Friday, February 29, 2008

Mary Jane Pierce

The following info is what's on file for Mary. I wondered if Lewis Collison, age 12 on the 1860 census, is the son of Isaac and Mary. But that would mean she gave birth at age 13. Possible ... yet hard to believe. Further investigation on Mary and Isaac's wedding date and later censuses is in order.
** Addition - cousin Char sent the 1880 census info. It has been added below. Thanks Char!

Mary Jane Pierce
1834 - 1907

Mary was born in 1834. She is the daughter of Edward Pierce and Jane Forsythe.
About 1847 Mary married Isaac Collison. Isaac was born in 1829.

The Collison family is enumerated on the 1860 census in Chester, Pa.

1860 Census - Chester
Isaac Collison 31
Mary Collison 25
Joseph Collison 26
Lewis Collison 12
Henriettta Collison 56 (Isaac's mother?)
Martha Farrell 75 (grandmother?)

1880 Chester, Del Co p 355A shows

Isaac Collison self M WM50 Painter PA PA PA
Mary Collison wife M WF58 PA PA PA
Jos. Collison other S WM48 House Painter PA PA PA
Pauline McLean other S WF cotton mill PA NY NY


Pension Roll of 1883
Delaware County, PA
Isaac Collison was enumerated on this census which lists US Civil War pensions granted by the government. Certificate # 119,424 . The roll states he lives in Chester. Pension was granted because he was paralyzed on the left side. His monthly allowance was $24 per month which started October 1872.

Mary died March 4, 1907 and is buried at Chester Rural Cemetery, Section N, Lot 116, grave 1.

Also buried in Section N, Lot 116 is Martha Farrell, died 10/16/1877

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Rain, dogs, food, books.....

I got sidetracked doing other things and couldn't add any Pierce info this week. But I thought I'd do an update as it keeps me motivated. It's been a hectic week. We had LOTS of rain and some roads in the area are closed due to flooding. When Doug and I ride in to work we can see the river is so high it almost touches the bridge we drive over.

Tonight it's going down to 38 and tomorrow the prediction is a low of 24. Brrrr. Hopefully we won't get anymore rain though. Our driveway looks like hell.

Tuesday morning we were awakened by Kobe and Aja yelping about a stray dog roaming around the house. It was a large pit bull with a surprisingly sweet disposition. This poor guy just wanted in the house. You could tell he was used to being indoors - he kept trying to come in. He'd walk around the house and stare up through the windows. By Tuesday evening when we returned from work he was still there. We'd hoped the owner would come around and call for the old guy but alas.... so I had to take him to an animal hospital and hope he gets a home. Doug walked Kobe and Aja and I drove the dog to Tallahassee. I told Doug I felt like a real redneck girl - driving down I-10 in his big pickup truck, blasting country music with a pit bull in the back seat. Ha!

Monday evening I made chicken burritos and we had the leftovers last night.
Oh, and I made more chicken noodle soup and added sweet potatoes to this batch.
The only goals/plans I have for this week are to write out what I have on Edward Pierce's other children, watch Lost Thursday evening and make chicken Marsala tonight or Friday. I'm almost done with Chocolate & Zucchini and am only a few chapters in The Rebels of Ireland. When I'm done with Rebels I want to start a new book by Geraldine Brooks called The People of the Book. It sounds good. The subject matter is one of the reasons I love used books so much. It is about all the people who have had this old old book; all the people who had hidden it over the ages and what their lives were like in their time period. Small artifacts in the spine of this book like a drop of wine stain, an insect wing or a piece of hair are discovered by a librarian. The librarian (Hannah)researches this cool book.

Anyway...that's all I've accomplished and here is the burrito recipe.

Chicken Burritos
16 oz canned black beans
16 oz canned refried black beans
2 or 3 boneless chicken breasts
6 medium or large flour tortillas
2 1/2 cups cheddar, Kraft Mexican style cheddar or Montery Jack combination of cheese
2 cups cooked white rice
8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
abt. a teaspoon each of cumin, chili powder and garlic powder

Cook the chicken breasts and chop in small pieces. Or get a rotisserie chicken or precooked chicken and shred it up into small pieces. Roughly 2+ cups for the amount needed.

