Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

410 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BAKNSTABLE FAMILIES.
He also owned the G-rist Mill known as Hallett's Mill, and
the landijig place, or wharf, near the same. The grist mill
named in the early town records (1647) was situate farther south
than the present mill. The ancient dam, built by the first
settlers, only enclosed the southern part of the present mill pond,
then appropriately named Stone Cove. The northern portion of
the mill pond was then a tract of salt meadow which has gradually
worn away, since the erection of the present dam.
The tannery of Capt. Gorham was a short distance southerly
from the present mill, on the west of the pond, and northerly
from the site of the ancient grist mill.
He was deputy from Yarmouth to the Plymouth Colony
Court at the special session April 6, 1653, and the following year
he was chosen surveyor of highways in the town of Yarmouth.
At the Court held June 1, 1663, "Liberty was graunted
unto John Gorham to looke out some land for accomodation, and
to make report thereof to the Court, that soe a competency may
be granted to him." He selected a tract of one hundred acres at
Papasquash Neck, in Swansea, which was granted to him in July,
1669, and in July, 1672, Mr. Constant Southworth, Mr. James
Brown, and Mr. John Gorham, were appointed a committee to
purchase the same of the Indians. July 13, 1677, in consideration
of the good service that Capt. Gorham had performed for the
country in the war in which he lost his life, the Court confirmed to
his heirs and successors forever the 100 acres of land at Papasquash
Neck. ,
In 1673 and 1674, he was a member of the board of Selectmen
of the town of Barnstable, and in the former year received
the appointment of lieutenant of the Plymouth forces in, the
Dutch war.
June 17, 1675, Gen. Benjamin Church arrived at Plymouth,
and confirmed former reports of the conduct of King Philip.
The next Sunday, June 20, Philip's men made an attack on Swanzey,
and rifled a few houses. Forthwith a post was sent to
Plymouth for aid, who arrived at break of day June 21. Information
was sent to Boston, and aid solicited ; orders were issued
to all the Captains of all the companies in the Colony to march
without delay. Thursday, June 24, was a day of fasting and
prayer, by appointment, throughout the Colony. The names of
the soldiers who went from Barnstable are not recorded. Mr.
John Gorham, it appears by the Yarmouth records, wis captain of
the militia company.and a resident in that town. June 24, 1675,
Capt. Gorham and twenty-nine from Yarmouth, whose names appear
on record, "took their first march" for Mount Hope. These
were mounted men. It is not so stated in the records ; but such
clearly appears : £9 were paid for nine horses lost, £10 for the
hire of horses, and £11,15 10 for the loss of saddles and bridles.
Barnstable and the other towns in the Count v also furnished