Description:

Standish Myles 1584 - 1656
Magnificent period pocket watch strongly attributed to Captain Myles Standish, with outstanding nine generation provenance from descendants of the Mayflower's most notable passengers: Standish, John Alden, and George Soule. There is significant, decades long recognition in the press up until 1952, when last its whereabouts were known.




Among the documentation is an early 20th century attribution, typed in red and black, 5"x 5", is headed "WATCH / OF / MYLES STANDISH. " In full, "Sarah STANDISH, grand-daughter of Myles brought the watch in to the Soule Family when she married Benjamin Soule, grand-son of George Soule a passenger on the Mayflower. Benjamin gave it to his son Zachariah Soule, who gave it to his son Ephraim Soule, who gave it to his son Daniel Soule who gave it to his son Josiah Soule, Sr. who gave it to his son Josiah Soule Jr. who gave it to his son Henry Soule, the present owner." Henry B. Soule was the great-great-great-great-great-great grandson of Capt. Myles Standish, John & Priscilla Alden, and George Soule, all passengers on the Mayflower. A more detailed early 20th century attribution, also typed in red and black, 5.5" x 3.75", is also present. It begins: "THIS WATCH belonged to CAPTAIN MYLES STANDISH AND came down the following line through BENJAMIN SOULE, grandson of GEORGE SOULE, who came in the 'Mayflower' with Capt. Myles Standish in 1620, who lived in Plymouth, Mass., and who married SARAH STANDISH, grand-daughter of Capt. Standish‰Û_"


Capt. Myles Standish (1583-1656) married Barbara Mullins (1603-1659) and had seven children including Alexander Standish (1627-1702) who married Sarah Alden (1630-1688), daughter of John Alden (1598-1687) and Priscilla Mullins (1602-1685), both of whom arrived on the "Mayflower" in 1620. Some records indicate that Barbara and Priscilla Mullins were sisters. A legend of a rivalry between John Alden and Myles Standish for Priscilla Mullins was popularized by the poem, The Courtship of Miles Standish by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1858, however, there is no documentation of such a rivalry to have existed in any of the records of the Plymouth Colony. Alexander and Sarah's daughter Sarah Standish (1667-1740) married Benjamin Soule (1670-1729). Zachariah Soule (1694-1751) was their eldest child. Zachariah's son was Ephraim Soule (1723-1817) whose eldest child was Revolutionary War Corporal Daniel Soule (1757-1838) of the Massachusetts Militia. His son was Josiah Soule (1794-1872). Josiah's eldest child was Josiah Soule, Jr. (1819-1880) whose son was Lieutenant Commander Henry Bishop Soule, U.S.N. (1866-1935).

"D.A.R. to Sponsor Colonial / Exhibit Beginning Tuesday" was the headline of the November 27, 1932, article by Dolly Peyton Shepperson in "The Washington Post." Subtitled "Gadsby's Tavern Will Be Scene of Exposition‰Û_" Photocopy present. Gadsby's Tavern was built in Alexandria, Virginia, circa 1785. Mrs. Shepperson's article, in part, "One of the highlights of the entire exhibit is the watch worn by Miles Standish on the Mayflower, and in possession of the one family ever since: it is the property of Commander Henry Bishop Soule, U.S.N., and has come to him in direct line, from father to eldest son, for nine generations." Also present is an original article about the Daughters of the American Revolution exhibit in The Star (Alexandria, Va.) subtitled "Miles Standish Watch and Other / Priceless Relics Displayed / at Alexandria."

Lieutenant Commander Henry Bishop Soule (1866-1935) and his wife Jessie Dean Soule (1872-1944) are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Present is a photocopy of a United Press article which appeared in newspapers across the country on September 1, 1952, headlined "Ohio Woman Owns Miles Standish Watch." In part, "A pocket watch that once belonged to Capt. Miles Standish, New England settler, is the most cherished possession of Mrs. Dianne Haler. Mrs. Haler was willed the timepiece by her late uncle, who lived in Washington ‰Û_ The English-manufactured timepiece has a porcelain face with brass back and is slightly thicker than present-day watches."

Myles Standish of Providence, Rhode Island, saw the newspaper clipping and wrote to Mrs. Haler on September 15, 1952. A photocopy of his letter and envelope is present. Standish wrote, in part, "As one of the direct descendants of the old Captain, I am interested in the family heirloom and if it is authentic, I would consider purchasing it from you if you desire to sell it‰Û_" Apparently Mrs. Haler thought too dearly of the watch and decided to keep it to pass on.

This watch, attributed to Capt. Myles Standish, is in a late 19th century custom-made box with a museum label. Although the provenance and attribution are very strong, the watch cannot be definitively verified as being the Captain's, considering the difficulty of a relic that is around four centuries old. The watch has numerous dents and the dial is cracked and chipped. All parts are loose. The hands are not present but can be restored, as can the rest of the watch.

Accompanied by three documents and a medal presented to Henry Bishop Soule:

(1)

President Theodore Roosevelt appoints Henry B. Soule Ensign in the Navy

Partly Engraved Document Signed "Theodore Roosevelt" as President and "John D. Long" as Secretary of the Navy. Washington, D.C., October 23, 1901, 1p, 15.5" x 19.5". Military vignettes at top center and across bottom. On parchment. Completed in manuscript. Appointment of Henry B. Soule as "Ensign in the Navy‰Û_" Dark blue scalloped seal of the Navy Department affixed at lower center. Large triangular portion in upper left has been torn away. Lightly rolled. Very Good condition.

(2)

Partly Printed Document Signed "Franklin Murphy" as President and "Samuel Eberly Gross" as Secretary General, National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 1p, 13.75" x 10.25". Detroit, May 1, 1899. Completed in manuscript. Presenting "a medal of honor to compatriot Henry B. Soule in recognition of his patriotic service during the War with Spain in 1898." Gold paper seal affixed at lower left. Printed by Tiffany & Co. Rolled. Fine condition.

With the medal and attached ribbon presented to Soule by the Sons of the American Revolution after World War I: 1.25" diameter bronze medal engraved with Washington's bust encircled with the dates "1776 1783 / 1917 1918 and, on verso, "Presented to compatriot H.B. Soule by the Sons of the American Revolution for service in World War"

(3)

Partly Printed Document Signed by six Members of the Faculty and Officers of the International Correspondence Schools, 1p, 14.5" x 18". Scranton, Pa., November 21, 1903. Completed in manuscript. Diploma certifying "that Henry Bishop Soule has been a student in the Correspondence School of Navigation, that he has satisfactorily completed the subjects mentioned herein, as taught in our Ocean Navigation Course‰Û_" Twelve subjects are listed including "Practical Navigation," "Nautical Astronomy," and "Ocean Meteorology." Gold paper seal and white ribbon affixed at lower center. Rolled. Fine condition.

Provenance: Inheritance of Dianne Keogh (formerly Dianne Haler-Dean)

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