Mix tomato sauce with 1/2 cup water and add spices. Heat but not to boiling. In a separate bowl mix the two cans of black beans. (I can't always find the refried black beans but when I do it's in the Mexican food section of the grocery aisles and it really does make a diffidence in the texture. You can still use regular black beans but you'll need to drain and discard the juice of one of the cans.)

Line up your assembly line for the burritos with your pan of tomato sauce, pan of rice, black bean mix, bowl of cheese and the chicken. Now put a few tablespoons of sauce in the bottom of a 9x12 glass baking dish.
Put one tortilla on a plate and a tiny bit of sauce in the center of tortilla. Now place some rice, bean mix, some cheese and then chicken.

Roll up the burrito and place in the dish. Repeat for the other 5 tortillas. Cover the burritos with the rest of the tomato sauce mixture then top generously with cheese.

Cover with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil gently and bake another 5 or 10 minutes so the cheese is gooey. I get the burritos out of the pan with two spatulas and sometimes they even stay together. One is very filling and a salad goes well with it.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Estelle Pierce Jackson




This is totally out of order regarding the time period I'm working on.
I'm working on the generation that was born in the 1830 time period. But..... my son scanned these great shots of my mother and I wanted to put them up now.


The top photo is my mom Stella with Aunt Estelle Clark. Mom was named after Aunt Stelle. This is taken at the Clark household on Edgemont Avenue, right across from Chester Park. It was a cool house. My Uncle Samuel had a large yard and a Toulouse goose that followed him around. The goose hated everyone except my Uncle Sam.

The picture of Mom with my brother and sister, Linda and Jimmy, holding the new puppy Fritz. The other photo captures my mother when she was a teenager standing on a Chester street - maybe outside her family home.

More on William Pierce (Peirce)

One of the very cool benefits of putting research on the Internet is the instant gratification of input. Collaborating in this effort is my beautiful cousin Char whom I am indebted for her copious collection of census information on the many Pierces of Delaware County.

The following is info she had about William Henry Pierce and I'm happy to add to his profile. The end result of neatly written biographical accounts, accompanied by sources for information, will make a nice booklet.

Willam Henry is listed on the 1850 census living with his uncle Thomas Forsythe.

1850 PA Delaware Co. Borough of Chester p64

Thomas Forsythe 31 M Painter PA
Susannah Forsythe 24 F PA
Anna J. Forsythe 8 F PA
Eliza Forsythe 7 F PA
Thomas Forsythe 5 F PA
Henry Pearce 17 M Painter PA

On the 1860 he is listed in the household of his Mother in law Arcadia Harris

1860 PA Delaware Co. Chester Twp. PO: Chester p106

Arcadia Harris 56 F NJ
Susannah Harris 27 F PA
Zilby? Harris 20 M PA
Wm Harris 18 M PA
Louisa Harris 15 F PA
Joshua F Harris 7 M PA
Wm. H. Peirce 27 M House Painter PA

Arcadia Harris died in 1869......

Delaware Co. Republican
Dec. 3, 1869

Death on the 30th ult. Arcadia Harris, 70 yrs, at the home of her son in law Wm H. Pierce Front St. between Fulton and Parker.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Monday, February 18, 2008

Thomas F Pierce

1850 CENSUS Delaware Co., Pa.
Marcus Hook Borough

Edward Pierce 45 occ: Waterman born PA
Jane 38
Mary 15 at school
Emma 14
James 12
Thomas 10


Thomas is also enumerated on the 1860 census. At age 19, he was recorded in the household of Martha Kerlin. Occupation is Apprentice plasterer/ born PA.


