More About Rachel (Leisure) Pierce

In my previous post for a Surname Saturday , I raised some questions about Rachel (Leisure) Pierce. Since my journey to Garrard County, Kentucky, I've learned a bit more and am happy to share.

What I know about Rachel Leisure:

• Rachel Leasure married Alfred Pierce in Garrard County, Kentucky on 12 Feb 1824.[i]
• Rachel Pearce is named as daughter and heir in Joseph Lasure will written Oct 1835 and probated in July Court 1838.[ii]
• Rachael Pearce is found in the 1850 census in the 1^st division in Garrard County, Kentucky. She is listed as age 41 with $40 value of real estate. With her are most probably her children; Will H age 24, Almira J age 22, and Amanda G age 16. There is no indication of marital status but most likely Alfred died sometime after 1834 and before 1838.[iii]
• R. R. Pierce is found in the 1860 census in the Lancaster post office area, Garrard County, Kentucky. She is listed as age 50. She is living in the David Baker household. (“Mandy” aka Amanda Pearce married David Baker 21 Apr 1851 in Garrard County according to Family Search database Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979, Index; Indexing project MO1079-7; source film 183256; reference 1040 p55).[iv]
• Rachel R Pierce is found in the 1870 census in Lancaster District No. 3, Garrard County, Kentucky. She is listed as age 58 with $325 value of real estate. With her is the Benjamin Waldrige family. (Almira Jane Pearce married Benjamin Worlledge [sic] 15 Oct 1857 in Garrard County according to Family Search database Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979, Index; Indexing project M01079-9; source film 183256; reference V7 p259.).[v]
• Rachael Pearce is found in the 1880 census in Brandy Springs Precinct #1, Garrard County, Kentucky. She is listed as age 75, living alone.[vi]

Based on the ages listed in the census records Rachel was born between 1805 and 1812. Because of the age of her father and probable age of her mother, Rachel, I’m inclined to believe the earlier dates. But then again, Rachel is listed in all the census records as being born in Kentucky. If that is true, then the 1809-1812 dates are more likely as one of her brothers was married in Virginia in the 1804 which places the family still in Virginia at that time and the first records for Joseph in Garrard County is the 1810 census.

I haven’t found a death record for Rachel yet but at least I know she died after 1880.

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[i] Marriage License Register, Alfred Pierce and Rachel Leisure, Box 6, bond 1567; Bond and license issued 12 Feb 1824

[ii] Garrard County, KY Will book 1, #391. “Item, at the death of myself and wife [Elizabeth], I give and bequeath my land on which I now live to my daughter, Rachel Pearce, to her own proper use and behold forever.”

[iii] 1850 U.S. census, Garrard County, Kentucky, population schedule, 1^st District, page 252A, dwelling 755, family 796, Rachael Pearce household; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Nov 2012); from National Archives microfilm M432, roll 201.

[iv] 1860 U.S. census, Garrard County, Kentucky, population schedule, , page 44, dwelling 291, family 285, David Baker household; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Nov 2012); from National Archives microfilm M653, roll 368.

[v] 1870 U.S. census, Garrard County, Kentucky, population schedule, Lancaster District No. 3, page 419, dwelling 278, family 277, Rachel R Pierce household; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Nov 2012); from National Archives microfilm M593, roll 463.

[vi] 1880 U.S. census, Garrard County, Kentucky, population schedule, Brandy Springs Precinct #1, ED 45, stamped page 551, dwelling 1, family 1, Rachael Pearce household; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Nov 2012); from National Archives microfilm T9, roll 415.

Garrard County Kentucky - 1st Install

Well, I’m back from our quick trip to Garrard County, Kentucky where our Leisure family spent many years. I gleaned some new and interesting information as well as confirming other data while searching the files and records found in the local library, the historical society, and the courthouse in Lancaster. There is too much to tell about in one post so as I organize and review everything, I try to pass along the most interesting (to me) and pertinent data to you in small bits.

