Indian Peter: The Extraordinary Life and Adventures of Peter Williamson

by Douglas Skelton

According to Peter's own account, his farm was attacked in 1754, during what became known as the French and Indian War, and he was captured by the Indians, who forced him to travel with them as a slave. After escaping, he joined the British Army to fight the French and their Indian allies but his regiment was forced to surrender and he was taken to Canada as a prisoner of war. Eventually, the POWs were exchanged for French prisoners and Peter found himself free. He made his way back to Scotland and tracked down the men who were behind his initial kidnapping, taking them to court in a landmark case that exposed the scandal of slave trading.

Once settled in Edinburgh, Peter became a publican, writer, publisher, and entrepreneur. He developed Edinburgh's first Penny Post system, launched a weekly magazine, and shamelessly exploited his experiences for profit. A well-known figure, especially in the law courts, his 1788 divorce case scandalized the city - and provided further fodder for his autobiographical pen.

Brimming with action and adventure,Indian Peter is a true-life tale of abduction, war, courtroom drama, and survival against the odds.

Genres: Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Douglas has been a shelf stacker, bank clerk, tax officer, factory worker, advertising salesperson, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), journalist and criminal investigator. His early books were all in true crime or criminal history but now he writes fiction, beginning with the Davie McCall series. The final book in the series, OPEN WOUNDS, has been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2016, alongside such authors as Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Lin Anderson, Doug Johnstone and James Oswald.
His next book is THE DEAD DON'T BOOGIE, which will kick off a new series.

Reviews

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas Skelton has written a history book, with all the colourful prose and flow of an adventure novel. The 18th century life of Peter Williamson (1730-1799) was exactly that though. It was said that Robert Louis Stevenson's character of David Balfour in 'Kidnapped' was inspired by the adventures of Williamson from his book 'French and Indian Cruelty' published in 1758.
Peter Williamson was kidnapped, aged 13, in Aberdeen and then shipped to the American colonies to be sold into servitude. He survived a shipwreck before being bought by a wealthy Pennsylvania planter. Eventually becoming free and marrying, he worked his own farm on the forks of the Delaware, now Northampton County. Captured by natives and taken back to their camp, he was a kidnapped slave once more.
Eventually he escaped, found his wife had died, and joined the militia and fought in the French/Indian wars, before being captured as a prisoner of war. He was shipped back to England and returned to his native Scotland, to settle in Edinburgh.
He became a writer, publisher, publican, entrepreneur. I always say that truth is far more amazing than fiction, here is the proof.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing tale of one man's life on two continents! If you get a chance to read this book, DO!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read.