George Pearse

Awarded part of the compensation for Cashoo, Fellowship and Content Hall in St Elizabeth Jamaica as mortgagee, estates tied to the family of William Kellett [or Kellitt] Hewitt, which in turn had links to Exeter.  

1. Circumstantial evidence suggests this must be the George Pearse of Bradninch Devon, who died 13/02/1861 at Bradninch, will proved 31/05/1861, leaving effects of £9000. This George Pearse appears in the 1851 census aged 52, JP and landed proprietor, born Tiverton, with his wife, Raby W. Pearse aged 44 born St Elizabeth Jamaica. In 1841 he was described as  a solicitor.

2. George Pearse is identified as son of Rear Admiral Thomas Pearse and [Elizabeth] Sainthill; Raby Williams is identified as the daughter of Kellett Hewitt.

3. When George Pearse Mayor of Bradninch was questioned by the Select Committee on Muncipal Corporations, on 21/03/1833, he said he had resided at Bradninch almost constantly for the past 20 years.  

4. George Pearse's Educational Foundation appears still extant although inactive.

T71/870 St Elizabeth nos. 7, 1022 and 1024. T71/1204 George Pearse of England Esq. = mortgagee: original claim derived from claim against William Killick [sic] Hewitt, son-in-law of Thomas Dunkley, and Deborah his wife.

1. National Probate Calendar 1861; 1841 and 1851 censuses online; FreeUKGen, England and Wales Free BMD Database, Deaths, 1837-1983 [database online] shows the death of Raby Williams Pearse, Q1 1857 Tiverton Devonshire.

2. Charles Worthy, Devonshire parishes: the antiquities, heraldry and family history of twenty-four parishes in the archdeaconry of Totnes, (Exeter, 1889), Vol. II, p. 292. The text online appears to give her name as Rahy.

3. Report from the Select Committe on Municipal Corporations p. 189.

4. TNA, Elementary Education Endowment Files 1853-1945 ED 49/339; Charity no. 306850.