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PAUL SEARS (c. 1637–1708), son of Richard Sears and Dorothy Jones

DEBORAH WILLARD (bp. 1645–1721), daughter of George Willard

Paul Sears of Yarmouth was born about 1637, probably in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died on 20 February 1707/8, age 69, in Yarmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. [1] He had a wife Deborah. She is widely claimed to be the daughter of George Willard, but there seems to be no evidence of this.

Deborah, the daughter of George and Dorothy Willard, was baptized on 14 September 1645 in Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [2] She died on 13 May 1721 in Yarmouth. [2]

Paul and Deborah were married by 1659. This suggests that Deborah was baptized several years after her birth.

Paul is buried in the Ancient Cemetery in Yarmouth Port and his gravestone says, "Here lyes the body of Paul Sears who departed this life February ye 20th 1707/8 in ye 70th year of his age." There is a also a cenotaph that says, "Sacred to the memory of Paul Sears second son of Richard Sears born in 1637 married Deborah Willard and died in Yarmouth 1707." [3] His is the oldest gravestone in the Ancient Cemetery that has a date. Deborah is probably buried there, too, but she does not have a gravestone. [2]

Paul appears to have led a private life. However, he was on a coroner' enquiry on 20 October 1667 in Yarmouth that found that Nicholas Nickerson's child died when a piece of pumpkin shell became lodged in his windpipe. [4, 4: 170]

On 20 February 1707/8, Paul Sears, Sr. of Yarmouth, being "ill & weak," made his will. He left his eldest son Samuel, his son Paul, and his son John land. They were to respect the third right of their mother, his wife, and each was to pay 42 pounds to their brothers Richard and Daniel. He left his movables to his wife Deborah. He did not name his daughters "whom I have to each of them given such parts or portions as I was able or thought fit." He named Samuel and Deborah his executors. His will was witnessed by John Thatcher, Zechariah Paddock, and Samuel Howes. Probate was on 8 April 1708 and letters of administration were granted to Samuel and Deborah. Inventory was taken on 19 March 1708 and amounted to £445-07-09 plus £21-15-06 due his estate. Samuel testified to it on 8 April 1708. [5]

Children of Paul Sears and Deborah Willard: Births of the first six children recorded in Yarmouth; the names are worn. [1]

i. Mercy Sears was born on 3 July 1659 in Yarmouth. [2]

ii. Bethiah Sears was born on 3 January 1661/2. She died on 5 July 1724 in Yarmouth. She married John Crowell.

iii. Captain Samuel Sears is probably the ___ Sears who was born on 31 January 1663/4 (nine years old the last of January 1672). He died on 8 January 1741/2 in the 78th year of his age and is buried in the Sears Cemetery in West Brewster. [3] He married Mercy Mayo. [2] Mercy, the daughter of Deacon Samuel and Tamzin (Lumpkin) and granddaughter of Reverend John Mayo, was born in 1664 and died on 20 January 1748/9, age 83. [2]

Samuel's gravestone says, "... Samuel Sears who departed this life Janry 8 Anno Domini 1741/2 in ye 78 Year of his Age."

iv. Lydia Sears may be the ___ Sears who was born on 24 October 1664 (six years old on 24 October 1672). She married first Eleazar, the son of James Hamblen of Harwich. [2] Eleazar was born on 12 April 1668 and died about 1697. [2] She married second Thomas, the son of Mark Snow. [2]

v. Paul Sears was born on 15 June 1669. He died on 14 or 17 February 1739/40 in Yarmouth. He married Mercy Freeman.

vi. Mary Sears was born on 24 October 1672 in Yarmouth. She died on 7 November 1745 in Eastham. She married Colonel John Knowles.

vii. Anne Sears (first name missing in the town records) was born on 27 March 1674 in Yarmouth. [6] She died on 14 November 1745, age 70, and is buried in the Old North Cemetery in Truro. [3] Anne Sears of Yarmouth married John Merrick of Yarmouth on 28 June 1703 in Yarmouth. [1][6] He died before 13 March 1750. He married second Hannah (Young) Harding. [6] Hannah, the daughter of David and Anne (Doane) Young and granddaughter of John Young, was born on 6 September 1693 in Eastham. [6] She died after 13 March 1750. She married first Nathaniel Harding, the son of Joseph Harding, on 30 November 1725 in Truro. [6]

Anne's gravestone is broken. The inscription on the remnant says, " Mrs. Anne ... the wife ... John Mayr ... died Novemb ... 14 1745 ... 71st year of her age. [3]

John Merrick mentioned his second wife in his will of 13 March 1750.

viii. Captain John Sears was born about 1679. He died on Sabbath morning, 9 April 1738, age 60, and is buried in the Sears Cemetery in West Brewster. [2][3] He married Priscilla Freeman on 1 or 5 June 1704 in Eastman. [2] Elizabeth, the daughter of Captain Samuel Freeman and his wife Elizabeth Sparrow and granddaughter of Deacon Samuel and Mercy (Southworth) Freeman of Eastham, was born on 27 October 1686 and died on 3 May 1764. [2]

John's gravestone says, "... Capt. John Sears who departed this life 9 April Dom 1739 [an error] in ye 61 year of his age." [3]

John wrote his will on 1 January 1738 and styled himself a yeoman. He named his wife and children He is called a gentleman in his inventory papers, filed on 12 June 1738. His inventory included an Indian girl valued at £3-02-01 and real estate worth £2,380-02-01. [2]

viii. Richard Sears was born about 1681. He died on 24 May 1718, age 37, and is buried in the Chatham Old Burying Ground in Chatham. [3] He married Hope Howes on 15 May 1706. [1] Hope was the daughter of Samuel Howes of Yarmouth and granddaughter of Joseph Howes. She married second John Rich of Eastham, who died in 1747 of small pox. [2]

Richard's gravestone says, "Here lyes ye body of Richard Sears who died May the 24 1718 in the 38 year of his age." [3]

ix. Captain Daniel Sears was born in 1682/3. He died on 10 August 1756, age 73. [2] He married Sarah Howes on 12 February 1708/9. [1] Sarah, the sister of her brother-in-law Richard's wife, was born in 1685 and died on 9 November 1748, age 63, in Chatham. [2]

References:

1. Robert M. Sherman and Ruth Wilder Sherman, Vital Records of Yarmouth, Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1993), 1a (births of unnamed children), 128 (marriage of Bethiah), 132 (death of Paul), 136 (marriage of Ann), 137 (marriages of Richard and Daniel).

2. Samuel Pierce May, The Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears) of Yarmouth, Mass., 1638–1688 (Albany: J. Munsell, 1890).

3. "Paul Sears," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22081592/paul-sears), "Samuel Sears, Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14082058/samuel-sears). "Anne Sears Mayrick," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45036487/anne-mayrick). "John Sears," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39171248/john-sears) "Richard Sears," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38166530/richard-sears).

4. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, vol. 1, 1633–1640, vol. 2, 1641–1651, vol. 3, 1651–1661, vol. 4, 1661–1668, vol. 5, 1668–1678, vol. 6, 1678–1691 (Boston: William White, 1855, 1866).

5. "Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685–1789," database with images, AmericanAncestors, 3: 218–9.

6. Susan E. Roser, "Harding-Merrick Notes," The American Genealogist 72 (1997): 109–10.

©a. buiter

20-Jul-2023