Our 14th Great Uncle. Sir Edward Lake (Pierce Line).

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
The exploration of the Pierce family line continues. Be sure to check out the additions to yesterday's post on our 6th Great Grandfather, Nathan Pierce (Pearce) Jr. You'll learn more about the attack on his person and his brother's revenge.

Today we go back further in history along the Pierce line and meet an interesting 15th Great Uncle, Sir Edward Lake. Our blood runs thick with English history. Have a great week!

Simply,
Victor

Sir Edward Lake

Sir Edward Lake was born in 1600 or 1601 and was baptized on February 22, 1600 or 1601 in Tetney, Lincolnshire.

• He died on July 18, 1674 and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral.
• He married Anne Bibye a daughter of Simon Bibye (or Biby or Bybye).
• He received the degree of B. A. at Oxford in 1627.
• He was an eminent lawyer, becoming advocate general for Ireland.

On the outbreak of the English Civil Wars, he both fought and wrote on the King’s side. At the battle of Edgehill he received sixteen wounds, and having lost the use of his left hand by a shot, he placed his horses bridle between his teeth and fought with his sword in his right hand.

He was promised as his reward a barony and an augmentation to his arms by King Charles I, in 1643. But since the King was beheaded and the period of the Commonwealth intervened, nothing was done until 1661. King Charles II then made him Chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln, and the augmented coat of arms promised by King Charles I was in 1661 formally authorized by the College of Arms.


From Burke’s Peerage and Baronetage (1905) comes the following:

"Edward Lake, L.L.D. Chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln, was a devoted adherent of Charles I, for whom he fought at the battle of Naseby and received no less than sixteen wounds. He was by Charles I, in consideration of his zeal and loyalty, given a coat of augmentation, and an additional coat, and was named a baronet, with the privilege of nominating his successor to the title, but no patent was taken out at the time. Sir Edward, dying without issue in 1674, was succeeded by his grandnephew."

The will of Sir Edward Lake is dated April 8, 1665. In the will he leaves a bequest to the Church at Normanton near Pontefract in Yorkshire, because it was the home of his paternal ancestors. He mentions his kinsman and servant Christopher Lake, his brother John Lake (Our Great Grandfather), his nephew Francis Lake of Hatcliffe, the eldest son of his brother Luke Lake, and Stephen, eldest son of his brother Thomas Lake. He named his half-brother Thomas Lake, Jr. executor.

Relationship Chart

14th Great Grandparents. Richard Lake and Anne Wardell
to
13th Great Grandparents John Lake and Elizabeth Sandell 14th Great Uncle Sir Edward Lake
to
John Lake and Margaret Reade
to
Hannah Lake and John Gallop
to
Elizabeth Gallop and Henry Stevens
to
Elizabeth Stevens and Maurice Tucker
to
Elizabeth Tucker and Daniel Pearce
to
Nathan Pearce Sr. b. 22 April 1705 d. 15 March 1789/ 90. married Abigail Spink b. 1704. d. 7 Jan. 1790/91.
to
Nathan Pearce Jr. b. 17 Jan 1740/41 d. 19 Dec. 1781. married Elizabeth Culver b ? d. 30 March 1832.
to
Robert Gilbert Livingston Pearce b. 1771 married Eunice Worden b. 1777 d. 20 Jan. 1840.
to
William Pearce b. 1805 d. 2 Apr. 1889 married Catherine Morse b. 1811 d. 14 Dec. 1885.
to
Andrew Jackson Pearce b. 1835 New York. d. ? married Isabella Pearce b. 1842 New York
to
Edwin Sherman Pierce married Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler
to
Walter Edwin Pierce married Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
US

More on the Early Pearces of New England (Violet Pierce Line)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
It is a lovely Saturday in Pleasant Grove. The leaves are turning and the temperatures mild. We're expecting rain later today.

I'm excited about the new information coming in on the Grandma Violet's ancestors. As you know, Grandma's maiden name was Pierce. Up until a few weeks ago we knew her father's and grandfather's names. The line went stone cold after that. Well, thanks to cousin Angie's work, and the extraordinary assistance of Leonard Pierce, a cousin from Minnesota, we can now push that family tree back to the 1600's to Wales.

Today I spent a bit more time on the earliest Pearces (the spelling of the name changed with Violet's grandfather - reasons unknown) and am happy to share information gleaned from various individuals and collective histories of New England.

So, its time to relax and visualize these newly discovered ancestors. Imagine who they were and what they may have looked like. For me, its sobering to realize that these peoples entire lives is summed up with a sentence or two written in some obscure book. This blog is dedicated to our historical past so they will never again be forgotten.

Simply,
Victor

RELATIONSHIP CHART.
PIERCE (PEARCE) FAMILY TREE

John Pearce. b. 1600 England d. 1660
to
John Pearce b. 1632 in Wales. d. 1692 Prudence Island. Portsmouth Twp. Newport Co. RI
married Mary Makepeace b. 1636 d. 1711
to
Daniel Pearce b. 1662 d. 15 March 1730/31. married Elizabeth Tucker. b. 17 Apr. 1677 d. 1728.
to
Nathan Pearce Sr. b. 22 April 1705 d. 15 March 1789/ 90. married Abigail Spink b. 1704. d. 7 Jan. 1790/91.
to
Nathan Pearce Jr. b. 17 Jan 1740/41 d. 19 Dec. 1781. married Elizabeth Culver b ? d. 30 March 1832.
to
Robert Gilbert Livingston Pearce b. 1771 married Eunice Worden b. 1777 d. 20 Jan. 1840.
to
William Pearce b. 1805 d. 2 Apr. 1889 married Catherine Morse b. 1811 d. 14 Dec. 1885.
to
Andrew Jackson Pearce b. 1835 New York. d. ? married Isabella Pearce b. 1842 New York
to
Edwin Sherman Pierce married Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler
to
Walter Edwin Pierce married Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
US

The Pearce's

The earliest Pierce settler in America was our 9th Great Grandfather John. It is believed he came from Wales in 1660. In the minutes of the Portsmouth, Rhode Island town meeting, dated, July 5, 1666, it records:

"John Pearce, admitted this day a free inhabitant of this town"

(of course the spelling was changed by his descendants from Pearce to Pierce). John Pearce may have been one of the Baptist congregation of John Myles, of Swansea, Wales. They came from Wales to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, in 1666-67, as a result of religious persecution. According to one document, it appears John Pearce was born in 1632 and was a mason by trade.

