Major Peirson pedigree
 The arms on Major Peirson's watch
|
Sources
The pedigree is largely compiled from two pedigrees. The first, compiled on 31 August 1665, forms part of the Visitation of the County of York by William Dugdale, Norray King of Arms. The second is a very detailed manuscript pedigree in the College of Arms, apparently compiled at the instance of the first Baron Chelmsford in 1858. The former uses the spelling Pearson throughout, and the latter Peirson throughout.
The Misses L C and S M Williams, of Combe Down, Bath (who, like me, are descended from Major Peirson's sister Frances Tinling) have lent to the Society an old manuscript pedigree, referred to below as "the Williams manuscript". It bears a number of coats of arms, and is in three handwritings. The first handwriting covers precisely the same period as the Visitation of 1665, ie from the first Mathew Peirson to the children of John Peirson of Lowthorpe (without their marriages). The second handwriting gives the marriages of Sir Mathew Peirson and his brother John. The third carries on the pedigree (in a confused manner) to Major Peirson's generation; but his youngest sister Diana Anne is not given. Thus the manuscript appears to have been started in about 1665 and finished shortly before Diana Anne Peirson's birth.
The details of military service below are from official printed Army Lists, Charles Dalton's Army Lists, and manuscript Army Lists and Commission Registers in the War Office and Public Record Office.
Lowthorpe, Mowthorpe (parish of Kirby Grindalythe), Raisthorpe (parish of Wharram Percy) and most of the other places named in the pedigree are in Yorkshire.
Before John Peirson of Lowthorpe
The Williams manuscript dates the original Mathew Peirson 1483 and his son John 1549, but these dates seem too early. The Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal, contains detailed pedigrees of successive families who inherited Marske in Swaledale, Yorkshire, (there is also a Marske in Cleveland, Yorkshire) ending with Jane, daughter of Francis Phillip, who married John Pearson in Cleveland. In the Williams manuscript, however, this John Pearson married Grace, daughter of Arthur Phillips of Mask, and his son Thomas married Margrett, one of the daughters and co-heirs of Francis Phillips of Mask.
The family of Philip of Marske was descended, through the families of Conyers and Mauleverer, from the family of Wycliffe of Wycliffe, of which John Wycliffe, the early reformer, is reputed to have been a member. According to the Visitation, Thomas Pearson of Harpham died in 1641.
John Peirson of Lowthorpe
The Visitation pedigree, drawn up on 31 August 1665, states that he was aged 76 and a Justice of the Peace, and mentions his children Mathew, aged 14, John, aged 11, William, aged 5, Sarah, Frances and Anne. (The first section of the Williams manuscript, apparently compiled at about the same time, shows Elizabeth as dead.)
The East Riding Antiquarian Society's Volume 24 contains an article by the Rev C V Collier on Lowthorpe. This quotes from the Parliamentary Survey of Benefices in the East Riding (1650): "The tithes of Lowthorpe are the inheritance of Mr John Pearson, yearly worth 80 li."
John Peirson of Settrington, in his will dated 3 April 1654, proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 15 May 1656, asked that his "loving Jo Peirson of Lowthorpe" should assist his sons. I cannot trace any relationship between these two namesakes.
The Vicar of Lowthorpe has a cutting, of uncertain date, from the Leeds Mercury Weekly Supplement, describing the tomb at Lowthorpe Church of John Peirson. The inscription reads:
- Multis quidem flebilis occidit Venerandus ille Senex Johannes Peirson Armiger in his partibus Justitiarius Pacis; qui bono cum Deo Elizabetham duxit uxorem, proprii cognominis Matronam egregiam; ex qua tribus Fillis quatuorque Filiabus ditatus est. Obiit tertio Novembris Anno Domini MDCLXV Aetatis suae septuagesimo quarto cujus cineres religiosa cura et imperiis charissimae uxoris, sub hoc lapide requiescunt.
The important points in this are that he was a JP, married a wife Elizabeth of the same name, had three sons and four daughters, and died on 3 November 1665, in his 74th year (which does not quite agree with the Visitation). His widow Elizabeth proved his will at York on 26 December 1665. In 1669 she married Richard Legard son of the John Legard of Ganton mentioned below.
