Robert Linnell, born c.1584, was in his fifty-fourth year when he made the voyage from London, England to America. He was known as "Mr. Linnell" when he arrived at Scituate, a fact that gives some support to the belief that he was known and respected even in England before coming to this land. Mr. Linnell took the oath of allegiance to the King and of fidelity to the colony on 1 Feb. 1638 and was admitted a freeman on the 3rd of December of that same year. (Amos Otis; Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families Vol. 2, p. 151). It was among the men of Kent that he first settled, men who may have been neighbors at one time before their removal to London and then to America. It is said that their choice of a settlement at Scituate may have been because the cliffs of that seaport reminded them of the cliffs of Dover in Kent.

That Kent was well known to Mr. Linnell is evidenced by the fact that his second wife, Penninah Howes was the daughter of John Howes, the parish clerk of Eastwell, Kent. It is probable that her mother was John Howes' wife Alice. Penninah's sister, Hannah, was the wife of the Rev. John Lothrop whose congregation in London had refused to accept the King as head of the Church. This conflict had resulted

in the imprisonment of the Rev. John Lothrop for two years. Upon his release, many members of the congregation made their move to America with him to be able to worship as they chose. That Penninah belonged to the congregation in London can be shown by the report of her being questioned by the Ecclesiastical Court along with others in the congregation in 1632. There she stated that only God was Lord of her beliefs.

It is probable that Robert Linnell had also been in London and a member of Lathrop's congregation. He must have been married to his first wife (unknown name) at this time. His first four children were probably born in England during the years 1627 (Otis's estimate of son David's birth date) to 1633/34. Why Robert did not leave London with the remainder of John Lothrop's congregation is not known. There may have been a connection with the death of his first wife; perhaps they waited for the the birth of a son Shubael whom Amos Otis names as a child in this family. Otis states, "I name him (Shubael) as his son and probably born in this country, though there is no record of his birth either in Scituate or Barnstable" (Otis, Gen. Notes, Vol. 2,p.152).If, indeed, Shubael was born in this country, he was the son of Penninah; for she had become Robert's wife before the passage to America. Kerry Bate omits Shubael in his listing of Robert's children and names Bethia, bap. 7 Feb. 1640/41, as the only child of Penninah (Kerry William Bate, The Ebenezer Hanks Story, 1962, p.164). Shubael has been retained in this history because there are references to such a person in later events. However, we cannot know which of Robert's wives was Shubael's mother.

The children of Robert Linnell were:

* i David born c. 1627

* ii Hannah born c. 1629

* iii Mary born c. 1631

* iv Abigail born c. 1633

* v Shubael

* vi Bethia bap. 7 Feb. 1640/41

Amos Otis also names Sarah as a daughter of Robert Linnell by his first wife (Otis, Gen. Notes, Vol.2, p.151). This I believe to be an error. Otis also notes that James Savage in his Genealogical Dictionary of New England calls Sarah the daughter of William Larnett or Larned of Charleston. The name Larnett is repeated by the Rev. John Lothrop in the account of Sarah's marriage to his son Thomas. The question of Sarah's parentage comes because the Linnell name was sometimes spelled Larnet or Linnet. Sarah has not been included in this work, though, because of the evidence from James Savage that William and not Robert was the father and that he lived in Charleston. A further consideration is that Sarah's date of birth, 1607 from custom house records, is so much earlier than those of the other children, the next being David in about 1627, as to question the possibility of her belonging to this family.

The reunion of the Linnells with the Rev. John Lothrop and his flock in Scituate must indeed have been joyous, especially for Penninah Linnell with her sister, Hannah Lothrop. The sixtieth entry in John Lothrop's records of the church at Scituate was that "My Brother Robert Linnell and his wife having a letter of dismission from the church in London joyned to us September 16, 1638."

Robert Linnell was one of those who petitioned to be granted land in another area of the colony. They wanted to develop their own close knit group, observing their religious practices according to their interpretation. Land was granted to this group first at Sippican; but there seem to have been problems connected to this location and a new grant was given for removal to Mattacheese. On "June 26, 1639, a fast for the presence of God in mercy to go with us to Mattacheese" was held with a Thanksgiving celebration when they had all arrived in that place now known as Barnstable (Frederick Freeman, History of Cape Cod, Vol.II, p. 246).

