SKYLARK'S PAUL SEARS HOMELAND PAGE

The origins of the surname Sears lies with "Shier," which was the baptismal name of the "Son of Sayer." Prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066, no one had surnames. Some Norman French had hereditary names prior to coming to England. There is evidence that the name is the place name "Serez, in the arrondisement of Evreus in Normandy, the family's residence prior to the Norman Conquest.

In the Middle Ages, Évreux was one of the centres of Jewish learning,and its scholars are quoted in the medieval notes to the Talmud called the Tosafot.

The following rabbis are known to have lived at Évreux: Samuel ben Shneor, praised by his student Isaac of Corbeil as the "Prince of Évreux", one of the most celebrated tosafists; Moses of Évreux, brother of Samuel, author of the Tosafot of Évreux; Isaac of Évreux; Judah ben Shneor, or Judah the Elder, author of liturgic poems; Meïr ben Shneor; Samuel ben Judah; Nathan ben Jacob, father of Jacob ben Nathan, who in 1357 copied the five Megillot with the Targum for Moses ben Samuel.[

Paul Sears
(Origins of Sears surname="Sayer")
Born: 1638
Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts
Died: 20 February 1708
Yarmouth Cemetery, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married: 1658 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass
Wife: Deborah Willard
born: 14 SEP 1645 in Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts
chr: 14 SEP 1645 in Scituate, Plymouth, Ma
Daughter of George Willard
Born: Before 4 Dec 1614
Horsemonden, Kent, England
Died: Nottingham, Maryland
Dorothy Dunster-Scituate, Plymouth, MA
Born: 1638
Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Died: 13 May 1721
Yarmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Paul Sears the son of Richard b: 1590 in Amsterdam, North Holland, Holland and Dorothea Jones Sears moved with his parents as a small boy to Cape Cod.

Dorothy Jones born: 1603 in Dinder, Somerset, England. She was the daughter of George and Agnes Jones of Dinder, Somerset.1,2 She married Richard Sears before 1637. Dorothy Jones died before 19 March 1678/79 in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony, now Barnstable County, Massachusetts. She was buried on 19 March 1678/79 in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony, now Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Children of Dorothy Jones and Richard Sears

Captain Paul Sears was born in February 1636/37 in Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay Colony, now Essex County. Captain Paul Sears married Deborah Willard before 1669, daughter of George Willard and Dorothy Dunster, daughter of George Willard and Dorothy Dunster Willard of Scituate, Mass, and spent the majority of his life in that part of Yarmouth, settling later in East Dennis. Captain Paul Sears died on 20 February 1706/7 in Yarmouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay.

Children of Captain Paul Sears and Deborah Willard

Paul Sears was one of the original proprieters of land in Harwich, called "Wings Purchase" by deed from John Wing. He enabled his sons Richard and George to buy what is now present day Chatham, Massachusetts.

He appears to have been one of the most influencial citizens of his town. He adopted the children of his brother after his death in England in 1686. When he died he left 300-400 acres to his three sons, with provision for the adopted sons. His wife Debora survived him by some 14 years. He was first in the family to adopt the Sears spelling of the Sayer name.

Memorial Inscription:

Paul Sears of Yarmouth, son of "Richard Sears, the Pilgrim, who was a son of John Bourchier Sears and Maria L. van Egmont. Sacred to the Memory of Richard Sears, son of John Bouchier Sears and Marie L. Van Egmont in lineal descent from Richard Sears of Colchester and Ann Bouchier Knyvet, England. he landed at Plymouth in 1630, Married Dorothy Thacher and died in Yarmouth in 1676.

John was a lineal descendant of Richard Sears of Colchester, Eng., and Ann Bourchier Knyvet. Richard, the Pilgrim, was driven from his native land and sought refuge among the Pilgrims in Holland, and came with them to the New World in 1630. He settled in Plymouth, and married Dorothy Thatcher. (Early New England People, page 81)

Captain Paul, son of Richard Sears, was born probably at Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1637-38, after February 20, and died at Yarmouth, February 20, 1707-08. He took the oath of fidelity in 1657. He was captain of the militia at Yarmouth, and was in the Narragansett war. He was one of the original proprietors of Harwich, which was laid out between Bound Brook and Stony Brook as Wing's Purchase. He married, at Yarmouth. in 1658, Deborah Willard. baptized at Scituate, September 14, 1645. died May 13, 1721, daughter of George Willard. Her mother was probably Dorothy Dunster. (New England Families Genealogical and Memorial: Volume IV, page 1716)

