Proceedings of the Nantucket Historical Association: Twenty-eighth Annual Meeting

Proceedings of the

Nantucket Historical Association

Twenty-eighth Annual Meeting July Twenty-six, Nineteen Hundred Twenty-two.

The Inquirer and Mirror Press Nantucket, Mass.

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Proceedings of the

Nantucket Historical Association

Twenty-eighth Annual Meeting July Twenty-six, Nineteen Hundred Twenty-two.

OFFICERS

President Emeritus, ALEXANDER STARBUCK President, ARTHUR H. GARDNER Vice-Presidents, HENRY B. WORTH, WILLIAM F. MACY, MILLARD F. FREEBORN, SARAH C. RAYMOND, ELEANOR W. MORGAN, WILLIAM F. CODD. Secretary, MARY E. STARBUCK Treasurer, MARY MACY BROWN GARDNER. Curator and Librarian, SUSAN E. BROCK. Auditors, ANNIE W. BODFISH, EMMA COOK, ALBERT G. BROCK,

Councillors, Term Expires

MRS. PHEBE C. SMALL HARRY B. TURNER MISS HARRIET A. ELKINS FRED V. FULLER LAURISTON BUNKER MISS ELIZA M. HUSSEY MRS. VIRGINIA MAY SHARP ROLAND B. HUSSEY

1923 1923 1924 1924 1925 1925 1926 1926

Committees—1922-23, Finance—William F. Codd, Millard F. Freeborn, Miss Susan E. Brock.

Publication—Miss Susan E. Brock, Arthur H. Gardner, H. B. Turner.

Building—William F. Codd, Miss Susan E. Brock, William F. Macy, M. F. Freeborn.

Annual Meeting—Mrs. Eleanor Morgan, Mrs. Sarah C. Raymond, Miss May H. Congdon, Miss Eliza M. Hussey, William F. Macy, Fred V. Fuller, H. B. Worth.

New Work—Mrs. Sarah C. Raymond, Mrs. Elea­ nor Morgan, Miss Annie B. Folger, Mrs. A. H. Gardner.

Siasconset House—Millard F. Freeborn, Miss An­ nie B. Folger, Mrs. Phebe Small.

Purchasing Committee—Miss Susan E. Brock, Millard F. Freeborn, William F. Codd.

Old Mill—Millard F. Freeborn, Arthur H. Gard­ ner. Harry B. Turner, Fred V. Fuller.

Nominating Committee 1922-23—Miss Gertrude M. King, Miss Bertha Lawrence, Mrs. Eunice Swain, Miss Gulielma Folger, Albert G. Brock.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association was held in the Meeting-house on Fair street, July 26, 1922, at 10 a. m. The President, Alex­ ander Starbuck, opened the meeting. As the report of last year's annual meeting had been printed in the Proceedings the reading was omitted. The reports of the secretary and treasurer were read, approved and ordered printed in the "Proceedings." The present total membership is 429—a gain of 74 members during the year. There are 68 life members and 2 life coun­ cillors.

The Curator s report was read and as always, greatly enjoyed by those present. It was ordered to be printed in the "Proceedings." A letter was also read by the Curator asking for information about a Nantucket sink, and a sample of the article was shown.

It was a cleverly designed little toy sink, made by folding paper after the manner of boats and cocked hats, with which most of the audience were fa­ miliar. The sink, however, was recognized by many of the Nantucketers present as one of the ingenious lit­ tle home-manufactured toys of their childhood. Be­ yond that, however, no historical or other data were given.

The President's address followed, replete as al­ ways, with interesting items relating to Nantucket and its relation to the rest of the world. Greatly to our regret, President Starbuck tendered his resignation as our leader. Well has he guided and greatly has he inspired the Association since his unanimous election nineteen years ago. But a man, as he said, of four

8

MINUTES OF MEETING

score years has a right to withdraw in some degree from active service. That there is any chance of the "diminution of his interest" we have no fear! His quotation from Arthur Macy's poem "Sit Closer, Friends" was given with great feeling, which was cer­ tainly shared by many of those present.

President Starbuck's address will be printed in the "Proceed­ ings."

As there was no unfinished business to be brought before the meeting, the report of the nominating com­ mittee was called for.

In the absence of the chair­ man, Sidney Chase, who was necessarily away from the Island, Rev. J. C. Kent gave the report. He spoke of a necessity never before presented to such a com­ mittee^—that of nominating a successor to a retiring President. Mr. Kent spoke of the wisdom of electing a resident Nantucketer for this important office. He added that it was not the committee's province to take cognizance of the retirement of the President, but that the honor in which he was held should be manifested by the action of the council. The following nomina­ tions for officers for the ensuing year were read, and unanimously elected.

President—Arthur H. Gardner.

Vi^e-„ Presidents—Henry B. Worth, William F. at Maey, Millard F. Freeborn, Sarah C. Raymond, Eleanor W. Morgan, William F. Codd.

Secretary—Mary E. Starbuck.

Treasurer—Mary Macy Brown Gardner.

Curator and Librarian—Susan E. Brock.

G Brock °rS—"^nrde Bodfish, Emma Cook, Albert Sharp,0RnolinrBfHufs°ey^

Years-Vir*inia Mar Guild

The tellers reported 77 votes for each name with

MINUTES OF MEETING

9

one exception. There were but 76 for president!

Mr. Starbuck then greeted the new presiding of­ ficer and literally took a back seat, which, however, happened to be on a higher level! He still overlooked us all. During the balloting, through the old Meeting­ house the sound was as of many waters, or of a Nan­ tucket tea-party. But the rap of the president's gav­ el restored the silence of the old days, and the sudden quiet was most impressive to some who "remembered."

Mr. Gardner, the new President, made a little speech in his usual felicitous words, and then the meet­ ing wras turned over to the Committee of Entertain­ ment, Miss Gulielma Folger, chairman.

Miss Folger spoke first of the essays, eighteen in number, written by the pupils of the High School. They were all of unusual excellence, showing plainly the in­ fluence of a teacher interested not only in her pupils, but in the history of the island and the ancestry which had produced them. The winner of the first prize of $5.00 (given by Alexander Starbuck) was Alcon Chadwick of Polpis. His essay "Reminiscences of Old Podpis" was read by Miss Lucretia Gardner, one of the committee of three who decided upon the respective merits of the essays.

Miss Bodfish and Mr. Kent were the others.

The names of the prize winners were not known until the morning of the annual meet­ ing, when the envelope containing the names and cor­ responding numbers was first opened.

The second prize of $3.00 was given to May Flood for her essay on the "Wreck of the H. P. Kirkham," and the third prize of $2.00 was given to Lucille Barrett, whose essay on the "Ponds of Nantucket" was said to be "clear and accurate enough to be used for a guide book." These two prizes of $3.00 and $2.00 respectively were given

10

MINUTES OF MEETING

by the Association in accordance with the vote of the Council at its last meeting.

Miss Caroline Swift was then introduced and read an exceedingly clever poem of her own composition.

Miss Swift was followed by an off-islander who has elected to make his home on Nantucket, Hon. W. Pren­ tiss Parker. He read a letter by John Scollay giving the inner history of that eventful time when occurred the "Boston Tea Party."

The names of two of the ships fitted from Nantucket are on the front of the Custom House, over the "Cap'ns' Room."

Mrs. Morgan read a paper written by Miss Lucy Sturdevant, upon two well-known Nantucket school teachers, both Quakers—John Boadle and Hepsibeth Hussey.

Henry B. Worth instead of reading his article upon our one "gentleman," William Gayer—and one was enough, since most of us can trace a line back to him—gave an interesting summary of his paper, which will be printed entire in the "Proceedings."

Dr. Robert Cushman Murphy, of New York, who was to lecture that evening on "The Way of the Sperm Whale," was presented to the meeting and spoke briefly, saying that he had great pleasure in at last coming to Nantucket. He had been as near as New Bedford— and he could claim to be an islander himself, his home being on Long Island.

This closed the "entertain­ ment."

Mr. Gardner asked for nominations for a nomina­ ting committee for next year and the following were chosen: Miss Gertrude Kin*-, Miss Bertha Lawrence, Mrs. Eunice Swain, Miss Gulielma Folger, Albert G. Brock.

MINUTES OF MEETING

11

A vote of thanks to ex-president Starbuck for his services was passed. This was a rising vote and as the noon bell was ringing it became impossible to seat the audience again, and the meeting was very infor­ mally adjourned.

An excellent portrait of the late Miss Emily Weeks, secretary of the Association for a number of years, hung on the south wall of the meeting-house.

Reference to the active interest of Miss Weeks in everything pertaining to Nantucket and especially of her work for the Association, was made by the Secre­ tary and Curator in their reports.

ADDENDA At a Council Meeting held soon after the Annual Meeting of the Historical Association, it was voted that a special meeting of the Association should be called at which the following recommendation of the Council should be presented for ratification, namely: That Mr. Alexander Starbuck be made Life Coun­ cillor and President Emeritus of the Nantucket His­ torical Association, with the right to vote at the meet­ ings of the Council.

Such a meeting was held in the Meeting-House on August 15, and the recommendation of the Council was adopted. There was a goodly number present, and a prompt and rising vote gave witness to the satisfaction felt by the Association in thus doing honor to its retir­ ing President.

At this meeting also, an amendment to the Con­ stitution was adopted, namely: That the fiscal year should close on June 30, and that the annual tax should be due on July 1.

Mary E. Starbuck, Secretary.

12

SECRETARY'S REPORT Mr. President, Members and Friends of the Nan­ tucket Historical Association: If it be true that quiet annals make for happiness, then this last uneventful year of our Association should give cause for rejoicing in a sorely distracted world.

As against seventeen meetings held in the first year of our existence, when we were getting our bear­ ings and laying our course, the Council has held this last year but three meetings. Two of those were made necessary by the death of our revered Secretary, Miss Emily Weeks. Her place truly could not be filled, but later on someone was found to take up the work of her unexpired term.

The last Council meeting, held the first of May, was chiefly concerned with domestic matters, a large item being the painting of the Meeting House.

At this meeting a message from Miss Emma Cole­ man was received with great regret. She no longer felt able to resume her place as one of the attendants in the rooms during the summer. For 17 years she has been one of the Association's most valued assets.

Smiling and serene, dignified and intelligent, as she sat in the big rocker, a gracious Island hostess among the relics of a past, all of which she knew and part of which she truly was, she was a never-failing source of pleas­ ure to our visitors—her guests.

She was always

SECRETARY'S REPORT

13

ready to help the stranger to feel less strange, to give information when it was required, to tell her illumina­ ting stories, and so, in some measure, to suggest to the receptive soul a bit of the atmosphere of the real Nan­ tucket. For to her as to many of us, Nantucket is no longer an existing fact, it is a memory, and that alone is real.

We are fortunate, however, in securing the serv­ ices of an adopted daughter of Nantucket who is carry­ ing on the tradition of her office with marked success.

The larger part of our work through the winter has been in the line of correspondence. Especially it would seem as if all ancestral roads led to Nantucket.

And it is true that the Island salt has savored a good proportion of the human race. And the Islander nev­ er forgets.

Happily one of our members is wellequipped to give the desired information.

We have one new friend in Tacoma, Washington, who is a blend of Coffin and Starbuck. Remote as he is geographically, and never having seen the Island, he is yet so keenly interested that he has had sent to him not only all the Nantucket books but dozens of post cards, a copy of the Starbuck Coat of Arms, and even some slips of the "Napoleon willow." These last, he writes, "have taken hold and are doing finely." He and his wife have become members of the Association, and they are thinking of us today and wishing that they were here to share the welcome that our Association offers to you all.

In spite of our outward serenity and apparent con­ tentment, we are not wholly free from that divine dis­ content that we hope will lead some day at least as far as an additional story on the fire-proof building. It may be recalled that the foundations were made strong

14

SECRETARY'S REPORT

enough to bear the weight when our ambition should be fulfilled. We sadly need more room, as the Curator has told you before, not only to show to better advan­ tage the articles of our exhibit, especially the portraits and the china, but even to give them any place at all.

We cannot afford to refuse the proffered gifts, but it doesn't seem very gracious to put them out of sight, and indeed there's hardly any room left.

Moreover, their educational value in many instances is very great.

What can be done about it ?

There has been since last Annual Meeting a reasonable increase in the number of members, but alas, we have lost by death several who belonged to us by birth or ancestry, and others endeared to us by their love for the Island and their interest in its precious history. The names are as follows: Mr. W. H. Allen, Mr. Clarence Cooper, Mrs. George W. Edwards, Miss Sarah Folger Earle, Dr. Rupert Folger, Miss Emily Weeks, Mr. W. P. Hubbard, Mrs. Chris­ tiana Luther, Mrs. Judith Gardner Tewksbury.

Respectfully submitted, Mary E. Starbuck, Secretary.

