Mayflower Ancestor: George Soule born about 1595-1599; died 1679, of England, Plymouth, Duxbury, Mass.

George Soule was born about 1595-1599 in England. His origins are unknown. He came to Plymouth on the Mayflower as a servant to Edward Winslow. He was a signer of the Mayflower Compact, indicating he was at least 21 years of age and that he was a servant would indicate he was under 25. [Johnson 2009] Note that I have not yet submitted this line to the Mayflower Society for approval. 

Professional genealogist Caleb Johnson has searched for George Soule's origins. One possibility is Eckington, Worcestershire but nothing definitive found. [Johnson 2009] There is a hypothesis that George was Walloon and his original name would have been de Soale. Since he came on the Mayflower as Edward Winslow's servant, that relationship must have been established in Leiden and several people named Soule or deSoale are recorded in Leiden Walloon Church. [Bangs]

George married Mary Becket/Buckett by 1626 at Plymouth. They were not married at the time of the 1623 land division when George received land on the south side of the brook to the baywards and “Marie” Buckett received land adjoining Joseph Rogers on the other side of town towards Eel River.  [Mayflower Descendant 1:227] They were married before the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle when George Sowle, Mary Sowle and Zakariah Sowle were the 11th, 12th and 13th persons in the ninth company. [PCR 12:12]

The Soule House at Plimoth/Patuxet 

Mary arrived Plymouth on the Anne in 1623. Her identification as the Mary who married George Soule  is based on her known presence in Plymouth in 1623, on George being unmarried that year, on her disappearance from the records thereafter, on George having a wife named Mary in the 1627 division, and on there being no other known Mary to assign as his wife. [Stratton] 

Mary’s origins are unknown, although Caleb Johnson has been researching possibilities. She was born about 1605. Since she was a young, single woman when she came to Plymouth, perhaps she was a servant to Mrs. Elizabeth Warren who was on the same voyage. [Johnson 2013] George and Mary are my 10th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

The Soule family lived near Eel River in Plymouth, perhaps on the land Mary was granted in 1623. The family moved to Duxbury as early as 1642 when he is named on a committee there. [Wakefield] They settled on a large tract of land on Powder Point. It is possible he chose this area to be close to two other Wallonians—Philip Delano and Edward Bumpus, also my ancestors. [Healy] There’s some theories that Mary was also a Walloon and the French spelling of her last name would be Bouquet. [Throop]

A map depicting the settlement of Duxbury in 1637 shows the home of George and Mary Soule as near the ocean, at what is now Baker Avenue. His closest neighbor was Henry Sampson. He received the 100 acre Powder Point land in the 1627 land division. It stretched from the point west to about the location of the King Caesar House, encompassing almost the whole point. [Healy] It was near Back River and they Bay. [Fish]

George Soule was on the 1643 Duxbury list of men able to bear arms. He is on the 29 May 1670 list of freemen of “Duxburrow.” [PCR 5:275] Duxbury was the first town organized after Plymouth and other original settlers were William Brewster and his sons Wrestling and Love, Philip Delano, Moses Simmons, John Alden, and Myles Standish. [Willison]

That George was a servant is based on Of Plimoth Plantation written by Governor William Bradford. In 1651 Bradford summed up the group headed by Winslow, saying that one of the servants died, "but his man, George Soule, is still living, and hath eight children.” [Bradford 444]

Mary and George had nine children, although none of their births are recorded: 

1. Zachariah was born by 1627, probably at Plymouth; he married Margaret (—?—); died in the Canadian Expedition in 1663 [Healy]

2. John born about 1632 at Plymouth; married 1st Rebecca Simmons about 1655; married 2nd Esther Delano; died before 14 Nov 1707 at Duxbury

3. Nathaniel born about 1636; married Rose (—?—) before 1681; died before 12 October 1699 at Dartmouth

4. George born about 1639 probably at Duxbury; married Deborah (—?—); died Dartmouth about 1704

5. Susanna born about 1640 probably at Duxbury; married Francis West before 1660; died after 1684 probably at Kingstown, Rhode Island

6. Mary born about 1642 probably at Duxbury; married John Peterson before 1667; died after 1720 at Plymouth 

7. Elizabeth born about 1644 probably Duxbury; married Francis Walker 1667-1668; died about 1701 at Middleborough, Massachusetts

8. Patience born about 1646 probably Duxbury; married John Haskell January 1667; died 11 March 1706 at Middleborough

9. Benjamin born about 1652 at Duxbury; killed 26 March 1676 fighting in King Philip’s War 

Zachariah and Benjamin are the only children not named in George’s will as they predeceased him. I descend from John whom I wrote about here.

