Peter Yarrow was born in Manhattan to Bernard Yarrow and Vera Yarrow Wisebrode , ( née Vira Burtakoff ) both immigrants of educated Jewish - Ukrainian background whose families had settled in Providence , Rhode Island .
Peter Yarrow was born in Manhattan , the son of Vera Yarrow Wisebrode ( née Vira Burtakoff ) and Bernard Yarrow . 
 His parents were both immigrants of educated Ukrainian Jewish background , whose families had settled in Providence , Rhode Island .