Francis Cooke and Hester Mahieu MAYFLOWER ANCESTORS (my 9th Great Grandparents)

Mayflower Ancestors-Francis Cooke

From   The Pilgrim Migration

FRANCIS COOKE

ORIGIN: Leiden, Hollan

MIGRATION: 1620 in Mayflower

FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: In his attempt to justify the structure and practice of the Plymouth church to an English audience, Edward Winslow included among his examples "the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloon, [who] holds communion with the Church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day, by virtue of communion of churches" [MD 27:64, from Hypocrisie Unmasked]. (For further information on the membership of Francis Cooke and his wife in the Walloon churches at Norwich and at Leiden, see Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, "The Pilgrims and other English in Leiden Records: Some New Pilgrim Documents" [NEHGR 143:195-98].)

FREEMAN: In 1633 Plymouth list of freemen ahead of those admitted on 1 January 1632/3 [PCR 1:3]; in 7 March 1636/7 and 1639 lists of Plymouth freemen [PCR 1:52, 8:173]. In Plymouth section of list of freemen of 1658 [PCR 8: 197].

EDUCATION: The inventory included "1 great Bible & 4 old books" valued at 10s.

OFFICES: Plymouth Colony committee to lay out the twenty-acre grants, 3 January 1627[/8] [PCR 12:14]. Committee to lay out land, 5 May 1640, 5 October 1640 [PCR 1:152, 163]. Committee to lay out highways, 1 October 1634, 2 May 1637, 1 February 1640/1, 10 June 1650 [PCR 1:31, 58, 2:7, 160]. Arbitrator in land dispute between Thomas Pope and William Shurtleff, 2 August 1659 [PCR 3:169].

Plymouth petit jury, 2 January 1637/8, 3 September 1639, 3 December 1639, 3 March 1639/40, 2 June 1640, 7 June 1642, 7 September 1642, 7 March 1642/3 [PCR 1:74, 7:7, 13, 14, 16, 31, 32, 34]. Grand jury, 5 June 1638, 2 June 1640, 7 March 1642/3, 6 June 1643 [PCR 1:87, 155, 2:53, 56]. Coroner's jury, 22 July 1648 [PCR 2:132].

Surveyor of highways 1 March 1641/2, 7 June 1642, 4 June 1645 [PCR 2:34, 40, 84].

In Plymouth section of 1643 Plymouth list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8:187]. His inventory included "2 old muskets" valued at 12s.

ESTATE: Appears on diagram of "meersteads & garden plots of [those] which came first laid out 1620," between Isaac Allerton and Edward Winslow [PCR 12:3]. In 1623 Plymouth land division received two acres as passenger on Mayflower, plus four acres for the rest of his family who came on the Anne in 1623 [PCR 12:4, 5]; some of this land had apparently been sold to William Bradford by 1639 [PCR 12:51]. In the 1627 Plymouth cattle division Francis Cooke, his wife Hester Cooke, John Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Jane Cooke, Hester Cooke and Mary Cooke were the first seven persons in the first company [PCR 12:9].

Assessed 18s. in the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1633 and 9s. in the list of 27 March 1634 [PCR 1: 10, 28].

On 3 December 1638, a small parcel of land that had been previously granted to Francis Cooke was instead granted to Thomas Prence [PCR 1:103]. On 4 February 1638/9, "a parcel of upland lying at the end of Goodman Shawe's land at Smilt River is granted to Francis Cooke" [PCR 1:112].

On 5 October 1640, Francis Cooke and John Cooke Jr. were granted a parcel of upland "provided it do not exceed two hundred acres of upland, and the meadow before it," along with a parcel of upland "containing about 10 or 12 acres" [PCR 1:163, 2:149, 164]. On 9 April 1650, Francis Cooke gave "his son Jacob Cook" all his right in one hundred acres at North River granted him 5 October 1640 [PCR 12:185]. On 17 October 1642, Francis Cooke was one of those who received six acres apiece "if it be there to be had" at North Meadow by Joanes River [PCR 2:49]. He is on the list of Purchasers [PCR 2: 177].

On 3 June 1662, Francis Cooke was included in the list of those who might "look out some accommodations of land, as being the first born children of this government" [PCR 4: 19].

In his will, dated 7 December 1659 and proved 5 June 1663, Francis Cooke bequeathed to "my dear and loving wife" all moveables and cattle and to "Hester my wife . . . my lands both upland and meadow lands which at present I possess during her life"; "my dear wife and my son John Cooke" to be joint executors [MD 2:24-25, citing PCPR 2:2: 1].

The inventory of the estate of Francis Cooke, taken 1 May 1663, totalled £86 lls. ld. "besides the housing and land," which was not included [MD 2:26-27, citing PCPR 2:2:1-2].

On 1 March 1663/4, the court "taking notice of such evidence as hath been produced for the clearing of a controversy between John Tompson, plaintiff, and Richard Wright, in reference to a parcel of land at Namassakett, do allow an agreement between the said parties, which was ordered here to be entered, as followeth, viz: that the said parties shall have equal share of the land allotted to Francis Cooke at Namaskett aforesaid, provided that they be equal in bearing the charge about the said land" [PCR 4:54].

On 8 June 1666, John Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Hester Wright the wife of Richard Wright and Mary Tompson the wife of John Tompson, to prevent dispute over the intent of their father Francis Cooke in his will with regard to the land at Rocky Nook, agreed to divide it into five shares, with John Cooke, the eldest son, getting two shares [PCLR 3:73].

On 5 July 1670, "[w]hereas it is evident to the Court, that a certain tract or parcel of land, called Old Cooke's Holes, lying at Jonses River meadow, was formerly granted unto Francis Cooke, of Plymouth, deceased, in the lieu of some land which is supposed would have fallen within his line at the Smelt Brooke, but is not fully settled on the said Cooke and his heirs and assigns, this Court doth by these presents fully and absolutely settle, ratify, assure and confirm the said grant of land or tract of land, being threescore acres ... unto the said Francis Cooke, his heirs and assigns forever, which said land was given by the said Francis Cooke unto Richard Wright and Thomas Michell, commonly called Old Cooke's Holes, and since his decease ratified and confirmed unto the said Richard Wright and Thomas Michell by John Cooke, the heir unto the said Francis Cooke" [PCR 5:44].

BIRTH: In or shortly after 1583 [MD 3:95-96, 8:49].

DEATH: Plymouth 7 April 1663 [PCR 8:23; MD 17:183; PVR 663].

MARRIAGE: Leiden 20 Jul 1603 [NS] or shortly thereafter Hester Mahieu [MD 27:145-55 (incorporating and correcting MD 8:48-50, 22:13-14)];she died after 8 June 1666 [PCLR 3:73].

CHILDREN:

1. JANE COOKE, b. say 1605; m. Plymouth in 1627 or soon after EXPERIENCE MITCHELL [NEHGR 127:94-95; TAG 59:28-31; PM 324].
2. JOHN COOKE, bp. Leiden Walloon Church January-March 1607 [NS] [MD 27:153 (note that Bowman goes slightly astray in his comments on this baptism)]; in the Plymouth tax list of 27 March 1634 assessed 9s. [PCR 1:28]; m. Plymouth 28 March 1634 Sarah Warren [PCR 1:29], daughter of RICHARD WARREN [PM 477; MD 45:54].
3. Child COOKE, bur. Leiden 20 May 1608 [NS] [NEHGR 143:197].
4. ELIZABETH COOKE, bp. Leiden 26 December 1611 [NS] [NEHGR 143:197]; no further record.
5. JACOB COOKE, b. about 1618 (deposed 14 July 1674 "aged fifty-six years or thereabout" [MD 2:45-46, citing PLR 1:81]); m. (1) Plymouth shortly after 10 June 1646 (marriage contract) Damaris Hopkins [PCR 2:27; MD 2:27-28, citing PCLR 2:1:35], daughter of STEPHEN HOPKINS [MF 6:13-14; PM 271]; m. (2) Plymouth 18 November 1669 Elizabeth {Lettice) Shurtleff [PVR 666], daughter of Thomas Lettice and widow of William Shurtleff [MF 6: 13].
6. HESTER COOKE, b. say 1624; m. Plymouth in 1644 RICHARD WRIGHT {1636, Plymouth} [PCR 2:79; see also TAG 59:165-70].
7. MARY COOKE, b. Plymouth say 1626; m. Plymouth 26 December 1645 John Tompson [PCR 12:94].

