Thomas Pierson1

M, (1653 - 29 November 1722)

Mother*Susanna (?)1 (c 1638 - bt 1676 - 1682)
Parent(?) Pierson1
Thomas Pierson|b. 1653\nd. 29 Nov 1722|p2611.htm||||Susanna (?)|b. c 1638\nd. bt 1676 - 1682|p2615.htm|||||||||||||

Charts Pedigree for Stanley Russell McKinney
Relationship 9th great-grandfather of James Jay McKinney.
Last Edited 7 Jan 2006
Reference MMMMFFMMFMMFC
Researcher 0
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Note According to an old document:
'Bristol the 24th of 8th 1675
To all people to whome this presents shall com this I signifie and certyfie: that the: bearer hereof: Tho. Peirson: hath served me the full terme of seven years according to his Indenture recorded in the ___ of this ___ in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year above written.
(Signed) Joseph Kippin'
That which follows is in the neat handwriting of Thomas himself:
'On ye 12th day of ye 8th month in ye yeare 1675 I had served my Apprenticeship on ye 2d day of ye 12th month in ye yeare aforesd I went from Bristol for London on ye 14th day of ye 7th month in ye yeare 1676 I sailed from the Downes intending for Maryland in company with Wm Dixon on ye 9th day of the 9th month in ye year 1676 1 arrived in Great Wicka Comma Coe River in ye ship called the Joseph and Benjamin Mathew Pain Commander of ye same/T:P on ye 14th day of ye 12th month in ye yeare 1681/2 I sailed from without ye capes of Cheseopeak Bay in Maryland for England in the ship called the Comfort of Bristol, Thomas Whitop Master. On or about ye 20th day of March 1682 I arrived in Kingroad. On ye 25th day of July in ye yeare 1683 I set saile from Kingroad in ye Comfort, John Reed, Master, and arrived at Upland in Pennsylvania ye 28th of September 1683.'
1 
Note Thomas was deputy surveyor for William Penn from 1684 to about 1709. He helped do the first survey of what is now the northern 'arc' of Delaware. Following is the official warrant from William Penn to Isaac Taylor of Chester County, PA and Thomas Pierson of New Castle County:
'At ye request of ye inhabitants of ye county of Chester and county of New Castle that I would grant them a warrant for ye running a dividing line between the two said counties that the inhabitants of ye respective counties which are in question may know to what jurisdiction they belong. I hereby nominate appoint and authorize thou Isaac Tayler of ye county of Chester in ye province of Pennsylvania and thou Thomas Pierson of ye county of New Castle in ye territories to accompany the magistrates of each county or any three of them within ye space of forty days after ye date hereof to admeasure and survey from ye town of New Castle the distance of twelve miles on a right line by ye river Delaware upwards and from the said distance to divide between the said counties by a circular line extending according to ye Kings letters patents and deeds of enforcement from the Duke for ye same and ye said circular line to be well marked two third parts of ye semicircle and make a true return hereof into my secretary's office to remain upon record and for your so doing this shall be your warrant given under my hand and seale this 28 day of ye 8th month 1701.
(Signed) William Penn'
This document was executed on the same day as the signing of the famous Charter of Philadelphia, sometimes called the Charter of Privileges, which was law in Philadelphia until the Revolution. The Charter says that four persons from each county may be elected to the Provincial Assembly. However, at that time there was no clear boundary between Chester and New Castle Counties. So it was necessary to know the exact boundary, so the people could know 'to which jurisdiction they belong.' So in effect, Thomas was helping to carry out the historic Charter of Philadelphia. In fact, by 1704 the 'Lower Counties' or the 'Territories' formed their own legislature, so that 'county' boundary became even more important. Eventually it became a state boundary.

Much has been written about the Taylor-Pierson survey. It was imperfect, but it held for almost 200 years before it was re-surveyed, and a few adjustments were made.
Pierson and Taylor finished the survey on the 4th day of the 10th month, 1701. There were five witnesses, including Cornelius Empson and Caleb Pusey. There is a sign where the survey began in New Castle (near the 'horse dyke'). The sign reads 'surveyed by Empson and Pusey.' These were witnesses, not the surveyors. The original document is signed by Pierson and Taylor and then the witness declaration signed by Empson and Pusey. There is an old letter that strongly implies Thomas could not stand Cornelius Empson.1 
Document* 

Document(s):

  • Pierson Documents and E-mails. E-mails about the two Thomas Pierson's in Chestor County, description of Thomas's surveying activities for William Penn, Listing of his estate, Listing of his and George Maris's belonging on the ship over to America, information about his apprentiship. Information mainly regarding Thomas Pierson but does include listing of George Maris's belonging on the ship over to America.

, Witness=Susanna Pierson 
Note* Thomas served his apprenticeship as a surveyor under J. S. Kippin in Bristol, England in 1675 and journeyed to London late that year. In September he sailed for Maryland on the ship, Joseph & Benjamin, in company with William Dixon. In April, 1681, he returned to Bristol aboard the ship, Comfort, arriving 20 May 1681. On 25 Jul 1683 he sailed for New Castle County, DE, aboard the ship, Comfort, arriving 28 Sep 1683.1 
Birth*1653 Bristol, England1,2 
Occupation*1668 Bristol, England3 
Immigration*1682/83 England, Thomas was a young unmarried man when he came over and he went back to England in 1682-83. When he said he arrived 'in Upland,' he meant New Castle. The luggage listed for Thomas on the Comfort is: '5 doz. wool stockings; 6 cwt. wrought iron; 28 Ibs. brass manufactured; 14 Ibs. wrought pewter; 40 yds. frieze; 12 Ibs. serges; 50 Ibs. shoes; 1/2 chest window glass; cwt. cheese; 5 pcs. English fustian; 3 parcels wares value 3 pounds 1 s. 5d.'1,2 
Marriage*October 1686 New Castle, PA, Principal=Rachel Sharples1 
Marriage*1 March 1690 New Castle, DE, Principal=Rose Dixon1 
Death*29 November 1722 East Caln, PA1,2 

Family 1

Rachel Sharples
Marriage*October 1686 New Castle, PA, Principal=Rachel Sharples1 

Family 2

Rose Dixon
Marriage*1 March 1690 New Castle, DE, Principal=Rose Dixon1 
Children

Citations

  1. [S80] Dean Leornard, "Leonard GEDCOM," e-mail message from unknown author e-mail (unknown address) to unknown recipient, April 1999.
  2. [S1] Louise Horton, Genealogy of the Wheeler - Millikan and Allied Families (n.p.: n.pub., 1970).
  3. [S70] E-mail: From Dan McEver <e-mail address> on 6 Mar 1997.