General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great BritainPeters, Samuel
History
General History of Connecticut, from Its First Settlement Under George Fenwick to its Latest Period of Amity with Great Britain
Peters, Samuel
Connecticut -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; Connecticut -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
The mobs raised a liberty-pole, and kept watch all night over Dr.
Peters; but some friends took his horses over the water to Branford,
where Dr. Peters and his servant went the next day in disguise, and
from there to Saybrook, and thence to Hebron, where they arrived at
midnight on Saturday, and found ten men watching his return; who soon
informed the Windham mobs, who prepared on Sunday to pay a visit to
Dr. Peters on Sunday night.
The Doctor preached in the church to a numerous congregation in the
morning. At 11 o’clock a friend arrived from Windham and informed the
Doctor that a large mob would be at his house by midnight, and advised
him to abscond, and not attend church in the afternoon.
Dr. Peters desired him to be silent, and attended church in the
afternoon, when the assembly was much increased, and the Doctor
preached an affectionate sermon from these words: “O that my head was
water, and my eyes fountains of tears. I would weep day and night for
the transgressions of my people.” The discourse drew tears from every
eye, and the congregation was dismissed, after a most excellent
prayer. Many people attended the Doctor to his house, and quietness
remained till darkness came on, when several persons were observed
around the house as spies.
The Doctor then ordered a servant to take a valuable horse and ride to
the west two miles, and then turn and ride to the east until he
reached Carter’s tree, and there abide until the Doctor came to him.
Dr. Peters then told his mother, to prevent a civil war between the
Windham mob coming and the people of Hebron, he must leave her, and go
to Boston for protection. He then walked out into his garden in the
dark, and thence, unsuspected, across the fields to his servant and
horse. Mounting, he told his servant to go home, and tell no person
where he saw him last. He then rode off for Boston, 100 miles, and
reached there at 5 P. M. the next day, and had an interview with
General Gage and Admiral Graves, who gave him ample protection.
The Windham mob went to the east border of Hebron, and three spies met
them, and told them Dr. Peters had gone off to the west--likely to
New-York. The mob therefore returned home.
Dr. Peters remained in Boston some weeks, and hearing that the ship
Fox was soon to sail for England, he went off in the night and walked
ten miles, when the stage-coach overtook him and carried him to
Portsmouth.
Sir John Wentworth, Governor of Newhampshire, and the Hon. Col.
Atkinson, called upon him and invited him to dine, and begged him to
preach on Sunday, as their church was vacant by the death of Dr.
Browne. Dr. Peters replied: “I would readily comply with your request,
but for fear of letting the tea-destroyers of Boston know where I am;
and you know their malice against me by the newspapers.”
Sir John replied: “They have no influence in Portsmouth, and we can
and will protect you against those public enemies.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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