Pearson, John

John PEARSON (1610 - 1693) and Dorcas PICKARD (1621 - 1702)

my 8g-grandparents

Deacon John PEARSON came to America in 1637, and settled in Rowley, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He built and operated the first fulling mill in America, in 1643. His descendants started a bakery which grew into the company now known as Nabisco.

John PEARSON was of the same Puritan persuasion as the others in Rowley. Family tradition holds that he also came from Yorkshire. This is also claimed in [RHS, No. 3, p. 25]. Rowley records indicated that he was born about 1610.

Many John PEARSONs in England

John PEARSON was born about 1610 in Yorkshire, England. [GBB, p. 272] Several researchers have given his birth date as 17 Feb 1609/10, in Bradford, but I haven't seen any evidence. The baptism records show several John PEARSONs baptized between 1605 and 1614.

Immigration

John PEARSON immigrated to America, arriving in Lynn, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1637. For reference, the first voyage of the Mayflower brought Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620.

Dorcas

Also in 1643, John married Dorcas, probably before settling in Rowley. Dorcas was also born in England, about 1621. It is not known whether John and Dorcas were married in England or MA, or whether they traveled together, but they were married before coming to Rowley. [GBB, pp. 272-88]

The facts about John PEARSON's wife Dorcas are uncertain. Thurston [WMT, p. 8] indicates that John and Dorcas were married in England, and made the journey to America together, arriving at Rowley in 1643. On [MD] we find the claim that her name was Dorcas PICKARD, and that she was born c. 1621 in Holme-On-Spaulding Moor, Yorkshire, to parents John PICKARD and Ann LUME, and she married John PEARSON in Rowley, MA, 1643.

Settled in Rowley

After a brief stay in Ipswich, John and Dorcas settled in Rowley, in the northeast corner of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, by 1643. The birth of their first child, on 21 May 1643, appears in the Rowley records.

John PEARSON was styled a carpenter, but made a business in Rowley as a maker of cloth, and came prepared to set up and operate a fulling mill. He brought equipment from England for this purpose, including several large cedar posts, since he had heard that America had no wood that could withstand exposure to water. This was the first fulling mill in Colonial America. He later purchased a grist mill and sawmill. There is more information about this on my Essex Co MA page.

John PEARSON was made a freeman on 26 May 1647, and gradually became a leading citizen in Rowley. He was sent, as a representative of Rowley, to the General Court in Boston in 1678, and eight times afterward. He was ordained deacon of the church in Rowley on 24 Oct 1686. In 1660 his tax was £1 5s 7d and in 1691 it was £7 15s, the highest but one in Rowley.

John PEARSON died 22 Dec 1693, and Dorcas his wife died 12 Jan 1703, both in Rowley.

Descendants

John and Dorcas had about 12 children, in Rowley. The sections below will cover the 12 children of John and Dorcas PEARSON. From [GBB] we have information about the descendants. I have left out the cross-references because there are so many, but almost everyone mentioned here who lived in Rowley can be found in [GBB].

Their son Samuel PEARSON was my 7g-grandfather.

1. Mary PEARSON was born 21 May 1643, and died in infancy.

2. Capt. John PEARSON was born 27 Dec 1644 in Rowley, and died 12 Mar 1722 in Rowley, at age 77. On 14 Feb 1670/1 he married Mary PICKARD, daughter of John PICKARD and Jane CROSBY. Mary died 12 Apr 1728 in her 77th year, so she was born about 1651.

The relationship between John's wife, Mary PICKARD, and his mother, Dorcas PICKARD, in unknown.

John inherited "The Mills" from his father, and he further expanded the business.

