William Pierce, of Boston

From the Great Migration Begins

• William Pierce d 1641
• MARRIAGE: By about 1624 Bridget _____. "Bridgett Peirce the wife of our brother Willyam Peirce" was admitted to Boston church 2 February 1633/4 [BChR 17]; she died after 14 January 1647[/8] [BBOP 1].
• CHILD: i WILLIAM, b. say 1624; m. by 1656 Hester _____ (possibly Webb)

Family

Married

1. Esther Webb. She was the daughter of Richard Webb, who died in Boston in July, 1659, who named his grandchildren Moses and Esther Pierce in his will.

Children

1. Esther, died unmarried
2. William, Jr. m Elizabeth; resided in Boston, and later Newport, R. I.
3. Nathaniel, b. ; m. Christian Stoddard ; res. Boston. She was b. Mar. 22, 1657; the dau. of Anthony Stoddard.
4. Moses, a Moses Pierce m. Eliza,
5. Ebenezer, b. Mar. 16, 1661, unm., d. before. As per agreement of William, his brother, "Ebenezer died intestate and without issue."
6. Mary, b. Dec. 10, 1656, d. young.
7. Mary. d. young.
8. Martha, b. May 16, 1659, d. young.

Notes

From The Great Migration Begins

More interesting is a William Pierce with wife Esther, who have children recorded as born in Boston in 1656, 1658 and 1661 [BVR 55, 69, 71, 79]. This William is the decedent of 1661, for the second probate record noted by Savage is for "William Pierce, mariner, formerly of Boston," who died intestate leaving widow Esther, along with four sons and a daughter [ NEHGR 32:319-21, citing SPR 7:215-17]. Several deeds indicate that this William Pierce owned land which was very close to, if not the same as, that ascribed to William Pierce in the Boston Book of Possessions [SLR 3:144-45, 479-81, 4:291, 11:251]. (See also NEHGR 10:360, citing SPR 4:66, and SCC 80.) Given the occupation of mariner and the location of his land, we conclude that this William Pierce is the son of the immigrant. His wife is in some sources given the maiden surname Webb.

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Sources

parents given are incorrect in this source, children are likely correct

From page 16 - 17 of Pierce genealogy, no. IV : being the record of the posterity of Capt. Michael, John and Capt. William Pierce, who came to this country from England by Pierce, Frederick Clifton, 1855-1904. cn Publication date 1889

William, b. in England, m. Esther Webb. She was the daughter of Richard Webb, who died in Boston in July, 1659. In his will he says, I give to Esther Pearce, and mentions her two children, Moses and Esther. He d. January, 1661. Res. Boston, Mass. ... The administration of the estat e of William Pierce, mariner of Boston, was granted to his widow, Esther Pierce, 31st January, 1661. He left four sons and one daughter, most of them being very small. The estate was divided 3d June, 1672, by agreement of Esther Pierce, William Pierce, Nathaniel Pierce, Roger Clapp, guardian to Moses Pierce, Joseph Webb, guardian to Ebenezer Pierce, Phineas Upham, guardian to Esther Pierce. The estate was valued at 228, and approved by John Martin, Joseph Webb. The house and land on the "backside of Boston," being worth 180. Ch.--Esthe r, b. . She d. unm. In 1679, Oct . 30th, she sold land to Nathaniel Pierce of Boston, bounded on the south with the alley leading into the land of Esther Pierce, the elder; on the east with land of Ebenezer Pierce. The witnesses were Nathaniel Thayer, Moses Pierce and Esther Pierce. At this time she was called a spinster and of Boston. William, b. ; m. Elizabeth (???). They resided in Boston a short time, and a son, William, was born, and died Jan. 4, 1661. They subsequently remov ed to Newport , R. I. From the Boston records, we learn that William Pie r ce of Newport, R. I., eldest son of William Pierce of Bos ton, mariner, dec eased, and his wife, Elizabeth, release to Thomas Carter of Boston, his in terest in land in Boston . The father died intestate leaving Esther his relict wido w and five children his estate. The estate was afterward di vide d. This is dated 14th Dec., 1688, and is witnessed by Christian Peirse. William, Jr. resided in Boston, and la ter Newport, R. I. Nathanie l, b. ; m. Christian Stoddard ; res. Boston. She was b. Mar. 22, 1657; the dau. of Anthony Stoddard. Moses, a Moses Pierce m. Eliza, and had Mose s , b. May 23, 1709; John, b. Mar. 27, 1713; Elizabeth, b. No v. 11, 1714; J ohn, b. Mar. 4, 1726; Edward, b. Oct. 10, 17 28; Elizabeth, b. Mar. 30, 173 0; Edward, b. Apr. 27, 1734 . Ebenezer, b. Mar. 16, 1661, unm., d. befor e. As per agre ement of William, his brother, "Ebenezer died intestate and without issue." Mary. Martha, b. May 16, 1659, both d. young. Mary, b. Dec. 10, 1656, d. young.

Transcribed on https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=norvanlj... with wrong parents and wrong dates for the children