The list of 45 townsmen and voters in 1640 included Robert Linnet, and in 1643 those able to bear arms also included David Linnet, by this time 16 years old. Capt. Miles Standish was placed in charge of this militia. They were expecting trouble with the Indians.

At the town meeting in 1641 "Mr. Thomas Lothrop and Bernard Lombard were appointed measurers of land," and authorized "to lay out all the lands that the several inhabitants are to have laid out, and to bound them with stakes." The land thus measured to Mr.Linnell ranked him one of those with large holdings. "His house lot, Lot #9 of the original town plan, contained ten acres and was bounded northerly by the harbor, easterly by the lot of Thomas Lumbard, southerly by the highway, and westerly by the home lots of William and John Casely. He also owned three acres of planting land in the Common Field, three acres of meadow at Sandy Neck, nine at Scorton, a great lot containing sixty acres, and rights of commonage" (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2, p.151).It was here that Mr. Linnell lived for twenty-four years until his death in January, 1662. These were years of carving a home and a living out of the wilderness, a quite different life from that in London and Otis notes that he died a poor man.

These twenty-four years in Barnstable saw many changes in the Linnell family. In the records of the Rev. John Lothrop,

(bap.) Bethia daughter of Robert Linnell Febru. 7, 1640

John Davis and Hannah Linnett marryed att Nocett by Mr.Prince March 15, 1648

Joshua Lumber and Abigail Linnett marrd by Mr. Prince May 27, 1651.

David Lynnett and Hannah Shelley marryed by Mr. Prince March 9,1652"

(Arthur Ellsworth Linnell, manuscript notes,

Linnell Family at New England Historic and Genealogical Society Library, Boston).

Of this last record, a matter of great pain to the young couple and the families had taken place. David and Hannah had violated the old law, enacted by the Pilgrim fathers, "That if any shall make any motion of marriage to any man's daughter, or mayde servant, not haveing first obtayned leave and consent of the parents or master so to doe, shall be punished either by fine of corporal punishment or both at the discretions of the bench" (Otis, Gen.Notes Vol.2, p.154).

David and Hannah were summoned to appear at a meeting of the church. They appeared May 30, 1652, and there in the presence of the whole congregation confessed their fault. "They were both, by the sentence and joint consent of the church, pronounced to be cutt off from that relation which they hadd formerlye to the church by virtue of their parents covenaunt." The action of the church was an accepted proceedure; but the action of the civil court just three days later added anguish and shame. (Otis, Gen. Notes Vol.2, p.157).

In the list of presentments made in the civil court by the "GrandEnquest" dated June 2,1652 neither David Linnel nor Hannah Shelley were indicted; yet, on the next day, June 3, 1652, the Court condemned "both of them to be publicly whipt at Barnstable, where they live," and the sentence was executed at Barnstable five days afterwards,that is on the 8th day of June, 1652. (Otis, Gen.Notes Vol.2, pp.154,155,156,157).

This was only the fourth case that had required the interposition of the authority of the magistrates in the thirteen years the town had been settled (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2, p.156). The possibilities of embarrassment and grief in this close knit society were great. The fact that the love of David and Hannah withstood this test and that they were married in March of the following year is cited by Otis as a story having as much romantic interest and poetic appeal as the story of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. Even so David did not join the church again until in the final years of his life; Hannah never did.

Robert Linnell's death on 23 January 1662 completed the first generation of this family in America.

Robert Linnell's will reads as follows:

"The tearme; and a Calfe in the third line in the originall was put in since the man Deceased.

Thomas Laythrop

Trustrum Hull "

The home lot, dwelling-house, and some articles of personal estate, were appraised by Thomas Lothrop and Thos. Lewis at L55,4,6. He owed Mr.Thomas Clark L1,10 shillings, and some other small debts, and the Court ordered March 3, 1662-3, that Joseph Lothrop and Nathaniel Bacon "bee helpful to the Widdow Linnel in seeing the debts payed either out of the whole or pte of the estate."

Dick Linnell,118,241,116,912

portrayed David Linnell, 11, in

"A Seventeenth Century Love Story"

at the first two reunions of the

Linnell Family Association at

Cape Cod, MA in 1988 and at

St Paul, MN in 1991.

