G. Frank E. Pearsall
G. Frank E. Pearsall
Mr. G. Frank E. Pearsall, the well-known photographer, at No. 298 Fulton street, is a native
New York City, having been born in Cherry Street, November 23, 1841. His father was John A. Pearsall
life-boat builder and a man of enterprise, who was the first in his life to use steam power; and who
died of pneumonia at the age of thirty-three, having contracted a cold while out on Long Island Sound
on a yacht. His mother was of the numerous and respectable Long Island Family of Duryea.*(see Note)
Left an orphan at a tender age, Mr. Pearsall spent a portion of his childhood in the family of an aunt living
in Saratoga, N.Y., and during a few years attended the public schools there and in New York. When only eleven
years old, he began to learn the rudiments of his profession with his uncle, T. Duryea, once a photographer of Williamsburgh.
Two years later his uncle removed to Australia, where he has since resided. With the assistance of their mother,
Alva A. Pearsall, then aged fifteen years, and G. Frank E. Pearsall, aged thirteen, continued operations
in the gallery formerly of their uncle about a year, when the elder of the two went to the West Indies,
leaving the home interest in care of his mother and younger brother, who kept the establishment open a year
longer. About this time Alva A. Pearsall returned, and soon the two brother bade adieu to Brooklyn, spending
the greater part of the following eight years in Cuba and various towns in the West Indies, in Carracas, Venizuela,
and elsewhere, only visiting Brooklyn occasionally and never remaining long. Returning at the end of the period
mentioned, Mr. Pearsall was employed by Gurney, the celebrated New York photographer, from 1862 to 1868. During the year
1863, in connection with his brother, he conducted a velocipede school and dealt in velocipedes on Broadway, New York,
at the corner of Twenty-third Street. The following year he was again in Mr. Gurney's employ.
In 1870 Mr. Pearsall established a photographic gallery at the corner of Fulton and Tillary Streets, Brooklyn, removing,
two years later, to his present location. Mr. Pearsall, as also his brother, Alva A. Pearsall, may be said to be in a great
measure self-taught in his art. To it he has devoted the best years of his life and much careful and well-directed thought;
making, from time to time, several important improvements in photographic processes and apparatus. As an artist he takes
high rank; he is a member of the National Photographic Association, and his name is know well and favorably to the
profession throughout the United States and Canada.
Mr. Pearsall is president of the Brooklyn Archery Club, and in 1881 was secretary and treasurer of the National Archery
Association. He is also prominent in the Fountain Gun Club, and is a member of Commonwealth Lodge No. 409, F. & A. M.,
and of Orient Chapter, No. 138, R.A.M. He was married March 6, 1866, to Elizabeth Conrow, of Brooklyn. They reside at
No. 29 Strong Place.
Henry Pearsall was one of the original proprietors of
Hempstead, L.I., N.Y.
Children of Henry Pearsall and Ann Pankhurst are:
THE ANCESTRY OF G. FRANK E. PEARSALL
. HENRY PEARSALL was born Est. 1598-1627, and d.July 1667. He married
Ann Pankhurst Est 1624-1667*
*Former wife of Moyles Williams.
PEARSALL BOOK REF:{30-1} vol 11.
Netherlands (NY).
Children of GEORGE PEARSALL and ELIZABETH WILLIAMS:
NOTES:Pearsall Book Ref:pg.1200(37:1)"George son of Henry (Chapter30, Sec.1) is buried in the graveyard
on the farm where he lived, and all his people for several generations lie there beside him. Gravestones there are none, the few gravestone there were having some years ago been removed to the yard of the Searingtown
M.E. Church. The farm recently became the grounds of a mansion on the edge of the hills overlooking the plains,the owner whereof has planted the old graveyard with a clump of evergreens so that the dead may not be disturbed.
Children of George Pearsall and ________:
Children of Nathaniel Pearsall and Sarah Todd:
Nathaniel Pearsall was named executor of Edward Sands of Hempstead
will dated 23rd, 11th mo. 1745.
He was Overseer of Highways in Hempstead, 1755. {Hempstead Town Records,
Volume 4, page 218}
Children of George Pearsall and Magdalene Shear:
No children of Marriage to Deborah Killey.
*John Pearsall b. June 14, 1784; buried Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, N.Y.
married at Pleasant Valley, Duchess Co., N.Y. Sarah Adee daughter of Hubby Adee
and his wife Elizabeth Gildersleeve.
Children of John Pearsall and Sarah Adee:
*John Alva Pearsall born March 10, 1815, died December 09, 1846;
married Mary Eliza Duryea.
Children of John Alva Pearsall and Mary Eliza Duryea:
Ancestry taken from Clarence Pearsall Books, Volume III.
Biography of Frank Pearsall taken from HISTORY and Commercial and Industrial
Record of the County of Kings and The City of Brooklyn, N.Y., from 1683 to
1884 by Henry R. Stiles, A.M., M.D., Editor-in-Chief. Vol. II, pg. 1167.
Notes:
Imperial photos
G. F. E. Pearsall
298 Fulton Street, Down Town
Knarfographs, Phototgraphs, French Greys, Pastels, Crayons, Oil Paintings,
Frank Pearsall has received ten medals and five U.S. letters patent have been granted for inventions in the photographic line.
One of Frank Pearsall's photographs has sold
for over $17,000!
Robert Edward Auctions - 1906 Henry Chadwick Signed Cabinet Card Photograph
Starting Bid - $1,500.00, Sold For - $17,250.00
Baseball Legends of Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery
By Peter J. Nash
pg 110
Frank Pearsall established himself as one of Brooklyn's premier artistic photographers of the e 19th century. He was also an avid van of the national fame and became close friends with Henry Chadwick. Over the years, Pearsall served as Chadwick's personal photographer and rendered portraits for the "father of the game" each year for his birthday, most of which graced the pages of the annual Spalding League Guide.
Over time Frank and his brother Alva had taken Photos of many famous people
This information is for non-commercial genealogical use only!
e-mail: lmpearsall@yahoo.com for further information.
Last updated October 24, 2009