38:
276:, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as certified in December 1876 by the Secretary of State in Florida, votes cast for him in the presidential election were not accepted. His opponents noted there was no provision under Florida law to allow a convicted felon, even though pardoned, to regain his right to vote or serve as an elector. Through the waning years of Reconstruction, white conservative Democrats made other efforts to dispute and prevent the seating of black electors, or voting by blacks for other Republican candidates, and there was considerable violence and intimidation at the elections.
126:
in 1865, after the
American Civil War. He had previously been a missionary in Canada after moving from Maryland to Connecticut. He helped bring the AME Church, the first independent black denomination in the United States, to Florida and worked to build its congregation during and after the
198:
Pearce said, "A man in this State, cannot do his whole duty as a minister except he looks out for the political interests of his people." Pearce became a prominent black officeholder in the
Reconstruction era, a time when threats and white animosity to
169:
Pearce later moved to Canada and became a
British citizen, as it was still a colony. An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 refugee African Americans from the United States had settled there to gain freedom from slavery. He preached there until 1865.
267:
ticket, at the time that votes for electors were still being tallied from various counties. He had been convicted by a circuit court in 1870 of a felony for offering a bribe. Although he was pardoned on April 29, 1872, by Acting
Governor
293:
279:
Pearce also had rivals within the AME church and among the leaders of the black
Baptist Church in Florida. Many of the latter had quickly established independence with their congregations after the war from the white-dominated
490:
1673:
1327:
485:
1663:
1638:
1245:
1628:
1274:
241:, where the freedmen constituted the majority of the population. Pearce was influential in his support (and, in some cases, opposition to others seeking office or in office).
1502:
1623:
1521:
1044:
889:
1683:
1648:
909:
1658:
1319:
178:
In 1865, after the Civil War, Pearce moved to
Florida as an AME missionary. Based in the North, the church sent numerous missionaries to the South to aid the
1257:
1024:
1535:
1688:
1698:
1668:
1653:
1471:
1678:
1099:
37:
1643:
1064:
723:
1586:
1514:
974:
455:
1693:
1566:
949:
929:
1312:
828:
1341:
1293:
229:, serving one term until 1870 when he was re-elected despite a factional Republican Party challenge from Baptist and more conservative
1459:
1281:
508:
162:, where he studied and was ordained as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Founded in 1816 by free blacks in
350:
256:
1547:
817:
215:
211:
to disrupt elections, intimidate black voters, and assassinate
Republican Party leaders in an effort to restore white supremacy.
155:
103:
1554:
421:
375:
1300:
1129:
139:. He served numerous terms in the legislature, working to gain support for civil rights and public education for Floridians.
396:
1507:
1334:
607:
1571:
1013:
864:
1168:
252:, which was affiliated with the AME Church. He also gained state legislative support of education for all Floridians.
119:
1374:
1078:
448:
163:
218:
and built political power through these networks. Most freedmen joined the
Republicans. Pearce was elected to the
1262:
983:
617:
612:
517:
480:
158:. As a young man, he purchased his freedom by saving his portion of earnings from being "hired out." He moved to
1490:
1452:
1414:
1153:
692:
537:
527:
1591:
1478:
1447:
1198:
1148:
772:
747:
702:
682:
281:
219:
132:
1193:
1136:
1083:
958:
918:
878:
677:
632:
522:
159:
146:, where he was ordained, and later to Canada, where he served as a preacher and became a British citizen.
143:
1633:
1429:
998:
762:
687:
547:
441:
249:
245:
230:
1618:
1613:
1424:
1364:
1203:
667:
597:
582:
238:
187:
183:
136:
1495:
1464:
1208:
697:
562:
552:
260:
1141:
837:
752:
672:
587:
577:
532:
234:
128:
244:
Pearce also helped establish educational institutions, including the predecessor to what became
1369:
1359:
1088:
988:
898:
797:
742:
737:
707:
642:
433:
346:
255:
In an act of political payback, in
November 1876 Pearce was challenged and disqualified as an
20:
1542:
1379:
1250:
1223:
1173:
1158:
1108:
842:
777:
1389:
1384:
1305:
1286:
1238:
1228:
1183:
1073:
1053:
808:
787:
602:
557:
379:
264:
222:
of
Florida. He was expelled by moderate Republicans because of his British citizenship.
