Peleg Sanford (10 May 1639 – 1701)^[1] was an early governor of theColony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving three consecutive terms from 1680 to 1683.

Sanford was the son ofJohn Sanford by his second wife, Bridget Hutchinson. His father had been thecannoneer at the fort inBoston in theMassachusetts Bay Colony, but was forced to leave Boston in 1637 when Peleg's grandmother, the famedAnne Hutchinson, was evicted for her religious views, having, in the words ofJohn Winthrop, "seduced and led into dangerous errors many of the people...in New England."^[1] With Anne Hutchinson and her followers, the Sanfords established themselves inPortsmouth in theRhode Island colony, and Peleg's father, John, was briefly the governor of the two towns ofNewport and Portsmouth, which were separated fromProvidence andWarwick for a short time.^[1]

Sanford grew up in Newport, and as a young man was appointed as the captain of the troop of horse there.^[1] Following the events ofKing Philip's War, he and Captain Goulding informedCaptain Church of the hiding location of the Indian warriorKing Phillip, and the following day the Indian was found and killed.^[2] In 1677 he and Richard Bailey were chosen as agents to go to England to deal with incursions made by the neighboring colony ofConnecticut.^[2] In 1679, he was promoted to major in command of the Rhode Island Militia, and in 1687 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.^[2]

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. He served as the major in command of the colony's militia from May 1679 to May 1680.

In May 1680 he was elected governor of the colony to succeed GovernorJohn Cranston who died in office in March, and served three consecutive terms, ending in 1683.^[2] During the period from 1686 to 1689 when the New England colonies had their charters revoked, and their governments fell under theDominion of New England, Sanford served as a member on the council of SirEdmund Andros, the governor of the dominion.^[2]

Sanford wrote his will in 1701, and it was proved on 1 September of that year.^[2]

With his first wife, Mary Brenton, Sanford had one child who died in infancy. In 1674, Sanford married Mary Coddington (1654–1693), with whom he had six children. Mary was the daughter of governorWilliam Coddington.^[1] His granddaughter, Margaret Sanford, marriedMassachusetts GovernorThomas Hutchinson, a great-great-grandson ofWilliam andAnne Hutchinson.^[3] Sanford was succeeded as governor by his brother-in-law,William Coddington Jr.

• List of colonial governors of Rhode Island
• Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

• Austin, John Osborne (1887).Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island. Albany, New York: J. Munsell's Sons.ISBN 978-0-8063-0006-1.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

• Chronological list of Rhode Island leadersArchived 2 April 2021 at theWayback Machine

• 1639 births
• 1701 deaths
• Colonial governors of Rhode Island
• Politicians from Newport, Rhode Island

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