Amos Otis notes the significant omission of certain names:

"In the will (evidently drawn up by one not accustomed to framing legal instruments) Mr. Linnel only names three of his children, David, Abigail, and Bethia. He names John Davis who married his daughter Hannah then living, but does not call her by name. He does not name his daughter Mary who married Richard Child. He names neither Shubael nor Samuel Linnell, both of whom were then living if the names are not confounded, and supposed to be his sons" (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2, p.153). (Samuel and Shubael were probably interchangeable names for the same person.)

While Shubael is not named in his father's will it is quite possible that he was granted land before his father's death. Shubael Linnell is listed as one of those killed in the first days of King Philip's war. This was an engagement led by the Indian chieftan King Philip in an attempt to halt the acquisition of land by the colonists. Shubael was listed along with his cousin Samuel Child, and these others: Lt.Fuller, John Lewis, Eleazer Cobb and Sam'l Boreman as killed at Rehoboth on 26 March 1675.

Otis goes on to state, "Mr.Linnell had sold his meadow at Scorton and his great lot containing 'three score acres,' or perhaps he had given the same to his other children by deed as their portion, a common practice in those times, and therefore not named in his will. The appraisement of his homestead, etc. at £55, may seem a low price. Eight years before Thomas Lumbard had sold his homestead adjoining the Linnels, and fully as valuable for £20. Very few persons at their time were worth £100 sterling, or £500 in silver money." (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2, p.153).

Otis evaluates the Linnell family with a sermon on wealth by stating that "Mr.Linnel died a poor man. His sons had been nursed in the lap of ease, and wanted that energy of character which is indispensable for success in life... The parent may bestow wealth, it is soon dissipated-- little will be inherited by the grandchildren. The tax lists exhibit the folly of bequeathing wealth to thriftless children, to those who have not been educated to be temperate, honest, industrious and frugal" (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2, p.153). The inference here is that sons David and Shubael were less than contributing members of society and that they dissipated the estate that was left to them by their father.

On Oct.20, 1669, Penninah Linnet complained to the Court that "David Linnil had possessed himself of the house and land given to her by her deceased husband, Mr. Robert Linnitt, and had given her no satisfaction for the same. The Court ordered that he give her satisfaction for the same before the next March Court, otherwise the Court order that he shall be disposed of the same. As no subsequent action was taken the presumption is that David did make the required satisfaction" (Otis, Gen.Notes Vol.2,p.153) The date of Penninah's death is not known.

Second Generation (The First Generation in America was Robert Linnell)

11

David Linnell (Robert-1)

b. c.1627, England d. bet.14 Nov.1688 date of will and its probate on 9 Mar. 1652/53. m. Hannah Shelley 9 Mar. 1652/3

dau. of Robert and Judith (Garnet) Shelley

Children:

i Samuel b. 15 Dec. 1655

ii Elisha b. 1 June 1658

* iii Hannah b. 15 Dec. 1660

* iv Mary

* v Abigail

* vi Experience b. 1664

* vii Jonathan b. 1669 or 1670

* viii John b. 1671

* ix Susanna b. 1673

David was 25/26 years old when he married Hannah, a lass of 16 years. Otis notes that "our ancestors encouraged early marriages. He who married at eighteen was admitted to all the privileges, and required to perform all the duties of a citizen; while, he that remained single, had to tarry till he was twenty-four to be enrolled as a townsman" (Otis, Gen.Notes Vol.2, p.154) While David had been listed as able to bear arms for ten years, he had waited to marry for some time. The romance between David and Hannah had blossomed; it had received the public censure of public whipping and exclusion from the church rolls and privileges; yet they had moved on into marriage.

Hannah was the daughter of Robert and Judith (Garnet) Shelley. Otis describes Robert as "an easy, good-natured man, who cared little how the world moved. He was, however, an honest man, a good neighbor, and a sincere Christian. His wife Judith Garnet was before her marriage a Boston woman-- a member of the church there, proud, tenacious of her own opinions, and had little control over her tongue, which ran like a whip-saw, cutting everything it came in contact with" (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2, p.156). Judith's tongue got her into problems with the women of the community, and an excommunication by the church on June 4,1649 for speaking ill of other women. It was in this environment that Hannah grew up and out of which she married David. Clearly, she was the independent daughter of an independent mother.

