Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

SOULE The name Soule was formerly spelled Sole, Soal, Soul, and is an ancient English name. In 1591 the Soles of London, England, were granted armorial bearings. The advent of the Soule family in New England dates back to the arrival of the "Mayflower" in 1620, when George Soule, one of the "Pilgrim Band," emigrated to American and helped to plant the Plymouth colony and maintain the principles in defense of which those self-reliant pioneers left their native land for an unknown land. (I) George Soule was one of the forty-one signers of the first compact drawn up in the nature of a government. In 1624 he received one acre of land in Plymouth between Sandwick street and the harbor. In 1633 his name appears on the first list of freemen in the records of Plymouth, and in 1633-34 he was taxed independent of Winslow, his tax in the former year being nine shillings. In 1638 he lived north of Eel river bridge, relinquished his land there to Constant and Thomas Sourthworth, removed to Duxbury and settled at Powder Point. Mr. Soule was of essential value to Duxbury, which he represened several years in court of deputies, and held many other offices which showed him to be a man of integrity and probity. In 1645 he was one of the proprietors of Bridgewater, and with Capt. Miles Standish, John Alden and three others was appointed to lay out and divide the land among the inhabitants. He married Mary Becket, or Bucket, who came as one of the passengers in the "Ann" and her consorts in 1621, in company with Barbara Standish and Patience and Fear Brewster. Children: George, Zechariah, John, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Patience, Elizabeth and Mary, all born before 1650, but the order of birth unknown. George Soule died in 1680, "very aged." He willed his property to his son John, viz: "And for as much as my eldest son John Soule, and his family hath in my extreme old age and weakness bin tender and careful of mee and very healpful to mee; and is likely to be while it shall please God to continue my life heer, therefore I give and bequeath unto my said son John Soule all the remainder of my housings and land whatever." The wife of George Soule died in 1677. (II) John (1), son of George and Mary (Becket) Soule, born in 1632, died in 1707, aged seventy-five. He resided in Duxbury. At the time his father made his will he was the eldest child, and he was made the chief heir. He was freeman in 1653. During the excitement against the Quakers he was fined, Oct. 2, 1660, for attending their meetings. He was surveyor of highways, 1672-94; grand juryman 1675-77-78-83-84; arbitrator between Marshfield and Duxbury, and Plymouth and Duxbury, 1698, involving land disputes; witness to the Indian deed of Bridgewater, dated Dec, 23, 1686, and joined in a remonstrance, 1687, against increasing the salary of the Rev. Ichabod Wiswell. He married Esther, probably a daughter of Philip de la Noye, who died Sept. 12, 1733, aged ninety-five. Children: John, Joseph, Joshua, Josiah, Benjamin and two daughters. (III) Joshua, third son of John and Esther Soule, born in Duxbury, Oct. 12, 1681, died at Duxbury May 29, 1767, aged eighty-five. He resided in Duxbury. He married Joanna Studley. Children: Zermiah, John, Ezekiel, Joshua, Abigail, Joanna, Sarah, Joseph, Nathan and probably Lydia. (IV) Ezekiel, third child of Joshua and Joanna (Studley) Soule, born in Duxbury, Feb. 17, 1711, died at Woolwich, Maine, Dec. 8, 1799, whither he removed in 1766. He was chosen deacon of the church in 1749 and was an important advisor in its affairs. He married, at Duxbury, Jan. 4, 1733, Hannah Delano, who died Sept. 25, 1768, aged fifty years. Among their children was John. (V) John (2), son of Ezekiel and Hannah (Delano) Soule, born in Duxbury, 1735, died in Woolwich, Maine, Aug. 21, 1795. He married Patience _____, who died at Woolwich, Maine, Dec. 1, 1777. Among their children was Samuel. (VI) Samuel, son of John and Patience Soule, born at Woolwich, Maine, June 18, 1769, died at Woolwich Dec. 26, 1816. He