Colonel Thomas Pearson was among the early settlers in Truro. He was an English officer, and came out to Florida, U.S., and was married there, and from thence to Truro, Nova Scotia, about the year 1784, at the time that the United States gained their independence. He resided in the house in which Mr. Hiram Hyde now resides, from the time he came to Truro until he moved into his own house in the year 1809, being the same house in which Mr. McKenzie now keeps as In. S. B. Robie represented Truro Township in the House of Assembly from the year 1799, until the year 1806. This year Mr. Robie obtained a seat for the County of Halifax, and Mr. Pearson represented Truro until the year 1811. This year James Kent, Esq., of the Lower Village, offered as a candidate for Truro. There was a pretty warm contest, and Kent was returned with a majority of two or three votes; a scrutiny was demanded by Pearson, and when the Assembly met on February 6th, 1812, a committee was drawn to try the matter, when it was proved that one or two of the votes for Kent were so bad that they were struck off. A very strong attempt was made to destroy the vote of Dumb John Johnson, but the committee decided in favor of his vote being good, and Kent retained his seat with a majority of one vote. He died July 24th, 1818, and his wife died February, 1826. He (Mr. Pearson) was married before he came to Truro.
Sarah, the eldest daughter of Thomas and Martha Pearson, was born before they came to Truro. She was married to John Crane. They had six sons and four daughters. Mr. Crane died in Economy, about 1850.
Rebecca, their second daughter was born 1784. She was married to Colonel William Dickson, of Onslow, January 29th, 1801. They had six sons and six daughters. He removed to Truro and purchased the place on which Mr. Hyde now resides, where he carried on a very extensive business selling goods and farming. He held the office of Registrar of Deeds, Prothonotary of the Supreme Court, and Clerk of the Peace, all at one time for a number of years. He was a very active man for business of almost every kind. He died February 5th, 1834, aged 55 years. His wife died June, 1833.
Rachel, daughter of Thomas and Martha Pearson, was born 1785. She was married to Thomas T. Brown, July 9th, 1801. They had seven sons and two daughters. They lived and reared their family on the farm which the Messrs. Putman now own, at Fort Belcher. He was a Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He died at Pictou and his body was brought to Truro for interment, October 15th, 1855, aged 77 years and his wife died Dec. 11th, 1854, aged 69 years.
William, the eldest son of Thomas and Martha Pearson, was born about the year 1788. He was married to Nancy Dempsey, of Aylesford, in the year 1811. They had one son and two daughters. He kept an Inn where William Bowland now resides. In this house his wife died in the year 1818. He was lost overboard from a schooner in the Bay of Fundy, December 3rd, 1834, near Spencer's Island. Thomas, his only son, was born May 10th, 1814. He was married to Sarah, daughter of John and Hannah Yuill, June 23rd, 1836. They had three sons and two daughters. He died on his way to California, February 23rd, 1852, and his wife died April 9th, 1868, aged 55 years. Martha, the eldest daughter of William and Nancy Pearson, was born April 17th, 1812. She was married to Ferguson McNutt, of Masstown, March 10th, 1835. They had four sons and six daughters. Susan, their second daughter, was born May 30th, 1816. She was married to Thomas D., eldest son of Hugh Johnson and Elizabeth Dickey, June 23rd, 1836.
Elizabeth, the fourth and youngest daughter of Thomas and Martha Pearson, was born in the year 1790. She was marred to Captain James Pearson. They had one daughter, whose name was Martha; She was married and removed to Cumberland. Captain Pearson died February 12th, 1816, aged 33 years, and his wife died July 7th, 1817, aged 27 years.
John, the second son of Thomas and Martha Pearson, was born in the year 1792. He was married to Esther, the youngest daughter of Robert MeElhenny of Londonderry, in the year 1813. Thomas, their son, was married to Esther, the youngest daughter of M.P. Martin. He was a sea captain, and perished at sea on a wrecked ship a few years after they were married, and his wife died soon after, November, 11th, 1842. Robert, another son of John and Esther Pearson, was married to Elizabeth, daughter of James and Esther Barnhill. They had one son and two daughters. He removed to California and died there about the year 1852. William Dickson, another son of John Pearson left home to follow the sea more than 30 years ago, and has not been heard from since. Hannah, their only daughter, removed to the United States. She was married to James, the eldest son of James and Margaret Fulton, of Stewiacke. She died in Boston, 1863. Frederick M., the fourth and youngest son of John and Esther Pearson was born in Pictou, February 13th, 1827. He was married to Eliza Crowe, daughter of James Crow and James Fletcher, 4th April, 1850. They have four sons and three daughters. For a number of years he carried on a large business shipbuilding at Masstown, and importing and selling goods. He is now carrying on a large business in Truro, importing and selling flour and other goods. He is a Justice of the Peace, and in the year 1870, he was elected to represent Colchester in the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada. On August 15th, 1872, he was re-elected.
John Pearson died at Truro in July, 1844. His widow died at her son's, at Masstown, July 13th 1871, aged 76 years.
Thomas, the third son of Thomas and Martha Pearson, was born in the year 1794. He died a bachelor August 25th, 1822, aged 28 years.
Charles, their fourth son was born in the year 1796. He died a bachelor about 1842.
Robert, the fifth and youngest son of Thomas and Martha Pearson, was born in the year 1798. He was married to Esther, the youngest daughter of William and Esther Smith, May 25th, 1820. They had three sons. Charles R., was their second son. The other two died when they were young. Charles R., Pearson was married to Mary, the only daughter of James and Mary Brining, April, 1850. They had two sons and three daughters. They inherited her father's property. Mrs. Pearson died May 12th, 1870, and Robert Pearson died December !7th, 1825, aged 27 years. His widow was married again to John L. Doggett, December 4th, 1828.
