Vera Peacock, daughter of Fred and Vietta

                                       Photo from Ancestry.com (S.T.)

Death of John Peacock, Sr.

Source: Muskoka Scrapbook Number Eight - 1914
- Collected and Compiled by Gary Dennis, 2007

page 31 -Death of Mr. John Peacock, Sr. - Falkenburg

Last Sunday, March 15th, at the residence of his son, Mr Thos. Peacock, River Street, Mr. John Peacock passed away after several weeks illness in his 60th year. Just one year ago, Mr. and Mrs. Peacock went to Beamsville to live with their daughter and last summer had an operation performed in Hamilton that left him in a weakened condition. This winter they returned to Falkenburg and Bracebridge hoping to regain strength. The change at first was for the better but the old trouble returning, he was forced to again submit to an operation.

The late Mr. Peacock was born in the County of Antrim, Ireland, coming to Canada 48 years ago with his parents when a boy of 12 years, settling in the township of King, later moving to Muskoka where he has resided ever since. He married Miss Mary Oliver of Muskoka who is left to mourn the loss of a kind husband, besides the following children: Mr. Fred Peacock of Novar; Messrs John, William and Joseph of Falkenburg; Thomas of Bracebridge; and George of Macaulay. The daughters are Mrs. Faulkner, New Ontario; Mrs. Harry Byford, Beamsville; Mrs. S. Moore, Hamilton; Mrs. McIntyre, Falkenburg; Miss Peacock, Beamsville. The funeral was held Tuesday, interment taking place in the English Cemetery, Falkenburg. [Falkenburg Union Cemetery]

John Peacock and Two Daughters

John Peacock (d. 1914) with his two youngest daughters - Grace (b. 1895) and Kit (b. 1897). Circa 1907

Family Photos

A visit to Aunt Kit's in St Catherines: Gertrude Peacock Kennedy, Kit Peacock Whitmore, Grace Peacock McIntyre, Mabel Slater Peacock (wife of Murray, son of George), and Jeanne, daughter of Gertrude. Before 1949 (Grace's death)

Kit Peacock Whitmore with her nephew, Ken Peacock, son of George. Ken was born 1922, so perhaps this photo was taken about 1942.

Dan McIntyre, Grace Peacock McIntyre, Mary Ellen Oliver Peacock, (unknown gentleman) and Kit Peacock later Whitmore at Mary Ellen's home in Orillia, Ontario after 1916 and before 1935 (Mary Ellen's death).

Mary Ellen Peacock - Later Years

John Peacock, the husband of Mary Ellen Oliver, died of heart failure on March 15th, 1914. Mary Ellen had just turned 56 years of age. John had been suffering from cancer for six months. His death was reported by his son, George Peacock.

It is not known if Mary Ellen remained on the farm after her husband's death; however, my mother recalls that she lived on James Street in Bracebridge for awhile, and that some of the daughters had a shop on the main street of the town close to Chancery Lane. Her death certificate states that she lived in Orillia for 19 years before her death in 1935. From this we can estimate that she moved to Orillia about 1916. The farm was not sold until August, 1919.

Mary Ellen's eldest son, Fred, and his wife, Vietta, died in November of 1918 probably as a result of the Spanish flu pandemic. They were survived by three children. The youngest child was under ten at the time of their death. It is not known whose care they were in after 1918.

Mary Ellen would also have been living in Orillia when her brother-in-law, Fred Peacock drowned in April of 1921. His body was identified by Mary Ellen's son, Joseph Peacock of Orillia. It is thought that her daughters Grace McIntyre and Violet Moore were also residents of Orillia.

