Proceedings of the Nantucket Historical Association: Fifty-sixth Annual Meeting

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Annual Meeting of the Association

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Report of Committee on the Old Jail

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"Incidents in the Seafaring Careers of Capts. George F. and Peter F. Coffin"'—Coffin

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"A Letter from Nantucket in 1835"—Cushing

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"Captain Owen Spooner," with Portrait

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"William Mitchell of Nantucket"—Helen E. Wright

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"An Off-Islander's Impressions, 1781"—Henry Cadbury

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PROCEEDINGS OF THE

Nantucket Historical Association

Fifty-Sixth Annual Meeting

1949

Membership oooooo You are cordially invited to become a member of the NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. Our membership classes are: Life Membership, $15.00; Sustaining Mem­ bership, $5.00; Annual Membership, $1.00 annually. An initiation fee of $1.00 is charged for each new active membership.

THE NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION is an organization devoted to the preservation of the island's famed heritage—its illustrious past as a whaling port. Due to Nantucket's importance in American whaling its history is a vital chapter in the larger maritime hiistory of the world. There is no place in America quite like old Nantucket town —the birthplace of this nation's deep-sea whaling.

Your support of our Association enables us to preserve this great whaling tradition. It allows us to carry on the work of maintaining our exhibits —the Whaling Museum, the Fair Street Museum, the Oldest House, the Old Mill, and the Old Jail and House of Correction and Industry.

Send checks to Mrs. Elizabeth B. Worth, Treasurer, West Chester Street, Nantucket, Mass.

OFFICERS 1949-1950 oooooooo PRESIDENT

Edouard A. Stackpole VICE PRESIDENTS

Mrs. Walton H. Adams Dr. William E. Gardner Everett U. Crosby Bassett Jones Miss Grace Brown Gardner SECRETARY

Mrs. Oscar B. Eger TREASURER

Mrs. Elizabeth B. Worth AUDITORS

Miss Cora Stevens

Henry B. Coleman COUNCILLORS Term Expires

Burnham N. Dell Robert D. Congdon Mrs. Lewis S. Edgarton Howard C. Barber Albert E. Marshall John H. Robinson Miss Helen Winslow Howard U. Chase LIFE COUNCILLOR

Edward F. Sanderson

1950 1950 1951 1951 1952 1952 1953 1953

ANNUAL MEETING ooooo The fifty-sixth annual meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association was held on Tuesday afternoon, July 26, 1949, at the Friends Meeting House on Fair Street. All available seating accommodations were taken when the meeting opened shortly after 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon.

The presiding officer, Edouard A. Stackpole, welcomed the members and guests of the Association, and gave a short talk on the work which ha3 been accomplished during the year. He spoke of various repairs which have been found necessary, with satisfactory results, of the several outstanding features in the work and of the regular routine business at the various ex­ hibits.

The Oldest House has had its roof re-shingled, chimney and floors re­ inforced and new frames for its casement windows. The Old Mill has had a new cross-piece support for the vanes, one new vane and repairs to the other —all made necessary when the vanes were badly damaged by a heavy storm in the fall of 1948. The Whaling Museum has had a new window installed, one of the big main cross-beams spliced into the brick wall at the east end, and sections of the entrance hall and of the main hall floors replaced; new flooring in the entire south half of the "Archives;" and the library room en­ larged so that it now includes all the available space in the second-floor south end of the building—an excellent bit of renovation.

At the Fair Street rooms a new roof over the vestibule has finally ac­ complished the solution of the vexing problem of leaks in the northeast corner. The House of Correction building at the Old Jail exhibit has had considerable work in re-shingling, new windows installed, and supporting beams for the sagging floors and walls.

Deserving tribute for the several chairmen of the exhibits for their valuable work was paid by President Stackpole—to Dr. William E. Gardner, retiring this year as active chairman of the Whaling Museum; to Everett U. Crosby and Mrs. Nancy Adams, co-chairmen at Fair Street; to John H. Robinson, in charge of the Oldest House; to Burnham N. Dell, chairman of the Old Jail; and Robert Congdon, chairman of the Old Mill. **

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The report of the Secretary, Mrs. Oscar B. Eger, showed that the total membership of the Association was 613, with 485 of these annual members, 109 life members and 19 sustaining members.

The report of the Treasurer, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Worth, showed that the Association has received $6,325.95 from admissions and sales at its various exhibits, but that admission taxes of $1,207.10, with-held taxes of $148.40, attendants' salaries and maintenance totalling $3,843.88, and major repair to buildings of $2,714.47 have made the Association's finances a nip-and-tuck affair between debits and credits. *e{7}>

The chairman of the Nominating Committee, Mrs. Elkins Hutaff, read the committee's report, as follows: President—Edouard A. Stackpole.

Vice Presidents—Mrs. Walton H. Adams, Everett U. Crosby, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, Dr. William E. Gardner, Bassett Jones.

Secretary—Mrs. Oscar B. Eger.

Treasurer—Mrs. Elizabeth B. Worth.

Councillors (for three years)—Miss Helen Winslow, Howard U. Chase.

The Secretary was instructed, by vote of the meeting, to cast one ballot for the election of the officers named. The ballot was duly deposited and the officers were declared elected for 1949-1950. sflfF ** ** ** ** A number of accessions which have come to the Association during the year were mentioned by the presiding officer. Outstanding among these ac­ cessions was the collection of stereoscopic slides known as the Harry B. Turner Collection, which was willed to the Association by Mr. Turner, and presented by his widow, Mrs. Grace F. Turner, who was at the meeting. Pres­ ident Stackpole described the collection as an extraordinary one, represent­ ing a remarkable contribution to Nantucket history.

Tribute was paid to the memory of the late Charles Neal Barney. The presiding officer then called upon Miss Margaret Harwood, who told of the honor recently paid Mr. Barney by Tufts College in presenting him post­ humously the Ballou Medal. Mr. Barney was among other of his duties for years a trustee of that college. **

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The first of the afternoon's speakers—Dr. William E. Gardner—gave an all too brief account of his efforts to humanize local history. That his efforts have been eminently successful has been amply proven through the his two books "Three Bricks and Three Brothers"—the story of Joseph Starbuck and his three sons—and his recently published volume, "The Coffin Saga"—a vivid account of the life of Benjamin Coffin, his son Micajah, his son Zenas and his sons, Charles and Henry Coffin. Dr. Gardner declared that he found his research for his books so "fascinating that I come to feel that I know the characters intimately as living people." **

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The second of the afternoon's speakers was Miss Helen Wright, author of one of the year's outstanding biographies—the life of Nantucket's own Maria Mitchell—entitled "Sweeper in The Sky," published in February by McMillan Co., of New York..

Miss Wright read a paper on William Mitchell, the illustrious father of Maria. Mr. Mitchell was an islander who became one of the most distinguish­ ed men of his times. Born a member of the Society of Friends, and through­ out his life exemplified the qualities of that faith, William Mitchell may justly be called a great man. As a teacher he inspired not only his daughter Maria to become a famous astronomer, but also his son Henry to become an •<6(8^

outstanding scientist. Besides being a surveyor of note, a leading astronomer and teacher, Mr. Mitchell was for many years the Cashier of the Pacific Bank and a valued trustee of the Atheneum—as well as the father of a large family. As Miss Wright aptly put it, "one wonders how he ever found time to sleep."

At the conclusion of the meeting, both Miss Wright and Dr. Gardner were surrounded by congratulatory groups who took advantage of the opportunity to express their personal pleasure in having enjoyed the books and the authors in equal measure.

Adjournment came shortly before 5:00 p. m.

Secretary's Report oooooo Mr. President, Members and Friends of the Historical Association: Each year that brings us together in this Old Quaker Meeting House, so full of memories and pleasant associations, is more welcome.

As an association grows older and annual reports multiply, the report of routine business may seem to be the same from year to year, but in reality it is not. Each year brings its peculiar problems and calls forth in its own way special enthusiasm and attention from members, far and near, islanders and off-islanders alike.

The Council during the past year has held the usual meetings for routine business, which have all been well attended, with interest in them never lacking. Regular stated meetings were held the third Tuesday in each month; namely, Sept. 22, Oct. 26, Nov. 16, Dec. 21, 1948, and January 18, Feb. 15, Mar. 19, April 26, May 24, and June 21, 1949. All necessary business was transacted in proper order. With your permission I will dispense with the details concerning the business of the year.

We still continue our membership in the Bay State League, which keeps us in touch with various efforts similar to our own.

Our membership stands thus at the close of our fiscal year, May 31, 1949: Life Members—109; Sustaining Members—19; Annual Members—485; Total—613.

In connection with the above, let me add, as usual, that it would be a a great convenience to your Treasurer and Secretary to be informed promptly of any change in the address of members.

My report for 1949 differs very little from my previous ones since 1930, excepting to express a desire for increased zeal and enthusiasm of degree— not of kind—in the work of our Association. Whatever the merits of Nan­ tucket history may be in years to come, the fact of our present standing for accuracy and high purpose in historical research, we hope is recognized of great importance.

Respectfully submitted, CATHERINE RAY EGER,

SECRETARY.

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Report of Committee on the Old Jail. oooo SUMMER—1949 The Old Jail was open to the public from June 30th to September 6th, Labor Day. The hours were from 10 to 12 and 1 to 4 on week days and 1 to 4 on Sundays. Owing to the fact that the custodian preferred to take his lunch with him to work, the week day hours were actually from 10 to 4.

For the 68 days the building was open, the total attendance was 1,128, or an average of 16.6 persons per day—the attendance in July was 493, in August 655, and for the five days of September, 80. The highest daily at­ tendance of 64 persons occurred on Tuesday, August 2nd. The Sunday after­ noon attendance totalled only 56 for the season. The largest attendance for Sunday was 16 on July 17, and on two successive Sundays, July 24 and 31, there were no visitors. The average Sunday attendance was 5.6 persons.

The price of admission was $.30 cents, as in previous years. In addition to admission, 10 of the booklets on the Old Jail were sold at .35 cents each, and one membership at $2.00.

The custodian, Mr. Walter B. Lombard, rendered excellent service. Not only was he regular in his attendance, but he familiarized himself with the history of the building, and personally conducted visitors in the inspection of the premises, pointing out matters of interest in the construction and uses of the Jail. Mr. Lombard, for reasons easily understandable, was re­ luctant to give his Sundays to this work. With the permission of the Chair­ man, he employed and paid Ray Eger for the Sunday hours, and the latter performed this service satisfactorily. It was the decision of the Committee, taking into consideration the character of Mr. Lombard's service, to reim­ burse him for his expense in this connection, in the amount of $14.40.

Other expenses in the course of the summer included the cutting of the grass and the trimming of the shrubbery, and the repair of a padlock on one of the doors of the House of Correction.

The Chairman will discuss with the Council the policy to be adopted next year with respect to the Sunday hours in view of the small attendance referred to above. He will also take up several matters involving further repairs and improvements. The financial statement will be submitted to the Council as part of the report of the Treasurer.

Respectfully submitted, BURNHAM N. DELL, Chairman, HOWARD C. BARBER, EDOUARD STACKPOLE,

Committee.

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Treasurer s Report JULY 1, 1948—MAY 31, 1949

oooooc RECEIPTS Cash Balance, July 1, 1948 Annual Memberships Life Memberships Donations Interest and Dividends Museum Accounts: Admissions and Sales Fair Street Whaling Museum Oldest House Old Mill Old Jail Admission Taxes Withheld Taxes Insurance—wind damage Transfers from Nantucket Institution for Savings: Oldest House Fund General Account

*1,598.18 309.00 120.00 42.00 128.75 946.60 3,832.85 1,069.75 213.50 263.25 $6,325.95 1,207.10 141.00 487.56 520.59 700.00 $1,220.59 $11,580.13

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DISBURSEMENTS General Account—Salaries Hostage, printing, supplies

450.00 919.07 $1,369.07

Museum Accounts—Attendants and Maintenance: Fair Street Whaling Museum Oldest House Old Mill Old Jail

831.27 1,909.03 426.28 379.46 297.95 $3,843.99 1,268.80

Admission Taxes Withheld Taxes Insurance Transfers to Nantucket Institution for Savings: Life Memberships General Account

120.00 1,000.00

Major repairs to buildings: Oldest House Whaling Museum House of Correction Old Mill

1,507.21 718.95 431.06 57.25

148.40 449.30

$1,120.00

$2,714.47 666.10

Cash Balance, May 31, 1949

$11,580.13 ASSETS Land and Buildings Collections in all Museums Trust Accounts, Nantucket Institution for Savings: Stocks and Bonds Cash on hand

$31,500.00 10,000.00

16,470.64 5,307.50 666-10

Respectfully submitted, ELIZABETH B. WORTH, Treasurer.

Audited by: Henry B. Coleman, Cora Stevens

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Incidents in the Seafaring Careers of Capts. George F. and Peter F. Coffin. oooooooo The following manuscript account of the lives of Capt. Henry F. Coffin and his son Peter F. Coffin was recorded by Capt. Coffin's younger son, John B. Coffin, brother of Peter F. Coffin, and was prepared for the information and enjoyment of his family. It was presented to the Nantucket Historical Association by Miss Adelaide B. Coffin and Mrs. Mildred C. Edgarton, daughters of John B. Coffin.

Possibly members of my family may be more or less interested in my relating some of the incidents of the seafaring life of my father, Henry F. Coffin, as he told me. Assuming that they would be, I shall jot down some of them which stand out in my memory, as nearly as I can recall hearing them.

Father was born in Nantucket, Mass., August 9, 1813. He inherited —as did most of the boys of that time—and later developed a love for the sea. At that time Nantucket was at its peak as a whaling port, and the ships that were built there went to the various oceans after whales. Whales were plentiful in the South Atlantic, but the hunt for them soon extended around Cape Horn into the Pacific Ocean, which eventually became the most fre­ quented by the whalers.

Father, at the age of 13 years, much against the wishes of his parents and grandfather Joshua, (who owned and lived at our house at 52 Centre street and had father especially under his care) shipped as a cabin boy aboard the ship Ploughboy for a five-year voyage. I suppose few other boys of his age had a more varied and strenuous time during his first sea experience than did father.

First, let me note, that being ambitious to get an education, especially being so young when he shipped for the voyage, he used to tell how, when his duties permitted, he would read the books the Captain let him have, and also other books he took with him from school. He studied hard, many times by the dim light from the sperm oil lamp, so that he was able to educate him­ self from not only school books but from navigational books loaned by Capt.

Baxter, who took a kindly interest in him and helped him very much.

On this voyage, somewhere in its early months, an incident occurred which we children never grew tired of hearing. Whales had been sighted by the look-out in the cross-trees, the whaleboats had been lowered, each in charge of an officer, and the chase had begun. The sea was fairly smooth and the boats went after the whales. The ship was in charge of only two or three of the crew, generally the cooper, the cook, and one other, as it "lay to." As so often happened, the chase led the boats two or more miles from the ship. Toward late afternoon, the boat father was in, under command of the first mate, had come up to and harpooned a particularly ugly whale.

After the iron had been in the whale some time and the boat had been towed at a furious pace, the line slackened and the whale dove out of sight.

The mate stood at the bow, lance in hand, ready, when the whale was near enough, to plunge it into him. No whale appeared for a few moments, when suddenly up it came, spouting or "blowing" water. So close was he to the boat that the mate hardly had time to give orders to back water when, with a rush, the whale came at the boat, with mouth open. He struck the boat, almost crushing it, while the crew jumped overboard for their lives.

Father was hit in the calf of the leg by a splinter of wood as he jumped, and a deep gash was made, although he was unaware of it during the excite­ ment. The mate grabbed an oar and he and father held onto it, as the other members of the crew tried to find some piece of wood to help them. By that time it was almost dark; the other three boats had returned to the ship, which "hove around" and headed in the direction in which it was supposed the mate's boat had gone.

Night came on, dark but with a clear sky, and all the while the mate and father hung onto the oar and swam slowly. Later in the night, they saw the lights of the ship near them, and swam toward her. The look-out finally heard their calls and the ship bore down to them. So near did it come, that father and the mate had to dive under the ship to avoid being hit, and as they came up astern they were seen and a boat was lowered and put out to save them. To his death, many years later, father carried the scar on his leg of that adventure. Finally, if I remember correctly, the ship returned with a full cargo of oil at the end of three years.

• * * * * * * * After a short stay at home in Nantucket, father again shipped for another voyage around the Horn, into the Pacific Ocean on, I believe, the ship Columbus. It was on this voyage that another rather exciting incident occurred. In those days it was necessary for ships' to "touch at" some of the various islands or coast ports to get fresh water and food. The usual ship's supply of food consisted of "hard-tack"—crackers baked very hard and packed in barrels—and salt meat, or "horse" as it was called, and in order to prevent an outbreak of scurvy, caused by too much salt provisions, it was necessary to get fresh provisions, particularly fruits.