Sir Mathew Peirson and his brother John
Sons of the above John Peirson. They were stated in the Visitation to have been aged 14 and 11 respectively on 31 August 1665, but the various statements of their ages are inconsistent.
Mathew Peirson married Elizabeth Legard at Lowthorpe on 23 July 1668, their ages being given in the marriage licence as 19 and 15 respectively. She was daughter and heir of Mallory Legard of Troutsdale, County York, youngest son of John Legard of Ganton in the same County by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Mallory, Knight. She died in London in 1698.
Mathew Peirson was knighted at Whitehall on 2 June 1669. He was High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1706. In 1680 his brother John Peirson married, apparently at Malton, Elizabeth, daughter of Tim Portington of Malton, their ages being given in the licence as 25 and 19 respectively.
The following entry in the Lowthorpe parish register is printed in the above-mentioned article on Lowthorpe:
- 14 February 1712, Sir Mathew Peirson of Lowthorpe and John Peirson, Esq, his brother, of Raistrope, were buried in the chancel of Lowthorpe Church in one grave under a great stone, both having died on 11 February, one at 3 o'clock in the morning, the other at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
They were stated to have been aged 63 and 59 respectively at death.
The will of Sir Matthew Peirson of Lowthorpe, dated 1 February 1711, was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 12 January 1713, by his son and executor William Peirson. He left his lands and houses (described at some length) to his son and heir William. He left legacies (mainly quite small) to his children Mallory, Francis, Richard, Elizabeth Strickland, Mary Wanless and Sarah. He stated that Mallory owed him money and must repay it to his estate. He made William his executor, but he made trustees, in certain circumstances, his brother John Peirson of Raistrop and his "kinsman" John Peirson of Mowthorpe.
Mrs Frances Rokeby
Sister of Sir Mathew Peirson.
The Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal, Volume 6, gives a genealogy of the Rokeby family. It mentions that a William Rokeby, son of Thomas Rokeby, was baptised in 1672 and was living abroad in 1720; that he married Frances Peirson of Lowthorpe; and that her will was dated 12 October 1720.
The above-mentioned article on Lowthorpe gives the following extracts from the parish register:
- 26 August 1711 - Mrs. ffrancis Rokeby, formerly Mrs Holmes, daughter of John Peirson of Lowthorpe, Esq, gives to the Parish Church of Lowthorpe A large Gold Ring, with the Inscription (Obey and Rule) with use of all such, as shall com to be Married att the said Church, and are unprovided with a Ring.
- And her desire is, this Ring be kept (for the use above) by Sr Mathew Peirson and his heirs.
- December 1723 - That Mrs Fra Rookby, sister to Sir Math Peirson Knt did give by hr last Will and Testamt for the use of Lowthorp Church.
- (Here follows a list of linen and plate).
I have seen another copy of the former entry which has 'ffrances' instead of 'ffrancis'; 'ffrances' is presumably correct.
The ring and plate are still in the church.
Children of Sir Mathew Peirson
All 14 were baptised at Lowthorpe.
William, the eldest surviving son, was born on 1 January 1675, died without issue on 31 August 1717, aged 40 years (sic), and was buried at Lowrhorpe. In the Williams manuscript his wife is daughter of Levigne, of London.
Mallory Peirson, the next son, was born on 8 April 1677; his will was proved at York on 1 July 1740. A Mallory Peirson who may have been identical was in charge of the Commissary-General's office in 1723.
Mathew Peirson, the next son, was baptised on 12 June 1681. He having died unmarried at Madapolam, Madras, the Prerogative Court of Canterbury granted administration to his father on 14 December 1702.
John Peirson, the next son, was born on 15 October 1684. In the Williams manuscript he is shown as killed at Hochsted, unmarried. In the College of Arms pedigree he is shown as in the Army and slain in battle about 1704. Hochsted is another name for Blenheim (1704). This is consistent with his not being mentioned in Sir Mathew's will, but he is not mentioned in the Blenheim roll in Dalton's Army List.
