Rhode Island: William Peck

Unlike many of his peers, William Peck’s career began with a rapid rise to prominence, but 

quickly descended to an unfortunate end. Born on December 15, 1755, in Lyme, CT, Peck 

began his career in public service with a promising start. Soon after graduating from Yale in 

1775, Peck joined the Continental Army as a First 

Lieutenant. Within two years, according to a resume he 

sent to President Washington, Peck rose to rank of 

lieutenant colonel with the title of Deputy Adjutant 

General of the Eastern Department. Peck maintained this 

rank, until he retired from military service in December 

1781.35 36

In the interim period between the end of the 

Revolutionary War and Rhode Island ratifying the U.S.

Constitution on May 29, 1790, Peck tried to support his 

second wife and four children by pursing various business 

opportunities, but he 

almost found himself 

in debtor’s prison.

37

 

By the time President 

Washington offered him the position of U.S. marshal, Peck 

was in dire financial straits and he accepted the position in 

the summer of 1790.38 

Since Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until 

after the start of the census, Congress granted Peck and 

his fourteen deputies an extension to complete their

enumeration.39 Although Peck’s final 1790 census return 

does not have the exact date of when he received the final count from his deputies, it does 

record that Rhode Island had a total population of 68,825 people.40 This made the second 

 

35 “History - The First Generation of United States Marshals/The First Marshal of Rhode Island: William Peck,” U.S. 

marshals Service, last estimated release October 15, 2019, 

https://www.usmarshals.gov/history/firstmarshals/peck.htm. (Accessed October 15, 2019). 

36 “To George Washington from William Peck, 15 February 1790,” Founders Online, National Archives, last 

estimated release September 29, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-05-02-0087. 

(Accessed October 15, 2019). [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 5, 16 

January 1790 – 30 June 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig, Mark A. Mastromarino, and Jack D. Warren. Charlottesville: 

University Press of Virginia, 1996, pp. 149–150.]

37 “History - The First Generation of United States Marshals/The First Marshal of Rhode Island: William Peck”.

38

 Ibid.

39 W.S. Rossiter, “The First Census of the United States,” p. 43. 

40 U.S. Congress, House, An Act giving effect to the laws of the United States within the state March 2, 1791.

of Vermont,” NA, 1st Cong., 3rd sess., NA. PDF. last estimated release (October 15, 2019) 

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/1st-congress/c1.pdf. [Original Source: Richard Peters, The Public 

Rhode Island’s former U.S. marshal Donald W. 

Wyatt pays homage to William Peck 

Courtesy of the U.S. marshal Service

Soon after Rhode Island ratified the U.S. 

Constitution in 1790, William Peck petitioned 

President Washington for the lucrative 

position of Naval Officer of Providence’s 

port.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
smallest state (not including Tennessee, which was still a territory in 1790-91) in terms of 

population. Today, Rhode Island is the eighth least populous state in the United States with a 

population of 1,057,315 people.41 

In addition to providing a record of Rhode Island’s population in 1790-91, the 1790 census 

schedule notes that Peck presented Rhode Island’s 1790 census returns to both President 

Washington and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson in September 1791.42 Thus, Peck and his 

deputies were able to complete the enumeration of Rhode Island’s population within the initial 

deadline established by Congress. 

After completing the census, Peck continued to perform his duties as a marshal for another 19 

years, making him the longest-tenured of the original sixteen. However, after retirement, 

Peck’s financial troubles continued until his death on May 19, 1832.43 Ultimately, William Peck, 

who served the United States honorably as a soldier and as one of the first U.S. marshals, died 

penniless.44 

 

Statues at Large of the United States of America/From the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 

1845, vol. 1 (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1845), pg. 197.] 

41 “QuickFacts: Rhode Island,” U.S. Census Bureau, last estimated release July 1, 2018, 

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/RI. (Accessed October 15, 2019). 

42 "Summary of population, by counties and towns [of Rhode Island]: 1790," in Heads of Families/1790/A Century 

of Population Growth Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island (Washington, D.C,: Government Printing Office, 

1908), 2:9.

43 “History - The First Generation of United States Marshals/The First Marshal of Rhode Island: William Peck.”

44 Ibid.