George Partridge born ca 1613, died ca 1695 and Sarah Tracy, of Duxbury, Mass.

George Partridge was born say 1613, in England; his exact origins aren’t known. He is my 9^th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis’ side of the family. His last name is also seen as Patrich and a variety of other spellings.

George Partridge immigrated by 1635. He was one of the original purchasers of Middleborough, Massachusetts but raised his family in Duxbury where he lived the rest of his days. He is called tailor, husbandman, yeoman, and planter in records. He presumably knew how to read as his inventory included books and a Bible. He signed his deeds and will by his mark.

In November 1638 George married Sarah Tracy at Plymouth, Mass. Sarah was the daughter of Stephen and Typhossa (Lee) Tracy (also spelled Tracey and Trace) who were part of the Pilgrim congregation at Leiden, Holland, and came to America on the Anne in 1623. Sarah may have been born in England close to the time her family set sail in 1623 but I haven’t seen any proof of this.

Sarah’s father signed a Power of Attorney in 1654, mentioning several children by name and "the rest of my five children.” Sarah is not mentioned by name but she was listed in the 1627 livestock division with her father and sister Rebecca.

George and Sarah had 10 children, order uncertain:

Sarah, b. 1639, married Samuel Allen who fought in King Phillip’s War; they lived in East Bridgewater

Tryphosa, m. Samuel West of Plymouth

Elizabeth, m. James Allen of Martha’s Vineyard

Ruth, m. Ralph Thacher of Martha’s Vineyard

Marcy, m. Nathaniel Skiffe

Rebecca, m. ____ Fisher

Lydia, born before 1660, m. William Brewster of Duxbury, grandson of Mayflower passenger of the same name

Mercy, m. Samuel Coburn

John, born 29 November 165_  (possibly 1655), m. 1st Hannah Seabury, 2nd  Mary ____, widow of Wrestling Brewster

James, m. Mary Stetson

I descend from Lydia. Most of the children’s births are not recorded, but Sarah (Tracy) Partridge’s will lists bequests to eight daughters and two sons by name, so I’m assuming she wrote them by birth order.

He may have been brother or cousin of Rev. Ralph Partridge, as they both appeared in Duxbury at about the same time, but Robert Charles Anderson finds no proof of a blood relationship. He found the detailed will of Gervase Partridge of London that named his brother Ralph Patrich, as well as Ralph's children Mary Marshall and Elizabeth Thatcher. He named other brothers and sisters and children of those siblings, but no George appears as a brother or nephew. Since two of George's daughters married in Dedham, this may indicate a connection with the Partridge family of Medfield.

 

Partridge House Once Owned by Ralph and later George; maybe original part of the house from 17th c?
source: Lamont Healy

From Plymouth Colony Court records we see the first mention of George : 2 March 1635/6,  "At the same Court, A Jury of twelve being impaniled and charged in the moneth of ffebr foregoing to enquire after the death of John Deacon in the behalfe of our Soveraigne Lord the king. gave in their verdict as followeth in their owne words and under their hands, viz "Having searched the dead body we finde not any blowes or wounds or any other bodily hurt. We finde that bodily weakenes caused by long fasting & wearines by going to & fro wth extream cold of the season were the causes of his death.

"Their names were John Jenny John Cooke Will Basset Joseph Rogers William Hoskins, Thomas Cushman George Partridge Stephen Tracy Abraham Peirce Richard Cluffe Tho. Clarke Phineas Pratt.

George served on multiple coroner's juries, petit juries and grand juries. He was on the Plymouth Colony committee to lay out a highway in 1647 and 1650. He was the surveyor of highways in 1668, 1677 and 1681. He was on Duxbury section of 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms.

He took the oath of fidelity at Duxbury in 1639; was propounded as a Plymouth freeman on 3 March 1645/6; was added to the end of the 1639 list and was on the 1658, 1670 and early 1684 Colony's lists of freemen.