Death Record for M. Ellen Peacock
(This is the way her names appears in the index)
Province of Ontario, County/District of Simcoe
Residence - 139 Mississauga Street, Orillia
Female, Canadian, Widowed, English origin
Born - February 9, 1858, Markham, Ontario
19 years in Orillia - 77 years in Canada
Died - November 11, 1935 - 77 years, 9 months, 2 days
Housewife, last worked in 1934,
Father - Joseph Oliver, born England
Mother - Mary Ellen Tubb(s), born England
Informant- Joseph Peacock, 230 Harvey St., Orillia
Buried - Falkenburg November 13, 1935
Undertaker - Doolittle, Orillia

Doctor attended April 24th to November 11, 1935
Immediate cause of death - chronic *osteomyelitis of femur
Other morbid condition - anorexia
Surgical Operation - May 4, 1934
Findings - culture _____, hamolytic staphylococcus aureus
No autopsy
Signed - Dr. H.G. Sw_ck, 39 Peter Street N, Orillia


4 Peacock Generations - Mary Ellen Oliver Peacock with her son "Jack" and
his son and grandson.

1911 Census - Married Children

The photo is of the Peacock homestead on Lot 8 of Concession IX in Macaulay
Township about 1906. They referred to their home as 'Jerusalem'....New
Jerusalem being a theme in the church at the time.
In the back row - Harry Byford, Mary Peacock Byford, Tommy Peacock
Front - Grace Peacock, Grandma Mary Ellen with baby Bill Byford (born 1906),
Joe Peacock, Kit Peacock, Grandpa John and Dan MacIntyre (?).

1911 Census Records for the Married Children
of John & Mary Ellen Peacock

1911 Perry Twnp, Muskoka
Peacock, Fred, M, Head, Nov-1875, 35
Peacock, Vietta, F, Wife, Oct-1881,29
Peacock, Hilda, F, Dau, Apr-1903, 8
Peacock, Harold,M,Son, Dec-1904, 6
Peacock, Vera, F, Dau, Oct-1909,1

1911 Bracebridge Ward 3 / 4
Peacock, John, M, Head, May-1877, 34
Peacock, Mary, F ,Wife, Mar-1882, 29
Peacock, Leonard, M, Son, Aug-1902, 8
Peacock, John, M, Son, Sep-1905, 5
Peacock, Stanley, M, Son, May-1907,4
Peacock, Cecil, M, Son, Jun-1908,2
Peacock, Nellie, F, Dau, Nov-1911, 6/12

1911 Macaulay
Peacock, Wm, M, Head, May-1881, 30
Peacock, Mary, F, Wife, Jun-1881, 29
Peacock, Luella, F, Dau, Aug-1907, 3 (Lila)
Peacock, Dingley G., M, Adopted, Oct-1901, 10

1911 Monck Twp
Peacock, Thomas, M, Head, M,Sep-1882, 28
Peacock, Clara E., F, Wife, Jan-1883, 28
Peacock, Gladys, F, Dau, Feb-1906, 5
Peacock, Elissa A. (Alma), F, Dau, Feb-1908, 3
Peacock, Aleen O, (Orma), F, Dau, Aug-1910, 9/12

1911 Stephenson Twp
Byford, Harry, M,Head, Oct-1877,34
Byford, Mary E., F, Wife, May-1884, 27
Byford Audry N., M, Son, Apr-1903, 8
Byford William L., M, Son, Jun-1906, 5
Byford, Ellen L., F, Dau, Feb-1907, 4
Byford, Henry L., M, Son, May-1908, 3
1911 Stephenson Twnp, Muskoka

1911 Stephenson Twp
Moore, Saxon, M, Head, Mar-1888, 23
Moore Frania, F, Wife, Jan-1889, 22
Moore Doris E., F, Dau, Jan-1910, 1

Children & Their Spouses

This photo represents four generations. The lady is Mary Ellen
Oliver Peacock. The men are her son John (Uncle Jack), one of
his sons and Jack's grandson. Before 1935.
The Children of John Peacock and Mary Ellen Oliver

1. FRED PEACOCK 1875-1918
Lived in Perry Township, Parry Sound District, probably Novar
= Vietta Burke (1881-1918)
Children
1. Hilda May (1902-1984)= Dr. E.G. Evans, Huntsville (1 daughter)
2. Harold Alexander (1904-1986) = Dorothy (2 daughters)
3. Vera Winnifred (1909-2006) Unmarried, lived in Huntsville