1 Capt. John PEARSON b: 27 Dec 1644 in Rowley, d: 12 Mar 1721/22 in Rowley, age 77
+ Mary PICKARD b: 1651 in Rowley, m: 14 Feb 1670/71 in Rowley, d: 12 Apr 1728, age 77
......2 Sarah PEARSON bapt: 07 Apr 1672 in Rowley, d: 09 Jan 1735 in Newbury, Essex, MA, age 62+
...... + Jonathan PLUMMER b: 13 May 1668 in Newbury, Essex, MA, m: 16 Jun 1696 in Rowley
......2 John PEARSON b: 01 Dec 1674 in Rowley, d: 19 Oct 1694, age 19
......2 Joseph PEARSON b: 22 Oct 1677 in Rowley, d: 19 Jul 1753, age 75
...... + Sarah WALKER m: 03 Jun 1701, d: 02 Sep 1721
...... + Sarah HALE m: 01 Jan 1722/23 in Newbury, Essex, MA
......2 Dorcas PEARSON b: 18 Mar 1679/80 in Rowley, d: 23 Nov 1756, age 76
...... + Hon. John HOBSON b: 10 Nov 1680 in Rowley, m: 07 Sep 1699 in Rowley, d: 20 Mar 1770 in Rowley, age 89
......2 Jane PEARSON b: 25 Aug 1684 in Rowley, d: 09 Nov 1771, age 87
...... + Benjamin PLUMMER Jr b: 04 Mar 1681/82 in Rowley, m: 31 Dec 1707, d: 22 Jun 1734, age 52 ; of a kick from his horse
...... + Jonathan KIMBALL m: 03 Nov 1739, d: aft. 1747
......2 Hephsibah PEARSON b: 07 Apr 1689 in Rowley, d: 1697, age 7 or 8
......2 Rebecca PEARSON b: 16 Mar 1691/92 in Rowley
...... + William DOLE m: 02 Feb 1713/14

Jonathan PLUMMER was an uncle of Benjamin PLUMMER Jr. [GBB, pp. 312,4]

Jonathan KIMBALL, 2nd husband of Jane PEARSON, wrote in his will on 16 Dec 1747, “whereas my wife Jane has eloped from me and refuses to live with me I give her five shillings and a pair of leather gloves.” [GBB, p. 312]

John HOBSON was a justice of the peace; deputy to the General Court many years; in 1741 speaker of the House of Representatives of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, [WRC, Vol. I, p. 215] although I don't see his name in the list of speakers. The following article may explain the discrepancy.

3. Elizabeth PEARSON was born 14 Oct 1646, and married (1) on 8 Jun 1670 to John HOPKINSON, born 7 Jan 1647, died 29 May 1704, son of Michael and Ann HOPKINSON. They were both 23 when they married. They lived in Rowley and had 6 children.

Elizabeth married (2) on 15 Nov 1715, at age 69, to Daniel WOOD of Boxford. Her children were all grown by this time.

1 Elizabeth PEARSON b: 17 Oct 1646 in Rowley, d: aft. 1715, age 69+

+ John HOPKINSON b: 07 Jan 1647 in Rowley, m: 08 Jun 1670 in Rowley, d: 29 May 1704, age 57
......2 John HOPKINSON b: 09 Nov 1673, d: bef. 23 Nov 1674, age < 13 months
......2 Dorcas HOPKINSON b: 18 Feb 1677 in Rowley, d: 02 May 1717 in Byfield, Essex, MA, age 40
...... + John SPOFFORD b: 24 Jan 1678, m: 15 Feb 1699/00 in Rowley, d: 11 Oct 1735 in Georgetown, Essex, MA, age 57
......2 Jeremiah HOPKINSON b: 23 Dec 1678 in Rowley, d: 11 Sep 1768 in Rowley, age 89
...... + Elizabeth HUNT m: 09 Jun 1705 in Concord, Middlesex, MA, d: 06 Feb 1725/26
...... + Margeret TENNEY bapt: 13 Nov 1681, m: 20 May 1728, d: 26 Apr 1742, age 60+
...... + Martha SMITH b: 1685, m: 11 Jan 1742 in Rowley, d: 24 Jan 1783, age 97
......2 Elizabeth HOPKINSON b: 05 Aug 1683 in Rowley, d: aft. 1739, age 56+
...... + Deacon Daniel JEWETT b: 12 Nov 1681 in Ipswich, Essex, MA, m: 25 Feb 1700/01 in Rowley, d: 1727, age 45
......2 Ann HOPKINSON b: 03 Mar 1687/88 in Rowley, d: 31 May 1737 in Rowley, age 49
...... + Jonathan JEWETT b: 02 Dec 1685 in Ipswich, Essex, MA, m: 28 Apr 1707 in Rowley, d: 11 Dec 1773, age 88
......2 John HOPKINSON b: 30 May 1692 in Rowley
...... + Mary WHEELER b: 09 Feb 1694/95 in Rowley, m: 12 Feb 1712/13 in Rowley

