Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL, NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 201
might bee any wayes raised upp of distrustfullness on our partes especially,
to clear my owne innoceucye of having any suspition herein ; as
alsoe to signifye since the place hath been granted and confirmed unto
us; some of the breathren have sold their houses and lands here, and
have put themselvt'S out of all. And others have put out their improved
grounds to the half increase thereof, upon their undoubted expectation
forthwith as it were to begin to build and plant in the new
plantation. Wherein if they should be disappointed, it would be a
means to east them into some great extremitye. Wherefore let me intreate
and beseech you in the bowells of the Lord, without any offence,
both in this respect, as also for other reasons of greater importance,
which I will forbear to specifye : To do this further great curtesey for
us, to make composition with the Indians for the place, and priviledges
thereof in our behalf, with that speed you cann : and wee will freely
give satistaction to them, and strive to bee the more enlarged in thankefulnesse
to you. I verily thinke wee shall never have any rest in our
spiritts, to rest or stay here ; and I suppose you thinke little * *
otherwise, and am therefore the more confident that you will not neglect
any opportunitye, that might make for our expedition herein. I and
some of the breathren have intreated our brother John Coake, who is
with you, and of you, a member of your congregation, to bee the best
furtherance in such occasions, as either doe or may concerne us, as possibly
he may or cann, who hath alsoe promised unto us his best service
herein. Thus wishing and praying for your greatest prosperitye every
wayes, I humbly take my leave.
Bemaining to be at your command and service in the Lord.
JOHN LOTHROPP.
thus :]
From Scituate, Feb. 18, 1638. (Feb. 28, 1639, N. S.) [Superscribed
To the right worthy and much-honored Governor Prince, att his house in
Plimouth. Oive these Ipray.
EEV. JOHN LOTHROP REMOVBD TO BARNSTABLE.
On the 29th of June, 1639, O. S., (July 9, new), the pioneer
company left Scituate for Mattakeset. Their purpose in removing
thus early was to secure a winter's supply of provender for their
cattle, and to build houses for themselves, and for the larger company,
who were to remain in Scituate till the annual crop had been secured.
Mattakeeset was incorporated as a town June 14, 1639,
new style, and called Barnstable or Bastable, as the name was commonly
pronounced, and frequently written. It received its name
from 'Raxnstaple in Devonshire in England, the port from whence
many of the first settlers took their departure from their native land.
The English town is still called Barnsiopfe. Capt. John Smith and
many old writers uniformly spell the name Bastable, a circumstance
that indicates that both names were originally the same. The usage
of more than two centuries has established a different -orthography
which, if it were desirable, cannot now be changed.
A church had been established, but does not appear to have