Mary Spencer  April 6, 2003

  MARY2 SPENCER  (ROGER1)1 was born about March 1648 in Saco, York Co., Maine2, and died January 20, 1705/06 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts3.  She married (1) JOHN HULL, son of JOHN HULL.  She married (2) WILLIAM PHIPPS March 15, 1683/84 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts4, son of JAMES PHIPPS and MARY.  She married (3) PETER SARGENT5 October 09, 1701 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, performed by Mr. Increase Mather6,7,8.
She was the 3rd daughter of Roger Spencer of Saco, ME.  Acted as governor while Sir William away11.

October 21, 1687; Samuel Wakefield sells house and land to Lady Phipps. Sewell 1:193 (SD 17:221). Charter corner Salem. (Thwing database)

October 21, 1687; Lady Mary Phipps: I went to offer her my house by Mr. Moody's but house had bought Samuel Wakefield's house and ground. (Sewell 1:193). Salem St. (Thwing database)

November 26, 1687; Daniel Turell, Sr. (blacksmith) with wife Mary and Samuel Wakefield (tailor) and wife Elizabeth, deed to Sir William Phipps, late of Boston (knight) house and land, North End Boston, near Charlestown Ferry; N.E. street leading from the long street toward the burial place, S.E. lane or highway leading from sd street down towards Mrs. Cartwithins house, S.W. sd Daniel Turell, N.W. William Sumner. (SD 17:222). S.W. side of Charter St., corner of Salem St. (January 18, 1686 Samuel Wakefield (tailor) with wife Elizabeth mortgages house and land at N. end wherein they now dwell, street that leadeth to North Burying Place N.E., Greene Lane S.E., Daniel Turell, Sr., S.W. and N.W. (SD 13:425). N. corner of Charter and Salem Sts. (Thwing database)

1689; appears on tax list under Greenwood. (TR 1). (Thwing database)

September 1692;  sympathetic to the accused witches, she wrote an order for their release from prison.  She was called out upon by the accusers.  Sir William then knew that the public sentiment was turning.  (Salem Witchcraft by Charles Upham)  "Soon Sir William saw his lady accused and thrown into prison... by bribing the jailer (Mr. Arnold), she managed to send a letter to Queen Mary, representing herself as a namesake of hers, and a lady of rank, who was unjustly accused of witchcraft, and thrown into prison.  Queen Mary being applied to in her husband's absence, took the responsibility to sign a discharge, which the jailer obeyed and for doing which he was severely reprimanded and removed from his post." (200 Years Ago, or, A Brief History of Cambridgeport and East Cambridge)
After Sir William's death she claimed a large tract of land in Maine on both sides of the George River with all islands, Jeremisquam Neck (Phips Point), the land around Little River between the Land Cooled Hobonocha Point and Jeremisquam Neck, and all islands.  This plot adjoined lands belonging to John White, Sir William's step - father.  The claim was proved October 4, 1697.

February 1, 1695; Dame Mary Phipps, buys house and land of Richard Keates. (SD 17:204). Brattle St. (Thwing database)

November 30, 1695; Thomas Adkins (housewright) with wife Abigail mortgages to Dame Mary Phips, house and land which land was lately purchased by sd Thomas Adkins of James Bill of Pullin Point, North End, Boston; Southerly side foot path on Brow of the Bank and below Bank on Flats about highwater, N. and of Highway between Burying Place, and sd land N. to low water, and bounded by land of late John Deacons, now in possession of sd Thomas Adkins, S. or S.E. land of Capt. Scarlett or Assignees whereof sd Thomas Adkins is one in possession, N. and N.W. and abutteth on aforesaid highway S.W., and on Charles River mouth N.E. (SD 17:190) Commercial St. near Charter St. (Thwing database)

February 7, 1695/96; William Colman with wife Margaret deeds to Lady Mary Phips house and land, late the possession of Maj. Anthony Haywood, deceased, now occupied by William Colman; house and land, also piece of wharf and land it stands on lying between warehouse and a cooper's shop; also cooper's shop and land whereon it stands; also wharf on S.W. side of sd shop; bounded N.E. passageway lying in common between sd William Colman and the neighborhood, S.E. wharf occupied by sd Wm. Colman, S.W. flats of Robert Bronsdon, N.W. Robert Bronsdon and William Colman. (SD 17:202) North St. between Sun Court and Fleet St. (Thwing database)

