GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-000298
NameHugh Peter (Peters)
Title
Gendermale
DenominationCongregationalist
Livedb. ca. 1598-03-25 - d. ca. 1660-10-16 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsSermon on Hebrews 5:9 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Psalms 31:23 -- preacher (autograph: uncertain)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesFriesland University -- PostLaindon -- PostRayleigh -- PostRotterdam -- PostSalem -- Post
Source of DataJeanne Shami; David Robinson
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB (Article: 22024); CCEd (Person ID: 42519)
Other NoteBaptized at Fowey, Cornwall on 11 June 1598, son of Thomas Dickwoode (probably originally Dykeveldt - the family had emigrated from Antwerp in 1543) or Peter (1572-1621), a merchant, and his wife, Martha Treffry (1572-1598). Matriculated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1613; BA, 1618. Served as a teacher at a school in Laindon, Essex before returning to Cambridge for his MA in 1622. Ordained priest in 1623. Curate of Raleigh, 1623-1626, during which time he married Elizabeth Cooke. In 1626, he was in London on behalf of his patron, the Earl of Warwick to rally opposition to royal policies. He preached in London churches at this time, particularly St Sepulchre, Holborn. During one such preaching, he prayed that the queen would forsake her "idolatry and superstition." His activities led to his imprisonment and then suspension. He continued to preach periodically despite his suspension (leading to another six-month imprisonment), but also was involved in other activities. He was a proctor at the University of Franeker, Friesland ca. 1627, and an active investor and participant in the Dorchester and Massachusetts Bay Companies. He spent in the early 1630s exclusively in the Netherlands. He was a chaplain to one of the English regiments in the army of Stadtholder Frederick Henry until about 1633 when he became pastor of the English Church in Rotterdam. He reformed it along congregationalist lines, requiring subscription to a covenant as a prerequisite to membership. When the English Company of Merchant Adventurers relocated their headquarters to Rotterdam in 1635, they commandeered the English church and caused it to conform to the Church of England discipline. This led Peter to emigrate to England, with his wife, stepdaughter Elizabeth and her husband, John Winthrop in 1635. He became minister of Salem in 1636, establishing a covenant as he did at Rotterdam. He was a stringent opponent of Anne Hutchinson and her followers there. He returned to England in 1641 at the behest of the Massachusetts government, as an advocate for the colony and for furthering the reformation in England. This mission was not entirely successful, and in 1642 Peter was in Ireland as a chaplain to the naval forces of Lord Forbes. He was an advocate for the reduction of Ireland and establishment of godly ministers there as a civilizing force. He was chaplain throughout many of the campaigns of the Civil War and remained a strong supporter of the army. He supported the the execution of the king, evidenced in a sermon on Isaiah 14:19-20 he preached the day before his execution. Despite ill health since his time in New England, he was involved in a dizzying number of activities during the Interregnum: provisioning regiments for Ireland; governor of Milford Haven, chaplain to the council of state, sitting on government committees, and writing numerous pamphlets advocating reform. After the Restoration, he was arrested as a traitor and was executed 16 October 1660.
GEMMS record createdApril 05, 2016
GEMMS record last editedJuly 22, 2020