COMMENTS: In his accounting of the passengers on the Mayflower, Bradford includes "Francis Cooke and his son John; but his wife and other children came afterwards" [Bradford 442]. In the summary of these families as of 1651, Bradford tells us that "Francis Cooke is still living, a very old man, and hath seen his children's children have children. After his wife came over with other of his children; he hath three still living by her, all married and have five children, so their increase is eight. And his son John which came over with him is married, and hath four children living" [Bradford 446]. Francis Cooke signed the Mayflower Compact.

On 24 December 1636, John Harmon contracted to become the apprentice of Francis Cooke for seven years [PCR 1:46].

On 7 March 1636/7, Francis Cooke sued John Browne the elder and several others, and, on 7 June 1637, Francis Cooke, having sued Mr. John Browne, was granted an execution against him [PCR 1:60, 7:5].

"Take notice of our practice at Leyden, viz. that one Samuel Terry was received from the French Church there, into communion with us; also the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloone, holds communion with the Church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day, by virtue of communion of churches" [Winslow's Hypocrisie Unmasked in MD 27:64].

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1901 George E. Bowman prepared a genealogy of the family of Francis Cooke, in which he abstracted every record he could find for the immigrant, his wife and children [MD 3:95-105]. Lora A.W. Underhill, in her pursuit of the ancestry of Edward Small, published in 1934 an even more detailed study of the family [Small Gen 601-45]. Mary Walton Ferris also compiled a brief account of the family of Francis Cooke [Dawes-Gates 2:238-44]. In 1989 Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs published a number of records relating to Francis Cooke and his family in Leiden [NEHGR 143:195-98].

The Five Generations Project of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants in 1996 published its account of the descendants of Francis Cooke as Volume Twelve in the series, compiled by Ralph Van Wood Jr.

Myles Standish and Barbara Mullens MAYFLOWER ANCESTORS (My 9th Great Grandparents)

Mayflower Ancestors - Myles StandishFound at  The Pilgrim Migration

MILES STANDISH

ORIGIN: Holland

MIGRATION: 1620 on Mayflower

FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth

REMOVES: Duxbury

RETURN TRIPS: Sent to London in late 1625 and returned early 1626

OCCUPATION: Soldier.

FREEMAN: In the "1633" Plymouth list of freemen Capt[ain] Myles Standish is first among the councillors, immediately after the governor [PCR I :3]. In 7 March 1636/7 list of freemen [PCR I :52]. In 1639 list of freemen, among Assistants and in Duxbury section [PCR 8:173, 174].

EDUCATION: He signed several documents sent to the Bay and must have been conversant with figures to be colony treasurer. His inventory included several dozen books, valued at £9 3s.; although there were three Bibles and a number of other theological volumes, Standish also owned such titles as Homer's Iliad and Caesar's Commentaries.

OFFICES: Assistant, 1 January 1632/3, 1635, 1637-41, 1645-56 [MA Civil List 36-38; PCR 1:5, 32, 48, 79, 116, 140, 2:8, 15, 83, 115, 123, 166, 3:7, 30, 48, 77, 99]. Deputy Governor [PCR 3:27]. Treasurer, 1644-56 [MA Civil List 36; PCR 2:76, 101, 115, 123, 166, 3:7, 30, 48, 77]. Council of War [PCR 2:47, 64, 100, 3:26, 28].

"Capt. Standish" is in the Duxbury section of the 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8: 190]. Captain, 1620-56 [PCR 1:52, 59, 80, 82, 84, 90-92, 98, 100]. Commander of forces [PCR 2:47, 146]. Captain of troops raised for Dutch war [PCR 3:29, 55]

ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth division of land "Captin Myles Standish" received two acres as a passenger on the Mayflower [for himself and his first wife, Rose], and "Mrs. Standish" received one acre as a passenger on the Anne in 1623 [PCR 12:4, 6]. In the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle Captain Standish, Barbara Standish, Charles Standish, Alexander Standish and John Standish are the first five persons in the third company [PCR 12:10].

In 1631 "Captain Myles Standish of Plymouth" sold to Edward Winslow of Plymouth "two acres of land lying in the north field" [PCR 12: 16].

In the Plymouth tax lists of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634 Capt[ain] Myles Standish was assessed 18s. [PCR 1:9, 27]. He was one of the purchasers [PCR 2: 177].

On 1 July 1633 through 20 March 1636/7 Captain Standish was allowed to mow land he had formerly mowed [PCR 1:14, 40, 56]. On 4 December 1637 Captain Myles Standish was granted the surplusage of land on "Ducksborrow side" in consideration of the "want of lands he should have had to his proportion [PCR 1:70]. On 2 July 1638 Captain Myles Standish received three hundred acres of uplands [PCR 1:91]. On 1 October 1638 he was granted a garden place at Duxborrow side, which was formerly laid forth for him [PCR 1 :99]. On 4 March 1650/1 "whereas Captain Miles Standish hath been at much trouble and pains, and hath gone sundry journeys into Yarmouth aforesaid in the said town's business, and likely to have more in that behalf, in respect whereunto the Court have granted unto the said Captain Standish" about forty or fifty acres [PCR 2:164].

On 9 May 1654 "Capt. Myles Standish" sold to Capt. Thomas Willett of Plymouth his purchaser's right at Sowamsett, Mattapoisett and places adjacent; "Mrs. Barberye Standish wife of the said Capt. Standish" con­sented to his deed [MD 6:246-47, citing PCLR 2:1:111].

In his will, dated 7 March 1655[/6] and proved 4 May 1657, "Myles Standish Senior of Duxburrow" asked that "if I die at Duxburrow my body to be laid as near as conveniently may be to my two daughters Lora Standish my daughter and Mary Standish my daughter-in-law" and bequeathed to "my dear and loving wife Barbara Standish" one-third of his estate after all debts are paid; to "my son Josias Standish upon his marriage" cattle to the value of £40 (if possible), and "that every one of my four sons viz: Allexander Standish, Myles Standish, Josias Standish and Charles Standish may have forty pounds apiece," to "my eldest son Allexaner ... a double share in land," and "so long as they live single that the whole be in partnership betwixt them"; "my dearly beloved wife Bar­bara Standish, Allexander Standish, Myles Standish and Josias Standish" to be joint executors; "my loving friends Mr. Timothy Hatherley and Capt. James Cudworth" to be supervisors; to "Marcye Robinson whom I tenderly love for her grandfather's sake" £3; to "my servant John Irish Jr." 40s. beyond what is due him by covenant; and to "my son & heir apparent Allexander Standish all my lands as heir apparent by lawful descent in Ormistick, Borsconge, Wrightington, Maudsley, Newburrow, Crawston and the Isle of Man and given to me as right heir by lawful descent but surruptuously [sic] detained from me my great-grandfather being a second or younger brother from the house of Standish of Standish" [MD 3:153-55, citing PCPR 2:1:37-38].

The inventory of the estate of "Captain Miles Standish gent.," taken 2 December 1656, totalled £358 7s., including "one dwelling house and outhouses with the land thereunto belonging" valued at £140 [MD 3:155-56, citing PCPR 2:1 :39-40].

On 4 May 1657 "Mr. Allexander Standish and Mr. Josias Standish do accept of being executors with Mrs. Barbery Standish, their mother, on the estate of Captain Myles Standish, deceased" [PCR 3: 114].

On 5 October 1658 confirmation was made of a sale by "Capt. Myles Standish" (with consent of his wife Barbara) to Mr. Thomas Howes of Yarmouth of "a certain farm lying in the liberties of Yarmouth," which had been granted to Standish by the court on 4 March 1650 [MD 13:142- 43, citing PCLR 2:2:11].

BIRTH: By about 1593 based on date of first marriage.

DEATH: Duxbury 3 October 1656 [MD 1: 12-13 (and especially footnote on page 12); NEHGR 87:152].

MARRIAGE: (1) By say 1618 Rose __ . She died Plymouth 29 January 1620/1 ("January 29 [1620/1]. Dies Rose, the wife of Captain Standish" [Prince 184])(2) By 1624 Barbara __ . She died after 6 October 1659 [MD 4:119]..

