William Pearse. William Pearse was born on 15 November 1881 in Dublin, the third son of his Father's second marriage. He was also the brother of Patrick Pearse. William Pearse was tried by Field General Courts Martial on 3 May 1916. The proceedings are contained in the PRO document WO 71/358. All four men were sentenced to death by shooting. The sentences on Dougherty and Walsh were commuted to terms of ten years penal servitude and the sentence on McGarry was commuted to eight years penal servitude. However the sentence on William Pearse was confirmed by General Maxwell. Between 4 and 4.30am on 4 May 1916, William Pearse was shot in the former stonebreakers yard at Kilmainham Prison. His remains were later buried in Arbour Lane Cemetery.