Edmund Pearsall

Edmund Pearsall

Even though Edmund did not live in the colonies, he was an early investor in the New World.

In 1552, Edmund Pearsall moved to London and became a merchant of the staple (grocer). He worked at this his entire life except for one year. He died when he was older than 100 years old. As a historical note this means that Edmund was working during the last years of the reign of Queen Mary; during all of the reign of Queen Elizabeth; during all of the reign of King James I, and during the early years of the reign of King Charles I.

Edmond had become very wealthy. His younger brother Robert Pershall thought it would be a good idea to put the surplus funds into real-estate ventures that he would manage. He talked his brother into becoming a partner with him on some speculative real-estate ventures. Edmond put up the money. Robert made the deals and managed all of the real estate side of things. Robert was not as honest as Edmond supposed he would be and this did not become known until Roberts's death. Therefore, Robert is buying many other items. Some things he recorded in his name alone. Some things he rented out but declaring less than he actually received and split half of that less amount with Edmund and pocketing the difference. (Chancery proceedings (James I., Bundle 15, No. 64), and to (Chancer y Proceedings, Charles I., Bundle 53, No. 48; Bundle 65, No. 37))

In the meantime: around 1610 England approached Edmund and they made a deal. Edmund purchased a license to merchandise tobacco that will be grown in Virginia. Edmond purchased this license and was granted a monopoly for the distribution on tobacco. (Upon time to renew this license, England decided to open up the merchandising to everyone. They had to pay a fee on the tobacco that they sold.) This made Edmund rich by 1624. He was one of the richest men in England. He continued the grocer business and his son, Thomas, managed the tobacco business from 1613.

Sometime between 1624 and 1626 Edmond was involved with some risky venture and he lost all of his wealth on the venture. His family (not his brother Robert's side) came to his rescue and paid his debts and gave him money. He lost this money in another venture. Edmund was over 90 years old at this time.

Soon Robert Pershall, Edmund's little brother, dies. In Robert's will he left his huge estate to his daughter, Mary Styles, (She married Sir Humphrey Styles) and to his wife. The problem was, according to the will, many of the items that should have been Edmund's was being claimed to be solely Robert's. The will also claimed that Edmund owed Robert's estate money for loans that Robert had supposedly given to Edmund. The record showed many lawsuits and eventually Edmund lost. Edmund's family offered to pay Edmund's debt to Robert's estate but Edmund refused and went to debtors prison at Fleet Prison in London, England. However, in Edmund's case it was easier because he had belonged to a merchant guild and they gave him a small pension for his retirement. This was an insurance that you received from a fund in the union if you became impoverished in your old age. With this pension, he was able to pay the guards and come and go as he pleased.

Sir Humphrey Styles (husband to the Mary Edmund's niece) wanted to motivate Edmund to pay them the money in question and to drop all the lawsuits where Edmund was suing them to reclaim his lost property. Sir Humphrey Styles pulls some strings and has Edmund's son Edmund Jr. put into Fleet prison as a political prisoner on false charges. Edmund Jr. died at Fleet prison on 26 Mar 1629. Instead of caving in Edmund Sr., with his entire family gathered around, made out his last will. In this will he gave away his estate that he should receive from the many lawsuits in his majesties courts to his heirs. He named them to act in his stead for these lawsuits.

In April 1629 Edmund dies.

Years later, the suits were heard and Edmund won. The niece and sister in law had to pay the estate the money due them and give back the stolen properties.

Quoting "The Pearsall Ancestry" By Clarence Edmond Pearsall:
"...After all, could any one have asked a more fitting and a more glorious ending to the life of this old merchant prince, than that under these circumstances he died in the Fleet prison in the City of London. For seventy-five years he had been in business in this City as a merchant of the staple and as a member of the Grocers Guild. At the end, he enjoyed universales teem, not only in his own city, but in all England as well as all over the known world. His life had been one of unsullied truth, and spotless integrity, and he was applauded and acclaimed as being of reputable character. It is to his everlasting credit and honor that he suffered the indignities and degradation of imprisonment rather than compromise with untruth. Or condone with dishonesty, or to pardon a wrong the act of forgiving which involved a confession of moral turpitude and depravity so utterly at variance with his whole lifetime history and conduct...."