+ Daniel WOOD m: 15 Nov 1715 in Rowley

Sisters Elizabeth and Ann HOPKINSON married brothers Daniel and Jonathan JEWETT, sons of John JEWETT and his second wife, Elizabeth HOWE.

4. Samuel PEARSON was born 29 Jul 1648 in Rowley. He married (1) on 6 Dec 1670, in Newbury, MA, Mary POORE, who died giving birth to their 2nd child, on 27 Oct. 1671. Samuel married (2) Dorcas JOHNSON in Haverhill, MA on 16 Apr 1672. They had 9 more children, in Haverhill. Dorcas JOHNSON was born about 1650 in Hampton, New Hampshire, the daughter of Edmund and Mary JOHNSON.

Samuel and Dorcas were my 7g-grandparents. See the Samuel PEARSON page for more information.

5. Dorcas PEARSON, was born 21 Apr 1650, in Rowley. She married (1) John EATON, on 26 Nov 1674 in Reading. John EATON was born 10 October 1645 in Reading, son of Jonas and Grace EATON. He died 25 May 1691 in Reading. Dorcas married (2) Abraham BRYANT on 28 Dec 1693 in Reading, as his third wife. Abraham BRYANT died 6 July 1720 in Reading. Dorcas was still living in 1697, but her date of death is not known. All her 12 children were from her 1st marriage, and at least 4 of them died in infancy.

The wife of John EATON was once thought to have been Dorcas GREEN/GREENE, but the Eaton Families Association now says she was Dorcas PEARSON. See [PNG].

1 Dorcas PEARSON b: 25 Apr 1650 in Rowley, Essex, MA, d: 08 Dec 1728 in Wakefield, Middlesex, MA

+ John EATON b: 10 Sep 1645 in Reading, m: 26 Nov 1674 in Reading, d: 24 May 1691 in Reading
......2 Grace EATON b: 12 Jan 1677 in Reading, d: 1756
...... + John BOUTWELL b: 19 Oct 1671 in Reading, m: 08 Oct 1695 in Reading, d: 17 Jul 1713 in Reading
......2 Jonas EATON b: 13 Mar 1677 in Reading, d: 28 Mar 1677
......2 Noah EATON b: 26 Jan 1678 in Reading
......2 Thomas EATON b: 22 Jun 1679 in Reading, d: 14 Oct 1774 in Reading
...... + Lydia PIERCE m: 22 Jul 1708 in Watertown, Middlesex, MA, d: 18 Jul 1775 in Reading
......2 Jonas EATON b: 18 May 1680 in Reading, d: 13 Aug 1727 in Framingham, Middlesex, MA
...... + Mehitable GOULD b: 1684 in Ipswich, Essex, MA, m: 10 Mar 1705
......2 Joseph EATON b: 18 Apr 1681 in Reading, d: 29 Apr 1681 in Reading
......2 Benjamin EATON b: 16 Jan 1683 in Reading, d: 02 Feb 1683 in Reading
......2 Joseph EATON b: bet. 1684–1687 in Reading
......2 Dorcus EATON b: 28 Jul 1688 in Reading
......2 Stephen EATON b: 11 Aug 1689 in Reading, d: 25 Aug 1689 in Reading
......2 Phebe EATON b: 25 Aug 1690 in Reading, d: 28 Jul 1749 in Reading
...... + Jonathan NICKOLS b: 23 Feb 1691, m: 07 Nov 1716 in Reading, d: 28 May 1773 in Reading
......2 Mary EATON b: 1691 in Reading

