Peters of New England A Genealogy, and Family History Compiled by Edmond Frank .:P. eters and Eleanor Bradley .Peters (Mrs. Edward McClure Peters) Author of'' Hugh Pe:ter 1 A ~1os.aic,, '!Rew ]Vorh Ube '!Rntclterbocher )Press 1903 TO THE MEMORY OF EDMOND PRANK PETERS AND OF THOMAS McCLURE PETERS, S.T.D. CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND SIGNATURES 111 THE MAKING OF THE BOOK Vl TRADITION ix INFERENCE xv CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS xvii EXPLANATION xxi GENEALOGY MASSACHUSETTS: IPSWICH AND ANDOVER I READING AND WAKEFIELD 53 THE REVD. ANDREW OF MIDDLETON 56 MEDFIELD 63 ANDOVER 102 MAINE: BLUE HILL II2 ELLSWORTH . 127 BOSTON 137 CONNECTICUT: HEBRON 152 COLONEL JOHN OF THE QUEEN'S LOYAL RANGERS. 186 GENERAL ABSALOM 241 THE REVEREND SAMUEL 257 NEw YoRK STATE 267 LITCHFIELD • 282 LOST TRIBES 304 Omo 31 r NEW HAMPSHIRE: SEBORNE 314 ANDREW 349 11 Contents APPENDIX: BEAMSLEY. 357 MY NATIVE LAND, Gooo-NIGHT! 361 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF COLONEL Jmrn OF THE QUEEN'S LOYAL RANGERS 366 PETERS TRAITS , 387 DIVERS FAMILIES 394 MILITARY SERVICE 408 ALLIED FAMILIES 4r2 GENERAL INDEX • 420 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND SIGNATURES PAGE TITLE-PAGE, EDMOND FRANK PETERS (ABOUT 1874), SIGNATURE 1893 (see page 203) GRAVESTONE OF ANDREW PETERS, 1713 (r901) 27 WILL OF ANDREW PEETERS, 1702 28 GRAVESTONE OF' PHEBE PETERS, 1702 . 41 SITE OF HousE OF ANDREW PEETERS (1901) 43 COMMON AND PoND ADJOINING HousE OF ANDREW PEETERS (1902) 43 SIGNATURE OF SAMUEL PEETERS, 1703 . 43 GRAVE OF THE REVD. ANDREW PETERS OF MIDDLETON, 1756 (1901) 61 SIGNATURE OF JOSEPH PETERS (43) 1 1781 63 SIGNATURE OF CAPT. ADAM PETERS, 1781 63 BEULAH LovETT, WIFE oF Lt.-CoL. ANDREW PETERS Sr LT.-COL. ANDREW PETERS (FROM AN OIL PAINTING); SIGNATURE, 1779 82 LOVETT PETERS, WESTBOROUGH, MASS. 84 GRAVESTONE OF JOHN PETERS OF ANDOVER, MASS. (17), 1797; SIGNATURE, I 767 102 PORTRAIT OF JOHN PETERS OF ANDOVER (213), (FROM A MINIATURE), 1836 106 SIGNATURE OF JoHN PETERS OF ANDOVER (213) 1 1815 . 106 SARAH PETERS (MRS. LEOPOLD GROZELIER), 1857; SIG- NATURE, 1901 108 NATHANIEL PETERS OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. (242), 188- ; SIGNATURE, 185- IIO MONUMENT TO JOHN PETERS OF BLUE HILL, 1821; SIG- NATURE, 1813 112 PORTRAIT OF CHIEF-JUSTICE JOHN ANDREW PETERS OF MAINE, 1884; SIGNATURE, 1902 133 iii 1v List of Illustrations and Signatures PAGE PORTRAIT OF EDWARD DYER PETERS OF BOSTON (FROM AN OIL PAINTING, 1839); SIGNATURE, 1834 137 CouNTRY RESIDENCE OF EDWARD DYER PETERS (BUILT 1799, TAKEN ABOUT 1861 ?) 138 PORTRAIT OF THE REVD. THOMAS McCLURE PETERS (ABOUT 1885); SIGNATURE I40 PoRTRAIT oF THE REVD. JoHN PuNNETT PETERS, 1897; SIGNATURE, 1902 143 PORTRAIT OF EDWARD DYER PETERS, 2d, 1901; SIGNA- TURE, 1903 146 GRAVESTONE OF COLONEL JOHN PETERS, GILEAD, CONN., 1804 (TAKEN 1902) 157 SIGNATURE OF COLONEL JOHN PETERS, 1783 157 RESIDENCE OF COLONEL JOHN PETERS, HEBRON, CONN. (BUILT ABOUT 1740), 1902 160 PORTRAIT OF JUDGE JOHN THOMPSON PETERS 164 PORTRAIT OF JOHN SAMUEL PETERS, GOVERNOR OF CON- NECTICUT (ABOUT 1845); SIGNATURE, 1844 180 MONUMENT TO GOVERNOR PETERS (TAKEN IN 1902) 182 MONUMENT TO THE REVD. SAMUEL PETERS (TAKEN 1902) 182 RESIDENCE OF GOVERNOR PETERS (TAKEN 1902), BUILT 1806 182 PORTRAIT OF GENERAL ABSALOM PETERS 241 PORTRAIT OF JOHN ROGERS PETERS; SIGNATURE 244 PORTRAIT OF LT.-CoL. DE WITT CLINTON PETERS; SIG- NATURE 249 PORTRAIT OF THE REVD. ABSALOM PETERS; SIGNATURE, 1858 250 SIGNATURE OF MAJOR GEORGE PIERCE PETERS, 1814 250 PORTRAIT OF GEORGE ABSALOM PETERS, M.D., (FROM AN OIL PAINTING); SIGNATURE 253 PORTRAIT OF HANNAH PETERS (MRS. WILLIAM JARVIS), FROM A WATER-COLOR (ABOUT 1787?) 257 PORTRAIT OF THE REVD. SAMUEL PETERS, FROM A WATER-COLOR (ABOUT 1787?); SIGNATURE, 1822 258 GRAVES OF THE REVD. SAMUEL PETERS' THREE WIVES (TAKEN 1902) 260 List of Illustrations and Signatures v PAGE PORTRAIT OF THE REVD. SAMUEL PETERS (FROM A MINIATURE ON IVORY, by PURCELLO, TAKEN JUNE, 1824) 262 PORTRAIT OF SAMUEL JARVIS PETERS (FROM A DA- GUERREOTYPE, 185-?); SIGNATURE 264 PORTRAIT OF THE REVD. GARRET EBER PETERS, DE- TROIT, 1903; SIGNATURE, 1902 294 PORTRAIT OF JOHN PETERS OF HENNIKER, N. H. (ABOUT 1862) 335 WILL OF WILLIAM BEAMSLEY, 1658 359 PORTRAIT OF THE REVD. CHARLES, RUSSELL TREAT, 1899 387 PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM HENRY PETERS, OF NORFOLK, VA., 1898; SIGNATURE, 1899 . 