The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-06
FAMILY REUNION.
Large Gathering of the Pierson Family
at HOCkessin.


We clip the following from the Kennett
Advance:
The old Pierson homestead situated
about one mile from Hockessin, was the
scene of IL joyful gathering ON Saturday
October2 the occasion being one long to
be remembered in the history OF the Pier.
son family.
As early as s o'clock in the morning
guests began to arrive in various convey
ances, and tho train on the Landenberg
branch of tho b. 81 o. railroad was stopped
on the farm, near the house, through the
kindness of the employees whom the
throng was swelled by Two score or more of
relatives from distant points
Tho day proved very unfayorable as
the sun was hid from view by threaten
ing clouds anu about eleven o'clock the
rain began 10 pour and caused the guests
to desert the lawn and seek shelter under
roof
The porches were nicely decorated with
wrcaths of laurel, corn and autumn flow
ers and tho stars and stripes noated from
the trees The lawn adjoining tho house
was in perfect order and large tables were
erected for the occasion, but IN the midst
OF the preparations for dinner the ruin
caused them to beat hasty retreat to the
house, where The tables were spread in the
dining room and on the porch, Baskets
and boxes of every description graced tho
tables, which fairly groaned beneath the
weight Of tempting euibies 10 satisfy the
inner man.
Although dull without, all was mirth
and pleasure within, us each one renewed
old ncquaintances or made friends with
those who had formerly been as strangers.
Much credit Is due tho host and hostess for
their hospitality and untiring labor in ar
ranging the plans for such an enjoyable
OCCASION.
Tho following lines were taken from
some of the facts related: Abraham,
Thomas, Henry and John were among
those who left their English homes in pur-
suit of religious freedom, and suffered
persecution because they desired purity of
religion Many ofthose thus prosecuted,
called PuSitans, sought refuge in Leyden
and other parts of Holland.
Some of these people sailed directly from
Holland to America, While most of them
returned to England, then to America.
While an effort was made to keep q record
of allwho left the country, it was quite
impossible for as we arc told between 1920
and 1910 some 4, 900 families or 900 Brit
ish subjects came to America Rev Abra-
ham Plerson came to Boston in 1899. The
most OF his deCendants are in New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut, Those who
were Quakers mainly settled in Pennsyl-
vania.
AS race the Persons are intellectual
and educa ed; and while they are some
what reserved in manner and averse to
much demonstration Of feeling, they may
be said to be genuine and honest, endued
with their full share of independence OF
thought and action, with tenacity of pur-
pose sometimes to obs,inacy) fidelity. to
ono another and to their country, and a
high sense of honor with respect and rev.
erence for the lgion of their forefathers,
while the most of them have manifested u
spirit of deep and earnest piety. Many OF
them have been graduated at our colleges
and seminaries, and have filled posts OF
honor and usefulness while others. with
out college education have served their
country and generation faithfully.
After an extensive research among the
different branches of the family, we take
pleasure in adding that no traitor to his
country has been found among them and
that we need not be ashamed OF the
name which has descended to u.s.
In reference to the name, Picrson, var
ious theories have been advanced, but it is
moro reasonable to suppose that it comes
from the son Pierre or Peter through the
French, and further back from the Dan
isb Peterson. There arc five different
ways of spelling but Pierson is left to us
as tho most correct