15

TREASURER'S REPORT For the Year Ending June 17, 1922 RECEIPTS. Balance on hand June 15, 1921 Life Membership fees Annual Membership dues Admission fees, Historical Rooms Admission fees, Old Mill Rent of Old Mill lot Interest on Bonds Dividends from General Fund Dividends from Permanent Fund Donation Sale of Publications

$

10.54 120.00 402.00 697.90 65.90 15.00 85.00 57.46 11.14 1.10 35.65

$1,501.69 PAYMENTS. Albert G. Brock, Insurance $ 16.09 Inquirer and Mirror, Subscription 2.50 Cook & Turner, Annual Reports 136.25 Cook & Turner, Advertising and Printing __ 62.08 William Voorneveld, Florist 14.00 Willard B. Marden, Stock and Labor 4.00 Bay State Historical League, annual dues 2.00 William F. Worth, ice cream 11.38 Mrs. L. E. Crowell, cake 9.80 Wannacomet Water Co. 10.00 Siasconset Water Supply (2 years) 24.00 Postage paid by Secretary g go Postage stamps and envelopes 1.15

16

TREASURER'S REPORT

Millard F. Freeborn, stock and labor Mrs. M. J. Austin, model of whaleship Library Bureau, card catalogue supplies Houghton Miffln Co., publication Salaries of Attendants, Historical Rooms Salary of Janitor Salary of Curator Salary of Secretary Salary of Treasurer Transferred to Permanent Fund Balance to new account

25.96 150.00 6.87 15.00 280.00 100.00 100.00 50.00 75.00 120.00 277.31 $1,501.69

SUMMARY.

Assets.

Fireproof Building Meeting House Collection (Insurance) Old Mill Siasconset House Collection

_

$ 8,500.00 1,500.00 1,000.00 2 000 00 1'500 00 I— 300 00

Susan W. Folger Fund: Bond (Liberty Loan) Lantucket Institution for Savings ermanent Fund (Life Membership Fees): Bond (Liberty Loan) Lantucket Institution for Savings _ On deposit subject to check

$13,800.00 1,000.00 1 163 65 1 000 on 395 73

lllll $17,636.69

17

TREASURER'S REPORT

There is also to the credit of the Association ac­ crued interest since January 1st on the two funds in Nantucket Institution for Savings amounting to ap­ proximately $40.00.

Liabilities—None.

Examined and approved, Albert G. Brock, Emma Cook, Annie W. Bodfish, Auditing Committee.

Membership, July 26, 1922.

Total Membership, last Annual Meeting New Life Members New Annual Members

Lost by death, Life Members Lost by death, Annual Members Changed from Annual to Life Members Withdrawn Dropped for non-payment

386 8 48 442 0 8 2 1 2 — 13

Present total membership Life Councillors Life Members Annual Members

429

2 gg 359

Respectfully submitted,

429

Arthur H. Gardner, Treasurer.

18

CURATOR'S REPORT Mr. President, Members and Friends: As our journey lengthens, the milestones seem to come nearer together until they almost crowd upon each other, making it hard to realize that a whole year has sped away since we greeted our friends at our last annual meeting.

This twenty-eighth anniversary finds us still growing and gaining in the interest of the community, as shown by the number of new members, the many and varied accessions to our collections and the record of visitors, which registers to date an amount quite in excess of last season.

Amongst pictures, the most important donation is the portrait before you—an enlargement of the beauti­ ful photograph of our revered and much beloved secre­ tary, Miss Emily Weeks, who was called from us so soon after our last meeting. For this, we are indebt­ ed to one faithful member who, though dwelling at the antipodes, remembers us with some notable gift every year.

Another donation in this department consists of two large frames from the Thomas M. Gardner Grand Army Post, one containing a list of the members of the Post, with a few early portraits of the same. The other a collection of Confederate paper money with a letter from Secretary of the Treasury William F. MacVeagh.

One fine portrait has been added to our Loan Collection—that of Mrs. Anna G. Derrick, painted by our contemporary artist, Miss Elizabeth R. Coffin, and representing in a marked degree the characteristic features of a vanished generation of Nantucket gentle­ women.

CURATOR'S REPORT

19

It is remarkable that every year still brings us some interesting matter relating to Lucretia Mott, whose birth and early life on our Island permit us to claim her as belonging to Nantucket. This year a con­ nection of the family has donated an autograph letter framed under glass so that each side of the four pages may be read. This has on one side a wood-cut of Mrs. Mott, made evidently when she was about twenty-five years of age and quite the most youthful representa­ tion of her which we have seen, and on the reverse a fine steel engraving of later date much like the photo­ graphs which are so familiar to us. The letter is most characteristic and very well worth reading.

A beautiful bequest from Miss Weeks consists of a sugar-bowl and creamer of fine lustre ware, a beautiful and rare copper-lustre pitcher with colored decoration, a blue-glass pitcher, a valuable blue-edged platter with print of LaFayette, a tall wine-glass with white spiral stem, several vases, and a small portrait of Mrs. Eunice Weeks, mother of the donor, which was painted by Sally Gardner in 1830.

From another always interested member who has recently left us, we received two century-old silver tea­ spoons, marked respectively, "T. H." and "S. H.," for Tristram and Sarah Hussey, date of 1820.

You are all probably aware that we have had for many years a complete model of a whaleship, showing the process of whaling from first to last, made by Capt.

John Gardner of Nantucket. It was loaned to us by his heirs and during the last year we have been able to buy it and are much gratified to know that this most important exhibit is now a permanent fixture of our collection.

20

CURATOR'S REPORT

Our library has been enriched by numerous manu­ scripts, the most noteworthy perhaps being a "Sealetter" of Capt. Reuben Ramsdell Bunker, officially cer­ tifying that his ship the "Logan" is a United States vessel, commanded by a citizen of the United States, with autograph signatures of President Thomas Jef­ ferson and James Madison, Secretary of State at that time.

In books, we have received fifteen beautifully bound volumes of illustrated papers, published from 1858 to 1869, eleven volumes being the Civil War is­ sues of Harper's Weekly, which are of greatest histor­ ical value. We have also added a finely bound copy of "One Hundred Years on Nantucket," donated by the publisher, and "The Maritime History of New Eng­ land," which we purchased.

Still one more log-book has come to us which is of exceptional interest. Ship "Orion," Capt. Edward S. Ray, sailed from Nantucket via the "Cammells," July 15th, 1845. She had many unfortunate experiences.

From time to time nearly all the original crew desert­ ed. The log ends abruptly in March, 1850, with the ship leaking 1300 strokes an hour, while she was dis­ charging her cargo at Wellington, New Zealand. She was condemned there, but later was sold by Capt. Ray in California. The ship's owner was Frederick Hussey of Nantucket.

Strange relics connected with Nantucket's whaling history still turn up in unexpected places. A short time ago we were presented with a South-sea Island implement of warfare, a sort of trident or three-pointed spear, made of wood, studded with points of shark's teeth.

This was found in the debris of a chimney taken down in a farm-house in Polpis. It must have

CURATOR'S REPORT

21

been brought here in one of our ships, but why it was hidden in the chimney is another story that probably never may be told.

Besides the donations bearing directly on our Isl­ and history, we have been recipients of some wonderful articles of American Indian manufacture. Two de­ scendants of Nantucket have been the donors of these, one sending an eagle-feathered war-bonnet of a Chip­ pewa chief and an elaborately beaded ceremonial apron of the same tribe. The other, a finely preserved tom­ ahawk with the following well-vouched-for history. It was once owned by "Capt'n Jack," chief of the Modoc Indians and taken from him at the time he was cap­ tured in the Modoc war. The man who took it from him, afterwards settled in the Kittitas Valley near Ellensburg, Washington, and prior to his death gave it to a comrade who was in the war with him. The latter gave it to the donor with this description.

The head of the tomahawk was made in England and was brought to this country by the Hudson Bay Company to be traded to the Indians. The handle is of Indian make and is of arrow-wood. The pin-heads which decorate same and of which there are fourteen, represent scalps taken and the notches in the lower side of the handle show the number of battles fought. The handle is hollow and with the tomahawk head forms a "pipe of peace" as well as a most efficient instrument of warfare.

It has been impressed upon us lately that a mat­ ter for regret is the fact that comparatively few of our members have time or interest enough to visit and make themselves familiar with our wonderful collec­ tion. A few weeks ago we had brought to us a framed print of a "Rebus" composed by Benajmin Franklin.

22

CURATOR'S REPORT

The donor seemed to take pride in presenting such a rarity to us, as he said three of our members had as­ sured him that we possessed nothing of the kind. Not wishing to sail under false colors, it was necessary to admit that a copy of this Rebus had hung in a conspic­ uous place in our Rooms since the year 1895. The col­ oring of the two copies and the print of Franklin at the top of each varied somewhat, but the main subject was identical. I hope the obvious moral of this hap­ pening will strike home to every member.

To balance this fact, which we must deplore, a more encouraging incident may be recorded.

A let­ ter has been received from Paris, from an editor of a French Art Publication, asking if we could furnish him any pictures of the "Port of Nantucket" as early as 1850 or 1860 and referring to our "rich collection" in most flattering terms. We sent him one of the earli­ est photographs in our possession, date of 1867, to­ gether with two views of the interior of the Museum, some recent ones of town and harbor, a post-card photograph of the "Dauphin," etc.

So, if on one hand we felt a lack of appreciation, on the other we were surprised and elated to be assured that the knowledge of our work has spread beyond the seas.

While we realize that no nation or people should be forever looking backward, the centuries that have come and gone proclaim that there can be no guide to the future but the experiences of the past, and prove that the recognition of what our little Association has accomplished, justifies our continued effort and support.

Respectfully submitted, Susan E. Brock, Curator.

23

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS Fellow Members of the Nantucket Historical Association: The lapse of another year brings us again together in the old home to exchange greetings and consult to­ gether how best to promote the prosperity of our So­ ciety.

The Bay State Historical League which, during the time it has been my privilege to serve you as your delegate I have seen grow from 15 or 20 affiliated so­ cieties to about 80, has held four meetings during the past year. The fall meeting of 1921 was held at Plym­ outh, September 24 last, as the guest of the Pilgrim and the Plymouth Antiquarian Societies.

As this meeting appeared to be only a social affair and of no particular interest or value to the constituent societies, it did not seem to me worth while to waste nearly a day and go to quite a financial outlay merely to report to you what a good time I had, and so I did not go.

The winter meeting was held in the First Parish Church, Meeting-house Hill, Dorchester, as guests of the Dorchester Historical Society, January 14. Three addresses were made, one on "The Relation of our Dor­ chester to Dorchester in Englandthe second on the "Development of the Meeting-houseand the third on "Some Old Dorchester Houses." They were interest­ ing locally, but they failed to measure up to what the League was organized to accomplish.

24

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

The spring meeting was held in Taunton, April 29, as the guests of the Old Colony Historical Society.

There were the usual formalities of welcome and a brief talk on Taunton's History. The topic of the day was "Historical Misstatements and Their Correction."

There were several obvious inaccuracies and some not so obvious brought to the attention of those present.

Grenville Norcross, Esq., spoke of the error in state­ ment concerning boys coasting in Boston during the Siege. Mr. Bridgeman of Hyde Park pointed out the distinction between the William Tell of history and the William Tell of poetry. Mr. Cummings of Cambridge spoke of some of the errors regarding "The Flag."

Secretary Watkins defended John Hancock from the charge of being a smuggler. Your President present­ ed two topics—First, the complete lack of historical ac­ curacy in the romance concerning "The First Cup of Tea in Nantucket," and second the little likelihood that Capt. John Parker ever uttered the words ascribed to him on the stone monument on Lexington Green, as having been said on the memorable morning of the 19th of April, 1775.

In all these cases the bane was disclosed but no antidote suggested and a waiting world still waits for some suggestion as to how such inaccur­ acies may be prevented.

The annual meeting was held with the Dedham Historical Society, June 24.

There was no matter coming up of interest to the constituent societies and I did not think anything was to be gained by my at­ tendance.

The meetings seem to be drifting away very much fiom the purpose for which the League was organized, and instead of discussing the problems that interest or vex the local society they become more and more given to a mere recital of some local affair or a

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS I

25

disquisition of a general nature. The officers of the previous year were re-elected.

Nineteen years ago you honored me by electing me your President and year after year since then you have continued similarly to honor me far beyond my deserts. It has been a pleasing task you set for me and I have enjoyed it greatly. It has been plain to me of late that the time was at hand for a change.

The interests of the Association, which must be held paramount to individual desires, required it.

The hearing of a presiding officer should be keen and accur­ ate. Mine had reached the point where its defects were embarassing to me and probably disturbing to you. A man at four-score has not the alertness of one of half that age. I am very glad that the Nomi­ nating Committee has taken the same view of the matter, after communicating with me, that I do. My retirement from the Presidency does not by any means imply any diminution in my interest in the welfare of the Association nor any abatement in the zeal with which I hope to work for its progress. I hold myself subject to your commands in any way in which I can be effective.

Much has been accomplished in the two decades that have passed. One of the cardinal principles in the early Constitution of our Society was the erection of a fire-proof building in which to store our increasing treasures. We had a small fund in our Treasury set aside for that purpose. Immediately after you hon­ ored me by electing me President, a little study of the situation gave me the opinion that the time had come to make an appeal to our members for money to carry out our desire. Our collection was too large and two valuable to be housed in a small wooden building. The

26

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

appeal was made with most gratifying success.

The first response was a check for $100. The corner stone of our new building was laid the following year and with the aid of the contributions and loans from our own members and the fund already in hand we were enabled to finance the new building which cost nearly $8000.

The magnificent bequest from the estate of Miss Susan Wilson Folger soon after enabled us to pay off all our indebtedness and have a comfortable balance.

