Artist. has a review of his art which was not known to us before. A number of his London scenes are available on-line.
Charles Maresco Pearce was born on 11 June 1874 in South Kensington, the son of Maresco Pearce (1831-1897) and Sarah Ann Pearce née Tyerman (1845-1916). His father was a solicitor. The 1881 census shows him living with his parents at 16 Devonshire Place, Eastbourne, Sussex, together with a governess, a footman, a coachman, a cook, two house maids and a kitchen maid. On the night of the 1891 census he was staying with his parents at The Ilfracombe Hotel, Wilder Road, Ilfracombe, Devonshire.
He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford University and was apprenticed to an architect, later studying at the Chelsea School of Art and Paris under J. E. Blanche and Walter Sickert. On 28 September 1900 he enlisted in the 14th (Middlesex) Rifle Volunteers (Inns of Court) until he resigned on 9 April 1907. His service number was 2863. The 1911 census shows him living by himself in two rooms at 6 Sloane Square, Chelsea, giving his occupation as an Artist - Painter.
On 21 May 1914 he married Anna Catherine Ricardo (1889-1959) at the Parish Church of St Giles-in-the-Fields, Holborn. His occupation was recorded as an Artist and his address was shown as Belgrave Mansions, London, SW whilst his wife's address was 13 Bedford Square, London, WC.
He enlisted on 2 September 1914 into the 2nd/28th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Artists' Rifles) and his service number was 760233. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 21 January 1915 and as Acting Sergeant on 30 March 1915. This was later confirmed as a Sergeant.
Their elder son, David Maresco Pearce (1915-2001) was born on 17 May 1915 at 13 Bedford Square, Fitzrovia, London and their younger son, John Ricardo Pearce (1917-1996) was born on 30 August 1917 in Romford, Essex.
In August 1917 he appeared before a medical board who agreed to him being discharged from the Artists' Rifles as he was suffering from a floating kidney (Nephroptosis) and he was transferred to The Admiralty, to continue with his previous civilian occupation as an instructor. His father-in-law, Halsey Ralph Ricardo (1854-1928), had designed his new house and the family were now living at 117 Old Church Street, Chelsea.
Their daughter, Naomi Anne Pearce (1923-2007) was born on 22 November 1923 in Chelsea.
Telephone directories from 1925 onwards show him not only at 117 Old Church Street, Chelsea, but also at Carpenters Town, Graffham, Petworth, Sussex and it was at the Sussex address that he was shown on the 1939 England and Wales Register with his wife, their son John, his mother-in-law - Catherine Jane Ricardo née Rendel (1857-1941), a cook, a parlour maid, a housemaid, a kitchen maid, a children's nurse and a chauffeur.
He died, aged 90 years, on 9 December 1964 at 9 College Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, although his home remained as 117 Old Church Street, Chelsea, and was buried with his wife in the St Giles Churchyard Extension, Graffham, Petworth, West Sussex. Probate was granted to his sons on 25 May 1965 and his effects totalled £170,520.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan
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