Married Susannah 27 June 1837 at Fremantle. From the time of William Pearse's arrival, and as his family grew, this family was foremost in business, government and philanthropic concerns in W.A. In Fremantle the family managed a bakery, a butchery, a tannery (Pearse Bros., Boot Factory) and invested in such diverse enterprises as Fremantle Gas and Coke Company and the Fremantle Soap and Candle Co and the Adelaide Steamship Company. William Silas (born 1838) was the most politically active family member and was by 1887 a member of the Legislative Council. As such he was active in decision making, particularly re the establishment of the first Fremantle Hospital and Fremantle Harbour. Other family members were great developers of land, pastoral and urban, and all had a strong social conscience, typified by the donation by Francis Pearse's widow in 1919 of her Harvest Road, North Fremantle home to the Salvation Army. The family provided employment (e.g. for 280 persons initially in the Boot Factory which continued until 1952) and also a firm ethical basis for the advancement of W.A. Two Fremantle churches were supported by the Pearse family - the (now gone) Johnston Memorial Congregational Church and St. Johns Anglican Church. They built some fine homes - five in North Fremantle (three still standing). Descendants of the early Pearse's were given a fine example and today you will find them in a huge range of occupations and professions. From their proud heritage most have derived interest and will to support historical recording of Western Australia. William died 6 April 1866 at Fremantle and Susannah died 5 November 1879 (aged 61yrs) also at Fremantle.