2. JOHN PEACOCK (Jack) 1877-1960
Lived at Jordan, Ontario (Niagara Peninsula)
= Mary (Minnie) Mann, of Falkenburg
Children -
1. Leonard
2. John
3. Stanley
4. Cecil d. May 2, 1914 @ 5 years
5. Ellen "Nellie" = Fred Backschell, St. Catherines
6. Percy = Catherine Gray
7. Thelma = Malcolm Clements, Dunnville
8. Reginald
9. Claude
(The birth order of the last 4 children is unknown)

3. SARAH PEACOCK (1879-1956)
= Joseph Faulkner
Children -
1. and 2. Norman and Oscar (drowned at Burk's Falls in 1901)
3. Frederick
4. Herbert
5. George
6. Irene
7. Violet
8. Gladys
9. Stuart
10. Allan
11. Mabel = I. Peters
12. Howard

4. WILLIAM ROBERT PEACOCK (1881-1967)
= Mary C. Campbell (1881-1964)
Children -1. Lila Victoria (unmarried)
2. Melvin Thomas (No issue)

5. THOMAS PEACOCK (1882-1950)
= Emma Forsyth (1883-1949)
Children -1. Allen Oscar
2. Gladys May=D. Barnes
3. Clarissa Alma - Unmarried
4. Aleen Orma=W. Bond
5. Thomas Alvin=B. Gardiner

6. MARY ELLEN PEACOCK (1884-1952)
= Harry Byford
Children -1. Awrdey
2. William
3. Nellie
4. Lloyd
5. Russell
6. Catherine
7. Beverley
8. Howard
9. Lois
10. Ronald
11. Harry

7. GEORGE NELSON PEACOCK (1886-1948)
= Jessie Forsyth (1885-1965)
(Family will be given in a later post)

8. VIOLET SOPHRONO PEACOCK (1889-1943)
= Saxon Moore (1887-1975)
Children -1. Doris
2. Elwood
3. Mona
4. Douglas
5. Ralph
6. Phyllis
7. Daphney
8. Shelagh

9. JOSEPH OLIVER PEACOCK (1892-1964)
=  Ivy Brown
Children -
1. Stuart
2. Elwood

10. GRACE LOUISE PEACOCK (1895-1945)
= Daniel McIntyre
Children -
1. Verna
2. Stella
3. Bruce
4. Beulagh = Elwood Brenner

11. CATHERINE PEACOCK (1897 -_____ )
= John (Jack) Whitmore, St. Catherines, Ontario
No Issue

John Peacock, son of Thos & Sarah

1911 Census - Macaulay Township

Peacock, John, M, Head,............b. Feb, 1854, 57
Peacock, Mary Ellen, F, Wife, .......b. Feb, 1858, 53
Peacock, Fred, Brother,.................b. May, 1850, 61
Peacock, Joseph, Son, ....................b. Sep, 1892, 18
Peacock, Grace, Daughter.............b. Jan, 1895, 16
Peacock, Catherine,Daughter.......b. Dec, 1897, 13

1901 Census - Macaulay Township

Peacock, John, M, Head. ........b. Feb 10, 1854, 47
Peacock, Mary E., F, Wife. ...........b. Feb 9, 1858, 43
Peacock, Fred, Son........................b. Nov 24, 1875, 25
Peacock , John, Son......................b. May 23, 1877, 23
Peacock, William R., Son.............b. May 3, 1881, 19
Peacock, Thomas, Son..................b. Sep 24, 1882,18
Peacock, Mary E., Daughter,.......b. May 27, 1884,16
Peacock, George N., Son..............b. Mar 2, 1886, 15
Peacock, Violet S., Daughter.......b. Jan 16, 1889, 12
Peacock, Joseph A., Son..............b. Sep 24, 1892, 8
Peacock, Grace L., Dau...............b. Jan 16, 1895, 6
Peacock, Cathrine, Dau..............b. Dec 6, 1897, 3
Byford, Henry, M, Lodger, S......b. Oct 27, 1876, 24

