Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6,857, for John Peck, Massachusetts
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SERVICE                             
Navy (Mass.)   
Privateer      
B. Boston.  pensioning Ky.   

Peck, John      W. 6,857
        Eliza B.       B.L. Wt, 53, 669-160-55

CONTENTS
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26.641
Kentucky
John Peck
(cut off) Lexington in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the Ship Queen of (Maine?) commanded by Captain Rathter of the Navy commanded by (blank) in the line for 6 months of 1774
(Deelette?) 10 May 1834 to Now: R. M. Johnson No. 26 May -
31 May 1847
I inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky (cut off) the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum, (cut off) commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of April 1834 - and pent to R. M. Johnson MR
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834, $60
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 feb '34  10
$70
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. [illegible] Clerk,
Book [?] Vol. 7 Page 23
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3977
Kentucky
Eliza B. Peck, widow of John Peck, who served in the Revolutionary War as a Private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 20 dollars 00 cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued 24th day of Nov, 1856 and sent to B. F. .
Lexington, Ky
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 176 Vol. A
260919
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[much of the text on this page overlaps over each other and it is all handwritten in ink] 

260. 919. [illegible] 
NW. 1, 16
Eliza B. Peck. md.
John Peck. Mariner
[illegible] war. 
Pension. Act 7. June 1832
[illegible] 53- 5977
B. F. Graves.
Lexington.
Ky. 

[text written sideways through middle of left page reads: "53669 if [illegible]" ]

End P
Vol. P. 66.
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22.9(illegible)1
John Peck
Kentucky
Declaration for Pension
f 1779 k 6 -
$20.
(illegible) R. M. Johnson
M. R
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State of Kentucky
City of Lexington
[Squiggled Line] Sct.

On this 12th day of December 1833 personally appeared before C. Hunt Esq: Mayor of the city afore said, in open court, John Peck a resident of said city, who will be 64 years of in January next, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7th 1832.

That he was born in the town of Boston on the 12th January 1770 as appears by a genealogical statement now in his hands, taken from the records of of his fathers family, which have been long since lost or mislaid.  He remained a citizen of Massachusetts, until 1816 when he removed to Lexington K. where he has resided ever since.  He was living in Boston in 1779, where he entered as misen top boy on board the continental frigate the Queen of France, Capt. John Peck Rathbourn, commander.  After remaining for some time on board she sailed on a cruise, and in company with the Providence of 32 guns, Com: Whipple, and Ranger of 18 guns, Capt. Simpson.  His father was at the same time on board the Queen of France.  After a cruise of nearly two months, whilst lying on the banks of Newfoundland in a thick fog while continued for nearly three weeks , about meridian they were surprised at hearing guns and bells sounding as if from a large fleets and the fog just
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then clearing up, the American ships were found to be in the midst of a fleet of from 150 to 200 sails as reported by the prisoners, under convoy of a 74 and several frigates of the enemy.  Captain Rathbourn passing himself as a Captain of a British frigate, captured one of the enemy's merchant ships without giving the alarm, by which he obtained the private signals of the enemy.  Com. Whipple gave the signal to stand out of the fleet, but on the urgent application of Captain Rathbourn he permitted him to remain and make as many captures as possible.  He succeeded in capturing as many as five vessels before next morning without giving alarm, whilst the other two vessels had captured 5 or 6 more, in all 10 or 11 vessels, one of which was a Scow (?), the rest were ships.  The next morning, suspicion being exerted, and the Queen of France not having any more spare hands, she stood out and with the other vessels were chased by a H4 frigate, until night, where the enemy gave over the chase.  Of the [illegible], eight reached port in safety, the rest were recaptured.  Those [illegible] were very valuable, being loaded with West India produce, with many passengers, and all having more or less arms & ammunition, some as many as 26 guns.  His service on board
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the Queen of France continued at least six months.  He annexes hereto as an evidence of his service as above stated, a copy of a [illegible] account & receipt showing the share of the [illegible] money which his father received on his account, as paid at Boston on the certificate of the Notary Public annexed thereto, there is a mistake which represents the Queen of France as a private armed vessel, when she was in fact a continental vessel.
After his return to port, he again entered into various privateers & letters of Marque, in which he served to the end of the war, having during the war been twice captured by the enemy.  The first time on board the [illegible] of 18 guns, Capt Jon Hopkins, and was carried into New York and put into the Jersey prison ship whence he escaped by swimming after three weeks imprisonment.  The second time on board the Waxford, and carried into Kingsgate, and after remaining there a few weeks he escaped to France with some French prisoners who were returning home, being exchanged.  He has no other documentary proof of his service, than that annexed, nor does he know of any living witnesses by whom he can prove it.  He refers to the Hon. Wm T. Barry, the Postmaster General, David Bradford Esq, M o M McCalla, and Ashton Ganett Esq living in his vicinity & well acquainted with him for their opinion of his veracity and of his general reputation as having served in the war of the
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We Caleb W Cloud and John Fowler, both residents of the city of Lexington, said Cloud being a clergyman, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said John Peck, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be of the age he represents himself to be: that he is [illegible] and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have served in the war of the revolution, in which opinion we concur.
Subscribed and sworn to the day & year aforesaid.