CHILDREN:

1. CHARLES, b. say 1624; living 1627; d. by about 1635.
2. ALEXANDER, b. say 1626 (died 6 July 1702 "being about 76 years of age" [NEHGR 87:153]); m. (1) by about 1660 Sarah Alden, daughter of JOHN ALDEN; m. (2) by 1689 as her third husband Desire (Doty) (Sherman) Holmes, daughter of EDWARD DOTY [PM 177].
3. JOHN, b. say 1627; no further record.
4. MYLES, b. say 1629; m. Boston 19 July 1660 Sarah Winslow, daughter of JOHN WINSLOW [PM 511; BVR 76].
5. LORA, b. say 1631; d. by 7 March 1655[/6], unm. (from father's will).
6. JOSIAS, b. say 1633; m. (1) Marshfield 19 December 1654 Mary Dingley [MarVR l]; m. (2) after 1655 Sarah Allen, daughter of Samuel Allen (in his will of 2 August 1669 Samuel Allen bequeathed to "my son-in-law Josiah Standish" [SPR 6:27]).
7. CHARLES, b. say 1635; living 7 March 1655[/6] (named in father's will); no further record.

COMMENTS: Bradford listed "Captin Myles Standish and Rose his wife" as passengers on the Mayflower [Bradford 442]. In 1651 Bradford stated that "Captain Standish his wife died in the first sickness and he married again and hath four sons living and some are dead" [Bradford 445].

Standish was a leader of the first and third discovery expeditions on Cape Cod in November and December 1620 [Mourt 19-24, 32-37]. On 22 March 1620/1, Captain Standish and Master Williamson [William Brewster] met Massassoit at the brook and began negotiations, soon joined by the governor [Mourt 55-57].

Although we have been left with THOMAS MORTON's description of Standish as "Captain Shrimp," Bradford described him in gentler terms during the first great sickness: “so as there died sometimes two or three of a day ... that of one hundred & odd persons, scarce fifty remained. And of these in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons, who, to their great commendations be it spoken, spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health ... did all the homely & necessary offices for them, which dainty & queazy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly & cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends & bretheren. A rare example & worthy to be remembered. Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their Reverend Elder, & Myles Standish, their Captain & military commander, unto whom myself & many others, were much beholden in our low & sick condition” [Bradford 77].

In the winter of 1622, Captain Standish was to go to the Bay, but was twice driven back by high winds, the latter time being sick with a "violent fever" [Good News 299-300]. The Governor took his place and the meeting occurred as intended; Standish recovered within the month [Good News 304].

Lyford and Oldham, in their derogatory letters to England about the early settlement at Plymouth, said "Captain Standish looks like a silly boy, and is in utter contempt" [Bradford 156]. Standish also had a facility with language, but one editor remarked that "Standish, though 'the best linguist among them,' in the Indian dialects, was more expert with the sword than the pen" [Young's Pilgrim Fathers 115].

In early 1623, Captain Standish went to trade with the Indians. On meeting some of greater number than his little band, he soon missed some beads, and taking his men "set them on their guard about the sachem's house ... threatening to fall upon them without further delay if they would not forthwith restore them, signifying ... that as he would not offer the least injury, so he would not receive any at their hands, which should escape without punishment or due satisfaction" [Good News 309]. This bold stance won respect as well as the return of the beads.

In a 1623 trip to the area near what would be Boston, Captain Standish warned the men there of the Indians' violent intentions. When a number arrived to trade, Standish boldly faced them down and averted a skirmish, but not without suffering some personal slights: "Also Pecksuot, being a man of greater stature than the Captain, told him, though he were a great captain, yet he was but a little man; and, said he, though I be no sachim, yet I am a man of great strength and courage. These things the Captain observed, yet bare with patience for the present" [Good News 338].

In a running conflict in spring of 1623, Standish and a small troop took the high ground and as one assailant drew his bow to fire at Standish, Standish and one other fired at him and broke his arm, "whereupon they fled into a swampe. When they were in the thicket, they parleyed, but to small purpose, getting nothing but foul language. So our Captain dared the sachim to come out and fight like a man, showing how base and woman-like he was in tonguing it as he did, but he refused, and fled" [Good News 341].

In late 1625 Captain Standish was sent to England with letters and instructions “both to their friends of the company ... and also the Honorable Council of New England to the company to desire that seeing that they meant only to let them have goods upon sale, that they might have them upon easier terms, for they should never be able to bear such high interest ... But he came in a very bad time, for the State was full of trouble, and the plague very hot in London, so as no business could be done, yet he spake with some of the Honored Council, who promised all helpfulnes to the plantation which lay in them ... yet with much ado he took up £150 (& spent a good deal of it in expences) at 50 per cent, which he bestowed in trading goods & such other most needful commodities as he knew requisite for their use, and so returned passenger in a fishing ship” [Bradford 177-79].

In 1628, Captain Standish was sent to capture Morton by force. Coming upon Morton's dwelling, Standish found him to be well armed and locked within. Fortunately, they were "over armed with drink" and, coming out of the house “they were so steeled with drink as their pieces were too heavy for them, [Morton] ... with a carbine ... had thought to have shot Captain Standish; but he [Standish] stepped to him, & put by his piece, & took him. Neither was there any hurt done to any of either side, save that one was so drunk that he ran his own nose upon the point of a sword that one held before him as he entered the house; but he lost but a little of his hot blood” [Bradford 209-10].

In 1634 when Mr. Alden was imprisoned in the Massachusetts Bay, Captain Standish was sent to free him [Bradford 264-65].

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: The last clause of the will of Miles Standish, in which he complains of being "surruptuously detained" from his rightful inheritance, and then lists a number of estates, has spawned a great amount of research into the origins of this immigrant.

In 1914 Thomas Cruddas Porteus published "Some Recent Investigations Concerning the Ancestry of Capt. Myles Standish" [NEHGR 68:339-69]. He transcribed many estate documents, and came to the tentative conclusion that Miles Standish descended from a certain Ruan Standish of the Isle of Man.

In 1933 Merton Taylor Goodrich prepared a study of "The Children and Grandchildren of Capt. Myles Standish" [NEHGR 87:149-60]. Goodrich touches only briefly on the matter of the Standish ancestry; the most important part of his article is a careful study of both wives and each of the children of Miles Standish, dealing in detail with a number of matters of chronology and proof. This article is the bedrock on which all later work is based.

More recently G.V.C. Young has tackled the problem of the ancestry of Miles Standish and has advanced our knowledge greatly. In 1984 he presented an extended argument that Miles Standish was born on the Isle of Man, and that he was the son of a John Standish of Ellanbane on the Isle of Man [Myles Standish: First Manx American (Isle of Man 1984)]. This John Standish was son of another John Standish, who was son of a Huan Standish of Ellanbane, the very man proposed by Porteus in 1914. Although this conclusion is very well argued, the proof is not yet complete, although Young's identification is highly probable.

Young has published two brief supplements to this work: More About Pilgrim Myles Standish (Isle of Man 1987) and Ellanbane Was the Birthplace of Myles Standish (Isle of Man 1988).

George Soule and Mary Buckett MAYFLOWER ANCESTORS (my 9th Great Grandparents)

Mayflower Ancestor John alden
From     The Pilgrim Migration

GEORGE SOULE

ORIGIN: Unknown

MIGRATION: 1620 on the Mayflower

FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth

REMOVES: Duxbury

FREEMAN: In the "1633" Plymouth list of freemen, ahead of those admitted on 1 January 1632/3 [PCR 1:4]. In list of 7 March 1636/7 freemen [PCR 1:52]. In the Duxbury sections of the 1639, 1658 and 29 May 1670 Plymouth Colony lists of freemen. [PCR 5:275, 8:175, 198].

EDUCATION: Signed his name as witness to the will of John Barnes of Plymouth, 6 March 1667/8 [MD 4:98, citing Scrapbook 56]. Signed his will. His inventory included "books" valued at i pound [MD 2:83].

OFFICES: Deputy for Duxbury to Plymouth Colony General Court, 27 September 1642, 28 October 1645, 3 March 1645/6, 7 July 1646, 4 June 1650, 5 June 1651, 7 June 1653, 7 March 1653/4, 6 June 1654 [PCR 2:46, 3:31, 44, 49, 94, 95, 104, 154, 167].

Plymouth grand jury, 7 March 1642/3, 6 June 1643 [PCR 2:53, 56]. Jury, 3 June 1656, 3 March 1662/3 [PCR 3:102, 7:108]. Petit jury, 1 June 1647 [PCR 2:117].

