Peter Pearson

• General Notes
  • Peter Pearson was "preferred" or given money to emigrate to America, where he was determined to go. The most
    accepting colonies at that time for Quakers were in the south, North Carolina or Virginia. A proper Friend, Peter asked the clerk at Pardshaw Crag to write a certificate for him to present to a Meeting in the new world, which was done. "Peter Pearson the bearer thereof, who hath in Mind to remove to American, is descended of Honest Parents, who hath been Serviceable Among us, and we are loath to part with him, who has been of blameless conversation."
    
    Peter left England and arrived in America and presented his certificate to the Chuckatuk Meeting of the Friends, 7-25-
    1707. There in the tidewater region, Peter was married to Rachel Newby. This was in Nansemond County, Virginia. While still a resident of Virginia, Peter bought a 50 acre tract of land on the Burnt Pocosin in the Upper District of Perquimans County, North Carolina in August 1716.
    
    In June 1723, Peter purchased 324 acres of land adjacent to his own from Gabriel Newby for 40 pounds currency. In
    February 1731 there was still a dispute involving these two men over the land. Gabriel wanted Peter to pay one pound,
    sixteen shillings more and Peter adamantly refused to pay any more "upon ye account of and land". The Friends interceded and their difference was finally settled by the next July.
    
    Peter died in the late spring of 1735 as Rachel, his widow, "exhibited the will of her deceased husband Peter Pearson in Court." Rachel died in 1750 and in her will she mentioned each of her children then living. She also mentioned her
    granddaughter, Lydia Bogue and my "orphan boy", Joshua Gilbert. Her "trusty" sons-in-law, John Winslow and Robert
    Bogue were designated as her executors.
    
    Immigration: 1707 Nansemond Co., VA.
    Religion: Jul 25 1707 Chuckatuk Meeting of the Friends (Quaker); Nansemond Co., VA.
    Property 1716: 50 acres on Burnt Pocosin swamp in the Upper District of Perquimans (later Piney Woods); North Carolina.
    Property 1723: 324 acres adjoining farm; North Carolina.
    Leg.Ref. Jan 1726: Witness to will of Joseph Newby; Perquimans Co., N.C.
    Will probated 1735.
    Occupation:  Cobbler; Ullock in parish of Dean and County of Cumberland.
    
    Children:
    1. Peter PEARSON b: 19 JUN 1711 in Perquimans County, NC
    2. John PEARSON b: 22 SEP 1714 in Perquimans County, NC
    3. Rachel PEARSON b: 16 NOV 1716 in Perquimans County, NC
    4. Nathan PEARSON b: 6 DEC 1718 in Perquimans County, NC
    5. Mary PEARSON b: 20 NOV 1720 in Perquimans County, NC
    6. Jonathan PEARSON b: 10 NOV 1722 in Perquimans County, NC
    7. Elizabeth "Betty" PEARSON b: 16 APR 1724 in Perquimans County, NC
    8. Bailey PEARSON b: in Perquimans County, NC
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    The following information on Peter Pearson, the immigrant ancestor of the Quaker Pearsons of North Carolina, is taken from Ruth Pearson Harper's "History of the Pearson Family of Wayne County, North Carolina 1700-1981" (1982), from the 1974 Genealogical Memoir of Jonathan K.T. Smith of Memphis, Tennessee, and various Family Tree Maker sites on the Internet.
    
    Peter Pearson was born about 1675-79 in Ullock, County Cumbrian, England, a son of Christopher and Ellinor Fearon Pearson. Cumbrian, formerly known as Cumberland, is in the Lakes District of northwestern England, near the Scottish border. His grandparents and parents were apparently the first of the family to embrace the Friends, or Quaker, faith. Prior to that the Pearsons were affiliated with the Anglican, or Established, Church, and apparently the Pearsons had been members of St. Oswald's Church in Dean Parish, which encompassed Ullock, since before 1580. Peter's immediate forebears were of the yeoman class.
    
    Peter was a practicing Friend by the early 1700's, affiliating with Pardshaw Cragg Meeting. By 1700 he had emigrated to America, probably landing at or near present-day Norfolk,  Virginia. Around 1700 he presented a certificate from Pardshaw Cragg Meeting to the Quaker meeting in Isle of Wight County, Virginia which stated "Peter Pearson, the bearer thereof, who hath in mind to remove to America, is descended of Honest Parents, who hath been serviceable among us, and we are Loath to part with him, who hath been of Blameless Conversation." According to Ruth Pearson Harper on page 4 of her genealogy, this was quoted from  the Register of Friends at Pagan Creek (Isle of Wight County, Virginia) and reproduced in Mrs. Watson Winslow's "History of Perquimans County (North Carolina)" (1931). She explains that at that time conversation referred to one's conduct or reputation. Peter first settled in Isle of Wight County but went shortly thereafter to the Chuckatuck area of Nansemond County. In Nansemond he was a member of Lower Monthly Meeting.
    
    According to minutes of Chuckatuck Monthly Meeting, in seventh month (July) 1707 Peter Pearson produced his certificate from Pardshaw Cragg. Sometime afterward he moved south to Perquimans County, North Carolina. 
    
    According to Jonathan K.T. Smith, Peter was a cobbler by trade, as shown by Perquimans County Deed Book 3, page 150. Mr. Smith's information is better quoted as follows:
    
    Just south of Nansemond, in the Province of North Carolina, was Perquimans County or Precinct, with a soil that drew Friends to it and there they enjoyed greater religious and civil freedoms. A great swamp, the Dismal, brooded over northern Perquimans; wildlife thrived well thereabout and the land when arduously drained, was fertile.
    
    Still a resident of Virginia, Peter Pearson bought 50 acres on the Burnt Pocosin (swamp) in the Upper District of Perquimans that became Piney Woods District (late in the 18th century). This purchase was made in August 1716 (Perquimans County Deeds B, page 1). To this place, several miles west of the Dismal, the Pearsons moved and lived ever afterwards. Their lives were like most of their yeoman fellows, with the seasons coming and going, raising, cultivating, and harvesting of crops, attending meeting, raising children, paying taxes, enjoying the simple earthly joys, suffering the inevitable pangs of mortals.
    
    In June 1723, Peter Pearson bought 324 acres of land adjoining his land (Ibid, deeds B, page 150). Rachel Pearson survived her husband several years. Apparently she practiced the celebrated Quaker benevolence; in her will, 1750 (made the year she died), she mentioned her orphan-boy, Joshua Gilbert, whom she had taken into her home (NC Archives: Perquimans Wills 1663-1783, V. 23, page 81). She signed her will RP.
    
    

Click here for details of Peter's family with Rachel Newby

Source/Citation Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy: Virginia

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This page is within a frameset. View the entire genealogy report of Pearson families, or surname index of Pearson pedigrees or report summary of Pearson heritage from "Pearson Family Genealogy".
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