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 1780 - Bef 1850 (~ 70 years)
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| Name |
William Pearce |
| Birth |
Between 1770-1780 |
| Gender |
Male |
| Military |
War of 1812  |
| Death |
Bef 06 Feb 1850 |
Patriarch & Matriarch |
Windsor Pearce, b. Abt 1740 d. Bef Aug 1823 (Age ~ 83 years) (Father)  Keziah, b. 1725, VA (Grandmother) |
| Notes |
- *Note All listing before 1810 may be for an older William Pearce
1778, July 6 -- Land Warrant #195, Randolph County, NC
John Peirce issued warrant for 250 acres located on Fork Creek
Surveyed Feb 4, 1789 -- Wm. Pierce served as a Chain Carrier
Grant #588 issued Nov 24, 1790
Warrant was sol by Windsor Pearce to John Pierce on Feb 4, 1789
1785 -- General Assembly Session Records, Petiton for Public Buildings, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce signed a petition to erect a courthouse in the center of the county
1787, Nov 20 -- 1784-1795 Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Moore County, NC Page 174
William Pearce v. Mathew Davis and Josiah Maples
1788, Jan 29 -- Deed Book 4, Page 19, Randolph County, NC
William Searcy (of Montgomery County) deeded William Pearce 200 acres located north of Fork Creek and Rocky Creek adjoining Adam Andrews and Widow Andrews. William Bowdon and John Pearce were witnesses.
1789, Feb 4 -- Land Grant #551, Randolph County, NC
John Pierce [assignee of Windsor Pearce] received 250 acres located on Deep River adjoining Nall, Bowdon, Searcy and Samuel Perry. Wm. Pierce and Thos. Waddle were chain carriers.
1789, Aug 8 -- Deed Book 4, Page 55, Randolph County, NC
James Whittel deeded William Reed (of Moore County) 240 acres located on Brush Creek. William Pearce and Winsor Pearce were witnesses.
1790, Jun 16 -- Deed Book 4 Page 79, Randolph County, NC
Winsor Pearce [via Sheriff due to judgement] deeded William Bowdown 100 acres located on creek formerly called Pearces Creek and Gardner Road adjoining Wm. Pearce.
1792, Feb 14 -- Will Book A Page 159, Moore County, NC
Bill of Sale from Lewis Spinks, Edward Moore Jur., William Pearce and Molly Pearce to William Williamson for negro Charles. Hardy Davis and Cornelius Lathom were witnesses. Proven in county court May 1792.
1792, May 24 -- 1784-1795 Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Moore County, NC Page 357
Bill of Sale for Lewis Spinks, Edward Moore Jur, William Pearce and Molly Pearce proven by Cornelius Latham
1793, Dec 10 -- Land Warrant #189, Randolph County, NC
William Armstead issued warrant for 150 acres adjoining Win. Pearce /or/ Wm. Pearce
Surveyed Apr 21, 1798, Grant #1357 issued Jan 30,1800
1797, Feb 21 -- Land Warrant #297, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce entered 100 acres located on Rocky Creek
Warrant issued Mar 26, 1800, Surveyed Mar 10, 1801, Grant #1961 issued Aug 24, 1803.
1797, Dec 13 -- Deed Book 8 Page 116, Randolph County, NC
William Searcy deeded William Pearce 30 acres located north of Deep River adjoining N. Nall. Proven by William Armstead Nov 1799.
1798, Apr 21 -- Land Grant #1301, Randolph County, NC
William Armistead received 350 acres adjoining Smith, Wm. Pearce, own line and Widow Latham (wife of Cornelius Latham Dec'd.). Travis Bowdon and James Smith were chain carriers.
1798, Apr 21 -- Land Grant #1302, Randolph County, NC
William Armistead received 150 acres adjoining Adam Andrews, Windsor Pearce or Wm. Pearce and Charles Steward. Travis Bowdon and James Smith were chain carriers.
1799 -- Tax List, Randolph County, NC
William Pirce listed 1 white poll and 875 acres in William Armstead's District
1801, Mar 12 -- Land Grant #1932, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce received 100 acres located on Rocky Creek adjoining Travis Bowdon, John Pearce, Nall, William Bowdon, Armistead and his own line. Travis Bowdon and James Phillips were chain carriers.
1802, Aug 25 -- Land Grant #2075, Randolph County, NC
William Armstead Esq. received 42 acres located on Fork Creek adjoining Pearce and Bowdon. Wm. Pearce and Wm. Smith were chain carriers.
