Peter Church

Peter Church was a Revolutionary soldier, his record being: Ensign Bristol Co. Capt. Billings' Troop, 1765-6; Capt. 2d. Co. Col. Ezekiel Hopkins' Reg.1777; Lt. Col. Bristol Co. Militia Reg. 1778-9; Lt Col. Commandant Bristol Co. Reg. 1780. Apparently he was not always in the field for he was taken prisoner by a body of 500 British and Hessians, Sunday, 25th May, 1778, and taken on board a prison ship in Newport Harbor. He is said to have grumbled at the hard fare and was jokingly answered by a fellow prisoner who told him he was glad to be in a place where rich and poor fared alike! He was styled Colonel in after-life. He was Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, 1791; President of the Town Council 37 years. He lived on his farm between Bristol and Warren, now called "the Highlands," where all his children and several of his grandchildren were born. (Bristol, RI records, NY Gen and Biog. Record, RI Mil. and Civil lists)