Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BAKN8TABLE FAMILIES. 103
levied uajustly, and ia a persecuting spirit, Barlow seized two
cows and one steer, valued at, sterling, £11,10,00
Money in the hands of James Skiff, due him for work, 8,00,00
£19,10,00
And the pot in which he boiled his victuals. When Barlow
took the pot Mrs. Jenkins threw down a piece of new cloth of
twice the value of the vessel, and begged him to take that, for, if
her kettle was taken, she could not cook for her family. Barlow
refused. In levying his warrant, he maliciously took such articles
as would cause most distress in the family—the cows which
gave milk for the children, and the only iron vessel in the house.
At that time the local traders did not sell iron ware—a pot could
not be purchased without sending sixty miles to Boston. About
eighteen months after she bought one, meantime some kind neighbor
lent her a kettle.
Aug. 17, 1658, a special term of the court was held at the
dwelling-house of Mr. Richard Bourne in Sandwich. Gov.
Prince, and Capt. Thomas Willet, Capt. Josias Winslow and Mr.
Thomas Hinckley, assistants, presided. Sundry of the ancient
inhabitants had petitioned the court that a special term be held in
Sandwich to inquire into and redress their grievances. It was
alleged that John Jenkius and eight others, all Quakers, had not
been legally admitted inhabitants. In reply John Jenkins plead,
"That though he had lived at Sandwich about ten years, and had
three children ; and the very first year he came he was made a
Freeman, and had his voice in town meetings, and had Common
Privileges ; yet he was now denied his share in Whale Oyl, which
as a Freeman fell to him." Barlow the constable interfered and
said, "He must not speak for he was no Freeman."
Jenkins in fact was not a freeman. He claimed to be a townsman,
though in his defence, as reported by Bishop, he uses the
word freeman. The decision of the Court was that Jenkins and
the eight others "shall henceforth have noe power to vote in any
towne meeting till better evidence appear of their legall admittance,
or to claime title or interest into any town privileges as
townsmen," according to an order of the Court dated third of
October, 16.39. It was also ordered that thereafter no one "shall
be admitted an inhabitant of Sandwich or enjoy the privileges
thereof, without the approbation of the Church and of Mr. Thomas
Prence," or of one of the assistants.
By this decision about one-half of the Quakers in Sandwich
were disfranchised. Bishop refers to this meeting, and represents
it as very disorderly and turbulent. He however mixed up the
proceedings at two Courts, that of Aug. 27 and of Oct. 2, 1658.^
He says Major Winslow "showed much Vehemence and Fierceness
of spirit against them (the Quakers) sometimes starting up and
;