John Pearce was made a freeman of the colony of Portsmouth. On October 31, 1677, John Pearce was included by the general assembly in the list of grantees of the lands at East Greenwich. On August 20, 1691 John Pearce and Mary his wife deeded land to their loving son Daniel. John Pearce Sr. made his will September 23, 1689, and it was proved in Portsmouth, April 26, 1692. In this will he calls himself John Pearce Sr., of Prudence Island. The will makes his wife Mary sole executrix after dividing small legacies between his three children—John Pearce Jr., Daniel Pearce, and Mary, wife of Robert Hill.

The widow Mary Pearce made her will September 17, 1711, and the same was proved October 15, 1711. She left first

"forty shillings to the poor brethren of the Church of Christ to whom I doe belong."

The remainder she divided amongst her three children, John Pearce, Daniel Pearce and Mary Sweet.

The Children of John Pearce and his wife, as far as we known:

1. John, born about 1658; married Martha Brayton.
2. Daniel. (More information below) Our 8th Great Grandfather
   
3. Mary, born about 1666; married (first) Robert Hill, (second) James Sweet.

John Pearce died about 1692, and his wife Mary passed away in 1711.

Our 8th Great Grandfather Daniel, son of John and Mary Pearce. was born about 1662, and died sometime after 1744. Few family records can be found of him, and the names of his children have been recovered from deeds and other legal papers. The records of his public services are quite full and cover the period from 1694 to 1731.

He was made freeman of the town of Portsmouth on June 6, 1692. He resided there up to 1720. He took up permanent residence at North Kingstown in the summer of 1723. In 1694-5-7 he was constable in Portsmouth. Between 1698-1701 he was deputy to general assembly from Portsmouth. In 1707 he was justice of the peace in Portsmouth. In 1720 he was grand juryman and deputy for Kingston.

On March 16, 1726, Daniel and Elizabeth, sold land to sons Daniel and John, of Prudence Island. On March 17, 1726, Daniel and John Pearce gave a bond to their brothers, our 7th Great Grandfather Nathan and William Pearce, that they would give them a part of their fathers estate when they came of age.

Daniel Pearce was married twice, but the name of his first wife is unknown. His second wife was Elizabeth Tucker, of Prudence Island. The marriage took place on December 13, 1733. His children by first wife:

1. Daniel Jr.
2. Margaret, born about 1689; married (first) Ephraim Smith, (second) Immanuel Clark.
3. John, born about 1691; married Martha Sweet.
4. Mary, born about 1693; married John Moss, in 1715.

Children by second wife.

1. Benoni, born about 1704; married Sarah Rhodes.
2. Nathan, born 1706; married Abigail Spink. (Our 7th Great Grandparents)
3. William, born about 1709.

The Pearce family has a tradition from their ancestors that the first John Pearce came from Wales to Boston with his family, among whom were three sons. Soon after the vessel arrived, the father fell down the hatchway and broke his neck. The sons afterward separated, one settling in Conn., one in Mass., and one in R. I.

Our 7th Great Grandfather Nathan Pearce was the Great Grandson of this first John Pearce. He was born on Mar. 15, 1706, at Providence, R. I., and had 4 sons.

1. Benoni. b. , 1730, North Kingston R. I. He was a self-educated man noted for his wit and great learning, particularly in languages and mathematics.
2. Ephraim. b. , 1733, Providence, R.I was remarkable for great physical strength.
3. Nathan (Our 6th Great Grandfather) b. , 1739, Pawling, N. Y. Nathan was a Captain in the Revolution and a terror to Tories. He was finally decoyed into an ambush, taken prisoner by Tories and robbers and whipped to death.
4. William. b. , 1745, Pawling, N. Y.

Our 7th Great Uncle William was angry at the murder of his brother Nathan. He obtained assistance and pursued the gang. He finally succeeded in locating them among the rocks on Quaker Hill. He killed the leader and broke up and dispersed the gang. He afterward raised a company of volunteers and served as captain during the Revolution. He was in the battles of L. I., White Plains, Yorktown, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. After the war he returned to Pawling and lived to a good old age, a much respected citizen.

There are other references to our 6th Great Grandfather in other records of the time period. I'll include them here:

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

Continental Line.

THE first Provincial Congress of New York met May 22, 1775,
in New York City, to devise measures for the general safety,
and to authorize the recruiting of men. County Committees
of Safety were formed and their duties were numerous and important.
The following gentlemen composed the Dutchess Committee: Egbert
Benson (Chairman), John Collen, Samuel Dodge, Elnathan Gregory,
Jacob Grifiin, Herman Hoffman, Frederick Jay, Nathan Pearce, James
Weeks. Precinct Committees were also formed, and one of their first
duties was to visit the Tories in the county, and request in a friendly
manner that they surrender their firearms for the use of the Con-
tinental forces, at a reasonable price. In case of refusal the firearms
were taken forcibly. A considerable number of guns were thus ob-
tained, a total of 431 being delivered to the State by the Committee
of Rombout Precinct alone, in 1776-'77.