There is a feeling of sadness comes over me at times, when I think of the passing away of so many esteemed friends, members of the Association, with whom I have been associated in those two decades, a feeling which I know many of you share. There are so many I will not attempt to name them all; among them have been some of our most ardent and valued co-workers.

Almost every month seems to bring a renewed call like that of our brilliant fellow Nantucketer, Arthur Macy, to his Bohemian associates: "Again a parting sail we see; Another boat has left the shore.

A kinder soul on board has she Than ever left the land before.

And as her outward course she bends Sit closer, friends!

I know that you will pardon me if at this time I venture to suggest some of those things that have been ambitions with me but which have yet to be accom­ plished.

First—We need more room.

As large as our rooms looked 18 years ago, we have outgrown them.

We need to build either out or up—either to enlarge our floor plan or to add another story. When our fire­ proof building was erected it was built with the idea of

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

27

adding another story when needed. Of course an en­ larged floor plan is better, but it is more expensive. We ought to encourage some of the more fortunate among our members and friends to once more put their shoul­ ders to the financial wheel and meet the necessity.

We never can tell what can be done until we try.

I have always hoped to see our library increased, but to do much in that direction presents another rea­ son why we need more room. It has been one of my ambitions to have in our library a copy of every local town and county history, in Massachusetts, at least, and such genealogies at least as touch our early set­ tlers at any point. My personal library contains near­ ly ten sections of books, papers and manuscripts, all having some bearing on Nantucket, either written by Nantucketers, concerning Nantucket, or associated in some direct way with our Island. These will all, some time, become the property of the Association.

I have always advocated setting apart our be­ quests and making of them an endowment fund, add­ ing to it also the sums received for life memberships, keeping the principal intact and using only the in­ come. I hope to see this the adopted policy of the Association. It already has been done so far as life memberships are concerned—it should be so with be­ quests also.

I desire to see as full a collection of Nantucket pic­ tures, photographs and such post cards as are merito­ rious, as it is possible to make, as a part of our ex­ hibits. This applies especially to old buildings and to streets.

I wish we had complete photographs of every street in town, even as it exists today.

Fifty years from now such a collection would be of inestima­ ble value.

My private collection numbers over 300

28

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

subjects and that, some day, will come to the Asso­ ciation.

One more hobby and I have done. We need to en­ ter upon a consistent and persistent campaign for new members.

I believe a united effort should and will give us a membership of 1000.

Think of the pos­ sibilities for useful work that means. I am willing to do my full share towards bringing that result. Let's not waste time waiting for someone else to move, but start individually if need be, and at once.

Were I to urge upon you that you give to my suc­ cessor the same harmonious, unswerving, loyal support which you have so kindly given to me you might with reason resent the imputation that anything different were possible. To be unswervingly loyal is the Nan­ tucket way.

He will have it.

I am still at your service for any duty you may call upon me to perforin.

Alexander Starbuck.

WHY NANTUCKET

By MISS CAROLINE SWIFT. Long ages past, a mighty giant lay, Stretched out all easy length, on old Cape Cod, He chose his bed for softness and for quiet, A choice which may today seem rather odd.

But this was long before the sleepy Cape Awoke to echoes of the honking car, And long before ambitious selectmen Had dared to spread his soft warm bed with tar.

And yet one night, he tossed from side to side, And never slept a single giant wink Although he tried to calm his tortured nerves By counting pebbles on the ocean's brink.

I know not why his sleep was so disturbed.

The Cape Cod records fail to name the cause— I wonder if in daily search for food He found too many scallops or "pooquas."

I wonder if his father's heart was grieved By quarrels twixt his Martha and his Nan; You know the sisters still are prone to "tiffs" If you th' Inquirer and Mirror duly scan.

The morning dawned: the giant rose in wrath; His language some of you might understand.

Twas very human, for alas! he found Each moccasin a brimming cup of sand.

What self-respecting giant but would rage?

Across Cape Cod with angry strides he ran And from his mighty fists that sand he threw At daughter Martha and at little Nan. 'Twas from one fist that Martha's Vineyard grew.

That other fist, I hope no tremor shook it, I hope no single, precious grain was lost Because, you know, the legend says Nan took it.

WHY NANTUCKET If Nan had been a disobedient child, And flung that sand straight back at father's head Would you be you today, would I be I ?

Or should we be "off-islanders" instead?

The research work on problems so profound I leave to Messrs. Starbuck, Gardner, Worth— I know Nan-took-it when that sand was thrown, And since that fateful day, Nan owns the earth.

And in that fistful of soft sand Did she in vision see the prosperous town, The candle-houses, rope-walks, coopers' shops And those sea-vikings of world-wide renown ?

And did she see that day of drear decline And grasp with us the "stranger's" outstretched hand Blood-brother who in helpfulness and love Now shares with us our heritage of sand.

No history chronicles the time and place In which was acted this momentous part, But Henry Worth will calculate the time, Locate the very spot, and draw a chart.

And on that sacred spot, a shrine we'll raise For most of us are "natives" an' look it; Though we shall ask the "stranger's" help, of course, To mark with us the time and place Nan took it.

'Twill not be difficult to "start a drive"— The Folgers lazy, but so knowing still, The truthful Colemans and the Mitchells good, The Macys famed for gastronomic skill.

The Rays and Russells of a long-lost trade, The Starbucks, Husseys and the Coffin clan, The stranger who comes yearly "on from off," All owe their debt of gratitude to Nan. Tou've sung in childhood days, the poet's love For that moss-grown, germ-filled old oaken bucket, Where is the poet who can sing the love We bear our sand-heaped, wind-blown old Nantucket

31

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

BY HON. W. PRENTISS PARKER.

Mr. President, Members and Friends: You are all familiar with the names of the vessels "Dartmouth," "Beaver"' and "Bedford" painted on the front of our old Custom House at the foot of Main street.

Two of these vessels—the "Dartmouth," Capt. James Hall; the "Beaver," Capt. Hezekiah Cof­ fin—with the "Eleanor," Capt. James Bruce, were owned by Capt. William Rotch and sent to London from Nantucket with a cargo of candles and tallow.

These boats were then chartered by the East India Tea Co., loaded with tea and consigned to Messrs. Hut­ chinson, Clarke and Fanueil, of Boston, Mass. These teas met with a very cold reception in Boston, as you will see by the letter which I have been asked to read to you this morning. This letter was written by my great-great-grandfather, John Scollay, chairman of the Selectmen of the Town of Boston, to Mr. Arthur Lee of London, and is as follows: Boston, Dec. 23, 1773.

Mr. Arthur Lee, London, Sir: At the instance of my worthy friend, Mr. Samuel Adams, I have presumed to take upon me to communicate to you what I know concerning the doings of the Town, and of the people,

32

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

at their late meetings, respecting the teas exported by the In­ dia Company, in Capts. Bruce, Hall and Coffin. This I am the more capable of doing as I have the honor of being one of the selectmen of the Town.

I am therefore personally acquainted with some facts relating to this matter, more especially what passed between the Selectmen and Mr. Jonathan Clarke, one of the consignees, at' the interview they had with him and his Bro. a few days before the people met on this occasion.

From the first report of the India Co.'s obtaining an Act of Parlia­ ment to export Teas to the colonies, it threw the inhabitants of this and the other towns into great agitation; they judging that it was altogether a plan of administration to increase and secure the revenue, which for some years past has caused such distress and unhappiness in No. Am. When it was known that Messrs. Hutchinson, Clarke, and Fanueil were to be the agents for the India Co. it was thought advisable to call the Town together to know the minds of the inhabitants on this matter.

They met the 4th ult.. debated on the subject, and adjourned to the 6th, At both these meetings they manifested, by their votes their detestation of the measure; not as an act of the India Co. but as a scheme of administra­ tion. They raised a reputable Com. to wait on the consignees, who as the town judged, treated their application with contempt.

This being the case, the meeting was dissolved.

On the 18th the town was again called together to deliberate on this matter, —a very great number of the inhabitants and of the most re­ spectable characters appeared: the Town was solicitous to gain the consent of the consignees to the reshipping the tea to Lon­ don: they were the more urgent, as they knew this measure would prevent the distraction of the Co.'s property which they judged would be the case if it was not sent back.

They again raised a committee to wait on the consignees: they treated this application much in the same manner as they did the other. The answer they sent the Town was looked on by them as triflng.

They voted it unsatisfactory and the meet­ ing was dissolved, and no further application was made to them by the Town.

People's minds were daily more and more agi­ tated.

A number of persons, friendly to the consignees, fear­ ful of disagreeable consequences, endeavored to persuade them to come to a composition with the Town.

Of this number I was one.

We set before them the evils that must ensue if they

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

33

were obstinate: but if a composition took place, the property of the Co. would be preserved, the Town would be restored to its usual tranquility and they themselves would recover their for­ mer good standing with their fellow-citizens.

Though we la­ bored night and day in the alfair all our efforts could not pro­ duce an agreement between them and the Town.

The town's people thought they had been ill treated by them at the late town meetings, therefore they were now on their part deter­ mined that the teas should not be landed: so the Consignees were on their part obstinate, and would be noways active in sending it back. Had the consignees, on the Town's first ap­ plication to them, offered to have stored the tea, subject to the inspection of a com. of gentlemen, till they could write their principals: and that until that time no duty should be paid which no doubt the commissioners of the customs would have consent­ ed to, under these circumstances: Had they made such an offer to the Town, at either of their two meetings, I am persuaded the Town would have closed with them, and everything would have been preserved from destruction. The above doings took place before the arrival of the tea and before the arrival of Mr. Jona­ than Clarke, one of the consignees, from London.

On Saturday the 27th ult. a few days after his arrival, he called on me to know if it would be agreeable to the Selectmen for him to wait on them.

I told him it would: and that if he would name his time, the Board should be summoned; accord­ ing to his desire, the Board met at 4 o'clock p. m.

He with his brother attended. He informed the Selectmen that he esteemed himself very unhappy in incurring the displeasure of his fel­ low-citizens, by his being appointed an agent of the India Co. for the sale of the tea that was expected. He said the appoint­ ment was not of his seeking, that he was wholly passive in the affair (this by some is said to be not true) therefore it was un­ reasonable that he and the others should suffer.

We told him that let our private opinion be what it would, by what we could collect, the people would be satisfied with nothing less than the sending the tea back.

He said that' was impossible for him to do: that it was contrary to the acts of trade: the tea, with the vessel, would be liable to confiscation: that in this way they should be a means of procuring the loss of the Co.'s interest, and perhaps bring ruin to themselves.

We told him that perhaps some

34

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

method might be devised that would remove the difficulty, that as it could not be landed without the utmost hazard, if he should reship it, and protest against the obstructors of his regular pro­ ceedings and return the tea to London with such a protest, he might save the Co.'s property, and perhaps obtain their thanks for his care of their interest, whereas, were the consignees to take no step for the preservation of it, they would, and very justly, incur their resentment for not preserving the tea when in their power to do it.

We had a long conversation with this gentleman and his brother on the subject.

On the whole, be­ fore he left us, he said, that nothing should be done as to the tea, in any clandestine manner: that the vessel should come up to town with it, that as soon as Capt. Hall, who was hourly ex­ pected, should arrive, and he knew the contents of his letters, he would immediately hand in proposals to the Selectmen for them to communicate to the town.

The next day Capt. Hall arrived.

The Selectmen met at the Hall (although Sabbath day) at 12 o'clock in expectation of an application from Mr. Mr. Clarke.

We sent our messenger to his house, could hear nothing of him.

We adjourned till 5 o'clock in the evening when we again met, hoping to have an application that we might have time to call the Town together in the way prescribed by law, before any other meeting might take place.

We contin­ ued sitting till 9 o'clock, sent again to the houses of consignees but could get no intelligence where they were. One of the Se­ lectmen, finding the storm arising, sent privately to Mr. Clarke's brother-in-law, desired him, if he had any regard' for him or his connections, that he would find him and get him and the others forthwith to apply to the Selectmen (agreeable to his promise) that a regular town meeting might be called.

He returned for answer that it was impossible for him to see them that eve. but that early in the morning he would get them to send a billet to the selectmen with their proposals. Very early next morn­ ing hand bills were dispersed, by unknown persons, inviting the people to meet at Fanueil Hall, on occasion of Capt. Hall's ar­ rival with the tea.

This being the case, it was in vain to at­ tempt to call the town together in a legal way, which would have been done had Mr. Clarke complied with his promise to .•he selectmen, which was that immediately on the arrival of apt. Hall, he would hand in to them his proposal as a founda-

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

35

tion for a town meeting. This might have prevented the event that has since taken place. The people of this and the neigh­ boring towns met in conformity to the dispersed hand bills on Monday the 29th.

A very great number met, so great that the town hall could not contain them. They were obliged to ad­ journ to a large meeting house, where, it is supposed, that 5 or 6000 respectable inhabitants met: men of the best character and of the first fortunes.

The doings of this and the other meetings are made public, that it will be needless for me to recite them.

I will only say that it is the observation of persons unprejudiced and of char­ acter, who attended these meetings, which consisted of all sorts, Whig and Tory, that the utmost decorum was observed, that through the whole of their debates, although they were deter­ mined the tea should not be landed subject to a duty, yet it was apparent that their view in sending it back was not only to ren­ der the scheme of administration abortive, but to preserve the tea from destruction.

