Thomas Pierce II (abt. 1616 - 1683)

Born about 1616 in Norwich, Norfolk, England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Cole) Pierce — married about 1639 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 6 Nov 1683 at about age 67 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Larry Ridgley [send private message], Christopher Wright [send private message], and Dennis Johnson [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Pierce II immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

This profile is part of the Pierce Name Study.

Thomas Pierce was born about 1616 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, son of Thomas Pierce (abt. 1583–1666) and Elizabeth Unknown (or possibly Elizabeth Carew?). NOTE: Given that his mother Elizabeth was 71 years old in 1667 per her own testimony when reporting her deceased husband's inventory at court.^[1] This made her born about 1596, therefore Thomas was probably not born much before 1616. His birth year is guessed as 1608 at various places on the internet, without source. A birth location of Norwich, Norfolk, England is also seen widely on the internet, also without source.

His siblings were:

1. Robert Pierce (abt. 1614–1654)
2. John Mariner Pierce (abt. 1615–aft. 1666)
3. Samuel Pierce (1617–1678)
4. Elizabeth Pierce (abt. 1618–abt. 1692)
5. Persis Pierce (abt. 1626–1682)
6. Mary Pierce (abt. 1627–1703)
7. Abigail Pierce (1639–1646)

Thomas arrived in Charleston, Massachusetts, on the ship: Elizabeth and Ann on 2 July 1635.

Thomas (22) married Elizabeth Cole (19) (born about 1619 in England; daughter of Rice Cole and Arrold (Dunington) Cole) in 1639 in Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Known Children

1. John Peirce (1643–1720)
2. Thomas Pierce (1645–1717)
3. Elizabeth Pierce (1646–abt. 1748)
4. Timothy Pierce (1648–1744)
5. Joseph Pierce (1648–bef. 1649)
6. Joseph Pierce (1649–1716) (Named for son Joseph who died at age 5mo.)
7. Stephen Pierce (1651–1733)
8. Samuel Pierce (1654–1655)
9. Samuel Pierce (1656–1721)
10. William Pierce (1658–1720)
11. James Pierce (1659–1742)
12. Abigail Pierce (1660–1719)
13. Benjamin Pierce (abt. 1662–1739)

Other Possible Children (from the BOOK)

1. Ensign John, b. Mar.7,1643 PROVEN
2. Thomas III, b. June 21, 1645 PROVEN
3. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 25, 1646 PROVEN
4. Abigail, b. Nov. 20, 1660, m. George Reed, Jr. PROVEN
5. Benjamin, m. Mary Reed.

Thomas was deputy to the General Court (State Legislature) in 1658 and two years later was styled as "Sgt. Thomas", (town official) of Woburn. On 6 October 1663 he was appointed as a Sergeant in the Woburn Militia.^[2]

Thomas was on the committee for dividing the common lands in Woburn, one of the Right Proprietors, chosen March, 1667, and also of General Court Committee for the same in 1668.

Thomas died on 6 Nov 1683 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, aged about 66.^[3][4]

Research Notes

Geographical Note

Geographical note: Woburn was hived off from Charlestown in 1642. Charlestown was in Middlesex County until it was merged into Boston in the 19th century.

Additional Notes

NOTE: In The book "Pierce Genealogy" p. 22 there is a note: "See Peirce Gen. by F. C. Peirce, Esq."

Also, a Genealogy TREE

"SECOND GENERATION 2.

Thomas Peirce (Thomas1). Born in England 1608, died at Woburn, Suffolk Co., MA. on November 6, 1683.7. He married in Woburn, MA. on May 6, 1635. to Elizabeth Cole, she died at Woburn, MA. on March 5, 1688.9. Children:10." site listed in SOURCEs

Military

Thomas Pierce does not appear in either primary sources for the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts:

The history of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company : from its formation in 1637 and charter in 1638, to the present time : comprising the biographies of the distinguished civil, literary, religious, and military men of the colony, province, and commonwealth. J.H. Eastburn, printer, Boston, 1842.
or
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. (1895). Roll of members of the military company of the massachusetts now called the ancient and honorable artillery company of massachusetts with a roster of the commissioned officers and preachers 1638-1894. Press of A. Mudge & Son.

It appears that while Thomas Pierce was indeed a Sergeant in the Woburn Militia, he was not a member of the AHAC.

Sources

1. ↑ Probate of Thomas Pierce: Probate records 1648--1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts) Probate papers 17480-17605 Family History Library film 421491 7553719 Packet 17583 probate of Thomas Pierce Image 1060 of 1241
2. ↑ Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001" Image path: Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001 > Middlesex > County records > County court records 1649-1663 vol 1 > image 161 of 169; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L979-SDP (accessed 31 March 2024)
3. ↑ Death: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001" citing Page: 317; Digital film/folder number: 007011120_001_M9ZJ-1SN; FHL microfilm: 859998; Image number: 175; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: I01118-4 FamilySearch Record: FHXN-G3G (accessed 31 March 2024) FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G979-HYZ2 Thomas, Sen Peirce death 6 Sep 1683 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54473745/thomas-pierce: accessed March 31, 2024), memorial page for Thomas Pierce Jr. (unknown–6 Nov 1683), Find a Grave Memorial ID 54473745; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Kevin Avery (contributor 47024642). NOTE: No photo of headstone or burial location.

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: M82J-5LY
• Ancestors of Thomas Pierce Archived webpage from 19 April 2016
• Pierce Genealogy, pp. 21-23 or 25-26
• Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, National Society, Sons of the American Revolution
• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Gale Research, 2010.
• Stearns, Ezra S. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) Vol. 2, Page 558
• US G W Archives
• Notes - Court Files in Middlesex County, Mass., The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1932) Vol. 86, Page 349. "Pierce, Thomas, Sr., of Woburn. His estate was settled in December 1683."

GMD Sources: Key to GMB Sources

ChBOP

WoVR

Rodgers 2:340-343

Wyman 756

Frederic Beech Pierce "Pierce Genealogy, Being the Record of the Posterity of Thomas Pierce, An Early Inhabitant of Charlestown" (Worcester, Massachusetts, 1882)