Anthony (Pearse) Peirce
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Anthony (Pearse) Peirce (1611 - 1678)

Anthony Peirce formerly Pearse aka Pierce, Pers, Perse
Born in Norwich, Norfolk, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , , , and
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Husband of — married 1633 in Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , and
Died at age 67 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
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Profile last modified | Created 16 Jul 2012
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The Puritan Great Migration.
Anthony (Pearse) Peirce migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 264)
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[Note: RE: Birth/Parents: TAG 85 p. 177, notes that Anderson inadvertently omitted Anthony, son of John, in the Great Migration begins. ]

[Note: Re: Children: Need probate records as follows:

Benjamin and Joseph. I have found references that indicate these sons are named in the March 14, 1682/3 estate of their mother Ann, widow of Anthony Peirce. (appears to be from Frederick C. Pierce -unreliable source) I cannot find a record of this estate, although GMVI p. 33 indicates daughters Mary Read and Judith Sawin are also mentioned in the estate division in April, 1683. NOTE: Bond also mentions Joseph and Benjamin as sons of Anthony who later lived in his homestead in Watertown.[1] Benjamin, Daniel, and John Pierce swore to the inventory of Anthony's estate.[2]


Biography

Anthony Peirce, son of John Pierce and Elizabeth (Trull) Peirce was baptized on April 8, 1611 at St, Edmund, Norfolk, England. Son Anthony was in New England by 1633, as his child Mary was born that year. [3]

Anthony's first name is torn from the baptismal record at St. Edmund's, however his parents were married in April, 1610 and their first son was baptized in April, 1611. In his father John's will, written on March 1, 1657/8 and proved on October 1, 1661, he names his 'eldest son Anthony Peirce'. [3] [4] [5]

  • 1632/3: Anthony Peirce arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts. [3]
  • 1634: September 3: He was made a Freeman. [3]

In his mother Elizabeth's will, written on March 15, 1667, she names, among others:

  • son Anthony Peirce
  • grandson John Peirce, son of Anthony
  • grandaughter Mary Peirce, daughter of Anthony
  • grandchild Judah Sawin (likely Judith, Anthony's daughter who married John Sawin Jr. in 1666) [3] [6] [7]

Anthony married Sarah Unknown in 1630 in Watertown, Massachusetts.[8] No children are listed in Watertown records for this marriage, however, it is probable that they had:

  1. John born on ___; named in his grandmother's will [6]. In his will written October 11, 1682, he left his wife Ruth (nee Bishop) 'what estate my father Anthony Pierce hath given me by will'. [9]

He married Anne Unknown in 1633 in Watertown, Massachusetts.[10] Their first child was born in December, 1633. [3] [11] They had the following children:

  1. Mary, born on December 28, 1633; married Ralph Read, son of William and Mabel Read of Woburn, by 1664. [12]
  2. Jacob, born on September 15, 1637. [11]
  3. Daniel/Danill, born on January 1, 1639/40. [11]
  4. Martha, born on April 24, 1641. [11]
  5. Judith, born on July 18, 1649; married John Sawin Jr. on February 16, 1667 [16: 12m: 1666]. [11]

Children not in Watertown vital records, but probably of Anthony (received his homestead after his death, one witnessed his inventory):

  • Joseph
  • Benjamin

Anthony died at Watertown on May 9, 1678. [3] [11]

His estate was inventoried on May 22, 1678 and submitted to the court on June 18, 1678. [2] John, Benjamin, and Daniel Pierce swore to the inventory.

Among his holdings were nine properties, including his dwelling house, barns, uplands, plain and meadows, and a 50 acre farm with an assessed value of L 184. Also were noted in addition to his household goods and furnishings were numerous bolts and yardage of cloth, L37 in cash, a Bible, 2 guns, 2 swords and ammunition. [2]

His widow Anne died there on January 20, 1682/3. [3] [11]

In the division of 'our father Anthony Pears estate' on April 9, 1683, it was noted that the 'two sisters shall have all the moveables undivided' and was signed by Ralph Read and John Sawin, husbands of Anthony's daughters, Mary and Judith. [12]

According to Bond, Benjamin and Joseph, sons of Anthony, were living at Anthony's homestead in Watertown after his death.[13]


Research Notes

personal memoirs of Worcester County, Mass Vol. III, pg 199-200, available at Memoirs.
from Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity by Crane, Ellery Bicknell
no sources given here

Anthony Peirce[14] was born about 1609, in England. About 1638, he married, as his second wife, Ann (last name Unknown), probably in Watertown. They had 5 children: Daniel, Martha, Joseph, Benjamin, and Judith. Anthony died on May 9, 1678, in Watertown[15].

