Person:Peter Grant (18)

Peter Grant, Berwick, a Scot, b. ab. 1631, taxed, Dover 1659, and ord. home to his w. in Me. Ct. 2 July 1661. In July 1664 he was liv. with Joan wid. of James Grant (3) altho not known that his own w. was dead. A certif. copy of Kittery town book, long lost, gives date of their mar. 28 Nov. 1664, she ‘big with child.’ He had previously bot in Kit. from Jas. Emery in Oct. 1659, and dep. in 1701, ag. ± 70, that he had liv. in upper Kit. over 40 yrs. Named as trustee in Alex. Cooper’s will 1683, and ret. the invent. Gr.j. 1687; surv. highways and fences 1693. Orig. memb. of Berwick Ch. Lists 356e, 30, 288, 290, 296, 298. Will 19 Oct. 1709 (inv. 2 Mar. 1712-3) names w. Joan and ch. ‘them seven’ (excluding Elizabeth)

link

link will dated Oct. 19, 1709 [inventory was 2 March 1712/13]. Probate Office 3, 7: P
“In the Name of God ament the Nineteenth day of October, one thousand Seven hundred and nine in the Eight year of Reign of our Soveraign Lady Ann by the grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland, Queen defender of the faith &tc. I Peter Grant of Kittery in the County of Yorke in the Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England being aged & Creasey in body but of good Memory Praise be to God for it and Knowing the Vncertainly of this Life on Earth & being Desireous to Settell things in Order to make this my last weill & Testament in manner & form following that is to Say first & principelly I commit my Soul to almighty God who gave it and my body to be buried According to the Discreation of my Successors in a Christian & Decent manner and as Touching the worldly Goods & Estate the Lorth hath Lent me my Will & meaning is the Same Shall be Imployed and bestowed as hereafter by this my will is Expressed and first I do Revoke frustrate and make Void all wills by me formerly made and Declare & appoint this my Last will & Testament.
Item I will & bequeath to my Loving wife Johannah all my moveables Estate at her Disposing as also the whole use of my home Steed housing barns Lands & Orchards and dwelling place During her Naturall Life.
Item I will and bequeath to my Son William a Grant of Land granted me by the Town of Kittery of fifty acres.
Item I will and bequeath to my Son James ten Acres of Land where his Young Orchard now is at the head of my Home Steed Dwelling place as I laid it out to him.
Item I will & bequeath to my two sons Alexander & Daniel my home Steed & Dwelling place where I now live in Equal halves after my now wifes Decease.

Item I will & bequeath to my Children William, James, Alexander, Daniel, Grizell, Mary & Hannah to them Seven in Equeal Shears all my out Lands & meadow wheresoever it by Lying in marnner or form whatsoever.

Signed, Sealed & Delivered in Presents of us: Phillip Hubord, James Emery, Daniel Emery

I do appoint my Son Daniel Grant to be my Executor of this my will & Testament – Peter Grant”

And citing “Province and Court Records of Maine Vol II – Edited by Robert E. Moody, PhD. Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1947

July 2 1661 [2:156} Inquest July 2:1661 “Wee present Peter Grant a Scotchman for not returneing home to his wife. Wee present James Grant a Scotchman for not returneing home to his wife.”

July 5, 1664 [2:2-2] Wee present Peter Grant & Joane Grant the wife of James Grant deseased for liveing In one house togeather, hee owneing of her as his wife & they being not married. Witness Richard Abbutt

Whereas Itt appears by Peter Grants acknowledgement of his keepeing Company with Joane Grant In soe familiar manner as If they ahd been lawfully married which they never were nor Could bee, because the Grants wife is yett alive for any thing that is known to the Contrary, & the sd Joane Grant being now bigg with Child, It is ordered by the Court as followeth:

In reference to Peter Grants presentment for his offence herein shall either pay tenn pounds In to the Treasury or to have tenn lashes given him on the bare skine.

Peter Grant appeales from this sentence to the next Court houlden for this County. Peter Grant & Tho. Doughty do Ingage them slaves In a bond of 201i that the sd Grant shall prosecute his appeale to the next County Court & the sd Grant & Doughty do Ingege In a bond of 201i that further Peter Grant shall take meete care to mantayne the Child of the sd Joane Grant soe soone as shee is delivered.

Sep 13 1664

Att a Court of Assotiats September 13:1664: Itt is further ordered by this Court, for preventing any further evill betweene the sd Peter and Joane Grant by there frequent unlawfull Comeing together, that hereby theere shall bee and is an Act of seperation made betweene them, after publication whereof it they shall bee at any tyme found frequently or unseasonably togeather, &* that It do Legally appeare, each person shall either forfitt tenn pounds to the County Treasury or bee lyable to such other Censure as the Law in such Cases doth provide.

link
Peter Grant married to Joan Widow of James Grant Nov. 28:1661
James their Son born March 23d:1671
A line Copied on one Kittery Town Record of Births and Deaths
Mert Wm Leighton Sr Clerk