ABRAHAM PIERCE [#468], b. abt. 1600, d. Duxbury, MA 1673, m. REBECCA ____.
Abraham Pierce probably settled in the colony of New Plymouth as early as 1623 for in that year land was granted in Plymouth to "Mr. Perce's two servants". The land was under the heading "These butt against Hobes Hole" and listed Nicholas Snow, Anthony Dixe, Mr Perces 2 ser[vants], Ralfe Walen, in that order. Abraham definitely resided in Plymouth within a few years as the next preserved record, being a division of cattle and goats and dated 1627, contains the name of Abraham Pierce. It is unlikely that the Mr. Pierce referred to was our Abraham as he was rather young at the time and was not at any later date honored with the title "Mr.", which was not used indiscriminately in the 17th century. A more likely candidate for "Mr. Perce" is John Pierce of London, to whom the first patent of the Plymouth Colony was granted June 1, 1621. He is the Pierce most intimately involved in the early settlement of Plymouth, and we know that he tried, unsuccessfully, to sail to Plymouth in 1621 and 1622. Since he was not able to come himself, it is understanable that he would have agents on the scene to look after his interests. Abraham may have been a relation of John Pierce such as a nephew or cousin or perhaps even a son. The evidence that provides the possible link between Abraham of Plymouth and Duxbury and John of London is a deed dated Sept. 28, 1629 in which Abraham Peirce sells to Thomas Clark "one Acre of land lying on ye south side of the towne abutting on Hobs-hole with the one end, and bounded one ye one side with the ground of Ralfe Wallen, & on the other end, & side with Commone ground".[8/54:1645][10] The only other possiblity for Mr. Perse would seem to be Captain William Pierce, who put into Plymouth on occasion but never settled there. It seems unlikely that he would leave a couple of men ashore to lay out a farm, especially since he never settled there. Instead he remained a sailor to the end of his life in 1641, when he was shot commanding an expedition in the Bahamas.[5/61] It is possible a family relationship existed among these three men, but what it was, if any, is not known.
The case is actually quite good for believeing that Abraham was in Plymouth by 1623. The only ships to put into Plymouth were the Mayflower in 1620, the Fortune in 1621, the Anne in 1623, and the Little James in 1623. No other ship arrived until the Mayflower's return in 1629. Therefore it seems most likely that Abraham arrived in 1623 on either the Anne or the Little James. Abraham's wife Rebecca was the sister of Hannah, wife of John Scudder.
Other Plymouth records in which Abraham's name appears indicate that he was made a freeman in or before 1633,[5/1:4] was a taxpayer in 1633[5/1:10] and 1634,[5/1:28] was on a coroner's jury in 1636,[5/1:39] was a householder in 1637, and was allowed to take up more land in 1639. He was also granted 40 acres of upland and meadow at North River in 1640[5/1:165] and was a soldier under Captain Miles Standish in 1643. The North River area was what later became Duxbury.
Abraham Pierce removed from Plymouth to Duxbury in or prior to 1643 and was an original proprietor of Bridgewater in 1645. Other records show that March 2, 1651-2 he was brought before the court and charged with "slothfull and negligent spending the Sabath, and not frequenting the puclick assembly". "The Court saw reason to excuse him for present, but sence cleared, with warning to amend".[5/3:5] He was granted three acres of meadow on the north side of the brook at Namassakeset and liberty to purchase lands at Saconeset in 1660 and soon after received a grant of 100 acres on the back side of Indian Head Pond.
