Peter Grant (1696 - 1756)

Born 14 Dec 1696 in Kittery, York, Maine

Ancestors

Husband of Lydia (Foss) Grant — married 24 Feb 1717 (to about 1734) in Berwick, York, District of Maine Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 29 Apr 1756 at age 59 in Berwick, York, Maine

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Biography

Lieut. PETER GRANT, b. December 14, 1696, Berwick, York Co., ME; d. Aft. April 29, 1756, Berwick, York Co., ME.

On Blackberry Hill, by Love's Brook, about four miles north from the big bend in the Great Works River, was the farm of Lieut. Peter Grant, a brother of Capt. James, Jr. Peter was an officer at Louisburg. As a matter of geography it might be noted that Blackberry Hill and much of Love's Brook was in the Upper Parish, or the present town of Berwick, while the Andrew Walker farm on the big bend of the Great Works River was in the Berwick of that day, but South Berwick of the present day.

Peter Grant, of Berwick, in his will, made 29 April, 1756, mentions wife, Mary, and his children named James, Samuel, Alexander, Peter, Landers, Daniel, Mary (Hambleton), Sarah (Hambleton) who later married Lord, Lydia, Martha and Grizel.He gives his sons seven guns, two pistols, and a sword. Will probated 12 July, 1756. Inventory, L1078-0-11.

Son of Capt. James Grant and Mary Grant. Husband of Lydia Foss and Mary Hodson. Father of Mary Hamilton; Peter Grant Jr.; Sarah Jane Lord; Landers Grant; Daniel Grant; Alexander Stone Grant; Silas Grant; James Grant; James Grant; Dorcas Lord; Martha Lombard (Grant); Lydia Lombard; Dorcas,2nd Grant; Capt. Samuel Grant; Grizzell Lord; Lydia Grant; Grizzel Grant and Dorcus Grant. Brother of Mary Walker; Sarah Austin and Capt. James Grant Half brother of Sarah Austin; Daniel Grant; Elias Grant; Joshua Grant; John Grant; Rachel Grant; Elisha Grant and Elijah Grant.

Notes for PETER GRANT: “From Kittery to Kansas” Peter, the second son of Captain James and Mary Grant, was born December 14, 1696. As his older brother, James, died in infancy, Peter took a leadership role as was then customary for the oldest son of a New England family. He hunted and fished for food, cut and split wood for the fireplaces, and performed dozens of other chores. There were no formal schools. Children were taught to read and write and do arithmetic by their parents or older relatives. Occasionally itinerant teachers passed through the community and conducted classes for a short period of time.

Peter was baptized on July 19, 1719^[1] in the church which his grandfather and namesake, Peter, had helped found in about 1700. Febraury 24, 1717^[2] or 18 [there is confusion as to the exact year] Peter married Lydia Fost [Frost is sometimes shown on the records]. The first pastor of the Berwick church, the Reverend Jeremiah Wise, preformed the marriage ceremony.

Peter and Lydia had seven children. After Lydia’s death, Peter married Mary Lord Stewart in 1739. And another seven children were born of this union – he sired a total of 14 children.

Peter continued the tradition of military service begun by his father, Captain James I. He served in the Louisburg Expedition in early 1745 and was commissioned a Lieutenant. This expedition was a successful British raid on a French fort on Capt Breton Island, the easternmost point of Nova Scotia. Peter’s brother, Captain James Grant II, born in 1703, also served on this expedition.

THE LOUISBURG EXPEDITION

The French and English were continually at odds, but in 1744 Spain was at war with England. As soon as the French became aware of this, they began urging the Indians to attack the settlements again. During these years there the Indian attacks increased in intensity. Hardly a town existed that did not have houses burned, Women and children and the men were killed or carried into captivity. Many men were required to repel the Indians, and their instigators, the French. Early in the spring of 1745 an expedition was sent to Louisburg on Cap Breton Island, the easternmost point of Nova Scotia. This was the second largest fort in all America at that time, eclipsed only by Quebec.

