Person:Joseph Peaslee (2)

The following from rootsweb:

   MINISTER JOSEPH (PEASLEY) PEASLEE:

   The origin of the name Peaslee is unknown. Some claim it comes from the name Peter, while others feel that it is the combination of the two words Peas and lea (pasture.  Still others feel that it is a combination of the families Pease and Lee.

   Joseph, the first bearing that name who came to New England, was originally from Gloucestershire, England. Peaslee tradition places Joseph origin near the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire which flows not far from the border of Wales. He is referred to as having been of Bristol which is the metropolitan center of the area. His first three children were born in England with the last being born in 1629. This 13 year gap plus the fact that Mary Johnson was much younger indicates that he was married before and Mary Johnson is his second wife.

   Joseph Peaslee and his family came to America abt 1635/38 from Bristol, England to settle in Newbury, Massachusetts. He moved to Salisbury, Newton Co , Massachusetts from there to Colchester (now Salisbury) in 1641 where he was granted additional land. In 1642 he was made a Freeman of the communit y. He was one of 32 land holders who founed Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts in 1645. He and his family lived in the "eastern part of the town near the head of what is now East Broadway on the side towards the Merrimac River." He was chosen to serve Haverhill as a Selectman in 1649, 1650, and 1653. Joseph was a farmer and a cattle rancher. He was also remembered as one who had much knowledge of herbs and roots and used them to aid people medically.

   In 1656 he moved to Salisbury, Massachusetts. The section he settled in is now part of Newton, New Hampshire. According to Fredrick Lamphere, early settlers of Salisbury were reluctant to take up their abode in the western half of the town and that in 1642, thirty families were either forced to were persuaded to settle there. When there the settlers felt they should have their own church and not have to travel to the church in Salisbury. They petitioned the General Court for this right. The court ruled against them and added that anyone not attending their church would be fined five shillings.

   When Joseph arrived in this part of town, this controversy was still going on. Joseph then took a leading part in it as he began to preach at the "new church". Joseph got into trouble over this on a number of occasions. At one point a warrant was issued ordering Joseph to appear before the court and answer for his disobedience to authorities. He refused to stop preaching and in 1659 he was fined by the court. A compromise was finally reached where the new residents would hire the preacher from Salisbury church to travel to their church and preach.

   In 1741 when the state was established, his settlement was within the present lines of Newton, N.H where his homestead of 200 acres was located. He continued to preach the doctrine that resulted in the formation of the "Society of Friends" (Quakers) in 1653. This is from "Early Settlers of Essex and Norfolk" page 357.

   While residing in East Salisbury, he fell out of favor with the established church and moved out of its jurisdiction to west of the Powow river in what is known as Amesbury Mills. He continued to have problems with the East Salisbury church who extended their jurisdiction, forcing Joseph and others to move farther west and making a permanent settlement in Haverhill, in that part which was in Massachusetts before the state line was established in 1741. He was a Quaker and continued to be prohibited by the Puritans in practicing his belief. Joseph, a successful farmer, owned a large amount of property both in Salisbury and Haverhill.

   On November 11, 1660 his will was written: (copied as written)
   The last will and testament of Josef Peasly is that my debts shall be payed out of my Estate and the remainder estate---my debts being payed I do give and bequeath unto Mary my wife [copied article ended here]

From Nancy Phildius: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=nancyp&id=I434

   According to Graham Peaslee the birthplace is possibly: Chipping-Sodbury,England.Also this information and possible conclusions are from an answer to a query on the Peaslee gen-forum, quoted from the answer; "While the connection between the original Joseph and ancestors in England/Wales has never been absolutely confirmed, my father and I have stumbled uopn some rather convincing eveidence that he was the son of a Robert and Jane Peaslee,born in Chipping-Sodbury, Gloucestershire,England,around 1598."

   The origin of the name Peaslee is unknown. Some claim it comes from the name Peter, while others feel that it is the combination of the two words Peas and lea (pasture).Still others feel that it is a combination of the families Pease and Lee.

   Joseph, the first bearing that name who came to New England, was originally from Gloucestershire, England. Peaslee tradition places Joseph origin near the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire which flows not far from the border of Wales. He is referred to as having been of Bristol which is the metropolitan center of the area.A number of Peaslee families have lived in Gloucestershire at that period of time. His first three children were born in England with the last being born in 1629. This 13 year gap plus the fact that Mary Johnson was much younger indicates that he was married before and Mary Johnson is his second wife.

   Joseph Peaslee and his family came to America abt 1635/38 from Bristol, England to settle in Newbury, MA.It is thought that they may have traveled to New England with Reverand Thomas Parker, whose group may have landed in Boston,although there is no written record of that.It is thought they settled in Newbury, Mass. around 1638, it is not untill 1641 that there is a written record of Joseph Peaslee in New England.

   He moved to Salisbury, Newton Co, MA, from there to Colchester (now Salisbury) in 1641 where he was granted additional land.His grant consisted of "two and a half acres stint of ox and cow common". In 1642 he was made a Freeman of the community. He was one of 32 land holders who founed Haverhill, MA in 1645.He and his family lived in the "eastern part of the town near the head of what is now East Broadway on the side towards the Merrimac River". He was chosen to serve Haverhill as a Selectman in 1649, 1650, and 1653. Joseph was a farmer and a cattle rancher. He was also remembered as one who had much knowledge of herbs and roots and used them to aid people medically.

   He supplied the place of a minister in Amesbury as a lay preacher, or " gifted brother", as the church calls him.
   From: "Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England"., Page 222

   In 1656 he moved to Salisbury, MA. The section he settled in is now part of Newton, NH. According to Fredrick Lamphere, early settlers of Salisbury were reluctant to take up their abode in the western half of the town and that in 1642, thirty families were either forced to were persuaded to settle there. When there the settlers felt they should have their own church and not have to travel to the church in Salisbury. They petitioned the General Court for theis right. The court ruled against them and added that anyone not attending their church would be fined five shillings.
   When Joseph narrived in this part of town, this controversy was still going on. Joseph then took a leading part in it aas he began to preach at the "new church". Joseph got into trouble over this on a number of occasions. At one point a warrant was issued ordering Joseph to appear before the court and answer for his disobedience to authorities. He refused to stop preaching and in 1659 he was fined by the court. A compromise was finally reached where the new residents would hire the preacher from Salisbury church to travel to their church and preach.