The Provincial authorities of New York in 1775, authorized the
organization of four regiments, known as the Continental Line, to
serve for six months, and thus designated: First New York, Second
Albany, Third Ulster, Fourth Dutchess. The regiments were com-
manded respectively by Alexander McDougal, Goose Van Schaick,
James Clinton, and James Holmes. Zephaniah Piatt, Gilbert Liv-
ingston and Melancthon Smith constituted the Military Committee for
Dutchess county, and received the warrants for raising men for the
Fourth or Dutchess regiment, which, when organized, June 30th,
1775, had the following field and company officers:

James Holmes, Col. (from Westchester dounty) ; Philip Court-
landt, Lieut. Col.; Barnabas Tuthill, Major; Benjamin Chapman,
Quarter-Master.^

1. C<4.>And this is a more detailed telling of the story of the attack on Nathan Pearce.

The residence of a Quaker by the name of Birch in the south end
of Quaker Hill was robbed during the Autumn of 1778, by some sol-
diers. On his promise not to follow them that night, they offered him
no bodily harm. This promise, though made under duress, he kept
on the honor of a Quaker, but at the hour the time hmit expired he
was on their track with a posse. He traced them to the army lines,
where he recognized the villains, and identified his property on the
person of one of them. The evidence was so conclusive, that the cul-
prit was convicted before court-martial, and hung despite the pro-
tests of Birch, who had no desire to push the matter to that extremity.

Nathan Pearce, Jun., who lived in the house standing, at the time
of the Revolution, but since razed, on the bank nearly opposite the
residence of O. A. Dykeman, was collector of military fines, — an
office that was as distasteful to the public as could well be imagined.
One night some robbers broke into the house, struck him with the
butt of a musket, beat and kicked him into insensibihty, and finally
suspended him, lacerated and bleeding, by his thumbs to the chamber
floor. Then after rummaging the house, they left him to be rescued
by the family. He never saw a well moment thereafter, and survived
the ordeal but six weeks. Some nights subsequent to this, his brother,
Capt. William Pearce, with some followers, surprised this robber gang
at their rendezvous in a cave on Quaker Hill. The robber chief,
Vaughn by name, had on his person the clothes taken from his brother
Nathan, and William had the satisfaction of running a sword through
the body of his enemy in revenge for the murder of his brother.

Another Great Grandfather and the Revolutionary War. (Pierce Line)

Our Pierce Family Coat of Arms (Wales)

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Family,
Exciting news tonight. Thanks to cousin Angie Mattson's research we have a new family line that opened to research.

Grandma Violet's maiden name was Pierce. Up until a few weeks ago we new her father and her grandfather, then the line went stone cold. Tonight we know a great deal more.

Angie Mattson has spent a great deal of time researching the Pierce name both here in Utah and in South Dakota and tonight we are happy to present the Pierce Genealogy to the 1600's. So, without further pause, The Pierce's.....

RELATIONSHIP CHART. PIERCE (PEARCE) FAMILY TREE

John Pearce. b. 1600 England d. 1660
to
John Pearce b. 1632 in Wales. d. 1692 Prudence Island. Portsmouth Twp. Newport Co. RI
married Mary Makepeace b. 1636 d. 1711
to
Daniel Pearce b. 1662 d. 15 March 1730/31. married Elizabeth Tucker. b. 17 Apr. 1677 d. 1728.
to
Nathan Pearce Sr. b. 22 April 1705 d. 15 March 1789/ 90. married Abigail Spink b. 1704. d. 7 Jan. 1790/91.
to
Nathan Pearce Jr. b. 17 Jan 1740/41 d. 19 Dec. 1781. married Elizabeth Culver b ? d. 30 March 1832.
to
Robert Gilbert Livingston Pearce b. 1771 married Eunice Worden b. 1777 d. 20 Jan. 1840.
to
William Pearce b. 1805 d. 2 Apr. 1889 married Catherine Morse b. 1811 d. 14 Dec. 1885.
to
Andrew Jackson Pearce b. 1835 New York. d. ? married Isabella Pearce b. 1842 New York
to
Edwin Sherman Pierce married Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler
to
Walter Edwin Pierce married Vesta Althea Dennis
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
US

And new the first story from our the Pierce family tree. Tonight I'd like to tell you a few things about our 6th Great Grandfather, Nathan Pierce Jr.

Nathan Pierce Jr. was a Captain and Major of the 25th Regiment of Infantry of New York. According to one source he was murdered in 1781. That is a story I'll need to search out.

The following is taken from a source familiar with our Pierce family in New York. In it you'll read about our Grandfather Nathan.

In the war of the Revolution the cause of the Colonies found ardent supporters in what is now the town of Pawling, Among those who rendered efficient aid in that struggle for National independence, none are more worthy of honorable mention that the family of Nathan PEARCE. This family can trace their origin to John PEARCE, a Welshman, who, with his three sons, emigrated to this country about the year 1660. The first one of this name of whom anything definite is known, was Nathan PEARCE, Sr., a grandson of the John above mentioned, from who was descended the family of that name in this town. He was born in Providence, in the Colony of Rhode Island, in the year 1706. He first settled in North Kingston, Washington county, Rhode Island, where four of his children were born. From there he went to Prudence Island where he lived some years, as three of his children were born there. He then removed to Providence where his two youngest children were born. About the year 1760 he came to Pawling, his youngest son, Colonel William PEARCE, being then fifteen years old. (His other sons were Benoni, Ephraim, and Nathan.) He first located on the place since owned by O. S. DYKEMAN, and in the year 1767 he purchased the place now owned by Nathaniel PEARCE, where he lived through all the turbulous period of the Revolution.
In 1778, when Pawling was formed as a town, Nathan PEARCE, Jr., was elected the first Supervisor, which office he filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his townsmen. He died in 1790, at the age of eighty-four.
Captain William PEARCE, towards the close of the war, received a Colonel’s commission. After the war he held the office of Supervisor, and was a Justice of the Peace from 1785 to 1801. About that time he was elected to the Legislature, where he served two terms. He died in January, 1813.
The descendants of this family are quite numerous in the town, and still rank among its ablest citizens. To Nathaniel PEARCE, a grandson of Col. William, we are indebted for much valuable assistance in this history of Pawling. A man of letters by nature, he has taken more than an ordinary interest in local and general historical events, and the results of his labors, both published and unpublished, were kindly placed at our disposal. Mr. Pearce was born in Pawling in 1809, on the farm on which he lives, and which has been in his family since 1767.

Once again, many more stories to tell about this new line. Great Job Angie!