1528:
1483:
1267:
1233:
1218:
1213:
938:
732:
652:
647:
226:
49:
1607:
1559:
1419:
1399:
1178:
1163:
1008:
993:
782:
767:
712:
622:
572:
273:
269:
372:
214:
While helping establish new congregations of the AME Church, Pearce also joined the
142:
Pearce was born into slavery in Maryland and bought his freedom then moved North to
1409:
873:
792:
657:
627:
567:
542:
465:
204:
135:. Later that year he was elected to the state legislature as a state senator from
340:
1404:
1394:
1188:
1003:
757:
637:
592:
233:. He was elected again in 1872, and served to 1884. In this period, during the
1033:
410:
342:
Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction
963:
294:
African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era
166:, this was the first independent black denomination in the United States.
200:
179:
81:
325:
Dorothy Dodd, "'Bishop' Pearce and the Reconstruction of Leon County",
123:
1328:
United Pentecostal Council of the Assemblies of God, Incorporated
118:(1817–1887) was a religious and political leader in Florida. An
437:
208:
182:
and plant new churches. Pearce settled in the state capital
316:, (Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 1998), p. 4
1674:
African-American politicians during the Reconstruction Era
225:
Later in 1868, Pearce was elected as a Republican to the
399:: The Beginnings of the AME Church in Florida, 1865-1895
1246:
Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith
486:
Historically African-American Christian denominations
1275:
Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas
1503:
Imani Temple African-American Catholic Congregation
1439:
1351:
1121:
1097:
1062:
1042:
1022:
972:
947:
927:
907:
887:
862:
855:
826:
806:
721:
506:
499:
473:
99:
87:
75:
70:
48:
28:
131:. In 1868 Pearce was elected as a delegate to the
1522:Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge
1045:National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
890:First African Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia)
345:. Louisiana State University Press. p. 168.
910:First African Baptist Church (Savannah, Georgia)
1320:Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ
1664:African-American state legislators in Florida
1639:Religious leaders from New Haven, Connecticut
449:
8:
1258:Church of Universal Triumph, Dominion of God
1025:National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
150:Early life, education and career as minister
1536:Original Church of God or Sanctified Church
314:Florida's Black Public Officials, 1867-1924
859:
503:
456:
442:
434:
390:
388:
237:, he was considered the political boss of
36:
25:
1629:People from Queen Anne's County, Maryland
1624:African Methodist Episcopal Church clergy
1472:Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
133:Florida Constitutional Convention of 1868
1100:United American Free Will Baptist Church
154:Pearce was born into slavery in 1817 in
1684:Politicians from New Haven, Connecticut
1649:Republican Party Florida state senators
1065:Progressive National Baptist Convention
724:African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
305:
1659:Politicians from Jacksonville, Florida
1587:Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches
1515:Interdenominational Theological Center
975:National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
1567:United House of Prayer for All People
950:Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention
930:Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
122:(AME) minister, he was dispatched to
7:
1313:Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church
829:Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
397:Laborers in the Vineyard of the Lord
1342:United Sabbath-Day Adventist Church
1294:Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
401:, University Press of Florida, 2001
1460:Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
1370:Venerable Mother Henriette DeLille
1282:Mount Sinai Holy Church of America
509:African Methodist Episcopal Church
394:Larry E. Rivers, Canter Brown Jr.
203:was high. White insurgents formed
14:
1689:19th-century American legislators
220:Constitutional Convention of 1868
1699:19th-century Florida politicians
1669:Edward Waters University faculty
1654:People from Leon County, Florida
1365:Servant of God Mother Mary Lange
1679:History of Leon County, Florida
1555:Trinity United Church of Christ
1644:American expatriates in Canada
1301:Pentecostal Churches of Christ
1130:Apostolic Assemblies of Christ
1:
1508:George Augustus Stallings Jr.
1405:Servant of God Sr Thea Bowman
1335:United Holy Church of America
156:Queen Anne's County, Maryland
1694:19th-century American clergy
1400:Servant of God Julia Greeley
1385:Venerable Fr Augustus Tolton
865:Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
1169:Robert Michael Franklin Jr.
174:AME missionary to the South
120:African Methodist Episcopal
16:African-American politician
1715:
1380:Venerable Pierre Toussaint
1375:William Augustine Williams
1079:William Augustus Jones Jr.
164:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
18:
1572:Marcelino Manuel da Graça
984:Stewart Cleveland Cureton
618:Henrietta Phelps Jeffries
481:Religion in Black America
468:denominations and leaders
109:
66:
55:
44:
35:
1491:Global United Fellowship
1453:George Alexander McGuire
1154:Charles Edward Blake Sr.
693:Theophilus Gould Steward
538:George Lincoln Blackwell
19:Not to be confused with
1448:African Orthodox Church
1430:Cardinal Wilton Gregory
1199:Chandler David Owens Sr
1149:Church of God in Christ
773:William Henry Singleton
703:William Tecumseh Vernon
683:Richard Henry Singleton
282:Southern Baptist Church
1194:Charles Harrison Mason
1137:Apostolic Faith Church
1084:Martin Luther King Jr.
959:Clinton Caldwell Boone
879:Martin Luther King Jr.
678:Reverdy Cassius Ransom
633:Vashti Murphy McKenzie
382:Edward Waters College.
207:groups including the
160:New Haven, Connecticut
144:New Haven, Connecticut
1425:Archbishop James Lyke
1420:Fr Cyprian Davis, OSB
1323:(Elias Dempsey Smith)
999:Willie James Jennings
763:Jermain Wesley Loguen
688:Charles Spencer Smith
548:Jamal Harrison Bryant
423:Congressional Edition
250:Jacksonville, Florida
246:Edward Waters College
1527:Love Center Church (
1204:Gilbert E. Patterson
668:Clementa C. Pinckney
598:Carolyn Tyler Guidry
583:Jordan Winston Early
339:Foner, Eric (1996).
239:Leon County, Florida
188:Leon County, Florida
137:Leon County, Florida
1465:Charles Price Jones
1410:Sr Jamie Phelps, OP
1209:J. O. Patterson Jr.
698:Henry McNeal Turner
563:Archibald Carey Jr.
553:John Richard Bryant
261:Rutherford B. Hayes
259:for the Republican
1479:City of Refuge UCC
1395:Bishop John Ricard
1142:William J. Seymour
838:William Yancy Bell
753:Singleton T. Jones
673:William Paul Quinn
588:Orishatukeh Faduma
578:James Levert Davis
533:Benjamin W. Arnett
378:2015-10-13 at the
312:Canter Brown Jr.,
235:Reconstruction Era
129:Reconstruction era
1601:
1600:
1579:Samuel C. Madison
1576:Walter McCollough
1360:Black Catholicism
1117:
1116:
1089:Gardner C. Taylor
989:Joseph H. Jackson
899:Lucy Goode Brooks
851:
850:
798:Alexander Walters
743:James Walker Hood
738:Julia A. J. Foote
708:D. Ormonde Walker
663:Charles H. Pearce
643:Lena Doolin Mason
116:Charles H. Pearce
113:
112:
95:(aged 69–70)
30:Charles H. Pearce
21:Charles H. Pierce
1706:
1543:Spencer Churches
1251:Robert C. Lawson
1224:F. D. Washington
1174:Samuel Green Jr.
1109:Benjamin Randall
860:
843:William H. Miles
778:John Bryan Small
613:Reginald Jackson
608:William H. Heard
504:
458:
451:
444:
435:
428:
427:, pp. 14 and 387
419:
413:
408:
402:
392:
383:
370:
364:
363:
361:
359:
336:
330:
323:
317:
310:
216:Republican Party
194:Political career
94:
71:Personal details
60:
40:
26:
1714:
1713:
1709:
1708:
1707:
1705:
1704:
1703:
1604:
1603:
1602:
1597:
1435:
1415:Clarence Rivers
1390:George Clements
1347:
1306:J. Delano Ellis
1287:Ida B. Robinson
1239:Lennox Yearwood
1229:Dickerson Wells
1184:O. T. Jones Sr.
