Peter TUFTS

 

 

wager1030

 

1617 - 1700

 

 

Father: 

Mother: 

 

Family 1 : Mary PIERCE

 

 

1.  Peter TUFTS

2.  James TUFTS

3.  Henry TUFTS

4.  John TUFTS

5.+Mary TUFTS 

6.  Jonathan TUFTS

7.  Jonathan TUFTS

8.  Martha TUFTS

9.  Elizabeth TUFTS

10.  John TUFTS

11.  Mercy TUFTS

12.  Sarah TUFTS

13.  Persis TUFTS

14.  Lydia TUFTS

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            

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|- - Peter TUFTS

|    (1617 - 1700) m 1646/7                                                                                                               

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TIMELINE

 

 

1617

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INDEX

 

PEDIGREE

 

wager1030

 

He founded Malden, Massachusetts in 1638. Freeman 1665; Tythingman 1679; Medford 1689. Virkus, Vol. III, 687.

 

Everyone knows that it is hard to keep a message worded the same way if the word travels by ear, so many people will write them down so nothing is confused. Historians of Medford have done just that in their words that talk about Peter Tufts. "Peter Tufts was prominent thereafter in Medford's affairs," quotes the Medford Historical Register, saying that Tufts was always very important to the city and always stood out among the citizens. As John Lerch puts it, from Medford Mercury 1955, "The legendary old brick Peter Tufts House is a landmark of earliest Medford." Peter Tufts built and lived in the oldest brick house in America.

 

The Tufts House is located at 350 Riverside Avenue in Medford. Seaburg (1080) explained that for many years the house was known as the Cradock House because it was thought to have been built in 1634 for Matthew Cradock. The land on which it stands was sold to Peter Tufts of Charlestown in 1677 and by him to his son in 1680. This house appears to have been constructed within that period of time.

 

"Tufts was the first Representative from Medford to the Massachusetts General Court. He helped Medford grow," said Ruth Sidd in her article declaring that Peter Tufts was one of Medford's prominent citizens. Not much was said about Peter Tufts by historians, but enough to get the point across that he was very important to Medford. From the chapter "And who was Peter Tufts" from volume 29 of the Medford Historical Register I learned details of how Peter Tufts contributed to Medford. Written in this chapter were facts about Peter's life while he lived in Medford. In parts the resource talks about how he was always involved with his town. It certainly gave the point that Tufts was devoted to his city.

 