While George was an upstanding citizen, some of his children were less law-abiding or conforming:

• Nathaniel was punished while a single man for fathering a child with an unnamed Indian woman. 
• On 5 March 1667/8 George Soule Sr. stood surety, with his son John, for the good behavior of his son Nathaniel Soule who had verbally abused Mr. John Holmes, teacher of the church at Duxburrow. [PCR 4:178]
• John was found guilty of lying, in one case about the Indians, for which he was whipped.  [Healy]
• George Jr became a Quaker and refused to report for muster and training and was fined a cow and a heifer. [Healy]
• Elizabeth was punished twice for fornication—after being found guilty with Nathaniel Church, grandson of Pilgrim Richard Warren, she sued for £200 and was awarded £10; her second offense was with Francis Walker, whom she later married, and she was sent to the whipping post. [Healy]

George had some formal education as he signed documents, owned books and served in the important position of Deputy to the Plymouth Court in 1642, 1653, and 1654. [PCR 2:45, 3:31, 44, 49] 

He was a volunteer for the 1637 Pequot War, but Plymouth troops were not needed. [PCR 1:60] He served on various survey teams and committees, once on a committee to develop an order to control the disorderly smoking of tobacco. [PCR 2:108] He served on a grand jury twice in 1643  [PCR 2:53, 56], juries in 1656 and 1663 [PCR 3:102, 7:108] and Petit jury in 1647 [PCR 2:117]. In addition to his public service, George kept a farm as indicated by the account of his estate.

When a servant came out of servitude he would be given an individual lot of land, and in 1661 the court provided for a collective purchase of lands at Saconnett for former servants. In general, the earlier one arrived at Plymouth, the easier it was to get free land grants. [Stratton]

George Soule was assessed 9 shillings in the Plymouth tax lists of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634. [PCR 1:10, 27] He was on the list of purchasers who took on the colony’s debt. [PCR 2:177]

On 1 July 1633 George was granted “mow[—]  for a cow near his dwelling house.” [PCR 1:15] On 20 March 1636/7 he was allowed the hay ground where he got hay the year before. [PCR 1:56] On 4 December 1637 George Soule was granted a garden place on Ducksborrow side. [PCR 1:69] On 7 May 1638 one acre of land was granted to George Soule "at the watering place" in lieu of another acre which was taken from him for other use, and also two acres of stony marsh at Powder Point were granted to him. [PCR 1:83)] On 13 July 1639 George Soule sold to Robert Hicks two acres at the watering place on the south side of Plymouth. [PCR 12:45] On 2 Nov 1640 he was granted "the meadow he desires" at Green's Harbor. [PCR 1:165] On 4 May 1658 George Soule was granted five acres of meadow. [PCR 3:134] 

On 22 Jan 1658 and 17 July 1668 George Soule gave his Dartmouth property to his sons Nathaniel and George as a single undivided share. [PCLR 3:123, 245]

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 Jan 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]

Mary died in Dec 1676 at Duxbury or Plymouth [based on information given in George’s estate account].

George died between 20 Sept 1677, when he wrote a codicil to his will, and 5 March 1679/80, when his will was proved. Likely his death was closer to the latter date.

