| Birth | George Pearce was born 16 March 1799 in Canterbury, Kent, England. |
| INFO | BIRTH RECORD at Eythorne Baptist Chapel. Five children of George & Susannah Pearce, incl George, born 16 Mar 1799. (EytBapPRBir LDS596907#7 p.17 #117.) |
| INFO | PENTSIDE CHURCH founding 1822. List of 16 members of Eythorne Baptist church who were first members of Pentside Dover --George, Sussanah & Geo jr. Pearce. (DovBapHist, p.44) [Note: George Pearce became a founding member of Salem church in 1839]. |
| INFO | CALCUTTA CHURCH HISTORY. Book by Edward Steane Wenger: The Story of the Lall Bazar Baptist Church Calcutta, being the history of Carey's Church from the 24th April 1800 to the Present Day [pub. Calcutta 1908]. Pp.287-290 contain a funeral sermon preached by Rev. George Pearce on 25 July 1858 for his colleague Rev. James Thomas. Some details of Rev. Pearce's own life are included. Mr. Thomas entered the Baptist College at Stepney in 1826 where he met fellow student Rev. George Pearce. Mr. Thomas was at Stepney four months. "About the middle of May 1826 the missionary candidates received notice from the Committee to prepare for embarkation . . ." Mr. Thomas was married the 17th of May 1826 and was ordained to missionary work on the 7 Jun 1826. ". . .on the 22nd [June] Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, with Mr. and Mrs. George Pearce, embarked at Deal on the "Florentia" having been duly furnished with passports from the East India Company for India. . . . They arrived at Calcutta on Sunday, the 22nd October 1826, after a voyage of four months." They were welcomed by the pastor at Circular Road Chapel and reported, as required, to the local Police Office. (LallBazHist.) |
| INFO | BAPT MISSIONARY LIST. G. Pearce in missionary list for Baptist Missionary Society (London). (CentBapMiss2, p.314.) |
| INFO | MARRIAGE LICENSE. 1826 Geo Pearce of Stepney Middx bach & Ann Farmer of St. Mary Dover, sp, at St Mary D. 26 May. (CantMarr1810. p.138.) |
| Marriage | He married Ann Farmar, daughter of Thomas F. Farmar and Grace Broadley, 27 May 1826 in Dover, Kent, England. |
| INFO | MARRIAGE. St. Mary the Virgin, Dover. 27 May 1826. Pearce George, of Stepney, Middlesex, batchelor, (by License) and Ann, spinster, of this parish Farmar. Witnesses: Thos. Farmar Junr, and Hannah Farmar. (DovSMPRtr LDS355634, p.1151.) |
| INFO | BOND. #5526. Authority of Court- 7 Jun 1826. George Pearce, missionary to Bengal. Bond and covenant, 13 Jun 1826. Security £500. Sureties: John Dyer, Battersea, dissenting minister. William Beddome, Fenchurch Street, warehouseman. Index entry from: India Office Records: Z/O/1/9. Miscellaneous Bonds, # 2946-5738, 1821-1826. (FIBISSearch.) |
| INFO | DEPARTURE for India from Deal on the ship "Florentia" 22 Jun 1826, two missionary couples: Mr and Mrs George Pearce and Mr. and Mrs. James Thomas. Port of arrival in India not known. Arrival in Calcutta Sun 22 Oct 1926. (LallBazHist.) |
| INFO | LETTER dated 23 Nov 1826 from George Pearce to J. Dyer in London [Missionary Society] after George's arrival in India. George describes the voyage to India and his living arrangements and work since his arrival. (BMSMissCorr IN/29 pages 2-5.) |
| Exhibit | TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER written 23 Nov 1826 from George Pearce in Calcutta to J. Dyer in London regarding his voyage to India. Transcript by Donna Farmar. (BMSMissCorr Transcript, p.2-5). Four pages.  |
| INFO | HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY 1842. vol.1 pages 404-415 contain references to George Pearce: c.1827 George resided at Doorgapore, also worked at Howrah. and helped at Circular Road Chapel (Calcutta) and maintained services at Chitpore and Boronogur. Also devoted time to many small villages along the Ganges (c1830). 1831 Calcutta church had 44 members. Superintendent of Female School Society with 550 pupils. Mrs. Pearce abt 1832 back to England with poor health. Back in India she ran the day school for about 200-300 students and the boarding-school at Seebpore. Late 1830s George visited Bombay to recover his health. (CoxHistBMSoc-1.) |
| INFO | SPEECH given in Eythorne at South Kent Sunday School Union 15th Anniversary, 15 July 1834. " Revd G. Pearce, missionary at Calcutta" and several others. (DovTelegr 19 Jul 1834 p.8 col.2.) |
