Notes |
- Elizabeth Peek was probably born circa 1755, location unknown. Nothing
is known of her early life or whereabouts.
Around 1775, she married Francis Gillespie of Cheraws District,
SC. One would assume either that the Peek and Gillespie families lived
near one another, or that Francis met his bride while traveling on
business, or visiting relatives. Since he was a member of the
Committees of Correspondence prior to the Revolution, it is
conceivable that he might have visited Boston, and met his bride
there. But it seems more likely that she was related to other Peeks in
the general area, who seem to have come from Virginia.
She and her daughters, and their husbands, are found in records with
Daniel Peek, who appears to have been Elizabeth's brother. Daniel Peek
died in Richland District, SC, in 1807, and Elizabeth's sons-in-law,
John Culpepper and John Slappey, were administrators of his estate. In
1790, he was noted in Lancaster County SC deed records with Robert
Down and William Tate, witnessing a deed of gift of four lots in the
town of Camden from John Chesnut of Camden to Chesnut's daughter, Mary
McRae ,the wife of Duncan McRae. John Chesnut was one of the leading
merchants in Kershaw Co. SC.
Daniel Peek apparently lived in or near Camden in Kershaw Co., SC
since he was mentioned several times in the Minutes of the Kershaw
County Court. On March 5, 1792 Daniel was appointed as overseer of a
road which ran south/southwest out of Camden across Town Creek. An
1825 map of the county from the Mills' Atlas of the State of South
Carolina shows that Chestnut's and McRae's were still living along the
river near this road. In August of 1794 Daniel Peek served on a Grand
Jury, indicating that he was someone of means in the county, since
Grand Jurors were selected from those who paid the highest taxes.
Based on the Minutes of the Kershaw County Court, Daniel continued to
serve as an overseer of roads at least until 1797. Sometime after 1800
he moved to Richland District SC, where his estate was probated in
1807. Daniel Peek's personal estate included 15 slaves, nine horses,
34 head of cattle and nearly 50 hogs. He had various farm implements
and household items, plus a canoe and a safe. John Culpepper and John
Slappey, the husbands of Elizabeth (Peek) Gillespie's daughters, Nancy
and Betsey, were named administrators of the estate which required a
$20,000 administration bond. Buyers at the estate included John
Culpepper, who bought a shotgun and a pickle tub, John Slappey, who
bought a horse and horseman's sword, and Elizabeth (Peek) Gillespie,
who bought horses and farm implements. Elizabeth had moved to Richland
District from Cheraws District after her husband Francis' death.
Daniel O'Guin, Thomas Watts, and William Gupphill, the three
appraisers of the estate, were also buyers. Although it is tempting to
think that Daniel was Mrs. Francis (Elizabeth Peek) Gillespie's
father, the fact that he was active at least until the late 1790's
suggests a younger man. Elizabeth's father would probably have been in
his late 70's or mid-80's by that time. Daniel was probably
Elizabeth's brother. A Lewis Peak was noted as a witness of the will
of Enoch Linerieux of Craven Co., SC who died April 24, 1778. His
relation to Daniel and Elizabeth is not known but he is noted since
John and Nancy (Gillespie) Culpepper named one of their sons Lewis
Peek Culpepper.
Elizabeth and Daniel may have been related to Abel Peek, born 1765 in
Virginia. Among Abel's children were Louis Peek, Elizabeth Peek, and
Daniel Peek. Abel moved to Franklin County, GA, but may have been in
SC in the 1790's.
Nancy (Gillespie) Culpepper's mother, "Elizabeth Gillespie of the
District of Richland" was also noted in a Marlborough District deed in
1806 selling 133+ acres of land to William Wright who had apparently
been renting the land since the deed notes that he was purchasing land
where he "now lives." The land was on the northeast side of the Pee
Dee River and was bounded on the southeast by John Wilson's land and
on all other sides by James Gillespie's land. Elizabeth (Peek)
Gillespie died in Richland District sometime after the February 1808
estate sale, but no record of her death has been found. Francis
and Elizabeth (Peek) Gillespie's daughter, Nancy, was apparently able
to read and write. No doubt both Nancy and her sister, "Betsey," had
attended the school funded by the St. David's Society which their
father had supported.
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