George Peacock diary

George Peacock (1822-1878)

L. Tom Perry Special Collections is pleased to announce the availability of a new digitized collection: George Peacock diary (MSS 1228). In this handwritten diary, Peacock writes about his mission for the Mormon Church in Scotland, his work as a judge and postmaster, and his life in Sanpete County, Utah. He also relates many incidents of the Black Hawk War in Utah. There are many gaps in the record.

George Daniel Peacock was born on July 30, 1822 in Hutton, Yorkshire, England to Daniel Peacock and Mary Noddings. The family removed to Canada, where Daniel Peacock died in 1831. Mary then married John Clark, and in 1837, the family removed to the United States, locating in Missouri. The next year they went to Iowa, where George, afterward known as “Judge Peacock,” married Sarah Lowry April 14, 1840. In July of that year George was baptized in the Mormon Church and went to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he volunteered as a guard to the prophet Joseph Smith. In 1846 he left with the Saints and assisted in building the first ferry boat to cross the Missouri River at Council Bluffs. He came to Utah in 1850 and located at Manti.

George Peacock served as Probate Judge and a member of the Territorial Legislature. He was the first postmaster. He served a mission to England and Scotland and was adjutant of the Sanpete military district during the Black Hawk war. He had three wives: Sarah, Mary and Sarah Belle, and left twenty-nine children.

On September 29, 1878, George Daniel Peacock died in Manti, Utah.