   In 1741 when the state was established, his settlement was within the present lines of Newton, N.H where his homestead of 200 acres was. He continued to preach the doctrine that resulted in the formation of the "Society of Friends" (Quakers) in 1653.
   This is from "Early Settlers of Essex and Norfolk" page 357
   .
   While residing in East Salisbury, he fell out of favor with the established church and moved out of it's jurisduction to west of the Powow river in what is known as Amesbury Mills. He continued to have problems with the East Salisbury church who extended their jurisdiction, forcing Joseph and others to move farther west and making a permanent settlement in Haverhill, in that part which was in MA before the state line was established in 1741. He was a Quaker and continued to be prohibited by the Puritans in practicing his belief. Joseph, a successful farmer, owned a large amount of property both in Salisbury and Haverhill.

   He was a member of of "Church of Salisbury-Old Town, Salisbury,Essex County, Massachusetts. Record found in old "Town Book of Salisbury.

   On November 11, 1660 his will was written: (copied as written)

   The last will and testament of Josef Peasly is that my debts shall be payed out of my Estate and the remainder estate---my debts being payed I doo give and bequeath unto Mary my wiff during her life and I doo my daffter Sara all my hous and lands that I have at Salisbury and I doo give unto Josef my sonne all my land that I have upon the plain at Haverhill and doo give unto Josef my sonne all my medo ling in East medo at Havehill and doo give unto Josef my sonne five shares of the common rites that doo belong to me on the plain. I doo give unto my daffter Elizabeth my fourty fower acres of upland ling westwards of Haverhill and do give unto my dattfer Elizabeth fower acres and a half of medo lingin the ---at Haverhill and doo allso give my daffter Elizabeth fower of the common rites that doo belong to the plain and doo give unto my daffter Jean fower shillings and to my daffter Mary fower shillings. I doo give unto Sara Saier my grandchild my upland and medo ling in---medo.And I doo give unto my sonne Josef all the remainder of my land at Haverhill which is not herein disposed of.I doo allso make Mary my wiff my Soule executrer and do allso leave Josef my sonne and the estate I have given him to my wiff to poss on till Josef my sonne be twenty years of age.
   This will was proved on February 9, 1661.

   Sources:
   "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" page 566
   Salisbury, Haverhill, Newbury MA Vital Records.
   "Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury" Page 314 & 1006
   Pillsbury Gen. 2nd Pealsee line
   H.E.H.G.R. 15-269 P.O.P.- 1:1

   From NEHS:
   Joseph Peaslee and his family settled first in Newbury, Mass, around the year 1638. In 1641 Joseph was granted land in Newbury. In 1642 he was made a Freeman of the community. As a freeholder he was entitled to a grant or to purchase land in Newbury. A Freeman in Newbury was entitled to a 4 acre home lot and at least 50 acres of additional land. The amount of land a freeman owned depended on how much he had invested into the community and how much land he could later buy. Sarah was born during their stay in Newbury.

   In 1645 Joseph Peaslee was one of 32 land owners who founded Haverhill, Mass. He was listed as a Freeman in Haverhill in 1646. He and his family lived in the "eastern part of the town near the head of what is now East Broadway on the side towards the Merrimack River". He was chosen to serve Haverhill as a Selectman in 1649, 1650 and 1653. Joseph was a farmer and a cattle rancher. He was also remembered as one who had much knowledge of herbs and roots and used them to aid people medically.

   In 1656 he moved to Salisbury, Mass. The section he settled in is now a part of Newton, New Hampshire. According to Fredrick Lamphere, early settlers of Salisbury were reluctant to take up their abode in the western half of the town and that in 1642 30 families were either forced to or were "persuaded" to settle there. When there the settlers felt that they should have their own church and not have to travel to the church in Salisbury. They petitioned the General Court for this right. The court ruled against them and added that anyone not attending their church would be fined 5 shillings.

   When Joseph arrived in this part of town, this controversy was still going on. Joseph then took a leading part in it as he began to preach at the "new church". Joseph got into trouble over this on a number of occasions. At one point a warrant was issued ordering Joseph to appear before the court and answer for his disobedience to authorities.

   This warrant read:
   "That the recorder for the County of Norfolke, forthwith issue out his warrrants requiring Joseph Peasley & the rest of the inhabitants of the new toune, being masters of families, or at their own dispose to make theire personall appearances before the next County Court to be held at Salisbury, to answer for their disobedjence to authorjtie in not complying wth said order and the said County Court is hereby empowered to procede agt all such of them as in their appearance shall not fully make it cleare they have since said order, performed their duty and repajred to the public worship of God on the Lords day at the ould toune, to fine them for every days absence there, five shillings".

   He refused to stop preaching and in 1659 was fined 5 shillings per week by the court.The Court ordered him to stop preaching . A compromise was finally reached where the new residents would hire the preacher from the Salisbury church, Rev. Worcester, to travel to their church and preach. There were problems with this arrangement and after protests were made, the residents were ordered by the court to attend Rev. Worcester's meetings. Joseph Peaslee and others decided to ignore this court order. The court then responded with a stronger order;

   "The Court, having considered of & given ansr to the petition of the inhabitants of Salisbury, calling to minde the affront that Joseph Peasley put upon this Corts judgement & order in the yeare fifty eight, not only by continewing his preaching amongst the inhabitants of the new toune of Salisbury notwithstanding this courts injunction to the country but refusing to come to ansr for his contempt of the courts order & understanding the County Court only fined him five shillings for his absence weekly, as they did others & that still he continews preaching there as frequently as before the courts order & that also as we have been informed against the advice of the church whereof he is a member, and that his preaching, (being very weak and unfitt for so great a work) doth rather encrease then lessen the contentions there, doe order, that the said Joseph Peasley be forthwith by order of this court forbidden to preach anymore in any part of this jurisdiction till he give full satisfaction to this Court for what have been past."

   This dispute was never solved during Joseph's lifetime.Joseph died on December 3, 1660. He must have been sickly for he made out his last will and testament on November 11 1660. His will was proved on Feb. 9, 1661.Salisbury, Mass.

