Peter

first name

Peter

last name

gender

male

birth, death year

circa 1709 , --

first, last year in records

1734, 1750

confidence level

confirmed identity

freed status (year freed)

enslaved

enslaver(s)

Dickinson, Thomas; Wells, Thomas;

location(s)

Deerfield, MA

place of origin

Bio

According to the bill of sale, Peter was about 22 years old when Thomas Wells of Deerfield, Massachusetts purchased him in 1731, from John Cook of Windsor, Connecticut. In 1734, Peter and Wells's enslaved man, Adam, confessed wrongdoing before the church. Both men were baptized the following day. Peter was treated by Dr. Thomas Williams in 1749 and 1750. Wells's nephew, Thomas Dickinson (1718-1814) inherited his uncle's estate, including Peter, who was listed in Wells's probate inventory: "a flail 8d, Peter Negro £160, two bagg & a Portmanteau 4/9, Cyder 21/8..."

Entry	Source	Vol Name	Date	entry id
• Know all men by these Presents that I John Cook of the Town of Windsor in the County of Hartford and Coloney of Connecticutt, for and in Consideration of the Sum of One Hundred Pounds in Currant money, to me in hand, well and Truely paid, or in the Law Secured to be paid by Cap^t Thomas Wills of the Town of Deerfield in the County of Hampshire, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England, Have therefore And Do by these presents, full, freely and Absolutely, Bargain, Sell & Dispose of my Negro man Peter, (aged about Twenty Two years,) to him the Said Thomas Wells, and to his Heirs and Assigns forever, to Have and to Hold as his & their proper Estate in fee, to his and their proper use Benifit & Behoof forever, without Let, Sute, Claim Hinderance or molestation, from me the Said John Cook, my Heirs, Executors, or Administrators, or any person from, by, or under me or them Warranting hereby for my Self my Heirs, Executors administrators, to and with the Said Cap^t Thomas Wells his Heirs & Assigns, that at the time of the Ensealing and Delivery thereof, I am Lawfully and Sole Seized of Said Negro man, and that I have Good Right full power, and Lawfull authorety to Dispose of him as in and by these presents I have Done, and that therefore will forever warrant, Secure and Defend, the above Bargained Premises, to him the Said Wells, his Heirs &c, from all former, or other Gifts, or Bills of Sale, or whatever, In withness thereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this fourth day of November, Anno: Dom: on Thousand Seven Hundred & thirty one....	Deerfield, MA, Town Records	Deerfield, MA, Town Records 5-VIII, Box 11, Folder A-1	1731 Nov 4	2390
• M^rCooks Bill of Sale to Cap^t Wells re 1731 of his "Negro Man Peter"	Deerfield, MA, Town Records	Deerfield, MA, Town Records 5-VIII, Box 11, Folder A-1	1731 Nov 4	2391
To Emp. Corrab [?] 10/ for Peter	Dr. Thomas Williams Acct. Book	1755-1756	1749 Dec 24	913
2 visits Peter 1/4	Dr. Thomas Williams Acct. Book	1755-1756	1750 Oct 26	727
Peter Wells to a Cotton [check] 6/6, Cr by spaying a pig	Elijah Williams Day Book	Oct 22, 1753 - Dec 25, 1754; Volume 4	--	932
• ...and Peter his Servant Confessed the Sins of fornication drunkeness, & Stealing and they were received Into Charity with people	First Congregational Church of Deerfield, Massachusetts	Single	1734 Jun 15	1022

Entry

Source

Vol Name

Date

entry id

• Know all men by these Presents that I John Cook of the Town of Windsor in the County of Hartford and Coloney of Connecticutt, for and in Consideration of the Sum of One Hundred Pounds in Currant money, to me in hand, well and Truely paid, or in the Law Secured to be paid by Cap^t Thomas Wills of the Town of Deerfield in the County of Hampshire, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England, Have therefore And Do by these presents, full, freely and Absolutely, Bargain, Sell & Dispose of my Negro man Peter, (aged about Twenty Two years,) to him the Said Thomas Wells, and to his Heirs and Assigns forever, to Have and to Hold as his & their proper Estate in fee, to his and their proper use Benifit & Behoof forever, without Let, Sute, Claim Hinderance or molestation, from me the Said John Cook, my Heirs, Executors, or Administrators, or any person from, by, or under me or them Warranting hereby for my Self my Heirs, Executors administrators, to and with the Said Cap^t Thomas Wells his Heirs & Assigns, that at the time of the Ensealing and Delivery thereof, I am Lawfully and Sole Seized of Said Negro man, and that I have Good Right full power, and Lawfull authorety to Dispose of him as in and by these presents I have Done, and that therefore will forever warrant, Secure and Defend, the above Bargained Premises, to him the Said Wells, his Heirs &c, from all former, or other Gifts, or Bills of Sale, or whatever, In withness thereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this fourth day of November, Anno: Dom: on Thousand Seven Hundred & thirty one....

Deerfield, MA, Town Records

Deerfield, MA, Town Records 5-VIII, Box 11, Folder A-1

1731 Nov 4

2390

• M^rCooks Bill of Sale to Cap^t Wells re 1731 of his "Negro Man Peter"

Deerfield, MA, Town Records