Robert Peck (abt. 1580 - abt. 1656)

Born about 1580 in Beccles, Suffolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Lawrence) Peck — married 21 May 1603 in Hingham, Norfolk, England

Husband of Martha (Woodward) Peck — married after 1649 in England

Descendants

Died about 1656 at about age 76 in Hingham, Norfolk, England

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Robert Peck migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 258) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Robert Peck immigrated to New England between 1621 and 1640 and later departed for England

Robert Peck was born in Suffolk, England. He emigrated to Hingham, Massachusetts before returning to England where he passed away.

Birth & Baptism

Robert Peck was born at Beccles, co. Suffolk, England in 1580; he was the third son of Robert and Helen (Babbs) Peck.^[1][2]

He was admitted to the University of Cambridge to his bachelor's degree in 1598-1599, coming up from St. Catherine's College, and to his master's degree in 1603, coming up from Magdalene College. He was ordained a deacon and priest at Norwich, Norfolk County, England on 24 Feb 1604/5 (age 25), became curate of Oulton, co. Norfolk, and was rector of Hingham, co. Norfolk from 1605-1638, and again, after his return to England, from 1646 until his death in 1656. ^[1]

Robert married first in about 1606 to Anne Lawrence. She was the daughter of John and [Agnes?] (Herne) Lawrence of St. James, South Elmham, co. Suffolk.^[3]

He was deprived of his position as rector at Hingham in Norfolk because he was a Puritan,^[3] specifically recorded is that he was censured for catechizing and singing psalms at his home on Sunday afternoons. It was alleged that Peck "had infected the parish with strange opinions: as that people are not to kneel as they enter the church; that it is superstition to bow at the name of Jesus; and that the church is no more sacred than any other building." According to Moore on page 233 of Abandoning America, he was excommunicated on 9 October 1636, by Bishop Matthew Wren's chancellor, Clement Corbet, and then deprived of his living on 9 April 1638.^[4] Peck requested absolution but it was not to be unless Peck agreed to "alwayes preach in his surplesse, constantly use Common prayer, read second service att the high Altar which Corbet had built in the chancel of the church." Peck could not agree with these terms, saying Corbet's requirements had no legal force in the Church of England.^[5]

Robert's son, Nathaniel, had emigrated to Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635 and, following the loss of his rectorship, Robert decided to join him. Robert Peck made detailed arrangements for family members, including Samuel and Thomas whom he left behind^[5]and then in 1638, sailing on the Diligent of Ipswich,^[3] he migrated with his wife, two children (Joseph and Ann^[5][2]), and two servants to Massachusetts.^[6] Also migrating with him was his brother Joseph Peck^[5] along with Joseph's wife and older children.^[3] On 28 Nov. 1638 he was ordained a teacher in the church there, and was admitted a freeman 13 Mar. 1638/9^[7] Through his influence a number of his parishioners became Nonconformists and emigrated to New England, where they took part in the founding of Hingham, Massachusetts about 1635. ^[8]

Robert Peck, his wife Ann and son Joseph made plans to return to England "at the invitation of his friends at Hingham in England," said Cotton Mather. His former parishioners in England had petitioned the House of Commons in 1640, "humbly crauing redresse that Mr Peck our old minister may be by law and justice of this Court returned to his old possessions or att least some godly man may be placed amongst us." They set sail on 27 October 1641. Ann, their daughter, as well as Joseph (Robert's brother) stayed in New England. Robert resumed his ministry at Hingham, co. Norfolk, England where the altar rail and mound at the east end of the chancel (placed by Clement Corbet) were removed.^[5]

Ann's husband, Captain John Mason, sold Peck's house and land in Hingham, Massachusetts Bay on 5 July 1647.^[9] as stated originally: Captn John Mason of Windsor granted vnto Thomas Thaxter of Hingham his house & land in Hingham wch formerly was Mr Robert Pecks wth all the priviledges thereto belonging & this was by an absolute deed of sale dated 5 (5) 1647, and acknowledged 6 (6) 1647 before Mr Endecot. Robert Peck's wife, Ann (Lawrence) Peck, died and was buried at Hingham, co. Norfolk, England on 30 August 1648.^[3] or 30 April 1648.^[2]

He married second Martha (Woodward) Bacon, widow of Rev. James Bacon, Rector of Burgate, Suffolk.^[2][3] (Note: a previous version of this profile gave her maiden name as Honeywood without source, but it appears that was her mother's maiden name.)