This ran through the whole of their reasoning on the subject.

To accomplish this, every step that could be taken (consistent with their intentions of its going back) were taken to preserve it.

Sometime after the people were assembled I received a letter directed to me, signed by all the consignees, the purport- of which was that they could net comply with the expectations of the Town in sending the tea back, but that they would store it till they could know the mind of the India Co. concerning it.

The people ordered the letter to be read but they were so irritated at the conduct of these gentlemen, that they acted no further on the let-ter than hearing it read.

At this meeting the people required Mr. Rotch, the owner of Capt. Hall's ship, at his peril, to return the tea on board to London, He con­ sented to it, but said he considered himself as under duress, and therefore, to save himself from blame he should protest against the people. So far they were contented hoping they should ob­ tain the end they were) in pursuit of, and at the same time pre­ serve the Co.'s property, and that the tea would be on its return to London before 20 days should expire, that being the time the officers of the Customs could let it lay on board under a report.

Some days after this meeting, it was evident that Mr. Rotch, by his conduct, had no intention of returning the tea

36

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

in his ship to London.

This being the apprehension of the peo­ ple, it created a great uneasiness, not only in this but in other towns: however they waited till the 14th instant, but 3 days be­ fore the expiration of the time when the officers of the Customs would take possession of it for the duties, and perhaps call in the naval and military force to their aid, which, since the de­ struction of the tea has been found to have been their intention: the Captains of the several ships of war being ordered on board, and preparations were, it is said, actually made for some expe­ dition (there being then, and are now, in the harbor only 1 sixtygun ship of war, two frigates, besides several smaller vessels of force) it was much feared the country would have destroyed the teas, even under these circumstances, which would have pro­ duced dreadful effects on all sides. At this meeting there was a much greater appearance than at any other time. People at­ tended it from Towns at the distance of 20 miles. At this they ordered Mr. Rotch, at his peril, to carry back the tea to London.

He told the people that as the Custom House officers would not clear out his ship, so long as the tea was on board, so neither would the Governor give him a pass by the Castle, therefore it was in vain for him to attempt it. They ordered him immedi­ ately to wait on the Collector and demand a clearance for his ship. The Collector refused to do it. They then ordered him to wait on the Governor to know if he would give his ship a pass by the Castle: he refused also, by saying, that as the ship was not regularly cleared at the C. H. he could not do it. The people then required of Mr. Rotch his answer whether he would proceed with his ship, or order Capt. Hall, the master, to pro­ ceed to London with the ship, in the situation she was in.

He gave for answer that he would not.

On this the meeting was dissolved, but before the dissolu­ tion of the meeting, a great number in disguise, who it was said came from the country, passed by when the people were as­ sembled, and went on board the several vessels that had the tea on board, and in a very short time, without noise or tumult, destroyed all the tea by throwing it' into the sea.

The people, from their first taking up this matter until the destruction of the tea, showed no disposition to have it destroyed, if it possibly could be prevented, consistant with their intentions of prevent­ ing its being landed and paying the duty.

They took every

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

37

method that a people engaged in such a cause could take.

They waited till the last moment, hoping that a compliance with their requisition would take place, that so not only the end they had in view might be preserved. Let who will be the persons who were instruments of the destruction of so large a property, almost every one looked on the consignees as the faulty cause.

Upon the whole I do lament the loss of t>he Honorable Co. I also lament the original cause of that loss, which I think is most unrighteous and which has proved a source of unhappiness to the Americans.

Very soon I fear the Ams. will be driven, if some kind inter­ position does not take place, to that desperation which neither the severest threats nor the mildest treatment of the British Parliament will control.

I have, in the above, given so far as I am able, an honest detail of facts relating to a matter very interesting and which may perhaps draw on us the resentment of administration, yet we do console ourselves that we have acted constitutionally, and that a good Providence will so order this mattor, as that it may insure in great good to these Colo­ nies. I should not have taken upon me to write on this sub­ ject, but that the relation I stand in to the town, and in hopes that a plain circumstantial narration of facts might be of serv­ ice to a gentleman of your influence and disposition.

I have therefor ventured on your candor, and have spoken the senti-> ments of a heart much agitated for the welfare of this and our Mother Country, and if my writing will serve the good old cause I give it cheerfully.

As I am no adept in letterwriting, and for some other reasons I choose to have my name concealed. In any other way, you may make what use of this letter you please.

I am, with great regard for you, Sir, and for all the friends of our happy Constitution, Your most humble servant, John Scollay.

38

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

BY HENRY BARNARD WORTH.

In the early deeds a valuable feature is the de­ scriptive term often used after the name of the party like, "yeoman, trader, clerk, mariner, gentleman and esquire," used to identify the individual. The word "gentleman" in its technical sense was conferred on a man of good standing who was a property holder of sufficient estate to maintain that rank and station. It was bestowed by the College flf Heraldry and with it a distinctive Coat-of-Arms. The right to display arms after the death of the original grantee, descended to his posterity according to well known rules and regula­ tions.

About thirty years ago a student of history re­ siding in Boston made a study of New England families to ascertain which were entitled to Coats-of-Arms and could find only twenty-nine and these with a single ex­ ception resided in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay near Boston.

Not one could be found in Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol or Dukes Counties and the single exception was William Gayer of Nantucket, concerning whom a considerable amount of information has been preserved.

How or when he arrived in New England has not

.

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

39

been recorded, nor any explanation why he went to Nantucket. The first mention of his name appears in a deed from Edward Starbuck dated April 13, 1674, in which Gayer is dscribed as "my son-in-law," and by which he received half a share of land of Nantucket.

For ten years the Gayer family lived on the same home­ stead with Edward Starbuck, around the North head of Hummock Pond, a region designated by the Indian name "Waquittaquage" meaning "at the head of the stream," referring to a period more or less remote when Hummock Pond was an arm of the sea in which the tide ebbed and flowed.

Documents appear in volume 31 of the N. E. Hist, and Gen. Register which establish the rank and family of William Gayer. Burke's Heraldry states that the Arms of the Gayer family of Trenbrace Cronwall to be "Ermine a fleur-de-lis, in chief, sable." The will of Sir John Gayer, once of Bombay, mentions "my brother, William Gayer of the Island of Nantucket."

William and Dorcas had three children, William, Damaris, who married Nathaniel Coffin, son of James, and Dorcas who married Jethro Starbuck, son of Nathaniel.

William Gayer, Jr., left Boston in December, 1698, and the next March was in Barbadoes and in 1798 was in the East Indies with his uncle, Sir John Gayer. He returned to England and left a will dated November, 1712, in which he refers to his residence as the parish of Beckenham in Kent, and gives all his land in New England to his sisters, Damaris Coffin and Dorcas Starbuck, and £1000 to each; to Abigail Fitch (of Nantuck­ et) £ 100, and the balance of his estate to his wife Eliza­ beth. As Abigail Fitch was not a relative, it is con­ jectured that this remembrance related to a special ac-

40

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

quaintance while he was at Nantucket. He describes himself as "Gentleman," good evidence that his father was entitled to the same rank.

In 1683 William Gayer changed his homestead from Hummock Pond to Wesco, at the head of the Great Harbor. He purchased land from Capt. John Gardner and William Worth, bounded West by Center Street, south by Ash Lane; East by North Water Street and North by a line one hundred feet North of Church Street. Here he built a fine house which from the suggestions in his will must have resembled the Coffin "Horseshoe" house on Sunset Hill and stood un­ til 1840 where the Veranda House was then erected.

The situation at Wesco in 1683 may explain why he changed his residence. The Island had been settled by the English about twenty-two years. The resi­ dential section had quite largely extended from Capaum Harbor southward along both sides of the Hum­ mock Pond. Peter Folger and William Worth lived near "Nobottom Pond;" while at Wesco Capt. John Gardner lived at the North Shore, his brother Richard on Sunset Hill and Stephen Hussey at Monomoy. Capaum Harbor, now a Pond, was open to the sea and used as a harobr and the tillable lands of the town were mostly in this locality. Wesco had no land for farms.

It has been said that Gayer was a ship carpenter, but this is not supported by facts. Another story is that he was a surveyor and the reason for this inference is that he had much to do in land divisions. If the date 1686 commonly assigned to the Coffin "Horseshoe" is correct, "this dwelling had not been built. The region around the Water front from Brant Point south to the Creeks had not been divided. Capt. John Gardner had a warehouse near the present wharves and Nic. Davis,

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

41

Nathaniel Starbuck and James Coffin had similar build­ ings. Indians were stealing goods from these ware­ houses as early as 1676. Consequently it is clear that the trading inhabitants had their facilities at Wesco.

As early as 1673 there was activity in relation to drift whales cast on the shore and regulations were enacted prescribing rules as to ownership. In his will probated in 1710, Gayer mentions his Try-works; which indi­ cates that he was engaged in the oil business, and he probably selected a place for his house near the scene of his occupation.

He was probably the first to re­ move from Wannacomet to Wesco.

There is nothing to indicate the religious affili­ ations of William Gayer.

Before 1708 there was no church organization at Nantucket. Ministers visited the Island occasionally, and Quakers began their mis­ sionary efforts about 1700. The Friends Meeting was established in 1708 and was the first to be formed on the island. The Starbuck family and particularly the descendants of William Gayer were in control of this body as long as the denomination existed at Nantucket.

The social rank which Gayer sustained can be also appreciated by the custom of the recording officials who always used the title of "Mr" with his name. In 1679 he was foreman of a jury; laid out land to the Indians; was an assistant magistrate; served as selectman and town clerk almost continuously for twenty-five years.

Was one of the first representatives to the General Court. Was on important committees and held other offices of responsibility.

He took no part in the feud between Capt. John Gardiner and Tristram Coffin.

His handsome pen­ manship made him a useful public official where records were to be kept.

42

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

His wife, Dorcas, died before 1690, when he mar­ ried Maria Gouard, of Boston, and he also survived her.

He then employed a housekeeper named Patience Foote, mentioned in his will. In 1696, Patience Cary or Gary, of Boston, married Gowing Foote and after his death was Gayer's housekeeper. There is a tra­ dition that she was ready to engage with Gayer in an­ other matrimonial venture but his death prevented. In 1712 she married Stephen Pease and died in 1747, leav­ ing her estate to her son Stephen Cary or Gary, of Taunton.

In September 1710, William Gayer was in failing health and made his will which was probated a month later. To his son William he gave real estate "if he shall ever come hither again," otherwise the most of his estate to his daughters, Damaris and Dorcas. His barn and try-works equally to his house-keeper, Pa­ tience Foote and Africa, a negro, "formerly my serv­ ant."

His house was divided in a curious manner.

The West chamber and garret and half the leanto went to the housekeeper and the same on the East end of the house to Africa. The rest of the house to Damaris Coffin. This structure remained until 1840 when it was taken down.

The son, William, never returned to Nantucket and died in England in 1712 without issue. So the family name in New England became extinct. The descent being through the female lines, the names are not easily identified.

Students in heredity can find no better illustration of the transmission of distinguished mental traits, than appears among the numerous descendants of Wil­ liam Gayer. The manifestation is in business, liter­ ature and science and for over two centuries the long

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

43

line has included leading merchants, public officials, authors, educators, professional and scientific men.

The oldest daughter Damaris married Nathaniel Coffin, son of Judge James Coffin and was the mother of five sons and four daughters. In a letter written in 1711 to Sir John Gayer, she stated that her husband had been for some time in a French prison. This was during the Queen Anne War. He was released and died in Nantucket. The children were as follows:— all of whom married and left children, as was the case also with the children of Dorcas Starbuck, except Eunice.

Dorcas married John Soley and lived in Charlestown; Christian married John Edwards, resided in Hartford; Lydia married Joseph Chase, son of Isaac; William married Ann Holmes, moved to Boston; Charles married Mary Barrett, went to Boston; Ben­ jamin married Jedidah Hussey, remained in Nantuck­ et; Gayer married Rebecca Parker, lived in Boston; Nathaniel married Mary Sheffield, lived in Boston; Catharine married Bethuel Gardner, lived in Nan­ tucket.

Dorcas Gayer married Jethro Starbuck, son of Nathaniel and had two sons and five daughters: Sarah married Jabez Macy; Lydia married Ben­ jamin Barney; Jemima married Sylvanus Allen, moved to Fairhaven; Mary married Richard Mitchell; Thomas married Rachel Allen; William married Anna Folger; Eunice married Daniel Pinkham.

The homestead of William Gayer was divided in 1734 by a line drawn from Center Street to North Wa­ ter, half-way between Church Street and Ash. The North part went to Damaris Coffin and included the house and this was the home of Damaris and Nath-

44

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

aniel. The South half went to Dorcas Starbuck, but her husband owned a house on the North side of Milk Street at the head of Mill and they did not reside on Center Street.

Damaris Coffin transferred her homestead to her son Nathaniel, who later divided and sold the same in several lots. The street laid out across the lot in 1766 was once called Step Lane and later Chapman Avenue, and then Church Street.

Dorcas Starbuck held her lot and at her death it was divided between her six living children, Eunice having died without issue. Ash Street was laid out in 1753 when the division was made. Ash Lane was opened in 1764 by the adjoining owners. The only member of the family who lived on this lot was Mary Mitchell and her husband Richard, the ancestors of that famous Nantucket family. The Mitchells occu­ pied the entire North Water Street front.

On the Gayer Homestead is a group of old houses in the West part. When the original dwelling was ta­ ken down in 1840 another house was built on the same spot and this has been greatly enlarged and called the "Veranda House."

A few yards North is a large three-story house fronting Center Street built about 1800 by Uriah Folger. At the North-east corner of Center Street and Church is a two-story house with center chimney built about 1790 by Francis Joy. On the corner, next South, is another of the same date and design.

Next South is a house built about 1800 by George Folger and subsequently owned by William Whippey. In the narrow space between Ash Street and Ash Lane stands a large double house, each half owned by a separate family, built before the Revolution

by David Joy and occupied by his son, Capt. Levi Joy.

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

45

Next east is the oldest house in the section built about 1755, by Abishai Folger and now owned by W. Channing Cabot.

The descendants of Damaris Coffin and Dorcas Starbuck have been numerous and distinguished, but only a few can be mentioned in this article. Nathaniel Coffin was son of Judge James Coffin, who was son of Tristram and Dionis. Jethro Starbuck was the son of Nathaniel and Mary, and grandson of Edward Starbuck. Dorcas Gayer and her husband were cousins.

Sarah Starbuck married Jabez Macy, and some of their descendants joined the Quaker Emigration before the Revolution and settled in Guilford County, North Carolina, at New Garden.

Lydia married Benjamin Barney and their daugh­ ter married William Rotch, and, from that branch came the Rotch and Rodman families of New Bedford, es­ pecially distinguished as whaling merchants.

Jemima married Sylvanus Allen and moved to Fairhaven, where he owned a large farm on the Acushnet River South of the railroad.

Mary married Richard Mitchell and lived at the east end of the Gayer homestead on North Water Street. They were the ancestors of the Nantucket Mitchells, a family of unusual brilliancy in finance, let­ ters and science.

William Starbuck married Anna Folger and lived on the South side of Milk Street next west of Mill.

Thomas Starbuck married Rachel Allen and lived in a house still standing on the North side of Milk Street at the head of Mill. It was this branch of the Starbuck family which included so many able whaling merchants.

The children of Damaris Coffin became consider-

46

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

ably scattered, only three of the nine remaining at Nantucket.

Benjamin, known as the "school master," was the father of nineteen children. In this line was Isaac Coffin, Judge of Probate for thirty-four years; Micajah Coffin who, in 1826, then an old man, addressed the Governor in Latin; Zenas Coffin who died in 1828, the richest native of Nantucket up to that date, left seven children, each of whom received in his inheritance an entire whaleship.

William Coffin became a merchant in Boston and his son Nathaniel was the last Treasurer of Massa­ chusetts under the King.

Nathaniel Coffin married Mary Sheffield of New­ port and resided in Boston. He had two sons, John and Isaac. The former became a General in the Brit­ ish Army and the latter is well known by the tablet over the door of the school at Nantucket, "Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin Bart." They were stationed in parts of the globe remote from New England during the Rev­ olution.

This suggests the subject of the Loyalists of Bos­ ton. While here was the center of the insurrection that developed into the American Revolution, yet there was a large element of wealthy and prominent people who continued their allegiance to the English Govern­ ment and were known as Tories or Loyalists. In this group were several of the Coffin family. True to the Quaker heredity and English environment, they ob­ jected to change and adhered to the established order of government. Their church affiliations were mostly with the Episcopal Congregations. It was inevitable that they should regard the insurrectionists as rebels.

WILLIAM GAYER AND HIS DESCENDANTS

47

So when the British evacuated Boston, a dozen of the Coffins and their relatives, fled to different parts of Canada. Later a few of them returned.

Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin visited Nantucket in 1826 and founded the Coffin school and devoted several funds to public enterprises located in Boston where he was born. These benefactions were not approved in England and later prevented him from being created an Earl.

48

TWO QUAKER TEACHERS

BY LUCY HUSTON STURDEVANT.

John Boadle.

Somewhere near the beginning of the last century the Nantucket Society of Friends felt the need of a teacher for their children, and wrote to the Friends' Society in Philadelphia to that effect. The Philadel­ phia Friends sent them John Boadle, an English Qua­ ker, from Birkenhead, near Liverpool.

The date of John Boadle's coming was approxim­ ately 1829, for he stayed in Nantucket for twenty years, and his assistant, Hepsibeth Hussey opened her school between 1849 and 1851. This must have been after the departure of John Boadle, probably soon af­ ter. John Boadle had his school in the Historical So­ ciety building on Fair street.

It was used as a meet­ ing-house later on, but at first it was a Quaker school, and the meeting-house was next door.

When the meeting grew smaller, it was moved into the building that had been used for John Boadle's school, but in earl­ ier days it must have been a school interior, with desks and busy children, gray clad, and using the plain speech of the Friends.

There was no gallery then, but an upper floor, where Alice Mitchell taught the younger children, and probably some of the older ones, too.

John's school "took in" at 8.30 in the morning and

I

TWO QUAKER TEACHERS

49

lasted until 11 o'clock; then the children went home to dinner. At 1.30 they came back and stayed until 4.30, when school was over for the day. On Thursday they were dismissed at 10 o'clock that John might go to meeting; they came back in the afternoon and got in some good hard work over sums and grammar, proba­ bly. They worked on Saturday morning, too, but had the afternoon for play.

At the beginning, John's school was limited to the children of the Society of Friends, but later he took the children of "world's people," too. I dare say they were not very worldly, those little boys and girls who came to John's school through the busy, noisy streets of the Nantucket of whaling days, watching for trucks, or dodging out of the way of hurrying carts on busi­ ness bent, or admiring stalwart sailors, but everything is comparative.

The Nantucket Friends were very plain Friends indeed, and doubtless their children were very plain, too, in their dress, their speech, their ways.

They, too, must have eschewed vanities of all kinds, poor little dears! music, color, dancing, gaities—not be­ cause they chose but because they must.

Children were obedient in those days and parents stood no nonsense. When the children grew up they broke away, and there are no Friends in Nantucket now, though in their best days there were 800.

Whether they were Friends'people or Worlds' peo­ ple there was one invariable rule for the children; they called John Boadle "John" by his express direction.

Sometimes they got into trouble at home (the worldly ones) and were told sternly that they must say "Mr. Boadle" and not "John." But once back at school John would have none of it. It ended in his having his own way and the way of the Friends, and he was "John" to

50

TWO QUAKER TEACHERS

his pupils until the end of the chapter. It did not interfere with his dignity or his authority; such things are of the spirit and John had a fine spirit.

His school had four terms in the year; he asked five dollars a term, which was considered a good deal to ask. He did not "punish" his scholars, as they put it in those days, by which they meant that he did not whip them. He gave them "tasks" when they misbe­ haved; a page and a half in the Reader to learn by heart, or kept them after school.

There is a story that one day when he had kept a boy after school he looked at him reproachfully and said, pointing to his desk covered with papers: "See what I have to do, and thee gives me more!"

"I'll help thee, John!" cried the boy in a sudden burst of sorrow and love.

He had in one corner of his school room an enclo­ sure with a desk and a chair in it; the child who sat at the desk could not see over the partition that separated it from the room; it was like a little pen.

He called it "the box," and a child who did not know the lesson might be sent there to study. To be sent to "the box" was supposed to be a punishment, but it slipped away from that meaning very quickly. Sometimes a child would ask to be allowed to "go in the box" to study.

It was allowed; evidently the "box" was in the nature of a joke.

Certain stories have come down to us about John Boadle; they draw his picture fairly well. He used to set one scholar to help another; the task was done by one of them unwillingly but well. John saw the underlying unwillingness, as a good teacher must see things that lie beneath the surface.

TWO QUAKER TEACHERS

51

"I saw thy reluctance," he said, "yet thee did help thy fellow scholar."

"John is pleased with me," said the child at home.

"He says I have a reluctance. What is a reluctance, mother?"

John used to worry about his pupils, at least about the little ones. The streets were not very safe for little children in those days, even though there were no automobiles. There were other dangers in the ac­ tive, hustling, business town; trucks plying between the wharves and the warehouses and candle factories; hasty Nantucket carts on business bent.

A child had to be careful in crossing the Main street, and when is a child careful! John solved his problem as best he could; he used to give the younger children into the care of the older, saying, "Oriana, or Persis, or Reuben," as the case might be, "take care of this little one when thee crosses the Main street."

Ten does not take such very good care of seven or eight; the littlest ones might not have profited much, but it was a fine thing for the older ones, and taught them responsibility and gentleness; John was pretty sure to know that.

He gave parties for his scholars now and then; for the boys a party; for the girls another party. These parties were great occasions, looked forward to long before, remembered long after.

The children went soon after supper time, and supper was at five; they came home early, certainly long before nine.

John John gave them to eat nuts and raisins, apples and figs, a heaping plate for each one. After that they played games; with letters generally—spelling games.

Tradition says that the children in John Boadle's school were in the main good children, studied hard and

TWO QUAKER TEACHERS

did well. The wise and gentle spirit of the Quaker teacher won those children, held them, steadied them, maybe, through the "tasks" that the coming years might set them; black nights at sea, or long days of watching from the "walks" at home.

Hepsibeth Hussey.

In 1845, John Boadle took as assistant Hepsibeth Hussey, then 16 years old; she dealt mainly with the younger children, and probably taught them upstairs as Alice Mitchell had done. When John Boadle left the island, his mantle fell upon her young shoulders, and she taught the leading Quaker school of Nantucket for another twenty years.

Whether she began her school in the building that had housed John Boadle's school I do not know; certain­ ly she did not stay there long. Her school was on Fair street on the corner of Charter street, and was next to Fitzgerald's store across Charter street.

This was a grocery store, and the children found it an agreeable neighbor; they used to slip in and buy dainties—crackers and candy and giant pickles, much esteemed of that generation of children, who seemed to take no harm from them.

There must have been a "recess" in schools then as there is now; in recess, then, the children went to Fitz­ gerald's store. This I have from the lips of one of those very children, but we might have guessed that it would be that way.

Hepsibeth Hussey's school, although a Quaker school, was never limited to Quaker children as John Boadle's school had been; there were not enough of them by that time to make a school prosper. From

TWO QUAKER TEACHERS

53

the beginning the children of "World's people" came, but the language of the school was the plain speech of the Friends, and the spirit of the school was the spirit of the Friends; strong, gentle, self controlled. The building in which Hepsibeth Hussey had her school was afterwards moved to Quince street, where it still stands, though it is no longer a school.

Hepsibeth Hussey did not "punish" the children, any more than John Boadle had done; like him she gave "tasks" or reproved them with a stately and surprised gentleness. One of the girls did something one day of which Hepsibeth Hussey disapproved. I doubt if it was anything very bad. The Quaker teacher looked at her sadly: "Thee does that! And thee in thy teens!" she said. The girl was overcome with shame and sorrow; no punishment could have had such an effect.

Hepsibeth Hussey was, perhaps, sterner than John Boadle; perhaps she kept better order, though I have no reason to suppose so. A woman in those days, whatever she may be now, was not so important as a man; she needed to be graver, to make herself felt.

It is true that the Quakers made no distinction in the meeting between man and woman; the woman led the meeting, prayed or spoke if the spirit moved. On the other hand the Quakers were dying out and the other bodies of believers were pushing in. They made much difference in their churches, and the women listened in "silence and subjection," as St. Paul enjoins. The Quakers had gotten away from St. Paul.

Hepsibeth Hussey was a good teacher; there are plenty of her pupils left to tell us about her, and to bear witness to her ability, her learning, her wisdom.

She was tall, dignified, grave; her pictures are easily

54

TWO QUAKER TEACHERS

procured; her face is not more strong than kind; it is the Quaker character.

She taught in Nantucket until 1871; then she opened a school in Sherwood, New York. She took with her from Nantucket to hang in her school-room two mottoes in gilt lettering on black boards. One was: "Remember Thy Creator in the days of thy youth." The other: "What man has done may be done by man."

These hung on the walls of her Nantucket school room; tradition says that the first was hung on the girls' side, the other on the wall by the boys. The Nan­ tucket Historical Society wants these mottoes badly, but it has not been able to get them, and is not likely to get them; the Sherwood people want them, too.

Tradition says that when a boy was particularly troublesome at other schools, namely the Coffin school and the public school, he was generally sent to Hepsibeth Hussey, and that she never failed to make "a good boy" out of him, which is, one would suppose, the final aim of all teaching.

55

REMINISCENCES OF OLD PODPIS

BY ALCON CHADWICK. Class of 1923, Nantucket High School.

Winner of First Prize in Nantucket Historical Association's Contest.

Six miles east from Nantucket town, and border­ ing the south shore of an inner harbor, namely Polpis, or Podpis, is the quiet little district of the same name.

It is partly surrounded by the inland waterway, which takes the form of a U. Swain's Neck, a peninsula, breaks up the harbor.

From this, Polpis gets its name, which means "the divided or branch harbor."

The whole region is gently rolling, save for the great swamps. Here the wabsche grass crowds for room, and black ducks hide along the bay. The wide view across the harbor to Coatue, and beyond to the gray town, no one ever forgets. Farm dwellings dot the landscape.

Perhaps the next most conspicuous building is the school-house. With its large windows, its white flag-pole, and its now silent belfry, it seems to act as a sturdy guard over the small settlement.