Sir Mathew Peirson's sons Francis and Richard are dealt with below. Walter, Christopher and Katherine are not mentioned in their father's will or in the Williams manuscript, and probably, therefore, died young.
Lt-Colonel Francis Peirson, grandfather of Major Peirson
Fifth surviving son of Sir Mathew Peirson. Captain in Feilding's Foot, 25 April 1711. Half-pay 8 August 1712. Captain in Pocock's Foot, 26 September 1715. Half-pay, 25 June 1717. Captain in Bissett's (30th) Foot, 25 August 1717. Major 27 September 1732. Lt-Colonel in Otway's (35th) Foot, 8 January 1740. Retired I June 1745.
The Parish register of Wharram Percy (the parish containing Raisthorpe) contains entries of the following marriages:
- 1723 John Pierson and Sarah Pierson
- 1730 Captain Francis and France Pierson
- 1740 Edward Pierson and Dorothy Gream
The College of Arms pedigree states that Lt-Colonel Francis Peirson was born 2 March 1686, baptised at Lowthorpe 16 March 1686, died 8 October 1753, and was buried at Bath Abbey, 9 October 1753. The dates of death and burial are in accord with his tombstone in Bath Abbey, and with the Registers of the Abbey. But the London Magazine states that he died 14 October 1753, and the Gentleman's Magazine 16 October 1753.
His will was dated 31 August 1751, and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 5 February 1754, by Frances Peirson, his widow. He left everything to his wife Frances, asking her to leave it to his daughter Sarah, as he had made suitable provision for his sons Francis and Mathew in his lifetime. The will of his widow Frances was dated 24 May 1780, and proved at York on 18 October 1781.
Peirsons of Mowthorpe
The Rev P E T Widdrington, a relative of Major Peirson's brother-in-law William Tinling, has a number of old manuscripts relating to the Peirson family. One lengthy one purports to be an abstract of the title of Major Peirson's sisters to Mowthorpe Grange and other lands at Mowthorpe and Kirby Grindalythe, and comprises an abstract of a large number of legal documents ending with one dated 1790.
The manuscript recites the will of Thomas Peirson of Mowthorpe, dated 24 March 1688. This mentions John his eldest son, and Elizabeth, Thomas and William his younger children. Appoints as executors his wife and John Peirson and Thomas Holmes his nephews. His children were apparently all under 22 years of age.
The manuscript mentions in 1703 Elizabeth Peirson, widow of the above testator, and John Peirson of Raystropp his nephew and surviving executor. The latter must be John Peirson of Raisthorpe, Sir Mathew Peirson's brother, and Thomas Peirson of Mowthorpe must therefore be brother of Elizabeth, daughter of John Peirson of Mowthorpe. Thomas Peirson's nephew Thomas Holmes is presumably the first husband of Mrs Frances Rokeby (above).
The manuscript describes the acquisition of the land at Mowthorpe by the above Thomas Peirson and his son John Peirson of Mowthorpe. It then recites the will of this John Peirson, dated 26 July 1731. He left an annuity to his wife Sarah, and his property with remainder successively to the following and the heirs male of their bodies: his sons; his daughters; his brother-in-law Edward Peirson; "the testator's godson Francis Peirson, son of his brother-in-law Francis Peirson"; the other sons of the brother-in-law Francis Peirson; the brother-in-law Francis Peirson absolutely.
The manuscript states that the testator died without issue 2 May, 1737. It describes the executor as Edward Peirson of Raisthorpe, and later mentions his widow Dorothy. It also mentions that the brother-in-law Francis made a will dated 31 August, 1751, and that in 1754 his widow Frances Peirson of the City of York signed a deed.
From the preceding two paragraphs it is clear that the above-mentioned marriages at Wharram Percy refer to the children of John Peirson of Raisthorpe, as shewn in the annexed pedigree.
Captain Francis Peirson, father of Major Peirson
2nd Lieutenant in Bissett's (30th) Foot, 1 March, 1739. 1st Lieutenant 6 June, 1741. Captain, 2 May 1751. Resigned 12 March 1754. It was not uncommon at that time for children to hold commissions. It will be noticed that his father was in the same regiment. He was stated to be aged about 22 in 1754.