1113:
1093:
1074:Ralph Abernathy
1058:
1054:S. M. Lockridge
1038:
1018:
968:
943:
923:
903:
883:
847:
822:
809:A.U.M.P. Church
802:
788:Jeffery Tribble
717:
603:Sarah E. Gorham
558:Richard H. Cain
495:
469:
462:
432:
431:
420:
416:
409:
405:
393:
386:
380:Wayback Machine
371:
367:
357:
355:
353:
338:
337:
333:
324:
320:
311:
307:
302:
290:
265:William Wheeler
196:
176:
152:
100:Political party
92:
80:
61:
56:
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1712:
1710:
1702:
1701:
1696:
1691:
1686:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1606:
1605:
1599:
1598:
1596:
1595:
1592:Emilio Alvarez
1583:
1580:
1577:
1574:
1563:
1551:
1539:
1532:
1529:Walter Hawkins
1525:
1518:
1511:
1499:
1487:
1484:Yvette Flunder
1475:
1468:
1456:
1443:
1441:
1437:
1436:
1434:
1433:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1355:
1353:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1338:
1331:
1324:
1316:
1309:
1297:
1290:
1278:
1271:
1265:
1263:James F. Jones
1254:
1242:
1236:
1234:Timothy Wright
1231:
1226:
1221:
1219:Ted Thomas Sr.
1216:
1214:Wayne Perryman
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1145:
1133:
1125:
1123:
1119:
1118:
1115:
1114:
1112:
1111:
1105:
1103:
1095:
1094:
1092:
1091:
1086:
1081:
1076:
1070:
1068:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1056:
1050:
1048:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1036:
1030:
1028:
1020:
1019:
1017:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
980:
978:
970:
969:
967:
966:
961:
955:
953:
945:
944:
942:
941:
939:Paul S. Morton
935:
933:
925:
924:
922:
921:
915:
913:
905:
904:
902:
901:
895:
893:
885:
884:
882:
881:
876:
870:
868:
857:
853:
852:
849:
848:
846:
845:
840:
834:
832:
824:
823:
821:
820:
814:
812:
804:
803:
801:
800:
795:
790:
785:
780:
775:
770:
765:
760:
755:
750:
745:
740:
735:
733:William H. Day
729:
727:
719:
718:
716:
715:
710:
705:
700:
695:
690:
685:
680:
675:
670:
665:
660:
655:
653:Lyman S. Parks
650:
648:Robert Meacham
645:
640:
635:
630:
625:
620:
615:
610:
605:
600:
595:
590:
585:
580:
575:
570:
565:
560:
555:
550:
545:
540:
535:
530:
525:
520:
518:John Adams Sr.
514:
512:
501:
497:
496:
494:
493:
488:
483:
477:
475:
474:General themes
471:
470:
463:
461:
460:
453:
446:
438:
430:
429:
414:
403:
384:
365:
351:
331:
318:
304:
303:
301:
298:
297:
296:
289:
286:
227:Florida Senate
195:
192:
175:
172:
151:
148:
111:
110:
107:
106:
101:
97:
96:
89:
85:
84:
77:
73:
72:
68:
67:
64:
63:
53:
52:
50:Florida Senate
46:
45:
42:
41:
33:
32:
29:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1711:
1700:
1697:
1695:
1692:
1690:
1687:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1611:
1609:
1593:
1589:
1588:
1584:
1581:
1578:
1575:
1573:
1569:
1568:
1564:
1561:
1560:Otis Moss III
1557:
1556:
1552:
1549:
1548:Peter Spencer
1545:
1544:
1540:
1538:
1537:
1533:
1530:
1526:
1524:
1523:
1519:
1517:
1516:
1512:
1509:
1505:
1504:
1500:
1497:
1493:
1492:
1488:
1485:
1481:
1480:
1476:
1474:
1473:
1469:
1466:
1462:
1461:
1457:
1454:
1450:
1449:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1438:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1362:
1361:
1357:
1356:
1354:
1350:
1344:
1343:
1339:
1337:
1336:
1332:
1330:
1329:
1325:
1322:
1321:
1317:
1315:
1314:
1310:
1307:
1303:
1302:
1298:
1296:
1295:
1291:
1288:
1284:
1283:
1279:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1269:
1268:James Shaffer
1266:
1264:
1260:
1259:
1255:
1252:
1248:
1247:
1243:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1179:Edwin Hawkins
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1164:Sandra Crouch
1162:
1160:
1159:Andraé Crouch
1157:
1155:
1151:
1150:
1146:
1143:
1139:
1138:
1134:
1132:
1131:
1127:
1126:
1124:
