Pierce, Michael J.

Pierce, Michael J.

Male 1615 - 1676  (61 years)

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  • Name Pierce, Michael J. 
    Born 1615  Hingham, Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 26 Mar 1676 
    Person ID I2930  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2022 

    Father Pierce Of America, Possibly Unrelated 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother (Pierce Or America), Unknown 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F1298  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Ames, Persis 
    Married 1644  Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Pierce, Persis,   b. 7 Jan 1645, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1646, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)  [natural]
     2. Pierce, Benjamin B.,   b. 1646, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 May 1730, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)  [natural]
     3. Pierce, Ephriam,   b. 1647, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Sep 1719  (Age 72 years)  [natural]
     4. Pierce, Elizabeth,   b. Abt 1649, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     5. Pierce, Deborah,   b. Abt 1650, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     6. Pierce, Sarah,   b. Abt 1652, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     7. Pierce, Mary,   b. 1654, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Apr 1735, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)  [natural]
     8. Pierce, Abigail,   b. Abt 1656, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1723  (Age 67 years)  [natural]
     9. Pierce, Anna,   b. Abt 1657, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     10. Pierce, Abiah,   b. Abt 1659, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abington, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     11. Pierce, John,   b. Abt 1660, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jun 1738, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)  [natural]
     12. Pierce, Ruth,   b. Abt 1661, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1760  (Age 99 years)  [natural]
     13. Pierce, Persis,   b. Abt 1662, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2022 
    Family ID F1292  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 (James), Hannah 
    Married 1665 
    Children 
     1. Pierce, Abigail,   b. 9 May 1655  [natural]
     2. Pierce, Anna,   b. 9 May 1655, Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2022 
    Family ID F1293  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1615 - Hingham, Norfolk, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1644 - Scituate, Plymouth Co., MA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 