August 30, 1861
Delaware County Republican
Death Notice


Death of a Returned Volunteer - Thomas F. Peirce, a member of the Union Blues, died in this borough on Tuesday morning last of typhoid fever. He was a young man of irreproachable character, and a good soldier, always prompt to obey the commands of his commanding officers. On hearing of his demise, his companions in arms assembled in public meeting at the town hall in this borough, at which a committe was appointed consisting of Lieut. J.G. Stacey, Sergeants William B. Stevenson and William Eves, Corporal Chas. Story and Private Reece L. Weaver, who offered the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted by the Company presnt. The funeral of the deceased took place on Thursday afternoon. The hearse was draped in mourning and over it and the coffin was placed the American flag. The Union Blues, accompanied by the Chester Brass Band, escorted the remains of their comrade to the grave, and interred them with the honors of war. It was the first military funeral in our midst for several years, and the slow measured tread of the soldiers, as they marched with reverse arms, the band playing a dirge for the dead, amde the occasion solemn and imposing.

Buried Chester Rural Cemetery, Section N, Lot 117, grave 4

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Edward's Children - the Next Generation

I think I've entered about all I have at this time on William Pierce. His info is documented in FTM and most of it on this blog. Moving on to Edward's children now I have the following issue recorded:

William Henry Pierce
Mary Jane Pierce
Emma Pierce
James F. Pierce
Thomas F. Pierce

I have five children recorded and will start with the oldest, William Henry.

William Henry Pierce

William was born about 1831. I only have the basics on William - he married Susannah April 5, 1857 at approximate age 26. They were married 13 years and he died July 5, 1870.
He is buried in Chester Rural Cemetery, Section N, Lot 117, grave 5.

Delaware County American - April 22, 1857
Marriage: In Upland, on the 5th inst. By Rev. Mr. Wilder, Mr.
W.H. Pierce of Chester to miss Susannah Harris of Upland

Delaware County Republican - July 8, 1870
Death Notice

In Chester, on Tuesday, the 5th inst., William Henry, son of E.D. and
Jane Pierce, in the 39th year of his age. The relatives and
friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral,
from his late residence, No. 529 Front Street, on this Friday afternoon,
at 2 o'clock.

His mother Jane died in 1857 so it's interesting that his obit does not state his "late mother" or that she predeceased her son.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Purchasers' names and items from administration



This is a list of purchasers and the items they bought from William's estate. The surname Lamplugh is related to Rebecca's family. This is all I have on William at this point so now I'll focus on Edward's children.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day

It's been a hectic week of problems at work, problems with our wireless router at home (can't get online), with my weariness at looking at this dead guy's worldly goods being sold out from under his young widow. They were only married about 5 years!

But today I created an Excel sheet that shows the names of the purchasers for William's estate/admin and what they bought. My cousin Char provided me with the alphabetical list of the purchasers. That old writing from 1838 is a devil to read sometimes. Thanks Char! As soon as I get that chart scanned I'll post it tomorrow. Some of the things I found interesting were:

1. In newspaper accounts and parts of the legal documents (the administration) William's surname is spelled PEIRCE.

2. In other parts of the admin. Rebecca spells her name PIERCE.
3. Edward Pierce spells it both ways.

4. Edward purchased quite a bit of William's fishing gear including his batteau, fishing boots, oars, nets etc. He even bought his wearing apparel.

5. Right..so it's not proof Edward is William's brother but to have purchased his clothes and boots he must be the same build. I still think they were brothers but I am still looking for concrete evidence/documentation.

6. The McLaughlin (or McGlaughlin) name is also among the purchasers. That's the name of the man who murdered William. I found that surname living right next door to one of my Pierce familes in Chester in a much later census.

It's just food for thought. And speaking of food - I made pure comfort food tonight. I used convenience items to toss it together but it tasted fine. Normally I make all my own pasta/lasagna sauce. I make homemade soup from all fresh ingredients...but tonight I'm weary. This is good on a cold night and right now it's 36 degrees.

Cheesy Chicken Casserole
1 box Stovetop stuffing (any flavor)
5 or 6 boneless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken or celery soup
1/8 cup sherry or white wine
slices of Swiss or cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 pan. Prepare stuffing mix. Place chicken breasts in pan. I cut them in half but you don't have to. Mix soup and sherry in bowl, pour over chicken and in between chicken pieces. Place cheese slices over chicken. Place stuffing mix over chicken and put remaining stuffing in between chicken and to the edges of pan.
Bake uncovered 45 minutes. If after 30 minutes it looks to brown cover with foil.

