Peter Folger [792] ¹

  General Notes:

"My mother, the second wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of Peter Folger, one of the first settlers of New England, of whom honorable mention is made by Cotton Mather in his church history of that country, entitled Magnalia Christi Americana, as "a godly, learned Englishman, ..." --- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin

  Noted events in his life were:

• He immigrated in 1638 to Norwich, England. ⁶

• He had a residence between 1635 and 1663 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. He was invited to leave the Vineyard because of his liberal religiousviews.

• He had a residence after 1663 in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

• See the document A Looking-Glass for the Times on 23 Apr 1676, Nantucket Island. ⁷ Let all that read these verses know,
That I intend something to show
About our war, how it hath been
And also what is the chief sin,
That God doth so with us contend
And when these wars are like to end.
Read them in love; do not despise
What here is set before thine eyes.


New England for these many years
hath had both rest and peace,
But now the case is otherwise;
our troubles doth increase.

The plague of war is now begun
in some great colonies,
And many towns are desolate
we may see with our eyes.

The loss of many goodly men
we may lament also,
Who in the war have lost their lives,
and fallen by our foe.

Our women also they have took
and children very small,
Great cruelty they have used
to some, though not to all.

The enemy that hath done this,
are very foolish men,
Yet God doth take of them a rod
to punish us for sin.

If we then truly turn to God,
He will remove his ire,
And will forthwith take this his rod,
and cast it into fire.

Let us then search, what is the sin
that God doth punish for;
And when found out, cast it away
and ever it abhor.

Sure 't is not chiefly for those sins,
that magistrates do name,
And make good laws for to suppress,
and execute the same.

But 't is for that same crying sin,
that rulers will not own,
And that whereby much cruelty
to brethren hath been shown.

The sin of persecution
such laws established,
By which laws they have gone so far
as blood hath touched blood.

It is n>w forty years ago,
since some of them were made,
Which was the ground and rise of all
the persecuting trade.

Then many worthy persons were
banished to the woods,
Where they among the natives did,
lose their most precious bloods.

And since that, many godly men,
have been to prison sent,
They have been fined, and whipped also,
and suffered banishment.

The cause of this their suffering
was not for any sin,
But for the witness that they bare
against babe sprinkling.

Of later time there hath been some
men come into this land,
To warn the rulers of their sins
as I do understand.

They call on all, both great and small,
to fear God and repent;
And for their testimonies thus
they suffer a punishment.

Yea some of them they did affirm,
that they were sent of God,
To testify to great and small
that God would send his rod.

Against those colonies, because
they did make laws not good;
And if those laws were not repeal'd
the end would be in blood.

And though that these were harmless men,
and did no hurt to any,
But lived well like honest men,
as testified by many:

Yet did these laws entrap them so,
that they were put to death, \emdash
And could not have the liberty
to speak near their last breath.

But these men were, as I have heard,
against our College men;
And this was, out of doubt to me,
that which was most their sin.

They did reprove all hirelings,
with a most sharp reproof,
Because they knew not how to preach
till sure of means enough.

Now to the sufferings of these men
I have but gave a hint;
Because that in George Bishop's book
you may see all in print.

But may we know the counsellors
that brought our rulers in
To be so guilty ns they are,
of the aforesaid sin!

They were the tribe of ministers,
as they are said to be,
Who always to our magistrates
must be the eyes to see.

These are the men that by their wits
have spun so fair a shred,
That now themselves and others are
of natives in a dread.

What need is there of such a fear
if we have done no ill!
But 't is because that we have been
not doing of God's will.

When Cain had slain his brother, then
began this fear to be,
That every man would do to him
the same that did him see.

The Scripture doth declare the cause
why Cain did kill his brother;
It was because the deeds of one
was good, and not the other.

Because that God did favor show
to Abel more than he,
That was in verity the thing
that envy could not see.

Then let us all, both great and small,
take heed how we do fight
Against the spirit of the Lord,
which is our highest light.

Let Magistrates and ministers
consider what they do:
Let them repeal those evil laws
and break those bauds in two

Which have been made as traps and snares
to catch the innocents,
And whereby it has gone so far
to acts of violence.

I see you write yourselves in print,
the Balm of Gilead;
Then do not act as if you were
like men that are half mad.

If you can heal the land, what is
the cause things are so bad?
I think instead of that, you make
the hearts of people sad.