    • As is indicated by all of the information printed below, It suggested
      but not certain that Michael Pierce is related to the other Pierce
      Ship captains.
      Michael PIERCE - d. Mar. 26, 1676, Pawtucket, RI. No evidence has been
      found to indicate that Michael PIERCE was related to Ship Master
      William PIERCE or to John PIERCE of Dorchester and Boston. Michael
      settled first at Hingham, MA, then moved to Scituate, MA. Commissioned
      a captain by the Colony Court in 1669. Ambushed and killed with
      company by Canonchet at Attleboro Gore during King Philip's war. Will
      dated Jan. 15, 1675, proved Jul. 22, 1676, names wife Anna, children
      Benjamin, John, Ephraim, Abigail HOLBROOK, Mary HOLBROOK, Elizabeth,
      Sarah, Annah, Abiah, Ruth and Persis, grandchildren Elizabeth and
      Abigail HOLBROOK, 'father EAMES,' and 'brothers' Mark JENNES and
      Charles STOCKBRIDGE. Married second in 1663 Anna (JAMES) Allen.
      Will of Capt. Michael Pierce - January 15, 1675
      I, Michael Pierce of Scituate, in the government of New Plymouth in
      America, being now by the appointment of God going out to war, against
      the Indians, doe make this my last will and testament: First I do
      committ myself and wayes unto the Eternal God; nextly concerning that
      estate which God has blessed me with, I thus dispose. First I give
      unto my beloved wife Annah Pierce, during her life, the westward end
      of my now dwelling house in Scituate aforesaid which I last built to
      dwell in, and the bed in it, with what appertenances to it, to use and
      dispose of, as she shall see cause, and the one half of my other
      household stuff for her use during her life, and then to be disposed
      of to my children as she shall see cause. Also my will is that for my
      wifes yearly maintenance, that my son Benjamin Pierce shall pay unto
      her twelve pounds per year, one half in money and the other half in
      provisions, and also sufficient
      firewood for her use in the house during her life; and I give unto my
      son Benjamin aforesaid my now dwelling house and barn in Scituate
      afroesaid, and all the land which I have in Scituate excepting that I
      bought of Benjamin Bates of Hingham, and that which I bought of
      William James of Scituate and
      excepting the abovesaid westerly end of my abovesaid house, during my
      wife's life as abovesaid, out of which abovesaid Estate in house and
      lands given to my son Benjamin, he shall pay unto my aforesaid wife
      for her maintenance twelve pounds a year, as abovesaid during her
      life, and sufficient firewood
      also as abovesaid. And I give unto my son John Pierce all my lands in
      Hingham, in the Massachusetts, and my land in Scituate which I bought
      of William James, of Scituate, paying out of it to my son Ephraim's
      two children Eserikum Pierce and Ephraim Pierce, to each of them
      fifteen pounds at the age of twenty and one years; provided that
      neither my son Ephraim aforesaid, nor either of his after him, or any
      by or under him, shall go about to molest my said John of or upon the
      attempt of the three or four acres of meadow land in Hingham aforesaid
      which my father gave unto my said son Ephraim which is not yet so
      fully confirmed to me as by my son Ephraim's promise it should have
      been. Also I give unto my aforesaid son Benjamin all my movable estate
      in cattle and boats, and household goods, and such like, excepting
      that which I have disposed of to my wife as abovesaid, out of which
      said movable estate my said son Benjamin shall pay these legacies
      which I give to my children as followeth:
      first I give unto my son Ephraim Pierce, five pounds.
      2 I give unto my daughter, Abigail Holbrook five pounds.
      3 I give unto my daughter, Elizabeth Pierce 30 pounds.
      4 I give unto my daughter, Sarah Pierce 30 pounds.
      5 I give unto my daughter, Anna Pierce, fifty pounds.
      6 I give unto my daughter, Mary Holbrook, 20 pounds.
      7 I give unto my daughter, Abiah Pierce, thirty pounds.
      8 I give unto my daughter, Ruth Pierce, thirty pounds.
      9 I give unto my daughter, Persis Pierce, 50 pounds.
      Also I give unto my grandchild Elizabeth Holbrook five pounds to be
      paid her by my son Benjamin aforesaid at her day of marriage or 21
      yers old.
      Also I give unto my grandchild Abigail Holbrook five pounds, to be
      paid her
      by my son John Pierce aforesaid at her day of marriage, or twenty-one
      years of
      age.
      Also my will is, that if it should please God that my beloved wife
      aforesaid should be afflicted with lameness or sickness so that the
      abovesaid
      12 income be not sufficient to maintain her in comfortable manner,
      that then
      what shall be meet by my overseers to be added for her comfortable
      maintenance
      shall be equally payed her yearly by my son Benjamin Pierce and my son
      John of
      that estate which I have given them as aforesaid.
      Also I make my abovesaid wife my executrix and my son Benjamin Pierce
      abovesaid my executor of my last will and testament, and also I the
      abovesaid
      Michael Pierce my truly and will beloved friends Cornett Robert
      Statson and
      Isaac __________ and my brother Mark Jennes and my brother Charles
      Stockbridge
      overseers or witnesses of this my abovesaid last will and testament.
      In
      witness wereof I set my hand and seal this fifteenth of January 1675.
      Witnesses: Benjamin Woodworth Michael Pierce
      Charles Stockbridge
      Above information from files of Stephen M. Lawson
      From Robin Dane Pierce:
      Michael PIERCE - b. 1615 in England ; d. Mar. 25,1676, Cedar Falls,
      RI. Little is known about his ancestors. He was commissioned a Captain
      by the Colony Court in 1669. On Sunday March 26, 1676, while leading a
      company of about 65 Englishmen and 20 friendly Indians, he and his
      company were ambushed by a band of Narragansett Indians led by chief
      sachem Canonchet at Attleboro Gore on the banks of the Blackstone near
      present day Central Falls, RI. Nine of his men were captured and taken
      to a spot in Cumberland, RI, now called Nine Men's Misery, and
      tortured to death. Arriving too late, a relief force found and buried
      the bodies of the nine. A few days later, Canonchet was captured and
      executed. Capt. Pierce's will, dated Jan 15,1675, was proved Jul. 22,
      1676. Will can be viewed at web site of Stephen M. Lawson
      From Michael Pierce (mpierce282@ibm.net):
      The actual birthdate of Michael Pierce, usually found as Captain
      Michael Pierce, is not known, although it is generally given as about
      1615. This is based upon his first wife's birthdate and the age of his
      children. He first shows up in the records of Hingham, MA in the
      1640's. He later moved to Scituate. There is still a street there
      called "Capt Pierce Rd." He was active in the affairs of the town, as
      his name appears in a few official records. He was killed at Central
      Falls, RI on March 26, 1676, as was most of his command. There are two
      plaques in Central Falls which commerate this fight; one is in the
      park at Pierce Park and Riverwalk.
      As far as the line being traced back 24 genrations, some genealogists
      have taken the line that far, however, I have been unable to
      substantiate it. There have been at least three names given for his
      father, but none of these have been proved either. It is said he had
      brothers Richard, John, and William. Again, there is no absolute proof
      of this.
      His son Ephraim later lived in Providence, RI, and Swansea and
      Rehoboth, MA. My line is Michael, Ephraim, Mial, Job, Job Jr.,
      Benonia, Hiram, Benonia, Frank, and Lawrence.
      I have some information on some other branches of the family, as well
      as information on some of the related families. Several of these lines
      go back to England in the 1500's. If you are interested, or if you
      have additional information for me, please let me know.
      More About Michael J. Pierce:
      Fact 1: 1676, Killed by Indians