1808, Aug 22 -- Deed Book 12 Page 336, Randolph County, NC
William Smith deeded William Pearce 100 acres located on Rock Creek of Deep River adjoining Searcy. Reuben Pearce and John Pearce listed as witnesses.
1810 -- Census, Randolph County, NC Page 176
William Pearce
(26-45) 1M 1F
1814, Apr 4 -- Deed Book 12 Page 335, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce deeded Reuben Pearce 250 acres located south of Deep River adjoining Nall and Bowden. Windsor Pearce and Sherwood Parrish listed as witnesses.
1815 -- Tax List, Randolph County, NC
William Pierce listed 385 acres valued at $500 located on Rock Creek
William Pierce listed 10 acres valued at $40 located on Deep River
1818, May 18 -- Estate of James Massey, Chatham County, NC
William Pearce purchased several items
1820 -- Tax List, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce listed 385 acres valued at $700 located on Rock Creek
William Pearce (for Reuben Pearce) listed 265 acres valued at $500 on Deep River
William Pearce (for Windsor Pearce) listed 200 acres valued at $100 located on Seader Creek
1821, Feb 12 -- Estate, Chatham County, NC
Estate of Russell Massey Dec'd. by Administrators William Pearce, Thomas Craven and Redding Bryan
1821, Mar 21 -- Deed Book 14 Page 80-83, Randolph County, NC
Thomas Matthews deeded William Pearce several tracts [1] 100 acres located north of Fork Creek adjoining Adam Andrews. Part of tract granted to Adam Andrews. [2] 150 acres located north of Fork Creek and west of Rock Creek adjoining his own line [3] 30 acres located on Rock Creek adjoining his own line and Pearce. [4] 350 acres located on Rock Creek adjoining his own line. Ollave Pearce is listed as a witness.
1823, Aug 21 -- Deed Book 14 Page 522, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce deeded Hugh Moffitt 350 acres located north of Fork Creek adjoining Nall and Armistead. Jno. K. Armistead and Richard Ferguson were witnesses.
1830 -- Census, Randolph County, NC Page 4
William Peerce
(50-60) 1M
(40-50) 1F
(20-30) 1F
(15-20) 1F
(10-15) 1M 1F
(5-10) 1M 1F
1831, Jul -- Tax List, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce listed 478 acres valued at $478 on Rock Creek in Capt. Brower's District
1836, May 3-Sep 1845 -- Estate, Randolph County, NC
Estate of James Johnson, Dec'd. by Administrator James Johnson. Items were purchased by the following: Jesse Larrance, John Shamburger, Carrol Brady, Lewis Spinks, Hiram Williamson, Lucy Waddle, John Lowdermilk, Charles Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Christian Stutts, John Needham, Jas. Pool and Geo. Rogers. Heirs: widow Sarah Johnson; James Johnson; John D. Johnson; Jesse Johnson; Susan/Susannah, wife of Wm. Whittle; Thomas Johnson; Jinney/Jane, wife of Elliott Lowdermik; Sarah Johnson; Elizabeth Johnson; Enoch S. Johnson; Charles W. Johnson; Wm. Johnson; Patsey Johnson; Wincey Ann Johnson. Dower laid out by: Geo. Hoover, John Cassady, Wm. Gardner, Abraham Brower, Thos. Golston, Wm. Carr, Wm. Pearce, Thos. Wilson and Aaron Tyson. Real Estate: [1] Home tract 184 acres on Deep River adjoining Lewis Spinks. [2] 190 acres on Fork Creek adjoining John Lowdermilk and Pearce. [3] 250 acres on Fork Creek adjoining Aaron Tyson and Pearce. [4] 200 acres known as Piny Woods tract adjoining Hugh Moffitt Esq. [5] 200 acres on Tibb Run adjoining Hugh Moffitt. Eli Brower, James G. Tomlinson, Alfred Brower, Merritt A. Sugg, Wm. Bird and Joab Lambert gave testimony Mar 13, 1838 in at Moffitts Mills that Johnson died on a trip to Alabama in Spring 1836. Purpose of the trip was to get a conveyance from his brother [in AL] so that he could convey the land to his son James provided he would not move west himself.
