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George Pearse

George Pearse (1839-1914) was the second son of William [Silas] Pearse (1808-1866) the patriarch of the clan in WA. He was a member of the Town Council (under his father's chairmanship) 1871-72 and 1875-82, and founder of the Pearse shoe and boot factory in Swan Street, North Fremantle. This was the business of three of the Pearse brothers: George, James, and Francis (1847-1919). See the Heritage Council entry for Hillcrest.

This George married (Mary) Eliza Hawkins, and had a son whom he named George Ernest Pearse [1878-1946] - who was also a significant person, especially in East Fremantle, so the two may be confused. He had two other sons, and two daughters.

The elder George Pearse owned a substantial family home at 56 Harvest Road North Fremantle from 1911, but may not have lived there, as the report of his funeral in 1914 says that the cortege left his home 'Lilburn' in Queen Street to go to St John's and then the cemetery. He and his wife Eliza were also resident there in 1898 when she died.

PEARSE, George, b. 1.12 . 1839, d. 27.6.1914. son of William and Susannah (nee Glyde). m. 5.4.1874 (Perth C/E) Mary Eliza HAWKINS b. 1843 d. 17.1.1898 (Frem), dtr. of John & Mary. Chd. Ada Eliza b. 1874, Amy Blanche b. 1875, George William b. 1876, George Ernest bp. 1878 d. 1946, Silas Henry bp. 1881 d. 1923 of "Meeka Station". In partnership with brother W.S. employed 42 T/L men on occasions 1865-1880, many butchers, a tanner, clerks & cooks, 3 at Champion Bay. Fremantle butcher 1863- 70s. Member of Bd. of Educ. 1871, Mechanics' Institute Committeeman 1866. Member Town Council 1871-1882. President of Frem. Building Soc. 1907-8. ?Made voyages to Eastern colonies.

One of his daughters (probably Ada, as Amy married Alexander Hamilton) must have married one F. D. Sewell, as he is said to have at his 1914 funeral as his son-in-law. Their sons Reg and William Sewell were also at the funeral.

Daily News, Tuesday 30 June 1914, page 5: obituary—
THE LATE MR. GEORGE PEARSE
By the death of Mr. George Pearse, senr., Fremantle has lost one of its most respected and oldest citizens, he having been born in the northern suburb 74 years ago. The long funeral cortege moved from his late residence, 'Lilburn,' Queen-street, Fremantle, and proceeded to St. John's Church, where a service was conducted by the Rev. Canon R. H, Moore, assisted by the Rev. E. S. Clairs. In the course of an address, the Canon mentioned that it is given to few to live to old age, and to enter into rest with riches and honor. Many toil and have little reward. Few again who have attained wealth and ease remember the Giver of all good things. Mr. Pearse was born while the old church was being built, and was a member of the first committee for the building of the new, which was just 48 years ago. Of recent years he was too feeble to take any active part, but he was always most ready and willing to help spontaneously, and during his last days his chief interest was to watch the work progress. He has gone to rest, but he leaves an example to young men, for one who has given time to the service of God, who in his old age found peace and solace in his simple faith. May he rest in peace, and may the light perpetual shine upon him.
After the service, which concluded with the singing of the hymn, Lead Kindly Light, the funeral proceeded to the Fremantle Cemetery, where the remains were interred in the Church of England portion.
The chief mourners were:- Mr. George E. Pearse (son), Messrs. Sam, Francis, and James Pearse (brothers), Messrs. F. D. Sewell and A. P. Hamilton (sons-in-law), Masters G. S. Pearse, Reg and Jack Hamilton, and Reg and William Sewell (grandsons), Mr. K. F. Duffield (cousin), and Messrs. Geo. A., Frederick, and Sept. Pearse, Frank and Mervyn Bateman, Dave Francis, and William Cecil, and Frederick Hawkins (nephews). (The son, Mr. Silas Pearse, manager of 'Meka' station, Yalgoo, was unavoidably absent,) The pallbearers were:- Hon. Edward McLarty, M.L.C., Hon. B. G. Gawler, M.L.C., Major G. B. Humble, and Messrs. A. G Leeds, C. L. Clifton, Arthur E. Davies, William Hooper, and J. H. Payne. Amongst those present were : - The Mayor (Mr. McLaren) , Rev. Robert Hanlin, Rev: A. J. Priestley, Rev. G. A. Wright, Rev. Anderton, Rev. Corly Butler,: Hon. J. F. Allen, M.L.C., Dr. Anderson, Dr. Dermer, Messrs. J. C. Forman, Turton, S. A. Mews, Geo. A. Davies, Fermaner, Wilkinson; E. Parry, A. E. Whately, B. T. Daly, Morrison, Tom Carter, Patterson, P. H. Anderson, Capt. Foxworthy, Alex, Watson, John Twinem, C. S. Spence, J. Paisley, Q. F. Payne, John Church, G. Newman, Madden, Colls, John Mitchell, Stevens, F. Taylor, Jackson, Hutty, W. Armstrong; J. J. Higham, Hudson, G. F. .Moore, Maher, W. Hoev. Capt. Biddles, W. Tickell, Lahore, H. H. Parker, Fisher Beard, L. B. Bateman, and numerous others. Wreaths were received from various societies, companies, also from numerous relatives and friends. A large number of communications of condolence have .been received by the relatives, The Rev, Canon K.M. Moore, M. A., assisted by the Rev. E. S. Clairs, officiated at the grave, in the presence of a very large gathering. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. Arthur E. Davies and Co. of Fremantle and Claremont.

References and Links

Lee, Jack 1979, This is East Fremantle (The story of a town and its people), East Fremantle Town Council.

Many thanks to Rob Ward for a comprehensive and invaluable genealogy of the Pearse family.

Ancestry.com.au page, with names and dates of children of the patriarch.

See also the page for 'Lilburn', George Pearse's house in Queen Street, and another page for a Pearse house at 56 Harvest Road North Fremantle.

Freotopia

This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally created on 12 July, 2016 and hosted at freotopia.org/people/pearsegeorge.html (it was last updated on 15 March, 2024), and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.