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| Misc. Notes | ||||||
| During the English Civil War the Parliamentary Army executed King Charles I, and his son Charles attempted to regain his father's throne through various invasions originating in Scotland. The Scots, although by religion in sympathy with the Parliamentarians, were loyal to the Stuart dynasty. During one of these invasions Oliver Cromwell, Protector of England, marched on the Scots. The Scots surrounded the English army at Dunbar, but General David Leslie, commander of the Scottish army, believed that the English were still in the best position. The Covenanters (Scottish Presbyterian Church leaders) claimed that victory had been revealed to them in a vision and ordered Gen. Leslie to attack the English, which he did on 3 September 1650. 140 members of Clan Grant, including Peter Grant, fought for Prince Charles under the command of the Chief's brother at the Battle of Dunbar. The battle lasted all day and the Scots were defeated. The English pursued many remnants of the Scottish army as far as 8 miles before capturing them. 5,000 prisoners were taken and marched 100 miles from Dunbar to Durham and New Castle in England. The Cathedral at Durham was converted into a prison for the Scottish prisoners. Banks wrote, "Their food consisted of Pottage made with Oatmeal, Beef and Cabbage, a full Quart at every Meal for every Prisoner. They had also Coals daily brought them, as many as made about 100 Fires both Night and Day and Straw to lie upon." Yet, 1,600 of them died in 58 days from disease and lack of medical attention to their wounds. Of the surviving prisoners 900 were sent to Virginia and 150 to New England. Peter Grant was among those deported to New England. They sailed on the 'Unity' captained by Augustine Walker. The 'Unity' sailed in the winter instead of waiting for spring, so the trip was rough and the prisoners had scurvy, but all arrived safely in Boston near the end of December. The prisoners were sold as indentured servants for Ï20-30 each, and were expected to work off the price of their voyage for 6-8 years, then be given their freedom. The typical cost for passage across the sea was Ï5, so Capt. Walker made quite a profit. Peter Grant was sold to work at the Lynn Iron Works in Massachusetts and like his fellow prisoners probably received his first medical attention after the battle from his purchasers. In 1651 another battle for Prince Charles, the Battle of Worcester, resulted in the deportation to New England of Peter's brother, James Grant, and a kinsman of theirs, another James Grant. In 1652 Peter was working for a sawmill in Maine, and probably recieved his freedom and Ï10 to start life on his own there. The Maine sawmill was in financial trouble and it is possible that the remaining Scottish prisoners were discharged from their bondage early to relieve the owners of the mill from the responsibility of feeding the laborers. In 1656 Peter was granted land in Maine and so was free by that date. He went to Boston to look for work and is known to have spent some time in Nantasket, Massachusetts. In 1657 he moved to Dover, New Hampshire and two years later was living across the line in Kittery, Maine. Unity Parish in Berwick, Maine was founded by the Scottish prisoners and the names commemorate both one of the battles with the English and the name of the ship that carried them to America. On 6 January 1657 Peter and James Grant were among those who formed the Scots' Charitable Society for the relief of Scottish prisoners in the New World. Peter bought land on 21 October 1659 from James Emery in Kittery, Maine. The deed calls him "Peter Grant, Scotsman". In 1661 Peter and James Grant were ordered by a local court in Kittery to return to Scotland to their wives, indicating that both had been married at the time of their capture. They do not appear to have returned to Scotland, perhaps because they could not afford the fare, or perhaps because after 11 years their wives must have remarried, assuming them dead. After Peter's brother James disappeared in 1663/64, Peter continued to live with his sister-in-law Joanna Ingersoll. On 10 July 1664 Peter and Joanna were taken to court for living together while unmarried. Joanna was pregnant at this time and it was believed that Peter had a wife living in Scotland. Peter claimed that the child was not his but promised to care for it, and Joanna claimed that the child was her husband's. The court decided otherwise and penalised Peter Ï10 or 10 lashes. Peter married his sister-in-law and her child was born and named Elizabeth. She was raised by Peter's kinsman James Grant and his wife Elizabeth Everell. The kinsman James left his foster daughter Elizabeth property in his will. Peter's will states that he has 7 children and he names them, excluding Elizabeth. Peter's son James Grant, in his will calls Elizabeth his half-sister, as she would have been through their mother. Peter and Joanna had no children for a period of 6 years after their marriage and it is believed that after 6 years word came from Scotland that Peter's wife there was dead or remarried, or that this was the necessary time to ensure that Joanna's first husband was legally dead. Peter Grant is listed on the original tax lists of Kittery, Maine and certainly lived there at least from 1661. In 1701 he signed a deposition stating that he had lived in Kittery for over 40 years. A 1673/4 description of common lands in a deed includes the description 'above Birch Point to Peter Grant's Point. In 1674 Peter was granted 120 acres near York Pond. In 1679 Peter and his kinsman James signed a petition to the Massachusetts government for direct government in Kittery, Maine (Maine then being part of Massachusetts). On 12 November 1679 his kinsman James died leaving Peter some clothes and tools, and Peter's son James his 'fyrelock muskett, sword & belt.' In 1687 Peter served on a Grand Jury. In 1683 he was trustee of Alex Cooper's will, and in 1693 he was Surveyor of Highways and Fences. On 28 December 1704 there was an abatement of taxes given to all who had suffered in recent Indian attacks and were destitute, including an abatement in the amount of 3 schillings for Peter Grant. Toward the end of his life Peter lived at Berwick, Maine. His will was made 19 October 1709 and mentions his wife Joanna, and children William, James, Alexander, Daniel, Grizzell, Mary and Hannah. The inventory of his estate was taken 12 March 1712 and it was valued at Ï216:10:0. He was buried on his own land somewhere outside Berwick. | ||||||
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| Misc. Notes | ||||||
| After her first husband James Grant disappeared in 1663/64, Joanna Ingersoll continued to live with her brother-in-law Peter. On 10 July 1664 Peter and Joanna were taken to court for living together while unmarried. Joanna was pregnant at this time and it was believed that Peter had a wife living in Scotland. Peter claimed that the child was not his but promised to care for it, and Joanna claimed that the child was her missing husband's. The court decided otherwise and penalised Peter Ï10 or 10 lashes. In 28 November Joanna married her brother-in-law and her child was born. The child, named Elizabeth, was raised by Peter's kinsman James Grant and his wife Elizabeth Everell. The kinsman James left his foster daughter Elizabeth property in his will. Peter's will states that he has 7 children and he names them, excluding Elizabeth. Peter's son James Grant, in his will called Elizabeth his half-sister, as she would have been through their mother. Peter and Joanna had no children for a period of 6 years after their marriage and it is believed that after 6 years word came from Scotland that Peter's wife there was dead or remarried, or that after this time Joanna's first husband could be presumed legally dead. | ||||||
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| Last Modified 22 Jan 1997 | Created 29 Oct 2000 by Reunion for Macintosh |