Stephen Decatur Pierce (abt. 1824 - abt. 1875)

Born about 18 Oct 1824 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Adeline F. (Fifield) Pierce — married about 22 May 1851 in Connecticut, United States

Descendants

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There is some doubt as to the actual date of this Stephen's birth year given a wide range of dates given in census' and other records such as the Pierce family genealogy book referenced below. Hence we are going with the FindAGrave date of birth of October 18, 1824 as a photo is shown there of the gravestone with dob and dod incribed, which also contains detail for his wife Adeline.

Biography

Private Stephen Pierce served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1861
Side: Union
Regiment(s): 27 Massachusetts Infantry Company K

BIRTH:

A book of Pierce genealogy referenced below, Gives this Stephen D. Pierce as the 7th child of Joseph H. Pierce and Rosanna Hatstat. It gives his dob October 18, 1822 and also indicates that he married an Adelia Fifield. NOTE: We have found inaccuracies in this book, especially as it relates to years.^[1]

BIRTH CONTRADICTION:

A record of the birth of his daughter Mary Adelia Pierce in Warren, MA in 1866 says that this Stephen was born in Boston, (Suffolk), Massachusetts.^[2]

See daughter, Louise A. (Pierce) Cavell's death record that says this Stephen was born in Boston, MA.

MIDDLE NAME:

See the death record of his daughter, Louise A. (Pierce) Cavell who's death certificate says that this Stephen's middle name was "Decatur."

PROFESSION:

1855 US Census source says he was a "painter" at that time.

MARRIAGE:

There are two references to a state of Connecticut marriage of this Stephen D. Pierce to an Adelia Fifield. Source 2 says it occurred May 22, 1851. Source 3 says it occurred May 22, 1857. Given the ip address is identical, we suspect there is only one record, but two transcriptions, with one having an error. For now, we will enter the May 22, 1851 date, and will revise it based on census and child birth details at a later date.^[3][4]

CENSUS':

The 1855 Massachusetts State Census finds this Stephen D. Pierce given as a 28yr old painter, living in Ware, Hampshire, Massachusetts with his 25yr old wife, Adelia and two young children given as Edward T. (3yrs old) and Julia, (5-months old). This report suggests Stephen was born circa 1827.^[5]

The 1860 US Census finds this Stephen D. Pierce given as a 35yr old painter, living in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts with his wife, given as 31yr old, Adelia and two young children, given as 8yr old Edward and 5yr old Julia. This report suggests that Stephen might have been born in 1825.^[6]

The 1865 Massachusetts state census finds this Stephen D. now given as a 36yr old painter, living in Chicopee, Hampden, Massachusetts with his wife who is now given as 34yr old Delia and two children given as 13yr old Edward S. & 10yr old Julia F. This report suggests that Stephen was born in 1829.^[7]

The 1870 US Census of Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts finds this Stephen Pierce given as a 40yr old painter (but the penmanship could actually be 46yr old; transcription says 40yr old), living there with his 40yr old wife Adelia and four children. All six of the family members are given as having been born in Massachusetts. This report suggests that Stephen was born in either 1824 of 1830.^[8]

MILITARY RECORDS:

This Stephen D. Pierce's US Civil War Union Soldier's Index record. Indicates that he served from 1861 to 1865 as a Private with the 27th Regimen, Massachusetts Infantry, K Company.^[9][10]

DEATH:

U.S. Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans 1879-1903 shows that a US military cemetery marker/stone was ordered for this Stephen D, Pierce in May 1879 and indicates that his date of death was May 19, 1875 and that he was buried in Village Cemetery, Warren, Worcester, Massachusetts.^[11]

FindAGrave page for this person's gravestone shows dob October 18, 1824 and dod of May 19, 1875. Also contains detail for his wife. Picture of gravestone is there.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Pierce Genealogy Being the Record of The Posterity of John Pers, An Early Inhabitant of Watertown in New England who Came From Norwich, Norfolk County, England; with Notes on The History of Other Families of Peirce, Pierce, Pearce, etc.; Pierce, Frederic Clifton; Press of Chas. Hamilton; Worcester, Massachusetts; 1880; pg. 129.. (Accessible on the Internet at Google Books.)
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LCG-XJ?cc=1536925&wc=M61J-2M7%3A73563601 : 1 March 2016), 004275260 > image 654 of 999; Massachusetts Archives, Boston.
3. ↑ "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F75M-WYS : 11 January 2020), Stephen D. Pierce, 1851.
4. ↑ "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7PC-3QZ : 11 January 2020), Stephen D. Pierce, 1857.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZ7W-HCF?cc=1459985&wc=M6PF-13D%3A42489901%2C42520201 : 1 April 2016), Hampshire > Ware > image 47 of 50; State Archives, Boston.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GB9V-JQW?cc=1473181&wc=7Q6K-2T1%3A1589422209%2C1589428857%2C1589427581 : 24 March 2017), Massachusetts > Hampden > Springfield > image 364 of 381; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "Massachusetts State Census, 1865", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQCH-L2Q : 22 February 2021), Julia F Pierce in entry for Stephen D Pierce, 1865.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6S9Q-LVR?cc=1438024&wc=KPWL-JWL%3A518657101%2C519404101%2C519745901 : 12 June 2019), Massachusetts > Worcester > Worcester, ward 5 > image 137 of 170; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSYV-Y3V : 4 December 2014), Stephen D. Perce, Private, Company K, 27th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M544 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 31; FHL microfilm 881,900.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DC37-CDN?cc=1410399&wc=M6PX-Q38%3A27784401%2C27792401 : 1 June 2018), Hampden > Chicopee > image 60 of 96; State Archives, Boston.
11. ↑ "United States Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, 1879-1903," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TD-VBVQ?cc=1913388&wc=MXM9-T2S%3A195533301 : 22 May 2014), Ossinger, John - Pugh, William H. > image 544 of 849; citing NARA microfilm publication M1845 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
12. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197054791/stephen-d-pierce