Claudius Wistar Sears (1817 - 1891)

Born 8 Nov 1817 in Peru, Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Son of Thomas Sears and [mother unknown]

Descendants

Died 15 Feb 1891 at age 73 in Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi

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Biography

Brig Gen Claudius Sears served in the United States Civil War.
Side: CSA

Claudius Wistar⁷ Sears ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]} (Thomas⁶, Rowland⁵, Zachariah⁴, Joseph³, Silas², Richard¹), born ^{[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]} 08-Nov-1817 in Peru, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA; died 15-Feb-1891 in Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi, USA; died ^{[22][23][24][25][26]}] 15-Feb-1891 in Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi, USA; buried ^[27][28] in Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, USA; Final resting place in Oxford Memorial Cemetery, Oxford, Mississippi.^[29]. He married ^[30][31][32] on 06-Aug-1853 in Houston, Harris, Texas, USA Susan Alice "Alice" Gray ^{[33][34] [35][36][37]}], born 12-Jun-1835 in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Virginia, USA; died 14-Feb-1893 in Holly Springs, Marshall, Mississippi, USA; died ^[38] 14-Feb-1893 in Holly Springs, Marshall, Mississippi, USA; buried^[39] in Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, USA; buried in Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi, USA.

Claudius Wistar Sears was a graduate of the United States Military Academy, a United States Army officer fighting in the Seminole Wars, educator, Colonel of the 46th Mississippi Infantry and a Confederate Brigadier General during the American Civil War. After the conflict he returned to Mississippi and taught mathematics & civil engineering at the University of Mississippi.^[40]

Father of William and Peter.

Sources

1. ↑ Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1977 (Date: 2014)
2. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Date: 2012)
3. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census (Date: 2010). "Year: 1880; Census Place: Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi; Roll: 652; Family History Film: 1254652; Page: 189D; Enumeration District: 075; Image: 0382".
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPZ-CDX : 18 February 2021), C W Sears, 1860, New Orleans Ward 2, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: M653_416; Page: 567; Image: 249; Family History Library Film: 803416.
5. ↑ Heitman, Francis B, Hist Reg and Dict of the US Army from 1789-1903 (Name: GPO, Wash DC 1903). "Hist Reg and Dict of the US Army".
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFSD-Y1P : 29 May 2021), C W Sears, 1870, Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi; Roll: M593_734; Page: 619B; Image: 467; Family History Library Film: 552233".
7. ↑ Historical Data Systems, comp, U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 (Date: 2009)
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11073/claudius-wistar-sears: accessed 05 June 2023), memorial page for Claudius Wistar Sears (8 Nov 1817–15 Feb 1891), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11073, citing Oxford Memorial Cemetery, Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.Find A Grave: Memorial #11073
9. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census (Date: 2009). "Year: 1850; Census Place: Representative District 3, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: M432_234; Page: 207B; Image: 266"
10. ↑ , Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Date: 2011).
