James Pearce and Hannah Jackson

Melbourn High Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Sutton - geograph.org.uk/p/6508075

James Pearce (bap. 29 Apr 1804 in Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire), Widower, son of William Pearce and Elizabeth Hunt, married Martha Wilton (bap. 25 Feb 1807 in Royston, Hertfordshire), Spinster, third daughter of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, in Royston, in 1849.

James Pearce of Royston, Bachelor, had previously married Hannah Jackson, of Guilden Morden, Spinster, daughter of James Jackson and Hanna Webb, on 10 Nov 1829, at St. Mary, Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire.

James and Hanna Pearce had seven children:

1. 

   Photo © Jim Osley (cc-by-sa/2.0)

   Royston Museum and Art Gallery

   The Museum and Art Gallery occupies a 

   former Congregational Church schoolroom.

   Photo available for reuse under 

   this Creative Commons licence.

   William Pearce b. 19 Jan 1832, bap. 20 May 1832 at the New Meeting House (Congregational chapel), Royston
2. Hannah Jackson Pearce b. 1837 S Quarter in ROYSTON UNION Vol 06 Page 403. Died, aged 19, in 1857 S Qtr in ROYSTON Vol 03A Page 141
3. Mary Pearce b. 1839 D Quarter in ROYSTON & BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 560
4. James Pearce b. 1841 D Quarter in ROYSTON & BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 542
5. Samuel Pearce b. 1844 J Quarter in ROYSTON & BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 577
6. Thomas Pearce b. 1846 M Quarter in ROYSTON AND BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 607
7. Alfred Pearce b. 1848 M Quarter in ROYSTON AND BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 587. Died in the same quarter 1848 M Quarter in ROYSTON AND BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 502

In 1841, when Martha was looking after her late sister Elizabeth's children, James Pearce (~35), Hannah Pearce (~30), William Pearce (9), Hannah Pearce (2) and Mary Pearce (1) were living in Kneesworth Street, Royston. 

Hannah Pearce died, aged 42, 1848 M Quarter in ROYSTON AND BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 498. Given that she died in the same quarter as her last child was born and had also died, I think we would be pretty safe to surmise what had contributed to her death.

In 1851, James and Martha Pearce were in Melbourn, Hertfordshire, with James (47) Wool-stapler (a wool-stapler buys wool from the producer, sorts and grades it, and sells it on to manufacturers), Martha (43), and James' six surviving children: William Pearce (19) wool-stapler, Hannah Jackson Pearce (13) dressmaker, Mary (11), James (9), Samuel (7) and Thomas (5).

In 1861, living in Baldock Road, Bassingbourn, Royston, were James (57), Martha (53), with James (19), Samuel (17) and Thomas (15). Mary Pearce (21) was a Cook to Peter Ashton, Schoolmaster, in Melbourn Street, Royston.

James Pearce died, aged 64 in 1868 M Quarter in ROYSTON Volume 03A Page 180.

In 1871, Martha Pearce (62) was in West Terrace, Baldock Road, Bassingbourn, with step-sons James Pearce (29) Wool stapler and Samuel Pearce (26) Cabinet maker. (Thomas Pearce had married in 1869).

In 1881, Martha Pearce (70), widow, annuitant, was living alone at Alms House, 8, Kneesworth Street, Royston.

In 1891, at Alms House, Kneesworth Road, Bassingbourne, Royston.

In 1901, Martha was at Mill Yard, Alms House, Kneesworth Street, Royston.

Alms houses in Kneesworth Street are mentioned in Royston Register of Buildings of Local Interest (PDF), as a building of local architectural and historic interest and illustrates the social history of the town:

Mrs. Barfield’s Almshouses, Kneesworth Street

Mrs. Barfield was the widow of Reverend Barfield and purchased the land on the west side of Kneesworth Street for 4 Almshouses. These were built in 1833 for poor windows. At a later date 3 others were built opposite from the accumulation of funds with the fourth funded by C. Beldam Esq. The Almshouses were built in 1858 and are constructed of gault brick in Flemish Bond with hip slate roofs. Tall gault brick chimneys project at intervals along the roof line and out of the end hips close to the eaves. The Almshouses are designed as two single storey elongated blocks situated parallel to each other and orientated to end onto the road. A lower central outhouse block is situated at a central point at right angles between the two rows of houses, creating an 'H' shaped layout. The balance and symmetry of the layout, form and design of the Almshouses are key to their local architectural and historic interest and their design contribution within the street scene.

Martha Pearce died, at the grand old age of 97, in 1904 S Quarter in ROYSTON Volume 03A Page 403.