C. W. Cloud
John Fowler

and the said court, after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogations, prescribed by the war department declares its opinion to be that the above named applicant was a sailor; and the court further certifies that the
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the above named C. W. Cloud who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman, and that the said John Fowler as well as said Cloud is a resident of said city, and that their statements are entitled to full credit.

Charlton Hunt

I, Harry J. Bodley, clerk of the city aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Peck, for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12th day of December, 1833.

H. I. Bodley
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Direct to B.F. Graves
Lexington 
Ky
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State of Kentucky         Fayette County 33

On this 25th day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six before me Benjamin F Graves presiding judge of the county court within and for said county personally appeared Eliza B Peck aged 74 years a resident in the county of Fayette in the state of Kentucky who being by me first duly sworn  declares and says that she is the identical Eliza B Peck [word crossed out] the widow of John Peck deceased who was a mariner in the war of the Revolution.  Being in the mariner service she does not know the time her said husband entered the service where he was stationed or what officers he served under or what ships he served in.  She refers to the application of her said husband to be placed on the Pension Rolls No 26641 [illegible].  See Pension certificate of said John Peck dated the twelft day of April 1834.  This day filed in the Pension Department with her application to be placed on the Pension Rolls.  The refers to her said applications & certificate as evidence in this case. She further states she was married to the said John Peck in Brooklen in the vicinity of Boston in the state of Massachusetts by Rev Dr Parker Pastor of Trinity Church on the 2nd day of February 1801.  Her name before marriage was Eliza B Gilman.  She has examined her family Bible and found the Record of her marriage as is above stated which is all the record she knows of her said marriage.  She further says her said husband John Peck died in the city of Lexington Ky on the 31st May 1847 and that she is a widow at this time having never married since the death of her said husband.
She makes this declaraton for the purpose of obtaining a land warrant for 160 acres under the act of Congress 3rd March 1855.  She further declares that she has never applyed for or secured a land under this act of Congress for said [illegible] nor has she ever applyed or needed a land warrant for any other services of any kind
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Kind whatever She Hereby requests the Commissioner of Pensions to send said warrant when served to the care of Benj F Graves Lexington Kentucky
[signed] Eliza B Peck

Sworn to and subscribed by Eliza P Peck whom I certify I well know and believe the statements made by her in the foregoing declarations are true I also Know the late Captain John Peck who died in the city of Lexington sometime about the year 1847 Said Eliza is a widow at this time and has never married since the death of her said husband Further I am not interested in this [illegible crossed out] claime Given under my hand this 25 day of October A D 1856
[signed] Benjamin F Graves Presiding Judge of the county court of Fayette County Kentucky