George was involved in multiple land transactions:

2 Oct 1637, 20 acres granted to him at Greene's Harbor Path. 2 July 1638, he requested a parcel of land about the Island Creek Pond, if he leave his former grant. On 7 August 1638 he was granted those 30 acres. 15 August 1639 John Cooke the younger sold to George Patrich of Duxborrow, tailor, 20 acre lot on the Duxborrow side. On 2 November 1640 he was granted 30 acres with some meadow to it "by his father's" at the North River (this would actually be his father-in-law Stephen Tracy who received land grant on the same day also at the North River).  On 9 October 1645 Mr. Robte (sic) Hicks sold him marsh meadow lying from a little brook behind a parcel of land sold to Mr. Ralph Patrich as well as a swamp running from the marsh to a well to George for ten years to be used for grazing and mowing. On 2 June 1646 Georg Partrich sold to John Lewes of Scituate all that his farm being 30 acres of upland with about 3 acres of marsh meadow on the south side of the North River. On 20 August 1647 John Maynard of Boston sold to George Partrich of Duxborough all his upland and meadow in Duxborough adjoining George's land, about 20 acres.  On 28 July 1649 Gorg Partridge of Duxbery tailor sold to Sgt William Mericke and John Vobes a small parcel of upland of about 5 acres at Poulder Point (maybe Powder Point?).  On 14 March 1648/49 Mr. John Howland sold to Georg Partridg of Duxborrow, tailor, three acres of meadow ground at Mosquito Hole in Duxborrow.

On 21 June 1652, John Banges of Eastham sold to Gorge Partrich of Duxborrow, tailor, a parcel of land of 40 acres of upland in Duxburrow near Island Creek. On 4 October 1652 Willam Merricke of Eastham sold to Gorge Partrich of Duxburrow all land granted to him at Duxburrow, at Satuckquett. In an undated document Gorge Partrich was granted lot three "lying near unto Namassakett. On 20 May 1665 the town of Duxbury granted him 50 acres about Mill Creek near Namassakeesit. On 17 November 1668 George Patridge of Duxborough, planter, sold to Thomas King Jr of Scituate all land granted to him at Duxborough at or about Mille Brook near Namassakiesset containing 50 acres.  On 12 May 1666, town of Duxbury laid out to George Partridge 40 acres on the west side of the book that runs out of Island Creek Pond, beginning at the mouth of the pond. 

On 7 July 1668, Thomas Andrews made motion at court on behalf of Gorge Victory and Gorg Partrich to give them land from a former grant as ancient servants, 60 acres of land between the line of the colony and John Hanmore's lot, principally to the westward of the old path leading from Bridgewater to Weymouth.  On 13 March 1671/?2 Gorge Partrich of Duxburough husbandman with consent of wife Sarah sold 60 acres within bounds of New Plymouth near foot road from Weymouth to Bridgewater to Thomas Andrews of Hingham.  On 22 October 1672 Constant Southworth ordered the recording the lands granted unto Gorge Partrich of Duxburow as an old servant being 60 acres lying between Weymouth and Bridgewater.

As he grew older, he deeded land to his sons and son-in-law:

8 April 1680 George Partridge of Duxborough with consent of wife Sarah deed to son John Partridge one whole purchase of land in Bridgewater excepting one 6 acre lot and 10 acres he had sold. Included 1 50 acre lot on south side of Unketeteaset River and on the eastward of Pyping Hill and on the west side of Samuel Allen's land deeded to him by George, his father-in-law and one lot of meadow in the Great Meadow between Goodman Mitchell and Moses Simmons and one lot of meadow lying in Coster's Kitchen and any other lands laid forth as belonging to his purchase. 

On 1 April 1684 Georg Partridg of Duxbury, planter, deeded to Samuel West of Duxbury, house carpenter, part of a parcel of land near Matatapoose Pond and Indian Head River Pond adjoining to Jones River Pond purchased from the Indian Sachem Josias Chickatabutt alias Wompiattuck by Major Winslow and commonly called Major's Purchase.