SCEARSTAN SAYER SEARS COLCHESTER. Below is the following inscription:- RICHARD SEARS, IN LINEAL DESCENT FROM RICHARD SAYER, AND ANN BOURCHIER KNYVET OF COLCHESTER, DRIVEN BY PERSECUTION FROM HIS NATIVE LAND, SOUGHT REFUGE AMONG THE PILGRIMS IN HOLLAND; HE UNITED WITH THEM IN THEIR BOLD ATTEMPT TO FIND A HOME AND A COUNTRY IN THE NEW WORLD, LANDED AT PLYMOUTH, IN 1630, AND DIED IN NEW ENGLAND IN 1676. KNYVET SEARS ELDEST SON OF RICHARD BORN IN 1635 VISITED ENGLAND IN 1686, AND DIED THERE IN THE SAME YEAR IN THE HOUSE OF HIS AFFLICTED RELATIVE. REQUIESCAT IN PACE.

Richard Sears 1676 Knyvet Sears 1696 Sylas Sears 1697 Paul Sears 1707 monument

east side SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF RICHARD SEARS SON OF JOHN BOURCHIER SEARS AND MARIA L VAN ECMONS IN LINEAL DESCENT FROM RICHARD SEARS OF COLCHESTER AND ANN BOURCHIER KNYVET HE LANDED AT PLYMOUTH IN 1630 MARRIED DOROTHY THACHER AND DIED IN YARMOUTH IN 1676

north side SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF KNYVET SEARS ELDEST SON OF RICHARD SEARS BORN IN 1635 MARRIED ELIZABETH DYMOKE AND DIED IN ENGLAND IN 1696

west side SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF PAUL SEARS SECOND SON OF RICHARD SEARS BORN IN 1637 MARRIED DEBORAH WILLARD AND DIED IN YARMOUTH IN 1707

south side SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF SYLAS SEARS THIRD SON OF RICHARD SEARS BORN IN 1639 MARRIED AND DIED IN YARMOUTH IN 1697

Richard Sears was born in 1590 in Amsterdam, Holland. He was the son of John Bourchier Sayer and Marie Lamorel Van Egmont.1,2 He married Dorothy Jones before 1637.1 Richard Sears died on 5 September 1676 in Yarmouth, Plymouth Colony, now Barnstable County, Massachusetts.1 Richard Sears immigrated in 1633.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------

John BOUCHIER-SAYERS-672 [Parents] was born in 1561 in , Devonshire, England. He died in 1629 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He married Marie LAMORAL VAN EGMONTE-671 in 1585 in Holland.

Marie LAMORAL VAN EGMONTE-671 was born in 1564 in Dinder, Somersetshire, England. She married John BOUCHIER-SAYERS-672 in 1585 in Holland.

They had the following children:

Paul Sears took the oath of "Fidelity" in 1657, held a commission as a Captain in the militia, and made claim for a horse lost in Narragansett War, but I find no record of his services. October 30, 1667, he was one of the grand jury, in an inquest held on the child of Nicholas Nickerson. He was one of the original proprietors of lands in Harwich, MA between Bound and Stony brooks, known as "Wing's Purchase," as appears by deed of John Wing et als., to Paul Sears et als., dated April 16,1677, recorded at Plymouth. The early town records of Yarmouth were destroyed by fire at the burning of the town clerk's house in 1674, and from the succeeding volume the first twenty-six pages are gone, and others mutilated and worn.

The names and dates of birth of his children have been supplied from various sources, and are believed to be correct. I annex copies of the will and inventory of Paul Sears;- the will is signed with his mark, as is also the inventory of John Burge's estate, rendered by him and recorded Barns. Record II, 1701, p130. He left property valued at L 467 03 03, to his "loving wife Deborah," and to his sons, "Samuel, Paul and John;" that to his sons being charged with a payment to "their brothers, Richard and Daniel, towards their purchase of lands at Manamoy;" having given to his daughters, (whose names are unfortunately omitted) "such parts or portions as I was able or thought fit." In the ancient cemetery in Yarmouth lies a stone slab, removed from its place to make room for the granite monument to the Sears, which bears the following inscription, surmounted by a cherub's head and scroll work: Here lyes the Body of Paul Sears, who Departed this life February ye 20th 1707, in ye 70th year of his age." It is the oldest dated memorial in the cemetery. His wife was doubtless laid by his side, but there is no stone to her memory. George Willard, the father of Paul Sears' wife, was the son of Richard and Joane (Morebread) W., of Horsmonden, Kent, Eng., where he was baptized. Dec. 4, 1614.