This goes well with salad and Negra Moldela beer. We had Old Speckled Hen ale tonight though.

In a few minutes I'll go watch the new episode of Lost and eventually eat a bowl of ice cream. William Pierce will have to wait until tomorrow. Once I'm done with all I have on him I'll work on Edward's children. Also, I have a file I started looking over titled Unknown Connections. As I sort through, I see many Pierce, Peirce and Pearse names that don't, as yet, connect to my folks. But one day they might.

Good night.
Sale of the goods & chattels of Wm. Pierce (dec) late of Lower Chichester. Made the 15th day of Dec. 1838.Name of Purchaser Item
Wm. Bartoe tin kettle
C Beatty stove
Thos Beeson ? scythe
H Bullock cups and saucers
H Burns brush and hammer, table
G Cox lot of brushes, pitcher, batteau
Wm Dayle looking glass
J Haranzy ? 2 milk pots, cream pot, small anchor
John Haranzy ? lot of old iron, pot rack
Isaac Haycock bucket
N Haycock cullander
Nathan Haycock pitcher VC
I Haycock washboard, lot of corks, scythe and cradle
J. H. Haycock iron __ot, 1 pair of oars
S Lamplugh audirons
Saml Lamplugh 1/2 bushell of apples
Thos Lamplugh breakfast table
John Larkin Jr frow, book
E. McCafferty rope

E. McDade keg, drawing knife, spade and mallet, old kettle, axe, jar,
lot of jugs

Wm. McGlaughlin mouse trap, maul and wedges, hoe and scythe pole, whip saw

Eliza Morton stool, dish

Edward Pierce frying pan, fishing boats, watch, gun, razor and strap, wearing apparel, wood saw, 1/2 doz. Spoons, hauling ___, batteau, large oars, small oars, sail V.C., ____blanket?, pierce new net, piece cotton net, fishing boots, hoop net, furnace V cups

Lewis Pierce knives, forks and box
L. Pierce coffee mill, 2 sad irons, corner cupboard
R. Pierce (probably Rebecca) quilting frames, 1 Yankee clock

L. Rambo bake iron
W.H. Rigby (might be William) corks and bucket, bottle
William Rigby
J. Stevenson looking glass
Thos Taylor wash tub
W. Taylor chair
Issac Toy
T.J. Valentine pitch pot
Joseph Walker lot of wood
L. Walker (probably Lydia) shovel and tongs, jar, ___ffer tray, 2 bottles, teapot
Lydia Walker hatchet, dipping pan, pitcher, 2 chairs, wash tub, case drawer

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Inventory of the William Peirce Estate























The photos here contain a list of the inventory of William Peirce's estate. There were items such as a coffee mill, an axe, whip saw, gridiron, a clock, table and chairs and crockery just to name a few of his possessions. There were also many of the items he used to make a living such as his batteau, large oars, fishing boots, nets, etc. To enlarge the photos just click on them.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Administration transcription continued



I, Rebecca Pierce do hereby renounce my right and do decline administering to the Estate of my late husband William Pierce and request that Letters of Administration be granted to John Larkin Jr.

Witness my hand this 28th day of November A.D. 1838

(Her mark)followed by an X and name Rebecca Pierce

Witness
J___ M. Justis *The first name is hard to read. Could it be John?

Inventory
Filed Dec. 27, 1838

Ad. of Wm. Peirce Dec.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

William Peirce's Administration




Administration
This administration was signed November 28, 1838. The following is an exact transcription of the document. When I first received this from Media courthouse I glanced over all the legal language to look for names of relatives, etc. Typing it out gave me an appreciation for the language of the time. Yes, the legal script has a way of repeating the same verbiage; I suppose it's a way to tie up any possible loopholes. What I never noticed until I typed it all out was a signature at the lower left. John D. Pierce! Another clue! In all the time I have looked this over I never noticed that name. John has to be a relative - maybe the father. I will scan a copy of the admin. and post it later. There is also an inventory of all the goods William owned - from a chamber pot to his fishing boots.
Also, I spelled Pierce as it's written here - Peirce. I have seen both spellings in census, newspapers, etc.


