Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

82 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES.
William Wyatt, a committee to laj^ out lands at Woods
Hole.
The following account of the family after the removal
to Falmouth, collected by Mr. Neweir Hoxie of Sandwich,
from ancient papers, is the best I have been able to obtain.
The illumination of dates would made it more intelligible :
Thomas Bourman, though belonging to the Society of
Friends, was taxed for the support of the ministrj- in the
town of Falmouth. All non-conformists were then required
to pay a double tax, one to their own society and one to the
settled minister of the town. Many resisted this law as
tyrannical and oppressive, and of this number was Thomas
Bourman. In the winter of 1705-6, he was committed to
Barnstable Jail for non-payment of a ministerial tax. On
the 4th of the 11th mo., 1705-6, the Friends monthly meeting,
held at the house of William Allen in Sandwich, ordered
"A bed and bedding to be sent to Thomas Bourman, he being
in prison for the priest's rate." The following distraints
was subsequently made of his property to pay his taxes to
Rev. Joseph Metcalf, of Falmouth, one whose ministry
neither himself nor his family attended :
19th, 3d mo. 1709—2 cows, worth £5, for £3, 12s. U.
tax.
tax.
Id. tax.
13th, 3d mo.— 1 cow and calf, worth £2, 2s. tax.
22d, 3d mo.— 1 cow worth £3, 10s. for £1, 13s. tax.
24th, 1st mo. 1710—1 cow worth £2, 14s. for £1, 17s.
17th, 1st mo. 1715—1 cow worth £3, 10s. for £l, 3s.
9th, 1715—1 fat swine worth £3, 00, for £1 tax.
21st, nth mo. 1716—2 calves worth £2, 10s. for £1,
25. M.
lOtb, 3d mo. 1728—5 sheep worth £2, 10s. for £0,
16s. tax.
30th, 3d mo. 1728—12 lbs. wool worth £1, 10s. for
£0, 16s. \0d.
As these distraints were made by different constables,
the presumption is
of former years.
that the three first named were for taxes
His son, Thomas Bowman, also, refused to pay his
ministerial tax, and in 1727 the constable seized three bushels
of Malt, worth 16s. 6ri. to pay the same. On the 2d