1839, Nov 4 -- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty, File R3908 James Gardner
James Gardner, 84 year old resident [born Oct 1, 1754 in Randolph County, NC] filed for pension. File contains information that James Gardner hired Winsor Pearce as his substitute. William Pearce, Jesse Larrance and Wm. Bird [Randolph County residents] submitted affidavits of support. Gardner's son, Dolphin Gardner, submitted claim on Jan 8, 1853 stating that his father, James Gardner, and his mother, Elizabeth Gardner, were both deceased.
1840 -- Census, Randolph County, NC Page 85
William Peerce
(70-80) 1M
(50-60) 1F
(30-40) 1M
(20-30) 2F
(15-20) 1F
1842, May 2 -- Deed Book 27 Page 233-234, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce deeded Reuben Pearce 540 acres located on Rock Creek adjoining Olive Pearce, Lowdermilk and Murdock. Russel M. Sugg and Alfd. Brower were witnesses.
1842, May 30 -- Deed Book 24 Page 274-276, Randolph County, NC
William Pearce deeded chattel to Hugh Kelly to pay off debt to Reuben Pearce. Wm. Bird was a witness. [Editor's Note: It appears that William Pearce sold several goods and chattel to pay off outstanding debts.]
1850, Feb 6 -- County Court Minutes, Randolph County, NC
Letters of Administration on the Estate of William Pearce, decd. are granted to Jesse Murray who enters into bond in the sum of $600 with John McLeod as his security and is qualified
1850, Feb 6 -- Estate of William Pearce, Randolph County, NC
Jesse Murray named administrator with John McLeod as security. *No further documents found.
1859, Feb 7-Feb 1861 -- Estate of Keziah Pearce, Randolph County, NC
Lists heirs of deceased brother William [Reuben Pearce, Thomas M. Pearce, Polly Maness, Margaret Pearce, Jane Murray, wife of Jesse Murray] and sister Ferebee Moore, wife of Edward Moore and sister Molly Spinks, wife of Lewis Spinks. Mentioned that both Ferebee & Edward Moore and Molly & Lewis Spinks had removed from Randolph County over twenty years prior and had not been heard from since.
1860, May 7 -- Deed, Randolph County, NC
Estate of Windsor Pearce deeded Alfed Lowdermilk 250 acres located on Deep River. *The deed mentions petition of William Pearce & other v. the heirs of Pherebe Moore.
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| Person ID |
I03245 |
Moore County Wallaces |
| Last Modified |
18 May 2022 |
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| Documents
|
 | 1792 County Court Minutes, Moore County, NC Page 356-357
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 | 1801 Land Grant, Randolph County, NC #1932 - William Pearce
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 | 1839 Revolutionary War Pension Application, Page 3 - James Gardner
William Pearce's sworn testimony to James Gardner's service |
 | 1839 Revolutionary War Pension Application, Page 4 - James Gardner
2nd Page of William Pearce's sworn testimony. Includes William Pearce's signature. |
 | 1839 Revolutionary War Pension Application, Page 5 - James Gardner
James Gardner's sworn statement regarding his service mentioning William Pearce |
 | 1839 Revolutionary War Pension Application, Page 7 - James Gardner
Randolph County Clerk of Court certifying William Pearce's testimony |
 | 1850 Estate, Randolph County, NC - Estate of William Pearce
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 | 1859 Estate, Randolph County, NC - Estate of Keziah Pearce (Page 2)
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 | 1847 Estate, Randolph County, NC - Estate of Olive Pearce (Page 2)
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 | 1860 Deed, Randolph County, NC - Estate of Windsor Pearce to Alfred Lowdermilk
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| Histories |
 | 1788 Petition, Randolph County, NC - Courthouse
1788, Nov 20 -- Nov 1788-Dec 1788, General Assembly Session Records Box 2, Folder 1
To the Honourable the Gennerall Assembly for the State of North Carolina
The Petition of the Inhabitance of Randolph County Humbly Sheweth That a Number of them Labour at a Great Disadvantage in Attending on Public Meetings Owing to the Place Whare the Coarte is held being so fare from the Center of the said County We your Humble Petitioners Beg that your Honourable Boddy Would Pass an Act Directing that Commishoners be Appointed for the Purpose of Centering the Said County & Erecting the Publick Buildings At or Neare the Center of the Said County and We your Petitioners are Ever Bound to Pray etc. [selected signers] Richard Bird, William Bird, Nimrod Brewer, Arther Reade, Isaac Redfarn, Jas. Ledlow, Jas. Lathem Junr., Wm. Reade Junr., Jno. Williamson, Wm. Needham, Math. Deaton, Eldrig Deaton, Windsor Pearce, Joseph Hix, Arther Smith, Michall Andrews, Howell Brewer Sen., Wm. Richeson, Jno. Lathem, Wm. Lathem, Drury Richeson, Jas. Needham, William Smotherman, Cornelias Lathom, Thoms. Cost Sen., Thos. Cost Junr., Jas. Lathom Senr., Johnson Lathom, William Searcy, Joseph Carr, Wm. Neadom, John Garner, Rolle Spinks, John Pearce, John Read, Wm. Argo, Robt. Carr, John Deaton, John Spinks, Lewis Spinks, Garrot Spinks, Enoch Spinks, William Read, Adam Andrews, Davis Andrews, Charles Stewart, William Pearce, Thos. Waddill, Dennis Carpender, John Needham Senr. and Wm. Smith.
