Anne Sparrow
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 10 Jul 1774 - Eastham, Massachusetts 2
Baptism:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Isaac Sparrow (1752-1775) 3
Mother: Mary (Est 1755- )
Annie Edwards Sparrow
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: Cir 1831 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Baptism:
Death: After 1925 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: James Linnell Sparrow (1801-1891) 4
Mother: Sukey Crosby (1805-After 1883)
Spouses and Children
1. *Freeman H Snow (1823 - 26 Feb 1897)
Marriage:
Status:
Apphia Sparrow
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 18 Jul 1731 - Eastham, Massachusetts 5
Baptism:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Steven Sparrow (1694- )
Mother: Anna Mulford (1691-1772)
Arthur Carlton Sparrow
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1854 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Baptism:
Death: 21 Nov 1857 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Burial: in Orleans Cemetery
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Joshua Sparrow (1811- )
Mother: Dorinda Cole (1814- )
Benjamin Sparrow
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 7 Oct 1727 - Eastham, Massachusetts 7
Baptism:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Jonathan Sparrow (Abt 1695-1790)
Mother: Dorcas Vickery (1698-1776)
Benjamin Cummings Sparrow
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 9 Oct 1839 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Baptism:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: James Linnell Sparrow (1801-1891) 4
Mother: Sukey Crosby (1805-After 1883)
Spouses and Children
1. *Eunice S Felton (Est 1842 - ) 8
Marriage: 25 Dec 1866
Status:
Notes
General:
East Orleans: " In this vicinity is the office of Benjamin C. Sparrow, superintendent of the Second division of the U.S. life saving stations, one of which is on the beach east of the post office."
"We have dated the life saving service from 1848: but the extension and reorganization of the service in 1871, 1872, marks the beginning of the efficiency for which this branch of the public service is justly distinguished. After congress had appropriated two
hundred thousand dollars, in April, 1871, the treasury department detailed Captain John Faunce, of the Revenue Marine, to visit the stations already established, and ascertain their condition and needs. His report showed the practical waste of the government money and the utter uselessness of most of the stations. No discipline among the men, no care for the preservation of apparatus, and no supervision of the stations, were evils which he pointed out. Several serious disasters served to call further attention to the service, and resulted in the inauguration of the present system of districts with superintendents.
Of the twelve districts in the United States, the Second includes the entire coast of Massachusetts, of which Benjamin C. Sparrow, of East Orleans, is superintendent. His selection and appointment in November. 1872, was a part of the plan to prevent the evils above mentioned, while extending the service under liberal appropriations. He had been in the United States regular army from 1861 until November, 1864, in the engineer battalion, attached to the headquarters of the army of the Potomac, and was a prisoner at Belle Isle in the summer of 1862. He had taught public schools in Eastham, and from 1861 had been successfully engaged in wrecking. When the war broke out he was at Phillips Academy preparing himself for the legal profession. Since his birth, October 9, 1839, he had, like his ancestors, resided at Orleans, where they had been fully familiar with the scenes of shipwreck and disaster.
The success of Superintendent Sparrow in securing discipline and efficiency in this hazardous service, and his popularity among the captains and crews of the stations under his official care, have retained him to the present time. He is a worthy descendant of that Richard Sparrow who came over in the ship Ann and landed at Plymouth,and from whom those of the name on the Cape have sprung. Richard came to Eastham in 1650, bringing his only child, Jonathan, whose last resting place is now marked by a stone in the first burial ground of that town. His son by a second marriage with Hannah, daughter of Governor Prince, was Richard, born March 17, 1669. He married Mercy Young (or Cobb), and died in Eastham in 1727, leaving seven daughters and a son, Richard. This only son married Hannah Shaw in 1724, and died in 1774. Of their children three only grew to manhood and womanhood -- Isaac and two daughters, one of whom married Daniel Hamilton, whose son Paul was the first Methodist preacher heard in Orleans. Isaac" was born in 1725, and married Rebecca Knowles in 1747, to whom eight children were born-five daughters and three sons, of whom Josiah was the youngest. He married Mercy Smith, of Chatham, January 11, 1782. Their nine children were: Lydia, born October 19, 1782; Josiah, jr., born March 13,1785; Mercy, born May 28,1788; Zerviah, born March 151790; Samuel, born November 8, 1792; Harvey, born November 14, 1795; Sarah, born March 21, 1798; James L., born June 2, 1801; and Hannah Shaw Sparrow, the youngest of the nine, born January 1,1805.