11. ↑ Texas, Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 (Date: 2005).
12. ↑ Historical Data Systems, comp., American Civil War General Officers (Date: 1999).
13. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Date: 2012)
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GF-R59 : 14 January 2022), C. Wm. Sears, Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm, Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi; Roll: 652; Family History Film: 1254652; Page: 189D; Enumeration District: 075; Image: 0382.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPZ-CDX : 18 February 2021), C W Sears, 1860, New Orleans Ward 2, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: M653_416; Page: 567; Image: 249; Family History Library Film: 803416.
16. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Census (Date: 2009). "Year: 1870; Census Place: Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi; Roll: M593_734; Page: 619B; Image: 467; Family History Library Film: 552233".
17. ↑ Historical Data Systems, comp, U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 (Date: 2009)
18. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11073/claudius-wistar-sears: accessed 05 June 2023), memorial page for Claudius Wistar Sears (8 Nov 1817–15 Feb 1891), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11073, citing Oxford Memorial Cemetery, Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.Find A Grave: Memorial #11073
19. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census (Date: 2009). "Year: 1850; Census Place: Representative District 3, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: M432_234; Page: 207B; Image: 266".
20. ↑ Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Date: 2011)
21. ↑ Historical Data Systems, comp., American Civil War General Officers (Date: 1999)
22. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Date: 2012)
23. ↑ Historical Data Systems, comp, U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 (Date: 2009)
24. ↑ Mississippi, Find A Grave Index, 1798-2012 (Name: Ancestry; Date: 2012).
25. ↑ Francis B Heitman, Dictionary of the US Army (Name: GPO, Wash DC, 1903), CT State Library (BNS)(3)
26. ↑ Historical Data Systems, comp., American Civil War General Officers (Date: 1999).
27. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Date: 2012).
28. ↑ Mississippi, Find A Grave Index, 1798-2012 (Name: Ancestry; Date: 2012).
29. ↑ Claudius Wistar Sears, Find A Grave: Memorial #11073, accessed November 9, 2019.
30. ↑ Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1977 (Date: 2014).
31. ↑ Ibid.
32. ↑ Texas, Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 (Date: 2005)
33. ↑ Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1977 (Date: 2014).
34. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Date: 2012).
35. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4GF-R59 : 14 January 2022), C. Wm. Sears, Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm, Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi; Roll: 652; Family History Film: 1254652; Page: 189D; Enumeration District: 075; Image: 0382.
36. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Date: 2012)
37. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census (Date: 2010). "Year: 1880; Census Place: Oxford, Lafayette, Mississippi; Roll: 652; Family History Film: 1254652; Page: 189D; Enumeration District: 075; Image: 0382".
38. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Date: 2012).
39. ↑ Ibid.
40. ↑ Claudius Wistar Sears, Wikipedia.org, accessed November 9, 2019.

