John Peacock (1698 - 1759)

Born 10 Aug 1698 in Bridgend, Roxburgh, Scotland

Husband of Elizabeth (Prickett) Peacock — married 2 Sep 1723 (to 5 Jun 1759) in Northampton, Burlington, New Jersey

Descendants

Died 5 Jun 1759 at age 60 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jackie King [send private message]

Biography

John^[1][2] was born on 10 August 1698 near Bridgend, Roxburgh, Scotland,^[3][4][5][6] the son of unknown parents. It is said, however, that John is the son of John Peacock and Frances E. Hummel though proof of that relationship is lacking.

John was married twice:

At an unknown date and place, he married Hannah (Prickett) Quigley.

On 2 September 1723, a few weeks after his twenty-fifth birthday, John married Elizabeth Prickett^[7][8].the daughter of Zachariah Prickett and his wife Elliha Ann, in Northampton, Burlington, New Jersey, and they had eight known children, five sons, and three daughters;

1. Adonijah Peacock
2. Abner Peacock
3. Dinah Peacock
4. Elizabeth (Peacock) Sharp
5. John Peacock
6. Alexander Peacock
7. Tamar Peacock
8. Melchizedek Peacock

On 5 June 1759, when he was sixty-eight, John died from dropsy (a stroke), in Mount Holly, Burlington County,^[9] He is buried in the St. Andrew Graveyard in Mount Holly.^[10]

14 June 1759 John Peacock of Evesham, Burlington, NJ, Int. Inventory included a servant man. 15 June Bond of Elizabeth and Adonijah as Admins. Lib 9 p 230. 9 Jan 1760 Account by the Admins, document mentions Adonijah, Abner, John, Alexander and Melchizdeck Peacock. ^[11]

He is buried in St. Andrew's Cemetery, Mount Holly,^[12]

Peacock family background

All the Peacocks of New Jersey, so far as is known, trace their descent from John Peacock, born in Scotland, on the 10th day of August, 1698. Tradition says that he lived on "the borders," as the tract of country along the boundaries of England and Scotland was called, with his uncle who was a musician on the "bagpipes", the national instrument of music. As he and his uncle were one day in a town on the water they came across some sailors in a tavern, and while playing for their amusement John was persuaded by them, after some hesitation on his part, to go on board their vessel in the evening to entertain them with his music. He told them "they would like to take away such fellows as he was" but they gave him assurance which quieted his suspicions. While on board he went to sleep, whether from being drugged or not is not known, and remained so until the next day. When he woke, he found the vessel was under way for America. Stealing children, or "kidnapping" as it was called, to send them to the "plantations" in America where they were sold to the planters, was a common practice that day as we read in histories of the time, and encouraged, by the captains and owners of the vessels who derived profit from this slave trade. When the vessel arrived in this country he was sold by the captain to one John Gosling, a justice of the peace, who lived at what is now known as Oliphant's Mills, about one mile south of the present village of Medford. Squire Gosling possessed a large extent of land around the neighborhood, where it appears he carried on the milling business. An incident is related of John at this time, to the following effect.

He was told to take the horse to water at the creek. Not knowing what the creek meant, and feeling ashamed to show his ignorance, he gave a boy his pocket knife to show him what it was; when he found it to be what in his native country is called a "brook." It appears he did not stay long at that place, for an old record shows that "John Peacock sawed the first log at Friendship Mill, in 1714." He must then have been about sixteen years of age. Friendship Mill was started about that time by Haines & Co.; as was also Haines old mill which once stood near the present Chairville. This was burnt down several times, supposed by the Indians. The next mill built at Chairville, and which stood until within a few years, was called "Peacock Mill". It was built about 1761 by Adonijah and John Peacock, sons of the first John.

