USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 2, 1924 > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
79
DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER
and in nights, and for being "contracted" without the consent of her master or mistress. Thomas Tuck and Micha Ivers1 were to stand at the meeting house door with papers upon their hats inscribed "for lying," and without cleft sticks on their tongues.
"If any of the town shall know any person that shall live out of a particular calling shall inform the grandjury that they may proceed against them."2
DEPARTURE OF HUGH .PETER
As soon as Rev. Hugh Peter reached New England, he went from place to place to infuse interest in the fisheries and raised a considerable sum of money here. He wrote to England to raise as much more. Winthrop called him "a man of a very public spirit & singular activity for all occasions."
May 15, 1636, in a sermon Mr. Peter preached at Boston he requested the church to take order for the employment of people especially women and children, in the winter time; for he
JOHN MARSTON3; married Susanna - and she was his widow in 1725; children: I. Sarah4; married Daniel Cheever Dec. 6, 1722; 2. Margaret4; married John Chapel July 18, 1726, in Marblehead. COL. BENJAMIN MARSTON3; judge; married, first, Mehitable Gibbs, daughter of Rev. Henry Gibbs of Watertown; she died Aug. 21, 1727, aged twenty-one; married, second, Elizabeth Winslow of Marshfield Nov. 20, 1729; he died at Manchester May 22, 1754; and his widow, “Madam Marston," died Sept. 20, 1761; children : 1. Benjamin,4 born Sept. 22, 1730; probably married Sarah Swett in Marblehead Nov. 13, 1755; 2. Elizabeth,4 born March 4, 1731-2; married William Watson of Plymouth Sept. 22, 1756; 3. Patience,4 born Jan. 2, 1733-4; married Elhanah Watson of Ply- mouth Nov. 7, 1754, in Manchester; 4. Sarah,4 born March 19, 1735; 5. Penelope,4 baptized July 1, 1739; died young; 6. John,4 baptized in Marble- head May 29, 1740; died April 25, 1761; 7. Penelope,4 baptized Aug. I, 1742; 8. Lucy,4 baptized in Marblehead Sept. 9, 1744; died young; 9. Lucy,4 born in Manchester Feb. 4, 1748; 10. Winslow,4 born Oct. 3, 1749, in Man- chester ; died Sept. 6, 1755. JOHN MARSTON3; married Mary (Mercy) Flint Feb. 1, 1727-8; they were living in 1747; children: I. John,4 baptized Aug. 15, 1742; married Miriam --; died in Marblehead Feb. 8, 1821; she died there April 24, 1821; 2. Benjamin,4 baptized Aug. 15, 1742; 3. Joseph,4 baptized Aug. 15, 1742; 4. Zachariah,4 baptized Aug. 15, 1742; married Elizabeth Henderson May 23, 1754; 5. Thomas,4 baptized Nov. 22, 1747; married Elizabeth Luscomb June 18, 1764; 6. Jeffs,4 baptized Nov. 22, 1747.
JEFFS (Jephah) MARSTON4; married Sarah Blaney July 20, 1769, in Marblehead; she died there, his widow, Sept. 30, 1821; children: I. Mercy,5 baptized Feb. 4, 1770; in Marblehead; died young; 2. Mercy,5 baptized Oct. 13, 1771, in Marblehead; 3. Sarah," baptized Dec. 5, 1773; 4. Jeffs,6 bap- tized Dec. 10, 1775; 5. - -,5 baptized Dec. 7, 1777; 6. Bethiah," baptized Aug. 6. 1780, in Salem; 7. Ruth,“ baptized Aug. 13, 1782, in Marblehead. 1Micha Ivers placed, as security, his lot in the cove near Mr. Holgrave's, by Dixies, also one-half of an acre of land upon the Neck toward Winter Harbor that he bought of George Dill.
"Salem quarterly court records (Waste book), Jan. 1, 1639.
