M. about 1639 in Charlestown, Massachusetts2
Wife: Elizabeth Cole
D. 6 Nov 1683 in Woburn, Massachusetts3
Thomas Peirce left a legacy of many descendants who carried his name, some of whom were famous. He was born in roughly 1615 in Norwich, England to Thomas and Elizabeth Peirce, one of at least 8 children.1 This area of England was home to many Puritans, and the Peirce family (also spelled Pierce or Pearce) were part of the Great Migration to New England during the 1630s. It isn’t known exactly when they arrived, but it was certainly by 1635, when their names first appeared in records there.4 They settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where Thomas was admitted to the church.4
Within the next few years, Thomas got married to the daughter of another Charlestown settler. His bride was Elizabeth Cole, and their marriage took place in about 1639.2 Between 1643 and about 1662, they had twelve children, of which ten were sons. Two boys died as infants, but the others went on to give him many grandchildren (his two daughters did as well).
By 1643, Thomas moved to the new settlement of Woburn,5 one of many towns that were springing up as the colony's population grew. As with all men in all Puritan communities, Thomas performed civic duties. He served in the town council as selectman in 1660 through 1662, and in 1664 and 1670, and he was chosen as “commissioner of the rate.”5 Thomas was also elected to be sergeant of the militia in October 1663;5 after this date, he was often referred to as Sergeant Thomas Pierce in town records.
Two notes in the Woburn town records gave specific projects Thomas was involved with. In 1668, he was member of a committee selected to oversee the division of some common land in Woburn. For his work, he received 37 acres of “make meadow or swamp land.”5 And on November 1, 1671, he was chosen for a 4-man committee to oversee the building of a meetinghouse.5 The existing structure had been in use since Woburn was first settled, and it was already showing signs of age. The new one that Thomas was involved with was ready for use in the fall of 1672.
Thomas' signature, date unknown.
Because Thomas’ father lived until 1665 and had the same name, it’s sometimes confusing to sort out who did what. In 1652, a Thomas Peirce of Woburn charged a man named Samuel Eldred with letting his hogs do damage to his property. It isn’t clear if this was Thomas or his father, or what exactly was damaged. The case was withdrawn before it came to trial.
At about the end of 1678, Thomas' name was on a list of people who contracted small pox.5 The disease had spread all over the colony after someone who was infected arrived on a ship in July 1677.6 On January 6, 1679, Woburn authorities ordered quarantining in order to stop the further spread of the epidemic.5 It may be that Thomas' son Thomas was actually the one who had small pox, but regardless of who it was, they recovered from the disease.
Thomas died at Woburn on November 6, 1683.3 Elizabeth survived for a few more years, passing away in 1688.3 Their descendants included governor of New Hampshire, Benjamin Pierce, President Franklin Pierce, Barbara (Pierce) Bush, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush and James Spader.7
Children:
1. Thomas Peirce — B. about 1640, (possibly) Woburn, Massachusetts;8 D. 8 Dec 1717, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Rachel Bacon (1652-?), 25 Mar 1680, Woburn, Massachusetts3
2. John Peirce — B. 7 Mar 1643, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 25 Mar 1720, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Deborah Converse (1647-?), 1 Jul 1663, Woburn, Massachusetts3
3. Elizabeth Peirce — B. 25 Dec 1646, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. (1) Thomas Whittmore (1645-1670), 9 Nov 1666, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 (2) Hopestill Foster (1648-1679), 15 Oct 1670, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 (3) Nathaniel Pierce (1655-1692), 23 Mar 1680, Woburn, Massachusetts3
4. Joseph Peirce — B. 22 Sep 1648, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 1649, Woburn, Massachusetts3
5. Joseph Peirce — B. 13 Aug 1649, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 21 Nov 1716, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Mary Richardson, 24 Jun 1681, Woburn, Massachusetts3
6. Stephen Peirce — B. 16 Jul 1651, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 10 Jun 1733, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;9 M. Tabitha Parker (1658-1742), 18 Nov 1676, Chelmsford, Massachusetts10
