First Generation

1. John PETERSON^1,2,3 was born about 1636. He died on 26 Mar 1720 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachussetts. He was buried in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachussetts. Some researchers believe he may have been buried on his Powder Point property in Plymouth County, Massachusetts but to date there is no recording of that event. A middle name of "Patterson" has been mentioned in one record but this writer does not include it in the name as of yet. That there is only one researcher who indicates it and that middle names are very rare in those times are reasons for withholding it in the database name field.
Common among researchers as a birthdate/birthplace for John is 1636/Plymouth, Massachusetts; however, this writer as yet been able to see a document supporting the data. The Society of Mayflower Descendants has his birthplace as 'unknown.'
The following is quoted from the 1860-1862 Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Volume 3, By James Savage:
"PETERSON, CORNELIUS, Boston 1685. HENRY, and JOHN of Lyme (Writer Note: Lyme was called East Saybrook before 1667), were of the train band (an organized group of trained citizen soldiers not in the regular army - short for trained band) 1678, and no more is kn. (=known) of either, exc. (=except) that John of Lyme, was aft. (=after) of Duxbury, and m. (=married) Mary, d. (=daughter) of George Soule; and that Henry by w. (=wife) Marah, m. (=married) 15 Apr 1683, had Sarah, b. (=born) 20 Oct 1686." Currently (August 2004) this is the only mention known of John's siblings if in fact the three are siblings and Lyme and Duxbury are the only residence's mentioned. There is recorded Henry Peterson of Lyme, Connecticut. (Note there are some who believe Lyme is a reference to a location in England).
The Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families, 1620 - 1700 indicates John was a resident of Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1670.
The Society of Mayflower Descendants publication summarizes his will and is quoted in digest as parts of the writers source copy are cut off in the left margin. It mentions the farm which had been the homestead farm of Pilgrim George Soule and probably left it to Isaac. He named his wife Mary, eldest son Joseph, sons Benjamin and Isacc; daughters Martha, Mary wife of Joseph Soule and Rebecca wife of John Weston.
The following is from "The Peterson Family of Duxbury, Mass. by W. B. Browne, published 1916:
"John Peterson, an early settler in Duxbury, married, before 1665, Mary Soule, born before 1650, daughter of George (who came in the Mayflower in 1620) and Mary of Duxbury. He died between 29 April 1718 (the date of his will) and 26 Mar 1720 (the date of the inventory of his estate), and was probably buried on his farm in Duxbury, perhaps at the spot where in recent excavating an ancient burial place has been discovered. His farm was on Powder Point, and was purchased of his father-in-law, George Soule, who in a deposition dated 27 Oct 1674 stated that it had been his homestead farm. This farm, on which both George Soule and John Peterson in turn lived, remained in the possession of their descendants almost to the present day; for although the male line of descendants of Isaac Peterson, in which his father, John Peterson, evidently intended the farm to remain, (his will stating that it should descend to the male heirs of Isaac), failed immediately, the ownership of the land has until very recently remained in the line descended from Isaac's daughter, Priscilla Weston."
In the History of Duxbury, under TOWN's COMMONS: "GRANTS of land were early made to the several towns of the colony, by the Court, to be reserved for their benefit, and were called the "Town's commons." Portions of these were sold at different times by the towns for raising revenues to meet the towns' expenses; while other parts were let out to individuals, also as a means of revenue; and grants made by the towns of other parts, and some remained perfectly free.....1690. These hired common meadows of the town: (John Peterson's name appears in the list)." There is no indication if this John is senior or junior, the year being the 54th for senior and 24th for junior; senior is the assumption.
In the History of Duxbury, under PROPRIETORS OF COMMONS: "1707, (unreadable) 12. Voted to every freeholder and housekeeper twenty acres of the commons, and to those, who had had previous grants, enough more to make up the said twenty acres; and, June 5, 1710, it was divided among the freeholders as the town, as follows: (Beni. Peterson, John Peterson, Jonathan Peterson, Joseph Peterson, Isaac Peterson names appear on the list)."
In the History of Duxbury, under 40 PROPRIETORS OF THE SECOND DIVISION: "This vote was passed at a town meeting, May 16th, 1711; that all their salt marsh, common meadows, with all their salt and sedge islands and sedge flats that are above the Cove of the beach, so called, should next be laid out. (John Peterson appears on the list)".
In the History of Duxbury, under 42, PROPRIETORS OF COMMONS: "The said committe brught in a list, which was recorded. They then voted to divide the common meadow in this manner, -to divide the 168 shares into three portions, and that some indifferent person should draw lots for each portion; and the same committee, last named, were chosen to perform this division. (Benjamin Peterson's heirs, John Peterson's heirs, and Isaac Peterson's heirs are on the list)"
From The Pilgrim Hall Meseum, George Soule In 17th Centery Records: "27 October 1674 : "Gorge Soule, of Duxburrow, complained against John Peterson, of Duxborrow, aforsaid, in an action of the case, to the damage of an hundred pounds, for better cecuritie for the payment of a debt of six pounds seauen shillingssss and thripence due, to haue bin payed the first day of Nouember last, as appeers by a bill bearing date the thirtieth day of July, in the yeare of our Lord 1672; as alsoe for the payment of sixty three pounds twelue shillings and ninepence due, heerafter to be payed att seuerall payments, as by seuerall bills of the aforsaid date appeereth, which said sume of seauenty pounds, being behind and vnpayed, is pte of the sume of eighty pounds contracted to be payed by the said John Peterson to the said Gorge Soule, for the purchase of a certaine tract of land lying in Powder Point, in Duxburrow, aforsaid, att the time of the said purchase of the lands of and in the occupation of the said Gorge Soule, and now in the occupation of the said John Peterson and the said Gorge Soule.
"The jury find for the defendant the cost of the suite."
Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 7, pg. 193.
From the Mayflower Descendants Through Five Generations, Volume 3, "John Peterson's will dated Duxbury 29 April 1718, proved 26 March 1720, gave his farm which had been the homestead farm of Pilgrim George Soule to his son Isaac, entailed. He named his wife Mary, eldest son Joseph, sons Benjamin, David and Isaac; daughters Martha, Mary wife of Joseph Soule and Rebecca wife of John Weston. His son David left a will, proved 1760 which contained many legatees including: sister Rebecca Weston; nieces Priscilla wife of Eliphas Weston and Faith wife of Samuel Drew."

