Thomas Pearse (or Pearce, Pierce, 1749-1823) was the second child of Jeremiah Pearse and his wife Sarah. He was baptized at St. Michael’s Anglican Church. He is listed in records as a “yeoman”. In 1771, Thomas married Abigail Wardwell. Thomas and Abigail had three children: William, Stephen, and Jeremiah. Thomas was counted as a head of household in the 1774 Rhode Island Census. In 1776, he was a corporal in Billings Throope‘s Company of William Richmond’s Regiment. He was later a serjeant in Bristol’s militia company. During the Battle of Rhode Island, he served as an ensign, temporarily (taking the place of Jonathan Diman, who was acting as lieutenant) under the command of Captain William Throope. In 1780, Thomas was a serjeant in the Senior Class Company of the militia.
Bristol, Rhode Island in the Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Rev War Bristol 