Little is known by this author about Lydia "Liddie" Smith Peck; contributions from family are welcome. Lydia grew up in New York City, Manhattan, marrying John D. Peck before 1852. They quickly had two children, Gilbert A. and William Peck, while sharing a two family townhouse on what is now the Lower East Side with her parents, Gilbert and Jane Burt Smith. The family was neither wealthy nor poor, but by New York standards was respectably middle class. Lydia and her mother were aided in the housework by a live-in domestic servant.
After Lydia's mother died in 1856, the family went into farming, living first in Springfield, Otsego Co., NY on a rented farm near Peck relatives and then owning a farm in Westfield, Richmond Co. NY (Staten Island). At this point there were then six children, including John D. Peck Jr., Charles S., Emma Jane, and Charlotte. John D. was assisted by a farm laborer. Before 1880, the family moved to a townhouse in Brooklyn on Carroll Street where they lived with Jane's retired father, their seven children, one domestic servant and one boarder, an apprentice in the New York button factory managed by Lydia's husband. The last surviving child was Edward born in 1871.
Lydia is listed as "housekeeping" in all censuses, which at the time was the census description for the wife of the male head of household, regardless of her activities. Housekeeping however was a full-time job, not by choice but by necessity, even with household help, that was made more difficult carrying, bearing and raising several children. There was no electricity, limited indoor plumbing, no refrigeration, no washing machine and no automobile. Coal stoves were used and a trip to the market was a daily requirement. Most women's and girl's clothing was homemade. Keeping a good household running and serving all family needs involved considerable physical labor as well as careful planning and discipline. Lydia died in 1896 a week short of her 65th birthday.
Lydia purchased this family plot at her father's death. She moved her mother's grave to the site, also adding John D. Sr's parents. All other occupants of the plot are descendants of Lydia and John D. Peck, their spouses and children.
After Lydia's mother died in 1856, the family went into farming, living first in Springfield, Otsego Co., NY on a rented farm near Peck relatives and then owning a farm in Westfield, Richmond Co. NY (Staten Island). At this point there were then six children, including John D. Peck Jr., Charles S., Emma Jane, and Charlotte. John D. was assisted by a farm laborer. Before 1880, the family moved to a townhouse in Brooklyn on Carroll Street where they lived with Jane's retired father, their seven children, one domestic servant and one boarder, an apprentice in the New York button factory managed by Lydia's husband. The last surviving child was Edward born in 1871.
Lydia is listed as "housekeeping" in all censuses, which at the time was the census description for the wife of the male head of household, regardless of her activities. Housekeeping however was a full-time job, not by choice but by necessity, even with household help, that was made more difficult carrying, bearing and raising several children. There was no electricity, limited indoor plumbing, no refrigeration, no washing machine and no automobile. Coal stoves were used and a trip to the market was a daily requirement. Most women's and girl's clothing was homemade. Keeping a good household running and serving all family needs involved considerable physical labor as well as careful planning and discipline. Lydia died in 1896 a week short of her 65th birthday.
Lydia purchased this family plot at her father's death. She moved her mother's grave to the site, also adding John D. Sr's parents. All other occupants of the plot are descendants of Lydia and John D. Peck, their spouses and children.
Little is known by this author about Lydia "Liddie" Smith Peck; contributions from family are welcome. Lydia grew up in New York City, Manhattan, marrying John D. Peck before 1852. They quickly had two children, Gilbert A. and William Peck, while sharing a two family townhouse on what is now the Lower East Side with her parents, Gilbert and Jane Burt Smith. The family was neither wealthy nor poor, but by New York standards was respectably middle class. Lydia and her mother were aided in the housework by a live-in domestic servant.
After Lydia's mother died in 1856, the family went into farming, living first in Springfield, Otsego Co., NY on a rented farm near Peck relatives and then owning a farm in Westfield, Richmond Co. NY (Staten Island). At this point there were then six children, including John D. Peck Jr., Charles S., Emma Jane, and Charlotte. John D. was assisted by a farm laborer. Before 1880, the family moved to a townhouse in Brooklyn on Carroll Street where they lived with Jane's retired father, their seven children, one domestic servant and one boarder, an apprentice in the New York button factory managed by Lydia's husband. The last surviving child was Edward born in 1871.
Lydia is listed as "housekeeping" in all censuses, which at the time was the census description for the wife of the male head of household, regardless of her activities. Housekeeping however was a full-time job, not by choice but by necessity, even with household help, that was made more difficult carrying, bearing and raising several children. There was no electricity, limited indoor plumbing, no refrigeration, no washing machine and no automobile. Coal stoves were used and a trip to the market was a daily requirement. Most women's and girl's clothing was homemade. Keeping a good household running and serving all family needs involved considerable physical labor as well as careful planning and discipline. Lydia died in 1896 a week short of her 65th birthday.
Lydia purchased this family plot at her father's death. She moved her mother's grave to the site, also adding John D. Sr's parents. All other occupants of the plot are descendants of Lydia and John D. Peck, their spouses and children.
After Lydia's mother died in 1856, the family went into farming, living first in Springfield, Otsego Co., NY on a rented farm near Peck relatives and then owning a farm in Westfield, Richmond Co. NY (Staten Island). At this point there were then six children, including John D. Peck Jr., Charles S., Emma Jane, and Charlotte. John D. was assisted by a farm laborer. Before 1880, the family moved to a townhouse in Brooklyn on Carroll Street where they lived with Jane's retired father, their seven children, one domestic servant and one boarder, an apprentice in the New York button factory managed by Lydia's husband. The last surviving child was Edward born in 1871.
Lydia is listed as "housekeeping" in all censuses, which at the time was the census description for the wife of the male head of household, regardless of her activities. Housekeeping however was a full-time job, not by choice but by necessity, even with household help, that was made more difficult carrying, bearing and raising several children. There was no electricity, limited indoor plumbing, no refrigeration, no washing machine and no automobile. Coal stoves were used and a trip to the market was a daily requirement. Most women's and girl's clothing was homemade. Keeping a good household running and serving all family needs involved considerable physical labor as well as careful planning and discipline. Lydia died in 1896 a week short of her 65th birthday.
Lydia purchased this family plot at her father's death. She moved her mother's grave to the site, also adding John D. Sr's parents. All other occupants of the plot are descendants of Lydia and John D. Peck, their spouses and children.
Inscription
The marker transcription appears below the photo of the gravestone for Lydia & John D Peck found using the "photo" tab above.
Family Members
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