Rev. Abraham Pierson

Not the child of Abraham Pierson and Christina Pierson. That’s a disproved pedigree.

Puritan Theocrat

Along with his second cousin, Henry Pierson, Abraham was among the primary leaders in the founding of the colony of Southampton, Long Island, New York in 1640. Subsequently, in 1647, Abraham left to found the colony of Branford, Connecticut. In 1666 he, with his nephew, Thomas Pierson, Sr., helped to found the town of Newark, New Jersey. He died on 9 Aug 1678 in Newark, Essex Co., NJ. Read more about the founding and histories of Southampton, Branford, and Essex.

~• a genealogy was compiled by Lizzie Pierson in 'Pierson Genealogical Records (1878)

1. Rev. Abraham PIERSON was born about 1609 in Yorkshire, England and was christened on 23 Sep 1609 in Branford, Yorkshire, England. He died on 9 Aug 1678 in Newark, New Jersey and was buried in 1678 in Newark Burying Ground, Newark, NJ.

BIOGRAPHY: Abraham Pierson was a pastor in England and Lynn MA, and the first pastor of the new settlements of Southampton Long Island NY, Branford, CT and Newark, NJ.

He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1632. On 23 September 1632, he was ordained deacon at the Collegiate Church, Southwell, Nottingham, England.

He was a strong Puritan, and left England for America. He was admitted a member of the church in Boston on 5 September 1640. In 1640, he was ordained as the minister in Lynn MA.

He and other settlers left Lynn, MA and founded Southampton, Long Island NY in December 1640. He was strongly opposed to Southampton joining the Connecticut Colony in 1644 because Connecticut did not require Freeman to also be church members. In 1647, he moved to Branford, New Haven Colony, where he organized a church and served as minister for 20 years. He was prominent in the affairs of the New Haven colony.

In 1667, he and most of his congregation went to New Jersey when New Haven was absorbed by Connecticut. There they founded Newark. It was to be the last Puritan theocracy in America, where the church laws were almost indistinguishable from the civil laws. Pierson remained the pastor there until his death.

Pierson was a stern and strict Puritan who was held in high regard in both civil and clerical circles. Cotton Mather characterized him as a "godly, learned man" and "wherever he came he shone." When he died, his library included over 400 books (one of the largest collections in the colonies), which were left to his son, Abraham.

Abraham married Abigail MITCHELL10.

• http://kinnexions.com/smlawson/sherman.htm

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biography

From Wikipedia

Pierson married Abigail Mitchell, daughter of Matthew Mitchell and Susan Wood. The often repeated claim that she was Abigail Wheelright was proven wrong in Winthrope, MA by Col Charles Banks and Mr Horace Dickerman of New Haven.

9. Donald L Jacobus. History And Genealogy Of The Families Of Old Fairfield[1932]:II:1076.

From Yale Indian Papers Project

Pierson, Abraham, 1610 to 1678

Abraham Pierson (Cambridge 1632) was possibly the son of Thomas Pierson of Guiseley, Yorkshire  After his graduation at Trinity College, Cambridge and subsequent ordination, Pierson immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony around 1639 The following year, he removed to Southampton, Long Island as the towns pastor but removed once more to the Colony of New Haven, where he settled at Branford, the former Quinnipiac village of Totoket In 1651, with encouragement and support from the Corporation in England for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Indians in New England and the Commissioners of the United Colonies, Pierson began to preach to the Quinnipiac in hopes of converting them to Christianity. In that effort, his son Abraham Pierson, Jr. (1646-1707) often assisted Three years later, with the interpreter Thomas Stanton, Pierson authored a catechism designed for Native people of southern Connecticut, Some Helps for the Indians: A Catechism (published in 1659)  After the merger of New Haven with the Colony of Connecticut in 1665, he and a number of his parishioners removed to Hackensack Indian territory to settle Newark, New Jersey. Frederick Lewis Weis, The Colonial Clergy of the Middle Colonies (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978), 129. ANBDO; ODNB

• Born c. 1610
• Died August 9, 1678

family

From page 172 of Lit, Vol 10. "A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. ABRAHAM PIERSON"

• A list of Mr. Pierson's family has been furnished us by an antiquarian. It is not known whom he married. His children were
• Abigail, bom about 1640, who married Mr. John Davenport, Jr., of New Haven, Nov. 27, 1662;
• Thomas, bom about 1643, married to Mary Taintor, daughter of Mr. Michael Taintor, of Branford; also, Nov. 27, 1662, and removed to Newark with bis father, 1667;
• Abraham, bom about 1645, afterwards "Rector of Yale College;"
• John, bom 1647;
• Grace, born at Branford, June 13, 1650 ;
• Susannah, bom Dec. 10, 1652;
• Rebecca, Dec. 10, 1654;
• Theophilus, May 15,1659,
• and perhaps others.

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http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db... ID: I69829 Name: Abraham PIERSON Given Name: Abraham Surname: PIERSON Sex: M Birth: 1615 in Yorkshire, England Death: 9 Aug 1678 in Newark, Essex, NJ _UID: 31C05D72B5BE44F2BBF02BF379B6E4A1E698 Change Date: 29 Oct 2006 at 17:58

Father: Abraham PIERSON b: 1589 in Shadwell, Parish of Stefury, Middlesex, England Mother: Christiana JOHNSTON b: 1587 in Shadwell Parish, Stepney, Middlesex, England

Marriage 1 Abigail MITCHELL b: 26 Sep 1618 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England Married: Change Date: 29 Oct 2006

Children

1. Susanna PIERSON b: 10 Dec 1652 in Branford, CT

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In 1666 he was the first Pastor of the first Presbyterian Church. This was located on Broad St. in Newark, NJ. Also see note for Thomas. "Pierson Genealogical Records" collected and compiled by Lizzie B.Pierson of Andover, Mass. - Albany, N.Y., Joel Munsell, Printer - 1878preface by Geo. R. Howell. (Library of Congress call # CS71.P362 1878) Was a minister of the Gospel.

From Ancestral File (TM), data as of 2 January 1996. Information found "First Church of Newark N.J." by Stearus, p 25-36; Talcott's "Guilford Families" Vol. 3, p 484

Reference: http://breeseusa.org/Sket_Abraham%20PIERSON.htm

Abraham Pierson graduated from Trinity College in Cambridge, England in 1632. He was ordained a deacon at the Collegiate Church in Nottingham in 1632. In 1639, he came to Boston from England with brothers, Henry and Thomas. His wife's name was Abigail.