388 THE MAKING OF THE BOOK TWENTY-THREE years ago Andover was visited by the present compiler, and for the first time the correct family descent was ascertained. The work, however, was aban­ doned almost as soon as begun, to be resumed only in 1895. In the meantime, Edmond Frank Peters, a de­ scendant of the Tory colonel, as he is commonly called (Colonel John of the Queen's Loyal Rangers), started on his labors, and for six years toiled unceasingly on a Peters history and genealogy, which at his death, in 1893, was practically finished. His papers were left to his relative, the Rev. Thomas McClure Peters, who had been greatly interested in and had given every encourage­ ment to the work, but his death also taking place the same summer, the entire material passed into the hands of the present compiler. For the past eight years she has been correcting, adding to, and perfecting the book. Sections of family history collected by some six or eight different individuals have been studied and copied. At least sixty towns have been visited for the personal in­ spection of town and parish records, probate, and some­ times deeds, being investigated as well. Between forty and fifty graveyards have been visited, which in nearly every case means the inspection of each stone. The genealogy has been rewritten from end to end, the form and system completely changed, and a number of sepa­ rate articles on subjects of family interest have been added. Portraits, views, and signatures have been col­ lected, and, although very far from complete, the work is believed to be in sufficient shape to justify its printing in vi The Making of the Book vu the hope that, by publishing what there is, in time an almost perfect history may be obtained. Far more 1 could have been accomplished had individuals shown more interest in the matter, it being in many cases almost, or quite, impossible to obtain even the common courtesy of a reply, or if information was sent it was often done with so little interest as to be of no value. To all those who have in any way aided or encouraged the compiler, her heartiest appreciation is due, especially to the Hon. John Andrew Peters, of Bangor, Me., whose active sympathy and generous assistance are most grate­ fully acknowledged. To Miss Augusta Peters of Blue Hill, Miss Elizabeth Sewall of Medfield, Mrs. Grozelier of North Andover, Mrs. Annis Welles of Hebron, Mr. Jesse S. Reeves of Richmond, Ind., Mr. George Albert Taylor of Albany, and Mr. F. C. Bissell of Hartford; to Miss Charlotte Abbott of Andover, who is a mine of informa­ tion on all town matters; and to Mrs. Almira Clarke of Woodville, Conn., whose sensible and valuable letters have been of the greatest service, the compiler wishes also to express her thanks, as well as to the Essex Institute for the loan of a copy of Edmond Frank Peters' papers. Town histories have often been quoted and have been found of great value, · Distant members of the family, in many instances total strangers, have loaned valuable papers, autographs, portraits, etc., and have sent information which, in some cases, they procured at the cost of much time and trouble to themselves. It is impossible to name all whom the compiler would thank, in person if possible, but she assures them that their kindness is fully appreciated. The present compiler has again, in person, gone over much of the ground already carefully studied by Edmond Frank Peters, and can hold herself responsible for the sections entitled Ipswich and Andover, Middleton, An- The Making of the Book dover, Maine, General Absalom, The Revd. Samuel, Lost Tribes, Andrew in New Hampshire, nearly all of Reading and Wakefield, and portions of other sections. The articles before and after the genealogy and the illustra­ tions and signatures are furnished by the present com­ piler. Nearly the whole of Medfield, all of Colonel John, most of Seborne, and the greater part of the sections un­ mentioned are wholly due to Edmond Frank Peters, and the present compiler has everywhere been greatly assisted by his thorough and conscientious labors. The enormous amount of material he amassed in the six years of his toil would have been remarkable had he devoted his entire time to the work, but when one realizes that it was the result of his leisure hours only, it seems little short of a miracle. His system of collecting matter was most elaborate, painstaking, and complete, and was undoubtedly the principal cause of his remarkable success. Were it not for him this work would doubtless never have been written, certainly not by the present author. Even in the portions more especially her own he has been an ever-present guide, counsellor, and friend, often presenting her with some curious bit of information, or warning her of some rock or shoal. In short, the entire work is founded upon and permeated by Edmond Frank Peters, and as his face is the first one sees upon opening the book, so is his guiding and sustaining spirit the last one leaves upon closing the volume. TRADITION A WELL disseminated tradition causes our family history to begin in Boston, in 1634, with one William Peters, a merchant, who was educated at Leyden, was a brother of the Revd. Hugh Peters of Salem, and of the Revd.