On this voyage, the ship was cruising near the Sandwich Islands, now the Hawaiian Islands. The ship dropped anchor close to one of these islands, and two boat crews were sent ashore to see what could be found. Father was on one of the boats which landed, and fresh fruits—bananas, yams, etc.

—were found. During the trip ashore, a large number of natives, "Kanakas," so-called, had gathered on the shore but had not shown any hostility. It was known that they were a cannibal tribe, and close watch was kept by the boat crews, as well as from the ship. Just as the crews were about to "shove off," a rush was made towards them. The majority got to the boats, but two or three, including father, were caught. He and the others were tied with strips of cocoanut bark, and a "Council of War" was held by the cannibals. Evidently it was decided, from preparations made, that they were

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to be killed. Stones were brought and pits were dug for the "roasting feast."

We can hardly imagine the feelings that father and the others must have had.

Father finally succeeded in getting one of the "Blacks" to untie him (using his pocket knife for a bribe) and, once free, father quickly cut the cords of the other two with his sheath knife. They made a quick run to the beach where the boats were nearby, and at the same time, the Captain on the ship fired into the group of "Kanakas" with a shot-gun. The men in the boats pulled close to the shore and father and his associates swam out and thus were saved. A pretty narrow escape—the present day travellers to Hono­ lulu and Hawaii can hardly realize that such adventures could have hap­ pened.

Between the ages of 21 and 25, father entered the merchant service.

Having qualified as a Master Mariner, he took his first command at the age of about 25j years. I do not recall the name of his first vessel. It may have been the Indiana or the Silas Holmes, in both of which he had an interest as part owner and commanded for many years. And now, without attempt at chronological order, I can only refer to scattered events which took place in the merchant service. *

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On one of the voyages returning home from a European trip, as the ship approached the South Shoals Lightship, to the east and south of Nan­ tucket, now as then, the lightship stationed farthest from land, the signal of distress was sighted, the American flag flying upside down in the "after stays." Father bore down to within hailing distance, and learned that the ship was short of provisions. Right here let me say that, in those years, 1850 to 1860, and even as late as 1870, there were no regular tenders for lightships or lighthouses, just occasional ones; so supplies would sometimes run low and they would have to depend largely on help from passing vessels, as m this case. Father sent a liberal supply of food to last until he could report the case on his arrival at New York. The captain of the lightship was very! grateful, and he made father accept a gift of a nest of baskets made by the crew.

The modern lightship baskets are somewhat dissimilar to the originals, and the government no longer allows their making, I am told. Of the original set, the largest one is m our home in Rochester, the next size smaller at the Nantucket house, a still smaller one is sometimes used by mother on her trips to the stores in Nantucket. I think some smaller ones were given away.

Just how long the baskets had been made before given to father I do not know, but father got them in about 1856.

Another incident occurred when again nearing our coasts. A vessel was sighted m distress and, upon bearing down to her, it was found that she was about to be abandoned as a wreck. However, all hands were rescued, and the grateful captain gave father his American flag and ship's clock which he had saved. For years the clock was in the kitchen in Nantucket, but probably because it was too old to repair, discarded. The flag was afterward taken by

father on the vessel he was assigned to at the outbreak of the Civil War. It was flown from the "mizzen yard" daily, while he was aboard as Acting Master (Executive Officer). I have the old flag here and it has been used by me when a flag was needed to celebrate one of our national holidays, until I had a gift from mother of a new flag.

Before I forget one item: Father was homeward bound from a whaling voyage as a passenger on another whaleship. I do not recall the reason for his leaving his own ship. As the ship he was on approached the New Jersey coast in a storm, it was wrecked, and all hands were thrown on the shore by the surf and saved. *

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Another incident: My mother, as did wives of other captains, took occasional voyages with my father. My sister made one trip to New Orleans.

My mother would leave my sister, Aunt Lizzie, and me at Nantucket, board­ ing generally with Aunt Sarah Gardner, Cousin Judith's mother, at what was later called "Ivy Lodge." On one or two occasions, we lived with my sister-in-law, widow of my half-brother, Peter F. Coffin, and grandmother of Mary Defriez Strong.

It was while we were there that mother was with father on the ship Indiafna from New York to New Orleans. On the return voyage, the ship ran into several gales in the Gulf of Mexico, andi was driven far off her course to the Caribbean Sea. After a time, provisions ran low as well as fresh water. They were off the sea lanes, partially dismasted, and but for good seamanship would no doubt have become a wreck. Finally they were reduced to a half biscuit a day, the fresh water was all gone except for that caught from an occasional shower. Water from the bridge of the ship, boiled and as much as possible freed from objectional matter, was used to drink. The one remaining mast had "gone by the board" in a gale, but a "jury mast," a small spar with a small piece of sail, was used to keep the ship in steerage way.

By dead reckoning, my father concluded that they were nearing the West Indies. One day they saw the smoke of a small tugboat, and they were seen; and the tugboat bore down to them, took them in tow, and brought them into the harbor of St. Thomas. From there they sent mail, or possibly a telegram, to us at Nantucket, saying they were safe. The ship was re-fitted at St. Thomas, and finally reached New York, nearly three months overdue. Hope for the ship had long since been given up, and I tell you, no two children were ever more happy than when our mother and, later, father, reached home. This was the last voyage mother took with father. * * * * * * * • Father's vessels were part of what was called the "Red Ball Line" of packets, built with staterooms and accommodations for about 30 passengers.

The old style paneling of the cabins of the old clipper ships was of the same splendid pattern as shown in our house and in other houses at Nan­ tucket.

On one trip from New York to New Orleans, when mother was along, 4 lib

they nearly had serious trouble off the Florida coast, One night, one of the crew came aft and asked to see the Captain. When my father saw him, the man told of a conspiracy on the part of one particular member of the crew who sought to stir up trouble. The man who was telling of the plan stated that at a certain hour the next evening those of the crew in on the plot were to rush aft, kill the officers, and take possession of the ship.

Then they planned to get as much loot as possible, get close to land, and es­ cape in the small boats.

Father called his two mates; they heard the plan detailed. Then the next day, after arranging all details, the first mate was to go forward, call all hands not then on duty, such as helmsman, cook and look-out, to go aft. He did this, and father stood with the second mate, while mother was anxiously awaiting in the cabin. The crew filed aft; then, as previously planned, the mate seized the ringleader who attempted to draw a knife but was knocked down by the mate. The second mate put the hand-cuffs (I now have them) on the fellow, and father drew his revolver (the one in my room on the wall.) Father, then addressing the other men, said for all those who were not in the plot to come to one side. All but one quickly stepped forward.

The other was also put in irons.

After a plain talk with the crew, they were sent forward again. The ship's course was altered so as to bring her to Key West, Florida, which was seen later in the day. A flag was put upside down in the after shrouds and a boat put out from the wharf. Father asked for officers to come and take the two mutineers ashore. Later they were sent to prison on a charge of mutiny on the high seas. Otherwise this trip was uneventful. *

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At the outbreak of the Civil War, father had just arrived in New York from a voyage. As soon as he could, he lay up the ship. Both he and my halfbrother, Peter, who was first mate with my father, went over to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and each enlisted. Father was commissioned an Acting Master (Executive Officer) and ordered to the small bark Roebuck, attached to the North Atlantic Squadron for blockade duty.

He was anchored beyond the outer bar off Charleston, South Carolina, where that small vessel, with two and sometimes three anchors down, rode out the storms of the winter of 1861. Such a task had been thought impossible before, because of the dangerous locality, exposed to the gales and sea from the Cape Hatteras region. I have often heard him tell of seeing the large men-of-war frigates hurry to the shelter of the breakwater in stormy weather while the little bark, with her volunteer crew of about sixty men all told,, had to keep her anchorage. More than once it seemed to all on board that she would founder.

On board were several Nantucket men, one a Mr. Folger, second officer in rank to father. During the chase of a vessel trying to escape the blockade, Mr. Folger was shot in the leg, and because of an inexperienced young doctor on the Roebuck, who amputated the leg, Mr. Folger died. Father, on leave of absence, brought the remains to Nantucket. Mr. Folger was one of the early 4 18

victims of the war from Nantucket.

In 1862, father was transferred with rank of pilot, to the steamer, Neptune, engaged as a transport in carrying troops and supplies to General Butler, then at New Orleans. Before the war, father in his frequent trips to New Orleans and South America had made especial study of the various channels in and around the Florida reefs, and found certain places where by using these channels would shorten the trip. It was because of this knowledge that he was detached from the Roebuck to pilot duty on the Nep­ tune. After making, if I recall correctly, two trips, he was detached from the Neptune and ordered for duty on another steamer. This was the Santee, and he was once again Acting Master.

While on this ship, he contracted the dreaded "ship's fever," thought by some to have been what we call yellow fever. He was taken to the U. S. Hospital at Key West, Florida, and after being there for several weeks was invalided home to Nantucket on sick leave. He was finally discharged from the service as "sick," after being on active duty for nearly three years.

I well remember, although only 5 or 6 years old, the great enjoyment I had when father was granted a leave of absence to come home. I was on the wharf to meet him, and he let me carry his sword up the street. And the same was true when my brother, who had similar rank in the South Atlantic Squadron, came home. The sword that he let me carry is now owned by his granddaughter, Mary DeFriez Strong. *

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After the war was over, father again took up his merchant voyages, the one previously referred to in the case of the mutiny and the one on which my mother sailed when they were nearly lost in the Caribbean. It was after the war, when father arrived in New York from a trip, that he was stopping with his sister in Brooklyn. One summer Sunday, as he sat reading, an ex­ plosion occurred in the basement of the house. The maid had put kerosene on the fire to hurry it along, and she came screaming out into the hallway, en­ veloped in flames. Father had rushed out by this time and, being in his shirt sleeves, had his clothes ignited by the maid as she dashed by him. He rushed after the girl, kicked open a locked door, grabbed a piece of carpet, and tried to beat out the flames. Meanwhile, neighbors came to the rescue of both and finally put out the fire. But the poor girl died on the way to the hospital.

Father was terribly burned about the chest and arms, and had he inhaled the fumes, would undoubtedly have died. Mother was sent for, and for weeks father lay in the hospital before he could be moved. Finally he was brought to Nantucket by members of his Masonic Lodge on a stretcher. It was a long time before the burns finally healed. *

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One thing particularly impressed me: On his left arm he had the most perfectly executed pictures, tattooed in colored ink; one was a mermaid and the other the American flag in beautiful colors. The fire burned out nearly all of the flag and left only the the tail of mermaid showing on the arm. Deep scars were there as well as on his chest, and his left hand was badly burned.

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The burns were not entirely healed when he left to take charge of the brig Willidm, bound for New Orleans and points in Florida.

In going aboard the vessel at New York, his arm still in a sling, he slipped and, in falling, struck the hand and the arm. But he was full of grit and would not give up to it. The voyage was made to New Orleans, but while there, after treatment from a good surgeon, it seemed wise to have part of the hand removed. In a few weeks he brought the brig to Pensacola, Florida, and there, after a survey of the vessel had been made, she was condemned as old and unseaworthy. On orders from the owners at New York, father came home to Nantucket for a few days. He soon returned to New York and after a while arranged to sell our house at the corner of Centre Street and Academy Lane. He moved the family to Brooklyn, and, in Novem­ ber, 1872, we went there to live. I was then 13 years old.

Father never again followed the sea. He lived some years later, and Anally on a visit to us at Rochester died at our home, having been stricken with apoplexy the night he reached the house. His life was rounded out at 76 years, full of stirring events.

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It is a pleasure for me to record that, as a father, he was stern but kind, a Christian gentleman, who lived as his Master would have wanted.

The same sterling traits of character marked his life at sea. One thing right here: Whenever the weather permitted on Sundays, the ship was "hove to," and father had all hands aft where he conducted a religious service, Bible reading and prayer. Do you wonder that, with such a man—a strict yet just disciplinarian—a crew would re-ship voyage after voyage with him? In cases of illness, he was as tender as a women with the sick sailors. If a tooth ached —out it came—as he always had his dental instruments. One time a man hurt his leg badly. Father saw the need for a surgeon, and fortunately a day or two later, they "fell in" with a British man-of-war who answered the signals set for help. The surgeon came aboard, and amputation of the poor fellow's leg was made, father assisting in the operation. Only one of the various experiences that was liable to happen to any captain.

My wish is that I may be as loyal, as true and tried, as my father. He was a member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M., Nantucket. Both he and mother were members of the Congregational Church at Nantucket. *

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It may be of interest to know also of my brother (half brother), Peter F. Coffin, grandfather of Mary DeFriez Strong. He, too, had the call of the sea, and at about the age of 16 years, went to sea. I do not recall the name of the first vessel or captain, but he was later the first mate with father. Right here let me say that, in order to preserve discipline aboard the ship, when father and his son were aboard, never at least in the hearing of the crew were the names "Father" or "son" used. Nor was my brother's first name used. It was always "Captain" or "Mr." when they addressed each other.

I have referred in my account of my father to Peter being his first mate at the outbreak of the Civil War. Peter enlisted in the Brooklyn Navy Ǥ(20 ^

Yard, and was assigned to the bark Gemsbok, first as Ensign and later as Acting Master, in the South Atlantic Squadron under Admiral Goldsborough.

Later he was transferred to command the small steamer Rasalie, used, be­ cause of her light draught, to patrol the bayous or inlets dotting the South Atlantic coast line. In one of the expeditions he was in a cutter, pulling up one of the small streams, when a rebel battery which was concealed on the shore, opened fire on the boat, killing and wounding some of the men. The tip of my brother's nose was hit, as he afterwards said, the closest call he ever had to losing his head. Another time, the Rosalie was cruising along the Florida coast when the Alabama, the hated rebel vessel, was running the blockade.

He served until the close of the war, and then, having also contracted "ship's fever," and under the advice of our family doctor, decided to take a long sea voyage. Believing the change in climate would benefit him, he shipped as first mate with Capt. Charles Bunker (a former Nantucket man) of Brooklyn, for a voyage to South America. But he became more ill soon after leaving New York, and finally on approaching the Brazilian coast, he died. Peter was buried in a small tomb, erected on the island of Maranham.

He was only 28 years of age, and left a small daughter, Mary Foster Coffin (mother of Mary DeFriez Strong) and his wife, who remained a widow for many years.

Peter F. Coffin was always of a genial, happy temperament, beloved and respected by all who knew him. As a boy, I always looked forward to his home-coming, especially when, on leave of absence from the Navy, he would let me carry his sword', now owned by Mrs. Strong. Peter was also a member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M., at Nantucket.

4 21&

A Letter From Nantucket in 1835. oooooo Through the interest and thoughtfulness of Miss Margaret Roys, now a resident of Woodbury, Connecticut, the Association has received an old letter, written from Nantucket in 1835 by her grandmother, Mary Cushing Edes, addressed to Miss Charlotte C. Cushing, her sister, in Dorchester, Mass. The letter was written when Mary Cushing was the fiancee of the Rev. Richard Sullivan Edes, when the young engaged couple were visiting the prospective groom's brother, Rev. Henry Francis Edes, at that time minister of the Unitarian Church in Nantucket.

Mary Cushing, the writer of the letter, was born and lived as a girl in Hingham, Mass. She was not quite twenty-one years of age at the time the letter was written, so her amusement at being included among the older married women must have been considerable. Miss Roys writes concerning her grandmother: "My mother often told about the entertainment my grandmother used to get when she was in Nantucket with my parents and me more than fifty years later, when my mother reported on the lively and interesting parties she and my father attended while grandmother 'baby sat' with me." ** ** ** ** ** Grandmother Mary Cushing Edes' letter is as follows: Nantucket, Monday, April 6, 1835.

My Dear Charlotte: I happen to have so good an opportunity to write this afternoon, that I think I cannot do better than begin a letter to you. I was very glad to re­ ceive your letter, it was almost unexpected. I did not think you would trouble yourself to write so soon, because you folks at home never seem to think anybody can care whether they receive letters one week or the next I feel at a great distance from home in this land of strangers & you can't think how pleasant it is to see anyone who knows of my friends and acquaint­ ances.

First I will try to give you a general idea of the place. You never saw anything like it. The town is very thickly settled. The streets run in every direction and the houses are set any way. The houses are mostly of wood, tho' there are a few brick ones some of which are very handsome tho' that is not the general appearance of the place. The streets are generally very sandy, very much like that sand place round Cobb's in Hingham. Do you recollect that? When I go to walk I return with my shoes full of dirt. Some of the streets have sidewalks. I believe they intend to have them paved at some time or other, which will be a very great improvement.