   His will reads as written:

   "My debts shalbe payed out of my estate & ye remaynder of my estate wch is left my debts being payed I doe give and bequeath ye one halfe unto Mary my wyfe dureing her life and I doe give unto my daughter Sarah all my house & lands yt I have att Salisbury & I doe give unto Joseph my sone all my land yt I have upon ye playne att Haverhill & doe also give unto Joseph my sone all my meadow lying in ye east meadow att Haverhill & I doe give my sone Joseph five of ye common rights yt belong to ye playne. I doe give unto my daughter Elizabeth fower acres & a halfe of meadow lying in ye west meadow att Haverhill & doe also give to my daughter Elizabeth fower of ye common rights yt belong to ye playne & doe give unto my daughter Jane 10 shillings and to my daughter Mary 10 shillings & doe give unto Sarah Sawer (Sawyer) my grandchilde my upland meadow lying at Spickett River & I doe give unto my sonne Joseph all ye remaynder of my land att Haverhill wch is not deposed of here. I doe also make Mary my wyfe my sole executer & doe also leave my sonne Joseph & ye estate yt I have given him to my wyfes deposing till Joseph my sonne bee twenty years of age."

   Witnesses: Philip Challis
   Tho. Barnard
   Richard Currier

   The inventory of Joseph Peaslee's estate shows the following items;
   A grinding ston & crank & betle ringe- 12 shillings
   A smoothing iron,5 wedges & one Iron barr-1 pound 5shillings
   One payer Andirons & 2 spitts 4 axes & 2 sawes-2 pounds 6 shillings
   One Crane, 2 trammells, gridiron &Brandiron, Fireslice, tonges-1 pound 14 shillings
   One tow combe, parsell-10 shillings
   One iron pot & skillet, pot hooks 7 flesh Hooks & frying pan- 1 pound 4 shillings
   5 howes, 1 chaine & other iron worke- 1 pound
   peuter & brass- 5 pounds 8 shillings
   2 gunns & 1 sword- 2 pounds
   all his waring apparell, woolen & linen-8 pounds
   cloath & searge & tame-7pounds 13 shillings
   beds & bedding-10pounds 18 shillings
   yarn, wooll, flax & hemp- 5pounds 10 shillings
   chests, barrills, spinning wheels & other lumber-3 pounds
   Forty bushells of wheat-10 pounds
   Sixty bushells of Indian corn- 9 pounds
   3 cowes, 2 heffers & 1 calfe -19 pounds
   swine - 3 pounds
   howse & land & meadow - 50 pounds
   2 Bibles & other books - 1 pound 15 shillings
   Total 143 pounds 5 shillings

   The real estate owned by Joseph Peaslee was appraised by James Davis jr., and Theophilus Satchwell. This land consisted of;
   12 acres more or less within ye playne fenced as it is bounded in ye records 50 pounds
   18 acres without ye fence 40 pounds
   44 acres in ye 2d division over ye little river eastward 35 pounds
   4 score & 4 of ye 3d division on Spickett Hill 35 pounds
   4th division of upland not yet pfected altho granted by the town (app. 350 acres which lay beyond Spickett River) 5 pounds
   6 acres of meadow at ye east meadow 8 pounds
   6 acres of 2d division of meadow 9 pounds
   4 acres of 3d division of meadow bounded in the new found meadow 5 pounds
   4 ox commons & other cow commons 16 pounds
   Total 223 pounds

   Joseph's widow, Mary, received two further grants of land after Joseph's death. She was granted Lot #25 which bordered the river in Salisbury and in 1662 granted Lot #19. Lot 19 consisted of 108 acres.

   Sources:
   " The Peaslees" by E.Kimball (Press of Chase Brothers,Haverhill,Mass. 1899) page6-16-18
   " A Passel O' Peasleys" by Fredrick Lamphere (Indianapolis, Indiana 1979)pages 1-2-3-4;Part 2 "History" page 13

   From:http:www.geocities.com/heartlaand/hills/1094/ptos.htm
   Joseph Peasley was born about 1605 in Gloucestershire,England, near the Wales border, and died Dec.,3, 1660 in Salisbury,MA. He married Mary Johnson, daughter of John Johnson, in Wales. Joseph came from England in 1638 and first settled in Newbury,MA.; then to Salisbury in 1641, and was one of the 32 landowwners in Haverhill, MA in 1645. While he waas residing in East Salisbuury, he fell out of favor with the established church and moved out of it's jurisdition to west of the Powow river in what is known as Amesbury Mills. He continued to have problems with the East Salisbury church who extended their jurisdiction, forcing Joseph and others to move farther west and making a permanent settlement in Haverhill, in that part which was in MA. before thr state line was established in 1741. He was a Quaker and continued to be prohibited by the Puritans in practicing his belief. Joseph, a successful farmer, owwned a large amount of property both in Saalisbury and Haverhill. On NOvember 11, 1660 his will was written: The last Will and Testament of Josef Peasley is that my debts shall be payed out of my Estate and the remainder estate---my debts being payed I doo give and bequeath unto Mary my wife during her life and I do my daughter Sara all my house and laands that I have in Salisbury aand I do give unto Josef my son all my land that I have upon the plain at Haverhill and do give unto Josef my son all my medo ling in East medo at Haverhill and do give unto Josef my son five shares of the common rites thatv do belong to me on the plain. I do give unto my daughter Elizabeth my fourty lower acres of upland ling westwards of Haverhill and do give unto my daughter Elizabeth fower acres and a half of medo ling in the ---at Haverhill and do also give my daughter Elizabeth fower of the common rites that do belong to the plain and do give unto daughter Jean fower shillings and to my daughter Mary Fower shillings. I do give unto Sara Saier my grandchild my upland meado ling in ----medo. And I do give unto my son Josef all the remainder of my land at Haverhill which is not herein disposed of. I do allso make Mary, my wife my sole executrer aand do also leave Josef my son and the estate I have given him to my wife to pass on till Josef my son be twenty years of age.

   Also information found: "The Peasley Paper" by Frederick Lamphere and published in Indianapolis,Indiana
   Text: Vol. 1, No. 1, January 1971, page 1 ("The Peasley Line"), Joseph Peaslee and his wife Mary Johnson came from England to Massachusetts about 1639.

