Besides the author’s name drawing me to this work, I knew that a number of my ancestors passed through Lynn, Massachusetts in the mid 1600s. A number of ancestors appear through the book, and from pages 420 – 426, the section is devoted to Joseph Jenks, the younger, my 8 times great-grandfather.

“Joseph Jenks [1627-1717], the younger, who labored with his father [Joseph Jenks, the elder – 1599-1683] at the Iron Works [Saugus Iron Works], was a frequent visitor to the Anchor [Tavern], in Captain Marshall’s time. He was opinionated, and quite free to express his estimation of others. But he was intelligent, generous and companionable and withal an ingenious worker on such machinery as was required in the industrial arts of those days. For these reasons, if no other, he naturally stood high in the community. On the long winter evenings he was always welcome in the bar-room or the parlor, and regarded as one of the chief entertainers; joined zealously in the debates, and being among those best informed on current topics, received marked attention. With the irrepressible landlord [of the tavern] he very well agreed on political questions, and few exceeded him in fervor of lamentation over the restoration of the monarchy or in denuciation of those through whom it was brought about. His loyal opponents, at one time, not being able to overcome him in argument, resorted to the questionable expedient of accusing him of treason.”

And a few pages later:

“But he should not have been there [at the tavern] too much at night, for he had a wife [Esther Ballard, 1633-1695] at home. That he had affection for her, too, and acted the part of the indulgent husband cannot be doubted. As she was a lady of some account among the more fashionable of the little community, and withal comely in person, he took pleasure in seeing her bedecked in such a manner that the jewel should lose no lustre though an unbecoming setting. Here again he was brought into trouble, for the watchful Court, in a series of sumptuary enactments, sought to discourage every species of extravagance; and upon the 29th of June, 1652, at the Quarterly session, this presentment was made: ‘We present Ester, the wife of Joseph Jenks, Junior, ffor wearing silver lace.’ “

8 times Great-Grandmother was fined 2 shillings for this “crime”!

Traits are genetic?