Pearce family papers

The Pearce family immigrated from Scotland to Maryland. James Alfred Pearce, Sr. (1805-1862) was born December 14 to Gideon Pearce and Julia Dick Pearce. Both parents died early and he was raised and educated in his maternal grandfather’s house, Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick the doctor who attended Washington on his deathbed. After graduating Princeton in 1822 and passing the bar in 1824 James entered politics. He was elected to the Maryland legislature from 1831-1825, then to the United States Senate from 1842 until his death December 21, 1862. A member of the Whig party, Pearce wanted Maryland to remain with the Union but was also a supporter of slavery. James married Martha Jane Lard (1807-1845), after her death he married Matilda Cox Ringgold (1810-1889) in 1847. James Alfred Pearce, Jr. (1840-1920) was born April 2 to James Pearce, Sr., and Martha Pearce. After two years at Washington College he transferred to Princeton University graduating in 1860, he would later receive his master’s (1863), and LL.D. (1915) from the same institution. After passing the bar in 1864 James entered a prominent career in the law serving as a States Attorney from 1867-1875, and a Judge on the Court of Appeals from 1897-1912. He also was an active member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of Washington College, even serving as its President. In 1866 he married Eunice Rasin (1843-1920) of St. Louis. James Pearce, Jr. passed December 9, 1920.