Peter2 Bent (John1) was born in Penton-Grafton (baptized April 14, 1729), England, in April, 1629, and died in England, whither he seems to have gone on business, in May, 1678, ae. 49. He was but nine years old when he accompanied his father to America. At or before the incorporation in 1660 of Marlboro', which was carved out of the wilderness to the west of Sudbury, he had moved thither. He and his father were among the thirteen who petitioned the Colony in 1656 for the laying out of the town. He built a grist mill on Stony Brook, in what is now the town of Southboro', and became a busy man. In 1661 he contracted to build a bridge across the Sudbury River "for horse and man and laden carts to pass over." More than once he went to England, no small undertaking in those days. He had built his house just south of Williams Pond, a mile or more from the present centre of Marlboro'.
Two years after Marlboro' was burned by the Indians, Peter died. The inventory of his estate includes "26 acres of ye house lott at Marlbrough, Milstones and Mil Irons, 25 acres of upland, joyneing to ye former house lott " and much other land, the real estate being appraised at £436. The personal estate, amounting to a little more than £40, includes one pair pistols, holsters and three swords.
