Revised 8/9/2017. Copyright @2017; The following Documentary Timeline has been compiled and created by Paul Rhetts. It may be copied for research purposes; but it may not be reproduced for inclusion in any printed or electronic distribution of any kind without the express written permission of the author. Any requests to use this information should be sent to Paul Rhetts, LPDPress@q.com.
Christopher PEARSON (1635-1711) m. Elinor FEARON (1647-1714)
s/o John Robert PEARSON (1619-1649) and Elizabeth WILSON (1621-1678)
d/o George FEARON (1620-1687) and ____ (1625-1687)
p/o Peter PEARSON (1679-1735)
Christopher PEARSON was born about 1635 in Ullock, Cumberland, England. He died in Apr 1711 in Ullock and was buried on 19 Apr 1711 in Pardshaw Cragg Meeting Cemetery, Ullock. Christopher married Elinor FEARON, daughter of George FEARON, on 9 Aug 1670 in Cumberland. Elinor was born about 1650 in England. She died in May 1714 in Ullock, and was buried on 2 May 1714 in Pardshaw Cragg. Pardshaw Cragg is a limestone formation to the north of Ullock, where the Quakers held outdoor services until they built a Meeting House. Christopher was educated in the Parish School, evidently paid for by his grandfather. Christopher, his family and sister Dorothy became Quakers when George Fox preached in Cumberland in 1653, the same year the first Meeting House was erected at Pardshaw. Christopher married in a Quaker ceremony, 9 6mo (Aug) 1670, at the home of Richard Faucett, about 2-1/2 miles north of Pardshaw Cragg. The headstone of George Fearon dated 1687 is the oldest standing stone at St. Oswald's. His will, made in 1685, leaves a bequest to his son-in-law Christopher Pearson. Christopher and Elinor Pearson had the following children: Mary PEARSON was born on 19 Feb 1671/1672 in Ullock, Cumberland, England. She married John Gill of Eaglesfield 7 9mo (Nov) 1695; Sarah PEARSON was born on 29 Nov 1673 in Ullock, Cumberland, England. She died on 30 Jan 1688/1689 in Ullock; John PEARSON was born on 23 Apr 1677 in Ullock, Cumberland, England. He died on 13 May 1728 in Cumberland. He married Mary [-?-]. His descendants continue to live in Cumberland;Peter PEARSON was born on 21 Feb 1679/1680 and died on 15 Mar 1735.
1635 Christopher PEARSON born at Ullock, Cumberland, England [Piety Promoted, Volume 02 by John Tomkins, revised by John Kendal, 1789, p.272: “Christopher Pearson, of Ulluck in Cumberland, when he was a lad, went to a meeting of the people called Quakers, at Pardsey-Cragg, to scoff at them, in the year 1656; but when he heard the messengers of the gospel of Christ declare the everlasting truth (who were sent of God to turn people from darkness to the light of the Lord Jesus Christ) through their testimony, he was reached by the Lord’s power, and came to know the work of it, and to wait upon the Lord therein, to witness a being cleansed thereby, and his faith to stand in it. And it was not only given unto him to believe in the Lord Jesus, but also to suffer joyfully for his sake the spoiling of his goods, and in his deepest sufferings he was supported. A few days before he died, he said, ‘The Lord hath been kind to me from a child, and hath done more for me than I could either ask or think.’ Adding, “I never turned my back upon an informer, nor ever wronged any man of one halfpenny in all my life to my knowledge.’ Then he advised his children to be careful, and said to them, ‘Do no harm either to man or beast; but do good wherever you come, as I have shewed you an example.’ He was a good neighbor, a loving husband, a tender father, a man given to hospitality, an careful to entertain strangers: the Lord was with him when on a sick bed, and his heart was tendered with a sense and feeling of his love and kindness. A friend asked him how he did, and how he was satisfied; he cheerfully answered, “I am very well satisfied that all will be well; for I find the Lord’s mercies are great: we have seen much since we were convinced: we have gone to the meetings in true humility, fear and plainness: and truth is what it was, and all that keep faithful to it, will be kept by it out of evil. I am glad to see my son settled, and I doubt not but he will stand up in my place; I advise him to be a good neighbor.” Being in great affliction of body, he often prayed to the Lord Jesus, “that he would remember him, and take him to his mercy, that he might be eased of his pains and this troublesome world;’ he kept his integrity to the end, and it is not doubted but he finished in peace. His corpse being attended by many friends and sober people to Eaglesfield, was there honourably interred, and the Lord’s power was manifest among them, and the way of life and salvation proclaimed, with a warning to all to repent of their wickedness, and turn to the Lord, that they might be prepared for their final change.” (doc)] [also, Piety Promoted, Volume 05 by John Field, 1775, p.212-214]
