George Soule

DITSWORTH'S ANCESTOR ON THE MAYFLOWER, JOHN HOWLAND.
I don't think this means that Dits and I are related. However, we are descended from people so stupid they floated over to Massachusetts in the middle of winter without as much as a sweater or even a change of clothes and half of them died of the cold.

John Howland Mayflower Sharp Dresser.jpg John Howland Mayflower rescue.jpg

George Soule Fan Club with Hefty Dues.jpg

BORN: Probably between 1595 and 1602.
MARRIAGE: Mary Buckett, about 1625-1626, at Plymouth.
CHILDREN: Zachariah, John, Nathaniel, George, Susanna, Mary, Elizabeth, Patience, and Benjamin."
DEATH: Before 22 January 1679 at Duxbury.
yDNA HAPLOGROUP: I-M253

George Soule's origins in England have not been discovered. The most promising record found to date is the baptism of a George Soule on 9 February 1595 at Tingrith, Bedford, son of William. Other Soule families using the name George can also be found in many other places including co. Gloucester, co. Worcester, co. Hertford, co. Suffolk, co. Kent, and co. Bedford. Many of these families were systematically examined in research I recently published in the Mayflower Quarterly and in the newsletter of the Soule Kindred in America. It has also been proposed that he may have originally come from Leiden, rather than England.

George Soule came on the Mayflower as a servant to the Edward Winslow family, indicating he was under 25 years old at the time; however, he did sign the "Mayflower Compact," suggesting he was over 18 or 21. This puts his birth year at around 1595-1602. This matches well with his apparent marriage date of around 1625 at Plymouth: by the May 1627 Division of Cattle, he was married to Mary, and they had had one son, Zachariah.

George Soule and family moved to Duxbury very early on, and he was a deputy to the Plymouth Court for a number of years beginning in 1642. He had volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637, but Plymouth's troops were not needed. He was on various committees, juries, and survey teams, during his life in Duxbury. In 1646, for example, he was appointed to the committee to deal with Duxbury's problem of the disorderly smoking of tobacco.

George Soule made out his will on 11 August 1677, and added a codicil to it on 20 September 1677. The codicil is quite interesting as it gives a little insight into a family squabble between son John and daughter Patience:

If my son John Soule above-named or his heirs or assigns or any of them shall at any time disturb my daughter Patience or her heirs or assigns or any of them in peaceable possession or enjoyment of the lands I have given her at Nemasket alias Middleboro and recover the same from her or her heirs or assigns or any of them; that then my gift to my son John Soule shall be void; and that then my will is my daughter Patience shall have all my lands at Duxbury and she shall be my sole executrix of this my last will and testament and enter into my housing lands and meadows at Duxbury.

More on this...
On 23 July 1668 George Soule, with "consent of my wife Mary," gave land to Francis Walker "husband to my daughter Elizabeth" [ MD 27:39-40, citing PCLR 3:126]. On 26 January 1668[/9] George Soule of Duxbury deeded to "Patience Haskall his true and natural daughter and unto John Haskall her husband" his half share of land at Namassakett [ MD 27:40, citing PCLR 3:153] On 12 March 1668[/9] George Soule of Duxbury, husbandman, deeded to "my daughter Elizabeth wife unto Francis Walkere" half his share of land at Namascutt [ MD 27: 40-41, citing PLR 10:2:327].
In his will, dated 11 August 1677 (with codicil dated 20 September 1677) and proved 5 March 1679/80, "G[e]orge Soule Senior of Duxberry ... being aged and weak of body" confirmed that he had formerly given by deeds "unto my two sons Nathaniel and G[e]orge all my lands in the township of Dartmouth ... [and] I have formerly given unto my daughters Elizabeth and Patience all my lands in the township of Middlebery"; to "my daughters Sussannah and Mary" 12d. apiece; "forasmuch as my eldest son John Soule and his family hath in my extreme old age and weakness been tender and careful of me and very helpful to me, and is likely so to be while it shall please God to continue my life here, therefore I give and bequeath unto my said son John Soule all the remainder of my housing and lands whatsoever"; to "my son John Soule all my goods and chattels whatsoever"; "my son John Soule to be my sole executor." In a codicil dated 20 September 1677, "G[e]orge Soule" indicated that if "my son John Soule" were to disturb "my daughter Patience or her heirs" in the peacable possession of lands he had given her in Middleborough, then "my gift to my son John Soule shall be void" and "my daughter Patience shall have all my lands at Duxburrey and she shall be my sole executrix ... and enter into my housing lands and meadows at Duxburrow" [ MD 2:81-83, citing PCPR 4:1:50].

