Captain Pierce was my 11th Great Grand Father as explained in the previous Blog entry.  Many people are not as lucky as I am in having as much information about a person as we do about Captain Pierce

He was a seagoing man and very prominent in England and in the New English colonies.  First, he was a sea Captain.  For many years, the Spanish ruled the ocean and it was difficult to explore many parts of the new world without conflict.  The Spanish would build bigger and bigger ships and arm each one with Sailors and cannons that could crush a ship quickly if caught in the cross fire.  The English would soon learn that their smaller ships were fast and able to stay out of direct fire from the Spanish Galleons.  This tactic would mean that the rule of the ocean would become more balanced as the agile English vessels would destroy and keep the Spanish at bay.

Captain Pierce was in charge of many vessels and a key person in James City = Jamestown.  He came to the new world 1609 to 1610 and was given a many acres to have and farm.  Captain Pierce traveled on the Sea Venture which was separated from the other 5 ships coming to the new wold to bring supplies and was lost during a hurricane.  The ship took on water and the crew had to abandon ship in the Bermuda islands.  Over the next several months, the crew along with William Pierce would rebuild the ship to continue their travel to Jamestown.

Link to Early Ship Travel to the New World

He led two expeditions against the local natives the “Chickahomies” to stop the harassment the new area was given by some of the local natives.

Some believe that William Pierce was a captain of one of the Mayflower ships.  It is quoted that he captained a second voyage to the new world but I have not been able to find solid evidence of this activity.

He was Captain of the Governor Wyatt Guards in early Jamestown and later he became LT. Governor of James City in 1629.

William would be active in the government and active in the House of Burgess in the new world.  He would a member of the Virginia council from 1631 to 1648.

He captained several voyages of the ship Lyon to Boston in 1630 to 1634.  He worked to bring more and more English people to the new world and on his fourth sailing, his vessel would hit a reef and sink.  The ship would be replaced by the Rebecca and continue it’s journey to Boston.

Continuing his love for the seas, Captain Pierce would be killed by the Spanish in Bermuda as he was attempting to bring English colonist to the Island in 1641.  The story goes that he and his ship navigator would be killed as the Spanish fired across the top of their vessel.  The vessel would leave the area and return to the New Colonies instead and Captain Pierce would be buried at sea along the way back.

The Navy has played a key role in my family over the years.  Going from Captain Pierce to my Father and Brother who would also serve in the US Navy.   Thank you for your service to all Veterans and to Captain Pierce who helped build the United States.

Originally posted 2018-05-13 15:59:06.