Bradley Family Tree - Peter Bulkeley Scholar, Theologian, Founder of Concord, MA

 Peter Bulkeley - Puritan Minister, Founder of Concord, Massachusetts

Family Connection - 9th Great-Grandfather of Ruth Ann Hazen

Peter Bulkeley was born on Jan. 31, 1583 in Odell, Bedfordshire, England. His father, Rev. Dr. Edward Bulkeley was the rector of the church in Odell. His mother was Olive Irby Bulkeley. 

At sixteen, Peter was enrolled at St. John's College, Cambridge. He earned a B.A. in 1605, and a M. A. in 1608. He was ordained to the ministry in 1608, and took over his father's parish when his father retired.

Peter married Jane Allen (1587-1626) on April 12, 1613. After Jane's death he married Grace Chetwode (1602-1669) on April 15, 1634. 

He had nine children with wife Jane, in Odell.

        Edward b. 1614, Mary b. 1615, Thomas b. 1617, Nathaniel b. 1618, John b. 1620, Mary b. 1621,            Joseph b. 1623, Daniel, b. 1625, and Jabez b. 1626

He had four children with wife Grace, in Massachusetts.

        Gershom b. 1636, Eleazer b. 1638, Dorothy b. 1640, and Peter b. 1643. 

In 1634, he was suspended from his ministry because he refused to wear a white surplice over his black robes and he refused to make the sign of the cross as required by church leadership. Although he was not able to remain as rector of Odell, the authorities did not impose large fines, allowing him to retain his personal wealth, about 6000 British pounds.

Soon after his suspension, he began planning to move his family to the Colony of Massachusetts. He sent his oldest son, Edward, ahead to find a house and make plans for the whole family to relocate.

Peter booked passage for himself, Grace, and the remaining children on the ship "Susan and Ellen", arriving in Boston in 1635. Peter also paid for the passage of Thomas Dane, a carpenter, with the agreement that Thomas would in the future build a home for Peter and his family. The family settled with the oldest son Edward in Cambridge. 

At some point, Peter made the acquaintance of Major Simon Willard, who was scouting land in inland Massachusetts for potential settlement. Peter and Simon petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for permission to create a settlement in an area known as Musketaquid. The petition was granted for the formation of a "plantation" of six square miles. They gathered a group of interested settlers, including Peter and another minister, the Rev. John Jones. 

One story - not sure if it is true - claims the new plantation was named Concord because the two ministers, Bulkeley and Jones, disagreed in several matters of church teachings, but agreed to name the new settlement Concord to signal their ability to work together. Hmmmm.

Most of the settlers moved to Concord in 1636, including Jones, but not Bulkeley. He and his family remained in Cambridge until Thomas Dane completed construction of the Bulkeley house and mill. Note the Bulkeley mill at the end of the Mill Pond and house to the right near the lane to the common fields. 

By 1637, Peter and his family had moved to Concord. Peter was a stern minister, complaining in letters to his colleagues that his parishioners were too independent, and considered themselves not sufficiently subject to his authority. He also disagreed with the theology and teachings of the other minister in Concord, Rev. Jones. This disagreement ended with Rev. Jones and some of the townspeople who agreed with him leaving Concord to settle in Connecticut. 

The Rev. Peter Bulkeley died on March 9, 1659 at the age of 77, and was buried in the Old Hill Burying Ground in Concord.

Peter Bulkeley's Grave

Peter Bulkeley > Edward Bulkeley > Peter Bulkeley > Rebecca Bulkeley > Charles Prescott > Rebecca Prescott > Charles Prescott Hayward > Charles Hayward > James Stickney Hayward  > Annie Almira Hayward > Bessie Lakin Fogg > Ruth Anne Bradley

Peter Bulkeley is in the outer yellow ring on the top chart with Charles Prescott Hayward at the center. 

Charles Prescott Hayward is in the orange section of the bottom chart, second ring from the outside, next to the yellow section.