USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 1, 1924 > Part 33
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At the general court, March 4, 1634-5, it was voted that taxes could be paid in corn reckoned at five shillings per bushel.
At that sitting of the court, the town of Salem was fined two pounds for not paying its tax levy at the time appointed, but the fine was remitted before the end of the session, no reason there- for being given.
At a court of assistants, Oct. 18, 1631, it was ordered that corn should pass for payment of all debts at the rate it was usually sold for, unless money or beaver was expressly named. The cur- rency of the colony received a slight modification by the general court, March 4, 1634-5, when it was ordered that thereafter far-
1Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 149.
2Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 158.
3 Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 165. Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 201. This rate was made by Jo : Holgrave, John Woodbury, Jeffry Massy, Peter Palfrey, Daniel Ray, John Balch, Roger Conant, Richard Raymont and Thomas Browning. -Salem Town Records, volume I, page 57 (printed) .
5 Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 209.
6Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 225. This appor- tionment was made by John Woodberry, Richard Adams and others. "Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 243.
8 Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 260.
" Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, volume I, page 294.
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COMING OF HUGH PETER
things should not pass for current pay, and that musket bullets, of a full bore, should pass currently for a farthing apiece, provided that no man should be compelled to take more than twelve pence in them at a time. It was ordered by the court, Oct. 7, 1640, that no man should be compelled to satisfy any debt, legacy or fine in money, but could pay in corn, cattle, fish or other commodities, the values to be fixed by the general court from time to time. The court then fixed the rates-Indian corn at four shillings a bushel, and barley at five shillings, summer wheat and peas at six shillings and flax seed at twelve pence a bushel. These prices appertained to corn and seed grown in this jurisdiction.
Nov. 15, 1637, the general court ordered that wampumpeag should pass at six for a penny for any sum under twelve pence.
March 4, 1634-5, the general court ordered that no Indian corn or meal should be transported out of the colony till the next harvest, and that no Indian corn (other than seed corn) should be sold before that time for more than six shillings a bushel.
Sept. 6, 1638, the court ordered that the townsmen in each town see that grist mills were supplied with weights and measures, and that the corn be weighed both to and from the mills, if any one desired it. The miller's toll for grinding corn was fixed by the general court March 3, 1635-6, at one-sixteenth.
Jan. 19, 1634, the town considered a proposition to set off a number of ten-acre lots ; it was then voted that the smallest family should have ten acres, the other families more according to their numbers. Jan. 2, 1636-7, this order was annulled; and such lots in the future were to be specially granted upon the merits of each case.
In February, 1634-5, the town ordered that the highway (now Lynnfield Street) in South Peabody should run on the north side of Mr. Johnson's lot. Francis Johnson's plain comprised about one hundred and fifty acres of land lying south of the junction of Lynn, Lynnfield and Washington streets. Most of this road passed over common land, as this portion did, but the other parts in that sec- tion were not located, probably for the reason that they did not run near nor adjoining private land.
April 6, 1635, Lawrence Leach and Richard Ingersoll prom- ised to make a sufficient highway between their lots for carts to bring home wood ; and the strip of land next to the end of Captain Endecott's lot was ordered to be a highway four rods wide (now Washington Street).1
At the same meeting the town granted some land to Michael Sallows; to Townsend Bishop the second lot from the lane's (or land's) end; and to Joshua Verrin, Edmond Batter and his
1Salem Town Records, Book of Grants.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
brother-in-law George Smith, James Smith and Richard Ingersoll a two-acre lot each.