To the east of Polpis lies Squam, a very swampy country, with upfands overgrown with bayberry bushes and briers.

Here is located the famous "Eat-Fire Spring," of Indian fame. It is large and never failing, and furnishes water now for the Heighton farm. This water is said to be the purest on the island.

To the west is a neck of land called Quaise, which

56

REMINISCENCES OF OLD PODPIS

means "the end, or point." Thomas Mayhew reserved this promising tract for his own use when he sold the island of Nantucket to the ten original purchasers.

South of Polpis is Spotsor.

Here dwelt an Indian tribe, for whose chief, Spotsor, this region was named.

Through his wife, the daughter of Nickanoose, chief of the Wauwinet possessions, Spotsor was sachem for nearly forty years.

Podpis was occupied by the Wauwinet tribe of In­ dians when the island was first settled by the white men. By degrees it came into the hands of the new comers. Nantucketers should be proud of their fore­ fathers, because they did not steal the land away from the red men, as was done some times on the mainland, but bought it, for trinkets, beads, home-spun and grain.

According to old records, John Swain, Sr., father of the first white male child born on the island, was one of its first settlers.

As time went on Podpis grew to be a village of importance, though made up mainly of farms. Even now the chief industry is agriculture. Only about one-fourth of the large old farms, however, are left.

While cultivating one often digs up bricks and mortar, the remains of old dwellings. They used to keep large herds of cattle, which were allowed then to graze on the commons. All the land on the island, with the ex­ ception of house-lots, was owned in common by a body of share-holders called "The Proprietors of the Com­ mon and Undivided Lands." None of this was set off to individuals until the latter part of the last century.

Then it was gradually bought up, and the farmers were forced to have their own pastures. Their chief crops were field corn and hay, up to about the year 1890, when Nantucket Island began to grow into a summer

REMINISCENCES OF OLD PODPIS

57

resort. At that time they began to do a little mar­ ket gardening.

The great tracts of the old-time were owned main­ ly by retired sea captains, who, having either made their fortune or else lost it, settled down here to spend their declining days. Two of these were Capt. Joy, whose farm was on the lane almost opposite the schoolhouse, and Capt. Rule, who lived on the farm now occu­ pied by Harry Dunham.

Capt. Joy was a famous whaling master and la­ ter took up farming. He was a resolute, hard working man. It is a good thing that he was, for he was the father of eight children. One of the Joy boys, after ploughing all day, was not too tired to walk the six miles to town to see the girls.

As shoes were made at home in those days they were preserved with care, and then passed along. The thrifty lad went barefooted as far as what we call now "Our Island Home."

The leather strings of his home-made shoes were tied together and thrown around his neck, so a shoe was swinging on each side.

On his way home he trudged along in his precious shoes until he reached his favorite out-post. Then he took them off, hung them on his shoulders, and footed it on home to Podpis in his bare feet.

Perhaps the best known of the old farmers was Frederick C. Sanford, a retired Nantucket ship owner, who, like other islanders of means, invested in a farm "out Polpis way." He used to wear a silk hat, drive a fast horse, and walk about with one hand in a coattail pocket. Many Nantucketers still remember him.

His town mansion, on the corner of Broad and Federal streets, is now occupied by Capt. Killen.

Mr. Sanford's farms included those now owned by

58

REMINISCENCES OF OLD PODPIS

a gunning club, and the two belonging to the Nantuck­ et Cranberry Co., known now as the Polpis Club, Beechwood and Norwood, respectively. It is said that while Mr. Sanford carried on the farm on Swain's Neck they used to turn up shells a foot deep by plough. He said that Spotsor and his Indians had probably put them there; but geologists have told that they indicated an ante-glacial deposit, other traces of which have been found in the Sankaty bluffs and while digging wells and cellars.

Farming was not the only occupation in old Podpis in former days.

We find that a number of fulling mills were in operation during the colonial times. One of these, built over the small stream halfway between the public school house and the junction of the Polpis road, was in use in the year 1772. It was managed by a Scotchman named Nichols, with whom David Allen served as an apprentice until he became master of the trade.

This Mr. Allen made the first cut nails ever used on the island or even perhaps in this country.

A fulling mill was also built by the Gardner brothers at Podpis, but its exact location is not known.

Another was operated at Quaise. Salt making was carried on, on a large scale, on Quaise Point.

This busy, bustling village of Podpis was evidently more prosperous than the present Polpis.

Another necessary employment here was peat dig­ ging. The greater part of the peat used on Nantuck­ et was found and dug in and around Podpis. These extensive beds seem to prove that at some time a great many trees grew on the island.

Bartholomew Gosnold, who may have landed here first, reported that the eastern part of the island was densely covered with large trees when they found the island.

Peat was

REMINISCENCES OF OLD PODPIS

59

for some time the chief fuel. Some of the older Isl­ anders can remember now when coal was introduced here. Nantucket people did not like it, for it was so hard to kindle.

Peat gathering, especially during the War of 1812, when the British blockaded the island, and during the Civil War, when coal was a great luxury, became an important industry. The old beds are now low, wet swamps. To prepare peat for use, first the trees must be cleared; then the roots were pulled out and the turf removed, in much the same way as the Sankaty Head golf grounds are being cleared today. Next the peat was dug out, hauled to a bed, and harrowed until the lumps were well broken up.

Water was thrown on then to make the mass soft and pasty, so that they could slick it off and mark it into squares. The slicker was usually a board, with a pole attached to both ends. This was drawn over the peat to smooth it off.

A hay fork was used to mark it into squares. When the top of the peat was dry they turned the squares with forks and sometimes by hand. The peat, when ready, was piled in long, narrow houses, with tight roofs, and slats on the sides.

Great care was taken to get this fuel well dried be­ fore the white frost came; otherwise, it would crumble.

Peat digging time always followed haying.

It was common to hear the old farmer say, "Got to hustle and get this haying done, so that we can get at peating 'fore the frost comes on."

Some of the houses of the Podpisers, who were, of course, participants in the thriving industries of the settlement, are worthy of mention.

The oldest was George Swain's, Sr.'s. This dwelling, which stood on the farm now owned by Frank P. Chadwick, was built,

60

REMINISCENCES OF OLD PODPIS

it is said, about 1684. If so, it was two years older than "The Old House," in town, the date of which is 1686. Near this site a cannon ball was found recent­ ly by the writer's brother, while planting potatoes. It is reasonable to suppose that this was fired here by the British during the War of 1812.

The second oldest, called the Meader house, stood near the Quaise line. A part of this was nearly as old as the Jethro Coffin house. It is said that when they took it down they found three floors in the parlor.

The bark still remained on the timbers, and they were faced only where the floors rested. This structure and many others were built of the island timber.

The next oldest building known was constructed in 1704, by George Swain, Sr., for his daughter Elizabeth, who married Joshua Sevolle. This old landmark stood directly opposite the present school house.

Love Smith was its last occupant. It was blown down in 1902, after having stood for nearly 200 years.

The cottage now owned by E. J. Hollister, on the high bluff in Quaise, overlooking the upper harbor, con­ tains some timber, and five one-plank oak doors, from the famous Miriam Coffin house, the cellar hole of which is close by. "Miriam" (Keziah) Coffin was a shrewd and wealthy ship owner. She had built a handsome town mansion, on what is now Mrs. Maria T. Swain's lawn on Center street, and then this country house in Quaise.

From this secluded spot, she was supposed to have a tunnel to the shore, to use in smuggling. As yet, however, no trace of it has been found. History tells us that Miriam is believed to have rendered aid to the British during the Revolution, and that she was tried at Watertown later for smuggling.

REMINISCENCES OF OI.D PODPIS

61

We must not forget the Farmers' Institute, or the "Polpis Court House," as it was sometimes called. This was a one-room shack, which stood first on the lane al­ most opposite the school house.

It was afterwards moved to a site near the mill pond. A few years ago it was blown down. Here, about 1855, the men folks gathered evenings to talk over the current news, and to brag about their crops, while the old whalers in the village were "gamming" in the "Captain's Room."

They continued to meet here until about 1900.

Near this building is a large boulder, which, as the story goes, jumped the fence one night. The truth is that the owner of the neighboring pasture moved his fence after dusk on the other side of the rock to get more land.

Polpis seems very quiet now, when we compare it with the flourishing village of old Podpis. It is, how­ ever, a beautiful place to live in. One can look for miles, from any point of the settlement.

Strangers have begun to realize that this part of the island has great charm.

Three summer cottages have been bought by off-islanders within the last few years. Now that a permanent road is to be built through to 'Sconset, it is predicted that much of the travel will be lured this way, and that the settlement here will increase.

Thus, this beautiful section of the island has changed from a bustling village to a quiet little settle­ ment, and from "Podpis" to "Polpis."

No one who has grown up on a farm, with the sea-scape in front, the brown and green hummocky landscape behind, and the old echoes and traditions all around, would ever "wish to change his place."

62

PUBLICATIONS of the Nantucket Historical Association:

Quakerism on Nantucket since 1800, by Henry Bar­ nard Worth.

Vol. 1, No. 1,1896, out of print.

Timothy White Papers, by Rev. Myron Samuel Dudley.

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

Nantucket Lands and Land Owners, by Henry Barnard Worth.

The Title and The Nantucket Insurrection.

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

The Settlers, Their Homes and Government.

(Map) Vol. 2, No. 2, 1902, 50 cts.

The Indians of Nantucket. Vol. 2, No. 3, 1902, 50 cts.

Sheep Commons and The Proprietary.

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

Ancient Buildings of Nantucket.

Vol. 2, No. 5, 1906, 50 cts.

Indian Names, Wills and Estates, Index.

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

Wills and Estates Continued.

Vol. 2, No. 7, 50 cts.

A Century of Free Masonry on Nantucket, by Alex­ ander Starbuck.

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

Proceedings of the Annual Meetings of the Nantucket Historical Association, from 1895 to 1922 (with the exception of 1899, which is out of print), price 25 cents each.

63

LIST OF MEMBERS LIFE COUNCILLORS. Foiger, Annie Barker, Lily St., Nantucket, Mass.

Starbuck, Alexander, Waltham, Mass.

Worth, Henry Barnard, New Bedford, Mass.

LIFE MEMBERS. Ackley, Mrs. Seth Mitchell, Nantucket, Mass.

Austin, May (Haberlin), Boston, Mass.

Bailey, William E., Harrisburg, Penn.

Barnard, Prof. Charles, 139 East 39th St., New York, N. Y. Barnard, Marianna (Sprague), 333 Chippewa Road, Tuckahoe, N. Y. Barrett, John Wendell, Oyster Bay, N. Y. Barrett, William M., 214 Ave. A, Bayonne, N. J. Beebe, Alice Geissler, 25 Grove St., Wellesley, Mass.

Bodfish, Annie Warren, Nantucket, Mass.

Brock, Susan Emma, Fair St., Nantucket, Mass.

Brown, Julia D., 35 West 130th St., New York, N. Y. Brown, William Frederick, Armidale, N. S. W., Australia.

Capp, Seth Bunker, Box 2054, Philadelphia, Penn.

Carrington, Mrs. Mary F., Providence, R. I. Cartwright, Alexander Joy, 180 Twentieth Ave., San Francisco, Calif.

Calhcart, Wallace Hugh, President Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio.

Channing, Eva, Hemenway Chambers, Boston, Mass.

Coffin, Elizabeth Rebecca, Lily St., Nantucket, Mass.

Coleman, Emma, Fair St., Nantucket, Mass.

Colket, C. Howard, 2008 De Lancey St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Colket>, Tristram Coffin, 2nd., Drexel Apartments, Philadelphia, Penn.

64

LIST OF MEMBERS

Davis, Charles Henry, 18 Old Slip, New York, N. Y. Dudley, Mary (Marrett), Standish, Maine.

Durfee, Mary Galucia (Hatch), Palmyra, N. Y. Elkins, Richard Gardner, Waldoboro, Maine.

Elkins, Harriette Ann, Pearl St., Nantucket, Mass.

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

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

Folger, Sarah Joy, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Gulielma, Nantucket, Mass., Frothingham, Ellen Folger, 9 Exeter St., Boston, Mass.

Fuller, Frederick Vincent, Milk St., Nantucket, Mass.

Fuller, Mary Louisa (Myrick), Nantucket, Mass.

Greene, Howard, First National Bank, Milwaukee, Wis. Gries, Ethel Goff (Folger), Rosewood, Ohio.

Gwinn, Mrs. Mary, 228 South 22nd St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Hartley, Frances Chester (White), 232 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Hinchmann, Anne, 3635 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Hinchman, Margaretta, 3635 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Hussey, Martha, 303 East Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Hutaff, Grace (Elkins), 103 East 86th St., New York, N. Y. Johnson, Minnie Agnes (Jonah), Bath, Maine.

Joy, Moses, 176 Fulton St., New York, N. Y. Johnson, Pauline (Mackay), Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Kimball, Laura M., 145 Troup St., Rochester, N. Y. Kimball, Martha W., 13 Argyle St., Rochester, N. Y. Laughlin, Mrs. Sidney Page, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Mary Eliza, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Nelson, 441 Pearl St., New York, N. Y. McCleary, Helen Cartwright, 3 Auburn Court, Brookline, Mass.

