Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birth11 May 1775, BAL Co, MD
Memo(tombstone)
Memo(tombstone)
BurialSparks Graveyard, Monkton, MD
Father4G GF William Pearce (1744-1806)
Mother4G GM Elizabeth Putnam (1748-1844)
Spouses
Birth20 July 1781, Mt Joy, MD
Memo(tombstone)
Death25 March 1858
Memo(tombstone)
BurialSparks Graveyard, Monkton, MD
Father4G/5G GF Josiah Sparks Jr. (1752-1846)
Mother4G/5G GM Rachel Collett (1748-1818)
ChildrenJosiah Sparks (1818-1886)
Parent-Proof notes for 3G GF William Pearce
Several Internet Family Trees say that William Pearce (1775-1835) who married Ruth Sparks was the son of William Pearce (1738-1800) and Elizabeth Putnam. The Pearce tree on “First Families” agrees as does Becky Curry. But none of these sources states the evidence for this and truthfully I have yet to find the rock solid proof I like to have.
It seems proven that we are descended from Josiah Sparks Pearce and that he was the son of William Pearce (who died in 1835) and Ruth Sparks. But tracing backwards from that William Pearce gets quite confusing.
But I created my version of the Pearce tree based largely on published genealogies found on the Internet or in genealogical libraries I have visited. All of these are similar to the work I am doing and the things I have written. They are only as good as the care taken by the researcher to get things right. Many things of this type contain significant errors. Nonetheless, the different Pearce sources I have used seem reasonably well researched and while I haven’t been able to verify all of the dates and relationships on my own, neither have I found anything that would call this Pearce family tree into question.
Moreover, I then have built a logical analysis that attempts to tie each successive William Pearce to his father, taking account of everything I know, and paying special attention when one of them relocated that I have not made the rookie mistake of just assuming he was the known man of his name from a different place. Nothing I found while constructing my analysis seems to contradict in any way the idea that we descend from five successive Williams.
It seems proven that we are descended from Josiah Sparks Pearce and that he was the son of William Pearce (who died in 1835) and Ruth Sparks. But tracing backwards from that William Pearce gets quite confusing.
But I created my version of the Pearce tree based largely on published genealogies found on the Internet or in genealogical libraries I have visited. All of these are similar to the work I am doing and the things I have written. They are only as good as the care taken by the researcher to get things right. Many things of this type contain significant errors. Nonetheless, the different Pearce sources I have used seem reasonably well researched and while I haven’t been able to verify all of the dates and relationships on my own, neither have I found anything that would call this Pearce family tree into question.
Moreover, I then have built a logical analysis that attempts to tie each successive William Pearce to his father, taking account of everything I know, and paying special attention when one of them relocated that I have not made the rookie mistake of just assuming he was the known man of his name from a different place. Nothing I found while constructing my analysis seems to contradict in any way the idea that we descend from five successive Williams.
Census History notes for 3G GF William Pearce
1800. The Census for the portion of Baltimore County not in the City of Baltimore was lost.
1810. William Pearce of Mine Run Hundred BAL is 26-44 (so it must be this William, 35). His wife is the same age range and he has three sons under 10.
1820. William Pearce of ED 5 BAL is 26-44 and the household includes additional adults and some children some of whom may not be his, but certainly Josiah age 2 is among them. Moses and Stephen Collett are neighbors.
1830. Four men named William Pearce live in Election District 5. One is 15-20, two are 20-30 and one is 50-60 -- and he’s our man. Not only is he the right age but so is his wife and they have a son the right age to be Josiah Sparks. A neighbor is Moses Collett age 70-80, he is not our ancestor Moses but must be of that family.
1810. William Pearce of Mine Run Hundred BAL is 26-44 (so it must be this William, 35). His wife is the same age range and he has three sons under 10.
1820. William Pearce of ED 5 BAL is 26-44 and the household includes additional adults and some children some of whom may not be his, but certainly Josiah age 2 is among them. Moses and Stephen Collett are neighbors.
1830. Four men named William Pearce live in Election District 5. One is 15-20, two are 20-30 and one is 50-60 -- and he’s our man. Not only is he the right age but so is his wife and they have a son the right age to be Josiah Sparks. A neighbor is Moses Collett age 70-80, he is not our ancestor Moses but must be of that family.
Discrepant Facts notes for 3G GF William Pearce
An official listing of marriage records for Baltimore County documents the 5 Dec 1816 marriage of Ruth Sparks and Josiah Pearce. I assume this is a mistaken entry and that someone substituted the name of Ruth’s father, Josiah, in place of her husband’s first name, William. I believe it is the marriage date of William Pearce and Ruth Sparks.
Children Names notes for 3G GF William Pearce
The will of William Pearce of Baltimore Co was written 2 Jul 1835 and proved 26 Sep 1835. He mentioned wife Ruth and eight children: David, William, Thomas, Rachel, Elizabeth, Joshua Frances, Josiah Sparks and Mary. His daughters were all single.
Parent-Proof notes for Ruth (Spouse 1)
Ruthy Pearce was named in her father’s 1843 will. And she named a son Josiah Sparks Pearce.
Census History notes for Ruth (Spouse 1)
She can be accounted for with her father in 1790 and 1810 (1800 is lost) and her husband in 1820 and 1830.
1840. Ruth Pearce lives in District 4, BAL Co. The ages are a little off but her reported age of 60-70 is close (59) and Josiah who is 22 may have been reported as 15-20.
1850. Ruth is the head of household, Josiah, farmer, lives wth her and several of his siblings.
1840. Ruth Pearce lives in District 4, BAL Co. The ages are a little off but her reported age of 60-70 is close (59) and Josiah who is 22 may have been reported as 15-20.
1850. Ruth is the head of household, Josiah, farmer, lives wth her and several of his siblings.
Research notes for Ruth (Spouse 1)
The date of this marriage is documented in the Baltimore County marriages film of LDS, but the names are given as Josiah Pearce and Ruth Sparks. I am assuming this is a typo introduced because the source knew Ruth's father was Josiah and just got the names scrambled in his submission
The Internet tree of James Bowling gives the exact birth date and place for Ruth, it may or not be right. From her tombstone, we know she was 77 when she died.
The Internet tree of James Bowling gives the exact birth date and place for Ruth, it may or not be right. From her tombstone, we know she was 77 when she died.
My Comments notes for Ruth (Spouse 1)
The Sparks Family Association cites her tombstone: ”In memory of Ruth Pearce wife of William, departed 28 Mar 1858, age 77.” Their extensive research is also the proof that she was the daughter of Josias and wife of William Pearce, with whom she is buried in the Sparks-Carlin family graveyard. The will of Josias Sparks named daughters Elizabeth Carlin and Ruthy Pearce.