Bequests in the 11 August 1677 will of  “Gorge Soule senir”:

• Two sons Nathaniel and Gorge already given “All my lands in the Township of Dartmouth.”
• Had already gifted daughters Elizabeth and Patience “all my lands in the Township of Middleberry.”
• Daughters Sussannah and Mary twelve pence a piece to be payed by executor.
• “And forasmuch as my Eldest son John Soule and his family hath in my extreame old age and weaknes bin tender and carefull of mee and very healpfull to mee; and is likely soe to be while it shall please God to continew my life heer therfore I give and bequeath unto my said son John Soule all the Remainder of my housing and lands whatsoever to him his heires and Assignes for ever.”
• I Give and bequeath unto my son John Soule all my Goods And Chattles whatsoever.

Son John was to be sole Executor. Witnesses were Nathaniel Thomas and Deborah Thomas. [Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, Volume IV, Part I, page 50]

George must have grown concerned that there would be a dispute among his children about his land after his death as he wrote a codicil to his will on 20 September 1677.  He “heerby further Declare that it is my will that if my son John Soule above named or his heires or Assignes or any of them shall att any time Disturbe my Daughter Patience or her heires or Assignes or any of them in peacable Posession or Injoyment of the lands I have Given her att Namassakett allies Middleberry and Recover the same from her or her heires or Assignes or any of them That then my Gift to my son John Soule shall shalbe voyd; and that then my will is my Daughter Patience shall have all my lands att Duxburrey And shee shalbe my sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament And enter into my housing lands and meddowes att Duxburrow.”

Witnesses were again Nathaniel Thomas and Deborah Thomas.

An inventory of the estate of “Gorge Soule of Duxburrow” totaled £40 19 shillings and was taken 22 January 1679/80 by Edward Southworth and Thomas Delano. It was presented by John Soule at court on 5 March 1679/80. It included dwelling house, orchard, barn, and upland,  meadow land, bed & bedding, wearing clothes, chest, chair, gun, lumber, sheers, trammel, wedge, and books. He had already deeded much of his land to his children prior to this, as noted in his will.

An account of the estate includes expenses of plowing wheat and peas, reaping rye and peas, bringing in hay, 30 yards of canvas, buttons & silk, making a stone wall about the orchard, funeral charges, and more. I’m curious what the canvas was for—a windmill or sails for a boat? It also included “for Diett and tendance since my mother Died which was three yeer the Last December except some smale time my sister Patience dressed his victualls.” This indicates George had been in failing health for more than three years, cared for by his wife prior to her death, then by his son John and his wife Esther, was well as his daughter Patience. 

There is a replacement/memorial stone for George Soule at the old Standish Cemetery in Duxbury on the corner of Chestnut Street and Pilgrim By Way. 

Sources: 

Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families in Progress, George Soule of the Mayflower and His Descendants for Four Generations, “pink book” published by the GSMD, 1999

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, Its History and People, 1986

Caleb H. Johnson, The Mayflower Quarterly, "The Hunt for the English Origins of George Soule," Sept 2009

Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, Strangers and Pilgrims, Travelers and Sojourners, Leiden and the Foundations of Plymouth Plantation, GSMD, 2009

George F. Willison, Saints and Strangers, 1945

William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, 2006 edition edited by Caleb H. Johnson

Lamont “Monty” Healy, Duxbury Clipper, “George Soule and Powder Point,” 2 part series, March 2013

Henry A. Fish, Duxbury Ancient & Modern, 2012  Revised Edition of the 1925 edition

Justin Winsor, History of the Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with Genealogical Registers, 1849

Louise Walsh Throop, The Mayflower Quarterly, “Pilgrim George Soule: Update on His Possible Ancestry,” June 2008

Caleb H. Johnson, The Mayflower Quarterly, “Research Into the Possible English Origins of Mary Buckett Wife of Mayflower Passenger George Soule,” December 2013

The Pilgrim Hall Museum has transcriptions of records pertaining to George Soule: http://www.pilgrimhall.org/soulegeorgerecords.htm.

For information on the Soule Kindred In America Society: http://www.soulekindred.org/. 