May 28, 1696; Lady Mary Phipps, buys half parcel of land of Mary Henchman. (SD 17:267). Commercial St. N. of Hanover St. (Thwing database)

September 10, 1696; "Certificate by the Hon. William Stoughton, Esq. Lieut. Gov. and Commander in Chief, the Dame Mary Phips personally appeared and produced the will (crossed out and marked "vacat").  Proved at London January 29 1696-7 by Dame Mary Phips the relict and executrix named." (P.C.C. 15 Pyne) (Immigrants to America Appearing in English Records)

October 25, 1696; Bartholomew Green, who married one of Mr. Mather's daughters, is now a tenant in house of Peter Button, next Lady Phips. (Sewall 1:436) (Thwing database)

March 16, 1698; Dame Mary Phips, widow, deeds to John Coleman (merchant) house and land, North End, formerly estate of Maj. Anthony Haywood, deceased, late estate of William Coleman of Boston, aforesaid father sd John Coleman, and sold to sd Mary Phips by deed by William Coleman and wife Margaret, February 7, 1695, a brew-house and land, etc. Also bakehouse and warehouse adjoining, and land. Also a cooper's shop near lower end of wharf S.W. side shop, N.E. lying in Common between house, formerly sd Maj. Anthony Haywood's, and the neighborhood; S.E. wharf tenure sd William Coleman, S.W. flats Robert Bronsdon, N.W. Robert Bronsdon and William Coleman. (SD 20:555). North St. between Sun Court and Fleet Sts. (Thwing database)

May 16, 1699; Mary Phipps, wife of Sir William granted leave to erect a wooden building 38x18 at the north end in the place where Capt. Daniel Henchman formerly built a brew house over against Henchman's house which is on the other side of the way. (CR 3:19). (Thwing database)

March 28, 1700; Pearcifull Clarke (laborer) with wife Elizabeth deeds to Elizabeth Wadland, widow, house and land, which he formerly purchased from heirs of Samuel Brackenberry; front or S.W. lower end Blackhorse Lane, N.W. green lane leading to Sr. William Phip's Mansion, rear or N.E. Edward Pegge, S.E. Obadiah Reade. (SD 20:614). N.E. corner of Prince St., corner of Salem St. (Thwing database)

August 19, 1701; Dame Mary Phips, widow, deeds to Andrew Belcher (merchant) wharf land near Great Dock; E. land purchased by Sir William Phips, deceased, of Benjamin Davis and wife Sarah, E. land purchased of sd Belcher of Samuel Parris, S. alley from street to seaward between sd land and land belonging to Humphrey Luscombe, W. remaining part land of Benjamin Davis and wife Sarah, N. Howard Shippen. (SD 20:337). The Dock. (Thwing dabase)

September 24, 1701, marriage contract with Peter Sargent9

January 2, 1701/02; Joshua Windsor (shopkeeper) with wife Sarah, deed to Ezekiel Cleasby (tailor) 1/2 part of house and land, North End; land late of Henry Kemble, deceased, S., fronting E. on highway, N. part by heirs of sd Henry Kemble, part land formerly John Brookin's, deceased, no appertaining to Lady Mary Phipps, part land of Emonds, and part Samuel Greenwood, Sr., W. land belonging and occupied by Harris, widow, and land of John Tuttle, S. William Hough, formerly Edward Paige's. Also 1/2 part of land, wharf, beach, and flats, on E. side of highway between land, wharf, etc., of heirs of late Henry Kemble, and land of Joseph Grant; all which afore-said house and land, wharf, etc., were formerly estate of Mary Lumsden, widow, and were by Will of July 14, 1688 bequeathed to sd Joshua Windsor and Edward Cricke, and heirs to be equally divided between us, and now in possession and occupied by sd Ezekiel Cleasby, who has lately purchased sd Edward Creek's 1/2 part. (SD 20:524). North St. between Clark and Salutation Sts. (Thwing database)

