One Thousand Years of Peck History

About the Book

By the first century AD, a  nomadic peoples of the Mongolians were evident in eastern Europe. Nordic elements were witnessed from the Caspian-Pamir region.  At this time, there was no further push westward by the Finns, a root people of the  mongalians.  It wasn’t until the fourth century, that a westward movement began by those who became known as the Finns.

The Finno-Ugric language is derived from a people, extending from Norway into the environs of the Ob River in Siberia.  It also extends into the Carpathian basin.  The ancient people of this language were surrounded by tribes of people who spoke German, Slovak, and Turkish tongues.  The vocabulary of the Finno-Ugric people is derived from Lithuanian, Russian, and ancient Germanic languages.

Oppland, which we will read about in this document, was located in the south central area of Norway. It was from Oppland, that the Vikings, or Scandinavians migrated to France, becoming Normans, and finally tking possession of Britain.   

Keep in mind, though this is my family line from 165 AD, there are lines which branch out that may be picked up, and researched for many additional Peck families.  The earliest records, contained herein, are generic to most of the Peck Lines.  However, as the family grew in number, so did the branches.  Especially, as we approach the time of splitting from England in the 17^th century..

Not everyone will agree with the conclusions drawn herewith, but for me, it is an academic and historical attempt to link the present with the past.  Thus, my gratitude is extended to all who helped so graciously with this enormous task.

Please read the enclosed information, with a historical mind of connecting your life with those of  past generations.  A line of people who actually, or subliminally have contributed to who you are today.  A family who has had lodged within it, Christians, pastors, archdeacons, bishops, community leaders, and royalty.  So who are the Pecks?

About the Author

The Reverend Doctor Robert W. Peck, is a member of the historical Peck family of Hartford, Connecticut He was born in Poultney, Vermont, April 1938 just a few miles from the home of Horace Greeley, who made famous the saying, “Go west young man, go west.”  He and his family lived on Lake Bomoseen, Castleton, Vermont, where he remained until he left Vermont in 1960. Educated at local schools, he graduated with a BS degree in history, from the Castleton State College, of Castleton, Vermont.  He then moved to Chicago, Illinois where he attended two seminaries, first Northern, from which he received his Th.M. degree, then to MacCormick Seminary for additional studies. He later receiving his Th.D. degree from Trinity Seminary in southern India.

Robert has pastored Presbyterian churches in Chicago, Ohio, and New York. Now retired, he serves as Interim Pastor in Buffalo, New York. He has over the years served the church in various capacities beyond the local parish.

For more than four decades, Robert has enjoyed being involved in family research. Having completed his family of Peck research, he continues to focus on researching the genealogical lives of four family lines This type of research is what keeps his mind and lifr full of energy, and brings meaning to his life. Many of us recall the movie “Roots,” that movie embraces the central heart of what family research is all about. Who are we, where did we come from, and what were our ancestors involved in, when it comes to their communities and homelands?

Rev. Peck now resides in North Tonawanda, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. He has a daughter in the southern section of western New York, a daughter in North Carolina, and a son in Vermont. He hopes that his years of research will assist others who have struggled with sections of the Peck family, and/or challenge others to pick up the excitement of family search, and become a genealogist.