Teague Jones, born ca 1624; died before 1702, Yarmouth, Mass.

 

Teague Jones sticks out in my mind for his first name and raucous behavior—both unusual for 17^th century Massachusetts.

He may have been born in Ireland, given his first name, but that is not known with any certainty. Some have written that Teague’s wife was Native American, but no proof is found, although it would be a difficult thing to prove. 

The name of Teague’s wife is unknown. Their children’s births are not recorded but other records show they included:  Jeremiah, Josiah, Elizabeth, Samuel, and Ruhamah.

Ruhamah was an unusual character in that she was frequently getting into mischief. She was a great beauty with a disagreeable nature. She liked bothering others--she would ruin neighbors' wash, plants and fruits. She was brought to court for suspicion of burning Edward Bangs' barn, but was too ill to go to court. Her husband Joseph Nickerson successfully petitioned for abatement. She lived to a “great age” and had remained sitting for so many years that, at her death, it was thought best to bury her in " the same crooked position” on Burial Hill in Chatham. I'd imagine the information on her burial is exaggerated.

Teague’s name did not appear on the 1643 list of Yarmouth men. He was probably newly arrived in Yarmouth in 1645 as a single man.

In 1645 Teague was one of the "soldiers sent out against the Naragansetts, in the late expedition.” Each soldier received one pound powder, three pounds bullets and one pound tobacco. They advanced to Rehoboth, but returned home after two weeks without seeing any action.

Nancy Thatcher Reid writes that Teague was called to court from time to time for misdemeanors, most of which involved nothing more than a certain air of "joie de vivre," which the sober orthodox residents of the town deplored or maybe envied.

Teague Jones and Richard Berry ordered to part their uncivil living together in 1653 (PCR III,37).  Teague and Richard were also found playing cards on the Sabbath. In 1655 he had dispute with Indian Mashantampaine about a gun, which the court ordered returned to the Indian (PCR III, 80,90). 

Marker at the Nobscusset Indian Burial Ground

In 1667 there was a complaint against him for not coming to meeting (IV, 153). Richard Berry accused Teague Jones of committing sodomy and other unclean practices with Sarah, wife of Hugh Norman. However on 6 March 1649/50 Berry acknowledged before the General Court that he had given false witness under oath and he was sentenced to be whipped at the post. I also descend from Richard Berry, whom I wrote about here.

In 1662 Teague "overtaken with drink, having formerly been a transgressor in that kind, was fined fifty shillings." An inventory of spirits in Yarmouth in June and July 1662 showed six people brought 113 gallons. Teague shown as one of many buying 10 gallons of alcohol, "one case forfeit to the country."

In 1667 Teague was living in the South part of Yarmouth, on west side of Bass River, near Stage Island. In 1674, he purchased land at Monomoit (Chatham) from William Nickerson, bounded north by White Pond and land of John Nickerson, and east by “the highway that leads into the Inlands.” 

White Pond, Chatham  Source: weitzenkorn.com

The next year Teague purchased five additional acres. He sold the Chatham land before 1686 to Elisha Hedge and returned to Yarmouth, where he lived as late as 1691. By deed dated 29 May 1691, he conveyed farm on west side of Bass River to son Jeremiah, who was living there. Josiah Jones, doubtless his son, and Joseph Eldredge, son of Robert, then lived on adjoining farms.

He was taxed toward King Philips War in 1676 2:06:09. This was the first time he appeared on Yarmouth tax rolls.

 

In 1667 he was reported to the General Court at Plymouth for not attending meeting but it is not specified whether this refers to the civil Town Meeting or to the meetings for worship. Teague died in 1676. The name of his wife has not been found. The marriages of several of his children are recorded and some of them married members of known Quaker families.

The early Jones' of Yarmouth were mostly Quakers. Earliest records find show the Yarmouth Friends' monthly meetings were held alternating at the homes of John Dillingham and Teague Jones beginning in 1681.

Teague died between 1691 and 1702. No burial location, death record or settlement of his estate is found.

I descend through Teague’s son Jeremiah and his first wife Sarah Dillingham. 

Sources Not Noted Above:

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884

William C. Smith, A History of Chatham, Mass. Formerly the Constablewick or village of Monomoit, FB and FP Goss, publishers, Hyannis, MA, 1909

Reid, Nancy Thacher, Dennis, Cape Cod from Firstcomers to Newcomers, 1639 – 1993, 1996

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, It's History and People, 1986

The Nickerson Family Association, Nickerson Family Genealogy, Part I, 1973