GEORGE PARTRIDGE, the first of his family in America, arrived at Duxbury, Massachusetts, in or sometime prior to 1636. It is stated in Winsor’s History of Duxbury that he came from the County of Kent, England.
The first mention of his name in the records of Plymouth County appears in 1636, when he was granted five acres of land at Powder Point, with permission from the court to settle thereon. During the next two years, and again in 1666, he received additional grants of land in the vicinity of Duxbury, amounting in all to about two hundred acres.
Winsor describes him as “one of the most respectable yeomanry of the colony.” In 1643 his name appears on a list of those able to bear arms. In 1646 he served as constable. Of this office, Winsor remarks: “This was an office of high trust and responsibility, and none were elected to it but men of good standing.”
Later he served as Surveyor of Highways and as a grand juryman. He was either a private or a noncommissioned officer in Captain Miles Standish’s company. He was also one of the original purchasers of Middleborough.
His will is recorded in the Plymouth County Probate Records, volume 1, page 225. It is dated June 26, 1682. An inventory of his estate was taken October 10, 1695, indicating that his death occurred between those dates. His will was witnessed by Alexander Standish and Josiah Standish, sons of Miles Standish, and reads as follows:
“On the 26th day of June in the year of our Lord 1682, I, George Partridge, yeoman, living in Duxborough, being in sound mind and good and perfect remembrance, praised be the Lord for it, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First, I commend my soul unto Almighty God, my maker and redeemer, and my body I will that it be decently buried and funeral charges paid, together with all my just and lawful debts, out of my estate.
“I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Partridge all my houses and lands in Duxborough, that is to say uplands and meadows, and all my cattle and all my household stuff, for her own proper use and behoof during her natural life, on the condition that my wife do as much for my daughter Mercy as we have done for the rest of our daughters already married, and that she give my granddaughter Bethyah Allen as much as she in prudence shall think fit. And if any part of my moveables remain at my wife’s decease, my will is that it be disposed of by her amongst my children as she thinks meet and fit.
“I give to my eldest son John Partridge, at my decease, half my uplands and half my meadow lands lying and being at Middleborough, with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to him and his heirs forever.
“Item. I give six pounds sterling to my son John Partridge at his mother’s decease, to be paid in current pay.
“I give to my son James Partridge the other and remaining half, both of my uplands and meadow lands lying and being at Middleborough, with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to him after my decease and to his heirs forever.
“Item. I give to my son James all my houses and all my lands, both uplands and meadow lands, in Duxborough, and also the island at the Glade, with all the privileges and appurtenances belonging to the aforesaid lands, at his mother’s decease, to him and his heirs forever, if my son James will live in the house with his mother quietly during her life.
“I do hereby constitute and make my beloved wife Sarah Partridge sole executrix and administratrix of this my last will and testament. As witness my hand and seal this 29th of June, one thousand six hundred and eighty-two.”
GEORGE PARTRIDGE [Seal]
“In the presence of us, witnesses:
Alexander Standish
Josiah Standish“In case that any estate belonging unto me beyond sea should be brought over hither before my wife’s decease, my will is that she should dispose thereof amongst my children according to her discretion.”
These lines were added before sealing.
Alexander Standish
Josiah Standish
In the foregoing records the name is variously spelled Partridge, Partrich, Partick and Patrick.
George Partridge married November 1638, Sarah Tracy, daughter of Stephen and Triphosa Tracy, who were married in Leyden, Holland, 2 Jan 1621, and came in the “Ann” to Plymouth in 1623. Stephen Tracy went back to England to live in 1655, and his will mentions Great Yarmouth as his place of abode.
The will of Sarah partridge is found in Vol. 2, p. 131, (docket 15336) of Plymouth County Records and reads as follows:
“I give and bequeath unto my 8 daughters, Sarah Allien, Trephosa West, Elizabeth Allien, Ruth Thacher, Mary Scrif (?), Rebeckah Fisher, Lidia Bruister, Mercy Coburn, all my linen & woolen clothes” etc. “My will is that my money should be equally divided between my ten children.” Son John to have “my great bible as a gift of his father.” “Ye sheep at ye vineyard are my son James Allein’s by bargain.”
Son James appointed executor and son “Bruister” & son John Overseer. Dated November 28, 1702. Probated October 6, 1708.”
Children of George and Sarah Partridge:
- Sarah Partridge, born in 1639, married in 1658, Deacon Samuel Allen of Bridgewater, son of Samuel Allen. She died 30 Oct 1717 in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Ten children.
- Elizabeth Partridge, married James Allen in 1662 in Braintree, Massachusetts. Elven children.
- Lydia Partridge, born about 1648, married 21 Jan 1671/72, Dea. William Brewster, son of Love Brewster. Lidia died 02 Feb 1741/42 in Duxbury. Seven children.
- Mary Partridge, born about 1649, married Nathaniel Skiffe, son of James and Mary Skiffe of Sandwich, Massachusetts. He died 31 Dec 1741 in Windham, Connecticut. Nine children.
- Rebecca Partridge, born about 1651, married 27 Nov 1678 in Dedham, Massachusetts, Vigelence Fisher, son of Joshua and Lydia (Oliver) Fisher of Dedham. Six children.
- James Partridge, born about 1657, married 24 Apr 1712, Mary Stetson of Scituate, Massachusetts, who died 27 Sep 1727, age 50. James died 20 Jan 1744, no issue. He inherited his father’s lands in Duxbury. His will was recorded in 1743, administration #15330, Plymouth County Probate Records.
- John Partridge, born 29 Nov 1657 in Duxbury; died 5 Apr 1731 in Duxbury. Married 1st, 24 Dec 1684, Hannah Seabury, daughter of Samuel and Patience (Kemp) Seabury, and 2nd, 23 May 1700, Mary, widow of Wrestling Brewster.
- Triphosa Partridge, married 26 Sep 1668, Samuel West, son of Francis West of Plymouth. She died 01 Nov 1701, he died 08 May 1689. Eight children recorded by George Henry Partridge, I have names of only six.
- Ruth Partridge, married 5 Jan 1669 in Duxbury, Rodolphus Thacher. She died 30 Oct 1717 in Martha’s Vinyard, Massachusetts. Ten children.
- Mercy Partridge, married 1st, 12 Mar 1682-3 Samuel, son of Nathaniel and Priscilla (Clark) Colburn of Dedham, Massachusetts, married 2nd, 27 Mar 1702, Cornelius, son of Cornelius and Lea (Heaton) Fisher of Wrentham, Massachusetts. She died 12 Mar 1681/2. Six children by first husband, two children by second.