| Samuel White Soule was born 1785, the fourth child of John Soule and Abigail White (Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Vol. 3, p. 159) page reproduced in Soule family notebook, 1990 Page 336. The family was in Pembrooke, Maine in the 1790 census; Turner Maine in the 1810 census. The above reference states that the family moved to Canada before arriving in Michigan. Samuel White Soule married Elizabeth Soule (born 1805?) on November 3, 1827 in Avon, Maine. The family left Maine about 1837 with three young children; Caroline, Peleg, Alexander, and a fourth on the way (Eleanor). This information was sent by Veda Timko for the 1992 Soule notebook, and is from a manuscript by Samuel White Soule's son, Alexander, which Blake Soule now has. Samuel White Soule had two brothers, one whose name was Aaron, and two sisters, Lydia and Abigail. He was a sailor for forty years. His last trip began in Portland, Maine. He sailed around Cape Horn to Oregon and back trading with Indians along the way. This trip took three years. Samuel and Elizabeth left Avon, Maine by horse and wagon with their young children for Michigan sometime around 1837. They had misfortune and settled near the Thames River not far from London, Canada. Samuel took up farming there until his death. His children migrated to Michigan starting with Alexander in 1858. The family is listed in the 1851-52 census of upper Canada, Middlesex County, Westminster twp. Ward 3. (This is present day London, Ontario), on the south bank of the Thames River and traversed by Plingnan's Creek. He is a shoemaker. Alexander, born in the U.S. and David, Riley and Martha born in Canada. Martha is possibly Mary whose gravestone was brought to Soule Cemetery in Michigan Caroline, Peleg and Eleanor were not in the census, but these children were old enough to be on their own. The story of Samuel White Soule's death on July 26, 1857, is reported in the July 28, 1857 issue of the London Free Press and Daily Western Advertiser, p. 2, col. 4. (SUDDEN DEATH - an inquest was held yesterday by Dr. Moore, Coroner, on the remains of Mr. Samuel Soule, age 71, one of the oldest settlers in the Township of Westminster. The evidence went on to show that the deceased left his home on Sunday morning at half-past five, to go to a friends' some distance off. On the way he got some liquor, whiskey, and after going a few yards, fell down, and soon expired. Deceased had for a long time borne an exemplary character for honesty and integrity, but for some months past had become much addicted to liquor. It is not supposed however, that he was in liquor at the time of his death. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from apoplexy caused by habitual intemperence.) Microfilm records were found in the London Room of the London, Ontario Public Library. Elizabeth Soule, Samuel W. Soules widow, is mentioned twice in the London, Ontario Free Press Index; In 1870, she sued GTR Co. for injury caused by negligence and won 500 pounds or dollars. In 1877, when she was 72, two burgulars entered her room. She ordered them out. They left. She died August 4, 1888. The headstones of Samuel White Soule, Elizabeth Soule, and their daughter Mary are in the Tyre, Michigan Cemetery. The information from Alexander Soule's manuscript as sent by Veda Timko for the 1992 edition of the Soule notebook states that Alexander Soule moved Samuel's and Mary's headstones from London, Ontario in 1858. The manuscript also states that Alexander Soule moved to Michigan in 1857 homesteading 80 acres near Tyre, Michigan. Alexander Soule, son of Samuel and Elizabeth, and his family are listed in the 1860 and 1870 U.S. census in Austin Twp. which was much larger than present day Twp. Sanalac County, Michigan. |