Nathaniel and Mather Peck, Revolutionary War Patriots

Nathaniel Peck (1723-1780), my fifth great grandfather, was a teamster, landowner, and a fifer from Lyme, Connecticut, who fought in the Revolution as a member of Captain Joseph Hubby's Company in Colonel John Mead's Company Regiment.

His parents were Joseph Peck and Susannah Griffin, both from historical colonial families.  The Peck family had been native to Hartford Connecticut since the mid 1600's, and had been in Lyme since the late 1600's, originally stemming from London, England.  Susannah had been born on Long Island, but her father was Jasper Griffing of Lyme, Connecticut, who had also lived in Marblehead, Massachusetts, but was of uncertain origin prior to 1648.

Nathaniel married Lucy Mather in 1744.  Lucy's family had been in Lyme since around 1660.  Her great grandfather, Samuel Mather, had emigrated from Liverpool around 1640, and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  His son, Richard Mather, had moved west to Lyme around 1660.

GRAVE OF NATHANIEL PECK
DUCK RIVER CEMETERY
OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT

The newspaper published the following concerning Nathaniel's death:

Connecticut Gazette 20 Jul 1781

To Be Sold at Public Vendue

For Hard Money
The estate of Nathaniel Peck,
Late of Lyme deceas'd, confisting of one Tract
of Land of about 50 Acres with a Manfion House
and Barn thereon, in first Society of Lyme
and is well fituated for Trading or Tavernkeep-
ing. Also 40 Acres of Wood Land near adjoin-
ing the Abovefaid 50 Acres. Alfo a fmall Par-
cel of moveable Eftate. The Sale to be at the
Manfion House aforefaid, on the 14th day of
August next.
Mather Peck, Execeutor
Lyme, July 11, 1781 

 ***

Nathaniel and Lucy's son, Mather Peck, (1749-1823) also fought in the Revolution as a private in Lieutenant Colonel Hail's Co of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment commanded by Col. Quebulon Butler.

He was married three times, to Esther Coult, Rhuhama Howell, and Azubah Watrous. His first wife, Esther, was daughter to John Coult, also a Revolutionary soldier from Lyme...and my sixth great grandfather.

Nathaniel and Esther's son, Esther Peck, was my 4th great grandmother. She married Niles Phelps, son to Samuel Phelps, also a Revolutionary patriot from Lyme. Esther and Niles were great grandparents to Niles Martin Clark.

Mather was simply found dead in his bed one summer morning, of no apparent illness, at age 74. He and his family are also buried at Duck River Cemetery.

GRAVE OF MATHER PECK
DUCK RIVER CEMETERY
OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT

John Coult, Revolutionary War Patriot

GRAVE OF JOHN COULT
DUCK RIVER CEMETERY
OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT

John Coult (1725-1784), Revolutionary War soldier, was my sixth great grandfather, and an ancestor to my Connecticut Clark family.  His father was Deacon Benjamin Coult, of the Hartford Coults, who had been there since the 1630s...yet I cannot find the colonial migrant ancestor yet (he may be descended from one of the Colture or Coltman colonists).  John's mother was Miriam Harris, whose grandfather Daniel Harris migrated from Gloucestershire, England in the late 1600s.

According to Sons of the American Revolution applications and the Connecticut Military Archives, he was enlisted as a Marine under Captain Hall with 100 men, on September 18, 1775 and was in service for three months.  He also was listed as a conductor of teams for transporting supplies from Connecticut to the Continental Army from 1779 to 1781.

His grave, however, mentions the Lexington Alarm, which was part of the Powder Alarms of the first battle of the Revolution, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and he apparently loaned money to the Continental Congress. He married his 2nd cousin, Mary Lord. He is buried in Duck River Cemetery in Lyme, CT. 

His entire family were veterans.  His grandfather was army Captain John Coult (1658-1751).  His son, Dr. Amherst Coult, also fought in the Revolution in the 6th Connecticut Regiment, and had enlisted four times total.  Amherst had commanded a post on the Connecticut River.  His other sons, John Jr. and Gardiner, served as a Captain in the Revolution and a Seaman, respectively.  He had a brother, Harris who was a Captain, and a nephew, Peter, who was Commisary of the Eastern Dept.

His daughter Esther Coult was my fifth great grandmother.  She married Mather Peck, also a Revolutionary War patriot.

John Coult’s page on Daughters of American Revolution website