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Note: JOSEPH PECK, the emigrant ancestor of the Pecks in this country, known as the Massachusetts Pecks, now a numerous and extensive race scattered throughout the United States, its Territories, the British Provinces, and the Canadas, was baptized in Beccles, Suffolk County, England, April 30, 1587. He was the son of Robert Peck, as will be seen by a reference to the chart, being a descendant in the twenty-first generation from John Peck, of Belton, Yorkshire. He settled at Hingham, Norfolk County, England. In 1638, he and other
puritans, with his brother Robert Peck, their pastor, fled from the persecutions of the church to this country. They came over
in the ship Diligent of Ipswich, John Martin, master. Daniel Cushing, then town clerk here at Hingham, Norfolk County, New England, in speaking of his arrival in this country says: "Mr. Joseph Peck and his wife with three sons and daughter and two men servants, and three maid servants, came from Old Hingham, and settled at New Hingham." His children were as follows:
Anna, baptized in Hingham, England, March 12, 1617-18 and buried there, July 27, 1636.
Rebecca, baptized in Hingham, England, May 25, 1620; and, as appears by her father's will, married a Upon early records, births and deaths are not oftengiven. They were generally kept by Parish clerks, who only gave the baptisms and burials. Hubbert. Joseph, baptized in Hingham, England, August 23, 1623. For the history of him and his descendants, see Part I. John, baptized about 1626. For a
history of him and his descendants, see Part II.
Nicholas baptized in Hingham, England, April 9, 1630. For his history, see Part III.
Samuel, baptized here at Hingham, in New England, February 3, 1638-9, see Part IV. Nathaniel, baptized here at Hingham, New England, October 31, 1641, Part V.
Israel, baptized here, March 4, 1644, Part VI. He was twice married. His first wife was Rebecca Clark. They were married at Hingham, England, May 21, 1617. She died and was buried there, October 24, 1637.
The name of his second wife, and the baptism of his son John, was not found. It was not upon the records at Hingham, where his first marriage and the baptisms of his other children were recorded. It probably took place in another parish where the records were not
preserved. He seems to have belonged to that class in England known as gentlemen or the gentry entitled to coat-armor, etc., who
ranked next to Baronets. Soon after his arrival here, he settled in Hingham, Mass.
The records there in 1638 say: Mr. Joseph Peck received a grant of seven acres of land, for a house lot, next to Robert Peck his brother; he also received other grants of land. He remained at Hingham about seven years, when he removed to Seekonk. While he remained at Hingham, he was one of its leading men. He was Representative, or deputy to the General Court in 1639, 1640, 1641 and 1642. He took an active interest in the business of the town. He was one of the selectmen, justice of the peace, assessor, etc.
He was appointed by the court to grant summons and attachments, to see people joined in marriage, to keep the records, etc.
In 1641, he became one of the principal purchasers of the indians of that tract of land called by them Seacunk or Seeckonk, afterwards incorporated into a town since known as Rehoboth, Mass., at first called eight miles square, but afterwards found to be about ten. It comprised what is now Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Pawtucket. He did not however remove there until 1645.
Upon the Rehoboth records is the following notice of an accident which befel him on his removal thither: "Another strange accident happened by fire about this time. Mr. Joseph Peck, and three others of Hingham, being about to remove to Seaconk, (which was concluded by the Commissioners of the United colonies to belong to Plymouth,) riding thither they sheltered themselves and their horses in an indian wigwam, which by some occasion took fire, and (although there were four in it, and labored to their utmost) burnt three of their horses
to death, and all their goods, to the value of fifty pounds."
After his removal to Seekonk, his name continually appears upon the records of the town, in the management of its affairs,
until his age precluded him from such duties.
His name also appears upon the Plymouth Colonial records, as it did upon those of Massachusetts.
He was appointed to assist in matters of controversy at court. In 1650, the court appointed him to administer marriage.
In 1651, he was appointed to determine all controversies, not exceeding a certain amount. He was also appointed to administer oaths, issue warrants, etc.
He seems to have been one of the principal men here, as he had been at Hingham, as well as one of the wealthiest. In the purchase of the town as in the appraisal of the purchaser's rights for the apportionment of a tax, there was but one who paid more or whose rights were prized more than his. In addition to his interest in the first purchase of the town, he afterwards bought other rights which made him a large owner. His rights in the common undivided lands at his decease were given to his sons, as well as those which had then been divided. In some instances, these lands still remain in the name and are owned and occupied by his descendants. The Pecks of Barrington (Ellis, Asa and others) now occupy lands given to his youngest sons, Nathaniel and Israel.
