CAPTAIN MICHAEL PIERCE (~1615 – 1676 ) OF HINGHAM AND SCITUATE, MASSACHUSETTS a compiled genealogy of his family including ten generations of descendants of his son John 1 CAPTAIN MICHAEL PIERCE (~1615 – 1676 ) OF HINGHAM AND SCITUATE, MASSACHUSETTS Published 2011 Digital text-only version 2017. Carole (Pierce) Gardner 690 Gonzales Road #11 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 Cover images: The Last Will and Testament of Captain Michael Pierce dated 15 January 1675, with his signature from that document – Peirse. 2 CAPTAIN MICHAEL PIERCE (~1615 – 1676 ) PREFACE This genealogy begins with Captain Michael Pierce and his family, continuing through ten Pierce generations: Michael1, John2, John3, Elisha4, Elisha5, Eliphalet6, Hollom7, Sherman Nathan8, Charles Edwin9, his children and grandchildren, including the writer among the last group. Genealogical work on the earliest families in America has been done by a great number of researchers over the years, and I hope this document will add to the body of knowledge on this Pierce family. Of interest to researchers of the early generations of Pierce’s will be the compilation of material specifically on Captain Michael Pierce and his family. I have brought source documents together in one place in an effort to provide better, and in some cases, corrected information on this family. This includes information on his children and their families, and well as both of his wives. The book continues through Michael’s third and last son, John, and four generations of his descendants who remained in Bristol County. Massachusetts. New information is provided on these families that has not been published previously. Then in 1804, Eliphalet Pierce was the first to leave Massachusetts, and with his new wife, Annis McMichel, he removed to western New York and finally to Illinois, beginning the spread of this Pierce family to the western states. Sections in the book are built around family groups in order to keep related families together. As a result, some duplication of information will allow the main events of a family group to be read as a chapter. Many genealogical publications have correctly focused specifically on the facts, and that has also been the case with this book. Some material including letters, transcriptions of wills, and other stories have also been added to provide some sense of the times. In addition, I have been fortunate to receive many excellent and early photographs and I am pleased to include over 100 pages of images in this book. Of course, there will be the inevitable errors and omissions for which I accept responsibility, and I welcome any new information or corrections. I trust that this work will provide a firm basis for further investigation by other researchers, and for the enjoyment of Pierce descendants. _____________________ "IT IS BETTER TO WRITE SOMETHING NOW, THAN EVERYTHING NEVER." - AN UNKNOWN GENEALOGIST 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many researchers have contributed to this work, in particular the following whom I wish to thank. Significant work was done by my cousin, Gene Paul Ewert, who carefully researched the descendants of Sherman Nathan Pierce and kept detailed source documents. The professional researchers at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society found key information. Any genealogist also appreciates the efforts of libraries, local historical societies, county clerks, archives, and the fast-growing internet resources; all too many to name, but crucial to the work. Kathleen Mae Stockton shared information on Milo Lucius Pierce and the descendants of Mary Charlotte (Pierce) Jones, also helped read and edit. Together we wrote a small book on Milo, much of which is also included in this book. Barbara Chambless, a descendant of Seneca Delos Pierce, and Lara Ann Porter, a descendant of Amanda (Pierce) Johnson, added needed information on both families, as well as a collection of absolutely wonderful photographs. Many others who are directly, indirectly, or not even related to this family added and corrected information and provided photographs. Among those were Gail Terry, Linda Pierce Shaw, Corinne Pierce Way, Penny McClendon, Matthew Ferricks, Gary Barker, Robert McMaster, Tula and Robert R. Pierce, Dale L. Lange, Larry Maddocks, Sheryl McBeth, Sharon Leigh Shea, Ardis Tobin, Joan Lund, Jeannie Miyama, Elvis Fleming, Deb Williams, Amy Wilson, Sharon Soper Carson, Betty McCreery, Jeanne Lawrence, Donna Rae Hall, Chris Baughn, Brad Pierce, Ronald J. Wigge, and Rich Kinnard. Many, many others also helped fill in blanks and their efforts are hopefully rewarded by this compiled genealogy. This book would not have completed without the expertise of Heinz Kagerer, who managed the details of publication. Finally, I acknowledge my mother, Mrs. Howard Kenneth Pierce (Mildred Seward), who communicated with many family members and researchers to document this family line. She worked in the 1970s, prior to the availability of the internet and computer genealogy programs, and still amassed a great body of information using libraries and the U.S. Mail. Not only did she research the Pierce, Drew, and a number of other families, she was the editor and publisher for three years of a quarterly newsletter, called “Seward Cousins”, an excellent information source for a large readership. I dedicate this genealogy to her, with much love and apologies for not having appreciated much earlier the fascination of putting the puzzle of history together. 