Sources

  1. ↑ Henry Bond, Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massashusetts 2nd Edition, (Boston:NEHGS), p.393, image available at Bond
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Case17425: p. 1-6: Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org) images at americanancestors.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Hatcher, Patricia Law. The Peirce Family of Norwich, England and Watertown, Massachusetts in: The American Genealogist, Volume 85, New Haven, Connecticut, p. 177- 84(Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)
  4. ↑ Case 17493:p. 1-6: Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871, .Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org)
  5. ↑ Pierce, Frederick C., John Pers's Will in: Peirce Genealogy: Being the Record of the Posterity of John Pers, an Early Inhabitant of Watertown, in New England ... with Notes on the History of Other Families of Peirce, Pierce, Pearce, Etc,, Press of Charles Hamilton, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1880 p. 19
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Case 17450: p. 1-3: Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org)
  7. ↑ Pierce, Frederick C., Elizabeth Pearse's Will in: Peirce Genealogy: Being the Record of the Posterity of John Pers, an Early Inhabitant of Watertown, in New England ... with Notes on the History of Other Families of Peirce, Pierce, Pearce, Etc,, Press of Charles Hamilton, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1880 p. 20
  8. ↑ Clayton Torrence, as quoted in NEHGS. New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. image at americanancestors
  9. ↑ Case 1252: p. 1- 3: Suffolk County, MA: Probate File Papers.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org)
  10. ↑ Clayton Torrence as quoted in NEHGS. New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. image at americanancestors
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Watertown Records Comprising the First and Second Books of Town Proceedings with the Land Grants and Possession, and the First Book and Supplement of Births, Deaths and Marriages, The Historical Society, Press of Fred G. Barker, Watertown, Massachusetts, 1894. p. 3: 5: 6: 9: 15: 28: 45: 52
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Anderson, Robert C. William Read in: Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume VI, R-S, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2009 p. 33. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012.)
  13. ↑ Henry Bond, Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massashusetts 2nd Edition, (Boston:NEHGS), p.393, image available at Bond
  14. ↑ Bond, Henry, M.D Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, Including Waltham and Weston (Boston: Little, Brown & Company 1855) (Free e-book) p. 393-394
  15. ↑ Watertown Records Comprising the First and Second Books of Town Proceedings with the Land Grants and Possessions also the Proprietors' Book also the First Book and Supplement of Births Deaths and Marriage (Prepared for Publication by the Historical Society)(Watertown Mass Press of Fred G Barker 1894)(Free e-book)(Records are also available at ma-vitalrcords.org) p. 45

See also:

  • Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1648-1870 Author: Flint, James, comp
  • Source: S-1534355206 Repository: #R-1693166012 Title: Massachusetts Census, 1790-1890 Author: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
  • Source: Massachusetts Applications of Freemen, 1630-91 Author: Ancestry.com Publication: The Generations Network, In
  • Source: S-1607873637 R Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.Original data - Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010.Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenge Note: APID: 1,7486::0




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Images: 1
Old Burying Place of Watertown
Old Burying Place of Watertown


Comments: 24

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Ron Smith
Anthony Pierce Find A Grave ID# is 102455385
posted by Ron Smith
Stevens-17832 Jen (Stevens) Hutton
Thanks, Ron. That entry does not contain a photo of the gravesite so is not considered a reliable source.
posted by Jen (Stevens) Hutton
Ron Smith
Does that mean that Wikitree doesn't accept the cemetery's information? Without a headstone. How about no marker? My grandfather was buried in his father's plot as was his brother and their wifes and a grandson. With no markers. Which the cemetery gave me the information, as I knew he was buried in that cemetery.
posted by Ron Smith
Brad Stauf
Ron, it's a good question. If you have burial information from a cemetery's "Day Book" or similar documentation of a burial then of course that is acceptable as a primary source and you would state that as the source.

That is very different from a FindAGrave memorial web page that can be set up (by anybody) to honor somebody with absolutely no source and no photo. What proves that anything on that web page is correct? If the FindAGrave memorial page states that the information came from burial record #XXX or a similar document, then it is considered sourced although ideally, on a WikiTree profile, you would cite that actual source itself. We recommend when adding FindAGrave as a "See Also" or reference-type entry on a profile, including whether that memorial page has a source or a photo of a headstone.

Hopefully this answers your question.

posted by Brad Stauf
Childs-1516 Christopher Childs
If there is an image of a gravestone, it's also important to note whether it's original to the burial, or a later re-creation or addition (this is usually evident from the condition of the stone).