The expedition consisted of four thousand men and thirteen vessels, along with ships carrying stores and ammunication. They had in all about two hundred guns. William Pepperell of Kittery was the leader of the expedition and his aide was Samuel Waldo of Falmouth. Lt. Co.. William Vaughn of Damariscotta who planned the expedition was there and the fleet was under the command of Edward Tyng of Falmouth. When this force got to Louisburg, it was joined by a Commodore Warren with four British war ships. Six other ships arrived during the battle and the fleet had now some six hundred ninety guns. The forts of rht French were built of stone, and some of the small cannon were ineffective, and after the siege of six weeks the fort surrendered to the English.

Following the victory, the men who had comprised some of the forces from the Province of Maine wished to return to their homes immediately.

Lieut. Peter Grant was authorized to collect any bounty monies belonging to those who could not wait, and to bring back to Berwick for them. Among the 47 persons who designated Lt. Grant as their agent in signing receipts were Elias Grant, Peter’s half brother’ Solomon Walker, his cousin, and others.

Peter operated a farm on Blackberry Hill near Lovers Brook which he sold in 1739, when , it is believed, he moved back to Berwick. After his death in 1756, his will was probated and the inventory showed a net worth of 1,078 pounds, quite a sum of money for that time. This is why he was albe ot leave bequests to uncles, sisters, in addition to all of his living children. Peter is buried in Burwick.

LIEUTENANT PETER GRANT’s WILL – Probate Office: 9, 162

“In the Name of God Amen.

The 29th Day of April 1756, I Peter Grant of Berwick in the County of York in the Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England Gentlamen, being Sick & weak in Body, but of perfect Mind & Memory, Thanks be given to God; And calling to Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament, that is to Say, principally & first of all, I commend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to ye Earth to be buried in a christian decent Burial at ye Discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at ye General I Syhall receive ye Same again by ye mighty power of God. Adn as Sucyh worldy Estte wherewith it hath please God to bless me in this Life, I give demise & dispose of ye Same in ye following Manner & Form.

I give & bequeath to my dearly beloved Wife Mary Grant all my homestead or home place House Barn Orchard Improvements, all my Utensils of farming Work, as Carts Wheels Plows Harrows Small Cains Axes & Crow and all other Utensils or Implements of that kind; As also all my Stock of What kind soever as Cows Oxen Sheep Swine & my Mair, for her and my young Family’s Support & Maintenance until my two Sons james & Samuel Grant comes to lawful Age, and all my household Good & Furnature I give & Bequeath to my aforesd Wife to be her’s & at her Disposal to distribute & give among my Children as She Sees Cause to dispose of them, reserving a Yoke of Oxen & a Cow for my funeral Charges.

Item. I give & bequeath to my two well beloved Sons James & Samuel Grant, a hundred Acres of Land more or less in equal Shares or halves joing by ye South Side of Hoopers Land & by great Works River from ye Pont to Benja Hodsdons Southwest Corner; And from Said Corner Strait to ye Cove at great Works River to them & their respective Heirs lawfully begotton of their ?Bodies to be possessed & enjoyed by them with the House Barn and other Improvemnts, when they shall come to ye Age of twenty one as also a yoke of the Calves for each of my Said Sons out of the above Stock.

My Will also is, that my Son Alexandr is he Sees Cause may have the Improvement of ye Ten Acres of Land where his House & Barn now is for Ten Years.

Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved Son Peter Grant Junr all my Right in hom hond Fathers Estate or homestead down in Town; And all that I purchased of my Uncles Daniel and Alexander Grant, and that I bought of Joseph Woodsom, and also a piece of Land at Love’s Brook, beginning at Mine & Chadbourns Coerner by the High Way & running down the Brook on ye Eastern Side of ye Brook to the Pond Book, then running twelve Rods East from the Mouth of ye yond Brook to ye old Fence where Joshua Abbot lately clearld, and from thence to Chadbourn’s Line reserving a Way to me and my Heris & Assigns to pass and repass to the County Road forever, To be my Said Sons Peter Grantjr and his Heirs Lawfully begotten of his Body forever.

Item. I give & bequeath to my three well beloved Sons, Landers, Daniel & Alexander Grant Seventy five Acres of Land at Love’s Brook beginning at the Highway at ye South Side of Love’s Brook running as the fence now Stands until it comes to miles Thomsons & my dividing Fence; then running down the Fence to Biles Marsh as the Fence now Stands, then Northeast to Biles & my Corner at Love’s Brook, then to Hodsdon’s & Plaisteds till ye Said Seventy five Acres be fully Accomplished, to them & their respective Heirs lawfully begotten of their Bodies in equal Shares, forever to divide among themselves according to quantity & quality as they see proper, reserving to me my Heirs & Assigns Liberty to pass & repass thro any of the above given Lands, at Love’s Brook to the Country Road forever.

Item. I give & bequeath to my loving Brother & Sister Andrew Walker & Mary Walker two Acres of Lnd in ye old Cornfield at Love’s Broos and the Liberty of Cutting twenty five Cocks of Hay yearly during their natural Life, if they See Cause to improve it, And the remainder of my Land at Love’s Brook not disposed of in this my Will, I leave to pay my lawfull Debts is needs be. And if what I leave hereafter to pay my honest & lawful Debts be Sufficient then the Said remainder part of Land at Love’s Brook I give & bequeath in equal Shares to my aforesd Six Sons. My Will is further that Joshua Abbott be allowed the Improvement of what he cleared at Love’s Brook for four Years in Consideration of his Labour, Still reserving to my Son Peter Grant for his own Use, the wood on ye point on the South Side of Love’s Brook at the Mouth of ye Brook as Deacn Libby’s Land & mine runs to Bile’s Marsh.

Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved Daugter Mary Hambleton her Heirs or Assigns Ten pounds thirteen Shillgs and four pence to be paid her in lawful Money by me two Sons Peter & Daniel equally in Six Years after my Decease.

Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Sarah Hambleton her Heirs or Assigns Ten pounds thirteen Shillings and four pence lawful Money to be paid her by my two Sons Landras & Alexander Grant in Six years after my Decease.

Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Lydia Grant, Ten pounds thirteen Shillings & four pence lawful Money a Cow Bed & Bedding to be paid her by my Wife at a proepr apprizal in part of the above Sum, and ye remainder if any shall be wanting to make up ye abouve Sum to be paid her by Son James when he comes of full Age.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Dorcas Grant Ten pounds thirteen Shillings & four pence L. M. a Cow Bed a& Bedding to be paid by her Mother at a proper Apprizal to discharge Said Sum the Remainder if any there be to be paid her by my Son Samuel when he comes to full Age.

Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Martha Grant a Cow & a great Pot to be paid her by my Wife at a proper Apprizal to make up ye like Sum of Ten pounds thirteen Shillings & four pence, & ye Remainder to be paid her by my Son James Grant.

Item. I give & bequeath to my Daughter Brizzel Grant Ten Pounds thirteen Shillings & four pence, two great Pewter Platters half a Dozn Plates to be paid her by her Monther in part thereof, The Over plus by my Son Samuel when he comes full Age.

My Will is further that John Key and his Heirs may enjoy that part in the little Mill which he has improved provided he clears me & my Heirs from Col. Ichabod Plaisted & his Heirs and produce Receipts to that Effect otherwise ye sd part of sd Mill be Sold to discharge Said Debt.

Item. I give to my Son Landras one Acre of Land in the Beaver Dam Country, my new french gun I give to my Son James my old french Gun I give to my Son Sam my other Six Guns two Pistols & Sword my Land in ye New Township ______Beaker Grant all my other out Lands all my Mill [excepting three days ______-I leave with my two Sons Peter & James Grant] I leave to pay my honest Debts, as also my three great Chaius Canting Dog and great Clavis I leave to pay my Debts after my Sons has fulfilled their Contract.

My Will is futher that my White Oak Logs cutt & to be cutt be Sawed & my part of them to pay Samuel Wentworths Debt My pine Logs in the River Brow & Mill pond I leave to discharge my Debts, and Support my Family with Bread Coren.

My Will is further that all Debts due to me go towards ye Payment of my honest Debts –

Finally I make constitute appoint & ordain my well beloved Sons Peter Grant Junr and Landras Grant to be the Sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament, utterly revoking disannulling & making void all former or other Wills Executors Legacys & Bequests heretofore by me in any wise made willed or named ratifying & Confirming this & none other to be my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have here unto Set my hand & Seal the Day & Date above written.

Peter Grant

Signed Sealed published pronounced & declared by the Said Peter Grant as his lant Will & Testamt in the presence of us Witnesses: Grindal Knight, Ephraim Joy, John Sullivan

Probated 12 July 1756. Inventory returned 13 July 1756 by Grindal Knight, Benjamin Hodsdon and Patrick Gowen appraisers.^[3]

Children of PETER GRANT and LYDIA FOST are:

i. LANDRES4 GRANT, baptized 11 Sep 1725 Berwick, York, Maine;^[4] d. September 15, 1802, York Co., ME.

ii. MARY GRANT, baptised 7/19/1719, Berwick, York, Maine.

iii. PETER GRANT, JR., baptized 24 Jul 1720;^[5] d. October 22, 1793.

iv. SARAH JANE GRANT, baptized 25 Apr 1723.^[6]

v. ALEXANDER STONE GRANT, baptized 6 Aug 1727;^[7] m. MARGARET HODSDON

vi. DANIEL GRANT, baptized 6 Aug 1727; m. SARAH CLEATS

vii. SILAS GRANT, baptized 24 Aug 1729.^[8]

viii. JAMES GRANT33, m. MARY HODSDON.

Children of PETER GRANT and MARY LORD are:

ix. JAMES4 GRANT, b. 1737. 13. x. SAMUEL GRANT, CAPT., b. 1740, Berwick, York Co., ME; d. August 13, 1805, Clinton, ME.

xi. DORCAS GRANT, b. 1741.

xii. LYDIA GRANT, b. 1744.

xiii. MARTHA GRANT, b. 1745.

xiv. GRIZZELL GRANT, b. 1746.

Research Notes

Exhuastive searches of texts added below, "Records of the First and Second Churches of Berwick, Maine" and "Old Kittery and Her Families," have not been completed.

Sources

1. ↑ The Records of the First Church of Berwick, Page 12. See full citation below. 19 Jul 1719 Peter Grant baptism.
2. ↑ Stackpole, Everett S. Berwick (Maine) Marriages, (Recorded in Kittery) The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, 1901) Vol. 55, Page 310. (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiuo.ark:/13960/s2g1782n34k&view=1up&seq=334&q1=Grant) accessed 11 Mar 2023.
3. ↑ Sargent, William. Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (Brown Thurston & Co., Portland, 1887) Pages 792 - 783. (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t6h13m781&view=1up&seq=797&q1=Grant)
4. ↑ The Records of the First Church of Berwick, Page 25. See full citation below. 11 Sep 1726 Baptism record for son Laundres Grant.
5. ↑ The Records of the First Church of Berwick, Page 14. See full citation below. 24 Jul 1720 Baptism record for son Peter Grant, Jr.
6. ↑ The Records of the First Church of Berwick, Page 21. See full citation below. 25 Apr 1723 Baptism record for daughter Sarah Grant.
7. ↑ The Records of the First Church of Berwick, Page 27. See full citation below. 6 Aug 1727 Baptism record for sons Alexander and Daniel Grant.
8. ↑ The Records of the First Church of Berwick, Page 30. See full citation below. 24 Aug 1729 Baptism record for son Silas Grant.

• Will probated 12 July, 1756. Inventory, L1078-0-11 - Berwick, York County, Province of Massachusetts

• http://petergrantthescot.com/peter-grant-generation-report/

• Anderson, Joseph Crook. Records of The First and Second Churches of Berwick, Maine (Picton Press, Rockport, Me, 1999). (https://archive.org/details/recordsoffirstse00ande/page/n1/mode/2up).

• Stackpole, Everett S., Old Kittery and Her Families (Lewiston Journal Co., 1903) Page 472 - 473 his name on Page 473, #5.