PERS/ PEIRCE
John Pers/Peirce of Watertown was a freeman in
Watertown in March of 1637/38 . He was
granted his first lot of land on 10 May 1642, and later bought three more
lots. He was a weaver by trade.
His daughter, Elizabeth, was insane before 1661 and
her children were given to John Peirce in guardianship. His will, and his wife’s will names their
children and grandchildren. For the
story of the Ball children, see my Surname Saturday post from last week
--------------------------------.
Will of “John Perc” 4 March 1657/8, proven 1 October
1661
In the name of God amen the fourth day of the i mo Anno Dom
1657/8 I John Perse of Watertowne in the County of Midlesex in New England
weaver, being through the Lords mercy in good health, Sound mind and of good
understanding. do make and ordaine this my last will & Testamt. My poore
mortall Soule I do Desire freely and humbly to leave it in the everlasting
Armes of the mercies of God the father in Christ Jesus My body I comitt to the
earth to be decently buried at the Discreation of my Executrix, And as for my
outward estate wch the Lord hath been pleased of his goodness to blesse me with
all, and for a short time to make me Steward of, My Will is that (my funeral
expences and all other my just debts being first payd and fully Sattisfied) My
loveing wife Elizabeth Perse shall freely have and enjoy the same i.e. my
dwelling house outhouses and all my lands Cattle, corne, & all other my
goods and Chattlells Debts and Dues of what wr or kind soever, out of wch, my
will is that shee the said Elizabeth with in one yeare next comeing after my
decesae shall pay or cause to be payd unto my Eldest sonne Anthony Perse Twenty
shillings and to the rest of my Children ten shillings a peece, to be payd in
Country pay, also I Do hereby nominate & Appoynt the above said Elizabeth
Sole Executrix of this my last will and Testamt In witness whereof I the said
John Perse have here unto put my hand & seale the Day and yeare first above
written
John Pers
John Pers
Watertown, Middlesex County Probate #17450, the will
of Elizabeth Peirce
In
the name of God Amen I Elizabeth Pearse of wattertowne in the county
of Middlesex in New England doo make and ordaine this my last will and
testament in maner and forme following, viz I being aged and sicke of
body but of good and perfect memory blessed and praysed be God first I
recommend my soule and spirit into the handes of god that gave it hoping
through the merits of Jesus Christ to have eternall life: and my body to
the earth whereof itt was made and to be buried at the discretion of my
executor hereafter mentioned Imp I give and bequeath to my son Robt
Pearse all my meadow or sixteene pound Sterling at the liberty of my
executor: also I give and bequeath to my son John Pearse 2 of my cowes
now in the hands of John Ball Jur when ther time comes out with him: also
I give and bequeath to my dauther Ester Moss one of my fether beds wch
she shall make choice of and one bolster one pillow one covering one
grene blanket and my yoke of oxen now in the hands of John Ball Jnr when
ther time comes out with him: also I give and bequeath to my dauther Mary
Coldum my best green Ruge and one paire of Sheets and my bigest brass
Keatle and all my wearing clothes and my great looking glass and my cob
irons: also I give and bequeath to my two grandchildren Mary and Ester
Ball six pound to each of them to be payd by my executor two yeare after
my decease and then to be improved for and to ther use by the discretion
of my executor untill the time of their maridge or the age of eighteene
yeares and then to come into their hands with the p'duce further I give
and bequeath to my grandchild John Pearse son to my son Anthony Pearse
twenty shill also I give and bequeath to my grandchild Mary Pearse
dauther to my son Anthony twenty shill also I give and bequeath to my
grandchild Judah Sawen twenty shill: also I give and bequeath to my grand
child Ester Moss dauther to Joseph twenty shill: also I give and bequeath
to my grand child Judah Pearse dauther to my son Robt Pearse twenty
shill: and all the rest of my estate both houses lands goods cattle
chattles debtes or whatever is mine I do hereby give and bequeath to my
son Anthony Pearse and I doo hearby make and ordain my Aforesaid son
Anthony Pearse my full and sole executor of this my last will and
testament requiring him to perform all and every part hearof according to
the true intent and meaning thereof in witness wherof I have hearunto
anexed my hand and seale this 15th of the first month in the yeare
1666-7.
