Ruth (Fowle) Searle (1704 - abt. 1798)

Born 10 Nov 1704 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Wife of Joseph Searle — married 17 May 1726 (to about 1773) in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, American Colonies

Descendants

Died about 1798 at about age 93 in Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Ruth was born about 1702. Ruth Fowle ... She passed away about 1798.

From The Diary of William Bentley, Part 4

William Bentley was a Congregational minister in Salem, Massachusetts from 1783 until 1819. He was a remarkable individual. He kept diaries; the following are diary entries that reference Ruth. <Cathryn's note: I've expanded his abbreivations to make the text more readable.>

March 16, 1798^[1]

Was called to the Charity House to attend the funeral of two natural children. The first, of one week, was paid for at 150 dollars, to the Town to quit him, by J. C. Ward, the child died immediately. The mother is of the family of Newton. This family is rare example of dissolute manners generally & in a sad extreme. The Mother & daughters have been all confimed in the public Charity house. Chubb, another sister, has been infamous, & another Sister. Their Mother Searle is now living, the oldest person in Town, æt. 97, a woman of know temperance. The Father was a Butcher, a brawling, obscene man. ...

July 1, 1798^[2]

... Mary Chubb, death of her only son Edey. ...

November 1, 1798^[3]

November 1. [1798] This day was buried from our Society, Ruth Searle, widow of Joseph Searle, in the 96th year of her age, which should would have finished in the next month. So far as the history of this woman has come to my knowledge it is this. She was of the family of Fowle. Two Sisters have been within my time living. Sarah Silsbee died a Widown at 80, in 1793. Her maiden Sister Sarah Fowle is now living about 80 years of age. Ruth married Joseph Searle, who was a butcher & one of the rough & uncultivated mortals & very infirm with the gout and other disorders of corpulent men. She has left two Sons & two Daughters. Some of her Children have behaved very well & some exceedingly ill. One daughter now living is a good woman & one of the Sons, The other Son is in the Charity house, more remarkable for an indolent than a vitious temper. Ruth fared hardly for the greater part of her life. ... ... I find that the two Sisters of Mrs. Searle, now dead, lived each about four score years. One by marriage, named Foot, removed, & one named Valpey died in this Town. The Mother Fowle lived also to an advanced age. The father was from England. A mariner.

November 4, 1798^[4]

... John Searle & wife, death of his Mother, prayer for her sick, prayer for Son at Sea. Eliz. Bartlet, death of her Mother Searle, prayer for Son long absent. Wid. Mary Chubb, death of her Mother Searle. ...

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Sources

• Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts

Marriage

Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, American Colonies, "Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCMX-CZX : accessed 15 January 2015), Joseph Searle and Mary Or Ruth Fowls, 17 May 1726; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 877,447.

Death

Deaths in 1798^[5]

440. Oct. 30, Ruth, widow of Joseph Searle. Old age, æt. 96. Forty-seven years married. Married at twenty-four. She has left two sons and two daughters, Grant and widow Chubb. Living with her younger son.

1. ↑ "The Diary of William Bentley, Part 4, page 261, by William Bentley, Applewood Books, 2009, https://books.google.com/books?id=HAeVFgRd1eQC&pg=PA261&lpg=PA261
2. ↑ "The Diary of William Bentley, Part 4, page 273, by William Bentley, Applewood Books, 2009, https://books.google.com/books?id=HAeVFgRd1eQC&pg=PA261&lpg=PA273
3. ↑ "The Diary of William Bentley, Part 4, page 287, by William Bentley, Applewood Books, 2009, https://books.google.com/books?id=HAeVFgRd1eQC&pg=PA261&lpg=PA287
4. ↑ "The Diary of William Bentley, Part 4, page 288, by William Bentley, Applewood Books, 2009, https://books.google.com/books?id=HAeVFgRd1eQC&pg=PA261&lpg=PA288
5. ↑ Essex Institute Historical Collections, Volumes 14-16, page 88, Google eBook, Essex Institute Press, Essex County, Mass., (c) 1878, https://books.google.com/books?id=J0w_AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA88

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