Isham Peacock Circuit Riding Preacher

Notes for Isham Peacock:
Source: Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Vol. VI, compiled & published by Folks Huxford, 1948, pg. 207.

I am honoring my 5th Great Uncle today.. He served in the Revolutionary War, was captured and sentenced to be hanged. He escaped with the help of a Captain because they were both Masons. He lived to the ripe old age of 108, Married twice, the second time at age 93, and died by falling off a horse while riding to visit his family in Georgia!
Way to go, Isham.. Sounds as if you lived a full life..

Note: Isham, although a devout Baptist Preacher, would not preach in churches where Liquor was not allowed.

As per John G Crowley, an ordained Primitive Baptist minister who teaches at the Valdosta State University in southern Georgia:

Elder Isham Peacock was a Primitive Baptist minister who despised the anti-liquor societies so greatly that he would not preach in churches that included members who had pledged asbtinence from alcohol. When he was 100 years old, Elder Peacock would drink from a hollow can filled with whiskey while preaching, both to recruit his energy and to demonstrate the bounds of Christian liberty.
Baptist Today News Journal "Baptist and Booze"

Peacock, Isham 1742 - 1851 Tattnall, Ware
Isham Peacock, greatly beloved pioneer Baptist minister in his day, in Wiregrass Georgia, was born in Dobbs County, N.C, Oct. 8, 1742, as shown by his Revolutionary War pension papers. He was married twice. His first wife was Martha Easterling of Johnston Co., N.C., born c. 1746. By her his children were born. His second marriage was in Ware County, Ga., March 22, 1835, to Mrs. Lydia Bennett, born 1764. The names of only two children are known, though it is believed that Rev. Lewis Peacock, the first pastor (about 1832) of Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church in original Ware now Pierce County, was a son. The two known children were:

1. Sarah b. 1776, m. Kedar Keaton. Lived in Liberty Co., Ga.
2. John b. 1781 lived in Ware (Pierce) Co.

It is not known just when Isham Peacock came to Georgia. He does not appear in the 1790 Census of either North Carolina or South Carolina, so may have been in this state at that time. His first place of residence in Georgia was apparently Warren County where he was living 1794 in Capt. Hatcher's district, owning 200 acres of land on Joe's Creek (as shown by the 1794 tax-digest of Warren). He seems to have lived a short time in Effingham County, though just when cannot be determined now. By 1798 he had moved to Montgomery County, he appearing on the tax-digest there that year as a resident taxpayer; at that time he owned no land there but still owned 300 acres in Warren County. He was put out of Montgomery County into Tattnall County in it's formation in 1804. He lived in Tattnall County until about 1833-35 when, his wife having died, he went to to Ware (now Pierce) County to make his home with his son John.

 His second marriage took place soon after. He and his second wife were living alone in Ware in 1840 Census. In 1845 they moved to near Mayport Mills (now a part of the city of Jacksonville) in DuVal Co., Fla. While on a visit to his grandchildren in present Pierce County, he died there in February 1851, age 108 years. He is believed to have been buried in the cemetery at Shiloh Church. His aged widow was still living in 1855 at Mayport Mills, age 94 years.

Just where or when Elder Peacock was converted and united with the Baptist Church and when and where he was ordained to the ministry, is not known. The first known church membership was Beard's Creek Baptist Church, Tattnall County (organized 1804). He was the second pastor of the church, serving 1819 to April 1835, when he moved to Ware. The minutes of Piedmont Baptist Association show he was pastor of Salem Church ,in Liberty Co, in 1815. When the association was first organized in 1815 he was one of four or five Baptists who attended and took part in the organization. he was Moderator of the Association, 1819-1824 inclusive. He was the first pastor of Providence Church in Ware County, 1844 to 1845 when he moved to Florida. By the 1820's he had come to be known as "Father Peacock" among the people where he preached. In the division over missions in the Baptist ranksin the 1830's he seemed to have adhered to the anti-mission group who in time called themselves Primitive Baptists.

Elder Peacock's pension application was made in Tattnall County, Aug. 12, 1833 and he was approved Oct. 5, 1833, and he drew a pension until his death. In his declaration to obtain the pension he stated he was living in Anson Co., N.C., when he was drafted in the Revolutionary War. He said he served under Col. Love and Gen. Sumter two or three years, and served several tours under Col. Robinson, Murphy and others, but was in no battles. In the pension file is a statement from him that he was formally of Effingham County.

Source: DAR Patriot Index - Centennial Editon, by national Daughters of the American Revolution, 1994, Part 3 pg. 2255.
Peacock, Isham: b 10-8-1742 NC d 2 - - 1851 GA m (1) Martha Easterling (2) Mrs. Lydia Bennett Sol NC PNSR WPNS.

Source: 1805 Georgia Land Lottery. By Virginia S. Wood & Ralph V. Wood, The Greenwood Press, 1964, pg. 268.

(Name) (Lottery #) (Blank or Prize) (County)
Peacock, Isham 2 B B Bryan

Note: Married men were allowed two draws, but unfortunately both of Isham's draws were blank.

More About Isham Peacock:

Burial: Unknown, Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Ware Co., GA.

More About Isham Peacock and Mrs. Lydia Bennett:
Marriage: March 22, 1835, Ware Co., GA.
<<<<<<Isham was 93 at the time of his second marriage>>>>>>>>

Children of Isham Peacock and Martha Easterling are:

Sarah Peacock, b. 1775, Anson Co., NC45, d. 1857, Carroll Co., GA45.
+Samuel Peacock, b. 1780, SC45, d. 1839, Liberty Co., GA45.
+John Peacock, b. 1781, d. date unknown.