Know all men by these presents, that we, John Larkin Jr., James Huston and John Taylor all of Delaware County and held and firmly bound to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the sum of two hundred dollars, to be paid to the said commonwealth. To the which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, jointly and severally, Sealed with our Seals, dated the twenty eighth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

The condition of this obligation is such, that if the above bounden John Larkin Jr., an Administrator of all and singular, the goods, chattels and credits of William Peirce late of the township of Lower Chichester deceased, to make or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory, of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, which have, or come to the hands possession or knowledge of him, said John Larkin Jr.

Administrator, or foresaid, or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons, for him and the same so made, do exhibit, or cause, to be exhibited, into the Registrar's Office, in the county of Delaware, within thirty days from the date hereof, and the same goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, at the time of his death, which at any time after shall come to the hands or possesion of said John Larkin Jr.

Administrator, or foresaid, or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons, for him to well and truly administer the law: And further, do make, or cause to be made, a true, and just account of his said administration, within one year of the date hereof, or when thereunto legally required; and all the rest and residue of said goods, chattels and credits which shall be found remaining upon the said administration account, (the same being first examined and allowed by the Orphans' Court of the county having jurisdiction) shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively, as the said Orphans' Court, by their decree or sentence, pursuant to law, shall limit and appoint, and shall well and truly comply with the laws of this Commonwealth, relating to collateral inheritances. And if it shall hereafter appear that any last Will and Testament was made by the said deceased, and the same shall be proved according to law, if the said John Larkin Jr., Administrator or foresaid, being thereunto required, do surrender the said Letters of Administration into the Registrar's Office aforesaid, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force.

Signed and Delivered in the Presence of:John D. Peirce
The second signature is hard to decipher. Looks like first name is John and middle initial is a K. Last name looks like _eilen.

Also signed, with seals, by:
John Larkin Jr.
James Huston
John Taylor

Friday, February 8, 2008

William Pierce ? - 1838


This is the information I have for William Pierce. I have also seen his name spelled Peirce. This is quite possibly Edward Pierce's brother. I really think he is based on other information that would make a good case for them to be siblings.

The man who murdered William has his name in the paper as both McLaughlin and McGlaughlin. In addition to the following, I have the administration which is several pages long and lists all his worldly goods. His property was sold off at auction since he did not leave a will. His widow Rebecca was the recipient of the proceeds, after the attorney fees of course!

Upland Union Newspaper
August 21, 1832 - Marriage

At Marcus Hook, on the 2nd inst. by the Rev. J. Walker, Mr/ William Peirce to Miss Rebecca Lamplugh, all of Delaware County.

November 23, 1838 Darby , Pennsylvania
Delaware County Republican
Murder
:
We learn that William Pierce of Marcus Hook, in this county, was killed by a man named McLaughlin on Friday evening last. Pierce, accompanied by McLaughlin, came to this fishing village on Friday morning last for the purpose of selling fish, and left here in a bateau sometime during the day for home. In the evening they arrived at Chester when some slight altercation took place between them, which resulted in McLaughlin striking Pierce over the head with a handspike which caused his death on the following morning. The deceased was a quiet and inoffensive man, and so far as we had an opportunity of judging, strictly temperate. McLaughlin is now in jail, and will probably be tried at the next sessions.

November 29, 1838 – McLaughlin is sentenced to two years at the penitentiary.
Source: History of Delaware County , Pa. by Henry Graham Ashmead. Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. 1884
On November 29, 1838, Thomas McLaughlin was tried for the murder of William Pierce. The defendant, November 16th of the same year, struck the deceased o the head with a handspike, and from the injury death ensued the same day. The jury convicted the accused of manslaughter, accompanying their finding with a recommendation of the prisoner “to the most extended leniency of the court.” McLaughlin was sentenced to two years imprisonment in the penitentiary.
*Note: there must have been extenuating circumstances for a jury to recommend such leniency for one convicted of murder. I do not know what the circumstances may be at this date but hope to find court records or transcripts of the trial.

