Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-07

aIany Pcrsons Mt the OH Iiockessin Home
btead.


FAMILr nEUNioM
Many Persons at the OH Iioukessin Home
btead.
Contributed.
A reunion OF tho descendants OF
Thomas and Sara Pie.son was hold
at the old Pierson Homestead, near
liockessin. New Castle county, ON
Saturday last, October I'd. The old
Homestead ia now the home OF Phlllp
L. Pierson, i grandson.
Abraham, Thomas, Henry, both Johns,
and possibly Stephen. we're among
those who left their English homes 10
pursuit of religious freedom, and SUI.
fered persecution because they desired
purity OF religion. Many of those thus
prosecuted, called Puritans, sought
refuge in Lynden and other parts OF
Holland. Some of these people sailed
dirnctly from Holland to America, but
must of them first returned to England
and from there sailed tU America.
Although an effort was made to keep
record OF those who left the country,
it was quite impossible to do this, as
il 10 said that between 1920 snd l6lO
about 1000 families or 2O,00O British
subjects came 10 America.
The two Johns coming in 1877 and
1913, settled in Massachusetts, and
their families have remained mostly IN
Now England. Tho Rev. Abraham came
first to Boston in 1888. The most OF
his descendants are in New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut Those who
we're Friends mainly settled in Penn
sylvania.
As a race the Persons are initial
lectual and educated and while they
are somewhat reserved in manner aud
avarse 10 much demonstration of feel.
| ing they may be said to be genuine aud
honest, endued with their full share oil
independence of thought aud action,
witt, tenacity OF purpose, (sometimes
amounting to obstinacy) fidelity to one
another and TO their country and high
sense of honor, with a respect and
reverence for the religion OF their fore
| fathers, while the most of them have
manifested spirit Of deep and earnest
piety. Many OF them have graduated
at colleges and sominaries, and have
filled posts of honor and usefulness
while otherA without college educa,
ton, have served their country and
generation faithfully.
After an extensive research among
the different branches of tho family the
compiler takes pleasure in adding that
no traitor 10 his country has beer
found among them: and that we need
not DO ashamed OF tho namo which has
descended TO us-Pierson.
Various theories have boen advanced
as to the origin OF tho name, some say
ing "tho rays of the sun pierce" &c'
But it is more reasonable to Huppost
| l.4 hf, 81 DiapFn ~
Potter through the French; and further
hack from the Danish Peterson. There
are five different ways of spelling 1t
Persons, Pearson. Person, Pierson anr
even Parsons. Pierson is considered
the most correct.
About 235 persons attended tho no
union, comprising the children, grand
children and great grandchildren o.
John PieIaon, Sr., the children, grand
children and great grandchildren o
Susan Gamble, the children OF Isaat
PisrHon, the children, grandchildren
and great grandchildren of william
pierson, JoHeph Pierson, Thomas Pier
son, Ruth Moore, Mary Wileon, LabaI
i'iersou and Amos Pierson, and tho chill
dren Ut Joseph Pierson. New York
PENNSYLVANIA, Maryland and Delaware
we're represented. Among tho Della
wareuns present we're: Julia England
Bell Kimball, Ella Pierson, Maria }
Jelferis, Ida j. Mccall, Ella Il. Arm
strong, Maggie Lowther. J. Harr.
Piersou, George Pierson. Mrs. Georg
Pierson, Lizzie G. IRWIN, Edwin b
Irwin, John b. Pierson, Ella W. Pier
son, Salie II. Brackib, Laura Il. Baird
James Draukin, Florence j. Brackin
Mary Ii. Brackin, Susie W. Brackin
William II. Pierson and AMMO Il
Pierson of this city; Mary a. Maxwell
William Maxwell and Walter a. Max
well of the Highlands; Sadie Lowthers
Hannah Y. Pierson, Annie Piersou, D.
Taylor Pierson, Hiram f. Fierson
Kemper pierHon and Elsie 9. Pieranl
of Wooddala; Register of Wills Calvin
W. Crossan, Sarah q. Crossan, Mar.
Il. P:erson. Mabel p. Crossan ant
Evans IL. CrosBan of Falkland; a lfre'
Bauks Of Rockland; Samuel Gamble
Martha Holmes. Samuel u. Holmes
, Margaret Springer, Susan G. Dixon
Robert Gamble, Eliza j. Graves, Hill
burn Gamble, Isaac Dixon, Am
Holmes, Lucy Camille, Samuel Klair
Mattie Dixon, Walter Gamble an
Maris Dixon of Ashland; Susan Harvey
Samuel NJ. Harvey, phosbe Harvey
Leroy Harvey ami DIR. J. Willard Cros
san Of Centreville; Wilhelmina Mccall
Theodore Mccall, Lewis piersnn, Bessi
Pierson, William Ii. HiGhield, Georg
b. Pivrson. Frank +. lIightiold, Georg
Ellis Person, 9. Percy liightiold
, Iiannah Ia. iiigbtiold, Philip 4. Pier
! son, Martha ID. piersnn, Emma Pier
son, Edith l.. Pieraon, Ida l.. Piorson
Carrie Il. Pierson and Wilson 4. Picr
son of Houkessin; Hannah l.. pierson
Anna j., Denniaon, Willard Piersnn
William pierson, Leila PiersOn, Ey
pierson, Harold S. Iierson, j, Ray
mond Pierson, Horace Dennison, Vii
lard }. pierson, Hannah Y. Person an
! William G. Pierson of Mermaid.