Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

234 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES.
Some of our Revolutionary fathers in Barnstable, thought differently
and acted differently. Abigail Freeman was an eye sore to
them. , She
kept a little grocery store, saw many persons, and
would keep her tongue in motion whenever and wherever she
could find a listener. Doctors Freeman and Smith, for whom she
had a strong antipathy, some of the Crockers with whom she had
a private quarrel, and some of the radical whigs, resolved that a
bridle should be put upon lier tongue. Ducking stools, for the
cure of scolds and unquiet women, had then gone out of use, and
the then modern invention of tarring and feathering, and riding
on a rail, were in vogue. Perhaps it is well that the names of the
individuals who took part in this courteous ceremony were not
recorded. They were all young men, and acting in the shade of
night, perhaps were not recognized in
assumed.
the disguises which they
When they came to the house of Mrs. Freeman she had
retired for the night. They obtamed an entrance, took her from
her bed to the Green, besmeared her with tar and covered her
with feathers. A rail was procured from a fence in the vicinity,
across which she was set astride, and either end thereof was
placed on the shoulder of a stout youth. She was held in her
position by a man who walked at her side, holding her by
hand. When they were tired of the sport, and after they
the
had
exacted from her a promise that she would no more meddle in
politics, they released her, and the gallant band soon after sneaked
homeward..
Though some who took an active part in this demonstration
this visible argument for personal liberty and the freedom of
yet a strong party
speech—disliked to be known as participators ;
in Sandwich and Barnstable justified the act.
No apologist for this can now be found ; but before condemning
the participators, we must take into consideration the mitigating
circumstances. Its respectability and influence, if not actual
participators, countenanced and supported those that were.
Allowance must also be made for the excitement of the times, and
that men acting under the influence of such excitement, often do
things which they afterwards regret. The Widow Freeman was a
thorn in their sides—she could out-talk any of them, was fascinating
in her manners, and had an influence which she exerted,
openly and definantly, against the patriotic men who were then
hazzarding their fortunes and their lives in the struggle for
American independence. Sitting quietly at our firesides we may
condemn such acts, and, as moralists say, the end does not justify
the means. Perhaps if we were placed in the same circumstance
that our fathers were, we should do as they did. These considerations
are not presented as a .justification of the gross and
shameless violation of the personal rights of Widow Abigail