Committee to grand land, 5 May 1640, 4 June 1645 [PCR 1:151, 2:88]. Committee to draw an order concerning the disorderly drinking of tobacco [!], 20 October 1646 [PCR 2:108]. Committee on magistrates and deputies, [blank] October 1650 [PCR 11:155]. Committee on boundaries 1 June 1658 [PCR 3:138].

Volunteered for Pequot War, 7 June 1637 [PCR 1:60]. His inventory included "a gun" valued at 15s. [MD 2:83].

ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth division of land received one acre as a passenger on the Mayflower [PCR 12:4]. In the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle George Sowle, Mary Sowle and Zakariah Sowle were the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth persons in the ninth company [PCR 12: 12].

Assessed 9s. in the Plymouth tax lists of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634 [PCR 1: 10, 27]. He was on the list of purchasers [PCR 2: 177].

On 1 July 1633 he 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 November 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 January 1658 and 17 July 1668, George Soule gave his Dartmouth propriety to his sons Nathaniel and George as a single undivided share [PCLR 3:123, 245].

On 23 July 1668, "G[e]orge Soule Senior of Duxburrow...., planter,... with the consent of Mary my wife," deeded to "Francis Walker husband to my daughter Elizabeth half my whole share of lands at Namassakett both upland and meadow" [MD 27:39-40, citing PCLR 3:126]. On 26 January 1668[/9], "G[e]orge Soule of Duxburrow" deeded to "Patience Haskall his true and natural daughter and unto John Haskall her husband all that his half share of land at Namassakett both upland and meadow... having given the other half share formerly until Francis Walker" [MD 27:40, citing PCLR 3:153] On 12 March 1668[/9], " George Soul of Duxburro ..., husbandman," deeded to "my daughter Elizabeth wife unto Francis Walker ... the moiety or half share of all my purchase or purchases lying and being as before expressed in the place commonly called Namascutt"; "wife Mary Soul" relinquished her dower rights [MD 27: 40-41, citing PLR 10:2:327].

In his will, dated 11 August 1677 (with codicil dated 20 September 1677) and proved 5 March 1679/80, "G[e]orge Soule Senior of Duxberry ... being aged and weak of body" confirmed that he had formerly given by deeds "unto my two sons Nathaniel and G[e]orge all my lands in the township of Dartmouth ... [and] I have formerly given unto my daughters Elizabeth and Patience all my lands in the township of Mid­dlebery"; to "my daughters Sussannah and Mary" 12d. apiece; "forasmuch as my eldest son John Soule and his family hath in my extreme old age and weakness been tender and careful of me and very helpful to me, and is likely so to be while it shall please God to continue my life here, therefore I give and bequeath unto my said son John Soule all the remainder of my housing and lands whatsoever"; to "my son John Soule all my goods and chattels whatsoever"; "my son John Soule to be my sole executor." In a codicil dated 20 September 1677, "G[e]orge Soule" indicated that if "my son John Soule" were to disturb "my daughter Patience or her heirs" in the peacable possession of lands he had given her in Middleborough, then "my gift to my son John Soule shall be void" and "my daughter Patience shall have all my lands at Duxburrey and she shall be my sole executrix ... and enter into my housing lands and meadows at Duxburrow" [MD 2:81-83, citing PCPR 4:1 :50].

The inventory of the estate of George Soule of Duxbury, taken 22 January 1679[/80], totalled £40 l 9s., of which £25 was real estate: "dwelling house, orchard, barn and upland," £20; and "meadow land," £5; John Soule appended a long list of charges against the estate, including an item "for diet and tendance since my mother died which was three year the last December" [MD 2:83-84, citing PCPR 4:1:51].

BIRTH: By about 1602 based on date of marriage.

DEATH: Between 20 September 1677 (codicil to will) and 22 January 1679[/80] (date of inventory), and probably closer to the latter date.

MARRIAGE: By 1627 MARY BUCKETT (in the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle George Soule had wife Mary and son Zachariah; Mary has been identified by many writers as Mary Buckett of the 1623 land division on that basis that no other Mary was available in the limited Plymouth population of the earliest years). She died about December 1672 (son John Soule indicated in an account of 1676 that "my mother died which was three year the last December" [MD 2:83-84]).

CHILDREN:

1. ZACHARIAH SOULE, b. by 1627; m. by 1663 Margaret ____ [Scrapbook 20].
2. JOHN SOULE, b. about 1632 (deposed 8 March 1705/6 aged "about seventy-four years" [MD 5:46, citing PLR 7:35]); m. (1) by about 1656 Rebecca Simonson (eldest known child, Rebecca (Soule) Weston, d. Plympton 18 November 1732 "in her76th year"), daughter of MOSES SIMONSON [PM 419] ; m. (2) by 1679 Esther (Delano) Samson, daughter of PHILIP DELANO [PM 164] and widow of Samuel Samson [TAG 15:165-67; TG 1:233; MF 3:7].
3. NATHANIEL SOULE, b. between say 1634 and 1646 (adult by 1667/8 [PCR 3:178]); before 4 March 1673/4 fathered a child with an unnamed Indian woman and ordered to pay ten bushels of corn to her for the keeping of the child [PCR 5:163]; m. by 1681 Rose __ (eldest child b. Dartmouth 12 January 1681 [/2]).
4. GEORGE SOULE, b. about 1639 (deposed 1 March 1672/3 "aged 34 years or thereabouts" [RICT 3:28]); m. by about 1665 Deborah ____ (eldest known child b. 1665 [MFIP Soule 5]).
5. SUSANNA SOULE, b. say 1642; m. by 1662 Francis West (eldest known child b. by 1662 [MFIP Soule 5]).
6. MARY SOULE, b. about 1643 (in 1653 bound out for seven years or eight if she did not marry [MD 1:214]); m. by 1665 John Peterson (eldest known child b. by about 1665 [MFIP Soule 6]).
7. ELIZABETH SOULE, b. say 1645 (fined for committing fornication 3 March 1662/3 [PCR 5:34]; sued Nathaniel Church 5 October 1663 for refusing to marry her [PCR 7:111]; ordered whipped 2 July 1667 for committing fornication a second time [PCR 5:162]); m. by 23 July 1668 Francis Walker [MD 27:39-40, citing PCLR 3:126].
8. PATIENCE SOULE, b. say 1647; m. Middleboro January 1666[/7] John Haskell [MiddleVR 1:1].
9. BENJAMIN SOULE, b. say 1649; fell with Capt. Pierce 26 March 1676 during King Philip's War [Bodge 350]; unm.

COMMENTS: Bradford, in his list of passengers of the Mayflower, included George Soule as one of "two men-servants" of Mr. Edward Winslow [Bradford 441]. 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].

On 3 January 1636/7 George Soule and Nathaniel Thomas sued and countersued each other over two heifers [PCR 7:4].

On 3 June 1662 "Gorg Soule" was on a list of freemen desiring to look for additional land "being the first born children of this government" [PCR 4:19].

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].

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1980 the General Society of Mayflower Descendants published a genealogy of five generations of descent from George Soule as the third volume in its series of silver volumes [John E. Soule and Milton E. Terry, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume Three: George Soule (Plymouth 1980), ed. Anne Borden Harding]. This is a seriously flawed volume, which should not be relied upon. George E. McCracken and Neil D. Thompson published lengthy reviews pointing out some of the problems [TG 1:225-58; TAG 57:57-58].

John Alden and Priscilla Mullins MAYFLOWER ANCESTORS (my 9th Great Grandparents)

Click:      Mayflower ancestors -- ALDEN 

Found on Mayflower.AmericanAncestors.org,  from    The Pilgrim Migration

JOHN ALDEN

ORIGIN: Southampton

MIGRATION: 1620 on Mayflower

FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth

REMOVES: Duxbury 1632

OCCUPATION: Cooper (his inventory included "coopers tools" valued at £1 2s. [PPR 1:10; MD 3:10]).

FREEMAN: In 1633 Plymouth list of freemen, among those admitted prior to 1 January 1632/3 [PCR 1:3] and in list of 7 March 1636/7 [PCR 1:52]. In Duxbury sections of lists of 1639 and 1658 [PCR 8:174, 198].

EDUCATION: Although there is no direct evidence for his literary and educational attainments, his extensive public service, including especially his appointments as colony treasurer and to committees on revising the laws, certainly indicates that he must have been well­-educated.

