Blank The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1847-1994 v. 82, p. 320 records of the first church of berwick, me. may 14, 1751 private lecture daniel son of jonathan pierce, dorcas the daughter of ichabod tebbets, eunice the daughter of eleazer clerk, benjamin the son of israel hodsden, aliza daughter of (blank?) joy were baptised. v. 89 page 99 arthur winslow peirce, a.b., litt.d. by harold clarke durrell, historian arthur winslow peirce, of franklin, mass., headmaster of dean academy, who was elected a resident (annual) member of the new england historic genealogical society 3 february 1904 and served three full terms as a councillor of the society, was born at west cambridge (now arlington - changed 13 april 1867) , mass., 3 june 1860, the son of john winslow and anna lydia (pierce) peirce, and died at franklin, after a short illness, 20 december 1934. he traced his descent from john1 peirce of norwich, co. norfolk, england, weaver, who, aged 49, with his wife elizabeth, aged 36[sic], four children, john, barbara, judith, and elizabeth, and one servant, john gedney, aged 19, passed the examination to go to boston in new england, 8 april 1637. he settled at watertown, mass., was admitted a freeman in march 1638/9, and died 19 august 1661, leaving a will, dated 7, 1 mo. 1657/8 and proved 1 october 1661, in which he bequeathed to his wife elizabeth, his eldest son anthony and "the rest of" his children. his widow died 12 march 1666 [1666/7], aged about 79 years, naming in her will her son anthony and other children and some grandchildren. from john1 peirce the descent of the subject of this memoir is traced through anthony2 of watertown, weaver, who came to massachusetts before his father, settled at watertown, was admitted a freeman 3 september 1634, and died 9 may 1678, joseph3 of watertown, a soldier in king philip's war, a freeman 18 april 1690, who died before 22 december 1713, when his wife elizabeth of watertown and his son jacob of weston, mass., were appointed administrators of his estate. john4 (a son of an earlier wife of his father, named martha), 1673-1743/4, of watertown and waltham, mass., whose wife was elizabeth smith, jonas5 of lexington, cordwainer, born in 1705, who married abigail comee, capt. solomon6, 1742-1811, of lexington, mass., and west cambridge, surveyor of highways, a minuteman who was wounded at the battle of lexington, a soldier at bunker hill and dorchester heights, a sergeant in 1777 in the campaign against burgoyne, a first lieutenant in 1780, and a captain in the militia in 1784, who married amity fessenden, jonas7 1776-1883, of lexington, woburn, and west cambridge, whose wife was lydia prentiss. john appleton prentiss8, 1810-1886 of west cambridge (arlington), who married mary anne locke, and john winslow9, his father, of west cambridge (arlington), selectman, representative in the general court in 1872 coaldealer, station agent at west cambridge (arlington) for sixteen years previous to his retirement in 1875, who was born at west cambridge 6 july 1835 and died at arlington 31 july 1885. john winslow9 peirce married secondly, 29 october 1857, anna lydia pierce, who was born at waltham 5 april 1836 and died at west cambridge 31 january 1863, the daughter of ebenezer munroe and mary (underwood) pierce and eighth in descent from john1 peirce (the immigrant ancestor of her husband), through anthony2 and daniel3 peirce of watertown. the father and mother of dr. arthur winslow peirce were, therefore, sixth cousins, and his mother's father seems to have been the first of this line to use the form pierce as his surname. arthur winslow peirce attended the public schools of his native town, was graduated at the cotting high school in arlington, and entered tufts college, where he received the degree of bachelor of arts in 1882. in the autumn of that year he was appointed a teacher in goddard seminary, barre, vt., and in 1891 he was elected principal of his school. in 1897 he was chosen headmaster of dean academy at franklin, a position which he held until his death. he had already won recognition as one of the leaders in his special field of educational work, and in 1899 tufts college conferred on him the honorary degree of doctor of letters. from 1907 until his death he served as a trustee of the college, and he was also a member of the new england association of colleges and preparatory schools and of the headmasters' association, and a contributor to various educational magazines. during his residence for some thirty-seven years at franklin his interests were by no means limited to dean academy. he was active in many phases of the life of his adopted town, and became one of its leading citizens. for many years he was moderator of the town meetings. he served as president of the franklin national bank, of the franklin young men's christian association (for twenty years), of the fletcher hospital association, and of the franklin literary association, and he was a