And if it's old and worn, it helps to add a note such as, "(with image of gravestone; inscription only partially legible)" or the equivalent, as appropriate.

I volunteer for FG as a local-cemetery photographer, and I love the site... when it's properly used. That means the inclusion of a gravestone photo whenever humanly possible (requests can be left on the site for someone to take a photo and add it to a given memorial)... and, ideally, some sort of basic citation on the memorial page for information given there that did not come from the (shown) gravestone.

BTW this is also a plea for the use of the _full citation_ for a (well-constructed) FG memorial page (given at the bottom of each memorial; you have to scroll down to see it). The volunteers there – the good ones, at least – work just as hard as any of us on WikiTree, and deserve full public credit for the pages they create and maintain.

posted by Christopher Childs
Chris Hoyt
The findagrave page https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102455385/anthony-peirce states

Burial Details Unknown so this is basically a memorial only and not related to a grave or burial.

posted by Chris Hoyt
Stevens-17832 Jen (Stevens) Hutton
Ron, the find-a-grave site is maintained by an individual member, who in this case did not give any source for his information. It is not an official cemetery record. If you are able to locate the actual cemetery record, that would be great.
posted by Jen (Stevens) Hutton
Hill-11959 S (Hill) Willson
Pierce-8146 and Pearse-628 appear to represent the same person because: Merging to PPP last name spelling.

Same birth and death dates, no places on -8146. Daughter on -8146 likely incorrect (marked uncertain); not listed in list of children on -628. Please merge.

posted by S (Hill) Willson
Smith-32867 Jillaine Smith
In response to Robin's "If they weren't hung up on particular spellings, why are we?" We have to pick something for LNAB, so for consistency sake, we go with what the records from the time period of the birth go with. This has been wikitree's policy for many years, if not from the beginning.
posted by Jillaine Smith
Johnson-43462 Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear
I for one am not hung-up. My question was answered. Thank you all for your input - it's helps orient the rest of us. :-)
posted by Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear
Anderson-35092 Robin Anderson
Exactly, each clerk used his own spelling. If they weren't hung up on particular spellings, why are we? Just sayin'
posted by Robin Anderson
Chris Hoyt
I'm not able to find any document he signed, so the spelling's in Watertown seem to be entirely the convention of the 'recorder/clerk'.

Middlesex Court 1: 14: 1654/5: Anthony Pearse chosen juror for Watertown. Dec 1, 1660: Anthony Perse chosen juror for W. 20: 10: 1670: Anthony Perse gave a deposition. 27: 11: 1667: Anthony Peirce posted bond R: John Sawin. 27: 4: 1671: Francis Brayton wrote a letter naming among others Anthony Perse. 1678: estate inventory of Anthony Pearse, sworn to by ?Jac/Jos Pierce, Daniel Pierce, Benjamin Pierce

posted by Chris Hoyt
Keniston-36 Bob Keniston Jr.
Watertown record of Anthony’s death have his last name spelled Peirce.
posted by Bob Keniston Jr.
Smith-32867 Jillaine Smith
Leigh Anne, Anne B found the parish records of his siblings' births where the spelling was Pearce. It is a wikitree principle and standard to "use their convention not ours" which means the LNAB is to be the spelling used by the family at the time the person was born. And CLN for how the person or family spelled their name by the time they died. We can use OLN for alternative spellings to assist in duplicate prevention.
posted by Jillaine Smith
Johnson-43462 Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear
This is a direct ancestor so I'm curious: Why make the primary spelling Pearse when the primary sources pretty consistently spell the LNAB as Peirce? It's the Peirce spelling that distinguishes the Watertown clan from the Newbury clan.
posted by Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear
Anderson-35092 Robin Anderson
Why is the proposed merge set to Unmerged Match? clear duplicate.
posted by Robin Anderson
B-404 Anne B
I've stalled this merge long enough. I'm changing the LNAB to Pearse (parish registers for his sibs.) and then will merge
posted by Anne B
B-404 Anne B
Rethinking this.. I've just consulted the birth register indexes at Freereg.org.uk and FamilySearch. Correct LNAB seems to be Pearse. So neither of these is correct. When I said Pierce, I thought Anderson used it, don't know where I got that notion, he's not in the directory.
posted by Anne B
[Living Wolf]
This person has the same birth and death year as Pierce-8146, but everything else is different.
posted on Pierce-8146 (merged) by [Living Wolf]

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Categories: Puritan Great Migration Project Needs Research | Watertown, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration