James Peacock was a Machinist and Draper and a member of the Bible Christian Church.
He was born in Salford in 1822. In 1845 he married Anne Strettles, the daughter of Rev John Booth Strettles, Minister of the Bible Christian Church, (who used to preach when Joseph Brotherton was in London, engaged in his Parliamentary business). They had one daughter Mary Alice (born 1853 in Newton le Willows), who married James Albert Bostock, (who was to die in Melbourne, Australia in 1880). The 1881 census has James and Anne at 97 Liverpool Road South, Birkdale. He was 58 and a retired Machinist and Draper and Anne was 62. Their daughter Mary Alice was with them and she was aged 27 and a Teacher of Music. Also at the house was Anne's sister Mary Bennett (nee Strettles) aged 60, born in Salford and a retired Dressmaker.
The Salford Reporter of 1st March 1890 records, "On Saturday (22nd February 1890), the remains of the late Mr James Peacock of Birkdale, Southport were interred at the Salford Cemetery. He was the eldest of three brothers of a family long connected with Salford. His brother John, who was a Solicitor died very recently and the other brother, who held a high position in the Manchester Corporation service, died a few weeks ago. Mr Peacock married Miss Strettles, daughter of the Rev J.B. Strettles, formerly minister of the Bible Christian Church, Cross Lane, by whom he leaves an only daughter. For a long period he was employed at Mr Hulse's in Regent Road and took a prominent part in politics as a pronounced Liberal. From childhood he was connected with the Bible Christian Church and faithfully observed its discipline of abstinence from animal food and intoxicating liquors. He was zealous in the cause of education as well as in Liberalism; and was himself a remarkable instance of an educated workman whose instincts were refined and elevated.
About 11 years ago he retired from business and has since lived at Birkdale, cultivating fruits and flowers with great interest, but also taking a leading part in political and social questions. His two sisters Mrs Ann Jacques and Mrs Jane Clark were with the widow and her daughter (Mrs Mary Alice Bostock) at the funeral, as were other relatives and many friends." James was interred in plot A5 of the Dissenters portion and the service was conducted by Rev James Clark of the Bible Christian Church. James Peacock was 67 years of age.