Peter Bulkeley, the son of Rev. Edward Bulkeley, was born in Odell, Bedfordshire, on 31st January 1583. Educated at Cambridge University, Bulkeley succeeded his father as rector of the Church of All Saints in 1610.

In April 1613, Bulkeley married Jane Allen. The couple had nine children: Edward (1614), Mary (1615), Thomas (1617), Nathaniel (1618), John (1619), Mary (1621), Joseph (1623), Daniel (1625) and Jabez (1629).

A Puritan, Bulkeley opposed the religious policies of William Laud and in 1634 he was suspended from duty. The following year he emigrated to the United States on the Susan & Ellin. The family settled in the Boston area and in 1635 purchased land at Musketaquid. This eventually became known as the Concord settlement.

Peter Bulkeley, who wrote the Gospel Covenant, died in Concord on 9th March, 1659.