NamePearson - (James Branch)DescriptionJames Pearson was born in Buckinghamshire, England in 1813.He married Zilpah Andrews in 1837. Two years later, they came to Australia aboard the 'Formosa', arriving in 1839.
The Pearson's came from the Upper Thames rural area in Buckinghamshire, but family stories claim James Pearson worked as a stable hand for Queen Victoria.
Aboard the same ship was John Pearson (James' brother) and his wife Eliza and their daughter Eliza, the Dawes family and the Thomas family. All families settled in the Albion Park, Marshall Mount, and Calderwood areas.
James found employment with Henry Osborne at his Marshall Mount Estate.
James and Zilpah had nine children; Sarah 1838, Ann 1840, Jane, Mary 1843, Ellen 1846, George 1848, John 1850, Emma 1853 and Joseph 1854.
Sarah married William Gregory, Ann married William Piper, Jane married James Piper, Mary married Richard Dawes, Ellen married John Knight, Emma married Aaron Dawes, George married Naomi Dawes, John married Annie Barker and Joseph married Mary Ann Savill.
The Memorial Gateway at the Marshall Mount Cemetery was dedicated on 9 June 1962 to the memory of the Methodist pioneers of Marshall Mount and district. The dedication tablet was unveiled by David Pearson (Grandson of James), the first baby to be baptised at the church. This tin church once stood on the cemetery site but was demolished due to disrepair.