80
HISTORY OF SALEM
feared that idleness would be the ruin both of church and com- monwealth.1
Mrs. Peter died in 1637; and he married, secondly, Mrs. De- liverance Sheffield in 1639. He was somewhat troubled in his courtship of Mrs. Sheffield, being doubtful of her desire for the marriage to take place. He was not and had not been well for a long time, and this probably caused him to become pessi- mistic. He wrote, in 1636: "God's hand hath bin and is upon mee, more and more in the weakness of my body, which declynes dayly"; and, in 1638, "My head is not well, nor any part at present for I cannot get sleepe." Mr. Endecott wrote from Salem to Governor Winthrop that "Mr. Peters' illness onely detayned mee for he hath bene very ill. But I hope the worst is past though hee be as sick in his thoughts as ever."
By appointment of the general court, a fast was held in the several churches, Thursday, April 12, 1638, as a day of humilia- tion "to intreat the help of God in the weighty matters which are in hand, and to divert any evil plots2 which may be intended, and to prepare the way of friends which wee hope may be upon coming to us."
On the evening of the day of the fast, Mr. Peter received a letter from Mrs. Sheffield which seemed to substantiate his fore- boding of the lessening of her affection for him. The next day, John Endecott wrote to Governor Winthrop as follows :-
I cannot but acquaint you with my thoughts concerning Mr. Peter, since hee receaued a letter from Mrs. Sheffield, which was yesterday in the eveninge after the fast; shee seeming in her letter to abate of her affeccions towards him, and dislikinge to come to Salem vppon such terms as hee had written. I finde that shee begins now to play her parte, and if I mistake not, you will see him as greatly in loue with her (if shee will hold a little) as euer shee was with him; but hee conceals it what hee can as yett. The begininge of the next weeke you will heare further from him.3
Mr. Peter wrote to Governor Winthrop on the same day as Mr. Endecott, as follows :-
To the noble Gouernour in Boston ;
Hon. Sir .- I much thanke you for yours, and together am sorry for the sickness of our frends. I am still troublesome to you. I haue
'Winthrop's Journal.
"This fast was held "for diverse deliverance from the threatening of a general governor for the colonies and the consequent dissolution of their charter privileges and the loss of all their religious liberty."
3Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections, 4th series, volume VII, page 157.
8I
DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER
sent Mrs D. Sh. letter which putts me to new trouble, for though she takes liberty upon my Cossen Downing's speeches, yet (Good Sir) let mee not bee a fool in Israel. I had many good answers to yesterday's worke and amongst the rest her letter; which (if her owne) doth argue more wisdom than I thought shee had. You haue often sayd I could not leaue her; what to do is very considerable. Could I with comfort and credit desist, this seemes best; could I goe on, and con- tent my selfe, that were good; my request is, that this beares my hart's halfe may well observe what is best. For though I now seeme free agayne yet the depth I know not. Had shee come ouer with mee I thinke I had bin quieter. This shee may know, that I have sought God earnestly, for the next weeke, I shall bee riper :
I doubt shee gaynes most by such writings; and shee deserues most where shee is further of. My very hart is with you and I am
Yours euer
H : PETER
If you shall amongst you advise mee to write to hir I shall forth- with, our towne lookes vpon mee as contracted and so I haue sayd my selfe. What wonder the change would make I know not.
Later, Mr. Peter wrote again to Governor Winthrop that "I know not well whither Mrs. Sh. haue set mee at liberty or not ; my conclusion is, that if you find I cannot make an honorable retreat then I shall desire to advance Once more for. Mrs. Sh. I had from Mr. Hibbens and others, her fellow passen- gers, sad discouragement, where they saw her in her trim." So she came to New England, to Boston, where she was admitted to the church March 10, 1638-9. She married Mr. Peter before the year was out; and, Jan. 2, 1639-40, she was dismissed from the church in Boston to the church in Salem.
In a letter to Hugh Peter, dated Jan. 3, 1638-9, Thomas Lechford of Boston, the lawyer, wrote: "Worthy Mr. Peters. My service remembered to you. these are to let you (as a friend in the Lord, upon whom my heart much did and doth depend for counsel and ayde,) understand some of my affairs; wherein I presume upon-and your wisdom and gracious dis- position which I have ever observed in you since I was your auditor and hung upon your Ministry at the Graves or Sepul -. chres."1
Emmanuel Downing wrote to Governor Winthrop, in 1638, that "My Cosen P. is constant to his dayly charge, soe that all his friends are resolved to leave him to his owne way, yet blessed be God his preaching is verie profitable and comfortable to all."
1Lechford's Note Book, page 29.
82
HISTORY OF SALEM
The physical and mental condition of Mr. Peter became such that Mr. John Fiske assisted him in the ministry for a considerable time. He became so much more incapacitated that a colleague was secured and regularly installed. This was Rev. Edward Norris,1 who had been a teacher and minister in Gloucestershire, England, and had come to America the year before. He had come to Salem to assist Mr. Peter in the work of the church. He had joined the church here in December; the town granted to him one hundred
Edw : Xoria
acres of land and sixteen acres of . meadow Jan. 21, 1639-40; and with great ceremony he was in-
1REV. EDWARD NORRIS1 lived on the northeasterly corner of Essex and Turner streets until the autumn of 1649, when he removed to the Gerrish house opposite the city hall; died Dec. 23, 1659; child: Edward.2
EDWARD NORRIS2; schoolmaster; lived in his father's house; married Dorothy -; died in 1684; children: I. Elizabeth3; married, first, Joseph Glover; second, Samuel Moulton of Rehoboth; 2. Edward,3 baptized Aug. 18, 1657.
EDWARD NORRIS3; joiner; married Mary Symonds Dec. 3, 1685; died Dec. - , 1700; she was his widow in 1713, and married, secondly - Starr; children : 1. Mary,4 born April 14, 1687; married James Mackmallin; 2. Edward,4 baptized July 6, 1690; 3. Elizabeth,4 baptized April -, 1692; married Jonathan Williams; 4. James, baptized Feb. - , 1694-5; 5. John, baptized April 10, 1698; currier; lived in Fairfield, Conn., in 1759; married Rebecca Mackentire Oct. 1, 1719; 6. Abiel,4 baptized Feb. 2, 1700-I ; married Richard Buckminster of Boston.
EDWARD NORRIS4; chairmaker and turner; married Remember White Dec. 30, 1715; died July 19, 1759; children : I. Edward, born Jan. 4, 1716; 2. Sarah," baptized Nov. 16, 1718; 3. Thomas," baptized Dec. 4, 1720; 4. John, baptized Jan. 21, 1724-5; 5. James,6 baptized Oct. 30, 1726. JAMES NORRIS4; married, first, Joanna Field Jan. 20, 1718-9; second, widow Lydia Begoe May 9, 1728; he died before 1747; she married, third, Benjamin Bickford Oct. 2, 1750; children : I. Joanna, born Oct. 16, 1719; 2. Mary,5 baptized Oct. 15, 1721 ; 3. James, baptized June 7, 1724; 4. James, baptized Dec. 26, 1725; 5. Sarah,6 baptized Nov. 29, 1730; 6. Elizabeth,5 baptized Sept. 15, 1734; married John Archer; 7. James," baptized Jan. 29, 1737-8; living in 1752; 8. Henry, baptized Feb. 17, 1739-40; living in 1756.
EDWARD NORRIS"; baker; married, first, Mary Twiss Aug. 5, 1739; second, Elizabeth (West) Neal Nov. 16, 1743; he died Sept. - , 1769; she died Nov. 9, 1796; children : 1. Edward, born April 11, 1745; 2. Elisabeth®; married Walter Price Bartlett; 3. John,6 born in 1751; state senator ; mar- ried Mary Herbert Feb. 22, 1778; died Dec. 22, 1808; she died March' 21, 18II; no children; 4. Judith,6 born Oct. 28, 1753; married James King.
EDWARD NORRIS6; schoolmaster and merchant; postmaster and town clerk; married Sarah Lee; died Oct. 25, 1803; she died March 7, 1830, his widow; children : I. Edward," born May 20, 1776; 2. John,7 born April 12, 1780; captain; distiller; married Esther Lang May 27, 1804; she died Feb. 3, 1867; he died Sept. 15, 1869; no children; 3. George,7 born Nov. 21, 1782: 4. Henry Lee,7 born March 8, 1786; 5. Jeremiah,7 born Nov. 30, 1793. CAPT. EDWARD NORRIS"; mariner; removed to New York, where he died in 1829; married, first, Ann Churchill King Dec. 9, 1804; she died Nov. 16, 1812; second, Judith King March 13, 1814; she died March 14,
A
83
DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER
Brook.
