Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Aaron Pearce was transported on the Admiral Gambier And Friends, departing 31st Mar 1811 and arriving 29th Sep 1811 with 300 passengers.
Admiral Gambier And Friends (generic)References
| Primary Source | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 87, Class and Piece Number HO11/2, Page Number 27 (15) |
| Source Description | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Pro |
| Original Source | Great Britain. Home Office |
| Compiled By | State Library of Queensland |
| Database Source | British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database |
Claims
"Aaron is my G.G.G.Grandfather"
Photos
No photos have been added for Aaron Pearce.
Convict Notes
Colonial Secretary Index. PEARCE, Aaron. Per "Admiral Gambier", 1811; sawyer 1819 Dec Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3198; 4/1859 p.83) 1822 Feb 16 Of Cockle Bay. On list of persons receiving an assigned convict (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D p.43)
At Aylesbury Assizes, ... Aaron Pearce, for sheep-stealing ; ... were capitally convicted and received sentence of death. Hayes, Butler, and Chamberlain were left for execution. Bury and Norwich Post, 21 March 1810. Woolwich hulks- Prudentia/Retribution and Justitia. Page 38/50 Received the 2nd May 1810. Aaron Pearse, age 22, Cap Respite, Tried Aylesbury, 3 Mar 1810. NSW Life. Transported 27 Feb 1811.
NOTICE is hereby given, that John Holland, (commonly called John Pearce,) and John Clarke, both of South Colah, in the county of Cumberland, in the territory of New South Wales, sawyers, the executors named in the last will and testament of Aaron Pearce, late of South Colah aforesaid, timber dealer, deceased, intend to apply to the honorable Supreme Court of New South Wales, at the expiration of fourteen days after the publication hereof, that probate of the said will may be granted to them.—Dated the 22nd day of December, 1849. J. L. SPENCER, Proctor for the said Executors, 220, Elizabeth-street, Sydney. NSW Govt Gazette, 25 Dec 1849.
Bury & Norwich Post, 21 March 1810, indicates that Aaron Pearce was sentenced to death for sheep stealing at Ayelsbury Assizes. Presumably, this was later commuted to transportation for 99 years.
Pearces Corner is a locality in the suburb of Wahroonga and the shire of Hornsby, at the point where Pennant Hills Road joins the Pacific Highway, and where the F3 Freeway to Newcastle commences. It is named after Aaron Pearce (1786–1849) who was transported as a convict in 1811. Most local history books use 'Pearce' or 'Pearse', while the Geographic Names Board entry refers to 'Aaron Pierce'. In 1835, Pearce began timber-getting on the corner of Pennant Hills Road and the road to Sydney (then called Lane Cove Road, now part of the Pacific Highway), with a lease of 640 acres (259 hectares) of which he later assumed ownership. He built saw-pits and planted an orchard. At the time, his slab hut was the only residential building in the area.
Census of New South Wales 1828 - Hunter's Hill: Pierce, Aaron, 41, conditional pardon, Admiral Gambier, 1811, life, Protestant, Government land, Hunters Hill. Pierce, Eleanor, 36, free by servitude, Archduke Charles, 1813, 7 years, Catholic. Pierce, Elizabeth, 15, born in the colony. Peirce, James, 12, born in the colony. Pierce, John, 9, born in the colony. Pierce, Jane, 9, born in the colony. Pierce, Mary Ann, 7, born in the colony. Pierce, Eliza, 5, born in the colony. Pierce, George, 3, born in the colony. Pierce, Louisa, 1, born in the colony. Pierce, Catherine, 1, born in the colony. ### Elizabeth and James would of course be the children of Aaron and Rose whilst the other 7 are the children of Aaron and Eleanor.
Aaron's full situation is best explained in the petition........ To His Excellency Lachlan Macquarie Esquire, Captain General and Fovernor in Chief, in and over his Britannic Majesty's Territories of New South Wales and its Dependencies - The Petition of Aaron Pearce. Most Humbly Sheweth That your petitioner came a prisoner in this colony per ship Gamber (2nd) under sentence of transportation for life. That your petitioner has worked as a sawyer in the employ of Government the whole of the period for nearly ten years to the satisfaction of the principal superintendents and --- and with an unsullied character. That your petitioner is a widower with two small children and is obliged to pay a woman to look after them being employed the whole of the day at his government work the expense of which he is unable to support. Your petitioner therefore most humbly prays Your Excellency will take into your consideration the length of his servitude, his general good character and the family he has to support and he induced to restore him to freedom of this colony, to enable him by his industry to maintain his family and his future conduct shall evince to his Excellency that his favors are not bestowed undeservedly. And your petitioner as in duty bound will every pray. Sydney December 1819 [Annotated with "recommended for ticket of leave. George Druitt"]
Sometime after his arrival in the colony, Aaron had a common law relationship with a woman named Rose. This must have commenced in about 1813 and they had 2 children; Elizabeth 1813 and James 1816. It would seem probable that this was Rose Kenny (Irish Convict, 1813, "Archduke Charles"). Rose must have died around 1819 and Aaron made a petition to the Governor in December of that year and subsequently employed Eleanor Holland (Irish Convict, 1813, "Archduke Charles") as a minder for the two young children. Eleanor and Rose would have known each other from their voyage to the colony. Aaron and Eleanor had 7 children between 1819 and 1839.