Abagail Howes Kelley (1799-1888) Pt. 2

Since I started to research my family history, I've held a strong affinity for my great-great-great grandmother Abagail Howes Kelley. She lived such a long live filled with much loss and hopefully much happiness. I wrote about Abagail in a previous post which you can view here.

Sturgis Library in Barnstable has some digitized newspapers on its website and over the years I have found some wonderful information in the Barnstable Patriot. I heard that the library has added the Yarmouth Register, which is where I found Abagail's obituary. Working five days a week means I have little time to research in person at Cape libraries, so Sturgis Library's online collection is a true gift!

Below is a transcription of this obituary. For 19th century ancestors, I feel fortunate if I find a one-sentence death notice in the local paper, so I am thrilled her obituary gives a glimpse into how beloved she was in her village. And it showed that "Nabby" was exactly the kind of person I had imagined her to be all along!

Yarmouth Register, Friday, October 21, 1938
Fifty Years Ago
Mrs. Abagail, widow of the late Hiram Kelley of West Dennis, passed away on Oct. 17th, at the ripe age of 88 years, 1 month, 20 days. She was born at Dennis Port in 1800, and was the daughter of David and Rebecca Howes. She was the mother of ten children--seven of whom have gone before and were waiting to greet her beyond the river. Not only will she be missed by children and grandchildren, but friends and neighbors will miss the pleasant face and kindly words of greeting that Aunt Nabby always gave so lovingly. She leaves two aged brothers, three children, 37 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Seth Pope 1649-1727 of Plymouth and Dartmouth, Mass.

Seth Pope was born 13 Jan 1648/49 in Plymouth, Mass. (Plymouth VR p 656), the son of Thomas and his second wife Sarah (Jenny) Pope. He is my 9^th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis’ side of the family.

Seth married Deborah Perry ca 1675. Their marriage record isn’t found but her father’s 16 Oct 1689 will mentions his daughter Deborah as the wife of Seth Pope.

Deborah was born 28 Nov 1654 at Sandwich, Barnstable Co., Mass., the daughter of Ezra and Elizabeth (Burgess) Perry.

The booklet Cape Cod Legends tells the story of young Seth, son of Thomas Pope of Plymouth and Dartmouth. He came to Sandwich about 1669 as a peddler, probably with a pack containing needles, thread and other portable items. The constable warned him out of town, perhaps fearing the stranger would become a financial burden to the town. He left with an irritated promise to come back and buy up the town. He married a daughter of Ezra Perry of Sandwich and became a successful merchant in Dartmouth, owning a wharf and warehouse in New Bedford. True to his promise, he came back to Sandwich in 1699 and bought the Dexter grist mill, a fulling mill and weaving shop and other land on Grove Street and built a house for each of his sons who married Sandwich women. He left his eldest son John Pope in charge of the mill. He proclaimed he wouldn’t live in the damned town and went off again. I’m sure this story is embellished a bit but I love his drive and spirit!

Dexter Mill

Seth was active in town affairs. He was captain in the militia, a Selectman, Justice of the Peace, and Representative to the General Court. He was a very successful business man. Besides the businesses and land in Sandwich, he owned a wharf, warehouse, ships, saw mill, gristmill, store, dwelling houses and farmland in Acushnet and Dartmouth. His probate records reveal he was, unfortunately, a slave owner.

Seth Pope's signature on his 1720 will

Seth and Deborah had nine children, births recorded at Dartmouth:

John

Thomas

Susannah

Sarah

Mary

Seth

Hannah

Elnathan

Lemuel

I descend from Seth who married Hannah Bourne.

Deborah Perry Pope died 19 February 1711. He married second Rebecca ___ who is mentioned in his 1720 will.

Seth Pope died 17 Mar 1727 in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Mass. He is buried with Deborah and Rebecca at Acushnet Cemetery.

Seth Pope's gravestone, Acushnet Cemetery

Sources:

Ezra Perry of Sandwich, Mass., NEHGR vol 115.

RA Lovell Jr, Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, third edition, 1996, first printing 1984

Jeremiah Digges, Cape Cod Pilot, 1937

William Richard Cutter, editor, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 1, 1913