This was the first appearance in Salem of Michael Sallows, Townsend Bishop, Edmond Batter, George Smith and James Smith. Michael Sallows1 was a young man with five children. Townsend Bishop probably removed from Salem in 1646, when he sold his house and land here. Edmond
Commons Byfogy
Batter,2 a maltster, was born in 1608; came from New Sarum (now Salisbury), Wilkshire, England, in the ship James, this year (1635), bring-
atter
ing with him his servant John Small, and lived on the northwest
1MICHAEL SALLOWS1 lived in Salem; probably married Ann ; she died before 1646; he died about Dec. I, 1646; he called Edward Wilson "son- in-law" in 1646; children: I. Martha;2 living in 1646; 2. Thomas;2 3. Robert;2 4. John,2 born about 1627; 5. Samuel,2 born in 1630; living in 1651; 6. Michael.2
THOMAS SALLOWS;2 fisherman; married Grace Lemon; was drowned April 8, 1663; she died Sept. 7, 1663; children: I. Robert;3 living in 1680; 2. Hannah ;3 died Nov. 2, 1662; 3. Abigail,3 born March I, 1662-3. ROBERT SALLOWS ;2 married Freeborn [Balch?] before 1654; was drowned April 8, 1663; she married, secondly, John Black; children: I. Hannah,3 baptized Sept. 9, 1654; 2. Mary,3 born about 1656; baptized Feb. 2, 1658-9; 3. Robert,3 baptized June 5, 1664; 4. Sarah,3 baptized June 5, 1664. JOHN SALLOWS;" seaman; lived in Salem and Beverly; married Hannah Wolfe Dec. 9, 1655; died in Beverly March 9, 1707-8; children: 1. John,3 born Dec. 12, 1656; 2. Peter,3 born Dec. 24, 1658; died July 4, 1668; 3. Joseph,3 born Dec. 1, 1660; died March -, 1660-1; 4. Hannah,3 born Aug. 1, 1662; 5. Thomas,3 born Oct. 24, 1665; 6. Abigail,3 born June 22, 1667.
"EDMOND BATTER1 was brother-in-law to Ens. Hilliard Veren; married, first, Sarah -; she died Nov. 20, 1669; married, second, Mary Gaskin June 8, 1670; died in the summer of 1685; she died, his widow, in the winter of 1702-3; children: I. Mary;2 married Rev. John Emerson; 2. Elizabeth ;2 died, unmarried, in the spring of 1701; 3. Edmond,2 born Jan. 8, 1673; Daniel,2 born Jan. 25, 1682-3.
EDMOND BATTER ;2 tanner and yeoman; married, first, Martha Pickman Oct. 26, 1699; she died June 1, 1713; married, second, Barbara (Weld) Hide May 25, 1714; third, Hannah Higginson Sept. 25, 1724; died Nov. 2, 1756; children : I. Mary,3 born Sept. 12, 1700; died Sept. 26, 1700; 2. Elizabeth,3 born Sept. 20, 170 -; married George Bickford; 3. Edmond,3 born Feb. I, 170 -; 4. John,3 born May 18, 170 -; died same day; 5. Mary,3 born Aug. 21, 170 -; married Joseph Goldthwait; 6. Martha,3 born Feb. 6, 170 -; died July 2, 1707; 7. Martha," born Oct. - , 1708; died March 22, 1708-9; 8. Sarah,3 born May 16, 17 -; married David Goldthwait; 9. Martha,' born Sept. 21, 1712; married John Ward; 10. Daniel,3 born March 12, 1714-5; died Jan. 24, 1715-6. DANIEL BATTER2 removed to Boston in 1706; married Sarah Hunlock Feb. 12, 1704-5; died in Boston before 1713, when she was his
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COMING OF HUGH PETER
corner of Essex and Washington streets.1 George Smith lived
widow; child : I. Daniel,3 born in Salem Nov. 7, 1705; probably died young. JOHN SMALL;1 planter ; married Ann - , who was born about 1636; died in the spring of 1688; children: I. Stephen,2 born about 1636; 2. Thomas;2 3. Mary;2 married John Buxton; 4. Joseph;2 5. Benjamin,2 born about 1649 (and possibly sons John and Samuel).
STEPHEN SMALL;2 yeoman; married Hannah Sibley Feb. 25, 1676; she was his wife in 1716; he died in 1722; children: I. Mary,3 born March 21, 1677-8; married Samuel Cook; 2. Elizabeth,3 born March 4, 1678-9; mar- ried Jeremiah Neale; 3. John,3 born Sept. 7, 1680; 4. Hannah,3 born Feb. 18, 1681; married Benjamin Endicot of Topsfield March 16, 1709-10; 5. Stephen,3 baptized April 4, 1689; mariner ; lived in Salem in 1713; 6. Rachel,3 bap- tized April -, 1689; married Samuel Stacey, jr., Aug. 22, 1712; 7. Anna,3 baptized April -, 1689; published to Joseph Jacobs; 8. Samuel,3 baptized July -, 1691 ; 9. Sarah,3 baptized May -, 1695. THOMAS SMALL;2 farmer ; married Ruth Cantlebury March 15, 1663; died Jan. 26, 1675; she married, secondly, William Sibley Nov. 1, 1676; children : I. John,3 born Aug. II, 1665; living in 1676; 2. William,3 born Oct. 8, 1667; 3. Lydia,3 born March 10, 1669; married Gilbert Tapley, jr .; 4. Hannah,3 born July 12, 1673; living in 1676. JOSEPH SMALL;2 married Lydia Buxton Dec. 26, 1672; died May 30, 1676; she married, secondly, Joseph Hutchinson Feb. 28, 1678; children : I. Lydia,3 born Dec. 13, 1673; died young; 2. Elizabeth,3 born Oct. 14, 1675; married William Allen. BENJAMIN SMALL;2 sailmaker; married Martha Fisk Jan. - , 1671; died before 1702; children: I. Benjamin,3 born about Nov. 15, 1672; lived in New Salem; joiner, in 1739; 2. John,3 born Dec. 29, 1674; 3. William;3 died in 1710, probably unmarried.