Is this a time for you to press,
to draw the blood of those
That are your neighbors and your friends?
as if you had no foes.

Yea, some there are, as I have heard.
have lately found out tricks
To put the cause of all the war
upon the heretics,

Or rather on some officers,
that now begin to slack
The execution of those laws,
whose consequence is black.

I do affirm to you, if that
be really your mind,
You must go turn another leaf,
before that peace you find.

Now, loving friends and countrymen,
I wish we may be wise,
'T is now a time for every man
to see with his own eyes.

'Tis easy to provoke the Lord
to send among us war,
'T is easy to do violence,
to envy, and to jar.

To show a spirit that is high,
to scorn and domineer;
To pride it out, as if there were
no God to make us fear;

To covet what is not our own,
to cheat and to oppress,
To live a life that might free us
from acts of Righteousness;

To swear and lie, and to be drunk,
to backbite one another;
To carry tales that may do hurt
and mischief to our brother!

To live in such hypocrisy,
as men may think us good,
Although our hearts within are full
of evil and of blood.

All these and many evils more
are easy for to do:
But to repent, and to reform,
we have no strength unto.

Let us then seek for help from God,
and turn to him that smite:
Let us take heed that at no time
we sin against our light.

Let's bear our testimony plain
against sin in high and low;
And see that we no cowards be,
to hide the light we know.

When Jonathan is called to court,
shall we as standers by,
Be still and have no word to speak,
but suffer him to die!

If that you say you cannot help,
things will be as they are;
I tell you true, 't is plain and clear,
those words may come from fear,

That you shall lose some carnal things,
if you do speak for God;
And here you go the nearest way
to taste deep of his rod.

'T is true there are some times, indeed,
of silence to the meek;
Not ever, for the Lord doth say,
there is a time to speak.

Be vigilant then for to see
the movings of your heart,
And you will know right well the time
when you shall act your part.

I would not have you for to think,
tho' I have wrote so much,
That I hereby do throw a stone
at magistrates, as such.

The rulers in the country, I
do own them in the Lord;
And such as are for government,
with them I do accord.

But that which I intend hereby,
is, that they would keep bounds,
And meddle not with God's worship,
for which they have no ground.

And I am not alone herein,
there's many hundreds more,
That have for many years ago
spake much upon that score.

Indeed I really believe,
it's not your business
To meddle with the Church of Christ
in matters more or less.

There's work enough to do besides,
to judge in mine and thine:
To succor poor and fatherless,
that is the work in fine.

And I do think that now you find
enough of that to do;
Much more at such a time as this,
as there is war also.

Indeed I count it very low,
for people in these days,
To ask the rulers for their leave
to serve God in his ways.

I count it worse in magistrates
to use the iron sword,
To do that work which Christ alone
will do by his own word.

The Church may now go stay at home,
there's nothing for to do;
Their work is all cut out by law,
and almost made up too.

Now, reader, least you should mistake,
in what I said before
Concerning ministers, I think
to write a few words more.

I would not have you for to think
that I am such a fool,
To write against learning, as such,
or to cry down a school.

But 'tis that Popish college way,
that I intend hereby,
Where men are mew'd up in a cage;
fit for all villainy.

But I shall leave this puddle stuff
to neighbours at the door,
That can speak more unto such things,
upon a knowing score.

And now these men, though ne'er so bad,
when they have learn'd their trade,
They must come in and bear a part,
whatever laws are made.

I can't but wonder for to see
our magistrates and wise,
That they sit still and suffer them
to ride on them, not rise.

And stir them up to do that work,
that Scripture rule there wants,
To persecute and persecute
those that they judge are saints.

There's one thing more that I believe
is worse than all the rest,
They vilify the Spirit of God,
and count school learning best.

If that a boy hath learn'd his trade,
and can the Spirit disgrace,
Then he is lifted up on high,
and needs must have a place.

But I shall leave this dirty stuff,
and give but here a hint,
Because that you have Cradock's book,
and may see more in print.

There are some few, it may be, that
are clear of this same trade;
And of those men, I only say,
these verses are not made.

Now for the length of time, how long
these wars are like to be,
I may speak something unto that,
if men will reason see.

The Scripture doth point out the time,
and 't is as we do choose,
For to obey the voice of God,
or else for to refuse.

The prophet Jeremy doth say,
when war was threat'ned sore,
That if men do repent and turn
God will afflict no more.