Mr Widdrington's manuscript, mentioned above, describes transactions in 1754 of Francis Peirson of the City of York, to whom the above John Peirson was "uncle", and Mathew Peirson his brother. A marriage was then intended between the said Francis Peirson and Sarah Cogdell the Younger of the City of York, only surviving daughter and heir of John Cogdell then late of Beverley in the County of York Gentleman and Sarah his wife. (Another of Mr Widdrington's manuscripts indicates that John Cogdell was a grocer and alderman of Beverley, and died between 1729 and 1733 inclusive, and that his widow was living in 1754).
The marriage took place at St Helen's, in Stonegate, on 16 February 1754. In 1761 Francis Peirson appears in the manuscript as "Francis Peirson then of Pontefract in the County of York Esqr."
The manuscript recites indentures of 1778 between "Frans Peirson of the City of York Esqr of the first part Frans Peirson the Younger Esqr then a Lieutenant in His Majesty's 36th Regiment of foot Eldest Son and Heir apparent of the first named Francis Peirson by Sarah his Wife formerly Sarah Cogdell Spinster of the 2nd part" and others, disentailing the former's estates.
The manuscript relates that the said Francis Peirson the Son died a bachelor and intestate in the Island of Jersey on 6 January 1781.
The letter, from York, of Francis Peirson to the States of Jersey is printed in The Death of Major Peirson, by Ouless. Francis Peirson is also mentioned in the wills of Sir Richard Peirson and Mary Guerin (see below).
The will of Francis Peirson of Mowthorpe Grange was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 8 October 1784. He left his property, including his estate at Mowthorpe and Mowthorpe Grange and also his estate at Kirby Grindalythe, to his son Mathew, his wife Sarah and his daughters, the allocation depending on whether, and if so how, his cousin Mary Guerin would leave to his family her fortune and the fortune of his kinsman the late Sir Richard Peirson, Knight of the Bath. He appointed his wife Sarah executrix. Will dated 26 March 1781. In a codicil dated 27 April 1782, he mentioned a pension of £250 a year granted to him by His Majesty.
On 20 May 1786 there was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury the will of "Sarah Peirson now residing in the Close of the Cathedral Church of Chichester widow and relict of Francis Peirson late of the City of York Esquire", dated 3 May 1786. She mentioned her son and daughters, and made her daughters Sarah and Frances executrices.
Major Peirson's uncle Mathew was also in the Army. Ensign, 39th Foot, 15 April 1749. Lieutenant, 14 February 1754. Captain 90th Foot, 7 December 1759. Half Pay, 1763. Captain in an Independent Company of Foot serving in Africa, 2 August 1765. Local Lt-Colonel, 20 December 1765. Replaced as dead, 6 May 1767.
Mathew Peirson died in Senegambia on about 12 December 1766, and his will, dated 23 November 1766, was sworn in Senegal and was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 7 April 1767. Subject to a substantial life interest to Hariott Murray and a few minor legacies, he left his property successively to his mother Frances Peirson of Beverley; to his sister Sarah; to the younger children of his brother Francis Peirson of Beverley (apparently deliberately excluding Major Peirson); and to his own heirs for ever. The executors having failed to administer, administration was granted to his brother Francis on 23 June 1773.
Major Peirson's aunt Sarah is stated in the College of Arms pedigree to have been living unmarried in 1788. She is referred to in the will of Mrs Guerin, dated l0th March 1788, (see below) as "Mrs Sarah Peirson". The use of "Mrs" for an unmarried lady was at that time still possible, though old-fashioned.
Major Francis Peirson
Ensign, 36th Foot, 16 July 1772. Lieutenant, 36th Foot, 28 September 1774. Captain-Lieutenant and Captain, 75th (Prince of Wales) Foot, 20 May 1779. Major, 95th Foot, 7 April 1780. A Major was appointed in his place on 31 January 1781. As is mentioned below, his godfather Sir Richard Peirson was Colonel of the 36th Foot.