   From Chuck Griffin

   JOSEPH PEASLEY was born abt. 1605 in Gloucestershire England, near the Wales border, and died Dec 03, 1660 in Salisbury, MA. He married MARY JOHNSON, daughter of JOHN JOHNSON, in Wales.
   Joseph came from England in 1638 and first settled in Newbury MA; then to Salisbury in 1641, and was one of the 32 landowners in Haverhill, MA in 1645. While he was residing in East Salisbury, he fell out of favor with the established church and moved out of it's jurisdiction to west of the Powow river in what is known as Amesbury Mills. He continued to have problems with the East Salisbury church who extended their jurisdiction, forcing Joseph and others to move farther west and making a permanent settlement in Haverhill, in that part which was in MA before the state line was established in1741. He was a Quaker and continued to be prohibited by the Puritans in practicing his belief. Joseph, a successful farmer, owned a large amount of property both in Salisbury and Haverhill.

   On Nov. 11, 1660 his will was written:

   The last Will and Testament of Josef Peasly is that my debts shall be payedout of my Estate and the remainder estate----my debts being payed I doo give and bequeath unto Mary my wiff During her life and I doo my daffter Sara all my hous and lands that I have at Salisbury and I doo give unto Josef my sonne all my land that I have upon the plain at Haverhil and doo give unto Josef my sonne all my medo ling in East medo at Haverhil and doo give unto Josef my sonne five shares of the common rites that doo belong to me on the plain. I doo give unto my daffter Elizabeth my fourty fower acres of upland ling westwards of Haverhil and doo give unto my dattfer Elizabeth fower acres and a half of medo ling in the---- at Haverhil and doo allso give my daffter Elizabeth fower of the common rites that doo belong to the plain and doo give unto daffter Jean fower shillings and to my daffter Mary Fower shillings. I doo give unto Sara Saier my grandchild my upland and medo ling in -----medo.

   And I doo give unto my sonne Josef all the remainder of my land at Haverhil which is not herein disposed of. I doo allso make Mary my wiff my Soule executrer and doo allso leave Josef my sonne and the estate I have given him to my wiff to poss on till Josef my sonne be twenty years of age.

   The Peasley House . . . http://www.geocities.com/ckhansgw/JPhouse.htm

   The origin of the name Peaslee is unknown. Some claim that it comes from the name Peter, while others feel that it is a combination of the two words, peas and lea (pasture). Still others feel that it is a combination of the family names Pease and Lee.

   Joseph Peaslee, the first bearing that name who came to New England, was originally from Gloucestershire, England. Peaslee "family tradition place Joseph's origin near the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England, which flows not far from the border of Wales. He is referred to as having been of Bristol, which is the metropolitan center of the area. A number of Peaslee families are known to have lived in Gloucestershire during that time period." He was born around 1600. His father may be a William Peaslee but as a yet I have found no documentation on this. This name was on a family pedigree I found.

   Joseph was married to Mary Johnson of Wales but may have been married previously. The reason for believing this is that Joseph's first three children, Jane (abt 1625), Mary (abt 1627), and Elizabeth (abt 1629) were born in England with the last being born in 1629. Joseph and Mary Johnson had two children, Sarah (1642), and Joseph (1646). Both Sarah and Joseph were born in Haverhill, Mass. This 13 year gap between Elizabeth, Sarah, and the fact that Mary Johnson was much younger then Joseph indicates that she may have been wife #2.

   Mary Johnson was born in Trevor Issa, Wales and was the granddaughter of Edmund Johnson. He, along with six of his children, drowned while on a boating trip in Ponty Pool, Wales, in 1600. The only surviving child was Mary's father, John who was 12 years old when this happened. He had stayed home with his mother during this family outing. John Johnson was a successful farmer in Wales. He had at least three children, Edmund, Mary and John. Edmund settled in Hampton, New Hampshire in 1635. Mary married Joseph Peasley and settled in Haverhill, Mass, while John remained in England where he became a noted Quaker and a companion of George Fox.

   Joseph Peaslee and his family might have traveled to New England with Rev. Thomas Parker whose group landed in Boston in May, 1634, but there is no written record of this. It is thought that they settled in Newbury, Mass, around the year 1638, but it was not until 1641 that there was a written record of Joseph Peaslee in New England. In that year, Joseph was granted land in Newbury. His grant consisted of "two and a half acres stint of ox and cow common".

   In 1642, he was made a Freeman of the community. As a freeholder, he was entitled to a grant or to purchase land in Newbury. A Freeman in Newbury was entitled to a 4-acre home lot and at least 50 acres of additional land. The amount of land a freeman owned depended on how much he had invested into the community and how much land he could later buy. Sarah was born during their stay in Newbury.

   In 1645, Joseph Peaslee was one of 32 landowners who founded Haverhill, Mass. He was listed as a Freeman in Haverhill in 1646. He and his family lived in the "eastern part of the town near the head of what is now (1977) East Broadway on the side towards the Merrimack River". He was chosen to serve Haverhill as a Selectman in 1649, 1650 and 1653. Joseph was a farmer and a cattle rancher. He was also remembered as one who had much knowledge of herbs and roots and used them to aid people medically.

   In 1656, he moved to Salisbury, Mass. There he was granted 20 acres of upland and 10 acres of meadow. The section he settled in is now a part of Newton, New Hampshire. Early settlers of Salisbury were reluctant to take up their abode in the western half of the town and in 1642 30 families were either forced, or were "persuaded", to settle there. Once there the settlers felt that they should have their own church and not have to travel to the church in Salisbury. The settlers began to meet at "church" in their new settlement. Joseph Peaslee and Thomas Macy preached the sermons.

   The General Court ruled on November 6, 1646 that;

   "Any person living within the limits of the colony of Massachusetts Bay who shall without cause, neglect to attend public worship shall forfeit for his absence from every said published meeting, five shillings."

   Both Peaslee and Macy were warned about their preaching, but both continued to defy the General Court.

   The inhabitants of Salisbury petitioned the General Court seeking to be declared a separate town and have the right to have their own church. The court ruled against them on May 26, 1658;

   "Judged it not meete to grant ye inhabitants of the new town of Salisbury their petition but doe declare and order for the present, that they shall attend the worship of God together in the old town and that they contribute their several proportions for the maintainence and continuance of the same amongst them."

   The residents of Salisbury ignored this order and a warrant was issued ordering Joseph to appear before the court and answer for his disobedience to authorities. This warrant read:

   "That the recorder for the County of Norfolke, fforthwith issue out his warrrants requiring Joseph Peasley & the rest of the inhabitants of the new toune, being masters of families, or at their own dispose to make theire personall appearances before the next County Court to be held at Salisbury, to answer for their disobedjence to authorjtie in not complying wth said order and the said County Court is hereby empowered to procede agt all such of them as in their appearance shall not fully make it cleare they have since said order, performed their duty and repajred to the public worship of God on the Lords day at the ould toune, to fine them for every days absence there, five shillings".