Simply,
Victor

John Allerton, Our 11th Great Uncle.

Isaac Allerton (1586 – April 1, 1659) was one of the original Pilgram fathers who came on the Mayflower to settle the Plymoth Colony in 1620. He is believed to have been born in London, about 1585 or 1586 and was raised to become a tailor. A religious non-conformist, he apparently followed the Scrooby exiles to Leiden, Holland as a young man. There he married his first wife, Mary Norris (b. 1590), in November 1611. The couple had three children; Bartholomew, Remember and Mary.

Accompanying Isaac and Mary on the Mayflower were their three children and a 14 year old servant boy named John Hooke. Allerton's wife and John Hooke died aboard the Mayflower while it was still achored in Plymouth Harbor during the first winter. Both were buried in Cole’s Hill. Mary died from the effects of childbirth, after giving birth to a stillborn son on February 25, 1621. Because of this birth, Mary was the first woman to give birth in the New England Colonies.

Allerton, a Bronx neighborhood, was named in honor of Isaac Allerton.

Isaac Allerton the Businessman

While serving as the colony's business agent, Allerton began many business ventures of his own, relying on the colony's credit for collateral.. These ventures failed, thus leaving his colleagues back in Plymouth saddled with a greatly increased debt. Also, Allerton was asked to bring over trade goods to sell to the natives, however, Allerton brought over retail goods to sell to the colonists and fishermen who came over every year. Later on Allerton did not mark which goods were his and which belonged to the colony. When the goods were unloaded, Allerton took the most expensive items leaving the Plymouth colonists with the cheaper goods. In 1629 Allerton brought Thomas Morton back to New England, and allowed him to live in his house; this got the Plymouth colonists very upset. This rendered Allerton permanently persona non grata in Plymouth.

Isaac Allerton was one of the more active and prominent members of early Plymouth. He was elected as Governor Bradford's assistant in 1621, and continued as an assistant into the 1630s. In 1627, he was sent to negotiate the Plymouth Colony's buyout of the Merchant Adventurers, the investors who had originally funded (and had hoped to profit from) the Colony. The Colony was about 2500 pounds in debt; a small group of Plymouth's residents, including Bradford, Brewster, Standish, Fuller, and Allerton, sought to assume the debt themselves in return for the rights to profit from the company.

Allerton was sent to England to negotiate further, and would return to England on several more occasions. Unfortunately for the others, Allerton began to use his "free" trips to England to engage in some private gains, purchasing goods and selling them in the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth. He also used his capacity as Plymouth's designated negotiator to engage the Colony in a number of unapproved money-making schemes: he went so far as to purchase ships (which he partially used for his own private trading), and to attempt to negotiate grants and patents for trade--all at great cost to the company and none of it approved by the others back at Plymouth. When his trading schemes failed, the Company found itself in far greater debt than it ever started out with.

When Allerton's 2nd wife died at Plymouth about 1634, and with the general ire of the Colony against him, he had little reason to stay. He moved to the New Haven Colony, and by 1644 had remarried to his third wife, Joanna Swinnerton. Isaac Allerton remained an active trader, and did regular business with the Dutch at New Netherland in modern-day New York. Records of his trading can be found in numerous other colonies as well, including Virginia and Barbados.

Governor Bradford wrote of Mr. Allerton:

"Mr. Allerton played his own game and ran a course not only to the great wrong and determent of the Plantation... but abused them in England also in prejudice against the Plantation," and later on he wrote

"Concerning Mr. Allerton's accounts. They were so large and intricate as they could not well understand them, much less examine and correct them without a great deal of time and help and his own presence, which was hard to get," and also "he screwed up his poor father in law's account".

Relationship Chart for 11th Great Uncle Isaac Allerton
Brother to 10th Great Grandmother Sarah Allerton

10th Great Grandparents, Degory Priest married Sarah Allerton.
to
Sarah Priest married John Combs
to
Anthony Coombs married Dorcas Wooden
to
Anthony Coombs married Ruth Getchell
to
Ruth Coombs married Nathaniel Toothacre
to
Mary Toothacre married Nathaniel Evans Jr.
to
Hannah Evans married John K. McCrillis
to
Joseph E. McCrillis married Almiria Swift
to
Isabel Deanora Helerson McCrillis married John Mayberry Dennis
to
Vesta Althea Dennis married Walter Edwin Pierce
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
Us

Our Second Mayflower Ancestor

The Mayflower

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Tonight we learn about our 10th Great Grandfather Degory Priest who arrived in America on the Mayflower and signed the Mayflower Compact. With him on the journey was our 11th Great Uncle Isaac Allerton.

Degory is our second ancestor who sailed on the Mayflower. In an earlier post we discovered that our 10th Great Grandfather Francis Cooke was also aboard. Aren't the perfect American pilgrim family? I believe its time we groom one of the children to run for president. They'd have the perfect genealogy for the job!

Degory Priest, Born 1579

It is thought that Degory Priest may be the "Digorius Prust" baptized in Hartland Co., Devonshire, England on 11 August 1582, the son of Peter Prust. In April 1619 in Leyden, Degory Priest stated in a record that he was 40 years old, making him born about 1579. He married Sarah (Allerton) Vincent on the 4 November 1611, Leyden, Holland. She was a sister of the famous Isaac Allerton, also a Mayflower passenger. Both are stated as being of London in their marriage record. They had two daughters in Leyden.

Very little is known about Degory Priest. Since he was married in Holland in 1611, it is clear that he was a religious Separatist very early on, and was an early member of the Pilgrims' Leyden congregation. He was a hatter in Leyden and may have been a hatter in London. Degory became a citizen of Leyden in 1615. Many of the pilgrims similarly became citizens as that was a prerequisite for entrance into the guilds.

The Signing of the Mayflower Compact

He came to America on the Mayflower, leaving behind his wife and two daughters. Almost half of the original Mayflower group died in the first year and Degory was among them, dying on 1 January 1621.

