Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 229
not in the dii-ect line between, but a little eastward. The Sturgis
tavern, which has been described, is about three hundred yards
eastward from the Court House, and on the south side of the road.
TJiere has been only one change in the location of the buildings in
this vicinity since 1775—the Loring tavern has been taken down.
In 1774 Loring made an addition to his house, in order to induce
the justices of the courts to stop with him. During the Revolution
his house was the head-quarters of the tories, and the Sturgis
house of the whigs.
The. exciting incidents which occurred in that vicinity, are
popularly known as the "Crocker quarrels," though others beside
the Croekers took part in them. The scene of the Indian Dream
was laid in that vicinity ; the Liberty pole, cut down by sacrilegious
hands, stood at the west end of the Green; the widow
Freeman was tarred and feathered thereon, the difHculties between
Cols. Freeman and Otis, and the Croekers, occurred there, and in
the house of Cornelius Crocker, Jr., fronting thereon, and the
defiant passage at arms, between Otis Loring and the Vigilance
Committee, in the Blacksmith's shop. The bitter feelings of
personal hostility which these incidents engendered, has no
parallel on Cape Cod, if the case between the Clarks and the
Winslows of Harwich, be excepted. Even now, individuals may
be found who are ready "to shoulder their crutches, and show
how the battles" were fought.
The Indian Dreame. On a fine morning, just before the
Declaration of Independence, the villagers found under the
latchets of their doors, a small pamphlet entitled "An Indian
Dream, drempt on Cape Cod, intended as a satire upon the leading
men of the County, particularly on the justices of the Court
of Common Sessions. It was written with much ability, and its
witty allusions commended it to the young and the old, and to
men of all parties.
The Indian said, "I dreamed that I was in the spirit world,
sitting thereon.
that I saw a long bench, with twelve antient .
(The twelve justices of the Court.) I
men
inquired who they were,
and was informed that they had just arrived from the lower world,
and that Satan (a nickname of Otis Loring) had added an apartment
to his domain for their special accommodation. I asked,
who is that venerable man sitting at the head of the bench.
(Col. James Otis.) I was told that he was their Chief in the
nether world, that in early life he was a painter and glazier by
trade,* that he afterwards peddled goods to customers, and law
to clients, that his tribe had made him a chief sachem ; but of
late he thought himself to be the best paddler in canoe of State."
* This fact I have never seen stated in any biograpliy of Col. James Otis. It was
during the time he travelled from house to house paintinff and repairing the ancient diamond
glass windows, that be laid the foundation of his influence and usefalness.