The proprietors of Rehoboth first settled upon what has since been known as Seekonk Plain, a tract of cleared land which had been the planting grounds of the indians. The settlers appropriated it to the same purpose until its fertility became exhausted, when they were obliged to leave the plain and seek the smaller openings which were more productive, thus gradually penetrating the wilderness, and extending the settlements of their town.
The house of Joseph, which seems to have been of the better class, stood upon the plain in the northerly part of the "Ring of Bliss, in his history of Rehoboth, supposes this word to be composed of the indian words seaki, meaning black, and honk, goose--black goose being the indian name for the wild goose, and thinks the place received its name from the fact of great numbers of wild geese in their s??ui-annual migrations, alighting here in the river and cove adjacent. It was here that he lived, and died December 23, 1663, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, far from the tombs of his fathers, the associations of his youth, and the scenes of his early life, but doubtless happy in the thought of having been able to worship God after the dictates of his own conscience, and of being surrounded by his children, in whose care his remains would be left to be buried where they would be surrounded by those of his descendants.
No stones, now more than two hundred years since, mark the spot of their interment, but the subsequent graves of his
descendants indicate the place. " 1
WILL:
Note:
The following is a copy of his will:
Know all men by these presents that I joseph Peck Senr of Rehoboth do ordain and make this my last will and testament in manner and form following Item--I give and bequeath unto my son joseph all my lands and medows lying and being near unto the River called Palmers
River to him and his heirs forever Item--I give unto him my old black mare and my great chist in the parlor
Item--I give unto my son john my house and lands which I purchased of joseph Torry and the half of the meddow betwixt Mr Newman and mee on the other side of the new meddow river to him and his heirs forever Also I give unto him my great chist in the hall.
Item--I give and bequeath unto my son Nicholas all my meddow at the hundred acres and the meddow called bushey meddow and all my medows on the north side of the town to him and his heirs forever
Item--I give and bequeath unto my son Samuell my house where I now dwell with all the houses standing there The outyards and all my house lott and all my land in the second Division and my Plaine lotts excepting half my furthest which I give unto my son Nicholas; and also I give unto him my meddow called cheesbrooks meddow and also my salt marsh att broad cove To him and his heirs forever
Item--I give unto my sonns Nathaniel and Israel all my lands which I purchased of John Adams and Mr. Bradford with the meddow called the long beach which is betwixt Mr Newman and mee, and all my meddow at Squamquammett which is betwixt John Allin and mee; and olso my meddow at Papasquash betwixt John Allen and mee to them and their heirs forever.
Item--I give my use of the meddow att Kekemuett unto John Pecke my son and also all my lands att Wackemauquate I give unto my sonnes Joseph and Nicholas to be equally devided betwixt them Item--I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Hubbert thirty pounds in such pay as can be raised out of the goods I shall leave to be paid by my Executors within one year after my decease and also I give unto her my wifes best cloak and one fine Pillowbeer and my Damask Napkin
Item--I give unto my son Samuell my silver beaker and two silver spoons and one gould Ringe which was his mothers and also one paire of fine holland Sheets and one Diaper Table cloth and six Diaper Napkins 2 fine pillow beares and the feather bed and bolster and pillow and two Blanketts whereon I now lye my second Rugg with some other small linnene in my Trunk in the parlor which I also give unto him and the other chist under the window in the parlor and my best curtains and curtain rodds
Item--I give unto my son Nathaniel my biggest silver cupp and gould Ringe two silver spoons my best feather bed one bolster two Blanketts the Rugg that now lyeth upon mee my trunk in the parlour chamber my round table three Diapir napkins one long table cloth betwixt Israell and him
Item--I give unto Israell my son my silver salt 2 silver spoons my two bed teckes with the bolesters the old flocke bed two blanketts my best coverlid one bolster one pillow two pillowbears also unto Nathaniel one pillow 2 pillowbears.
