Peter Folger

     Peter was born in 1617 in Norwich, County Norfolk, England. In 1641, Peter removed to Martha's Vineyard with Thomas Mayhew with a mission to teach the Indians. He remained there for about the next 20 years and gained the respect of his fellow ministers and churchmen; and built a substantial reputation both in the church and as a teacher. It is noted that 5 of his students from Martha's Vineyard did so well in their studies that they took the examination for entry into Harvard and were admitted to the school in 1659. By 1657, however, Peter's theological ideas had diverged from the main stream in New England and he joined the sect known by their opponents as Anabaptists, he lost his place in the church but continued his teaching. In 1662, he left Martha's Vineyard and removed to Newport and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the home of Roger Williams and his new religious sect. Mary married Peter Folger in 1644.