Nancy Snow (1794-1892) and her husbands William Nye (1794-1831) and Nathan Boodry (1785-1871) of Rochester/Mattapoisett, Massachusetts

Nancy Snow was born 19 December 1794 at Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. She and her twin brother James were the oldest of the 14 children of the Prince and Martha (Dexter) Snow. [Rochester Vital Records 1:278]  Nancy, James and five additional siblings were baptized in July 1808, no day given, at the Second Church Rochester. [Rochester VR 1:278 citing Second Church Rochester Registers] She is named as daughter Nancy Boodry in her father Prince Snow’s 18 August 1856 will. [Plymouth County Probate Records, no 18715]

Nancy Snow married William Nye on 3 December 1818 at Rochester. [Rochester VR 2:228] Nancy was a Mayflower descendant as her ancestors Stephen Hopkins and his daughter Constance Hopkins were passengers; Constance married Nicholas Snow. She is also a direct descendant of Plymouth Colony Governor Thomas Prence and Thomas Dexter who built the mill in Sandwich, Massachusetts, on the land where the Dexter Grist Mill operates today as a living museum.

William Nye was born 19 December 1794 at Rochester, one of the 11 children of William and Ruth (Snow) Nye. [Rochester VR 1:226] He is often called “Jr” in records. William was a mariner, as were many men from Rochester, a town situated along the coast of Buzzards Bay and in William’s time was a thriving shipbuilding and whaling town. The Nye-Snow family lived in an area of Rochester that became Mattapoisett in 1857.

Nancy and William had four children, born Rochester:

1. Malinda/Belinda born 6 May 1823 [RVR 1:225]; married 1) Franklin Barlow 21 Jan 1840 and had six children; married 2) Freeman Clark; she died 7 Sept 1906 at Mattapoisett. 
2. Lucretia born 9 June 1826 [RVR 1:225]; married Joshua Delano and had seven children; she died 11 July 1910 at Fairhaven, Bristol County, Mass. 
3. Aurilla West Nye born 12 April 1829 [RVR 1:223 as Aurelia]; married Josiah Benson 10 March 1853 at Middleborough, Plymouth County, Mass. and had nine children; she died Plymouth 24 March 1905.
4. William Henry Nye, born 9 March 1831[RVR 1:226; married Lydia A. Brightman at Mattapoisett and had two children; died 3 April 1902 at New Bedford. 

I love that Nancy gave her daughters such fanciful names! I descend from Aurilla who married a mariner as well. Her sister Lucretia’s husband Joshua Delano was a shipbuilder and her sister Malinda’s first husband was a fisherman. 

On 11 April 1831 when Nancy’s newborn son William was just one month old, his father died at sea. [Rochester VR 2:416] William was just 36 years old. I have yet to find the details of his death but he was on a voyage, rather than drowning say in a canoe accident nearby, as his inventory included $23 cash received for “his last voyage.” Prince Snow was named administrator of his estate, his brother-in-law or father-in-law. The inventory of his personal estate totaled $143.41 and including one cow, a gun, a looking glass, a book, a quadrant, and a watch. The inventory was taken by Venus Cushman, Barnabas Hiller, John H. Randell. Venus is probably Silvanus Cushman who was William’s brother-in-law. [Plymouth County Probate Records, 1686-1881 No. 14812]

Nancy married, second, Nathan Boodry, on 10 March 1836, at Rochester. Perhaps William left Nancy financially secure or her parents offered her assistance as she didn’t rush to re-marry. 

Nathan Boodry was born January 1785 at Raynham, Bristol County, Mass, the son of Joseph and Hannah (Leonard) Boodry. His father was born in French Canada, so possibly their surname changed from Boudreau. His birth calculated from age at death; his parents are named in his death record. 

Nathan had married, first, Mercy Davis, who died 1 August 1833. They had at six children, first two born Middleborough; rest Rochester: William D. who married Lucy Purrington; Dennis Silvester who married Bethiah Ford; Maria who married Thomas Delano as his second wife; Sylvia who died as young child; Benjamin who married Mary Washburn; Alice who married Thomas Underwood. Most of Nathan’s sons and sons-in-law were mariners. 

Nancy and Nathan Boodry are included in the Federal Census, living at Mattapoisett in 1850, 1860 and 1870 and then Nancy after his death in 1880. They are also in the 1855 Massachusetts state census.

1850: Nathan Boodry, 65, ship carpenter, born Midd[leborough?]; Nancy Boodry, 54, born Rochester; Benjamin Boodry, 21, sailor; Alice Boodry, 20.

1855 State Census: Nathan Boodry, 72, Nancy Boodry, 62, Benjamin L Boodry, 28, William H. Nye, 23. William is Nancy’s son from her first marriage.

1860: Nathan Boodry 75, owned $1,500 I real estate; ship carpenter; Nancy Boodry age 65; William H. Nye, 29, shoemaker, owned 600 in real estate; 300 personal estate. Interesting with all the mariners in the family that William Nye was a shoemaker, but understandable since his father was lost at sea so young.

1870: Nathan Boodry, 85, ship carpenter, born Raynham, $700 in real estate/$100 personal estate; Nancy Boodry, 75, born Rochester; Nancy Bannon, 21, keeps house; Hattie Bannon, 10/12, at home. 

1880: Nancy Boodry, 86, head, keeping house, Freeman Clark, 55, painter/house, [no relationship given but her son-in-law], Melinda Clark, 57, wife, keeping house [Nancy’s daughter]; Arthur Barlow, 18, step-son, sailor [Malinda’s son from first marriage]; Betsy B. Daniels, 39, keeping house; Edward Gifford, 36, boarder, laborer.

In 1880 nearby is Nancy’s step-son Dennis S. Boodry, 64, house carpenter with his wife Bethiah L, and sons James D., 28, house carpenter, son George R., 21, house carpenter. 

Nathan Boodry served in the War of 1812, and his pension record mentions his wives Mercy Davis and Nancy Snow Nye. He served as a Sergeant in Capt. Joseph Cushman’s Company for a few weeks in the summer of 1814. [familysearch.org “United States, Miscellaneous Land Records, Military Records, Government Pensions,” image no. 762]

Nathan Boodry died on 29 September 1871 at Taunton, a resident of Mattapoisett. He was married, 86 years, 8 months, 19 days old and died of heart disease. He was a shipwright. [MA Vital Records 1841-1910, 239:347]   

Nathan’s probate record [Plymouth County file no. 2291] mentions that he died intestate and left a widow Nancy Boodry, son [can’t read name] of his son Dennis S. Boodry, daughter Allice Underwood wife of Thomas Underwood of Taunton, Maria Delano widow of Mattapoisett, minor grandson Benjamin Boodry [son of deceased son Benjamin] who had a legal guardian. Nathan’s children William, Dennis, Benjamin and Silvia had all pre-deceased their father. 

As Nathan died insolvent, his executor Noah Hammond petitioned the court to sell off some of Nathan’s land and all of his heirs agreed to this. Nancy signed the document.

Nancy Boodry's signature on left/third from bottom

In looking for Nathan’s probate, I came across a record pertaining to his son William Davis Boodry, which caused me to go down a major rabbit hole. William, born 14 February 1812 at Middleborough, married Lucy Purrington in 1838 at Rochester. [Rochester marriage records p 47] About 1839 they had a son, also named William D. Boodry. Lucy sadly died on 1 December 1841 at Rochester. [Rochester Deaths p 352] William was a whaler and voyages could last two to three years, but that is how he made his living so he continued.

He departed New Bedford on 25 January 1844 as the master of the Brig Catherwood and did not return. He died at sea near Rio de Janeiro on 14 November 1844, at age 32. [Rochester Death Records p 352 citing GR 17]

William’s 2nd Mate Isaac Cook kept the log on board the Catherwood. I have read a summary of the log, in which Cook noted that the captain was not well in November 1844, losing his senses and eventually dying on 15 Nov 1844. Before he passed, surgeons from a British man-of-war came onboard to tend to him, but he was beyond cure. He was buried at Rio de Janeiro and first mate Lewis Leonard assumed command. The vessel returned to New Bedford 2 July 1845. [New Bedford Whaling Museum: Call No ODHS 703]

His son William was about 5 years old when he was orphaned. He was mentioned in court when his uncle Dennis S. Boodry became his guardian. [Plymouth County Probate Record, guardianship file No 2292] It included an inventory of what was now the child’s belongings. Some items of interest were two Bibles and another book, a miniature likeness (I hope of his mother), basket shells, silver spoons, engravings, a silver watch, a geographical chart, and 1/32 of the Brig Catherine [error for Catherwood] of Westport that was worth $446. William’s grandfather Nathan Boodry was one of the men who bound $2,000 to the judge for the guardianship case.

