Update on William Pierce

A big shout out to my Jackson cousin, Chuck Phillips, who is very talented when deciphering old writing. Thanks Chuck! The earlier posts for William Pierce/Peirce, dated February 13th and 15th, had a few mysteries regarding the writing. The frow or froe (listed as part of William's property that was sold off) is a cutting tool. Chuck tells me it could be used to cut barrel staves or shingles among other things. And the notation VC after a few articles is actually an ampersand. Like a VC = the word "and" for "cups and" or "corks and ....". The V is an &.

Cousin Char has met another Pierce cousin who lives in Boston. We'll have to share all our info and see where we are on brick walls. Today the plan is to add to James Pierce's information and get it formatted to post tomorrow. After James we can move on to his children and the murder trial. Lots of good reading in those old newspapers. Stay tuned.....

Later today the Shibas will need a ride to the pet store for more food, new bowl and good walk around the lake.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 SaleThe 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