   Joseph refused to stop preaching and in 1659 was fined 5 shillings per week by the court. The Court ordered him to stop preaching. A compromise was finally reached where the new residents would hire the preacher from the Salisbury church, Rev. Worcester, to travel to their church and preach. There were problems with this arrangement and after protests made, the residents were ordered by the court to attend Rev. Worcester's meetings. Joseph Peaslee and others decided to ignore this court order. The court then responded with a stronger order;

   "The Court, having considered of & given ansr to the petition of the inhabitants of Salisbury, calling to minde the affront that Joseph Peasley put upon this Corts judgement & order in the yeare fifty eight, not only by continewing his preaching amongst the inhabitants of the new toune of Salisbury notwithstanding this courts injunction to the country but refusing to come to ansr for his contempt of the courts order & understanding the County Court only fined him five shillings for his absence weekly, as they did others & that still he continews preaching there as frequently as before the courts order & that also as we have been informed against the advice of the church whereof he is a member, and that his preaching, (being very weak and unfitt for so great a work) doth rather encrease then lessen the contentions there, doe order, that the said Joseph Peasley be forthwith by order of this court forbidden to preach anymore in any part of this jurisdiction till he give full satisfaction to this Court for what have been past."

   This dispute was never solved during Joseph?s lifetime. He died on December 3,1660. He must have been sickly for he made out his last will and testament on November 11. His will was proved on Feb. 9, 1661.

   His will reads;

   "My debts shalbe payed out of my estate & ye remaynder of my estate wch is left my debts being payed I doe give and bequeath ye one halfe unto Mary my wyfe dureing her life and I doe give unto my daughter Sarah all my house & lands yt I have att Salisbury & I doe give unto Joseph my sone all my land yt I have upon ye playne att Haverhill & doe also give unto Joseph my sone all my meadow lying in ye east meadow att Haverhill & I doe give my sone Joseph five of ye common rights yt belong to ye playne. I doe give unto my daughter Elizabeth fower acres & a halfe of meadow lying in ye west meadow att Haverhill & doe also give to my daughter Elizabeth fower of ye common rights yt belong to ye playne & doe give unto my daughter Jane 10 shillings and to my daughter Mary 10 shillings & doe give unto Sarah Sawer (Sawyer) my grandchilde my upland meadow lying at Spickett River & I doe give unto my sonne Joseph all ye remaynder of my land att Haverhill wch is not deposed of here. I doe also make Mary my wyfe my sole executer & doe also leave my sonne Joseph & ye estate yt I have given him to my wyfes deposing till Joseph my sonne bee twenty years of age."

   Witnesses: Philip Challis

   Tho. Barnard

   Richard Currier

   The inventory of Joseph Peaslee's estate shows the following items;

   A grinding ston & crank & betle ringe- 12 shillings

   A smoothing iron,5 wedges & one Iron barr-1 pound 5shillings

   One payer Andirons & 2 spitts 4 axes & 2 sawes-2 pounds 6 shillings

   One Crane, 2 trammells, gridiron &Brandiron, Fireslice, tonges-1 pound 14 shillings

   One tow combe, parsell-10 shillings

   One iron pot & skillet, pot hooks 7 flesh Hooks & frying pan- 1 pound 4 shillings

   5 howes, 1 chaine & other iron worke- 1 pound

   peuter & brass- 5 pounds 8 shillings

   2 gunns & 1 sword- 2 pounds

   all his waring apparell, woolen & linen-8 pounds

   cloath & searge & tame-7pounds 13 shillings

   beds & bedding-10pounds 18 shillings

   yarn, wooll, flax & hemp- 5pounds 10 shillings

   chests, barrills, spinning wheels & other lumber-3 pounds

   Forty bushells of wheat-10 pounds

   Sixty bushells of Indian corn- 9 pounds

   3 cowes, 2 heffers & 1 calfe -19 pounds

   swine - 3 pounds

   howse & land & meadow - 50 pounds

   2 Bibles & other books - 1 pound 15 shillings

   Total 143 pounds 5 shillings

   The real estate owned by Joseph Peaslee was appraised by James Davis jr., and Theophilus Satchwell. This land consisted of;

   12 acres more or less within ye playne fenced as it is bounded in ye records 50 pounds

   18 acres without ye fence 40 pounds

   44 acres in ye 2d division over ye little river eastward 35 pounds

   4 score & 4 of ye 3d division on Spickett Hill 35 pounds

   4th division of upland not yet pfected altho granted by the town (app. 350 acres which lay beyond Spickett River) 5 pounds

   6 acres of meadow at ye east meadow 8 pounds

   6 acres of 2d division of meadow 9 pounds

   4 acres of 3d division of meadow bounded in the new found meadow 5 pounds

   4 ox commons & other cow commons 16 pounds

   Total 223 pounds

   Joseph's widow, Mary, received two further grants of land after Joseph's death. She was granted Lot #25 which bordered the river in Salisbury and in 1662 granted Lot #19. Lot 19 consisted of 108 acres.

   Joseph Jr. married Ruth Barnard on January 21, 1672 when he was 25 years old. The Barnard family was close to the Peaslee's as Thomas Barnard had been one of the witnesses to Joseph's will. He had also taken inventory of Joseph's estate.

   Sarah Peaslee married Thomas Barnard about 1666. Thomas had a sister, Ruth Barnard. Joseph Jr. grew close to Ruth. They were married in 1672. While there are many instances of siblings marrying siblings during the colonial era, Joseph and Ruth may have had to get married. On July 14, 1672, less then 6 months after the wedding, Joseph and Ruth had their first child. The leaders of the community were aghast. Some of this enmity may have been due to Joseph?s father having disputes with the establishment.

   "Consequently, at the quarterly court session at Salisbury on April 8, 1673, Joseph Peasley and Ruth, his wife, (were) presented for fornication, confessed and were sentenced to be whipped tomorrow or pay a fine of 6 pounds. The record does not state which they chose."

   Joseph may have been spoiled as he was the youngest of five children, and he was the only boy. He was only fourteen when his father died. His personal life was a rocky one as Joseph was in trouble for much of his early life. He was in court on numerous occasions both as a complainant and as a defendant.

