General Notes

"Peter Folger, son of John, born in England, accompanied his father to America in 1635 to Boston and probably emigrated with him to the Vineyard in 1642.  He married in 1644 Mary Morrill, who had been Governess in the family of Hugh Peters and according to tradition a fellow passenger with him from England. Whilst at the Vineyard he taught school and also practiced as a surveyor of lands.  He also assisted the younger Thomas Mayhew in his work of Christianizing the native Indians.  Rev. Experience Mayhew, in a letter to John Gardner, Esq. dated 1694, stated that when Thomas Mayhew, Jr. left for England in 1657, he left the care of his church or mission with Peter Folger. Peter became a Baptist in his sentiments, and after his removal to Nantucket is said to have baptized two persons in Waiptequage pond."

"At a meeting of the proprietors of the Island of Nantucket held in Salisbury in the latter part of 1660 or early part of 1661, five persons were chosen to measure and lay out the land, and in the order it is said, that what shall be done by them, or any three of them, Peter Folger being one, shall be accounted legal and valid. This vote shows the confidence they placed in his judgment and integrity."

"Whilst a resident at the Vineyard he acquired the Indian language, which was of great service to him in business affairs and in enabling him to communicate religious instruction to the natives."

"In the summer of 1659, he is said to have accompanied as an interpreter, Tristram Coffin and others who visited the island of Nantucket to view it about the time of the purchase from Mayhew.  He was there in 1661 and 1662, surveying, and on the 4th of July, 1663, the proprietors of Nantucket granted him half a share of land on Nantucket, or half as much as one of the twenty purchasers, provided he would come to inhabit with his family on the aforesaid island within one year after that date, and attend the English in the way of interpreter between the Indians and them upon all necessary occasions. He accepted the grant and moved there with his family within the specified time."

"On the 21st of July, 1673, he was chosen clerk of the courts, which office he held some years.  In his poem--'A Looking-Glass for the Times,' published in April 23, 1676, he shows himself an advocate for religious liberty, and strongly condemns the persecuting spirit exhibited in New England in his day.  Dr. Benjamin Franklin, his grandson, when in England, found no arms for the Folgers at the Herald Office, and concluded that they were a Flemish family who came over in the time of Queen Elizabeth."

Peter Folger was the only child of John Folger, 1590 - 1660, and Meribah Gibbs. John and Peter came from Norwich, Norfolk Co. England to Watertown, MA in 1635. In 1636 Peter went to Martha's Vinyard with Thomas Mayhew. In 1663 he went to Nantucket to interpret for Tristram Coffin with the Indians. "Peter Married Mary Morrill in 1644, having bought her of Hugh Peters, to whom she owed service, and paid the sum of 20 pounds which he very gallantly declared was the best appropriation of money he had ever made."