+ Abraham BRYANT b: abt. 1647 in Devonshire, England, m: 28 Dec 1693 in Reading d: 06 Jul 1720 in Reading

Dorcas and John had 12 children in a 14 year period, from 1677 to 1691. John died in 1691, leaving Dorcas with 4 to 8 children still living. She married Abraham BRYANT in 1693, as his 3rd wife. Abraham had 10 children by his 1st wife, with 7 or 8 still living in 1693. So they had a houseful! [AB]

There are some discrepancies in the dates. Reading, MA records indicate that Grace was born 12 Jan 1677 and Jonas on 13 Mar 1677. This is clearly impossible. The dates are not given in double-date format, so perhaps one is 1676/77 and the other 1677/78. Jonas died 28 Mar 1677, which is outside the double-date range. So he can't have been born 13 Mar 1677/78. Which would seem to force Grace's birth back to 12 Jan 1676/77.

6. Mary PEARSON was born 14 Feb 1651/52, died 7 Jul 1716, and married on 20 Dec 1671 to Deacon Samuel PALMER, born 20 Aug 1644, died 21 Jun 1719, son of Thomas and Ann PALMER. Samuel PALMER was chosen Deacon of the Rowley Church on 1 Feb 1707/8.

Mary was 19 and Samuel was 27 when they married. They lived all their lives in Rowley, and had 5 children.

1 Mary PEARSON b: 17 Feb 1651/52 in Rowley, d: 07 Jul 1716 in Rowley, age 64
+ Dea. Samuel PALMER b: 20 Aug 1644 in Rowley, m: 20 Dec 1671 in Rowley, d: 21 Jun 1719 in Rowley, age 74
......2 Mary PALMER bapt: 29 Sep 1672, died in infancy
......2 Mary PALMER b: 06 Apr 1674 in Rowley, d: 1747 in Byfield, Essex, MA, age 73
...... + Benjamin STICKNEY b: 04 Apr 1673 in Newbury, Essex, MA, m: 16 Jan 1700/01 in Rowley, d: 05 Mar 1756 in Byfield, Essex, MA, age 82
......2 Martha PALMER b: 24 Apr 1677 in Rowley, d: 14 Jun 1723 in Haverhill, Essex, MA, age 46
...... + Samuel HALE b: 6 Jun 1674 in Newbury, Essex, MA, m: 3 Nov 1698 in Rowley, d: 13 Dec 1745 in Bradford, Essex, MA, age 71
......2 Thomas PALMER b: 19 Sep 1684 in Rowley, d: 12 Oct 1727 in Norwich, New London, CT, age 43
...... + Sarah DAVIS m: 19 Oct 1710 in Charlestown, Middlesex, MA
......2 Phebe PALMER b: 19 Sep 1684 in Rowley, d: 10 Sep 1762, age 77
...... + George KILBOURN b: 21 Jan 1686/87 in Rowley, m: 13 May 1712, d: 08 Jun 1758, age 71

Thomas PALMER moved his family to Norwich, CT in 1722. They had 5 children in Rowley, and 2 more in Norwich. Thomas died in 1727, at age 43, leaving Sarah with 6 children under 15. She married (2) in Norwich, 1729, to Nathaniel RICHARDS.

7. Jeremiah PEARSON was born 21 Oct 1653, and died 23 Feb, 1736/7 in Newbury. He married on 21 Jul 1681 to Priscilla HAZEN, who was born 25 Nov 1664, in Rowley, and died 25 Apr 1752, in Rowley, at age 88. She was the daughter of Edward HAZEN and Hannah GRANT. They were dismissed on 15 Jan 1710, from Rowley Church to the church in Newbury. Jeremiah was a carpenter, miller, and farmer. He owned and operated a grist mill on Little River, in Oldtown Parish, Newbury.

