Captain Cummings Pierce was born in Hillsborough, N.H., May 22, 1803, a son of Nathan and Phebe (Cummings) Pierce. He was a first cousin of the late President Pierce. His parents removed from Hillsborough to Bradford in 1821, and bought the Pierce homestead, now occupied by Freeman H. Gillingham. Cummings Pierce succeeded to the ownership of the home farm, and continued the improvement of the land, clearing a large part of it, and soon after his marriage erected the present residence. He belonged for some years to an artillery company in the old State militia, serving as Captain the most of the time. He was strictly honorable and upright, Captain Pierce was no exception. He served in all the town offices, and for many years was Selectman. In 1860 and 1861 he served as a Representative in the State legislature.
In 1833 Captain Pierce married Caroline Dowlin, who died April 14, 1874, leaving two children, namely: Lucetta, who married John H. Ewins, and died January 27, 1891; and Annie, who was the first wife of Freeman H. Gillingham, and died February 17, 1893. Captain Pierce survived his wife and both daughters, passing away November 13, 1893.