The family removed to Southampton, Long Island, New York and were there from 1640 to 1647, and next to Branford in New Haven Colony. Rev. Pierson was the first minister of Branford and remained there for 20 years. In 1665, he united with Rev. Davenport against the union of New Haven Colony with the Colony of Connecticut due to the laxness of the religious beliefs of the latter. His family left Branford in 1667 and removed to Newark, New Jersey where he died.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Sep 28 2016, 13:24:41 UTC

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• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via mother Grace Pierson (born Marshall) by SmartCopy: Oct 27 2014, 17:48:00 UTC

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• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via mother Grace Pierson (born Marshall) by SmartCopy: Oct 27 2014, 17:48:00 UTC

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[https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pierson-149]

GEDCOM Note

Category:Fairmount_Cemetery,_Newark,_New_Jersey Abraham Pierson is a [Newark Founder]

Biography

ABRAHAM Pierson, : Birth 21 Sep 1611 Bradford Yorkshire, England: On 23 September 1632, he was ordained deacon at the Collegiate Church, Southwell, Nottingham, England. He was a strong Puritan, and left England for America. : Congregational minister then moving to Lynn Massachusetts 1640. : Marriage 1642 Boston, Massachusetts : Arrival 1639 Boston, Massachusetts : Death 9 Aug 1678 Newark, New Jersey. : Abraham married Abigail MITCHELL in 1638. He was admitted a member of the church in Boston on 5 September 1640. In 1640, he was ordained as the minister in Lynn MA. : He then moved to Southampton Long Island trying to make a settlementon the west end but the Dutch did not welcome them so retreated to east end of Long Island. : Later, he was strongly opposed to Southampton joining the Connecticut Colony in 1644 because Connecticut did not require Freeman to also be church members. : In 1647, he moved to Branford, New Haven Colony, where he organized a church and served as minister for 20 years. He was prominent in the affairs of this colony. : While living in this town he befriended the Indians learning their language he prepared a catechism for them giving them the opportunity to know God. Abraham opposed the union of the two colonies of Connecticut and New Haven. He also disapproved of the clergy in the Connecticutcolony concerning infant baptism. In that time period no one could bemade freeman unless in full communion with the church. : When New Haven was absorbed by Connecticut, he moved again in 1666, this time to New Jersey. There they founded Newark with most of his congregation purchassing land from the Indians and laying the foundationfor this city. Some sixty five men had followed him to this new settlement. Included in the 66 men were the Kitchell's, Bruen's, Piersons, and Lawrences, all grandfathers to Kenton Bennett. : The church organization he brought with him later became the Presbyterian Church. He lived among his church members for twelve years dyingthere 9 Aug 1678. : The new settlement was to be the last Puritan theocracy in America, where the church laws were almost indistinguishable from the civil laws. : Pierson was a stern and strict Puritan who was held in high regard in both civil and clerical circles. Cotton Mather characterized him as a "godly, learned man" and "wherever he came he shone." When he died, his library included over 400 books (one of the largest collections inthe colonies), which were left to his son, Abraham. : "Some helps for the Indians shewing them how to improve their natural reason To know the true God and the true Christian Religion. 1. By leading them to see the Divine Authority of the scriptures. 2. By the Scriptures the Divine Truths necessary to Eternall Salvation. by Abraham Pierson Pastor of the Church of Branford. Exaimined and approved by that Experienced Gentleman (in the Indian language) John Scot Cambridge: Printed for Samuel Green 1658." NOTE: on three different microfilmslocated at NYS Library Albany NY.

FAMILY OF REV. ABRAHAM PIERSON<ref>Pierson</ref>

Who Emigrated to America in 1639. In 1613 Abraham Pierson was born in Yorkshire, England. Grad. at Trinity coll., Cambridge, 1632 ; in pursuit of religious freedom came to America, 1639. He was in Boston and Lynn, Mass. 1640 ; went to Southampton, Long Island, where he remained till 1647 ; then removed to Branford, Ct. ; from which place he again removed, in 1666, to Newark, New Jersey, where he died,' Aug. 9, 1678. His wife was Abigail, dau. of Rev.Jno. Wheelwright of Lincolnshire, Eng., who removed to New Hampshire. Before leaving England he was Episcopally ordained, and preached therefor awhile. In the cause of religious liberty he sought America ; wasordained in Boston, as a Congregational minister. At Lynn 1640, "finding themselves straightened, about 40 families, with Pierson as their minister," departed from Lynn, and attempted to make a settlement on the west end of Long Island. But the Dutch had made sure of that end, so they repaired to the east end, and laid the foundations of Southampton.^ The ist ch. of that town was started as a Cong, ch., but it afterwards became Presb.3 Thus was there settled a ch. at S., under the paternal care of this worthy man ; where he did with a laudable diligenceundergo two of the three hard labors, teaching and governing, to makeit become what Paradise was called ^'^ The island of the Innocents." He was most rigid in his desire to have the "civil as well as the ecclesiastical power all vested in the church, and to allow none but church members to act in the choice of officers of gov't, or to be eligibleas such." This led to a division of the colony'*; and in 1647, Pierson,

Note A. He was appointed by a council of ministers in Boston in October 1640 to be the pastor of a people who had gone from Lynn and effected a settlement called Southampton on Long Island in June of that year and was installed as pastor at a formal establishment of his church at Lynn inNov. of the same year. Doubtless a few of the Southampton people wentover to Lynn to be ordained as ruling elders and deacons, and with others about to emigrate from Lynn to the new colony, formed the nucleusof the church which upon their arrival on L. I. immediately received the remainder already there. These colonists had attempted in May 1640a settlement at the west end of the island, but had been driven off" by the Dutch who claimed the land ; they immediately collected their goods and sailed eastward and bought land of the Indians and founded Southampton the first town settled by the English in the state of New York. — G. R. H.

» Howell's Hist, of Southampton.

Note B.