The following information was provided to me by Helen from padelawa@rootsweb.com. The information is at the Delaware County Archives. I have not requested the file yet:
Name: McGLAUGHLIN, Thomas
Date: Nov 1838 Charge: Murder
Docket & Pg: 3-175


November 30, 1838 Darby , Pennsylvania
Delaware County Republican
Estate Notice:
All persons indebted to the estate of William Pierce, late of the township of Lower Chichester , deceased, are requested to make payment to the undersigned and those having demands against said deceased will present them for settlement. John Larkin Jr., Administrator, residing in Lower Chichester.

*Note: The photo of the batteau is an example; this is not William's batteau.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

George Pierce and gravestone pictures



Thanks to my son Tristan for scanning the photos for me. Thanks to cousin Terry for the grave stone photo. George's photo is grainy as it's from an old newspaper article. When I get the information organized the appropriate photo will be paired with the biographies. Yea!

Edward Pierce

Looks like my first generation of documented Pierces will begin with Edward and William. I do not know the name of the parents. Edward is my great great great grandfather. I strongly believe William is his brother based on the age of William and Edward and the age of Pierce males in the same household on the 1810 census. Naturally, I can not find the copy of the census on which I base this assumption. Arrggh!
Also, when William was murdered, Edward was one of the top buyers of all William's fishing equipment. They share the same surname, live close in Marcus Hook, share the same profession and the ages are a probable match for brothers.

Edward Pierce
1805 - 1875


Edward Pierce was born about 1805 in Pennsylvania. There is evidence that strongly links Edward to the Pierce family from New Castle County, Delaware.

Edward was a riverman or fisherman by trade. He appears in the 1840 census living in Lower Chichester near the Delaware River. He married Jane Forsythe, daughter of John and Jane Forsythe between 1832 and 1834. Jane was born May 1813 in Ireland.

In 1832 their first child, a son they named William Henry was born. By 1838 their family increased to four children. Mary Jane was born in 1834, Emma in 1835 and James F. in 1837.

In 1838, Edward’s brother William, who was also a fisherman, was killed by Thomas McLaughlin. During an argument McLaughlin stuck William Pierce in the head with a handspike. Since William did not leave a will his widow had an auction of their possessions and Edward purchased all of his brother’s fishing equipment.

The Pierce household increased to 7 when son Thomas F. was born in 1840. Edward still fished for a living and they lived in Marcus Hook borough.

Edward and Jane put their home up for sale in 1856.

Delaware County Republican, May 23, 1856
Real Estate: Dwelling House and Lot for Sale
The subscriber offers for sale very low, a two and a half story frame dwelling house and Lot of Ground, situate on the Northeast side of Welsh Street, about one hundred and seventy feet Northwest of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, in the Borough of Chester, now in the occupancy of Edward Pierce. The lot is twenty feet in front on said street, by one hundred and twenty feet in depth. The dwelling is sixteen feet by sixteen feet four inches, with a back kitchen twelve by fifteen feet, two stories high, and a close shed twelve by fourteen feet. The above property is in a good neighborhood, and if applied for soon, can be had cheap.
Real estate agent Edward Price, South Avenue, Media


January 19, 1857, at the young age of 44, Edward’s wife Jane Pierce died. She was buried in Chester Rural Cemetery.

Delaware County American, January 28, 1857
Death Notice
:
At her residence in the Borough of Chester, on Monday the 19th inst., Jane Pierce, wife of Edward D. Pierce, and daughter of the late John Forsythe, aged 44 years, 8 months and 7 days.

A few years later all of Edward and Jane’s children had moved away, either marrying or settling in their own household. Thomas, aged 19, was living in the household of Martha Kerlin. His occupation is Apprentice plasterer/ born PA. Edward appears on the 1860 census as head of the household, age 57, living with a Deborah Pierce who is 40 years old. Since relationships are not stated in the 1860 census it would be good guess that Edward was now remarried.