February 19, 1703/04, wrote will9

September 8, 1704; George Waldron (blacksmith) with wife Rachel, only suriving child of Thomas Baker (blacksmith), deceased, and wife Leah, deceased, Thomas Baker (brazier) John Baker (merchant), Henry Bridgham (tanner) guardian to Mary Baker, spinster, which sd Thomas, John, and Mary are only surviving children of Thomas Baker, eldest son of Thomas and Leah Baker, deed to John Foster and Andrew Belcher, trustees for Dame Mary Phips, house and land now occupied by Thomas Cox (butcher), Martha Cox, spinster, et als; fronting on broad street leading from Town House to South End of town W., house and land of Joseph Russell, deceased, S., Anne Hawkins, widow, and Mary Savage (late Olfield) E. lane that leads from broad street to Peter Oliver's Dock N. (SD 22:32). S.E. corner of Washington and West Sts. (Thwing database)

January 21, 1705/06; On the 20th died Lady Mary Phipps, wife of Peter Sargent, Esq. (BNL). (Thwing database)

January 25, 1705/06; Lady Mary Phipps: My Lady Phipps laid in Mr. Sargent's tomb in the new Burying Place. I had a ring. (Sewell 2:153). (Thwing database)

PROBATE February 5, 1705/6; Mary Sergeant wife of Peter Sergeant, & formerly the widow of William Phips: Ex.: adopted son Spencer Phips alias Bennett, & John Foster & Andrew Belcher, Esq. executors in trust during his minorty. Legatees: Peter Sergeant Esq., husband, Mrs. Mary Howard, mother in law, during her life, Phillip White, Mrs. Rebecca Bennett, Rev. Increas Mather, Rev. Cotton Mather, Mr. John White, Margaret Armstrong, wife of Mathew Armstrong, & her daughter Mary Armstrong, Dorcas Salter wife of Aneas Salter, Jr., John Foster, Andrew Belcher & to Spencer Phips, adopted son, all my real & personal estate according to the Will of my former husband William Phips but if said son dies before he comes of age I give to my husband Peter Sergeant & the use of my warehouse during her life & then I give 1/2 of the whole to be divided into two equal parts & given to my next of kin & the other 1/2 part to the next of kin of my former husband William Phips. Also if said son dies before he comes 21 years then my house, land & wharfe at the North End commonly called the Salutation to my nephews David & William Bennett sons of my sister Rebecca Bennett. My house & land at the North End occupied by Samuel Avis, I give to Mary Armstrong. My timber warehouse adjoining to the warehouse of Andrew Belcher, Esq. my brick warehouse occupied by John Mico (merchant) I give to the Free School in the North End of Boston. My brick warehouse now in building near that occupied by Mr. Mico, to be sold & the money to be divided between Benjamin White, Elizabeth Holland, Margaret Armstrong & William Bennet, two sisters in law Mary Widgers & Margaret Andrews, Betty Johnson (negro servant) her freedom.  (Twing database)

January 1707;  Lady Mary Sargeant's (of Boston, Mass.) admin. with will to John Metcalfe attorney for Spencer Phipps alias Bennett.  (English Estates of American Colonists by Peter Wilson Coldham)

 1716, home of she and Peter purchased by province for future Governors

Her 1st husband JOHN HULL owned large tracts of land for horse breeding to export to England & Holland Inventory of estate 81.12 lbs12  Occupation: well bred merchant, exported coal to Holland and England, owned all or part of 14 ships

Descendants of Peter Sargent
Generation No. 1

1.  PETER1 SARGENT1 was born about January 1648 in England2, and died February 08, 1713/14 of Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts2. He married (1) 1682, by Reverend Increase Mather, ELIZABETH CORWIN, daughter of GEORGE CORWIN and ELIZABETH HERBERT. He married by Rev. Benjamin Colmon, (2) ELIZABETH SHRIMPTON2, daughter of HENRY SHRIMPTON and MARY. He married (3) MARY SPENCER3 October 09, 1701 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, performed by Mr. Increase Mather4,5,6, daughter of ROGER SPENCER and GERTRUDE.  He married (4) MEHETABLE MINOT December 19, 1706 in Massachusetts7, daughter of JAMES MINOT and HANNAH STOUGHTON.  Boston merchant.  (Savage's Genealogical Dictionary; The Devil Discovered).  Was this Peter the same as Peter son of William Sargent and Sarah Minshall of Courteenhall, Northampton, England, born 1646?