Item--I give unto Israell ten of my best ewes and my sorrelled mare two of my best cowes and my bull and my segg and three Diaper napkins
Item--I give unto my son Joseph five ewes and to my son Samuel my two oxen called Bucke and Duke and two cowes my cart and one of my little Plowes one chain with the copses for the cart and I give unto Nathaniel two steeres and two cowes
Item--I give unto my son Nicholas the feather bed which he hath alreaddy and my best Rugg and unto my son John I give the feather bed and bolster which he alreaddy hath and 40s to buy him a rugg and to Israell I give the two little chists in the chamber and his mothers little trunke and unto my son Samuel I give my Bedstead in the parlour chamber
Item--I give unto my son Joseph my gould Ringo and unto John and Nicholas my two silver wine cupps--My mind is that my three younger sonnes should have each three platters and all the rest my pewter should be equally between my six sonnes and all my apparrel I give unto my three elder sonnes and all my wifes Apparrell I give unto my three youngest sonnes to bee equally divided betwixt them
Item--I give and bequeath all the rest of my goods cattles & chattles my debts and legacies being payed and my body brought to the grave unto my six sonnes equally to be divided amongst them the youngest and weakest to have as good a share as the eldest and strongest dsireing Mr Newman and my brother Thomas Cooper to be the supervisors of this my Testament and last will and I do ordaine my son Nicholas and my son Samuell the executors of this my last will desiring the Lord to guide theire hartes to do all according unto my intent heer sett down
The last will & Testament of mee Joseph Pecke written with my own hand.
A further Amplyfication of our fathers will upon his death bed, which was not expressed in his written will.
Item--hee gave to his son Joseph half his meddow that hee purchased of Mr Bradford lying on the further side of the new Meddow River: to his son John thirty-five pounds of comon: to his son Samuel two hundred and fifty pounds of comon to his son Nathaniel two hundred pounds of comon. These gifts were given to them and their heirs forever moreover our father added to his daughter hubbert ten pounds more than was sett downe in his written will Item--that Nathaniel and Israell shall have equal shares of the corne that shall be raised upon that ground which hee hath given to his son Samuel for this year ensuing they bestowing an equal share of labor with them upon the land. It was further expressed by him that seeing those oxen expressed in his will that was given to his three younger sons was disposed of before his death that those younge oxen and steeres that are coming on in theire romes should bee made choice of by them in manor as followeth his son Samuel first choosing his son Israell next and Nathaniel last It was his will also that those two mares which were given to his sonnes Joseph and Israel being not extant that Joseph should have his old mare and Israell his young mare instead of the other--further whereas our father gave to his sonnes Joseph five sheep and Israell ten they also being sold before our fathers death wee
have agreed that they shall have in valuation as they were sould which was nine shillings a pieece. This we own to be our fathers will expressed by him unto us when he was in his perfect memory which we owne as his proper will and desire.
In witness whereof wee have sett to our hands
Witness hiereof
JOSEPH PECKE,
STEPHEN PAINE, JOHN
PECKE,
THOMAS COOPER
NICHOLAS PECKE
JOHN REED
SAMUELL PECKE
NATHANIELL PECKE
ISRAELL PECKE
This will is recorded upon the old Plymouth Colony
Records, Book of Wills, 2d part, Vol. 2d, Folio 12.
Note:
"(I) Joseph Peck, baptized in Beccles, Suffolk county, England, April 30, 1587, was the son of Robert Peck, and a descendant from John Peck, of Belton, Yorkshire, in the twenty-first generation. He died at Seekonk Plain, Massachusetts, December 23, 1663. Before emigrating he settled at Hingham, Norfolk county, England, but in 1638 he and his brother Robert, with other Puritans, fled from persecution, and sailed for the New World in the ship "Diligence" of Ipswich. Coming with his wife.three sons, a daughter, two men servants, and three maid
servants, he settled in Hingham, Massachusetts. After seven years he removed to Seekonk, having been one of the leading men of the former town. Joseph Peck was deputy to the general court in 1639-40-41-42. He was one of the chief purchasers of the Indians in 1641, buying territory at Seekonk, which has since been made into the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, which comprises what are now known as Rehoboth, Seekonk and Pawtucket.
After his removal to Seekonk in 1645 he became one of its wealthiest and most progressive citizens. He married (first) in England, Rebecca Clark, who died in Hingham, England. October, 1637, Mr. Peck married again. but the second wife's name is not known. Children, by first wife. all baptized in Hingham. England:
Anna, baptized July 27, 1616;
Rebecca, May 25, 1620;
Joseph (2), of whom further;
John, about 1626;
Nicholas, April 9, 1630.
Children by second wife:
Samuel, baptized in Hingham, Massachusetts, February 3, 1638-39;
Nathaniel, October 31, 1641;
and Israel, March 4, 1644.
