Pearce, James

Introduction:

While current research has established Kent-born JAMES PEARCE (1800-1843) was initially a shoemaker and father of Profilist and Photographer Benjamin Pearce (1831-1908), too few authenticated profiles and an absence of advertising make his own artistic endeavours difficult to evaluate.

Like son Benjamin, James Pearce produced cut-work. Three works attributed to him are housed in the National Portrait Gallery collection. The first, said to be of Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), is uninspiring with no highlighting used to indicate the Admiral's uniform or what would have been a chest-full of bestowed Orders.The second, with shirt and waistcoat picked out in Chinese-white is an indifferent profile, annotated in pencil of the ' Duke of Wellington from life by Benjamin Pearce (of St. Leonards) Father'. The third, of Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent ( 1786-1861), is plain black and competently cut. All three works have variable Bust-line terminations.

Fathering 6 boys between 1825 and 1842 before dying aged 42 in London, it appears from the 1851 Census that James Pearces' artistry, such as it was, influenced his 3 eldest sons. James Jnr. (1825-after1851) is recorded a ' Profile Painter' at a ' Vagrants Hotel' in Brixham, Devon : Benjamin, lodging at a grooms abode in Sleaford, Lincs was a ' Photographer" and Profilist : Alfred (1836-after 1881) ' Artist' was located living in London with his younger siblings, their mother Elizabeth (1801-after 1851) and Grandfather, 86 year old retired Cordwainer, George Pearce. However by 1861 Alfred had become a ' Labourer', James Jnr. had disappeared from definative records and only Benjamin continued cutting silhouettes into the early years of the C20th.

Regarding his personal circumstances, baptised in Eyethorne Kent in December 1800, James Pearce was the 2nd of 6 children, 5 sons and 1 daughter, born to cordwainer, George Pearce (1765-after 1851) and Susannah nee Gowlland  (1773-after 1806). Of their offspring oldest son the Reverend George Pearce (1799-1887) became a Baptist missionary, living and dying in India. Susanna (ca.1806-1883) married a Ramsgate school teacher and, doubtless taught the trade by their father, James and John (1806-1888) became boot and shoe makers.

In the 1841 Census James Pearce gave his occupation as ' Artist', though when or wether he entirely abandoned shoemaking is unknown. The given family abode was 16 Lawrence Pountney Lane in the joint parish of St. Martin Orgar and St. Clements, Eastcheap, London, and in September 1827 James Jnr. and George (1), sons of ' shoemaker' James and Eilzabeth Pearce of St. Martins, were baptised at St. Clements.

Elizabeth bore a further 4 sons ; Benjamin, born in Dover ; Alfred (1835-after 1891)  born in Brighton ; Frederick (1837-after 1851) born in London as was George (2) who was born in 1842. With no conclusive marriage or burial records, virtually nothing is known of Elizabeth Pearce other than the fact she was born in Middlesex ca. 1801.

By the 1851 Census, 8 years after her husbands death and still residing in Lawrence Pountney Lane, Elizabeth was eking out a living as a ' Straw Bonnet Maker', son Alfred was an, albeit short lived, "Artist', Frederick, an 'Errand boy ' and George (2) a ' Scholar'. Living with them too, and perhaps supplimenting the family income, was James Pearces' father, 86 year old retired cordwainer George Pearce.

James Pearce was interred 14th May 1843, aged 42 years at St. Martin Orgars' burial ground, St. Martins Lane, Eastcheap, London.

Revised: 27th. September 2025 (Brian Wellings)