Pierson Genealogy. i t with a small part of his cong., attempted another settlement, across the sound, on the Conn, shore. They organized and formed the town o{ Branford. Here, for 20 yrs., he "enjoyed the confidence and esteem not only of the ministers, but the more prominent civilians connected with the N. H. colony." He early interested himself in behalf ofihe Indians, made himself familiar with their language, and prepared a catechism for them, that they might know of the one true God. Pierson was to theIndians of Conn, what Eliot and Mayhew were to those of Mass. Winthrop says " he was a Godly learned man," and Mather says, " wherever he came he shone."' He united with Jno. Davenport in opposing the unionof the two colonies, the Conn, and the N. H. colonies, 1665, with great inflexibility. He was rigid to excess in ch. communion, and disapproved of the liberality of the clergy in the Conn, colony, in this respect ; he differed with them upon the ordinance of infant baptism, etc.; as no person in the N. H. colony could be made a freeman unless he was in full communion with the church. He fully agreed with D. and others in the colony, that no other gov't than that of the church should be maintained in the col. and opposed any union with Conn., (for the reason " that a good character and an orderly walk, with an estate of ^30, or had held office in the col. was all that was required to make aman a freeman in the col. of Conn," — which would mar the order andpurity of the churches. On this account he refused to unite with the Conn, col., and in 1666, he, with most of his congregation, left Branford, and repaired to N. J. There, on the Passaic, they purchased land of the Indians, and laid the foundations of the now flourishing cityof Newark.^ During '66 and '67 some sixty-five efficient men came from Branford and two neighboring towns to Newark. Each man was entitled to a homestead lot of six acres."* They brought their church organization with them from B., and became the ist ch. of Newark. (This afterwards became a Pres. ch.) Here, for 12 yrs. the good man Abraham led hisflock of devoted followers ; and s" his life, full of piety to God, and service to his fellow men, has left behind it precious memorials, and his name deserves to be kept fragrant, and surely it will be as long as Christian piety, and holy energy and zeal, are held in estimation.

' Hinmari's Puritan Settlers of Conn.<ref>Hinman</ref> Trumbull's History of Conn, states that " Rev. Abraham Pierson and hischurch carried off the church and town records of Branford, Ct., to Newark, N. J., in 1666-7." This statement, however, is incorrect, for in Branford are to be found now the town records ex- tending back to 1644.

After the town in Eng. where he was probably ordained.

• See note C.

SDr. Stearns's 1st Pres. church of Newark.

I 2 Pierson Genealogy. and the church, of which he was the first pastor, knows how to value her bright ornaments^" He h. chd. 2 Abraham^ ^ b. 1641 at Lynn, Mass., d. May 5, 1701, at Killingworth, Ct. ; 3 Thomas'^^ Jr, b. 1641-2 at Southampton, L. I., d. before 1684 in Newark ; 4 John^, b. 1643 at So'ton, d. before 1671 ; 5 Abigail', b. 1644 mar. 1663, at Branford, John Davenport Jr. (son of Jno. Davenport, 1st minister of N. Haven); 6 Grace ^, b. 1650 at Branford, mar. Sam. Kitchell (afterwards of Newark) ; 7 Susanna^, b. Dec. 1652 at Branford, mar. Jonathan Ball (of Stamford) ; 8 Rebecca^, b. 1654at Branford, d. Nov. 1 732, mar. Jos. Johnson (of Newark) ; 9 Theophilus'^^ b. 1659 ^^ ^- ^- 1713 in Newark ; 10 Isaac; and li Mary^. 2 Abraham Pierson (Rev. and rector) was b. 1 641 at Lynn, Mass, and d. May 5, 1707 at Old Killingworth (now Clinton) Conn. He was with hisfath. at So'ton, removed to Branford ; while there mar. Abigail Clark(dau. of Geo. Clark of Milford) : grad. at Harvard coll. 1668, and removed with his fath. to the new settlement of Newark. At that time thepeople of Woodbridge (a neighboring settlement in N. J.) sought the young Abr. as their pastor. But as his fath. was advanced in years, andin need of an assistant, the town at once secured young Abraham and settled him as colleague with Rev. Abraham, July 28, 1669. At the deathof his fath. 1678, he became sole pastor, which office he filled till1692 : then he returned to Conn. In 1694 he became pastor of the ch. at Killingworth, which position he retained even after he was chosen pres. In 1 701, when the wise fathers established Yale coll., 2 Abrahamwas made her president or " rector ;" thus, for the last six yrs. of his life did he perform the duties of both pastor and rector. (See Note I.) Sprague, in his Tale Coll. and its Alumni^ says : *' And first comes Abraham Pierson (among the presidents) a man around whose character and history, the shadows of a century and a half have gathered, butwho has still left memorials enough of his honorable and useful career, to insure immortality to his name. The cause of education he lookedupon as twin-sister to the cause of religion ; and hence he was identified with the project for establishing the college, and not only his high appreciation of learning, but his own liberal attainments, designated him as the proper man to be placed at the head. His death produced a double chasm, and both learning and religion wept beside his grave." Stearns says, "-You perceive in him one of the best specimens of the first growth of the American colonies. And tradition represents him as an excellent preacher, I Dr. Stearns, in his Hist, of the First Pres/?. Ch. of Newark, N. J.,says, "the early church records of Newark were lost, during the revolutionary war," whereby we are deprived of much interesting and important information. Besides this, the early town records of Newark were burned, whereby we are again left in ignorance of much that we would be glad to know.

Pierson Genealogy. and an exceedingly pious and good man." Trumbull says, "He had the character of a hard student, a good scholar, and a great divine. In his whole conduct he was wise, steady, and admirable : was greatly respected as a pastor, and he instructed and governed the coll. with general approbation," He was a portly, comely, and well favored man. While his father was a strict Independent, he was a Moderate Presbyterian. Two fine monuments have been erected to his memory, one in Old Killingworth(or Kennilworth), the other on the grounds of Yale coll., N. Haven. 1. Rev. Abraham PIERSON was born about 1609 in Yorkshire, England andwas christened3 on 23 Sep 1609 in Branford, Yorkshire, England. He died4,5,6,7,8 on 9 Aug 1678 in Newark, New Jersey and was buried9 in 1678 in Newark Burying Ground, Newark, NJ. BIOGRAPHY: Abraham Pierson was the first pastor of the settlements at Southampton, Long Island, Branford, CT and Newark, NJ. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1632. On 23 September 1632, he was ordained deacon at the Collegiate Church, Southwell, Nottingham, England. He was a strong Puritan, and left England for America. He was admitted a member of the church in Boston on 5 September 1640. In 1640, he was ordained as the minister in Lynn MA. He and other settlers left Lynn, MA and founded Southampton, Long Island in December 1640. He was strongly opposed to Southampton joining the Connecticut Colony in 1644 because Connecticut did not require Freeman to also be church members. In 1647, he moved to Branford, New Haven Colony, where he organized a church and served as minister for 20 years. He was prominent in the affairs of this colony. In 1667, he and most of his congregation went to New Jersey when New Haven was absorbed by Connecticut. There they founded Newark. It was to be the last Puritan theocracy in America, where the church laws werealmost indistinguishable from the civil laws. Pierson remained the pastor there until his death. Pierson was a stern and strict Puritan who was held in high regard inboth civil and clerical circles. Cotton Mather characterized him as a"godly, learned man" and "wherever he came he shone." When he died, his library included over 400 books (one of the largest collections in the colonies), which were left to his son, Abraham.