| INFO | FIBIS INDEX. Arrivals in Bengal. Rev. G. Pearce from Bristol to Calcutta. Arrival Nov 1834 on ship St. George, Captain J. Thompson. Published in Bengal & Agra Directory, 1835. (FIBISSearch.) |
| INFO | PROBLEMS IN INDIA. Geo Pearce mentioned as a supporter of centralized missions in restricted geographic areas. He believed strongly in mission schools (a minority opinion), and supported the rejection of cast as a prerequisite for Christian baptism. (BritBapIndia pp 32, 135, 158-59.) |
| INFO | HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY 1842. vol.1I pages 282-304 contain references to George Pearce: 1838 George's visit to Bombay did not help his health; had to return to England; returned to India Sep 1841 (absence of 4 years); returned to Entally, Luckyantipore and Khari. (CoxHistBMSoc-2.) |
| INFO | LETTER from George from Camberwell 3 Jul 1840 to Br. Wenger of the Baptist Mission Press in India. Geo & Ann are both in England. Geo has been very sick. Ann apparently has recently returned to England. Missionary Wenger has taken over the station where Geo formerly worked. Dr. Martin, recently returned from India, has told Geo he must remain in England for an extended period to recover his health before returning to India. Geo says his strength is returning fast and, in the last 3 weeks, he has given 5-10 lectures about India. Geo is frustrated that the society is sending a mission to Africa and has not been focusing solely on India. Sends request from Mrs. Pearce for Wenger to visit the girls' school and encourage them. (BMSMiss Corr IN/29.) |
| INFO | FIBIS INDEX. Arrivals in Bengal. Rev. George Pearce from England to Calcutta. Arrival Sep 1841 on ship Owen Glendower, Capt. W. Toller. Published in Scotts Directory, 1842. (FIBISSearch.) |
| INFO | BENGAL BAPT ASSN. Rev. Geo Pearce chosen moderator on 24 Dec 1844 at Serampore. (BaptManual LDS6090976,1845, p.68.) |
| INFO | LETTER from Geo Pearce in Salisbury England to J. Wenger in India 15 Nov 1853 regarding death of Wenger's wife. Geo says wife Ann [in England] is still too sick to return to India. (BMSMissCorr IN/29 p.124.) |
| INFO | FIBIS INDEX. Arrivals in Bengal. Rev. Pearce from London to Calcutta. Arrival 27 Nov 1854 on ship Sutlej, Captain H.N.A. James. Published in Bengal Directory, 1855. (FIBISSearch.) |
| INFO | DIRECTORY 1862. Calcutta. 1) Ecclesiastical Section. Baptist Mission Chapels. Missionary Rev. George Pearce. 2) List of Inhabitants: Pearce, George, Reverend, baptist missionary, res 4, Entally, South Road. (CalcDir1862, pp.17,286.) |
| INFO | DIRECTORY of Calcutta. 1869. 1) Ecclesiastical Section. Calcutta Auxiliary Baptist Missionary Society. Baptist Missionaries: Pearce, G., Alipore. 2) Alphabetical section: Pearce G. Rev. baptist missionary, Kidderpore. 3)Street Directory. Kidderpore. in Ekbalpore Lane #64 Rev. G. Pearce. (Thacker1869, pp.I-192, II-162, 154.) |
| INFO | LETTER from Geo Pearce to Dr. Angus accepts dinner invitation for 30 Apr 1873 at Stepney College, London. (BMSMissCorr IN/29 p.129.) |
| Marriage | George Pearce married Lavinia Peabody, daughter of Oliver T. Peabody and Sarah A. Towne, 28 August 1877 in Madras, Madras, India. |
| INFO | MARRIAGE REGISTRATION. George Pearce, age 60, widower, missionary of Ootacamund, son of Geroge Pearce married 28 August 1877 to Lavinia Peabody, age 35, spinster, missionary of Rampatnam, Nellore, dtr of Oliver T. Peabody, married in the Baptist Chapel in Black Town, Madras, by Rev. D. Downie, in the presence of Wm. Thomas and K. F. Doll. Certificate number 1007. (INMadrasRMar, IOR N/11/5:1007.) |
| 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 | DIRECTORY 1887. Alph list of residents: Pearce G. rev Baptist missy, Ootacamund. and Pearce, Miss, prinpl Ladies' College Ootacamund. (Thacker1887, p.1346.) |
| Death | George Pearce died 6 June 1887 in Ootacamund, India, at age 88. |
