SECOND GENERATION

6. Francis Peake Sr. ⁽²⁾⁽¹⁾ was born on 4 Feb 1764 in St. Mary's County, Maryland. He died on 1 Mar 1846. He was buried in St. Rose Priery, Springfield, Ky. Imigrated to Kentucky (Nelson County) with his brother John Kenelm around
1785.

He emigrated to Nelson County around 1785 with the League of Catholic
Families.

Francis first appears in the Kentucky tax rolls in 1790, where he is listed as residing in Captain Proctor Ballard's militia district. His name, with variant spellings, continues to appear in the published tax lists, which were available up to 1796. The 1792 tax list shows his farm
at 50 acres with one horse and five head of cattle. By 1796 his livestock had grown to three horses and six head of cattle, but his farm size did not increase. He owned no slaves.

Court records show that the Peakes were closely involved with the affairs of the French, Norris, and Medcalf families. In 1793, when Joseph French married Mary Norris, daughter of Rodolph Norris, Francis Peake acted as surety for the license, and he and Ignatius French witnessed the marriage. Ignatius French was later married to Kenelm's daughter Mary
Peake in 1809. When Francis married his second wife Bibiana Norris, also a daughter of Rodolph and Dorothy Norris, on February 14, 1800, Joseph French and Ignatius Medcalf acted as witnesses. Then in 1805, when Enoch Norris and Ann French were married, Francis Peake stood surety for the license. Kenelm Peake's will was witnessed by Ignatius French and James Medcalf, from whom he rented land. Rodolph Norris' will was witnessed by Ignatius Medcalf and Ignatius French. Both wills were probated on the same day, Feb. 21, 1814. Also, George Medcalf provided surety when Henrietta Peake, widow of Kenelm Peake's son Edward, was married to James Carrico in 1828.

Rodolph Norris, the son of Thomas Norris and Jane Greenwell, was one of the 60 listed members of the League of Catholic families, of which Francis Peake was also a member. Rodolph's daughter Bibiana Norris Peake, the second wife of Francis Peake, may have been born outside St. Mary's County, as her birth is not listed in the records of either St. Francis Xavier or St. Andrew's Church. The births of three other children of Rodolph and Dorothy Norris, Mary Ann (b. Apr. 22, 1768), Mary (bap. Aug. 25, 1771) and Thomas (bap. June 27, 1773) were recorded in St. Mary's County. Rodolph Norris signed the Maryland Oath of Allegiance in 1778. Two cousins of the family, Henry Elijah Norris (b. March 14, 1758) and Arnold Norris (b. June 26, 1761), sons of John Norris and Mary Howard, served in
the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. Both were drafted on July 27, 1781, at a time when heavy recruiting was taking place in Maryland and elsewhere to defend against the British army's operations in Virginia. Both were discharged in December of 1781 following the defeat of the British forces at Yorktown.

In 1805 Francis Peake increased his property by buying land from Ignatius French. He paid 50 pounds for 50 acres of land on "the waters of Pottinger's Creek". In 1815 he acquired land from David Read, and in 1820 he conveyed property to Francis Bryant.

Francis Peake died March 1, 1846, and his personal effects were sold on Mar. 20, 1846. These included bedding and furniture, a chest, a bureau, a saddle, saddle blanket and bridle, a table and chair, a small trunk, and a bay mare. Final settlement of the estate took place Dec. 11, 1848. His son Francis was administrator for the estate.

He was married to Susanna Ellison on 9 Jan 1817. Susanna Ellison^{(2) (1)} died on 31 Aug 1826. Francis Peake Sr. and Susanna Ellison had the following children:

+18 i. Benjamine J. Peak.
+19 ii. James Edward Peake.

He was married to Bibiana Norris on 14 Feb 1800. Bibiana Norris ⁽²⁾⁽¹⁾ died in 1816. Francis Peake Sr. and Bibiana Norris had the following children:

+20 i. Thomas Peak.
+21 ii. Francis Peake Jr..
+22 iii. Catherine Peake.
+23 iv. William Peake.

He was married to Mary Boone French in 1828. Francis Peake Sr. and Mary Boone French had the following children:

+24 i. Mildred (Milly) Peake.

Francis Peake Sr. and Unknown had the following children:

+25 i. Eleanor Peak.