1901 Burks Falls (Sarah Peacock's family)

Faulkner, Joseph, M, Head, b. Feb 11, 1875, 26
Faulkner, Sarah, F, Wife, b. Aug 4, 1879,21
Faulkner ,Frederick, M, Son, Jan 31, 1899, 2
Faulkner, Herbert Leslie, M, Son, May 17, 1900

1891 Census -taken April 17 - Macaulay Township

Thomas Peacock, Wid, m. 72, b. abt 1819, Ire, Farmer, parents b. Ireland
John Peacock, M. m. 37, b. Ireland, Farmer, parents both b. Ireland
Mary Peacock, M. f. 33, b. Ontario, parents both b. England
Fred Peacock, m. 15, b. Ontario
John Peacock, m. 14, b. Ontario
Sarah Peacock, f. 12, b. Ontario
** William, m. 9 (see Robert Peacock census in Monck – 1891)
Thomas Peacock, m. 8, b. Ontario
Mary Peacock, f. 6, b. Ontario
George Peacock, m. 5, b. Ontario
Violet Peacock, f. 2, b. Ontario

1881 Census - Macaulay Township, Muskoka

Thomas Peacock, Wid, m. 60, b. Ireland, Farmer,
John Peacock, M. m. 24, b. Ireland, Farmer
Mary Peacock, M. f.22, b. Ontario
Fred Peacock, m.5, b. Ontario
John Peacock, m. 3, b. Ontario
Sarah Peacock, f. 1, b. Ontario

All Presbyterian

1871 Census - King Township, York Co.

Peacock, Thomas, 53, b. Ireland, Labourer, M, Irish
Peacock, Sarah, 58, b. Ireland, unable to write, M, Irish
Peacock, John, 17, b. Ireland, Labourer, single, Irish
Peacock, Hugh, 15, b. Ireland, Labourer, single Irish
Peacock, Robert, 7, b. Ireland, Labourer, single, Irish

All Presbyterian

MACAULAY School circa 1895

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Children of John and Mary Ellen Peacockwho might be in this photo and age in 1891 census

Fred, 15
John, 14
Sarah, 12
William, 9
Thomas, 8
Mary, 6 - on right with hand on other girl's shoulder
George, 5 - boy with circle around face
Violet, 2

Children of Robert Peacock and Mary Moffatand age in 1891 census

William , 6 - to the left of George
Andrew James, 5 -end of row to the left of George
Catherine Ann "Cassie", 3 middle of front
row with hands joined

Some Peacock Marriages

David TAIT, 20, farmer, Pennsylvania USA, Monck Tp.,
s/o William L. & Mary, married Anne WAINRIGHT, 18,
County Cavan Ireland, Bracebridge, d/o Samuel & Mary
Ann, witn: John PEACOCK of Macaulay & Elizabeth
WAINRIGHT of Bracebridge on Jan. 1, 1874 at the home
of William L. Tait at Monck Tp.

5942-75 James JONES, 25, yeoman, Ireland, Macaulay twp.,
s/o Charles & Isabella, married Fanny MOORE, 19, England,
Macaulay twp., d/o Mathias & Susan, witn: John PEACOCK
of Macaulay & Mary OLIVER of Stephenson,
6 April 1875 at Bracebridge

5944-75 John PEACOCK, 21, farmer, Co. **Derry, Ireland,
Macaulay, s/o Thomas & Sarah, married Mary OLIVER, 17,
Canada, Stephenson, d/o Joseph & Ellen, witn: Hugh
PEACOCK & Annie KIRBY, both of Macaulay,
17 May 1875 at Bracebridge

6934-78 - Hugh PEACOCK, 21, farmer, Ireland, Monck,
s/o Thomas & Sarah, married Margaret NEVINS, 17,
Harriston, Monck, d/o Thomas Coynes NEVINS & Annabella
HARTY, witn: William NEVINS of Monck, 2 Oct 1878 at Monck

Robert PEACOCK, 20, Twp, Monck, b. Canada (?), bachelor,
Farmer, son of Thomas & Catherine (?) Peacock, married
Mary MOFFATT, 18, Twp Macaulay, b. Canada, spinster, d/o
William & Eliza Ann Moffatt, Witnesses: G. H. Vanattan,
Orillia - L.J. Moffatt, Macaulay, by Rev. H.J. Matthews,
by licence, Methodist, 3 Jan. 1884

008107-93 Joseph OLIVER, 24, farmer, England, Stephenson Tp.,
s/o Joseph & Ellen, married Emma SPENCER, 22, Macaulay Tp.,
same, d/o Abel & Sarah Ann, witn: Albert & Ada PATTERSON both
of Stephenson Tp. on June 7, 1893 at Bracebridge

12124-02 Henry BYFORD, 24, laborer, England, Bracebridge,
s/o Joseph & Ellen, married Mary PEACOCK, 17, Ontario,
Macauley, d/o John PEACOCK & Mary E. OLIVER, witn:
Caroline & Frederick PEACOCK of Scotia Junction,
2 April 1902 at Falkenburg

13108-04 (Muskoka Dist.) Thomas PEACOCK, 22, farmer,
Macauley twp., s/o John PEACOCK & Mary OLIVER,
married Clara Emma FORSYTH, 21, Macauley twp., same,
d/o John FORSYTH & Mary DALES, witn: William PEACOCK
& Jessie FORSYTH, both of Macauley twp., 1 June 1904
at Macauley

13111-04 John OLIVER, 30, carpenter, Stephenson twp.,
Macauley, s/o Joseph OLIVER & Ellen **BUKER, married Maud
Alice GOHEN, 29, Macauley, same, d/o William GOHEN &
Adeline PRATT, witn: Henry GOHEN & Laura KIRK, both of
Macauley, 7 Dec 1904 at Macauley (GOHM?)
** The original record needs to be checked as Mary Ellen Peacock's 1935
death record gives Ellen's maiden name as Tubb(s).
013535-05 (Muskoka) George Nelson PEACOCK, 20,
laborer, Macauley Twp, same s/o John PEACOCK and
Mary Ellen OLIVER married Jesse FORSYTH, 20,
Macauley Twp, same d/o John FORSYTH and Mary
DALES, witness – George FORSYTH and Violet S.
PEACOCK, August 9, 1905, Bracebridge

18101-1919 Harvey Ray PEACOCK, 21, Labour, Scotia Jct.,
Bracebridge, s/o Robert Ray PEACOCK & Mary MOFFET,
married Robina CARSON, 20, Cache Bay, Same, d/o Thomas
CARSON & Agnes FLOOD, Wtn. George BOUTETTE, Loretta
McNALLY, on Dec. 24, 1919 at Sturgeon Falls

**Please note that other Peacock records, including John's
death certificate state that the family came from County Antrim,
not Derry.

MARY ELLEN OLIVER (Mrs. John Peacock) 1858-1935

Photo by V.E.H.

Died Nov. 11, 1935 at 77; Buried in Falkenburg Union Cemetery,Muskoka, Ontario

(Copied from newspaper clipping saved by Jessie Peacock (Mrs. George) and in the possession of Gertie (Peacock) Kennedy at her Hiram Street home, Bracebridge – 16 August 1980)

Within fifty feet of the sight of the old church where she first said
her religious rites in Muskoka, Mary Ellen Oliver, widow of the
late John Peacock, was laid to rest last Wednesday afternoon in
Falkenburg Cemetery beside the remains of her husband who
predeceased her twenty-one years ago (1914).This worthy
pioneer came to Muskoka when the early settlers were almost
exiled and lived in deep solitude.