17 Jul 1642 Christopher PEARSON baptized Yorkshire: Calverley - Parish Registers (Christenings, Marriages & Burials): 1574-1649: listed as Christoffer Xpoffer Pearson
1647 Elinor FEARON born at Oldham, Lancashire, England
1653 Christopher was educated in the Parish School, evidently paid for by his grandfather. Christopher, his family and sister Dorothy became Quakers when George Fox preached in Cumberland in 1653, the same year the first Meeting House was erected at Pardshaw. John Pearson of Ullock, farmer in Dean Parish. By 1641, he was a church- warden and overseer of St. Oswald's (Source: Prostestation Returns, 1641, From Cumberland.) The old yeoman made his will in January 1649, requesting that his remains be buried in the parish churchyard. Evidently he had paid for the education of a grandson, Christopher Pearson, who was 20 pay 20shillings to the parish school for his part in the old man's estate that he was to inherit. He was also to inherit his grandfather's "husbandry geare," i.e. farming tools. John Pearson was dead in 1650,when his will was probated.
9 Jun 1670 Christopher PEARSON and Elinor FEARON married at Pardshaw, Cumberland, England at the home of Richard Faucett, about 2-1/2 miles north of Pardshaw Cragg. (one source says Eaglesfield, Cumberland, England) (Quaker ceremony) (Friends's House, London: Quarterly Meeting of Cumberland and Northumberland: Digest 311, page 165) Christopher and Elinor Pearson continued to live in Ullock and abided well as members of Pardshaw Crag Meeting. [Monthly Meeting of Pardshaw (Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Broughton) Piece 1026: Monthly Meeting of Pardshaw (Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Broughton)(1650-1787) confirms date, location, and names (doc)] [FHL#815963 p. 787 confirms both names] (He was a warden of the St. Oswald's church in Dean Parish.) (Marriage doc)
19 Apr 1671 dau Mary PEARSON born at Pardshaw, Cumberland, England; died 30 Jan 1688 at Ullock, Cumberland, England; married John GILL on 7 Nov 1695 [England, Select Births and Christenings confirms names of parents]
29 Nov 1673 dau Sarah PEARSON born at Pardshaw, Cumberland, England; died 30 Jan 1688 at Cumberland, England [England, Select Births and Christenings confirms names of parents]
23 Sep 1677 son John PEARSON born at Pardshaw, Cumberland, England; died 13 Mar 1728 at died 30 Jan 1688 at Cumberland, England; married Mary ____ [England, Select Births and Christenings confirms names of parents]
Oct 1678 Christopher PEDARSON’s mother Elizabeth, died in October 1678, leaving a will that lends an insight into her way of life. There is no question that she was a devout Christian, as she commended her "soule unto the hande of Almighty God my maker and to Jesus Christ my only Saviore and Redeemer hopeing through his mercie to have free pardon of all my sins." She left to her son, Christopher and his wife, Elinor, a great barrel, probably some article of furniture, and "my best undercoat." To her daughter, Isabella Oyes, she left "a new coate"; to daughter, Dorothy, "three pounds the rest of my goods and chattles both moveable and unmoveable"; etc. She remained an Anglican to the last of her life.
21 Dec 1679 son Peter PEARSON born at Ullock, Cumberland, England; died 21 Apr 1735 at Perquimans, NC; married Rachel NEWBY in 1709 at Nansemond, VA [England, Select Births and Christenings confirms names of parents]
1685 The headstone of George Fearon dated 1687 is the oldest standing stone at St. Oswald's. His will, made in 1685, leaves a bequest to his son-in-law Christopher Pearson. St. Oswald's Anglican Church(1687), bearing this inscription, "Under this stone George Fearon's corpse doth lie, sleeping till waked by the Archangel's cry." In his 1685 will, Fearon bequeathed ten pounds to his son-in-law, Christopher Pearson. "I desire yt my body may be buried in ye churchyard of Dean."
