Daniel Peirce (1640 - 1723)

Born 1 Jan 1640 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Shedd) Pierce — married 1665 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 24 Mar 1723 at age 83 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Whitney Rapp [send private message] and Randy Seaver [send private message]

Biography

Daniel Peirce aka Pierce was born to Anthony and Ann Peirce[Pierce] in Watertown on April 14, 1641.

“Daniel, the sonne of ANTHONIE & ANNE Peirce [Pierce], borne 1 (11) 1639” ^[1]

Daniel "Pierce" the son of Anthony and Anne "Peirce" born the 1st of the 11th month 1639.

"Daniel Pierce (1640-1723) & Elizabeth ___? (1642-1723); m. 1665; Groton/Watertown” ^[2] Their marriage record shows both Watertown and Groton, Mass. Many early Watertown principals also owned lots in early Groton but remained in Watertown. ^[3]

Children born to Daniel and Elizabeth Peirce:

• Elizabeth, b, 16 May 1665 (CT.R.), Groton, MA;
• Daniel, b. 28: 9: 1666. ( CT.R.); d. bef father's will of 1723; m. Abigail
• John Pierce, b. 18 Aug 1668; bap. Watertown, 16 Jan 1686; named executor of father's will
• Ephriam, b. 15 Oct 1673. (CT. R.); m. 1696, Mary Whitney, (dau of Joshua & Abigail [Tarbell] Whitney) of Groton, MA.; d. 27 Feb 1741, Groton, MA.
• Josiah, b. 2 May 1675; prob d. young and unm., not in father's will.
• Joseph, b. abt 1672, Groton, MA.; m. 30 Dec 1698, Mary Warren; d. 29 Aug 1747, Waltham, MA., ae 75 yrs
• Abigail, b. 3 Jan 1681; d. 1723 unmarried
• Hannah, bap. 16 Jan 1686; m. ____ Smith
• Benjamin, bap 16 Jan 1686; prob. d. bef. 1723, not in father's will.
• Mary, m. ___Scripter

King William's War: Increasing "skirmishes" were taking place in the outlier New England colonies which included the Groton township area. Per Flint "Daniel settled in Groton where 5 of his children were born. He returned to Watertown in 1681 on account of the Indian hostilities. He owned the covenant, 16 Jan 1686. He was a weaver by occupation...At the time he owned the covenant his wife and three yountest children were baptized." (Flint, p.26)

In 1684 Daniel Peirce is included in a Middlesex County deponent.

"Middlesex County, Massachusetts Deponents, 1649-1700: Daniel PIERCE, age 44, in year 1684 was deposed." ^[4]

Daniel died 24 March 1723 in Watertown.

"Daniel Peirce [Pierce, Pairce], b. abt 1639, died 24 Mar 1723, Waltham, Massachusetts in (his) 84th y. (G.R.)." ^[5]

He is buried in Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Waltham was once an original part of Watertown. ^[6]

Daniel's will (dated 22 Dec 1723) proved in Watertown and named the following family members:^[7][8]

• wife Elizabeth
• children of deceased son Daniel
• son Ephraim
• son Joseph
• daughter Abigail (unmarried)
• daughter Hannah Smith
• daughter Mary Scripter
• daughter Elizabeth Mixer
• son John Pierce (executor)

Quick Reference Pedigree
Father of Daniel Peirce (Sr.) (1639-1723 was ANTHONY PEIRCE (1611-1678). Anthony and Anne (Unknown) Peirce children:

John, b.1631, Norwich, Norfolk, Eng.; m. Ruth Bishop, dau. of Nathaniel

Mary, b. 20 Oct 1633, Watertown

Jacob, b. 15 Jul 1637, Boston

Daniel, b. 1 Jan 1639/40,Watertown

Martha, b. 24 Feb 1641, Watertown

Joseph, b. abt 1643, Watertown

Benjamin, b. 24 Apr 1649, Watertown

Judith, b. 1650, Watertown

Anthony Peirce (1611-1678) was the son of JOHN PEIRCE, (PERS) (1588-1661) a weaver of Watertown, b. Norwich, Norfolk, England. Watertown adm. freeman, Mar 1637/8."
"John Pers [Peirce], b. 1588, Norwich, Norfolk, England and who d. 19 Aug 1661. The will was proved 1 Oct 1661 and the inventory of the estate amounted to about L271-7-0. (Flint, pg.19.)

His widow Elizabeth, d. 12 Mar 1666/7. Her (Elizabeth) Will dated 5 Mar proved 2 Apr 1667 and specifically mentions: (Flint, pg. 20)

son Anthony (sole exe'r) and his son John (Pearse) and his dau Mary (Pearse) and his dau Judah Sawen

son Robert (adm. freeman, 13 May 1642) and his dau Judah Pearse

son John, (settled Woburn)

dau. Esther (Moss) Morse and her dau Ester Moss and her father Joseph Moss

dau. Mary Coldam

dau. Elizabeth who was deceased her daus. Mary and Esther Ball

Research Notes
Beware of like named profiles: There are two Daniel Pierce/Peirce born to unrelated parents in Watertown, MA between 1638 and 1640. This profile, Peirce-35, and unrelated Wiki profile Daniel Pierce who married Elizabeth Millward (1644-1709) in Newbury, Mass. on 5 Dec 1660.

Many family genealogy charts have failed to distinguish between the Newbury and Watertown Peirce/Pierce clans and have commingled families from both locations including and most especially the Daniel Peirce marriage to Elizabeth Milward in Newbury, Mass.

Sources

1. ↑ “Early Records of Boston” pg. 161; NEHGR, 1847-2011, Vol. 07 [Apr 1853]. Pub. NEHGS, Boston, Mass. Reprinted by Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2010, Provo, UT, USA. Online access 21 Feb 2020.
2. ↑ “New England Marriages Prior to 1700; pg.582. Pub. Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA. Reprinted by Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2000, Provo, UT, USA. Online access 21 Feb 2012.
3. ↑ History of the Town of Groton: Including Pepperell and Shirley, from the First Grant of Groton Plantation in 1655, Volume 42; Volume 440, pg. 427
4. ↑ Sanborn, Melinde Lutz, comp. “Middlesex County, Massachusetts Deponents, 1649-1700”. Reprinted by Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2000, Provo, UT, USA. Online access 21 Feb 2020.
5. ↑ Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988; Waltham Deaths, pg.282; Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook). Reprinted by Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Provo, UT, USA. Online access 21 Feb 2020.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 23 April 2021), memorial page for Daniel Peirce (1 Jan 1640–24 Mar 1723), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #34348011, citing Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Bill Boyington (contributor 46800933) .
7. ↑ 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 by Frederick Clifton Pierce (1880), pg. 26
8. ↑ Flint, James, comp. “Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1648-1870”; Will No.17437. Reprinted by Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2000, Provo, UT, USA. Online access 21 Feb 2020.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Pierce-1293 created through the import of Mulkerin Family History Site.ged on Dec 15, 2011 by Samantha Mulkerin.
• This person was created through the import of randys ancestors-10 generations.ged on 10 March 2011.
• Contributions by direct descendent Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear