham in his will, dated 1750, mentions his old dwelling-house and land adjoining John Coffin's land, Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr., by his will executed in 1742, gives his grandson Benjamin three acres of land in the lot between the land of Jethro Starbuck and Micah Coffin ;also the west half of land near Andrew Myrick's, as well as land joining Barnard's lot. These are a few of a large number of instances. It occasionally hap­ pens that divisions of estates are indicated by dia­ grams.

I am aware that it is quite as possible to become tiresomely garrulous in reciting historical facts as in narrating personal reminiscences not necessarily facts, so I will close my eyes to still other attractive vistas adown which I have viewed this interesting subject and close with quoting a very few of the unusual pro­ visions in some wills, provisions that show a special conjugal or parental affection or give a glimpse of something under the surface around which a story may be woven, colored as highly as the imagination or the literary taste may suggest.

The will of Nathaniel Gardner, dated 18th 1st mo 1710-11, provides that his property shall not be divided until his children arrive of age, the profits to be used in bringing up the younger children. The will of Richard Pinkham, made in 1718, gives all his estate to his widow Mary in consideration of her bringing up and educating the younger children "until they can provide for themselves." In the will of William Worth, made February 1, 1719-20, after some preliminary be quests, he leaves the balance of his estate to his son John Worth, under the condition that he set out and

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

53

divide faithfully and "deliver unto his mother in law" the part to her given. In the will of Thomas Carr, after disposing of a portion of his property,he gives to his wife Mary the residue for her use, profit and im­ provement, until his daughter Mary is 18 or marries, provided the mother "be at the charge to maintain my said Daughter Hansomely." At the age of 18 or at marriage the daughter is to have one-third of the re­ maining estate and on the decease of the mother she is to succeed to the whole property.

By the terms of the will of Jethro Gardner, in 1757, the property was left to his wife Dinah and his daughter Hephzibah. The record says that the widow made declaration in open court 'thatshe would hold all her title to the within Testator's Estate according to the Tenor of the within written will & not Otherwise."

Exactly how much that means, whether it is tragedy or comedy, acquiesence or rebellion, is left to conjecture.

Richard Worth in his will, executed 30th, 12th mo.

1761, leaves the Great Chamber of his dwelling house for the use of his "daughter Eunice for and During her Widowhood and no Longer." In the will of Jerusha Matthews, made December 15, 1762, she leaves to her daughter Catherine Heath her dwelling house in the Town of Sherborn and the land it stands on, pro­ vided that if at any time her daughter Abigail Jackson be destitute and have no home of her own or her hus­ band's, she shall have liberty to occupy one-half of the house during her lifetime.

On the face of it this pro­ vision is not particularly complimentary to the thrift °f Abigail's husband.

The will of Peter Folger, in November, 1762, pro­ vided that if his youngest four daughters, Ruth, Lydia, Rachel and Eunice, married men without land the sons

54

AMONG THE PROBATE RECORDS

Peter and Owen "shall give them land enough to set a House on in some Convenient Place." By the will of Francis Coffin in 1768 he directs that his children shall be supported from the estate "till they have obtained a reasonable Competency of Learning and are capable to earn their own living." One will drawn in 1768, pro­ vides particularly for a son described as "apoordecrepid child," and specifies that if he remains so at 21 years of age the estate must care for him.

Jonathan Paddack, in June, 1777, devised to his wife Keziah his entire estate, and particularly states that his children are not named in his will because his wife is blind and feeble, a touching instance of a worn-out and helpless life companion on the one side and on the other of the intention of a loving and con­ siderate husband that she neither shall want nor be obliged to depend upon the charity of even her own children.

Such are some of the interesting and instructive revelations of the Probate Records. Those who have studied them with a view to getting from them the in­ formation they abound in will readily and truthfully say "the half has not been told."

55

PUBLICATIONS of the Nantucket Historical Association:

Quakerism on Nantucket since 1800, by Henry Barnard Worth.

Vol. 1, No. 1, 1896, 25cts.

Timothy White Papers, by Rev. Myron Samuel Dudley.

Vol. 1, No. 2, 1898, 25 cts.

Nantucket Lands and Land Owners, by Henry Barnard Worth.

The Title and The Nantucket Insurrection.

Vol. 2, No. 1, 1901, 25 cts.

The Settlers, Their Homes and Government.

(Map) Vol. 2, No. 2, 1902, 25 cts.

The Indians of Nantucket.

Vol. 2, No. 3, 1902, 25cts.

Sheep Commons and The Proprietary.

Vol. 2, No. 4, 1904, 25 cts.

Ancient Buildings of Nantucket.

Vol. 2, No. 5, 1906, 35 cts.

Indian Names, Wills and Estates, Index.

Vol. 2, No. 6, 1910, 35 cents.

A Century of Free Masonry on Nantucket, by Alexan­ der Starbuck.

Vol. 3, No. 1, 1903, 25 cts.

Proceedings of First, Second and Third Annual Meet­ ings of the Nantucket Historical Association.

1895-6-7.

Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Meeting of the Nan­ tucket Historical Association. 1898.

Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Nan­ tucket Historical Association. 1899. Out of print.

Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Nan­ tucket Historical Association. 1900.

56

Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association. 1901.

Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Nan­ tucket Historical Association. 1902.

Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Nan­ tucket Historical Association. 1903.

Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Nan­ tucket Historical Association. 1904 Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the ' Nantucket Historical Association, Constitution and List of Members. 1905.

Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association, with List of Members. 1906.

Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association. 1907.

Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association. 1908.

Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association. 1909. roceedmgs of the Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association. 1910.

Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association. 1911. roceedmgs of the Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association, with List of Members. 1912.

Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association, with List of Members. 1913.

Pi oceedings of a the Twentieth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association, with List of Members. 1914

57

LIST OF MEMBERS. Life Councillors.

Anna Barker Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Caroline L. W. French, Boston, Mass.

Hon. Alexander Byron Lamberton, 303 East Ave., Rochester N. Y. Henry Barnard Worth, New Bedford, Mass.

Life Members.

Mrs. Wm. H. M. Austin, Nantucket, Mass., and 134 St. Mary's St., Boston.

Prof. Charles Barnard, 139 East 39th St., New York City, N. Y. Mis. Mariana Sprague Barnard, care Frank Barnard, Ameri­ can Book Co., Washington Square, New York City, N. Y. Thurlow Weed Barnes, 253 Broadway, New York City, N. Y. Elizabeth Gardner Macy Barney, Lynn, Mass.

Alice G. Beebe, Wellesley, Mass.

Mrs. Elizabeth Crosby Plaskett Bennett, Nantucket, Mass.

Annie Warren Bodfish, Nantucket, Mass.

Susan Emma Brock, Nantucket, Mass.

Julia D. Brown, 35 West 130th St., New York City, N. Y. Wallace Hugh Cathcart, The Western Reserve, Historical

Society, Cleveland, Ohio., Era Channing, Hemanway Chambers, Boston, Mass.

Elizabeth Rebecca Coffin, Nantucket, Mass.

Emma Coleman, Nantucket, Mass.

Dr. Ellenwood Bunker Coleman, Nantucket, Mass.

Charles Henry Davis, 18 Old Slip, New York City, N. Y.

Mary Marrett Dudley, Standish, Me.

58

LIST OF MEMBERS

Mary Galucia Hatch-Durfee, Palmira, N. Y. Harriet Ann Elkins, Nantucket, Mass.

Richard Gardner Elkins, care G. C. Brooks, State St., Boston.

Irving Elting, 729 Washington St., Brookline, Mass.

Susan Green Elting, 729 Washington St., Brookline, Mass.

Gulielma Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Sarah Joy Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Emily Mitchell Fowle, 164 Federal St., Boston, Mass.

Seth A. Fowle, 164 Federal St., Boston, Mass.

Ellen Frothingham, 9 Exeter St., Boston, Mass.

Federick Y. Fuller, 4 Vernon St., West Medford, Mass.

Mary Louise Myrick Fuller, Nantucket, Mass.

