Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 73
IX. Jonathan, born 10th Aug., 1727, married Desire
Howland, May 3, 1753. He died Jan'y 1818, aged
91, and his wife April 1813, aged 81. The farm ot
Mr. Jonathan Bodfish and his sons, at the time of his
death, consisted of six hundred acres of tillage, meadow
and woodland. They had all their property in
common, and at the end of each year invested their
surplus earnings in real estate. They were farmers,
raising large crops— often 400 bushels of Indian corn
in a season—and of other agricultural products, a
proportional amount. They usually kept 50 head of
cattle and 120 sheep. Benjamin was a ca,rpenter and
mason, and a very skillful workman. Isaac lived
thirteen years with Edward Wing, receiving from
$10 to $13 per month as wages. It is said of him,
that during all this time, his idle expenses amounted
to only 20 cents. The earnings of both were put
into the common stock. For more than seventy
years the property of Jonathan Bodfish was owned in
common, and during the whole time nothing occurred
to disturb the harmony and good feeling which subsisted
between the different members of the family.
They were hai'd-working, prudent and industrious
and in all their dealings were honest and honorable.
Jonathan, the father, was treasurer, and all deeds,
excepting enough to make his sons voters and qualify
them for holding civil offices, were taken in his name.
Jonathan Bodfish, the father of this remarkable fam-
ily, was a venerable old man—the patriarch of his
family. In person he was nearly six feet tall, large
and well proportioned, weighing ordinarily 230
pounds. His sons, excepting Josiah, were over six
feet, large boned, spare men, and in personal appearance,
would hardly be recognized as belonging to the
same family with Jonathan.
The children of Jonathan Bodfish born in Barnstable
were
I. Sylvanus, born Nov. 15, 1754; died in 1801, aged
47. He did not marry, and his estate was a part of
the common stock.
II. Benjamin, born April 14, 1756, died Jan'y 14, 1827,
aged 70. He was a carpenter, mason and farmer
did not marry, and his estate was also a part of the