The Pierce family, as it is currently known, has three branches, though all three can trace their lineage back to Derwent Pierce the First. The New Hampshire branch is generally regarded as the original branch though, in actuality, the California branch predates it. Indisputably, the Boston branch is the most recent, having been founded during Belinda Pierce's second year (Salem's fifth year of RPing).

The New Hampshire branch does have the distinction of being both the most wealthy and the most respectable. It is this group that follows the usual stereotypes of the 'pureblood family'. The money mostly came from California gold and extortion of muggle miners. Now, they live off interest and investments.

The California branch is also quite well off, having spend a few decades as bank and train robbers before turning relatively legitmate. Now, their income mostly comes from cheating at cards and having divinators bet on muggle sports. If current rates of income, combined with current rates of spending, continue as they are, the Californians will surpass the New Hampshirites in sheer wealth within the next decade. Respectability, however, is nowhere in sight. They are also, most defiantly, not pureblooded. They intermarry and/or procreate with muggles, muggleborns and halfbloods until they don't even know what they qualify as. Mixed blood is the only way to describe it. About half are non-magical.

The Bostonians are neither wealthy nor respectable. Druscella and Berta of the New Hampshire branch have given a decent sized loan so they can live comfortably, but they do not carry any sort of power or influence on their own, beyond the (bad) reputation they gained simply by being a disowned offshoot of the New Hampshire Pierces.

For more information, visit The Pierce Family Website.