*NOTE: First, the
genealogy to this person is at the bottom of the blog. If you are wondering how
you’re related, that’s the place to check. Second, sources are also listed at
the bottom. Third, I have not verified the line of genealogical descent; I am
relying on the accuracy of other contributors to familysearch.org.*
Robert
Wixam supposedly came to Massachusetts in 1630 as part of the “Winthrop Fleet.”
This group of about a dozen ships was led by John Winthrop, who became the
governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Many of the passengers were Puritans.
Robert
and his wife, Alice, settled in Eastham (on the Cape Cod peninsula), Barnstable County,
Massachusetts. On October 1, 1686, Robert wrote his will. In this last
testament, Robert specifically mentioned land, housing, cows, and… a beehive.
“Robert
Wixam of Eastham being very weak and infirm of Body but yet in perfit memory
and understanding and not knowing the time of my departure but dayly expecting
when my chang shall be, Leave this as my last will and testament…
“I
do give up to daughter Jemimah one Browne Cowe with a Starr in the fore head
and one hive of Beese, and house room and priviledg in the orchard as long as
shee lives unmaried….
“This
I leave as my last will and testament with Liberty to add to or Alter as I may
see cause If God shall be pleased to prolong my days.”1
Robert’s
days were not prolonged: in less than a fortnight, his bequests were granted.
After
his death, his belongings were inventoried. [I have copied a transcription of
the inventory to the bottom of this post.] Among the miscellanea were a pot
hanger, wooden trenchers, fire tongs, pewter, brass, gunpowder, Indian corn,
rye, oxen, calves, and two beehives. The beehives together were valued at 10
shillings—the same price as a bedstead, an old horse, a pig, or 4 spinning
wheels. Why were the bees worth as much as a horse?
Honeybees
are not native to the United States. They were first imported to Virginia in
1622 and appeared in Eastham about ten years before Robert’s death.2
By this time, honeybees were actually relatively inexpensive, considering that 40 years before, they had cost four
times more. Robert bequeathed his hives at a time when honey had become a common
food in the colonies.3
The
lower prices were largely due to the importation of more hives, and partly due
to the fact that bees are not truly domesticated, and “feral” bees began to
colonize the continent.4 Some colonists were able to raid honey from
wild hives.
In
the 1780s Thomas Jefferson wrote of feral bees, “The bees have generally
extended themselves into the country, a little in advance of the white
settlers. The Indians therefore call them the white man's fly.”5
An
American essayist later wrote, “The Indian regarded the honey-bee as an
ill-omen. She was the white man’s fly. In fact she was the epitome of the white
man himself. She has the white man’s craftiness, his industry, his
architectural skill, his neatness and love of system, his foresight; and, above
all, his eager, miserly habits. The honey-bee’s great ambition is to be rich,
to lay up great stores, to possess the sweet of every flower that blooms. She
is more than provident. Enough will not satisfy her; she must have all she can
get.”6 Once bees arrived, settlers were usually not far behind.
Bees
may have their faults, but in the 17th century, when cane sugar was
prohibitively expensive, honey was the primary sweetener for the “ordinary man.”2
And it certainly must have been for Robert Wixam and his family.
___________________________________________________
Line
of descent:
- Guy Wixon Scofield,
1913-1984
- John Wixon
Scofield, 1888-1963
- Florence Amanda
Wixson Scofield, 1844-1896
- John Wixson,
1821-1893
- Daniel Wixson,
1786-1852
- Solomon Wixson,
1749-1813
- Joshua Wixon,
1695-173
- Barnabus Wixam,
1663-1735
- Robert Wixam,
1624-1686
Sources:
Other
sources:
Below
is the inventory taken of Robert’s estate after he died.1 Items are
listed followed by their worth.
[1:4]
October 11: 1686
An
Invintory of the Estate of Robert Wixam of Eastham deaseaced as follows
2
Oxen .................................. 06-10-00
1
Stear .................................. 01-15-00
1
Cow ................................... 01-15-00
3
Cows .................................. 06-00-00
1
Heifer, 1 Steere ................ 02-15-00
3
Calves ................................ 01-01-00
1
old Mare ............................ 00-12-00
1old
Horse ............................ 00-10-00
2
Swine ................................. 01-00-00
In
Indian Corne ..................... 01-00-00
In
wheate ............................... 01-03-00
In
Rye ...................................... 01-00-00
In
Iron .................................... 00-12-00
2
hives of Bees ....................... 00-10-00
In
Pewter.................................. 01-02-00
In
Earthen Ware....................... 00-01-08
In
Books.................................... 00-07-00
Sheep
Steers............................. 00-01-03
Iron
Box and heatre.................. 00-02-00
In
Brass .................................... 02-00-00
Powder
and bullits ................... 00-02-00
One
Iron Pott and hooks ......... 01-00-00
One
pott hanger........................ 00-01-00
2
Spinning wheels ................... 00-05-00
Wooden
trays & trenchers...... 00-08-00
Tobacco
................................... 00-10-00
One
Fether bed and bolster, One old rugg and
old
blankit...................02-15-00
One
old bed & bolster.............. 00-16-00
One
Bedstead .......................... 00-10-00
2
old Sives and old bagg........... 00-02-00
One
bed and bolster and three pillows and old rugg
&
blankit................. 03-10-00
One
bedstead & Settile............. 01-00-00
One
table and forme ................ 01-00-00
3
chairs ..................................... 00-03-00
1
forme old pails ...................... 00-02-00
1
fire slice and tongs ................ 00-03-00
his
wearing clothes .................. 01-06-00
In
Linning ................................. 03-04-00
2
Chests and box ........................00-12-00
The
Total is ......................... 48-05-11
.JPG)
