Peter, Sr. was born in Africa, as was his first wife, Violette (Lettie). They lived in Colrain, Massachusetts. They had at least six children: Peter, Jr. (1787-1866), Charles (1791-1864), Lettice (ca. 1790-?), Violet (ca. 1793-?), and two daughters, first names unknown, who died in 1803, when dysentery claimed the lives of several people in Colrain. One daughter was two years old and the other was four. Peter might also have had a daughter, Savilet, born about 1799.
Violette died prior to 1830, and Peter remarried a woman named Peggy, who was born about 1783. They had a son, James, born in 1810. The 1800 federal census report for Colrain lists 9 “free persons” for the Peter Green household and the 1810 census lists 10 people in the same category. Peter is listed in the 1830 census as one "free colored" male between the ages of 55 and 100, and Peggy and Lettice are listed as two "free colored" females between the ages of 36 and 55.
From 1779 to 1783, Peter served as a private in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). He was in the First Company, Second New York Regiment of Foot.
In April of 1818, Peter was an invalid and in desperate circumstances. He submitted a declaration to the Franklin County, Massachusetts Court of Common Pleas describing his circumstances and asking for support as a Revolutionary War veteran. An excerpt from his declaration is below. Peter was illiterate and had to dictate his declaration and “leave his mark” by signing an “X” by his name.
I am now above sixty years of age- I am
wholly destitute of property and in reduced cir-
cumstances in life and stand in great need of
assistance from my Country for support-
Dated at Greenfield in the County & Commonwealth
aforesaid this twenty second day of April A.D. 1818
Attes t . Sam l . Wells b.a. his Peter X Green mark
Although Peter had received a bounty for 100 acres of land in New York for his military service, by 1818, he had sold it. On July 10, 1820, he filed another declaration:
I am a labourer, but by reason of a bad breach I am unable to do but little work. I have been partly supported by the town. My family consists of a wife and two children. My wife, Peggy is about thirty seven years of age and is not a healthy woman. My daughter Lettice is about thirty years of age and partly blind and by reason of fits is very infirm. My son James is ten years old. And I have no property of any kind, necessary clothing and bedding excepted
Some relief came in 1818, when Peter's pension began. He received $8 per month. On Sept. 20, 1820, he received $83.46.
Peter died of consumption at the age of 79. He was a widower. He and Peter, Jr. are buried next to each other and son Charles is buried nearby- all in Colrain's Brick School Cemetery.
Military Service
Sources Consulted
Colrain, Massachusetts vital records
| Entry | Source | Vol Name | Date | entry id |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • In Memory of Peter Green Pvt 2 NY Line Rev War 1750 1830 Born in Africa Circa 1750 Died after Sept 1836 | Gravestones | -- | 2411 |