Person:Elizabeth Kendall (4)

There is a controversy about who Elizabeth Kendall married. Both James Pierce and Joseph Pierce had a wife name Elizabeth. Francis Kendall, the immigrant, mentions a daughter Elizabeth Pierce in his will, but since both Elizabeths were married to their respective Mr. Pierces at the time of the will, this does not help. Which Elizabeth was Francis' daughter? As evidence below shows, I think it was the one who married Joseph, not the one who married James.

An example of the confusion (notes taken from Pierce Genealogy by Frederic Beech Pierce)

   p. 28: James Pierce (Thomas-2, Thomas-1), b. May 7, 1659; m. Elizabeth Kendall, b. Jan 15, 1653, d. Oct 16, 1715. He res. in Woburn and d. Jan. 20, 1742. 

   p. xv: Joseph, Watertown, s. of Anthony, had wf. Martha, and m. 2nd, 1698 Elizabeth (Kendall) Winship, freeman 1690, April 18. Ch. Joseph, b. 1669; Francis, b. 1671; John, b. 1673; Mary, b. 1674; Benjamin, b. 1677; Jacob, b. 1678; Martha, b. 1681; Stephen, b. 1683; Israel, b. 1685; Elizabeth, b. 1687. 

This answer is largely based an article in New England Historical and Genealogical Review, vol. 55, p 443, by William R. Cutter and Authur G. Loring (1909) which seems hard to impeach. (Note: William R. Cutter published an earlier article in NEHGR 39:17 which he is correcting here.) The 1909 article is largely based on a probate document concerning the estate of Ephraim Winship, the whole text of which was published in NEHGR 36:79. The pertinent excerpt from this document:

   "Ephraim Winship, late of Cambridge ffarms, dec'd intestate, ye 19th of Oct. 1696 & adm'x being granted to Eliza: ye Relict Widow of sd Ephraim Winship who afterwards Married with Joseph Peirce of Wattertowne, who after his Marriage with ye sd admistr'x proseeded to a further admist'n as to paying of debts &c. 

   His Hon'd ffather in law mr ffrancis Kendall at Wooburne demands that son in law Ephraim Winshep...." 

The vital records of Woburn do not show any marriage for James Pierce, who was mentioned as a neighbor of the Kendalls in Francis' will. But from the births of his children, we do know that his wife's name was Elizabeth. The article above discusses the wills of Abraham and Rose Parker of Chelmsford. In particular, the will of the widow Rose, dated 17 Sep 1691, mentions her daughter Elizabeth, the wife of James Pierce. Elizabeth Parker was not married at the time of her father's will 6 Aug 1685. The first child I can find for James and Elizabeth Pierce was Elizabeth, b. 1688.

Thus, the article makes a conclusive case, using primary sources, that Elizabeth Kendall married, first, Ephraim Winship, and then, second, Joseph Pierce. The wife of James Pierce was Elizabeth Parker, the daughter of Abraham and Rose Parker of Chelmsford.

1.   Pierce, Frederic Beech. Pierce genealogy : being the record of the posterity of Thomas Pierce, an early inhabitant of Charlestown and afterwords. (heritagequest online (via Kitsap Public Library))
   pages xii, 23, 28-29, 1882.

   [This source identifies the wrong husband for Elizabeth Kendall.]
   
   p. xiii:
   
   James, Woburn, s. of Thomas, Jr., b. 1659, m. Elizabeth Kendall, and had Elizabeth, b. Oct. 11, 1688; James, b. Feb. 28, 1690; Rebecca and Mary.
   
   p. xviii:
   
   Thomas, Charlestown Village alias Woburn; m. May 6, 1635, Elizabeth Cole, often styled "Sergt. Thomas," selectman, Woburn, 1660l had ch. Ensign John, b. Mar. 7, 1643; Thomas, b. June 21, 1645; Elizabeth, b. Dec. 25, 1646; Joseph, b. Sept. 22, 1648, d. Feb. 27, 1649; Joseph, b. Aug. 13, 1649; Stephen, b. July 16,1651; Samuel, b. Feb. 20, 1654; d. Oct. 27, 1655; Samuel, b. Apr. 7, 1656; William, b. Mar. 7, 1858; James, b. May 7, 1659; Abigail, b. Nov. 20, 1660; Benjamin, m. Mary Reed.
   
   p. 23:
   
   31. x. JAMES, b. May 7, 1659; m. Elizabeth Kendall.
   
   pages. 28-29:
   
   31. JAMES3 PIERCE (Thomas2, Thomas1), b. May 7, 1659; m.* Elizabeth Kendall, b. Jan. 15, 1653, d. Oct. 16, 1715. He res. in Woburn and d. Jan. 20, 1742.
   Children:---
   
   96. i. ELIZABETH, b. Oct. 11, 1688.
   97. ii. JAMES, b. Feb. 28, 1690; m. Hannah _____, and Phebe _____.
   98. iii. REBECKAH, b . Sept. 16, 1692; m. Feb. 12, 1714, Nathaniel Winship.
   99. iv. MARY, b. _____; m. Lea F. Kendall.
   
   * By this marriage a lunas naturae of an extra finger or toe, and sometimes both, was produced, and this has ever since appeared in this branch of the family.

2.   Vital Records of Woburn, MA
   1653.

   Vital Records of Woburn, MA
   
   Year Last Name Record Record Type
   653 KENDALL Elizabeth, d. of Francis. Jan. 15, 1653. more Birth
   [The forward, p. 1:7, says that years are given in their modern equivalents, hence this is 1652/3.]

3.   The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
   Volume 39, Pages 17-23, 1885.

   Article "Kendall Family of Woburn" by William R. Cutter

4. ↑ Johnson, Edward F. Woburn Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages . (Woburn, Massachusetts: Andrews, Cutler & Co., 1890-1919)
   138.
5. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society)
   55:243.

   "Kendall, Peirce or Pierce, and Parker: A Correction" by William R. Cutter and Arthur G. Loring

6. ↑ The 1715 death date often seen for Elizabeth Kendall is the date for James Pierce's wife and so does not apply to Elizabeth Kendall. On 22 Dec 1713, the widow Elizabeth and son Jacob were granted Administration on Joseph Peirce's estate. NEHGR 55:443 also cites the History of Lexington, p. 268, to say that the widow Elizabeth (Kendall) (Winship) Peirce was dismissed from Woburn to the church in Lexington.