Pearce

My ancestors came to New York in 1873.  I am interested in learning more about the family's English roots.  The couple who came to America were Henry Pearce and Ann Hurst.  Henry's parents were Samuel Pearce and Jane Lockier.  I do not yet know the parents of Ann Hurst, but do know that Henry Pearce married Ann Harse in 1840, and I believe these are my ancestors.  I hope some people there locally in Weston can help me make more connections.

I see from Familysearch that a Henry PEARSE married Ann HARSE on the 16th Sept 1840 at Temple Church in Bristol.  It gives Samuel PEARSE as Henry's father and William HARSE as Ann's father.

I haven't seen the original entry but perhaps the witnesses may give a clue to relations of Ann.

On the 1851 census of Worle there is a Labourer, Henry PEARCE born in Kewstoke in about 1816 with a wife, Ann who was born in Worle at about the same time with 5 children, Eliza, William Frederick, Agnes and John - is this your family?

From my experience of researching HASE - the names HARSE, HURST, HARES, HEARSE etc. are all variants and it was not uncommon for people from North Somerset to go to Bristol to get married.

I haven't found a suitable christening for Ann in Worle but there was a William & Ann HARSE who had a daughter, Betty, in 1820 christened in Worle and then another daughter, Mary, christened in Kewstoke in 1822.  William was a Farmer and appears to have the name William Ford HARSE.

A William Foord HARSE married an Ann Day WALKER on 7th October 1816 in St Thomas Church, Bristol (from a CD obtainable from the Bristol & Avon FHS)  I would have expected to find a daughter called Ann but haven't found one yet.

Perhaps someone else may know of this family?