1 Jeremiah PEARSON b: 21 Oct 1653 in Rowley, d: 23 Feb 1736/37 in Newbury
+ Priscilla HAZEN b: 25 Nov 1664 in Rowley, m: 21 Jul 1681 in Rowley, d: 25 Apr 1752 in Newbury
......2 Priscilla PEARSON b: 03 Dec 1682 in Rowley, d: 27 Feb 1776
...... + Capt Nathaniel MIGHILL b: 04 Jul 1684 in Rowley, m: 03 Oct 1705, d: 24 Aug 1762 in Rowley
......2 Miriam PEARSON b: 19 Jul 1685 in Rowley, d: bef. 03 Dec 1689 in Rowley
......2 Hannah PEARSON b: 22 Apr 1688 in Rowley, d: 18 Jul 1690
......2 Capt. John PEARSON b: 10 Apr 1690 in Rowley
...... + Elizabeth MIX m: 24 Mar 1714 in Stonington, New London, CT
......2 Hephsibah PEARSON b: 10 Dec 1692 in Rowley
...... + Richard KNIGHT m: 14 Apr 1715 in Newbury
......2 Miriam PEARSON b: 08 Feb 1694/95 in Rowley, d: 15 Jan 1782 in Georgetown, Essex, MA
...... + Ebenezer BURPEE b: 8 Jan 1697/98 in Rowley, m: 15 Dec 1721 in Newbury, d: 11 Sep 1771 in Georgetown, Essex, MA
......2 Moses PEARSON b: 26 Mar 1697 in Rowley, d. 1778 in Cumberland Co, Dist. of Maine, MA
...... + Sarah TITCOMB m: 14 Jan 1719/20 in Newbury
......2 Capt. Jeremiah PEARSON bapt: 10 Sep 1699 in Rowley, d: 03 Jan 1768
...... + Mary TITCOMB b: 1704, m: 10 Nov 1726 in Newbury, d: 18 Aug 1774
......2 Amos PEARSON b: 05 Jan 1701/02 in Rowley
...... + Mary MORSE m: 08 Dec 1726 in Newbury
......2 Hannah PEARSON b: 12 May 1704 in Rowley
...... + John DOWNER m: 04 Jan 1726/27 in Newbury

John PEARSON, son of Jeremiah and Priscilla, was a Captain in the French and Indian War. He lived in CT before moving back to Newbury. He was also a miller, and inherited the grist mill his father had purchased from John SHORT, and also built another mill.

Moses PEARSON, son of Jeremiah and Priscilla, was the first sheriff of Cumberland County, formed in 1760 in the District of Maine, which was then part of Massachusetts.

8. Sarah PEARSON was born 3 May 1655, and died before age 11, as the family used the name again in May 1666.

9. Joseph PEARSON was born 21 Aug 1656, was of Lothrop's "Flower of Essex" and was killed by Indians near Hatfield, MA, 25 Aug 1675, age 19.

In 1675, an Indian Chief who came to be known as King Philip united many of the local Indian tribes, and attacked the English colonies in New England, in what was called King Philip's War. The colonial government sent a force of 80 men from Essex County, under the command of Captain LATHROP (or LOTHROP), to Western MA, to guard the far western settlements. On 18 Sep 1675 this force was escorting a shipment of wheat from Deerfield to Hadley, when they were ambushed by about 700 Indians. Most or all of the company was killed in the attack, called the Battle of Bloody Brook. The men sent from Essex County were said to be "the flower of the county" and the corps was called the "Flower of Essex". Apparently Joseph PEARSON was killed in a smaller attack, less than a month before Bloody Brook.

10. Benjamin PEARSON was born 6 Apr 1658, and died 16 Jun 1731. He married 20 Jan 1679/80 to Hannah THURSTON, born 20 Jan 1659 in Newbury, died 24 Aug 1731. They lived in Rowley and Newbury, settling about 1688 in Byfield Parish, Newbury.

They married on her 20th or 21st birthday, when Benjamin was 21, and they had 13 children, They were born less than a year apart, and died about 2 months apart.

Benjamin was a carpenter, clothdresser, and farmer.

