John Peterson, I

John PETERSON was born about 1636. He died on 26 March 1720 at the age of 84 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He was buried in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Some researchers believe he may have been buried on his Powder Point property in Plymouth County, Massachusetts but to date there is no recording of that event.

Other surnames found during Peterson research are, Peters, Petters, and Petterson.

The Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families, 1620 - 1700 indicates John was a resident of Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1670.

The Society of Mayflower Descendants publication summarizes his will and is quoted in digest as parts of the writers source copy are cut off in the left margin. It mentions the farm which had been the homestead farm of Pilgrim George Soule and probably left it to Isaac. He named his wife Mary, eldest son Joseph, sons Benjamin and Isaac; daughters Martha, Mary wife of Joseph Soule and Rebecca wife of John Weston.

The following is from "The Peterson Family of Duxbury, Mass. by W. B. Browne, published 1916: "John Peterson, an early settler in Duxbury, married, before 1665, Mary Soule, born before 1650, daughter of George (who came in the Mayflower in 1620) and Mary of Duxbury. He died between 29 April 1718 (the date of his will) and 26 Mar 1720 (the date of the inventory of his estate), and was probably buried on his farm in Duxbury, perhaps at the spot where in recent excavating an ancient burial place has been discovered. His farm was on Powder Point, and was purchased of his father-in-law, George Soule, who in a deposition dated 27 Oct 1674 stated that it had been his homestead farm. This farm, on which both George Soule and John Peterson in turn lived, remained in the possession of their descendants almost to the present day; for although the male line of descendants of Isaac Peterson, in which his father, John Peterson, evidently intended the farm to remain, (his will stating that it should descend to the male heirs of Isaac), failed immediately, the ownership of the land has until very recently remained in the line descended from Isaac's daughter, Priscilla Weston."

In the History of Duxbury, under TOWN's COMMONS: "GRANTS of land were early made to the several towns of the colony, by the Court, to be reserved for their benefit, and were called the "Town's commons." Portions of these were sold at different times by the towns for raising revenues to meet the towns' expenses; while other parts were let out to individuals, also as a means of revenue; and grants made by the towns of other parts, and some remained perfectly free.....1690. These hired common meadows of the town: (John Peterson's name appears in the list)." There is no indication if this John is senior or junior, the year being the 54th for senior and 24th for junior; senior is the assumption.

In the History of Duxbury, under PROPRIETORS OF COMMONS: "1707, (unreadable) 12. Voted to every freeholder and housekeeper twenty acres of the commons, and to those, who had had previous grants, enough more to make up the said twenty acres; and, June 5, 1710, it was divided among the freeholders as the town, as follows: (Beni. Peterson, John Peterson, Jonathan Peterson, Joseph Peterson, Isaac Peterson names appear on the list)." In the History of Duxbury, under 40 PROPRIETORS OF THE SECOND DIVISION: "This vote was passed at a town meeting, May 16th, 1711; that all their salt marsh, common meadows, with all their salt and sedge islands and sedge flats that are above the Cove of the beach, so called, should next be laid out. (John Peterson appears on the list)". In the History of Duxbury, under 42, PROPRIETORS OF COMMONS: "The said committe brught in a list, which was recorded. They then voted to divide the common meadow in this manner, -to divide the 168 shares into three portions, and that some indifferent person should draw lots for each portion; and the same committee, last named, were chosen to perform this division. (Benjamin Peterson's heirs, John Peterson's heirs, and Isaac Peterson's heirs are on the list)"

From The Pilgrim Hall Museum, George Soule In 17th Centery Records: "27 October 1674 : "Gorge Soule, of Duxburrow, complained against John Peterson, of Duxborrow, aforsaid, in an action of the case, to the damage of an hundred pounds, for better cecuritie for the payment of a debt of six pounds seauen shillingssss and thripence due, to haue bin payed the first day of Nouember last, as appeers by a bill bearing date the thirtieth day of July, in the yeare of our Lord 1672; as alsoe for the payment of sixty three pounds twelue shillings and ninepence due, heerafter to be payed att seuerall payments, as by seuerall bills of the aforsaid date appeereth, which said sume of seauenty pounds, being behind and vnpayed, is pte of the sume of eighty pounds contracted to be payed by the said John Peterson to the said Gorge Soule, for the purchase of a certaine tract of land lying in Powder Point, in Duxburrow, aforsaid, att the time of the said purchase of the lands of and in the occupation of the said Gorge Soule, and now in the occupation of the said John Peterson and the said Gorge Soule. "The jury find for the defendant the cost of the suite." Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 7, pg. 193.

From the Mayflower Descendants Through Five Generations, Volume 3, "John Peterson's will dated Duxbury 29 April 1718, proved 26 March 1720, gave his farm which had been the homestead farm of Pilgrim George Soule to his son Isaac, entailed. He named his wife Mary, eldest son Joseph, sons Benjamin, David and Isaac; daughters Martha, Mary wife of Joseph Soule and Rebecca wife of John Weston. His son David left a will, proved 1760 which contained many legatees including: sister Rebecca Weston; nieces Priscilla wife of Eliphas Weston and Faith wife of Samuel Drew."

John PETERSON and Mary SOULE were married in 1664 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Marriage date is from American Marriage Records Before 1699.

Source: http://mpeterson.us/genpeterson/narrative/b441.htm

In his will, dated April 29, 1718, he gave his farm, the former homestead of Pilgrim George Soule, to his son Isaac.

Source: William Bradford Browne, 1985, "The Peterson Family of Duxbury, Massachusetts." In John Peterson's will dated April 29, 1718, he left his farm, formerly the homestead of Pilgrim George Soule, to son Isaac Peterson (Source: Mr. J. Phillip Miller).