| Notes |
- The article from which the following statement is compiled was written by Miss Caroline Whiting, of Norwood, Mass., from information that she obtained from Joel Talbot, Esq., of Stoughton, and the Misses Anna and Catherine Talbot, of Norwood, and printed in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for April, 1855.
"Peter Talbot was born in Lancashire, England, and while a youth, at a boarding school in Edinburgh, he, with two other of his fellow students, were seized one day, while out in a boat, by a press-gang and taken on board a man of war, bound for the American coast. When near Rhode Island, he escaped from the vessel in the night, and by swimming reached the main land in safety, leaving on board his more timid companions, who had tried to dissuade him from so rash an undertaking. From his place of landing, he travelled northerly, and after a journey of some days, arrived in Dorchester, where he considered himself safe from pursuit. Here by industry and frugality he secured the means to return home, never intending to settle in New England. He paid his passage and took his effects on board, himself staying on shore during a storm, which detained the vessel from sailing. The weather having cleared, the vessel sailed early in the morning, leaving him behind, but taking his effects, and he losing his hard earned passage money.
He bore his misfortune with courage, and soon after married. Again he made preparations to return to England, this time taking a wife with him, but strange though it may seem, from the same cause as before, the vessel sailed without them, again depriving him of all his property. Hearing afterward that the vessel with all on board was lost, he concluded that it was intended that he should remain in New England, and made no further attempt to return home.
Some years after his mariage he removed to Chelmsford, Mass. During his residence in Chelmsford, while he and hs eldest son were absent, the Indians came to his home, seized his wife, and carried her away with them, first killing her infant child. the Indians were pursued by the town's people, and Mrs. Talbot was soon rescued and returned to her home. Her children, Sarah and George, and probably Elizabeth, were out of doors together, when the Indians appeared and safely hid themselves in a ledge of rocks, not far away from the house.
The eldest son was killed while fighting the Indians, either at this time or at a later period. After these disasters, the family returned to Dorchester and made it their future home. It is supposed that he died about 1704; his widow, surviving him, lived with her son George, in that part of Dorchester now Stoughton, probably at the original homestead. Sarah, his daughter, married, but to whom it is not known, and Elizabeth Talbot, who was probably another daughter, married Eleazer Puffer."
The genealogical part of the article is found, after careful investigations, not to be absolutely correct, and has not been copied.
The only events relating to Peter Talbot, contained in the family record of his son George, and thus preserved, are, that he was "born in Lancashire old England" and that he "died about 1704." This is from my father's copy; but happily there are other sources of information, from which we are able to follow him during a great part of his life, after he settled in Dorchester. How early he arrived in this town is not known, but the first date we have is 1675, when he is found on the Dorchester tax list. He was in the military service before October 14, 1677, for on that date his military account is made up by the province treasurer, showing the amount due him to be 18 pounds, 16 shillings, 08. In 1679 he removed to Milton, where he remained until 1684, if not later, he being taxed there in a rate made in January of that year. December 14, 1686, he was one of fifty persons who bought a large tract of land in that part of Chelmsford which has since become the city of Lowell. Two years later he sold his undivided interest in this land, but retained a home lot that had been set off to him. He remained in Chelmsford until after March 16, 1691-92, for at that date he was on the rolls of the west regiment of Middlesex; but soon after, returned to Milton, where he was taxed in 1693 and 1694.
The latest date that has been found relating to him, is May 4, 1704, when with his wife Hannah, calling themselves of Boston, they sold six acres of land in Chelmsford. His son George was a witness to the deed. It is probably a hundred years since Richard Talbot made this entry in his family record, relating to his great-grandfather, "died about 1704," and it was his belief, that about that time he undertook to make a visit to England, and not being heard from afterward, was supposed to have been lost at sea, or to have died soon after his arrival there. At any rate no positive evidence has been found as to his decease.
