First Generation

1. George SOULE Sr. (-) (<) (`) (`~) was born about 1599 in Of Eckington, Worcestershire, England.^1,2,3 (This is a painting of a replica of the Mayflower.) He emigrated in 1620 from Of Eckington, Worcestershire, England.^1,2,3,4 He came to Plymouth, Massachusetts on the Mayflower as a servant under contract to Edward Winslow. He was the 35th of the 41 signers of the Mayflower Compact.

Some information about the Mayflower:

DEPARTURE: The Mayflower embarked from Southampton, England on 5 August 1620. She was subsequently forced into Dartmouth (England) because her consort ship, the Speedwell, was leaking. After mending, the Mayflower set sail about 22 August 1620 but was again forced back, this time to Plymouth (England), because of problems with the Speedwell. The Speedwell was abandoned at this point, twenty of her passengers returning home and the remaining compacting onto the Mayflower. The Mayflower left Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620.

ARRIVAL: The Mayflower crew sighted land off Cape Cod on November 9, 1620, and first landfall was made November 11, 1620.

DISTANCE AND TIME: The voyage from Plymouth, England to Plymouth Harbor (Massachusetts) is about 2,750 miles, and took the Mayflower 66 days to cover that distance. The Mayflower's return voyage, incidentally, only took a month.

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS: The Mayflower left England with 102 passengers, including three pregnant women, and a crew of unknown number (approximately 25 to 30). While the Mayflower was at sea, Elizabeth Hopkins gave birth to a son which she named Oceanus. After the Mayflower had arrived and was anchored in Provincetown Harbor off the tip of Cape Cod, Susanna White gave birth to a son, which she named Peregrine (which means "one who has made a journey"). The Mayflower then sailed across the bay and anchored in Plymouth Harbor. There, Mary Allerton gave birth to a stillborn son. One passenger died while the Mayflower was at sea--a youth named William Butten, a servant-apprentice to Dr. Samuel Fuller. The death occurred just three days before land was sighted. One Mayflower crew member also died at sea, but his name is not known.

George Soule was a Plymouth volunteer for the Pequot War in 1637.

He died on 22 January 1679/80 at the age of 81 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^2,3,5 (His inventory was taken on 22 January 1679/80, so he must have died before then.)

The Will of George Soule:

"In the Name of God Amen

I Gorge Soule senir of Duxberry in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England being aged and weake of body but of a sound mind and Memory praised be God Doe make this my last Will and Testament in Manor and forme following Imprimis I comitt my soule into the hands of Almighty God whoe Gave it and my body to be Decently buried in the place appointed for that use whensoever hee shall please to take mee hence; and for the Disposall of my outward estate which God of his Goodnes hath Given mee first I have and alreddy formerly by Deeds under my hand and seale Given unto my two sonnes Nathaniel: and Gorge All my lands in the Township of Dartmouth; Item I have formerly Given unto my Daughters Elizabeth and Patience all my lands in the Township of Middleberry Item I Give and bequeath unto my Daughters Sussannah and Mary twelve pence a peece to be payed by my executer heerafter Named after my Decease; 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 Item I Give and bequeath unto my son John Soule all my Goods And Chattles whatsoever Item I Nominate And appoint my son John Soule to be my sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament; and lastly I Doe heerby make Null and voyde all other and former wills and Testaments by mee att Any time made; and Declare this Instrument to be my last Will and Testament In Witnes wherof I the said Gorge Soule have heerunto sett my hand and seale this eleventh Day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand six hundred seaventy and seaven;

Gorge Soule and a seale

The above Named Gorge Soule Did signe seale and Deliver this Instrument to be his Last Will and Testament in the prsence of us

Nathaniell Thomas

The Marke D T of Deborah Thomas

Item the twentyeth Day of September 1677 I the above Named Gorge Soule Doe 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 she shalbe my sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament And enter into my housing lands and meddowes att Duxburrow, In Witnes wherof I have heerunto sett my hande and seale;

Gorge Soule and A seal

The above Named George Soule Did Signe and seale to this addition in the prsence of us Nathaniel Thomas

The Marke D T of Deborah Thomas"

George was buried on 1 February 1680 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.⁶ He has Ancestral File Number 83QH-3B.⁶

George SOULE Sr. (-) (<) (`) (`~) and Mary BECKETT were married about 1622 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^1,2,3 Mary BECKETT, daughter of Sylvester BECKETT and Elizabeth HILL, was born on 17 January 1590 in Eckington, Worcestershire, England.^6,7,8 (This is a painting of the signing of the Mayflower Compact.) She emigrated between 1620 and 1623 from England, United Kingdom.³ Mary was not listed as a passenger on the Mayflower, so she must have emigrated to America between 1620 and 1623, when her first child was born in America. She was christened on 31 July 1623.^6,7 Mary died on 12 December 1676 at the age of 86 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.^3,6,7,8 She was buried in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.⁷ She has Ancestral File Number 83QH-4H.⁶

George SOULE Sr. (-) (<) (`) (`~) and Mary BECKETT had the following children: