Peter Wilson Coldham

Peter Wilson Coldham, FASG, FSG (1926-2012) was a distinguished scholar of colonial American immigration. Before his retirement, he worked at the British Public Records Office (now The National Archives). During his researches, he came across references to American colonists in many previously unpublished English sources. Some of his discoveries were originally published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) and later republished in book form. He was awarded the Bickersteth Medal in 1991.

Most of his studies have focused on poor English immigrants to America. Historians recognize Coldham as the person who brought attention to the neglected study of English convicts transported to the American colonies. Other publications have focused on indentured servants.

Coldham brought previously unstudied English sources to light about free passengers to the American colonies. He sifted through chancery, Christ's Hospital, high court of admiralty records and wills in search of references to early Americans. Colket regarded his article, "Passengers and Ships to America, 1618-1668" (NSGQ, 1984) as "the most important addition to our knowledge of early New England that has appeared in over a century."

Coldham's books are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Most are available online to Ancestry subscribers. Books marked PILI have been indexed in the series Passenger and Immigrants Lists Index, which is also available online to Ancestry subscribers. NGSQ articles are available online to members of the National Genealogical Society.

Articles

 * "American Administration and Probate Acts in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 61 (1973):183-188, 278-284; Vol. 62 (1974):54-59, 91-95, 282-286; Vol. 64 (1976):128-132, 189-196; Vol. 65 (1977):195-203, 275-283; Vol. 66 (1978):130-142, 194-204; Vol. 68 (1980):41-50, 123-128, 193-202.
 * "American Arrivals in London, 1656-67," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 79 (1991):289-295.
 * "Clarke, Curtis, and Richardson of Barbados, Delaware, and Philadelphia," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 61 (1973):3-10.
 * "Colonial America: Outpost of Empire, Penal Settlement, or Land of Opportunity?" National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 66 (1978):253-257.
 * "Correspondence with the American Colonies 1739-1782," The Genealogist, Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring 1998):108-128; Vol. 12, No. 2 (Fall 1998):189-205. [Overseas correspondence of residents of Charleston with the following surnames: Bull, Gaiden (?), Izard, and Laurens.]
 * "Descendants of Captain Roger Mallory of Virginia," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 61 (1973):125-131.
 * "English Ancestry of Robert Pennoyer and Walter Butler of Connecticut," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 60 (1972):243-249.
 * "English Chancery Court Records," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 63 (1975):264-267.
 * "Genealogical Gleanings in England," published serially in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, as follows:
 * Vol. 59 (1971):175-181, 283-295
 * Vol. 60 (1972):13-21, 88-93, 180-187, 256-266. Includes "List of Convicts, 1748," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 61 (1973):34-39, 115-117, 201-204, 260-268. Includes "Some Scottish Emigrants, 1771-1774," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 62 (1974):34-46, 199-212, 270-275
 * Vol. 63 (1975):39-47, 130-138, 193-203, 291-295. Includes "Scottish Rebels Transported to Maryland, 1747," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 64 (1976):45-53, 137-146, 213-226, 285-293. Includes "Some Passenger Lists of 1677," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 65 (1977):135-145, 204-210, 257-268
 * Vol. 66 (1978):42-46, 117-126, 211-222: Includes "Some Emigrants to Georgia, 1774-1775," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 67 (1979):58-63, 210-218, 287-293
 * Vol. 68 (1980):115-120
 * Vol. 69 (1981):35-42, 115-124, 195-204, 277-284
 * Vol. 70 (1982):37-45, 112-123
 * Vol. 71 (1983):36-40, 121-130, 163-192, 284-296: Includes "Passengers and Ships to America, 1618-1668," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 72 (1984):132-145, 199-212, 288-296: Includes "Passengers and Ships to America, 1618-1668," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 73 (1985):53-58, 207-212
 * Vol. 74 (1986):63-68, 196-202, 290-294: includes "Transportees from the London Workhouse, 1703;" all indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Vol. 79 (1991):138-139
 * Vol. 80 (1992):287-297
 * Vol. 81, No. 1 (March 1993):56-63
 * PWC and David Dobson. "Genealogical Gleanings in the British Isles," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 76 (1988):230-234.
 * "Genealogical Resources in Chancery Records," Genealogists' Magazine: Journal of the Society of Genealogists, Vol. 19 (June 1979):345-347; Vol. 20 (1980). FHL British Book 942 B2gm v. 19-20
 * "Intercepted Letters Relating to America 1777-1811," The Genealogist, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Fall 2000):184-200; Vol. 15, No. 1 (Spring 2001):53-74.
 * "Maryland Land-Patent Records, 1671-80: Correlated Evidence Identifying Transported Convicts," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 83, No. 1 (March 1995):44-53. ; Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * "The 'Spiriting' of London Children to Virginia, 1648-1685," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 83 (1975):280-7; immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * "Thomas Weston, Ironmonger of London and America, 1609-1647," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 62 (1974):163-172.
 * "Transportation of English Felons," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 63 (1975):172-175.
 * "The Voyage of the Neptune to Virginia, 1618-1619, and the Disposition of Its Cargo," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 87 (1979):30-67. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * "William Roberts of Maryland: Sidelights from the British Public Records Office," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 85, No. 3 (Sep. 1997):219-221.

Books

 * American Migrations 1765-1799. The lives, times, and families of colonial Americans who remained loyal to the British Crown before, during and after the Revolutionary War, as related in their own words and through their correspondence. Immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * American Wills Proved in London, 1611-1775. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1857.
 * Bonded Passengers to America. 9 vols. in 3. Baltimore: GPC, 1983. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Bristol Registers of Servants Sent to Foreign Plantations, 1654-1686. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Child Apprentices in America from Christ's Hospital, London, 1617-1778. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1661-1699. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1700-1750. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1751-1776. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Supplement to The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Emigrants from England to the American Colonies, 1773-1776. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Emigrants in Chains. A Social History of Forced Emigration to the Americas of Felons, Destitute Children, Political and Religious Non-Conformists, Vagabonds, Beggars and Other Undesirables, 1607–1776. Immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).
 * English Adventurers and Emigrants, 1609-1660. Abstracts of Examinations in the High Court of Admiralty with Reference to Colonial America. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * English Adventurers and Emigrants, 1661-1733. Abstracts of Examinations in the High Court of Admiralty with Reference to Colonial America. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * English Estates of American Colonists. American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1699. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * English Estates of American Colonists. American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700-1799. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * English Estates of American Settlers. American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1800-1858. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * English Convicts in Colonial America. New Orleans, La.: Polyanthos, 1974-6. Vol. 1: Middlesex 1617-1775; Vol. 2: London 1656-1775. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * The Kings Passengers to Maryland and Virginia. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Lord Mayor's Court of London Depositions Relating to Americans, 1641-1736. 1980. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * More Emigrants in Bondage: 1614-1775. Indexed online in PILI ($).
 * Settlers of Maryland 1679-1783. Consolidated edition. Immigrants indexed online in PILI ($).