He settled at Scituate for a time, removing thence it is said to Maryland or Gorgeane Maine.

There is some reason to believe that his wife was Dorothy Dunster, daughter of Henry Dunster, of Baleholt, near Bury, Lanc., sister to Elizabeth Dunster, who married. his brother. Simon Willard; and to Rev. Henry Dunster, President of Harvard College. [See Willard Mem., 1858, p. 339] Paul Sears was the first to adopt the present spelling of SEARS. In the name of God, Amen, the Twentieth Day of February, 1707-8. I, Paul Sears, senior of Yarmouth, in ye County of Barnstable, in New England, being at this time ill and weak in body but of disposing mind and memory, praised be God, Do make, Constitute, ordain and Declare this my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following: First, and principally. I Commit my soul to God, most humbly depending upon the gracious Death and merits of Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour for Salvation, and to the free pardon of all my sins. And my Body to the Earth to be buried in such Decent Christian manner as to my Executors hereafter named shall be thought fit.

And as for my outward Estate, as Lands, Chattels and Goods, I do order Give and Dispose in manner and form following; First, - I will that all those Debts and Duties that I owe in Right or Conscience To any person whatsoever shall be truly paid in convenient time, after my Decease by my Executors hereafter named, out of my movable Estate. Item,- I do give and bequeath to my eldest son Samuel Sears, all that my land and meadow in the township of Harwich upon part whereof his house now stands as is comprehended within and between the boundaries now following: (that is to say ,) bounded on the east by Kenelm Winslow's Land at ye known and accustomed bounds and on the west side beginning at a remarkable rock, (lying about four Rods eastward from Yarmouth bound Rock at bound brook,) and from the said Remarkable Rock the line runs Southerly over the Swamp and up ye hill to a great Pine tree marked in said Yarmouth line: and thence up ye same straight line Southerly to the highway: and thence eastward as the way runs to ye said Winslow's Land, (the second highway being the bounds on ye south side) And the beginning again att ye said Remarkable Rock the line runs northerly to a stone set in ye ground: and thence easterly to the edge of ye marsh by a straight line to another stone set in to the ground, and so bounded by the marsh to another stone set in the ground northerly on a straight line to a bend of ye main Creek at a stone set in the Maresh, and on the north side it is bounded by the known and accustomed bounds and of my interest in the undivided lands in said Harwich, viz.: that is my saidd son Samuel shall sixteen acres to himself in ye next Division (ye proprietors make of the undivided Lands) and the one half of all the rest of my interest there.

All which sd Lands and Meadows shall be to my sd son Samuel Sears, and to his heirs and assigns forever, he yielding to his mother, my wife, one third part of ye profits thereof during her natural life, and also paying to his two brothers Richard and Daniel, forty and two pounds in money towards the paying their purchase at Manamoy. I do give him my Try pot and Kettle. It.- I do give and bequeath to my son Paul Sears and to his heirs and assigns forever, one piece of fresh meadow called the Green Meadow which lies on the north side of my old house and is bounded eastward at ye Well or Spring, then westward taking in all ye Marsh or ground to ye old cart way (which leads into ye neck) on Joseph Sears fence: thence northeastward as the old sd cart way and fence runs to Zachariah Paddocks fence or line which is ye bounds on ye north side to bound brook, the sd bound brook and well or spring being the bounds on the east side, and also one quarter part of my interest of the undivided Lands in sd Harwich (besides the above sd Sixteen acres given to my son Samuel,) and for the rest of my son Pauls land is in ye neck where he now dwells, and by me confirmed by Deed of Gift formerly, and my Will is that he shall yield to his mother, my wife, one third of the profits or income of all I have given him, during her natural life, and that he shall pay to his two brothers Richard and Daniel, forty and four pounds in money towards the paying their purchases att Manamoy. My will further is that the Ditch which hath been the accustomed bounds in the marsh betwixt my son Paul, and my kinsman Josiah Sears shall remain forever; beginning southerly att ye upland and running straight northerly to the Creek which did run on ye north side of ye island, which creek shall be the north bounds: And my Will is, and I do give all that slip of meadow on the West side of ye sd ditch unto the said Josiah Sears, his heirs and assigns forever. It.- I do give and bequeath unto my son John Sears, and to his heirs and assigns forever, all the rest of my Homestead, both housings, lands and meadows, also one quarter part of all my interest in the undivided lands in ye sd Harwich, excepting the sixteen acres before given to my son Saml.-he my sd son John allowing and yielding to his mother, my wife, the one third part of my Housing, and the third of the profits of ye lands during her natural life, and he paying to his two brothers Richard and Daniel, forty and four pounds in money towards their purchase att Manamoy. It.-

I do give and bequeath all my movable Estate as Cattle, sheep, horses, swine and household stuff &, unto my loving wife Deborah, (my Debts and Funeral charges being first paid.) She shall have the rest for her comfort while she lives: and what she leaves at her death to be equally divided amongst my daughters to whom I have each of them given such parts or portions as I was able or thought fit. Lastly,- I do nominate and appoint my sd son Saml Sears and my Loving Wife Deborah executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal ye day and year in ye other side first above written. Signed, sealed & declared in The mark and seal of presence of Paul (=) Sears, Senior (seal) John Thacher, Zachariah Paddock, Samuel Howes, Barnstable, ss. April 14, 1883. A true copy of the record, Attest, Freeman H. Lothrop, Register of Probate Court. A true inventory of all and Singular ye Goods, Chattels, Housing, Lands and Credits of Paul Sears, yeoman, deceased, prised at Yarmouth, ye 19th day of March 1708: By Peter Thacher & Kenelm Winslow, as followed: L s d Impr. - his money L1 17 6 his apparel of all sorts 10 9 0 11 18 6 It.- Two feather beds, two other beds, bedstead, curtains and valence with bolsters, pillows, and all ye cover lids and sheets 21 13 6 It.- Table and chairs 1 4 0 andirons, trammels iron pots & pot hooks 03 08 06 Tongs, & fire flue, iron kettles, skillets, frying pans 03 02 06 It.- Brass kettle,warming pan,hitchell,stillyards,chest & boxes It.- Spinning wheels 10s pewter platter, plates cups & pots It.- Coolers, pails, trays, trenches & spoons, table linen & towels It.- his saddle, bridle, pilyon, & cloth, flax & linen yarn It.- Cash, candlestick, lamp, drawing knife axes, sickle & hows A sifting trough, wool, five washing tubs knife, scissors, looking glass It.- Salt & feathers, and iron wedge, ye iron belonging to ye cart, and plows and spade a staple and cap ring, & caps & ring It.- 4 bushels Rye, 24 of Indian, 3 of Wheat and 1/2 his books Tobacco, 10s pitchforks, powder horn, bullets, and sword Grindstone, and tin ware, 2 oxen, 5 cows, 2 steers It.- 2 yearlings, a bull and one horse, 3 swine, 25 sheep It.- his housing, lands, and meadows at 350 more about 3 acres of English corn upon ye ground not priced. The total now due to ye Estate about April 8th, 1708 Samuel Sears Executor to the last Will and Testament of Paul Sears of Yarmouth his deceased father, before Barnabas Lothrop, Esq., Judge of Probate and granting letters of Administration, within this County of Barnstable, made oath that the above written is a true Inventory of ye Estate of ye sd Paul Sears so far as he knows, and that if any thing else that is material shall yet farther come to his knowledge he will bring it to this Inventory. Attest Wm. Bassett, Reg. Peter Thacher Kenelm Winslow, Jun. Barnstable, ss. April 14, 1883. A true copy of the record. Attest, Freeman H. Lothrop, Register of Probate Court MD 25, p.49 Maj William Bradford's Confirmation of his mother's deed to Richard Sears with an autograph of John Alden. Widow Alice Bradford sold land on 23 November 1664 to Richard Sears of Yarmouth -

To all people to whom these prnts shall come Major William Bradford of Plymouth in the Government of New Plymouth in New England Esq... in consideration of ye sum of Twenty pounds to her in hand paid, by Richard Seers, his heirs & Assigns for ever, two Allotments, of Land containing forty acres be they more, or be they less, lying and being at a place, commonly called Sesuit between a brook commonly called & known, by the name of Bound Brooke,[boundary between Dennis & Brewster ed.] and a brook called Saquetuckett brook, as also a certain tract of meadow to ye forested Lotts appteyning, and are abutalled as p a deed of Feofement. Dennis, Cape Cod, p 59, 108 In 1680 the Town Meeting appointed the following men to watch for drift whales and claim them for the town: Paul Sears, Samuel Worden, Silas Sears and John Burges from Sawtucket to Nobscusset Point.

Tom Campbell is a Sears descendant. He is married to Alana Campbell and they live in Washington state.

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