1 Benjamin PEARSON b: 01 Apr 1658 in Rowley, d: 16 Jun 1731 in Newbury, age 73
+ Hannah THURSTON b: 20 Jan 1659 in Newbury, m: 20 Jan 1679/80, d: 24 Aug 1731, age 72
......2 Hannah PEARSON b: 10 Apr 1680 in Rowley
...... + John HOMES m: 12 Jul 1708 in Newbury
......2 Phebe PEARSON b: 14 Jul 1682 in Byfield, d: 28 Jun 1754 in Byfield, age 71
...... + Thomas COLMAN b: 26 Mar 1672 in Rowley, m: 06 Jan 1701/02
......2 Daniel PEARSON b: 25 Dec 1684 in Byfield
...... + Mary WOOD b: 29 Aug 1684 in Rowley, m: 09 Dec 1708 in Newbury
......2 Ruth PEARSON b: 02 Aug 1687 in Rowley, d: 16 Nov 1736, age 49
...... + Ensign Thomas PLUMMER b: 15 Apr 1684 in Rowley, m: 18 Dec 1707 in Newbury, d: 15 Nov 1762, age 78
......2 Abigail PEARSON b: 01 Mar 1688/89 in Byfield
...... + Joseph BROWN m: 11 Nov 1714 in Newbury
...... + John WHEELER m: 26 Dec 1730 in Rowley, d: 11 Nov 1763
......2 Capt. Benjamin PEARSON Jr b: 12 Aug 1690 in Byfield, d: 05 Apr 1774 in Byfield, age 83
...... + Judith GETCHEL m: 02 Nov 1717 in Newbury
...... + Jane NOYES b: 1698, m: 23 Jun 1720 in Newbury, d: 02 Mar 1782, age 83
......2 Sarah PEARSON b: 10 Dec 1691 in Byfield
...... + John ADAMS m: 17 Nov 1713 in Newbury, d: 11 Sep 1781 in Rowley
......2 Jedidiah PEARSON bapt: 08 Apr 1694 in Byfield, d: 16 Nov 1761 in Byfield, age 67+
...... + Sarah WOOD b: 1698, m: 13 Feb 1716/17, d: 01 Jul 1771 in Byfield, age 73
......2 Mehitable PEARSON b: 18 May 1695 in Byfield, d: 01 Mar 1774 in Byfield, age 78
...... + William TENNEY b: 23 Oct 1698 in Rowley, m: 03 Sep 1720 in Newbury, d: Abt. 1783 in Rowley, age 84
......2 Bartholomew Moses PEARSON bapt: 27 Jun 1697 in Byfield, d: aft. 1759, age 62+
...... + Sarah HOVEY m: 09 Dec 1726 in Newbury
...... + Love HUTCHINS b: 1710 in MA, m: 25 May 1737 in Newbury
...... + Lydia RANDALL m: 03 Nov 1763
......2 Jonathan PEARSON b: 04 Dec 1699 in Byfield, d: 21 Mar 1767 in Byfield, age 67
...... + Abigail KNIGHT m: 24 Jan 1722/23 in Newbury, d: 14 Oct 1774 in Byfield
......2 David PEARSON b: 28 Jan 1701/02 in Byfield, d: 01 Aug 1778 in Byfield, age 76
...... + Jane NOYES b: 1704, m: 31 Oct 1722 in Newbury, d: 01 Jul 1773 in Byfield, age 69
......2 Oliver PEARSON b: Byfield, d: 14 Oct 1720 in Newbury

Daniel PEARSON was one of the 30 persons who purchased land, and agreed on 8 Jul 1713 to settle in Oxford, Worcester County, MA and drew Lot 8 containing 60 acres, in the first division of lands, 18 Jan 1714/15. He married Mary (WOOD) DICKINSON, widow of James DICKINSON. [GBB, p. 277]

Benjamin PEARSON Jr owned the homestead and mill of his father in Byfield. He was Captain of the military company of Byfield.

