Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGHCAL, NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 487
tempt to elucidate. Two words, industry and economy, are the
keys which unlock the whole mystery. If he was the eldest son,
he was entitled to a double share of his father's estate, and if so,
his share was not over £20 in value. He may with propriety be
called the representative man of the rude social organization of
his times. The great majority of our fathers lived precisely as he
lived, and practiced as he practiced, and thus laid a sure foundation
for our present prosperity. The inhabitants of this County
fifty years ago were, with very few exceptions, the descendants of
the first settlers, and inherited from them habits of industry and
economy, their respect for the laws, and the religious institutions
in which they were trained up.
Andrew Hallett, Jr., did not acquire his wealth by official
services. His name frequently occurs on the records, but not in
connection with any ofBce that conferred much honor or afforded
him large emoluments. In 1642, '50 and '58, he was a surveyor
of highways; in 1651 and 1679 constable. In 1659 he was appointed
by the Court one of a committee to raise money for the
support of the ministry in Yarmouth. In 1660, '67 and '75, he
was on the grand jury ; and Oct. 30, 1667, he was appointed by
the Colony Court, at the request of the town, a member of the
land committee of Yarmouth. None of those are offices of honor
or profit ; but they show that he was a man in whom his neighbors
had confidence, that he was a man of common sense and
sound judgment. When a young man he was unable to write, yet
soon after he came to Yarmouth he acquired that art, for in 1659
I find his name subscribed to the verdict of a jury of inquest.
He took the oath of fidelity while a resident in Sandwich, and
his name and that of his father appears on the list of those who
were able to bear arms in Yarmouth in August, 1643. On the
criminal calendar his name does not appear. In those times the
most trifling faults were noted, and he who escaped a prosecution
must necessarily have lived a blameless life. He also kept his
name off of the civil docket. He had no lawsuits. This is nega-
tive testimony ; but establishes all we wish, he was a quiet peacable
man, minded his own business, and did not intermeddle with
that of others.
He was a member of the church in Yarmouth ; but circumstances
show that he did not entirely acquiese in all the crude notions
promulgated by Mr. Matthews. He often attended the meetings
of Mr. Lothrop, and Mr. Walley and some of the members of his
family afterwards joined the Barnstable church. He was kn exemplary
member of the church of Christ, constant in its attendance
on its ordinances, and in his family, no wordly care was ever
a bar to the performance of his whole duty as a parent.
Perhaps I am unnecessarily particular, that I state facts and
circumstances that are too trivial, and had better be left unsaid.