• Born: 1850, Ipswich, Suffolk, England ¹
• Married (1): 26 Aug 1878, 156 St. Vincent St., Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland ²
• Married (2): 12 Oct 1885, St. Jude's Church, Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex, England ³
• Died: 25 Jun 1915, Larks Hill, Tuddenham, Suffolk, England ^{4 5}

  Research Notes:

At the time of the 1871 England Census Arthur Pearce, aged 20, born in Ipswich Suffolk, accountant's clerk, was with his parents Joseph Pearce, accountant, and Frances M, in St. Peters St., Ipswich St. Peter.

At the time of the 1881 England Census Arthur Pearce, aged 30, born in Ipswich Suffolk, public accountant, and wife Elizabeth Jane, aged 30, born in Ipswich, were living in Willoughby Road Villas, Ipswich St. Mary Stoke, Suffolk. With them were children (born in Ipswich): Arthur James (1) and Ethel Muriel (3 mo).

At the time of the 1891 England Census Arthur Pearce, aged 40, born in Ipswich Suffolk, chartered accountant, and [2nd] wife Alice Pearce, aged 34, born in Forest Hill Kent, were living in Rhynwick Lodge, 150 Woodridge Road, St. Helen, Suffolk. With them were children (born in Ipswich): Arthur Jas (11), scholar, Ethel M (10), scholar, William H (4), Phyllis M (2), and Beatrice K (10 months).

In June 1900 Arthur Pearce, chartered accountant, was granted Probate of his late mother's personal effects.

At the time of the 1901 England Census Arthur Pearce, aged 50, born in Ispwich Suffolk, chartered accountant, and wife Alice Pearce, aged 44, born in Forest Hill Kent, were living at 55 Henley Road, Ipswich St. Margaret, Suffolk. With them were children (born in Ipswich): Arthur J (21), clerk C.C., Phyllis M (12) and Beatrice K (10). Visiting was [Alice's aunt] Emily Green (68) of London Middx, widow.

At the time of the 1911 England Census Arthur Pearce, aged 60, born in Ispwich Suffolk, chartered accountant, and wife of 25 years Alice Pearce, aged 54, born in Forest Hill Kent (mother of 3 children), were living at 55 Henley Road, Ipswich Suffolk. With them was son Harold (24) of Ipswich, articled pupil (accountant).

------------------------

DEATH OF MR. ARTHUR PEARCE.

IPSWICH BOROUGH ACCOUNTANT

It is with regret that we have to announce the death of one of the most prominent of Ipswich townsmen in the person of Mr. Arthur Pearce. The news will come as a great shock to many, for apparently Mr. Pearce was enjoying good health, and even as late as five o'clock on Thursday afternoon he was at his office in Corn Exchange Chambers, Princes Street. He left for his home at Tuddenham soon afterwards. He was taken ill a little later, and expired during the night, the cause of death being heart failure.

Mr. Pearce was an Ipswichian by birth and descent, and was educated in the borough. His father, Mr. Joseph Pearce, was closely associated with the earlier thrift agencies which during the last half-century have been a distinctive feature in the life of Ipswich. Arthur was the youngest son; in boyhood, and for many succeeding years, he was ardent oar-man, and figured prominently in the rowing matches on the Orwell, being captain of the Petrel Rowing Club. He afterwards owned a cutter yacht, which was well known in local waters, and his interest in rowing and sailing contributed greatly to the prosperity of the clubs with which he was associated. In August, 1877, by which time the assumption of professional responsibilities had compelled him to relinquish some portion of the sports and pastimes of youth, the members of the Petrel Rowing Club made him a handsome presentation, in recognition of his services.

Mr. Pearce for a period of forty years held a number of important offices in connection with the public life of the town. The most important was that of Borough Accountant and Superintendent Collector of Rates. He was appointed Accountant to the Sanitary Authority, jointly with his father, on November 9th, 1876; on the father's death in April of the following year he undertook full responsibility, and later received the important appointment alluded to. In the early part of 1877 also he succeeded his father as Secretary of the Ipswich and Suffolk Freehold Land Society. In this connection his work has been most invaluable, and it would not be exaggerating to say that the success of the Society has in great measure been due to his energy. So appreciative of his work were the members that in connection with the Jubilee of the Society in 1899 they presented him with a massive silver tray, weighing 174 ounces, and bearing the following inscription: "Presented to Mr. Arthur Pearce, F.C.A., by members of the Ipswich and Suffolk Freehold Land Society, on the occasion of the celebration of its jubilee, October 12th, 1899," and to Mrs. Pearce a chased gold keyless lever watch, engraved on the back with her monogram, and a case containing a silver-backed mirror and hair-brush. The gift was accompanied by an album containing the signatures of over one thousand members of the Society. The presentation was made by the then Mayor (Alderman E. P. Ridley), the solicitor to the Society.

