PEARCE, William
Born Basford, Nottinghamshire, England. Died ?—————-
Framework knitter, soldier, accommodation house keeper, labourer.
1840. 07.00 Enlisted in the 45th Regiment, born Basford (Notts.), framework knitter, enlistment no. 1887. (WO 12/5759. Pay list Oct. to Dec. 1849)
1845.08.27 Son b. (R. Wes., Dbn)
1846.05.21 Son James bap., mother’s name Ann. (Ibid.)
1849.10.00 A private in the 45th, discharged at Fort Napier, Pmb. (WO 12/5759. Pay list Oct. to Dec. 1849)
1849.10.08 Son b. (R. St P., Pmb.)
1849.12.00 Son John bap., parents William and Ann, father a labourer. Sponsors: Father,
William Pearce** and Mary Anderson. (Ibid.)
1850. 09.12 Opened a place of accommodation at 9 Church St, Pmb. (NI 12.09.50)
1851.05.16 Ann Pearce opened a case against Robert Carter* for assault. In evidence Jonah Thompson* said he had heard her husband beating her. (NW 16.05.51)
1851.09.10 Son b. (R. St P., Pmb.)
1851.10.00 Son Daniel bap., parents William and Ann, father a labourer. Sponsors: Daniel Hannah ?***, Francis Richards* and Jane Richards. (Ibid.)
1855 Was his son the John Pierce [sic] aged 5½ who attended Dbn Govt School from Jan. to June. (CSO 56 no. 139)
1855.05.00 Is he the William Pearce referred to in the following bap. entry? Pearse [sic.] Charlotte, dau. of William and Charlotte Pearse [sic]. (RNG)
1856 Was his son the John Pierce [sic] aged 7 who attended Dbn Govt School from Jan. to June? (CSO 56 no 200)
1857 Was his son the John Pierce [sic] aged 7 who attended Dbn Govt School from Jan. to June? (Ibid. no 309)
1858.12.03 In a deposition made by Thomas Hinman* he stated that Mr Tait [sic.] [Tate, William*] had a servant Pearce who owed McNicol [McNicol, Alexander*] money, as Tate himself did. At this time Sept/Oct 1857 Tate was living in Camperdown. (AGO Dep. I/4/4). Could this be William Pearce?
1892.07.01 Was his son John the John Pearse [sic] of The Cottage, Umzimkulu, who d. aged 43? (RC)
CHILDREN
James (27.08.1845, Dbn – ————–)
1845.08.27 Son b. (R. Wes., Dbn)
1846.05.21 Son James bap.. (Ibid.)
John (08.10.1849 – ?01.07.1892, Umzimkulu)
1849.10.08 Son b. (R. St P., Pmb.)
1849.12.00 Son John bap., parents William and Ann, father a labourer. Sponsors: Father, William Pearce** and Mary Anderson. (Ibid.)
1892.07.01 Was he the John Pearse [sic.] of The Cottage, Umzimkulu, who d. aged 43? (RC)
Daniel (10.09.1851 – ———–)
1851.09.10 Son b. (R. St P., Pmb.)
1851.10.00 Son Daniel bap., parents William and Ann, father a labourer. Sponsors: Daniel Hannah [sic]***, Francis Richards* and Jane Richards. (Ibid.)
?Charlotte (00.05.1855 – ———–)
1855.05.00 Is he the William Pearce referred to in the following bap. entry? Pearse [sic.] Charlotte, dau. of William and Charlotte Pearse [sic]. (RNG)
NOTES
*After a name indicates that person as the head of a family and therefore qualified for an entry in
Shelagh Spencer’s British settlers in Natal, a biographical register 1824–1857.
**Possibly William Pearce recorded in error for John Pearce?
*** Hannah* had the given names William T., possibly his name recorded in error for
Hannon, Daniel*?
SOURCES
Church Registers
RC – Clydesdale. Anglican
RNG – New Germany. Lutheran
R. St P., Pmb. – St Peter’s, Pietermaritzburg. Anglican
R. Wes., Dbn – Durban. Methodist
Newspapers
NI – Natal Independent
NW – Natal Witness
Unpublished Official Sources
AGO – Attorney General’s Office
CSO – Colonial Secretary’s Office
WO – War Office
Compiled from Shelagh O’Byrne Spencer’s records of the British Settlers in Natal 1824–1857.