7. Samuel Peirce — B. 20 Feb 1654, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 27 Oct 1655, Woburn, Massachusetts3
8. Samuel Peirce — B. 7 Apr 1656, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 5 Jul 1721, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Lydia Bacon (1655-1717), 9 Dec 1680, Woburn, Massachusetts3
9. William Peirce — B. 7 Mar 1658, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 22 Aug 1720, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. (1) Abigail Warren (~1660-?); (2) Abigail Sommers (~1658-~1726), 8 Apr 16903
10. James Peirce — B. 7 May 1659, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 20 Jan 1741, Woburn, Massachusetts3
11. Abigail Pierce — B. 20 Nov 1660, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. about 9 Sep 1719, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. George Reed (1660-1756), 18 Feb 1685, Woburn, Massachusetts3
12. Benjamin Peirce — B. about 1662, Woburn, Massachusetts;11 D. 25 Sep 1739, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Mary Reed, 10 Oct 1688, Charlestown, Massachusetts12
Sources:
1 Estimated birth year based on his mother’s reported age in Thomas Peirce Sr.’s probate record; she was too young for him to be born earlier than about 1615
2 The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Robert Charles Anderson, 1995
3 Transcript of Woburn Town Records of Births, Marriages & Deaths, 1641-1843, Family search.org
4 Pierce Genealogy, Frederic Beech Pierce, 1882
5 History of Woburn, Samuel Sewall, 1868
6 “The Story of Smallpox in Massachusetts,” Massachusetts Medical Society (website)
7 Famous Kin (website)
8 Birth is missing from Woburn town records which begin in 1641 3. Elizabeth Peirce — B. 25 Dec 1646, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. (1) Thomas Whittmore (1645-1670), 9 Nov 1666, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 (2) Hopestill Foster (1648-1679), 15 Oct 1670, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 (3) Nathaniel Pierce (1655-1692), 23 Mar 1680, Woburn, Massachusetts3
4. Joseph Peirce — B. 22 Sep 1648, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 1649, Woburn, Massachusetts3
5. Joseph Peirce — B. 13 Aug 1649, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 21 Nov 1716, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Mary Richardson, 24 Jun 1681, Woburn, Massachusetts3
6. Stephen Peirce — B. 16 Jul 1651, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 10 Jun 1733, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;9 M. Tabitha Parker (1658-1742), 18 Nov 1676, Chelmsford, Massachusetts10
7. Samuel Peirce — B. 20 Feb 1654, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 27 Oct 1655, Woburn, Massachusetts3
8. Samuel Peirce — B. 7 Apr 1656, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 5 Jul 1721, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Lydia Bacon (1655-1717), 9 Dec 1680, Woburn, Massachusetts3
9. William Peirce — B. 7 Mar 1658, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 22 Aug 1720, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. (1) Abigail Warren (~1660-?); (2) Abigail Sommers (~1658-~1726), 8 Apr 16903
10. James Peirce — B. 7 May 1659, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. 20 Jan 1741, Woburn, Massachusetts3
11. Abigail Pierce — B. 20 Nov 1660, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 D. about 9 Sep 1719, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. George Reed (1660-1756), 18 Feb 1685, Woburn, Massachusetts3
12. Benjamin Peirce — B. about 1662, Woburn, Massachusetts;11 D. 25 Sep 1739, Woburn, Massachusetts;3 M. Mary Reed, 10 Oct 1688, Charlestown, Massachusetts12
Sources:
1 Estimated birth year based on his mother’s reported age in Thomas Peirce Sr.’s probate record; she was too young for him to be born earlier than about 1615
2 The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Robert Charles Anderson, 1995
3 Transcript of Woburn Town Records of Births, Marriages & Deaths, 1641-1843, Family search.org
4 Pierce Genealogy, Frederic Beech Pierce, 1882
5 History of Woburn, Samuel Sewall, 1868
6 “The Story of Smallpox in Massachusetts,” Massachusetts Medical Society (website)
7 Famous Kin (website)
9 Births, marriages, deaths, 1673-1770, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, FamilySearch.org
10 Town Records of the Town of Chelmsford [Massachusetts], 1650-1730, FamilySearch.org
11 Estimated birth year based on marriage date
12 Woburn Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages, from 1640 to 1873, Part III, p. 209, Edward F. Johnson, 1891
