Peter Bulkley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Bulkeley
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| Born | 31 January 1583 Odell, Bedfordshire, England
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| Died | 9 March 1659 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Puritan |
| Known for | Founder of Concord, Massachusetts |
Peter Bulkley (born January 31, 1583 – died March 9, 1659) was an important early Puritan minister. He moved from England to the American colony of Massachusetts to find more religious freedom. He helped start the town of Concord. Later, the famous writer Ralph Waldo Emerson mentioned him in his poem about Concord, called "Hamatreya."
Early Life in England
Peter Bulkley was born in Odell, Bedfordshire, England. When he was 16, he went to St. John's College at Cambridge University. There, he earned several degrees and even became a Fellow, which is like a senior member of the college.
After finishing his studies, Bulkley became the church leader (rector) in Odell, just like his father. He served in this role from 1610 to 1635. During this time, he was known for not always agreeing with the rules of the main Anglican Church.
In the 1630s, people started complaining about his sermons. He was eventually told to stop preaching by Archbishop Laud. This happened because he would not follow all the rules of the Anglican Church.
In 1633, King Charles I brought back a rule about what activities were allowed on Sundays. Ministers were supposed to read this rule to their congregations. Bulkley and other Puritans did not agree with this rule.
In 1634, Bulkley refused to wear a special white robe called a surplice. He also refused to use the Sign of the Cross during a church visit by Archbishop William Laud. Because of this, he was removed from his church position for a while.
Life and Work in America
Within a year, Peter Bulkley moved to New England. He sailed on a ship called the Susan and Ellen in 1635. In April 1637, he became a minister in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He then led many settlers into the wilderness to start a new town. This town was first called Musketaquid, but later it was named Concord.
Bulkley was known for being a very strict Puritan, even among other Puritans. In March 1638, he was one of the ministers who took part in the church trial of Anne Hutchinson. This trial led to her being removed from the Boston church.
In 1635, a group of settlers from Britain, led by Rev. Peter Bulkley and Major Simon Willard, bought land from the local Native American tribe. Bulkley was an important religious leader. Willard was a clever trader who spoke the Algonquian language and had earned the trust of the Native Americans. Their purchase of six square miles of land became the new town. It was named "Concord" to celebrate the peaceful way the land was acquired.
Bulkley was also known for his skill in Latin, writing both short poems and longer poetry. Cotton Mather, another famous minister, praised his writing. Bulkley wrote a book of Puritan sermons called The Gospel Covenant, or the Covenant of Grace Opened. It was published in London in 1646. In this book, he asked the people of New England to "shine forth in holiness above all other people." He also mentioned the idea of a "City upon a Hill," a famous idea from John Winthrop.
Historian Moses Coit Tyler called Bulkley's book "monumental." It showed the strong minds of New Englanders in their early days. It is also thought to be one of the first books published in New England.
In 1637, Bulkley led a meeting (called a synod) in Cambridge. This meeting was held to discuss what Ralph Waldo Emerson called the "errors" of Anne Hutchinson. There is a story that during King Philip's War (1675-1676), a group of Native Americans thought about attacking Concord. But they decided not to because "Bulkley is there, the man of the big pray!" However, this event happened after Peter Bulkley had died. The story actually refers to his son, Rev. Edward Bulkley.
In 1643, Peter Bulkley was the first person to sign a petition sent to Governor John Endecott. The petition was in favor of Ambrose Martin, who had been fined for speaking against the Puritan church. This fine caused Martin great financial trouble.
Peter Bulkley died in Concord.
Family Life
Peter Bulkley's first wife, Jane Allen, passed away in 1626. They had 12 children together:
- Edward, born June 17, 1614, in Odell, England
- Mary, baptized August 24, 1615; died a few months later
- Thomas, born April 11, 1617
- Nathaniel, born November 29, 1618; died at age 9
- John, born February 17, 1620
- Mary, born November 1, 1621; died at age 3
- George, born May 17, 1623
- Daniel, born August 28, 1625
- Jabez, born December 20, 1626; died before age 3
- Joseph
- William
- Richard
After being a widower for eight years, he married Grace Chetwood (or Chitwood). They had four more children:
- Gershom, born December 6, 1636
- Eliezer, likely born in 1638
- Dorothy, born August 16, 1640
- Rev. Peter, born August 12, 1643
His oldest son, Edward, traveled to the Colonies about a year before him. Records show that Rev. Peter sailed on the ship "Susan & Ellen" to New England in May 1635. He traveled with three of his sons from his first marriage: Daniel (age 9), and "Jo:" (age 15). His second wife, Grace Bulkeley, was recorded as sailing on the "Elizabeth & Ann" at the same time. However, other travel diaries show that Grace actually traveled with her husband on the "Susan & Ellen."
His son, Gershom, graduated from Harvard in 1655. He married Sarah Chauncey, whose father was the president of Harvard, on October 26, 1659.
His grandson, Peter Bulkeley, Esquire (Edward's son), was born on January 3, 1640/41. He died in May 1688. He married Rebecca Wheeler in 1667. This Peter was a Fellow of Harvard University, a voter in Massachusetts, and a Commissioner of the United Colonies. This grandson is sometimes confused with his uncle, Rev. Peter (born 1643), who was the son of Rev. Peter Bulkeley and his second wife, Grace Chetwode. This confusion happens because their birth years were close.
