Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BAKN8TA1JLE FAMILIES. 361
charge against bim for using language disrespectful to the
King, and afterwards he was prosecuted as one of the friends
and supporters of Wheelwright ; but he recanted his opinions,
proving himself not to be so firm a man as his son Thomas.
He died in Charleston in 1638, and his widow Sarah married,
Dec. 11, 1639, Thomas Lothrop. Her family removed with
her to Barnstable.
5. Respecting the family of Thomas Ewer, 2d, little is
known. He removed to Sandwich early. In 1659 he had a
family and resided near Spring Hill. He was a Quaker, and for
refusing to take the oath of fidelity, and for attending Quaker
meetings, was fined £20,10, which with expenses amounted to
£25,8. In payment the Marshall seized a debt due him from
Richard Chadwell for labor, £7,13
In money taken out of his house, 6,17
Clothing, new cloth, with other goods particularly
named, 10,18
£25,8
From the new cloth taken (fonr yards of Kersey) George
Barlow, the Marshall, had a coat made, and which he wore at
Court. Ewer, seeing him have it on, asked the Magistrates,
" Whether they owned George Barlow in wearing his cloth." To
this question Gov. Prence replied : "That if he could prove that
George Barlow had wronged him, he might seek his satisfaction."
For this question he was sentenced "to be laid neck and heels
together." Which, says Bishop, was the injustice he received at
their hands.
The. Court records give a different reasion of the matter.
He was sentenced to lye neck and heels together during the pleasure
of the Court, "for his tumultuous and seditious carriages and
speeches in Court." The Magistrates being informed that he was
an infirm man, and was troubled with a rupture, the sentence was
not executed.
Bishop is usually accurate, but in this case he omits a material
fact and leaves a wrong impression on the mind of his reader.
He adds that Ewer's axe, with which he wrought, worth three
shillings, was taken for a tax of ten pence to the country, and
that at another time, half a bushel of grain, out of his bag at the
mill, for a similar tax, for the same amount.
These were assessments legally made to pay the current expenses
of the Colony. Ewer was abundantly able to pay, he resisted
the execution of a law, to which no constitutional objection
was made, and if his axe or his grain was taken to pay, neither
he nor his apologist, Mr. Bishop, had a right to complain.
The Quakers had right and justice on their side, when they
refused to pay fines imposed for not taking the oath of fidelity, or