" 2
Note:
"JOSEPH PECK came from Old Hingham in 1638 with 132 other Puritans and his brother Robert Peck, their pastor, in the "Diligent" (John Martin, Master) bringing his second wife, two sons, one dau., two men servants and three maid servants and settled in New Hingham. He was the son of Robert Peck and Helen Babbs of Beccles, Suffolk Co., Eng., where he was baptized Apl. 30, 1587. He was a descendant in the 21st generation of John Peck of Belton, Yorkshire. His first wife, Rebecca Clark, whom he married May 21, 1617, died Oct. 24, 1637. The name of his second wife is not known. He was made freeman March 13, 1638-9, and was chosen representative to the General Court in
1639, 40, 41 and 42. In 1641 he was one of the purchasers of Seaconk from Massasoit, and Gov. Bradford granted the same land, eight
miles square, which was incorporated as Rehoboth. He removed there in 1645, losing three horses and goods of oe50 value by the burning of an Indian wigwam where he stopped for shelter on the journey. He was Selectman, Assessor and Justice of the Peace. He was rated the same as Stephen Paine, oe535, only one being larger.
"Plymouth, July 3, 1656. The Court have appointed and deputed Mr. Joseph Pecke to administer marriage at Rehoboth: and the said Mr. Pecke, Mr. Stephen Paine and Richard Bowen are appointed and authorized to hear and determine all controversies there between any, so as it amount not to above the value of three pounds."
He died Dec. 23, 1663, aged 77 years. His will divided a large property among his children, Joseph, John, Nicholas, Samuel, Nathaniel and Israel and dau. Hubbert. "I do ordain my son Nicholas and my son Samuel the executors of this my last will, desiring the Lord to guide theire hartes to do all according unto my intent heer sett down." His six sons signed an agreement for distribution of the estate according to the will as amplified by their father upon his death bed, but not expressed in the writing, with Stephen Paine, Thomas Cooper and
John Reed as witnesses.
Children.
Anna bapt. Mar. 12, 1617-8. buried July 27, 1636.
Rebecca bapt. May 25, 1620. m. Hubbert or Hobart.
Joseph " Aug. 23, 1623.
John " 1626.
Nicholas " Apl. 9, 1630.
By second wife:
Samuel bapt. Feby. 3, 1638-9. d. 1708. m. Sarah Hunt 2d Rebecca Paine.
Nathaniel " Oct. 31, 1641.
Isaac " Mar. 4, 1644
Note:
"1638. Mr. Joseph Peck and his wife with 3 sons and daughter and 2 men servants and 3 maid servants came from Old Hingham and settled in New Hingham." "All the persons above named that came over in the year 1638, were 133, came in one ship called the Diligent of Ipswitch; the master was John Martin of said Ipswich." [MD]
" Peck, Mr. Joseph, from Hingham, Eng. came to Hingham, N. E. in 1638, with wife, 3 sons, a daughter, and 5 servants. Freeman and deputy March 13, 1638. Commissioner. Removed to Seakonk [Rehoboth] in 1645. Proposed freeman Plymouth Colony 4 June 1641; license to marry persons 2 Oct. 1650. Ch. recorded here: Simon, Samuel bapt. Feb. 3, 1638-9, Nathaniel bapt. Oct. 31, 1641, Israel bapt. March 31, 1643, Samuel, Hannah and Israel bapt. July 19, 1646.
He d. Thursday, Dec. 22, 1663. Will prob. 3 March, 1663-4. Beq. to sons Joseph, John, Nicholas, Samuel and Nathaniel and dau. Hubbert. The sons united in a statement Dec. 24, 1663, of an amplification of the written will which was made on their father's death-bed; which the Court accepted." [Pope]
Joseph Peck was the first of the Peck line in America. In 1637, when he was 50 years old, he and his family came to America. He was a Puritan and came with his brother, Robert, who was the pastor. They landed in New Hingham, New England. The town clerk of Hingham wrote "Mr. Joseph Peck, and his wife, with three sons, a daughter, two men servants and three maid servants, came from old Hingham, England, and settled at New Hingham, New England." He immediately became influential in the town affairs. He was one of the first purchasers and proprietors of the land that became the town of Rehoboth. He moved to this location in 1645 and lived there until he died in 1663.
Of the original proprietors of Rehoboth, he was listed as one of the most well-to-do and was one of the most influential of the first settlers.
He seems to have belonged to that class in England known as Gentlemen or the gentry entitled to coat of arms, etc., who ranked next to Baronets.
The ancestors of this man are known back many generations as given in both the Peck reference and the Ancestral File of the LDS. The LDS Medieval Family group had evaluated and claims the line to be correct.
[Phil McCracken, 4016 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro, NC 27410, pmccrac900@@aol.com, 336-294-2292 as of February 8, 2000.
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