Peter Lyon, II

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@R1553321229@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

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Book Title: Lyon memorial 1,61157::1427435

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@R1553321229@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

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Book Title: Lyon memorial 1,61157::1427435

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@R1553321229@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

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Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=55155987&pid...

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@R1450729002@ London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Freedom admissions papers, 1681 – 1930 1,2052::0

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London Metropolitan Archive; Reference Number: COL/CHD/FR/02/0595-0599 1,2052::863657

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@R1450729002@ London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Freedom admissions papers, 1681 – 1930 1,2052::0

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London Metropolitan Archive; Reference Number: COL/CHD/FR/02/0595-0599 1,2052::863657

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCJ2-YHV

PETER LYON (2) [Peter1]
Lyon Memorial: Massachusetts families, including descendants of the immigrants William Lyon of Roxbury, Peter Lyon of Dorchester
[the Family History compiled by G.W.A. Lyon of Philadelphia, PA]

I, Teresa A. Chapman, Write this material into digital form, to pass down these found stories.

7. 11. 1. PETER (2) LYON [Peter1] was born in Dorchester, Mass., baptized Sept. 6, 1663, and died July 7, 1733. He married first about 1686, Jane Vose, who was born July 13, 1665 (M), daughter of Thomas and Waitstill (Wyatt) Vose. He married second, July 12, 1722, Sarah Fawkes (B).

Peter was barely eight years old when his father was hauled before the church authorities to declare that for the future he would look more diligently after his sons, and it many fairly be inferred that he did not lead the strenuous life of his elder brothers. The character of Peter the elder indicates that the younger pursued his vocation attentively, yet he certainly had time allotted him to obtain an education above the ordinary for his day. His subsequent career shows, however, that his energetic, self-willed spirit was not broken by any paternal harshness; for he bore himself as the equal, at least, of any among whom his lot was cast. In 1676 he, with Israel, Ebenezer and Susanna, appeared before the church to be catechized, having as sponsors Henry Ledbetter, Thomas and George Lyon and Thomas Tolman. He was admitted to the Dorchester church 1689, and his wife Jane in 1690. He was made freeman 1690, and seems to have lived in Mattapan, between Dorchester and Milton, in the neighborhood of Brush Hill, and near Punkapoag. Peter and Jane styled themselves of Punkapoag in 1705; they dismissed to the Milton church in 1695, and in 1718 to Canton, where he had in 1698 bought 20 acres of land.

When Peter had reached manhood, he looked upon Jane, the daughter of Sergeant Thomas Vose, and saw that she was fair; and lucky youth that he was, he found favor in her sight. Not so, however, in the eyes of the sergeant. Thomas Vose was a man of influence and of means, and chose not that his daughter should wed with a man of Peter's disposition. ... The sergeant objected to Peter's public incident, since he was presented go before the congregation of the church for immoral conduct without parental consent. ... In those days of little excitement, this must have been the flutter among the congregation when the young people appeared at the church. This couple surely had the sympathy of the youth, and the certainly had the active support of the elders and of the very pastor himself, as witness to the following extracts from the journal of the Reverend Peter Thatcher:

"Dec. 16, 1684, went and solemnly discoursed with Jane Vose, giving her much good counsel. Dec. 26, this morning Sargent Badcock and Peter Lion were at my house to get me to go and treat with sergeant Vose about consenting to Peter's marrying his daughter. Dec. 30, treated with Sergeant Vose about giving his consent that P. Lion should marry his daughter Jane, but his answer was plainly negative.

Jan. 3, 1685, I went Sergeant Babcock to treat with Jane Vose, and to acquaint her that her father could not consent, whereupon we labored abundantly to take off her affections, etc.  Jan. 6, went to Sargent Badcock's, he and I labored much with Peter Lion and Jane Vose." 

Unfortunately, we have no record of their marriage. The date was 1685-86, and shortly thereafter we find them comfortably settled upon the choicest portion of Thomas Vose's Canton land. "The cellar hole of Peter's house was situated on a high plateau in the rear of Col. Walcott's house. The situation must have been very fine. His son Elhanan's Canton land, extending on both sides of Washington street, from Sassamon street to Potash Meadow, probably came from Peter, who was [also] a lessee on Indian land. He probably resided on it. Possibly it was in the house where Geo. B. Hunt now lives that he copied the old precinct records, and practiced setting the psalms."

Peter was chosen Town Clerk in 1707. He was greatly interested in education, and active in church matters, but "wanted in his own way." and was accused of "making rash and impudent speeches," as was natural when one considers the effect that the pretensions of the ministers of that day would have upon the spirit of one of Peter's disposition. He was noted as a good singer, and was chosen to "set the psalms." His talent in this line has descended in unbroken sequence to this day.

From 1705 to 1712 he kept tavern in Canton. In this early days, only grave and reputable citizens were chosen to keep ordinaries and sell liquor; many of the landlords were high civil and church officials. The landlord must be popular, too, and conversant with public affairs, for to him resorted the members of the community for the news of the day, and for what might be known of event in the intellectual world. The limits of this book do not allow a discussion of the relations of the tavern to the church and the community; but in return for their support, the tavern-keeper must undergo many galling restrictions. Dinner at 9d. and lodging for man and wife at 6d. would seem strange to mine Host of modern days. And not without drawback was to the order: "Nor shall he suffer to be or remain in his House and person or persons not being of his own daily upon Saturday nights after it is dark, nor any time on Sabbath Day or evening after the Sabbath." It was prohibition that caused that great excitement in Peter, when early one Spring morning, he hastily snatched up the glowing loggerhead, plunged it into the creamy bowls of famous Canton flip, placed them hastily before astonished guests, and without his customary morning chat, rushed his desk, and fearful of forfeiture of his license, penned to Magistrate Leonard an excuse.
(This excuse is typed into the story section of memories in Family Search. Teresa

Note:- Town Records are indicated by parenthesis: (B) Boston; (D) Dorchester; (C) Canton; (Ded) Dedham; (M) Milton; (Med) Medfield; (St) Stoughton; (W) Walpole; other in full (H.G.R.) Hist. and Gen. Register.