1667;  Came from London to Boston.  (Savage's Genealogical Dictionary)

1676; appears on tax list sheet 6. (Thwing database)

October 21, 1676; Peter Sargent (merchant) buys land of Samuel Shrimpton. Province House Lot. (SD 10:144). W. side of Washington St. between School and Bromfield Sts. (Thwing database)
"The first great Boston fire destroyed these homes on January 14, 1653, among them that of William Aspinwall, town recorder, which stood near the present junction of Washington and Bromfield Streets. Half-way between Aspinwall's house and School Street was the home of Thomas Millard with its garden and orchard in the rear. Millard's burned property came into the hands of Samuel Shrimpton, a large landholder who sold it on October 21, 1676 to Peter Sergeant, merchant of Boston.
This land h ad a frontage of eighty-six feet on the street and of seventy-six feet in the rear, with a depth of two hundred and sixty-five feet. On this site Sergeant, a former London merchant of a Lancashire family, erected a house in 1679.
Here Peter Sergeant bought his first two wives, both daughters of prominent Massachusetts merchants. First, was Elizabeth Corwin of Salem, as indicated by the familial greetings of a letter from Sergeant to 'Bro. Corwin, Bro. Jonathan and Bro. Browne' for John and Jonathan Corwin and William Browne who married their sister Hannah Corwin. Samuel Sewall noted in his diary for December 23, 1681, 'two of the chief Gentlewomen in Towne dyed...viz. Mrs. Mary Davis and Mrs. Eliza. Sargent (sic).' His second marriage, in 1682, was to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Shrimpton.
In 1690 the deacons of the Old South Church met at Judge Sewall's house to arrange for documents and deeds relating to the church to be placed in a chest and deposited in Mr. Sergeant's house 'it being of brick and convenient.' Sewall also notes, after a hailstorm of April 20, 1695 that the hail broke 480 quarrels of glass in his new house and as many in that of Mr. Sergeant's.
During the governship of the Earl of Bellomont, who arrived in 1698, Sergeant was prevailed upon to give up the home and occupy a house across the street. In the best chamber of the Sergeant house, as Sewall tells us, Governor Bellomont swore in the Judges on July 25, 1699 and treated the Council and other gentlemen with refreshments in November. Confirmation of Governor Bellomont's rental may be found in the Provincial records. The General Court passed a resolve on March 23, 1700, that the rent was to be paid out of the treasury of the province, and on August 5 payment of 120.16.8 pounds was allowed at the rate of 100 pounds per annum for fourteen and a half months. Sergeant also received 20.3.0 pounds for 'dead rent of the house he hired of Wm. Gibbins for nine months at the rate of 25 pounds per annum' and 25s6d for mending the windows of his own house."  (The Province House and its Occupants by Walter Kendall Watkins, edited by Richard M. Candee)

February 7, 1676/77; Peter Sargent, a difference between him and William Needham in reference to standing of sd Needhams house next Sargents ground, Now settled between them. (SD 11:314). (Thwing database)

1679;  Home built  - one of 1st with central passage. Constructed in 1679 for Peter Sargeant, a Boston merchant, this mansion was sold to the Province of Massachusetts in 1716 to accommodate the Royal Governors. It was presumed destroyed by fire in 1872, but the 1922 demolition of a theater on the site revealed a late 17th century chimney wall. From that remnant, architectural historians have theorized that Sargeant built the most high style example of English Renaissance domestic architecture that existed in Boston in 1679.