Norris'
POND
PLAN OF NORRIS GRANT.
stalled March 18, 1639-40. Governor Winthrop wrote, in his Journal, under that date: "Mr. Norris was ordained teacher of the church in Salem, there being present near all the elders of the other churches and much people besides." He was dis- tinguished for his learning and talents, good judgment and toler- ation, and Winthrop wrote that he was grave and judicious.
1855; child: I. John,8 born in July, 1811; died May 12, 1812, aged ten months. GEORGE NORRIS7; lived in Salem, Hamilton and Chelsea; living in 1869; children: I. George,8 born about 1814; 2. Sarah Ann,8 born about 1816. HENRY LEE NORRIS"; mariner ; married Elizabeth Holman Nov. 25, 1810; died May 17, 1819; she married, second, Benjamin K. Churchill of Bristol, R. I., March 3, 1822; she died Oct. 8, 1851; children : I. Charles8 (twin), born Sept. 22, 1813; died May 30, 1814; 2. Henry Lee8 (twin), born Sept. 22, 1813; 3. Elizabeth Holman,8 born Nov. 20, 1818; married William H. Jackson of Boston May 12, 1846. JEREMIAH NORRIS"; mariner ; married Dolly Safford Aug. 20, 1824; sailed from Baltimore in a vessel that was never heard from; child: I. Charles Henry8.
GEORGE NORRIS8; lived in Salem and Hamilton; married Hannah M. Call (published Aug. 1, 1833); child: I. George Henry,ª born about November, 1836; died May -, 1838. HENRY LEE NORRIS8; lived in New York in 1837; married Sarah K. Churchill Nov. 2, 1837; died before 1891; children : I. Clara C.9, born in Salem Aug. 10, 1838; 2. Eliza H.9; married Russell of Oyster Bay, L. I .; 3. Henry L.9; lived at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1869, and in West Hoboken, N. Y., in 1891; 4. Ada L.º; lived in Princeton, N. J., unmarried, in 1891; 5. William M.º; lived in Princeton in 1891. CHARLES HENRY NORRIS8; tailor; married, first, Caroline M. Coffin Nov. II, 1847; second, Emma Frances Marsh; died Aug. 31, 1902; children : I. Caroline Agnes, born Aug. 13, 1848; married William R. Colby ; 2. Helen M.9, born Sept. 5, 1850; died July 4, 1922, unmarried; 3. Charles S.º, born Oct. 23, 1852; 4. 9 (son), born July 5, 1856; died
July 6, 1856; 5. _9 (daughter), born Jan. 5, 1861; died Jan. 26, 1861 ; 6. William S.9, born April 30, 1863; living in Salem in 1922.
CHARLES S. NORRIS9; clothier; lived in Newton in 1002; married Lizzie Eddy Aug. 14, 1876; died before 1922; child: I. Vivian May,10 born March 23, 1877, in Salem; married Lawrence Parker of Warren, Mass.
84
HISTORY OF SALEM
Mr. Peter's only child, Elizabeth, was born in Salem and baptized Oct. 1, 1640. About this time, Mrs. Peter became men- tally disordered, and during the remaining twenty years of his life he was deprived of the enjoyment of her society. He wrote, in that year, that "Deepe melancholy is getting fast vpon mee agayne and tethers mee at home"; and, again, in the same year, "Am also at present fallen into a sore fit of my old hypochon- driacal melancholy through cold and care."
Mr. Peter was sent by Governor Winthrop and the general court and the church of Salem to Dover to settle a matter of church ex-communication and a general broil. He went on foot each way, and on his return, with two or three others, he was lost in the woods between Portsmouth and Haverhill. They wandered about two days and a night, without food or fire in the snow and wet.1
"Upon the great liberty which the king had left the parlia- ment to in England," friends there advised the colonists to solicit favors from that government. The popular feeling was against any such request being made as it was thought best to be independent. The court of assistants considered that benefits might be derived thereby ; and Mr. Peter, pastor of the church of Salem, Thomas Weld, pastor of the church of Roxbury, and William Hibbins, pastor of the church of Boston, were desired to go upon this mission. Mr. Winthrop wrote: "For this end the governor and near all the rest of the magistrates and some of the elders wrote a letter to the church of Salem acquainting them with our intentions, and desiring them to spare their pastor for that service. The governor also moved the church of Rox- bury for Mr. Welde, whom, after some time of consideration, they freely yielded. But when it was propounded to the church of Salem, Mr. Endecott, being a member thereof, and having formerly opposed it, did now again the like in the church.
