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Note: t 1766, and his brother was born in 1764. A John Pearse was born in Minisink, Orange Co. in 1787 and he married one of the Oldfield daughters born about then also in Minisink. I have wondered if he was an early son of William Willis Pearce, not listed in family records. He died in Hamilton Co., OH, where William Willis Pearce, Sr. migrated. He may have sold land in Decatur Co., IN in 1847. William Willis' brother, Jonathan wa sborn in 1864 and died 6 Aug. 1837 in Jerusalem, Yates Co., NY. They resided on Mt. Pochuck, near Vernon, Sussex Co., NJ in 1790s, a Jonathan Pearce evidently fought at Battle of Minisink about 1779, but wondering if that name is correct, might be John or William Pearce. They they may have lived in southwest Orange Co., NY near Amity before living with George Oldfield family on Mt. Pochuck. Probably were Long Island sufferers. Father, who reportedly was named William Pearce, but that is not certain, may have had middle name Ellis, may have been widowed and left sons behind as he moved to Newton, NJ or elsewhere. This is as far back as this Pearce line has been traced. William Willis Pearce, Sr. is listed on two censuses in Hamilton Co., OH in 1820, Sycamore Twp. and Columbia Twp. I have chosen to go with the one for Madisonville, Columbia Twp., Hamilton Co. as it makes more sense, given how grandchildren indicated their places of birth in the area and information as to their parents. I think they may have been gravitating to land owned by CT veterans, esp. perhaps by Michael Pearce of Butler Co., OH (formerly Scotch Plains, Essex Co., NJ) who, it appears likely, was a relative and may have allowed relatives to reside/lease farmland from him before they determined where they would settle. It also appears William Willis Pearce, Sr. was listed as being in commerce on the 1820 Hamilton Co., OH USFC, but it has not been determined what was his activity. He may have kept a tavern in Ontario Co., NY or a post office. Additionally, Josiah5 Jacobus, son of Garret4 Jacobus, first cousin to Sarah Jacobus Pearce, made an indenture on 23 May 1820 for 54 1/2 acres of land in Lot 7, T8R1 of Ontario County. Willis Pearce, Sr.'s land was 53 acres in the sw/4 of Lot 7, T8R1. If Josiah Jacobus (Willis' daughter-in-law's cousin) indentured Willis' land, it may suggest that Willis departed about May-June 1820, which was census taking time. It may explain why he may have traveled to Sycamore Twp., Hamilton Co., OH, and his house counted there, then he migrated on to Columbia Twp. Some of his children remained in OH, though he and others reportedly moved on to Decatur Co., IN where his oldest son entered land in late 1820. It has not been determined whether Josiah Jacobus indentured Willis Pearce's land or that it was specifically located in the sw/4 of Lot 7.
Note: Date of birth unknown, but he was not 45 in 1810, so he was born after 1765; my guess is abou
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