By going but a short distance from here we are taken quite out of town to what are called the plains consisting of a great extent of barren country without trees or shrubs, divided into sheep pastures with sheep scattered over them.

To give you some idea of the people I think the best way will be to give you a sort of journal of the time I have passed—On Friday evening, you know, I had just returned from a phren'l lecture. On Saturday morning, a Mrs. Barrett called on me, a lady of forty at least I should suppose; towards night Mrs. Mitchell (mother of Miss M. who is in Boston) & her sister Miss Susan Lincoln called. By the way I find Mrs. M. used to go to school in Hing­ ham. She was a friend of cousin Susan Thaxter's, her name was Frances 22 }§=-

Lincoln. Her father was minister in Falmouth, now lives here. She knew Uncle Tom—thinks she recollects Ma's looks.

Sunday was rather a cloudy unpleasant day. Mrs. Edes had so bad a headache she could not go out, so I went without her. I think Richard's manner has improved very much since I last heard him. Sunday night we had a violent storm & Monday it also stormed. I forgot to say on Sunday evening before dark Mr. and Mrs. Hewes called. They are Beverly people, relations of Mrs. Love & know the Abbots. On Tuesday evening we were going with them to the Phrenological Society, for Phren'l is all the rage here, but the evening being rainy, Mr. H. called to say that he thought there would not be a meeting.

On Wednesday morning Mr. Nath'l Barney, a real Quaker, called to rep, resent his wife he said & invite us that evening to tea with a party of thirty or so, which invitation we accepted. In the afternoon Mrs. E. went with me to return the calls I owed. Mrs. Barrett was out but Mrs. Mitchell & Mrs. Hewes we found at home. While we were out, Mrs. Dr. Fearing and Miss F. Mrs. Cartwright, Miss Jones & Mrs. Burn: li called. Miss Jones invited us to a large party the next evening & we engaged to take tea socially on Friday with Mrs. Mitchell.

In the evening we went to Mrs. Barney's. There was but one single lady in the room beside myself & one single gentleman beside R. I think it is very funny I should be so completely put in with the old married ladies.

The houses are furnished very handsomely & in very fine taste. The ladies dress extremely well, quite in keeping with their houses. Tuesday eve I passed quite a pleasant evening considering they were all strangers. The next forenoon Richard & I walked to what is called the Cliff-—went down to the beach where we walked some distance. There are no rocks or stones as at Aunt Otis' neither is it hard as at Nantasket but sufficiently hard to be pleasant to walk on. While we were gone a Mrs. Brayton called.

At about half past 8 we went to the party. I am very sorry I did not take a white dress for I dare say I shall have to go to some more & I don t like to appear in black. There was a very large party. We staid about two hours and I stood all the time. I was introduced to a number of people but to only one young lady beside Miss Jones. The rooms were full, two rooms with folding doors & another parlor. The large rooms I believe were prin­ cipally occupied with young people. I was in the other room & passed a ve^y pleasant evening. The son Mr. L'an'l Jones is a Cambridge student. He told me that James Hodge left college two or three weeks before the expiration of the term for what reason he did not know Friday afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Edes, little H., Richard and myself took an expedition to the south shore of the island, 2 or 2 1-2 miles distant, a la Nantucket, that is to say in a calach or cart & such a jolting you never knew.

I stood up returning. It seemed very queer to me as you may suppose to be riding in a cart but it is very common here. I should think it was good tun once in a while but I should not care to take such exercise often. There is a very fine view of the ocean but the wind being east there was not much surf. While we were gone Mrs. Upton and Mrs. Mary Mitchell called, had a pleasant visit at Mrs. Mitchell's. I did not expect to see anyone else but found there Mrs. and Miss Fearing, Mrs. Mary Mitchell, Mrs. Brayton and two or three gentlemen.

On Saturday I staid at home all day. Just after tea, Mr. and Mrs. R. & I took a short walk—Richard was out. On Sunday I went to meeting in the morning. In the afternoon I staid at home with little Harry as 1 wanted Maria to hear Richard' all day. After tea Mr. and Mrs. James Mitchell and her sister Miss Clasby called. People have been very much pleased with Richard's sermons. Mr. and Mrs. Burneil passed part of the evening here.

Yesterday I staid at home all day till after ten when R & I sallied forth to make some calls accompanied by Mr. E. as guide & introducer. We Went 4 23^

first to Mr. Upton's where we stopped but a little while & from there to Dr. Fearing's where Mr. E. left us as he had an engagement. When he had gone we went upstairs to see a collection of shells belonging to Mr. Lincoln (Mrs. F.'s father) & there we staid more than an hour when we thought it too late to go anywhere else. It is a most beautiful collection & I was most highly entertained. The Dr. and Mrs. F. are very pleasant people.

Today I have hardly been in the house till since tea. In the first place I wanted very much to walk to the south shore & R. said he would like noth­ ing better so off we set about nine o'clock to walk two miles & a half over sheep pastures but we were fully recompensed for our walk. Ah! how you all would have enjoyed the splendid sight. The wind was S. W. & there was a very fine surf. It was a truly sublime spectacle. As far as the eye could reach to the right and left we could see the waves breaking and foaming & before us the boundless ocean. We sat down on the beach some time enjoy­ ing the sea air & with the spray sprinkling our faces. It was too windy to walk much on the beach.

We got home before twelve somewhat tired but found Mr. Upton had been to invite us to go to Siasconsett & said that the chaise would be here for R & me at 1-2 past one—Mr. and Mrs. Upton going in another chaise.

Accordingly at 1-2 past one we set out for a ride over the wide plain. Sia­ sconsett is about 7 or 7 1-2 miles from here & is the summer residence of many of the Nantucket people, that is they go there for 6 or 8 weeks in the warmest part of the weather. It is a most singular place, was once a fishing village. There are some very pretty cottages on the hill just before you get to the thickest part of the town but the village itself consists of a number of small houses—200 I should think—almost huts situated very near each other on the brow of the hill close to the water. There we had another magnificent view of the broad Atlantic. There was not so much surf as at the south shore but we were so situated that we could see more of the ocean. We went to Mr. U.'s house where he quickly lighted a fire & we had some cake & wine. We called upon one lady who was also paying a Visit of a few hours in her summer abode. We got home a little before 5, rather tired. We had engaged to go to a Phren'l society this evening but I was too tired & stupid so the gentlemen have gone without us. R. just came in from there to get two skulls (which he found Saturday forenoon in exhuming from the Indian burying place) to carry back. He says there is a packet to go to Boston on Thursday, which he shall take instead of the boat tomorrow so that I shall be able to write more tomorrow—for the present I will say goodnight.

Thursday morn—I have not any more adventures to add excepting that yesterday afternoon I went up into the tower of the meeting house where there is a fine view of the town & a great part of the island & the sur­ rounding ocaen. Last evening Mrs. Hewes called & invited us to a party at her house next Monday evening. This is the most famous party-going place I ever knew! There are often four or 5 parties in succession at the same place for the different ages. I have said nothing of the family yet. I am enjoying myself very much. Mrs. E. is a most lovely character. Little H. W. is a most cunning little creature. I think he is prettier than last summer. We are reading Mrs. More's memoirs, that is I am reading them aloud.

We shall probably go home the last week in April or the first in May. We now think of making the voyage in a packet. I shall like the way Very much. I suppose you won't think it worth while to write to me when R. is in D. as I shall hear from him but should he go away do write. Best love to all the family & all enquiring friends. Have you heard anything from Ann H. Yrs. affectionately, Mary C—.

[Penciled postcript] Thursday—We are invited to another party tomor­ row, a very small one, however. What shall I do for dresses?

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BILL OF FARE ON SHIP WM. HENRY.

YEAR 1791.

15 Men ) 13 Women >• Full allowance 30 2 Youths above 10 ) 13 Children under 10—at half ditto, 6 1 -2 43 Souls

36 1 -2 full rations

to tO ffl* </J ^ 03 &-0 •a s« a S5*"° >>J2 03 cfl cB CO to "73 ^3 "V V. 1> -rlU \-<L) -OCB ~V. TJ ~U •73 1)u. -Q«4f .1 V vO ovO <5 CO Q. ?, 6 CO go -a CO 8 8- 8g CN «-n a. CN w O. !B Q. CN TJ CN C w. . v .S -a c O A § § 03 3 8=2 03 _Q Wa o <0 N

® > -o fc

g. ~0

« O o CX CQ a d.

CO

8 g.

03

lbs. lbs.

lbs. lbs. lbs.

a,-2 CN W) o S3 a3 i c/}<N DU2 o — CN 2- cu

1120 832 1120 2150 1061 980 133 320 570

gal. Bush Bush 15 32 \2\

WEEKLY BILL OF FARE. Breakfast Indian Meal with molasses every day so long as it lasts.

Afterwards Rice with sugar.

Supper Dinner Sunday, Pork with Pease Indian Meal Monday, Fish with Potatoes & Butter with molasses Tuesday, Beef, with Bread &c. every day so long Wednesday, Fish with Potatoes & Butter as it lasts.

Thursday, Beef with Bread &c.

Afterwards Rice Friday, Fish with Potatoes & Butter with sugar Saturday, Fish with do do

Rum, 20 1 -2 Gallons, Being 42 days allowance at half a gill per day for each person above 10 years.

None to be used for the first 21 days, unless for medicine.

Wine. 10 Galls, for medicine to the sick.

Vinegar. 32 Galls, for washing and cleaning between decks, to be used as occasion may require.

Bohea Tea. 3 pounds, for the Sick only.

Windsails. One to be landed at Sierra Leone.

Tobacco Stems. 70 pounds for Fumigations, twice a week after getting into Warm Weather.

The above Regulations not to be dispensed with.

M. Wallace, Agent.

Capt. Owen Spooner.

The excellent painting of Capt. Owen Spooner which is reproduced here is from a larger canvas now owned by Miss Grace Brown Gardner which hangs in her home on Milk Street. It was painted nearly seventy years ago by the Nantucket artist James Walter Folger and depicts the mariner in his declining years, posed with a log-slate on one knee and a sextant on the other, with the open Bowditch tables no doubt, on the floor, beside him.

To Captain Owen Spooner of Nantucket should go the honor of first working out the method of determining a ship's longitude called "sunset longitude. There are doubtless many who have read that several promi­ nent naval figures claim to have been the discoverers of this method, in­ cluding a British admiral. But the facts are these: During a voyage in the ship Atlantic, Capt. Hoeg, on December 16th, 1840, Owen Spooner, as the first mate was one of the group of officers engaged in determining the ship's: longitude. They were then in the Pacific Ocean, in latitude 4° 18" South.

Owen Spooner had been working on an idea for some time—a method he called "Sunset Longitude." On this particular afternoon, Capt. Hoeg remarked: "Note the time by the chronometer, Owen, and let's see what you can determine with that idea of yours." At first the two mates worked with him but, at length, with Capt. Hoeg, they gave it up as a delusion. But Owen Spooner persisted and two hours later obtained the correct longitude 116° West—which corresponded with that calculated earlier in the day. They con­ tinued to test Mr. Spooner's observations during the remainder of the voy­ age. Every whaleship "spoken" was informed of the Spooner method and by the time the Atlantic arrived at Tahiti many craft had been made aware of the discovery and had no doubt tested it out. Among those- who found it correct was Capt. William H. Gardner in the ship Richard Mitchell and, upon his return home, he announced he had navigated his ship from the Society Islands to the Gallapagos group entirely by "Sunset Longitude " Capt. Owen Spooner was a modest man who felt that his discovery be­ longed to mariners everywhere and never sought the honor of the discovery In the year 1859, righteously angered by the claims of a British admiral which appeared in the English Nautical Almanac, he consented to allow his numerous friends to advance the true story and substantiate his claim.

Among the many who knew Capt. Spooner, two estimable Nantucketers who were intimate friends advanced his claim in print. These two islanders w«r, Capt. WM,„ H. M.cp, a.th.r "Th„ Sh, Blows,'„7.«,t m" tucket stories, and Arthur H. Gardner, island historian, editor Representa tive to the General Court and Town official. pre

—E. A. S.

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CAPT. OWEN SPOONER

From painting by James Walter Folger owned by Miss Grace Brown Gardner

Report of The President Fellow-Members of the Nantucket Historical Association and Friends: It is difficult to realize that an entire year has gone by since last we met in this historic place to hold our annual meeting. The swift and some­ times uncertain passage of time brings the inevitable lesson, and we are forcibly reminded that the fundamental purpose of our Historical Associa­ tion is to preserve what was once the visible and tangible present but has long since been in dimmed recesses of the past; to preserve a tradition which now exists only in the relics and implements of the days long since gone.

The Association is carrying on its purpose, and it is fortunate in that its Council is composed of men and women who are not only deeply interested in its work but who are steadily active. In all but the two summer months of July and August, when the various exhibits are having their busiest times, the Council meets at least once each month to transact the important organizational business. Many problems are discussed and the agenda for the year shows a steady progress in the Association's work.

The Chairmen of the various buildings have been most active. During the winter the men of the Council met with the Chairmen and a survey of the Association's property was made, with the result that certain plans for repairs were presented and the Council voted to authorize the work.

The vanes of the Old Mill were again severely damaged by a heavy storm in the late fall of 1948, and one of the cross pieces was torn away, together with the vane. Through the interest of MacMillan Clements, who has been residing in Nantucket for several months each year, a piece of Labrador spruce was obtained, and Chairman Robert Congdon engaged Joseph Senecal, local carpenter, to do the work of repair. Mr Senecal has become quite familiar with the operational functions of the interesting wooden machinery of the Mill. This fall the vanes have been removed to forestall winter damage.

Considerable work of repair to the House of Correction was completed this spring. The west end was re-shingled, new windows installed, sidewalls and sagging floors strengthened. Chairman Burnham Dell and his committee plan to complete the fence with a replica of the old gate with its postern door, and also are working on the project of reproducing the type of stocks in vogue in New England a century or more ago. A report of the Committee on the "Old Gaol" will be found elsewhere in this volume.

A quarter-century ago, the late Miss Susan E. Brock, of fond memory, then Curator, wrote in her annual report: "Our new cement building has proved satisfactory in general but the builders paid so much attention to our main object that, while it was made practically fireproof, they failed lamentably in making it water-proof, and we have been annoyed for years by periodical breaks and consequent leaks in the roof. We are told that to remedy this fault will require a radical change in construction which means large expenditures and more appeals to the never-failing generosity of our members and friends."

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During the past decade, the co-Chairmen of the Fair Street Museum have seen to it that the structure has finally become leak-proof. A new roof was placed over the building ten years ago, and during the past winter the perplexing problem of the northeast corner—over the vestibule—has been attended to, so that this notorious leaky spot has been fixed at last. CoChairmen Everett U. Crosby and Mrs. Nancy S. Adams have continued their excellent work in supervising "Fair Street." Mrs. Alma Backus con­ tinues to greet visitors at the door and, upstairs, Mrs. Addison T. Winslow conducts them about the galleries and sometimes into the labyrinths of genealogical research. The Association is fortunate in having the services of these two island ladies, who have become identified with the Museum and Friends Meeting House on Fair Street.

The Oldest House has had extensive repairs. Under the supervision of the Chairman of this exhibit, John H. Robinson, a new roof shingle was used to cover both front and rear roofs, saddle boards were replaced, and sidewalls repaired. New supporting timbers were installed in the west room to support the large bedroom floor overhead, the stairs repaired, with a single wood rail replacing the rope; and the lattice windows throughout have been given entirely new wooden frames. All the new wood has been treated with creosote. Important repairs have also been made to the chimney, and the entire program has brought about a highly satisfactory result.

Chairman Robinson was authorized to have the workmen thoroughly check the supports and girts of the house, with the view of anticipating any future repairs. He carefully supervised the various repairs, which Were made by James Norcross and his men.

It must be noted that the Oldest House has completed its busiest sea­ son to date this year (1949), and that Miss Lucy Clark, the Custodian, has conducted more than three thousand visitors through the ancient dwelling.

That most important link in the Association's chain of historical exhibits —the Whaling Museum—continues to carry the financial well-being of the organization. When it established its record of in excess of 11,000 admis­ sions last year it was thought the peak had been reached, but Chairman Wil­ liam E. Gardner reported at the 1949 season's close that a total of 15,000 had visited the Museum. The amazing total is a true indication of the in­ creasing value of the Whaling Museum not only to our Association but to the community as well.

At this time it is in order to express the gratitude of the Association to Dr. Will Gardner for his untiring efforts to make the Whaling Museum the success it has been. After more than five years of service as Chairman, Dr. Gardner informed the Council in May that at the end of the season he would retire as Chairman. The decision was accepted regretfully by the Council and, at Dr. Gardner's suggestion, it was voted to consider the nomination of Howard U. Chase as Chairman to succeed him. Following the election of Mr. Chase to the Council, he was duly appointed as the hew Chairman of the Whaling Museum. Mr. Chase has an excellent background for this work. A veteran of both World Wars, with a considerable knowledge <•( 28 jfr

of the "old Navy," Mr. Chase is well qualified for the position.

The Whaling Museum has had several important repairs during the year. One of the main cross-beams was found rotted in the eastern wall, and a new section was spliced into it. New sections of flooring were placed in the main hall and in the entrance hall, and the "Archives" in the attic had an entire new floor laid. A window was installed on the west side.

The most outstanding improvement to the 102-year-old structure, how­ ever, has been the complete renovation of the Library. The partitions which once separated the library and Admiral Folger rooms were torn out and the entire southern end of the second story of the Museum is now the Library and reading room. Here are housed the various collections of books representing marine literature in general and whaling lore in particular, New shelves give a far greater facility for proper distribution and display of the books, and new cases provide access to the excellent collection of log­ books. The tables and chairs have been arranged so that the librarian has not only a complete view of the room from the main desk but can look out into the main corridor and into Sanderson Hall. Wide French-style doors bring an inviting aspect to the visitor, with the windows on all three sides bringing in welcome light and sunshine. Mr. Chase has arranged the prints from the valuable Admiral Folger collection all around the available vantage places on the walls, with one corner devoted to Adm. William Mayhew Folger's portrait and crossed swords. The net result is one of the most pleas­ ing renovations one may imagine, satisfactory in every way.

Wallace N. Long continues his valued services as Custodian, with Mrs. M. Lorraine Beers acting as Librarian and Mrs. Barbara Briard serving as receptionist during the past season. **

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There have been some interesting and valuable accessions during the year. The extensive collection of stereoscopic slides, which had been collected over a period of years by the late Harry B. Turner, for forty years editor of The Inquirer and Mirror, were willed to the Association and presented at the Annual Meeting by his widow, Mrs. Grace F. Turner. These contain old views of the town taken by Josiah Freeman, Henry Wyer, Maurice Boyer and Harry B. Turner and comprise a comprehensive photographic history of the town from the 1870's to the 1920's. They represent an invaluable con­ tribution to Nantucket history.

Capt. Leland S. Topham has given the Association the compass taken from the three-masted schooner Charles Luling which went ashore near the western jetty on the night of Nov. 18, 1904, while trying to enter the harbor without the services of a pilot. The compass was afterwards used on board the famous little fishing steamer Petrel and subsequently came into the possession of Capt. Topham and placed on his boat. He also presented an old knife and fork, wrapped in a piece of paper on which were these words: "This knife and fork belonged to cousin Rebecca Dow Folger, daughter of Elizabeth and Reuben Dow. It must be 150 years old or more."

William Josselyn, of Attleboro, Mass., has presented a Civil War item— •*§( 29 )8<-

a little booklet entitled "The Soldier's Friend," carried during the War by his uncle, Shubael Winslow, Jr., of Nantucket, who served in the 10th Mass. Regiment from Springfield.

Through the interest of Frank Crocker, the Association has received a collection of old coopers' tools, including four steed hoop setters, a wooden serving mallet, a wood and iron bit stock, a wooden bit stock, bung hole starters, etc. These came from the old Crocker house on North Liberty street.

Capt. Patrick Robinson has presented an old saw with the name "J. Coffin" burned in the handle, and Joseph Rykosz has given a 4 inch brass compass.

With the renovation of the library at the Whaling Museum, a number of old and rare books! have been transferred from Fair Street—149 in total number. These have been placed with the general shelf on the east side and with the rare book collection. New volumes are added to the Library each year, and recent additions have been "The Coffin Saga," a presentation copy, autographed by Dr. William E. Gardner, its author, who also presented his first book, "Three Bricks- and Three Brothers;" Warner Foote Gookin's "Capawack, alias Martha's Vineyard (purchased); Mrs. Eleanor Melville Metcalf's edition of "Herman Melville—Journal of a Visit to London and the Continent" (purchased); Edward Rowe Snow's "Mystery and Adventure Along the New England Coast" (purchased); Thayer's "From Boyhood to Manhood, a Life of Benjamin Franklin," donated by Mrs. Robert Benchley; Roe's "Old Representative's Hall," presented by John Gardner.

Two unusual items came to the Association in July—a scrimshaw birdcage, placed in the Whaling Museum, and a collection of 500 shells, placed in Fair Street. These came from Preston Blundon, of Hyattsville, Maryland.

Mrs. Julia Macy Wagner Urann, of Middleboro, Mass., has presented The History of the Rise, Increase and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers," by William Sewall, published in 1726.

An old copy of a "Whaling Journal—1835-1836" has come from Mrs. Francis Davis, of Brant Point, and has been placed in the Pacific Bank trunk.

Allen Lemair has presented the Association the following books: "The New American Practical Navigator" (1826) by Bowditch; "Artie Explora­ tions in Search of Sir John Franklin, by Kent; "M. Tullii Ciceronis," Part 1, Vol. II; Coburn's "Algebra," 1838; "Epitome of the Art of Navigation"

by Atkinson; Boys and Girls' Magazine," edited by Forrester, 1851; and several other volumes.

From a descendant of the Starbucks of Nantucket, through Samuel Starbuck, who moved to Milford Haven, Wales, comes a Tristram Starbuck Deed, dated London, 1765; and an Elizabeth Gayer letter dated 1712, and a Gayer Starbuck letter from Indiana, dated 1818. These came from L. W. G. Starbuck —now residing in Colombo, Ceylon—an Englishman. These are an indefinite loan.

And so, the Nantucket Historical Association continues to carry on the trust reposed in it by its founders. Through the contributions of its members and friends—financial and otherwise—we keep abreast of the tide of cur->§{ 30

rent progress and maintain the varied functions of our work. Although the procedure of administration may be adjusted and re-adjusted to compensate for the changes and the limitations of succeeding eras, the main object re­ mains the same—the preservation of the heritage which the founders and their successors have delivered into our keeping.

Respectfully submitted, EDOUARD A. STACKPOLE, President.

REUBEN CHASE OF NANTUCKET WHO SERVED ON THE'RANGER" AND THEBON HOMME RICHARD" UNDER COMMAND OF COMMODORE JOHN PAUL JONES FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY

THIS TABLET PLACEDBY THE TOWN DEDICATED 14 JUNE 1933

BY IRE THOMAS TURNER CHAPTER SONS OF THE REVOLUTION.

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WILLIAM MITCHELL

From a painting by Mrs. Dassel in 1851 now at the Maria Mitchell Library

William Mitchell of Nantucket

BY HELEN E. WRIGHT "I was born at Nantucket on the 20th of the 12th mo. 1791 and on the spot where the Nantucket church now stands " So begins the autobiography of William Mitchell, one of the great men of Nantucket, one of the most influential members of this flourishing town in the early and middle nineteenth century.

I could tell you many things of the life of this remarkable man whose fame was to spread far beyond his island home. Some day I hope that a biography of William Mitchell may be written. Today we can touch on only a few of those accomplishments which, as he writes, included the following: "A cooper, a soap boiler, an oil and candle manufacturer, a farmer, a schoolmaster, an Insurance Broker, a Surveyor, a chronometer rater, an astronomical observer for the Coast Survey, Justice of the Peace, Executor of Wills and Administrator of Estates, Writer of Wills, deeds and other instruments, Cashier of a Bank, Treasurer of a Savings Bank, and with­ out emolument a member and for some years President of the Board of Trustees of the Nantucket Atheneum—a member and for many years Chair­ man of the Board of Trustees of the Coffin School. For many years Chairman of the Committee for the Superintendence of the Observatory of Harvard College. Clerk at two different periods of the Nantucket Monthly Meeting of Friends, once for ten and once for five years."

If anyone deserved the title "jack-of-all-trades" it was William Mitchell.

Yet it would be a grave mistake to add the rejoinder "but master of none.'

For William Mitchell was, as we shall see, recognized as an accomplished astronomer by the leading astronomers of the day. In his native town he became known as William the Teacher because of that ability to inspire others which spread also into the field of lecturing. His political activities, beginning with the Constitutional Convention of 1820, made him a familiar figure in Boston and nearly took him to Washington. His part in the Friends Meetings was great, his share in the banking, insurance and cultural activ­ ities of the town, invaluable. He was, moreover, the father of ten children, two of them destined to become famous.

But how and where did all these interests begin? What was his family background? What his schooling? Who were his friends and relatives?

The answers to some of these questions are found in William's auto­ biography, others in the Library of the Maria Mitchell Association and in the Nantucket Historical Association. Some have been uncovered in the great files of the Nantucket Inquirer. Still others were discovered in the National Archives in Washington and some even in the Bache collection in the Huntington Library in California.

For knowledge of William Mitchell's childhood we shall turn first to his autobiography.

"My parents," he writes, "were both natives of the island, and my mother sprang, on her mother's side, from one of the earliest settlers of 4 33 )$<•

the place."

In this family in which he grew there were eleven children. All were born in that house at the corner of Liberty and Centre Streets, which William describes as a quaint old building, modernized in 1805 and in 1822 (according to Peleg Mitchell's advertisement in The Inquirer) put up for sale together with the cooper's shop next door. The site was bought by the Methodists, and, according to the peripatetic custom of the time, the house was moved up next to No. 1 Vestal Street, and there Peleg Mitchell, Sr., continued to live until his death in 1831. The house stood until 1907, when it was bought by the newly formed Maria Mitchell Association and torn down to make way for the Maria Mitchell Observatory.

As William looks back to his earliest childhood in that house, he writes: "The earliest event of my life of which I have recollection is the recovery from a fit of sickness which was then called the 'throat distemper' and which I have supposed might have been the 'putred sore throat'."

His next recollections were of his first school days under Dinah Spooner, "a terror to evil doers and far from being an angel to those who did well."

To the end of his life he remembered the trembling of his knees when first called on to recite the alphabet, "following the positively electrified end of the knitting needle."

Prom that school he went on to the even more awful place, dominated

by Edward Freeman, "a savage with no redeeming trait of character."

"Nearly seventy years after (he writes) one of my school mates could scarcely refrain from tears at the recital of some of his own sufferings at the hands of this cruel man."

Next came Nathan Comstock, only a shade less savage.

Not one of these teachers, however, inspired me with a love for learning, but a distaste for all books," he comments.

After that, what knowledge he had he gained for himself, planning to enter Harvard, but when the time came, as he confessed long afterward, I found I had not strength enough to leave Lydia Coleman and gave the whole matter up."

Instead, he studied the cooper's trade and entered his father's shop until, at eighteen, he became the principal of a school. Soon, however, he re­ turned to help his father with the oil and soap business in connection With coopering, until the War of 1812 ended all business activity.

It was at this time, of all times—on the 10th day of the 12th month, 1812 without money, without occupation—that he decided to marry Lydia Cole­ man, daughter of Andrew Coleman and Lydia Folger.

Like most other Nantucketers, Peleg Mitchell's fortune was invested in the whaling business and, despite Nantucket's neutrality, he lost nearly everything, as the Nantucket ships were open quarry for the British cruisers which infested the coast. In this loss, William naturally shared.

In an effort to earn a living he moved with Lydia to a farm at Siasconset and there lived "very poor indeed. .. .the world forgetting and by the world unknown." In the fall of 1813, they moved back to town to Aunt Phebe •*§( 34 jj-

Starbuck's on Liberty Street. There, soon after, their first child, Andrew, was born, to be followed two years later by Sally, the grandmother of Charles Neal Barney.

How long they lived in that house on Liberty street is not clear. It is said that at one time William lived in the Isaiah Coffin house and at another at 15 Pine Street. But when or how we do not know. We only know that in 1818 he bought the house at 1 Vestal Street (originally built in 1790 by Hezikiah Swain) from his cousin, Aaron Mitchell, who bought it from Simeon Gardner. There they lived until 1837, when they moved down to the Pacific Bank, and the house was taken over by Peleg Mitchell and his family.

In this interim, William returned for a short time to teaching, as assistant to his brother-in-law Reuben Macy, at the exhorbitant salary of $2 per week, until with the war's end and the revival of whaling he returned to the oil business in partnership with his father and separately carried on a cooperage. Yet his greatest love was then, as it always would be, teaching, and when in 1822, his father sold his cooper's shop he gave up the oil business forever and opened his own private school. *

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For several years Samuel H. Jenks had urgently advocated the import­ ance of free schools on Nantucket. For several years nothing concrete was done. Finally, at the request of the school committee, William Mitchell was sent to New York to study the free schools of that state, and when, in 1827, the first public school was established on the island, became its first principal.

The first classes with "202 scholars" were held on the second floor of the Town Hall at the west corner of Main and Milk streets.

In December, 1827, The Inquirer reported: "Improvement in the various branches of learning taught in the school of William Mitchell appears to be a train of progression commensurate to the ardent desires of the friends of science."

But William was not satisfied. His independent spirit and original out­ look made it difficult to conform to the more rigid ideas of the school com­ mittee. Therefore he soon decided to build a school on Howard Street A select school of fifty scholars, half of each sex." Here, for about three years, he taught with great success until, as he says, "a circumstance occurred entirely beyond my control and witn which I had nothing to do except as a sufferer and reduced the school to about one-third of its original number.

In 1833, the Howard Street school was taken over by a Mr. J. H. Spalter, recommended as a teacher by William Mitchell. No more is said until May 5, 1838, when a notice appears in The Inquirer for the school, now moved to Vestal Street, its name changed to the West Introductory School. In 1852, the West School was rebuilt, and today, with another addition, you all know William Mitchell's School as the Library of the Maria Mitchell Association on Vestal Street.

Meanwhile, William had been forced to find other jobs in order to support his large family. In 1833, he became the Secretary of the Phenix Bank, which fortunately for the family (too long squeezed into the Vestal 4 35^

Street house) included the use of the bank building as a dwelling place. At the same time, William became Treasurer of the Savings Bank—without ' salary. *

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Life then should have been easier. But unfortunately it was not. In 1837, immediately after William took over the Pacific Bank, the Panic of 1837 broke loose. On the 13th of May, the steamer brought the disastrous news that the Boston and Providence Banks had suspended specie payment.

When the news reached the island, wealthy Nantucketers with accounts of hundreds of thousands of dollars, invested in the whaling business, ran to the Bank terrified. Up at the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Bank there was rioting. But down at the Pacific Bank, William Mitchell in his dispas­ sionate, Quaker way, managed to calm the fears of his depositors. Gradually the panic subsided. Slowly Nantucket returned to normal.

Hardly had William recovered from this shock before he was shaken by the "perfidy of a supposed friend," as the President of the Pacific Bank, James Athearn, misappropriated the bank's funds, and a deficit of over a hundred thousand dollars was found in the accounting. In the Friends way William went to the culprit and talked "gently" to him. Afterwards he re­ ported their converaation in a small diary found in the Bank files: "A. seemed very much agitated indeed (he writes) and says, 'I am an undone man and have brought it on myself; there is nobody to blame but myself. Those affairs (on New York and Boston banks) are in a terrible con­ dition. I replied I had long been apprehensive of it. He then said he did not know what to do. I told him that he had plenty of property—that the Pest thing he could do was to make a frank statement to the committee of the acts and secure the Bank until those accounts could be verified and put right. He then made a remark something like this: 'I don't feel as tho' I could accroach them'."

This was apparently in 1842, and proved to be only the beginning of a controversy which finally had to be made known to the Directors of the Bank —as a very large deficit was found in the New England Bank in Boston and the Phenix Bank in New York, and the case brought to trial in 1848.

Ironically, in the light of later history, on the 6th of February, 1843, William received the following letter from Barker Burnell, the Nantucket representative in Congress. " 'The darkest; period'—you are probably right. You have the means of an accurate judgment. They rise before you, nor doubt day by day to perplex, to alarm. Some passing summer clouds I have seen in my day But the storm sometimes threatens more than its violence effects. It may now be so, and I hope that you are not to suffer so much as you apprehend I ask myself, 'Do men ever learn by experience?' What is more humiliating than the grasping of mortal man? With the green fields of plenty all around him yet stretching forth his grasping hands—with burning desire for more; over the yawning precipice of bankruptcy and ruin! And grasped what is it?

The poison that sets in means the canker of perpetual care. Well, let us at least extract the great lesson which affliction teaches. But'we may be as­ sured that soon the scene, now exciting such intense anxiety, will be suc­ ceeded by another. The drama will go and relief come."