William TENNEY and family lived in Newbury until the spring of 1727, then removed to Rowley. [GBB, pp. 376-7]

Bartholomew PEARSON made his home in Byfield Parish, Newbury, until about 1746, then moved to Shrewsbury, where he built a mill. In 1759 he moved again, to Winchendon, and built the first mill on Miller's River. [GBB, p. 278]

David PEARSON lived in Rowley until about 1730, when he moved to Newbury. In early life he was a blacksmith, but afterwards was styled in deeds “miller.” [GBB, p. 279]

11. Phebe PEARSON was born 13 Apr 1660, died 15 or 16 Oct 1732. She married on 24 Aug 1682 to Deacon Timothy HARRIS, born 1 Nov 1657, died 24 Mar 1722/23. He was chosen deacon of Rowley Church on 1 Feb 1707/8. [GBB, p. 139]

Phebe was 22 and Timothy was 24 when they married. They lived in Rowley all their lives, and had 10 children.

1 Phebe PEARSON b: 13 Apr 1660 in Rowley, d: 15 Oct 1732 in Rowley, age 72
+ Deacon Timothy HARRIS b: 01 Nov 1657 in Rowley, m: 24 Aug 1682 in Rowley, d: 24 Mar 1722/23, age 65
......2 Joseph HARRIS b: 22 May 1686 in Rowley, d: bet. 1718–1723, age 32-37
......2 Sarah HARRIS b: 25 Sep 1688 in Rowley, d: 28 Jul 1723, age 34
...... + Jonathan CRESSEY b: 11 May 1695 in Rowley, m: 28 Mar 1722, d: aft. 1752, age 57+
......2 Phebe HARRIS b: 07 Dec 1690 in Rowley, d: 12 Nov 1765, age 74
...... + Deacon Edward PAYSON b: 05 Jun 1694 in Rowley, m: 20 Aug 1723, d: 01 Mar 1769, age 74
......2 Dorcas HARRIS b: 19 Jun 1694 in Rowley
...... + Jacob KILBOURN bapt: 09 Nov 1690 in Rowley, m: 08 Sep 1716
......2 John HARRIS b: 11 Oct 1695 in Rowley, d: 18 Jul 1774, age 78
...... + Mary WAITE m: 11 Jun 1728 in Ipswich, Essex, MA, d: 09 Sep 1749
...... + Elizabeth HODGKINS m: 07 Aug 1752, d: 1794
......2 Mary HARRIS b: 09 Mar 1697/98 in Rowley, d: 17 Aug 1721, age 23
...... + Thomas BURPEE b: 31 Oct 1695 in Rowley, m: 03 Feb 1718/19
......2 Stephen HARRIS b: 10 Jun 1700 in Rowley, d: aft. 1723, age 23+
......2 Elizabeth HARRIS b: 28 Dec 1701
......2 Hannah HARRIS b: 07 Nov 1704
......2 Bridget HARRIS b: 17 Dec 1692 in Rowley, d: 31 Oct 1731 in Littleton, Middlesex, MA, age 38
...... + Nathaniel HAMMOND b: 1692, m: 30 Jan 1713/14

12. Stephen PEARSON, was born about 1663, and died 5 or 25 Jan 1705/06. He married on 11 Nov 1684 to Mary FRENCH, who died 27 Sep 1730, daughter of John FRENCH and Phebe KEYES of Topsfield. [GBB, pp. 276-7]

Stephen was about 21 and Mary was 25 when they married. He was a cloth dresser and farmer. They lived in Rowley, and had 7 children. Stephen died at age 43, leaving Mary with 6 children still living. I don't believe she ever remarried.