The Mayflower Compact (click to enlarge). Find the signatures of both our 10th Great Grandfathers -
Francis Cooke and Degory Priest

He had survived long enough to be one of the signers of the famous Mayflower Compact, often thought of as America's first written constitution. Bradford's contemporary history says that many of the passengers "dyed soon after their arrival, in the generall sickness that befell. But Digerie Priest had his wife and children sent hither afterwards, she being Mr. Allerton's sister".

Relationship Chart

Degory Priest married Sarah Allerton
to
Sarah Priest married John Combs
to
Anthony Coombs married Dorcas Wooden
to
Anthony Coombs married Ruth Getchell
to
Ruth Coombs married Nathaniel Toothacre
to
Mary Toothacre married Nathaniel Evans Jr.
to
Hannah Evans married John K. McCrillis
to
Joseph E. McCrillis married Almiria Swift
to
Isabel Deanora Helerson McCrillis married John Mayberry Dennis
to
Vesta Althea Dennis married Walter Edwin Pierce
to
Violet Mae Pierce married Walter Albert Mattson
to
Luella, Linda, John, Marvin
to
Us

Violet Pierce Mattson in Photographs. 1918 to 1987

Violet Pierce around 1926.

She had blue black hair and white skin.
Luella says her eyes were coke bottle green

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I've not given Grandma Mattson enough attention recently in this Blog, and knowing her dispostion, decided today would be a great day to let her come through and take a bow for her life's accomplishments.

I've arranged a series of not posted before photographs showing her from childhood to just before her death. One of my Bucket List goals is to post all the family pictures I have from our family history so you can select which pictures you like best to take from the Blog and place into your family's photo albums.

Some of the pictures will have commentary and some may not. That depends on Luella's memory. Shall we begin?

The Pierce family around 1926. Vesta was divorced. The family was living in either South Dakota or Montana. Walter, Vesta and Violet.

Violet Pierce was born in 1918. I'm guessing this photograph was taken sometime during her teen years - probably the early 1930's - at the height of the Great Depression. It looks like it was taken in the Black Hills. I believe it was taken just before the family moved from Montana to California. It may be her brother Walter standing next to her.

Violet as a teenager in California. Could this be her high school graduation picture?

Two pictures of Violet with her mother Vesta. It looks like they were taken in May, 1938 in a riverbed in Spradra, CA. Violet visited her mother in California while the family lived on the Montana Ranch. She took the bus. What a long journey in the 1930's, before the Interstate Highways were built. That's quite the hat Grandma has on. I would have loved to tease her about it if I'd seen these pictures before she died :)



Walter and Violet before they got married in California (around 1938). They look like they're in love don't they? I guess we can thank the Lord they saw something in each other or we'd all not be here.

Walter and Violet's first wedding anniversary on the Montana ranch. Walter is wearing his wedding suit and Violet her wedding dress for the occasion. Luella said that Violet had a 19 in waist back then. They both look wore out.

By the way, Luella still has Grandma Violet's wedding dress. Any of you nieces or cousins brave enough to come try it on and see if you can fit into it?


I really like this photograph. Luella say it was most likely taken by Great Grandpa Albert. Violet was 21 years old. Luella is on her lap. Notice that her hair receded above her forehead. Luella says that every time Violet had a baby her hairline receded, then grew back.
This picture was taken on the Montana ranch in the spring of 1939. World War Two was still several months from starting.



Another of Violet and Luella. The building in the background was the chicken coop. The horse tough is right behind them. This picture was taken next to the well. The Mattson well was the only well that never went dry during the drought. Everyone from miles around came to get water from the Mattson ranch.


Violet with Luella. Most of their dogs on the ranch were border collies. Again, a picture taken by Grandpa Albert - the family photographer. He loved photographs and wanted family pictures decorating the ranch house's walls. Violet disagreed. She preferred paintings.

Violet with Luella, Luella's first summer 1939.

Vesta, Luella and Violet taken around 1941. Luella thinks that Violet might have been pregnant with Walter or Linda at the time.

Grandma Violet with Cousin Diane's Step Mother, Elsie Kittrell, and her father, Jack Kittrell taken in front of Grandma Vesta's home in Arlington, CA.

This picture was taken in front of the Mattson home in Spearfish in the 1960's.

Violet in her green pants. Taken in the late 1960s early 70's. Location unknown. Luella believes it in California. And again, I wish I would have seen this picture before Violet died. Such great teasing ammunition. I'm no judge of fashion by any means but even I know those two colors don't go together. I guess we were all color blind in those days.

Kirk, Joseph and Angie Mattson with both their Grandmothers.

Violet with Aunt Beverly's mother. Children left to right - Gina, Kirk, Joseph and Angie Mattson.

Violet cooking in the Cafeteria at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. When Violet moved to South Dakota from California after Walter died she got a job working as a cook at Mr. Rushmore. She cooked at the Natl. Monument for a few years then got a job at the School of Mines. She cooked at the school of mines until she was 65 years old. Everyone loved her carmel rolls. Luella thought she'd lost the recipe but found it a few years ago written in Violet's own handwriting. Violet wrote the recipe twice. Luella says she forgot to include the cinnamon in both recipes. So, if you're going to try to reproduce these awesome rolls, include the cinnamon. (below. Click to Enlarge).


Violet's first job after moving to Spearfish from the ranch was at JC Penneys. After a few years she quit to work as a cook at Spearfish's Valley Cafe and she worked as a cooked from that day until she retired at 65 years old.


Violet with her brother Walter Pierce taken on Sept. 1, 1985 at the wedding of Walter's daughter Diane to Roger Hackett. Walter died on July 3, 1987 two months before Violet died.

Violet's headstone at the Belle Fourche, South Dakota Cemetery. She was 69 when she died in 1987.

Simply,
Victor

Williamson Family Link to Henry VIII's Two Beheaded Wives

Howard Family Coat of Arms
Display it Proudly for all the Grief our Cousins Gave Henry VIII

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I'm watching the 4th and final season of Showtime's The Tudors on DVD and enjoying it very much. This season revolves around Henry VIII's last two wives. Catherine Howard starts the season as Henry's fifth wife. She's about to be beheaded for sleeping with one of her husband's servants - right under his nose and in common knowledge by many in the household. Stupid? Yes. Chalk it up to the indiscretions of youth. Catherine was only a teenager.