1695 However, at least Christopher Pearson and his family and Dorothy Pearson embraced Quakerism when George Fox preached in Cumberland in1653. The latter died, a spinster, having lived with her brother's family, in 1695. She wasn't indigent as her will indicates; she made several bequests to kith and kin, including 4 pounds money and some furniture to Christopher Pearson. She even made provision for the "victualls" (food) to be served at the time of her laying-out and funeral. George Fox introduced his (Quaker) Gospel to the Cumbrian folk, in 1653; from that time forth his Society grew there.
17 Mar 1711 Christopher PEARSON made his will: He signs his name, fairly vigorously considering he was on his deathbed; and the witnesses [Christopher Fearon, John Bowman, John Wilson] also sign confidently. By 1711, this level of literacy among male yeomen isn't unusual. His will mentions his wife Ellinor, his son Peter (who is only given 1/- having 'preferred him before'] and son John. John is made executor. The second part of the probate was the inventory. Parishes that were well organised might well do this within 24 hours of death. The inventory involved a number of local males (never female) going round the estate and valuing everything (except real estate!). These apprisors were often relations or neighbours or involved in the same trade. The inventory was done on the 24th April 1711 by Christopher Fearon, John Bowman senr, John Bowman jnr (all signatures) and John Carter (mark). The value of the estate was a tiny £12-05-00 (minus funeral expenses of £1-10-00). There are two possible explanations for this - he could have been so heavily fined for Quaker beliefs in the past that he was severely impoverished; or he had 'retired' and his possessions had already been inherited by John. John's later inventory was considerably more, so the latter explanation seems the more likely. The third part of the probate was the bond. This was a document that the probate court obliged the executor of the will to sign in which he/she, and his/her financial backers (the bondsmen), promised to deal with the administration of the estate (make an inventory, pay back debts, look after any under-age children, etc.) and to pay a fine if the promise wasn't carried out. The fine in this area was usually set at twice the value of the inventory. In this case the value of the bond was set at £40. The bond was usually precise about the 'legal' status of the people involved, and often identifies them by place. So Christopher Fearon is described (in Latin) as of the same place (ie Ullock) and as a yeoman. John Bowman is also of Ullock but is only described as jnr - in other words, he hadn't yet inherited the customary tenancy from his father and so wasn't legally a 'yeoman'. WILL: "I Christopher Pearson of Ullock in the parish of Dean and County of Cumberland being weak in body yet perfect in mind and memory doe therefore make my last will and testament in manner as followeth- First I commit my spirit to God and my body to be buryed at the desecretion of my executors hereafter named. And as to the settling of that small estate it hath pleased the Lord to lend to me, I give and bequeath the same as followeth, that is to say: I give to my son Peter Pearson one shilling in full of my personell estate haveing preferred him before: I give to my loveing wife Ellinor twenty shillings and one bedding of cloathes and a bedstead in the back loft. And all the rest of my goods and chattells moveable and unmoveable I give and bequeath to my son John Pearson whom I make sole executor of this my last will and testament, he paying and discharging my debts legacies and funerall expenses..." (Signed with his own signature, the will of Christopher Pearson was probated May 10, 1711.) The old man had given his younger son, Peter, money with which to emigrate to the New World, in 1707, quite an undertaking at the time; parting must have been quite painful for it was with the realization that it would be a final farewell.
19 Apr 1711 Christopher PEARSON died at Ullock, Cumberland, England; buried at Pardshaw Cragg Meeting Cemetery, Cumberland, England [Pardshaw Cragg is a limestone formation to the north of Ullock, where the Quakers held outdoor services until they built a Meeting House] [Monthly Meeting of Pardshaw (Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Broughton) Piece 1026: Monthly Meeting of Pardshaw (Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Broughton)(1650-1787) confirms date, location, and names (doc)] [FHL#991974 also list Robert as his father] [FHL#815963, p.1258] (Burial doc)
2 May 1714 Elinor FEARON died at Ullock, Cumberland, England; buried at Pardshaw Cragg Meeting Cemetery, Cumberland, England [FHL#815963, p.1258] [Monthly Meeting of Pardshaw (Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Broughton) Piece 1026: Monthly Meeting of Pardshaw (Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Broughton)(1650-1787) confirms date, location, and names (doc)]