An inspection return of March 1780 states that he was aged 23 and had 7½ years service.
In 1933 I visited the late Miss F L Newbury and the Misses A A and M C Newbury, descendants of Frances Tinling, at Redmarley, Gloucestershire. They had a number of relics of the Peirson Family, including an old manuscript of which I took a copy, which reads as follows:-
- Francis Peirson came an Ensign into the 36th Regtiment commanded by Richard Peirson 16 July 1772. Left Brunswick in September 1773. Recruited in York till March 1774. Joined the Regiment at Chatham Barracks, from thence to Dover Barracks, in March 1775 went to York a Recruiting, staid on that duty, till December 1776, went with Ensign Saunders to Ireland, landed at Dublin (through Wales) 13 December 1776, went to Limeric (Headquarters), ordered to Captain Chesters Company at Dingle, staid there till June 1777, marched from thence to Waterford, staid there till October, ordered with the Command of the Gents Company to Clonmell, staid there till the End of December relieved by Captain Stesling, and returned to Waterford. On 23 March 1778 appointed Aid de Camp to Lt-General Peirson (as was Captain Hull of the same Regiment).
- Could not obtain leave to quit Ireland till the Middle of June. Joined General Peirson at Warley Camp Essex 10 June 1778. General Peirson and suite left Warley 10 November and went to Town. Went with the General to Ironshill Lodge 12 November, returned to Town in December, staid a few days, and went down to York, staid there till 21 February. 1779, arrived at Huntingdon the 23rd where the General was stationed to superintend the Execution of an Act of Parliament passed this Session for the better Recruiting His Majesty's Land Forces and Marines. Left Huntingdon 20 April, arrived in London the 28th. Appointed Captain Lieutenant to the Prince of Wales Regiment of Foot 20 May 1779.
- 14 June came to Coxheath Camp. 15 August went up to Town and was recommended and approved of being a Major to a Regiment raising by Col John Reid (the 95th). 24 September left Coxheath entirely. Arrived in London that day, staid in Town till 8 October arrived in York 19 October 1779 marched from York 22 February. 1780 to Leeds, marched from thence the 28th, arrived at Plymouth the 3 April, the 7th inspected and passed by Major-General Grey. 21 May the 95th received their colours on which occasion I gave them a discourse proper for the occasion. 3 June embarked on board the Horsendon Transport for Jersey, where the Regiment disembarked the 13th and encamped immediately. 1 November the 95th marched into Barracks at La Hogue, on 6 January 1781 my poor dear Brother was unfortunately killed."
This appears from internal evidence to have been edited from Major Peirson's diary by his brother or one of his sisters. In this connexion it is of interest that the Historical Record of the 36th Regiment, by Richard Cannon, states that the regiment was in Jamaica from 1764 to 1773, in England from 1773 to 1775 and in Ireland from 1775 to 1782. All the officers mentioned in the manuscript appear in contemporary Army Lists, except that instead of "Captain Stesling" the Army List has "Captain Stirling". In the 1780 Army List the appointments of all the officers of the 95th Foot date from 7 April, the date on which the regiment is stated in the manuscript to have been "passed", and the ensuing few days. "Iron Hill Lodge" is mentioned in Sir Richard Peirson's will (see below). Some further details in the manuscript are confirmed in the Society's Septieme Bulletin.
The York Courant for 16 January 1781, contains the following :
- York, January 16
- The gallant Major Peirson, who was unfortunately kill'd at the late Attack on Jersey, was Nephew to General Sir Richard Peirson, KB to whom he was Aid de Camp at Warley and Coxheath Camps, and scarcely 24 years of age.
- He was last year appointed Major to the 95th Regiment of Foot, of which he had the entire forming at this City, the conducting them to Plymouth, and had commanded them most of the Time they had been at Jersey. It was debated for some Time whether the Troops in the Island should not wait for Reinforcements from England, but principally thro' Major Peirson's Advice the sudden Attack was made, which succeeded so well for his Country, but so unfortunately for himself.