• Second Seminole War 1835-1842

• 1860 census lists children: C W Sears 43; Alice Sears 24; Claud Sears 5; Alice Sears 3; Catharine Sears 2; Francis Sears 7 Months

• 1880 Census-C. Wm. Sears 62 ; Alice G. Sears 45 ; Alice G. Sears 23; M. Gray Sears 19 ; G. Fairfax Sears 17; Pete G. Sears 13; Thos. C. Sears 12; E. Auston Sears 10

• May, Samuel. The Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears) of Yarmouth, Mass., 1638-1888 Page 439 (Joel Munsell's Sons, 1890) No 1757 Mr Sears graduated West Point Military Academy, in a class of 1841; 2d Lt, 8th Regt, US Inf.; was in Florida war till October, 1842; resigned; Prof University Louisiana, at New Orleans till 1860; in Confederate Army as Colonel and Brigadier General from 1861 to 1865; lost a leg at battle of Nashville, 15 Dec 1864; Prof Mathematics in University of Mississippi, at Oxford, MI, since 1865. Address P.O. University, Mississippi.

• Peru, Mass. Vital Records SEARS Claudius Wistar, ch. Thomas and w., b. Nov. 8, 1817.

• Who was Who in the Civil War by Stewart Sifakis, Facts on File Pubs, NY 1988 Marriage into a Texas family overrode the northern birth and military academy appt of CW Sears and led him to a Confederate Brigadier Generalship. The Mass born West pointer (1841) had received his appointment from NY. He served only a year before resigning as a 2LT in the 8th Inf. A college professor before the war, he was a school president in 1861 when he offered his military services to the Confederacy. His assignments included Capt, Co G, 17 Miss (spring 1861); Col, 46th Miss (Dec 4 1862); BG, CSA (1 Mar 1864); and commanded brigade, French's Division, Polks (Army of Miss)-Stewart's Corps, Army of Tenn (May - 15 Dec 1964). Named to command the Magnolia Guards early in the war, he became part of the 17th Miss before his promotion to Colonel of a new regt; this unit fought at 1st Bull Run (21 Jul 1861), Ball's Bluff, VA (21 Oct 1861), Yorktown (5 Apr 1862); Seven Pines, VA (31 May 1862);in the Seven Days, VA(25 Jun 1862) and at Antietam (17 Sep 1862). His new regt fought at Chickasaw bayou (29 Dec 1862) against Sherman in the defense of Vicksburg and Sears was captured while commanding at Vicksburg. Paroled on the day of surrender, he was eventually exchanged. Despite illness, he served through most of the Atlanta (22 Jul 1864) Campaign. Heading north, he fought at Allatoona (5 Oct 1864), Franklin (30 Nov 1864) and Nashville (15 Dec 1864). In the latter he was wounded and a few days later was taken captive. Having lost a leg, he was paroled until 23 Jun 1865. He served as a college professor until 2 years before his death.  !Dictionary of the US Army- resd 10 Oct 1842; (brig gen CSA war 1861 to 1865; died 15 Feb 1891)

• Claudius Wistar SEARS. Here is what was written about him in "Generals In Gray - Lives of the Confederate Commanders" by Ezra J. Warner. Claudius Wistar SEARS, a native of Massachusetts, was born in Peru, November 8, 1817, and was graduated from West Point in 1841. He resigned the year following to become a teacher. After a short period as instructor at St. Thomas's Hall, Holly Springs, Mississippi, he served as professor of mathematics at the University of Louisiana (now Tulane) from 1845 to 1859. Meantime, he married into a southern family from Houston, Texas. Returning to St. Thomas's as president, he presided until 1861, when he enlisted in the 17th Mississippi Infantry and was elected captain of Company G. Later commissioned colonel of the 46th Mississippi, he served at Chickasaw Bayou against Sherman an at Port Gibson in May 1863. Captured and paroled at Vicksburg, he was not exchanged for several months. He returned to his command early in 1864 and was appointed brigadier general to rank from March Joining the Army of Tennessee at Resaca, Georgia, in May, Sears participated in the Atlanta campaign until disabled by illness. He was subsequently with General S. G. French in the desperate fight at Allatoona and accompanied Hood into Tennessee. During the battle of Nashville, while observing the enemy through his glass, a shell killed his horse and carried away one of his legs. Taken to the rear, he was captured near Pulaski a few days later and was not paroled until June 23, 1865. The same year General Sears was elected to the chair of mathematics at the University of Mississippi, a post he continued to occupy until 1889. He died at Oxford, Mississippi, February 15, 1891, and is buried there.

• Author: Sears, Claudius Wistar, 1817-1891. Title: Journal, 1841-1863 Description: 1 v. Notes: Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History. Mississippi educator and Brigadier General in the Army of the Confederate States of America. Microfilm. 1 microfilm reel : negative ; 35 mm. Subjects: Sears, Claudius Wistar, 1817-1891. Other authors: Mississippi. Dept. of Archives and History. Control No.: ocm30599862

• http://www.genealogyresource.net/SearsFamilyTree.html - 29 Nov 2003 I am not sure which of Claudius Wistar Sears children was the father of Grace Sears. Some relatives say that the name George Fairfax Sears sounds familiar. If you have any info please let me know.

• Grace Sears born Feb 1900 (died 1998) married Michael Riedel children: 1. Arla Marie Riedel (Caples) b. Sept 4, 1928 2. Jerome ("Jerry") Riedel b. Sept 4, 1928 (twins) 3. June (married name Caples) Riedel 4. Betty (married name Goble) Riedel 5. George Riedel In the death of Gen Sears our community loses one of its best and most patriotic citizens.

