Elizabeth George

Until the death of her husband in 1675 Elizabeth appears in the records only upon her admission to membership in the First Church of Dorchester on 29 August 1641, two months before the christening of her daughter Elizabeth. She is mentioned briefly during King Philip's War when a house "within half mile from mother George's house" was attacked by an Indian, probably in June 1675 -- see New England Historical and Genealogical Register 15:267. She was the mother of at least six children. Both of her daughters predeceased her husband -- one in 1670 and the other in 1673, probably from complications of childbirth. And one of her sons died in 1667 in Africa; he may have been a mariner like his brother Joshua. After her husband's death the selectmen of the town, renewed his license to keep a house of public entertainment: "renewing that ... of the widow George, whose husband had kept one for many years and entertained the town selectmen and other town officers at their meetings". The license was renewed again on 25 Mar 1675/76, provided "she doe not draw cidar any more than is produced out of her owne orchyard" -- see New England Historical and Genealogical Register 5:400. She was fined 5 pounds by the Suffolk Inferior Court in December 1680 for keeping a house of public entertainment & selling liquor without a license, so for some reason she had failed to renew her license that year. The court renewed it the following February and again in 1682. She got herself in a bit of trouble with the church elders as can be seen from a 22 April 1684 entry: "Sister George was called again before the Church who at this time made confession of her sin in letting some have drink, which made them drunk, and of her denying it, and of her going from the church in such a disorderly manner". "It will be recollected that Mrs. George was at this time about 83 years of age" -- see History of the Town of Dorchester, page 233, 246, 248, 269. She must have had quite a backbone for an old lady. Elizabeth died in 1699 at age 98; only her eldest son outliving her.

Suffolk County Land Records:

1683 - Elizabeth mortgages her land in Dorchester, together with a barn for 10 pounds - XIII:418

Suffolk County Court Records:

1680 - Elizabeth is fined 5 pounds for selling liquor without a license

1681 - The court renews her license to keep a house of public entertainment

1683 - Elizabeth is taken to court by John Joylife for 16 pounds owing him