Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

104 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BAENSTABLE FAMILIES.
smiting the Table with his Stick, then with his Hand, then stamping
with his Foot, like a Madman, saying he could not bear it,
Let them have the Strapado," The Court was governed in their
decision by milder measures, yet more severe than the occasion
required. Nine were disfranchised, and sixteen fined £5 each at
the October Court, three of whom in addition were sentenced to
imprisonment.
The authorities represented that the Quakers were not then
the peacable and respectable people that they have been for the
last century and a half ; that they were disturbers of the public
peace ; and that they entered into the churches and claimed a
right to bear testimony against the worshipers as corrupt and anti-
christian.
A careful analysis of all the facts, which I have not the time
to make, will place the matter in its true light. Some few years
since a friend sat as magistrate to try similiar cases. The accused
were defended by able counsel, all the facts were clearly established
by testimony, there was no controversy in regard to them,
and the law applicable to the cases was clearly stated. At the
conclusion of the trial, which continued two days, several were
fined two dollars each and costs. They would not pay a cent.
*'They would sooner rot in jail." The friends of some of them
paid their fines, others went to prison, one of whom was a mother
with an infant child.
A censorious writer like Bishop might take the Barnstable
case and magnify it, with as much apparent truthfulness, into one
of extreme intolerance, persecution and cruelty. The question at
issue in the Court held in Sandwich on the 29th of August, 1658,
and at the Court held in Barnstable, were precisely of the same
character, and involved the same principles of law. The Quakers
at Sandwich justified their breaches of the peace by pleading conscientious
scruples, and the liberty of speech. So did the Comeouters
at Barnstable. The decision was acquiesced in by the
prisoners and the people, and to this day, if the presiding magistrate
wanted a favor, there are none to whom he could appeal with
more confidence than to those whom he fined and sent to prison.
The decision at Sandwich was a fire-brand thrown into the
community, stirring up the worst passions of the human heart,
setting brother against brotner, the son against the father, and
the daughter against the mother.
The reason of this is apparent. Gov. Prince and Mr. Winslow
were irritable ; they could not patiently hear the enthusiastic,
overbearing and ill-advised "testimonies" of the Quakers. They
lost their temper, and with it the power to act prudently and discreetly.
The imfamous Barlow at that time had an influence, and
his taunting speeches irritated the Quakers and induced them to