Abraham married Abigail MITCHELL10. They had the following children:

1. Abraham PIERSON was born about 1641 and died on 5 Mar 1706/1707. # Thomas PIERSON11 was born12 in 1641/1642 in Southhampton, NY. He died13 before 1684 in Newark NJ. # John PIERSON was born14 in 1643 in Southhampton, NY. He died15 before 1671.
2. Abigail PIERSON was born16 in 1644.
3. Grace PIERSON was born17 in 1650 in Branford CT.
4. Susanna PIERSON was born18 in Dec 1652 in Branford CT. # Rebecca PIERSON was born19 in 1654 in Branford CT. She died20 in Nov1732. # Theophilus PIERSON21 was born22 in 1659 in Branford CT. He died23 in1713 in Newark NJ.
5. Isaac PIERSON24,25.
6. Mary PIERSON26.
7. Davenport PIERSON27.

Birth

:: 1611 Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Christening

:: 22 Sep 1611 Guisley, Yorkshire, England:: 22 SEP 1611 Guiseley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom :: Guiseley is near Bradford in Yorkshire. (Pierson Millennium)

Graduation

:Trinity College, Cambridge :: Date: 2 Jan 1632-3:: Place: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England<ref>Source: #S517 Page: Trinity College, Cambridge</ref>

Marriage

:: 1636 England, United Kingdom ::: Wife: Abigail Mitchell

Event

:: Type: Arrival :: Date: 1639:: Place: Boston, Massachusetts<ref>Source: #S155 Page: Place: Boston, Massachusetts; Year: 1639; Page Number: 224</ref>

Death

: Death: :: Date: 09 AUG 1678:: Place: Newark, New Jersey, USA<ref>Source: #S517 Page: Trinity College, Cambridge</ref><ref>Source: #S297 Object: </ref><ref>Source: #S242 Object: </ref><ref>Source: #S297 Object: </ref><ref>Source: #S287 Object: </ref><ref>Source: #S243 </ref>

Burial

:: Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States :: Fairmount Cemetery, Newark, Essex Co, NJ ::: Rev Abraham Pierson :: Place: Windsor, Connecticut<ref>Source: #S243 </ref><ref>Source: #S297 Object: </ref>

Notes ===:: Abraham Pierson graduated from Trinity College in Cambridge, England in 1632. He was ordained a deacon at the Collegiate Church in Nottingham in 1632. In 1639, he came to Boston from England with brothers, Henry and Thomas. His wife's name was Abigail.