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

Middlebrook, Caroline Allen, 115 East 53rd St., New York, N. Y. Mitchell, Emily Burns, 1735 New Hampshire Ave., Washington, D. C. Mitchell, Helen (Leeds), Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Paine, Mary Elizabeth (Folger), 315 Thayer St., Providence, R. I. Raymond, Sarah Coffin (Codd), Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Rollins, Rev. Walter Huntington, President Fairmount College, Wichita, Kansas.

Smith, Pauline Starbuck Byron, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

65

Starbuck, Alexander, Waltham, Mass.

Starbuck, Charlotte Puffer (Baxter), 224 East Mission St., San­ ta Barbara, Calif.

Starbuck, John Austin, Balfour Bldg., San Francisco, Calif.

Starbuck, Mary Eliza, 8 Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Starbuck, Susan Amelia, Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Swift, William Henry, Pittsfleld, Mass.

Underwood, Margaret C., 100 Common St., Belmont, Mass.

Voorneveld, William, Centre St., Nantucket, Mass.

Wilson, Anne, Nantucket, Mass.

Worth, Frank, Amherstdale, W. Va.

ANNUAL MEMBERS. A Ackley, Rev. Joseph B., Portsmouth, R. I. Adams, Karl, Nantucket, Mass.

Albertson, Alice Owen, The Gunther, 41st St, and Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, Penn.

Allen, Mrs. Le Moyne Dillingham, Granville, N. Y. Allen, Lucy Ellis, West Newton, Mass.

Anderson, Prof. Louis F., 364 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, Wash.

Anderson, Florence Mary (Bennett), 364 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, Wash.

Appleton, William Sumner, 2 Lynde St., Boston, Mass.

Armstrong, John R., Cranston, Providence County, R. I. Atkins, Mrs. Katherine W., P. O. Box 1250, Boston, Mass.

Atkins, Edwin F., P. O. Box 1250, Boston, Mass.

Ayers, John Killen, Nantucket, Mass.

Ayers, Mary, Nantucket, Mass.

B Babcock, Edwina Stanton, Nyack-on-the-Hudson, N. Y. Baker, Chester A., 29 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MassBaker, Maude, 67 Stimson Ave., Providence, R. I. Baldwin, Mrs. Annie Osgood, 158 Bay State Road, Boston, Barnard, Frank Redfield, 290 Broadway, New York, N. Y.

66

LIST OF MEMBERS

Barnard, George E., Ipswich, Mass.

Barnard, Job, Associate Justice Supreme Court (Retired), 1306 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C. Barnard, Mrs. Mary V., Newcastle, Henry County, Ind. Barnard, William O., Newcastle, Henry County, Ind. Barnes, Elizabeth B. (Williams), R. D. 1, Box 347, Care Harry W. Williams, Campbell, Calif.

Barnes, Grace (Davis), Gardner Court, Nantucket, Mass.

Barney, Alanson Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Barney, Charles Neal, 115 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Barney, Mrs. Maginel, 23 North Water St., Nantucket, Mass.

Barrett, Anna E, C., Siasconset, Nantucket.

Bartlett, Mrs. Josiah, 28 Roland Ave., Roland Park, Baltimore, Md. Bassett, Mrs. George P. Jr., 5440 Northumberland St., Pitts­ burgh, Penn.

Bassett, George Pomeroy, 3rd, 5440 Northumberland St., Pitts­ burgh, Penn.

Beadle, Phebe H., Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Benham, Lizzie Elliott (Thompson), 86 Howe St., New HavenBennett, Mrs. Flora Moore, Bennett-Baker Lumber Co., Viola, Idaho.

Bennett, Harriet Stanton, 5 Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Bennett, Henry Hollis, Bennett-Baker Lumber Co., Viola, Idaho.

Benton, Amy Alice (Isom), Broad St., Nantucket, Mass.

Benton, William Josiah, Broad St., Nantucket, Mass.

Bigelow, Edmund, 25 School Street, Springfield, Mass.

Bigelow, Mary E., 25 Scotland Road, Elizabeth, N. J. Black, Alice L., 16 Whittier St., Cambridge, Mass.

Blackburn, Elizabeth M., 24 Littell Road, Brookline, Mass.

Boone, Elizabeth Starbuck (Barker) Overman, 327 Central Park West, New York, N. Y. Boyer, Maurice Weimer, Vestal St., Nantucket, Mass.

Brackett, John F., Nantucket, Mass.

Brayton, Annie Sale (Chinery), Nantucket, Mass.

Brayton, Caroline E. (Slade), Fall River, Mass.

Briggs, Charlotte Puffer, 257 Steuben St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Briggs, William Coffin, 257 Steuben St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Brock, Albert Gardner, Nantucket, Mass.

Brock, Annie (Cartwright), Nantucket, Mass.

Brock, Joseph Chase, Step Lane, Nantucket, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

67

Brooks, Charles S., 985 Charles River Road, Cambridge, Mass.

Brooks, Josephine (Sylvia), 326 Highland Ave., West Somerville, Mass.

Brown, Eleanor E., Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Brown, Henry, Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Brown, Mrs. Robert B., 38 Babcock St., Brookline, Mass.

Bunker, Alice Macy, State House, Boston, Mass.

Bunker, Alfred, 29 Juniper St., Roxbury, Mass.

Bunker, Lauriston, Nantucket, Mass.

Bunker, Hon. William Mitchell, Cloyne Court Hotel, Berkeley, Calif.

Bunker, William, Ridgefield, Conn.

Burgess, Ellen H. (Coffin), 109 Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Burnell, Barker, 1045 Sixth St., San Diego, Calif.

Butler, Harriet Parker (Winn), Nantucket, Mass.

Burrell, Caroline (Cayford), 993 Charles River Road, Cambridge, Mass.

C Carpenter, William D., Nantucket, Mass.

Cash, Helen, Centre St., Nantucket, Mass.

Catlin, Sarah Affia, Warsaw, Ind. Chamberlin, Henry Harmon, 22 May St., Worcester, Mass.

Chamberlain, Polly, Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Ann Worth (Brock), Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Charlotte Bunker, 41 North St., New Bedford, Mass.

Chase, Edward Gardner, 4851 Kenwood Ave., Chicago, 111.

Chase, Estelle Lillian (Jenness), 4851 Kenwood Ave., Chicago, 111.

Chase, Mary Jane, Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Sidney, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Susan Mabel, (Johnston), 364 Ray St., Manchester, N. H. Clapp, Martha G. B., 10 Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Clark, Charles S., 31 Nassau St., Room 1200, New York, N. Y. Clark, Elsie B., Tenafly, N. J. Clark, Jacob Wendell, People's Gas Building, Chicago, 111.

Clark, Susan Tyler, 9 Gillette St., Hartford, Conn.

Codd, William Fitzgerald, Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Coffin, Adelaide B., 15 Fairview Heights, Rochester, N. Y. Coffin, Albert S., McGregor, N. Y.

68

LIST OF MEMBERS

Coffin, Arthur M., Stone Alley, Nantucket, Mass.

Coffin, Mrs. Celia M., 155 Nyack Ave., Pelham, N. Y. Coffin, Mrs. Cora Ann, 618 South Cushman Ave., Tacoma, Wash.

Coffin, Frank Mitchell, 155 Nyack Ave., Pelham, N. Y. Coffin, John Bridger, 15 Fairview Heights, Rochester, N. Y. Coffin, Mrs-, John Bridger, 15 Fairview Heights, Rochester, N. Y. Coffin, Louis, Summer St., Nantucket, Mass.

Coffin, Mrs. Margaret, Stone Alley, Nantucket, Mass.

Coffin, Mildred G., 15 Fairview Heights, Rochester, N. Y. Coffin, Tristram, The Ruremont, 2731 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Coffin, William H., 618 South Cushman Ave., Tacoma, Wash.

Coleman, Harriet Maude, 2 Potter Park, Cambridge, Mass.

Coleman, Hester Eudora, 2 Potter Park, Cambridge, Mass., Coleman, Mary Myrick, Nantucket, Mass.

Colt, James D., 53 State St., Boston, Mass.

Colt, Mrs. Jeanne, 53 State St., Boston, Mass.

Conable, Florence (Easton), P. 0. Box 406, Monrovia, Los An­ geles County, Calif.

Conable, Mrs. Leska Littlefield, 356 North Primrose Ave., Mon­ rovia, Los Angeles County, Calif.

Conable, Captain Morris Easton, 356 North Primrose Ave., Mon­ rovia, Los Angeles County, Calif.

Congdon, May Housatonnic, School St., Nantucket, Mass.

Cook, Emma, Nantucket, Mass.

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

Crosby, Mrs. Almira Esther, 1110 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Crosby, Mrs. Everett U., Mermaid House, West Mermaid Lane, St. Martins, Philadelphia, Penn.

Crosby, Everett U., Mermaid House, West Mermaid Lane, St. Martin's, Philadelphia, Penn.

Crosby, Uberto C., 1110 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Curtis, Bracey, Nantucket, Mass.

Cutler, Earle N., 15 Cliff Road, Nantucket, Mass.

D Dana, Bessie Andrews, 34 Church St., Englewood, N. J. Danforth, Isabelle, 106 West 58th St., New York, N. Y. Davis, Bertha S., Boston, Mass.

Davis, Leroy W., Boston, Mass..

LIST OF MEMBERS

69

Defriez, Sarah Elizabeth (Barron), 537 Washington St., Brookline, Mass.

Delano, Henry C., 879 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Delano, Mrs. Lydia M., 879 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Dibble, Annie (Hayt), 215 White Plains Road, Tuckahoe, N. Y. Dillingham, Mrs. Louise G., Beechcroft Farm, Millburn, N.. J. Ditmars, Mary Coffin (Worth), Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Dodd, Mary (Dillingham), 16 Cedar Road, Belmont, Mass.

Dunham, Harrison Gray Otis, 135 Front St., New York, N. Y. Dyer, Mrs. George, Milk St., Nantucket, Mass.

E Edwards, Phebe Coffin, Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Elkins, Mrs. Mary Gardiner, Waldoboro, Maine.

Elliot, Dr. Herbert, Arlington, Mass.

Emery, Jennie Starbuck (Chadwick), Nantucket, Mass.

F Farnham, Joseph Ellis Coffee, Providence, R. I. Fay, Prof. Edward Allen, 3 Kendall Green, Washington, D. C. Fish, Anna Gardner, Perkins Institution, Watertown, Mass.

Fitz-Randolph, Reginald T., Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Annie Alden, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Clifford, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Arthur Hanaford, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Dr. George A., Pearl St., Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, George Howland, Medford, Mass.

Folger, John Brown, Gardner St., Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Lizabeth Sarah (Lawrence), Gardner St., Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Lydia Maria, Gardner St., Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Rear Admiral William Mayhew, Cornish, N. H., P. 0.

Windsor, Vt. Francis, Eben Willis, Nantucket, Mass.

Fraser, Emma J., Nantucket, Mass.

Freeborn, Lydia Sanford, Liberty St., Nantucket, Mass.

Freeborn, Millard Fillmore, Liberty St., Nantucket, Mass.

Fuller, Mrs. Susan P., Nantucket, Mass.

Fuller, Walter N., 40 Cester Ave., Waltham, Mass.

70

LIST OF MEMBERS G

Gardiner, Alice C., Belmont, Mass.

Gardner, Arthur Hinton, Milk St., Nantucket, Mass.

Gardner, Grace Brown, Framingham Normal School, Framingham, Mass.

Gardner, Lucretia Macy, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Gardner, Mary Macy (Brown), Milk St., Nantucket, Mass.

Gardner, Whittemore, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Giffin, Norman, Nantucket, Mass.

Giffin, Mary E., Hussey St., Nantucket, Mass.

Gill, Phebe Andrews (Luther), 46 Maple St., Englewood, N. J. Goodrich, Mrs. Annie S., Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Gray, Donald Cameron, 387 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, Mass.

Greene, Mary Elizabeth (Coffin), Nantucket, Mass.

Grouard, Dr.. John Shackford, Centre St., Nantucket, Mass.

Grouard, Lena (Weymouth), Nantucket, Mass.

Gummere, Amelia (Mott), Haverford, Pa. H Haggerty, Mary Swift (Stran), Clifton, Mass.

Haggerty, Susan W., 16 Queensbury St., Suite 12 A., Boston, Mass.

Hale, Mrs. Robert L., Polpis, Nantucket, Mass.

Kallowell, Thomas Jewett, 27 Pine St., New York, N. Y. Hallett, Frederick G., 243 West 74th St., New York, N. Y. Ham, Mrs. Charlotte (Woodman), Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Ham, Charlotte Woodman, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Harding, Isabel, Pittsfield, Mass.

Harding, Harriet, Pittsfield, Mass.

Hart, Mrs. B. R., 5332 Enright Ave., St. Louis, Mo. Harwood, Margaret, 23 Craigie St., Cambridge, Mass.

Hatch, Hannah Gilford, Union St., Nantucket, Mass.

Hildebrand, Arthur S., 50 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, N. Y. Hildreth, Susan W., 425 West 118th St., New York, N. Y. Hill, Murray Gardner, 20 Oak Knoll Gardens, Pasadena, Calif.

Hill, Florence (Merriam), Siasconset, Nantucket, Mass.

Hiller, Helen, Nantucket, Mass.

Hiller, Jane D., Nantucket, Mass.

Hinchman, Lydia Swain (Mitchell), 3635 Chestnut St., Philadel­ phia, Penn.

