THOSE PLACES THURSDAY The House that Darius Peck Built, Norwich, CT

Mary E. Perkin’s book, “Old Houses of the Antient Town of Norwich, 1600-1800” published in 1895 included a paragraph about Darius Peck’s Norwich, Connecticut home. The author wrote:

   “Between 1772, the date of his marriage, and 1781, he builds the house (long known as the Dr. Tracy house), standing on the slope of the hill at the foot of Mediterranean Lane. He also occupied, as a wheelwright, a shop which stood between his own house and the Miner house, and back of the jail.”  [Part 1, page 391]

5^th Great Grandfather sold the house and the blacksmith shop in 1781.

After a little internet sleuthing, I discovered Darius’ house was a historic home. The Connecticut State Library has digitized a photograph of 5^th Great Grandfather’s home on their website. Its part of their WPA (Works Projects Administration) Architectural Survey Collection gathered between 1935 and 1942.

Darius Peck House, Norwich, CT

Courtesy of the Connecticut State Library

Miss Jennie Congdon owned the home (1935-37) when the survey was created. Grandfather’s home was a wood house built on a stone foundation. Miss Congdon thought the rear of the house was originally the front.

The house interior was described:

   “Mostly original. The floors slope badly. The north door is battened and opens into a small hall; plain wall cupboard in hall; beaded edge boards in partition. A door either side opens into two rooms. The west room was originally the kitchen and has a large fireplace; paneling in this room is apparently a replacement. Out of this room to the south is a room with splendid raised paneling on fireplace side and good bolection moulding. Wide pine floors throughout.”

Please see the entire survey online at the Connecticut State Library by clicking here for more details about Darius Peck’s home.

The Library is seeking information about the house. 

Norwich, CT readers, can you help?

Note: Mary E. Perkin's book included a photo but it’s not as clear as the Library’s image.

You might also enjoy my earlier posts

      Meet Darius Peck and Hannah Warner from Norwich, CT

     MILITARY MONDAY Lieut. Darius Peck, 1st Connecticut Regiment, American Revolutionary War

MILITARY MONDAY Lieut. Darius Peck, 1st Connecticut Regiment, American Revolutionary War

     “On April 19, 1775, American resistance to British authority turned to armed rebellion when Massachusetts militiamen confronted British Regulars who were advancing on the towns of Lexington and Concord, resulting in casualties on both sides.”

          Connecticut in the American Revolution, An Exhibition from the Library and Museum Collections of the Society of the Cincinnati, page 10

5^th Great Grandfather Darius Peck was among the Connecticut men who responded to the “Lexington Alarm” made famous by Paul Revere’s midnight ride.

The British soldiers wanted to destroy military supplies the American Patriots had secretly stockpiled. The Americans got wind of this and moved their war chest. You’ll recall from your school days that tensions would soon ignite. A shot was fired—nobody knows by whom. The fighting began that moment April 19, 1775 at Lexington, Massachusetts.

History recorded Pvt. Darius Peck from the Town of Norwich on the Lexington Alarm List. When the War began, he had been married to Hannah Warner almost 3 years. He was a father to one child with another due to be born October 1775.

The next military record I found was dated Jan. 1, 1777 when Darius became an Officer with the rank of Ensign in Capt. John Shumway’s Company with the 1st Connecticut Regiment. The 1^st Regiment organized at Norwich 1777 and was a unit of the Continental Army. They would take part in the New York Campaign and the Battle of Monmouth. (Click on the hyperlinks for more information.)

In December 1777, George Washington took his army to Valley Forge to winter. Mid-December and mid-February 1778 proved to be especially harsh. The troops needed to build shelter for their lodging while there was a food shortage leaving many men starved.

After small log huts were built, the troops were offered the choice to go home. Darius furloughed in December 1777 and again during January - February 1778. It’s my hope Grandfather slept in his own bed that winter and had plenty to eat.

By Feb. 7, 1778, Darius was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and transferred to Capt. Eliphalet Holmes’ Company. In the spring Grandfather took an Oath of allegiance at Valley Forge May 23, 1778.

Darius Peck resigned from the Regiment April 15, 1779.

