The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

I the first wife Esther Fletcher), who
married Gen. John Mcneil. who fell in
J an engagement with the Seminole In
dians in Florida; Benjamin. Nancy. who
married GeB. Solomon Mcneil: John.
/ Harriet, who married Hugh Jameson;
Charles, Franklin. the President. who
married Jane Appleton; Charlotte. who
died in infancy, and Henry o.. who mar
ried Susan Tuttle. ..-..
President Franklin Pierce and his
wife Jane had three sons. two OF whom
died in early youth. The youngest was
killed at the age of thirteen in a raia-
road accident two months before his
fathers Inauguration.
There were several other Pierce col
onists in New England. One of the
most interesting of them was Capt
William Pierce, who was born in Eng
land about 1880. With his wife Jane
he took UP his abode in Boston and
later in Salem. He was the most cele-
brated master OF ships that came into
the waters of New England and was
warm friend of winslow and Brad
ford. The first record extant referring
to him dates 1922. when he was master
OF the ship Paragon, the owner of
which was his brother, John Pierce, of
London. The next year he brought
over the ship Anne TO Plymouth and in
1924 he brought over the ship Charity
with. Gov. WinslOw on board. The ship
Charity carried in her hold the first
cattle introduced into New England. In
1893 he commanded the Mayfiower on
one of her later voyages. In 1888 Win
throp tells us that Pierce presented him
with an 'aligatOr''-obviously the al
lIgator was then an unusual animal to
the New England settlers. That year
he sailed between Boston and the West
Indies. whence he brought a few negro
slaves to New England.
II is said that Pierce's almanac for
1879 was the first thing in book form
printed in the English colonies. In 1851
he carried a party OF dissenters to set
tie in the West Indies, but owing to
the hostility of the Spaniards he turned
back with his passengers. He put in
at New Providence. one of the islands
of the Bahamas, to carry away a con-
gregation of prosecuted Puritans who
had been living there. He found the
Spaniards in possession there. but, hop
ing to rescue his counuymen, he con-
tinued on toward the colonists.
But at last he realized that his posi-
tion was untenable. Seeing the danger
which faced them, he ordered all his
passengers into the hold. save only one
man, whom he kept on deck, to help
him. This man and Capt Pierce were
mortally wounded by the Spaniards.
but the shipload managed to escape
without further hostiIities. They buried
their faithful commander at sea
One Of the many things for. which
Capt. Pierce is remembered is the in
PRODUCTION of sweet potatoes into this
country from the West Indies In 1886.
He brought fifteen tons to New Eng
land. which he sold at twopence a
pound. He also introduced cotton into
New England, in 1888.
follows: Edward, born in 1888. "a most
a afIectionate and useful preacher" who
was elected from St. Margarets. West
minister, London. under the act of uni
formity, and who found refuge in New
England: James, who was born and
died in England, and William. who was
horn in England and resided in Boston,
Mass.
A family of Pierces settled IN Ports
mouth, R. l.. in the early days. Richard
pierce, of Bristol, England. was the
frst known ancestor of this line. His
son. Richard, OF Portsmouth, was born
in 1915 and died In 1878. He married
Susanna Wright, and their son, will
liam Pierce, was the founder of the
pierce family of Musketa Cove, Long
island. n. Y. Descendants of William
Pierce settled in Plensantville. N. Y. 1
as well as in Long Island.
The founder of the Peirce family Of
Newbury, Mass, was Daniel Peirce. q
who came from Ipswich.
SuffoIk County, England. In the Eliza
beth in 1884. and settled at watertown.
His eldest son. Daniel. who was prom
Incnt In the community. Is remembered |
with the following epitaph:
Here lies Inferred a soul indeed
Whom few or none excelled.
In grace IL any him exceed
He'll be unparalleled"
Still another brancn OF this large \
connection was founded
bS Robert Peirce, born in England. who |
came to this country probably in the |
ship Mary and John with a man named |
who was. later Pelrce's |
a her-in-Iaw. Peirce married Ann |