OFFICES: Assistant, 6 February 1631/2 [WP 3:65], 1 January 1632/3, 1 January 1633/4, 1 January 1634/5, 5 January 1635/6, 3 January 1636/7, 6 March 1637/8, 4 March 1638/9 [PCR 1:5, 21, 32, 36, 48, 79, 116 (the assistants elected on 3 March 1639/40 were not sworn until 2 June 1640, so John Alden continued to serve as assistant at a few courts in early 1640)]. Assistant each year from 1650 to 1686 [PCR 2:153, 166, 3:7, 30, 48, 77, 99, 114, 134, 162, 187, 214, 4:13, 36, 60, 90, 122, 147, 179, 5:17, 34, 55, 90, 112, 143, 163, 194, 229, 256, 6:9, 34, 58, 83, 106, 127, 164, 185].

Acted as Deputy Governor on two occasions, in absence of Governor, 7 March 1664/5, 30 October 1677 [PCR 4:81, 5:245]. Treasurer, 3 June 1656, 3 June 1657, 1 June 1658 [PCR 3:99, 115, 135]. Council of War, 27 September 1642, 10 October 1643, 2 June 1646, 6 April 1653, 12 May 1653, 1 June 1658, 2 April 1667 [PCR 2:46, 63, 100, 3:26, 28, 138, 4:145].

Committee to revise laws, 4 June 1645, 3 June 1657 [PCR 2:85, 3: 117]. Committee on Kennebec trade, 3 March 1645/6, 7 June 1648, 8 June 1649, 5 March 1655/6 [PCR 2:96, 127, 144, 3:96]. Appointed to numerous other minor posts and committees by Plymouth General Court.

Deputy for Duxbury to Plymouth General Court 1641, 1642, 1644 and 1646 to 1649, and also at courts of 20 August 1644, 28 October 1645 and 3 March 1645/6 [PCR 2:16, 40, 72, 75, 94, 95, 104, 117, 123, 144].

"Mr. John Alden Senior" is in the Duxbury section of the 1643 list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8:189]. His inventory included "2 old guns" valued at 11s. [PPR 1:10; MD 3:10].

ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth land division granted an unknown number of acres as a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620 [PCR 12:4]. In the 1627 Plymouth cattle division, included in company of John Howland, along with wife Priscilla, daughter Elizabeth and son John [PCR 12: 10].

Assessed £1 4s. in Plymouth tax lists of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634 [PCR 1:9, 27].

Assigned mowing ground for the year, 14 March 1635/6, 20 March 1636/7 [PCR 1:40, 56].

On 6 March 1636/7, "[a] parcel of land containing a knoll, or a little hill, lying over against Mr. Alden's land at Blewfish River, is granted by the Court unto the said Mr. John Alden in lieu of a parcel of land taken from him (next unto Samuel Nash's lands) for public use" [PCR 1:51].

Granted "certain lands at Green's Harbor," 5 February 1637/8 [PCR 1 :76]. Granted to Miles Standish and John Alden three hundred acres "on the north side of the South River," 2 July 1638 [PCR 1:91]. Granted "a little parcel of land ... lying at the southerly side of his lot," 3 September 1638 [PCR 1:95].

On 3 June 1657, "[l]iberty is granted unto Mr. John Alden to look out a portion of land to accommodate his sons withall, and to make report thereof unto the Court, that so it may be confirmed unto him" [PCR 3:120].

On 13 June 1660, "[i]n regard that Mr. Alden is low in his estate, and occasioned to spend much time at the courts on the country's occasions, and so hath done this many years, the Court have allowed him a small gratuity, the sum of ten pounds, to be paid by the Treasurer" [PCR 3:195].

Granted "a competency of land" at Namasskett, 7 June 1665 [PCR 4:95]. Granted one hundred acres at Teticutt, 4 March 1673/4 [PCR 5:141].

On 8 July 1674, John Alden of Duxbury "for love and natural affection and other valuable causes and considerations" deeded to "David Alden his true and natural son all that his land both meadow and upland that belongs unto him situate or being at or about a place called Rootey Brook within the Township of Middleborough ... excepting only one hundred acres," containing about three hundred acres [PLR 3:330]. On 1 April 1679, "John Alden of Duxborough ... , gentleman," deeded to "Joseph Alden my true and natural son ... all that my share of land ... within the township of Bridgewater" [PLR 3:194].

A description of a parcel of land of "Mr. John Aldin, of Duxbery," is entered under date of 4 December 1637, but with the modem annotation that this is a later entry, and with the internal statement that one of the abuttors was "Philip Delano, deceased," which means that the entry must have been made in 1687 or later; this is immediately followed by an entry for another parcel of land which Alden bought of Edward Hall in 1651 [PCR 1:71, 73].

On 1 January 1684[/5] [36 Charles II], John Alden Sr. of Duxbury for "that real love and parental affection which I bear to my beloved and dutiful son Jonathan Alden" deeded to him all my upland in Duxbury, for which "see old book of grants and bounds of land anno 1637 folio 137," and all other lands at Duxbury whether granted by court at Plymouth or town of Duxbury [PLR 6:53].

On 13 January 1686[/7] [2 James II], John Alden Sr. of Duxbury for "that natural love and affection which I bear to my firstborn and dutiful son John Alden of Boston" deeded him one hundred acres at Pekard Neck alias Pachague with one-eighth of the meadow belonging to that place, and one hundred acres at Rootey Brook (brother David Alden is to have first right of purchase if John should wish to sell this hundred acres), together with a sixteen shilling purchase being the fifteenth lot, all in Middleborough, and one hundred acres, the first in a division of one thousand acres in Bridgewater [PLR 5 :427].

On 19 August 1687, "John Alden Senior of Duxborough ... , cooper," deeded to "my two sons Jonathan & David Alden . . . five acres of salt marsh at Duxbury" and "my whole proportion in the Major's Purchase commonly so-called being the thirty-fifth part of said purchase" [MD 9:145, citing PLR 4:65].

The inventory of the estate of John Alden, taken 31 October 1687, totalled £49 17s. 6d., all moveables. On 13 June 1688, the heirs of John Alden Sr. of Duxbury signed a release in favor of Jonathan Alden, stating that they had received their portion of the estate; those signing were Alexander Standish (in the right of his wife Sarah deceased), John Bass (in the right of his wife Ruth deceased), Mary Alden, Thomas Delano, John Alden, Joseph Alden, David Alden, Priscilla Alden and William Pabodie [PPR 1:10, 16; MD 3:10-11].

BIRTH: About 1599 (deposed on 6 July 1682 "aged 83 years or there­abouts" [PCR 7:256; MD 3:120]; in his 89th year at death on 12 September 1687 [MF Alden 1 :22; MD 9: 129]; "about eighty-nine years of age" at death on 12 September 1687 [MF Alden 1 :21; MD 34:49]).

DEATH: Duxbury 12 September 1687 [Sewall 150; MD 9:129, 34:49].

MARRIAGE: Plymouth about 1623 Priscilla Mullins, daughter of WILLIAM MULLINS [PM 339]. She died after 1651, when she is mentioned in Bradford's summary of Mayflower passengers.

CHILDREN:

