Climbing My Family Tree

Hedger C. Pierce has been one of my brick walls for quite some time.

I don’t have a birth or death date for him. What I do have is census records and a very thick Civil War pension packet – which I am very grateful for.

I believe that his parents are William Pierce and Amy Sharp Wriggins, but I have yet to find definitive proof of this. There is male child living with their family in the 1830 census which would fit his age. William’s father was a Ward Pierce, which is what Hedger named his first child. I just have a gut feeling that this is the right family. I want a document that proves it though.

I have tried ordering Hedger’s death certificate, but have been unsuccessful so far.  Ordering stuff from New Jersey seems to take a long time.  I’m used to the speed of small Midwest towns and their quiet courthouses.

Here is a chronology of Hedger’s life, which I have copied and pasted from my genealogy program. It doesn’t show the details of each event (ie. transcriptions of the documents in his packet) but it does give a general overview of what I have on him.

Name: Hedger C. Pierce

AKA: Hedger Pearce, Hugo Pearce, Edgar C Pierce
Life Range: Abt 1818 – After 28 Nov 1892
Age:

Abt 1818 Birth: USA, New Jersey.
Abt 1818 Spouse (#1): USA, New Jersey, Atlantic, Egg Harbor. Phoebe Simpkins (Abt 1818-1872). born in Egg Harbor, Atlantic, New Jersey, USA. Died on 23 Dec 1872 in Gloucester City, Camden, New Jersey, USA.
12 1830 Census: USA, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
19 1837 May 31 Marriage (1): USA, New Jersey, Atlantic. Phoebe Simpkins (Abt 1818-1872). in , Atlantic, New Jersey, USA.
22 1840 Census: USA, New Jersey, Atlantic, Mullica Twp.
22 1840 Jul 18 Son born (1-#1): USA, New Jersey, Gloucester. Ward Pierce (1840-1921). born in , Gloucester, New Jersey, USA. Died on 11 Nov 1921 in Lakewood, Ocean, New Jersey, USA.
25 Abt 1843 Daughter born (1-#2): USA, New Jersey. Deborah Pierce (Abt 1843- ). born in , , New Jersey, USA.
29 Abt 1847 Spouse (#2): USA, Pennsylvania. Margaret (Abt 1847- ). born in , , Pennsylvania, USA.
31 Abt 1849 Daughter born (1-#3): USA, New Jersey. Margaret Emaly Pierce (Abt 1849- ). born in , , New Jersey, USA.
Marriage (2): _______________. Margaret (Abt 1847- ).
32 1850 Aug 23 Census: USA, New Jersey, Camden, Washington Twp.
42 1860 Mar 15 Death of Father: USA, New Jersey, Gloucester, Clayton Twp. William Pierce (1794-1860).
42 1860 Jun 22 Census: USA, New Jersey, Camden, Gloucester Twp.
43 1861 Sep 23 Enlisted: _______________.
46 1864 Jan 1 Enlisted: USA, Pennsylvania, Carbon, Beaver Meadows.
46 1864 Jan 3 Mustered: USA, Pennsylvania, Carbon, Beaver Meadows.
46 1864 May Hospital: USA, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia.
46 1864 May Hospital: USA, D.C., , Washington.
46 1864 May 8 Wounded: USA, Virginia, Spotsylvania, Laurel Hill.
46 1864 Jun Hospital: USA, New York, New York, Davids’ Island.
46 1864 Jun 19 Hospital: USA, New Jersey, Essex, Newark.
47 1865 Jan 19 Transferred: _______________. to Co. G. 19th Regt. VRC.
47 1865 Aug 10 Honorable Discharge: USA, New York, Erie, Buffalo.
47 1865 Oct 23 Residence: USA, New Jersey, Camden.
47 1865 Oct 23 Affidavit: _______________.
50 1868 Sep 24 Increase in Pension Rejected: _______________.
52 1870 Jun 18 Census: USA, New Jersey, Camden, Gloucester City.
54 1872 Dec 23 Death of Spouse (#1): USA, New Jersey, Camden, Gloucester City. Phoebe Simpkins (Abt 1818-1872).
55 1873 Sep 6 Physical Description: USA, New Jersey, Camden. 5’4″ tall, 112 lbs. with a light complexion.
57 1875 Oct 1 Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension: USA, New Jersey, Camden.
58 1876 Sep 21 Increase in Pension Rejected: _______________.
59 1877 Feb 27 Death of Mother: USA, New Jersey, Gloucester, Clayton. Amy Sharp Wriggins (1795-1877).
60 1878 Oct 17 Residence: USA, New Jersey, Camden, Gloucester City. Jersey Avenue.
60 1878 Oct 17 Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension: USA, New Jersey, Camden.
60 1878 Dec 21 Increase in Pension Rejected: _______________.
62 1880 Jun 15 Census: USA, New Jersey, Camden, Gloucester City.
63 1881 Jun 2 Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension: USA, New Jersey, Camden.
63 1881 Sep 15 Pension Increase: _______________. from $4.00 to $8.00 monthly.
67 1885 Dec 31 Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension: USA, New Jersey, Salem.
67 1885 Dec 31 Residence: USA, New Jersey, Salem, Elmer.
68 1886 Mar 18 Pension Increase: _______________. from $8.00 to $10.00 monthly.
69 1887 Sep 13 Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension: USA, New Jersey, Salem.
69 1887 Dec 14 Residence: USA, New Jersey, Salem, Elmer.
70 1888 Feb 11 Residence: USA, New Jersey, Salem, Elmer.
70 1888 Mar 1 Increase in Pension Rejected: USA, New Jersey, Salem, Elmer.
72 1890 Census: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland, Bridgeton. veterans schedule.
72 1890 Jun 23 Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland.
73 1891 Mar 3 Illness: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland, Bridgeton.
74 1892 Apr 20 Letter: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland, Bridgeton. from Ward Pierce to Hon. John R. McPherson.
74 1892 Jul 6 Affidavit: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland.
74 1892 Nov 16 Declaration for the Increase of an Invalid Pension: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland.
74 1892 Nov 16 Residence: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland, Bridgeton. 194 Broad Street.
74 1892 Nov 28 Physician’s Affidavit: USA, New Jersey, Cumberland, Bridgeton.
74 After 1892 Nov 28 Death: _______________.

The last physician’s affidavit, dated28 Nov 1892, stated “that he is bedridden with partial paralasys of speech, complete paralasys of right arm, and almost total paralasys of right leg.  Both feet are [?]  while the body is extremely emaciated.  He is unable to assist himself materially at any thing and requires constant attention from a nurse.”

An affidavit from earlier in the year said “we are personally acquainted with Hedger C Pirce and know that his son Ward Pirce can not do any work that it takes all his time with his Father as he is in a helpless condtion and if it was not for the charrity of the people he would be compelled to take him to the alms House”.  He was obviously not able to take care of himself.

I don’t think that he would have lived for too much longer after 1892, but I have yet to find his death certificate, gravestone, or obituary.  I think that I need to make a road trip to New Jersey!!