William was 15 and still living with Dennis’ family at Rochester in the 1855 state census. In 1858 William D. Boodry left New Bedford for a whaling voyage on the Joseph Meigs, so he was a whaler just like his dad. [New Bedford Whaling Museum online database]

On 22 March 1865, at age 25, William D. Boodry married Abby Weeks White, age 20, at Mattapoisett. [Massachusetts Vital Records 1840-1915, East Bridgewater] The couple, with William being called a mariner, is in the 1865 Massachusetts state census living in the Mattapoisett household of Sarah Bowles, which appears to be a rooming house.

On 21 December 1865, William Davis Boodry, mariner, age 26, drowned when the Schooner Sophronia was lost at Vineyard Sound. [Massachusetts Death Records 1840-1911, Mattapoisett] William was first mate on the Sophronia, which was taking a load of coal from Fall River to Bristol Rhode Island. [The Middleboro Gazette, Saturday, January 6, 1866, vol XIV, page 1] Perhaps William thought a short voyage than whaling would allow him to spend more time with his young wife. 

Nancy (Snow) (Nye) Boodry died 13 August 1892 at Mattapoisett. She was 97 years, 7 months and 25 days old, a remarkable age at that time. [MA Vital Records 1841-1910, volume 428, page 578, Mattapoisett] I would guess she and Nathan are buried at Cushing Cemetery in Mattapoisett, but without a surviving or readable gravestone, as that is where many of his family are buried.

What an incredible long life Nancy lived. She experienced so much loss, but I hope she lived a good life with much to be thankful for.

Sources:

Lydia (Phinney) Brownson & Maclean McLean, NEHGS Register, “Thomas 1 Landers of Sandwich,” vol 124 p 42 (January 1970)

Benjamin Nye of Sandwich, His Ancestors and Descendants, A Genealogy of the Nye Family, George Hyatt and Frank Best, 1907

James Cudworth 1665-1729 of Scituate and Freetown, Mass.

James Cudworth was born 3 June 1665 at Scituate, Massachusetts, the son of James and Mary (Howland) Cudworth whom I wrote about here. [Pembroke Friends, Scituate Vital Records, 325:23] His grandfather was the prominent General James Cudworth whom I wrote about here. I have not found many records for James, but fortunately he wrote a will that names his children. He is my ninth great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

James’ parents were Quakers, but I have not found if James followed the religion as an adult. Torrey has James marrying, by 1697, Elizabeth “Betty” Hatch, probably at Freetown. This is based on the work of Ebenezer Peirce who has Betty born about 1665 to Thomas Hatch Jr. and Sarah Elmes. I have not found any indication that Thomas Hatch had a daughter Elizabeth/Betty, so in my opinion James’ wife’s identity is questionable.

James moved to Freetown, likely on land that his father and grandfather had owned. 

James and his wife had eight children born Freetown [all but Jesse, who predeceased his father, are named in James’ will] :

1 David born about 1694; married Abigail Josslyn [Freetown VR p 79]; not sure if he is the David Cudworth who also married Phebe Drinkwater [Freetown VR p 94]

2. Keziah born about 1694; married William Davis 24 July 1712; died 1757

3. James born 9 March 1699/1700 [Freetown VR p 17]; married Sybil Chase [Freetown VR p 80]

4. Abigail born 16 Jan 1697/8 [Freetown VR p 17]; married Benjamin Smith [Peirce]

5. Mary born 14 Nov 1702[Freetown VR p 17]; I have seen her husband as Benjamin Smith (WikiTree) and Benjamin Leonard [Peirce]; d 1778

6. Serviah/Zerviah/Sophia born 1 April 1704 [Freetown VR p 17]; m. Nathaniel Potter of Dartmouth [Freetown VR p 76-7]; d 1757

7. Lydia born 1704 ; m. Benjamin Grennel (WikiTree); d 1778

8. Jesse 11 January 1706/07 [Freetown VR p 17]; died 1725

I descend from their daughter Keziah whom I wrote about here.

