Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Peck, was born in 1623, in or near Lon-
don, and before leaving England with his
father received an excellent education.
He took charge of the Collegiate Grammar
School in New Haven, and subse-
quently preached at Saybrook and various
other places, finally at Waterbury, Connecticut,
where he passed the remainder
of his life. He married Johannah
Kitchell, daughter of Robert Kitchell, in
1656. His death occurred in Waterbury
in 1699.
(III) Samuel Peck, son of Jeremiah
and Johannah (Kitchell) Peck, was born
in 1659, in Guilford, Connecticut. He was
a man of large wealth and influence, holding
the office of justice of the peace and
other important positions. He married,
in 1686, Ruth Ferris, said to have been a
daughter of Peter Ferris, and a granddaughter
of Jeffrey Ferris, of Stamford.
Samuel Peck died in 1746.
(IV) Theophilus Peck, son of Samuel
and Ruth (Ferris) Peck, was born in
1702. He was the owner of an extensive
tract of land in the town of Greenwich,
where he spent his entire life. He married,
in 1728, Elizabeth Mead, daughter
of Benjamin Mead, of Greenwich. His
death occurred in 1783, his wife surviving
him but ten days.
(V) Benjamin Peck, son of Theophilus
and Elizabeth (Mead) Peck, was born
October 10, 1740, and lived and died in
Greenwich, Connecticut. He married
(first) in 1766, Deborah Sackett, who died
in 1769. He married (second) in 1772,
Hannah Reed, who died November 11,
1783. Benjamin Peck died March 12,
1806.
(VI) Elias Peck, son of Benjamin and
Hannah (Reed) Peck, was born May 9,
1779, in Clapboard Ridge, Connecticut.
He married (first) in 1804, Deborah
Hobby, who was born September 4, 1784,
and died May 24, 1818. He married (sec-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
357
ond) Mary Haight. Elias Peck was a
farmer. His death occurred May 14,
1846.
(VII) William (2) Peck, son of Elias
and Deborah (Hobby) Peck, was born
November 6, 1809, in Clapboard Ridge,
town of Greenwich, Connecticut, and was
a farmer and shoe manufacturer, employ-
ing eight or ten men. He was captain of
the militia, and a member of the Con-
gregational church. Mr. Peck married, in
1838, Caroline Sherwood, born November
28, 1816, daughter of Benjamin and Annie
(Anderson) Sherwood, the former a
farmer of Riversville, town of Greenwich,
Connecticut. Benjamin Sherwood was
born May 9, 1773, and died in 1862. His
wife was born June 20, 1775, and died
in 1848. The death of William (2) Peck
occurred March 3, 1885, and his widow
passed away, November 28, 1896, the day
on which she completed her eightieth
year.
(VIII) Elias Sherwood Peck, son of
William (2) and Caroline (Sherwood)
Peck, was born February 6, 1842, in
Greenwich, Connecticut. He received his
education in public schools, Button's
Academy, and also attended the academy
presided over by the Rev. William Peck,
of North Greenwich. He afterward
learned the tinner's trade. During his
apprenticeship the Civil War began and
he enlisted in Company I, loth Regiment,
Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, serving
within a few weeks of three years. After
the war he became for a year the assistant
of his father in the management of the
farm, and then spent three years as a
journeyman in New York City, afterward
living for a year in Port Chester. In 1870
he went into business in partnership with
George La Forge under the firm name of
La Forge & Peck. They established the
first hardware store in Greenwich, Con-
necticut, but at the end of a year the part-