NEARBY? WHERE'S HIS CARCASS?

Mary Buckett Soule.jpg

Mary Buckett Soule
BIRTH
1602
Worcestershire, England
DEATH
16 Dec 1676 (aged 73–74)
Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA
BURIAL
Myles Standish Burying Ground
Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA
MEMORIAL ID
26862296 · View Source
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MEMORIAL 
PHOTOS 1 
FLOWERS 182 

For close to 400 years the origins of Mary, wife of the 1620 Mayflower passenger George Soule, mother of nine known children, remains unknown. She likely was born in England in the early 1600s and died, per son John, in December 1676 at Duxbury, Mass., but son John did not provide her age at death.   Mary's surname has historically been written as Bucket, based on a singular record in 1623, with some writers writing her maiden name as Becket, but whether either was her maiden name remains unconfirmed. The most recent scholarly treatment regarding Mary's possible origins was published in the December 2013 issue of the Mayflower Descendant by Caleb Johnson, a noted Mayflower pilgrim researcher. While Mr. Johnson's research uncovered a potential promising lead, no concrete conclusion can yet be drawn as to Mary's origins.  Mary arrived at Plymouth in 1623 aboard the Ann, the third ship to bring groups of Pilgrim families to Plymouth. Whether she knew her eventual husband, George Soule, in England prior to George sailing in 1620 on the Mayflower is unknown. She is not considered to have been an indentured servant upon arrival as she is not shown in Plymouth's initial 1623 division of land as attached to a specific person or family. In the latter division she was allotted one acre of land "next to John Rogers" who is otherwise shown as having been allotted two acres at a different location than Mary.  George Soule and wife Mary had nine known children, eight of which were born by 1650. This is reflected in the 1650 Journal of William Bradford by the entry "George Soule is still living and hath 8 children." The ninth child, Benjamin, was born approximately one year later in 1651, but died unmarried in 1676 at Pawtucket, RI, a combatant and casualty of the King Philip's War with the Massaquoit Indians.  On May 22, 1627 the Division of Cattle was recorded in the Plymouth Colony Records. This division was essentially a complete census of 1627 Plymouth. At the date of division Zachariah was George and Mary's only living child.  The known children of George Soule and wife Mary, the exact order unknown but likely:  • i. Zachariah Soule, b. before May 22, 1627, d. before Dec. 11, 1663 as a combatant in the French & Indian War; on the latter date his estate was inventoried at Duxbury, Mass. by John Alden and Constant Southworth with the estate falling to his brother John after settlement. He m. in 1646 a wife named Margaret whose identity has never been uncovered. No known children have been identified and the widow is believed to have remarried and moved from Duxbury.  • ii. John Soule, b. circa 1632 (deposed Mar. 8, 1705/6 at aged "about seventy-four years"), d. intestate at Middleborough, Mass. before Nov. 9, 1707, the date his 2nd wife attested to his estate inventory; m. 1) by about 1656 Rebecca Simonson, daughter of Moses Simonson, by whom he had eight known children; m. 2) by 1679 Esther (Delano) Samson, daughter of Philip Delano and widow of Samuel Samson, by whom he had three children.  • iii. Nathaniel Soule, b. circa 1637, d. intestate at Dartmouth, Mass. prior to Oct. 12, 1699, the date of his estate inventory; m. a wife named Rose by whom he had at least four children.  • iv. George Soule, Jr., b. circa 1639 (deposed Mar. 1, 1672/3 "aged 34 years or thereabouts"), d. testate at Dartmouth, Mass. May 12, 1704; m. an unidentified wife named Deborah, who d. at Dartmouth in Feb. 1709/10. Eight known children of the family.  • v. Susanna Soule, b. circa 1642, d. Jan. 2, 1715/16 at North Kingstown (q.v. N. Kingston), Rhode Island; m. Francis West, s. of Matthew, who d. at N. Kingstown Jan. 2, 1695/96. Nine children of the family.  • vi. Mary Soule, b. circa 1644, was living on Mar. 26, 1720 at Duxbury, Mass.; m. John Peterson, who d. testate at Duxbury between Apr. 29, 1718 (date of will) and Mar. 26, 1720 (date of estate inventory). Purportedly nine children of the family.  • vii. Elizabeth Soule, b. circa 1646, d. circa 1700 at Woodbridge, New Jersey; m. July 23, 1667, Francis Walker, who d. circa 1702 at Woodbridge. Purportedly four children of the family.  • viii. Patience Soule, b. circa 1648, d. Mar. 11, 1705/6 at Middleborough, Mass.; m. in Jan. 1666/7, John Haskell, who d. May 15, 1706 at Middleborough. Eight children recorded at Middleborough.  • ix. Benjamin Soule, b. circa 1651, d. unmarried Mar. 26, 1676 at Pawtucket, Rhode Island a combatant in King Phillips War against the Massaquoit Indians.