   In 1673, he sued William Barnes for a debt he was owed. The Court ordered that he "be paid either in one barrel pork or 20 bushels of Indian corn and 5 C of nails as per bill".

   In 1674, there was the case, Thomas Barnard Jr. vs. Joseph Peasley. "Trespass. For felling and carrying away his timber from his land in Amesbury bounds, near a place called Hoult's Rocks and adjoining a lot which was formaly called Edward Cottle's, now nelonging to William Sargent, thereby claiming the land to be his. Verdict for plaintiff, the land in controversy."

   In 1674, Joseph Peaslee, Joseph Page and Timothy Swan were all on watch at the Haverhill garrison house. On November 9, 1674, Joseph Page made the following deposition concerning what took place there;

   "I being settling to sleep I lookt up and saw Joseph Peasely lay violent hand upon Timothy Swan & pulling him down & then composing myself to sleep I heard ye said Joseph strike and read copty upon him ye sd Timothy wth many hard blows and at last ye said Tim: cried out yt Joseph Peasley did hurt him & presently after John Keyzar comeing in Peasley did bid him being a Tanner look or sees on Tim's hide he had tanned."

   In April of 1677 he was convicted of assaulting Peter Bruer with a chain. He was ordered to pay restitution to Mr. Bruer in corn and money. He was also bound to good behavior.

   Also in April, 1677 he was convicted of abusing Timothie Swan and ordered to pay 20 shillings in corn to Timothy's father, Robert Swan.

   In 1681, he was charged with assaulting Peter Green on August 12. Peter Green made the following statement;

   "On ye 12th instant wc was Friday after the frame of James Davis his dwelling house and barns were both raised & ye company had been at dinner or supper; Joseph Peasley did so inhumanely and cruelly beat , strike and kick me, that by yt means and no other I have been forced ever since yt time as soone as I got home with much paine to keep my bed and wholly disabled from all manner of labor & necissated to send for a doctor from Newberry; and as yet doubtfull and fearfull what may be the event.

   Besides many base, unchristian and reproachful names yt he yn called mee & other words that he gave mee. In the time of this abuse offered me there were first & last present or near who heard it or saw it, John Whittier, Jotham Hendricks, Ephraim Roberts, Gregory Marks & John & Steven Davis. His actions toward me were in this manner. He on a suddaine, came up to me & gave me a violent chuck under ye chin and catcht hold of my throat & pincht me so yt it made my throat sore & to swell & then whilst I stood, he gave me a kick on ye bottome of my belly whereby I am much wounded & in much paine both night and day my flesh much disclored made black and blew & swelled with ye blows, that if I should ever recover so as to go about I feare I shall never be my owne man as formally.

   Wn he was thus in his rage & resolved & had me on ye ground abusing of mee, he often entreated & prayed some that were then present to turne away & not see & was very earnest wth them to do so.

   After this when his furious, murtherous passion was seemingly somewhat allaied & ye hurt I had received not viewed or known, he askt me whither I would goe home & would have persuaded me to havegone wth him through ye corne fields, wc was out of my way & ye being refused by me, I went my owne way & he went with mee & yn struck me so terrible a blow on the head wth wc he did dazzle &stound & fell me & when I was getting up as well as I could he struck me againe & laid me for dead & wt blowes after that he gave me I cannot relate otherwise yn by ye effects yt I find on my body; for yn Eph. Roberts, Joth. Hendrick, Steph. Davis, Jno. Davis,& Gregory Marks being in sight, came and took me for dead as they say & cried out fearing whither I would come to life or not. On wc report, Joseph Peasly then said, "Hang him dog or drunken dog. I did but touch him with my finger" or to that purpose.

   At ye first wn he had me downe & was upon me he put his hand or fingers into my mouth and wounded & in spetial my tongue (wc I doubt not but he had a will to pull it out) wc caused it so to swell that I could hardly eat for two dayes; & then he cried that I bitt him; and yn immediately he took my finger and putt it into his own mouth & bit it sorely, ye wound is yet apparent, besides other wounds & marks yt he gave mee on my nose, lipps, eye & face & head almost all over, wc is now weake & much pained.

   I do profess & truly believe that had not ye Good Providence of God by company being near prevented him, he at that instant had killed me in ye Highway. And I still feare that if he be not restrained by the Authority of ye country, he will privately & malisciously kill me, or mine, or both if not others alo. Since this abuse, one of my creatures is not not to be found, and to say positively yt it is gone by him, though I feare it, I cannot at present. This is not the 1st, 2d nor 3d desperste abuses & attempts yt he hath made upon ye persons of others, not to say how he carries it in his own family, to his many unsufferable cowardly tricks he hath plaid before towards others, wc tho hitherto hidden from Authority, shall wn called for, fully appear,by wc his temper & wt spirit of malice rules in him may be fully knowne. For one whereof he was formerly bound to Peace and Good Behavior but since yt p'cured ye release of it by his forbearing outrageous madnesse for feare of his bond for a small while, and to a good purpose indeed if this sore affliction which I feel & ly under by ye effects and fruites of his liberty."

   Ephraim Roberts testified that Peasley chucked Green under the chin, and then took an apple from a tree and stomped it to pieces saying; "I could do wth you as to this apple & deale with you & throw you into the river." Peasley then challenged Green to a fight to which Green refused and attempted to walk home. After a short walk Peaslee struck Green and then beat him till he was unconscious. He then told Ephraim Roberts that Green was drunk and told them to haul him under a log and leave him there. He was found guilty, fined and forbidden to bear any weapons.

   In March of 1681, a drunken Indian assaulted Joseph?s wife. He had obtained the drink at John Pages house. He was found, convicted and sent to Ipswich prison. John Page Jr. was ordered to appear in court to answer for serving this Indian with five pints of hard cider.

   About the time of the marriage, Joseph built a house in Haverhill where he then settled with Ruth. This house became known as the "Peaslee Garrison" and still stands at 790 East Broadway, Haverhill. It was constructed with bricks imported from England.(An interesting sidenote is that Robert Hastings , the mason who built the house, had a daughter, Elisabeth, who later married Joseph's son, Joseph.) The house is 2 stories high and has 3 rooms upstairs and 3 rooms downstairs. A chimney is located at each end of the house. During King Philip's War the home was used as a garrison house where soldiers were stationed and people could flee if need be.