member of the rotary club and of the franklin business men's association. a ready and an interesting speaker, dr. peirce was in constant demand at educational, religious, and social gatherings and historical commemorations. among his addresses, many of which have been printed, may be mentioned one at the dedication of the monument to his great-great-grandfather, capt. solomon peirce, of revolutionary fame, in september 1903, and the historical address at the one hundredth anniversary of the town of arlington (formerly west cambridge) in 1907. in 1907 also he wrote the "history of the franklin library." a devoted adherent of the universalist faith, he was custodian of the funds of the first universalist church of franklin, a director of the universalist publishing house in boston, and a member of the universalist club. in the new england historic genealogical society dr. peirce showed his interest by accepting election to the council for three terms of three years each, 1910-1912, 1921-1923, and 1928-1930, and by serving as a member of the committee on ways and means for two years, 1912 and 1913, the committee to assist the historian for eight years, 1914-1921, inclusive, the committee on finance for two years 1922 and 1923, and the committee on papers and essays (chairman) in 1923. he married at franklin, 25 june 1903, lydia paine ray, a graduate of dean academy in 1872 and of vassar college (a.b.) in 1878, who was born at bellingham, mass., 22 july 1855, a daughter of hon. joseph gordon and emily (rockwood) ray, and survives her husband. for many years she was engaged in business as an active member of the firm of j. t. & l. p. ray of franklin, manufacturers of felt and woolen goods, and, with her sister, she was a generous benefactor of dean academy and of hte town of franklin. among their gifts were the ray science building, the recreation building, the ray memorial library, and the ray school. mrs. peirce was a resident (annual) member of the new england historic genealogical society from 19 june 1923 to 31 decebmer 1933. dr. and mrs. peirce spent their summers at the historic island of monhegan, off the maine coast, and they had made two journeys around the world. at monhegan dr. peirce was the neighbor and friend of the late hon. charles francis jenney, a justice first of the superior court of massachusetts and in the last years of his life of the supreme judicial court of the commonwealth; and to the register of october 1924 dr. peirce contributed a noteworthy memoir of that eminent jurist. dr. and mrs. peirce had no children. v. 28 pg 367 memoir of joshua winslow peirce by the rev. thomas f. davies, d.d., of philabelphia the late col. joshua winslow peirce was born in portsmouth, n.h., on the 14th of may, 1791, and died in the same town on the 10th of april, 1874. col. peirce would have been a man of mark in any community, from his strong and manly character, his sterling integrity, and his intellectual superiority. of striking appearance, of polished and dignified manners, he realized one's ideal of the gentleman of the old school, and of a type more frequently found in england than in our own country. he was descended from a family which for more than two hundred years had occupied an eminent position; whose successive representatives had been men of high intelligence, of unblemished character, and of large possessions. endowed with a vigorous constitution both in mind and body; encompassed from his childhood with every favoring influence; brought by the position and connections of his family into relations of familiar association with the best people of his day; trained in the well-known academy of exeter, and afterward in the counting-house of an eminent and successful merchant; receiving the advantage, then far more rare than now, of an extended sojourn and travel in europe; it is but simple truth to say that he made good use of his many opportunities, and from the outset of his career to its close, occupied and maintained a position second to none in the community in which he lived. his manhood fulfilled the promise of his youth. he lived and died, respected and honored by all, and greatly beloved by those who knew him best. no one who knew col. peirce could fail to be impressed by his strong and vigorous character. it showed itself in all he did and said. there was thoroughness and indomitable energy in all his undertakings, coupled with habits of strict method and a great love of order. he was well-read in the current literature of the day; always deeply interested in the progress of the arts and the discoveries of science; having a great liking for, and unusual skill in, methanical pursuits. his clearness of mental vision gave strength to all his convictions; his opinions were not hastily formed but were tenaciously held, and, when occasion required, fearlessly expressed, whether upon social or political or religious subjects. if his prejudices were sometimes strong, they were not invincible, for he