:: The family removed to Southampton, Long Island, New York and were there from 1640 to 1647, and next to Branford in New Haven Colony. Rev.Pierson was the first minister of Branford and remained there for 20 years. In 1665, he united with Rev. Davenport against the union of NewHaven Colony with the Colony of Connecticut due to the laxness of thereligious beliefs of the latter. His family left Branford in 1667 andremoved to Newark, New Jersey where he died.  :: Dictionary of American Biography edited by Dumas Malone [1962]:VII:587-8: First pastor of the settlements of Southampton LI., Branford CTand Newark N J. Probably born Bradford York Co England. Baptized 23 Sep 1609. Attended Trinity College, Cambridge England. He wrote "Some Helps For The Indians Shewing Them How to Improve their Natural Reason to Know the True God". It was printed in 1658. He left his library of more than 400 books to his son Abraham. :: "If God takes me away by this sickness, or until I have made a moreformal will, of a future date, then I do make and constitute this my last will and testament, being firmly persuaded of the everlasting welfare of my soul's estate and my body's resurrection to eternal life byJesus Christ, my dear and precious Redeemer. :: Imprimis. I will that all my debts be duly and truly paid as they are expressed and recorded in my broad book for reckoning, which I brought from Brandford, being carefully understood because of imperfections of the writing, or whatever else shall appear due to any though not there recorded. :: 2dly. That my wife shall have the thirds of my whole estate, to whose love and faithfulness I commit the bringing up of my children and do appoint her my sole executrix and give her my great Bible and what other English books she pleaseth to choose. :: 3dly. For my choice and precious daughter Davenport I will that herhundred pounds be made good, which I promised her upon her marriage, always provided that if upon just account of mine estate and debts, myother daughters have an hundred pounds a piece, that she shall be advanced as much as any. :: 4th. For my son Abraham, I do will that besides what he has had, orany horse kind he hath that he shall have all my books (except what by particulars I give to any) together with the frame belonging to the books; upon which consideration I will that he sh. pay back again to the estate eight pounds in part of the portion of my daughter Mary, upon her marriage day, or two after. :: For my next three sons, Thomas, Theophilus and Isaac, I will that they sh. have my whole accommodation of lands layed out or to be layed out within the limits of this plantation, always provided that my wife's thirds shall be at her sole disposal, during the continuance of hernatural life. For my son Thomas, I do not bring in on his account either the home lot which the town gave him, or any horse kind which in former times I gave Him. I will that he have a sufficient house lot upon his home lot in part of portion, and do give him Dr. Hall his paraphrase upon the Bible as a token of my love. For my two youngest sons, Iwould have them in due time to have each of them half of the homestead. Finally, all my just debts paid and my wife's thirds kept entire, Iwould have the whole of my remaining estate to be divided as portionsto the rest of my children to wit: my three sons and four daughters according to equal valuations and proportions, the same to be payable on the day of their respective marriages, or one month after; but if they be not married, then, the male children--their portions sh. be payable when they are of the age of twenty. Furthermore, I would have my two lesser boys, to be taught to read the Eng. tongue and to write a legible hand, and all my chd. that be at home with me to have each of them a new Eng. Bible and a good Eng. book out of the library, such as they by the advice of their mother sh. choose. Likewise, I do request and hereby ordain my trusty and well beloved brethren and friends, Mr. Jasper Crane, Mr. Rob. Treat, Lieut. Swaine, Brother Tompkins, Bro. Lawrence and Bro. Sergeant Ward, to become supervisors of this my last will and testament, to be helpful unto my wife, and to see that this mylast will be faithfully executed, and when any one of these sh. die or depart the place, the rest sh. with my wife's consent appoint some faithful man to fill up the empty place. In witness whereunto I have set my hand, the day and year first above written." :: ABRAHAM PIERSON. :: Witness, THOMAS PIERSON. :: The above Thos. Pierson doth make oath th. this the last will and testament of the deceased Abr. Pierson, and th. he knows of none other.Sworn before me, the 12th of Mar. 1678. A true copy. CHAS. G. M. McCHESNEY, Register. :: He graduated at Trinity College, Cambridge, England, 1632 and was ordained a deacon at the Collegiate Church, Southwell, Nottingham on 23Sept 1632. He came to America in 1639 to serve the growing Pilgrim settlement (Puritans). He was in Boston and Lynn, Mass.1640, went to Southampton, Long Island, NY where he remained till 1647, then moved to Branford, CT, from which place he again moved, in 1666, to Newark, NJ, where he died in 1678. He was a Presbyterian clergyman. He wrote "SomeHelps For The Indians Showing Them How To Improve Their Natural Reason, To Know The True God, And The True Christian Religion", a religiousguide written in both English and the Indian language ("Quiripi") in 1658 (distributed in 1659). :: Mr. Pierson made his will at Newark, 10 Aug. 1671. It contains the following clause: "That my Wife shall haue the Thirds of my Whole Estate to Whose Loue and faithfulness I Comit the bring Up of my Children,and doe appoint her my sole Executriz, and giue her my Great bible and What other English book she pleaseth to Choose." The will was witnessed by Thomas Pierson, who swore to it in Court, 12 Mar. 1678 (1678/9). The widow Abigail accepted the trust, and gave bond as Executrix with Abraham Pierson (the son) as surety. The terms in which Mr. Pierson referred to his wife, and his appointment of her as sole Executrix would be unusual for that period if she were a second wife and not the mother of the children. (TAG) :: This is what the Pierson Millennium by Richard E. Pierson and Jennifer Pierson, 1997, Heritage Books, Inc. says about the Rev. Abraham Pierson: :: The Rev Abraham Pierson of Yorkshire [England] and Branford, Connecticut (Chapter 4 extract) - :: “Thus far [Lizzie B. Pierson, Pierson Genealogical Records, Joel Munsel, Printer, Albany, NY, 1878, p. 73], I only find of Rev. AbrahamPierson, in England, that 'he was born in Yorkshire, 1613, and that he matriculated at Cambridge, 1632.'" This statement was made by LizziePierson in her 1878 book. :: The Rev. Abraham Pierson of whom she speaks was born in Yorkshire, England, about 1613, attended Trinity College in Cambridgeshire in 1632, and was ordained in England (some say at Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire). He came to New England (Boston) in 1639 and became the first minister at Southampton, Long Island, New York colony in 1640. In 1647, through a disagreement with the power of the church in government affairs, Abraham left Southampton with some of his followers to form hisown town and church in Connecticut (Branford). He had been at Southampton for eight years with Henry Peirson (note surname spelling) and during this time Abraham spelled his name Pierson. It is said in legend that Abraham named Branford after the town he came from in Yorkshire. However, there is no Branford in Yorkshire, but there is a Bradford. The English counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire do have a "Bransford" which means "ford by a hill." In 1806, it was spelled Bradnesford there. In Abraham Pierson's will he refers to Branford, Connecticut, as "Brandford." It is evident from Abraham's education and by his spelling of Brandford for his town in Connecticut that he sees Branfordand Bradford as the same name. Thus, we can believe that he was referring to having come from Bradford, Yorkshire, for the following analysis of his ancestors. In 1666, the Rev. Abraham Pierson moved his church and followers to Newark, New Jersey, which some say he named after the place he was ordained in England. :: The Rev. Abraham Pierson Jr., Abraham's son, was the first President of Yale College at New Haven, Connecticut, 1701-1707, acting as its rector. A statute of Abraham Pierson Jr. is displayed at Yale University at New Haven, Connecticut. :: Because of the superb reputation of these two Abrahams, many Pierson families have sought connection to that fine line. It was stated by Lizzie Pierson in her 1878 book that she thought that the Rev. AbrahamPierson was a brother of Henry Pierson of Southampton, Long island, and Thomas Pierson of Branford, Connecticut, of her line. Her reasoningwas that they might possibly be the three Pierson brothers of family legend that came to America together. But she could find no proof of those suspicions. :: According to Arthur Newton Pierson in his 1945 book [Genealogy, OurPierson Family, Marsh Family, Clark Family, Baker Family], "Peletreauand Brown's American Families of Historic Lineage (no date, estimatedpublication 1906) traces the Pierson family back to St. Mary's, Shadwell Parish, Stepney, England." He provided the Pierson family: Abraham(b. 1590) mar. Christine Johnson July 31, 1612 (date has apparently been modified - see below) and had two chd. Rev. Abraham and Henry. He also gave two earlier generations of Richards for Abraham (b. 1590). Frankly, the children of the families provided by Pelletreau and Brown are fictitiously connected! Unfortunately, others besides Arthur Newton Pierson were taken in by the unsupported data. :: Prior to 1990, Elmer Meyer published the Abraham Pierson and Christine Johnson family of England in Pierson Kinship Historical NewsletterNo. 1, p. 1, with chd. Rev. Abraham, Henry, and Thomas. With Elmer Meyer's newsletter as a reference, in 1990, it was published in Bettina Pearson Higdon Burns, Seek and Ye Shall Find: Pearson, Volume III, TheGregath Company, Cullman, Alabama, 1990, p. 839-841.

:: But the following record of that family group is all that exists: :: "31 July 1615 [London Marriage Licenses & Allegations, 1521-1869, Col. 1935, microfiche in State Library at Sydney, Australia, ref. 10/N929.3421/2. Photocopied by Jenny Pierson of Wellington, New Zealand]. Marriage of Pearson, Abraham (Pierson), of Shadwell parish of Stepney, co. Middlesex (now Greater London), sailor, and Christian Johnson, of said parish, widow of Barnard Johnson, late of same, tailor - at All Hallows Barking, London." :: No records of children's births could be found to go with this marriage. Therefore, it is recommended that all association between this data and Abraham, Henry, and Thomas Pierson be dropped. It has already been proven that Henry Pierson was born 1615 at Olney, Buckinghamshire, England, father William (see Chapter 8 for details). :: The ancestors of the Rev. Abraham Pierson will now be addressed using the legend that he is from Bradford, Yorkshire [England]. :: The LDS International genealogy Index (IGI) for England was searched for Abraham Pierson, born about 1613 in Yorkshire. Three church christening records are worthy of review:

:: Name Chris. Date Parents Location in England :: Abraham Pearson 24 Jul 1599 William Bradford, Yorkshire

