Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGIOAIi NOTES OP BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 101
^^Bagaduoe."* Phebe hath two sons about six months old, Samuel and
Jacob. Prude (Prudence, wife of Josiah) a daughter the same age,
named Polly (Mary.) Abiah lives a little way off. Sam'll has a daughter
about three weeks old named Lidia. Molly (Mary) one five weeks,
named Elizabeth—making fourteen grandchildren I have living.
You know not how much I want to come and see all my old friends
and relatives. Give my love to all brothers and sisters, cousins and
friends. Tell cousin James Smith's wifet I never forgot what she said
to me, that I must write concerning religion ; but I was loth to write
that I did not well like my minister, though when I came home, the
first time I heard him, I thought I could not be content to sit under him,
and it came to my mind, "Despise not small things," which made me to
think I did not well to be uneasy. He has been dismissed two years.
We had a minister ordained this month one (not legible) a fine man.
I hope he will prove a blessing, and that decayed religion will revive
under his ministry.
It has been very much the practice of the place for parents to own
the covenant and have their children baptized. There are counted to
be near a third of the people to be Separate Baptists, and some of that
party are become what is called Shaking Quakers. I think they are a
most monstrous deluded set of people. The performances at their meetings
consist in dancing, hideous bowlings like wolves, standing on their
beads, pretending to speak in unknown languages, and the like ridiculous
behavior. I take them to be the people fliat Christ warns us of
when he saith, "Take heed that you be not deceived. Then if any man
shall say unto you, lo here is Christ or there believe it not: for there
shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and show great signs and
wonders, if it were possible deceive the very elect. Behold I have told
you before, if they say behold he is in the desert, go not forth, or in the
secret chamber believe it not."
Dear sister, I could write till morning, but being very late must
break off abruptly, begging you to send me a letter by Mr. Lewis,§ and
so conclude, very tired, with love to you and children.
To Mrs. Elizabeth Chipman, Barnstable.
M. Genkins.
John Jenkins, the second, appears to have been a resident
in Plymouth in 1644, and probably earlier. In 1648 he became
an inhabitant of Sandwich. He married a daughter of one of
the prominent Quaker families in that town. His daughter Elizabeth
was born in Sandwich April 30, 1649, and he had two sons,
Zachariah and Job. He died in 1684, but his estate remained un-
*Mre. Jenkins wrote a very legible hand, but this name I cannot make out. Capt. Jo-
-fiiah Jenkins was an officer in the Revolution, was in an engagement on Lake Champlain
and at the battle of Monmouth. He married Prudence Davis and had Saiah, two Marys,
Aurelia, Nancy, Josiah and Katharine. He died in 1831, aged 81.
fJames Smith married Hannah Barlow of Sandwich. His mother was a Hinckley, and
perhaps hence the relationship—cousin to Samuel Jenkins.
JRev. Josiah Thacher of Lebanon, Conn., graduate of Princeton College, and a decend.
ant of Antony of Yarmouth, was dismissed in 1781. Rev. Caleb Jewett was ordained pastor
of the Con. Society in Gorham, Nov. 5, 1783. Jewett gave no better satisfaction than Thacher
and his predecessor, Lombard.
§Hajor George Lewis of Barnstable removed to Gorham. His second wife. Desire
Parker, was a neighbor of Mrs. Jenkins before she removed irom Barnstable.