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.
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;
Adonijah Peacock
Abner Peacock
Dinah Peacock
Elizabeth (Peacock) Sharp
John Peacock
Alexander Peacock
Tamar Peacock
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
↑Prickett Fence, vol 8, iss 2, p26 from reprint of ms. of his will.
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