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Judah Sears (1699 - bef. 1775)

Judah Sears
Born in Harwich, Plymouth, Massachusettsmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , , , , , and
Husband of — married 1 Nov 1731 in Yarmouth, Massachusettsmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , and
Died before before age 76 in Rochester, Plymouth, Massachusettsmap
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Profile last modified | Created 8 Sep 2010
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Contents

Biography

Judah was born in 1699.[1]


The birth of Judah, the son of Samuel Sears and his wife Mercy, on October 29, 1699, is recorded in the Harwich Vital Records.[2]

The Harwich Vital Records contain the following report of the publishing of Intentions: "There is an intention of marriage agreed upon by Judah Sears of harwich and mary Paddack of Yarmouth this 17 day of July 1731."[3] The Intentions were published July the 18th 1731.[4] "Judah Sears and Mary Paddack was married in November 1731."[5]

The births of seven of Judah and Mary's children are recorded in the Harwich Vital Records: Ann, Judah, Alden, Nathan, David, Richard and Mary.[6] Judah's wife was admitted to the First Church at Brewster on May 23, 1736. His oldest children, Ann and Judah, were baptized there on June 6, 1736, and daughter Mary was baptized on November 7, 1736.[7] Alden Sears was baptized on April 1, 1739.[8] David and Thomas were baptized on June 17, 1744.[9] Richard and Joseph were baptized on July 6, 1746.[10] Another Mary was baptized on May 20, 1750.[11] "Elce" Sear was baptized on July 5, 1752.[12]

Judah and Mary (Paddock) Sears had the following (10) children: [13]

  1. Ann, b. 31 March 1733; m. Anthony Gage
  2. Judah, b. 19 Nov. 1734; m. Mary/Molly Crowell
  3. Mary, baptized 7 Nov. 1736; died young
  4. Alden, b. 24 Feb. 1738/9; m. (1) Hannah Bassett, m. (2) Phebe Walker
  5. Nathan, b. 18 June 1741; m. (1) Rebecca Crowell, m. (2) Thankful (Handy) Bassett
  6. David, b. 10 May 1744; m. Susannah Handy
  7. Richard, b. 8 June 1746; m. Sarah Bumpus
  8. Mary, b. 15 April 1750; m. Jonathan Hatch
  9. Alice, baptized 5 July 1752; m. Charles Church
  10. Sarah, baptized 30 March 1755; m. Sylvester Bates


ADDED BIOGRAPHY

JUDAH SEARS, son of Samuel Sears and Mercy Mayo; born at Harwich, Massachusetts, on 29 October 1699;[14] died at Rochester, Massachusetts, in September 1776.[15] Actually, probate of his estate was granted on 4 December 1775, according to the official records; so he died slightly before that date. It is true that one of the probate documents is dated in September 1776.

He married in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, 1 November 1731, MARY PADDOCK[16] (“There is an intention of marriage agreed upon between Judah Sears of harwich and mary Paddack of yarmouth entered this 17 day of July 1731”),[17] daughter of Judah and Alice (Alden) Paddock; born at Yarmouth, 5 March 1714/5;[18] died at Rochester, Massachusetts, in 1775.

Judah Sears’ house at “Punkhorn,” Harwich, now West Brewster, was standing recently on the old road from the mill brook to Dennis east of the house of Jeremiah Walker, and on the northside of this was a very ancient structure, now [ca. 1890] much dilapidated, and has been said to be the oldest house in Brewster. It is two stories in front, and one in the rear, and was occupied about 1863, by Capt. David Sears in Dennis, No. 1812, the Swivel maker. [19]

Mary was admitted to the church in Harwich on 23 May 1736,[20] a month before her two oldest children were baptized there. When pews were allotted in the 2nd Church at Yarmouth, 24 August 1761, “Mr. Judah Sears had 1/4 right hand door, at £53 10 0 old tenor.”[21] He removed to Rochester with his family (he was tithing man there 1764-67) and joined the church there in 1769, when he was nearly 70 years old. His wife was dismissed to the church at Rochester on 12 August 1770.[22]

