William Peacock spent his young life in Newburgh NY, before his family moved to a farm in Geneva NY. He came to Batavia NY in 1803. He intended to continue on to New Orleans. Instead, Joseph Ellicott convinced Peacock to remain and act as a surveyor for the Holland Land Company. He had a hand in helping to plan the cities of New Amsterdam and Buffalo. Mentioned in 18380325BJS_WHS "Tell the young ladies that I have done all I could to send Mr Peacock to Batavia , ever since I came home." And in 18371006BJS_WHS "He states that he is able to show the continued recognition of his contract by Peacock after it had run out. & that under it he had erected a building at Peacocks request."