• Born: 25 Oct 1836, Attleboro MA
• Marriage (1): Eliza Jane Barbour
• Died: 17 Apr 1895, Providence RI

  General notes:

Jeweler

  Events in his life were:

• He worked circa 1856-1860 as a jeweler in Attleboro MA

• He worked circa 1860-1867 as a jeweler in Grafton MA

• He was a partner in 1867-1881 with Alfred H. Willard in Providence RI as PIERCE, WILLARD & Co.

• He appeared on the 1870 census taken at Providence RI, listed as a manufacturing jeweler.

• He appeared on the 1880 census taken at Providence RI, listed as a manufacturing jeweler.

• He was issued patent number 301,920 on 15 Jul 1884
  
  LEWIS W. PIERCE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.
  
  LOCKET.
  
  SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,920, dated July 15, 1884.
  Application filed December 8, 1883.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Lewis W. Pierce, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Locket, of which the following is a specification.
  My invention consists of a locket for portraits, in which there is an inner or portrait box concealed within an outer box which constitutes the locket-case, and adapted to be projected out of said case, by a spring released by a pusher, to expose the portrait to view.
  The object of my invention is to provide a locket which shall be of simple and comparatively-cheap construction, and which shall be free from the liability to unclasp and expose the portrait to injury, which is a fatal objection to the ordinary locket. This object is accomplished by the special mechanism and arrangement of the several parts shown in the accompanying drawings, in which—
  Figure 1 is a face view of the locket closed. Fig. 2 is a face view of the locket with the portrait-box projected to expose the portrait to view. Fig. 3 is a front view, the face of the locket being removed to show the detail of the parts. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on line x x, showing the detail of the mechanism both when the locket is closed and when it is open.
  Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
  The locket-box A may be of any desired form, and is provided with any ornamental face or setting, b. It is attached to a bail, C, in the ordinary way. It is provided with interior strips or flanges, s s, which form guideways for the inner box, B, to slide in. It is divided by the partition a into two unequal-sized chambers. In the larger of these chambers is placed the box B, which is provided with a chamber entered from the side of the box or edge of the box, and having the opening d for the portrait view. This box B is recessed at its rear end to receive a double- U -shaped spring, w, placed between the box B and the partition a. The spring-catch c is attached to the top of the box B, so as to hook over the top of the partition a, to lock the parts. In the smaller chamber I place a spring, e, which is actuated by a pusher, t, extending outward through the rim of the box A, and adapted to disengage the catch c upon pressure upon the pusher t, and to allow the spring w to project the box B to expose the portrait to view.
  Practically the rim A is constructed with its interior flanges, s s, to form guideways. The box B is inserted in said guideways, the spring w placed between the rear of the box and the partition a, so that the box B will be thrown out by said spring when the spring-catch c is disengaged by the pusher-actuated spring e. Any desired face or setting is then put on to complete the locket. The portraits are inserted in the chamber of the inner box, at the side thereof, so that the view is obtained through the opening d of the box B. It is obvious that two portraits can be inserted in this chamber facing in opposite directions.
  I claim as new and my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent—
  The combination, in a locket, of a box, A, provided with a spring-controlled pusher, t, partition a, and guideways s s, with a spring, w, and a box, B, provided with a spring-catch, c, and a chamber and opening, d, for the portrait, as shown, and operating as described.
  Lewis W. Pierce
  
  Witnesses:
  Lewis A. Jillson
  Henry Marsh, Jr.

Lewis married Eliza Jane Barbour. (Eliza Jane Barbour was born on 25 Jan 1837 in Grafton MA.)