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| Sources |
- [S1081] Todd Dorsett [tadorsett@comcast.net], 09 Jun 2010.
William has always been a mystery. He's like the invisible generation between two very visible ones. I tend to believe the version that William was older, born around 1765, and that he and his first wife, assuming he was married twice, had no surviving issue. The documents pertaining to the estate settlements clearly shows that William left only Jane, Margaret, Mary, Reuben, and Thomas; therefore, if he had had any children to a first wife, they died without issue. The estate papers also indicate that Windsor left surviving him only Mary Spinks, Pharabee Moore, Olive, Keziah, and William. NOW....some researchers seem convinced that Reuben Pearce, of Clarke county, Alabama, was Windsor's son. This would certainly make sense. Reuben is a Searcy name; the one in AL died before Windsor died; and AL Reuben appears to have been childless. So...it is conceivable that when the pleadings regarding the estate of Windsor Pearce were drafted, the scribe deemed it unnecessary to mention Reuben. (Today they would mention him just to set the record straight that his line is extinct.) BUT if Reuben were Windsor's other son, then that would explain the male you discuss from the Census records, living with Windsor.
Also, if we could determine the date of birth of Reuben, we probably could better determine the date of birth of William, because the eldest son would, without doubt, have been named for William Searcy. So, if Reuben were born in 1770, we could assume that William was born in the 1760s. &c.
Now, I have found this rule-of-thumb very helpful: You could count on XVIII and XIX century mothers to have borne children till around age 43 or their death, whichever came first. So if we assume that Keziah was the youngest child of Windsor, we can pretty well say that Mary Searcy Pearce was born no earlier than 1737, give or take a year. It is just a fact that during that period, women produced children about every other year from the time they married (or not) until they were roughly 43. It is reasonable to conclude that Mary Searcy Pearce was born around 1737, and that Windsor was easily a few years older, thus making him old enough to be the man in the earliest land records yet not too old to have lived to 1823.
If we assume that Mary Searcy Pearce was born around 1737, then she could easily have borne children as early as 1757. I'm not so sure that she did, but she certain bore Pharabee in 1769.
BOTTOM LINE: I suspect that Reuben Pearce, whoever he was, is the younger man in Windsor's household. Don't forget, also, that some of those men in the household could be employees; they didn't need to be family. The four women were probably Mary and the daughters Mary, Olive, and Keziah.
As far as William's wife, the genealogy regulars around Randolph county have suspected she was a Bennett. Consequently, I had suspected some connection to the William Bennett who purchased Windsor Pearce's SC land in 1786 (which would be, I think, near the present Bennettsville, SC). But it seems very odd that William and his wife (if Molly of 1792 was indeed his wife) had no known children prior to the birth of Janette/Jane (Mrs. Jesse Murray) around 1809.
Furthermore, I have always suspected a relationship to the Sugg family who lived near William Pearce's family at Erect. The uncommon name Merritt comes down in both families, and there seemed to be a close bond among these family members. I have also wondered why Thomas, the son of William Pearce, was called "Thomas M. Pearce." As you probably know, when several men in a given locality had the same name, some would interpose the initial letter of their mother's maiden names as their own middle initials. So why wasn't our Thomas "Thomas B." (if his mother was Molly Bennett) or "Thomas K." (if his mother was Polly Keane)? Perhaps his middle name was Merritt? Or did his mother's maiden name start with "M"?