We spent many hours in the land records. My goal was to find Joseph’s deeds and I think I did find his first purchase; at least it is the oldest deed recorded in Garrard County for him. Because the land in Kentucky was recorded by metes and bounds it’s a bit difficult (again for me) to determine exactly where things are located. To give you an idea, the land description as best I can decipher goes like this:

Garrard County Deed Book G, pages 124, 125
Tyrus Harris to Joseph Leasure for $225.00 – 46 ½ acres
Land Description:
…on the waters of Sugar Creek…bounded as follows {to wit}
Beginning at a white oak and dogwood on Adams line thence N 90 poles to a buckeye and Ironwood on a branch thence up the same with it meander N80 ^o East 16 poles, S60 ^o East 55 poles, South 50 ^o East 26 poles, South 87 ^o East 34 to two white walnuts at the mouth of a small branch thence up the same S17 ^o East 18 poles to a buckeye and white walnut on said branch thence division line made by T Harris and Mr. Adams, S62 ^o W36 poles to a hickory thence said line S70 ^o W47 poles to a buck thence W42 poles to the Beginning.

As far as I can tell that looks something like this:

Our Nathan also purchased land which I’ll share with you another time.

Another interesting find was the 2^nd marriage of Elizabeth Montgomery who was our Joseph’s second wife and how she protected her inheritance from her new husband. Joseph died in 1838 and his will was very specific; Elizabeth remarried in 1842 but not before she put all the land and personal property in trust!

More later, Becky 

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.

Looking to Kentucky

It’s been awhile since I last posted so I thought I should let everyone know what’s been going on. I am still working on the manuscript for my Leisure Line book although not a diligently as I should. It seems every time I determine not to do anymore research and just publish what I have something grabs my attention and I’m off and running again.

I decided to begin the Leisure story with Joseph (1733-1838). He is purported to have married Rachel Ryan. Their children were all born between 1771 and 1791 either in Maryland or Virginia but by the late 1790s or early 1800s the family had moved to Garrard County, Kentucky. Realizing I know next to nothing about their lives in Kentucky, I’ve been doing some online digging but so much information is not yet online.

Because I want to learn whatever I can about the family in Kentucky and about what their lives would have been like while they were there, Jim and I are taking a quick research trip in early October. I’m trying to get all my homework done so our time there will be efficiently spent.

Lancaster is the county seat for Garrard and the public library website has a great list of genealogy related holdings. I’m sure they have more than what is posted but having this list ahead of time allows me to set up a research plan. Also in Lancaster is the Garrard County Historical Society which has records too though they are not posted. However even without records, the Historical Society will provide the background for how the family lived.

-- As an aside, the secretary at the Historical Society is related by marriage. My 1^st cousins 5x removed, Alexander & Joseph Leasure, married granddaughters of her ggg-grandfather, Timothy Logan.
Small world. J 

Of course, I’m hoping my visits to the library and Historical Society will lead me to records at the courthouse, as well as cemeteries. I would be so thrilled if I could find the burial site for Joseph and Rachel but I’m trying not to get me hopes up too high.

I’ll report on the trip when I get back. 

Until then, Becky

Check out my other blog to learn the little I know about Lucinda and Dorinda Fresh. http://bit.ly/R0L2Gf
They have been evading me for years and any help would be appreciated.

Leisure, Stewart, Ging Gathering ca. 1930

I promised awhile back to post the next in a series of photos I have of the Leisure, Stewart, Ging clan gathering. Finally, here it is. Sorry it's taken so long.

Just click on the link to see the photo.

Leisure Reunion 2012 Announced

“The Family is a link to our past…a bridge to our future”  --  Alex Haley

 

       The 91st Leisure Reunion will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2012

near Fairmount Indiana at 12:00 noon, EDT.  A delicious meal will be fully catered.  Reservations are required at $12 per adult and $5 for each child 9 years old and younger.  

Leisure/Leasure/Laysure etc.: all invited.

For more information and a reservation application, contact Jane at Janepear@aol.com