| INFO | BIOGRAPHY from Mount Holyoke Alum Archives. b. Boxford, Mass 6 May 1834. At age 15, began studies in Mass & R.I., then Mt. Holyoke (grad 1868 -- age 34). Taught in Virden Ill, in pub schools, and own school for colored children; also music. Arr in Madras 29 Mar 1872 as missionary for the Women's Baptist Missionary Society of the West at the American Baptist Telugu Mission. In Rampatnam, Madras, Telugu Girls School. Aug 1874 new bldg for school - began with 15, then 26 Hindu women. Married Rev. Geo Pearce 1877. Brochure for Pearce Boarding School for Missionaries' Children, Ootacamund, to open 1 July 1898. Died 20 Mar 1901. (MtHolyoArch.) |
| Birth | Lavinia Peabody was born 6 May 1834 in Boxford, Massachusetts. |
| Note | NOTE: Google search header: Women's Baptist Foreign Missionary Society of the West was organized in 1871 with headquarters in Chicago.(led to URL not found mess 15Jul02.) |
| INFO | AMER. MISSIONARY HIST. "Miss Lavinia Peabody (later Mrs. Pearce), the second missionary of the Western Society, was sent to Ramapatnam in 1872, where for six years she gave herself to the education of women and girls '' 'to fit them for positions of influence as teachers and pastors' wives,'..." (GoldJubilee, pp.21-22.) |
| INFO | MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 9 May 1871 Woman's Baptist Missionary Society of the West formed in Chicago. Sent Lavinia A. Peabody to Octacamund [sic], South India as first of two new missionaries of the new society. (AmBapQuar 12(3):200 Sep 1993.) |
| INFO | MISSIONARY HISTORY. In 1872, Lavinia Peabody first unmarried woman to join the Woman's Foreign Missionary Soceity of the West. She "collected the pupils for a girls' school in Ramapatnam." (FollowingSun, pp.111-12.) |
| Marriage | She married George Pearce, son of George Pearce and Susannah ...?..., 28 August 1877 in Madras, Madras, India. |
| INFO | NEWSPAPER REPORT of marriage. FIBIS Index entry. Reported in The Times of India 31 Aug 1877. "Domestic Occurrences" Marriage Aug 28 [1877] at Madras the Rev C [sic] Pearce of the Baptist Mission Calcutta (now at Ootacammund) to Lavinia Peabody of the American Telugu Mission Ramapatam and daughter of G.T. Peabody Esq of Virden Illinois U.S. (FIBISSearch.) |
| INFO | MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY alumnae list for 1887 includes Lavinia Peabody Pearce of Madras India grad in 1868. (HistMtHoly p.321.) |
| Death | Lavinia Peabody died 20 March 1901 in Ootacamund, India, at age 66. |
| INFO | CEMETERY DETAILS. Lavinia Peabody Pearce (6 May 1836 - 20 Mar 1901). Cemetery attached to St. Thomas' Church, Ootacamund. Inscription: "In loving memory of Mrs. Lavinia Peabody Pearce, born May 6th, 1836, died March 20th 1901 "They rest from their labours and their works de [sic] follow them. Rev.14-13." Transcribed for the FIBIS database from Eurpoean Tombs in the Nilgiri District 1825-1904. (FibisDatBase.) |
| INFO | DEATH NOTICE. Mrs. L.P. Pearce d. at Ootacamund, Nilgiri Hills, on 20 Mar 1901, of heart disease. As Miss L. Peabody was sent to Ramapatam in 1872 by Woman's Soc of the West, first single lady missionary sent to the Telugu Mission. 1875-77 had boarding school for girls. 1877 married to Geo Pearce ret missionary of English Baptist Soc. Worked with Tamil-speaking natives of Ootacamund. Opened school for children of missionaries, continued to her death. (BapMissMag June 1901, p.206.) |
| INFO | DEATH REPORT. Mrs. Lavinia Pearce d. 20 Mar 1901. Born Boxford, MA, 6 May 1934, appointed missionary of the Union 28 Nov 1871 to the Telugu mission. After 6 years married to Rev. George Pearce 28 Aug 1877. After his death came to U.S. 1888 and was reappointed missionary. Returned to India 29 Sep 1888. Had property, two estates at Ootacamund, health resort of Southern India. Gave one house to Missionary Union and lived in other. Interested in establishing school for children of missionaries. (BapMissMag July 1901, p.301.) |
| INFO | BIOGRAPHY. Miss Lavinia A. Peabody (Mrs George Pearce). Church membership - Baptist church Virden, Ill. Appointed: Woman's Baptist Foreign Missionary Society of the West Nov 28, 1871. Born Boxford, Mass, 6 May 1834. First Sailing from Boston MA 2 Jan 1872. Lived in Normal, Ill in 1871. In India in Ramapatnam for 6 years ran schools for women & girls to prepare them to be teachers and pastors' wives. Marr to Rev. Geo Pearce "last of the 'Five Younger Brethren' who left William Carey and the Serampore Mission." To US 1888. Retd to India. Mar 1889 took over girls' schools at Madras (Washermanpetta School for Caste girls) & other duties. 1891 retired to hills at Ootacamund because of health. Started school for Tamil children and worked among Irulah people. Died 20 Mar 1901.(ABHSArchBio.) |
Lavinia Peabody