There was a lady a few years ago who asked whether there were any Pearces buried in Old Mount Olivet Cemetery. She specifically mentioned our Reuben and Thomas, and speculated that they were sons of one Elizabeth, daughter of James Massey, of Chatham county, who died in 1818. Apparently, this particular James Massey was the father of none other than Sarah, wife of Joel Sugg, who was the mother of Warren Sugg (Wake county), Merritt A. Sugg, and Russell M. Sugg (the latter two from Erect, Randolph county). And James Massey apparently mentions in his will his daughter Elizabeth PEARCE. James Massey also had children THOMAS, Russell, Margaret, and Mary, the latter two daughters having married Bryans. This is not ready to submit to the jury; however, I believe the circumstantial evidence is convincing. It all certainly answers positively many questions I have had over the years. And the Chatham county connection may explain why we could never before find a marriage we knew was positively our William Pearce. The Chatham records from that period seem sketchy...Apparently James Massey was a substantial citizen of Chatham, and he seems to have married Miss Jane Poe, daughter of one of the Simon Poe fellows who were likewise prominent in Chatham in the late Eighteenth century. Consequently, the Massey and Poe families should not be too difficult to trace.
When William Pearce got old and could no longer generate income, he deeded everything to his son Reuben, a carpenter, who was the sole bread-winner for the family at that time. So Reuben ended up with around 800 acres of land, and Thomas M. got nothing. Then Reuben married Elizabeth Gatlin but never had children. From all I have seen, Elizabeth was a good wife, daughter, sister, and aunt to the Pearces (I think she had been a teacher.). But when Reuben died and left the choice portion of his estate to Elizabeth, the Pearces were infuriated. Even though Reuben divided the farm fairly equitably amongst his widow, nieces, and nephews, and gave Thomas and Edith life estates on the part of the farm they occupied and cultivated, Thomas and his sisters' families still challenged the will. Of course, they lost, and the portion of the estate which would have come to the Pearces, Manesses, and Murrays, etc., had to be sold to pay the costs of suit, etc.
Interestingly, Reuben made no mention of Uncle Alex in his will, and Alex was not party to the subsequent nonsense. I have to wonder what my great-grandfather, John, must have been thinking when he joined in that suit. He was comfortably situated in Davidson county, and had, from nothing, amassed a respectable estate of his own (which my grandmother then spent trying to get cured of tuberculosis). Had they not contested the will, they would have inherited small portions of a large farm. And "Aunt Elizabeth" might have looked kindly upon them still. Instead, they got nothing, and Thomas M. died in the process.
Now back to the Bill of Sale in 1792. We assume that Tommy Pearce was William's youngest child; at least he is the youngest of whom we know anything. He was born around 1820/1821; therefore, if we use the rule that his mother could not have been more than about 43 when he was born, his mother was born no sooner than 1777/1778. If Molly Pearce of the 1792 Bill of Sale was William's wife, she was not likely Tommy's mother; for she would have been but 14 or 15 at the time she signed the Bill of Sale. Not impossible but unlikely.
At the same time, Janette/Jane Murray is the eldest child of William of whom we know anything, having been born around 1809/1810. Between Jane and Tommy there is a fairly tight succession of siblings:
1. Jane 1809/1810
2. Polly 1811
3. Margaret c1813
4. Reuben 1817
5. Tommy 1820/1821
These five were probably full siblings. If they were not, someone certainly would know that. Thus Jane was probably the first-born or nearly so, making her mother born probably in the 1784-89 range. That is the correct range for Elizabeth, daughter of James and Jane (Poe) Massey; it also comports with the 1830 Census enumeration. (Note that there must have been a daughter about Tommy's age who died young; also that the 1830 Census lists William as born 1770-80, which may or may not be correct. Transactions which would require him to have attained his majority occurred as early as 1788, making him born no later than 1767. That fits perfectly for his being Windsor and Mary's eldest son, born immediately prior to Pharabee.)
According to "Ancestors of Bonnie Patricia Hackney," by Bonnie Partin, the estate of Mark Sugg, administered in Chatham county, was sued (November 1824) by the following group: John Newton, Burrell Olive, Richard Johnson, Edmund Price, William Lynch, Ann Mitchell, and Joseph and William Pearce. Mark Sugg was a brother of Joel Sugg who married Sarah Massey, sister of Elizabeth, whom I presume to have been the wife of William Pearce.
Also per Bonnie Partin: On September 26, 1821, land belonging to Russell Massey, deceased, was sold at Pittsboro (county seat of Chatham) by William Pearce, administrator.
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Jane Pearce