Peirce Family Papers, 1817-1933

Citation: Peirce Family Papers, MS143

Size: 1 Hollinger box (.33 linear feet)

Dates: 1817-1933

Access: No restrictions

Processed by: Roland Goodbody, 2021

Scope and Content: Collection of Peirce Family Papers including correspondence, legal and financial papers, a miniature broadside in opposition to the emergence of the Copperheads in Greenland, N.H., a Confederate pass for William Augustus Peirce to travel through Texas to Mexico, and a stock certificate for the Portsmouth Cattle Company.

The correspondence is primarily between Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son William Augustus Peirce studying at Harvard (64 letters). Three of William’s brothers write to him – John Peter Peirce (12 letters), Joseph Wentworth Peirce (8 letters) and Robert Cutts Peirce (8 letters) – and there are two letters from his sister Ann Wentworth Peirce and one from his sister Sarah Coffin Peirce. William A. writes one letter to his aunt, Anne Rindge Peirce Burroughs and one to his sister (presumably Ann Wentworth Peirce).

The financial and legal papers are mainly related to William A. Peirce’s investments in various enterprises, such as railroads – share certificates, promissory notes, as well as the execution of the estates of other family members.

Folder Listing

Box 1
Folder 1
Correspondence, Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son, William Augustus Peirce, fragment Oct 9, 1846; July 27, Aug 10, Sept 7, Sept 18, Sept 23, Sept. 28, Nov 4, Nov 17, Dec 7, 1853 (10 letters).

Folder 2
Correspondence, Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son, William Augustus Peirce, Jan.4, Feb. 10, Feb 24, March 2, March 9, March 16, May 8, May 18, May 20, May 25, 1854 (9 letters).

Folder 3
Correspondence, Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son, William Augustus Peirce, June 23, Aug 11, Aug 21, Sept 29, Oct 13, Nov 3, Nov 6,1854 (7 letters).

Folder 4
Correspondence, Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son, William Augustus Peirce, Jan 15, Feb 1, Feb 28, March 21, March 29, April 12, May 3, May 10, May 24, 1855 (9 letters).

Folder 5
Correspondence, Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son, William Augustus Peirce, June 8, June 20, June 29, July 27, Aug 2, Aug 22, Aug 26, Oct 18, Oct 30, 1855 (9 letters).

Folder 6
Correspondence, Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son, William Augustus Peirce, Jan 10, Feb 7, Feb 28, March 6, April 3, April 10, May 8, May 15, May 24, 1856 (9 letters).

Folder 7
Correspondence, Joshua Winslow Peirce to his son, William Augustus Peirce, June 5, June 12, July 27, Sept 5, Sept 11, Sept 13, Sept 15, Oct 9, Oct 15, Oct 16, Nov 7, Dec 14, 1856 (12 letters).

Folder 8
Correspondence, Joseph Wentworth Peirce (brother) to William Augustus Peirce (sometimes in Braunfels, TX) , Feb 2, 1854; Jan 20, 1857; Aug 15, Aug 20, Aug 25?, Aug 30, 1859; May 23, May 30, June 5, 1861 (9 letters).

Folder 9
Correspondence, John Peter Peirce (brother) to William Augustus Peirce, Feb 4, 1854; March 23, 1856; Aug 14, Aug 27, Sept 22, 1858 ; Feb 6, May 15, June 8, Aug 20, Sept 13, 1859; May 15, Nov 11, 1860 (12 letters).

Folder 10
Correspondence, Robert Cutts Peirce (brother) to William Augustus Peirce, May 9, 1852; Feb 6, Aug 2, 1858; Sept 9, Oct 9, Oct 11, Oct 14, 1859; April 20, 1860 (8 letters).

Folder 11
Correspondence, Ann Wentworth Peirce (sister) to William Augustus Peirce, July 18, 1858; Dec 30, 1860 (2 letters) and Sarah Coffin Peirce (sister) to William Augustus Peirce, Sept 1, 1854 (1 letter).

Folder 12
Correspondence, William Augustus Peirce to his aunt, Anne Rindge Peirce Burroughs, March 23, 1848 (1 letter) and one to his sister (presumably Ann Wentworth Peirce), June 8, 1857 (1 letter).

Folder 13
Miscellaneous correspondence:
1) From John Wentworth in Calais, France to Joshua Peirce in London requesting that he look out for any letters for the Wentworths, Aug. 20, 1817.