1. ELIZABETH ALDEN, b. about 1624; m. Plymouth 26 (or 20) December 1644 William Pabodie [PCR 2:79; DuVR]; she d. Little Compton 31 May 1717 [LCVR 143], "a. 92" [Boston News-Letter]. (Her tombstone at Little Compton gives her age at death as "in the 94th year of her age," but as the current monument was erected in 1882, this may not have been on the original stone.)
2. JOHN ALDEN, b. about 1626; m. Boston 1 April 1660 "Elizabeth Everill, widow, relict of Abiell Everill, deceased" (although the correct date should probably be 1659, as a child was born to John and Elizabeth Alden on 17 December 1659 [BVR 69], and in the original form of the vital records, given in the second of the following citations but not in the first, this record is imbedded among others for 1659) [BVR 76; NEHGR 18:333; but see NEHGR 52:162 and Munsey­Hopkins 55, which interpret the 1659 birth record to imply that John Alden had had an earlier wife, also named Elizabeth]; she was born before 1640, daughter of WILLIAM PHILLIPS {1639, Charlestown}, and m. Boston 6 July 1655 Abiel Everill [BVR 52], son of JAMES EVERILL {1634, Boston} [GM 2:2:469-76]; John Alden d. 14 March 1701/2 [Sewall 463].
3. JOSEPH ALDEN, b. about 1627 (in list of men able to bear arms in 1643, and therefore at least 16 [PCR 8:189]); m. by about 1660 Mary Simonson, daughter of MOSES SIMONSON {1621, Plymouth} [MD 31:60; GMB 3:1681-83; PM 419].
4. PRISCILLA ALDEN, b. say 1630; living unm. in 1688 [PPR 1:16].
5. JONATHAN ALDEN, b. about 1632; m. Duxbury 10 December 1672 Abigail Hallett, daughter of ANDREW HALLETT {1635, Dorchester} [GM 2:3:195-200]. Jonathan Alden d. Duxbury 14 February 1696/7 "in the 65 year of his age" [MD 9:159; NEHGR 52:365]. (The date on the tombstone is 14 February 1697, but the double-dating problem is resolved by the probate papers, as administration on the estate was granted on 8 March 1696/7 [MD 6:174- 78].)
6. SARAH ALDEN, b. say 1634; m. by about 1660 Alexander Standish ( date based on approximated birthdates of children [NEHGR 52:363-65]), son of MILES STANDISH [PM 451].
7. RUTH ALDEN, b. say 1636; m. Braintree 3 February 1657/8 John Bass [BrVR 716], son of SAMUEL BASS {1633, Roxbury} [GMB 1:122-27].
8. MARY ALDEN, b. say 1638; living unm. in 1688 [PPR 1:16].
9. REBECCA ALDEN, b. say 1640; subject of unfounded rumor that she was "with child," 1 October 1661 [PCR 4:7]; m. in 1667, before 30 October, Thomas Delano [PCR 4:168, 8:122; NEHGR 102:83, 86], son of PHILIP DELANO [PM 165].
10. DAVID ALDEN, b. say 1642; m. by 1674 Mary Southworth, daughter of CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH [PM 437] (in his will, dated 27 February 1678, Constant Southworth bequeathed to daughter Mary Alden [PCPR 4: 1: 18-20]).

COMMENTS: According to Bradford, "John Alden was hired a cooper at Southampton where the ship victualled, and being a hopeful young man was much desired but left to his own liking to go or stay when he came here; but he stayed and married here" [Bradford 443]. In his accounting of the Mayflower families in 1651, Bradford stated under William Mullins that "his daughter Priscilla survived, and married with John Alden; who are both living and have eleven [sic] children. And their eldest daughter is married and hath five children" [Bradford 445]. (As the marginal annotation for this entry gives the "increasing" as fifteen, and the eldest daughter already had five children, the correct number of children for John and Priscilla is more likely ten, which conforms with our overall knowledge of the family [MD 39:111].)

Many suggestions have been made as to the English origin of John Alden. Alicia Crane Williams has examined all the relevant evidence carefully and exhaustively, and comes to the conclusion that, although one or two of the suggested origins are "tempting," all are far from proved [MD 39:111-22, 40:133-36, 41:201]. By entering "Southampton" under ORIGIN above, we are only taking note of Bradford's statement that Alden was hired at that port; we are not implying that he was born or raised there.

The present account differs somewhat from other accounts in the birth order of the children and the approximated ages. The estimated dates of birth for the first two children (Elizabeth and John) are reasonably well­-defined because they fell between the 1623 land division and the 1627 cattle division. The third child (Joseph) must have been born late in 1627 to appear on the 1643 list of men able to bear arms. The next date that we are able to fix is that of Jonathan, who was said at his death early in 1697 to be in his sixty-fifth year, and so born in 1632 (or possibly early in 1633); note that this gives us a gap of about five or six years between Joseph and Jonathan. We arbitrarily place one of the unmarried daughters, Priscilla, in this gap, although it might as well be Mary who fits here. The remainder of the children are then ranged after Jonathan at two-year intervals. This makes Ruth about twenty-two when she married John Bass, and Rebecca about twenty-one when she was the subject of the unfortunate rumor. Given the paucity of solid evidence on many of these points, other plausible arrangements may be easily constructed.

Some accounts of the family of John Alden include a son Zachariah, who had a daughter Anne Alden who married in 1699 Josiah Snell. In 1948 Hallock P. Long demonstrated that this son never existed, and that Anna Alden was almost certainly the daughter of John Alden's son Jonathan [NEHGR 102:82-86; see also MF 16:1:45, 122-23].

Attempts have been made to include Henry Alden of Billerica, Roxbury and Dedham as a descendant of John Alden, but this cannot be. Henry Alden was rated in Billerica in 1688 [NEHGR 31:303], so he must have been born no later than 1667. The wills of John Alden's sons John and Joseph make it clear that neither of them had a son Henry. John Alden's son Jonathan did not marry until 1672, and his son David apparently even later than that. Henry Alden must have been a late immigrant to New England, with no known genealogical connection with John Alden of Plymouth and Duxbury [MD 42:21ff.].

As noted above, John Alden was frequently a member of the committee on the Kennebec trade. He had actively participated in the trade himself, and in early 1634 he became involved in an incident in which a party of Plymouth men led by himself and John Howland became embroiled with a group of men from the Piscataqua settlement which would grow into Dover. One man on each side was killed, and in the aftermath Alden was detained at Boston as security against the final resolution of the conflict. [For particulars of this incident, see WJ 1:155-56, 162-63; WP 3:167-68; MBCR 1:119; and Bradford 262-68.]

The results of a 1960 season of digging are given by Roland Wells Robbins in Pilgrim John Alden's Progress: Archaeological Excavations in Duxbury (Plymouth: The Pilgrim Society 1969).

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: The Five Generations Project of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants will require five volumes to cover the descendants of John Alden not already covered in other volumes in the series. These five volumes will be designated Volume Sixteen, Parts 1 through 5, the first two of which have appeared, compiled by Esther Littleford Woodworth-Barnes and edited by Alicia Crane Williams. The first volume, published in 1999, covers the first four generations of descent from John Alden. The second volume, published in 2002, was devoted to the fifth generation descendants through Elizabeth (Alden) Pabodie.

In 1998, prior to the publication of the first Alden volume of the Five Generations Project, Alicia Crane Williams prepared a brief overview of the first four generations [MD 48:107-10].

Richard Wright and Hester Cooke -- 8th Great Grandparents

found at: http://massandmoregenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/ 

Richard Wright and Hester Cooke of 17th Century Plymouth, Mass.

On this Memorial Day, I’m thinking of the brave people who served and died for our country. One family that immediately came to mind is that of Richard and Hester (Cooke) Wright. It is believed they lost three sons during King Philip’s War. All three were young men—not yet married. I can’t even imagine what heartache this tremendous loss brought to the family.

Richard Wright was born 9  June 1608 (from age at death). To whom he was born in England are not yet known. He was a tailor by trade. He seemed to have minimal education as he signed documents with his mark and had just one book listed in his inventory. He did, however, serve his community in multiple capacities. The first mention of him in Plymouth records is a 1636 land grant.

Richard is mentioned in many Plymouth Colony land grants. On 6 October 1636 Richard Wright was appointed land "5 acres to a pson, at the fishing point next Slowly Field." On 7 November 1636 "The landes at the fishing point, neer Slowly Field, being viewed & fownd too little for Tho. Pope, Rich. Clough, & Rich. Wright, at five acres p pson, by consent was equally devided between them." On 5 February 1637/8 "six acrees of landes are graunted unto Richard Wright, lying at the west end of Mr Dones landes, towardes the Fresh Lake." On 5 March 1637/8 "A garden place is graunted to Richard Wright in the meadow by Thomas Atkinsons."

Fresh Pond in Manomet section of Plymouth

Genealogist Robert Wakefield believed Richard was related to William Wright or another early settler as the amount of land he was granted was unusual for a “stranger.” William did not mention any children in his 1633 will, and Richard was too old to be his son, so perhaps a brother or cousin.

On 24 March 1637 Richard Wright sold five acres of land at "fishing poynt towards the Eele River together wth the fences." A deed to George Russell, 17 November 1637, for the sale of 4 or 5 acres upon "Oulbery Playne" calls Richard Wright of New Plymouth "Taylor." On 25 August 1638 Peter Maycock sold for 40 shillings sterling to Richard Wright "xxv acrees of land due to him for his service."

Richard was on the 1643 Plymouth list of Men Able to Bear Arms.

In 1644 Richard married at Plymouth Hester (sometimes seen as Esther) Cooke. The exact date of their union is not given in Plymouth Vital Records but if marriages are listed in order it would be between 2 and 6 November 1644. Richard was about 36 years old and had been in the Colony for about 8 years. Hester was born between1621-1625, the daughter of Francis and Hester (Mahieu) Cooke. She may have been born in Leiden and come to Plymouth on the Anne with her mother in 1623 or been born in Plymouth after their arrival. Francis came to Plymouth on the Mayflower.

Although only the births of two children were recorded, George Bowman, editor of the Mayflower Descendant, sorted out the family.

Richard and Hester had six children:

1. Adam, born about 1645, married first Sarah Soule (granddaughter of George Soule of the Mayflower); second Mehitable Barrows. He had six children by the first wife and four by the second.

2. John, predeceased his father, unmarried and without issue.

3. Esther, born Plymouth in 1649 (only year given in Vital Records), married Ephraim Tinkham, grandson of Peter Brown of the Mayflower, had six children.

4. Isaac, born at Plymouth 26 August 1652, died in 1675 or 76, without issue and apparently unmarried.

5. Samuel, died before his father, unmarried and without issue.

6. Mary, married Hugh Price and had two children.

Birth records for Esther and Isaac are the only ones found. John, Isaac and Samuel likely died in King Philip’s War, although their names aren’t included in Bodge’s Soldiers in King Philip’s War.

John wrote a will on 7 December 1675, probated 7 July 1676, that mentions his going to war and names his father Richard Wright, his brothers Adam, Isaac and Samuel and his sisters Esther and Mary Wright.

I descend through Adam Wright and his first wife Sarah Soule. I wrote about them here.

On 5 June 1644 and 4 June 1645 Richard was propounded as Freeman.

Richard Wright is on several committees and held several offices as follows: Jury 2 March 1646/7; jury 6 March 1648/9, 7 June 1649, 5 March 1649/50, 2 Oct 1650, 4 March 1650/1, 7 June 1651, 2 March 1651/2 4 October 1653, 6 December 1653, and 4 October 1655; Petty jury 1 June 1647, coroner's jury on the sudden death of John Bond, 23 July 1661; constable of Plymouth 6 June 1652.

On 7 June 1659 he was given liberty to look for land. He was granted land as an ancient freeman "on the northerly bounds of Taunton" on 3 June 1662. He was again given liberty to look for land on 8 June 1664. Land Richard Wright had received earlier from Francis Cooke was ratified by John Cooke on 5 July 1670. Following a request for land in the right of Peter Maycocke, sometimes a servant, the Court determined no right to his claim but allowed him to search for land 1 June 1675. Land was granted Richard Wright, 50 acres out of land that was Tatamamuck’s land, on 7 July 1680.

In another deed, dated 9 May 1669, Richard Wright, with wife Esther releasing dower, gave land in Plymouth to his son John. On 7 June 1676 Richard Wright received four pounds from the estate of his son Isacke Wright, deceased.

Richard was sued by his brother-in-law John Tomson on 1 March 1663 to receive half of the land at Manassakett allotted to Francis Cooke that was granted to Hester Cooke. Tomson argue his wife Mary Cooke should have received half of the land and was so granted by the court.

The heirs of Francis Cooke signed an agreement dated 8 June 1666: "The marke R: of Richard Wright in the behalfe of hester his wife."

Hester’s date of death is not known but she predeceased her husband. She likely died between 8 June 1666, when she signed an agreement of heirs of Francis Cooke, and before 7 December 1675, the date of her son John’s will.

Richard died in Plymouth on 9 June1691 "about two hours after being about 83 yeares old."

Richard wrote a will on 8 June 1691, the day before he died.  He mentioned only his son Adam, his daughter Esther, and his widowed daughter Mary Price.

His will and inventory are transcribed in the Mayflower Descendant,Vol. 4, pg 165-67.

Originals are found in the Plymouth County Probate Records, Volume 1, pages 101 - 103.

I Richard Wright of ye Town of Plimouth in ye County and Colony of New Plimouth in New England being at Present of Sound and disposing mind and memory under bodily weaknesses not knowing when the hour of my death shall Come do make this my last Will and Testament in maner and forme following hereby Revoaking all former Wills First I comitt my soul to God that made it Resting on ye onely merrits of Christ my Redeemer for Eternall Salvation and my body to ye earth to be buried in a decent maner. My worldly Estate that God hath lent me I thus dispose: my will is that all my Estate Real and Personall House lands money or any  moveables & Chattels in what kind soever be equally and faithfully divided betwixt my three Children Adam Esther and Mary Also my Will is that my daughter Mary have her living in my house During her Widowhoode and in as much as my son Adam hath heretofore had a full double portion in lands my will & desire is that my sd Son deal kindly in Carefull providing what in him lies for my daughter Mary price Also I Make my son and two daughters Executors of this my last Will & Testament Also I do hereby appoint & desire my loving friends John Nelson & Isaac Cushman to be Overseers of this my Will and I Intreate their care to se it faithfully prformed in a just distribution of my estate to my Children as is above Expressed In Attestation yt this is my last Will and Testament I Set to my hand & seal This Eigth day of june 1691 I desire also & Impower John Sturtevant to be on of ye overseers of this my will.

Signed Sealed & declared by    The mark of

Richard Wright to be his           Richard Wright

last will and Testament

In presence of

John Cotton

Nathll Southworth

ye mark M of Martha Cobb:

june 24th 1691 Mr John Cotton and Nathll Southworth two Of ye witnesses here named made oath in Plimouth before ye Magistrates of ye County of Plimouth that they were present and Saw ye above named Richard Wright Sign & Seal & heard him declare this above written to be his last will & Testament & yt to ye best of yr judgment he was of a disposing mind & memory when he so did

Attest Sam Sprague Clerk

June ye 19th day 1691 An Inventory of ye Estate of Richard Wright late deceased taken by us whose names are under written.

Item one Bed and Boulster        03 00 00

One Rugg and one Blanket       00 05 00

One Pillow       00 02 00

One Silkgrass Bed and Boulster            00 08 00

One Curtaine & two Cushions  00 01 06

One Trammill    00 03 00

One pair of Tongs         00 02 00

4 hooks            00 02 00

One Spade       00 02 00

One Ax

More: Old Iron 00 02 00

4 hinges            00 01 00

2 Iron Kittles    00 06 00

One Iron Skillet            00 02 06

One Iron Pot and Pott hookes  00 04 00

One ffrying Pan 00 00 06

One Warming Pan        00 08 00

One Brass Kettle          00 10 00

One Gun          00 18 00

One Sword      00 03 00

More Wooden Dishes  00 01 00

two Earthen Potts         00 00 04

One Barbours Bason    00 00 09

One Glass Bottle          00 00 04

One Book        00 01 06

One pair of sheers        00 00 06

One pair of Pillowbeers            00 03 00

3 sheetes          00 10 00

One Pewter      00 03 06

One Boul          00 02 00

One Pewter Bottle        00 01 06

One Pewter Pot            00 01 06

1 Pewter Bason and Sawcer     00 01 00

One chamber Pott        00 02 00

One Candlestick           00 00 04

One Pail           00 00 06

One chest         00 07 00

One chest         00 02 06

More old Cask 00 03 00

One Box          02 02 02

One Chaire       00 01 00

More Cloathing            02 04 04

One shirt          00 06 09

One shirt          00 04 06

One pair of Drawers     0 01 0

More in Small linnen     0 02 6

More in woollen Cloathing shoose & stockings & hat    0 14 0

One pewter platter        0 24 6

One Pewter Platter       0 02 6

One Pewter Platter       0 03 0

3 Porrengers     0 23 0

one Pewter Bason and Sawcer 0 24 0

one Bagg          0 26 0

one yearling in ye hand of Adam Wright            0 15 0

one ox & one Cow in ye hand of Ephraim Tinkam         4 10 0

More in ye hand of Ephraim Tinkam      0 24 6

one Blanket a Box & a Band    0 12 6

More in ye hand of Caleb Cooke          4 00 0

More in ye hand Mr Jno Cotton senr     1 01 11

More in Silver Money   5 18 24

More in ye hand of Joseph Sturtevant    0 02 6

More in ye hand of John Gray   0 27 11

One Table        0 01 0

More in ye hand of Ephraim Tinkam      1 10 0

Item the land both of upland and meddow         21 00 0

Item Charge for ye ffunerall       1 0 0

More due to William Shirtliff     0 1 4

More due to John Sturtevant     0 2 0

More due to Adam Wright        0 3 0

Isaac Cushman

John Sturtevant

June 24th 1691 Adam Wright made Oath in Plimouth before ye Magistrates of ye County of Plimouth That the before written is a True Inventory of ye estate of his ffather Richard Wright late of Plimouth deceased So far as he knoweth & that if more shall come to his knowledge he will discover it

Attest     Samll Sprague Clerk

Note: There was a different Richard Wright, called Captain in records, who lived at Hingham and Rehoboth.

