Pearce Family History
Cornwall to Australia
Until I commenced researching my family tree I knew little of my roots. My Dad was able to tell me a few things.
My Grandad, John Gustavus Pearce was born in Lucknow, NSW in 1874, the second child of John Cuttance Pearce (b, 1872) and Lucy Edwards Derrett. They were both living at Lucknow before they were married in the Church of England Church at Orange on 27.4.1871. They had five other children, James Cuttance (born Dubbo, 1872), Henry Derrett (born Cobar, 1877), Lucy Neva Fredrica (born Cobar, 1879), Alfred George C (born Cobar, 1884, d Orange 2.4.1885), and Pearl Stanley Taylor (born Orange 1886).
Great Grandad Pearce (John Cuttance Pearce) came to Australia from Cornwall in 1855. His brother Richard had arrived in September the previous year. Richard arrived in Sydney on the vessel "Lady Ann" on 29.9.1854 (age 19) and John Cuttance arrived on the "Ebba Brae" on the 6.1.1855 (age 21). The shipping records for Assisted Immigrants show that both could read and write and were in good health on arrival in Sydney. Their calling was noted as John a blacksmith and Richard a miner. Their parent’s names were Richard and Jane and both were living at Uny Lelant, Cornwall at that time. Both Richard and John Cuttance embarked from Plymouth. On arrival they went to Orange in NSW or there abouts. John Cuttance and Lucy moved to Cobar, NSW then Charters Towers in Queensland about 1886.
The only other record of Richard that I have found to date (assuming the record is of his death) is that he died in Orange 26/8/1867 age thirty and that the death was recorded by the coroner. His death record shows that the cause of death was by a piece of wood falling on him. His name is recorded as Pierce as is his father's name. His mother's name is shown as Jane Cotterill. As his birth date was 15/5/1836 he was 31 so there are some inconsistencies which begs the question is this the correct record.
Thomas a third brother also came to Australia as a miner. He married Priscilla Derrett in 1866 at Cadia, NSW some five years before John Cuttance married Lucy Edwards Derrett, Priscilla's younger sister. I have found some of his descendants in Sydney that we did not know about. I do not know how or when Thomas came to Australia though it is suggested by his Sydney descendants that he came out to manage a pastoral property.
From my research I have established that my GG Grandfather was Richard Pearce and that he married Jane Cuttance on 1st May, 1830 in Mylor, Cornwall. I guess they lived at Uny Lelant, Cornwall after they were married as seven children were born there. Their children are as follows:
James PEARCE ---------------3 Mar 1831
John Cuttance PEARCE-----12 Jan 1834
Richard PEARCE------------15 May 1836
Thomas Tailor PEARCE------24 Dec 1837
Jane PEARCE----------------19 Apr 1840
Michael PEARCE-------------24 Oct 1845
Elizabeth PEARCE-----------13 Jan 1852
The date of birth (christening) is shown on the right. I
do not know if they had any other children.
Please contact me if you have any information or you come across anyone who has done any research into the Pearce line or if you are connected to any of the above. Thank you.
To be further developed