William Peirce Sr. (abt. 1740 - aft. 1790)

Born about 1740 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Joanna (Doggett) Peirce — married 13 Sep 1764 in Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died after 22 May 1790 after about age 50 in Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Private William Peirce Sr. served with Massachusetts during the American Revolution.

William Peirce Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A091670.

William Peirce Sr. was born about 1740 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. He was the son of Samuel Pierce and Phebe Burt.

Marriage and Family
William Peirce and Joanna Doggett registered their intention to marry on 18 Jul 1764. ^[1] Their official wedding ceremony was officiated on 13 Sep 1764.^[2]

Children as given in the "Mayflower Families" (Silver book)
Children (Peirce) b. prob. Taunton, named in their grandfather's will of 13 Aug. 1785:^[3]

1. William Pierce Jr., m. Lois Thomas
2. Ephraim Peirce, m. 1) Lois Harlow, 2) Abiah Leonard, 3) Mary Wood, 4) Eunice Reed
3. Joanna (Pierce) Sprout, m. Zebedee Sprout/Sproats
4. Samuel Peirce, m. Hannah Eldridge
5. Binajah Pierce, b. 10 Apr 1771 (Bible rec.), m. Charity Leonard
6. Experience Peirce, b. ca. 1775; d. Middleboro 14 Jul 1845, m. David Pickens. On 5 Aug 1845 Thomas Doggett of Middleboro administered the estate of Experience Peirce.

Disputed Children

1. Isham Pierce - born abt. 1765 in Virginia and died 1850 or 1860 in South Carolina or Georgia. He married Marianna/Marina "Mary" Hunt. Many family trees have him as a child of William Peirce Sr. and Joanna Doggett, however all of their children were born in Massachusetts. He is not recorded in the Mayflower Families Silver Book Series and is not listed in Thomas Doggett's Will (father of Joanna Doggett) that was written on 30 August 1785 and proved on 6 October 1788.
2. Abigail Pierce - born 24 November 1779 in Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She went on to marry Daniel Macomber. Her death record in Lakeville, Plymouth, Massachusetts, lists her father as William Peirce, born Taunton, and her mother as Joanna Peirce, born Middleborough. But no last name is provided for Joanna and no record confirms her to be Doggett. Abigail is not listed on record in the Mayflower Families Silver Book Series and is not listed in Thomas Doggett's Will (father of Joanna Doggett) that was written on 30 August 1785 and proved on 6 October 1788.

Revolutionary War
William was a Private and served under Capts Tupper and Tinkham as well as Cols Titcomb, Sprout and White. He served in Massachusetts. He is recognized by DAR.

Name Spelling Variations
There were many ways the name Pierce was spelled throughout the records of our ancestors. William Peirce Sr., frequently spelled his name with the 'E' before the 'I' whereas his son, William Pierce Jr., frequently spelled his name with the 'I' before the 'E'. The name has also been spelled Pearse farther back.

Book References
WILLIAM 4, born about 1740, died after 22 May 1790 when he “Personally appeared’ before a justice of the peace to acknowledge a sale of land to his son, William Jr. (Bristol County Deeds, Book 69, page 378). He married 13 Sep. 1764 JOANNA DOGGETT (Middleborough, Massachusetts Vital Records, Edited by B. L. Merrick and A. C. Williams, Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1986, Vol. 1, page 149), born Marshfield 16 Mar. 1742 (Marshfield Mass. Vital Records, page 177, R.M. & R.W. Sherman, Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Rhode Island, Warwick, 1969), Joanna died after 24 Jan. 1788 (possibly after 1799); she was daughter of Thomas4 (Thomas3, John2, Thomas1) and Joanna4 (Fuller) Dogqett (John3 , Samuel2-1 Fuller). See A.H. & K.W. Radasch Mayflower Families Five Generations Volume I, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, 1975, and S.B. Doggett, History of Doggett-Daggett Family, Baltimore, 1973). William served in the Revolution (D.A.R. Patriot Index and Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, Boston, 1896-1908).

The Will of Thomas Doggett

The Will of Thomas Doggett, of Middleboro' (Plymouth Probate, 30-456), is dated August 30, 1785, and was proved October 6, 1788.

Gives son Seth Doggett 2/3 of the home farm, adjoining land belonging to ye heirs of Mr. Read dec'd, also 1/2 the buildings theron, all the meado lying on Nemasket River bounded by land of Simeon Doggett, also right and title to certain rights of wood bought of Ebenezer Blackman of Middleboro except 1/3 of said lot:

Daughter Experience Doggett 1/3 of homestead farm, 1/3 wool right bought of E. Blackman, and 1/2 buildings:

Daughter Joanna Peirce, wife of William Pierce of Taunton, County Bristol, 2£ 2s:

Six grand children, William, Ephraim, Joanna, Samuel, Benejah, & Experience, children of William and Joanna Pierce 1£ 10s each;

Son Jabez Doggett, 1/2 lot in 16 shilling purchase:

Gives son Simeon Doggett, all the other real estate not disposed of and all my rights to Iron ore in Assawamscott Pond and elsewhere in Middleboro.

witnessed by Sylvanus, Andrew and Ichabod Wood.

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29L-B574 : 19 May 2022), William Peirce and Joanna Doggett, 18 Jul 1764; citing Marriage Notice, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934230.
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-MLN6 : 22 July 2021), William Peirce and Joanna Doggett, 13 Sep 1764; citing Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 906,748.
3. ↑ Mayflower Families Fifth Generation Descendants, 1700-1880. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017). From Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Descendants of the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 1620. Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1975-2015. Samuel Fuller, Vol. 10, p. 77. (Link via AmericanAncestors.org by subscription.)

• Middleborough, Mass., Vital Records, The Mayflower Descendant (Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Boston, 1922) Vol. 24, Page 56.