Captain Peter West, II

DAR# A123203

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 22 2020, 7:20:10 UTC

age 82y
Son of Capt. Peter West & Elizabeth Athearn

Captain Peter West, from whom the village of West's Mills acquired its name, was born on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, probably in Tisbury, Aug 6, 1746. His father, also known as Capt. Peter West, was born in 1718 and married in 1740 Elizabeth, relict of Thomas Chase and daughter of Jabez and Catherine (Belcher) Athearn. Captain West, the elder, was a soldier in the French War, and died at Fort Edward on the Hudson , Oct. 3, 1757. His widow died in Tisbury, Mass., Sept. 2, 1780 aged 75 years. Capt. Peter, the Industry immigrant married, Dec. 21, 1769, Hannah, daughter of Judge Shubael and Amy (Allen) Cottle, of Tisbury. He came to the town of Farmington in 1791, where he remained several years and then removed to Hallowell. He was a carpenter by trade and at the latter place he built a small vessel which he named "Bonaparte" in honor of the great French leader. He began clearing a lot of land, now the site of West's Mills Village in 1797, erected a log-cabin the following year and after moved his family to their new home. He was very active, resolute man, possessing much intellectual ability but very eccentric in some respects. His son Esq. Peter, who succeeded him in business is said to have strongly resembled his mother in disposition with none of his father's peculiarities. Captain West was a selectman and treasurer after incorporation of the town and was a man of influence among the early settlers. In 1803 he was chosen chairman of a committee, with Daniel Luce and Sprowel Norton as associates to negotiate with Francis Cabot Lodge for the purchase of the Mile-and-a-half Strip. Though reputed to have been worth eight hundred dollars when he came to town, he was reduced to the verge of bankruptcy by the failure of this venture. He died quite suddenly, as did his wife, Feb, 1828, aged 82 years. She died Dec.28, 1826 aged 79 years.
A History of Industry; Hatch, William Collins; Press of
Knowlton, McLeary and Company 1893; pp 838-839

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 11 2022, 7:00:34 UTC