George Soule Jr (abt. 1639 - bef. 1704)

Born about 1639 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony, New England

Husband of Deborah (Unknown) Thomas — married about 1664 in Plymouth Colony

Descendants

Died before 22 Jun 1704 before about age 65 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

This George Soule was NOT a Mayflower passenger

George Soule, Son of Mayflower Passenger George Soule

George Soule, son of George Soule the immigrant and his wife Mary Buckett, was born about 1639. In a 1673 deposition, concerning the suspicious death of Rebecca Cornell, he said he was about age 34. He died before 22 June 1704, when his last Will is first mentioned in court.^[1][2]

George married about 1664 Deborah (perhaps Thomas)^[1][2]

He is said to have been a sea rover like his brother Nathaniel and joined him on fishing voyages.^[3] The Plymouth Colony in 1662 gave land grants to those who were born early in the colonies’ founding, which included George.^[4] In 1668, he and his brother Nathaniel received land in Dartmouth from his father.^[2] In 1669, while George and his brother Nathaniel were away (assumed to be fishing), Gyles Slocum came to Dartmouth and took over George and Nathaniel’s land and would not leave. So they sued Slocum in 1671 and the court removed him from the land and awarded the brothers damages.^[3][2] That same year he was appointed to a committee for the Colony to review laws regarding excessive drinking.^[5] In 1672 he became constable for Dartmouth.^[6] In 1673 he testified at the Supreme Court of Newport, Rhode Island in the trial of Thomas Cornell for the death of his mother, Rebecca. George’s testimony indicated he was 34 years old. It also detailed a conversation with Rebecca, where she said an incident occurred between her and Thomas regarding rent, and that she was going to move away but feared she would not be alive before she could move. Thomas Cornell was found guilty and was executed.^[7][8] In 1682 he took the oath of fidelity and was also appointed to the Grand Inquest, which was a special jury for crimes.^[9] In 1684 and 1685 he, with a few other men, sued several other townsmen in Dartmouth regarding land disputes.^{[citation needed]} A list of freemen was taken in 1686 and he was noted to be living in Rehoboth (possibly related to his land disputes in Dartmouth). ^{[citation needed]}

George died before 22 June 1704 in Dartmouth. William was named executor and Deborah received a life estate (she could use the land until her death), but she was not satisfied and petitioned the court for her 1/3rd spousal right. George’s last Will also omitted his eldest son, George III, and George III’s daughter Mary Coggeshall contested the Will and received her father’s share. Deborah died in 1710, in Dartmouth.^[2]

Will

[George² Soule's Will]^[10]

"[p. 93]The Last will and Testament of George Soule of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll in New England being of perfect Memory and my understanding not faileing me praises be given to Allmighty God for the same. Doe bequeath my Body to the Earth from whence it Came, and my Soule Unto God that gave it And I do Commend my well beloved wife & Chilldren Unto the Gracious Protection of the Lord, Jesus Christ Humbly Entreating him of his Grace to Replenish them with his holy Spirit so as they may live in the fear of God and Unity of the Spiritt all the dayes of their lives : My will and desire is that all my Lawfull Debts may be truely & Justly payd where and to whom any is oweing and all such debts as is Lawfully due unto me may be Received by my Executors after Named Ittem I do give & bequeath unto my Eldest son William Soule unto him his heires and Assignes for Ever One quarter part of a share of land Divided & undivided scittuated lyeing & being in the said Township of Dartmouth Item I doe give and bequeath unto my son John Soule unto him his heires & Assignes for Ever One Eighth part of a share of land Divided & undivided scittuate lyeing & being in the said Township of Dartmouth Item I Do give & bequeath Unto my son Nathan Soule Unto him his heires and Assignes for Ever One Eighth part of a share of land with my Dwelling house wherin I live at the day of the date hereof onely Reserveing priviledge for his Mother my wife to have free Liberty to Dwell in the said House before given unto my sonne Nathan Dureing the time of her widowhood & priviledge of all sorts of fruits in ye orchard Item I do give & bequeath unto my Daughter Deborah Soule Ten pounds in money : and to be payd unto her by my said sonne Nathan Soule at the age of Eighteen years or at the day of her Marriage = Item I doe give and bequeath unto my three daughters Mary Lydia & Sarah Soule the sum of Thirty pounds in money and three good ffeather beds with furniture belonging to them . that is to be payd by my Executrix and Executor after Named the sum of ten pounds & one feather bed & furniture belonging to it unto Each of them at the age of Eighteen years or at the day of of their Mariage Item I do order Constitute Ordaine and Appoint my dear and Well beloved wife Deborah Soule & my well beloved son William Soule to be my Executrix & Executor to see that this my last will & Testament be truely Executed and fullfilled in all respects to the full meaneing & true Intent thereof in all perticulers = Item I Do desire Request & Impower my Trusty & well beloved freinds Joseph Tripp & George Cadman both of the said Town of Dartmouth to be overseers of this my Last will & Testament & to be helpful unto my said Executors in the Manageing of their Affaires by their help Advice & Councell in the due Execution of their placces & trust to them Commited, Item I do give and bequeath two overseers five shillings apeice to be payd unto them by my Executors And in Rattifycation & Confirmation that this is my absolute last will & Testament, I have hereunto sett my hand and seale, this Twenty fifth day of the first month March and in the Year of Our Lord one thousand six Hundred Ninety & seven 1697