Mr. Humfrey discovered his intentions the more by falling foul upon Mr. Endecott in the open assembly at Salem for opposing this motion, and with that bitterness as gave great offence, and was like to have grown to a professed breach between them, but being both godly, and hearkening to seasonable counsel, they were soon reconciled, upon a free and public acknowledgment of such failings as had passed. But the church, not willing to let their pastor go, nor yet to give a plain denial to the magis- trate's request, wrote an answer by way of excuse, tendering some reasons of their unsatisfiedness about his going, &c. The
1Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections, 3d series, volume III, page 106; Winthrop's Journal, volume II, page 29.
85
DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER
agitation of this business was soon about the country, whereby we perceived there would be sinister interpretations made of it, and . . we gave it over for that season."1
The general reformation in England caused many men to stay there, and the emigration to New England was very slight, and so were the exportations. The general court deemed it expedient "to send some chosen men into England to congratulate the happy success there, and to satisfy our creditors of the true cause why we could not make so current payment now as in former years we had done, and to be ready to make use of any opportunity God should offer for the good of the country here, as also to give any advice for the settling the right form of church discipline there." The same men were appointed that were selected the year before. As no ship was ready to sail to England, these men, together with John Humphrey, John Win- throp, jr., and Thomas Lechford, the lawyer, sailed August 3d for Newfoundland, intending to proceed from there with the fishing fleet.2
"This act of the court did not satisfy all the elders, and many others disliked it, supposing that it would be conceived we had sent them on begging; and the church of Salem was un- willingly drawn to give leave to their pastor to go, for the court was not minded to use their power in taking an officer from the church without their consent, but in the end they and the other churches submitted to the desire of the court."3
They arrived at Newfoundland just two weeks from the date of sailing3, and from there sailed to England.
In 1642, Mr. Peter was chaplain to the forces for the re- duction of Ireland, in the expedition commanded by Lord Forbes.
July 5, 1643, he attended Mr. Chaloner (in Waller's plot) in prison and at his execution.
In the same year, he was sent by parliament to Holland, to borrow money for the Protestant sufferers in Ireland and raised thirty thousand pounds.
Jan. 4, 1644, he attended Sir John Hotham at his execution ; and on the scaffold received public thanks from Sir John for his excellent instructions and assistance.
March 12, 1644, in answer to a speech of Archbishop Laud, at the beginning of his trial, Mr. Peter said that he, himself, had been instrumental, through divine aid, in bringing one hundred
1Winthrop's Journal, Boston, 1825, volume II, page 25.
2Winthrop's Journal, Boston, 1825, volume II, page 31.
3Winthrop's Journal, Boston, 1825, volume II, page 32.
86
HISTORY OF SALEM
and twenty from papistry, who witnessed a good profession, as true Protestants and sincere Christians.
Mr. Peter accompanied the Earl of Warwick, upon his expedition for the relief of Lyme, during May and June, 1644; and June 6, 1645, he was chaplain to the regiments in charge of the baggage wagons and artillery.
When Archbishop Laud was in prison he charged Peter with conspiring to send him overseas, and begged that he might not be banished, pleading his age and infirmities. This had been an idea of Peter to save the archbishop from death.
At the siege of Bridgewater, Peter exhorted the commander of the forlorn hope, who were to begin the storm, and enthused them with courage in the very field of action. In parliament, he related the history of the siege; and the members gave him one hundred pounds for his unwearied services. Later, he was again called into parliament to give them an account of the siege of Bristol; and, also, at another time, an account of the taking of Winchester Castle.
In September, 1645, "Mr. Peter Preached in the Market Place at Torrington, and convinced many of their Errors in ad- hering to the King's Party."
Jan. 23, 1646, Mr. Peter came from the army to parliament and narrated to them the storming and taking of Dartmouth. He was chaplain in the campaign of 1645-6; and his eloquence inspired the soldiers with devotion.
