It is apparent that Peter and Mary were both born in Westerly, Rhode Island, and Mary's birthdate is 1670, Peter's birthdate is c. 1655. I have no date of their marriage. Their children, all born in Westerly, are as follows:
c. 1684 Charity
c. 1695 John
1697 Peter
1724 Samuel, our ancestor
James
Reuben
a daughter
"Peter took the oath of allegiance in Westerly 17 May 1679: was a Freeman in 1681; deputy from 1699-1704; Justice of Peace and Lieut. of Militias and was an important man of his time." said John C. Crandall in his book, "Crandall Genealogy" published in 1949.
This week I have been reading and taking notes from a special Rhode Island volume that I found at my local genealogy society called, "Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island" by compiler, John Osborne Austin, published in 1982. Mr. Austin lived in Providence, RI all of his life, was a genealogist and compiler of genealogical information. Many of our Rhode Island ancestors are listed and written about in this fine compilation. Therefore, I feel better equipped to share what I am learning from this compiler who had ready access to the Rhode Island records.
Mr. Austin tells of 1)Peter Crandall's deed: " On May 9, 1692, Peter deeded his son-in-law, George Brown, about 60 acres, house, etc. (that he bought of Joe Babcock) reserving to own use for life, mowing grass and orchard."
2) On Oct 14, 1700, Peter was chosen to be the Moderator of the Town Meeting. On the 23rd of October, he was chosen Town Sealer.
3) On Oct 2,1711, Peter, with 33 others, bought 5,300 acres of the vacant lands in Narragansett.
4) On Mar 14, 1715, Peter sold his brother, Joseph, of Kings Town, 30 acres in Westerly.
Peter died in 1734. Mr. Austin wrote that Peter's wife, Mary, was the administrator of Peter's will and she inherited some money, his silver buttons, buckles, seal, wearing apparel, beds, spinning wheel, cards, warming pan, mare, cow, 5 swine, 6 bee hives, etc.
PETER CRANDALL
BORN: c. 1655 in Westerly, Kings, RI
DIED: 1734 in Westerly, Kings, RI
MARY BABCOCK
BORN: 1670 in Westerly, Kings, RI
DIED: 1735 in Westerly, Kings, RI
SOURCES:WFT#1088,vol.5. about Peter's birth; "Genealogy of Elder John Crandall", Pg 14 regarding Peter's becoming a freeman and his occupation as deputy; Elda Esch, " The Descendants of Benoni Dickinson", 1998; researcher,Leon Stiles, papers about the lineage of Robert Shepard; WFT1088,vol.5.discussion of the marriage of Peter and Mary; A.P.Crandall Book, page 14 re Mary Babcock's death; American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI); Birth year: 1654; Birth city: Newport; Birth state: RI, from Family Data Collection re Peter's birth data, individual records; Source number: 1938.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: GRG from U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900; Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: New England Marriages Prior to 1700 from U. S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700; John Osborne Austin, " Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island", 1982.
