pg 86-87
Peter Abbott (George3, George2, George1) was b. in Andover, Essex Co., Mass., July 27, 1701, and m. in Brookfield, Worcester Co., Mass., 1730, Lydia4, probably b. there Jan. 3, 1712, dau. of Samuel3 and Lydia (dau. of Thomas Barns) Gilbert, of Brookfield; gr.-dau. of Henry2 and his 2d wife, Mary (Wheat, wid.) Gilbert, of Brookfield; and gr.-gr.-dau. of Thomas1 Gilbert, of Windsor, Ct., and Springfield, Mass., and his wife, Catherine (Chapin) Bliss, b. in Springfield, 1639, who settled in Brookfield about 1690, and built a house on the "side of new country road," east of Owen's tavern, where they lived, etc.
:Henry Gilbert first m. and settled in Springfield, but, in Sept., 1688, was sent in charge of soldiers to build a fort at Brookfield where he afterwards moved with his bro. Capt. Thomas2, having received, in all, land grants there of 681 acs. Here he built a house on the north side of "new country road," adjoining the fort. Samuel3 Gilbert had grants of 142 acs, and lived near his bro. Dea. John3, north of Wickabaug Pond. [Temple's Hist. of No. Brookfield, Mass.
Mr. Abbott was a yeoman, and lived in Brookfield where he first bought "four score" acres of land for £60 on the south side of Quaboag River joining to Quaboag Pond, Nov. 13, 1725.[1] The Brookfield records show that a Peter Abbott m. there 1759, Rachel Stevens. As there was no other Peter Abbott but the subject of this sketch who lived there at that time, it is probable that she was his second wife.
The Mass. Archives credit him with the following Colonial War service: Priv. 17 wks., 2 dys., July 17, 1722, Col. Shadrack Walton's command; dis. Nov. 14, 1722 (xci: p. 43); priv. 4 wks., 4 dys., Nov. 22, 1724, in Col. Thomas Westbrook's command; dis. Dec. 23, 1724 (xci: p. 137).
His name appears in a list of men who served in the Rev. War to the credit of the 3d precinct in Brookfield, dated June 30, 1778, and he is credited with 4½ mos. service.[2] He probably d. 1785. His will, dated Apr. 27, 1744, was prob. Apr. 26, 1785, and his eldest son, Joel, is mentioned as executor, to whom the entire est. was given provided he paid certain legacies, etc. His father had previously deeded him, Nov. 11, 1760, half of his real est. (90½ acs.), buildings, etc.[3] His other bequests were as follows: To sons Nathan, Jesse, and John, £20 each, "lawful silver money"; to daus. Lydia, Prudence, and Sarah, £15 each; and £40 to dau. Elizabeth.[4]
Had 13 chil., b. in Brookfield, Worcester Co., Mass.: [5]
[1] Springfield, Mass., Deads, D: p. 610
[2] Mass. Soldiers and Sailors of the Rev. War, i: p. 20. Although 77 yrs. old there is no doubt that he actually performed military duty during some portion of the time mentioned, probably helping to guard military stores in Brookfield, as men had to be detailed from the town to do it, and elderly men could do such duty, although there is no known record of his having done so; possibly he also performed other duties. The local record is that he served 4½ mos, although the Mass. Archives credit him with but 4¼ mos. service. This is the period (as mentioned elsewhere in this work) that, at one time during the Rev. War, stores had to be guarded, in Brookfield.
[3] Worcester, Mass., Deeds, xliv: p. 90.
[4] Worcester, Mass., Prob. Rec.
[5] From the Brookfield t. r., and his will.
