Austin Augustine Bearse

Notes:

Augustine Bearce was born in Europe 1618, and died between 1686 - 1697 presumably Barnstable, MA. He was a full blood Gypsy of the Romany Race, deported by the British Govt., on the Confidence of London 1638, entered on the passenger list as Augustine Bearce, single age 20 years. Augustine was of the Romany/Gypsy tribe Heron or Herne. He was deported from England by the British authorities because he was Romany and caught on British soil. Augustine married summer of 1639 in Machatache Village Cape Cod, under pagan Indian ceremonial rights, to Mary (Little Dove) Hyanno, full blood Wampanoag Princess, daughter of John Hyanno, Sagamore at Cummunaquad Barnstable Harbor. She was a granddaughter of Highyannough, Sachem of all the Cape tribes; Mary Hyanno's mother was a daughter of the ruling Sachem at Gay Head Martha's Vineyard Island of that period. He was married to Mary (Little Dove) HYANNO in 1639 in Mattacheevillage, Barnstable, MA.

He came to Barnstable (near Cape Cod, MA) with the first company in 1639. His houselot, containing twelve acres of very rocky land in the westerly part of the East Parish, was bounded westerly by John Crocker's land, northerly by the meadow, Easterly by Isaac Robinson's land and southerly "into y woods". His house stood on the north side of the road, and his cellar and some remains of his orchard existed at the commencement of the this century. A road from his house to Hyannis is still known as "Bearse's Way"**. He owned six acres of meadow adjoining his upland on the north, and two thatch islands still known as Bearse's Islands. He also had six acres of land in the Calves Pasture, esteemed as being the best soil in the town; eight acres of planting land on the north of Shoal's pond bounded by Mr. Coopers, now called Huckin's Neck and thirty acres at the Indian ponds bounded easterly by the Herring River. The Indian Pond lot he sold to the Thomas Allen and the planting lands at Shoal Pond were occupied by his descendants until recently. John Jenkins and John Dexter afterward owned the ancient homestead.

He became a member of Mr. Lothrop's Church April 29, 1643; his name stands at the head of the list. The first person admitted. He appears to have been very exact in the performance of his religious duties, causing his children to be baptised on the day of their birth, if Sunday or on the following sabbath. His son Joseph, born on Sunday, January 25, 1652 was taken two miles to the church and baptized the same day. Many believed that children dying upbaptized were lost and that consequently it was the duty of the parents to present their children early for baptism. Being influenced by the this feeling, he did not wish by a week's delay to imperil the eternal salvation of his child. Now such an act would be pronounced unnecessary and cruel. However differently the present generation may view the question of baptism, he did what he honestly believed his duty and he who does that intelligently is to be justified.

He was proposed to be admitted a freeman, June 3 1652, and was admitted on the 3rd of May following, His name rarely occurs on the records. He was a grand juror in 1653 and 1662, and a surveyor of highways in 1674. He was one of the very few against whom no complaint was ever made, a fact which speaks well for his character as a man and as a citizen. He was a farmer, lived on the produce of the land, and brought up his large family to be like himself - useful members of society. There appears to be no record of his death, nor settlement of his estate on the probate records. He was living in 1686, but died before 1697.

Austin married Mary " Little Dove" Wilder Hyanno (Wampanoag Tribe) in 1639 in Mattachee Village of Wampanoags, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. Mary (daughter of John ( Yanno) Sagamore Hyanno and Mary Noepe) was born on 12 Apr 1623 in Mattachee Village of Wampanoags, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA; died on 21 Feb 1678 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Hannah Bearse was born on 11 Apr 1652 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA; died on 4 Nov 1688 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA.