Pearce, Jonathan

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1906

Area: Somerset - Mendips (Harptree & Priddy)

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Jonathan Pearce at Draycott (1834-1915): age 73, 1 song ‘Arthur Bradley O’ (FT1060) on 24 Aug 1906. Click on vwml link: Sharp collected no other version of this wedding feast song in Somerset - Roud 365, usually 'Arthur O’Bradley'. The song was known by Samuel Pepys and appeared in early broadside collections. Lucy Broadwood knew it and Alfred Williams noted it in Glos & in Wilts. As a publican all his life, Jonathan must have sung it heartily (FT1060) but Sharp never published it.

Jonathan was baptised 9/2/1834 at Chewton Mendip church, son of Robert Pearce, yeoman, and wife Ann. He was the oldest of 6 children and left home to run a pub at Hammerwich in Staffordshire in 1861 census. On 29/5/1865 he married Ann Main at Priddy church and took over The Miner’s Arms at Chewton Mendip (1871 & 1881). They had 8 children and then took over The Railway Hotel at Draycott (1891 & 1901, ref RG13/2315 f144 p8). Jonathan was still in charge of The Railway Hotel in 1911 but died soon after on 12/11/1915.