Sunday, October 26, 2014

Sunday's Stories, 52 Ancestor Weeks, Week # 43, Francis Columbus Pierce

Copyright 2014, CABS for Reflections From the Fence


This is week 43 of my participation Amy Johnson Crow's, once a week challenge to blog about one ancestor a week, tell their story, biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on that one ancestor. More about the challenge can be found at her Blog, No Story Too Small.

Francis Columbus Pierce was born January 28, 1852 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia to Norfleet Pierce and his wife Marcilla Butler Pierce.

On Apr 1, 1873 at Isle of Wight County Virginia Francis took as his bride Sarah (Sallie) Ann Darden Eley.

Sallie brought two daughters to the marriage, Lorena and Laverta.

Frank (Francis or Franklin) and Sallie had 3 daughters:

Ella M. Pierce  (There are many outstanding questions on this child.  Needs further research.)
Annie Nora Pierce
Franklin Pierce

Francis appeared on the 1880 US Census of Isle of Wight County, Virginia as follows: Francis C. Pierce, age 27, farmer, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia; Sally A., age 31, wife, keeping house, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia; Ella M., daughter, age 5, born Virginia; Lorena Eley, age 14,  step-daughter, at school, born Virginia; and Leverta, age 8, step-daughter, at school, born Virginia.

Frank is enumerated on the 1900 US Census of Berkley, Washington Township, Norfolk County, Virginia, as follows: Pierce, Frank, born Jan. 1856, age 46, married 25 years, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia, sawmill watchman; Sallie, wife, born March 1848, age 52, married 25 years, 7 children, number that survive is either 8, which makes little sense, or 3, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia; Franklin, daughter, born December 1884, age 15, born Virginia, attending school.

Franklin is found on the 1910 U. S. census of Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia:  Franklin Pierce, age 59, married 37 years, born Virginia, parents both born Virginia, policeman for the city; Sallie A., wife, age 63, married 37 years, 4 children, 3 of whom survive, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia.  There are 3 others enumerated in the household,  Miles Smithson (??), age 27, married for less than a year, listed as a boarder, born North Carolina, both parents born North Carolina, painter for the US Navy yard.  The others are grandchildren, Elnora (who is married to Miles), age 15, married for less than a year, born Virginia and a grandson, Franklin Roberts, age 11, born Virginia, both parents born Virginia.

Frank C Pierce, is enumerated on the 1920 U.S. Census, age 67, born about 1853, widowed, born in Virginia, lives in Norfolk Washington Ward, Norfolk (Independent City), Virginia on Liberty Street in the household of his cousin, Stephen Butler.  His occupation is listed as a policeman.

His obituary was published in the Monday, August 30, 1920 issue of the Virginian-Pilot and Norfolk Landmark, Norfolk, Virginia.  There was also a death notice published the same day, same page:
      "Deaths
      Pierce - - Francis Columbus, at the home of S. C. Butler, 617 East Liberby street, Sunday evening, August 28, 1920, at 9:50 o'clock, son of the late Norfleet and Mrs. Marcella Butler Pierce, of Isle of Wight county; age 68 years and 7 months.
     The funeral arrangements will be announced later."

AND

     "Francis C. Pierce
     Francic Columbus Pierce, 68 years old, a member of the police department of the city about fifteen years, and one of the best-known citizens on this side of the river, died last evening at 9:50 o'clock at the home of his relative, S. C. Butler, 617 Liberty street, after an illness of one week.
     He was a son of the late Norfleet and Mrs. Marcella Butler Pierce, of Isle of Wight County, but had been a resident of Berkley more than thirty years.
     He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Robert Beale, of South Norfolk; five children [my note/question:  shouldn't this read grandchildren?], and a brother, S. W. Pierce, of the city health department.  The funeral arrangements will be announced later."


Frank is buried at Magnolia Cemetery, Norfolk, Virginia.  I maintain his Find A Grave memorial.  His grave is not marked by a monument.

Wish list for Frank:  Photo. Time for some further research and review of possible military service.  Also see below - -



*One reason I am writing about Frank today is that just this evening I was contacted by another researcher, Connie, who has information about Frank and Sallie's daughter Annie Nora.  Annie Nora has been very difficult to search, so I am thrilled with this new contact. Connie and I are not cousins technically. I am looking forward to working with her and filling in a few holes on Franks and Sallie's descendants.

** Additional source data can be obtained by contacting me, see the right hand column for a yahoo email address.

*** 52 Ancestors Weeks Button courtesy of Amy Johnson Crow.

**** I use many resources to research, FamilySearch.org is a free site.  Ancestry.com is a pay site for which I pay, no discounts, etc.  Fold3, is another site I subscribe to and pay for. None of these sites have asked me to review them, or use them.  See my Disclaimers page for further details.

.

No comments: