Winslow Marston House, Hyannis PortNymphas Marston Esq. gave his nephew and adopted son Winslow Marston several acres of land on Marston Avenue in Hyannis Port. Winslow built his house here in 1786. Winslow's son was raised in this house and followed the high moral and professional example of his namesake uncle. Historical Significance, Footnote: Biography of Nymphas Marston, Esq.:Nymphas was born on February 12, 1728. He was the fourth child of Benjamin Marston and Lydia Goodspeed Marston. Sobriety and attention to his studies marked the course of Nymphas' academic education received at Yale College, the honors of which were conferred on him in 1749 and 1752. He Married Mary Allen in 1751 and had 5 children who all died before adulthood. He adopted his nephew Winslow as his surrogate son. He was an attorney prominent in public affairs and a distinguished citizen of his time. His estate was located on the knoll West of his father Benjamin's mill in Marstons Mills. In 1760 he was appointed Justice of the Barnstable County Court of Common Pleas and voted Master of the Town of Barnstable's West School District. He was elected Surveyor of Town Ways in '66 and '67. In 1762 and again in '71, '74 and'76 he was elected Selectman of the Town . He represented the Town in the Massachusetts General Court from 1765 to 1770. In '64, '77 and '78 he was elected Moderator of Town Meeting. Nymphas was a friend of and related by marriage to the towns foremost Loyalist sympathizer, Edward Bacon. Bacon was married to Nymphas' sister Patience, Winslow's aunt. In an historic act of defiance against British rule, Nymphas and several other town leaders forced the adjournment of the Massachusetts General Court in September 1774. Their demand was: "Whereas there have been several acts of the British Parliament passed tending to introduce an unjust and partial administration of justice: to change our free constitution into a state of slavery and oppression, and to introduce Popery in some parts of British America, etc. : Therefore we the subscribers do engage and declare that we will not accept of any commission in consequence of, or in conformity to, said acts of Parliament, nor upon any unconstitutional regulations; and that if either of us is required to do any business in our offices in conformity to said acts or any way contrary to the charter of this province, we will refuse it although we may thereby lose our commissions." In the measures of physical resistance to Great Britain which followed he contributed his full share, both by precept and by monetary accommodations, making large advances from his private means. However, Thanks to the opposing words of Judge Nymphas Marston and regardless of James Otis' fiery oratory promoting Independence, Barnstable was the only town on Cape Cod that did not vote for independence in 1776. His leadership and moderating views provided stability to the Town during the volatile Revolutionary period when a cool head was necessary in heated disputes between ardent Whigs and Loyalists. Though Judge Nymphas Marston leaned toward moderate Toryism before and immediately after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he changed his outlook as the war progressed. On one occasion, the soldiers called out from below for the defense of Falmouth, on their return home called upon him, and after accepting his bountiful hospitalities, gave vent to their patriotism by firing a salute in the house that shattered the plaster in the dining room. He remarked that his guests might be pardoned if only they would carry out their zeal in shattering the ranks of the common enemy. He was elected Town Warden in '75 and Town Treasurer in '77 and '78. He was on the first War Committee for the town in '76 and the First Committee of Correspondence in '77 and '78 with Colonel James Otis, Daniel Davis and Edward Bacon. In November, 1777, Nymphas was elected, with Sherjashub Bourne, to represent Barnstable at the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, convened in Boston by Gov. John Hancock. From January 9 to February 7 He and delegates from all counties in the State considered and acted upon the proposed Constitution of the United States, which was later ratified in Philadelphia. At the Convention, he was seized with the disorder which put an end to his life at his home on the eve of his sixtieth birthday, February 11, 1788, ten days before the birth of his nephew Nymphas. His Tombstone represents him as; "a fearer of God, a serious, but not a bigoted Christian. He was moderate in prosperity and patient in adversity, a kind husband, fond parent and indulgent master in his house, affable to his neighbors, generous to his friends and relatives, charitable to the poor and just to all." Simeon L. Deyo, a leading Barnstable historian said; "Probably no lawyer ever practiced in Barnstable County who more completely gained and held the confidence, love and esteem of all the people of the County than Nymphas Marston." The same could be said of his nephew. END Compiled 1/31/03 by: Marcus
M. Sherman, 70 Marston Ave, Hyannis Port, MA 02647-0458
|