Community News
Who Was Jedediah Peck?
How To Submit
Contributed by village of Richfield Springs historian-Harriet Geywits
Born January 28, 1747 in Lyme, Connecticut, he was one of thirteen children, the
fourth son of Elijah and Hopsibah Pearson Peck. He had a limited formal education
at a country grammar school but taught himself by reading the Bible many times
over. He was a mariner at the age of about 23, returning from a sea voyage to learn
that his parents, three brothers and a sister had died. Being extremely depressed, he
began a journal which he kept the rest of his life, providing an historical treasure for
future generations. He married his first cousin, Tabitha Ely in 1772. Their family
included seven children. Jedediah served for four years during the Revolutionary
War in the 1st Co. 6th Connecticut Regiment. By 1790 he and family had moved to
the wilderness of what was to become the Town of Burlington, Otsego County, New
York. He had a varied career, working as a farmer, surveyor, millwright, studied law
and was appointed as a judge, wrote political tracts and conducted religious services
on request. Jedediah was described as an awkward figure with his “drawling, nasal,
Yankee twang” and his saddle-bags filled with political papers and scraps. On
many of his political articles for the public papers he used the signature of Jedediah
Peck “The Plow Jogger”.
Peck was elected to the New York Assembly as a strong anti-Federalist and in 1798
was arrested by order of Judge William Cooper who was an ardent Federalist. Peck
had circulated a petition against the Alien and Sedition Acts which were designed to
curb criticism of the government. Following his arrest, he was taken in irons to be
tried in New York City. The spectacle of the martyred war hero being transported in
chains only served to help his cause. He was soon released without trial. Jedediah
also served in the New York State Legislature for eleven years. Other political
service included his judgeship at the Court of common Pleas in Otsego County and
an elected member of the General Assembly from Otsego County from 1795 until
1804 when he was elected as a State Senator.
Perhaps his most important contribution to the State came after he retired when he
was asked to chair a five man commission to study the problem of public school
education. Jedediah, while serving in the State Assembly, had sponsored bills to
establish common schools in the state. Each resolution had been rejected, but this
committee’s report became the foundation for the New York State educational
system and in 1812, became law. Jedediah also introduced a bill for the abolition of
imprisonment for debt which later became a law.
There are several tributes to him throughout the county. Have you noticed the New
York State Historical Marker within our Village? It states: Tunnicliff Mill - Built
1791 by Jedediah Peck who “would survey your farm in the forenoon, preach a
funeral sermon in afternoon and talk politics all the week”.
To send information
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Springfield Historical Society News
Springfield Historical Society member and volunteer, Dennis
Dorn and his brother Matthew Dorn, begin work on the stage
in the Springfield Community Center. They will be doing the
electrical work.
The Community Center, located on 29A in Springfield
Center, houses the Springfield Historical Society which is
expanding onto the stage for additional storage.
“Beginning this construction will give us some much needed
storage and workspace,” states Maureen Culbert, vice
president. “Our collection continues to grow and in order to
preserve and protect it, as well as provide the best way to
display the items, we needed more space, and this will go a
long way toward that effort.” (Photo by Maureen Culbert).
You
Can
Count
On It!
RSCS AM Pre-K
students are
learning to put
numbers in order
and count to 30.
(photo provided)
Bruce Watson primarily
covers fun stuff and
happenings in the Richfield
Springs Community. If you
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