was open to argument, and candid in weighing the reasoning of his opponents. his independence of nature made him superior to the love of popularity and to the pursuit of it, and kept him through life from accepting public place or official position. he was impatient of all that was vulgar and pretentious and merely for show; intolerant of shuffling, prevarication and meanness. his dislike of ostentation led him to veil beneath a somewhat cold exterior, a generosity of character and a tenderness of feeling which were among his most striking traits, and which will be borne witness to by all who were admitted into the intimacy of his friendship. he was a sincere christian, one of the firmest of his friends, one of the most thoroughly honest and upright of men. the first of the ancestors of col. peirce, of whom we find mention as settled in this country is daniel pierce1(1) of watertown, afterward of newbury, mass. he had two sons, daniel who died in newbury in 1704, and joshua who died in woodbridge, new-jersey, in 1670. from the "rambles about portsmouth", by the late charles w. brewster, esq., to whom every citizen of that old town is under deep obligations fo rhte preservation of interesting facts of its local history, and from an appreciative sketch of col. peirce in the "boston daily advertiser," we learn that daniel peirce, the first of the name, with his son joshua, purchased in the year 1666 a tract of land in new-jersey, covering a large part of perth amboy. hither he removed for a time, but afterward returned to his home in newbury, where he died in 1677. his son, joshua, established himself in woodbridge, n. j. he married dorothy, daughter of major robert pike, of salisbury, mass., who, after his death, became the wife of john knight, of newbury. joshua peirce died, as has been said, in new-jersey, in 1670, seven years before his father. he left behind him one child, sarah, and subsequently to his death, in the year 1670 was born his posthumous son joshua. this joshua, in or about the year 1700, after ineffectual attempts to recover the estate of his father in new-jersey, settled in portsmouth, n. h. he married elizabeth, daughter of joseph hall, of greenland, n. h. from this family of halls were descended the marches, of greenland, and gov. john langdon, of portsmouth. by inheritance from joseph hall, came to the peirce family a considerable part of the noble farm in greenland, still retained in their possession, and long the home of col. peirce. "the original hall house", says mr. brewster, "was on the premises of col. peirce, near the spot where the sharp-roofed cottage now stands." joshua peirce established himself in portsmouth as a merchant, on the corner of market square and high street. he was largely concerned in navigation, was a ship-owner, and left a good estate. he was a man of untiring industry, and "in the course of his life held the several offices of town-clerk, parish-clerk, proprietors of portsmouth commons' clerk, selectman, reprsentative, and for many years before his death was a member of his majesty's council, and also recorder of deeds for the province; all which offices he held with credit to himself and gave general satisfaction." "most of these records are extant, and, together with many private records, espeically those of births, marriages and deaths in portsmouth, which he kept for his own use, are valuable memorials of the times. after a life of strict integrity and varied usefulness, he died in 1743, having been the father of four sons and five daughters." (joseph, b. in 1698, m. to sarah reed, d. in 1747; joshua, b. in 1700, physician, d. in 1754; daniel, b. in 1709; m. ann rindge; d. in 1773; nathaniel, b. in 1711, m.(1) ann jaffrey, (2) (blank) hubbard, d. in 1762; sarah, b. in 1697, m. (1) john winslow, (2) (blank) sargent, d. in 1771; anna, b. in 1702, m. joseph green, d. in 1770; mary, b. in 1707, m. samuel mooire, d. in 1752; elizabeth b. in 1705, m. (blank) osborn, d. in 1764; margaret, b. in 1714, m. benjamin green, d. in 1779.) daniel, the third son of joshua peirce, was born in portsmouth in may, 1709, and was graduated from harvard college in 1728. he married, in 1743, anna, daughter of john rindge, merchant, of portsmouth, and a man of large estate, as appears from the list of 1727, where his name stands third in the number of those who paid the highest taxes, that of joshua peirce being the second. daniel perice studied law, but never entered upon its practice. he succeeded his father as recorder of deeds for the province, holding this office until his death; and was also for several years a member of the king's council for new-hampshire. he is described as having been "a man of very great natural parts, as well as acquired abilities: he had likewise a great methanical inclination and worked very ingeniuosly with his own hands." he was proverbial for his strict integrity, and died dec. 5, 1773, leaving behind him three children, a fourth having died before