married at Woolwich Aug. 21, 1794, Joanna Farnham. Among their children was David Farnham. (VII) David Farnham, son of Samuel and Joanna (Farnham) Soule, born in Woolwich, Maine, Feb. 6, 1795, died in the same town April 18, 1860. He married, in Woolwich, April 27, 1820, Elizabeth (McMurchie) Dole, born in Woolwich Aug. 19, 1789, died there May 6, 1865. Among their children was Gilbert. (VIII) Gilbert, son of David F. and Elizabeth (McMurchie) (Dole) Soule, born in Woolwich, Maine, Dec. 6, 1821, died at Portland, Maine, Jan. 20, 1884. He was for many years engaged in the timber and lumber business in Northern Maine and New Hampshire. "Captain Soule was of vigorous physique, strong, influential and energetic, and industrious and valued citizen, a reader of high-class literature, and a man of independent thought and reflection. His height was five feet and eleven inches, and average weight, two hundred and thirty pounds. His light blue eyes were accompanied by dark brown hair. He was of a pleasant, social and genial nature, looking rather upon the bright than the dark side, and in all relations of life he made sunshine by his cheery presence. Congregational in his religious belief, yet he gave liberally to all Christian work. Republican in politics, even an ardent partisan, yet he was not an aspirant for office. As an employer he was never dictatorial, but the considerate kindness which ever actuated him, and was shown in his intercourse with his workmen, gained for him their good will and esteem. He was much interested in historical and geographical works, was a generous contributor to the Pilgrims' Monument erected at Plymouth, Mass., and was justly proud of his descent from the "Mayflower" band. He inherited their sterling qualities, and many traits of the Soule family have descended through him to his children. That kindly filial spirit of John Soule which led him to honor, respect and cherish his father in his old age is also shown in the veneration and love of the present generation for the memory of their father." Gilbert Soule married in Portland, Maine, Aug. 24, 1853, Eliza Anne Mills, born in Detroit, Maine, March 6, 1829, died at Groveton, New Hampshire May 31, 1895. Children: 1. George, born Feb. 24, 1855. 2. Gilbert M., born March 25, 1856, now lives in Massachusetts. 3. Annie Laurie, born in Brewer, Maine, Nov. 22, 1858, married Dr. Augustus S. Thayer of Portland. 4. Edward B., born Nov. 16, 1861, married Maude Chandler, two children: Annie L. and Edna B. 5. James, born in Brewer, Maine, Dec. 9, 1868, of Groveton, N. H., married Edith V. Cole, two sons: Ethan A. and Louis. PRENTICE or PRENTISS This ancient English name is an abbreviation of apprentice, and was first assumed as a cognomen by one who was, or had lately been, an apprentice to some trade. Thomas Prentice is mentioned in Rhymer's Foedera in the twelfth year of Edward II, that is, A.D. 1318. John Prentiz is referred to as of 1403; and John Prentys, Rector of Winterborn, Bradston, in 1413. One name in this country is believed to have been originally spelled Prentice, present day variations of which are Prentis and Prentiss. The first of the name known to have come to America was Valentine Prentice, who came over with the "Apostle" Eliot in 1631. It is supposed that Valentine of Roxbury, Henry of Cambridge, and Capt. Thomas of Newton, Mass. and perhaps Robert of Roxbury connected in some way. (I) Henry (1) Prentice, "Planter," of Cambridge, Mass., probably a native of England, was in Cambridge before 1640. He was a member of the church in Cambridge which was formed in 1636, the record of whose members "was taken and registered in the 11th month, 1658." He was a proprietor of lands in Sudbury, and was one of the proprietors to whom lands were allotted in the second and third division of land in 1640; and in the inventory of his estate is one town right in Sudbury. He was made freeman in Cambridge May 22, 1650. He died April 9, 1654, O.S. One inventory of his estate was 54 pounds, 13s. 8d. Oct. 6, 1663, administration was granted to his late widow, who had then