Elias SOARES was born on 11 July 1658, the son of Elias and Elizabeth of Wymeswold in the County of Leicester.
'Elias' was variously called Elias (his baptism and death), Ellise, Elice, Elic, Eliz and Elia. His surname appears as SOARES (most commonly), SORES (his baptism), SOARS (his death) and SOAR.
He baptized three children in Rearsby with his first(?) wife Elizabeth: Jane 1681, John 1684 and Thomas 1686. This Elizabeth died in 1687 and was buried in June.
Elias was remarried in May 1688 to Elizabeth HAYN of Thrussington.
Elias and Elizabeth baptized two further children in Rearsby: William 1690 and Joseph 1693. Sometime in the next 7 years they moved to Woodhouse. No baptisms have been found for this period, but they baptized Elizabeth in Woodhouse in March 1700. Another of their children was born on 8 December 1704 but the name is illegible.
Given the rarity of the name SOARES in Woodhouse, it is thought that the Sarah SOARES of Woodhouse who married Robert JOYCE in Woodhouse was one of their children. She may have been their unknown child of 1704 or a Sarah of 1702/3 whose parents weren't recorded. It's also possible that they adopted this Sarah.
Elias died in October 1740, eleven months after his wife died. He was buried in Woodhouse.