JOHN SMALL;3 yeoman; married Hannah Tapley Feb. 12, 1701; died in 1708; child : Thomas,4 born Feb. 18, 1702-3; apprenticed in Boston; living in 1717. SAMUEL SMALL;3 yeoman; married Hannah Stacey Dec. 22, 1715; died in 1730; she was his widow, living in Danvers, in 1765; children : I. Ly- dia,4 baptized June 9, 1717 ; married Edward Trask Oct. 2, 1734; he died before 1739; she was his widow, living in Danvers, in 1765, and in Salem in 1771; 2. Stephen ;4 yeoman; removed to Sutton in 1744; married Ruth King April 6, 1742; was living in 1771; 3. John,4 baptized in 1721. WILLIAM SMALL;3 husbandman; married Rachel Needham Feb. 21, 1712; she was his wife in I733; he was "lately deceased" in 1749; children: I. Rachel,4 born Sept. 29, 1712; 2. William, born April 14, 1714; 3. George,4 born July 13, 1716.
JOHN SMALL;4 yeoman; lived in the Danvers part of Salem; married Lydia Jacobs (published April 20, 1745) ; she was his wife in 1763; he died in the summer of 1781 ; children: I. Lydia, baptized Sept. 4, 1763; married Benjamin Needham; 2. Hannah," baptized Sept. 4, 1763; married Andrew Curtice July 5, 1776; 3. Samuel,5 baptized Sept. 4, 1763; lived in Danvers ; yeoman ; married Sarah Webb Dec. 19, 1782; died in Danvers Feb. 7, 1830; she died Oct. 3, 1831, in Danvers; 4. Stephen," baptized Sept. 4, 1763; lived in Danvers; married Mary Cutler (published Oct. 5, 1782) ; "Drowned near Hillburts", in Danvers, May 18, 1785; she died, his widow, in Danvers, Dec. 26, 1831. WILLIAM SMALL;4 husbandman; married Sarah Clark Aug. 23, 1733, in Andover ; lived in Andover until 1735, when he returned to Salem, where he was living in 1749; children: I. Amos,' born Nov. 14, 1733, in Andover ; 2. William,5 baptized in Andover May 26, 1736; probably paper maker and living in Andover, wife Lucy, in 1794; 3. Joseph," born June 15, I736; 4. Rachel,5 born April 16, 1738; 5. Sarah," baptized July 13, 1740; 6. Lydia,5 baptized March 31, 1745; 7. Hannah," baptized May 10, 1747; 8. George," baptized June 25, 1749. GEORGE SMALL;4 yeoman; lived in the Danvers part of Salem; married Abigail Upton Feb. 23, 1737-8; they lived
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HISTORY OF SALEM
here only a year or two, and probably removed to Ipswich. James Smith was a smith by trade, and above middle age.'