him. (joshua, b. nov. 3, 1744, d. july 16, 1748; john, born august 19, 1746, died june 14, 1814; joseph, b. june 25, 1748, d. in alton, sept. 12, 1812; ann, b. oct. 21, 1743; m. thomas martin, d. july 6, 1811.) john, the second son of daniel perice, received his mercantile education in the counting-house of daniel rindge, then one of hte prominent merchants of portsmouth, where he was a fellow-clerk with john langdon, afterward governor of new hampshire. at an early age he was entrusted with the charge of hte business affairs of his uncle, mark hunking wentworth, esq., son of lieut. gov. john w., and brother of gov. benning w. this he retained until the war of the revolution. he was also charged wit the important interests of the masonian proprietors. he was the principal agent in constructing the piscataqua bridge in 1794; was one of the originators of the portsmouth aqueduct in 1797, was the loan officer under the presidency of the elder adams. he established an insurance office in portsmouth, and conducted its affairs for many years preceding his death. "always open, honorable and ocrrect in his conduct, and liberal in his charities, he enjoyed the respect and confidence of men of all parties." he married mary, daughter of peter pearse, merchant, a native of solcombe, near lydemouth, devonshire, england, who came to this country at the age of 14. the wife of mr. pearse was the daughter of the honorable jotham odiorne, who died, a member of his majesty's coucil, in 1761, and who in 1720 married a daughter of robert cutt of kittery. mr. john peirce was the father of six children (mark wentworth, b. july 31, 1787, m. margaret sparhawk, d. feb. 10, 1846; samuel fisher, b. oct. 9, 1789, d. dec. 27, 1791; joshua winslow, b. may 14, 1791, d. april 10, 1874; ann rindge, b. jan. 9, 1794, m. the rev. charles burroughs, d.d.; mary odiorne, b. jan. 5, 1798, d. nov. 4, 1801; daniel hall, b.a. (h. U. 1820), m. d. (1823).), four sons and two daughters and died on the 14th of june, 1814. joshua winslow, the third son of john peirce, was born on the 14th of may, 1791. he passed his childhood under the paternal roof until 1803, when he was entered at the phillips academy in exeter, where he remained until dec., 1807; taking a deep interest and bearin gan active part during his pupilage in a military company made up of the students of the academy. on his removal from exeter he was placed in the counting-house of hte hon. james sheafe, representative and senator in the federal congress from new-hampshire. here he was soon promoted to the charge of the books, and to the oversight of the shipping, in which mr. sheafe was an owner, thus acquiring a thorough familiarity with the details of maritime and mercantile pursuits. while yet with mr. sheafe he became a member of "the gilman blues", a military company, at that time of considerable distinction, under the command of joshua haven. he received his commission as captain from gov. john taylor gilman, in 1813; was promoted to be major of the first regiment of state militia in 1816; lieut. col. in 1819, and colonel in 1820. he resigned his commission in 1823. in 1818 he was elected into "the federal fire society" of portsmouth, and at the time of his death was its senior member. in 1816 he made a voyage to the mediterranean as supercargo for me. sheafe, and was absent from home a year. having disposed of the cargo, he parted form the ship at leghorn, and visited the principal countries and cities of europe. upon his return he contined his business and residence in portsmouth to january, 1825, when he accepted an appointment as agent of hte salmon falls manufacturing company, removing thither the next month and remaining till the destruction of the mill by fire in 1834. he devoted himself wit his wonted energy and enthusiasm to his new pursuit, making many journeys of observation to distant places in order to study improvements in machinery and manufacture. after the burning of the mill, and while it was not yet deicded whether it should be rebuilt, col. peirce returned to portsmouth and employed himself in improving the estate in greenland. in december, 1836, he yielded to the solicitations of the company and returned to salmon falls, where he remained for nearly two years longer, during which time he superintended the erection of a new mill and the purchase of a large portion of its machinery. in august, 1838, he removed to the farm in greenland, a considerable portion of which, as has been before mentioned, had come by inheritance form the hall family nearly a century and a half before. this estate had been largely added to by the purchase of the packer farm (this farm was a part of the estate of capt. francis champernowne as early as 1640, as will appear in the memoir of champternowne, now being published in the register.) nest adjoining it, by his father in 1809. here he passed the next twenty-eight years of his life, and "here col. peirce was able to gratify his taste and indulge his