History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

Family Records 183
balls were flying so fast that the family was sent to Bristol for safety, and
that while he was going over the top of Ferry Hill on horseback, behind his
mother, a cannon ball passed between the horse's legs. People have since
plowed up grape shot, eight^and twelve pounders, and at one time the half
of a twenty-four pound shot. The embankment of the fort is plainly to be
seen, as well as that of the powder magazine. At one time the British had
entire possession of the island of Rhode island, having a fort at the north
end of the ferry. In the Old Colony records the name of William Pearse
appears as assisting about the fort and furnishing rations for the soldiers.
Members of this Pearse family were wardens of St. Michael's (Episcopal)
Church, Bristol, R. I., for sixty years. The children of William and Lydia
(Brown) Pearse were: Sarah, born Dec. 21, 1742; George, Sept, 15, 1744;
Susanna, Aug. 31, 1746; Ehzabeth, June 20, 1748; William and Lydia.
(V) George Pearse, son of William, born Sept. 15, 1744, resided at
Bristol, R. I. His wife's name was Hannah, and their children were:
Wilham, born March 2, 1766; George, April 28, 1768; Mary, June 4, 1770;
and Hannah, Dec. 22, 1772.
(VI) William Pearse, son of George, was born March 2, 1766, in
Bristol. He married Elizabeth Gilford, born Feb. 27, 1769, and (second)
Ruth Lake, who survived him and died in May 1861. They were residents
of Bristol, R. I. Mr. Pearse died June 19, 1834. His first wife, who died
Jan. 25, 1826, was the mother of all his children: George, born Nov. 14,
1787; Hannah, Oct. 4, 1790; Polly, July 29, 1794; William, March 8,
1798; Hannah (2), Aug. 8, 1800.
(VII) Hon. George Pearse, son of William, was born Nov. 14, 1787.
Sept. 12, 1812, he married Elizabeth T. Childs, born March 31, 1792. Mr.
Pearse died at the home of his son, Wilham H. Pearse, in Swansea, Mass.,
May 12, 1862, in his seventy-fifth year. His remains rest in Juniper Hill
cemetery at Bristol, R. I. He was long prominent in the affairs of the town
and State. For many years a useful member of the Town Council, and
represented the town in both branches of the State Legislature. He was
also a leading member in St. Michael's (Episcopal) Church, and devoted to
the offices of rehgion. Mrs. Elizabeth Tripp (Childs) Pearse died at her
home, Bristol Ferry, Dec. 16, 1854. For about forty years she was a worthy
communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, having been baptized
and confirmed by the Venerable Bishop Griswold, then the beloved Rector
of St. Michael's Church, Bristol.
The children born to George and Elizabeth Tripp (Childs) Pearse
were William H., born June 15, 1813, married Rosanna M. Gardner;
Elizabeth A., born March 19, 1815, married William Augustus Richmond;
Mary, born April 10, 1819, married Dr. Charles Gardner; Joseph C. was
born Aug. 19, 1820; Hannah, born June 23, 1821; married (first) Albert C.
Robinson and (second) William Kenyon, of Wakefield, George G. was born
Jan. 25, 1824; Frances C, born April 6, 1826, married Charles C. Chase;
and Rebecca C, born June 26, 1832, married (first) Daniel Gorham
and (second) Elisha Watson.
(VIII) Wilham H. Pearse, son of George, was born at Bristol Ferry,
R. I., June 15, 1813, and in 1816 came with his parents to the farm in
Swansea, Mass., which was deeded to his grandfather William Pearse by
Alexander Gardner, of Swansea. In 1836 he returned to Bristol Ferry to
run the ferry and take charge of the farm. In 1851, on account of his
health, he removed to Cumberland, R. I., and in 1857 returned to the farm
in Swansea. He died May 9, 1892 in Swansea. At the time of his decease
he had been identified with Christ Church and parish as a vestryman thirtyfive
years, as Junior Warden, eleven years, and as Senior warden twentytwo
years. He was a devout and regular communicant of the Church, a
cheerful, consistent Christian, fond of society and "given to hospitahty."