Daniel Pearce, my 4th great grandfather, is a “new” old ancestor. He is the recently-discovered father of the illusive Matilda Jane Goodger who stymied me for two years. Daniel shows up frequently in county court records in Maury and Lawrence in Tennessee and Itawamba and Prentiss in Mississippi. But I wasn’t expecting to find him in records in Williamson County, Tennessee (which is a bit further north) when I was perusing criminal cases of said county on microfilm.
Something tells me if he could do it over again, Daniel might wish he’d not been found in Williamson County either.
In February of 1826, Daniel was indicted in Williamson for passing counterfeit bank bills to the Nashville Bridge Company. His accomplice, Joshua Sturman, was indicted for forgery. It didn’t end well for either of them. Daniel was convicted a year later; Joshua the following August. For his crimes Daniel received 20 lashes at the whipping post (ouch!), time in jail and a fine of $49. He also had to pay court costs which he couldn’t as a twenty-something-year-old young man with a growing family.
In those days, courts,were not in session as frequently as they are now – especially in pioneer communities. Williamson had a February session and an August (later July) session. Because Daniel was indicted he was thrown in jail where he would have waited six months had it not been for three men who came to his rescue in May – each putting up $250 for his release on recognizance. Unfortunately, Daniel continued to make bad choices and was a “no-show” at the next term.
As a result, the bond money of good Samaritans George G. Crunk, Isaac Hobbs and Ambrose Pearce (!!!) was temporarily forfeited. I am sorry for them but elated for me because here are THREE NEW NAMES associated with Daniel. $250 was a lot of money in 1826 and folks just didn’t throw it around recklessly. They must have known him.
I have since learned that Isaac Hobbs and Ambrose Pearce, who was recorded as “Abner” in a later filing, were living in nearby Lincoln County, Tennessee and that Isaac had married a woman named Anna Pearce!!! She is likely Daniel’s sister and Isaac his brother-in-law. But who is Ambrose?? Father? Brother? Uncle? Cousin? In the 1820 census, Ambrose is old enough to be Daniel’s father. But then who is Robert? Did I vote for Robert irresponsibly? It happens.
As for Daniel and his crime and punishment: his pain is my genealogical gain.
Kenfolk: Trantham
Relationship: 4th great grandfather
Common ancestors: I am narrowing the playing field on the Pearces
References:
Williamson County, Tennessee, Circuit Court Minutes, Civil and Criminal Roll #27, Volume: 5-8, Aug 1825-Jul 1837. Microfilm, personal collection.