(18 June 1880- 8 Oct. 1950), miller and magistrate. Born at Rosetta, Ont. Parents: Matthew Peacock and his wife Christena Stewart. William Peacock, described as being from Perth, Ont., arrived in Alexandria in March 1903 to take over the position of assistant miller in the Glengarry Roller Mill. (Glengarry News 27 March 1903) This was the celebrated town mill of Alexandria situated in Mill Square and it was owned at that time by a business group headed by A. W. McDougald. In 1914, Peacock was appointed police magistrate of Alexandria. (GN 10 April 1914) He held this position along with his employment in the mill, presumably till he left Alexandria 13 years later. In 1927, William Peacock and his family left for Almonte, Ont. where he was to take up the position of chief of police. He was described at this time as having been for 23 years “head miller” in the mill at Alexandria. (Cornwall Standard 8 Sept. 1927, GN 9 Sept. 1927) In Sept. 1930 it was reported that he had resigned as chief constable of Almonte and was returning to Alexandria to manage the mill there. (GN 12 Sept. 1930, Cornwall Standard 18 Sept. 1930) However, it does not appear that he did return to Alexandria at this time. He died at Almonte, Ont., at the home of his brother George. Burial was at Rosetta, Ont. He was married in April 1902 to Phoebe Jane Stead (1879-1948) of Lanark, Ont. (three children) He is reported to have been a relative of Sir Edward Peacock. See also John F. McGregor for the Alexandria mill.
Glengarry News 20 Oct. 1950 * private information * sentences offenders, e.g., Cornwall Standard 9 Aug. 1923 * correspondence, GN late 1918 and early 1919, in which Peacock defends his policies as police magistrate * buys house in Alexandria, GN 31 May 1907