Misc. Notes
His dates are a mess. From Jos. Peck, 1/6/2000: “Rueben Peck. Checked census and found the following:
1855 age 5 (birth year 1850)
1860 age 9 (birth year 1851)
1879 age 32 as per pension records (birth year 1847)
1891 age 44 " " " " (birth year 1847)
1892 age 42 (birth year 1850)
1900 age 54 (birth year July 1846)
Conclusion, I would go with the younger census ages in 1855 and 60. He enlisted in the military in 1865 and probably lied about his age. That is why when he applied for his pension, he added to his age by at least 4 or 5 years so I am going with the birth date of July 1850.
Cynthia Alenia Holiday was born June 22, 1840 in Wilmington, N.Y. She is the daughter of Alvin Holliday (Halladay) and Rebecca Lewis.”
In the 1880 census for North Elba, there is Ruben Peck, WM24, servant, married, works sawmill.
Also in this house is Edward, WM 14, servant. They’re in the house of the Thew family. Dates don’t quite work with Jos. Peck’s dates. If he was born in 1850, his mother’s dates are definitely wrong. Or perhaps there were two Reuben Pecks and I’ve got them messed up.
24Also, in 1900 he reported having been married 23 years. This must be a cumulative figure.
In the 1900 census, Reuben gives a birthdate of July 1846, age 53; he reports he has been married 23 years. He and his parents were born in New York. He is a day laborer who was unemployed 7 months out of the previous year. He could not read or write, but owned his house with a mortage.
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