The Morning Chronicle (London) for 11 January 1781 also makes Major Peirson nephew to Sir Richard Peirson. The Complete Peerage, edited by Vicary Gibbs (under Chelmsford) makes him his son. The manuscript printed in the Society's Septieme Bulletin states that he was the eldest son of Francis Peirson, of Mowthorpe Grange, and second cousin to Sir Richard Peirson. Actually, he was Sir Richard Peirson's first cousin once removed.
Major Francis Peirson's brothers
Mr Widdrington's manuscript, mentioned above, relates that Mathew Peirson, brother of Major Peirson, was at the time of their father's death an infant and his only surviving son and heir at law, that he was a party to a deed in August 1786, and that he died a bachelor and intestate by May 1789.
His brother John is mentioned in the administration of his uncle Mathew's will (1773), but in view of the preceding paragraph, must have predeceased his father. He could have left no issue, as his sisters are called heiresses in the College of Arms pedigree and in various contemporary documents in the family. (An heiress is a lady who has neither father, brother, nor brother's issue living.)
Some descendants of Major Peirson's sisters are given in Burke's Peerage (under Chelmsford), Burke's Landed Gentry (under Marwood) and Notes and Queries.
Lt-Colonel RIchard Peirson
Sixth surviving son of Sir Mathew Peirson. Ensign, 1st Foot Guards, 10 March 1702. Lieutenant and Captain, 22 June 1709. Captain, Royal Fusiliers, 20 March 1711. Captain and Lt-Colonel 1st Foot Guards, 3 April 1718. Retired, 22 April 1742. Served throughout Marlborough's campaigns. Wounded at Schellenberg.
The College of Arms pedigree states that he was born 7 June 1688, baptised at Lowthorpe 19 June, 1688, and buried at St Helen's, York, 24 December 1742. But the Gentleman's Magazine states that he died at York, 3 January 1743, having ordered that his corpse should lie in state 40 days.
On 1 February 1743 administration of the estate of the "Hon Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Peirson late of the parish of St Mary Le Bone in the County of Middlesex but in the City of York Esq a widower deed" was granted by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury to Edward Kinaston, the Guardian of Richard Peirson, a minor and son of the deceased; Mary Peirson, spinster and daughter of the deceased, having renounced her right to administer.
On 16 May 1746, the Court tranferred the administration to Richard Peirson,he having attained the age of 21 years.
The title of "Honourable" is also applied to Lt-Colonel Richard Peirson in the London Magazine for January 1743, and to Sir Richard Peirson in the Morning Chronicle of 14 September 1781. It is not applied to them in Army Lists and in their other obituary notices which I have seen. It does not appear to have any significance.
Lieut-General Sir Richard Peirson
Ensign, 1st Foot Guards, 19 April 1741. Lieutenant and Captain, 13 November 1744. Captain-Lieutenant and Lt-Colonel, 16 March 1752. Captain and Lt-Colonel, 23 November 1753. 3rd Major and Colonel, 21 July 1760. 2nd Major and Colonel, 22 December 1761. Major-General 10 July 1762. Lieutenant-General, 25 May 1772.
Colonel, 63rd Foot, 5 September 1764. Transferred as Colonel to 36th Foot, 11 September 1765. Transferred as Colonel to 13th Dragoons, 27 November 1778.
Invested as Knight of the Bath, 13 November 1780. Not installed. Sir Richard Peirson died suddenly, of gout in the stomach, early on 13 February 1781, having returned home in perfect health from the Pantheon on the evening before. He was buried on 20 February 1781, in the South Audley Street Chapel, Middlesex.
Sir Richard Peirson's will was dated 6 April 1773, and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 2 March 1781. He left the bulk of his property to his sister Mary Guerin in her lifetime, then to his cousin Francis Peirson, of Mowthorpe Grange, Yorks, in his life time, then to his godson Ensign Francis Peirson, of the 36th Foot, son of the above Francis Peirson.
The will of his sister Mary Guerin, widow, of Bruton Street, in the parish of St George's, Hanover Square, was dated 10 March 1788, and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 7 April 1789. She left the bulk of her property to the daughters of her late cousin Francis Peirson of Mowthorpe Grange.