Ferryman, planter and tithingman. He built the brick messuage in Medford, Mass. He was one of the largest land owners in the area.
[NI20970] Peter Tufts (also spelled "Tuffts" and Tuffes") immigrated from Wilby, Norfolk, England to Charlestown, MA where he is recorded in 1637 "on the Malden side (of Charlestown)." By 1638 he had 43 acres there. In early 1647 Peter, along with William Bridge, became ferryman on the Mystic River, succeeding Philip Drinker in that role. This ferry, later known as the Penny Ferry, served the inhabitants of Malden and the upper towns until 1787 when it was superceded by the Malden Bridge. William Bridge, referred to as "his brother," was husband of Peter's wife's sister, Persis (Pierce) Bridge. By 1647 Peter had located in Malden, MA where he was one of the earliest and largest land owners; he also owned land on Mystic Side.
He is recorded as a Freeman of Malden and the Massachusetts Bay Co. 3 May 1665 and 15 Oct 1679 (NEHGS "Register," Vol 3, pgs. 239 & 245.)
Peter was an interesting character, as attested to by the following from "The History of Malden, MA, 1633-1785," by Deloraine Pendre Corey, 1899, page 120: "Henry Swillaway was the unfortunate servant of Peter Tufts, who "beate his man with the greate end of A Goade Sticke,' and 'said that he would tie him to a tre and beat him for he was his monie.' Under such provocations, it is not strange that the servant began to retaliate and 'abused' his master and 'his dame in blose and words.' Thomas Mudge saw him 'strike his master upon his brest with his hand;' and Mary Mudge testified: 'that she being at Goodman Torfs of an arand; Gudie Torfe and she hereing the Dine in the yard, we went out of the dore, and his man had got up a great stone and held it up to thro at his master, as I conseved, but when he se me he threwe it doune; I further Testifie I herd him cal his master base Rouge.' It may be supposed that neither Goodman Tufts nor the rebellious Swillaway could desire to keep close company for a long time, and accordingly the latter became servant to John Bunker. He was soon brought before the Court by his late master for his miscarriages; but, in the end, the master got more justice than he liked. James Barratt, his neighbor, said: ' I James Barot aged about 40 yeres or ther aboutes I doth heare testifie that I herd goodman tufes sai that he had not Justis before the Debeti Gove; in the cas betwen him and his man and for his man was wrong out of his hand Therefor he wod make it appear at this corte:' Thus was government, in the person of Richard Bellingham, again defamed as it had been aforetime by Thomas Squire. Peter Tufts was speedily convicted and humbly acknowledged his sin, with the wish that it might 'not only be a warning to myselfe for the future, unto a greater watchfulnes over all my words & wayes, but also a meanes to detere all others that either have or may heare of, from all offenses of this or the like nature.'
'Well would it have been for the goodnamn if 'Gudie Torfe' had profited by the experience of her husband; but her woman's nature could not control her tongue, which soon brought her to grief. James Barrett and William Luddington had been witnesses in the Swillaway case, and it was for slander against them that she was found guilty. The penalty was: 'damages ten shillings apeece, & an acknowledgment to be made by the defendant at Mauldon, upon the Lord's day in the after noone, within the space of thirty dayes next ensueing, and to be made after the publicke exercise is ended, before the congregation depart in mann(er) following via. in these words. That whereas I Mary Tufts am legally convicted of slandering and wronging James Barrat & William Luddington, or any other whom my words might reflect upon, by speaking Rashly, irregularly or sinfully, I am heartily sorry, & doe desire to be humbled for the same & in case of non observance to doe as above p-mised either to pay ye said ten shill. apeece, or making such acknowledgemt both for mannr & time: the Jury do find that ye defft shall pay uinto ye pts fifty shill apeece, & costs of Court, thiry one shill & two pence."
Elsewhere in the same history of Malden, Peter's involvement in the witchcraft scare at Salem is mentioned: " Peter Tufts of Mytic Side, who many times during a long life appears in court records and files, and not always as a desirable neighbor, also complained of them [Elizabeth Fosdick of Malden & Elizabeth Paine of Mystic Side]...Complaint v. Eliz Fosdick & Eliz Paine, Salem, Mary the 30th 1692: Lt. Nathaniell putnam and Joseph Whipple both of Salem Village made Complaint in behalfe of theire majest against Elizabeth fosdick of Maulden (sic) the wife of John fosdick afores Carpenter & Elizabeth paine off Charlestown the wife of Stephen paine of said place husbandman for sundry acts of Witchcraft by them Committed Lately on the bodies of Marcy Lewis and Mary Warren of Salen Village or farmes to theire great hurt therefore crauses Justice. Signed Nathaniel Putnam & Joseph Whipple. The abovesayd Complaint was Exhibited before us Salem May the 30th 1692. Signed John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin. peter Tuft of Charlestown also appeared before us Salem June 2nd 1692 and also Complained against both ye aboves for acts of Witchcraft by them Committed on his negro Woman. The mark of Peter Tufts "+."
Peter's will is recorded in Middlesex Co., MA as #22994, dated 1 March 1693 with codicils of 8 July 1695 and 13 June 1698. It was proved 10 June 1701. He is buried at Malden Church Yard, called Bell Rock Cemetery. [posted by Lissa Garman snakebite05@yahoo.com]

 

 

 

LINKS:  http://www.medford.org/History/book/tufts.htm , http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~myplace/tufts.html , http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/1006/tufts.html

 

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