Little mention is made of David's mature life. He was chosen "hayward of the General field" in 1679 but seems to have held no other function for the general good of the community. It seems probable that his estate was very small at the time of his death.

David's will is dated 17 Nov. 1688 and was proved 6 March 1689. To his sons Samuel and Elisha, and to his daughters Hannah Davis, Experience, Susanna, Abigail and Mary, he gave one shilling. The land was to be divided in thirds among Jonathan, John, and David's wife Hannah. She was to have the lower room in "my now dwelling house during her widowhood and all the Rest of my Estate in what kind so ever it be to be at her own dispose. She to be sole executrix." Jonathan was to have the house and to pay his brother John half of its worth. It is probable that Hannah continued to live in Barnstable until her death in 1708 but that Jonathan had already moved to Eastham as early as 1687. How early John moved to Hyannis Port is not known but his marriage to Ruth Davis in 1695 may indicate the time of establishing residence there.

Hannah's will, dated 2 Feb.1708/09, probated 5 Apr.1709, mentions as beneficiaries Abigail Linnel; Mary Sergeant [Sargent], wife of John; Experience, wife of Jabez Davis; Susanna, wife of Eben. Phinney; and her grandaughter Hannah Davis; daughter of Dolar. She signed with a mark and appointed John Phinney, Jr. as executor.

12

Hannah Linnell

b. c. 1629

m. John Davis 15 Mar. 1648 at Nocett

b. c. 1620 in England d. 1703

son of Dolar and Margery (Willard) Davis

Davis Children:

i John b. Jan. 1649 m.(1) Ruth Goodspeed at Barnstable, MA

m.(2) Mary Hamblen

m.(3) Hannah Bacon

ii Samuel b. Dec. 1651 d. 1711 unmarried

twins iii Hannah b. 3 Jan. 1653 m. Jedediah Jones

and iv Mary b. 3 Jan. 1653 m.(1) B. Goodspeed 1676

m.(2) John Hinckley 24 Nov.1697

twins v Joseph b. Jun. 1656 m. Mary Claghorn 28 Mar.1682

and vi Benjamin b. Jun. 1656 d. before 1717

vii Simon b.15 Jul. 1658 died young

viii Dolar b. 1 Oct. 1660 m. Hannah Linnell (113) his 1st cousin 3 Aug.1681

ix Jabez m. Experience Linnell (116) his 1st cousin 20 Aug.1689

x Mercy unmarried 1718

xi Timothy m. Sarah Perry 1690

xii Ruth b. 1674 m. John Linnell (118) her 1st cousin 1695

13

Mary Linnell

b. c. 1631

m. Richard Childs 15 Oct. 1649 b. 1624

Childs Children

i Richard m. 1653 Barnstable

ii Samuel killed by Indians 26 Mar.1676 Battle of Rehoboth

14

Abigail Linnell

b. c. 1633

m. Joshua Lombard 27 May 1651

son of Thomas and Joyce Lombard

Lombard Children

i Abigail b. 6 Apr. 1652 m. Israel Hamblen, son of James Hamblen

ii Mercy b. 15 Jan. 1655

iii Jonathan b. 28 Apr. 1657

m. Elizabeth Eddy 11 Dec. 1683

iv Joshua b. 16 Jan. 1660

m. Hopestill Bullock 6 Nov. 1682

v Susannah b.

15

Shubael Linnell

b. killed 26 Mar. 1676 Battle of Rehoboth

16

Bethia Linnell

bap. 7 Feb. 1640 d. 25 Mar. 1726 Harwich

m.(1) Henry Atkins 25 Mar. 1664

H. Atkins m.(1) Elizabeth 9 July 1647, had 3 children

who died, then Isaac 14 June 1657. Elizabeth died 14 Mar.1664.

He m.(2) Bethia Linnell. He d.before 1700.

m.(2) Stephen Hopkins (Giles-2, Stephen-1) 9 Apr.1701.

He d.10 Oct.1718.

