| Notes |
- THOMAS PECK was born around 1803 on Norfolk Island. He was involved in the sheep stealing episode with his father and 2 brothers in 1821. At some stage he worked for the Australian Agriculture Company at Port Stephens and it was here he met Elizabeth Cromarty, probably in the early 1830's. They were married in October 1833 and had 4 children when they left for Tasmania in October 1842 where a further 6 children were born.
Thomas acquired a number of farms in the St Leonards & White Hills area and also owned some terraces houses in Bathurst Street, Launceston. He also built a stone building in the middle of the village of White Hills with the intention of operating it as a hotel, but it was never licensed.
Thomas was again in trouble with the law in 1883 when he was charged with unlawfully opening the family vault at St Leonards and unlawfully and indecently taking the bodies out of the coffins in which they were enclosed.
In his defence, Thomas stated that whilst the vault was open during the burial of his daughter, Ellen Louisa Schofield, he noticed that 2 of the coffins were in a very bad condition and he decided to replace them. In his judgment his honour said that it was laid down that the act of disinterring a body without proper authority was a misdemeanour at common law. However, as there was no intentional wrong, justice would be satisfied by binding over the accused to appear when called upon. Bail was fixed at £100 and the accused was allowed to leave the dock.
Thomas Peck died in July 1889.
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1801 - 1886 (85 years)
