Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BAJiNSTABLE FAMILIES. 313
IV. Thomas, born April 14, 1745, did not marry. He was
master of a vessel, in the King's service, Dec. 6, 1771,
while on a voyage from Philadelphia to Halifax, during a
violent gale and snow storm was east ashore on Great
Point, Nantucket. All on board succeeded in getting to
the shore. It was a thick snow storm and very cold.
Capt. Delap perished in one of the hollows or gorges on
that point. Mr. Amos Otis in another. Two of the sailors
went on to Cortue Point, heading towards the town, and
both froze to death on that point. Two other sailors and
a boy, John Weiderhold, succeeded in getting off Great
Point, and reached a barn at Squam. They covered themselves
up in the hay, placing the lad between them, so that
the warmth of their bodies kept him from freezing.
The next day the vessel was discovered by people from
the town, high and dry on the beach, and if the captain and
crew had remained on board none would have been lost;
Capt. Delap, Mr. Otis, and most of the crew, had been
exposed to the storm about twelve hours when the vessel
was east on shore, and were wet, benumbed with cold, and
almost exhausted, when they got to the land. The boy
was the only one who had not been exposed, and who had
dry clothing. Capt. Delap is buried at Nantucket, and the
manner of his death is recorded on a monument to his
memory. His age was 26 years, 7 months, and 11 days.
The boy, Weiderhold, from that time made Nantucket
his home. He died about thirty years ago. He was a
member of the Masonic Fraternity, and a very worthy man.
He often related the sad story of the shipwreck, and pointed
out the spots where each perished.
V. Mary, born Nov. 3, 1747, O. S., married Seth Backus of
Barnstable, had a family of six children, Walley, Betsey,
Mary, Seth, James, Thomas, and removed to Lee, Mass.,
where she died at an advanced age. Her son Walley was
an influential man.
VI. Sarah, born April 11, 1750, O. S., married Capt. James
Farnsworth, of Groton, and removed to Machias, where
she died in 1785, aged 35 years. She had a son who died
in childhood, and three daughters. One married Simeon
Foster, and resided at Cooper, Maine. Her grandson,
Benjamin F. Foster, was a popular writing master, and
author of a system of penmanship. Another daughter,
Sarah, married George S. Smith, Esq., of Machias.
VII. Jane or Jean, born Aug. 13, 1752, O. S., married, in 1772,
Jonas Farnsworth, (a cousin of the Capt. Jonas who married
Sarah.) Their oldest daughter, Nancy, (my mother)
was born at Machias, in 1773. Having obtained of the