Samuel Peters

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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.

[edit] 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

• 1805 : Returned to America

• April 19, 1826 : Died in New York City

[edit] 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." 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. "The Frogs of Windham" a popular chapter from Peters' "History of Connecticut..." (1781)

• Rourke, Constance. See first section of Chapter II in "American Humor: A Study of the National Character" University of Virginia (2001)

[edit] External links

• 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