John PETERSON and Mary SOULE were married 1664 (1666) in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Mary SOULE^2,4,5 (daughter of George SOULE and Mary BECKET) was born in May 1644 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. She died in Mar 1719/20 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. January 1652-3 : "These prsents Witnesseth That George Soule of Duxburrow hath covenanted with Mr John Winslow of Plymouth That ; Mary Soule his Daughter shall Dwell abide and continew with him the said Mr John Winslow the full tearme of seaven yeares begining from the first day of this prsent month called January and from the said Day fully and compleatly to bee ended; And in case the said Mary Soule Doe not change her condicon by marriage shee is to Dwell and avide with him the full tearme of eight years begining from the first of this prsent month as aforsaid and from thence fully to bee ended."
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 1, p. 214.
From the the George Soule Section of "Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33: - vi MARY, b. about 1642 (in 1653 bound out for seven years or eight if she did not marry [MD 1:214]); m. by 1667 John Peterson (estimated birth of first child [MF 3:10])."
The following source has their marriage in 1664 at Duxbury, Massachusetts: Ancestry.com. American Marriages Before 1699 [database online]. Orem, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc., 1997. Original data: Clemens, William Montgomery. American Marriage Records Before 1699. Pompton Lakes, NJ: Biblio Co., 1926.


John PETERSON and Mary SOULE had the following children:

2	i.	John PETERSON2,6 was born in 1666 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachussetts. He died in 1690 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachussetts. See the notes under his father, John senior, concerning grants of land in Duxbury, Massachusets. John died unmarried (Plymouth Probate Records). Abstracts from the First Book of Plymouth County Probate Records: "Continued from page 75. [62] Inventory of the estate of the late deceased John Peterson , taken 29 Mar 1690 , by Thomas Dillano and Joseph Howland . Amt. £44.. 7.. 11. Joseph Peterson of Duxborough , made oath 01 Apr 1690 , that the same was a true inventory of the estate of his brother, John Peterson late of Duxborough , deceased, and he was appointed administrator."
+3	ii.	Joseph PETERSON.
+4	iii.	Benjamin PETERSON.
5	iv.	Martha PETERSON2 was born about 1672 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachussetts. She died after 1718. Unmarried in 1718 (date of her father's will).
+6	v.	Jonathan, Sr PETERSON.
7	vi.	David PETERSON2,7 was born on 1 Oct 1676 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachussetts. He died on 30 Sep 1760 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachussetts. He was buried in Old Cemetery (Standish), South Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His marriage status in undetermined. From The Petersons of Duxbury, "The will of David Peterson of "Duxborough," yeoman, dated 16 July 1760 and proved 2 Mr. 1761, contains the following bequests: To "my sister Rebecca Weston over and above what she hath had heretofore three Dollars." To "Hannah Soule one dollar." To "Rebecca Soule one dollar." To "Priscilla Weston the wife of Eliphas Weston one dollar." To "Faith Drew the wife of Samuel Drew one dollar." To "my Kinsman Jonathan Peterson thirteen shillings and four pence Lawful money." To "Jael Peterson Two dollars." To "John Peterson one dollar." To "Jonathan Peterson Junr one dollar." To "Turner Peterson two dollars and one sterling shilling." To "my Kinsman David Peterson son to ye abough named Jonathan Peterson my right in a cedar swamp lying in Pembrook and my Guns and beds, and furniture Belonging to them and my wearing close and Household stuf and all my bonds bils and notes and money In fine all my real and personal estate." "Lastly...my Kinsman Jonathan Peterson shall be soul executor." To this will David Peterson made his mark. The witnesses were Thomas Weston, Peres Howland, and Elinathan Weston. (Plymouth Probate Records, vol 16, p. 45) The testator certaily had neither wife nor children living when this will was made. He probably lived with the family of his deceased brother Jonathan and to them he left the most of his estate."
+8	vii.	Isaac PETERSON.
+9	viii.	Mary PETERSON.
+10	ix.	Rebecca PETERSON.