passion for independent country life. here he brought up his family, and dispensed those liberal and elegant hospitalities which made his house the cherished resort for a large circle of devoted friends. to see him at the head of his table, or in his drawing-room, always the chief object of interest of his table, or in his drawing-room, always the chief object of interest and attraction, was to realize what is seldom experienced in this country now, and rarely at any time except in virginia in the colonial days. those who have seen ihs large estate in greenland and newington, lying along the southerly shore of the great bay, with its broad acres of inexhaustible soil, in meadow, upland and orchard, its quaint housese and spacious barns; its fruit and shade trees; its strong fences of wood and faced stone; its herds of pure blood stock (in 1823, the short-horned durham cattle were introduced upon his farm by direct importation, and the breed continues there to this day.); its constant aspect of skilful husbandry, need not to be told that colonel peirce was a model farmer." (a. h. hoyt, in the boston daily advertiser of april 17, 1874.) in november, 1866, he removed to his townhouse in portsmouth, and resided there until his death, april 10, 1874. colonel peirce through life was a devoted churchman. early in the episcopate of bishop griswold he received confirmation from the hands of that venerable prelate, and for nearly fifty years was a devout and constant communicant at the altar. previous to his residence in salmon falls, the services of the episcopal church had been unknown in that village: he was largely instrumental in the erection of christ church, and when a clergyman could not be obtained, regularly officiated himself as lay-reader. while living in greenland, though at a distance of more than four miles from his parish church of st. john's, portsmouth, his place in the house of God was rarely vacant. he was always ready to serve the church which he so ardently loved, at whatever sacrifice of personal convenience or expenditure of labor or money. he succeeded his brother the late mark w. peirce, esq., as treasurer of the trust funds of st. john's church, and retained the office until the infirmities of age compelled him to relinquish it. he was many years a church-warden, and a delegate to the diocesan conventions. thanks to his strong constitution and the perfect regularity and temperance of his life, colonel peirce preserved until four-score the vigor and almost the activity of youth. the last three years however were those of failing strength and increasing feebleness. during hte more than two years of his close confinement he was atended with the most unremitting affection, both by night and by day, by his devoted sons and daughters. no strange hands were allowed to minister to his necessities. his filial love watched over him to the last. his end was peace. he died firm in the faith of the church, with an humble trust in the mercy of his God through jesus christ our lord. his remains were taken to st. john's church, where he had so long worshipped, followed by his daughters, his surviving sister and brothers, and a multitude of friends. they were borne thither by his sons, and after the performance of hte solemn rites of the church, were carried thence and laid in the family tomb in the church-yard by the same filial hands. there may they rest in peace until the day of resurrection! colonel peirce was married on the 4th of may, 1823, to emily, daughter of william sheafe, esq., of portsmouth, and anna wentworth his wife. mrs. peirce died, march 9, 1871. they had twelve children, of whom seven are now living: john peter, born april 25, 1824. sarah coffin, born april 24, 1826. ann wentworth, born july 1, 1827. emily sheafe, born nov. 28, 1828; died sept. 17, 1829. joseph wentworth, born dec. 18, 1829. joshua rindge, born nov. 14, 1831. rector of st. mary's for sailors, boston. mary pearse, born jan. 23, 1833; died sept. 10, 1858. james sheafe, born feb. 26, 1834; died march 2, 1834. mark wentworth, born march 12, 1835, died in infancy. william augustus, born july 16, 1836. daniel rindge, born aug. 11, 1837; died march 31, 1839. robert cutts, born jan. 3, 1840. v. 77 page 185 rev. cyrus hyde fay's record of marriages, 1840-1901 communicated by charles ernest fay, a.m., litt. d., of tufts college, mass. in this city, oct. 1, 1866, mr. dexter daniel pearce and miss ellen maria bliven, both of providence. (in this and the following entries, as far as and including the entry of september 12, 1855, the words "this city" refers to providence, r. i.) suzanne hamlet shatto 8, dorothy (daughter of maj. robert pike of salisbury, mass.), b. nov. 11, 1645. they had: sarah, before his death in 1670. josehua, posthumous son, b. in 1700. his daughter sarah m. about 1690, dr. humphrey bradstreet, of newbury, son of moses of rowley, and grandson of humphrey of ipswich, who came over with daniel1 pierce in 1634. - a.m.h.