I'm getting desperate trying to find the origins of Darius & Thomas PEARCE, brothers, who were born in Bristol Co, RI. DARIUS PEARCE born 1787 married Hannah SHACKFORD of Eastport, ME in 1815 and lived the remainder of his life in Eastport. I think he was a mariner in his early years and then became a merchant. He died in 1873. THOMAS PEARCE born 1795 married Elizabeth Clark in Eastport in 1816. He was a sea captain and was lost at sea with his son William in October 1834. Darius had a son called Thomas Arnold Pearce. This could be a clue to a possible family connection with the ARNOLD family. Pearce has been spelt in various ways eg PIERCE. Is it worth my getting a researcher to look for mention of the family at the Maine or Rhode Island Historical Societies or is there anywhere else someone could suggest where I might find information on their parents? Any advice gratefully received Kerrie Australia