Finding Abraham Peacock

(ca. 1738 – bef. 14 January 1808)
REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT
By Melinda Johnson

A frustrating but common problem is that people of modest means left few records as they moved among rural settlements. Inherent in genealogical research is the dearth of records for women whose maiden names disappeared and who’s right to own property was eliminated when they married.

A married woman was a femme covert, protected by her husband, and could not own land, while a femme sole (a single woman or widow) was able to own land in her name. All this is true in what was the Orangeburg District of South Carolina, a rich farmland bordering the Savannah River.

While trolling the Internet in search of my great grandmother’s family in Barnwell County, formerly Orangeburg District, I found a family tree that listed my great grandfather, Erwin Givens as having married “Barzilla Wooley” (10 August 1828 – 12 March 1904). A cousin subsequently provided Bible records of the family during this, the Civil War period. Although the discovered family tree showed Barzilla’s father was “Ezekiel Woolley”, there was no documentation, nor did she appear as a named child in the Barnwell County 1850 census . Barzilla was already married in 1850 .

Ezekiel did not leave a will and sold his 1,000 acres to his oldest son, Aquilla on 12 August 1857 . Ezekiel did not appear in the 1860 census. Through further analysis of data, including Bible records, censuses, Civil War records from the National Archives, tombstone photos and cemetery records, the connection from Barzilla to her father Ezekiel was made.

Ezekiel Woolley appears as receiving a portion from his father, Zadock Woolley in the distribution of the estate, thus proving the connection. Land deeds are most valuable when other forms of evidence are missing. Such a land deed was found to show not only the relationship of Zadock Woolley to his wife, Nancy Ann Peacock, but to her father, Abraham Peacock:

State of South Carolina } Know all men By these present that I Zadock Woolley and Joseph Peacock in consideration of three hundred and fifty dollars to us in hand paid by Mary Peacock widow all of Barnwell District and State of aforesaid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted bargained sold and released and by these present do grant bargain sell and release unto the said Mary Peacock all the parcel of half tracts of land which lies on the lower or S. E. side of spur branch in Barnwell District one of said tracts granted to Abram Peacock the ninth day of September 1774. The other Granted Abram Peacock seventh day of May 1787 Together with all and singular the rights to members hereditaments [sic] and appertinances [sic] to the said premises belonging or in any ____ incident or appertinances [sic] to have and to hold all and singular the said premises, And we do hereby bind our selves our heirs Executors and Administrators to warrant and forever defend all the aforesaid premises unto the said Mary Peacock her heirs Executors Administrators or assigns against ourselves our heirs executors and against every person or persons whomsoever, In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seal the 14th day of January in the year of our Lord 1808 and in the thirty second year of American Independence } his Signed sealed and } Zadock x Woolley Delivered in Presence of } mark,Joseph Peacock State of South Carolina }mBarnwell District } Darling Peeples

One of the Justices of the Quorum do hereby certify that Ann Woolley the wife of the within named Zadock Woolley did this day appear before me and upon being privately and separately examined by me did declare that she does freely voluntarily and without any compunction, dread or fear of any person or persons whomsoever renounce release and forever relinquish unto the within named Mary Peacock all her interest and Estate, and all her right and claim of dower of in or to all and singular the promises within mentioned and released, Given under my hand & seal the 14th January 1808. Darling Peeples Nancy Woolley.

Having established Nancy Ann’s father with the land deed, I found that the South Carolina Archives then provided much information on Abraham Peacock. On 8 July 1774 there is a Plat for 150 acres in Colleton County (later part of Orangeburgh District, which became Winton then Barnwell District and finally Barnwell County). There were land grants on 9 September 1774 and 22 November 1785 (499 acres in Orangeburgh District).

There is also a listing entitled Peacock, Abraham, Account Audited (file No. 5775) of claims growing out of the American Revolution. According to service that is acceptable for membership in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), “Those who rendered material aid such as furnished supplies, with or without remuneration” are considered as having performed Patriotic Service and are eligible to be listed as a DAR Patriot. An Indented Certificate was issued to The General Assembly in payment for “Seven Pounds twelve Shilling and three pence sterling two beeves Supplied for Public use in 1782 and 1783 for Account Audited the said Abraham Peacock…..on 15 May 1788….” Several handwritten receipts for “beeves” include one which shows “1752, August 14 For one Beef for the use of General Green’s army appraised at three and a half Guineas.” These transactions are also listed in the Stub Entries to Indents. Abraham does not appear in the 1790 South Carolina Census, or in the 1800 census. However, the deed listing the sale of the property is, thus, the most pertinent record to document the death of the patriot, Abraham Peacock.

Abraham is now a listed DAR Patriot, Ancestor #A204655.
He is in good company with Isham, John Jr., John Sr., Levi and Samuel Peacock, all having served in North Carolina and listed DAR Patriots.
• 1850 U.S. census, Barnwell, South Carolina: Roll: M432_489; Page:349; Image: 48; Source: Ancestry.com online
• 1850 U.S. census, Barnwell, South Carolina: Roll: M432_489; Page: 376; Image: 102; Source: Ancestry.com online
• Barnwell County Probate Court, Barnwell, Barnwell County, South Carolina
• Estate Papers of Zadock Woolley, Barnwell Probate Court, Barnwell, Barnwell South Carolina
• Deed, Barnwell County Probate Court, Barnwell, Barnwell county, South Carolina
• South Carolina Archives and History
• Ibid.
• Is That Service Right? Published by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, p. 17
• South Carolina Archives and History • Ibid.
• Stub Entries to Indents issued in Payment of Claims Against South Carolina Growing Out of the Revolution, Books Y-Z, Edited by a. S. Salley, Jr.; Source: South Carolina Archives and History

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