Was admitted a burgher of Hamburg on 14 August 1646, being the son of a burgher.
Went to Barbados in 1647 at the age of 24, where he married Anne Hill in Jan. of 1648/49. On June 2, 1648 (1649?) he contracted with Nathaniel Maverick to transport him on the Golden Dolphin to New England with his wife, her brother and mother.
On May 12, 1650 in Newport he was "Peter Talman of Rhode Island, apothecary", From 1651 to 1658 his name is frequently found on Court Records in New Amsterdam where he traded with Delaware, indicating he engaged in mercantile enterprises and sometimes acted as interpreter between the English and Dutch. On May 20, 1652 he was styled "Dutchman" in the Conn. records. Was accepted as a Freeman of Newport, R.I. in 1655, and on Jan 25, 1656 he (of Middleburgh[Newtown], N.Y.) was complained of by the magistrates for removing tobacco attached by the court at Flushing. Resided at Flushing and New Amsterdam 1655-1658. On 4 Oct, 1655 he bought a house and lot in New Amsterdam, and on 25 May, 1658 sold it to Dirck Jansen van Daventer, after which he settled in Portsmouth and lived there the rest of his life.
Dec 18, 1658 he bought 9 acres in Portsmouth for 35 schillings an acre from Richard Morris and wife. Two days later he bought 6 acres from William Wilbur next to the first purchase. He bought land on the Taunton River in Plymouth Colony (now Dighton, Mass.) and at Dartmouth, as well as a considerable tract at Holme's Hole (currently Tisbury) on Martha's Vineyard. In 1661 he was General Solicitor for the Colony of Rhode Island; 1661-2 Commissioner (at Warwick); and 1662-5 Deputy. During 1665, his wife Anne was sentenced to be whipped for adultery; he divorced her and remarried Joan Briggs. After his marriage he agreed to give Joan lands he had bought from Richard Morris, Daniel Wilcox, and William Wilbur along with a house, all to be hers and her heirs born of this marriage. He gave her as well a bed and half the household goods. If she died without children the property was to revert to Peter Jr., his oldest son, and if he died without heirs, then to Mary and her heirs, his oldest daughter. He also gave her 3 cows and a good breeding mare as a free gift. Having broken a Mass. law prohibiting receipt of land from Indians by deed of gift, he was imprisoned. Upon giving up the deeds, he was released on Jun 7, 1674. On 20 Oct, 1675 there is a record of his bringing suit against Rebecca Sadler, wife of Thomas, for breach of peace and threatening his family. And records in 1680 of his being taxed. He served on a jury at Portsmouth Sept 18, 1683 in the case of a man found hanged by a neckcloth from the bough of a cherry tree. Verdict: "That we do not find but that the said man, said to be named John Crags, was absolutely the only actor of his own death."
At his death, his inventory was presented by his son James in 1708. On May 3, 1709 James Tallman took aquittances from his brothers and sisters as he had been given Administration of the estate.