:: Abraham Person 14 Aug 1608 not given Guiseley, Yorkshire

:: Abraham Peerson 22 Sep 1611 Thomas Guiseley, Yorkshire :: The 1599 christening is the location we seek in England, but the year is probably too early for the Abraham we seek of about 1613. The 1608 christening is not too far off 1613 and Guiseley is located only 6 miles north of Bradford, Yorkshire. Not bad, but Guiseley parish records indicated that he was buried 30 Sep 1608 at age 1 1/2 months. The 1611 christening, father Thomas, is at Guiseley near Bradford in Yorkshire and is even closer to the 1613 date. This makes the best selectionfor our Abraham Pierson as christened 22 Sep 1611, father Thomas, at Guiseley, Yorkshire, just 6 miles from the desired Bradford. :: According to parish records of Bradford [LDS Library 35 mm microfilm No. 1648142, Item 1 (Baptisms 1599-1715), Item 2 (Marriages 1596-1700), Item 4 (Burials 1596-1700): Church of England, Parish Church of Bradford (Yorkshire), Parish Register Transcripts, 1596-1734, Item 1 pp.2 & 11, Item 4 p. 5.] and Guiseley [William Easterbrook Preston and Joseph Hambly Rowe, A Transcript of the Early Registers of the Parish of Guiseley in the County of York, 1584 to 1720, Together with a Transcript of the Early Registers of the Chapelry of Horsforth, 1620 to 1720, with Notes on Guiseley Families, Percy Lund, Humphries & Co. Ltd., Bradford, Yorkshire, 1913, pp. 14 (Thomas marriage), 75, 80, 81, 83, 85, 86, 90, 94, 101, 103 (Thomas burial), 110 (Grace 2nd marriage, 120.]. "Thomas Pearson" married 14 Aug 1593 "Grace Marshall" at Guiseley Church and had children:::# "Child of Thomas Pearson of Bradford" bur. 21 Jan 1597/8 Bradford (christening records are not available before 1599 at Bradford);::# "Robert, son of Thomas Pearson of Bradford, baptism" 24 Jun 1599 Bradford, perhaps this is the Robert Pearson that, along with Richard Stanhope and William Kitchin, purchased land and a "moiety of a messuage (half of the premises) at Horsforth [The Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series Vol. 58, Yorkshire Fines for the Stuart Period Vol. 1, Edited by William Brigg, printed for the Society, 1915, p. 242.]in Michaelmas Term (the quarter of the year containing September 29),1624" (Horsforth is a Chapelry of Guiseley Parish);::# "William, son of Thomas Pearson of Bradford, bap." 12 Jul 1601 Bradford, bur. at Bradford 20 Nov 1601 "child of Thomas Pearson of Bradford" (this burial belongs to either this William or his brother Robert);::# "Samuell Person, baptysing" 27 Feb 1602/3 Guiseley, "sonne of Thomas Person";::# "Mercye Person bap." 5 may 1605 Guiseley (no parent given), buried"(blank) Person" 18 Aug 1605 Guiseley (this is likely Mercye at 3 1/2months old because a second child was named Mercye in this family);::# "Rebeckca Pearson bap." 12 Oct 1606 Guiseley (no parent given) bur. at Guiseley 14 Dec 1625 "Rebeckah Personn of Carelton" (died age 19 & living at Carlton with mother and stepfather in 1625 [see details below] - Carlton is located 13 miles SE of Guiseley, or 5 miles south ofLeeds);::# "Abraham Person bap." 14 Aug 1608 Guiseley (no parent given), bur.at Guiseley 30 Sep 1608 "Abraham Person" (age 1 1/2 months);::# "Grace Person bap." 20 Oct 1609 Guiseley (no parent given), this is probably the Grace Pearson who married 8 may 1633 Thomas Swain at the cathedral, Bradford. Yorkshire;::# "Abraham Peersone bap." 22 Sep 1611 Guiseley, "Sone of Thomas Peerson";::# "Mercye (2nd) Person Bap." 7 Nov 1613 Guiseley (no parent given), "Tomas Pearson('s) child" bur. at Guiseley 16 Nov 1613 (this is likelyMercye at 9 days old);::# "Isack Pearson bap." 10 Sep 1615 Guiseley (no parent given), "Isack Person" bur. Guiseley 9 Mar 1616/7 (age 6 months). :: Since there appeared to be no other Pearson/Peerson/Person family at Guiseley, the other Pearson/Person children christened at Guiseley with no parent given were assigned to this Thomas (their christening dates fit well together). The first three children were buried or christened at Bradford, a connection deduced from no other Thomas eligible as a father at Bradford and from the marriage, burial and christening date spacings of Thomas and his other children at Guiseley. Thomas Pearson appeared to be a member of the Bradford Parish Church after marrying at Guiseley in 1593, but about 1602 he and his family became members of the Guiseley Parish Church, six miles to the north. Whether, Thomas physically moved his residence at this point is unclear. There is another Thomas Pearson at Bradford, but he was born about 1591 and married Dorothy Hawksworth 2 Sep 1616 and could not be the father of the earlier children buried or christened at Bradford in 1597/8. 1599 and 1601. the birth record of Thomas Pearson of Guiseley, father of Rev. Abraham Pierson, was not found near Bradford in Yorkshire (pre-dates existing records, but see later analysis). "Tomas Persone" was buried 18 Apr 1617 at Guiseley Church, Yorkshire. The eldest surviving son appears to be Robert, who would inherit the majority of his estate. :: Thomas' widow, "Grace Person", married 2nd 26 Jan 1621/2 "Edward Roodes" at Guiseley Church, Guiseley, Yorkshire. "Grace Roods, wife of Edward Roods of Carelton," was buried at Guiseley Church 8 Aug 1629 after her 19-year-old daughter "Rebeckah Personn of Carelton" was buried there 12 Dec 1625. Edward Roodes must have remarried as Guiseley Parish records show that "Grace Roodes, daughter of Edward Roodes of Carelton," was baptized at Guiseley 26 Aug 1632. "Edward Rhodes of Carelton"was buried at Guiseley Church 18 Mar 1672/3. :: Before 1641 (birth year of his first known child), the Rev. AbrahamPierson (c. 22 Sep 1611) married Abigail, daughter of Rev. John Wheelwright of Lincolnshire, England [Lizzie B. Pierson, Pierson Genealogical Records, Joel Munsell, Printer, Albany, NY, 1878, p. 10]. [DPH Note: I have corresponded with Dick Pierson who is the author of the Pierson Millennium and showed him the Donald Lines Jacobus TAG article thatdiscusses the wife of Rev. Abraham Pierson and concludes that this isAbigail Mitchell, daughter of Matthew and Susannah (Wood) Mitchell, and Dick has concurred with this. He had not seen the article when he wrote the Pierson Millennium and has indicated that he would change this in his records.] :: There is a lot more in the Pierson Millennium on this and on the other Pierson lines and I recommend that anyone interested in the Pierson family look into adding this book to their library. I welcome further discussion on this. My database which incorporates this information is located at RootsWeb.com under WorldConnect (database: dhanke). If anyone sees any corrections and/or additions to this, please let me know. Thanks.

