Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 197
intolerant. Tlie lamp of the fathers which had burned so brilliantly
enlightening all their paths, now burned with an uncertain
and flickering blaze. The forms of religious truth remained, but
the spirit whicli animated the fathers had fled.
Mr. Lolhrop taught that Christianity was a system adopted
to man's nature and state, and because it was so adopted, its
tendency was to make a man better, to make him happier here
and happier hereafter. He did not teach that the christian must
hate ail that he loved before his conversion, that all amusements
or "making merry to the cieature" were in and of themselves sinfu)
; only when they lead direct and inevitably to sinful habits, or
when they inflicted a wrong on the neighbor.
Oct. i6, 1637, another day of thanksgiving was held. The
€xercises at the Meeting House were the same as on the previous
year. Thanks were given for "two particulars: 1, Kor the victory
over the Pequcts. Ye 2, For Reconciliation betwixt Mr.
Cotton and the other ministers." After the service the poorer
were invited to dine with the richer, and make themselves merry.
Fast days continued to be held from time to time. June 22,
1637. for success in the war against the Fequots, for composing
differences among, the brethren in the Bay, and for help in the
niinistry at Sciluate. Feb. 22. 1637-8. At a fast held on that
day Kdward and Foster and Thomas Besbetch were chosen deacons
and invested into ofHce.
REMOVAL TO MATTAKEESE.
At five days of fasting, and at other meetings of the church,
the subject of removal was discussed. At first they intended to
remove to Sippican, now Rochester, but June 13, 1639, it had
been decided to remove to Mattakeese, now Barnstable.
As 1 have already in the Dimmock and other articles extracted
from the colony and church records the notices given respecting
the settlement of Barnstable, I shall not again copy the papers
in full, excepting Mr. Lothrop's letters, of which 1 have
printed only short extracts.
In 1638 the Colony Coart granted the lands at Sipican, now
Rochester, to several members of Mr. Lothrop's church, where he
and a majority of his people proposed to remove, and form a
town. Feb. 22 of that year was a fast day appointed by the
church, the especial object being to take measures respecting the
removal to Sipican. The matter is not named again in the church
records till January 23, 1638-9. where after a season of humilia-
tion and prayer it was agreed, that those who had resolved to remove
to Sipican be divided into three companies "in this service,
for preventing of exceptions." They elected their town committees
to have the care and direction of the settlement, to make orders
to be observed in beginning of the settlement, and for the