Finding Doctor Buck Outlaw Pearce
Posted Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 9:40 pmOn Monday, I visited Joe Pearce in Louisburg, North Carolina, to learn more about the Pearce family. He has done considerable research on the Pearce line and was more than eager to share.
Our common ancestors are John Pearce (b 1776, d 1831) and Rebecca Allen (b 1764, d 1869). He’s from son Archibald Washington Pearce Sr. (b 1803, d 1878) and I’m from son Plummer Day Pearce (b 1811, d 1856).
Joe is one of those individuals who can easily memorize and recite hundreds of names and dates. He also has a wealth of historical knowledge and stories, making it difficult for me to keep up. Prepared, Joe took me on field trips to visit nearby Leonard, Gill, and Pearce cemeteries.
Leonard Family Cemetery
Our first stop was to the Leonard Family Cemetery that housed Archibald Columbus Leonard (b 1844, d 1920) and Pattie Sturdivant (b 1862, d 1942), among others. There was a hand drawn map of the cemetery that featured the name Becky Leonard and a blank grave. Joe believes Beck Leonard might be Rebecca Allen (b 1764, d 1869) and the blank grave is John Pearce (b 1776, d 1831), but is uncertain.
Doctor Buck Outlaw Pearce’s Home
Next we visited the former home of Doctor Buck Outlaw Pearce (b 1850, d 1934), my great great grandfather. Abandoned long ago, the house was unsafe to enter but was neat to see.
About 150 yards into the woods we found the Pearce Family Cemetery, which featured the graves of both Doctor Buck Outlaw Pearce (b 1850, d 1934) and his wife (my great great grandmother) Carolina Virginia Gupton (b 1854, d 1935).
Gill Family Cemetery
Then we were off to visit the small Gill Family Cemetery, which featured only three graves. This graveyard featured the tomb of Elizabeth Ann Pearce (b 1832, d 1910) who is my first cousin four times removed with common ancestors John Pearce and Rebecca Allen.
Archibald Pearce Cemetery
Lastly, we visited the family cemetery for Archibald Washington Pearce Sr (b 1803, d 1878). This cemetery was located out in a field and suffered from a lot of overgrowth, making it difficult to get close enough to the headstones that mark their graves. We poked our heads through thorns and brush before giving up. I captured this photo of Joe Pearce walking back from his ancestors’ tomb, which are encased in the cluster of green foliage in the top left-hand corner.
More research
When it comes to genealogical research, it seems it will never end. Meeting Joe Pearce, however, should become a big boost in my knowledge of the Pearce line. If you are a Pearce from the North Carolina area and would like to swap information, please drop me a line. I’m also interested in learning more about Alexander, Booe, Bradley, Cameron, Lentz, Maske, and Rosser lines as well.