On 13 February 1688/89, George Partridge and Sarah his wife of Duxborow deed to son James Partridge half of all their housing and lands in Duxbury and after their decease the other half, 40 acres of land where house stands, abutting Plymouth Bay on the salt water and 40 acres lying near Island Creek, and 40 acres on the side of the book that runs out of Island Creek Pond and one island of sedge which he purchased from Abraham Samson and five acres of meadow. On 6 Feb 1691/?2, George Partridge of Duxborough deeded to well beloved sons John and James Partridge both of Duxborough, all of his whole share and part of lands both divided and undivided in Middleborough and also of and in the tract of land and cedar swamp called by the name of Major's Purchase.

Lamont “Monty” Healy has done a wonderful series of articles on the early settlers of Duxbury for the Duxbury Clipper newspaper. His article on John Washburn mentions that when Rev. Ralph Partridge died, his 150 acres in Duxbury went to his daughter Elizabeth. She deeded some of that land, including the homestead, to George Partridge. His great-grandson, also named George Partridge, eventually inherited the land and he served in the Revolutionary War. One of the very special things about Monty’s articles is that he researched deeds to find the locations of family homesteads and published maps he made showing the location of these early homesteads. The farm belonging to the Partridge family (couldn’t resist writing that at least once) is located between Partridge Road and Washington Street. You can see some of Monty’s work at https://duxburyspilgrimsandtheirland.wordpress.com/.

George Partridge died between February 1691/?92  when he acknowledged a deed and October 1695, when his inventory was taken. He is called a yeoman of Duxborough in his 26 June 1682 will which was sealed 29 June 1682 and proved 16 October 1695. Left to his beloved wife Sarah Partridge all of his cattle and household stuff for her own proper use during her natural life on condition that his wife do as much for daughter Mercy as they have done of the rest of daughters already married and that she give granddaughter Bethyah Allin as much as she in prudence shall think fit and if any part of my moveables remain at my wife's decease my will is that it be disposed of by her amongst children as she thinks fit.  To eldest son John Partridge at my decease half my uplands and half my meadow lands lying and being at Middleborough and six pounds.  To son James Partridge the other and remaining half of uplands and meadows in Middleborough and all houses and lands uplands and meadow lands in Duxborough and also the island at the glade at his mother's decease, if James will live in the house with his mother quietly during her life. Wife Sarah to be executrix. In case that any estate belonging unto me beyond the sea should be brought over hither before my wife's decease my will is that she should dispose of amongst children according to her discretion.

The inventory of George Partridge's estate was taken 16 October 1695, totaling 89 pounds, 7 shillings, with no real estate included.

Sarah Partrich died between 28 November 1702, when she wrote her will, and 6 October 1708 when her estate was probated. (Plymouth, Mass. Prob. Recs, 2:131-2). A summary of her will:

• I bequeath to my eight daughters, Sarah Allien [Allen], Triphosa West, Elizabeth Allien [Allen], Ruth Thatcher, Mary Scif [Skiff], Rebeckah Fisher, Lidia Bruister [Brewster], Mercy Coburn [or Colburn], all my linen great & small and woolen wearing clothes to be equally divided between them all, three of my daughters before named being deceased [i.e., Triphosa, Mary & Rebecca] my meaning is that their children should have their mother's part & that equally divided amongst them.

• All my money which I die possessed of or which is owing to me should be equally divided amongst my ten children, it understood that the children of those that are deceased should have their mothers' part.

• Son John to have my great bible as a gift of his father after my decease.

• Ye sheep at ye vineyard [i.e., Martha's Vineyard] are my son [in-law] James Allein's by bargain.

• My son James Partridge to be executor.

• My son [in-law] Bruister & my son John Partridge to be Overseers.

The inventory of Sarah Partridg of Duxbury, deceased, taken 18 Oct 1708, was untotaled and included no real estate (PPR 2:132).

 

George and Sarah’s burial location is not known.

There is a 1916 book on the family I have not read by George Henry Partridge, Partridge Genealogy: Descendants of George Partridge of Duxbury, Massachusetts.

Sources Not Listed Above:

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

William Henry Jennings, According to A Genealogical History of the Jennings Families in England and America Fourth to eighth generation  A Genealogical History of the Jennings Families in England and America

(Fourth to eighth generation), 1899

Charles Edward Bank, The History of Martha's Vineyard, Vol III, 1911

Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-35, Vol. V, M-P, 2007