married a second husband who was made joint administrator. She was decreed 20 pounds, and each child an equal share in the estate, except the oldest, who, according to the custom of the time, received a double portion. Henry Prentice married (first) Elizabeth _____, who died May 13, 1643. He married (second) Joane _____. She married (second) July 24, 1662, Elder John Gibson Sr., becoming his second wife when he was sixty-five years of age. Children (of 2d wife): Mary, Solomon, Abiah, Samuel, Henry and Sarah. (II) Solomon, second child the eldest son of Henry and Joane Prentice, was born in Cambridge, "23, 7, 1646," and died July 24, 1719, aged seventy-three. He left a large estate, and his inventory by his widow Hepzibah and his oldest son, Solomon, administrators, Aug. 20, 1719, mentions rights in common, housing, orchard, land at Westfield, in Miles Ware Corner, and in Lexington. His real estate amounted to 851 pounds; and the total estate to 909 pounds 16s. 2d. Watertown First Church records of Rev. Samuel Sanger state: "Solomon Prentice, senior, and wife, members of the church of Cambridge did partake with us in the administration of the Lord's Supper, Aug. 22, 1697." He married (first) Elizabeth _____, who died before 1678; (second) Hepsibah Dunn, or Dunton, who died Jan. 15, 1741, aged eighty-nine. Children of 1st wife: Solomon and Thomas. Children of 2d wife: Stephen, Elizabeth and Nathaniel (twins), Nathaniel dying young; Nathaniel, Henry, Samuel and Mary. (III) Deacon Henry (2), fifth child and fourth son of Solomon and Hepzibah (Dunn) Prentice, born in Cambridge in 1693, died at the house of his son, Rev. Joshua Prentice, in Holliston, Oct. 18, 1778, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. In the settlement of his father's estate, he was allowed for four and a half years' services, 60 pounds in the "new house," and his share of his father's estate in lands at Westfield gate and other places was 92 pounds; in a deed dated 1722 he is called "brickmaker." In his will dated Cambridge Jan. 20, 1776, he is described as "husbandman." He owned the Fresh Pond property in Cambridge. He "removed with his son's in Holliston when the Revolutionary army occupied Cambridge." By the terms of his will he disposes of 732 pounds 13s. 4d. in money to various legatees, mostly his children, several of whom had previously received property of him, and makes his son Joshua residuary legatee of all property real and personal, left after payment of the debts of the estate. He was a deacon of Dr. Nathaniel App;eton's church, Cambridge, many years, and a valuable ducument written and signed by him, instituting the first prayer-meeting, was once in the possession of Rev. N. G. Albro, of the "Shepherd" Congregational Church, Cambridge, and claimed as church property. Deacon Prentice was a tall and very grave-looking man, sat in the deacons' seats in church, directly in front of the minister, and in cold weather, when he took his hat off in church, he, being bald, put on a green woolen cap with a tassel on the top to keep his head warm. His house was still standing in Cambridge some years ago, about forty rods from the Washington elm, at the corner of the road to the arsenal. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Rand, of "Milk Row," Charlestown, near Cambridge. She died March 13, 1748, aged fifty-two. "Henry Prentiss and his wife Elizabeth owned the Covenant Nov. 22, 1718." Children: Joshua, Caleb, Martha, Elizabeth, Thomas (died young), Hepzibah, Thomas, Nathan and Sarah. (IV) Caleb (1), second son of Deacon Henry (2) and Elizabeth (Rand) Prentice, born Feb. 21, 1722, baptized Feb. 25, 1722, died in Cambridge, Nov. 19, 1772. He changed the spelling of his name from Prentice to Prentiss. He was a man of property and quality, as is indicated by the property mentioned in his inventory, which amounted to 1,541 pounds, 14s. 8d., including "Shoemaker's shop" and "potash works." His will, dated Jan. 14, 1770, probated Dec. 11, 1772, gives legacies and so forth to his children, provides for the education of his son Samuel in colleges