The sale of land in Chelmsford in the early part of 1704, a circumstance of which those who fix the time of his death would not be likely to have had any knowledge, adds to the probability that the date of his voyage to England, if he made one, is correct.
Peter Talbot was married to his first wife, Mary WADEL, by Gov. Dudley, in Dorchester, January 12, 1677-8. With much time and research Mary Wadel has been completely identified, but the date of her birth, the names of her parents, and their residence has not been found. Mary GOOLE married, in Chelmsford, December 25, 1666, John WADEL, whose alias was WATTEL. He died before June 6, 1676, that being the date when the inventory of his estate was taken. In this inventory the appraisers returned "one bed and furniture to it, and one cow," prized at Dorchester, and valued at five pounds. His whole estate was valued at 38 pounds, 9 shillings, 6. It seems to be clear that at this date, his widow, for some reason, was living in Dorchester. He left three children who lived to grow up and marry. Their names were William, Mary, and Rose, and they, in 1710, made sale of their father's real estate in Chelmsford. At this date, 1710, Mary was living in Woburn, Mass., Rose in Preston, Conn., and William in Lebanon, Conn., which at the same time was the home of Dorothy Talbot, wife of James Cutting, daughter of Peter and Mary (Wadel) Talbot. Mr. Cutting in his will, made in 1746, appoints William Wattel, his friend, one of his executors. These facts, I think, are conclusive, that the first wife of Peter Talbot was the widow of John Wadel, and they also make doubtful the story that they made arrangements to return to England soon after their marriage, as the number of their family would seem to be a hindrance to such a procedure.
Mrs. Talbot died in Chelmsford, August 29, 1687, and on the same day John Fisk and Susanna, widow of George Byam, also died. Three deaths in one day, out of population so small as was that of Chelmsford when these deaths took place, must have been exceptionable; but it is not found that they were from other than natural causes, and the Indian raid and massacre as stated in the "tradition," has not been found to be related to these deaths. Peter Talbot married, December 29, 1687, for his second wife, Hannah Clarke, of Concord, widow of William Frizzell, to whom she was married November 28, 1667, and whose death occurred in Concord, January 25, 1684-5. Elizabeth Frizzell, their daughter, undoubtedly lived with her mother, as she was admitted to the Milton Church, August 11, 1700. No attempt has been made to follow the history of the other children of Frizzell. The ages of both these wives, judging by the dates of their first marriages, would indicate that the second husband, Peter Talbot, had been some time in this country before his marriage, or that he was older, when he arrived, than the "Tradition," would make him. The date of his death has been previously considered, but nothing has been found to fix that of his second wife.
- the above is from p. 7-9, "Talbot Genealogy" by Hon. Newton Talbot (Boston, 1895).1
- George Jr., known as Peter Talbot, settled in Dorchester,MA about 1675, as shown by the tax list there. He was in the military service before 14 Oct 1677, for on that date his military account is made up by the province treasure, showing the amount due him to be 18l., 16s,,8d.. In 1679, he removed to Milton, where he remained until 1684, if not later. 14 Dec 1686, he was one of fifty persons who bought a large tract of land in that part of Chelmsford which has since become the city of Lowell. Two years later, he sold his dividend interest in this land, but retained a home lot that had been set off to him. He remained in Chelmsford(Lowell) until after March 16, 1691/2, for at that date he was on the rolls of the West Regiment of Middlesex; but soon after returned to Milton where he was taxed in 1693 and 1694. The lastest date that has found relating to him is 04 May 1704, when his wife Hannah, calling themselves of Boston, they sold six acres of land in Chelmsford. His son George, was witness to the deed. It is believed that about this time "Peter" undertook to make a visit to England and not being heard from afterward, was supposed to have been lost at sea or died soon after his arrival there. Peter also descends from Ethelred II, King of England, d.1016, 23rd generation; Malcolm II, King of the Scots,d.1010, 23rd generation; and others.
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Abt 1652 - Abt 1704 (~ 52 years)