Robert Peck died at Hingham, England before 10 April 1658 when his well was proved. His will mentioned his wife Martha, his children Thomas, Samuel Robert, Joseph, and Ann. He requested to be buried next to his 1st wife Ann. [Transcript of will is below]

His funeral sermon was given by Nathaniel Jocelyn, pastor of Hardingham, Norfolk, near Hingham.^[10]

Children of Robert Peck and his 1st wife Ann:

1. Robert Peck who predeceased his father^[5] and m. Joan Robinson; whose sons John and Benjamin are mentioned in Robert Peck's will.^[2]
2. Thomas Peck who m. Abigail, daughter of John Rogers of Dedham, Essex, England.^[5] m. (2) Rebecca Caley of Waldingfield. m. (3) Mary (Sothebie) Hale. He was co-executor of father's will.^[2]
3. Joseph Peck who was bp. April 22, 1620. He migrated to New England then went back with his parents.^[5] Robert Peck's will indicates Joseph is to be maintained by sons Thomas and Samuel.^[2]
4. Benjamin Peck bp. September 1611; died young.^[2]
5. Samuel Peck^[5] was bp March 14, 1612/13; a physician of Chelmsford, Essex. m. Elizabeth Mildmay, daughter of Sir Wm & Anne (Josselyn) Mildmay. He was Co-executor of father's will.^[2]
6. Nathaniel Peck was bp. 13 September 1614; emigrated to Hingham, Massachusetts 1635; moved to Barbados or St. Christophers by November 1648; predeceased his father. (See discussion and sources in Nathaniel's profile.)
7. Daniel Peck bp. 1 March 1615/16; buried at Hingham on June 8, 1616.^[2]
8. Anne Peck bp 18 Novem 1619; mberigrated with her parents and stayed in New England. She died early in 1672. m. Hingham, Massachusetts Bay in July 1639 as 2nd wife of Capt. John Mason of Windsor and Saybrook, Conn. Mason b by about 1605 and d. Norwich, Conn., between 9 May 1672 and 6 June 1672.^[5][2]

Will

His will was written 24 July 1651 and proved at London 10 April 1658.

The following is a transcript of his will:^[10]

July the xxiiij 1651

I Robert Pecke Minister of the word of God at Hingham in the countye of Norff beinge in bodilye health and perfect memory knowinge the unceartainety of mans life, doe dispose of that worldly estate God hath given me in manner and form followinge

Imprimus I give and bequeath unto Thomas my Sonne and Samuel my Sonne and their heirs forever All that my messuage wherein I now dwell situate and lyenge in Hingham a forsaid with all the edifices yards and orchards hereunto belonglnge As alsoe the Inclose and Barnes adiojninge As olso one Inclose now devided called The Lady close conteyninge about eight acres be it more or less As olso one pightell at the end thereof conteyninge twoe acres and d,d uppon oondlcons followinge, and for the paiement of such legacies as are herein expressed

First I will and bequeath unto Robert Pecke sonne of my sonne Robert deceased the sume of 20£ at his age of 28 years

Item I give unto John Pecke sonne of the said Robert deceased 10(s?) To be paid to him at his age of 22 years

Item I give unto Beniamin Pecke the youngest sonne of the said Robert deceased at his age of 22 years 20(s?)

Item I give to the children of Anne Mason my daughter wife of captain John Mason of Seabrooke on the river Connecticut in new England the sume of Forty pounds to be devided equally unto them and to be sent to my sonne John Mason to dispose of it for their use within 2 years after my death

Item I give to my sonne Joseph Dureinge his natural life the sume of 14(s?) yearlie to be in the hands of my Sonnes Thomas and Samuel as it shall arise out of my houses lands and chattles for his maintenance with necessarie foode and apparrell duringe the terme of his naturall life And I doe wholie comitt my said Sonne Joseph to the care of my twoe sonnes Thomas and Samuell to provide for him in such a way as he may not want things necessary for his livelyhood

Item I give to the children of Thomas and Samuell my sonnes which shall be liveinge at my decease the sume of Five pounds apiece at their severall ages of 21 years

Item I give to my now wife Martha Pecke 40(s?) To be paid wthin twoe months after my decease Item I give to the poore of Hingham 5(s?) To be destrubted at the discrecon of my Executors Thomas Pecke and Samuel Pecke whome I do ordeyne and make Executors of this my last will and Testament confiding that they will faithfully fulfill and performe this my last will according to my trust reposed in them

All my other goods cattells debts moneys household stuffe or whatsoever ells belongeth unto me I give and bequeath to my said Executors toards payeinge of my legacies alrerdy bequeathed and towards the bringinge of my body to buriall which I desire if I depart this life in Hingham may be entered in the church yard near unto Anne my wife deceased

In witness whereof I have written this my last will and testament with my own hand the day and yeare above written

This will was proved at London before the judges for probate of Wills and granting of Administrations the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord God One thousand six hundred fiftye and eight

Research notes

From Great Migration Directory: [NEHGR 15:26, 37:193, 89:327-39; MBCR 1:375; HiBOP 65; WJ 1:331; Ackley-Bosworth 120-21; GMC50 289-90; Abandoning 232-35].

Peck, Joseph and Rev. Robert, brother (Joseph baptized 1587), of Rehoboth and Hingham, Massachusetts: Arms: Silver a chevron engrailed gules, on the chevron three crosses patty silver.^[11]

"Lands of Henry Chamberlin, Shoemaker. No. 3. Given by the town of Hingham ^[12]. A planting lot of four acres lying in Weymouth neck, bounded with the land of Mr. Robert Peck and Mr. Joseph Peck northward and with the land of Francis James southward and with the land of Cooper Lincoln eastward and with the meadow of John Beales westward.

The Reverend Robert Peck, excommunicated for nonconformity, deprived in 1636 of his living at Hingham, and then threatened with citation to the High Commission Court, escaped to new England in 1638. ^[13]

Large sections of copy/paste from already linked sources such as Ira Peck's book and Threlfall have been deleted. While they make for helpful context, it is not wikitree policy to include paragraphs of verbatim text from publicly available sources.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Peck, S. Allyn and Frederick Stanhope Peck. The English Ancestry of Joseph Peck of Hingham, Mass. in 1638, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., October 1935) Vol. 89, pp 327 - 339. subscriber$
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Wood, Michael Johnson. "The Earliest Shermans of Dedham, Essex, and Their Wives" Part 3: "Henry Sherman the Younger and His Wife," The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2013) Vol. 167, p. 149. subscriber$
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Parke, Nathan. The Ancestry of Lorenzo Ackley & His Wife Emma Arabella Bosworth (Elm Tree Press, Woodstock, Vt., 1960) pp 120-121. see at archive.org
4. ↑ Tanner MSS (Bodleian Library) LXVIII. f.7v.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9} Susan Hardman Moore. "Abandoning America, Life-Stories From Early New England" (Boydell Press, New York, 2013). p. 232-234.
6. ↑ "Daniel Cushing's Record," The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1861) Vol. 15, Page 26.
7. ↑ Shurtleff, Nathaniel. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England (William White, Boston, 1853) Vol. 1, p. 375.see at archive.org
8. ↑ History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts. In Three Volumes. Volume III. Genealogical (Published by the Town 1893) p. 107
9. ↑ History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts Vol 3. (Genealogical) pub 1893 citing Suffolk Deeds, vol. i. p. 82 pg. 65
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Peck, I.B., ...Descendants of Joseph Peck (1868), 26-28.
11. ↑ Morison, Samuel E. The Founding of Harvard College. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1968. Page xxviii.
12. ↑ Hingham Town's Great Book of Records, p. 75; Book of Bargains and Sales, p. 30
13. ↑ Tanner MSS (Bodleian Library) LXVIII. f.7v.

See Also

• Ct. Venn's Alumni Cantabrigienses, part 1, vol. 3., p. 333, Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, vol. 3, pp. 167-168, Pope's Pioneers of Massachusetts, pp. 304, 351, and History of Hingham (Mass.).
• Peck, Ira B. A Genealogical History of the Descendants of Joseph Peck (Alfred Mudge & Son, Boston, 1868). Pages 25-28.
• Threlfall, John B. "50 Great Migration Colonists to New England and Their Origins" (Madison, Wisconsin : J.B. Threlfall, 1990). Pages 289-90. View of FamilySearch (online page 295).