Aug. 22, 1635, the town ordered that Mr. Burdett should have a lot of land "upon the rock beyond Mr. Endecott's fence." This was probably the two-acre lot that the town permitted Mr. Smith, jr., to purchase from Mr. Burdett, for seven pounds, April 10, 1637.2 Mr. Burdett was given "a tenne acre lot at the vpp end of Bass river" by the town Feb. 8, 1635-6, but the grant was made void. This was probably the lot granted to Lieutenant Davenport Jan. 2, 1636-7, by the town. July 4, 1637, the town granted to Mr. Burdett a ten-acre lot" adjoinyng to the fort next Marble head." This was Rev. George Burdett, who came from Yarmouth, Nor- folkshire, England, where he had preached two years. He left his wife and children in distress, and emigrated to America. He came to Salem, and lived here about two years, being held in high esteem. He went from here to Dover, on the Piscataqua River, where he was quarrelsome, and subsequently he removed to York. He was finally forced to return to his family.3
The meeting house having been located, sites for shops for mechanics were discussed at a town meeting Aug. 22, 1635. It was suggested that they be "at the end of the meeting house from willm Lords corner fence." This was on the south side of what is now Essex Street, where the Hale block stands. Messsrs. En- decott, Sharp, Fogg and Alford were appointed a committee to find a convenient place for that purpose that might be secured with the owner's consent.
At this time (1635), there were a number of families living in Marblehead. They were principally fishermen, and located about Little Harbor. It was inconvenient for them to attend the services of the church at Salem town, and an endeavor was made to secure the services of a minister. Rev. John Avery, who had come to America from Wiltshire, England, where he had been a preacher of good repute and was then staying with his family in
in Danvers in 1774; children : 1. George,5 baptized Jan. 3, 1741-2; died young ; 2. Rachel,5 born March 16, 1742-3; married Daniel Putnam, jr., Sept. 14, 1769; 3. George, born Jan. 17, 1744-5; lived in Danvers in 1788; 4. Abigail,“ born Feb. 5, 1746; married John Putnam, jr .. Oct. 31, 1765; 5. William, born June 11, 1749; 6. Samuel," born May 2, 1753, in Danvers; housewright ; lived in Middleton in 1793; married Mary Hutchinson of Middleton June 12, 1776.
1James Smith became one of the earliest settlers of Marblehead; mar- ried Mary - -; they were Quakers; he died in 1661; she died in 1663; children : 1. James, born about 1625; captain; lived in England in 1663, and afterwards in Marblehead; mariner ; married before 1660; 2. Mary, born about 1627; married Richard Rowland of Marblehead; 3. Catherine ; married Samuel Eburne.
2Salem Town Records, volume I, page 45 (printed).
3Savage's Genealogical Dictionary.
WALTON'S SPRING, MARBLEHEAD.
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COMING OF HUGH PETER
Newbury, was invited to live in Marblehead and conduct religious services there among the fishermen. Cotton Mather, in his Mag- nalia, says that Mr. Avery declined the invitation, "there being no church there, and the fishermen there being remiss to form one." Apparently, he changed his mind, and determined to engage in that service.
Isaac Allerton sailed a pinnace between Boston and Piscata- qua River ; and at Ipswich, August 12th, Mr. Avery and his wife and five or six children, his cousin Anthony Thatcher, who had come from New Sarum, England, and had been in New England only a few weeks, with his wife and four children, embarked with two other passengers and four mariners. For two weeks the wind had been blowing steadily and with increasing force. It was so strong that for two days they were only off Cape Ann, then the wind suddenly changed to the northeast and a violent gale with heavy rain came on. At ten o'clock, on the evening of the four- teenth, the sails were rent, and the anchor was cast without effect. At about midnight, the boat was dashed to pieces against the rocky headland. When the vessel struck, Mr. Avery and his eldest son and Mr. Thatcher and his daughter were thrown into the waters and carried by a wave upon a rock. Mr. Avery raised his eyes and said, "Lord, I cannot challenge a preservation of my life, but according to thy covenant I challenge Heaven." In another moment, all were carried into the boiling waters.1 Mr. Thatcher was again thrown upon the ledge, where he managed to find and maintain a foothold. Later, his wife, with a portion of the frame of the vessel, was washed upon the same rock and saved. Only these two of the twenty persons upon the vessel survived. The next day the storm ceased, and the August sun shed its hopeful rays over the blue waters. Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher discovered that they were upon an island. Another night came and went. On the second day, they were seen from a passing vessel, bound for Marblehead, and were taken aboard and carried thither.
This was one of the most violent northeasterly storms ever experienced on this coast. On land many trees were blown down and fields of corn destroyed, and on the ocean the vessels, with one or two exceptions, were wrecked.2
Mr. Thatcher3 remained in Marblehead, where he had a house, and probably performed missionary service among the fishermen
1John G. Whittier, the poet, put an account of this wreck into verse, with the title, "Swan Song of Parson Avery."
