Benjamin Soule (abt. 1666 - 1729)

Born about 1666 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Standish) Soule — married about 1693 (to 1 Dec 1729) in Plymouth Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1 Dec 1729 at about age 63 in Plympton, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Birth and Parents

Benjamin Soule was the son of John Soule and Rebecca Simmons and grandson of Mayflower passenger George Soule. Benjamin was born about 1665 or 1666, probably in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony, where his father is found in records around that time. His birth year is based on his 21 September 1697 testimony that he was 31 years old "or thereabouts"^[1] and his 1729 death record states that he died in his 64th year.^[2][3]

Marriage and Children

Benjamin was married to Sarah Standish^[4] by 1694, when their first child was born. Sarah was the daughter of Alexander Standish and Sarah Alden,^[5] and is called "Sarah Soul wife of Benjamin" in Alexander Standish's will dated February 1701/2.^[6] They had six children, the first five were recorded in Plymouth and the sixth at Plympton^[5] (which was established 4 June 1707):

1. Zachariah Soule was born 21 March 1694 and married Mary Eaton.^[5] Zachariah died 3 May 1751.^[7]
2. Hannah Soule was born 18 March 1696 and married George Samson.^[5] Hannah died 22 September 1776.^[7]
3. Sarah Soule was born 9 May 1699 and died 19 November 1716 in Plympton^[5][7]
4. Deborah Soule was born 23 April 1702 and died 24 January 1724/5,^[7] after having stillborn twins. She was the wife of Jabez Fuller.^[5]
5. Benjamin Soule was born 5 June 1704 and married Hannah Whitman.^[5] Benjamin died 19 April 1751.^[7]
6. Ebenezer Soule was born 16 February 1710/11 and married Suzanna Coomer.^[5] Ebenezer died 17 September 1792 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire.^[7]

Benjamin is named in a deed dated 17 May 1698 and recorded 17 September 1701 in which John Soule of Duxbury, for £6, 6 s., sold 25 acres in Middleborough to his son James "paid unto my son Benjamin Soal by my son James Soul of ye Town of Middleborough".^[8]

Death and Estate

Benjamin died 1 December 1729 in Plympton, in his 64th year.^[3] Benjamin Soule of Plympton, yeoman, left a will dated 2 November 1729, proved 5 January 1729/30 at Marshfield with administration granted to Sarah Soule, "relict widdow" and his sons Benjamin and Ebenezer.^[5] In his will, he named his wife Sarah; sons Zachariah, Benjamin and Ebenezer; daughter Hannah, wife of George Samson, and his "brouther Ebenezer Standish" (Sarah's brother).^[5][9]

An inventory of Benjamin's estate was taken on 2 March 1729/30.^[10] Benjamin's son, Ebenezer, was still a minor (under age 21 and above age 14), and Capt. Caleb Loring was appointed his guardian on 2 March 1729/30.^[5]

On 26 June 1730, an estate distribution agreement was signed by Zachariah Soule, Benjamin Soule, Ebenezer Soule, George Samson, and his wife Hannah.^[11]

On 6 July 1731, another distribution agreement was signed by Zachariah Soule, Benjamin Soule, Ebenezer Soule, George Samson and his wife Hannah.^[12]

In 1733, another distribution was agreed upon by Ebenezer Soule and his siblings, Zechariah Soule, Benjamin Soule, and Hannah, wife of Geroge Samson.^[13]

Benjamin's widow, Sarah, died in Plympton 4 March 1740 in her 75th year. She was buried with Benjamin at the old Cemetery in Plympton. Her son Zachariah Soule of Plympton, yeoman, was appointed administrator of her estate on 22 May 1740.^[5]

In 1752, the land that Benjamin gave to his two sons Benjamin and Ebenezer was still undivided, so the court ordered it to be divided into two equal parts. As his son Benjamin was deceased by that year, his land was to go to Benjamin's heirs.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ George Soule of the Mayflower and his Descendants for Four Generations. Mayflower Families in Progress. Plymouth, Massachusetts: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2015 (7th ed.), pp. 6, 20.
2. ↑ "Mayflower Births and Deaths", database with images, vol. 2, p. 273. Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Record 3718 #11043($). Children of John Soule, births and deaths.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988", database with images, Plympton deaths. Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Record 2495 #81004972($): Benjamin Soule death Dec 1729 (age 64) in Plympton.
4. ↑ "U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700", database with images. Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Record 3824 #68057($): Benjamin Soule marriage to Sarah Standish in 1694.
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11} "The Will of Benjamin Soule of Plympton and His Widow Sarah's Estate" in the Mayflower Descendant. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1923, vol. 25, pp. 72-86. AmericanAncestors.org($).
6. ↑ "Plymouth County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686-1881." File #19152:32-36. AmericanAncestors.org($).
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5} "Mayflower Births and Deaths", Vol. 2, p. 275. Database with images. Ancestry Sharing Link (free access) - Ancestry Record 3718 #11147($): Children of Benjamin Soule, births and deaths.
8. ↑ Bowman, George E. "The Sons of John Soule as Identified by Deeds of Gift and Probate Records" in the Mayflower Descendant. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1906, vol. 8, p. 184. AmericanAncestors.org($).
9. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch: Probate records 1724-1731 and 1838-1842, vol. 5-5T, images 344-345.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch: Probate records 1724-1731 and 1838-1842, vol. 5-5T, images 352-353.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch: Probate records 1724-1731 and 1838-1842, vol. 5-5T, images 406-407.
12. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch: Probate records 1730-1733 and 1839-1845, vol. 6-6U, images 61-63.
13. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch: Probate records 1730-1733 and 1839-1845, vol 6-6U, image 200.
14. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch: Probate records 1749-1752 and 1848-1853, vol 12-12C, images 257-258.

See also:

• Soule Kindred website: Benjamin Soule.