Samuel Peters

Reverend Samuel Andrew Peters (1735–1826) was a Connecticut Anglican clergyman and historian. A nephew, John Samuel Peters (1772-1858), served as Governor of Connecticut 1831-33. Another nephew, John Thompson Peters (1765-1834) served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut 1818-1834.

Chronology

* December 1, 1735 : Born in Hebron, Connecticut being third youngest of twelve children of John Peters (1695-1754) and Mary Marks (1698-1784).

* 1757 Graduated from Yale College

* 1757 Elected Rector of St. Peter's Church, Hebron, Connecticut

* 1758 Sailed to England

* March 11, 1759 Ordained Deacon

* August 5, 1759 Advanced to the Anglican Priesthood

* 1760 Returned to America; took charge of St. Peter's Church parish at Hebron, Connecticut

* February 14, 1760 : First marriage to Hannah Owen (1740-1765) who bore him three daughters.

* June 25, 1769 : Second marriage to Abigail Gilbert (1751-1769).

* April 20, 1773 : Third marriage to Mary Birdseye (1750- ) who bore him two sons.

* August 1774 : Fled to London, England after several visits from the "Sons of Liberty" because of his Loyalist sympathies.

* 1781 : Published, under a pseudonym, "General History of Connecticut, from its first settlement under George Fenwick, to its latest period of amity with Great Britain prior to the Revolution; including a description of the country, and many curious and interesting anecdotes. With an appendix, pointing out the causes of the rebellion in America; together with the particular part taken by the people of Connecticut in its promotion. By a Gentleman of the Province". This work is noted for its unflattering descriptions of the colonists and for its misrepresentation of the [Connecticut Blue Laws.

* February 27, 1794 : Nominated Anglican Bishop-elect of Vermont (but never consecrated) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Encyclopedia]

* 1805 : Returned to America

* 1817 : Visited the Falls of St. Anthony, taking up a large claim there, but again settled in New York (1818). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Encyclopedia]

* April 19, 1826 : Died in New York City in great poverty. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_International_Encyxlopedia]

Resources

* Cameron, Kenneth W., ed. "The Works of Samuel Peters of Hebron, Connecticut, New England Historian..." Hartford: Transcendental Books, 1967.

* Cohen, Sheldon S. "Connecticut's Loyalist Gadfly: The Reverend Samuel Andrew Peters" American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Connecticut Pamphlet XVII (1976)

* Cohen, Sheldon S. "Yale's Peripatetic Loyalist: Samuel Andrew Peters" Journal of the New Haven Colony Historical Society (NHCHS) 25 (Summer, 1977) 1:3-7.

* Metz, Wayne Normile. "The Reverend Samuel Peters (1735-1826): Connecticut Angli­can, Loyalist Priest." [http://e-archive.library.okstate.edu/dissertations/AAI7609724 Doctoral dissertation] , Oklahoma State University, 1974.

* Middlebrook, Samuel. "Samuel Peters: A Yankee Munchausen" New England Quarterly 20 (March, 1947) 1:75-87

* O'Neil, Maud. "Samuel Andrew Peters: Connecticut Loyalist" Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles, 1947.

* Peters, Samual Andrew. " [http://www.19.5degs.com/ebook/the-frogs-of-windham/1739 The Frogs of Windham] " a popular chapter from Peters' "History of Connecticut..." (1781)

* Rourke, Constance. See [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/rourke/ch02.html first section of Chapter II] in "American Humor: A Study of the National Character" University of Virginia (2001)

* Trumbull, "The Reverend Samuel Peters; His Defenders and Apologists" (Hartford, 1877)

* Avery, Joshua M., "Subject and Citizen: Loyalty, Memory and Identity in the Monographs of the Reverend Samuel Andrew Peters" [http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?acc_num=miami1216387236] , M.A. Thesis, Miami University, 2008

External links

* [http://www.quinnipiac.edu/other/ABL/etext/trueblue/bluelawsmain.html The True-blue laws of Connecticut and New Haven : and the false blue-laws invented by the Rev. Samuel Peters : to which are added specimens of the laws and judicial proceedings of other colonies and some blue-laws of England in the reign of James I / edited by J. Hammond Trumbull, Hartford, Conn, American Pub. Co., 1876]