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 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-armour, etc., who ranked next to Baronets.
Soon after his arrival here, he settled in Hingham, Mass. . . . He remained at Hingham about seven years, when he removed to Seekouk. . . . In 1641, he became one of the principal purchasers of the indians of that tract of land called by them Seacunk or Seekonk, 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. . . .
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.
