| Pierson was born March 22, 1836 in Newark. His family lived in the South Ward of Newark, and his father, Charles Pierson, was a builder of adequate means.i Edward was the only son of five children. He was of lineal descent from Rev. Abraham Pierson, the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Newark. His father died by 1860 and his mother was left in comfortable means with a worth of $58,000. He studied medicine with Dr. John F. Ward and graduated from the college of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in the class of 1858.ii At the outbreak of the war, he took a commission and was appointed assistant surgeon (AS) of the 1st NJ militia working with surgeon, John Craven. After serving the full term of three months, he presented himself for examination and was appointed AS in the United States Navy. He was assigned to the frigate “St. Lawrence” and was on board during a memorable contest with the Merrimac. He narrowly escaped injury when a shell blasted into his room and struck within a few feet of his head. When landing in Key West, he was attacked by yellow fever which significantly affected his health. He transferred to the Penobscot which was engaged in blockading Wilmington, Delaware. A shell crashed through the woodwork of his room and a splinter of wood fractured the occipital bone. He was struck unconscious and died two hours later. He was remembered as a “young man of rare personal beauty, of vivacious manners, of remarkable memory, of great good nature, and a consistent Christian. He was the life of the social medical circles of Essex District and will be long remembered.” Pierson is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark NJ. i 1850 United States
Census
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