The Minor Family of Somerset

George Hull was a "surveyor, Indian trader, magistrate, statesma
n and founderof a prominent branch of the Hull family in Americ
a". (Weygant). Apparentlyhe descended from an educated famil
y as his brothers, Joseph and William both graduated from St.Mar
y's Hall at Oxford and were ministers of the Church ofEngland
. further evidence of his background is gleaned from the fact t
hathis wife was the daughter of a "well-to-do yeoman of Stockla
nd" (IBID) in Dorsetshire.
George sailed for the american colonies from Plymouth 30 Mar 162
9/30 on the Mary and John: his youngest son, Joshua was baptise
d at Crewkerne7 months after this date, indicating that Thomase
ne and the young family wereleft in England while George becam
e part of the "Great Migration". He shared the voyage with frie
nds including George and John Ludlow and future son-in-law Humph
rie Pinney. He was a short time in Boston and went on to help s
ettle the town of Dorchester where he was on the first board o
f selectmen and was made a Freeman 4 Mar 1632/33 and was the tow
n's firs representative to theGeneral Court.
In 1636 he moved to Windsor Connecticut where he surveyed bothW
indsor and Wethersfield. In exchange for this service, he recei
ved his choice of homelots in Windsor where he again represente
d his town in the General Court. It was here in 1638 that he an
d Pinney, through the graces of theGeneral court, received a mo
nopoly on the beaver trade on the Connecticut River.
In 1638 he followed his friend George Ludlow, now governor of Co
nnecticut, to Fairfield where he became the General Court design
ated assistant to thegovernor. In 1651 "53 54 he was appointe
d by the governor as associate magistrate for the towns by the s
easide.
He was apparently well connected on the political scene of the b
lossoming colonies; Cotton Mather mentions him as does Connectic
ut state historian Trumbull who groups him "with those whose nam
es are worthy of perpetuation" Stiles, too says that he was "a c
itizen of worth and distinction."
Last Will and Testament of George Hull
I George Hull,being feeble in body, yet of good and perfect min
d do now ordain this my lastWill and testament as followeth.
Imprimus - I give and bequeath unto my loving wife the third par
t of my estate, yf shee relinquish the twenty pounds which I pro
mised her yf I died before her.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Josias Hull another thir
d part of my estate.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Cornelius Hull, one littl
e feather bed now in Boston
Item - I giveand bequeath also unto Cornelius Holl forty shilli
ngs to be paid out of thethird of my estate.
Item - I give unto my cousin Jane Pinkney twenty shillings'Item-
I doe by these presents oDayne, constitue and make my son Josia
s Hulland sarah, my loving wife, the executors of this my las
t Will and Testament.
George Hull (seal) in presence of Alexander knowles and Philip P
inckney
Item-The rest of my estate, my debts and funeral expenses bein
g payd, I give tomy four daughters, equaly divided, that is t
o mary, Martha, Elizabeth, Naomy.
George Hull (seal) in presence of Alexander Knowles and Philip P
inkney.