1 Stephen PEARSON b: Abt. 1662 in Rowley, d: 25 Jan 1705/06 in Rowley, age 43
+ Mary FRENCH b: 27 Feb 1658/59 in Topsfield, Essex, MA, m: 11 Nov 1684 in Rowley, d: 27 Sep 1730 in Rowley, age 71
......2 Elizabeth PEARSON b: 25 Aug 1685 in Rowley, d: 10 May 1746, age 60
...... + Aaron PINGRY b: abt. 1683 in Ipswich, Essex, MA, m: 17 Dec 1707, d: 05 Sep 1770 in Rowley, age 87
......2 Lieut Stephen PEARSON b: 09 Jun 1687 in Rowley, d: 18 Mar 1772 in Byfield, Essex, MA, age 84
...... + Hannah JEWETT b: 16 Jul 1690 in Rowley, m: 27 Feb 1710/11, d: 03 Mar 1773 in Byfield, Essex, MA, age 82
......2 Martha PEARSON b: 06 Jul 1689 in Rowley, d: 26 Oct 1752, age 63
...... + Aquila JEWETT b: 14 Sep 1684 in Rowley, m: 10 Mar 1723/24, d: 24 Nov 1760 in Rowley, age 76
......2 Mary PEARSON b: 07 Jan 1690/91 in Rowley
...... + Peter MOERS m: 12 Nov 1723
......2 Jonathan PEARSON b: 29 Oct 1693 in Rowley, d: 11 Dec 1693 in Rowley, age 6 weeks
......2 Patience PEARSON b: 26 Jul 1697 in Rowley, d: 20 Jan 1729/30 in Rowley, age 32
...... + Timothy PALMER b: 10 Jan 1694/95 in Rowley, m: 28 Mar 1722, d: 30 Dec 1773 in Rowley, age 78
......2 Hephsibah PEARSON b: 20 Jan 1698/99 in Rowley, d: 30 Oct 1771 in Killingly, Windham, CT, age 72
...... + Nathaniel CROSBY bapt: 27 Aug 1699 in Rowley, m: 07 Feb 1720/21, d: 24 Aug 1770 in Killingly, Windham, CT, age 71+

Samuel PALMER, born 24 Aug 1737, son of Timothy PALMER and Patience PEARSON, married Ann PEARSON, born 19 Apr 1740, daughter of Jonathan PEARSON and Sarah LONGFELLOW.

13. Sarah PEARSON was born in May 1666, and died young.

Sources

[AB] Abraham Bryant on Familypedia

[AEJ] Deacon John Pearson and His Fulling Mill at Rowley, by Amos E. Jewett, pp. 24-6, Publications of the Rowley Historical Society, Vol. 3 (1920)

[C&A] Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, by William Richard Cutter and William Frederick Adams, Vol I Part 1 Vol I Part 2 Vol II Vol III Vol IV

[DN] "Pearsons cook up a name for themselves", from the Daily News, Newburyport, MA

[GBB] Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts revised, edited and published in 1933 by Amos Everett Jewett, based on original work by George Brainard Blodgette, 1882-7.

[HMW] 1872 Map of Rowley and Glen Mills at Historic Map Works

[JMP] John Mills Pearson (1831-1910) on Wikipedia

[MD] John Pearson, on Miner Descent

[MMM] John and Dorcas Pearson, on Mikesell, Meixel, and Mixsell Genealogy

[NCP] Four generations of the descendants of John and Dorcus Pearson of Rowley, Massachusetts in 1643 by Pramberg, Noreen C (1994) (available to borrow, one hour at a time)

[PNG] Her surname is PEARSON not GREEN(E) (posted on Ancestry)

[RHS] Rowley Historical Society No. 1 (1918-20) No. 2 (1928) No. 3 (1948)

[RHW] Hyde genealogy, or, The descendants, in the female as well as in the male lines, from William Hyde, of Norwich by Walworth, Reuben Hyde (1864) Vol I and Vol II

[SW] Deacon John Pearson, on Spicerweb

[TAM] Official topographical atlas of Massachusetts (1871)

[WMT] The ancestry of Walter M. Thurston : giving some account of the families of Carroll, De Beaufort, Merrill, Moore, Mosbaugh, Pearson, Pine, Poore, Reynolds, Van Kruyne, and Von Bauer (1894) by John H. Thurston and Walter M. Thurston

[WRC] Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts (1908) by William Richard Cutter, Vol I Vol II Vol III Vol IV

Last updated 18 Jun 2022 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.