Printer and publisher James A. Pierce (ca. 1804-1867) was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and married Elizabeth Phelan in 1827.

He became an apprentice with the Nova Scotia Royal Gazette, published by James Howe Jr., after the regiment in which he had been a bandsman was disbanded. He worked alongside fell apprentice Joseph Howe, the younger half-brother of the publisher, and under foreman James H. Storey who had work on the Halifax Journal.

Pierce established The Mercury in Chatham, New Brunswick in February 1826, which was superseded by the Gleaner and Northumberland Schediasma in July 1829. In conjunction with the paper, Pierce operated a commercial printing establishment and stationery store.

Over the years, the Gleaner underwent a series of name changes and teetered on the brink of financial disaster. In 1856, James A. Pierce's son, James J. Pierce joined him in the family business. In 1865 James A. Pierce retired.

James A. Pierce was active in the community. He was a volunteer fireman with the Chatham Fire Company, a trustee of the First Methodist Church, librarian of the Northumberland Union Library, president of the Chatham Literary Society, an executive officer of the Miramichi Mechanics' Institute, president of the Chatham Amateur Band, president of the Northumberland Agricultural Society and president of the Chatham YMCA.

Source: Hamilton, W.D., Dictionary of Miramichi Biography, 1997.

James Joseph Pierce (1828-1911), son of James A. Pierce, was born at Chatham, New Brunswick. In 1863, he married Harriet Leah Harding of Saint John, New Brunswick and they had at least one child; daughter Annie Asburton Pierce.

Educated in local schools and at the Wesleyan Academy at Sackville, New Brunswick, James J. trained in his father's print shop. From 1856-1865 he worked in partnership with his father until James A. retired. In December 1865, The Gleaner ceased publication. On 17 February 1866, James J. launched a new newspaper under a new name. In 1872, Matthew A. Tracey took over the paper, but James J. continued to write editorials.

In January 1872, James J. was appointed school inspector for Northumberland County. His work was publicly criticized and in November 1872 he was replaced by Charles S. Ramsay. Pierce subsequently returned part-time to the publishing business, providing editorial assistance for the Northern Herald and the North Star and acting as supply editor on call to the Miramichi Advance, Union Advocate, and The World.

Source: Hamilton, W.D., Dictionary of Miramichi Biography, 1997.