Multiple online trees and a published genealogy [Goss] assign a daughter Bethiah to this couple, born 1700 and died 1729, but I haven’t seen a source for this. She would have died before March 1729 as she’s not mentioned in James’ will. 

James served in the local militia as he is called Captain in records. He was a farmer, as indicated by his will and inventory. He owned a number of farm animals and left substantial  cash bequests to his daughters.

Some online trees state James Cudworth married, second, Anne/Abigail Staples of Taunton, marriage intentions at Freetown 15 Nov 1728.  If this is true, then she would have been named in James’ will unless she died soon after the marriage.

James wrote his will in March 1729; the day is left blank. He signed with his mark but perhaps that was due to his poor health rather than illiteracy as his inventory included books.

James mentions his sons David and James, daughters Kattiah Davis, Lidiah Cudworth, Abigail Cudworth, Mary Cudworth, and Zerviah Cudworth. David and James were to be co-executors. Bequests:

• Son David Cudworth “the land I bought of Mr. Timothy Lindal where said David’s dwelling house stands and also five acres of land on west side of the road west to Mr. Lindal’s lot and to begin at the road and to run to the brook which bounds out Lindal’s Land to the meadow.”
• Sons David and James the rest of lands and buildings within Freetown or elsewhere.
• Son James as many of my cattle as shall be valued by men independently chosen to be of equal worth and value with the cattle that David shall have of his own at the time of my decease.
• Sons David and James all the remainder of my cattle after the making of James equal with David as aforesaid, and my sheep & horses swine and all my stock to be equally divided between them.
• Sons David and James all my husbandry tools, all my wearing apparel, my arms, and all debts due to me to be equally divided.
• Daughter Kathiah Davis over and above what she hath already received ye sum of twenty five pounds in bills of credit on ye province or silver.
• Daughter Lidiah Cudworth the sum of twenty pounds.
• Daughter Abigail Cudworth the sum of forty pounds and the looms she now uses with all the tackling. 
• Daughter Mary Cudworth the sum of forty pounds. 
• Daughter Zerviah Cudworth the sum of forty pounds.

He also wrote “my two sons David and James to pay unto my said five daughters or theire legal representatives equall in proportion to what is given them the sum of forty pounds annually or otherwise the sum of forty pounds every two year at the elections of my said sons will all the money legacies & being one hundred & eighty five pounds, be paid & satisfied.” 

James’ will was probated on 11 September 1729 when his sons David and James Cudworth were bonded as administrators of his estate. His inventory was presented 20 October 1729. It did not include real estate and totaled more than £199. It included 12 cattle, one horse, 19 swine, 56 sheep, a loom, spinning wheel, books, more than £12 in money, and armor. 

James’ probate records show he died in 1729, between March when he wrote his will and September when it was probated. He was about 63 years old. His wife died before March 1728/9 as she is not mentioned in James’ will.

Sources:

Robert S. Wakefield and Robert M. Sherman, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, “Henry Howland of Duxbury, Massachusetts, 1633, His Children and Grandchildren,” 75:2 (June 1987)

Samuel Deane, History of Scituate, 1831

Nina Weakland Goss, Rhoades and Allied Families, 1994

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700

Ebenezer W. Peirce, NEHGS Register, “Extracts from the Early Probate Records of Bristol County,” 19:157 (April 1865)

Vital Records of Freetown, Massachusetts, 1686-1795, typed manuscript, indexed by Ethel (Aldrich) Gallotta from Fall River Public Library records

James’ will and inventory: Bristol County Probate file page 7181:1, AmericanAncestors.org online database “Bristol County MA: Probate File Papers 1686-1880.” Probate files in Bristol County at this time did not have assigned case numbers, it is in volume 5-7, pages 281-283.