• 1870 United States Federal Census Mississippi Lafayette Oxford Prof Mathematics Sears, Claudius Wistar 1817-1891 Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines. Volume 5: September, 1958-August, 1961. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1962. (BioIn 5)

• The Civil War Dictionary. By Mark Mayo Boatner, III. New York: David McKay Co., 1959. (CivWDc)

• Who Was Who in the Civil War. By Stewart Sifakis. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1988. (WhCiWar)

• TITLE: Maj.-Gen. E.C. Walthall; Brig.-Gen. C.W. Sears; Brig.-Gen. J.H. Sharp; Brig.-Gen. Carnot Posey; Brig.-Gen. Peter B. Struck; Brig.-Gen. Robert Lowery; Brig.-Gen. James A. Smith; Brig.-Gen. W.F. Tucker; Brig.-Gen. Earl Van Dorn CALL NUMBER: Illus. in E484.E9, vol. 7 [General Collections] REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZ62-108533 (b&w film copy neg.) SUMMARY: Head-and-shoulders portraits of nine Confederate leaders. MEDIUM: 1 photomechanical print : halftone. CREATED/PUBLISHED: [published 1899] NOTES:

• Brigadier-General Claudius W. Sears entered the army in the Forty-sixth Mississippi regiment, of which he was commissioned Colonel December 11, 1862. The regiment served in north Mississippi, and took a gallant part in the defeat of Sherman at Chickasaw Bayou by Gen. S. D. Lee, also being among the successful defenders of Fort Pemberton on the Yazoo, under Loring's command. Colonel Sears commanded the regiment in the battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1863. The brigade to which it was attached, W. E. Baldwin's, of M. L. Smith's division, was in reserve during the fighting at Baker's Creek, and during the siege of Vicksburg, which followed, performed its share of fighting on the lines. "Colonel Sears, Forty-sixth Mississippi," said General Baldwin, "merits favorable notice for his conduct during this trying time." After the surrender of Vicksburg he and his men were for several months on parole, but early in 1864 he was in command of his brigade, and on March 1st was promoted to brigadier general. In April, being stationed at Selma, he was ordered to report to General French at Tuscaloosa, Ala., and in the following month reached Rome, GA, in command of a brigade composed of the Fourth, Thirty-fifth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-ninth and Forty-sixth regiments and Seventh battalion Mississippi volunteers. Sent to Resaca on May 16th, the brigade took a conspicuous and gallant part in the famous campaign of May to September, 1864. During the battles around Atlanta in July he was disabled by illness. In General French's final report of the campaign General Sears was commended for valuable services. It was his fortune, in Hood's north Georgia campaign in Sherman's rear, to be engaged in the desperate fight at Allatoona, in reporting which French acknowledged his indebtedness to Sears' bravery, skill and unflinching firmness. At the battle of Franklin, Tenn., his brigade won new honors, many of the men and officers gaining the main line of the Federal works in the famous charge. Subsequently he cooperated with Forrest in the siege of Murfreesboro, whence he was ordered to Nashville, where he commanded his brigade with skill and firmness until late on the 15th of December, when he was severely wounded, losing a leg, and fell into the hands of the enemy. The surviving fragment of his brigade was surrendered by Gen. Richard Taylor in May, 1865, and General Sears was restored to his home at the close of hostilities. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. IX, p. 266

• Paternal relationship is confirmed through Y-chromosome DNA testing. Leslie Ray Sears, FTDNA kit #71407, and his 8th cousin, C Sears, FTDNA kit #260241, gt-grandson of Claudius, match at a Genetic Distance of 3 on 37 markers thereby confirming their direct paternal lines back to their MRCA Richard Sears. FTDNA indicates that the probability the two share a common ancestor within the last 10 generations is 94.52% and within the last 8 generations is 88.79%.

• Paternal relationship is also confirmed through Y-chromosome DNA testing. S Sears, FTDNA kit #288941, and his 4th cousin once removed, C Sears, FTDNA kit #260241, gt-grandson of Claudius, match at a Genetic Distance of 3 on 37 markers thereby confirming their direct paternal lines back to their MRCA Rowland Sears. FTDNA indicates that the probability the two share a common ancestor within the last 6 generations is 77.882% and within the last 8 generations is 88.79%.