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.

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.

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