and makes his sons William and Henry residuary legatees. His inventory mentions "Cinnamon colored coat, Bear skin coat, old flowered Jack coat, Leather breeches, Kersey Great coat, Banyan two wigs," etc. He married (first) Sept. 17, 1744, Lydia, daughter of Deacon Samuel Whittemore, of Cambridge; (second) Dec. 20, 1768, widow Rebecca Rockwell, of Milk Row, Charlestown, now Somerville, whose maiden name was Kent. She survived Caleb upwards of thirty-five years, and died in 1807. Children, all of 1st wife: Caleb (died young), Caleb, Elizabeth, Samuel (died young), Samuel, William, Henry and Lydia. (V) Rev. Caleb (2), second son of Caleb (1) and Lydia (Whittemore) Prentiss, was born in Cambridge, Nov. 14, and baptized Nov. 16, 1746. He was educated for the church and graduated in 1765 from Harvard University, from which he subsequently received the degree of Master of Arts. He was ordained minister of the First Church of the First Parish of Reading, Oct. 25, or 29, 1769, and filled that place with ability for many years. "Like other patriots of the Revolution, at the Lexington alarm, he turned out with his musket, and was in the running fight from Lexington to Charlestown; on the route he came across a dead British pioneer, and took his gun and sword, one side of which was a pioneer's saw. These were long preserved in the family. He also marched with the militia to Salem, on an alarm of the landing of the British there to seize arms, etc. Like many a minister in the country with a large family and a small salary, he received pupils into his family to educate. He died of consumption, and his remains were deposited in the cemetery adjoining the meeting-house in Reading. The following inscription is on the tombstone erected by the Parish in South Reading: "Sacred to the memory of Reverend Caleb Prentiss, late pastor of the First Church in this town, who passed into the world of spirits Feb. 7, 1803, in the thirty-fourth year of his ministry, and the fifty-seventh of his age. Faith, Piety, and Benevolence, with a kindred assemblage of Christian graces and moral virtues, adorned his public and private character, endeared his memory to a bereaved family, a mourning flock, his brethren in office, and all acquainted with his merits." Publication of marriage intentions was made in the Second Parish of Lancaster, now Sterling, Nov. 22, 1770, and Jan. 22, 1771, Rev. Caleb Prentiss and Pamela Mellen, daughter of Rev. John and Rebecca (Prentiss) Mellen, were joined in marriage by the bride's father. Rebecca Prentiss was the daughter of Rev. John Prentiss, of Lancaster, a grandson of Capt. Thomas Prentice, of Newton, and by this marrirage the Cambridge and Newton branches of the family were united. Mrs. Pamela Prentiss married (second) Sept. 14, 1809, Colonel John Waldron, son of Richard Waldron, a prominent man of Dover, New Hampshire. She died in Dover, July, 1823, aged seventy-three, having exemplified in her life the character of a Christian. She was buried with the three former wives of Col. Waldron under the elms near his house. Children of Rev. Caleb & Pamela: Caleb, Thomas Mellen, Charles, Pamela, John, Henry, Sophia, Clarissa, William, George (died young), Lydia, George Washington and Rebecca. (VI) Deacon Caleb (3), eldest child of Rev. Caleb (2) and Pamela (Mellen) Prentiss, born in Reading, Mass., Nov. 22, 1771, died in Paris, Maine, in October, 1838. He removed to Paris, where he was in trade in June, 1796. He was postmaster, and in 1802 justice of the peace. In 1808 he removed to his farm in the eastern part of the town, and in 1818 was chosen deacon of the First Congregational Church of Paris. "As he lived a pious and conscientious Christian, so his end was peace and full of faith in a happy immortality." He married, Jan. 16, 1798, Mary Webber Morgan, who was born in Gloucester, Mass. Dec. 16, 1775. Children: Polly, Caroline, a son, Miranda, a daughter, Caleb, Arthur, Horatio, Augusta, Louisa, Addison, Joseph Webber and George Mellen. (VII) Caroline, second daughter of Deacon Caleb and Mary Webber (Morgan) Prentiss, born in