He repeatedly mentioned his intention of returning to America. exclaiming, "Ah, sweet New England!" Mrs. Peter, being somewhat mentally improved, visited Salem in the autumn of 1646. The next spring Mr. Peter wrote to Governor Win- throp, and said that his health was much impaired.
In June, 1647, Mr. Peter went to the king at Newmarket, and had an extended conversation with him. The king told Peter that he had often heard of him, but did not believe he had that solidity in him he found by his conversation, and that he would have further conference with him at another time. Mr. Peter asked him to hear him preach, but His Majesty refused.
In June, 1648, he was before Pembroke with Cromwell, as the latter was preparing to carry the castle. The Scottish Duke of Hamilton bade Peter adieu and embraced him before the former's execution, in March, 1649. In the following summer, Peter was chaplain to the parliamentary forces sent against the rebels in Ireland.
Oct. 12, 1649, Rev. John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians, wrote to Mr. Peter as follows: "The Lord hath greatly de- lighted to improve you, and eminently your talent is increased to
87
DEPARTURE OF HUGH PETER
ten talents for our Lord and Master's honour and use, and doubt not but your crowne shall be answerable. You are indeed much envyed, evil spoken of, smitten with the tongue. No mat- ter. Be not troubled at what men say, when they speak evill of you, seeing you cannot but see, yea, all men know it, God dealeth well by you, the Lord doth improve, accept, succeed you. I cannot wish you in New England so long as you are of such great use and service in the Old ; not because I love you not, but because I love you and the cause of God, which you do totis viribus pursue and prosper in."
The following are copies of two letters1 written to New England on business, being probably the last of his correspond- ence hither :--
My Deare ffreinde
3 .1 : 54.
I had yors & truely doe love you heartily, though I have beene sometimes troubled at my business having noe Return's & you Selling my house for .201b & lending out my bookes & thing's & sending home nothing to mee but onely what Spencer Sent & a rose of a Colt & three Sheepe &c. though I am noe way angry with you for I love you heartily, but greate Paiment's have gone forth you write, & truely I Knew noe Debt's but Such as m' Paine made vpon mee; my minde is that m™ John Winthrop might bee spoke with about what I have, to whome I Assigned it long-since Vpon some condicons though I Profess nothing but want Of Health I thincke could deteine mee from New England, such is my Love to the place & lovely it will yet bee. I pray doe but for mee as I would doe for you : m" Downing owed mee. 1801b noe body would Seize the house hee made over to mee & now hee is here wish her to make haste after him; Salute yo' good wife Pay yo" Selfe what chardge I Put you to & Love.
yors HU : PETERS.
[Superscribed : ]
ffor my good ffriende m" Gott Deacon at Salem now at Wenham
Deare S"
I feare you are angry because you doe not hear from mee nor I from you. I have b' m' Gott ordered you what I have in New England ward. I ever Loved you & yors & am truely Sensible of all yor cares nothing Vnder heaven hath more troubled mee than that you had not my Company into New England with you; I have sent you by this bearer a Loade Stone which I Pray Keepe for mee if I come, if not it is yors. O that I were my old malady the Spleene & never had heart or time to Attend any cure that now I give my life gone & shall out-
1Suffolk Registry of Deeds, volume 8, page II.
88
HISTORY OF SALEM
live my parts I feare, my heart is with my god & desire after him. in whome I am
yo's Ever.
HUGH PETER'S. 30th of April : 54.
[Superscribed : ]
To John Winthrop Junio" Esq" these wth a token in a paper
Mr. Peter was honest, but injudicious. At the death of Cromwell, he preached a funeral sermon, the text being "My servant Moses is dead"; and in the funeral procession he walked among the chaplains of Whitehall. He subsequently ignored public affairs ; and became very unpopular, his effigy with that of Cromwell being carried through the streets.
He was ordered to be arrested, June 7, 1660, and his arrest occurred on Sunday, Aug. 31, 1660, in Kent Street. He was at once committed to the Tower of London. At the trial, which took place October 10th, Sir Edward Turner, the prosecuting attorney, in his opening to the jury, stated that Mr. Peter was a principal actor in the sad tragedy of the King's death, and a chief conspirator with Cromwell. Mr. Peter was charged with urging people against the king, and to overthrow the monarchy. He was also accused of leading troops of Cromwell's army against the king's forces, which was undoubtedly truc.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.