Paul Sears Captain

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁶²
The early settlers of New England engaged in primarily, agricultural as well as stock-raising and fishing. Many whales were cast upon the coast, and the shore was divided in sections, under the charge of whaling squades chosen by the town. Capt. Paul Sears and Lt. Silas Sears belonged to one of these gangs, and some of Paul's whaling gear is listed in his will and inventory. Oil, fish and tar were exchanted with traders visiting the coast for the goods they could not produce themselves.

• Background Information. ¹¹⁴
Paul Sears took the oath of "Fidellyte" in 1657, held a commission as a captain in the militia and made claim for a horse lost in the Narragansett war. On 30 Oct 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 the lands in Harwich, between Bound and Stony brooks, known as "Wing's Purchase," as appears by deed of John Wing et als., to Paul Seers et als, dated 16 Apr 1677, recorded at Plymouth.

Paul left property valued at 467 03 03 pounds 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 his daughters, "such parts or portions as I was able or thought fitt."

In the ancient cemetery in Yarmouth lies a stone slab, removed from its place to make room for the granite monument to the Searses, which bears the following inscription, surrmounted by a cherub's head and scroll work:

It is the Oldest dated memorial in the cenetery.

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) Willard, of Hormonden, Kent, England, where he was baptized Dec 1641. He settled at Scituate for a time, removing thence it is said to Maryland. There is some reason to believe that his wife was Dorothy Dunster, daughter of Henry Dunster, of Balehold, near Bury, Lancaster, sister to Elizabeth Dunster, who married his brother Simon Willard; and the Reverand Henry Dunster, President of Harvard College.

Paul Sears was the first to adopt the present spelling of Sears.

~The Descendants of Richard Sares, pp. 43 - 44

• Grave Stone.

Photo by Nancy Basler

• Will. ¹¹⁴
In the name of God, Amen, the Twentieth Day of February, 1707/08,
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 Comitt my soul to God, most humbly depending upon the gracious Death and merits of Jesus Christ my only Lord and Savour for Salvation, and to the free pardon of all my sins. And my body to the Earth to be buryed in such Decent Christian manner as to my Executors hereafter named shall be thought fitt.

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 own 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 in comprehended within and between the boundaries now following: (that is to say,) bounded on the east by Kenelm Winslows Land at ye known and accustomed bounds; and on the west side beginning at a remarkable rock... <rest of description of land excluded> All said Lands and Meadows shall be to my said son Samuel Sears, and to his heirs and assigns forever, he yielding to his mother, my wife, on third part of ye proffits there of 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 pott and Kettle.

It- I do give and bequeath to my son Paul Sears and to his heirs and assigns forever, one peice of fresh meadow called the Green Meadow which Lyeth on the north side of my old house and is bounded eastward at ye Well or Spring, then westward... <rest of description is excluded>... that he shall excluded to his mother, my wife, on third part of ye proffits there of 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.

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 said ditch unto the said Josiah Sears, his heir 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 said Harwich, excepting the sixteen acres before given to my son Samuel-he my said son John allowing and yielding to his mother, my wife, the one third part of my Housing, and the third of the proffits 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 at 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 Funerall 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 to each of them given such parts or portions as I was able or thought fitt.

Lastly, - I do nominate and appoint my said son Samuel Sears and my Loving Wife Deborah executors to this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand and seal ye day and year in ye other side first above written, Signed, sealed & delcared in presence of John Thacher, Zachariah Paddock and Samuel Howes.

Barnsstable, ss. April 14, 1883.

~The Descendants of Richard Sares of Yarmouth, pp. 44-47

Paul married Deborah Willard, daughter of George Willard and Unknown, in 1658 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts ⁴⁴⁶.^,560 (Deborah Willard was born before 14 Sep 1645 in Scituate. Massachusetts ¹¹⁴, baptized on 14 Sep 1645 in Scituate, Massachusetts ¹¹⁴ and died on 13 May 1721 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts ^113,114.)