Dent family connections
| Rank: Private |
Religion: Protestant |
Eyes, Hair, Complexion: Hazel, Black, Dark |
Birth Place, Trade, Height, Marital Status, Ship to NZ |
Edward John Pearson is believed to have been born August 1825 and would have been 38 at enrolment not 36 as stated. His recorded marital status is also possibly incorrect.
He received 2 land grants - a town section in Hamilton East and a 50 acre farm lot on the outskirts of the town.
In the late 1860's Edward tried his luck in the gold fields at Thames but returned to Hamilton where he was in bankruptcy on 18 November 1880 when the first creditors meeting was held for Edward Pearson, builder. In December the trustee ordered to sell without reserve the Shop, dwelling house and two cottages and the following month a resolution was passed at a meeting "that the debtor be discharged".
At the time he was declared bankrupt Edward had been engaged in the production of soap on a small scale. He set up his carbolic-soap factory in Hamilton East and expanded this over the coming years. His sandsoap was reported to clean unpainted wood to a smooth clear whiteness. By 1886 his carbolic sandsoap was reported as doing well and a great success and in the following April an order for ¾ ton was sent to Auckland with his factory going full time.
Dr George Kenny M.B. Surgeon at the Waikato Hospital wrote several letters in 1887 and 1888 commending Pearson's soap. In 1888 Edward added the manufacture of common household soap with carbolic to compliment the original sandsoap which was at the time being recommended for cleaning purposes during the current the diphtheria epidemic.
In September 1888 he went to Sydney, Australia to place his soap on the market and secure his patent rights there. The following year Elliott Bros, Sydney accepted the agency for Pearson's soap. A large order was obtained from the Railways Department for supplies to clean their carriages. In 1890 distribution was extended to Victoria and a former Hamilton man, Fletcher, was to be the agent there.
In August 1888 on his 63rd birthday Edward planted several trees at Lake Rotoroa, Hamilton in the presence of 23 of his grandchildren. Twelve months later he was one of the fifty settlers who planted a tree in Sydney Square, Hamilton East, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the militia's landing at Hamilton.
He died in 1896 and his death was registered in Auckland. His wife Elizabeth had died 11 years earlier on 10th November 1885 and was buried in the Hamilton East cemetery.