Located in Nance Co. NE. 1860 census as daughter of Isaac Branson and Eliza (Eliza Emiline Perry Branson).543

Vitals October 8, 1921 Mariposa Gazette: Died -
PEARD- At Merced, Oct. 5, 1921, Mrs. Martha PEARD, a native of Missouri, aged 64 years.

PEARD, Mrs. October 15, 1921 Mariposa Gazette:
The funeral of the late Mrs. PEARD was largely attended from this county. From CATHAY we noticed J. D. PRICE and wife, Mrs. LEDSON, Mrs. Geo. GIVENS, Isabel PIERSON and Marvin WILLS; from Mt. Bullion, Mrs. SAIN, Charles Marre and wife, F.?. MAQUIRE, John MARRE, Mrs. PIERSON, Mr. and Mrs. FOURNIER.

PEARD, Mrs. Martha October 15, 1921 Mariposa Gazette: Mrs. Martha PEARD Dies at Merced
Mrs. Martha PEARD, a pioneer resident of Hrnitos, passed away at her home in Merced October 5th after a brief illness.
Mrs. PEARD was a native of Missouri and crossed the plains 58 years ago with her parents, who settled at Hornitos.
She was the mother of 12 children, eight of whom survive her. They are Mrs. Emma GILBERT and Mrs. Rose SPAGNOLI of Merced, Mrs. Belle BENNETT and Miss Josephine PEARD of San Francisco and Charles, Harold, Stanley and Alfred PEARD of Merced. Also two brothers, Hiram and William BRANSON of Jerseydale, survive her.
The funeral services were held in Merced Friday afternoon, October 7th, internment being made in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Merced.

Great Register of 1872:
986 "Peard, John" 22 England Miner BearValley

From the 1870 Mariposa Census:
page 108a, Township number two, Post Office Mariposa ,enumerated on July 11, 1870. dwelling number 9, family number 9.( Clarity good, handwriting good)

PEARD, John H.
age 19
male
white
miner under ground
pob England
father foreign born
mother foreign born

Henry
age 17
male
white
at home
pob England
father foreign born
mother foreign born

Thomas
age 15
male
at home
pob England
father foreign born
mother foreign born
cannot write
check mark in column for " whether deaf and dumb, blind, insaneor
idiotic"

Eliza
age 10
female
white
at home
pob California
father foreign born
mother foreign born
attended school in the last year

also in same household

ESLICK, Joseph
age 7
male
white
at home
pob California
father foreign born
mother foreign born
attended school in last year

ESLICK, William
age 5
male
white
at home
pob California
father foreign born
mother foreign born
attended school in last year

ESLICH, Emily
age 3
female
white
at home
pob California
father foreign born
mother foreign born

PEARD, John July 29, 1899 Mariposa Gazette: Death of John PEARD.
John PEARD of Mt. Gaines died at his home there last Tuesday evening of brain fever. The deceased was fifty one years of age and a native of England. He came to this county with his parents and has resided in Mariposa county during most of his life. He was a married man and leaves a wife and several children to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father. The deceased was a brother of Henry PEARD who died in San Francisco a few months ago.65

PEARD, John August 5, 1899 Mariposa Gazette: Death of John PEARD.
Death has again entered our usually quiet neighborhood and plucked therefrom one of our prominent and esteemed citizens, John PEARD. Deceased was in his customary good health up to about two weeks before his death, when he was stricken with typhoid fever and although all was done for him that could be done by loving hearts and willing hands, every means available used for his recovery, it was to no avail, he soon became delirious rapidly grew worse., and early on Wednesday morning, July 25th, he quietly breathed his last. For several days before he died he was not able to recognize even his own loved ones about his bed.
Deceased was a native of England and about 50 years of age. He, with his parents, came to this county when but a boy and for many years they resided in Bear Valley. He was a miner by occupation and during the time the Washington mine was in operation, he made that his home. Later, with his family, he removed to Mt. Gaines where they have resided up to the time of hiss death. Some 23 years ago he was married to Miss Martha BRANSON, daughter of Issac BRANSON, at time a resident of this community. Deceased was the farther of 12 children, eight of whom are left, with a heart broken mother, to mourn the loss of a kind farther and loving husband. His death also falls heavily upon his aged father who came here from Nevada City a few months ago to visit his son and family whom he had not seen for ten years. Mr. PEARD was a good man, a kind and obliging neighbor, and will long be remembered by all who knew him. Tears of sympathy are shed for his bereaved family, now left with little means of support, but we trust that God in his infinite wisdom and love will take care of those whom he has bereft. Deceased was buried on Thursday last under the auspices of the Hornitos Lodge No. 99 I.O.O.F., of which he was a faithful and active member. May he rest in peace.