Background
Peterson was born in the province of Värmland, Sweden.
Peterson was born in the province of Värmland, Sweden.
He departed Sweden on the ship Örn ("The Eagle") on February 2, 1654, and arrived in New Sweden on May 22, 1654. As he may have been only 15 years old, he was possibly part of the contingent of twelve boys on the ship from the Building College of Stockholm. On April 16, 1675, Johan Anderson Stalcop conveyed half his land in Wilmington to Peterson and Lars Cornelison.
Peterson erected a "humble cabin" on a hill overlooking Wilmington and cleared away the forest covering the southern declivity of the hill.