Harriet Pearce, my 3rd great grandmother, is one of many dead ends in my family tree. The identities of her parents are unknown to me. I’ve made it a goal this summer to try to break through this brick wall.

Married in 1833 in Lawrence County, Tennessee to Absolem Boren, Harriet went on to become the mother of his eleven children. According to the 1850 and 1860 censuses, she was born in Tennessee about 1811. From Absolem’s marriage bond, which was cosigned by Alford Bird, we know that Harriet was a resident of Lawrence County, which was formed in 1817 from parts of Hickman County and Giles County.

Logically, it stands to reason that Harriet’s parents were also residents of Lawrence County. So I’ve begun a systematic examination of the Pearces and Pierces who appear in the 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840 censuses in the counties of Lawrence, Giles and Hickman. And, I’ve narrowed down the candidates for Harriet’s father to Spencer Pearce, Daniel Pearce, Asa Pearce, Robert Pearce and Joseph Pearce.

One of these men could be Harriet’s father. Or none of them. It could be a long summer.

Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relationship: 3rd great grandmother
Common ancestors: ???