Atkins Children

i. Desire b. 7 May 1665

ii John b. 15 Dec. 1666 died young

iii Nathaniel b. 25 Dec. 1667

iv Joseph b. 4 Mar. 1669

v Thomas b. 19 Jun. 1671

vi John (Capt.) b. 1 Aug. 1674 m. Elizabeth Newcomb 5 Mar. 1699

dau. of Lt. Andrew Newcomb of Edgartown

vii Mercy b. 24 Nov. 1676

viii Samuel b. 25 Jun. 1679

Third Generation

While it would be most interesting to trace the descendants of all of the children of Robert Linnell, limits must be established for this work. Since the Linnell name in this third generation passes down only through the children of David Linnell, we shall be recording his descendants exclusively.

113

Hannah Linnell (David-2, Robert-1)

b. 15 Dec. 1660

m. (1) Jonathan ________

m. (2) Dolar Davis (128) 3 Aug. 1681, her 1st cousin.

b. 1 Oct. 1660 d. 1710

son of John and Hannah (Linnell) Davis

Davis Children

i Shubael b. 23 Apr. 1685

ii Thomas b. Aug. 1687 died young

iii Hannah b. Dec. 1689

iv Stephen b. Sep. 1690

v Thankful b. Mar. 1696

vi Daniel b. Jul. 1698

vii Job b. Jul. 1700

viii Noah b. Sep. 1702

ix Remember Mercy b. 15 Oct. 1704 m. Matthew Lombard 1758

A "Court Order" in the Plymouth Colony Records of 7 July, 1681 and signed by Gov. Hinckley records "In reference unto Hannah Linnett her light behavior with Joseph Randall att Barnstable, the court have ordered that she appear before Mr. Barnabas Laythrop to whom the case is referred, that in case shee pay, or cause to be payed, the sum of twenty shillings, then shee is to be freed, or otherwise whipt" (Plymouth Colony Records, Vol.VI, 1678-1691 p.71). This was indeed the child of David and Hannah!

114

Mary Linnell

b. Barnstable d. c. 1755

m. John Sargent after Nov. 1688

b. 16 Feb. 1664/5 d. 16 Apr. 1755

son of John and Deborah (Hillier) Sargent

lived Malden, Reading MA. and Mansfield, CT.

Sargent Children:

i John b. 22 Dec. 1689 died young

ii Sarah b. 23 Jan. 1691/2 d. 16 May 1693

iii Mary b. 12 Aug. 1694 d. 24 Aug. 1747

m. Robert Arnold 8 Feb. 1716

iv Ruth b. 29 Mar. 1697

m. Theophilus Hall 2 Mar. 1720

v Isaac b. 24 Feb. 1699/1700 d. 20 Apr. 1742

m. Anne Wood 11 Apr. 1722

dau. of Thomas Wood, lived in Mansfield, CT

vi Jacob b. 29 Mar. 1702 d. 2 Apr. 1787

m. Mindwell Root 21 Dec. 1727

b.1702 d. 4 Apr. 1789

dau. of Thomas Root

vii John b. Jan. 1705 d. 23 Aug. 1741

m. Mary Porter 15 Jan. 1730

dau. of Thomas Porter, lived in Mansfield, CT

115

Abigail Linnell

b. Barnstable, MA

m. Ralph Jones 17 Mar. 1721 b. 5 June 1692

(This was probably his second marriage. He may have had at least 5 children by his first wife)

son of Ralph Jones

116

Experience Linnell

b. c. 1664 d. 31 Dec. 1736

m.(1) Jabez Davis (129), her first cousin, 20 Aug. 1689

b. c. 1662 d. 3 Oct. 1710

son of John and Hannah (Linnell) Davis

m.(2) Benjamin Hatch 13 Feb. 1711/12, his third wife.