The early Pearsall family is exhaustively described in "History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America" by Clarence Pearsall and Harry Neale. This family history extends back to Rognvald, Earl of More, in the 8th century. His family is tied to early Norse legends. His son, Hrollauf was King of Iceland. Another son, Eyner, was Earl of the Orkney Islands. His son Rollo, from which this Pearsall family descends, was the first Duke of Normandy.

More About Edmund Pearsall:
Burial: St Brides Church, London, England.
Record Change: January 23, 2004

More About Edmund Pearsall and <Unnamed>:
Marriage: June 09, 1597, London, County Of Middlesex, England.

Children of Edmund Pearsall are:
+Thomas Pearsall, b. Abt. 1586, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, England, d. Abt. 1642, Isle Of Wright County, Virginia.

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alternate birth date 1531?

Possible alternate spelling of last name is Pershall. When he entered into business in London in 1552, he changed the spelling of his name from "Pershall" to "Pearsall," and all his children were named "Pearsall." Later, he made an effort to use "Peshall."

("The Pearsall Family," Chapter 26, Section 1.)

Birth: ABT 1531

Death: 26 MAR 1629 in Fleet Prison, London Occupation: Merchant Of The Staple

Note:

   Chapter 26, Section 1

Father: Richard PERSHALL

Mother: Isabelle ROLLESTON

Marriage 1 Maria BATHHURST b: 1555 in Alderman, Bathurst, London

   * Married: 9 JUN 1567

Children

  1. Edmund PERSHALL PESHALL b: 1570 in Horsley, Staffordshire, England

2. Thomas PEARSALL b: 1571 in London, England
3. Mary PEARSALL b: ABT 1583 in Bromley, Kent, England
4. Robert PEARSALL b: ABT 1590
Sources:

  1. Type: Book

Author: Clarence Pearsall
Periodical: History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America
Publication: H. S. Crocker, San Francisco 1928
Page: 1915 pages
Page: Chapter 26, Section 1, Page 856

Birth: ABT 1531

Death: 26 MAR 1629 in Fleet Prison, London

Occupation: Merchant Of The Staple

Note:

   Chapter 26, Section 1

Father: Richard PERSHALL

Mother: Isabelle ROLLESTON

Marriage 1 Maria BATHHURST b: 1555 in Alderman, Bathurst, London

   * Married: 9 JUN 1567

Children

  1. Edmund PERSHALL PESHALL b: 1570 in Horsley, Staffordshire, England

2. Thomas PEARSALL b: 1571 in London, England
3. Mary PEARSALL b: ABT 1583 in Bromley, Kent, England
4. Robert PEARSALL b: ABT 1590
Sources:

  1. Type: Book

Author: Clarence Pearsall
Periodical: History and Genealogy of the Pearsall Family in England and America
Publication: H. S. Crocker, San Francisco 1928
Page: 1915 pages
Page: Chapter 26, Section 1, Page 856

He married Maria Bathurst. Maria was born in London, England abt 1564. Maria was the daughter of Lancelot Bathurst. Edmond Pearsall changed the name of his family when he entered into business in London in 1552. Thereafter, the family name was spelled "Pearsall". He was a Merchant of the Staple and an officer in the Grocers Guild, the largest financial backer of international trade and shipping. His name is on the list of supporters of the charter for the second Virginia Colony. It was there the family tobacco fortune was made. After a series of land and finance frauds committed by his brother Robert and Robert's heirs against Edmond and his family and business, both Edmond Pearsall and his son Edmond died in Fleet Street debtor's prison.