Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 109
To aver that the death of Mr. Crocker and of Mr. Walley
was a judgment of God, in punishment of a particular sin, is a
palpable absurdity. The amount of the tax is exaggerated. It
probably included his town and colony tax, and had probably been
in arrears for a considerable time. Jones refused to pay, as
others* at that time did because all the taxes were put on one list.
Both parties were in the fault, and the one was as stubborn as the
other was stiff necked.
None of the descendants of Ralph Jones have been distinguished
in church or state, or for their great wealth. Like their
ancestor, they belong to the middling class of honest, induistrious
farmers and mechanics.
In his will dated the 11th of the 3d month, 1691, and proved
April 20, 1692, he says, "I, Ralph Jones, of ye town of Barnstable
in New England, being aged and weak in body," disposes of
his estate to his children. He does not name his wife, and the
presumption is she had then deceased. He says, "My mind and
desire is, that after my decease my body be decently buried by ye
advice and assistance of my dear Friends ye people of God called
Quakers at their burying place in Sandwich." He refers to
meadow which his father Capt. Matthew Fuller bought, of John
Freeman, and names his seven sons, Shubael, Jedediah, Ralph,
Samuel, Matthew, John and Ephraim, and his daughters Mercy,
Mary and Mehitabel. He appoints his son-in-law John Fuller,
the younger, and Edward Perry, the Quaker, overseers. The
witnesses were Capt. Thomas Fuller, John Isum, and his daughter
Mehitabel Fuller, wife of John Fuller, Jr. He signs with his
mark, showing that though he might be able to read, he could
not write. His daughter Mehitabel also signs "M," "her mark."
Ralph Jones being himself an unlearned man, and residing
several miles from schools or churches, his family had no opportunity
for acquiring even the rudiments of a good education.
Among his neighbors there were, however, men of intelligence.
The brothers Samuel and Matthew Fuller, the wayward Mr.
Thomas Dexter, and Robert Harper, the stalwart Quaker, resided
at Scorton, and their families were well educated for the times.
Edward Perry and several of the early Quakers, earnest men of
some intelligence, were also his neighbors.
Ralph Jones married April 17, 1650, Mary Fuller, daughter
of Capt. Matthew Fuller, then of Plymouth. His older children
were probably born in Plymouth, the earliest date on the Barnstable
record being 27th A.ng. 1654. I have carefully examined
only the Barnstable records. From the Probate and the Sandwich
records much information may be obtained by those who
*For particulars of the proceedings in collecting ministerial taxes see "Bourman Family."
Soon after this time the laws were modified and made more libeial.