He m.(1) Mary Hamblen, (2) Elizabeth Eddy

Davis Children

i Nathan b. 2 Mar. 1690

ii Reuben

iii Samuel b. 25 Sept.1692

iv Bathsheba b. 16 Jan. 1694

v Isaac b. 23 Apr. 1696 died young

vi Abigail b. 26 Apr. 1698

m. Joseph Hamblin Sept. 1718

vii Jacob b. Oct. 1699

viii Mercy b. 16 Feb. 1701

ix Ebenezer bap. 23 June 1706

x Solomon b. 4 Sep. 1706

117

Jonathan Linnell

b. between 9 Sep.1669 and 7 Sep. 1670 (gravestone evidence)

d. 8 Sep. 1726 bur. Orleans Cemetery

m.(1) Elizabeth b. 1667 d.26 Jul.1725 bur.Orleans Cem.

m.(2) Rebecca, may have been the Rebecca Linnell

who m. Thomas Tobey 25 Nov. 1730, Yarmouth

Children:

* i David b. 28 Jan. 1693/4

twins * ii Elizabeth b. 17 Apr. 1696 d. 17 May 1714

and * iii Hannah b. 17 Apr. 1696

* iv Abigail b. 1 July 1699

* v Jonathan b. 4 Aug. 1701

* vi Thomas b. 12 Oct. 1703

* vii Elisha b. 15 Feb. 1706

Amos Otis records that "Jonathan moved to Eastham about 1695 and is the ancestor of the Linnells of that town and Orleans" (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2, p.159). He was admitted townsman at Barnstable 4 February 1691/2. He received 2 acres in a division of the meadows on the 14th of January 1691/2 and entered his name as dissatisfied with this division on the 15th of February 1693/4. Jonathan's name first appeared on the list of legal inhabitants of Eastham in 1695, though he may have moved there as early as 1687. (Freeman, Hist. of Cape Cod, Vol. II, p. 374).

Jonathan continued to purchase land. He was one of the proprietors of the purchase of land from the Simpsons in the southeast section of Eastham in 1713-1714. After his death his sons Jonathan, Thomas and Elisha were involved in clarifying title to this land.

In 1717-1718 a movement for the South Precinct of Eastham to separate from the mother town resulted in a town meeting; and the warrant for this meeting was signed by Nathaniel Mayo and Jonathan Linnell, selectmen. The vote was negative for this move but was positive for the establishment of a separate church parish.

Jonathan's (117) is the

oldest of any of the Linnell

gravestones. It was found broken a few years ago and

was set in granite through

the generosity of Robert E.

Linnell (11a,b12,729,11),

the grandson of Arthur E.

Linnell. Their family

tradition is that this

Jonathan is their ancestor.

(see Chapter V)

Jonathan died 8 Sept.1726. His will was dated 13 July, 1725. In it he left to Rebekah, his wife, the living room, chamber (bed), and leanto parts of his dwelling and one third part of his land. To his son, Elisha, he left the lots of land purchased of Sarah and Elizabeth Rogers. To his sons, Jonathan and Thomas, he left the remaining land and marsh land within the township of Eastham. To daughter Abigail King he left one third of the land given Elisha.To daughter Hannah Mayo he left the other land in Bridgewater and Middlebrook. His sheep he left to Jonathan, Elisha, and Thomas (A.E.Linnell, ms. Linnell Family). It would appear that his son David may not have been living by 1726 though we have no record of his death. Daughter Elizabeth had died in 1714 and all other children were mentioned in the will. Records of sales of property after this time indicate considerable negotiations to secure the property most desired by the three brothers; Jonathan, Thomas, and Elisha.

We do not find a record of just when Jonathan married Rebecca after his wife Elizabeth's death on 26 July 1725. A. E. Linnell found a record of the marriage of a widow Rebecca Linnell to a Thomas Tobey at Yarmouth in 1730; but this has not been verified as the same Rebecca. Both Jonathan and Elizabeth are buried in the cemetery at Orleans. There is no marked grave there for Rebecca.

118

John Linnell

b. 1671 d. 9 Feb. 1747

m. Ruth Davis (12-12), his first cousin. 1695

b. 1673 d. 8 May 1748

dau. of John and Hannah (Linnell) Davis

Children:

* i Thankful b. 12 Nov. 1696

* ii Samuel b. 16 Nov. 1699

* iii John Jr. b. 15 Jun. 1702

iv Bethia b. 14 May 1704

v Joseph b. 12 Jun. 1707

vi Hannah b. 10 Jul. 1709

vii Jabez b. 31 Jul. 1711

Amos Otis identifies John Linnell as "the ancestor of the Barnstable and Yarmouth families, a prudent, industrious and respectable man. He resided a part of his life on his farm in the easterly part of Chequaquet, now called Hyannis Port, and a part on the John Davis estate. At his death he owned and occupied the house that stood opposite the residence of Dea. John Munroe, now owned by Capt.Foster. He was one of the earliest who removed to South Sea, as the south part of the town was then called...