Rev. Phebe Ann Coffin-Hanaford, 230 West 95th St., New York City, N. Y. Frances Chester White-Hartley, 232 Madison Ave., New York City, N. Y. Martha Hussey, 3 03 East Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Grace Elkins Hutaff, 255 West 97th St., New York City, N. Y. Minnie Agnes Jonah-Johnson, Bath, N. H. Moses Joy, 52 Division St., New Haven, Conn.

Laura M. Kimball, 145 Troup St., Rochester, N. Y. Mary E. Macy, Nantucket, Mass.

Nelson Macy, 23 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Thomas Macy, Nantucket, Mass.

Helen C. McCleary, Brookline, Mass.

Edwin D. Mead, 20 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Caroline A. Middlebrook, Nantucket, Mass.

Emily Burns Mitchell, 1712 New Hampshire Ave., Washing­ ton, D. C. Helen Leeds Mitchell, Nantucket, Mass.

Madeline Curtis Mixter, 241 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass.

Mary Elizabeth Folger Paine, 315 Fair St., Providence, R. I. Sarah Coffin Codd Raymond, Nantucket, Mass.

Rev. Walter Huntington Rollins, Waterloo, Iowa.

Alexander Starbuck, Waltham, Mass.

Charlotte Puffer Baxter-Starbuck, Santa Barbara, Cal. Henry Pease Starbuck, Santa Barbara, Cal. John Austin Starbuck, Santa Barbara, Cal. Mary Eliza Starbuck, Nantucket, Mass.

Susan Amelia Starbuck, Nantucket, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

59

Samuel B. Sweet, General Freight Agent, Lake Erie & Western R. R., Indianapolis, Ind. William H. Swift, Pittsfield, Mass.

Prof. William Watson, 107 Marlboro St., Boston, Mass.

Caroline Earle White, 2024 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Henry Sherman Wyer, Nantucket, Mass.

Annual Members, A

Alice 0. Albertson, 3940 Brown St., Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. LeMoyne D. Allen, Granville. N. Y. Lucy Ellis Allen, West Newton, Mass.

Rachel Austin, 85 Congdon St., Providence, R. I. John K. Ayers, Nantucket, Mass.

B

Mrs. Caroline Swift Bassett, West Newton, Mass.

Frank Redfield Barnard, American Book Co., Washington Sq„ New York.

Marion Jessup Barnard, Washington Sq., New York.

Florence Mary Bennett, Nantucket, Mass.

Albert G. Brock, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Annie Cartright Brock, Nantucket, Mass.

Harriet Stanton Bennett, Nantucket, Mass.

Alfred Bunker, Juniper St., Roxbury, Mass.

Joseph Chace Brock, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Lydia Harland Swain Barney, Menlo Park, San Mateo Co., Cal. Mrs. Annie Sale Chinery Brayton, 505 Alameda St. Vallejo, Cal. Job Barnard, U. S. Court House, Washington, and 1306 Rhode Island Ave., Washington.

Alanson Swain Barney, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Grace Davis Barnes, Albany, N. Y. Mrs. William Barnes, Campbell, Cal. Charles Cook Barrett, 1416 West Lake St., Chicago, 111.

John W. Barrett, Care James E. Ward & Co., 60 Wall St., New York City, N. Y. Hon. William Mitchell Bunker, 1416 Harrison Boulevard, Oakland, Cal.

60

LIST OF MEMBERS

Mrs. Sara Gardner BenSusan, Care Alice Harrison, Brandon, Vt. Mrs. Amy Alice Benton, 177 Kengsington St., Cleveland, 0.'

Mrs. Elizabeth Starbuck Barker Overmann-Boone, 327 Central Park West, New York City, N. Y. Phebe West Bunker, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Josephine Sylvia Brooks, Nantucket, Mass.

Lauriston Bunker, Nantucket, Mass.

Dr. Annie Moores Gardner Blossom, Nantucket, Mass.

Barker Burnell, San Diego, Cal. Mrs. Caroline Kayford Burrill, 57 Brewster St., Cambridge, Mass.