Judah Sears was a selectman in Harwich in 1748.[23]


WILL OF JUDAH SEARS

Judah Sears will, 5 February 1773, Proved 4 December 1775 His son Judah, Jr. declined the executorship and his son David took the responsibility on 2 September 1776. His inventory was taken on 2 November 1776 in Rochester.[24] On 5 May 1776, after the death of his son Judah Jr. and David, David Peckham was appointed the administration of his estate.[25] His inventory is recorded again, and an account of his estate by David Peckham was recorded which included the sale of real estate, debts paid, and administration fees.[26]


I Judah Sears of Rochester in ye County of Plimouth yeoman being advanced in years but through Gods goodness of Sound mind & Disposing of my Estate & Calling to mind ye uncertainty of this life do make & ordain this my last will & Testament Recommending my Soul to ye mercifull hands of god that gave it & my body to be buried in decent Christian manner after my Decease at ye discression of my Executors hereafter mentioned & as to Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me with in this world I give & Dispose of ye Same ye manner & form following
Imprimis I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Mary ye use & Improvement of one third part of my Real Estate During her natural life also I give to my Said wife all Indoor and outdoor moveables my farming tools & a good feather bed & furnature Excepted during her life
Item I give & bequeath to my Son Judah Sears to his heirs & assigns for Ever ye one half part of my Real Estate whatsoever or wheresoever ye Same is or may be found his mothers Right Excepted as above
Item I give & bequeath to my Son David Sears to him his heirs & assigns for Ever ye other half part of my Real Estate whatsoever or wheresoever ye Same is or may be found his mothers Right Excepted as above & in Case my dwelling house Shall want Repairs while my Said wife lives it is my will & I order my Said Sons Judah & David at their Cost in Equal parts to keep my Said wives part of Said house in good Repair
Item I give to my son Alden Sears Six pounds thirteen Shillings & four pence Lawful money to be paid him in Equal parts by my Sons Judah and David in two years after my Decease
Item I give to my son Nathan Sears Six pounds thirteen Shillings & four pence Lawful money to be paid him in Equal parts by my Sons Judah & David in two years after my Decease
Item I give to my Son Richard Sears Six pounds thirteen Shillings & four pence Lawful money to be paid by my Said Sons Judah & David in Equal parts in two years after my Decease
Item I give to my Daughter Ann Gage ye wife of Anthony Gage one Shilling to be paid by Sons Judah & David in two years after my Decease
Item I give to my Daughter Mary Hatch ye wife of Jonathan Hatch one Shilling to be paid by my Sons Judah & David in two years after my Decease
Item I give to my Daughter Allice Church ye wife of Charles Church one Shilling to be paid her by my Said Sons Judah & David in two years after my Decease Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Sears one good feather bed & furnature it being ye Same bed & furnature that I have Reserved in ye former part of this will also I give to my Said Daughter Sarah five pounds Lawful money to be paid her by my Said Sons Judah & David in Equal parts in one year after my Decease or on the Day of Marriage also I give my Said Daughter Sarah liberty to live in my Dwelling house so long as She lives Single
Item I give to my Said Sons in Equal parts to Judah & David to [be] Equally Divided between them all my farming tools & all my Indoor & out Door moveables after my said wives Death with ye Exceptions before mentioned also I give ye Said Judah & David to be Equally Divided between them ye Debts due to me & all other of my Estate Real & personal that I have not herein disposed of also I hereby order by Said Sons Judah & David Equally between them to pay my Just Debts & funeral Charges further more I do Constitute & appoint my Said Son Judah Sears to be Sole Executor to this my last will & testament In witness where of I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this fifth Day of February AD 1773
Signd Seald published & pronounced to be ye last will & testament of ye Said Judah Sears in presence of us
Judah Sears [his autograph]
Nathan Nye Jr
Charles Sturtevant
Wm Nye
Nathl Ruggles Junr
Nathl Ruggles