2Magnalia Christi Americana, by Rev. Cotton Mather, 2, ch. 2; Win- throp's Journal, volume I, page 165; Young's Chronicles of Massachusetts, page 483; and Historic Storms of New England, by Sidney Perley, page 3.
3 Anthony Thatcher came from Salisbury (New Sarum), England, where he had served in 1631 and 1634 as curate for his brother Peter
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HISTORY OF SALEM
until 1639, when he removed to Yarmouth. He died in the sum- mer of 1667.
Rev. William Walton,1 who originated in Essexshire, Eng- land, took his degrees from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England, in 1621 and 1625; and was settled over the parish of Seaton, Devonshire, until about 1634. Mr. Walton emigrated with the colonists who came from Hingham, Norfolkshire, Eng- land, to America, and settled the town of Hingham, Massachusetts. He remained there until 1638, when he removed to Marblehead and began his missionary work of thirty years in that place. He was earnest,
wm Walton.
judicious and faithful. He lived in the house of Matthew Cradock, near Little Harbor, on the southeast side of and about half way down Doak lane. Mr. Cradock died in the winter of 1640-I, and his widow Rebecca, who had married Richard Glover, conveyed the house and land to Mr. Walton, for fifteen pounds, June 6, 1650.2
The removal of Roger Williams from his service to the church of Salem left a vacancy which was filled soon after by Rev. Hugh Peter, who was a son of Thomas Dirkwood of the parish of St. Ewe, in Fowey, Cornwall, England, where he was baptized June 6, 1598. His father was a merchant, whose ancestors were driven from Antwerp, on account of their religious belief, and his mother was Martha Treffrey of Place, a descendant of Sir John
Thacher, the rector of St. Edmunds, in that city. He was a non-conformist and had lived in Holland more than twenty years. He embarked on the James April 6, 1635, at Southampton, and arrived at Boston June 3d. He went to Ipswich and Newbury. By his first wife, Mary, he had a son Benjamin, born at Salisbury April 13, 1634. Both Benjamin and his mother died soon after. Mr. Thatcher married, secondly, Elizabeth Jones in England. The children who came with them and were drowned were named William, Peter, Mary and Edith. Subsequently, three children were born to them: I. Judah, who settled in Connecticut; 2. John, born March 17, 1639; married, first, Rebecca Winslow Nov. 6, 1664; second, Lydia Gorman Jan. II, 1684; 3. Bethiah; married Jabez Howland of Yarmouth.
1Rev. William Walton died about the first of November, 1668; his wife Elizabeth survived him, and was living in 1670; his house was scantily fur- nished, but he had a library which Mr. Higginson and Mr. Hale appraised at twenty pounds ; children : I. John, born April 6, 1627, at Seaton; died before 1669; 2. Elizabeth, born Oct. 27, 1629, at Seaton; married, first, Lot Conant ; second, Andrew Mansfield of Lynn Jan. 10, 1681-2; 3. Martha, born April 26, 1632, at Seaton; married Benjamin Mountjoy; 4. Nathaniel, born March 3, 1636-7, at Hingham; lived in Marblehead in 1678; 5. Samuel, born June 5, 1639, at Marblehead; married -; had children; 6. Josiah, born Dec. 20, 1641, at Marblehead; was struck by lightning at sea, but lived to reach land, being "wounded", June 23, 1673, probably unmarried; 7. Mary, born May 14, 1644, in Marblehead; married Capt. Robert Bartlett.
2Essex Registry of Deeds, book I, leaf 24. The history of this house is given on pages 235 and 236.
Hus putere
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COMING OF HUGH PETER
Treffrey, who, in the fourteenth century, defended Fowey against the French. Thomas Dirkwood, at some time and for some reason unknown, changed his surname to Peter.1
Hugh attended Trinity College, at Cambridge, where he re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1616 and Master of Arts in 1622.
In "A Dying Fathers Last Legacy to an Only Child: or Mr. Hugh Peter's Advice to His Daughter,"2 he writes as follows of his family and early history :-
I was the Son of confiderable Parents, from Foy in Cornwall; my Father a Merchant, his Anceftors driven thither from Antwerp for Religion, I mean the Reformed; my Mother of the fame Town, of a very ancient Family, the Name Treffrey of Place, or the Place in that Town, of which I would not boaft.
