Saturday, October 6, 2012

Surname Saturday - Leisure/Leasure Pierce/Pearce

I'm suppose to be on my way home from Kentucky today but the trip had to be postponed to the end of the month.To make the best of things I'm doing as much upfront work as possible. Part of that work is going through every piece of paper accumulated in my Leisure and Kentucky binders and folders over the years and developing questions needing answers. Below you'll find one of my problem relatives:
Rachel Leisure/Leasure, daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Ryan) Leasure, was born about 1791 probably in Virginia. She married Alfred Pierce in Garrard County, Kentucky on 12 Feb 1824. [Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979, Index (FamilySearch), www.familysearch.org, Digital Batch M01079-3; Source Film number 183256; reference. Alfred Pierce & Rachel Leasure, Garrard County, Kentucky; 1824.]


Though Joseph and Rachel had eight children, when Joseph’s will was probated in July of 1838, Rachel Pearce is the only child mentioned:
Garrard County, KY Will book 1, #391, October 16, 1835, Joseph Leasure will:
 In the name of God, Amen. I, Joseph Leasure of the County of Garrard and State of Kentucky, being weak and feeble in body, but of sound mind and memory, and being as he conceives and believes, well calculated to dispose of the worldly goods it hath pleased God to help me with, do make and ordain this, my last will and testament, as follows--an first with a grateful heart for the many mercies I have enjoyed, I commend my immortal part to God, my Saviour, humbly imploring his Holyness for protection and my body to the dust from whence it originated, by the Almighty power of God, then to rest in hope and as the worldly goods with which I am blessed, dispose of it as follows: My will is at first that all my just debts, if I owe any, be speedily and promptly paid, after which the whole of my Estate, both real and personal, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth Leasure, during her natural life. Item, at the death of myself and wife, I give and bequeath my land on which I now live to my daughter, Rachel Pearce, to her own proper use and behold forever. Item, my Negro, John, at the death of myself and wife I hereby emancipate and set free. Item, all the rest of estate, both real and personal, except what I have herein given to my daughter aforesaid, at the death of myself and wife as aforesaid, my will and desires is shall be divided into two parts, one merely I give to my daughter, Rachel Pearce and the balance to the legal heirs of my said wife, Elizabeth, and hereby lastly, I ordain and appoint my said beloved Elizabeth my Executrix and my brother William Leasure, Executor, of this, my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand and seal this 6th day of October in the year of our Lord 1835.
                       John H. Eason
Garrard County, KY

I certify that the foregoing last will and testament of Joseph Leasure, dec'd.. was produced to Court at the July County Court 1838, and having to be such by the oaths of Alex A. Jennings and John H. Eason subpoenaing thereto, and approved and ordered to be recorded whereupon the same is truly admitted to record. Alex R. McKee, Clerk.
Witnesses--Alex A. Jennings                                                               Jose. X Leasure, his mark *(seal)*

Probably Joseph had given the other children what he deemed their portion of his estate prior to his death. Many of them had moved from Kentucky before he wrote his will in 1835. Also, the “brother” William appointed as executor is more likely Joseph’s son.

  • Does anyone have any other information regarding Alfred Pierce/Pearce?
  • Did he died before 1835? 
  • Did he and Rachel have any children? 
  • Does anyone have Rachel’s death date?


I’m planning to look into Alfred and Rachel when I go to Garrard County at the end of the month, (Hope reigns eternal), but if someone could save me that research time I’d be grateful.