LIST OF MEMBERS

71

Hodge, Ann Eliza (Joy), North Water St., Nantucket, Mass.

Hodge, Howard Douglass, 3002-3 Equitable Building, New York, N. Y. Holland, William, Gay St., Nantucket, Mass.

Holland, Annie, Gay St., Nantucket, Mass.

Holt, Mary Exton, 66 Montague St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Hopkins, Samuel Milford Blatchford, 252 Henry St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Howes, Sarah Sprague (Sampson), Summer St., Nantucket, Mass.

Hubbard, Alma R., Wheeling, West Virginia.

Hussey, Arriett'a (Cathcart), Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Hussey, Eliza Myrick, Gardner St., Nantucket, Mass.

Hussey, Elliott Benham, 134 Summit Cross, Rutherford, N. J. Hussey, John E. A., 45 Milk St., Boston, Mass.

Hussey, Roland Bunker, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Huxford, Mrs. Charlotte A., Nantucket, Mass.

I Ingall, Oswald D., Nantucket, Mass.

J Jackson, Hannah W. (De Milt), Manhasset, Long Island, N. Y. Janes, Anna Louise (Brown), 1039 Masachusetts Ave., Cam­ bridge, Mass.

Jannotta, Stella S., 170 North Rigeland Ave., Oak Park, 111.

Jelliffe, Jane L., Plandome, Long Island, N. Y. Jenney, Edgar W., 17 Summit St., Glen Ridge, N. J. Johnson, Florence H., 6 Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Johnson, H. Linsly, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Jones, Arthur W., Nantucket, Mass.

K Kelley, Charlotte Rebecca (Macy), 478 County St., New Bed­ ford, Mass.

Kendall, William Mitchell, 101 Park Ave., New York, N. Y. Kent, Rev. Josiah Coleman, Fair St., Nantucket, Mass.

Killen, Captain John, 17 Federal St., Nantucket, Mass.

Kimball, Mrs.. James P., Howard St., Nantucket, Mass.

King, Gertrude Mitchell, Nantucket, Mass.

72

LIST OF MEMBERS L

Lake, George M., Nantucket, Mass.

Lally, George H., 1300 Cunard Building, Chicago, 111.

I.arason, Kate Glidden, 12 Remington St., Cambridge, Mass.

Lang, Florence Osgood (Rand), Nantucket, Mass.

Lat-ham, Ethel L., 9 Ashburton Place, Boston, Mass.

Lawrence, Bertha, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Lawrence, Edward Abbott, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Lawrence, Sarah (Farrally), Pine St., Nantucket, Mass.

Leavett, Gertrude Mitchell (Goodsell), Smithtown, Long Isl­ and, N. Y. LeBus, Mrs. Clarence, Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Lewis, Annie Bartlett (Robinson) Rogers, School St., Nantucket, Mass.

Lewis, Mrs. S. H., 295 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Lewis, Mrs. Vivian M., Paterson, N. J. Lewis, Vivian M., Paterson, N. J. Linton, Mary J., 10 Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Littlefield, Harriet S., 120 West 92nd St., New York, N. Y. Long, Carrie James, Bloom St., Nantucket, Mass.

I.oring, Clara S., 174 Belleview St., West Roxbury, Mass.

Lothrop, Mrs. Sarah Gorham, 101 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

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

Lowden, Matthew Crosby, 146-148 West 22nd St., New York, N. Y. Luther, Mary Gould, 886 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Luther, Mary Hartness (Gould), 886 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. M MacDonald, Elizabeth H., Hotel Margaret, Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, N. Y. MacDougal, John A., Nantucket, Mass.

MacDougal, Robert Bruce, 137 West 12th St., New York, N. Y. Mackay, George Henry, Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Elizabeth Easton, Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Isaac Augustus, Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Janet P., 214 Alexander Ave., Upper Montclair, N. J. Macy, Mary Ella, Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Sarah Lucretia, Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, William Francis, 98 Millq St., Boston, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

73

Manville, C. Rollin, Lawrence Park, Bronxville, N. Y. Marshall, Helen, 71 Williams St., Norwich, Conn.

McElwain, Harriet Aurelia, 1798 Riverdale St., West Spring­ field, Mass.

McElwain, Pauline Witherell, 1798 Riverdale St., West Spring­ field, Mass.

McElwain, Rachel Doane, 1798 Riverdale St., West Springfield, Mass.

McElwain, Reuben Franklin, 1798 Riverdale St., West Spring­ field, Mass.

Mead, Mrs. Charles L., 103 East 86th St., New York, N. Y. Mead, Mabel C., 103 East 86th St., New York, N. Y. Meyer, Fredrik Fischer, 413 Centre St., South Orange, N. J. Meyer, Mrs. Elizabeth H., 413 Centre St., South Orange, N. J. Miller, Mrs. Helene, Holland House, New York, N. Y. Milne, Helen (Ring), Nantucket, Mass.

Mills, Mrs. Henrietta, 11 Portsmouth Terrace, Rochester, N. Y. Minshall, Charles L., 201 Arcade Building, Terre Haute, Ind. Mitchell, Mrs. Mary K., Siasconset, Nantucket, Mass.

Mitchell, Richard, Webster, Mass.

Mitchell, Sidney, 200 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. Mitchell, William Rich, 15 Prospect St., Taunton, Mass.

Moore, Frederick Gardner, Hotel Savoy, Fifth Ave., New York.

Morgan, Eleanor (Williams), 1 Martins Lane, Nantucket, Mass.

Morton, J. Hatfield, 120 West 40th St., New York, N. Y. Myrick, Alexander M., Nantucket, Mass.

Myrick, Lydia B. (Smith), Nantucket, Mass.

N Newell, Helen Hunt, 55 Linnean St., Cambridge, Mass.

Nicholson, Caroline Harriet (Bax-tlett), 27 G St., South Boston, Mass.

Norris, Emma F. (Marsh), 64 Hemenway St., Boston, Mass.

Nunn, Stella (Chase), Nantucket, Mass.

P Parker, Clara, Nantucket, Mass.

Parker, Mary Scollay, Nantucket, Mass.

Parker, William Prentiss, Nantucket, Mass.

74

LIST OF MEMBERS

Pease, Ellen Gray (Parker), Nantucket, Mass.

Peelle, Reuben B., Wilmington, Ohio.

Perry, Mrs. Annie Mabel, 115 Main Main St., Nantucket, Mass Perry, Edward H., 115 Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Phinney, Joseph W., 270 Congress St., Boston, Mass.

Pliinney, Priscilla (Morris), 270 Congress St., Boston, Mass.

Pray, Nellie M. (Chamberlin), 29 Crowinshield Road, Brookline, Mass.

Prescott, Mabel E., 625 Hope St., Providence, R. I. R Ratcliffe, Rev. Charles A., Nantucket, Mass.

Ratcliffe, Mrs. Frances, Nantucket, Mass.

Ray, Annie Sheffield, 211 Summer St., New Bedford, Mass.

Reed, Elizabeth F., 51 South Clay St., Frankfort, Ind. Richmond, Dr. George Danforth, 32 Water St., Yokohama, Japan.

Riddell, Benjamin Franklin, Fall River, Mass.

Riddell, Elizabeth Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Ring, Anne, Nantucket, Mass.

Ring, John C., Nantucket, Mass.

Robertson, Mrs. William F., Nantucket, Mass.

Robinson, Annie D., 808 Aiken Ave., Pittsburgh, Penn.

Robinson, Celeste M., 67 Union St., Montclair, N. J. Robinson, Mrs. Ella C., ffT Union St., Montclair, N. J. Robinson, John Henry, 1932 First St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Round, Ellen Miner (Thomas), Nantucket, Mass.

Russell, Mrs. Adelaide T., Monomoy, Nantucket, Mass.

Rutter, Jay Edgar Thompson, 707 South 6th St., Springfield, 111.

S Sand, Henry A. L., 130 East 67th St., New York, N. Y. Sand, Alice L., 130 East 67th St., New York, N. Y. Sanderson, Rev. Edward F., Nantucket, Mass.

Schauffler, Rev. Henry P., Nantucket, Mass.

Selden, Lydia (Hodges), Liberty St., Nantucket, Mass.

Severance, Madeleine (Fish), 125 State St., Harrisburg, Penn.

Severance, Walter E., 125 State St., Harrisburg, Penn.

LIST OF MEMBERS

75

Sharp, Benjamin Karl, 49 West Castle Place, New Rochelle, N. Y. Sharp, Harold, 729 Washington St., Brookline, Mass.

Sharp, Virginia May (Guild), Gorham's Court, Nantucket, Mass.

Sheldon, Mrs. Clara P., Charlesgate Hotel, 535 Beacon St., Boston,Mass.

Sheldon, Mrs. Elizabeth F. D., 151 Cold Spring St., New Haven, Conn.

Sibley, Alice M., 227 A Walnut Ave., Roxbury, Mass.

Simonds, Jennie (Smith) Allen, Nantucket, Mass.

Small, Phebe Hanaford (Coffin), Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Small, Reuben Cahoon, Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Smith, Harrison, 18 Commerce St., New York, N. Y. Snelling, Eugenia (Meneely), Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Snelling, Rev. Samuel, Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

Solly, Judge William Franklin, 908 De Kalb St., Norristown, Penn.

Soule, Mary Adelaide (Yeates), Baker City, Oregon.

Stanton, Eva T., 85 North Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne, Penn.

Starbuck, Mrs. Annie Whitefield, The Blackstone, Chicago, 111 Starbuck, Dr. C. Leonard, 400 West 153rd St., New York, N. Y. Starbuck, Frederick L., 355 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, N. Y. Starbuck, George Franklin, Waltham, Mass.

Starbuck, George W., Bournedale, Mass.

Starbuck, Walter Fisher, Waltham, Mass.

Stevens, Mrs. Emily H., 295 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Strong, Austin, 5 Quince St., Nantucket, Mass.

Strong, Mary (Wilson), 5 Quince St., Nantucket, Mass.

Sturdevant, Ethel H., 171 South Franklin St., Wilkesbarre, Penn.

Sturdevant, Lucy, Quince St., Nantucket, Mass.

Sullivan, Amelia L. (Owen), 180 Washington St., Albany, N. Y. Sutton, Virginia Cox, Pasadena, Calif.

Swain, Anna G., Nantucket, Mass.

Swain, David Whiton, 31 Nassau St., New York, N. Y. Swain, Eunice Swain (Barney), 194 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Swain, Maria Theresa (Swain), Nantucket, Mass.

Swain, Captain Richard, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Yoko­ hama, Japan.

Swain, Wilbert D., Aberdeen, S. D. Swift, Caroline Elizabeth, Winter St., Nantucket, Mass.

Swinburne, Charlotte (Gardner), 501 West Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Sylvia, Ella Frances, Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

76

LIST OF MEMBERS

T Terry, Ernest R., Centre St., Nantucket, Mass.

Thebaud, Captain Paul Gibert, 324 West 103rd St., New York, N. Y. Thomas, Ellen W., Nantucket, Mass.

Tolman, Helen M., Canton, Mass.

Torrey, Mary Adams, 23 Winthrop St., Roxbury, Mass.

Tracy, Phebe Whippey, Nantucket, Mass.

Tucker, Agnes Ferguson, Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Turner, Harry Baker, Nantucket, Mass.

Turner, Merle E., Nantucket, Mass.

V Van Ommeren, Rev. Hendrik, Gardner, Mass.

Van Tuyl, Effie (Hiatt), 211 Elm St., Leavenworth, Kansas.

Veo, Harriette (Williams), North Water St., Nantucket, Mass.

Veo, Richard, North Water St., Nantucket, Mass.

Voss, William H. N., 850 Seventh Ave., New York, N. Y. Voss, Mrs. William H. N., 850 Seventh Ave., New York, N. Y.

W Walker, Mary Elizabeth, Milk St„ Nantucket, Mass.

Wallace, Mrs. Jouette Lee, Wallace Hall, Nantucket, Mass.

Wallace, William, Wallace Hall, Nantucket, Mass.

Wait, Annie (Spencer), Nantucket, Mass.

Washburn, Margaret (Hedges), Haverstraw-on-Hudson, N. Y. Whipple, Phila M., 27 East Housatonic St., Pittsfield, Mass.

White, Amelia (Barnard), 8555 113th St., Richmond Hill, Long Island, N. Y. Whitford, J. Mortimer, 1523 East 15th St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Whittemore, Jennie R., 56 Cedar St., Fitchburg, Mass.

Willard, Henry K., 1333 K St., Washington, D. C. Willard, Mrs. Henry K., 1333 K St., Washington, D. C. Williams, Arthur, York St., Nantucket, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

77

Williams, Mary Francis (Mitchell), 1 Martins Lane, Nantucket, Mass.

Wilson, Mrs. Laura R., 5660 Darlington Road, Pittsburgh, Penn.

Wilson, Mrs. Mary A., Nantucket, Mass.

Wing, Clementina (Swain), 152 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Winslow, Addison T., Nantucket, Mass.

Winslow, Bessie (Chadwick), Nantucket, Mass.

Wood, Albert E., North Easton, Mass.

Wood, Annie (Carter), Pleasant St., Nantucket, Mass.

Wood, Dr. George C., Hanover, N. H. Wood, Nannie R., Pearl St., Nantucket, Mass.