State of Kentucky Fayette County SS
On this 25th day of October in the year one thousand Eight hundred and fifty six before me Benjamin F Graves Presiding Judge of the County Court within and for the county and state aforesaid personally appeared William Plunkette & A F  Hawkins two credible witnesses well known to me who being by me first duly sworn according to Law declares and says they well knew the late Captain John Peck who died in the city of Lexington Kentucky about the 31st day of May A D 1847 and that they also well Know Mrs Eliza B Peck the widow of said John Peck Dec That said John Peck & Eliza B Peck in the lifetime of said John Peck lived together as husband and wife and affiants
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never heard the fact of the marriage of said John & Eliza B Peck questioned or disputed They lived in Lexington Ky for a number of years and raised a large family of Children Most of who live in Lexington and vicinity that we have examined the family Bible in the possession of said Eliza B Peck and we find it there recorded that said John Peck and Eliza B Gilman was married 2d February 1801 and that said John Peck did 31 May 1847 End that said Eliza B Peck is a widow at this time having never married since the death of her said husband And further said Eliza B Peck signed the foregoing affidavit in our presence and we believe her statements to be true and further we are not interested in this claim
And further we are not interested in this claim and that we reside int eh city of Lexington Ky
[signed] Wm F Plunkett
[signed] A F Hawkins

sworn to and subscribed by William Plunkett and A F Hawkins two credible witnesses well known to me as such this 25 day of October A D 1856
[signed] Benjamin L Graves J P F C C