Abraham also owned land in Barbadoes as a power of attorney document by Caleb Pierce of Yarmouth, MA, dated 1730, mentions "Lands or Tenements of Right belonging to Me ye Said Constituant as descending to Me from My Grate Grandfather Abraham Pearce Late of ye Town Duxborought in ye County of Plimouth ... a Plantation or Other Estate in the Government of the Island of Barbadoes formerly belonging to & in the possesion of Thomas Pearce Late of Sd Barbadoes Deacea'd & by him Given to my Grate Grandfather Abraham Pearce of ye Town of Duxborought in ye County of Plymouth ...".[3]
Abraham was a freeman of Duxbury in 1646[7/845] and was one of the men of Duxbury from 16 to 60 years able to bear arms in August 1643.[7/93] In 1663 Abraham Pierce, Jr. was summoned to appear "before the major and Mr. Aldin to answare for his abusive speeches used to his father".[5/4:47]
At Plymouth Court, held Nov. 7, 1643, William Hanbury complained against Abraham Pierce in an action of trespass. The court found for the defendant. Meanwhile Abraham complained against Hanbury for trespass and assault and battery. The court found for the plaintiff in both cases. Hanbury was forced to pay 17 bushels of corn and charges of the court for trespass and 2 shillings and 3 pence plus costs of court for the assault and battery.[5/7:35]
Upon Abraham's death in 1673 his son Abraham was appointed by the court to administer upon the estate. Also by order of the court Abraham, as eldest son, received all the land from the estate except 20 acres of upland and two acres of meadow, which were assigned to Isaac, the youngest son, and 20 shillings apiece to the three daughters.[4] Court orders on June 3, 1673 relating to the settlement of the estate mentioned Abraham Pierce, Jr., his brother Isaac, and his three sisters Rebecca Willis, Mary Baker, and Alice Baker.[5/5:1167]
REF: [1] The Seekins Genealogy - Paul O. Seekins, 1970 (pg.150)
[2] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1852 (pgs.61-63)
[3] The Mayflower Descendant, 9:162
[4] Plymouth Colony Probate Transcriptions, Document Set No.
306
[5] Plymouth Colony Records, 1855
[6] Records of the Town of Duxbury, 1893
[7] The History of Duxbury - Justin Winsor, 1849
[8] The American Genealogist, 1978
[9] Seven Pierce Families - Harvey Cushman Pierce, 1936 (pg.3)
[10] Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, Deeds, etc. - David
Pulsifer, 1861
Children:
1. Abraham, b. Plymouth, MA Jan 1638, d. Jan 1718, m(1) Hannah (Baker?), m(2) 29 Oct 1695 Hannah Glass 2. Rebecca, b. abt. 1640, d. 30 Mar 1724, m. Samuel Wills 3. Mary, b. abt. 1644-5, m. William Baker 4. Alice, b. 1650, d. 1673, m. John Baker 5. Isaac, b. 1661, d. Duxbury, MA 28 Feb 1731-2, m. 1681 Alice Chartley
ISAAC PIERCE [#234], b. Duxbury, MA 1661, d. Middleboro, MA 28 Feb 1731-2 "in the seventy first year of his age", m. 1681 ALICE CHARTLEY.
Isaac Pierce first resided at Duxbury and then removed to Middleborough about 1710, where he had received a land grant for service in the Naragansett War (King Phillip's War) in 1675, and because his family had become Quakers or Friends.[2/151] If the age at death is correct, it almost seems like Isaac would have been too young to see action in King Phillip's War. However, an Isaac Pierce of Middleboro received land in Narragansett Township No. 4 in 1734 for his service.[6/429] This township later became Greenwich, MA and after that was flooded by the Quabbin Resevoir. This must be Isaac the son, receiving the land due his father. He was involved in the fight near Warwick, RI which resulted in the capture of the Indian fort.[6/422]
His will, dated June 27, 1722, gave his lands to his two sons, five pounds each to his daughters, and the use and income of his house and lands to his wife Alice during her lifetime.[1/6:168] Inventory of the estate was taken May 24, 1732.[1/6:252] It is said that Isaac died suddenly on February 28, 1731-2 while sitting in a chair.
REF: [1] Plymouth County Probate
[2] The Seekins Genealogy - Paul O. Seekins, 1970 (pgs.151-2)
[3] Middleboro Vital Records
[4] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1867 (pg.63)
[5] History of the Town of Middleboro, MA - Thomas Weston, 1906
[6] Soldiers in King Phillip's War - George Madison Bodge, 1906
Children:
1. Isaac, b. abt. 1682, m. 1702 Judith Booth 2. Thomas, b. 1684, m. Middleboro, MA 16 Apr 1714 Naoma Booth 3. Mary, b. abt. 1686, m? Scituate, MA 23 Jan 1709-10 John Sanders 4. Lydia, b. 1689, m(1) Bridgewater, MA 3 Jul 1706 Thomas Heyford, m(2) Middleboro, MA 12 Jan 1724-5 Aaron Seekins, b. abt. 1690, d. before 1747 5. Mercy, b. abt. 1690, m. 1707 Joseph Trouant 6. Sarah, m. Samuel McComber 7. Rebecca, m. 1715 Samuel Hoar
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