Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

460 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES.
ble. He had several children, among whom were Frederick, Benjamin
and Hannah. Benjamin was called carpenter Ben. to distinguish
him from the son of James. He was a deputy sheriff, a
captain of a militia company, and jail keeper for a time. He was
a very strong man, and among other feats he took up a barrel of
rum and drank from the bung. He bought of Mr. Eleazer Scudder
the ancient Gorham mansion house at Hyannis Port, where he
resided and kept a public house. He married his cousin Hannah,
daughter of James Hadaway, and had a large family of
daughters. He was as eccentric as any of the name, and his history
is an
tion."
illustration of the saying, "Truth is stronger than fic-
His sister Hannah sued him for money that she said she had
deposited with him, taking no security therefor. He denied having
received it. A few days before the case was to be tried, he
remarked to his wife that he would go on board a vessel in the
harbor, and purchase a barrel of flour. He did not return.
Search was made for him. His hat was found in the surf on the
shore, his boat was adrift, and the oar which he used in sculling
was also found near by. These circumstances seemed to prove
beyond controversy, that in attempting to board the vessel in the
harbor he was accidentally drowned. Guns were fired, sweeps
were dragged, oil was poured on the waters, and every effort was
made to recover his body without success. No one had seen him
go away, and his family and neighbors believed he was dead, and
an administrator was appointed on his estate.
Soon after he left, there was a report that he had been seen
at his brother Frederick's in Vermont, but nothing reliable could
be obtained, though it was reported that letters had been received
from him. Twenty-one years after he left he as unexpectedly returned
to his house. No one knew where he came from, or how
he came, and it was some time before the members of his family
could realize that he was among the living. Capt. Hadaway in
his dealings with strangers was considered an honorable man ; but
with members of
centric of men.
his family or his relatives, he was the most ec-
Frederick married a Marchant, and removed to Vermont.
He was as eccentric as any of the family.
Hannah married Capt. Thomas Appleton. She resided in
Boston, Gloucester, and Barnstable. She was a woman of good
understanding, well informed, and was distinguished for her colloquial
powers and her ready wit. For fifteen years after her marriage
she lived in good style, and associated with the intelligent,
the gay and the fashionable. Notwithstanding, she was a Hadaway
all her days—odd, eccentric, a firm believer in witches and
witchcraft. Surprising stories she would tell of witches she had
seen and known, of their strange transformations, and of the