of Middlesex in New England doo make and ordaine this my last will and
testament in maner and forme following, viz I being aged and sicke of
body but of good and perfect memory blessed and praysed be God first I
recommend my soule and spirit into the handes of god that gave it hoping
through the merits of Jesus Christ to have eternall life: and my body to
the earth whereof itt was made and to be buried at the discretion of my
executor hereafter mentioned Imp I give and bequeath to my son Robt
Pearse all my meadow or sixteene pound Sterling at the liberty of my
executor: also I give and bequeath to my son John Pearse 2 of my cowes
now in the hands of John Ball Jur when ther time comes out with him: also
I give and bequeath to my dauther Ester Moss one of my fether beds wch
she shall make choice of and one bolster one pillow one covering one
grene blanket and my yoke of oxen now in the hands of John Ball Jnr when
ther time comes out with him: also I give and bequeath to my dauther Mary
Coldum my best green Ruge and one paire of Sheets and my bigest brass
Keatle and all my wearing clothes and my great looking glass and my cob
irons: also I give and bequeath to my two grandchildren Mary and Ester
Ball six pound to each of them to be payd by my executor two yeare after
my decease and then to be improved for and to ther use by the discretion
of my executor untill the time of their maridge or the age of eighteene
yeares and then to come into their hands with the p'duce further I give
and bequeath to my grandchild John Pearse son to my son Anthony Pearse
twenty shill also I give and bequeath to my grandchild Mary Pearse
dauther to my son Anthony twenty shill also I give and bequeath to my
grandchild Judah Sawen twenty shill: also I give and bequeath to my grand
child Ester Moss dauther to Joseph twenty shill: also I give and bequeath
to my grand child Judah Pearse dauther to my son Robt Pearse twenty
shill: and all the rest of my estate both houses lands goods cattle
chattles debtes or whatever is mine I do hereby give and bequeath to my
son Anthony Pearse and I doo hearby make and ordain my Aforesaid son
Anthony Pearse my full and sole executor of this my last will and
testament requiring him to perform all and every part hearof according to
the true intent and meaning thereof in witness wherof I have hearunto
anexed my hand and seale this 15th of the first month in the yeare
1666-7.
Some sources for Peirce genealogy include
Peirce Genealogy: being the record of the posterity of John Pers, an early
inhabitant of Watertown, by Frederick Clifton Pierce, 1880 (available
to read at Google Books) and the Pierce Surname Project at Rootsweb.com http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pierces/ResourceCenter.html
Some famous Peirce descendants include President
Franklin Peirce (1804 – 1869), President
Calvin Coolidge (1872 – 1933), and
Barbara Peirce Bush (born 8 June 1925), First Lady and also mother of a
president.
My Peirce genealogy:
Generation 1:
John Peirce, born about 1588 in England, died 2 September 1661 in
Watertown, Massachusetts; married before 1609 to Elizabeth Unknown, who died on
12 March 1668. Eight children.
Generation 2: Elizabeth Peirce, born about 1620,
died about 3 October 1665 in Lancaster, Massachusetts; married as his first
wife to John Ball who died 10 September 1675.
Five children. Elizabeth’s sister, Judith (1623 – 1650) was
the second wife of my 9x great grandfather, Francis Wyman (1617 – 1699).
Generation 3: John Ball m. Sarah Bullard
Generation 4: Daniel Ball m. Mary Earl
Generation 5: Mary Ball m. Joseph Mixer
Generation 6. Lucy Mixer m. Andrew Munroe
Generation 7: Andrew Munroe m. Ruth Simonds
Generation 8: Luther Simonds Munroe m. Olive Flint
Generation 9: Phebe Cross Munroe m. Robert Wilson
Wilkinson
Generation 10: Albert Munroe Wilkinson m. Isabella
Lyons Bill
Generation 11: Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha
Louise Roberts (my grandparents)
Click here to read a bit of genealogical serendipity
involving the Peirce family and my daughter’s wedding plans http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/04/wedding-serendipity.html
Click here to read about another Peirce connection-
the story of Ivory Wilkinson AKA Ivory Peirce
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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo
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