Richard Pierce (abt. 1540 - abt. 1641)

Born about 1540 in Norwich, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Marguerite (Coney) Pierce — married about 1583 in Norwich, Norfolk, England

Died about 1641 at about age 101 in Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Michael Thomas [send private message], Linda James [send private message], Bob Pierce [send private message], Christopher Wright [send private message], Valerie Bailey [send private message], and Mel Ragle [send private message]

Biography

Disputed Child: Thomas Pierce

Thomas Pierce, immigrant, and his descendants are the subject of the 2nd of the 4 Pierce Genealogy books. Note that the Percy nonsense began in the 3rd book. There seems to be no reason to suspect the first two books of any worse than the usual handwaving.

The 1st book deals with John Pers of Watertown, plausibly identified with a known weaver of that name, of Norwich, England, who obtained permission to emigrate to Boston in 1637. Nothing is claimed about his parentage or ancestry, beyond the observation that the surname derives from the given name Piers.

The 2nd book (with Frederic Beech Pierce as lead author, though Frederick Clifton Pierce is heavily involved) sets this context and then claims "it is reasonable to suppose" that Thomas Pierce of Charlestown was a brother of the said John (throwing in Robert Pierce of Dorchester as a third brother). But there seems to be nothing to make this reasonable.

The book mentions a record from the 23rd year of Elizabeth (1580-81) of this Norwich family. It cites "History of Norwich, Norfolk, England" which was not found and is instead: An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Freebridge (concluded). North Greenhow. Happing. Holt. Launditch by Francis Blomefield (W. Miller, 1808)^[1]

Unknown

1. Margaret Perse, sister of John Cony
   1. Thomas Perse, s/o Margaret & Humphrey Cony, s/o John
      1. Peter Perse, s/o Thomas, cousin and heir of Humphrey
2. John Cony

The author further claims "it is reasonable to suppose" that the 3 supposed brothers were "of this family", though no attempt was made to say how they might connect.

Note the Thomas Perse named in this record is not claimed to be the immigrant himself (being evidently dead by 1581). But the internet has concocted a garbled version in which a Margaret Cony with made-up dates is made to be the immigrant's mother. (Actually, it's not even certain that Margaret was a Cony, since she could be John's maternal half-sister.)

Research Notes

This profile lacks any proof of Peter Percy was the father of Richard Thomas Pierce - the last name change is odd, considering how prominent Percy was as a surname. Also, the move from Norfolk to Wiltshire points to a different family, especially considering his former father lived in Yorkshire.

County: James City

Transport Date: 12-Sep-1636

Immigrant Name: Thomas Warne

Sponsor: RICHARD PEIRCE

Grant Location: Chichaominy River

Being a neck of land on the S. side of Chickahominy River near Warrany old landing place Nly. Wly. & Ely. upon the River & SI into the Maine woods. 50 due in right of his now father Thomas Ward; & 550 in right of his late father Richard Peirce to whom sd. 550.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ pp 184, 185 ebook
2. ↑ Nugent: Virginia Land Patents; (database online. Accessed 10 November 2018, amb

• Author: India J. Wolf Title: Wolf Web Site Text: MyHeritage.com family tree CONT Family site: Wolf Web Site CONT Family tree: 4950685-3 Page: Richard Peirce Role: 2077984 Data: Date: 8 NOV 2010

• Author: Donna Syrett Title: Syrett Web Site Text: MyHeritage.com family tree CONT Family site: Syrett Web Site CONT Family tree: 3637235-8 Media: 315253-2 Type: Smart Matching Page: Richard Peirce Role: 2007396 Data: Date: 8 NOV 2010 Text:

• claires Web Site Text: MyHeritage.com family tree CONT Family site: claires Web Site CONT Family tree: 6451931-2 Media: 413473-2 Page: Richard Peirce Event: Smart Matching Role: 2000150 Data: Date: 8 NOV 2010

• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=25520292&pid=297

See Also:

• FamilySearch Tree