1681; appears on tax list under Walley 7. (Thwing database)

8/19/1683; With wife attended funeral of Reverend William Adams of Roxbury, Massachusetts with Mr. Hutchinson and wife, and Samuel Sewall, in Dedham.  (Dedham Historical Register)

1687; appears on tax list sheet 7. (Thwing database)

1688; appears on tax list sheet 7. (Thwing database)

February 7, 1688; Probate of Thomas Smith (mariner): Ex.: my wife Rebecca during her widowhood but if she remarries then my father in law Habakkuk Glover & Peter Sergeant, Benjamin Browne & my brother in law Obadiah Gill shall be appointed. (Thwind database)

1689;  Strenuous opponent of Andros government - on Board of Assistants (He was an Old Guard Puritan);  (Savage's Genealogical Dictionary; The Devil Discovered)

4/18/1689;  Signed petition to Sir Edmund Andros to surrender and deliver up the government.

1690;  Freeman - member Third Church (Old South) in Boston.  (Savage's Genealogical Dictionary; The Devil Discovered)

1691;  2nd board of council, committee of safety after Andros overthrow.  (Savage's Genealogical Dictionary). Councilor 1692-1713. (Thwing database)

1691; appears on tax list under Grag 7. (Thwing database)

May 27, 1692;  Special Court of Oyer and Terminor as associate judge appointed by Sir William Phips, to try the Salem witches.  (Salem Witchcraft Vol I by Upham)

1695; inhabitant ward 7. (TR 1). (Thwing database)

April 15, 1698; Peter Sargent (merchant) is prevailed with that His Excellency (Lord Bellomont) be received at his house, 100 pounds ordered
towards the expense. (Sewell 1:478). (Thwing database)

August 5, 1700; Peter Sargent (merchant) paid 100 pounds per annum for 14 mo. for hire of his house where Earl of Bellomont lately dwelt. (CR 3:146).  (Thwing database)

May 39, 1701; Peter Sargent (merchant) paid 20 pounds for entertainment of Earl Bellomont and his family at his first coming into this Government before His Excellency keeping house. (CR 3:208). (Thwing database)

October 9, 1701; Peter Sargent (merchant) marries today My Lady Mary Phips. He dwells at My Lady's house and Major Hobbie comes into his. (Sewell 2:42). (Thwing database)
"On November 14, 1700 Sewall notes that Madam Elizabeth Sergeant was entombed. Nearly a year later, October 9, 1701 he records, 'Peter Sergeant, Esqr. marries my Lady Mary Phips.' The next day Sewall and other gentlemen visited the bride and groom, supping on roast beef, venison, pastry, cake and cheese. The Sergeants were living in the bride's house, the Governor Phips mansion at the corner of Salem and Charter Streets."  (The Province House and its Occupants by Walter Kendall Watkins, edited by Richard M. Candee)

September 17, 1704; Estate of Thomas Smith: Benjamin Browne and Peter Sergeant, deeds to John Smith (merchant) one of the children of Capt. Thomas Smith, house, land, and shops, near the head of the Town Dock, called Bendall's Dock, S.E. on the Fore St., S.W. house and land of Hannah Glover, now occupied by Richard Draper (shopkeeper) and by land of Eliakim Hutchinson, N.W. Benjamin Pemberton, N.W. Benjamin Pemberton and Joseph Mariner (sadler), all of which premises is now occupied, by Thomas Smith. (SD 27:301). Dock Sq.  (Thwing database)

September 17, 1704; Estate Thomas Smith: Peter Sergeant, Esq., and Benjamin Browne, Esq., Exs. of Capt. Thomas Smith (mariner). Whereas Thomas Clark (pewterer) deeded sd Peter Sergeant and Benjamin Brown and Obadiah Gill, another Ex. now deceased (shipwright) for the children of Capt. Thomas Smith, house and land near head Town Dock in Boston; S.E. on Fore St., S.W. part house and land of Hannah Glover, occupied by Richard Draper (shopkeeper) and part land of Eliakim Hutchinson, N.W. land of Benjamin Pemberton, N.E. sd Benjamin Pemberton and Joseph Mariner (sadler), all which are in tenure of Thomas Smith, aforesaid (pewterer), one of 5 children of sd Capt. Thomas Smith, deceased, and sd Exs. Grant to Thomas Smith and heirs all their estate, right, etc., 1/5 part (the whole division in 5 equal parts) of above estate. (SD 23:175). Dock Sq. (Thwing database)