A List of the Officers of the 1^st Connecticut Battalion of foot who have served since the 1^st of Jan’y 1777 until the present day August 30^th

(Darius Peck appears 3^rd line from the bottom)

Roll of the Names and Remarks of Capt. Eliph’t Holmes’s Company

First Connecticut Battallion dated Sept. 8, 1778

Darius Peck 2^nd name on list

  

I assume the company roll above was written by Grandfather. His signature is located on the bottom right.

Pay Rool of Capt. John Shumways Comp’y 1^st Connecticut Battalion for May 1779

Darius resigns from the Regiment (3^rd line)

  

Sources:

   The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the War of the Revolution 1775-1783 edited by Henry P. Johnson, A.M. Under Authority of the Adjutant General of Connecticut, Hartford, 1889; pages 19, 146

   FIRE CAKE AND WATER The Connecticut Infantry at the Valley Forge Encampment by Joseph Lee Boyle, page 147

   Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Original data: Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls); War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; National Archives, Washington. D.C.

If you would like to read last week’s post about Darius and Hannah, click here.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Ella and Milton’s Date, Middletown, NY

No, not wordless! 

Middletown Daily Times-Press, Saturday, July 27, 1918, page 2

In Their Country's Service

   Milton E. Ludlum, of the Times-Press composing room force, has been accepted for service with the Emergency Fleet Corporation.  He has reported for duty at Boston, Mass., where Charles E. Greening, an operator on the Times-Press, is now stationed.

Ella Wilson and Milton Gardner Ludlum

Great Aunt Ella Wilson married Milton Ludlum June 1920. This photo must have been taken when they were dating. Milton died a young man in 1925. Aunt Ella would marry a second time to Ray Simpson fifteen years later.

Meet Darius Peck and Hannah Warner from Norwich, CT

I began my blog Dec. 3, 2013 writing about 3^rd Great Grandfather Bester B. Peck. Today I’d like to introduce Bester’s Grandfather and my 5^th Great Grandfather Darius Peck.

5^th Great Grandfather was born March 14, 1749/50 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.[1] He was the third child born to Jonathan Peck and Bethia Bingham. Darius’ family settled in Franklin, a section of Norwich originally known as West Farms. The Peck’s were members of the Congregational Church in Franklin and the Norwich First Congregational Church.

Darius wed Hannah Warner Nov. 5, 1772 at the Congregational Church in Scotland, Connecticut.[2] Scotland is a town in Windham Co., Connecticut. 5^th Great Grandmother Hannah was born in Windham Nov. 23, 1751 to Dr. Timothy Warner and Irena Ripley.[3] Hannah and Darius' marriage was recorded in both Windham and Norwich town records:

 

Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848

Extract from page 498

Jan. 30, 1774 Darius and Hannah promised to follow the beliefs of the Norwich First Congregation Church.[4]

They became the parents of seven children. My ancestor, Bradford, was born Nov. 5, 1773[5] followed by Darius in 1775[6], John in 1778[7] and Joseph in 1782.[8] Bethia and Henry were baptized 1788.[9] Warner was born Sept. 10, 1789.[10] Six days after his birth Great Grandmother died.[11]

Darius remarried four years later to Mary Frances on Dec. 14, 1793 in Franklin.[12] Anna, Elisha and Lucy joined the Peck siblings in 1794, 1796 and 1799.[13]

April 13, 1804 Great Grandfather passed.[14] Darius rests beside Hannah in the Franklin Congregational Church Plains Cemetery.

 

To view posts published about 3^rd Great Grandfather Bester B. Peck, click on his tab at the top of this page. Click here for more information about 4^th Great Grandfather Bradford B. Peck.

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[1] Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848, pub. Hartford; Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut; 1913, p. 234

[2] Ibid, p. 498

[3] Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection). Ancestry.com Connecticut Town Birth Records, database online. Windham Vital Records, p. 364

[4] Norwich First Congregational Church 1699-1917, Connecticut State Library; CT Church Records Abstracts; Ancestry.com p. 277

[5] Vital Records of Norwich 1659-1848, pub. Hartford; Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut; 1913, p. 498

[6] Ibid

[7] Ibid, p. 499

[8] Ibid

[9] Norwich First Congregational Church 1699-1917, Connecticut State Library; CT Church Record Abstracts Ancestry.com, p. 277

[10] Barbour Collection, Franklin, CT Vital Records, p. 75

[11] Ibid, p. 74

[12] Ibid, p. 73

[13] Ibid, pgs. 73 & 74

[14] Ibid, p. 73