   In 1956 the house was owned by a Reginald C. Bacon. He had extensive renovations done on the house to restore it to its original look. In an article written about the house Mr. bacon states:

   " Joseph Peaslee must have been a man of some means and artistic imagination, because by any standards, his dwelling was a fine house for the times .Its woodwork is in some details more elaborate than was customary in the late 17th century".

   The richness of this house indicates that Joseph was a very successful farmer and businessman. At this point in his life, Joseph seems to have settled down and become a respected member of the community. In 1687, he was chosen to be the town Constable. He was made a selectman in 1689, 1690 and 1696.

   In 1692, Joseph was granted "the privilege of erecting a sawmill at the head of east meadow river upon the stream by or near Brandy Row." The mill was built in 1693 and the site later became known as ?Peaslees Mills?. A ?Peaslee? occupied it until 1860. Joseph sold 25% of the mill to Simon Wainwright in 1693/4 for 110 pounds.

   In 1699, Joseph Peaslee petitioned the town for the right to worship, with other Quakers, in the public meeting house. When this was refused Joseph opened his house for these meetings.

   In 1701, a fire caused Joseph Peaslee serious property damage, so much so that the town voted to "give him his rates on that account."

   Joseph was a prosperous man. He was a millwright, a farmer, and was known locally as a ?physician?.

   During his last years, Joseph divided 240 acres among his four sons and two of his daughters. He also sold his son Joseph much of his property and another 360 acres to his son, Nathaniel.

   On November 5, 1723 Ruth died. Joseph married the widow Mary Davis a short time later. He died on March 21, 1724.

   "In a deed recorded December 16, 1709, Joseph Peaslee gave to his "sons, Joseph, Robert, John and Nathaniel, also two of my daughters, namely, Mary Peaslee, now Whittier, and Ruth Peaslee, now wife to Samuel Clement,? the land in Amesbury with a saw mill standing on said land, "called by ye name of ye Division of great Lott Country, which was laid out to the widow, Mary Peaslee, Deceased, late of Haverhill, Joseph Peaslee's Honord Mother,? consisting of one hundred and eight acres; also another parcel of land "which I, ye sd Joseph Peaslee, purchased of Henry Blaisdell,? of ?160 acres bounded with ye Lott's originally of John Colbie's, Deceased, on ye south, and Will Huntington, Deceased, and on ye two other sides by highways? the two parcels of land; ?saw-mill; all timber and wood standing thereon; all springs or streams of water, or any benefit or privileges belonging to the same," were given with the land."

   Per research of John Lyle Bascom-Gordon, Compiler of this line:
   "Joseph Peaslee was the original ancestor and immigrant from England to America, and is generally believed to be the progenitor of all of the Peaslee name, especially those that came, or descended, from residents of the New England states.

   Most authorities on New England genealogy seem to think that he was of Scots birth, but, one, George Thomas Little, in his 'Genealogy and Family History of the State of Maine', says that he was born in the western part of England, near the River Severn. In the New England Genealogical and Historical Register, Vol. 82, page 444, it is said that 'in the Will of William Goodspeed, of Rowsham, Co Bucks. dated 07 October 1636, amoung others, gives to William and Hugh Peaseley, sons of his daughter, Mary Peaseley 10 pounds each.' Page 450, same volume, 'Mary Goodspeed Peasley baptised 19 December 1595.' The above may be close relatives of our Joseph, or it may mean nothing.

   It is traditional that he married his wife, Mary, in Wales and that her maiden name was Johnson. It is very probable that he had a former wife, as his daughter, Jane, was probably born before 1630, and Mary perhaps as early, while Sarah and Joseph were 12 to 20 years younger.

   He was first known in Newbury, Mass., where he was made a 'Freedman' in 1642. He removed to Haverhill, Mass. previous to 1656, and later to Salisbury, Mass. (Newtown, still later known as Amesbury, Mass.) He was made a 'Townsman' in Amesbury in 1656. He received land there in 1656-58. His widow, who survived him, received land later. However, he must have lived in Haverhill, Mass. for some time, as he is mentioned in many of the town records. Another 'Newtown' was granted from Amesbury and was later called 'Newton, N.H.'. His son, Joseph and many generations of his descendants lived in Newton, NH. Mr. Little says that he was a Presbyterian, but it is certain that his son, Joseph, was a member of the Society of Friends (Quaker).

   There is much confusion between the two Josephs. It is thought that he was a self-taught physician of considerable merit and that the new settlements offered citizen's privileges in return for his healing services. However, this may have been his son, Joseph, as he is said to have been a physician also and is known as 'Doctor'. He is said to have had a 'bent' for preaching and persisted in practicing it, thereby causing himself a lot of trouble with the local church authorities. One Joseph Peaslee was repeatedly fined 'five Shillings' for not attending church as required under the local ordinances of the time. Joseph Peaslee was called by one of his contemporaries as 'weak and unfit for preaching', tho some others thought better of him, and as he seemed to have continued, some must have been content to listen to him.

   His will was made 11 November 1660 and proved 09 April 1661, and besides his wife mentions a grandchild 'Sarah Saier'. Just who she was is not certainly known. Hoyt, in 'Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury', attempts to identify her. There was a Henry Sayward in Salisbury, who had a wife, Mary and who had a daughter, Sarah. It is recorded that Thomas Barnard and his wife, Sarah, a daughter of Joseph Peaslee, went to see Mary Sayward concerning some of the property left by Joseph's widow, Mary Peaslee, and wanted her to sign some sort of papers pertaining thereto. This, she refused to do. The coincidence of the names, and the lack of any evidence of who Mary Sayward was, together with the fact that she must have had some relation to the family, or else her signature would not have been at all necessary, justifies the belief that she was Mary Peaslee and that her daughter, Sarah, was the grandchild mentioned in the Elder Joseph's will.

   Joseph's widow survived him for many years, and leads us to believe that she was considerably younger than her husband. This is further evidence that she was a second wife. No information of the first child, Elizabeth, has been found, except that she was living at the time of her father's death. Jane, the second child, married John Davis, son of James Davis, one of the first settlers of Salisbury, Mass. Sarah and Joseph married brother and sister, children of Thomas Barnard.

   Joseph Peaslee, called 'Junior', was but twelve years old when his father died. He married Ruth Barnard of Salisbury."