My literal transcription from digital images of the original documents. Judah Sears Estate, Case no. 17795 in Plymouth Cases 16000-17999 (17 pages), pp. 1-Plymouth County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)

In 1782, his son Judah refused the executorship of his father's will and died, and David Peckham of Rochester was appointed the administration cum testamento annexo of his will.[27]

CHILDREN

Children of Judah and Mary (Paddock) SEARS, all born in Harwich, Massachusetts, except the last:[28]

  • i. ANN SEARS, b. 31 Mar. 1733; bapt. 6 June 1736, First Parish in Harwich;[29] m. (1) 19 Sept. 1752, ANTHONY GAGE, s. of Thomas and Rebecca Rider) Gage; b. 16 Mar. 1728/9. Ann and Anthony removed to Southeast, NY. She m. (2) 1761, GEORGE WEBB.
  • ii. JUDAH SEARS, b. 19 Nov. 1734; bapt. 6 June 1736, First Parish in Harwich; m. MARY CROWELL.
  • iii. MARY [i] SEARS, bapt. 7 Nov. 1736, First Parish in Harwich;[30] d.y.
  • iv. [CAPT.] ALDEN SEARS, b. 24 Feb. 1738/9; m. (1) HANNAH BASSETT; m. (2) PHEBE WALKER.
  • v. [ENS.] NATHAN SEARS, b. 18 June 1741; m. (1) Chatham, Mass., 4 Dec. 1764, REBECCA CROWELL;[31] m. (2) 18 Sept. 1779, THANKFUL (HANDY) BASSETT;[32] she d. 4 Mar. 1818, aged 65 years, 9 months, and 6 days.Rochester VR, 2:429.
  • vi. DAVID SEARS, b. 10 May 1744; bapt. 17 June 1744; m. (1) ABIGAIL GERRY; m. (2) SUSANNAH HANDY.
  • vii. RICHARD SEARS, b. 8 June 1746; m. published in Rochester, 26 Mar. 1769, SARAH BUMPUS, b. 1748, Wareham, Mass.; the couple were married in Sarah’s hometown of Wareham, 9 Nov. 1769;[33] rem. to Hyannis, Mass. He served in the Revolutionary Army.[34]
  • viii. MARY [ii] SEARS, b. 15 Apr. 1750;[35] bapt. 20 May 1750, First Church;[36] m. Rochester, 13 Nov. 1766, JONATHAN HATCH of Falmouth,[37] b. 1746.
  • x. ALICE SEARS, bapt. 5 July 1752, Harwich;[38]m. Rochester, 29 Mar. 1769, CHARLES CHURCH.[39]
  • xi. SARAH SEARS, bapt. in East Yarmouth (now Dennis), Mass., 30 Mar. 1755; d. Rochester, Mass., 26 Oct. 1793;[40] bur. First Parish Cem., Rochester, Plymouth Co.;[41] m. 1 Jan. 1778, as his second wife, SYLVESTER BATES,[42] s. of Amos Bates & Jemima Caswell; b. ca. 1742/4; d. Rochester, 12 Feb. 1828; bur. First Parish Cem.[43]

SOURCES

  • Source S365 Title: Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2010).
  • Source S366 Title: The Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (MD) (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010)


