Peacockstown 1250
A skiff, value 40 shillings, owner unknown, came ashore at Laytown, Co Meath, on May 26th, 1523, and Walter Estate of Dublin, merchant, took it away, by what right the jurors do want to know. This report was heard by the Barons of the Exchequer, no doubt informed by the local Meathmen. Was this inspired by the "culchie" view of the "Jackeen"? Or was that healthy rivalry that exists today between Dublin men and Meath men there in the early 16th century? One of the jurors at the hearing was Robert Pecoke. Was he from Peacockstown, a townland in the Co Meath parish of Ratoath, wherein also lies Laytown?
This English surname, found in Co Meath since the beginning of the 15th century, has been gaelicised Peacog. Similar to Sparrow, Pigeon, Thrush, and Crow(e), Peacock is also a "bird" name. It was conferred on a person of flamboyance, or arrogance, or possibly for winning the peacock-prize in athletics.
In 1474 Robert Pecoke of Howth, Co Dublin, was listed in a will as owing 14 shillings, and David Peckod was one of eight clerks who was granted English liberty in 1552. In 1597, Robert Peacock was granted the office of keeper of the seal of the Courts of Common Pleas "to hold during good behaviour, with usual fees".
Pursuant to an Act of September 23, 1653, Laurence Peacock, an adventurer, was granted 179 acres in south Co Tipperary, in the area north of a line between Clonmel and Kilsheelan. The census of 1659 lists William Peacock as titulado of Dunmoylan, and Robert Peacock titulado of Graigue in the parish of Adare, both in Co Limerick.
A George Peacock was at Barntick in the Co Clare parish of Clareabbey as early as 1716, and Sir Nathaniel Peacocke, Rice Peacocke, and the Rev William Peacocke were here in 1813. In 1798, Joseph Peacocke was High Provost for the Town and Borrough of Ennis, Co Clare, and he had been "elevated" to Sir Joseph when he listed again as being High Provost in 1806. He was awarded a premium in 1793 for planting oak but it was reported that this was subsequently destroyed by cattle.
Pass, the location of the Peacock Esq. residence on Taylor & Skinners Map of the Roads of Ire- land (1778), is a townland in the Co Clare parish of Killeely. The 1814 directory returns us to Co Limerick where the Peacock residence was at Fortetna in the parish of Killonahan.
The second Peacock in this 1814 directory was at Dunfin, Co Antrim, bringing to our notice that this surname also belongs in Ulster. Does Peacockbank, in the Co Tyrone parish of Urney, contain this surname? We cannot say if Captain George Peacock of the Guards, who took part in the attack on Antrim town in June 1798, was an "Irish" or an "English" Peacock, or Anthony Peacocke, who took office as Inspector General of the RUC in February 1969, to be replaced in October of that same year.
Owners of Land of One Acre and Upwards (1876) shows Charles H. Peacocke, Belmont, Co Wexford, with 184 acres; in Co Clare John Peacocke Derryfadda, had 38 acres, and William, Kilrush, had a single acre; in Co Cork Price Peacock, Limerick, had 561 acres, and in the same county Mary Peacock, Bray, had 128 acres.
There were three Peacocke holdings in Co Limerick: 33 acres of Thomas G. Paris; 647 acres of G.F., Bride Street, Dublin; and 12 acres in the hands of the representative of Rev Price Peacocke, Limerick. Was this the same Price with the holding in Co Cork?
Northern Ireland's phone book contains over 60 Peacock entries (largely without the terminal "e", while south of the Border there are 35 entries - again largely without the "e". Apart from one in Limerick, the rest are in Leinster.
And the scorer of the goal which recently helped Laois hurling team defeat Wexford, for the first time since 1985, was none other than P. J. Peacock.