While watching I realized her last name (Howard) was also a last name on the Williamson family line and decided to spend the better part of this morning researching to see if we are indeed related by blood (I've already posted on an earlier occasion that our 14th Great Grandmother Agnes Tilney, was the Step Grandmother to Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn , the fact that her husband was their grandfather and great grandfather escaped me).

Today I tie up the research on our Tudor connection by connecting all the dots and presenting what I know.

14th Great Grandfather, Thomas Howard

Let's begins with our 14th Great Grandfather, Thomas Howard. Thomas was our ancestral link to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. His first married Elizabeth Tilney. That marriage produced several children, two of which were Lord Edmund Howard and Lady Elizabeth Howard. Catherine Howard was Lord Edmund's daughter. Anne Boleyn was Lady Elizabeth Howard's daughter. The Relationship Chart below will help (Click to Enlarge):

Catherine Howard. Henry VIII's Fifth Wife. Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's 2nd Wife

Our relationship is halved because our family line ties to Sir Thomas through his second wife Agnes Tilney and then through their daughter Dorothy. This makes our 13th Great Grandmother Dorothy the half sister to Lord Edmund and Lady Elizabeth. Please refer to the Relationship Chart Below:

14th Great Grandfather Sir Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk married 2nd Wife Agnes Tilney. to
Dorothy Howard married Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby
to
Jane Stanley married Edward Sutton, Baron of Dudley
to
Edward Sutton married Elizabeth Tomlinson
to
Ann Sutton married John Bagley
to
Edward Bagley married Ann Gregorie
to
Ann Bagley married William Brinton
to
John Willis married Ester Brinton
to
Henry Willis married Mary Rachel Underwood
to
John Willis married Phebe Bennett
to
Bennett Willis married Katherine Nosseman
to
Jonathan Willis married Anabella Phlegar
to
Margaret Ann Willis married George Matthew Williamson
to
William J. Williamson married Effie Helen Victor
to
their children, our parents, and grandparents
Vennie, Ima, Inez, Lillie, Josie, Emmett, Walt, Charles, Maurice.
to
US

Now our family has a connection to two of England's best known monarchs.

• Through marriage, Henry VIII husband and executioner to two of our half first cousins 14 times removed.
• By blood to Queen Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn. Queen Elizabeth I is our half 2nd cousin, 13 times removed.

The last minutes of Anne's life




Simply,
Victor

Grandpa Charlie (Charles Williamson)

My Grandpa Charlie Williamson
Taken around 1920

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello,
Today I'm posting several pictures of my Grandpa Charlie. He was the 8th child of William Williamson and Effie Helen Victor. He was born on March 21, 1909.

Simply,
Victor

The Lost, Hoping to be Found. Can you Help on this Mission Person's Investigation?

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Tonight I'll post three pictures of unidentified persons. The dusty memories of the two ancients I have access to haven't a clue who they are. Of course, I'm not sure Luella paid much attention. I was interrupting her Oprah. Charles was more interested that I post his autographed picture of Gabrielle. I'm guessing she is a famous model from yesteryear. He's pretty proud of this photo and autograph, so be sure to mention it when you see him next. Say something like "You old dog, How did you get someone that HOT to pay any attention to you!"
You'll be in his good favor to the end.


Now, enough of the diversion. Let's get back to business.

I putting these out on the world wide web hoping someone out there in Familyland will know (or have an idea - even a hunch would be a start) of who they are - so, here we go....

Look closely at this photograph. You see a young blond girl with baby in carriage. Looks turn of the 20th century to me.

Another picture from the same era. Any ideas? The little one might be a midget (is that politically correct to say?) If she isn't a midget then that little girl is about the homeliest little girl I've ever seen (oops, let's hope it isn't someone's dearest dearest great great Grandmother. If so then I've really put my foot in it!).

Finally, this picture. This was taken in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Luella thinks the young lady on the left is Great Grandmother Vesta (Violet's mother). If so, then who are the other two? Vesta was raised by Charles and Nancy Roe and they didn't have a son. On the other hand, the little girl might be Vesta? If so, then the boy might be her older brother James but he doesn't look 8 years older than her, does he?

Well, there you have it. Three mysteries waiting for someone to comment. I'll leave them to you and move on to other things.

Simply,
Victor

Our Family and the Founding of Williamson, West Virginia

Williamson, West Virginia

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamson,
Today I'd like to shed new light on an age old family tradition concerning the founding of Williamson, West Virginia.

I've heard for years that our family founded Williamson, West Virginia. Finding that connection was a major goal when I started this family history blog nearly one year ago. Sadly, after much research I drew the conclusion that it was just a myth with no substance.

Today, I believe I can offer evidence that there is truth to the story. It is my opinion that Williamson West Virginia was founded by my 3rd cousin, 4 times removed. His name was Benjamin Williamson.

Now the evidence. We begin with the Relationship Chart (click to enlarge).

Please remember that I haven't rock solid proof that Matthew Williamson was the son of Cuthbert Williamson Jr. but all the facts point to this line as our line of descent (refer to the previous post on Matthew Williamson's line). The facts are so obvious that I'm 90% sure this is our correct Williamson Family Tree.

Given that point, then we see that our 2rd Great Grandfather George Matthew Williamson was
a 3rd cousin to Benjamin Williamson, the founder of Williamson West Virginia. This is something George Matthew would have known and it would have been a topic of conversation in the George Matthew Williamson home - hence the story being passed down to our generations.

Therefore, I believe the story of our family's tie to the founding of Williamson, West Virginia is another strong fact that proofs I've found our Williamson line and can now take our genealogy back further to the earliest days of colonial American and the old world and boy are there some interesting relatives on this line to tell you about. Watch for further posts.

Simply,
Victor

For Your Information, this is the History of Williamson, West Virginia taken from the town's web site.