Sources

<references/> See also:* Pierson, Lizzie B. Pierson Genealogical Records (Joel Munsell, 1878) Page 73* Pierson, Arthur N. Pierson Family Line (1951) forwarded by Golda Sitz - 5/1997 * Laura Collins Pierson Bergersen - P.O. Box 185, Pioneer, CA 95666 - <jblb@volcano>net> - 11/2004* Darrow, Annie Pearson. Crispin Pearson ofBucks County, Pennsylvania 1748-1806 (J. Heidingsfeld Company, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1932) * Pierson Family History - Edward Grier Pierson, Jr. * Pierson, Richard E. & Pierson, Jennifer. Pierson Millennium (Heritage Books, Inc., 1997) * Family History Center Ancestral File - 1994/1997* Ancestry Family Trees (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com) Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. ::: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/17571920/family ::: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/225892/family * Find A Grave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32877388 ::: Birth: 1609 Settle, North Yorkshire, England ::: Death: Aug. 9, 1678 Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA ::: Abraham Pierson graduated from Trinity College in Cambridge, England in 1632. He was ordained a deacon at the Collegiate Church in Nottingham in 1632. In 1639, he came to Boston from England with brothers, Henry and Thomas. His wife's name was Abigail. ::: The family removed to Southampton, Long Island, New York and were there from 1640 to 1647, and next to Branford in New Haven Colony. Rev. Pierson was the first minister of Branford and remained there for 20years. In 1665, he united with Rev. Davenport against the union of New Haven Colony with the Colony of Connecticut due to the laxness of the religious beliefs of the latter. His family left Branford in 1667 and removed to Newark, New Jersey where he died. ::: Born "Yorkshire" ::: Son of Abraham Pierson and Mary Drake::: Mary Drake father Bernard Drake was a cousin of Sir Francis Drake,#8662254 ::: Spouse: Abigail Mitchell Pierson (1618 - 1722)* ::: Burial: Fairmount Cemetery, Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA::: Plot: Buried in the Old Newark Burying Ground -- remains (if any left) were re-interred in this cemetery in the early 1800's* Hinman, R.R. A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut (Hartford, Connecticut: Printed by E. Gleason, 1846)* Simonds, Jesse Rupert. AHistory of the First Church and Society of Branford, Connecticut, 1644-1919 (Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., New Haven, Conn., 1919) 9Page 19: "Abraham Pierson, Pilgrim and Apostle"* S132 Author: Yates Publishing Title: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. * S140 Author: Godfrey Memorial Library, comp.Title: American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.Original data - Godfrey Memorial Library. American Genealogical-Biographical Index. Middletown, CT, USA: Godfrey Memorial Library.Original data: Godfrey Memorial Library. American Genea; Repository: #R1 * S155 Title: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Publication: Name: Gale Research. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.; Repository: #R1 * S225 Author: Jackson, Ronald V., AcceleratedIndexing Systems, comp. Title: New Jersey Census, 1643-1890 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 1999* S242 Author: Ancestry.com Title: U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012; Repository: #R1 * Source: S243 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Connecticut, Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011; Repository: #R1 * S287 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Dictionaryof National Biography, Volumes 1-20, 22 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010; Repository: #R1 * S297 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Connecticut, Hale Cemetery Inscriptions, 1675-1934 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012; Repository: #R1 * Source: S517 Author: Stephen, Sir Leslie Title: Dictionary of National Biography, 1921–1922. Volumes 1–20, 22. London, England: Oxford University Press, 1921–1922 Publication: Name: Oxford University Press; Location: Oxfordshire, England;

GEDCOM Note

Biography

Baptism

: Baptism:
:: Date: 14 AUG 1608 :: Place: Guiseley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Burial

: Burial: :: Date: 30 SEP 1608 :: Place: Guiseley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Sources

• Pierson, Richard E. and Jennifer, <i>Pierson Millennium</i>, 1997, Heritage Books, Bowie, MD. ISBN 0-7884-0742-2. Available at Heritage Books: http://heritagebooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=HB...

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Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pierson-149

Abraham Pierson[1] was born or christened 21 Sep 1611 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. Others claim it was 22 Sep 1611 Guisley, Yorkshire, England (Guiseley is near Bradford in Yorkshire. [2]

He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge 2 Jan 1632-3.[3]

On 23 September 1632, he was ordained deacon at the Collegiate Church, Southwell, Nottingham, England.

He was a strong Puritan, and left England for Boston in 1639.

He may have emigrated with brothers, Henry and Thomas.[4]

He was admitted a member of the church in Boston on 5 September 1640. In 1640, he was ordained as the minister in Lynn,MA.

He married in Boston in 1642. Other source he married in 1638 Abigail Mitchell. Still others[5] say that his wife was Abigail, daughter of Rev. Jno. Wheelwright of Lincolnshire, Eng., who removed to New Hampshire.

He moved to Southampton Long Island first trying to make a settlement on the west end but the Dutch did not welcome them, so they retreated to east end of Long Island. [6]

Later, he was strongly opposed to Southampton joining the Connecticut Colony in 1644 because Connecticut did not require Freeman to also be church members.

In 1647, he moved to Branford, New Haven Colony, where he organized a church and served as minister for 20 years. He was prominent in the affairs of this colony.

While living in this town he befriended the Indians learning their language. He prepared a catechism for them giving them the opportunity to know God. Abraham disapproved of the clergy in the Connecticut colony concerning infant baptism. In that time period no one could be made freeman unless in full communion with the church. [7]
Trumbull's History of Conn, incorrectly states thatRev. Abraham Pierson and his church carried off the church and town records of Branford, Ct., to Newark, N. J., in 1666-7." This statement, however, town records exist extending back to 1644.

When New Haven was absorbed by Connecticut, he moved again in 1666, this time to New Jersey. There they founded Newark with most of his congregation purchasing land from the Indians and laying the foundation for this city. Some sixty five men had followed him to this new settlement. Included were the Kitchells, Bruens, Piersons, and Lawrences. The new settlement was to be the last Puritan stronghold in America, where the church laws were almost indistinguishable from the civil laws. The church organization he brought with him later became the Presbyterian Church..