Three years later this man who had moralized so sanctimoniously 36 )3»

on the evil of greed was himself arrested for embezzlement, and ensconced in the Nantucket jail, until, in January, 1847, he could be brought to trial. In this case the responsibility again fell on William Mitchell, and on the 26th of October, 1846, when he sent his regular observations to the Coast Survey, he apologized: "They have all been made during a period of great trial to my personal repose. At an early period in the present year, all the Banking business of the place suddenly fell upon the Institution of which I have the care, and I had scarcely relieved myself from this burden when a calamitous fire de­ stroyed some of my records and overwhelmed me with additional duties and responsibilities."

In the year of the final trial of James Athearn, William wrote again to Dr. Bache on the 27th of September, 1848: "The amount of observation falls far short of my anticipation; the year having been crowded with many cares—the principal of which is a vexing law suit of the Bank's which has called me from home and which this very week has reached a triumphant termination." *

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Further details of this story must wait, as this Bank scandal, though of deep concern to William, was only one of the many incidents in a full life.

If the Pacific Bank from 1837 to 1861 was William's chief source of income, he had many other tasks which kept him busy from early morning until late at night. Indeed, we must wonder when he ever slept.

For many years he was President of the Coffin School as well as of the Atheneum. Unforunately, the minutes of the meetings of the Coffin School have disappeared. But the Atheneum records show that he did as much as anyone to make it not only a fine library but also the center of the town s cultural development. After the Great Fire of 1846, he worked tirelessly to rebuild it into the great place it had formerly been. In the ' Report of the Examining Committee for 1846-47" which, as he stated, "comes before the Proprietors under peculiar and extraordinary circmustances, he describes its former condition: "By the report of the last year's committee the Atheneum was shown to be in a flourishing condition. A great and commodious building containing a large and increasing library, documents of inestimable Value pertaining to the early settlement of our island—a rare collection of curiosities of Nature and Art, the works of man in his most barbarous as well as civilized state, and cabinets of coins, minerals, shells, etc., that had been obtained at great expense of time and money and presented to the Atheneum by liberal individuals; the whole forming a collection the like of which will probably never again be gathered together in this place.

"The institution in all its departments the pride and cherished object of our citizens diffusing its benefits which were powerfully felt and ac­ knowledged by our whole community continued in this prosperous condition about one half of the past year, and the Trustees and Proprietors looked rorward to its lasting and increasing usefulness; when in a moment almost, a pile of smouldering ruins alone designated the spot on which stood our famed and much prized Atheneum. On the night of the 13th ox July the building with its valuable library, records and documents, its Cabinet of Curiosities, and everything appertaining, was entirely consumed by the < 37 3^

tering manner I ventured to finish the course."

These lectures were, of course, the result of William's life-long inter­ est in astronomy, of his years of work as an observer for the Coast Survey, and rater of chronometers for the large fleet of Nantucket whaling ships.

They were the result of countless nights of observation of astronomical phenomena—comets, meteors, variable stars, double stars, nebulae—of which he wrote toward the end of his life: "I have no cause to regret that I have given to the objects of the firma­ ment something more than a mere gaze, although, like the poet's muse, Astronomy 'found me poor at first, kept me so.' It is wealth to me, however, to look back upon the Astronomical events and phenomena which it has been my privilege to witness a little in the light of science—the great solar eclipse of 1806, the interesting comet of 1807, the solar eclipse of 1811, and the unrivalled comet of the same year;—the annular eclipse of 1831 (central only to my eye of all observers in North America)—the return of Halley's comet in 1835; the huge appendage of the little comet of 1843 and its own proximity to the sun; and, last but not least, the model comet of Donati." ** * * * * * * In connection with his work for the Coast Survey, it might be interesting to mention here a suggestion which William made in 1840. Through his Coast Survey work, from his daily contact with the whaling captains, he had naturally spent a great deal of time thinking of ways to improve the conditons under which the whaling ships sailed. He had studied their logs and realized their value as a source of information for the movement of the tides and currents in the Pacific as well as in the Atlantic. In 1840, therefore, he decided to write to Sir John Lubbock, the eminent English astronomer.

He outlined his ideas and in return received the following reply: "I think with you that the gentlemen to whom you refer have it in their power to confer very important obligations on science, generally and in partic­ ularly on that of the tides in those regions unfrequented by civilized nations to which they resort I shall be very glad to hear from you at all times and particularly of the success of your endeavors to procure better informa­ tion than we at present possess of the state of the tide in the Pacific."

This letter was written three years before Matthew Fontaine Maury, the hydrographer, in his famous paper on "Blank Charts" given before the National Institute, made a similar suggestion. It was written two years before Maury became the head of the Depot of Charts and Instruments in Washington and, according to his biographer, first thought of using the whalers' logs for such records. It was eight years before Maury, on the first of February, 1848, wrote the following letter to William Mitchell to accom­ pany his new Wind and Current Charts: "I send you by express 5 copies of sheets Nos. 1, 2, 3 Wind and Current Charts and 25 abstract logs for distribution among the whalemen who will agree to furnish the information required in the manner prescribed."

Yet Maury has always been given full credit for the original idea. * * * • * * * * Again, through his Coast Survey work, William Mitchell helped to con­ tribute in another way to the future safety of the Nantucket whalemen. The 40 )§*•

waters around Nantucket, as every Nantucketer knows, are dangerous. For years, the whalers had pleaded for a survey of these waters. But years passed and nothing was done. Finally, when Alexander Dallas Bache was made head of the Coast Survey, William Mitchell talked and wrote to him repeatedly about the whalers' difficulties. In 1842, Charles Henry Davis came to begin work. But the Congressional appropriation was small, the work slow, and ships continued to be wrecked on the dangerous shoals.

Finally, when in 1845, the Centurion was sunk on Great South Shoal, William reported to Dr. Bache in the following interesting letter: "I have at length obtained the information I desired relative to the number of vessels which annually pass through the sound. Knowing that thou wouldst prefer a modern account, I applied to the captain of the lightboat, with whom it has been somewhat difficult to communicate. To his politeness I am indebted for the following particulars: In 1842 there were 144 ships, 1295 brigs, 7551 schooners, 3616 sloops; In 1843 there were 151 ships, 1194 brigs, 8228 schooners, 3525 sloops; In 1844 there were 152 ships, 1175 brigs, 7483 schooners, 2566 sloops; Total 447 ships, 3664 brigs, 23262 schooners, 9707 sloops.

"And to July, 1845, there were 122 ships, 805 brigs, 4847 schooners, 1796 sloops passed Nantucket light boat (an immense amount of property indeed) and yet there is no chart of the thoroughfare in existence that is worthy of the name.

"My rude angles to the ship Centurion, wrecked on the south shoal (1845) resulted in placing her within nine hundred rods of the position of the shoal as located by modern observers. The history of this most danger­ ous shoal is startling. Situated in mid-ocean; having, in low ebbs, scarcely a foot of water; and in a region proverbial for its heavy swell; rising at times, without a moment's warning; the dread of all mariners and the grave of thousands; laid down in a position twenty miles in error of latitude, and confided in as late as the year 1821—such is Nantucket south shoal!

The honor of giving the shoal its true locality belongs to Captain Colesworthy of this place, who, on the 24th of June, 1821, made its latitude 41° 3' 55", it having been in all former time been considered to be 40° 44'. In looking ever the documents of Captain Colesworthy I am entirely satisfied that in the old location there are forty fathoms of water. So strong, however, is the impression on the minds of our veteran seamen that the earlier location is the true one, that confidence is still wanting in the survey of Colesworthy, though he has been always distinguished as an accurate observer. Its new and probably true location is precisely in the track of all vessels bound to New York from Europe, and it is remarkable with what apparent reckless­ ness vessels of the largest size (even the Atlantic steamers) dash near its parallel, from an apprehension that it is far south of them. The last and most authentic account of the ill-fated President (so says rumor) was near Nantucket in a heavy storm, and the idea has always been prevalent here that the south shoal was her burial ground.

"If we could have the true account of the amount of property and human life that the erroneous location of this single shoal has cost our country not only prior to 1821, but subsequent to that period, the expense of the whole coast survey would seem a diminutive fraction. The manner in which this survey is conducted will settle this matter forever, by removing all possible doubts."

From this time on work on the survey of these "dangerous Waters" which William describes so graphically, was pushed, until before long his •$41)2*

son, Henry, would take his place on the Coast Survey to contribute further to our knowledge of the tides and currents around Nantucket.

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But, if William was concerned with the sea, he was equally concerned with the land, as we may judge by his valuable map of Nantucket, finished in 1838—the first real survey of the island—a map which he was to have made with William Coffin, but left on his hands after Mr. Coffin's sudden death. Two years later, in 1840, he set up the familiar stones on Main Street and on Fair Street to mark the town's meridian.

Yet, with all these concerns, his chief concern was always with the sky. Three times a day he kept regular meteorological records which, in later years, were sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Still more important were his regular astronomical observations. These, in 1845, brought him unexpected recognition when it was proposed that he be made head of the National Observatory recently established in Washington. In an extraordinarily interesting letter, written on the fourteenth of May by Benjamin Peirce, the famous Harvard Mathematician, to George Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy—and now in the Massachusetts Historical Society— we read: "Every scientific man in the country must look, with deep interest, to the progress of the National Observatory, as the position which is destined, in the course of time, to become the centre of American astronomy; it Will be, not merely a depot for charts and instruments, but a school for the edu­ cation of observers, and the office for the computation of the National Almanac. It would be a most sad and unfortunate tarnish to our national honor, for those magnificent instruments to remain unemployed, and perish without contributing to knowledge; and one which would not, I think, be less likely to occur than under the present administration of the Navy. I will not, therefore apologize for the liberty I take in recommending to you William Mitchell of Nantucket, as a man eminently adapted to the task of conducting the observatory.. He has long been familiar with astronomical observations, and although he has not received a collegiate education, his success as a popular lecturer shows him to be capable of presenting the results of his investigations to the public in an attractive form, and yet free from all display. Simple, earnest, honest, and straightforward, he will get the great­ est possible amount of work out of his instruments and assistants, and all his work will be well and faithfully performed. He is mild and winning in his manners, but firm and resolute in his purposes; and evinces, in every­ thing, the gentleness and the strength of a cultivated and powerful intellect.

Above all things, he possesses the first great requisite of an astronomer, an ardent love of truth; he loves truth with all his heart; simple, unaffected truth, in her modest Quaker dress; for he is of that pure sect, which has been so nobly eulogized by the historians of our country.

"In recommending Mr. Mitchell, I have no intention of interfering with the present head of the observatory who seems to be zealously labouring in the good cause, and whose kind attention to my request for a list of his books I cordially acknowledge, as well as the marked politeness and frankness of his communications. But it is quite possible, I presume, to reconcile military command with an effective and judicious organization of the military corps. This was the case in the late exploring expedition; and under the Russian government, indeed, the observatory is a regular -{{ 42 jS"

branch of the army, and the celebrated Struve is an army officer.

"I cannot conclude my recommendation without alluding to the aid which Mr. Mitchell will undoubtedly receive, in his labours, from an accom­ plished mathematician and excellent observer in the person of his daughter."

To this remarkable eulogy, William C. Bond, Director of the Harvard Observatory, added in another letter to George Bancroft: "Although circumstances prevented my acceptance of your very kind and honorable proposition, I am grateful that it was made and feel increased interest in the welfare of your observatory. Prof. Peirce, who takes a deep interest in its success, and myself, have consulted together on the subject he agrees with me in considering it a point of the first importance that you should have the assistance of a practical Astronomer.^ It has been said that an Astronomical Observer, to be useful in his vocation, must give up the world, he must have a good eye, a delicate touch, and above all entire devotion to the pursuit.

"We have considered all those who are known to us, but could not fix on any as being exactly adapted to the situation until last evening when we came to the decided opinion that the person best qualified to carry out your views, the making of the observatory useful and creditable to the country, is William Mitchell of Nantucket. Judging from his long cherished love ol Practical Astronomy we think he would accept with pleasure a situation at the Washington Observatory, and we have no doubt he is the very man you need to make it effective."

For some unknown reason (probably political) William Mitchell did not receive the position of Director of the National Observatory. But, as the years passed, he was recognized in other ways; in 1848 by an honorary M. A. from Brown University, and in 1850 by the same honor from Harvard. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science.

It is an unusual occurrence, I believe, for a man not a Harvard gra ir­ ate to be made a member of the Board of Overseers. Yet, William Mitchell, who had never been to college, was a member from 1857 to 1865.

"I was elected by the Legislature (he writes) a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard College for six years, and at the expiration of the term, re-elected by nearly all the votes of the joint body of the'Senate> and House of Representatives. In this position which I had T made many pleasant acquaintances, among whomwereex-governorsAn drew and Washburn and the present governor Bullock.

(Ex-Governo Everett he had known before as a member of the Senate.)

At Harvard also he was for many years, from 1848 to 1865, on the com­ mittee to visit the Observatory, and was for several years its Chairman.

The story of William's political activity can be mentioned only briefly.

It begins with the Constitutional Convention of 1820, when he was twentynine years old. There, as the youngest member of the Convention, he share a place with Justice Story, Daniel Webster, and the great John Adams, then an old man still revered by all other members.

Twenty-nine years later, after being a member of various Whig conven­ tions, William was elected State Senator for that party and spent the winter of 1844-45 in Boston. But when his name was again proposed he refused

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to run, preferring to return to his varied occupations in Nantucket. To Dr. Bache he wrote: "I am quite clear of the political scrabble, but have had to scrabble hard to effect it."

Finally, in 1850, when the question of a representative to the Washing­ ton Congress was raised, William's name was proposed, and on the second of October an editorial appeared in The Inquirer: "For nearly thirty years, the District has been represented by a Nan­ tucket man in but one Congress... .From this it would seem that Nantucket has a sort of right to the nomination, provided we can lay before the con­ vention the name of a gentleman worthy, in every way, of their support. This we can do. In the Hon. William Mitchell, we have a man for whom the Nantucket Whigs would be proud to vote, and whose qualifications for the office in connection with which we name him, will not be questioned, we are sure, in any part of the District, but all over the State; as a man of science, in the country generally. With such a man to offer, we feel very sure that, whatever the action of the Convention may be, the Whigs of the district will have no disposition to complain that we thus publicly bring to their notice, and ask them to consider, the claims of Nantucket to the nomination. Mr. Mitchell would pull more than the strength of the party in this place, and we see no reason why he would not run as well as any other man in the District generally."

But, sadly, the Whigs of Nantucket did not nominate their candidate and a Barnstable man was chosen instead. Long afterward, William con­ fessed that he too was disappointed. Meanwhile, in 1848 and 1849, he was elected a member of Governor Briggs' Council, a position which he enjoyed greatly. "I loved the governor, and he loved me," he wrote naively. *

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We have now touched rather hastily on the many varied aspects of William's life. Only one remains—his religion. He was, of course, a Friend, and to the end of his life he remained a Friend, despite the controversies which divided that sect and separated members of the same family into bitter factions.

"I was born (he writes) a member of the Society of Friends and I do not regret it. Morally it is a wise, and religiously a good system. I do hot mean to say that everything about it is exactly conformable to my own views.

I have always made sacrifices to the commonweal as in duty bound. I never was a religionist. Few persons who have been recognized as religious pro­ fessors have talked less on the subject than I have. The character of Quaker­ ism as well as of Truth itself has suffered much by the divisions which in recent times have been manifested in the Society. To the causes of these ruptures, I attach no importance. In two of them I was active, being in each case Clerk of the meeting, but I now regret every word and action, though at the time honestly done."

The tragic story of these ruptures which brought sorrow to many fam­ ilies on the island has been told elsewhere. In that final division be­ tween the Gurneyites (to which William belonged) and the stricter Wilburites (to which his brother Peleg belonged), the Wilburites wrote under date "26th 11 mo. 1846" the following note: "Information is received through the Preparative Meeting that Crom­ well Barnard, Heman Crocker, Kimball Starbuck and William Mitchell have

45

for some time past wholly neglected the attendance of our religious meetings and attended a spurious meeting claiming our name and established in op­ position to us, for which deviation opportunities have been sought with them, without being able to obtain them; and Prince Gardner and Hezekiah Swain are appointed to labor with Cromwell Barnard.... and Prince Gardner and Hezikiah Barnard are appointed with William Mitchell and report to a future meeting."

On the 31st of 12th mo. 1846 the following entry appears: "The committee in the case of William Mitchell report that they have had an opportunity with him without obtaining any saisfaction, and it is the sense of this meeting with the concurrence of the women's to disown him as a member of our religious society and Benjamin Gardner and Moses Mitchell are appointed to inform him and report to our next meeting."

While William was duly informed, Lydia, his wife, was disowned in the same way two months later by the women for similar reasons. Yet they both, of course, continued to be active in the Gurneyite faction which, in 1850, moved into the Centre Street house, built under William's supervision, and the meeting flourished.