History of Williamson, West Virginia In 1756, Major Andrew Lewis and his exposition were traveling through the area that is now Mingo County. The men ran out of food, but killed a buffalo between present-day Williamson and Kermit. The men cut the meat into small strips called "tugs". They ate the tugs while stopping by a river. Later, this river was referred to by Lewis as "the river where we ate the tugs". Therefore, the river was named the Tug River.
The first settlers arrived in the Williamson area sometime in the 1790's. Between 1800 and 1810, the area that is now downtown Williamson was acquired by a man named Anthony Lawson. The land was cleared in the early 1820's. The first white child to be born in Williamson was Amanda Lowe, my great-great-great-grandmother. This occurred in 1826. Lowe's father, Thomas Patrick Lowe, came to this area from North Carolina in 1825. He assisted in clearing the land and built the house later known as the Ben Williamson house. Thomas Lowe's father-in-law, Isaac Brewer, came to the area from the Church Valley of Virginia in 1800.
Thomas Lowe sold his land in 1839 and moved his family to Marrowbone Creek. After moving, Lowe granted his slaves their freedom. Around the same time, Anthony Lawson sold the land that is now downtown to his friend Benjamin Williamson, who was also an early inhabitant of the area. Lawson and his brother Harry lived in what is now East Williamson.
Benjamin Williamson divided the land up evenly among his children. His son, Benjamin, Jr., got the section that is now the business section of Williamson. Benjamin Williamson, Sr. died in 1854. His grave can be seen in the Williamson Cemetery on Reservation Hill.

And Now, Possible New Williamson Ancestors.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
I'm hoping you read my last post on the breakthrough in our family Williamson line.
If you didn't then please do not read this post until you have.

http://atropesend.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-theory-on-origin-of-our-williamson.html

Now, if we assume I'm correct in my reasoning, and I believe I am, (until I find evidence that I'm not) then we blast through the brick wall that has stopped us from getting past Matthew Williamson, our common grandfather and father of George Matthew Williamson.

I'm now prepared to introduce you to the following ancestors that I believe make up our Williamson line to England. Once again, this is not 100% certain. It is based entirely on my line of reasoning in my post of last Saturday.

So, without further fanfare, may I introduce you to our new 'possible' ancestors:

George Matthew Williamson married Margaret Ann Willis

George, son of Matthew

Matthew Williamson married Selena Dandridge Jeffries

Matthew, son of Cuthbert

WILLIAMSON, Cuthbert b 1739 d 1812 Charlotte County, Virginia married Obedience Price.

Children:

• Rebecca b 1754
• John
• Elizabeth m 12 Jun 1783, Charlotte County, Virginia Samuel Bland
  

married second wife Susannah White b 1754 d 1840 Charlotte County, Virginia, daughter of John and Mary White on 7 Sep 1772 Charlotte County, Virginia. Their children:

• Mary b 1773
• Matthew
• Martha ("Patsey") m 5 Dec 1796 Charlotte County, Virginia John Roach
• Nancy m Nathen Harraway
• Charles b 1781 m 11 Oct 1806 Charlotte County, Virginia Elizabeth Smith Brown
• Susannh Price b 14 Jan 1783 m 27 Mar 1804 Charlotte County, Virginia Achilles Jeffries
• Cuthbert b 7 Oct 1791
• Samuel
• Sallie b ca. 1778
• William Barrett b 1794
• Daniel White
• Frances White m 13 Dec 1822 Charlotte County, Virginia Jordan Taylor
• Catherine

Cuthbert, son of Cuthbert

WILLIAMSON, Cuthbert b ca. 1711 Henrico County, Virginia d 20 Apr 1786 Charlotte County, Virginia married ca. 1731 Elizabeth Allen

Their children:

• Cuthbert b 1739
• Susanna b 25 Aug 1735
• Mary Price b ca. 1738

Cuthbert, son of John

WILLIAMSON, John b 1687 England d 1757 Henrico County, Virginia married Rebecca Chamberlayne. Their children:

• John b 1708
• Thomas b 1708
• Cuthbert b ca. 1711

The only evidence for the John as the son or gandson of Sir Joseph is that John named his place opposite Jamestown, Cobham. There is another theory regarding John's ancestors that appears to be more realistic. John was elected vestryman for Curl's Church on 17 June 1735

John, possible son of Sir Joseph Williamson

WILLIAMSON, Sir Joseph b 1630 England married Catherine O'Brien Stewart.
Their child:

• John b 1687

Sir Joseph purchased the estate of the Duke of Richmond in Kent, England. Its seat was called Cobham Hall. He served as Secretary of State and was once imprisoned in the Tower of London for allegedly taking part in a plot to permit Catholics into England.

A New Theory on the Origin of our Williamson Family Name.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

I’ve been looking into the Willamson family line for several months now. Every time I do I run into the same problem. Our Williamson name begins and ends with George Matthew Williamson’s parents, Matthew and Selina Williamson.

We know that George Matthew Williamson was Born on the 15th of October, 1834 in Lynchburg VA. He was married to Margaret Ann Willis.

My dad (Charles) tells me that his searches for the parents of Matthew Williamson (George's dad) have proven fruitless. It seems we’ve drawn a blank. So, without a direct line to trace I start looking to secondary evidence to find the ancestors with our Williamson name.

I decided that if I can't find evidence of Matthew Williamson I needed to look elsewhere. Today I decided to trace his wife Selena Dandridge Jeffries Williamson.

Let's begin with a Relationship Chart:

Matthew Williamson married Selena Dandridge Jeffries
to Their Son
George Matthew Williamson who married Margaret Ann Willis
to Their Son
William J. Williamson who married Effie Helen Victor
to
Their Children, our parents and grandparents
Vennie, Ima Della, Inez, Lillie Ethel, Josie, Emmett, Walt, Charles, Maurice.

I spent hours on the internet searching every document and census record available and today want to propose a working theory on the Williamsons of Virginia and the mystery of Matthew Williamson.

The Birth
Matthew Williamson was born sometime around 1810. We don't know exactly where but I assume Virginia.

