Ruhamah Jones

Abt 1650 - Aft 1735  (~ 86 years)

• Name	Ruhamah Jones  [1, 2]
  Birth	Abt 1650	Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts   [3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Female
  Death	Aft 1735	Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts   [3, 5]
  Person ID	I20199	Ancestry of PNH, TNH, and others | Ancestor of LDN
  Last Modified	12 Sep 2020

  
  

  Father	Teague Jones   d. Between 1691 and 1702
  Family ID	F12119	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Joseph Nickerson,   b. Bef 16 Dec 1647, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts d. Between 1725 and 1731, Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts (Age > 77 years)
  Marriage	Bef 1677  [6]
  Children	+ 1. William Nickerson,   b. Abt 1678, Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts d. Between 15 Sep 1760 and 12 Mar 1765, Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts (Age ~ 82 years)
  Family ID	F12131	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	21 Dec 2018

  
  

• Notes

  "Ruhamah was evidently a great beauty, but 'of a disagreeable nature' and delighted in harassing others, so much so that her neighbors tried not to offend her. It was said that if provoked she would play havoc with their washing, their choice plants and the fruits of their harvest. She was ready for an argument at any time. She was even suspected when Edward Banks' barn was burned after they had quarrelled. Ruhamah said she was sick at the time of the trial and Joseph petitioned the court for an abatement. Joseph had given surety for Ruhamah to the sum of £50 and the court wanted to know whether or not to levy this fine. Joseph had failed to attend court and pleaded ignorance of the law of releases and stated that any adverse action at that time would cause him to lose his estate and render himself and his wife destitute in their old age. Col. Otis ruled tentatively in favor of Joseph 7 Mar. 1710/1. Joseph also petitioned the court to have his farm restored to him 27 June 1711. Ruhamah lived to a great age and on 21 Oct. 1735 the town of Harwich was ordered to pay £8/1/3 for her care, 'an aged impotent woman', in the home of John Eldredge. Evidently she had remained sitting for so many years that upon her death it was thought best to bury her in 'the same crooked position'." [Jeff Martin]

  
  

• Sources

  [S2590] Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Volume 4, by William Richard Cutter with William Frederick Adams. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1910., first name only. [S2593] Judith Brister, "The Maker/Macors and Hopkins." Atlantic Crossings, newsletter of the Pilgrim Hopkins Heritage Society, volume 7, issue 2, December 2013, page 1. [S2654] The Nickerson Family: The Descendants of William Nickerson, 1604-1689, First Settler of Chatham, Massachusetts, Parts I, II & III: The First Six Generations with Vital Statistics of the Seventh Generation, The Combined 2nd Edition With Corrections by Pauline Wixon Derrick with Gertrude James and Barbara E. Goward. Cape Cod, Massachusetts: The Nickerson Family Association, 1997., year only. [S4384] George Eldridge, Hydrographer, and Eliza Jane His Wife: Their Ancestors and Their Descendants by Henry James Young. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: 1982. [S3686] Jeff Martin, "Jones"., year only. [S2654] The Nickerson Family: The Descendants of William Nickerson, 1604-1689, First Settler of Chatham, Massachusetts, Parts I, II & III: The First Six Generations with Vital Statistics of the Seventh Generation, The Combined 2nd Edition With Corrections by Pauline Wixon Derrick with Gertrude James and Barbara E. Goward. Cape Cod, Massachusetts: The Nickerson Family Association, 1997.