The Pearl and Jewett lines merged with the marriage of John Porter Pearl and Maria Jennings Jewett.  Maria, the daughter of Ebenezer Jewett II and Nancy Jennings, was born  in Hampton, CT on 23 January 1826.  John Porter Pearl, the son of Jerome Pearl and Amaryllis Allworth, was born on 14 October 1813 in Wethersfield, CT.  They were married 23 February 1847.  John and Maria had 8 children, one of whom, was Austen Eugene Pearl from whom we are descended.  In Marian Arlene Pearl’s genealogy, “John Porter Pearl was a farmer and a carpenter.  He was a Democrat and in his early years held town offices in Hampton.  He attended the Congregational Church and was held in high esteem by those who knew him.”

A cute little story is told by Marian Arlene Pearl about how Marie Jennings Pearl’s mother, Nancy Jennings, met Marie’s father, Ebenezer Jewett II, a carpenter.  “Ebenezer, II raised the first frame house in town and a large crowd gathered to see it go up, among them was the young Nancy Jennings whom he had never met.  Nancy’s father had jokingly promised her, should the new building go up without a hitch, she might marry the young contractor.  There was never any doubt as to Ebenezer’s ability.  He and Nancy were married in 1824.   Ebenezer, II also built the Bell School House in Hampton, which is still standing to this day.”

A little side note about the Jewett’s of Hampton is that Ebenezer Jewett I, Maria (Jennings) (Jewett) Pearl’s grandfather, was one of the Minutemen who responded to General Gage’s call for reinforcements in 1774, and in return for military service was given homestead lands on the hills east of Hampton.  Thus the Jewett’s came to Hampton.

Dot Vander Meulen, Pearl Family Historian.