Deborah (Smith) Sears (1642 - abt. 1725)

Born 27 Sep 1642 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Wife of Stephen Streeter — married 16 May 1666 in Watertown, Massachusetts

Wife of Samuel Shears — married 10 Aug 1704 in Wrentham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died about Aug 1725 at about age 82 in Massachusetts

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Biography

Deborah Smith was born 27 Sep 1645 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Her parents are unknown at this time. While some have thought her to be the daughter of John Smith and Deborah Howland, this has proven to be NOT true. While they did in fact have a daughter named Deborah, she was younger than this Deborah and was "not being of age to receive her legacy" when her father, John Smith, died in 1692.

Deborah married Stephen Streeter III 16 May 1666, likely in Watertown, Massachusetts. She was living is Clarkston, Watertown in 1667 with Stephen. In 1679 they moved to Muddy River (now Brookline) having inherited a house there. In 1681 that home was sold. They then moved to Cambridge.

All born and died in Massachusetts, Deborah and Stephen Streeter had :

1. Stephen Streeter b.June 20,1667, Watertown.
2. Sarah Streeter b.Oct 2, 1669, in Watertown.
3. Samuel Streeter b.probably at Muddy River. >>
4. John Streeter b.probably at Muddy River. >>
5. Rebecca Streeter b. Sept 3, 1683 Cambridge
6. Deborah Streeter b.Sept. 25,1685 d.April 7, 1689 age 3 Cambridge.
7. Joseph Streeter b.Sept. 18,1687; d.Oct.22,1736
8. Benjamin Streeter b.Nov.25,1689; d.Apr.23,1690.

Note that King Philip's War is occurring around 1675

Stephen Streeter died in Cambridge in 1689. Benjamin was born after his father's death. Deborah is mistakenly said to have died after 2 July 1689 in Cambridge, Middlesex, but it was actually her daughter of the same name.

On April 9 1700 Deborah's son John Streeter marries Mary Whitcomb. They have 3 children in Cambridge and 6 more in Attleborough [VRA:249-250].

On Dec 29, 1700 the Cambridge First Church records shows that John Streeter 3 "owned the Covenant", and was a member there.

On July 13, 1701 Deborah Streeter was admitted to the church in Cambridge in full communion.

On August 10, 1704 Deborah Streeter of Cambridge marries Samuel Sears or Seers of Wrentham. [Vital Records of Wrentham to 1850 page 377.]

During 1705 and 1706 her sons Samuel and John are buying land in Attleborough. Her son John moves his family to Attleborough around 1705 and has several children born in Attleborough [VRA:240-250].

On Feb.5,1715/6 her son John's wife Mary (Whitcomb) Streeter died in Attleborough [VRA:723] having had 9 children.

On Aug.1, 1716 her son John marries secondly Judith Shears (of Wrentham) in Attleborough [VRA:568] and has 6 more children.[VRA:249-250]. (Question: is this Judith Shore's father Samuel Seers who married Deborah in 1704? I think it is likely DCB. )

Deborough Shears, an aged woman formerly belonged to Wrentham" died Aug. 1725. [Vital Records of Attleborough to 1850 page 716]

Sources

• Vital Records of Attleborough to 1850 published 1934. pages: births:240-250, marriages :568, deaths 723]
• Vital Records of Wrentham to 1850 published 1910. pages: marriages : 377, deaths : 716]
• A genealogical History of the Descendants of Stephen and Ursula Streeter of Gloucester, Mass. 1642 and afterwards of Charlestown, Mass 1644-1652 by Milford B. Streeter, Brooklyn N.Y. published 1896 Eben Putnam, Salem, Mass. pages 8. 9-14.

• STREETER, Milford Barzaleel " A genealogical history of the descendants of Stephen and Ursula Streeter of Gloucester, Mass., 1642, afterwards of Charlestown, Mass., 1644-1652 : with an account of the Streeters of Goudherst, Kent, England", E. Putnam, Salem, Mass. 1896, pg. 8

• TORRY, Torry, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., Revised edition, 2004. p. 733.

Stephen Street (1641-1689) & Deborah Smith (-1689) 16 May 1666, ?Watertown/Cambridge

• Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915

Rebecca Streeter

03 Jul 1683

Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Father's Name: Stephen Streeter

Mother's Name; Deborah

p 100; FHL microfilm 892,249.'

• Find a Grave, son Benjamin

• STREETER, Milford B. "Adams Records from a Streeter Family Bible". New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Oct. 1931), Vol. 85, p. 383. Documents marriage and children's births)

• TORRY, Torry, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., Revised edition, 2004. p. 733.

Stephen Street (1641-1689) & Deborah Smith (-1689) 16 May 1666, ?Watertown/Cambridge

• Marriage to Samuel Seers: "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHS6-GNP : 6 November 2017), Samuel Seers and Deborah Streeter, 10 Aug 1704; citing Marriage, , , Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 766,942.
• Find a Grave Deborah Smith Streeter [Note: The Findagrave entry for Deborah is NOT a credible source, as it has no relationship to her burial or to any cemetery. The notation on the memorial page credits the creation of the entry to a family tree of some unknown person, with a link to a page in Geni.com]