Rebecca* Pierce

Rebecca Wiltbank's maiden name of Pierce comes from the death certificates of her children (Margaret Hughes, Eliza J. Sheppard, Addie Caroline Dougherty). Her death certificate states she died at age 84 of cancer in Farmhurst, DE on Dec 12 1898.

*Some on-line genealogies have Rebecca Pierce as d/o Henry Ward Pearce of Matthew and Mary (Read) Pearce who was son of Henry Ward Pearce who died c1809. This compiler believes that to be incorrect as Matthew's children were not born till just after 1800 and would be too young to have fathered Rebecca born c1814. She does seem to be a descendant of Henry Ward Pearce Sr. who died in 1809 but uncertain at this time which line. She may be a daughter of the line from the other son of Henry Ward Pearce who died c1809 and that would be Henry Ward Pearce Jr. who died in 1803. The elder Henry Ward Pearce names two grandsons in his will of 1808/1809, namely William and Henry. Rebecca may be a daugther of that William Pearce (he is the only one with a female of the right age in his household in 1820 and 1830). But it also seems that the elder Matthew Pearce may have fathered Rebecca himself via Mary (Read) Pearce who, what some genealogies say, died at age 45 in 1816 - more research needed.

**NOTABLE: Child Jesse P. Wiltbank may provide clue to Rebecca's parents/family - is this Jesse PIERCE Wiltbank? There were Jesse Pierce's living in the area that could have fathered Rebecca Pierce...one in Brandywine Hundred (seems this one died c1839 and is not a candidate) and one in Christiana Hundred. William Pearce/Pierce of Henry Ward Pearce Jr. had a son named Jesse - was this Rebecca's brother? Research continues.

Rebecca* married David Simpson Wiltbank, son of Cornelius Wiltbank and Rebekah Simpson?, about 1840. (David Simpson Wiltbank was born on 17 Dec 1811 in New Castle Co., DE,^{5 6 7 8} died on 17 Aug 1899 in New Castle Co., DE ⁴ and was buried on 19 Aug 1899 in Riverview Cemetery, Wilmington, New Castle Co., DE.)