Signed sealed & owned . . . George Soule (S)

in presence off

Isaace Lawton

John Coggeshall

Elizabeth Coggeshall

"Memorandum yt on ye 30th day of June 1704 then Appeared before Natha^l Byfield Esqr Judge of Probate of wills &c within the County of Bristoll mr John Coggeshall & mr Isaace Lawton two of ye wittnesses to the above writen will and did Sollemly declare that they were present & did see George Soule late of Dartmouth, Deceased, signe seale & declare the above written as his last will & testament & that he was of a Disposeing mind when he so did And that they allso see Elizabeth Coggeshall the other witness signe at the same time John Cary Regr . . . Jurat Coram Nathl Byfield

July 1st 1704 Entered by John Cary Regr"

Deborah Soule, George's wife, evidently was not happy at being left the privilege of living in the house and using the fruits of the orchards, for she wrote to the court, saying she was unable to come in person, but asking that she be given her "thirds according to law" and that son William be allowed to execute the estate. 22 4th month 1704.^[10]

Children^[2]

1. George Soule b. ca. 1664
2. William Soule b. ca. 1670
3. John Soule b. ca. 1673
4. Nathan Soule b. ca. 1677
5. Deborah Soule b. ca. 1679
6. Mary Soule b. ca. 1681
7. Lydia Soule b. ca. 1685
8. Sarah Soule before 1 March 1688

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Anne Borden Harding (editor), Mayflower Families Through Five Generations : Volume 3: George Soule (Plymouth, Massachusetts : General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} George Soule of the Mayflower and his Descendants for Four Generations. "Mayflower Families in Progress" Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2015. pp 8, 9, 2, p. 7, suit against Slocum.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Ridlon, A contribution to the history …of the families named … Soule (1926) Pages 201-06
4. ↑ Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. (editor) Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England : printed by order of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Vol. IV 1661-1668. (1855) page 19
5. ↑ Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England : printed by order of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Vol V 1668-1678 page 60
6. ↑ Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England : printed by order of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Vol V 1668-1678 page 91
7. ↑ "The 1673 Murder of Rebecca Cornell and the ‘Good Fire’," (New England Historical Society, 2023); (https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/1673-murder-rebecca-cornell-and-good-fire/ : Accessed 4 October 2023) Note: This article does not mention George's involvement, but does outline the "murder"
8. ↑ https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cornell-73#Thomas_Cornell_Court_Trial.07UNIQ701603be1e251406-nowiki-00000012-QINU.075.07UNIQ701603be1e251406-nowiki-00000013-QINU.07
9. ↑ Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England : printed by order of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Vol. 6 Court Orders 1678-1691 page 87, page 86
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "The Wills and Inventories of George Soule and his Widow Deborah, with the Petition of the Granddaughter Mary Coggeshall" Transcribed by George Ernest Bowman. The Mayflower Descendant V 7 pages 210-212, 1889

• Anne Borden Harding (editor), Mayflower Families Through Five Generations : Volume 3: George Soule (Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980)
• George Soule of the Mayflower and his Descendants for Four Generations. "Mayflower Families in Progress" Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2006.
• Plymouth Colony Court Records Vol 4, Page 19 & Vol 5, Pages 60, 104 & Vol. 6, Pages 86-87
• Plymouth Colony Court Records Vol. 7, 209-210 & Vol 8, Pages 164, 166, 283-84, 292, 295-96
• Bristol County, Massachusetts, Deeds, Vol. 6, Page 44
• Ricketson, The History of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts (1858) Pages 27, 29, 205
• Ridlon, A Contribution to the History …of the Families Named … Soule (1926) Page 201-06
• Mayflower Families, Vol. 3, Pages 379-381
• Dartmouth Land Grant- http://dartmouthhas.org/uploads/1/0/0/2/100287044/drp_pp_1-36.pdf