But such a turning unto God,
as is but verbally,
When men refuse for to reform,
it is not worth a fly.

'T is hard for you, as I do hear,
though you be under rod,
To say to Israel, Go, you,
and serve the Lord your God.

Though you do many prayers make,
and add fasting thereto,
Yet if your hands be full of blood,
all this will never do.

The end that God doth send his sword,
is that we might amend,
Then, if that we reform aright,
the war will shortly end.

New England they are like the Jews,
as like as like can be;
They made large promises to God,
at home and at the sea.

They did proclaim free Liberty,
they cut the calf in twain,
They part between the part thereof,
O this was all in vain.

For since they came into this land,
they floated to and fro,
Sometimes, then, brethren may be free,
while hence to prison go.

According as the times to go,
and weather is abroad,
So we can serve ourselves sometimes
and sometimes serve the Lord.

But let us hear what God doth say,
to such backsliding men,
That can with ease to break their vows,
and soon go back again. Jer. 34.

He saith he will proclaim for them,
a freedom to the sword,
Because they would not fear him so,
as to obey his word.

This liberty unto the sword,
he hath proclaimed for us,
And we are like to feel it long,
if matters do go thus.

'T is better for our magistrates,
to shorten time, I say,
By breaking of those bands in two
that look an evil way.

You do profess yourselves to be
men that do pray always,
Then do not keep such evil laws,
as may serve at wet days.

If that the peace of God did rule,
with power in our heart,
Then outward war would flee away,
and rest would be our part.

If we do love our brethren,
and do to them, I say,
As we would they should do to us,
we should be quiet straightway.

But if that we a smiting go,
of fellow-servants so,
No marvel if our wars increase
and things so heavy go.

'T is like that some may think and say
our war would not remain,
If so be that a thousand more
of natives were but slain.

Alas! these are but foolish thoughts,
God can make more arise,
And if that there were none at all,
he can make war with flies.

It is the presence of the Lord,
must make our foes to shake,
Or else it's like he will e'er long
know how to make us quake.

Let us lie low before the Lord,
in all humility,
And then we shall with Asa see
our enemies to fly.

But if that we do leave the Lord,
and trust in fleshly arm,
Then 't is no wonder if that we
do hear more news of harm.

Let 's have our faith and hope in God,
and trust in him alone,
And then no doubt this storm of war
it quickly will be gone.

Thus, reader, I, in love to all,
leave these few lines with thee,
Hoping that in the substance we
shall very well agree.

If that you do mistake the verse
for its uncomely dress,
I tell thee true, I never thought
that it would pass the press.

If any at the matter kick,
it 's like he's galled at heart,
And that's the reason why he kicks,
because he finds it smart.

I am for peace, and not for war,
and that 's the reason why
I write more plain than some men do,
that use to daub and lie.

But I shall cease and set my name
to what I here insert,
Because to be a libeller,
I hate it with my heart.

From Sherbon town, where now I dwell,
my name I do put here,
Without offence your real friend,
it is PETER FOLGER.

• He was buried at the Old Settlers Graves Memorial in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1690. ⁸ Inscription reads:

ERECTED A.D. 1881, BY A DESCENDANT OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NANTUCKET IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHOSE REMAINS ARE BURIED ON THIS HALLOWED SPOT, WHERE STOOD THE FIRST CHURCH GATHERED HERE IN 1711, SINCE REMOVED TO WHERE IT NOW STANDS AS THE VESTRY OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.

[TEN NAMES AND DATES]

MANY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF THESE WORTHY SIRES HAVE BEEN DISTINGUISHED FOR THEIR COURAGE AND ENERGY, AND LEFT A RECORD FOR OTHERS TO EMULATE.

Peter married Mary Morrell [801] [MRIN: 372] in 1644 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.^{1 2 3} (Mary Morrell [801] was born in 1623 in England ² and died in 1704 in Nantucket, Nantucket County, Massachusetts ^{5 9}.)

  Marriage Notes:

Peter Folger and Mary Morrell appraently met on the ship Abigail in1635 on the voyage from England to America. Mary was an indentured servant to the Reverend and Mrs Hugh Peters. Peter bought Mary's indenture for twenty pounds when Mrs Hughs was returning to England in1644. They were married that year. Peter called her "the best buy"and a "damn fine bargain." They had eleven children born on Martha's Vineyard. The twelveth, Abiah, born on Nantucket, became the mother of Benjamin Franklin.