"Know all Men," 1800

In 1800, one of the fish houses at ’Sconset was divided by its two owners, mariners Wilson Rawson and Josiah Marshall, who recorded their deed that year, and in doing so granted us a description of their humble abode:

We the above named owning at this time a house which we built together at the east part of this island at a place called Siasconset for the use and benefit of fishing. We being now about to divide the said south part of said house which we built together do agree in way and manner as follows, to say for Josiah Marshall to have the east bedroom of said house and the privileges to the same to him and his heirs and assigns: and Wilson Rawson for his part of said building is to have the west bedroom with the privileges to he same to him his heirs and assigns and it is agreed for the fireplace in said south part of said house, and the main floor from the fire place to the said bedrooms, to be and to remain for the use and benefit of each of us and to our heirs or assigns as has been improved here tofore by us and we agree that neither of us shall put in any person that shall be disagreeable to the other.

The simple house owned by these two men was no more than a hut to accommodate them, and their mutually approved friends, during fishing season. It was probably typical of most of the dwellings in the village at the turn of the century.

Rawson taught for a time at the African School in Nantucket Town.

A digital exhibition by the Nantucket Historical Association