Paris, Maine, Oct. 4, 1800, married Feb. 17, 1823, America Thayer. She died Aug. 4, 1871. SOULE The Soules of this article, and, in fact, of this country, with a few exceptions, are descendants of George Soule, one of the "Mayflower" Pilgrims, and thirty-fifth signer of that famous and influential compact. The name is English, and is early spellled Sole, Soal, Soul; and Soule seems to be of late adoption. There is no known connection of this family with the French family of Soule, a name of two syllables, the e being accented. (I) George Soule came to Massachusetts in the "Mayflower" in 1620, under the protection of Edward Winslow. He landed at Plymouth, Dec. 21, same year. He signed the famous Cape Cod compact in Nov., 1620, had a grant of one acre, and next a lot "at the watering place," and in 1633 he became a freeman of the colony. In 1633-34 he was taxed independent of Winslow, his tax in the former year being nine shillings. In 1638 he lived north of Eel river bridge, relinquishing his land there to Constant and Thomas Southworth, and removed to Duxbury and settled at Powder Point. The next year he sold his first acre grant to Robert Hicks. He was an original proprieto of Bridgewater in 1645, and sold his right to Nicholas Bygrave; and in 1652 he was among the purchasers of Dartmouth, and also of Middleboro. He was a man of high character and had the confidence of his townsmen. He was representative in the general court, 1642-45-46-50-51-53-54. He died in 1680, very aged. He married, about 1623, Mary Becket, or Bucket, who came as one of the passengers in the "Ann" and her consorts of 1621, in company with Barbara Standish and Patience and Fear Brewster. She died in 1677. Children: George, Zechariah, John, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Patience, Elizabeth and Mary, all born before 1650, but the order of births unknown. (II) John, son of George and Mary (Becket) Soule, born in 1632, died in 1707, aged seventy-five, resided in Duxbury. At the time his father made his will, John was the eldest child. He was made the chief heir. The portion of the will referring to this matter runs as follows: "And for as much as my eldest son, John Soule, and his family hath in my extreme old age and weakness bin tender and careful of mee and very healpful to mee; and is likely for to be while it shall please God to continew my life heer, therefore, I give and bequeath unto my said son, John Soule, all the remainder of my housing and lands whatever." John Soule was freeman, 1653. During the excitement against the Quakers, he was fined on Oct. 2, 1660, for attending their meetings. He was surveyor of highways, 1672, 1694; grand juryman, 1675-77-78-83-84; arbitor between Marshfield and Duxbury, and Plymouth and Duxbury, 1698, involving land disputes; witness to the Indian deed of Bridgewater, dated Dec. 23, 1686, and joined in a remonstrance, 1687, against increasing the salary of Rev. Ichabod Wiswell. He married Esther, who died Sept. 12, 1733, aged ninety-five. Children: John, Joseph, Joshua, Josiah, Benjamin and two daughters. (III) Joshua, third son of John and Esther Soule, born in Duxbury Oct. 12, 1681, died May 29, 1767, aged eighty-five. He resided in Duxbury. He married Joanna Studley. Children: Zermiah, John, Ezekiel, Joshua, Abigail, Joanna, Sarah, Joseph, Nathan and probably Lydia. (IV) Ezekiel, third child of Joshua and Joanna (Studley) Soule, was born in Duxbury, Feb. 17, 1711. He married Jan. 7, 1733, Hannah Delano, who died Sept. 25, 1768, aged fifty years. Children: William, Lucy, Lydia, Amasa, Hannah, John and Deborah. March 15, 1749, Ezekiel Soule was chosen deacon of the church in Duxbury. He removed to Woolwich in 1766. (V) John (2), son of Ezekiel and Hannah (Delano) Soule, was born in Duxbury. (VI) Samuel, son of John (2) Soule, of Duxbury, married Joanna Farnham. (VII) David F., son of Samuel and Joanna (Farnham) Soule, married Elizabeh McMurchie, who was born in 1789. (VIII) Augusta Parker, daughter of David F. and Elizabeth (McMurchie) Soule, born April 12, 1831, married Alden Goudy, of Bristol, Maine.