The marriage certificate, on parchment, shows that John Peacock was married by Squire Gosling, in 1723, to Elizabeth, daughter of Zachariah Prickitt and Alethia his wife. She was born in May 1705 and died April 20th, 1774. She was buried at Chairville in the family burial lot set apart by her. By industry and frugality, proverbial with Scotsmen, he acquired considerable property. Tradition says that both he and his wife worked at sawing logs. John attended to Friendship Mill, while his wife sawed in Haines' Mill on Chairville Stream.

John died of dropsy on 5 June 1759 and was buried in the Episcopal yard at Mount Holly, where a stone marks his grave, inscribed with the date of his birth and death.^[13]

Gravestone for John Peacock

From Findagrave.com

John Peacock

Birth: 10 Aug 1698 Scotland; Death: 5 Jun 1759 (aged 60), Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA; Burial: Saint Andrew's Graveyard, Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA. Memorial #: 31123774.

Bio: All the Peacocks of New Jersey, so far as is known, trace their descent from John Peacock, born in Scotland, on the 10th day of August, 1698. Tradition says that he lived on "the borders," as the tract of country along the boundaries of England and Scotland was called, with his uncle who was a musician on the "bagpipes", the national instrument of music. As he and his uncle were one day in a town on the water they came across some sailors in a tavern, and while playing for their amusement John was persuaded by them, after some hesitation on his part, to go on board their vessel in the evening to entertain them with his music. He told them "they would like to take away such fellows as he was" but they gave him assurance which quieted his suspicions. While on board he went to sleep, whether from being drugged or not is not known, and remained so until the next day. When he woke, he found the vessel was under way for America. Stealing children, or "kidnapping" as it was called, to send them to the "plantations" in America where they were sold to the planters, was a common practice that day as we read in histories of the time, and encouraged, by the captains and owners of the vessels who derived profit from this slave trade. When the vessel arrived in this country he was sold by the captain to one John Gosling, a justice of the peace, who lived at what is now known as Oliphant's Mills, about one mile south of the present village of Medford. Squire Gosling possessed a large extent of land around the neighborhood, where it appears he carried on the milling business. An incident is related of John at this time, to the following effect.He was told to take the horse to water at the creek. Not knowing what the creek meant, and feeling ashamed to show his ignorance, he gave a boy his pocket knife to show him what it was; when he found it to be what in his native country is called a "brook." It appears he did not stay long at that place, for an old record shows that "John Peacock sawed the first log at Friendship Mill, in 1714." He must then have been about sixteen years of age. Friendship Mill was started about that time by Haines & Co.; as was also Haines old mill which once stood near the present Chairville. This was burnt down several times, supposed by the Indians. The next mill built at Chairville, and which stood until within a few years, was called "Peacock Mill". It was built about 1761 by Adonijah and John Peacock, sons of the first John.The marriage certificate, on parchment, shows that John Peacock was married by Squire Gosling, in 1723, to Elizabeth, daughter of Zachariah Prickitt and Alethia his wife. She was born in May 1705 and died April 20th, 1774. She was buried at Chairville in the family burial lot set apart by her. By industry and frugality, proverbial with Scotsmen, he acquired considerable property. Tradition says that both he and his wife worked at sawing logs. John attended to Friendship Mill, while his wife sawed in Haines' Mill on Chairville Stream.John died of dropsy June 5th, 1759 and was buried in the Episcopal yard at Mount Holly, where a stone marks his grave, inscribed with the date of his birth and death.("A History of the Peacock Family" compiled by George F. Peacock)