1120:
1110:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1102:
1101:
1096:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1066:
1061:
1055:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1041:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1027:
1026:
1021:
1015:
1014:W. J. Simmons
1012:
1010:
1009:Benjamin Mays
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
994:T. J. Jemison
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
981:
979:
977:
976:
971:
965:
962:
960:
957:
956:
954:
952:
951:
946:
940:
937:
936:
934:
932:
931:
926:
920:
917:
916:
914:
912:
911:
906:
900:
897:
896:
894:
892:
891:
886:
880:
877:
875:
872:
871:
869:
867:
866:
861:
858:
854:
844:
841:
839:
836:
835:
833:
831:
830:
825:
819:
818:Peter Spencer
816:
815:
813:
811:
810:
805:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
783:Mary J. Small
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
768:John E. Price
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
730:
728:
726:
725:
720:
714:
713:Lewis Woodson
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
684:
681:
679:
676:
674:
671:
669:
666:
664:
661:
659:
656:
654:
651:
649:
646:
644:
641:
639:
636:
634:
631:
629:
626:
624:
623:Absalom Jones
621:
619:
616:
614:
611:
609:
606:
604:
601:
599:
596:
594:
591:
589:
586:
584:
581:
579:
576:
574:
573:James H. Cone
571:
569:
566:
564:
561:
559:
556:
554:
551:
549:
546:
544:
541:
539:
536:
534:
531:
529:
526:
524:
523:Richard Allen
521:
519:
516:
515:
513:
511:
510:
505:
502:
498:
492:
489:
487:
484:
482:
479:
478:
476:
472:
467:
459:
454:
452:
447:
445:
440:
439:
436:
426:
425:, Volume 1733
424:
418:
415:
412:
407:
404:
400:
398:
391:
389:
385:
381:
377:
374:
369:
366:
354:
352:9780807120828
348:
344:
343:
335:
332:
329:(1946), p. 6.
328:
322:
319:
315:
309:
306:
299:
295:
292:
291:
287:
285:
283:
277:
275:
274:E. M. Randall
271:
270:Samuel T. Day
266:
262:
258:
253:
251:
247:
242:
240:
236:
232:
228:
223:
221:
217:
212:
210:
206:
202:
193:
191:
189:
185:
181:
173:
171:
167:
165:
161:
157:
149:
147:
145:
140:
138:
134:
130:
125:
121:
117:
108:
105:
102:
98:
90:
86:
83:
78:
74:
69:
65:
59:
54:
51:
47:
43:
39:
34:
27:
22:
1634:Free Negroes
1585:
1582:C.M. Bailey)
1565:
1553:
1541:
1534:
1520:
1513:
1501:
1489:
1477:
1470:
1458:
1446:
1358:
1340:
1333:
1326:
1318:
1311:
1299:
1292:
1280:
1273:
1256:
1244:
1147:
1135:
1128:
1098:
1063:
1043:
1023:
973:
948:
928:
919:David George
908:
888:
874:Vernon Johns
863:
827:
807:
793:James Varick
748:Thomas James
722:
662:
658:Daniel Payne
628:Ben Kinchlow
568:Daniel Coker
543:Morris Brown
507:
466:Black church
422:
417:
406:
395:
368:
356:. Retrieved
341:
334:
326:
321:
313:
308:
278:
254:
243:
224:
213:
205:paramilitary
197:
177:
168:
153:
141:
115:
114:
93:(1887-00-00)
57:
1619:1887 deaths
1614:1817 births
1189:John P. Kee
1122:Pentecostal
1004:Henry Lyons
758:John Kinard
638:Biddy Mason
593:Floyd Flake
528:Sarah Allen
184:Tallahassee
1608:Categories
1496:Neil Ellis
1034:R. H. Boyd
300:References
231:James Page
104:Republican
964:Lott Cary
500:Methodist
327:Apalachee
62:1870–1884
58:In office
1352:Catholic
411:portrait
376:Archived
288:See also
201:freedmen
180:freedmen
82:Maryland
856:Baptist
373:History
257:elector
124:Florida
491:Clergy
358:2 June
349:
1440:Other
464:U.S.
360:2016
347:ISBN
272:and
263:and
91:1887
88:Died
79:1817
76:Born
248:in
209:KKK
186:in
1610::
387:^
284:.
190:.
1594:)
1590:(
1570:(
1562:)
1558:(
1550:)
1546:(
1531:)
1510:)
1506:(
1498:)
1494:(
1486:)
1482:(
1467:)
1463:(
1455:)
1451:(
1432:)
1363:(
1308:)
1304:(
1289:)
1285:(
1270:)
1261:(
1253:)
1249:(
1241:)
1152:(
1144:)
1140:(
457:e
450:t
443:v
362:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.