James L. Sparrow, father of the superintendent, married Sukey Crosby, of Orleans, December 16, 1824. Their four daughters were: Julia M., who died young: Anna E. (Mrs. Freeman H. Snow), Susan M. (Mrs. Joseph K. May) and Sarah E., who died at eighteen. James H., their oldest son, was a well known citizen of Cambridgeport, Mass.,
until his death there in 1880; William F. enlisted in the civil war and was killed at Goldsboro, N. C., in December, 1862.
Benjamin C., the sixth child and youngest son, is the Superintendent Sparrow of this sketch. He is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post, No. 141, G. A. R., and has found time to serve his town on the school board more or
less for the past twenty-three years. His ability in the life saving service was early recognized by his appointment on the board of experts to examine new appliances and methods proposed for use by the department. This position he has held until the present time.
He was married to Eunice S., daughter of Moses O. Felton, December 25,1866, and they have two children living -- Susan F. and Josephine M. Mrs. Sparrow was a resident of Shutesbury, Mass., and was a teacher here in 18641866. They reside upon the home farm in East Orleans.
The life saving stations on the Cape are generally officered and manned by men residing in the towns where the stations are located. Provisions have been made by the government for some compensation in cases of death or disability while in this service; and still greater liberality would be no more than a just recognition of the perils encountered by the courageous men. Year by year improvements have been made in the buildings and apparatus. The selection of men by ascertainment of health, habits, age and professional acquirement has been enforced; thorough inspection of stations and exercise of the keepers and men in the use of the apparatus and maneuvers of an established drill have been regularly instituted, and a patrol system practiced. The men are instructed in the most approved methods of restoring the apparently drowned persons with whom they often come in contact in their line of duty. A code of signals for day and night
has been devised, to enable patrolmen to communicate with stations, whereby preparations for hasty assistance can be made. In fact the appropriations by congress have been annually sufficient to render this humane service efficient, rescuing hundreds of lives and saving large amounts of property, as the following table fully demonstrates.
The Second district comprises the stations of the Massachusetts coast, ten of which are on the Cape. The accompanying table contains the statistics of the entire district. Of the number of vessels reported in distress, those assisted by the Cape stations are fully proportionate in the comparison of its number of stations with those of the district." 9 10
Benjamin Franklin Sparrow
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1 Sep 1829 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Baptism:
Death: Bef 1911
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Seth Sparrow (1801-1862) 11
Mother: Polly Rogers (1804-1851)
Notes
General:
1885, of Boston
1887, of Cambridge
Benjamin Franklin Sparrow
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 1822 - Eastham or Orleans, Massachusetts
Baptism:
Death: 22 Mar 1901 - Lisle, New York
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Solomon Sparrow (1792-1868)
Mother: Mary Baker (1794-1871)
Notes
General:
Marriage 1 Julia E. Close b: 23 Dec 1828 in Del. County, NY
Bethia Bangs Sparrow
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 16 Dec 1834 - Orleans, Massachusetts 13
Baptism:
Death: 11 Jul 1902 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Captain Harvey Sparrow (1795-1893)
Mother: Betsey Snow (1799-1883) 6 14
Spouses and Children
1. *Captain Edmund Linnell (3 Aug 1833 - 14 May 1910) 12
Marriage: 25 Oct 1864 - Orleans, Massachusetts
Status:
Notes
Marriage Notes (Captain Edmund Linnell)
" Edmund Linnell, son of Edmund and grandson of Edmund Linnell, was born in 1833. He was a master mariner for about twelve years prior to 1870, and since that time he has been a farmer. He married Bethiah B., daughter of Harvey and Betsey (Snow) Sparrow, granddaughter of Josiah Sparrow." 15
Betsey S Sparrow
Sex: F
Individual Information
Birth: 15 Feb 1825 - Orleans, Massachusetts 13
Baptism:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Captain Harvey Sparrow (1795-1893)
Mother: Betsey Snow (1799-1883) 6 14
Spouses and Children
1. *Captain David Snow (8 Aug 1822 - 12 May 1894)
Marriage:
Status:
Notes
Marriage Notes (Captain David Snow)
"David Snow, son of David, and grandson of Stephen Snow, was born in 1822. He was a master mariner from 1845 until he retired. from the sea in 1885. He married Betsey S., daughter of Harvey Sparrow. She died, leaving two children: Heman R. and David A. His second marriage was with Sarah L. Smith." 15