January 21, 1705/06; On the 20th died Lady Mary Phipps, wife of Peter Sargent, Esq. (BNL). (Thwing database)
"This marriage, Sergeant's third, lasted less than five years. Once again, Sewall's Diary comments, 'My Dame Mary Phipps, Lady Sergeant, alias Phipps, dies about Sun-Rise' on January 20, 1706. A consolation visit on January 26 by the diarist adds to our knowledge of Sergeant's age: 'I visit Mr. Sergeant, who takes my visit very kindly, tells me my Lady would have been 59 years old next March, and that he was two months older.'"  (The Province House and its Occupants by Walter Kendall Watkins, edited by Richard M. Candee)

March 1, 1705/06; Estate of Thomas Smith: Peter Sergeant and Benjamin Brown, Esq., and Exs. of Capt. Thomas Smith, purchased of Thomas Clark for use of children aforesaid Smith, house and land above mentioned SD 23:175 to Anne Smith one of the 5 children 1/5 part house and land as above. (SD 23:176). Dock Sq. (Thwing database)

1706;  Claimed Cooper lands on marriage to Mehitable.  (Maine and New Hampshire Genealogical Dictionary)  "Sergeant's fourth and final marriage, to Mehetable Cooper, was duly recorded by Sewall on December 18 of that year. On December 23, 1706, he commented, 'I visit Mr. Sargeant and his Bride; had Ale and Wine.'"  (The Province House and its Occupants by Walter Kendall Watkins, edited by Richard M. Candee)

March 10, 1706/07; Estate of Thomas Smith (mariner): Peter Sergeant and Benjamin Brown, Exs., etc. as before mentioned house and land near head of Great Dock, N.E. house and land of John Wing, formerly Capt. Hudson's, now possession of Benjamin Pemberton, and part house and land formerly Anne Hunt, now possession of Joseph Mariner (sadler), S.E. Fore St., S.W. house and land late Habbakkuck Glover and occupied Richard Draper (shopkeeper), N.W. Eliakim Hutchinson, deed to Elizabeth Lindall, lately Elizabeth Smith, one of 5 children as before mentioned and wife Caleb Lyndall (shopkeeper) her 1/5 part it is granted as before. (SD 23:178). Dock Sq. (Thwing database)

December 29, 1708; Estate of Thomas Smith (mariner): Peter Sergeant, Esq. the only surviving Ex. of the last Will of Capt. Thomas Smith (mariner) deceased, deeds to Thomas Smith (pewterer) house and land occupied by sd Smith 1/5 part, whereas Thomas Clark of Boston (pewterer) sold on the 20th of February 1695 unto Peter Sergeant, Benjamin Brown, and Obadiah Hill (shipwright) the other two executors of the afore-said will for the five children of the sd Thomas Smith all their house, land, and shops on or near the head of the Great Dock. N.E. estate partly by the house and land lately of John Wing deceased, fomrerly Capt. Hudson but now the possession of Benjamin Pemberton and partly by the house and land of Anne Hunt or her heirs now the possession of Joseph Marriner (sadler), S.E. by the forestreet S.W. by house and land of Habakkuck Glover now occupied by Richard Draper (shopkeeper) N.W. by land of Eliakim Hutchinson. (SD 27:299). Dock Sq. (Thwing database)

May 30, 1709; Peter Sargent (merchant) Marlborough St. must remove the earth he has laid in the highway. (TR 11:90). (Thwing database)

November 3, 1710; John Cunabell (joiner) mortgages to Peter Sergeant, Esq., house and land situated on back street called Hanover, leading over the Mill Bridge; fronting N.W. upon sd street, N.E. land late of Josiah Cobham, S.E. heirs of Sampson Stoddard, deceased, S.W. heirs of Thomas Thacher, deceased. Cancelled December 19, 1715. (SD 25:141) S.E. side of Hanover St. between Elm and Union Sts. (Thwing database)

January 25, 1711/12; Peter Sargeant, Esq. with wife Mehetabel, formerly wife of Thomas Cooper (merchant) deeds to Josiah Franklyn (tallow chandler) house and land and all belonging, fronting E. on Union St., N. Hanover St., rear W. land formerly Josiah Cobham's and occupied by James Smith (sadler), S. land formerly Josiah Cobham and house and land belongong to John Cotta, now inherited of heirs of Thomas Bridge (mariner) All which was purchased of John Gill by William Stoughton. (SD 26:109). S.W. corner of Hanover and Union Sts. (Thwing database) (these are the parents of Benjamin Franklin)  25 January 1711/2, the Franklins moved from their rented home on Milk Street and bought a house from Peter Sargeant at the south-west corner of Union and Hanover streets for £320 (Thwing Index at MHi, citing Suffolk Deeds 26:109), taking out a mortgage of £250 from Simeon Stoddard (see below, 8 Feb). The lot was over 3,500 square feet, about five times as large as the Milk Street lot (approximately 600 square feet).

February 8, 1711/12; Josiah Franklyn (tallow-chandler) mortgages to Simeon Stoddard, Esq. house and land, which sd Franklyn latley purchased of Peter Sergeant and wife Mehetable, formerly wife of Thomas Cooper, deceased, and one of heirs of Hon. William Stoughton, Esq., deceased; E. Union St., N. Hanover St., W. land formerly of Josiah Cobham, deceased, now occupied by Joseph Smith (sadler), S. land formerly sd Cobham, and the house and land of John Cotta, now wholly the possession of Thomas Bridge (boatman), deceased. Cancelled January 28, 1722 (SD 26:109) (Thwing database)

April 12, 1712;  Peter Sargent, _______ Sargent, with others, signed the Proclamation granting to the 30 English settlers, the land for the town of Oxford.   (History of Oxford - page 30)

"Peter Sergeant was a prominent member of Boston society, taking an active part in town and provincial affairs. As a town constable in 1674, he was an accuser of Governor Andros and was named as a Councillor under the second charter in 1692. He served on the council until 1703, when he was negatived by Governor Joseph Dudley, and again from 1707 to his death in 1714. The last six months of his life were marked by ill health, as Sewall's journal attests. On October 5, 1713 he was 'confin'd to his house'. By December several ministers were praying for him and on January 14, 1713/14 Sewall notes 'Mr. Sergeant is so weak that he keeps his chamber.'
On January 20, 1714, Sewall visited Sergeant who spoke passionately against Messrs. Dudley and Nowell's arbitration concerning his second wife's portion of her brother's estate. He also desired Sewall 'to deal honestly as to a Stable he had built' for 600 pounds. 'I have many times ask'd a Copy of it; But it canot yet be found.' The inventory taken of Sergeant's estate lists this as interest in stable and pasture land of Samuel Sewall near and adjoining land lately Peter Sergeant's, for term of years to come, as per agreement of Sewall and Sergeant.
On February 12, 1714, 'The Storm of Snow is so violent that Mr. Jno. Roberts gives notice Mr. Sergeant's Funeral will not be today.' The next day Sewall also records that he was 'Laid in his Tomb in the New Burying place [Granary] awhile before Sunset.'
Sergeant's will ordered all his household goods to be delivered to his widow and that no appraisal be made of them, reserving from these a silk canopy bed in the tapestry chamber. His widow was allowed to dwell in the house one year if she did not remarry and the house was bequeathed to his nephew and executor, Thomas Sergeant, and other related heirs. In his absence, Thomas Palmer and William Hutchinson were to act as executors.
In this capacity they placed the following advertisement in the Boston News-Letter for May 16-23 1715;
'A large fair Brick House formerly the Mansion House of Peter Sergeant, Esqr. Deceased, with Out Houses and Gardens thereunto belonging, Together with a Lease of a Pasture, Coach-House and Stable near adjoining, for a term of years, is now to be sold by Thomas Palmer Esqr. and Mr. William Hutchinson, Executors in Trust for the said Estate.'
At this time the General Court was in need of an official residence for the governor of the Province, Richard Coote, second Earl Bellomont, had been the first provincial governor to occupy the Province House. Phips, Stoughton and Dudley had been New Englanders and occupied their own mansions as governors. The appointment of Colonel Elisha Burgess in March 1714/15 presented the same situation which had confronted the Lords of Trades and the Provincial Assembly in Bellomont's arrival, the necessity of a governor's residence. Another appointment for Burgess delayed the matter for a year, until Samuel Shute was named in his place.
A committee under Captain Nathaniel Noyes was appointed to report on a residence for Governor Burgess. It recommended the purchase of the Sergeant house and the General Court voted 2300 pounds for the property. The house and land was conveyed to Jeremiah Allen, treasurer of the Province; Jeremiah Dummer, treasurer of Suffolk County; Joseph Prout, treasurer of the town of Boston, and to their successors in the offices of treasures forever. The transaction with numerous heirs in different parts of England was not actually completed until 1717, but a previous lease gave the Province early possession. The only other expenditure on the house in 1716 was 33 pounds for the hangings of two rooms and two large looking glasses."  (The Province House and its Occupants by Walter Kendall Watkins, edited by Richard M. Candee)

January 17, 1713/14;  Will written. PROBATE February 19, 1713/14 Peter Sargeant (merchant): Ex.: nephew Thomas Sargeant. Legatees: wife Mehitable, the South Church, Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, and Joseph Sewall, pastor of the church, to the other ministers Increase & Cotton Mather, Thomas Bridge, Benjamin Wadsworth and Benjamin Colman, to Eliakim Hutchinson, my brother in law, & his wife Sarah, and to their children William Hutchinson & wife, Thomas Palmer & wife, Spencer Phipps & wife. My wife's kinswoman Mrs. Hannah Ellis. To Abigail Bourne of London sister of my second wife, to Thomas Sergeant, nephew, son of my brother Henry Sergeant, my two surviving sisters and the children of my deceased brothers & sisters the balance of my real estate including a house and land in Boston. Inventory 560 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence. (SPR 18:249). (Thwing database)

Buried February 13, 1713/14.  (Savage's Genealogical Dictionary)

April 29, 1715; William Cooper (Gentleman) buys from Mehitable Sergeant (his mother, widow of Peter Sargeant) house and land. [E. side of Exchange St.] Also a certain ohter house. [E. side of Exchange St.] (SD 29:231)  (Thwing database)

March 9, 1715/16 His house sold to Government. (CR 6:429-30) Thwing database) His home later became Province house (seat of the Royal Governor until the revolution).  In 1997 you can find the Royal Coat of Arms that hung over the door, owned by the Bostonian Society.  The "Provence House Steps" which were probably the back stairs into the garden still stand.  There is at least one engraving of it that can be seen in James Stark's "Antique Views of Boston".

April 12, 1716; Estate of Peter Sargeant: Thomas Sargeant, Esq. (Gentleman) and Porter Tower of London, Ralph Bucknell, son of Clemence, widow, a sister Peter Sargeant, and Dorothy Hook, widow, another sister of Peter Sargeant, Henry Higginbotham (Gentleman) and wife Cassandra, Peter Sargeant's sister, Hannah Colbourn, a daughter of Thomas Sargeant, Charles Mosely (Gentleman) and wife Clemence, another daughter of sd Thomas, have sold to Jeremiah Allen (Gentleman), Treasurer of Prov. of Mass. Bay, Jeremiah Quiner, Esq. Treasurer of Suffold County, Joseph Prout (Gentleman), Treasurer of Town of Boston, house and land, formerly of Thomas Miller, for use of the Gov.'s Council of the Mass. Bay; E. Marlborough St., S. house and land of Thomas Creese, W. John Blower, N. house and land of John Winscombe and part land of John Oulton; one peppercorn is to be paid at the end of 6 weeks if same shall be demanded. (SD 32:134). W. side of Washington St. between School and Bromfield Sts. (Thwing database)

January 28, 1722; Josiah Franklin (tallow-chandler) and wife Abiah mortgage to Hannah Clarke house and land which I purchased of
Peter Sergeant, now deceased, and wife Mehitabel, formerly wife of Thomas Cooper (merchant), and one of the heirs of the Hon. Wm. Stoughton of Dorchester, E. Union St., N. Hanover St., W. land formerly of Josiah Cobham, deceased, S. land formerly of sd Cobham and the house and land of John Cotta. Cancelled August 9, 1739 (SD 36:191) S.W. corner of Hanover and Union Sts. (Thwing database)