To everyone William Mitchell was known then and always as a gentle, kindly, deeply religious man. Asi E. K. Godfrey wrote in ,1882 in his Nan­ tucket guide: "With strong intellect, calm judgment, sincerity of purpose, and love for his fellow beings, he drew about him valued friends wherever his lines were cast, and his residence was a rendezvous for the learned and cultivated."

When, in 1861, after Lydia's death, he left this island, articles in praise of his long career appeared in The Inquirer. For four years he lived With his daughter, Maria, in Lynn, then, in 1865, went with her to Vassar. There, on the 19th of April, 1869, he died. At his funeral, President Raymond said of this Friend who had remained a Friend to the end of his days: 'He was eminently a man of peace, a maker of peace, a lover of peace."

Perhaps William Mitchell would be glad to know that today, eighty years after his death, and over a hundred years after the division between the Friends, we have remembered him in this Fair Street Meeting House, from which he was disowned for attending a "spurious meeting."

•4(46>

An Off-Islander's Impressions, June, 1781.

By PROF. HENRY J. CADBURY, Harvard University.

The observations about Nantucket printed herewith are from the pen of George Churchman, a Quaker preacher who visited the Island towards the close of the American Revolution. About 800 pages of his manuscript journal have lately come to light. It is mainly the typical introspection and critical account of attending Friends' meetings characteristic of the period.

But he also set down from observation or hearsay certain secular matters about the Island which may be of more general interest. He was a careful and observant man. The surveyor in him frequently suggests itself in his comments. There is reason to suppose he reported accurately what he saw, and1—for what it is worth—what he was told.

George Churchman lived at Nottingham, Maryland, near the MasonDixon line; in fact, he relates on April 29, 1765, that they "extended their line through our land". He was a farmer, as well as a surveyor. His con­ cerns as an itinerant minister took him often from home, but not often to great distances. He did, however, in 1781, in his fiftieth year, go with Warner Mifflin, another Quaker preacher, to visit the Yearly Meetings of New York and New England.

In June he was for over a week in Nantucket. Most of his comments have to do with the religious state and exercises of himself and of others.

More than once he expresses his grief at seeing gilded looking glasses with scalloped frames in the homes of leading Friends. We wish he had given us more details of the situation in Nantucket, and mentioned more names.

"19th. This morning early we set out for [New] Bedford with a pros­ pect of sailing in company with our aforesaid companions in a vessel that was going to Nantucket; in which also were a number of other Friends of that Island going home with some from the mainland going thither. We went on board directly; and sailing through Buzzard's Bay with a pretty strong wind against the tide it made a rough sea for a while. My sailing hitherto had never been out of fresh water, and now through the roughness and motion of the vessel my stomach was somewhat affected, though not to cause a puking, but my mind was quiet and easy, which I thought denoted I was not out of my proper place. We sailed in sight of Falmouth and other places on the Main, leaving Martha's Vineyard on the right hand; and in about 8 1-2 hours were favoured to land at Nantucket Wharf, which is called about 22 leagues from Bedford, about 27 of us in number. Warner [Mifflin] with Moses Brown, Mary his wife, and myself, took up our lodgings with our kind valuable Friend, Sarah Barney, who with Comfort Hoag, had been in our country on a religious visit. .

"The evening of our arrival a whaling vessel came in here which had been out with hands and whaleboats in that business (on the coast of Vir-

[< 47 >

gmia as it is said), who a few days before had come up with a whale of the Spermaceti kind, and putting out a boat and hands, to endeavor to strike her, she came so near as to violently seize and bite at the end of the boat With her mouth, taking off a part and splintering the rest to a considerable distance; whereby one young man about 19 years of age was killed, but his fellows were happily taken in by men in another boat which was near. We saw the splintered boat and heard the account of the circumstance, as the ac­ cident was recent and striking, being the cause of the vessel's quick return.

So we understood it, and that such a case has been but rarely known to happen to whaling men, though the whaling business (as I suppose) often subjects them to danger who engage in it, so that such have greater occasion to be serious than merry and vain.

"21st. It is said that another whaling vessel arrived here last night, in which another moving case happened, related nearly as follows, viz.

They had struck a whale which being wounded came so near the vessel that raising its tail, a young man being on the bowsprit trying to act his part in the business, the tail struck his leg, and split away part of the bone, about 3 days ago, at near 200 miles distance from hence. They lost the whale, and brought the young man home with his leg much swelled and he in a danger­ ous way. We went to visit him, and heard of his death soon after we had left the place. A precarious business this of whaling may be properly termed!

"We went to a meeting today in their large Meeting-House which is a frame building "This Island is said to be about 12 or 15 miles in length and in some parts perhaps three in breadth, though in other parts less; laying partly NE and South West in a crooked form, like a heap of barren sand, with very little wood thereon more than low shrubs; their timber for building, fuel, etc., chiefly comes from the Continent, the shore of which is deemed to be about 35 to 40 miles distant from the nearest part, laying Northward of the Island. The inhabitants at this time are said to consist of between seven and eight hundred families who live chiefly in a town about one-half of which are Friends and Friendly people. Their interest, farm and pasture lands, seem to lay in a kind of joint Commonwealth, under certain regula­ tions, and not much law business practised among them; it is said that few differences about their property happen, and where any such are manifest, they are most commonly settled by arbitration.

"We understand their method is, respecting their stock of live creatures, farms, pasturage, &c., to have bookkeepers or clerks appointed among them­ selves to keep a fair statement of each person's share with whom they settle annually concerning these matters: a social, friendly and commendable way of living surely this is, or would be, if pure religion was predominant, as a standard over the whole. Our valuable Friend, William Rotch, we find, is much esteemed by the people, his neighbors and others, for his knowledge, prudence and integrity, who appears to be a prince on the island.

"22nd "We now hear an account of a British ship of war recently taking a vessel bound hither with provisions (as it has been with some a time of un­ common scarcity latterly, occasioned by the present commotions and trouble subsisting between the Mother Country and this). The said vessel and cargo is said to have been wantonly burnt and destroyed, a fresh alarming instance of the cruelty of the war-like spirit, much affecting at this time to the tenderhearted here, who depend upon importing from the continent a great part of their eatables and other necessaries. <48 >

"23rd "A public meeting was held again today where it was thought near 1200 people attended "After thiai meeting I with some others rode towards the eastern part of the Island, and came through a herd of about 340 cows which were herded by a man and boy. These belong to the people of the town and were brought home in the evening for their milk.

"Some account was given us by an intelligent Friend concerning the whaling business before the commencement of the present troubles through the war and difficulties that have of latter years taken place. That about one hundred vessels in that occupation had belonged to this Island at once.

Some have gone Northward to Greenland and into the northern seas as far as 80 deg. North Latitude. Sometimes vessels have sailed Eastward to the coast of Africa, sometimes to the South Seas, to the coast of Brazil, the Falkland Isles, &c., and timesi Westward through the Gulph of Mexico, to Cape Horn and the Southern Capes of South America. They tell as of one man now alive on this Island, who once went with others first to London in a vessel with a cargo of whale oil; from thence to Greenland and back to London with another cargo (being successful in the business); then fitted out for the South Seas, where success again attended, insomuch that in the whole they caught as many whales as made up many hundred barrels of oil before they came home and within the course of one year they ranged the seas into North Latitude as far as 80 degrees and to 52 degrees in South Latitude. And it is said now that they have not more than 14 vessels which follow the business and in all but about 50 belonging to the Island, including small craft "24th. On First Day morning we went into three Friends' houses, having at one of them to hint some close observations, then attended the large public meeting, which by some was computed to contain about 1500, it was a favored meeting "I thought the dress of the females, as they went out of the meeting, was more uniform in regard to their heads and more in moderation than I have observed in such a number anywhere heretofore. Their number here of late (it is said) is about three to one more than that of the males among the youth—a beautiful appearance indeed of young women I thought, and many of tender spirits. May pure religion fully take place amongst them.

One reason among others why the numbers of the males is so unequal to the other sex, we are told, is that the youth of the former, being mostly brought up to the seas, since the troublesome times and the declining of the whale business, many of them have left this Island and gone elsewhere.

"The afternoon meeting was larger than the other and the Truth in dominion. James Thornton much favored in public testimony and many minds especially of young people much tendered. There being a burial of an elderly Friend, I observed their grave-yard was kept in a plain way without marks of distinction.

"I understand Nantucket was first settled by white people about 160 years ago. A large number of Indians were here at that time, who dwelin low Wigwams made of bushes and small stuff platted round the side. Their business was fishing and hunting, there being plenty of winter wild-fowl and deer. The bow and arrow was in use among them, but it is said there is no account of their using boats at that time. They have been observed greatly to decrease, though about the year 1740 they were computed on this Island upwards of a thousand. We learned that about the year 1764 a mortal disease swept away hundreds in a short time, which did not affect the white people. The Island is said to contain about 20,000 acres of land. < 49 ^

"28th. Sandwich Quarterly meeting now approaching, to be held at Falmouth, and a number of Friends of the Island proposing to go thither with us, after taking affectionate leave of many, we embarked this morning in a vessel of our Friend Samuel Starbuck's, captain John Gibbs, being 35 in number, besides the captain and mate. As the wind slacked we had to lay all night on the water, part of the time at anchor near Holmes' Hole.

I went down in the hold and lay on some planks with my saddle-bags for pillows, yet did not sleep much, because of walking and noise on the deck over my head. Many of the passengers were sick, but I was not much affected with that.

"29th. About the 10th hour we cast anchor near Hogg Island, and eight of us were helped to shore in a boat which we haled; from whence we Went on foot not quite two miles to the Monthly Meeting at Falmouth."

«S{50)&-

List of Members oooooc LIFE MEMBERS Adams, Harry B., 4 Aishlmore Road, Worcester.

Adams, Mrs. Nancy ;S., 17 Fair St., Nantucket.

Anderson, Lee, 16 The Green, Woodstock, Vt. Anderson, Mrs. Lee, 16 The Green, Woodstock, Vt. Barnard, Prof. Charles, 130 East 30tfn St., New York, N. Y. Barrett, William Wilson, East Orange, N. J. Beeibe, Miss Alice G., 181 Appleton St., Arlington Heights, Mass.

Blackburn, Miss Elizabeth, Orange St., Nantucket.

Blackshaw, Mrs. M. Turner, 3 Chestnut St., Nantucket.

Blackshaw, Kenneth T., 3 Chestnut St., Nantucket.

Blossom, Philip Moss, 2737% W. 15th St., Los Angeles, Calif.

Boyd Dr. Walter Willard, River Road at Wilson Lane, Bethasda, Md. Boynton, Frederick P., 204 Sheridan Road N., Highland Park, 111.

Brewer, Mrs. William A., 728 Fairfield Road, Burlingame, Calif.

Bruen, Edward F. L., Box 366, Nantucket.

Burt, Wellington R., White Gates, R. 3, Battle Creek, Mich.

Burt, Mrs. Wellington R., White Gates, R. 3, Battle Creek, Mich.

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

Carlisle, G. Lister, Jr., 18 Orange St., Nantucket.

Cassidy, The Very Rev. James E., Fall River, Mass.

Clapp, Mrs. George A., 26 Abbott Road, Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Clements, MacMillan, Shimimo, Nantucket.

Colket, Tristram Coffin, 2d, Villa Nova, Penn.

Colket, G. Crawford, Villa Nova, Penn.

Colket, Miss Susan, Villa Nova, Penn.

Colket, Tristram C., 3rd, Villa Nova, Penn.

Coliket, Mrs. Tristram C., 2d, Villa Nova, Penn.

Crane, Mrs. Herbert, 5 Chester St., Nantucket.

Davis, Charles H., 18 Old Slip, New York, N. Y. Davis, Mrs. Underwood, 100 Common St., Belmont, Mass.

Dickinson, Walter F., Wheatley Cross Roads, Wheatley, L. I., N. Y. Erickson, Arioclh Wentworth, Greystone House, Swampscott, Mass.

Erickson, Arioch Wentworth, Jr., Greystone House, Swampscott, Mass.

Eriekson, Mrs. Cecile Macy, Greystone House, Swaimpscott.

Erickson, Josiah Macy, Greystone House, Swampscott.

Ernst, Mrs. Morris L., 46 West 11th St., New York, N. Y. Ernst, Morris L., 46 West 11th St., New York, N. Y. Fitzgerald, Miss Elizabeth Coffin, 3 Charter St., Nantucket.

Folger, Miss Edith V., 1 Vestal St., Nantucket.

Folger, Walter Weston, 205 Island Ave., Chattanooga, Tenn.

Forbes, Miss Mary B., Milton, Mass.

<{ 51

Ford, Mrs. Horatio, Mayfield, Richmond Roads, Euclid, Ohio.

Ford, James B., 1790 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Francis, Mrs. Edgar S., Durham, Conn.

Freeman, Miss Pauline S. B., Nantucket.

Frothiniglham, Miss Ellen F., ,9 Exeter St., Boston, Mass.

Gray, David, Jr., Box 726, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Gray, Mrs. David, Jr., Box 726, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Greene, Howard, Christiana, Del. Griek, Mrs. Albert, 361 West Bedford St., New Bedford, Mass.

Gries, Mrs. Ethel Goff, 2803 18th St., NW, Washington, D. C. Gwynn, Mrs. Mary, 228 South 22d St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Hackeniberg, Frederick, 143 North Front St., Milton, Penn, Hamilton, Mrs. Dora M. P., 3319 North Adams St., Tacoma, Wash.

Hill, Frederick P., 'Sconset, Mass.

Hill, Murray Gardner, Laguna Beach, Calif.

Hilts, Erwin R., Greemer Hill Road, Greenwich, Conn.

Hinchman, Miss Anne, Plumstead, Washington, Conn.

Hinchman, Miss Margaretta, Plumstead, Washington, Conn.

Humphrey, Mrs. Nancy D., Siasconset, Nantucket.

Hutaff, Mrs. Elkins, 15 India Street, Nantucket.

Jannotta, Mrs. Stella S., 6314 Lakewood Ave., Chicago, 111.

Jenkins, Lawrence W., Peabody Museum, Salem, Mass.

Johnson, Mrs. Linsly, Nantucket.

Johnson, Mrs. Stanley E., Bath, N. H. Jones, Bassett, Polpis, Nantucket.

Kenney, Miss Lillian.

Kimball, Charles P., Rochester, N. Y. King, Samuel G., 367-369 Atlantic Ave., Boston, Mass.

Larkin, Mrs. Harry H., c|o Larkin Co., Buffalo, N. Y. Lyman, Mrs. Harrison F., 15 Lawson Road, Winchester, Mass.

Lyon, Mrs. Elias J., Pleasant St., Nantucket.

MacDonald, Miss Elizabeth H., Hotel Margaret, Columbia Hgts., Brooklyn.

Mackie, Mrs. David, 128 East 39th St., New York, N. Y. Macy, Arthur W., 325 Campbell Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Macy, Miss Mary H., 365 West End Ave., New York, N. Y. Macy, Nelson, 44i Pearl St., New York, N. Y. Miller, Mrs. Roland G., 50 Marshall St, Brookline, Mass.

Morse, Mrs. Elizabeth W., Nantucket.

Mussett, Miss Frances, Cornwall, N. Y. MeOleary, Miss Helen C., 46 Longwood Ave., Brookline, Mass.

McGill, Mrs. J. Nota, 36 Rue Desaix, Paris, France.

Nye, Mrs. Kyle, 915 Los Arboleg Road, Albuquerque, N. M. Nye, Pemberton H., 709 County St., New Bedford, Mass.

0'Gorman, Miss Ella Foy, 1706 Menlo Ave., Los Angeles, Calif.

Oliver, Norris S., 26 Washington St., East Orange, N. J.

52 jje-

Otis, Charles, 67 Pearl St., New York, N. Y. Paine, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth, 315 Thayer St., Providence, R. I. Parks, Basil Manly, Quarters 12, Army War College, Washington, D jC. Parks, Miss Edrwyna Anne, Quar. 12, Army W^r College, Washington, D. C. Parks, Floyd L., Jr., Quar. 12, Army War College, Washington, D. C. Parks, William Robinson, Quar. 12, Army War College, Washington, D. C. Praeger, Col. Louis J., Box 981, Falls Church, Va. Praeger, Mrs. Louis J., Box 981, Falls Church, Ya. Robinson, Mrs. William A., Cornwall, N. Y. Rooney, Mrs. L. Francis, 426 North 16bh St., Muskogee, Okla.

Runk, B. F. Dewees, "Hollymeade" Box 1728, Univ. Sta., Charlottesville, Ya. Sand, Henry A. L., 27 West 44ith St., New York, N. Y. Seeler, Edgar V., Jr., 4 Berkeley Place, Cambridge, Mass.

