A Few Good Men

Samuel Peacock II was my 5th Great Grandfather. He was a soldier in the Militia for North Carolina. I have had soldiers in this country since it began and beyond in England all the way back to Jerusalem. There is a long lineage of service to our country, and its people in my family. 

There is a very cute story about Samuel and General George Washington who wanted to pass his toll bridge free of charge. Samuel told him he would have to pay like anyone else. That guy had something I tell ya!

Here is the rest of the story for a lazy start to your morning, and I hope that you enjoy the look back at some of the men in my family that have helped keep us free!




Peacock Places

North Carolina's Peacock Bridge

The Peacocks Bridge is located on Highway 58 in Stantonsburg, N.C. and is marked with a historical marker reading: Peacocks Bridge Here Lt. Col. Tarleton's British dragoons and Colonel James Gorham's militia engaged in a skirmish, May, 1781. The bridge had its beginning as a toll bridge built by Samuel Peacock prior to 1751.

Then Governor Gabriel Johnston signed a bill into law on October 12, 1751 to invest the property of the bridge in John Peacock, his heirs, and assigna (by him already built over Contentney Creek, in Johnston County) The document reads in part:

"Whereas a Bridge over Great Contentney Creek, on the main road leading from Johnston County to Edgecombe County, is as much for the conveniency of Travellers: and Samuel Peacock having already built one on his own land, at his own Expence, where the main road crosses the Creek, and Petitioning to be allowed the priviledge of taking and receiving from Travellers, the usual rates they were accustomed to pay, when he kept a Ferry there; and to be invested with the sole Property of the said Bridge, for the Space of Twenty Five Years:"
"We pray it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by his Excellency Gabriel Johnston, Esq., Governor, by and with the advice and consent of his Majesty's Council, and the General Assembly of this Province, and by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful for the said Samuel Peacock, his heirs and Assigns, to keep a sufficient Gate on the Bridge built by him, on Great Contentney Creek, where the road now crosseth the said Creek, leading from Johnston County to Edgecombe County, and take and receive from all Persons that shall pass over the same, the following Rates; that is to say,

For every Man and Horse, Four Pence. For every Carriage, drawn bt one or two horses Or oxen, one Shilling. And for every Horse, Mare, or Ox, Four Pence each. And for every Head of Neat Cattle, One Penny. And for every twenty Hogs or Sheep, One Shilling. And so in proportion for a greater or lesser Number of hogs or sheep; For and during the Space of Twenty Five years, and no longer."

"And be it further enacted, That during the Time the Bridge shall be kept in Repair, and fit for Travellers and Carriages to pass and repass the same. It shall not be lawful for any Person whatsoever to keep any Ferry, build any Bridge, or set any Person, or Persons, Carriage or Carriages, Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, over the said Creek, for Fee or Reward, within six Miles of the same, during the Time aforesaid; under the Penalty of Twenty Shillings, Proclamation Money, for each and every offence, to be Recovered by the said Samuel Peacock, his Heirs, Execu- tors, Administrators and Assigns, before any Magistrate Of the County; to be applied to the Use of the Pro- prietor of the Bridge built by the said Samuel Peacock; And during the said Time, the Right and Property of the said Bridge is hereby invested in the said Samuel Peacock, his Heirs, Executors, Administrators or Assigns."

My Uncle Hardy who served in WWII. Thank you to all that have served, and that will serve our country. We owe you and all the ones before, our freedoms. Many of you have enriched my life so much over the years and I will never forget you. (((((Troops)))))

 

My Brother Clifton served in Vietnam..

Thank you to all that have served and still do......