State of Kentucky Fayette County towit
I James A Grinstead Clerk of the county court within and for the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that Benjamin F Graves whose name is signed to the foregoing affidavits is and was at the time of signing of the same the Presiding Judge of the County Court of Fayette duly [illegible] commissioned and sworn & that his said two signatures are genuine and entitled to [illegible] and credit
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Fayette County Court this 25th day of October A D 1856
Att [signed] James A Grinstead
Clk
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25 October 1856
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State of Kentucky Fayette County SS
On this 25th day of October in the year one thousand Eight hundred and fifty six personally appeared before the Fayette County Court held in and for said County in open court said court being a court of Record Augustus F Hawkins and William F Plunkett two credible witnesses well Known to the court who are also residents of the city of Lexington in the county of Fayette in the state of Kentucky who being first duly sworn did depose and swear that they were well acquainted with the late John Peck of the city of Lexington Kentucky who died in said city about the 31st of May 1847 and that they are now well acquainted with his widow who is now present in Court That said John Peck and said Eliza B Peck his widow in the life time of her said husband John Peck lived together as husband and wife and affiants never heard the fact of their marriage Questioned or disputed They said John L. Eliza. B lived in the city of Lexington Kentucky for a number of years and raised a large family of children most of them now living in said city and vicinity.. Affiants have this day examined the Family Bible in the possession of said widow which Bible is now brought in Court and we find it there Recorded that said John Peck & Eliza B Gilman married Feb 2d 1801 by Revd Dr Parker {since Bishop Parker} of Boston Massachusetts" and that said John Peck died 31st May 1847
Affiants further says that said Eliza B Peck is now a widow and has remained a widow ever since the death of Her said husband John Peck and that she is now residing in the city of Lexington Kentucky They further swear that they are not interested in this claime
[signed] Wm F Plunkett
[signed] A F Hawkins
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Kentucky Fayette County Sct October Court 1856 Oct. 25/56
This statement was this day produced in Open Court by W F Plunkett and A F Hawkings credible witnesses personally well known to the Court, signed by them in the presence of this Court and duly Sworn to by them- which is ordered to be recorded and certified and delivered to Eliza B Peck 
I James A Grimstead Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid do certify that the above order of Court is truly and accurately transcribed from the record thereof in my office; I further certify that the within is paper referred to in said order
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Lexington Ky this 25 October A D 1856
[signed] ATT. James A Grimstead Clk
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State of Kentucky Fayette County SS
On this 25th day of October in the year one thousand Eight hundred and fifty six personally appeared before the Fayette County Court held in and for said county in open court said court being a court of Record Mrs. Eliza B Peck aged 74 years a resident of Fayette County in the State of Kentucky who being first duly Sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed 3d March 1853 and amended act passed 5th August 1854 Or under any other act or acts of congress to which She may be legally entitled That she is the widow of John Peck who was a Mariner in the war of the Revolution as will appear from his Pension certificate Herewith filed Numbered 26641 and dated the 12th day of April 1834 That his place of Residence at the time he entered the service she is not informed that she is not informed as to whom were his officers nor has she any information of the battles her said husband was in or where he was stationed, all of which information she refers to the application of her said husband to be placed on the pension Roll of Kentucky agency.. She further declares that she was married to the said John Peck in Brookline near Boston in the state of Massachusetts by Revd Dr Parker who was the Pastor of Trinity Church on the 2d day of February AD 1801 That her name before marriage was Eliza. B. Gilman That the above is taken from the Recnas of the family Bible which is now in her possession which is all the record she has or know of her said marriage with said John Peck And that her Husband the aforesaid John Peck died in the city of Lexington Kentucky on the 31st day of May AD 1847 and that she has remained a widow every since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed She requests her Pension certificate be sent to the care of Bary F Graves Lexington Kentucky
[signed] Eliza B Peck
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Kentucky Fayette County Sct October Court 1856 October 25th/56
This declaration by Eliza B. Peck in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed 3 March 1853 and the amended act passed 5th August 1854 or under any other act or acts of Congress to which she may be legally entitled was this day produced in Open Court, by said Eliza B Peck, signed by her in the presence of the Court, and Sworn to by her in Open Court which is ordered to be, recorded certified and delivered to her..
I James A Grinstead Clerk of County Court for the County aforesaid do certify that the above ordered of Court is truly and accurately transcribed from the record thereof in my office; I further certify that the within is the paper in declaration referred to in above order
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court which is the seal of my Office this 25 October 1856.
[signed] Att James A Grinstead Clk
25 October 1856
Direct to the care of B F Graves
Lexington Kentucky
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1779- Rob, May: a Peck
To Ballance [balance] due to the ship 2 of France £ | 7 | 9 | 2 
To a Quarter of a share in the proner Captain 2 by the ship 2 of France. p: Eliza Perkins } 365 | 2 | 11 3/4
October. 7. To 2 hhs sugar [illegible] 80 at 14 1 7
81 ... 13.. 1.. 7
27. 2. 14 [illegible] 
2.. 3 . 23 24.. 2. 19 [illegible] £1307.. 10..
To [illegible] Rum S: BN: 47E: 107.. 7.. 100 W 17. a 105/ 614 | 5
18 to cash 5 Receipt | 173 | 300 | 0 | 0
21 to 6th Cotton S Bag N. 1 30/ .. .. 9.. | 0.. | 0
Novem: 10 To Cash in full for Ballance [balance] P Peeck (213) 248 | 10 | 8 1/2
£2849 | 3 | 10 1/4

Boston Nov: 10: 1779.
Reed: of Brown 260 two
hundred + forty-eight pounds
15/: 8 1/2 in feed for my own
+ my son John Pecks share in 2. France
£248: 15: 8 1/2 V Robert May Peck
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1779 Contra [Symbol]
Novem. 8 By One Share in the prizes captured by the Ship Queen of France.......[British Pound sign] 1424..11..11 1/4
By John Peck's Share in ditto.....1424.11..11 1/4

[Diagonal line from bottom of chart to John Peck's Share line]

[British Pound sign] 2849..3..10 1/2

State of Rhode Island [illegible]
Newport SC.

I, the undersigned, a public Notary for the County of Newport aforesaid: duly appointed, commissioned and sworn, residing in Newport within S County, hereby certify, that the above account, & the receipt on the opposite page written are true copies from Books exhibited to me by William Vernon, Esquire, Executor of the Last Will & Testament of Samuel Brown, Esquire, late of Boston, deceased, as Books kept by S Brown in his character of agent of the Private Armed Ship Queen of France.

