Matthew Woodward Pearce

  General Notes:

Records show that the white house that remains on part of the original grant called "Orange Grove" (now Astoria Park), was built in 1834 by Matthew for his bride Mary Ann (Brien). The house has been greatly altered over the years, but it is still worth seeing. Matthew and Mary appear to have been well liked by people in the community, incluing the hired help. A Mr Cuff once recorded that -
"My grandfather and grandmother were quite young when they worked as hired hands for the Pearces, and Mr and Mrs Pearce, before they had there own chapel, drove my grandparents and other helpers on the farms, to Parramatta each Sunday in their family carriage. Mr and Mrs Pearce worshipped at the Anglican St Johns Church, but my grandparents were catholics and the other helpers were members of other churches, who all went off to their own chapels around the town, to be met again by Mr Pearce at four o'clock because everyone, after attending their churches, would picnic or visit relations and friends around the town for the remaining hours of the day".
Records also show Matthew took over the Howlong station about 1839, and for a while put Hiram Howard (his brother-in-law) in charge. The Howlong station was estimated at 64000 acres in 1848, but gradually the size was cut down to 38400 acres. Matthew, who became an Albury businessman, sold Howlong station in 1866.
"My grandfather and grandmother were quite young when they worked as hired hands for the Pearces, and Mr and Mrs Pearce, before they had there own chapel, drove my grandparents and other helpers on the farms, to Parramatta each Sunday in their family carriage. Mr and Mrs Pearce worshipped at the Anglican St Johns Church, but my grandparents were catholics and the other helpers were members of other churches, who all went off to their own chapels around the town, to be met again by Mr Pearce at four o'clock because everyone, after attending their churches, would picnic or visit relations and friends around the town for the remaining hours of the day".

Records also show Matthew took over the Howlong station about 1839, and for a while put Hiram Howard (his brother-in-law) in charge. The Howlong station was estimated at 64000 acres in 1848, but gradually the size was cut down to 38400 acres. Matthew, who became an Albury businessman, sold Howlong station in 1866.

  Noted events in his life were:

• source.

• connection.

Matthew married Mary Ann Brien, daughter of Daniel Brien and Mary Ann Parker (Alias Wilcox), on 29 May 1834 in St Johns C of E, Parramatta, Sydney, NSW Australia. (Mary Ann Brien was born on 21 Sep 1815 in Seven Hills, Sydney, NSW Australia, died on 19 Nov 1876 in Seven Hills, Sydney, NSW Australia and was buried in Nov 1876 in Pearce Family Burial Ground, Seven Hills, Sydney, NSW Australia.)