Seeler, Mrs. Edgar V., Jr., 4 Berkeley Place, Cambridge, Mass.

Sharp, B. Karl, 49 West Castle Place, New Rochelle, N. Y. Stanford, Alfred B., 333 East 68th St., New York, N. Y. Starbuck, George Franklin, Waltftaim, Mass.

Starbuck, John A., University Club, Los Angeles, Calif.

Starbuck, Walter Fisher, Waltham, Mass.

Stig, Carl, Liberty St., Nantucket.

Swain, Mrs. Eunice S., 191 Soundview Ave., White Plains, N. Y. Swain, Robert Edward, 321 Elmora Ave., Elizabeth, N. J. Symonds, Warren L., Isle La Motte, Vt. Tripp, William H., 165 Newton St., New Bedford, Mass.

Tucker, Albert M., Academy Hill, Nantucket.

Wallace, Mrs. William, 72 Main St., Nantucket.

Webster, Mrs. Fred H., Yarmouth by the Sea, Maine.

Wellington, Alfred Easton, 390 Meridan St., E. Boston, Mass.

Wihitehouse, Mrs. Mary A., 887 Georgia Ave., Winter Park, Fla. Wilson, Miss Anne, Nantucket.

Winslow, Miss Helen, Sunset Hill, Nantucket.

Wyman, Theodore C., 26 Hancock St., Boston, Mass.

SUSTAINING MEMBERS Armstrong, M. M., Box 1032, Darien, Conn.

Brooks, Mrs. Nelson M., "Hollymeade", Box 1728, Univ. Sta., Charlottesville, Va. Collier, Mrs. Robert, 191 East 74th St., New York, N. Y. Fitch, Mrs. Stanley G. H., 50 Garden St., Cambridge, Mass.

Haile, Pennington, 6 Martin's Lane, Nantucket.

Harris, Mrs. Edtward, 1171 Clover Road, Rochester, N. Y. Harris, Mrs. Julian H., 99 Main St., Nantucket.

Lederer, Richard M., 285 Madison Ave., New York 17, N. Y. <53)3-

Riddel], H. E., 91 Main St., Nantucket.

Willets, Mrs. Macy, New Marlboro, Mass.

Winsor, Miss Mary, c|o Miss Olsen, 1520 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Williams, Mrs. Winthrop, Main St., Nantucket.

ANNUAL MEMBERS Allen, Miss Florence M., 85 Vine St., Woonsocket, R. I. Allen, Miss Marian Hallett, Orange St., Nantucket.

Allen, Miss Olive M., Orange St., Nantucket.

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

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

Appleton, Mrs. Royal C., Orange St., Nantucket.

Atkins, Mrs. Edwin F., P. O. Box 1250, Belmont, Mass.

Austin, Mrs. Gharles Warren, Orange St., Nantucket.

Atwood, Mrs. Harry, 119-03 103rd Ave., Richmond Hill 19, N. Y. Bache, Miss Edith M., 8720 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.

Bacheller, Miss Augusta F., 51 Franklin St., Lynn, Mass.

Backus, Mrs. Alma, Upper Main St., Nantucket.

Baker, Miss Maude, 67 Stimson Ave., Providence, R. I. Baldwin, Mrs. Oharles H., 2 Quince St., Nantucket.

Barber, Howard C., 12 Westminster St., Nantucket.

Barber, Mrs. Howard C., 12 Westminster St., Nantucket.

Barney, Mrs. William H., Orange St., Nantucket.

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

Bass, Mrs. Lawrence W., 67 Park Ave., New York 16, N. Y. Baulch, Ernest L., 55 Pine St., Maplewood, N. J. Baulch, Mrs. Ernest L., 55 Pine St., Maplewood, N. J. Baulch, Miss Marcia E., 55 Pine St., Maplewood, N. J. BenChley, Robert, Jr., Silvermine Road, New Canaan, Conn.

Benchley, Mrs. Robert, 2 Lynwood Road, Scarsdale, N. Y. Bessie, Mrs. Simon Michael, Monomoy, Nantuucket.

Bissell, Mrs. Arthur H., 133 Wildwood Ave., Upper Montclair, N. J. Bixley, Miss Mildred E., 26 Central St., Boston, Mass.

Blackmur, Lt. Col. Paul, Cohasset, Mass.

Blair, Mrs. Robert, Hollow Tree Ridge Road, Parien, Conn.

Blair, Walter P., Tarrytown, N. Y. Blair, Mrs. Walter D., Tarrytown, N. Y. Boyd, Miss Edith I., .101 E. 74th St., New York, N. Y. Boyle, J. R., 1 Lorraine Road, Summit, N. J. Bracher, Mrs. V. K., Dongan Hills, Staten Island, N. Y. Bradlee, Herbert Gardner, 6 Ledgewood Road, Winchester, Mass.

Bradlee, Mrs. Reginald, 6 Ledgewood Road, Winchester, Mass.

Bailie, Mrs. William, 3 Quaker Road, Nantucket.

Brock, Albert G., 2d, Monomoy Road, Nantucket. r Brock, Mrs. Albert G., Monoimoy Road, Nantucket.

Brock, William C., 13 Gardner St., Nantucket.

Brock, Mrs. William C., 13 Gardner St., Nantucket.

Brooks, Miss Mildred H., 403 Common St., Belmont, Mass.

«5{54]3*

Brown, James Wright, 24 Cliff Road, Nantucket.

Bryant, Miss Catherine, 295 Ash St., Brockton, Mass.

Bullitt, Orvilie H., White Marsh, Pennsylvania.

Bunker, Austin F., 5 Wortihen Road, Winchester, Mass.

Bunker, Clarence A., 46 Chestnut St., Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Bunker, Mrs. C. A. 4.6 Chestnut St., Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Bunker, Theodore, Quince St., Nantucket.

Burgess, Miss Mildred G., Siasconset, Nantucket.

Burtensihaw, Mrs. James H., 83 Main St., Nantucket.

Butler, Mrs. Mabel R., 22 Cumberland Circle, East Lynn, Mass.

Campbell, Mrs. Olive D., Brasstown, N. C. Carlisle, Miss Elsie, Orange St., Nantucket.

Cart-wright, Archibald, 6 Howard St., Nantucket.

Cartwright, Mrs. Archibald, 6 Howard St., Nantucket.

Cathcart, Miss Ida, 43 Orange St., Nantucket.

Chace, Mrs. Ellen D., Hussey St., Nantucket.

Chadiwick, Mrs. James F., 463 Pine St., Fall River, Mass.

Chamlbliss, Mrs. L. A., 94 Main St., Nantucket.

Ohambliss, Miss Ann, 94 Main St., Nantucket.

Chapel, Mrs. James E., 31 Union St., Nantucket.

Chase, Charles, 968 Washington St., Stoughton, Mass.

Chase, Miss Charlotte B., 67 Hill-man St., New Bedford, Mass.

Chase, Mrs. Fred L., Jr., 9 Cheviot Road, Arlington, Mass.

Chase, Howard U., Hussey St., Nantucket.

Christians, Mrs. George, 1046 Park Ave., New York, N. Y. Clarke, Miss Urana, Box 693, Surfside, Nantucket.

Cochran, Dr. Joseph, Hussey St., Nantucket.

Cochran. Mrs. Joseph, Hussey St., Nantucket.

Coffin, Miss Adelaide B., 503 W. 121sit St., New York, N. Y. Coffin, Miss Altmira B., 376 Broadway, Newport, R. I. Coffin, Mrs. Charles Clark, Orange St., Nantucket.

Coffin, Mrs. -Charles H., 1529 Forest Ave., W.ilmette, 111.

Coffin, Foster M., Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Coffin, Frank Mitchell, 110 Hillside Ave., Mount Vernon, N. Y. Coffin, H. A., 19347 Berkeley Road, Detroit, Midh.

Coffin, Isa L. E., 442i Morgan Ave., N., Minneapolis, Minn.

Coffin, Mrs. Kenneth, Siasconset, Nantucket.

Coffin, Miss V-alina M., 376 Broadway, Newport, R. I. Cole, Mrs. S. V., 527 Chase Ave., Winter Park, Fla. Colt, Mrs. James D., 27 Suffolk Road, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Conable, Mrs. M. E., 356 Primrose Ave., Monrovia, Calif.

Con able, Col. M. E., 356 Primrose Ave., Monrovia, Calif.

Congdon, Mrs. Charles E., Orange St., Nantucket.

Congdon, Mrs. Frank E., 31 Liberty St., Nantucket.

Congdon, Frank E., 31 Liberty St., Nantucket.

Congdon, Miss Josephine, School -St., Nantucket.

Congdon, Roibert D., 5 Orange St., Nantucket.

Congdon, Mrs. Robert D., 5 Orange St., Nantucket.

Cook, Mrs. R. H., 75 Washington Ave., Northampton, Mass.

Coolidge, Mrs. Ruth D., 7 Hastings Lane, West Medford, Mass.

Covello, Mrs. Frank, 227 Oxford St., Hartford, Conn.

Craven, Miss Jessie T., Nantucket.

Criehton, Mrs. Powell, 14% Orange St., Nantucket.

Crosby, Arthur, 7301 Huron Lane, Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Penn.

Crosby, Mrs. Arthur, 7301 Huron Lane, Philadelphia, Penn.

Crosby, Everett U., Orange St., Nantucket.

Crosby, Mrs. Everett U., Orange St., Nantucket.

Cummings, Mrs. Laiwrence B., Nantucket.

Davis, Miss Elizabeth, 1108 Putnam Ave., Plairtfield, N. J. Defriez, Mrs. Thaddeus, 7 Garden Terrace, Cambridge 38, Mass.

Dennison, Mrs. C. M., Hinckley Lane, Nantucket.

Denton, Eugene Willis, 113 9th St., Garden City, N. Y. Denton, Mrs. Eugene W., 113 9th St., Garden City, N. Y. Ditmars, Mrs. Mary, Main St., Nantucket.

DonneU, Mrs. Clara G., No. Liberty St., Nantucket.

Dorsett, E. Lee, M. D., 227 S Maple Ave., Webster Groves 19, Mo. Drake, Mrs. Thomas E., 702 Pennstone Road, Bryn Maiwr, Penn.

Drake, Thomas E., 702 Pennstone Road, Bryn Mawr, Penn.

Dunnels, George, Main St., Brewster, Mass.

Dwight, Miss Margarethe L., 109 Benefit St., Providence, R. I. Dyer, Mrs. George L., Milk St., Nantucket.

Dyer, Lewis A., 104 High St., Newburyport, Mass.

Edgarton, Lewis S., 52 Centre St., Nantucket.

Edgarton, Mrs. Lewis S., 52 Centre St., Nantucket.

Eger, Oscar, Quaker Road, Nantucket.

Eger, Mrs. Oscar, Quaker Road, Nantucket.

Elder, Robert D., Orange St., Nantucket.

Elder, Mrs. Robert D., Orange St., Nantucket.

Ellinger, Mrs. Edgar, 180 West 58th St., New York, N. Y. Ellinger, Edgar, 180 West 58th St., New York, N. Y. Ernst, Roger, Mono.moy, Nantucket.

Ernst, Miss Joan, Monomoy, Nantucket.

Everett, Miss Lydia C., 57 Parker St., Newton Centre, Mass.

Farber, Dr. Sidney, Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Farnsworth, Mrs. E. E., 42 Clark Ave., Cornwall on Hudson, N. Y. Figures, Mrs. Norman G., 1301 Amelia St., New Orleans, La. Findley, Paul B., 463 West St., New York, N. Y. Fine, Jacob, M. D., 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, Mass.

Fisher, Miss Lila C., Quidnet, Nantucket.

Folger, Herbert Warren, 1728 Radcliffe Road, Dayton, Ohio.

Folger, Montaigue F., 1301 Amelia St., New Orleans, La. Folger, Oliver, 21 E. Magnolia Ave., Maywood, N. J.

56

Folger, Miss Ruth Angell, 42 Second St., Troy N. Y. Foster, Mrs. Henry C., 248 S. Prospect St., Hagerstown, Md. Francis, Lewis W., 81 Remsen St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Francis, Mrs. Lewis W., 81 Remsen St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Frazier, Robert H., 313 W. Washington St., Greensboro, N. C. Fuller, Mrs. Fred V., 12 Milk St., Nantucket.

Fulton, Miss Elizabeth, 12 Orange St., Nantucket.

Gale, Mrs. Frank ;H., 1168' Lowell Road, Schenectady, N. Y. Gardiner, Raynor M., Needham, Mass.

Gardiner, Mrs. Raynor M., Needham.

Gardiner, Mrs. H. Marshall, Nantucket.

Gardiner, Miss E. Geraldine, Walsh St., Nantucket.

Gardner, Miss Grace B., 33 Milk St., Nantucket.

Gardner, Miss Julia M., 15 Grandview Ave., Pleasantville, N. Y. Gardner, Walter, 131 Kensington Ave., Jersey City, N. J. Gardner, Rev. Wm. E., Orange St., Nantucket.

Gardner, Mrs. W. E., Orange St., Nantucket.

Gibbs, Stephen, North Water St., Nantucket.

Giffin, Norman, Easton St., Nantucket.

Gill, Mrs. Luther, 187 Sherwood Place, Englewood, N. J. Gill, Philip Lee, 187 Sherwood Place, Englewood, N. J. Gilpatrick, Roy H., M. D., Gardner Street, Nantucket.

Gilpatrick, Mrs. Roy H., Gardner St., Nantucket.

Glass, Mrs. Edgar T., 53 Orange St., Nantucket.

Goodhart, L. McCormick, R. F. D. 1, Box 186, Alexandria, Va. Goodman, Dr. Doris R., 339 Miller Ave., Portsmouth, N. H. Goodman, Joseph, 339 Miller Ave., Portsmouth, N. H. Gordon, Mrs. Harry, Jr., Polpis Road, Nantucket.

Gouin, Gwendolyn, Siasconset, Nantucket.

Gouin, Mrs. Mary L., Siasconset, Nantucket.

Gouin, Capt. M. E. A., Siasconset, Nantucket.

Gran el, John S., 1A Wachusett St., Worcester, Mass.

Grannis, Chandler B., 41 King St., New York, N. Y. Graves, Mrs. Lloyd 0., 2122 Hamlin St., Seattle, Wash.

Greene, David J., 47 Broad St., Milford, Conn.

Greene, Mrs. David J., 47 Broad St., Milford, Conn.

Greene, Norman J., Berwyn, Pa. Guibord, Mrs. E. Melissa, 27 Liberty St., Nantucket.

Hailes, Mrs. Charlotte, 3 Academy Lane, Nantucket.

Halbach, Mrs. E. K., Short Hills, N. J. Hartman, Mrs. Robert Folger, Box 665, Dayton 4, Ohio.

Harwood, Miss Margaret, Vestal St., Nantucket, Mass.

Hatch, Miss Hannah G-, 37 Union St., Nantucket.

Hayiward, Mrs. Ennma, Centre 'St., Nantucket.

Healey, Mrs. Isabel H. (W. R.), 19 Edgehill Road, Winchester, Mass.

Harrison, Mrs. Agnes W., South Road, Holden, Mass.

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Houghton, Miss Dorothy, 501 West 120th St., New York 27, N. Y. Heard, Mrs. Reginald E., 223 Goodwin Ave., Ridgewood, N. J. Henry, Mrs. Frank F., 1230 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. Henry, Lewis C., 26 Washington St., East Orange, N. J. Hitchcock, Mrs. Lemuel, Siasconset, Nantucket.

Hcbbs, Franklin W., 78 Chauncy St., Boston, Mass.

Hoffmeier, Miss Helen, 240 South Prospect St., Hageratown, Md. Holden, Mrs. Harry H., Siasconset, Nantucket.

Hoyle, Alexander E., 248 Boylston St., Boston, Mass.

Hubbard, Mrs. Thomas F., 317 Woodlawn Road, Roland Park, Baltimore, Md. Hubbard, Thomas F., 317 Woodlawn Road, Roland Park, Baltimore, Md. Hubbard, Thomas M., 831 N. Augusta Ave., Baltimore 29, Md. Hunter, C. C., 38 Gregory Blvd., East Norwalk, Conn.

Hurst, Carl E., 40 Broad St., Boston, Mass.

Hussey, Peter M., 17 West Chester St., Nantucket.

Hussey, Mrs. Peter M., 17 W. Chester St., Nantucket, Mass.

Ingall, Miss Florence, Easy St., Nantucket.

Jelleme, Mrs. T. J., 3 Bate St., Dedham, Mass.

Jenney, Mrs. Edgar W., 5 Arlington St., Boston, Mass.

Jernegan, Miss Elsie, 12 Orange St., Nantucket.

