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 During his researches, he came across references to American colonists in many previously unpublished English sources. Many of his discoveries were originally published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and were later republished in book form. He was awarded the Bickersteth Medal in 1991. Many 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 sent to the American colonies through his published lists of transported felons. Other publications include lists of indentured servants.

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 ($).
 * Vol. 61 (1973):34-39, 115-117, 201-204, 260-268
 * Vol. 62 (1974):34-46, 199-212, 270-275
 * Vol. 63 (1975):39-47, 130-138, 193-203, 291-295. Includes "Scottish Rebels Transported to Maryland, 1747," indexed online in PILI ($).
 * 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
 * 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
 * Vol. 72 (1984):132-145, 199-212, 288-296
 * Vol. 73 (1985):53-58, 207-212
 * Vol. 74 (1986):63-68, 196-202, 290-294
 * 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.
 * "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.
 * "William Roberts of Maryland: Sidelights from the British Public Records Office," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 85, No. 3 (Sep. 1997):219-221.

Books
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 Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660 
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1661-1699 
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1700-1750 
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1751-1776 
 * The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775 
 * Supplement to The Complete Book of Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775 
 * 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 
 * Child Apprentices in America from Christ's Hospital, London, 1617-1778 
 * The Bristol Registers of Servants Sent to Foreign Plantations, 1654-1686 
 * Emigrants from England to the American Colonies, 1773-1776 
 * 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 
 * English Adventurers and Emigrants, 1609-1660. Abstracts of Examinations in the High Court of Admiralty with Reference to Colonial America 
 * English Estates of American Colonists. American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1699 
 * English Estates of American Colonists. American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700-1799 
 * English Estates of American Settlers. American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1800-1858 
 * American Wills Proved in London, 1611-1775 
 * American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1857
 * Lord Mayor's Court of London Depositions Relating to Americans, 1641-1736. 1980.