From the Oct. 14, 1927 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:

Surprising, even perplexing historical facts, are to be found in a huge calf-bound volume in which the census for Martha’s Vineyard for 1850 is recorded by Richard L. Pease of Edgartown.

Large families were the order of the times and there is no distinction between the foreign and native born parents in this respect. The number of children attending schools is a revelation, this in spite of the fact that all sixteen year old boys gave occupations, showing that they were probably regularly engaged in some profession.

In the list of occupations another surprise awaits the reader. It seems to have been a foregone conclusion that the principle business of that period in the Island’s history was seafaring, but seemingly such was far from being correct, there having been two-thirds as many adult males occupied as landsmen as there were mariners.

Edgartown and Tisbury naturally possessed the greater numbers of seafarers, while Chilmark had more farms and rather more farmers in proportion to the number of inhabitants. Strange to say, no one admitted to being a fisherman, although mention is made of fish and fishing vessels. Very likely the word “mariner” was considered more dignified. Statistics on the farming industry are extremely interesting. Figures tend to disprove the oft-repeated statement that “everybody used to have oxen,” as only about half of the landowners are credited with the possession of working cattle and very few had more than one pair. Nearly every man had one horse, however, a few had two and William Swain of Chilmark had twelve beside eight oxen. These were on his Naushon farm, that island with the rest of the Elizabeth group being a part of Chilmark at the time.

The great flocks of sheep often spoken of were not as great as represented. There were indeed many sheep on the Island, but they were divided among many owners. For instance, on the eighty-one farms of Edgartown the flocks of sheep ran from two to ninety. Everyone owned cattle other than oxen, but the herds were small, one to six milch cows. This small amount of stock per person is explained by the fact that the farms were small. Many Edgartown farms contained but eight or twelve acres of improved land, this including pasturage and tilled land. Few were of more than sixty or seventy-five, and the largest, owned by Samuel Keniston, Sr., contained three hundred and fifty acres of improved land.

In Tisbury there were ninety-two farms, averaging somewhat larger than those of Edgartown, but none as large as Keniston’s. There were more milch cows, nearly every man owning at least one, but none over four. The sheep flocks were larger, running as high as one hundred and fifty, but some had but one sheep.

Chilmark seemed to have been the real agricultural district, leading the other towns by considerable distance. There were ninety-nine farms, these of course including the holdings on the Elizabeth Islands. Many contained several hundred acres of improved land.

The sheep flocks were larger than those of the other towns, there being 5563 sheep owned in Chilmark. Nearly every farmer owned oxen and one horse, there were more milch cows and more young cattle, but, as in the other towns, no one seems to have owned more than one or two pigs.

As to the productiveness of these Island farms, the figures are staggering, yet they must be believed. The principal crops were corn, rye and potatoes, beyond which butter was the leading product of all towns.

In the “Social Statistics” Mr. Pease has set down the valuation of real and personal estate of each town as taken from the assessors’ books, followed by what is marked “True Valuation.” There was some discrepancy, as may be seen, and it may be wondered whether or not the popular, antagonistic feeling between the towns at that time may have had some bearing on the matter.

Edgartown’s assessed valuation is $540,159, the true valuation being set at $675,187. There were nine schools, 320 pupils and 12 teachers. There were two libraries, the Lyceum and that of the common school, containing 150 and 275 volumes respectively, 10 paupers for which the town expended $800 in yearly support, and “no crime.”

In Chilmark the assessed valuation was $281,021; true valuation, $562,042. There were four schools, 147 pupils, and 4 teachers, employed at an expense of $375; one school building; 2 churches, and 3 paupers.

The assessed valuation of Tisbury was $209,058; true valuation, $627,144; 10 schools, 430 pupils, 14 teachers; 6 churches, one school library, and 8 paupers. There was “no crime” in either of the towns.

In reading over these figures, one might be tempted to exclaim: “Those were the days!” — until the record of the deaths for the year are noted. The causes, of which lung fever, inflammation of the bowels and dysentery are prominent, are calculated to make the average person feel more satisfied with the present.

Compiled by Hilary Wall
library@mvgazette.com