Gov Peleg Sanford was born 10 May 1639 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island to John Sanford (c1605-1653) and Bridget Hutchinson (1619-1698) and died 28 February 1701 Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island of unspecified causes. He married Mary Brenton (1636-1674) 1665 in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island. He married Mary Coddington (1654-1693) 1 December 1665 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island.
Biography
Peleg Sanford (10 May 1639 - 1701) was an early English colonial governor of Rhode Island, serving three consecutive terms from 1680 to 1683. He was the son of John Sanford (c1605-1653) by his second wife, Bridget Hutchinson (1619-1698).
His father had been the cannoneer at the fort in Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but was forced to leave Boston in 1637 when Peleg's grandmother, the famed Anne Hutchinson, was evicted for her religious views, having, in the words of John Winthrop, "seduced and led into dangerous errors many of the people...in New England.".
With Anne Hutchinson and her followers, the Sanfords established themselves in Portsmouth in the Rhode Island colony, and Peleg's father, John, was briefly the governor of the two towns of Newport and Portsmouth, which were separated from Providence and Warwick for a short time.
King Phillip's War
Sanford grew up in Newport, and as a young man was appointed as a Captain of a troop of horse there. Following the events of King Phillips War, he and Captain Goulding informed Captain Church of the hiding location of the Indian warrior King Phillip, and the following day the Indian was found and killed.
In 1677 he and Richard Bailey were chosen as agents to go to England to deal with incursions made by the neighboring colony of Connecticut. In 1679 he became a major, and in 1687 he was given the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Rhode Island Governor
In 1667, at the age of 28, Sanford began his political life and became an assistant, serving for three years, then was deputy for seven years, after which he once again served as assistant for another two years, ending in 1679. In 1680 he was elected 10th governor of the colony, and served three consecutive terms, ending in 1683.
During the period from 1686 to 1689 when the New England colonies had their charters revoked, and their governments fell under the Dominion of New England, Sanford served as a member on the council of Sir Edmund Andros, the governor of the dominion. Sanford wrote his will in 1701, and it was proved on 1 September of that year.
== Family & Marriage
1st Marriage: Brenton
Sanford had no children by his first wife, Mary Brenton (1636-1674). She died childless in about 1674 and the following year he remarried.
2nd Marriage: Coddington
Peleg Sanford had seven children by his second wife Mary Coddington (1654-1693) who was a daughter of William Coddington, many times governor of the colony. His granddaughter, Margaret Sanford, married Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson, a great great grandson of William and Anne Hutchinson. Sanford was succeeded as governor by his brother-in-law, William Coddington, Jr..
- Ann Sanford (1675-1762)
- Bridget Sanford (1682-)
- Son Sanford (1683-)
- Peleg Sanford (1685-1702)
- Elizabeth Ann Sanford (1685-1762)
- William Sanford (1690-1721)] - md Griselda Silvester, and had daughter marry Thomas Hutchinson (1711-1780), last loyalist governor of Mass.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Ann Sanford (1675-1762) | 1675 Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island | 23 October 1762 Stonington, New London County, Connecticut | James Noyes (1677-1719) |
| Bridget Sanford (1682-) | |||
| Son Sanford (1683-) | |||
| Peleg Sanford (1685-1702) | |||
| Elizabeth Ann Sanford (1685-1762) | |||
| William Sanford (1690-1721) | 1690 Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island | 24 April 1721 Rhode Island | Griselda Silvester (1692-1749) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| John Sanford (1633-1687) | |||
| Samuel Sanford (1635-1712) | 14 July 1635 Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts | 18 March 1712 Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island | Sarah Wodell (1644-1680) Susanna Sarah Spatchurst (1661-1723) |
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Eliphal Sanford (1637-1724) | |||
| Peleg Sanford (1639-1701) | 10 May 1639 Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island | 28 February 1701 Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island | Mary Brenton (1636-1674) Mary Coddington (1654-1693) |
| Encome Sanford (1640-1667) | |||
| Restcome Sanford (1642-1667) | |||
| William Sanford (1643-1671) | |||
| Francis Sanford (1647-1655) | |||
| Esbow Sanford (1647-) | |||
| Elisha Sanford (1650-1691) | |||
| Ann Sanford (1651-1654) | |||
References
- Life of Gov Peleg Sanford -
- Francis Marbury List of Famous Descendants
- King Philip's War (participants)