Edward died July 20, 1875 in Chester, Delaware Co, Pennsylvania

He was removed from Chester Rural and interred on March 22, 1878 in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Permit #2628. I wrote to the caretaker at Mt. Hope and he replied that records prior to the year 1900 were not available. There is an old section of the cemetery with faded, hard to read, grave stones. I would be welcome to take a look, he said.

Requested a will for Edward Pierce from the Registrar of Wills, Media, Pa., and received a letter stating there was "no estate" found on his name. This means if he left a will it was not probated. I received this reply on April 14, 2001.


Children of Edward and Jane Pierce:

William Henry Pierce born 1832
Died July 5, 1870
Married Susannah Harris on April 05, 1857

Mary Jane Pierce born 1832
Died March 4, 1907
Married Isaac Collison

Emma Pierce born 1836
Died
Married Amos Gartside ?

James F. Pierce born February 1837, Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
Died January 07, 1911, Chester, Pennsylvania
Married Edna Hulmes

Thomas F. Pierce born 1840
Died
Married

Sources
1840 census living in Marcus Hook
1850 CENSUS Delaware Co., Pa. Marcus Hook Borough Enumerated August 25, 1850
1860 census
Cemetery information from Chester Rural Cemetery and Char Clark.
Delaware County American newspaper
Delaware County Republican newspaper

Monday, February 4, 2008

Productive weekend






This past weekend was a good one. It was relaxing and productive on many fronts. Friday night we had pizza and watched Stardust. It was a cool movie if you like magic and fantasy..and all three of us do. Saturday we looked at a house on 12.9 acres that is a little further out than we are now. The property was fabulous. It had lots of out buildings, a pole barn, many sheds and a 1 bedroom, 1 bath cottage near the main house. Tristan could stay in the cottage and have some privacy but the drive to school, and work, would be a bit more. When we stood outside the house you could hear birds and nothing else. It was so quiet and reminded us of what it was like at our place 15 years ago. But the house wasn't what we hoped. Nicely maintained and a gorgeous sun room - but the stairs for the 2nd level were so steep a billy goat would have a run for his money. It just wasn't a perfect fit but the property...so beautiful. So, we'll not be moving from Squirrel Head Manor compound and that's fine too. We can always put in a sun room and make other renovations.

Sunday I worked a long time on the biographies. It was one of my more productive days and today I will making cosmetic changes to the layout. I also looked over all the pictures of our vacation in Ireland and it makes me want to organize them by the day trips we took. Right now they are identified by numbers. Here are some of my favorite days. The Cliffs of Moher, Clonmacnoise and Rock of Cashel. I think Doug and Tristan's favorite day was the one between cottages. That definitely was one of the best - the Rock of Dunamase and Roscrea. I'll have to sort those out later and label them properly.

Sunday afternoon we cooked lots of food. I made a big pot of chicken noodle soup for lunch this week and a huge pan of lasagna for dinner. Lots of leftovers. The soup is a favorite.

Soup - Slowly melt 3 tablespoons of butter in large pot. Add chopped carrots, onion, celery and garlic. While this simmers take cooked chicken and cut in small pieces. (Last night I just baked some boneless chicken thighs that were lightly tossed in garlic infused oil.) When veggies are soft, add chicken broth. Use enough broth to accommodate noodles and added chicken. Let this simmer about 15 minutes then add noodles and chicken. Yummy.
Depending on the leftover chicken you use the soup will always have a different taste. One time we had leftover grilled chicken that had marinaded in a key lime juice - that was great soup!

Lasagna -cook Italian sausage( out of the casings) with a chopped onion and several cloves of chopped garlic. When the sausage is crumbled and brown, add a 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes, 15 oz. can of tomato sauce, half cup of red wine, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Let this simmer while you cook the lasagna noodles.
In a bowl combine 15 oz. of ricotta cheese, half cup Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, salt and pepper.
In lasagna pan put three lasagna noodles. Coat the noodles with a third of the ricotta mix. Put a third of the sauce over this and spread. Top with mozzarella cheese. Repeat for the next two layers.
Cook 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove and let sit 30 minutes so you can cut it properly.