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Note: Stocktons, & Iricks of New Jersey" by William R Hillary, 1943,(Film # 526997, Item # 4 (Bk # FP 316) Salt Lake City F.H.C.) pg 2a. "The Genealogical Magazine of NJ", 1928, by GenealogySociety, (974.9 B2g, Salt Lake City F.H.C.) VOL IV, pg 29. "Adonijah's family bible" in possession of MedfordHistotical Society, Burlington Co, NJ. !MARRIAGE: "Brief History & Genealogy of The Peacocks, Hollinsheads,Stocktons, & Iricks of New Jersey" by William R Hillary,1943, (Film # 526997, Item # 4 (Bk # FP 316) Salt Lake City F.H.C.)pg 2a. "Adonijah's family bible" in possession ofMedford Historical Society Society, Burlington CO, NJ. !DEATH: "Brief History & Genealogy of The Peacocks, Hollinsheads,Stocktons, & Iricks of New Jersey" by William R Hillary, 1943,(Film # 526997, Item # 4 (Bk # FP 316) Salt Lake City F.H.C.) pg 2a. "The Genealogical Magazine of NJ", 1928, by GenealogySociety (974.9 B2g, Salt Lake City F.H.C.) VOL IV, Pg 29.p "Adonijah's family bible" in possession of MedfordHistorical Society, Burlington Co, NJ. ******************************************************************************* !Adonijah Peacock lived on the old place his father had built. Afterlearning surveying and blacksmithing, he was ingenious enough to makehis own chain and compass. Adonijah was appointed Deputy Surveyorunder the Surveyor General of Trenton, NJ. He surveyed the land thatthe government bo't of Benjamin Springer for an Indian Reservationcalled "Brotherton" in Shamong TWP in 1759-1766... Adonijah took up for himself nearly 1000 acres of land. At the timeof the American Revolution he put to use a trade his father had taughthim. He made gunpowder in what is now the old orchard. In the makingof this gun powder he burned maple into charcoal, took it over to hismill at Chairville where he ground it by some contrivance, thenbrought it back to the farm where he driedit. In reviewing the history of our original colonies, we find that ourPilgrim Fathers were forced to purchase certain items from theproprietors back in England, rather than grow and or make themselves;i.e. pots, pans, pewterware, window glass, spices, and even tea, allof which were heavily taxed. The burden was so great on the settlers,that ultimately they rebelled, resulting in the famous Boston TeaParty. One item in particular was gunpowder, which after claiming waragainst the British, General Washington realized that hecould no longer expect the British to sell him gunpowder. In lookingaround for someone with knowledge on making gunpowder, he foundAdonijah and placed a hurry-up order for some gun powder. Adonijah agreed to make his first batch, then have GeneralWashington's men to test-fire some of it. It being in midwinter,Washington's men found about half of gunpowder failed to fire due todampness. The General asked Adonijah if he could dry out the remaininggunpowder. Adonijah's home was typical of that time period, in which thekitchen oven was outdoors It was made of brick, shaped like a dome,and attached to the back wall of the house, on your right as you wouldexit the back door. For protection during winter months, Adonijah hadbuilt a roof over it. Utilizing the back wall of the house, he addedthree walls with a door opening in line with theoriginal back door.This room had only a dirt floor. It was in this room that Adonijah attempted to reheat the powder ina large kettle. Something went wrong, it exploded, and injuredAdonijah so badly that he died. The explosion was heard a distance of30 Miles. Adonijah was 53 years old at the time, leaving a widow and13 children.. It was reported that one of daughters who was bringinghim his dinner, and was standing in the doorway, was blownapproximately fifty feet out into the backyard, but was not seriouslyinjured, except for the scorching of her hair and clothing. A Frenchblunderbuss (gun) suspended over the door was discharged, and foundone hundred-fifty yards from the house, the house having beenliterally blown to bits. Outside the cemetery, a sign on Highway 16 reads: "Peacock Cemetery: Adonijah Peacock in 1777, a casualty of the GunPowder explosion, lies here among several generations of his familyand descendants" *******************************************************************************
Note: !BIRTH: "Brief History & Genealogy of The Peacocks, Hollinsheads,
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