Sources Not Listed Above:

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

Ralph V. Wood, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Francis Cooke, 1996

Robert S. Wakefield, Richard Wright of Plymouth Mass., The American Genealogist, Vol 59, July 1983

George Ernest Bowman, Adam Wright’s Wives and Their Children, Mayflower Descendant, Volume 11, 1909

George Ernest Bowman, Richard and Hester Wright’s Children, Mayflower Descendant, Volume 24, 1922

Giles Hopkins and Catherine Whelden -- my 8th Great Grandparents

Found at: http://massandmoregenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/02/

Giles Hopkins and Catherine/Katharine Whelden of Plymouth, Yarmouth, Barnstable and Eastham, Mass.

Giles was born in Hursley, Hampshire, England before 30 January 1607/08, when he was baptized. Caleb Johnson found the record, which is written in Latin. The Latin version of his name is Egidius.

In 1637 the Pequots, a tribe of from Eastern Connecticut, commenced war with the English there, and Plymouth Colony decided to send a company to assist in the overthrow of the Indians. Giles and his father and brother Caleb volunteered to go out in the company, but before they left the Connecticut men overthrew the Indians so they were not needed.

Giles moved to Yarmouth in late 1638 or early 1639. It is supposed when his father Stephen Hopkins in obtained land to winter his cattle at Yarmouth, then Mattacheese, that Giles went to care for the cattle. Giles was in Yarmouth in 1639 when he, along with Hugh Tilley and Nicholas Sympkins "deposed" to the last will and testament of Peter Warden, the elder, Giles lived in an area of a cluster of homes called Stony Cove, Mill Pond (not the Mill Pond off Follins Pond). It is believed that his home was the first English house to be built below Sandwich. He sold the homestead to Andrew Hallett Jr. in 1642.

Giles wasn’t a Yarmouth resident for long, but he was there long enough to become acquainted with his future wife Catherine Whelden.  

Giles and Catherine were married at Plymouth on 9 October 1639. Giles was about 31 years old. Catherine was the daughter of Gabriel Whelden of Malden and Yarmouth. She was born before 6 March 1616/17, when she was baptized at Basford, Nottinghamshire, England. 

In 1641, Rev. Lothrop wrote in his diary that Barnstable constable William Carsley was excommunicated from the church because he made homosexual advances toward Giles Hopkins on three separate occasions.

Giles and Andrew Hallot were surveyors in Yarmouth in 1642. In that same year, Giles successfully sued Walter Devell for non-payment for nine bushels of corn. He was not listed on Yarmouth's men able to bear arms in 1643, so he had likely moved to Barnstable by that time.

Giles and Catherine moved to Nauset (Eastham) by 1650, as he was then occupying the position of surveyor of highways, which he served again in 1662 and 1671. He served on a jury in 1667, when a child kept by John Smalley was found dead in the woods. They lived along what is now Tonset Road in Orleans near Town Cove and stayed there for the rest of their lives. Giles' sister Constance and her husband Nicholas Snow also lived in Eastham.

Map of early Orleans settlers

Giles and Katharine had 10 children, with two dying in infancy. Their births were recorded at Eastham, although some were born earlier in Yarmouth:

1.      Mary, born November 1640, probably Yarmouth, married Samuel Smith, died Eastham (now Orleans) 2 July 1700.

2.      Stephen, born September 1642, probably Yarmouth, married Mary Merrick and Bethia Linnell,  died in Harwich (now Brewster) 10 October 1718

3.      John, born and died in 1643, probably Yarmouth

4.      Abigail, October 1644, probably Yarmouth, married William Merrick

5.      Deborah, born June 1648 in Eastham, married Josiah Cookie, died between 28 February 1686/87-7 December 1727, probably Eastham

6.      Caleb, born January 1650/51, Eastham, married Mary Williams, died before 22 May 1728 in Truro

7.      Ruth, born June 1653, Eastham. A Ruth Hopkins married Samuel Mayo at Eastham on 26 May 1681, but it is not known if it is this Ruth.

8.      Joshua, born June 1657, Eastham. He married Mary Cole and died between 1734 – 1738, in Eastham (now Orleans)

9.      William, born 09 January 1660/61, Eastham. Did not marry.

10.  Elizabeth, born and died in 1664, Eastham

For some unknown reason his father made Caleb, his younger son by his second wife, heir apparent in his will, giving Caleb all of his real estate. Giles did receive his father's "great bull." Soon after his father's death in 1644, Caleb gave a very large tract of land to Giles, his only surviving brother, in what is now Brewster. Upon the death of Caleb, who was a seaman who died unmarried at Barbados before 1657, Giles came into possession of large tracts of land.

In 1659 Giles had land granted him at Eastham. In 1662 he was given liberty by the court to look out for land for his own between Bridgewater and Bay Line. In 1672 he purchased Sampson's Neck in what is now Orleans, then called Indians Weesu Neck, with Jonathan Sparrow and Thomas Mayo. It was a valuable piece of land as it was between Higgins' River on the north and Potonumecot River on the south.

On 15 June 1653 he and Nicholas Snow (his brother-in-law) laid out 20 acres of meadow to settlers; he received 3 acres. He relinquished land on west side of Stony Brook, Harwich 25 February 1768 because of border dispute with Yarmouth. The east boundary line was determined in 1682 by agents, included Giles.

Historians have surmised that Giles was a quiet, private man, caring little for public positions. He was in 1654 drawn into a lawsuit by the noted William Leveridge, who had defamed him. Giles claimed damages to the amount of 50 pounds and Leveridge was ordered to pay 2 pounds and some shillings for the offense.

Giles died in Eastham between 5 March 1688/9, when he wrote a codicil to his will, and 16 April 1690, when his will was proven. He would have been in his early 80s. His will is recorded in the Probate Records of Barnstable County, Vol I, page 32 and has been printed in the Mayflower Descendant. He did not leave bequests to any of his daughters, although some of them were still living.

He left upland and meadow at Satuckit in Eastham to son Stephen, as well as half his livestock. He also instructed the other half of his stock of cattle be used to maintain son William Hopkins during his natural life in a comfortable decent manner, which seems to indicate William had a physical or psychological challenge.

Sons Caleb and Joshua were to receive lands at Palmet (Pamet) and at Samsons Neck, equally divided.

Wife Catorne (sic) and son William were to receive meadow at head of Rock Harbor--2 acres to wife and half of that to William. After their decease it would go to son Joshua.  Joshua also received meadow at Rock Harbor. Son Caleb received meadow at Little Nameskeket.

Giles left his house and half the land and half the orchard to his wife, which was to to go to son Joshua at her death. The other half of the land was to go to Joshua at time of Giles' death. Also left plow irons to Caleb and Joshua, cart and wheels to Joshua, other half stock and moveables to wife and son William.

He appointed Stephen Hopkins as his executor. Witnessed by Jonathan Sparrow and Samuel Knowles.  Bore Giles' mark with a seal.

Codicil written on 15 March 1688/9 asked that because of his age and disability of body that he could not provide for his own support and that of his wife, so that his son Stephen Hopkins shall possess and enjoy all stock and moveable goods provided he take care of his parents' care during their natural lives. Witnessed by Mark Snow and Jonathon Sparrow.

Giles Hopkins is buried at Cove Burying Ground in Eastham, but without a surviving headstone. There is a memorial stone placed there by his descendants in 1966. It is not known when Catherine died but it was after March 1688/89, when she was named in her husband’s will. 

Sources Not Listed Above:

John D. Austin, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Stephen Hopkins, 1995

Caleb Johnson, The True Origin of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower, The American Genealogy, July 1998

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Marion Vuillieumier, The Town of Yarmouth, Mass., A History, 1989

Josiah Paine, Early Settlers of Eastham, Book 2, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 32, 1916

Roger King,Cape Cod and Plymouth Colony in the 17th Century, 1994