In testimony whereof I have here to set my hand and Notarial seal, at S Newport, this second day of November, A.D. 1833.

Wm. Ennis, Pub. Note.
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State of Kentucky Fayette County SS
On this 12th day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty six before me Benjamin F. Graves presiding judge of the County Court of Fayette personally appeared Walter Rodes and James A Grinstead - two credible witnesses well known to me as such and who are also residents of the city of Lexington Kentucky who being by me first duly sworn according to have declared and [?] that they well know the late Captain John Peck who we have been informed was in the Marine Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War and also was a pensioner of the United States on the Kentucky Pension Rolls and that we are also well acquainted with Mrs. Eliza B. Peck the widow of said John Peck Deceased aforesaid That said Eliza B. Peck resides in the city of Lexington Kentucky at this time and that she is still a widow at this time having never married since the death of her said husband John Peck aforesaid.  That said John & Eliza Peck has several children reputed to be theirs.
Hereunto on a subscribed before me this 12th day of November 1856
Benjamin F. Graves PIJCC
[different handwriting]
Walter Rodes
James Grinstead
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State of Kentucky
Fayette County SS
I James A Grinstead Clerk of the county court within and for the County and State aforesaid I do hereby certify that Benjamin T. Graves whose name is signed to the within affadavit is and was at the time of signing of the same the Presiding Judge of the County Court within and for the county and state aforesaid and elected commissioned and sworn and that his said signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Fayette County Court this 12th day of November A. D. 1956
Mr. James A Grinstead Clk
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Please return the Bible as soon as you are done with it as I think Mrs Peck would rather lose the Pension than Bible
BF Graves
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[printed form] Widow, &c.
File No. [handwritten] 6857
Eliza B. Peck
Wid
John Peck
Prvt Rev War
[printed form] Act: [handwritten] Jul [?] 1853
[printed form] Index: Vol [handwritten] M, [printed form] Page [handwritten]120
[printed form] Arrangement of 1870
Page 26

[printed form] Payments to be made at [handwriting] Lexington by the Presdt U. S. Branch Bank [printed form} Agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of [handwritten] Kentucky
[printed form} Recorded in the Pension Office in Book [handwritten] 6 [printed form] Vol [handwritten] 7 [printed] [handwritten] 23 [printed] by [handwritten] Wm. S. Allison [printed] Clerk
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[Printed form with handwritten entries]
WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, John Peck of Kentucky who was a Mariner in the Navy of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and __ cents per annum during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831 and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States this twelfth day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
Lew Cass
Secretary of War
Examined and Countersigned.  J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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Brief in the case of Eliza B. Peck widow of John of Kentucky under the Act of Feb. 3, 1833.
Her husband was pensioned under the Act of June 7, 1837 at $20 a year and died in 1847.
Marriage established by production of her original Family Records.
Cohabitation, general reputation of marriage, her identity as the widow of the pensioner, his death and her present widowhood [illegible] by credible witnesses.
Agents
B F Graves Esq Lexington KY
Thornton Triplett Examiner
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Eliza R. Peck
widow of John 
Kentucky
Adm B Foley 1833
$20 [?]
Cert
B. F. Graves Esq Lexington Ky
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Application for Land Warrant
Joseph Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
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[?] Auditor's Office
Nov. 21, 1836
Sir:
John Peck, Ky Act 7 June 1832, $20 per annum appears to have been paid to 4 March 1847
Very Respy Your Obedient
Rob Atkinson
Auditor
Geo C. Whiting Esq
Commis of Pensions
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[Top half appears to be duplicate of previous scanned page #31]
[begin bottom half]
Pen Off. Nov 18 1836
Sir
Please state when John Peck of Ky was last paid $20 [?] under the Act of 1832.
Respectfully 
S.Cole [illegible]
RJ Atkinson Esq Barrister
Triplett
Page 33

No 6540
Eliza B Peck
Widow of John
Kentucky
B.F. Graves Nov 5 1856
Feby 3 1856