  1. ↑ #S366 MD 10:175
  2. ↑ #S366 Harwich, Mass., Vital Records, MD 3:175
  3. ↑ #S366 MD 13:58
  4. ↑ #S365 Yarmouth VRs, Vol. 1, Page 172
  5. ↑ #S365 Yarmouth VRs, Vol. 1, Page 148
  6. ↑ #S366 MD 13:48
  7. ↑ #S366 Records of the First Parish in Brewster, formerly the First Parish in Harwich, Mass., MD 7:95
  8. ↑ #S366 MD 7:98
  9. ↑ #S366 MD 8:119
  10. ↑ #S366 MD 8:121
  11. ↑ #S366 MD 8:210
  12. ↑ #S366 MD 10:130
  13. ↑ Esther Littleford Woodsworth-Barnes, Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Vol 16, Part 1, The Descendants of John Alden, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2002. "The Silver Book" Page 621
  14. ↑ Harwich VR, MD 3:175.
  15. ↑ May, Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears), 76.
  16. ↑ Yarmouth VR, 148.
  17. ↑ Harwich VR, MD 13: 58.
  18. ↑ Yarmouth VR, 35.
  19. ↑ 'May, Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears), 77.
  20. ↑ Bowman, “Records of the First Parish in Brewster, Formerly the First Parish in Harwich, Mass.,” MD 7: 95.
  21. ↑ May, Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears), 77.
  22. ↑ May, Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears), 76, 77.
  23. ↑ Josiah Paine, “Town of Harwich,” History of Barnstable County, Mass., ed. Simeon L. Deyo (New York: H.W. Blake & Co., 1890), 845.
  24. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-ZSTT : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1775-1780 vol 24-25 > image 143 of 568; State Archives, Boston.
  25. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-X7HL : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1778-1794 vol 26-27 > image 523 of 549; State Archives, Boston.
  26. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-6ZQG : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1780-1786 vol 28-29 > image 204 of 638; State Archives, Boston.
  27. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-X7HL : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1778-1794 vol 26-27 > image 523 of 549; State Archives, Boston.
  28. ↑ Harwich Vital Records, MD 13: 148; May, Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears), 76. The first eight children of Judah and Mary were all listed together in Harwich Vital Records (p. 198 in original) with their dates of birth. Also see MF 16: 621.
  29. ↑ Bowman, “Records of the First Parish in Brewster, Formerly the First Parish in Harwich,” MD 7: 95. Ann and her brother Judah were baptized on the same day.
  30. ↑ Bowman, “Records of the First Parish in Brewster, Formerly the First Parish in Harwich,” MD 7: 95.
  31. ↑ The couple were married in her hometown of Chatham, but the marriage was recorded in Rochester VR, 2:267. Chatham VR, MD 17:94.
  32. ↑ Rochester VR, 2:268.
  33. ↑ Recorded in Rochester VR, 2:268.
  34. ↑ May, Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears), 124. May gives a paragraph of details concerning Richard’s service(s) over a period of five years.
  35. ↑ Harwich VR, MD 13:148.
  36. ↑ Bowman, “Records of the First Parish in Brewster, Formerly the First Parish in Harwich, Mass.,” MD 9 (Oct. 1907): 210.
  37. ↑ Rochester VR, 2:267.
  38. ↑ Elce Seers, the daughter of Judah Seers, was baptized 5 July 1752, according to the record in First Parish, Harwich. It looks like Elizabeth is the wrong name—it should be Alice [Elce is a spelling for Alice, one which her grandmother had also used]. Probably Judah and Mary had no child named Elizabeth, baptized 8 July 1752, although Samuel P. May listed her in his influential Sears genealogy (and his information has been copied by virtually everyone). I repeat, they had a daughter Alice [spelled Elce] who was baptized on 5 July of that year [Bowman, “Records of the First Parish in Brewster, Formerly the First Parish in Harwich, Mass.,” MD 10: 130].
  39. ↑ Rochester VR, 2:267.
  40. ↑ Rochester VR, 2: 346.
  41. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 08 September 2021), memorial page for Sarah Sears Bates (1751–26 Oct 1793), Find A Grave: Memorial #67438143 citing Center Cemetery, Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Carol L (contributor 46957236).
  42. ↑ Rochester VR, 2:268.
  43. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 08 September 2021), memorial page for Sylvester Bates (1743–12 Feb 1828), Find A Grave: Memorial #88998232, citing Center Cemetery, Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Carol L (contributor 46957236).






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