Mr. Pearce also succeeded to the managerial or secretarial work of other societies, in which he found full scope for that mastery of financial detail which was a notable feature in his business life. From the public point of view comparatively little transpires of the work of the Eastern Counties' Permanent Benefit Building, Copyhold Enfranchisement, and Investment Society; many business men in Ipswich and Suffolk will nevertheless testify that the work of the Society, under Mr. Pearce's management, has been as extensive and important at [sic] the title suggests. The Ipswich Monetary Club is also included in the group of financial agencies which have attained high reputation under his direction.

Mr. Pearce was the first honorary secretary of the Ipswich Golf Club, in the founding of which in 1895 he took a prominent part, and he acted in that capacity until the annual meeting in January, 1911, when his retirement was announced. In 1905 he was the recipient of a handsome present from the Club, and when he retired he jocularly remarked that in the intervening six years he had been trying to deserve the gift. About 130 members subscribed to the testimonial, which comprised a silver tea set and a silver cigar and cigarette box. The presentation was made under the chairmanship of Mr. H. St. George Cobbold. Most Ipswich golfers know how much the Club owed to Mr. Pearce for his indefatigable work on its behalf.

By the death of Mr. Pearce the Orwell Corinthian Yacht Club loses one of its oldest members. When the meeting was held on July 3rd, 1888, with reference to establishing the Club, Mr. Pearce was present, and in proposing a resolution as to the offices of the Club made an interesting little speech about yachting. He was then elected a member of the Committee, upon which he served for several years. From its very commencement Mr. Pearce had been hon. auditor to the Club, and later on, as recognition of his great help, he was made an honorary member. In the earlier days, and before he took to golf, Mr. Pearce was quite a keen sailor, and used to own the cutter yacht Mabel, and in her he sailed in several of the early handicap races of the Club. The deceased gentleman was a very good sailor and could handle the tiller to very good purpose, and his breezy manner and good temper made him a popular skipper. Ever of a most genial nature he made hosts of friends, and most members of the Club will recollect his singing at Club concerts and dinners, and his rendering of a one-time popular song dealing with the length to which "A Little British Army" would go will always be remembered.

Generously disposed, Mr. Pearce readily undertook the position of honorary auditor of numerous societies and agencies of a philanthropic character, and these were very greatly appreciated. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the East Suffolk War Relief Fund, held on Friday, Mr. E. G. Pretyman, M.P., the chairman, said the Committee would be sorry to hear that their hon. auditor, Mr. Pearce, had died suddenly that morning. He was actually at work on the previous day auditing the accounts of the Committee. Mr. Pearce was a man who was highly respected, and it would have been their pleasure that day to have thanked him for the work he had done for the Committee. They were deeply sorry that instead they could only express the thanks they owed to him, and at the same time express their deep sympathy with his widow and family in their great loss. The Committee showed their concurrence in the expressions used by the Chairman by standing in silence.

Mr. Pearce, who was 64 years of age, was twice married, and he leaves five children—Mr. A. James Pearce, of Ipswich, associated with his father in business, and Mrs. G. H. Peacock, of Eastbourne, by his first wife, and Mr. W. Harold Pearce, Miss Phyllis Pearce, and Mrs. Lightbody by his second wife. Mr. Harold Pearce is with the Cape Mounted Rifles, fighting in German South West Africa, and Miss Phyllis Pearce is nursing wounded soldiers at Broadwater. Mrs. Lightbody is the wife of Lieut. G. K. Lightbody, who is attached to the 1st Suffolks.

Mr. Arthur Pearce's brother, Mr. Robert Pearce, M.P. for the Leek Division of Staffordshire, has attained unique distinction. Beginning professional life as a solicitor in Ipswich, he removed to the Metropolis in 1872, and became one of the principal movers in bringing the parochial charities of the City of London under the management of a single board. In 1908 he first introduced the measure known as the Daylight Saving Bill, and it is as the author of this measure that he has achieved fame.

East Anglian Daily Times, Saturday, 26 Jun 1915, p. 4

------------------------

Arthur Pearce of Larks Hill Tuddenham Suffolk, chartered accountant, died 25 June 1915. Probate Ipswich 24 July to Arthur James Pearce, chartered accountant, and William Rowley Elliston, barrister at law. Effects £17893 5s. 5d. ⁵