   Information from Graham Peaslee: peaslee@hope.edu
   dated 2 June 2001 from Peaslee Message Board at Gen Forum.
   The most widely distributed version of this story is from Frederick J. Lamphere's "A Passel O' Peasley's" which states it as fact that a Mary Johnson married Joseph Peaslee. I believe Fred based his assertion on some older printed records that exist in the New England Genealogical Society library, that are again compilations from earlier family historians like Hazel Avery Poor that state that Joseph married a Mary Johnson, and that this Mary Johnson is a blood relative (presumably sister) of Edmund Johnson who sailed from Southampton in 1635. There was certainly a close tie between this Edmund Johnson and the Peaslee settlers, for there is a record of Joseph's daughter Mary going to stay with the widow of Edmund Johnson when he died (<1660). Since Edmund was such an unusual given name for the Johnson surname, it is likely that this Edmund is a grandson of the original Edmund Johnson who drowned in Ponty Pool, etc.��Lamphere followed up once more in his Peasley Family newsletter many years later, and this time he gives a reference which seems to suggest there was a sister of Edmund Johnson that was christianed Maria:��Vol. 7, No. 1: "In the hope of learning a bit more concenring the family of Mary Johnson, wife of Joseph Peaslee, we decided to pursue further data regarding her illustrious brother, John Ap John, the associate of John Fox in establishing the Society of Friends in Wales. Swarthmore College Library, Swarthmore, PA, depository of Quaker records in America, furnished copies of writings alluding to John Ap John. An account by Dr. James J. Levick, probably around 1900, contains the following information:" ....it goes on for seven paragraphs about John Ap John, and why he stayed in Wales instead�of coming to America. "From another account, these additional facts appear: John Ap John's residence was at Trevor, in the parish of Llangollen, in Denbighshire, Wales, much nearer to Ruabon than to Wrexham. The house.... Persmission to examine the records of the registers of the parish of Llangollen, was obtained by Alfred N. Palmer, the most careful of local historians. The entries are brief, and the name is common. Recorded are:�The baptism of John Ap John de trevor Issa, and of MARIA, veh John Ap John (sic). Another reads: Anne, veh John Ap John de Trevor, baptizata est secundo die ---, 1632. It may be assumed that these entries are related to our friend and to his two sisters; the abbreviated term veh implying verch, or daughter, the name of the father being the same as that of the son. It appears probable that John Ap John was born between 1625�and 1630 at Trevor Issa. ... The absense of information which surrounds the particulars of his birth, also extends to the marriage of John Ap John. It has been conjectured... COMMENT: From the foregoing, it would seem�that the "maria" mentioned in the parish records is the Mary Johnson who married Jospeh Peaslee.��All in all, not a lot of "proof" but some seemingly reasonable assumptions that the Johnson family that intermingled with the Joseph Peaslee family was probably related to the original Edmund Johnson.

   My father and I have done some research on our original ancestor's origins in England, and more importantly we found a couple people in England who were much better at looking up old records than we were. Over the past 10 years we have put together a set of circumstantial bits of evidence that point to Joseph Peaslee's lineage in England prior to 1635. There are several assumptions we have to make and about 20 years of his life still missing from documents before his arrival in New England, but I think this is a much more plausible explaination than the current Lord Calvert connection that one sees on the web several places. While a William Peasley did marry Anne Calvert, he is much more likely to be directly related to a southern branch of the Peasley/Peaslee/Peaseley family that settled in the Virginia colonies as early as 1629. Lord Calvert and his family being strong catholics, it is unlikely that the protestant Joseph (who was fined for preaching without a license in Boston around 1640) would be a close relative...perhaps a first or second cousin at best. I offer the following set of stories written as our best guess at the moment of our ancestry in England. Sorry it is so long-winded, but it does make for interesting reading I hope...�
   While the connection between the original Joseph and ancestors in England/Wales has never been absolutely confirmed, my father and I have stumbled upon some rather convincing evidence that he was the son of a Robert and Jane Peaslee, born in Chipping-Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England, around 1598.

   Sources:
   1. Title: Old families of Salisbury and Amesbury, MA�Author: David W. Hoyt�Publication: Reprinted in one volume by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1982�Note: With some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich, and Hamptson, and of York County, Maine. 3 Vols plus Suppl. combined into one vol.�Repository: �Note: NEHGS�Call Number: LOC 81-84188�Media: Book�Page: 280
   2. Title: Pioneers of Mass�Author: Charles Henry Pope�Publication: Orig. publ. Boston, MA 1900 reprinted Genealogical Publ. Co., Inc. 1998�Repository: �Note: Univ. of Baltimore�Call Number: F63.P822 1998�Media: Book�Page: 351�Text: Frm. 22 Jun 1642
   Title: Wayne's world�Repository: �Note: Internet�Call Number: �Media: Electronic�Text: The Peaslees and others of Haverhill and Vicinity by E.A. Kimball. The History of Haverhill, Massachusetts by George Wingate Chase. Genealogy of the family Peasley-Peaslee compiled by Frederick J. Lamphere.

1 2

1. Change Date: 15 May 2006 at 20:59:59

Father: Robert (Peasley) Peaslee b: ABT 1570 in Yorkshire, England Mother: Jane b: ABT 1575 in Yorkshire, England

Marriage 1 *Mary Johnson b: ABT 1625 in Trevor Issa, Denbighshire, North Wales

   * Married: 10 Dec 1646 in Trevor Issa, Denbigshire, North Wales

Children

  1. Has Children Sarah (Peasley) Peaslee b: 20 Sep 1642 in Newbury,Essex Co.,MA
  2. Has Children *Joseph (Peasley) Peaslee M.D. b: 9 Sep 1646 in Haverhill, Essex Co., MA

Marriage 2 Jane Severance b: ABT 1600 in , England

   * Married: ABT 1625 in , England

Children

  1. Has No Children Elizabeth (Peasley) Peaslee b: ABT 1625 in Bristol,Avon,England
  2. Has Children Jane (Peasley) Peaslee b: ABT 1627 in Bristol, Avon, England
  3. Has No Children Elizabeth (Peasley) Peaslee b: ABT 1628 in Bristol, Avon, England
  4. Has Children Mary (Peasley) Peaslee b: ABT 1629 in Bristol, Avon, England

Sources:

  1. Repository:
           Name: Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints
     Title: Passel O'Peasley
     Author: Frederick Lamphere
  2. Repository:
           Name: Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints
     Title: Joseph Peaslee Of Haverhill
     Author: Hazel Poor Avery
     Page: 0015531