Jerome, Everett, Lily St., Nantucket.

Jerome, Mrs. Everett, Lily St., Nantucket.

Jewell, Miss Anne E., 91-37 116th St., Richmond Hill, N. Y. Jones, Frank W., Box 183, Siasconset, Nantucket.

Kaufman, Simon, Gay St., Nantucket.

Keally, Mrs. Mildred T., Ill East 80th St., New York, N. Y. Keller, Miss Beatrice, 45 Bowden Street, Maplewood, N. J. Kelley, Mrs. Eliza M., 71 Division St., Newport, R. I. Kerins, Mrs. John, Brookfield, Conn.

Kidde, Miss Elsa, 66 Gates Ave., Montclair, N. J. Kimball, Mrs. A. Wilson, Nantucket.

King, Clarence, Silvermine Road, New Canaan, Conn.

King, Mrs. Clarence, Silvermine Road, New Canaan, Conn.

King, Joseph, Hussey St., Nantucket.

King, Mrs. Joseph, Hussey St., Nantucket.

Knauss, Mrs. Miriam, 211 N. Poplar St., Allentown, Penn.

Laine, Mrs. Alexander, Future Farm, Norwich, Vermont.

Lane, Miss Hazel Gardner, 226 Pine St., Holyoke, Mass.

Lapham, Mrs. John, South Avenue, New Canaan, Conn.

Lathrop, Churchill P., 6 Valley Road, Hanover, N. H. Lathrop, John C., 39 Erwin Park Road, Montclair, N. J. Legg, Mrs. Seddon W., Orange St., Nantucket.

Lemair, Alan L., 243 Riverside Drive, New York, N. Y. Lemair, Mrs. Althine H., 243 Riverside Drive, New York, N. Y. Lewis, Frank E., M. D., Gardner St., Nantucket.

Lewis, Mrs. Frank E., Gardner St., Nantucket.

4 58

Lewis, Mrs. Vivian M., Paterson, N. J. Lewis, Judge Vivian M., Vice-Chancellor's Chambers, Paterson, N. J. Locke, John G., 1969 Alameda Terrace, San Diego, Calif.

Locke, Mrs. John G., 1969 Alameda Terrace, San Diego, Calif.

Loines, Miss Elma, 3 Pierrepont Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. Loepsinger, Albert J., 20 Abbotsford Court, Providence, R. I. Lord, Miss Harriet, 25 East End Ave., Nerw York, N. Y. Loring, Mrs. Marcia G., Nantucket.

Maclk, Miss Doris M., 1 Plumb Lane, Nantucket.

MacKay, Mrs. W. E., 8 Cliff Road, Nantucket.

MacKie, Mrs. Arthur H., 375 Mt. Prospect St., Newark, N. J. Macy, Mrs. Harriette W., 616 W 116th St., New York, N. Y. Macy, John Williams, South Private Road, Hubbard Woods, 111.

Macy, Miss Madeleine W., 616 W. 116th St., New York, N. Y. Maloney, Paul R., 31 Taylor Ave., Atlantic City, N. J. Manner, Mrs. R. S., 34 Giibbs Ave., Wareham, Mass.

Marshall, Albert E., 730 Elm Grove Ave., Providence 6, R. I. Marshall, Mrs. Albert E., 730 Elm Grove Ave., Providence 6, R. I. Marshall, Mrs. Carl B., 87 Chestnut St., Boston, Mass.

Marshall, Thomas W., 1707 Holly St., NW, Washington 12, D. C. Marshall, Mrs. Thomas W., 1707 Holly St., NW, Washington 12, D. C. Marshall, Whitfield H., 1707 Holly St., NW, Washington 12, D. C. MaTtin, Shelton E., Peapack, N. J. Martyne, Charles W., 82 Pierrepont St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Mason, Miss Edith S.. 8036 Watkins Drive, St. Louis, Mo. Mason, Mrs. W. S., 8036 Watkins Drive, St. Louis, Mo. Mather, William L., Gardner St., Nantucket.

Mather, Mrs. William L., Gardner St., Nantucket.

McCann, Mrs. Robert E., 1769 E. Foothill Blvd., Altadena, Calif.

McHenry, Mrs. Margaret, Oreland, Va. McKean, Captain John, 82 Bayview Ave., Great Neck, L. I., N. Y. Menges, Ernest H., M. D., 81 Main St., Nantucket.

Menges, Mrs. Ernest II., 81 Main St., Nantucket.

Menges, Miss Elizabeth, 81 Main St., Nantucket.

Merchant, Marcius, Dr., 390 Main St., Warren, R. I. Meyer, Mrs. F. F„ 460 Scotland Road, South Orange, N. J. Milliken, Mrs. Mary C., 303 County St., New Bedford, Mass.

Mills, Mrs. Edward, Quanato Terrace, Nantucket.

Mills, Mrs. Buell P., 17 Arnold Place, Rochester, N. Y. Minshall, Robert, 1170 Fifth Ave., New York 29, N. Y. Mitchell, Miss Florence, 33 Water St., Medford, Mass.

Mitchell, Miss Josephine L., 33 Water St., Medford, Mass.

Mitchell, Leeds, Polpis Road, Nantucket.

Mitchell, Richard, 808 Cypress St., Greensboro, N. C. Moller, Mrs. Hans E., 7 Pleasant St., Nantucket.

Moore, Cyril Howard, 16939 E. Jefferson Ave., Grosse Pomte 30, Mich.

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Moore, Mrs. Grace B., Segregansett, Mass.

Morrisey, Mrs. J. Frank, 590 Main St., West Warwick, R. I. Morrisey, J. Frank, 590 Main St., West Warwick, R. I. Morse, Carlton D., 570 High Rock St., Needham, Mass.

Morse, Mrs. Carlton D., 570 High Rock St., Needham, Mass.

Morse, Miss Elizabeth Ann, 570 High Rock St., Needham, Mass.

Morse, Horace H., East Northfield Mass.

Norris, Mrs. H. W., 20 Cliff Road, Nantucket.

Orlins, Alvin, 278 First Ave., New York, N. Y. Orlins, Mrs. Alvin, 278 First Ave., New York, N. Y. Osborne, Arthur D., Cedar Gate, Darien, Conn.

Osborne, Mrs. Arthur D., Cedar Gate, Darien, Conn.

Otis, Judge Thomas, Hyannis, Mass.

Paddock, A. E., Darling St., Nantucket.

Pancoast, Mrs. Charles R., Orange St., Nantucket.

Pearson, Gardner W., 53 Central St., Lowell, Mass.

Pease, Mrs. Laura, Hussey St., Nantucket.

Phillips, Mrs. Sarah S., 17 Pine St., Nantucket.

Pitman, Mrs. A. B., Nantucket.

Pollak, W. G., SO Broad St., New York, N. Y. Pollak, Mrs. W. G., 30 Broad Street, New York, N. Y. Porte, Lincoln, Lowell Place, Nantucket.

Potter, Lucius D., 81 Franklin St., Greenfield, Mass.

Potter, Mrs. Lucius D., 81 Franklin St., Greenfield, Mass.

Potter, Mrs. William, King Caesar Road, Duxibury, Mass, Prentice, Miss Margaret, Nantucket.

Price, Mrs. J. M., 35 East 84th Street, New York, N. Y. Prime, Mrs. Alfred C., Paoli, Penn.

Prosser, Miss Harriett R., Main St., Nantucket.

Pureell, Richard, 58 Burroughs St., Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Putney, Mrs. Edmonds, 125 East 63rd St., New York, N. Y. Rawson, Miss Dorothy, 3737 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rawson, Miss Marion, 3737 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio.

Ray, Earl S., Nantucket.

Reardon, Robert, 13 Vestal St., Nantucket.

Richmond, Mrs. George D., 2 Gorham's Court, Nantucket.

Ridgeway, P. S., 730 Lake St., Newark, N. J. Ring, Miss Anne, Nantucket.

Rixford, Mrs. F. A., 454 South Main Street, Woonsocket, R. I. Robinson, Miss Celeste, Nantucket.

Robinson, John H., 51 Centre St., Nantucket.

Rogers, Mrs. A. Stewart, School St., Nantucket.

Roths/child, Sigmund, 119 W. 57th St., New York, N. Y. Rothschild, Mrs. Sigmund, 119 W. 57th St., New York, N. Y. Rule, Mrs. George C., Gay St., Nantucket.

Russell, Gardner W., Hinckley Lane, Nantucket.

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Russell, Miss Lucia, 27 George St., Greenfield, Mass.

Sanders, Mrs. L. W., 66 Gates Avenue, Montclair, iN. J. Sanderson, David E., Quidnet, Nantucket.

Sanderson, Edward F., Quidnet, Nantucket.

Sandsbury, Miss Edith, 33 Milk St., Nantucket.

Sutler, Mrs. Charles E., Main St., Nantucket, Mass.

Sayle, Charles F., 63 Union St., Nantucket.

Sayle, Mrs. Charles F., 63 Union St., Nantucket.

Schepp, Miss Florence L., 834 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. Scholl, Harding, 157 E. 57th St., New York 21, N. Y. Searle, Miss Olive N., 903 East Huron St., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Selleck, Mrs. George A., 17 Prospect St., Nantucket.

Sheahan, George M., M. D., 12 School St., Quincy, Mass.

Shoemaker, Charles, Jr., 315 South 45th St., Philadelphia, Penn.

Shurrocks, Mrs. Alice, 16 Vestal St., Nantucket.

Simpson, Robert C., 161 Monument St., Groton, Conn.

Smith, Mrs. Alfred E., Nantucket.

Smith, H. S., Longview Road, Port Washington, N. Y. Smith, Mrs. William L., 1027 State St., Netw Orleans 15, La. Snelling, Mrs. Samuel, 25 Orange St., Nantucket.

Snow, Mrs. Henry, Apt. 25, Alexander Apts., Gilbert and Williaim H. Taft Roads, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Soverino, Mrs. Helen, 45 Fair St., Nantucket.

Soverino, Irving A., 45 Fair St., Nantucket.

Stanley-Brown, Mrs. Rudolph, 2750 32d St., NW, Washington, D. C. Stackpole, Edouard A., North Liberty St., Nantucket.

Stackpole, Mrs. John A., West Chester St., Nantucket.

Starbuck Descendants, c]o Mrs. E. J. Lindsay, Somerset, Ind. Stahbuck, Miss Isabel, 86 Ellery St., Cambridge 38, Mass.

Starbuck, Dr. Joseph C., 42 E. Baltimore Ave., Media, Penn.

Starbuck, Com. Wilson, Public Infor. Officer, Naval Base Bldg. 6, 4th Naval District, Philadelphia, Penn.

Stevens, Miss Cora, Nantucket.

Still, Mrs. Baxter, 307 E. 44th St., New York, N. Y. Stratton, Mrs. Frank L., Gorham's Court, Nantucket.

Streets, Miss Mary, 205 East Commerce St., Bridgeton, N. J. Stridby, Mrs. Irene M., Apt. 70, 402 N. Meridan, Indianapolis, Ind. Strong, Austin, 125 E. 63rd St., New York, N. Y. Strong, Mrs. Austin, 125 E. 63rd St., New York, N. Y. Sutton, Miss Ruth H., Commercial Wharf, Nantucket.

Swain, Clayton E., Marlboro Road, Delmar, N. Y. Swain, Mrs. David W., 191 Sound View Ave., White Plains, N. Y. Swain, Frank K., Fonthill, Doylestown, Pa. Sykes, Mrs. Rosamund, Pine St., Nantucket.

Sylvester, Miss Gladys, 40 Lincoln St., Winthrop, Mass.

Taber, Mrs. G. H., 4114 Bigelow BlVd, Pittsburgh, Penn.

Taylor, Frank C., 190 Kempton St., New Bedford, Mass. ^ 61

Taylor, Mrs. Frank C., 190 Kempton St., New Bedford, Mass.

Teetor, Mrs. Charles N., Lightcroft Jr., Lake Warwasee, Syracuse, Ind. Terwilliger, Charles O., Jr., Terwilliger, Mrs. Charles O. Thomas, Mrs. Catherine, 5 Forest St., Newton Highlands, Mass.

Thomas, Miss Ellen, Nantucket.

Thomas, Elliot, 5 Forest St., Nerwton Highlands, Mass.

Thomas, Mrs. Florence C., Chester St., Nantucket.

Thurston, Mrs. Leo, Liberty St., Nantucket.

Tice, Ediward, 65 Orange St., Nantucket.

Todd, Mrs. Mitchell, 411 Forest Ave., Oak Park, 111.

Torjesen, Miss Elizabeth F., 4 Bretton Road, Scarsdale, N. Y. Torr, Miss Florence, 1080 Walnut St., Newton Highlands, Mass.

Torr, Miss Mercedes, 1080 Walnut St., Newton Highland's, iMass.

True, Leroy H., Milestone Road, Nantucket.

True, Mrs. Leroy H., Milestone Road, Nantucket.

Turner, Gordon Baker, 'Chestnut St., Nantucket.

Turner, Mrs. Harry, Chestnut St., Nantucket.

Tuttle, Mrs. H. E., 27i (Park St., New Haven, Conn.

Urann, Mrs. Carl, 34 Gitobs Ave., Wareham, Mass.

Van Tuyl, Mrs. William R., 220 Fifth Ave., Leavenworth, Kansas.

Varin, Mrs. Charles T., 9708 97th St., Ozone Park, N. Y. Varney, Mrs. Theodore, Nantucket.

Villanova, Miss Mary, 22 Shawimut Ave., E. Weymouth 89, Mass.

Van Wyck, Edmund, R. F. D., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Waine, William, 51 Fair St., Nantucket.

Waine, Mrs. William, 51 Fair St., Nantucket.

Walker, Miss Mary Elizabeth, Milk St., Nantucket.

Walling, Mrs. Georgie L., Rose Lane, Nantucket.

Walsh, Mrs. William J., 199 North Broadway, North Tarrytown, N. Y. Watkins, Mrs. A E., 242 Sycamore St., Waverly 79, Mass.

Webster, Franklin Folger, 131 Eaglecroft Road, Westfield, N. J. Weeks, Miss Mabel, 39 Claremont Ave., New York, N. Y. Wesoott, Dr. O. D., Nantucket.

West, Mrs. Ralph, 116 St. George's Road, Ardmore, Penn.

Whitlaw, Ralph, Accomac, Va. Whitman, H. G., 27 Harbor St., Clinton, Mass.

Whitman, Miss Marjorie E., 27 Harbor St., Clinton, Mass.

Whitney, Henry L., 676 Brush Hill Road, Milton, Mass.

Whitney, Mrs. Henry L., 676 Brush Hill Road, Milton, Mass.

Whitney, Miss Georgians, 676 Brush Hill Road, Milton, Mass.

Whitney, Miss Rosamund, 676 Brush Hill Road, Milton, Mass.

Wieand, Miss Irma, 527 Chase Ave., Winter Park, Fla. Wilbur, Miss Fannie B., 375 Lloyd Ave., Providence, R. I. Wilbur, Miss Florence H., 375 Lloyd Ave., Providence, R. I. Wildman, Mrs. Maud B., Woodbridge, Conn.

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Willard, Mrs. Helen Parker, 2425 Wyoming Ave., Washington, D. C. Willauer, Mrs. Whiting, 100 Goddard St., Bnookline, Mass.

Williams, Miss Audrey, 23 Myrtle St., Quincy, Mass.

Williams, Miss Harriett C., 70 Orange St., Nantucket.

Williams, Mrs. R. F., 218 Inwood Avenue, Upper Montclair, N. J. Williams, R. F., 218 In/wood Ave., Upper Montclair, N. J. Willey, Leonard T., P. O. Box 676, St. Augustine, Fla. Williams, Philip A., Jr., Westmoreland Ave., Springfield, Mass.

Wilmot, Mrs. James, Chestnut St., Nantucket.

Wilson, E. H., 181 Stanlbery Ave., Ooluimlbus, Ohio.

Wilson, Mrs. E. H., 181 Stanibery Ave., Columbus, Ohio.

Winn, Arthur L., The Northfield, E. Northfield, Mass.

Winslow, Mrs. Addison, Nantucket.

Winslow, Mrs. Helena G., Sunset Hill, Nantucket.

Wolf, Miss Elizabeth, 235 West 108th St., New York, N. Y. Wood, Miss Margaret H., P. O. Box 247, Wilmington, N. C. Wright, Harrison, 236 Grandview Blvd., Tuckahoe, N. Y. Wright, Miss Helen, 551 South Hill Ave., Pasadena, Calif.

Wyatt, Miss Grace, College Station, Murray, Kentucky.

Yaeger, Clement L., Box 277, New Bedford, Mass.

Zabriskie, F. C., 344 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, N. J.

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