Family Members: Spouse: Elizabeth Prickitt Peacock (1705-1774); Children: Adonijah Peacock (1724-1777)^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Prickett Fence, vol 8, iss 2, p26 from reprint of ms. of his will.
2. ↑ Norman, Don, comp. "Descendants of Howell Prickett," Hackers Creek Pioneer Descendants, URL: http://hackerscreek.com/norman/PRICKETT.htm. Accessed 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin. John Peacock, husband of Elizabeth Prickett.
3. ↑ Prickett Fence, vol 1, iss 1, p16.
4. ↑ Peacock, James <Jim39@prodigy.net>. "Springer, Prickett, Peacock, Pickett, Piggott," "QUAKER-ROOTS-L Archives." 10 Apr 2000. URL: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/2000-04/0955405897. Accessed 16 May 2012. Unable to access on 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin for only born in Scotland, no further info in re birth of John.
5. ↑ Prickett Fence, vol 1, iss 1, p16
6. ↑ Peacock, James <Jim39@prodigy.net>. "Springer, Prickett, Peacock, Pickett, Piggott," "QUAKER-ROOTS-L Archives." 10 Apr 2000. URL: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/2000-04/0955405897. Accessed 16 May 2012. Unable to access on 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin for only born in Scotland, no further info in re birth of John.
7. ↑ Peacock, James <Jim39@prodigy.net>. "Springer, Prickett, Peacock, Pickett, Piggott," "QUAKER-ROOTS-L Archives." 10 Apr 2000. URL: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/2000-04/0955405897. Accessed 16 May 2012. Unable to access on 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin.
8. ↑ Norman, Don, comp. "Descendants of Howell Prickett," Hackers Creek Pioneer Descendants, URL: http://hackerscreek.com/norman/PRICKETT.htm. Accessed 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin. John Peacock, husband of Elizabeth Prickett.
9. ↑ "HazlettFamilyTree," URL:(http://www.hazlettfamily.com/tng/familygroup.php?familyID=F1015&tree=hazlett : 2001-2012). Accessed on 16 May 2012. Unable to access on 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin. Adonijah Peacock.
10. ↑ AJ Tyson (46971225), “John Peacock,” Findagrave.com. Record added 4 Nov 2008. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31123774/peacock. Accessed 20 March 2018.
11. ↑ New Jersey, Abstract of Wills, 1670-1817 for John Peacock Volume XXXII, Abstracts of Wills, 1751-1760
12. ↑ AJ Tyson (46971225), “John Peacock,” Findagrave.com. Record added 4 Nov 2008. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31123774/peacock. Accessed 20 March 2018.
13. ↑ George F. Peacock, comp., A History of the Peacock Family.
14. ↑ AJ Tyson (46971225), “John Peacock,” Findagrave.com. Record added 4 Nov 2008. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31123774/peacock. Accessed 20 March 2018.

• "HazlettFamilyTree," URL:(http://www.hazlettfamily.com/tng/familygroup.php?familyID=F1015&tree=hazlett : 2001-2012). Accessed on 16 May 2012. Unable to access on 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin.

• Norman, Don, comp. "Descendants of Howell Prickett," Hackers Creek Pioneer Descendants, URL: http://hackerscreek.com/norman/PRICKETT.htm. Accessed 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin.

• Peacock, George F. comp. A History of the Peacock Family. (The only book of this nature that I've been able to find mentioned on the internet is George Fennimore Peacock, Excerpts from A History of the Peacock Family (W.H. Peacock, 1980). ( Patricia Prickett Hickin, 20 Mar 2018.) See WorldCat.org. https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3APeacock%2C+George+Fennimore.&qt=hot_author.

• Peacock, James <Jim39@prodigy.net>. "Springer, Prickett, Peacock, Pickett, Piggott," "QUAKER-ROOTS-L Archives." 10 Apr 2000. URL: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/2000-04/0955405897. Accessed 16 May 2012. Unable to access on 20 Mar 2018 by Patricia Prickett Hickin.

• Prickett Fence, vol 1, iss 1, p16

• Prickett Fence, vol 8, iss 2, p26 from reprint of ms. of his will.

• AJ Tyson (46971225), “John Peacock,” Findagrave.com. Record added 4 Nov 2008. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31123774/peacock. Accessed 20 March 2018.

Citations

Acknowledgments

• Jackie (Barnes) King created John Peacock on 10 Apr 2012.