This photo of a miniature portrait is the earliest image of my Pearce family I have found to date.

It was painted by James Peale of Philadelphia, circa 1800, and is inscribed: Gen’l Cromwell Pearce.

This particular Cromwell Pearce was a grandson of Edward Pearce and Frances Brassington who immigrated from Northern Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1837. He was the son of Cromwell Pearce, Sr. and the brother of my ancestor, Richard Pearce.

He is better known as Colonel Cromwell Pearce (1772 – 1852), noted for his service during the War of 1812. I don’t believe he was ever actually a General, except perhaps as an honorary title.

In 1976, the Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted a bicentennial exhibition called Philadelphia: Three Centuries of American Art. At that time, the Pearce miniature was loaned to the museum from a private collection, and I’m guessing it is still privately owned.

I’m sure that this black & white photo from the exhibition catalog does not do justice to the original watercolor painted on ivory that is probably colorful and bright.

These miniature portraits were quite popular in the days before photography. You can’t fit most paintings in your pocket, but a painting that only measures about 1.5 x 1.25 inches and is mounted in a pendant is something you could always keep close.

Updates to the Kersey family, descendants of Samuel Kersey and Hannah R. Pearce, have recently been posted.

An interesting discovery was made: a grandson of this couple, George Russell Kersey (1866-1916), was considered to be a giant. Reports of his actual height vary, but it appears he was at least 7 feet tall – something that was quite rare 140 years ago.

According to one source, both his mother and father were over 6 feet, and all of his brothers and sisters were quite tall as well. But it was George who was celebrated as Pennsylvania’s Giant. He served as the drum major in the Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania marching band, and for a time he was an attraction in Adam Forepaugh’s Circus. Ultimately he settled down into the same profession as his father – he became a dentist.

Pierce sisters, Sarah Eliza Palmateer and Margaret Hannah Barger

Cousin Berniece in Oregon has been kind enough to contribute a second batch of scans from her grandmother’s photo album / scrapbook.

These are quite remarkable and historically significant images that document the Franklin and Matilda (Hollenbeck) Pierce family, pioneers of the Portland area of Oregon.

An index to all of Berniece’s contributions is here.

???

Berniece also sent along an Unknown – an unidentified photograph from the photo album kept by Minnie Palmateer Ely. There is some speculation he might be David Hollenbeck, brother of Matilda. The only thing certain about this circa 1880-1890s era cabinet photo is that it was taken in Peoria, Illinois.