4 CONTENTS Page numbers at right are for Printed book Page numbers for this digital text version are in brackets. Illustrations are in separate PDF files. Preface i Acknowledgments ii Contents iii Captain Michael1 Pierce 1 [6] John2 Pierce Sr. and John3 Pierce Jr. 32 [33] Elisha4 Pierce Sr. and Elisha5 Pierce Jr. 48 [40] Illustrations, Massachusetts 59 Eliphalet6 Pierce 71 [60] Illustrations, Eliphalet Pierce family 83 Hollom7 Pierce 99 [73] Illustrations, Hollom Pierce family 147 Sherman Nathan8 Pierce 189 [121] Sarah (Boughan) Pierce Letter 213 Samantha (Pierce) Petrie Letter 217 Illustrations, Sherman Pierce family 221 Timeline of American History and these Pierce families 257 [153] Afterword 261 [157] 5 CAPTAIN MICHAEL PIERCE of HINGHAM [1] AND THE FIRST TWO GENERATIONS OF HIS DESCENDANTS 1 MICHAEL PIERCE was born in England, possibly at or near St. George, Fordington, Dorsetshire, his birth date estimated at 1615.[2] As of this writing, his parentage has not been found. However, he is related to, but not a son of, Thomas1 Pierce (~1584-1666) of Charlestown, Massachusetts, per DNA testing.[3] The spelling of Michael’s surname varies considerably, beginning with Peirse in his will, and more commonly Peirce or Pierce in subsequent documents, and occasionally Purse, Perce, and Pearce. The spelling Pierce will be used in this document. Michael Pierce came to Hingham, Massachusetts Bay Colony about 1644. Several land records show his location and associations. Land at White Head at Conihasset in Scituate was assigned to him by 1647, and he also bought marshland from William James that had originally been allotted to John Woodfield.[4] The date of assignment of land in Scituate is from seventeenth century town records.[5] In 1656, his land in Hingham is mentioned as bordering that of William Ripley.[6] 2 1 [7] About 1644, Michael Pierce and PERSIS EAMES (Anthony ) married. She was born about 1621 in England, the daughter of Anthony Eames and Margery (___).[8] The parish church records of St. George at Fordington, Dorset, England show the baptism of Persis Eames on 28 October 1621.[9] Her death is recorded in the journal of Rev. Peter Hobart, “Dec. 31, 1662, Michaell Perces wife dyed.” This entry follows the record of their last 1 I am reasonably comfortable with the research and documentation for Captain Michael Pierce, his two spouses, his children and their spouses. I have also included the names of Michael’s grandchildren and their spouses with enough information to assist further exploration of those descendants. The continuation of this document will begin with John2 Pierce (Michael1) and his direct line. 2 James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of First Settlers of New England, before 1692, (Genealogical Publishing Co., Boston 1860-62, Reprinted Baltimore 1994) 2:1809-19. Location is where his wife, Persis Eames was born. 3 Pierce/Northern DNA Project, Haplo Group C, R1B1. www.piercednanorth.com, The writer of this publication is a descendant of Michael Pierce and 1st cousin of the DNA participant, Gary Pierce. 4 Harvey Hunter Pratt, The Early Planters of Scituate: a History of the Town of Scituate, MA from its Establishment to the End of the Revolutionary War, (The Scituate Historical Society, 1919), pp. 325-9. 5 Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, The Seventeenth-Century Town Records of Scituate, Massachusetts, 3 Vols., (New England Historic Genealogical Society [NEHGS], Boston, 1946/1999), 1:59. 6 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, [NEHGR], (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston), 6:355, 8:60. 7 Based on birth of child, Persis who was baptized 7 Jan 1645/6 at Hingham, Mass. NEHGR 121:18, Rev. Peter Hobart Journal, 1635-1714. 8 Massachusetts Bay Colony Records, Vol., IV, part 1, p. 380. Document references “Michaell Pearse”, the son-in-law of Anthony Eames. 9 National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 121:18 6 daughter, Persis who was born five days before her mother died. “Dec. 26 1662, Michaell Perces daughter borne.”[1] On 15 June 1653, Michael paid seven pounds to James Garrett for an apprentice for nine years named