Mrs. Adelaide Thompson Bryant, 32 Dean St., Englewood, N. J. Alice Macy Bunker, State House, Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Cordelia M. Bunker, 29 Juniper St., Roxbury, Mass.

Mrs. Bulau M. Hacker-Bancroft, 917 Pine, Philadelphia, Pa. Charlotte P. Briggs, 25 7 Steuben St., Brooklyn, N. Y. William C. Briggs, 257 Steuben St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Andrew S. Booth, Ballston Spa, N. Y. William Bunker, 51 Wall St., N. Y. Mrs. Ellen Fitzgerald Baker, Nantucket, Mass., or 67 Stimson Ave., Providence, R. I. Elizabeth M. Blackburn, 108 Thornton St., Roxbury, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Babcock, 146 Lake St., Oakland, Cal. Mrs. J. T. Benham, 78 Whalley, New Haven, Conn.

Mrs. Elizabeth Beadle, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Harriet P. W. Butler, Nantucket, Mass.

Henry Brown, Nantucket, Mass.

Maurice W. Boyer, Nantucket, Mass.

Sara Affia Catlin, Warsaw, Ind. Sidney Chase, Nantucket, Mass.

Tristram Coffin, 351 Main St., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ls" ®s**e^e Lillian Jenness Chase, 4851 Kennwood Ave., Chicago, 111.

Edward Gardner Chase, 4851 Kennwood Ave., Chicago, 111. rs. Gertrude Lozier Chisholm, 9107 Euclid Ave., Cleve­ land, O. Mrs. Amelia Missouri Calender, 42 Pine St., New York City,

LIST OF MEMBERS

61

Mrs. Florence Easton Conable, 415 North Primrose Ave., Monrovia, Los Angeles Co., Cal. Morris Easton Conable, 415 North Primrose Ave., Monrovia Los Angeles Co., Cal. Emma Cook, Nantucket, Mass.

William F. Codd, Nantucket, Mass.

Eliza Codd, Nantucket, Mass.

May H. Congdon, Nantucket, Mass.

Frank M. Coffin, The Maintenance Co., 54-56 Franklin St., New York City, N. Y. Mrs. Celia M. Coffin, 272 Manhattan Ave., New York City, N. Y. Harriett Ann Chase, Nantucket, Mass.

Susan T. Clark, 799 Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn.

Harriett E. Caryl, 1904 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.

Mary J. Chase, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Chinery, Nantucket, Mass.

Mary Myrick Coleman, 101 Pinkney St., Boston, Mass.

John B. Coffin, 88 Broad St., Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Cora Neville Staples Collins, Nantucket, Mass.

Harriett Maud Coleman, 2 Potter Park, Cambridge, Mass.

Eudora Coleman, 2 Potter Park, Cambridge, Mass.

Mrs. Ann W. Chase, Nantucket, Mass.

John W. Corn, Oasis Ranch, Roswell, New Mexico.

Mary E. Crosby, Nantucket, Mass.

Bracey Curtis, Nantucket, Mass.

D

Harriett Kempton Dunham, 39 Fifth St., New Bedford, Mass.

Harrison Grey Otis Dunham, 135 Front St., New York City, N. Y. George William Dibble, 275 North Fulton Ave., Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Mrs. Annie Hayt Dibble, 2 75 North Fulton Ave., Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Mrs. William P. Defriez, 537 Washington St., Brookline, Mass.

Mary Coffin Ditmars, 800 Carroll St., Brookline, N. Y. William H. Dunham, 1419 Judson Ave., Evanston, 111.

Mrs. Louise G. Dillingham, Millburn, N. J. Mrs. Charles B. Dalgren, Nantucket, Mass.

62

LIST OF MEMBERS E

Mrs. Margaret Burnet Easton, 268 Monroe St., Brooklyn, N. Y. George W. Edwards, 53 9 Cass Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Mrs. Harriett Brown Edwards, 53 9 Cass Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Sarah F. Earle, 18 William St., Worcester, Mass.

Herbert Elliot, M. D., Arlington, Mass.

Mrs. Richard Elkins, West Newton, Mass.

