|
a.
|
Note: Jabez was a blacksmith as well as a farmer of the land he inherited from his father. Amos Otis, in his history, calls Mr. Jabez Linnell (118,7) "a respectable man." He goes on to say, though, that "The eight children of this family did not maintain the respectable position in society of the parents." He calls Elisha, one of the sons, "the laziest among the lazy" who in good humor "took no offense when reproved for his slothful and vagrant habits." It was especially Elisha who led Amos Otis to evaluate the family as having developed "two distinct races in all its generations. The pure blooded Linnel is an honest man, a good neighbor, and usually a sincere Christian. The Shellyes (descendants of Hannah Shelly, wife of David (11) are east and good natured, usually indolent and wanting in energy of character, and very rarely accumulate wealth." (Otis, Genealogical Notes, pa. 160-161) While one would question this view of inherited characteristics, it is of interest to note how one early townsman view the family. Descendants of Robert Linnell by Rachel L. Wynn, pa. 242. Amos Otis tells the story of Elisha's coming to beg at the Otis home when Amos was a child. "Addressing my father he said,"I have no corn in my house. I pray that out of your great abundance you will give me only half a bushel." My father, knowing Elisha's character and habits, said, "I am busy today. If you will go to the crib and shell it yourself you may take only half a bushel" Quoth Elisha, " I will go a lettie further, and if I do not get it ready shelled I will call on my return and shell it." He did not return. (Otis, Genealogical Notes, pa. 161) Many a story of the indolent habits of Elisha were told throughout Barnstable. Descendants of Robert Linnell by Rachel L. Wynn pa. 246 THE AMOS OTIS WRITINGS ON THE LINNELL FAMILY AS THEY WERE PUBLISHED IN THE BARNSTABLE PATRIOT IN 1866 by Jason Quick Amos Otis was a Historian living in Barnstable that became a well-known name for future genealogists. His series of family history sketches and papers published in the Barnstable Patriot, one being on the Linnell family. His papers were published in 1888 and a copy of them reside in The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. One of the he best quotes from Amos Otis in the Linnell family sketches was Elisha Linnell 118, 73 , one of the sons of Jabez Linnell 118, 73 "born, Oct 20th 1740, was the laziest among the lazy, and he took no offence when reproved for his slothful and vagrant habits. If such notoriety be an honor, Elisha would have undisputed claim to be called the champion of the lazy. He was courteous in his address, had a ready command of language, and there was always a spice of humor in his conversation. He was not a mean beggar, he would not receive a mean gift, or one that involved any effort on his part. He assumed that he had a right to beg, and that it was the duty of the more wealthy to give. As illustrations of his character and manner I select the following from many amusing stories told of him. Nearly sixty years ago, when I was a child, Elisha called at my father's house. Addressing my father, he said, “I have no corn in my house, I pray that out of your great abundance, you will give me only half a bushel.” My father, knowing Elisha's character and habits, said ,“I am busy today, if you will go to the crib and shell it yourself you may take “only half a bushel” Quoth Elisha, “I will go a leetle further, and if I do not get it ready shelled I will call on my return and shell it.“ He did not call on his return."
|