When Mrs.Peacock was a girl of twelve years, her parents,
Joseph and Ellen Oliver, chose the north concession of Macaulay
Township to make their home. It was in Markham Township she
was born seventy-eight years ago, but before coming to
Muskoka, the Oliver family returned to their English home and
remained there nine years when they again ventured over the
sea and this time directed their path to the much advertised
Muskoka Free Grant land.

Mary Ellen married in early life. She was scarcely eighteen
when she and John Peacock pledged their troth. Among those
present at the happy event at Falkenburg sixty years ago were
Fanny Moore, James Jones, Hannah Kirby, **Kitty Peacock,
Susan and Mary Moffet, and Frank Moore. Miss Kirby was
the bridesmaid and Frank Moore was best man. Reverend
Rae was the officiating clergyman.

The young couple set up housekeeping down towards the
river on the sideroad south of Falkenburg past the Naismith,
Pollard, Dever, Goggin, Brown, Hay and Taylor homesteads.
It was here their children were born and this was the scene
of many a worthy and self-sacrificing act by Mrs. Peacock.
She was a neighbour in the truest sense of neighbourliness
to many an early family in need.

John Peacock farmed and lumbered. Their home was the
gathering point for many a happy party when their children
were young and to it a hearty welcome was extended to any
in need, as many a lumberjack experienced. While those
days were days of isolation, they were also days of happiness.
The way to Bracebridge or Hunstville was over roads that
today would be called trails and by foot. When the writer
enjoyed the winter warmth of the Peacock home fifty years
ago, the walk to Bracebridge was not considered anything
out of the ordinary.

At the church service at Falkenburg, Reverend L. A. Dixon,
Rector of St. James, Orillia where Mrs. Peacock of late years
made her church home, reminded the congregation that,
“We gather to honour the memory of one widely known and
deeply loved, to sympathize with those who are left and also
we are here to show our belief in the Christian faith.”

The service was attended by relatives and friends from far and
near. Among these were George Oliver, Beamsville; Thomas
Oliver, Niagara Falls - two brothers who left Muskoka over
forty years ago; and Mrs. Ray Oliver of Hamilton, a niece, and
her son Cecil.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Peacock, six sons
and five daughters. Ten are living. These are:
John (Jack)Peacock, Vineland who married Mary Mann
Sarah Peacock, Kapuskasing who married Joseph Faulkener
William Peacock, Falkenburg who married Mary Campbell
Thomas Peacock, Bracebridge who married Emma Forsyth
Mary Peacock, St. Catharines, who married Henry Byford
George Peacock, Bracebridge, married to Jessie Forsyth
Violet Peacock, Orilla, married to Sax Moore, Jr.
Joseph Peacock, Orillia, married to Audrey Brown
Grace Peacock, Orillia, married to Daniel McIntyre
Catherine Peacock, St. Catharines, married to John (Jack)
Whitmore

The first and only break in the children of the family was the
taking by influenza in 1918 of Frederick (eldest son). His wife
was Vietta Burke of Novar. (The obituary goes on to name all
the grandchildren.) To these fifty-seven grandchildren have
been born thirty-nine sons and daughters all living and thus
the deceased lady could boast of children and grandchildren
to the number of ninety-six.

Pallbearers were six grandsons; Audrey Byford, St. Catharines;
Stanley Peacock, Vineland; Elwood Moore, Orillia; Alvin
Peacock, Bracebridge; Harold Peacock, Huntsville; and Murray
Peacock, Bracebridge. The flower bearers were four younger
grandsons: Howard Byford, St. Catharines; and Bruce McIntyre,
Ralph Moore, and Stuart Peacock of Orillia.

Muskoka’s oldtime settlers are rapidly passing on to their
great reward. Mrs. Peacock was one of the best citizens. Of
late, she had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Daniel
McIntyre of Orillia, and was always happy and rejoiced in the
progress of children and their families. Three old timers –
William Hillman, William Inch and William Naismith of the
immediate neighbourhood of Falkenburg are all that are left
of the original settlers, who were there when the Peacock and
Oliver families established their homes in that part of Macaulay.

Written by Harry Linney

**could this be Catherine Peacock Brown