Thefe lived in very great abundance, their Loffes at Sea grew very great ; in the midst of which Loffes, my elder Brother being at Oxford, I was fent to Cambridge, and that Eftate, I had by an Uncle, I left with my Mother, and lived at the Univerfity; and a little from thence, about eight Years, took my Degree of Mafter of Arts, where I fpent fome Years vainly enough, being but Fourteen Years Old when thither I came, my Tutor died, and I was expos'd to my fhifts.
Coming from thence, at London God ftruck me with the fenfe of my finful eftate, by a Sermon I heard under Pauls, which was about Forty Years fince; which Text was, The burden of Dumah, or Idumea, and ftuck faft. This made me to go into Efex: And after being quieted by another Sermon in that Country, and the Love and Labours of Mr. Thomas Hooker: I there Preacht, there Married with a good Gentlewoman, till I went to London to ripen my Studies, not intending to Preach at all; where I attended Dr. Gouge, Sibs, and Davenports Miniftry, with others; and I hope with fome profit. But in fhort time was forced to Preach by importunity of Friends, having had a Licence from Dr. Mountain Bishop of London before, and to Sepulchres I was brought by a very ftrange Providence; for Preaching before at another Place ; and a Young Man receiving fome Good, would not be fatisfied, but I muft Preach at Sepulchres and Monthly for the good of his Friends ; in which he got his end (if I might not fhew vanity) and he allowed Thirty Pounds per Annum to that Lecture, but his Perfon un- known to me: he was a Chandler, and died a good Man, and Member of Parliament. At this Lecture the Refort grew fo great that it con- tracted envey and anger. Though I believe above an hundred every Week were perfwaded from Sin to Chrift.
1See sketch of Hugh Peter in Essex Institute Historical Collections, by Mrs. Eleanor Bradley Peters, volume 38, page I. In this article, Mrs. Peters states that the marriage of Mrs. Dirkwood's sister Deborah to Henry Peter, member of parliament for Fowey, may have had some relation to this change of name.
2The first edition was published in London in 1660, and the first American edition was published in Boston in 1717.
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HISTORY OF SALEM
I wifh I may not be judged for faying fo: There was fix or feven thoufand Hearers, and the Circumitances fit for fuch good Work; But I am tender ; there I had fome Trouble, who could not conform to all; and went to Holland, where I was five or fix Years, not without the prefence of God in my Work; but many of my Acquaintance going for New-England, had engaged me to come to them when they fent, which accordingly I did: And truly, my reafon for my felf and others to go, was meerly not to offend Authority in that difference of Judgment; and had not the Book for Encouragement of Sports on the Sabbath come forth, many had ftaid. That good Man, my dear firm Friend, Mr. White of Dorchefter, and Bifhop Lake, occafioned, yea founded, that Work, and much in reference to the Indians, of which we did not fail to attempt, with good Succefs to many of their Souls (through Gods Bleffing.) See Bifhop Lake's Sermon, I King. 8.37. who profeft to Mr. White of Dorchester, he would go himfelf with us, but for his Age, for which he had the late Kings gracious Patent, Licence and Encour- agement.
Mr. Peter was one of the earliest members of the Massachu- setts Bay Company, and subscribed, in May, 1628, to its joint stock. He was one of the fourteen who signed the first instruc- tions to Governor Endecott, Sept. 13, 1628 ; and also attended two meetings of the Company, in England, in May, 1629.
Mr. Peter was at that time, pastor of the English Independent church in Rotterdam, Holland. If he had been in London or some other place near there, so that he could have been consulted readily, he might have been the first pastor or teacher of the church in Salem ; but he was far away and it was uncertain when he would return.
Sir William Brereton visited Rotterdam in 1634, and in his "Travels" calls Peter a "right zealous and worthy man."1
Mr. Peter, having been in ill-health for several years and under surveillance of the bishop for his interest in Puritanism, determined to visit America, at least. It is doubtful if his wife Elizabeth came with him. She was the widow of Col. Edmund Reade of Essex, England, and probably daughter of Thomas Cooke of Pebmarsh. She was apparently older than Mr. Peter. Among the children of Colonel Reade were Thomas, a colonel in the parliamentary army and governor of Stirling, and associated with Monk at the restoration; Margaret, wife of John Lake of Ipswich, Mass .; Martha, wife of Daniel Epes and Samuel Sy- monds, respectively ; and Elizabeth, wife of John Winthrop, jr. It was this latter marriage that caused Governor Winthrop to address Mr. Peter as "brother."2
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