We know that the Williamson family lived in Cambell County Virginia near Lynchburg where our Great Great Grandfather George Matthew Williamson was born.
The Following was taken from his obituary:

Mr. Williamson was born near Lynchburg, Virginia, October 15, 1834 and while yet a small boy his parents moved to Floyd County, in what is now West Virginia. There he grew to manhood and was married to Miss Margaret Anne Willis of that place on July 25, 1856.

There are no records of Matthew and Selena living near Lynchburg, but remember the US Census is taken every 10 years and George Matthew was born in 1834. I assume George was their oldest child and born shortly after their marriage. That would place their marriage sometime in the early 1830's.

The 1830 Census doesn't list members of household by name. Only the head of the household is recorded. Therefore, I believe that in 1830 Matthew was unmarried and living at home - hence no record of him by name. So, the next logical step would be to find the Matthew Williamson family in the 1840 Census. According to the obituary, I should be looking at Floyd County Virginia (there is no Floyd County in West Virginia).

My search of the 1840 Census proved fruitless. There was no Matthew Williamson anywhere. I was stopped dead in my tracks again. How could a married man with family not appear on the Census or the tax lists of Floyd County?

Perhaps they moved before the 1840 Census. No, according to the obituary the family was still living in Floyd County when George Matthew and Margaret Ann Willis married in 1856.

I went to bed last night wondering where our great grandfather and mother were in the pages of time. Perhaps consulting a physic would be prudent. Matthew and Selena could tell me their history themselves.

I woke up this morning and went right to task. I decided to try a new approach. I did a search of the 1850 Census of Floyd County looking for someone with the first name of Selena, bypassing Matthew completely. That's when something interesting appeared.

Surprised? I was. Notice that Selena's last name was Levis. This couldn't be her could it?
Notice the last name of the children in the household. That is G. Williamson. The letter "G" stood for George. What are the odds that a George Williamson, born in 1835 (the year difference in George's birthday isn't a concern. Another census later in his life records his birth in 1835) has a mother named Selena living in Floyd County, 1850? Slim. Very Slim indeed.

My Theory Takes Shape.

• Matthew and Selena married between the 1831 and 1833.
• Selena was 21 years old when their first child, George Matthew Williamson was born.
• The family moved to Floyd County.
• Our Great Great Great Grandfather Matthew died at a young age leaving Selena a widow with a young son. His death would be before the 1840 Census was taken or her would have been listed as a head of household.
• Selena married William Levis around 1845. Together they had four children.

What did the Widow Williamson and her young son George do after the death of Matthew? We are looking at a gap of five or six years in the record before she remarries.

A mother and son, taken in the early 1840's.

Let's look at the next piece of evidence:

This is a page taken from the 1840 US Census. There she is! The Census records a certain Salina (her name was spelled several different ways on many different census records) living in the Charlotte, Virginia area. Charlotte is near Lynchburg. Also notice her middle name starts with "D". Our Great Grandmother's name was Selena Dandridge Jeffries.

This is the same Census record in text. Selena was the head of household in this Census. Notice her household consisted of 2 people, Selena and a young son listed at 5 or younger (George Matthew was born in 1834/35).

The Theory is modified:

• Matthew Williamson died before 1840. His widow and young son moved to the Charlotte area. Why would they do that? To be close to family is my guess. Do I have evidence? Yes I do....

• This is the actual page from the 1840 Census. Look at the other names. Notice the following: John Williamson, Cutberth Williamson and Daniel Williamson also lived in the same community.
• I believe William Levis and Selena met each other in Charlotte and moved back to Floyd County where Matthew and Selena owned land. They farmed the land and raised a family. It was William and Selena that attended the wedding of George Matthew to Margaret Willis.
  

If my theory is correct, then we are related to the original Williamson settlers of Virginia.

The following information was taken from a post I wrote several months ago outlining a theory I had about Cuthbert Williamson. What I wrote then seems more credible now.

Cuthbert Williamson

There is history of a certain Cuthbert Williamson who lived and died in Charlotte County, Va., near Rough Creek.

Evidence 1:

Notice how close Rough Creek (A) is to Lynchburg VA.

As you can see, Rough Creek Virginia is very close to Lynchburg where our ancestor George Williamson was born in 1834. Given that people rarely travelled great distances in the early 1800’s, and knowing the name Williamson is not that common of a name (check your phone book and you’ll see) I’m thinking that this Cuthbert may be related in some way - although not directly but indirectly.

Cuthbert Williamson was born near Richmond VA about 1740 and in 1765 purchased land in Charlotte County, again near Lynchburg. Curthbert had 16 children 14 of whom married. His first wife is thought to have been Miss Price. He had three children by his first marriage, John, Rebecca and Elizabeth. His second wife was a Miss White, and by this wife he had the following children:- Charles, Mary, Martha, Nancy, Samuel, Cuthbert, Susan, Kate Francis, William B., Daniel M., Matthew and Sallie; Kate died young, unmarried; Sallie died when a child.
(Evidence 2: Cuthbert had a son named Matthew)

More on this Williamson Family History

John Williamson, a descendant of Sir Joseph Williamson, came to Virginia and settled opposite Jamestown. 1st. John Williamson, born 1687, married Rebecca Chamberlayne. They had three sons, Thomas, John and Cuthbert.

Now the Cuthbert born around 1740 was most likely the son of Cuthbert mentioned above. Again I’m going with reasoning (since there is nothing else to go on at the moment). Even if Cuthbert isn’t directly on our line, then surely the John Williamson who came to Virginia and settled near Jamestown must be considering this Willaimson line came to Virginia around 1630.
From the Jamestown area the many members of the family settled near Rough Creek, which we’ve already established as very close to Lynchburg, home of our Williamson line.

OK, what do you think of my reasoning so far? Would you agree?

I’m doing more research on this line of Williamson's and will continue to post new developments. Perhaps we have a breakthrough and can finally, although perhaps without ever finding absolute proof that this is our Williamson line, trace our family line back to England.

Fingers Crossed,

Simply,
Victor