“Joshua Peck, son of Aaron and Deborah Peck, moved from Newtown, Connecticut, to Sandgate, Vermont with his parents and brother Joel. He married Rachel Mallory, daughter of Ephraim and Desire (Oats) Mallory. Rachel’s father, Ephraim, was a British loyalist during the revolutionary war. He deserted from his post with the American forces during the battle of Bennington, VT, and was tried for treason by the patriots. His property and belongings were c onfiscated by order of the state. At a later date he was granted permission by the courts to live temporarily at his old home. Rachel was born April 25, 1762 in Pownal, Vermont and died February 28, 1828 in Jay, New York. Joshua took his oath of fidelity for the patriot cause in 1779 while in Newtown. After 1790, Joshua and his family moved from Sandgate, Vermont to Salem, New York and was recorded there in the 1800 federal census. By 1803 he had settled in Jay, New York as a farmer. During the War of 1812 with Great Britain, Joshua enlisted into the New York militia August 1, 1813 and was assigned as a private to Captain Jethro Bonney’s company of Exempts in Major Reuben Sanford’s Regiment, under the command of Colonel Henry Ross. This regiment was said to have drilled in the present day town square of Jay. No records have been found to this date indicating his length of service or his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh, New York in 1814. There could have been a chance that he was released from his duties due to age, sickness or maybe family obligations. Joshua became a member of the First Baptist Church of Jay before 1815. During a church meeting on April 13, 1815, accusations were brought against Joshua by Polly Wardner that Joshua upheld his family in a matter concerning his boys stealing. Counter accusations were made against Polly that she was making such charges on hearsay and that she was failing to tell the truth. Joshua later rescinded his charges and the church felt it was his duty to confess to the church members and to Polly Wardner. Unfortunately, they were not satisfied with his confession and it was agreed that his hand be removed from fellowship. He was officially excluded from the church on Thursday, June 29, 1815. Poly Wardner was also excluded. After several attempts, Joshua was again added in 1827. Some records also indicate that he may have been a member of the United Methodist Church. After the death of Rachel, his wife, he lived with his son-in-law and daughter, Stephen and Polly (Peck) Smith, until his death in 1849 at the age of 93. The area in Jay where many of Joshua’s descendants spent most of their lives became known as Peck Hill. Today, this area is on Route 86 between Route 9N and the Town of Wilmington.”96

In the 1790 Federal Census (Heads of Households), there is a Joshua Peck in the Albany County town of Ballstown (no idea how far that went then), with 3 free white males 16 and over, 1 under 16, and 3 free white females.244 In the same town were Ruben, Joshua Jr., and John.

In the 1820 Federal Census of New York, he appears in the Town of Jay, Essex County. He had 1 male under 10 years, 1 aged 26-45, one 45 and up. He had one female aged 16-26, and one aged 45 and over. Two persons were engaged in agriculture.245