Dr. Stearns says, "the early church records of Newark were lost, during the revolutionary war," whereby we are deprived of much interesting and important information. Besides this, the early town records of Newark were burned.[8]. Pierson was a stern and strict Puritan who was held in high regard in both civil and clerical circles. Cotton Mather characterized him as a "godly, learned man" and "wherever he came he shone." ( source)

He lived among his church members for twelve years dying in Newark, New Jersey 9 Aug 1678.[9][10][11][12]

He is buried at Fairmount Cemetery, Newark, Essex Co, New Jersey. When he died, his library included over 400 books (one of the largest collections in the colonies), which were left to his son, Abraham. He authored at least one book:[13]

[14]

Trumbull says, "He had the character of a hard student, a good scholar, and a great divine. In his whole conduct he was wise, steady, and admirable : was greatly respected as a pastor, and he instructed and governed the coll. with general approbation," He was a portly, comely, and well favored man. While his father was a strict Independent, he was a Moderate Presbyterian. Two fine monuments have been erected to his memory, one in Old Killingworth (or Kennilworth), the other on the grounds of Yale college., N. Haven.

Children

1. Abraham Pierson was born about 1641 and died on 5 Mar 1706/1707. First President of Yale College at New Haven, Connecticut, 1701-1707, acting as its rector. A statute of Abraham Pierson Jr. is displayed at Yale University at New Haven, Connecticut.
2. Thomas Pierson was born in 1641/1642 in Southhampton, NY. He died before 1684 in Newark NJ.
3. John Pierson was born in 1643 in Southhampton, NY. He died before 1671.
4. Abigail Pierson was born in 1644.
5. Grace Pierson was born in 1650 in Branford CT.
6. Susanna Pierson was born in Dec 1652 in Branford CT.
7. Rebecca Pierson was born in 1654 in Branford CT. She died in Nov 1732.
8. Theophilus Pierson was born in 1659 in Branford CT. He died in 1713 in Newark NJ.
9. Isaac Pierson
10. Mary Pierson
11. Davenport Pierson

Last Will & Testament

[15]

• "If God takes me away by this sickness, or until I have made a more formal will, of a future date, then I do make and constitute this my last will and testament, being firmly persuaded of the everlasting welfare of my soul's estate and my body's resurrection to eternal life by Jesus Christ, my dear and precious Redeemer.
• Imprimis. I will that all my debts be duly and truly paid as they are expressed and recorded in my broad book for reckoning, which I brought from Brandford, being carefully understood because of imperfections of the writing, or whatever else shall appear due to any though not there recorded.
• 2dly. That my wife shall have the thirds of my whole estate, to whose love and faithfulness I commit the bringing up of my children and do appoint her my sole executrix and give her my great Bible and what other English books she pleaseth to choose.
• 3dly. For my choice and precious daughter Davenport I will that her hundred pounds be made good, which I promised her upon her marriage, always provided that if upon just account of mine estate and debts, my other daughters have an hundred pounds a piece, that she shall be advanced as much as any.
• 4th. For my son Abraham, I do will that besides what he has had, or any horse kind he hath that he shall have all my books (except what by particulars I give to any) together with the frame belonging to the books; upon which consideration I will that he sh. pay back again to the estate eight pounds in part of the portion of my daughter Mary, upon her marriage day, or two after.
• For my next three sons, Thomas, Theophilus and Isaac, I will that they sh. have my whole accommodation of lands layed out or to be layed out within the limits of this plantation, always provided that my wife's thirds shall be at her sole disposal, during the continuance of her natural life. For my son Thomas, I do not bring in on his account either the home lot which the town gave him, or any horse kind which in former times I gave Him. I will that he have a sufficient house lot upon his home lot in part of portion, and do give him Dr. Hall his paraphrase upon the Bible as a token of my love. For my two youngest sons, I would have them in due time to have each of them half of the homestead. Finally, all my just debts paid and my wife's thirds kept entire, I would have the whole of my remaining estate to be divided as portions to the rest of my children to wit: my three sons and four daughters according to equal valuations and proportions, the same to be payable on the day of their respective marriages, or one month after; but if they be not married, then, the male children--their portions sh. be payable when they are of the age of twenty. Furthermore, I would have my two lesser boys, to be taught to read the Eng. tongue and to write a legible hand, and all my chd. that be at home with me to have each of them a new Eng. Bible and a good Eng. book out of the library, such as they by the advice of their mother sh. choose. Likewise, I do request and hereby ordain my trusty and well beloved brethren and friends, Mr. Jasper Crane, Mr. Rob. Treat, Lieut. Swaine, Brother Tompkins, Bro. Lawrence and Bro. Sergeant Ward, to become supervisors of this my last will and testament, to be helpful unto my wife, and to see that this my last will be faithfully executed, and when any one of these sh. die or depart the place, the rest sh. with my wife's consent appoint some faithful man to fill up the empty place. In witness whereunto I have set my hand, the day and year first above written."
• ABRAHAM PIERSON.
• Witness, THOMAS PIERSON.
• The above Thos. Pierson doth make oath th. this the last will and testament of the deceased Abr. Pierson, and th. he knows of none other. Sworn before me, the 12th of Mar. 1678. A true copy. CHAS. G. M. McCHESNEY, Register

Notes

Thomas' widow, "Grace Person", married 2nd 26 Jan 1621/2 "Edward Roodes" at Guiseley Church, Guiseley, Yorkshire. "Grace Roods, wife of Edward Roods of Carelton," was buried at Guiseley Church 8 Aug 1629 after her 19-year-old daughter "Rebeckah Personn of Carelton" was buried there 12 Dec 1625. Edward Roodes must have remarried as Guiseley Parish records show that "Grace Roodes, daughter of Edward Roodes of Carelton," was baptized at Guiseley 26 Aug 1632. "Edward Rhodes of Carelton" was buried at Guiseley Church 18 Mar 1672/3.
Before 1641 (birth year of his first known child), the Rev. Abraham Pierson (c. 22 Sep 1611) married Abigail, daughter of Rev. John Wheelwright of Lincolnshire, England [Lizzie B. Pierson, Pierson Genealogical Records, Joel Munsell, Printer, Albany, NY, 1878, p. 10]. [DPH Note: I have corresponded with Dick Pierson who is the author of the Pierson Millennium and showed him the Donald Lines Jacobus TAG article that discusses the wife of Rev. Abraham Pierson and concludes that this is Abigail Mitchell, daughter of Matthew and Susannah (Wood) Mitchell, and Dick has concurred with this. He had not seen the article when he wrote the Pierson Millennium and has indicated that he would change this in his records.]