9. George Soule, Mayflower Traveler

In my memoir, It Seems like Only Yesterday, I write about my great-great-great grandfather, Thomas Haig Palmer, a well-placed educator/politico who corresponded with Jefferson and Madison and who wrote the commonly used refrain, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again." My cousin had sent me that information on our shared ancestry. A little later, I happened to email her brother and I mentioned that I had once heard that one of our ancestors came here on the Mayflower. "Do you think Susie has any material on that?" I asked.
"I think she can put you aboard the Mayflower," he responded.
He was right. My ancestor George Soule was one of the 51 survivors of the famous ship.
He was an indentured servant who, being male, was nonetheless one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact.
I took heart when I heard that he might not really be a Puritan religious fanatic, but was just working off a debt. I fear I have my share of such ancestors; I've read one of Thomas Palmer's books, and it is nauseatingly sanctimonious.
When I mentioned my Mayflower ancestor to a friend of mine, he said that he, too, was descended from someone on the ship, one John Howland. Howland fell overboard during a storm and by chance grabbed the ship's halyard that had been blown off the deck. He was miraculously rescued by crew members who hauled him aboard.

9. George Soule, viajero en la Mayflower

En mi libro, Parece que fuera ayer, escribo sobre mi tartara-tartara-tartara abuelo, Thomas Haig Palmer, un bien enchufado educador/politiquero que correspondía con Jefferson y Madison y compuso el omnipresente refrán: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" (Si al principio no tienes éxito, inténtalo, inténtalo de nuevo).
Mi prima me había enviado esta información sobre la ascendencia que compartimos. Un poquito más tarde por casualidad envié un correo electrónico a su hermano y mencioné que había oído que un antepasado nuestro vino aquí en la Mayflower.
—¿Crees que Susie tiene informes sobre esto? —le pregunté.

—Creo que te puede poner abordo de la Mayflower —respondió.
Tenía razón. Mi antepasado George Soule era uno de los 51 supervivientes2 de la nave famosa.