Phebe C. Edwards, 42 2 Columbus Ave., Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Jennie Starbuck Chadwick Emery, Blackstone, Mass.

F Lydia Maria Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Millard F. Freeborn, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Richmond Wilbur Freeborn, Nantucket, Mass.

Prof. Edward A. Fay, Nantucket, Mass., or 3 Kendall Green, Washington, D. C. Ebin W. Francis, Nantucket, Mass.

John B. Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Lizbeth S. Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Franklin Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Keddy Ray Fletcher, The Orchard, North Bitchworth, Buckland, Surry, England.

Clinton Folger, 312 California St., San Francisco, Cal. Rupert Folger, M. D., 61 Eighth Ave., Whitestone, N. Y. William Hyatt Farrington, 1099 Mary St., Elizabeth, N. J. Joseph E. C. Farnham, Providence, R. I. Mrs. Louisa Barnard Winslow French, Plympton, Mass.

Charles Noel Flagg, Hartford, Conn.

Capt. Arthur Fisher, Nakayametedori, 4 Chome, Kobe, Japan.

Clifford Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

George Howland Folger, Medford, Mass.

Anne Alden Folger, Nantucket, Mass.

Lydia S. Freeborn, Nantucket, Mass.

Anna G. Fish, Perkins Institute, Watertown, Mass.

G

Arthur Hinton Gardner, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Brown Gardner, Nantucket, Mass.

Helen Anthony Gardner, 2 Cleveland St., Roxbury, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

63

Lucretia Macy Gardner, 2 Cleveland St., Roxbury, Mass.

Mrs. Elizabeth Frances Mitchell Goodsell, Smithtown, L. I. Mrs. Amelia Mott Gummere, Haverford, Penn.

Mrs. Phebe Andrews Luther Gill, 769 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Edward Payson Greene, 616 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Donald Cameron Gray, Baker's Drug Store, Boylston, St. and Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass.

George S. Griscom, Pittsburgh, Penn.

Mrs. George S. Griscom, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mrs. Elizabeth F. Glenn, 133 Parson St., Easton, Pa. Dr. John Shackford Grouard, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Lena Weymouth Grouard, Nantucket, Mass.

Charles L. Green, 7 Prescott Place, Lynn, Mass.

Lydia Bunker Gardner, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Coffin Green, Nantucket, Mass.

H

Mi's. Ann Eliza Joy Hodge, Nantucket, Mass.

Roland Bunker Hussey, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Arietta Cathcart Hussey, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Lydia Swain Mitchell Hinchman, 3635 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Lucy Brackett Chase-Hutchinson, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Emily Weed Barnes-Holister, 8 Granger Place, Rochester, N. Y. Elliot B. Hussey, 134 Summit Cross, Rutherford, N. J. Hannah Gilford Hatch, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Swift Straw Haggerty, Clifton, Mass.

Mrs. Sarah S. Howes, Nantucket, Mass.

Howard B. Hodge, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England.

Mrs. Elizabeth Watson Hollister, 375 East Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Mrs. Abbie Steele Hawes, 1 Austin St., Dorchester, Mass.

S. M. B. Hopkins, 13 Garden Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. N. Watson Howard, 240 Lyndon St., Holyoke, Mass.

Mrs. Peter B. Hayt, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Harriett L. Hanna, Cleveland, O. Arrial Hanna, Cleveland, O. Edith F. Hanna, Cleveland, O. Eliza M. Hussey, Nantucket, Mass.

64

LIST OF MEMBERS J

Benjamin F. Janes, 2192 Massachusetts Ave., North Cam­ bridge, Mass.

Mrs. Anna Louise Brown Janes, 2192 Massachusetts Ave., North Cambridge, Mass.

Mrs. Hannah W. DeMilt Jackson, Manhasset, Long Island, N. Y. K Robert Browne King, Nantucket, Mass.

Gertrude Mitchell King, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Eliza Jane Barnard Adams Kempton, Sharon, Mass.

Mrs. Charlotte Rebecca Macy Kelly, 478 County St., New Bedford, Mass.

Mrs. Clara A. Kingsbury, 93 Blackstone St., Woonsocket, R. I. Mrs. Sarah Wendell Macy Kelly, Nantucket, Mass.

L

Sarah Elizabeth Lovell, 31 Glenwood St., Brockton, Mass.

Mary G. Luther, 886 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Sarah Gorham Swain Lothrop, 101 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Sarah Barnard Lowden, 193 North Main St., Fairhaven, Mass.

Josiah Coffin Long, 92 9 West End Ave., New York City, N. Y. Matthew Crosby Lowden, 415 Washington St., New York City, N. Y. James Morton Lowden, Hotel St. George, Clark St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Christiana Luther, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Margaret Gardner Loring, 2 Cleveland St., Roxbury, Mass.

Carrie James Long, Nantucket, Mass.

Kate Glidden Lamson, 12 Remington St., Cambridge, Mass.

M

Mrs. Susan Rebecca Hallett Mitchell, Nantucket, Mass.

Isaac Augustus Macy, 135 Front St., New York City, N. Y. Mrs. Sarah Eliza Hallett-Mildram, Nantucket, Mass.

George Henry Mackay, 304 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

65

Mrs. Maria Mitchell Starbuck-Mackay, 304 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Charlotte Elizabeth Wyer Morissey, Nantucket, Mass.

Elizabeth Easton Macy, Nantucket, Mass.

William Frank Macy, Old South Building, Boston, Mass.

Helen Marshall, 71 William St., Norwich, Conn.

Mrs. Eleanor Williams-Morgan, Nantucket, Mass.

Richard Mitchell, Webster, Mass.

Louise Macy, Nantucket, Mass.

Charles Minshall, Terre Haute, Ind. Mrs. Florence Stone Morse, 153-157 Fifth Ave., New York City, N. Y. William R. Mitchell, 15 Prospect St., Taunton, Mass.

Sydney Mitchell, 200 5th Ave., New York City, N. Y. Edwin W. Morse, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. H. M. B. McKnight, Seawickley, Pa. Mrs. Charles M. Mead, 1078 Madison Ave., New York City, N. Y. Mabel C. Mead, 1078 Madison Ave., New York City, N. Y. Mrs. Helen Milne, Nantucket, Mass.

Powell Macy, 214 Alexandria Ave., Upper Montclair, N. J.

N

Mrs. Caroline Harriet Bartlett Nicholson, 27 G St., South Bos­ ton, Mass.

Mrs. George M. Neall, Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Henry Taylor Noyes, 283 Alexander St., Rochester, N. Y.

P

Henry Paddack, Nantucket, Mass.

Timothy Coffin Pitman, Nantucket, Mass.

Joseph W. Phinney, 2 70 Congress St., Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Priscilla Morris Phinney, 270 Congress St., Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Mabel E. Prescott, Nantucket, Mass., or 199 Rochambeau Ave., Providence, R. I.

66

LIST OF MEMBERS R

Elizabeth Swain Riddell, Nantucket, Mass.

Benjamin Franklin Riddell, Fall River, Mass.

Dr. George D. Richmond, United Club, Yokahama, Japan.

John H. Robinson, 1932 First St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Mrs. Sarah F. Read, Nantucket, Mass., or Care Mr. Harche, Pacific Grove, Cal. J. E. T. Rutter, 814 5th St., New York City, N. Y. Edward C. Robinson, 25 Pine St., New York City, N. Y. Mrs. Clara B. Robinson, 25 Pine St., New York City, N. Y. Mrs. Annie B. Robinson-Rogers, 1289 Commonwealth Ave., Allston, Mass.

Mrs. Ellen M. Round, Nantucket, Mass., or 129 South Franklin St., Wilkes Barre, Pa. Eva Rhodes, 1707 West Lafayette Ave., Baltimore, Md. Mrs. George Rogers, Nantucket, Mass.

S

Mrs. Annie W. Starbuck, Nantucket, Mass., or 2114 Calumet Ave., Chicago, 111.

Mrs. Maria Theresa Swain Dibble Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Dr. Benjamin Sharp, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Virginia May Guild Sharp, Nantucket, Mass.

Horace Starbuck, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Lillian Carpenter Streeter, 234 North Main St., Concord, N. H. Hannah Gardner Sheffield, Nantucket, Mass.

Anna Gardner Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Pollard Riddell Smith, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Eunice Swain Barney-Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Ella Frances Sylvia, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Jennie Smith Allen Simonds, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Ellen Starbuck Swain, 144 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Annie C. Swift, 10 Brooks St., Medford, Mass.

Caroline E. Swift, 10 Brooks St., Medford, Mass.

John Welsch Searing, Saugerties, N. Y. Mrs. Annie E. Pidgeon Searing, Saugerties, N. Y. Reuben C. Small, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Phebe Hannaford Coffin Small, Nantucket, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

67

Walter E. Severance, 144 Locust St., Lockport, N. Y. Mrs. Madeline Fish-Severance, 144 Locust St., Lockport, N. Y. Emma Josephine Steele, 1 Allston St., Dorchester, Mass.

Mrs. Charlotte Gardner Swinburne, 501 West Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Judge William F. Solly, Norristown, Pa. Mrs. Allen Smith, Nantucket, Mass.

Wilburt D. Swain, Aberdeen, South Dakota.

David Whiton Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Charles A. Snow, Nantucket, Mass.

Walter Fisher Starbuck, Waltham, Mass.

George Franklin Starbuck, Waltham, Mass.

Capt. Richard Swain, Care Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Yokohama, Japan.

Mrs. Rosamond Lee Mitchell Stone, 9 Catherine St., Worcester, Mass.

Alice Sibley, 108 Winchester St., Roxbury, Mass.

T

Mary Adams Torrey, 23 Winthrop St., Boston Highlands, Mass. • Lieut. Paul G. Thebaud, 6 East Thirty-seventh St., New York City, N. Y. Harry Baker Turner, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. M. D. Turlay, Great Barrington, Mass.

Phebe Whippey Tracy, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Judith Coffin Gardner Tewksbury, 282 Pleasant St., Win­ throp, Mass.

Mary W. Tewksbury, 282 Pleasant St., Winthrop, Mass.

U Henry Macy Upham, Old Corner Book Store, Boston, Mass.

Mrs. Grace Le Baron Upham, Old Corner Book Store, Boston, Mass.

Mrs. H. O. Underwood, Belmont, Mass.

V

Mrs. Harriet Williams Veo, 24 Walker St., Newtonville, Mass.

Mrs. Effie Hiatt Van Tuyl, 310 Fifth Ave., Levenworth, Kan. Mary Van der Burgh, Nantucket, Mass.

68

LIST OF MEMBERS W

Frederick Worth, 314 Cumberland St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Marianna Coffin Worth, 314 Cumberland St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Frederick Worth, Jr., 314 Cumberland St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Emily Weeks, 1904 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.

William Harris Wyer, Nantucket, Mass.

Dr. Burt Greene Wilder, Cornell University, Ithica, N. Y. Mrs. Annie Spencer Wait, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Mary Frances Mitchell Williams, 10 Rockland St., Roibury, Mass.

Nannie Riddell Wood, Nantucket, Mass.

Elias Henley White, 700 West End Trust Building, Phila­ delphia, Pa. J. Mortimer Whitford, 125 East 50th St., New York City, N. Y. James Chase Wallace, American Ship Building Co., Cleve­ land, O. Mrs. Elizabeth Caroline Wallace, American Ship Building Co., Cleveland, O. Mrs. Emelia Barnard White, 329 Bainbridge St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Clementina Swain Wing, 152 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Dr. Frank C. Walker, Nantucket, Mass.

Mrs. Frank C. Walker, Nantucket, Mass.

Julia Macy Wagner, Nantucket, Mass.

Arthur Williams, Nantucket, Mass.

Thomas Wreston, 276 Franklin St., Newton, Mass.

Y Anna Yarnall, 1227 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa.

A'OTE.

The Publication Committee requests that any mistake in address, spelling or omission of names in this list be cor­ rected or added and sent to the Secretary, Annie W. Bodfish, Nantucket, Mass.