Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

24 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES.
mouth were not at that time unanimous in their religious opinions.
There were Episcopalians ; men who had danced with Morton
around the May-pole, set up at Merry Mount ; puritans ; and men
who belonged to no sect. Settled among a people whose opinions
were so variant, it is not surprising that there were some who called
him "a contentious man."
The salary paid to Mr. Hull was inadequate for the support of
his large family. He was engaged in agriculture, particularly in the
raising of cattle and horses for market, which then sold at high
prices. It appears by a deed of Richard Standuwick, of Broadway,
Somersett, England, recorded in vol. 1, page 160, of the Plymouth
Colony records, that he took the care of cattle which had been sent
out from England for a portion of the increase. This was a common
practice at that time, and as cattle sold for high prices, the adventurers
obtained a profit.
The great inducements held out to people to remove to Barnsta-
ble, or Mattakeset, as it was then called, were the extensive salt
meadows and the great facilities for raising stock which the place
afforded. These considerations induced the first settlers of Barnstable
to leave the older settlements, where they complained that "they
were straightened for lands." To raise cattle in a new country cov-
ered with forest requires a large extent of land for pasturage, and if
there are no natural meadows on which hay can be cut, it will be
many years before large stocks can be kept. In 1639 the raising of
stock was a very profitable business, and Mr. Hull and those who
came with him expected to realize fortunes in the business ; but in a
lew years emigration having almost ceased, the demand was greatly
diminished, and prices fell, and with them their visions of lordly
wealth.
Mr. Lothrop and his church came Oct. 21, 1639, N. S. The
town had been incorporated, many houses had been built, and a civilized
community were dwelling among the Indians. Mr. Hull and
the other settlers welcomed them to their homes, assigned them
lands, and assisted them in putting up their first rude cabins. Mr.
Lothrop's church constituted a majority of the people, they preferred
their own pastor with whom they had suffered persecution in Eng-
land. Mr. Dimmock and others of the first comers preferred to sit
under the preaching of Mr. Lothrop rather than that of Mr. Hull.
In consequence Mr. Hull was left in a small minority. Rev. John
Mayo had been ordained teacher of the church, and Mr. Hull held
no office therein.
In municipal affairs Mr. Lothrop and his church assumed the
whole control. Mr. Hull was not re-elected deputy to the Court in
June, 1640, and he does not appear to have held any office whatever.
Lands that he had sold Samuel Hinckley the town took possession
of, and Mr. Hinckley sued Mr. Hull for damages. The mat-
ter was referred to the Governor, and assistants, and their decision