User:WilyD/William Case/Gersham Pearse

Gersham Pearse was a Methodist circuit rider.

Pearse's place of birth is unknown, but he grew up near New York City. He was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1803, and assigned to the Plattsburgh circuit. There he served as assistant to Henry Ryan. In 1804 he was assigned to the Fletcher circuit, as assistant to Samuel Draper. In 1805 he was given his own circuit to ride, Niagara. In 1807 he rode the Dunham Circuit, and under his stewardship Methodist membership increased from 291 to 307 individuals. This was followed by the Saratoga Circuit in 1808, the Granville Circuit in 1809 and 1810, the Thurman Circuit in 1811, the Grand Isle Circuit in 1812, the Cambridge Circuit in 1813 and 1814, the Montgomery Circuit in 1815 and 1816, the Sharon Circuit in 1817 and 1818, the Albany Circuit in 1819, the Coeymann's Circuit in 1820, the Chatham Circuit in 1821 and 1822, the Granville Circuit in 1823 and 1824, the Pittsfield Circuit in 1825 and 1826, the Burlington Circuit in 1827, the Redding Circuit in 1828 and 1829, and the Hempstead and Huntington Circuit from 1830 until 1831. In 1832 he was superannuated.

Pearse died in Milan, Ohio on March 23rd, 1865.