2) From Juliana N. Fisher, Newington NH to Joshua Winslow Peirce, Sept. 13, 1817 re carrying parcel to her sister.

3) From Samuel Scatson (?) to Mr. Woodward, April 20, 1822 re a bull purchased in England.

4) From Samuel Blaisdell in Gilford, N.H. to Mark Wentworth Peirce, Feb. 26, 1834.

5) From Howard M. Wiggin to William Augustus Peirce , Oct. 30, 1904.

6) From Thomas J. Whittem to Susan Littlefield Smith (Mrs. William A. Peirce) , March 26, 1906; Dec. 31, 1907, and Jan. 3, 1908.

Folder 14
Papers relating to land in Newington, N.H, a.k.a.”Ayres Farm,” and the mortgage by Samuel Fabyan to Mark Wentworth Peirce of same. Includes promissory notes, deeds, the transfer of said land to Peirce, and the eventual foreclosure of mortgage,1817-1876.

Folder 15
Deeds, Powers of Attorney, and Wills:

Mortgage deed, Mary J. Hervey of Exeter NH to Mark Wentworth Peirce, on land in Exeter, May 11, 1893.

Warranty deed, Anna Wentworth Peirce to Joshua Winslow Peirce, land in Portsmouth, May 6, 1897.

Warranty deed, Anna Wentworth Peirce and Sarah Coffin to Susan M. Peirce, land in Portsmouth, May 6, 1897.

Deed, Exeter Machine Works to Mary Hervey, originally May 8, 1893, certified July 13, 1906.

Deed, Mary J. Hervey to William Augustus Peirce, July 18, 1906.

Power of Attorney, Susan B. Pratt, et al. to Joseph W. Peirce and William Augustus Peirce, July 1, 1902.

Power of Attorney, Anne W. Peirce to William Augustus Peirce, July 8, 1902.

Power of Attorney, William Augustus Peirce to Susan M. Peirce, July 15, 1905.

Copy of will of William M. Kennard, and probate documents for Sarah Coffin Kennard, January 1894.

Last Will and Testament of Sarah Coffin Peirce Kennard of Portsmouth, and letter giving executive powers to William A. and Joshua W. Peirce, July 2, 1902. Also, an inventory of the estate of William M. Kennard., July 16, 1902.

Last Will and Testament of Susan M. Peirce of Greenland, May 28, 1909.

Folder 16
Two share certificates owned by William Augustus Peirce: 100 shares in the Sutro Tunnel Company, July 31, 1880, and 8 shares in the Portsmouth Cattle Company, July 2, 1883; and one share certificate for one share owned by Howard M. Wiggin of Stratham in the Concord and Montreal Railroad, Oct. 1, 1895.

Certificates of transfer of shares by William A. Peirce, three in the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad and one in the Boston and Albany Railroad, 1901-1909.

Folder 17
Promissory notes, receipts and offers re the purchase of shares, 1897-1933, primarily belonging to William A. Peirce, but also for Sarah C. Kennard (nee Peirce). Includes promissory notes to Manchester Savings Bank using shares in the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad and the Boston & Albany Railroad as collateral, 1897-1902; receipts for payments made for shares for preferred stock to Chas. S. Purinton in Boston, 1899, and Collins, Spalding & Co. of Boston, 1909, and eight offers from Bristol & Willett, an investment securities firm in NYC, to buy or sell shares in New York Power and Light Corp., 1931-1933. Sent to William E. Marvin on the account of William A. Peirce.

Folder 18
Lists of shares owned by William M. Kennard, 1894, Sarah Coffin (Peirce) Kennard, 1900 & 1902, and Ann Wentworth Peirce, 1901,1902, 1903, 1905 and 1907.

Folder 19
Various financial and legal documents related to the Peirce family handled by William E. Marvin, attorney in Portsmouth,1902-1928.

Folder 20
Check stubs from the Rockingham National Bank and Portsmouth Savings Bank, 1892-1904.

Folder 21
Confederate pass for William Augustus Peirce to travel through Texas to Mexico, issued from the San Antonio, TX head quarters, May 9, 1862.

A miniature broadside in opposition to the emergence of the Copperheads in Greenland, N.H., undated.

Certificate of exemption from the draft for William A. Peirce, January 5, 1865.