History of Eastham, Massachusetts, USA

Eastham, Massachusetts
Barnstable county, on a narrow part of the cape, 23 miles E. by N. from Barnstable. Population in 1837, 1,059. First settled, 1644. Incorporated, 1646. The product of the cod and mackerel fishery in 1836 was $30,900. The value of salt, boots, shoes, and palm-leaf hats manufactured was $10,561.

The Indian name of Eastham was Nauset, and the sea beach still retains the name.

Eastham originally was owned by Plymouth, and included Wellfleet and Orleans.

The ravages of the ocean on the coast are distinctly seen, and the sand-hills are constantly increasing in height.

The manufacture of salt, and the fisheries, give employment to the inhabitants.

Distance from Barnstable, 23 miles; from Boston, in a straight line, 68.

Eastham, a post-township of Barnstable county, Massachusetts, on the E. side of Cape Cod bay, 60 miles S. E. from Boston. Population, 845.

EASTHAM, a township in Barnstable co., in the state of Massachusetts, U.S., 97 m. SE of Boston, on a narrow part of Cape Cod peninsula. Pop. 955.

Eastham lies at the middle of the outer arm of Cape Cod, in Barnstable County, 97 miles from Boston by the Old Colony Railroad, which passes through the town, having stations at Eastham and North Eastham, which are also the post-offices. The territory is about six miles long by three wide. The assessed area is 4,892 acres, of which 623 are woodland.

The town is indented with inlets, and diversified by several freshwater ponds. The sea is visible on either hand from the cars. The soil is sandy, and at some points is so blown about as to present tracts that are entirely sterile; yet there is good land in the eastern part of the town, which is well cultivated by some of the best farmers on the Cape.

The farms number 54; and their aggregate product, in 1885, had the value of $54,098. The cranberry crop was valued at $2,355; and the poultry product was $9,420. The manufactures consisted of salt, prepared fish, leather and several others of slight extent; the aggregate value being...

Eastham, east'am, a post-township of Barnstable co., Mass., part of Cape Cod peninsula. It is bounded on the E. by the ocean, and on the W. by Cape Cod Bay. It is intersected by the Old Colony Railroad, and has 2 churches. Pop. 602.