JOHN PEASE, (JOHN. ROBERT,) eldest son of John, Sen., and Mary (Goodell) Pease, some time of Salem, Mass., last of Enfield, Ct., born at Salem, May 30, 1654 ; married Margaret Adams of Ipswich, Mass., January 30, 1677. He was apprenticed at Salem to one John Symonds, who was probably a carpenter and joiner. Symonds died soon after. In his will he assigned his apprentice to his son James " during the term of time in the indenture, paying £40 in four years, £10 per annum." It seems probable he continued the occupation of his apprenticeship until his removal from Salem, as evidenced by the sale of his " land, house and shop." He and his brother Robert are said to have gone to Enfield in 1679, two years before they removed their families there, and lived the first winter in an excavation in the side of a hill about forty rods from where the first meetinghouse stood. In 1685, they had extra land given them because they had been the " first cummers." It was undoubtedly this son " John Pease " who is named in the deed as one of the commissioners who made the purchase of the larger portion of the town of Enfield in March, 1681. He was one of the most prominent men in the history of the town of Enfield ; was indefatigable in his efforts to promote and advance its prosperity when an infant settlement, and after its incorporation as a town. He was appointed "land measuer" by the town; was one of the first selectmen chosen by the town, and was the first captain of the first militia company in Enfield. He died at Enfield, 1734, aged 80 years
A Genealogical and Historical Record of the Descendants of John Pease, Sen., Last of Enfield, Conn.; Rev. David Pease; pages 5-6
The inscriptions record much of the early life of Enfield. They tell that the town was founded by Captain John Pease, 1654-1734, and that he was the father of the first child born here in 1683. 'J'his was Margaret Pease, who married Josiah Colton and lived to be 92 years old. The first boy born in Enfield was, as already mentioned, Isaac Kibbe, father of the Isaac Kibbe who iMiilt the meeting house which is now the town hall.