| INFO | OBITUARY from Ootacamund newspaper South of India Observer, Tues 7 July 1887, page 3: " THE LATE REVD. GEORGE PEARCE. In the death of the venerable Mr. Pearce which took place on Monday morning, not only our town lost its oldest resident, but, Missions in India have been deprived of a veteran laborer, who had far outlived all his compeers in the Mission field. Mr. Pearce landed in Calcutta as long ago as the year 1826. For nearly fifty long years, he labored in Bengal as a faithful agent of the Baptist Missionary Society. He was contemporary with the immortal trio at Serampore -- Carey Marshman and Ward -- who may be regarded as the pioneers of Mission work in Bengal. Mr. Pearce was one of the younger brethren who took Calcutta as their special field of labour, and who not only carried on evangelizing work there and in the country around, but who also established the "Baptist Mission Press," and built a noble church in Circular Road, as several Mission Houses, by funds either realised by their own industry, or collected by themselves. . . . Besides vernacular preaching, Mr. Pearce aided in literary work, and the excellent Bengali Hymn Book, of which he was the author, shows how well versed he was in the language of the people. For some years he conducted a Training Instutution to prepare promising young men for the work of pastors, evangelists and teachers in Bengal, and though his own labours are now ended, his works do still follow him in those he sent forth fitted for the harvest of souls in Bengal. Some twelve years ago he found that the infirmities of old age would not allow of his labouring any longer in the great heat of the plains. So he retired to the cool climate of the Nilgiri hills, as one who would expect to rest. But as he found that he could still work in a good climate, he turned to afresh to his Master's service, though then drawing near eighty years of age. Some five years ago, he had a stroke of paralysis, which laid him by for a while. But he was again soon hard at work. This was followed by total blindness, but this did not daunt the veteran soldier of Christ. He kept on as best he could until some twenty months ago the Revd. Mr. Evans came to his relief. Besides the English and Tamil cause he has started here, there is the Bible and Tract Depot, and we all know the devotion of himself, and his no less consecrated wife to the education in of the young of Ootacamund. For the last fortnight, there had been a decided change. Day by day saw the strength of the noble veteran going down, untill at last he calmly and literally fell asleep in Jesus. . . . May his apastolic mantle fall on others, and may his bereaved widow be conforted by the God of all consolation. Notwithstanding the very unfavourable weather and the early hour a large number of the friends of the late Rev. George Pearce followed his remains to the grave at St. Thomas' this morning. The Rev. Mr. Evans read a very appropriate service, and Dr. Downie of Nellore offered prayer. There were quiet tears shed in the midst of the still more copious drips which fell from above." (SIndiaObser 7 Jun 1887 p.3.) |
| INFO | RESIDENT LIST. South of India Observer [Ootacamund, India], & Jun 1887, p.3. List of Residents & Visitors. Ootacamund. Pearce Rev and Mrs. Woodville. (SoIndiaObser.) |
| INFO | CEMETERY DETAILS. Cemetery, St. Thomas' Church, Ootacamund. Rev George Pearce (16 Mar 1799-6 Jun 1887). Inscription: In loving memory of Rev. George Pearce, born at Canterbury, Kent, March 16th, 1799, died June 6th 1887, sixty years a devoted Missionary in India. "Faithful unto death". Transcribed for the FIBIS database from Eurpoean Tombs in the Nilgiri District 1825-1904. (FibisDatBase.) |
| INFO | OBITUARY. Geo sent to Stepney Academical Institution by the church at Dover. Sent to India by the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society. Went to Calcutta with Rev. James Thomas in spring 1826, arrived Oct 22. Met by associates Yates, W.H. Pearce, Penney & Robinson. First at Chitpore. Set up schools for native children. In 1829 to Backergunge, 1831 at Luckhyantipur --villages south of Calcutta. Took most promising students for boarding schools conducted by him & wife at Intally & Alipore. Illness of wife & self led to visits to England in 1834 and 1839. Return to Calcutta 1841 to Intally. Visit to England in 1854, then opened new station in Alipore. 1856 began class for training natives for ministry, also at Serampore, until 1872. Wife's health failing, chose to retire in Ootacamund. He was losing sight since 1861, ended in total blindness. Continued to preach. Wife died 1875. 1877 married Miss Peabody of the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions among the Telugus. 1880 stroke and paralysis, died 6 Jun 1887. Wrote several tracts and hymns in Bengali and translated Pilgrim's Progress. (BapHbk1888, pp.111-12.) |
George Pearce