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. 

James Tubb and Sarah Pearce

St. Mary's Church - Alverstoke
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Colin Babb - geograph.org.uk/p/1093207

James Tubb (b. 30 Apr 1809 in Portsmouth), son of William Tubb and Sarah Chard, married Sarah Pearce (b. 16 Dec 1810 in Portsmouth), daughter of Thomas Pearce and Sarah Hall, at St. Mary's, Alverstoke, on 27 Oct 1830.

James and Sarah had nine children, the first two of whom were baptised in the 12th Century, early version of St Mary's Church, Portsea.

1. Sarah Pierce (sic) Tubb b. 26 Feb 1830, bap. 18 Jan 1835
2. James Thomas Tubb b. 6 Nov 1833, bap. 18 Jan 1835
3. Emma Tubb b. 1838 M Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 143
4. William Tubb b. 1840 D Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 109
5. Alfred Tubb b. 1843 J Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 122 (Died 1844 M Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 102)
6. Caroline Tubb b. 1844 D Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 122
7. Henry Edward Tubb b. 1847 J Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 126
8. Mary Ann Tubb b. 1849 D Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 07 Page 173
9. Elizabeth Tubb b. 1853 J Quarter in PORTSEA Volume 02B Page 401

Once again, as civil registration was introduced, baptisms were abandoned.

In 1851, we find this family living in Upper Church Road, Portsea with James Tubb (42) Shipwright at Dock Yard; wife Sarah Tubb (40), daughter Sarah Tubb (20), James Tubb (17), Shipwright's Apprentice; Emma Tubb (13), William Tubb (10), Caroline Tubb (6), Henry Tubb (4), Mary Tubb (1) and Sarah's father, Thomas Pearce (74), Widower, Retired Grocer.

In 1871, James Tubb (61) Superannuated Shipwright, Sarah Tubb (60), Mary A Tubb (21) and Elizabeth Tubb (17), were at Church Path, North, Portsea.

Shortly before his 65th birthday, James Tubb, DOB 30 Apr 1809, from Portsea, Hampshire, 5ft 7in tall, with grey hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion, enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Shipwright. From 1 Jan 1874 until 13 Feb 1875, he was assigned to HMS Asia, flagship of the Admiral-Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard. From 31 Mar 1875 to 31 Mar 1876 and from 1 Apr 1876 to 9 Jun 1877, he was assigned to HMS St Vincent, which had been commissioned as a training ship in 1862, and specifically as a training ship for boys, moored permanently at Haslar from 1870. James Tubb may have been maintaining or converting the vessel. If I were to speculate, my feeling is that this already long-standing dockyard employee was taken into Royal Navy service at such a 'ripe age' to provide him with a pension.

In 1881, James Tubb (73), Shipwright Pensioner and Sarah Tubb (70), were living at 2, Charles Street, Portsea, with William Jeffery (7), listed as their nephew. He was their grandson, William James Jeffery, born 1874, son of their youngest daughter, Elizabeth, who married William Jeffery in 1872.

In 1891, James Tubb (81), Retired Shipwright and Sarah Tubb (80) were living in Church Path North, Portsea, with the house to themselves.

After more than 65 years of marriage, James and Sarah Tubb both died in 1896, within a week of each other. James Tubb (87) Pensioner of Church Path, Landport, died in 1896 S Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 324 and was buried from St Mary's, at Kingston Cemetery, on 22 Jul 1896. Sarah Tubb (86) Widow of Church Path, Landport was likewise buried at Kingston Cemetery, from St Mary's, seven days later, on 29 Jul 1896.