Amos Pearse

  General Notes:

Amos frequently stood in for the prescribed overseers of the poor at Winsford, producing and presenting the annual accounts. This was probably because he was unusually literate and numerate (did he have a tailoring business, like his descendants?). For example:

12 April 1757 - "The Account of Amos Pearse for Mr Thomas Lyddon one of the overseers of ye poor" (his signature is the same as that made at his marriage to Meliss Hobbs in 1766).
Also:
1759 - Amos Pearse for John Pearse for Week
1760 - Amos Pearse for Mrs Lyddon
1761 - Amos Pearse for Amos Hole for Bridge End
1762 - Amos Pearse for John Gregory for Linkham
1763 - Amos Pearse for John Baker for S. Withycombe*
1764 - Amos Pearse for William Pearse for West Nethercott
1769 - Amos Pearse for Robert Hole for Pinn
1772 - Amos Pearse for Mr Robert Hole
1774 - Amos Pearse was overseer in his own right at last (end of Account Book).

The fact that Amos was not chosen as overseer in his own right until 1774 might indicate that his father had died shortly before this date (such parish duties falling to the head of household). The only adult burial that is legible around this time is that of a William Pearse in 1773 (he of West Nethercott?).

*S. Withycombe is a farm in Winsford - nothing to do with the village of Withycombe.

Will: 1797, Amos Pearce of Winsford - lost

Amos married Joan. (Joan was buried on 7 Feb 1763 in Winsford, Somerset.)

Amos next married Meliss Hobbs in Sep 1766 in Winsford, Somerset. (Meliss Hobbs was buried on 8 Oct 1809 in Winsford, Somerset.)