Peirson arms
The Visitation of 1665, above the pedigree quoted above, states "Arms-Per fess embattled gules and azure, three suns in splendour or, a canton argent. No proofe made of these arms".
Among the documents of the Misses Newbury (above) I found an original grant by the Kings of Arms to Sir Richard Peirson, dated 4 January 1781. By virtue of his being a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath it granted him the following supporters: dexter, a stag proper, charged on the shoulder with a sun or; sinister, a horse sable, bridled argent bitted and buckled gold charged as the dexter. It also granted to him and to all the descendants of his grandfather Sir Mathew Peirson, as an addition or alteration to the crest so far used, the crest: on a wreath of the colours a stag's head erminois within a park-pale proper. In the margin of the grant are depicted the shield as in the Visitation, the crest and supporters as above, and the mottoes Tria iuncta in uno (for the Order of the Bath) and Est ulubris.
On the other hand the Williams manuscript shows throughout the Arms-Per fess embattled gules and azure, three suns in splendour or; ie it omits the canton argent. The latter arms appear, with an escutcheon of pretence for Cogdale on the bookplate of Major Peirson's father "Frans Peirson Esqr Pontefract."
Frances Tinling's youngest daughter and heiress married Frederic Thesiger, created Baron Chelmsford. Their grandson the Hon. Percy Thesiger uses a book-plate-quarterly; rst and 4th, gules, a griffm segreant or, within an orle of roses argent, barbed and seeded proper, Thesiger; znd and jrd, quarterly, rst and 4th, argent, on a pile azure, a swan rising proper, Tinling, znd and jrd, per fess embattled gules and azure, three suns in splendour or, Peirson; over all a crescent for difference,
Major Peirson's watch, lent to the Society by the late Dr Ernest Williams (a descendant of Frances Tinling) has the following variation of these arms - Per fess embattled argent and or, three suns in splendour.
The crest of the parrot is given in the Williams manuscript (where it is shown as vert), on the bookplate of Major Peirson's father, on the watch, and on various pieces of plate in the family. It is given for the surname in Burke's General Armoury and in Fairbairn's Book of Crests, but is not recognised by the College of Arms for the surname (much less for the family). It will be noticed in the above-mentioned grant that a new crest was granted to Major Francis Peirson (amongst others) two days before his death.
The arms on the Visitation are evidently the most authoritative, and the later Peirsons seem to have been inaccurate in their use of armanuscript
Other ancestors' arms
For Ferrers the Williams manuscript has - Vaire or and gules. For Philip it has - quarterly, gules and argent, in the dexter chief quarter an eagle displayed or; this is shown in Burke's General Armoury as "Philip or Philips, London and Co Suffolk, late of Jamaica". From various published sources, however, the following arms for Philip of Marske can be collected: 1 and 8 azure, three sparrows closed proper, Philip; 2, azure, a maunch or, Conyers of Marske; 3, gules, a fess argent, in chief two plates, Cleesby; 4, sable, three greyhounds courant in pale argent, collared or, Mauleverer; 5, or, a fess gules, in chief three torteaux, Colville; 6, Azure, a maunch or, Conyers of Sockburne; 7, argent, a chevron between three crosses crosslet sable, Wycliffe.
The Williams manuscript gives the arms of Peirson of Mowthorpe as for Peirson of Lowthorpe. The Legard arms are not given in the Williams manuscript. They are given in the History of Beverley, by G Poulson, as follows: 1, argent, a bend gules, charged with a cross patee inter six mullets or, Legard; 2, argent, a bend gules, charged with three crescents of the first, Moyne ; 3, gules, a bend or, Whitworth; 4, or, three water budgets sable, Waddam.
The arms of Cogdale are given in the Williams manuscript and on Major Peirson's father's bookplate as - Quarterly, sable and or, in the dexter chief quarter a fleur-de-lis of the second. But these are given in Burke's General Armoury, not for Cogdale, but for Ashmole, and their use by Cogdale seems to have been quite irregular.