Era sirviente por contrato quién, siendo varón, todavía podría ser e iba a ser uno de los que firmaron el Pacto de la Mayflower.
Me animó al oír que él no tendría que ser un verdadero puritano fanático religioso, sino solamente intentaba pagar una deuda. Temo que tengo demasiados de tales antepasados. He leído uno de los libros de Thomas Palmer y me lo encontré nauseabundamente mojigato.
Cuando le hablé a un amigo mío de mi antepasado, me dijo que él también era descendiente de alguien en la nave, un tal John Howland. Howland fue echado por la borda durante una tormenta. Por ventura logró agarrar la driza de la nave que también fue botada de la

cubierta al mar por el viento. Milagrosamente fue rescatado por miembros de la tripulación que lo jalaron abordo de nuevo.
No hay tal aventura en cuanto a mi pariente. Sin embargo, me topé online con un poquito de lo que se podría llamar un chisme:

George Soule hizo su voluntad el 11 de agosto de 1677, y añadió un codicil el 20 de septiembre de 1677. El codicil es bastante interesante, ya que da una pequeña idea de una pelea familiar entre su hijo John y su hija Patience:

Si mi hijo John Soule arriba mencionado o sus herederos o cesionarios o cualquiera de ellos en cualquier momento molestan a mi hija Patience o sus herederos o asignados o cualquiera de ellos en posesión pacífica o disfrute de las tierras que le he dado en Nemasket alias Middleboro y recuperar la misma de sus herederos o cesionarios o cualquiera de ellos; que entonces mi regalo a mi hijo John Soule será nulo; y que entonces mi voluntad será que mi hija Patience tendrá todas mis tierras en Duxbury y ella será mi única ejecutora de ésta mi última voluntad y testamento y entrar en mis terrenos y prados en Duxbury.

No parece que mi amigo y yo seamos parientes, pero no hay duda que compartimos algo respecto a la ascendencia: somos descendientes de personas tan estúpidas que viajaron a Massachusetts sin habilidades ni provisiones en pleno invierno.
There is no such adventure associated with my relative. I did, however, run across a bit of what might be described as gossip online:

What's Palmer got to to with Soule?
11. Mi tatara-tatara tatarabuelo

Mi prima me envió el otro día un email con un adjunto de páginas sobre nuestro tatara-tatara tatarabuelo, Thomas Haig Palmer, que nació en Escocia en 1782 y llegó a Philadelphia en 1804.
Muchas veces había oído el apellido. De hecho, mi madre se llamaba Jean Palmer Hascall, pero nunca había oído de Thomas H. Palmer. Hice una búsqueda con Google y de inmediato me enteré de que era un hombre bastante famoso.
Él escribía a Thomas Jefferson y James Madison dándoles consejo y los dos respondían con cartas particulares. Eran como uña y carne. Tenía una imprenta y era un autor y reformador educativo. Aún hoy se pueden comprar sus libros en Amazon.com.
Me sorprendí al leer esas cosas. Sin embargo, lo que tal vez más me haya impresionado era esto:

El refrán "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" (Si al principio no tienes éxito, inténtalo, inténtalo de nuevo). es de un poema que él compuso. Debe de ser uno de los más usados refranes de la lengua inglesa.

Sé lo que está pensando, pero no le puedo ofrecer consuelo. Es demasiado tarde. Ha dejado pasar la oportunidad.
Sé que se está arrepintiendo por no haber escogido sus antepasados con la sabiduría y pericia que yo usé al escoger a los míos.

11. My Great-Great-Great Grandfather

The other day, my cousin sent me an email with an attachment of pages about our great-great-great grandfather, Thomas Haig Palmer, who was born in Scotland in 1782 and who arrived in Philadelphia in 1804.
I've heard the last name many times. In fact, my mother was Jean Palmer Hascall although I had never heard of Thomas H. Palmer. I did a search on Google and immediately I learned that he was a pretty famous man.
He wrote to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison giving them advice and the two responded with personal letters and the three were as thick as thieves. Thomas Palmer was a printer, author and educational reformer. Even today you can buy his books on Amazon.
I was surprised to read these things. However, what most impressed me was this:

The saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is from a poem that he composed. It must be one of the most commonly used expressions in the English language.
I know what you're thinking, but I cannot offer you solace. It's too late. You have missed your opportunity.
I know you regret not having chosen your ancestors with the wisdom and expertise that I used in choosing mine.