Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

tJENEALOGICAI< NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 119
Barnstable, and Edmund Lewes of Lynn, misled Mr> Deane* ;
and, subsequent writers, with the exception of Mr. Savage,
adopted his errors, without a critical examination. However
careful a writer may be, mistakes cannot always be avoided. The
records are imperfect, and the entries are not always reliable, and
in every generation there will be some Sarahs and some Methuselahs
who set at defiance the general laws of life. For assistance
in correcting the errors of Mr. Deane, I am largely indebted to
Hon. Soloraoa Lincoln of Hingham, and to Hon. James Savage
of Boston, to the latter for facts obtained by him since the publication
of his Dictionary.
George Lewes was not one of the distinguished men of his
times. -"He was an honest Goodman, and got his living by his
labor." He was a sincere christian, and his constant purpose
seems to have been to live in peace with all men—to avoid suits
at law, to yield rather than contend with his neighbor. He was
not a shrewd business man, and perhaps not so careful a manager
as many. He did not hold that "the chief end of man is to
gather up riches" ; but to do good, to train up his children in the
way they should go, to be useful citizens—honest and industrious
men. His son James was a man of more energy of character, of
more business tact, and became a distinguished man. Thomas
was in some respects like his brother James. The other sons,
George, Edward and John, were like the father— good, honest
quiet and respectable citizens, and their descendants to this
men—
day inherit the same good qualities.
George Lewes, clothier, from East Greenwich, County of
Kent, England, married first in England Sarah Jenkins, who came
over with him, and here died. He married second Maryf ,
living in 1670, whose family name is not known. He died in
Barnstable in 1662 or 3. His older children were born in England,
and no record of their births having been preserved, the arrangement
of their names is problematical.
1. I. Mary, born in England about the year 1623, married
Nov. 16, 1643, John Bryant of Scituate, and died before
1657, leaving a family of seven children.
3. II. Thomas, born in England, married June 15, 1653,
Mary Davis, daughter of Dolar. Thomas removed to Falmouth,
was proprietor's clerk, and a prominent man there.
4. III. George, born in England, perhaps the older of the
family, married Dec. 1, 1654, Mary, daughter of Barnard
*It is not easy to establish a negative proposition; but lie that carefully compares the
genealogy of the families of Edmund Lewes of Lynn, and of George Lewes of Barnstable,
will be Batisfied that Mr. Deane erred in the particulars I have referred to.
tA deed of George Lewes dated in 1654 is signed by "Mary," his wife. I do not know
that this justifies me in calling her a second wife. In early times many names were held to
be synonyms—thus Sarah and Mary—Elizabeth, Eliza, Betsey—Abigail, Nabby, Abiah.
Some names were applied to males or females, namely : Love, Experience, Hope, Melatiah,
Abiel, &c.