Captain Nathaniel Robbins was a descendant of the Pilgrims who sailed to this country on the famous "Mayflower." He married three times. First he married Cynthia Kelley on April 10, 1828. Cynthia was born November 4, 1809 and died in 1847. He married Cynthia's sister, Huldah A. kelley after his first wife's death. Huldah was born October 25, 1817. Their second child was James K. Robbins, born September 16, 1853. He was born in what is now known as the Captain Nathaniel Robbins House in Harwich. Joseph was the father of Helen Robbins Drake, who would later inherit the Nataniel Robbins House. he married a third time to Hepsabeth K. Chase. She died on July 27th 1868. According to the "Harwich Independent" dated December 4, 1988, Nathaniel built the main part of his home at the time of his first marriage in 1828. The barn was built at the same time. The rest of the house was added in 1890. Captain Nathaniel Robbins went to sea as a Cabin Boy when he was thirteen years of age. BY twenty years of age he had become a Captain. He owned packets and coastal schooners which plied between Cape Cod and New York. He followed the sea for forty years. When he gave up going to sea, about 1860, he built a store across the driveway from his house. It was built of timber from salt works in Dennis. A large sign on the north side of the building, facing the road was printed with the words: CASH STORE W.I. GOODS-GROCERIES. W.I. Goods meaning West India Goods, such as molasses, rum and the groceries included tobacco; kerosene; candy; salt; cod fish; matches; calico; flour; sugar etc. It was at this time that Captain Robbins began the extensive cultivation of cranberries. Later a small part of the store was moved near the bogs and became an engine house for pumping water to flow the bogs.The weather vane is a fine example of wood carving, in the shape of a horse and is supposed to represent a famous racer "The Maude S." It has been on the barn since 1860. One of the masts from one of Captain Robbin's packets holds the weather vane. Captain Nathaniel was an abolitionist. william lloyd Garrison; Wendall Philips and Parker Pillsbury were entertained in this house whenever they were engaged in speaking tours. Captain Robbins had six children, and, at his death his property passed to them. His son, Joseph E. Robbins bought out the other heirs. From Joseph K. Robbins, the property passed to his daughter, Helen P. Robbins and his deceased son's daughters, Elsie Josephine Robbins and Helen M. Robbins Green. Helen P. Robbins Drake bought out the other heirs. The original house consisted of a keeping room with a fireplace and brick oven; a borning room; a pantry; bedroom and parlor. About 1888 the old fireplace, brick oven and mantle were removed and a new fireplace and mantle were built. The house is put together with wooden pegs.In the old part of the house, there is wainscotting in all of the rooms except the parlor. There are wide floor boards, Bennington door knobs and the doors in the rooms have two lights of glass in the top. The door casings are hand cut in a special design. Much of the woodwork and floors have graining which represent birds-eye maple and light or gray-colored marble. Graining is an art done by accomplished painters on doors, floors and mantles and made to resemble the grain of wood or the veining of marble. The gold wall paper in the parlor has been on the wall for seventy-five years (at the time of this original article. The house has new owners now and the current condition is unknown) and the carpet, a floral design, is about the same age. The windows are mostly six over six lights. In one pane of glass in the keeping room and in a certain light, one may see the outline of a hand. The front door is recessed and heavily framed and has side lights. The corner pillars on the front of the house are very wide with molding at the top which compliment the design around the door. Many thanks to Janet Lee Haeger, descendant of Captain Nathaniel Robbins for the article and photos.