"In his will dated Oct.1, 1737, proved 7th July, 1748 he names his wife Ruth and his daughters Thankful Bearse, Bethia Bearse and Hannah Linnell. In a codicil dated July 5, 1748, he says his daughter, Bethia, is dead. To his daughter, Hannah, he gave his great chamber and privileges in the house so long as she remain single. To his son, Samuel, the southwest part of his farm or homestead at South Sea, containing twenty-one acres of upland and seven of meadow; to his son John the middle portion containing nineteen acres of upland and three of marsh; to his son, Joseph, the remaining or easterly part, containing eleven acres of upland and three of marsh; and to his son, Jabez, 'All his homestead farm lands, meadows, and house wherein he then dwelt.' His wife, Ruth, owned real estate in her own right. Her will, proved July 5,1748, is witnessed by Solomon Otis, David Crocker and Robert Davis. She refers to her sister Mercy Davis, deceased, and to her unmarried daughter Hannah. She owned land on the east side of the Hyannis road, adjoining Nathaniel Baker's, formerly the property of her father" (Otis, Gen.Notes, Vol.2,p.159-160).

119

Susannah Linnell

b. 1673 d. 10 Apr. 1752, aged 79 years

m. Ebenezer Phinney, 14 Nov. 1695

b. 8 Feb. 1674 d. 28 Nov. 1754

son of John Jr. and Mary (Rogers) Phinney

John Phinney Jr. was the son of John Sr. and Christina Phinney. This John, Sr, with his brother Robert, sister Catherine and mother arrived from England prior to 1639. John Jr. was the founder of the Barnstable line. Through Mary (Rogers) Phinney, wife of John Jr. all the descendants of this marriage of Susannah and Ebenezer Phinney are also descended from Thomas Rogers who came to this country on the Mayflower. Thomas's son Joseph Rogers was the father of Mary Rogers.

Phinney Children:

i Mehitable b. 14 Aug. 1696 m. Samuel Higgins

ii Mary or Mercy b. 23 Mar. 1698

iii Martha b. 22 Apr. 1700

iv Samuel b. 1 Apr. 1702

v Ebenezer b. 26 May 1708

vi David b. 10 Jun. 1710 m. Mary Polp 27 Sep.1733

For several years Ebenezer served as petit juror and/or grand juror. He was a warden. He was chosen to prevent the sea from destroying the beach and the school lot and to fence in the school lot. He also was requested to care for the burying lot on the South Side. He seemed to be respected and sought out as an appraiser of property for inheritance and was several times listed as executor. The measure of a man is often found in such responsibilities as these, for which he was trusted.

From the arrival of Robert Linnell in 1638 until the death of the third generation of Linnells, a century had passed. Robert's grandson Jonathan (117) died in 1726 and his grandson John (118) died in 1747. Otis notes that there had been very little immigration to these shores after that first burst of enthusiasm. The communities remained socially and religiously homogeneous. They consolidated their development in the organization of their government and society, and tended to remain in the same location. For this reason Otis could state that Jonathan (117) was the ancestor of those who lived in Eastham and Orleans and that John (118) was the ancestor of those in Barnstable and Yarmouth. During these years the colonist's energy had been devoted to clearing the land, building the houses and the places of worship, raising crops, affirming their religious zeal and developing codes of conduct and government. Much thought and negotiation had gone into relationships with the Indians. The families were large to help with the work to be accomplished; and the young people stayed in close proximity to their parents.

The choice for marriage partners was not large; and movement between communities was not great. Young people married their neighbors and their cousins.

The building of homes and other buildings progressed rapidly too. The first houses built on the Cape were palisade houses, upright poles placed in drilled holes in the earth or in a beam board placed on the earth. The upright poles were then lashed to roof poles that became the foundation for thatched roofs. By the time Robert Linnell moved to Barnstable with John Lothrop there was already a saw mill in operation in Scituate and sawed lumber for building could be shipped from Scituate toBarnstable. This allowed for the design of building to which the people had been accustomed in England. And these homes, weathered by the blowing salt sand, were built to last for generations.