MEARS: William Mears - Christina Melton

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KEDEY/KIDDY - MEARS - MELTON - SHARP -YOUNG

William Mears

June 5, 1770 Dorchester Co. MD - November 10, 1849 Cannon Co., TN

My 3rd Grandfather

Son of Zadock Mears and Elizabeth Sharpe


Childhood in Dorchester - Caroline Co., MD

The dates for William Mears was copied by Cindy Mears from the Bible of his son, Goldsbrough Mears, which a few years ago was in the possession of Eva Lancaster. Eva also wrote a booklet, The Home Place, Booklet and Bible Records of Goldsbrough Mears. The Bible record states that William Mears was born on the Eastern Shores of Maryland.

From other research, we have now learned that he was probably born in Dorchester Co., Maryland in the area that was to become Caroline County. As a young boy, William grew up on the Lower Choptank District Hundred on Gravelly Ridge where his father is enumerated in 1783 when William was 13. We also find his father on several military records which indicates that he was in the Revolutionary War and had worked himself up to Ensign.

Early Married Life in Guilford Co., NC

By the fall of 1789 when William would have been 19, his parents had moved to Guilford Co., North Carolina. We find his father's will dated Nov 16, 1789 and probated February 1790. This will only gives the wife's name, Elizabeth, with none of the children. This has been a real stumbling block in proving William's parentage.

On October 18, 1796 in Guilford Co., NC, William married Christina Melton. William would have been 26 and Christinia would have been between 19 and 22. Bondsman was Andrew Laws, Jr. and security was Will J. Muse. This date also appears in the Bible record of their son.

The next record we have of William Mears is when he appears as witness, along with Elijah Anderson, to a deed where Nancy Anderson purchased property from Joseph Rumbley. Nancy lived right next door to the widow, Elizabeth Mears. On the 1800 Guilford Co., NC census, we find him listed as William MARES and next on the 1810 Guilford Co., NC Census.

Over the next few years, we find William mentioned on the various deeds and records:

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Book G, page 243 - dated April 1, 1800
Jos. Rumley to Nancy Anderson, waters of Rock, Alamance River, adj. Betty Mear's N. Post, Thos. Hoskins, Andrew Lewis.
Witnesses: William MEARS and Elijah Anderson

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Book M, page 620 - dated Sept 4, 1804
Jesse Barnes to Peter Waggoner, 150 acres purchased of George Forbes, on Brush Creek branch of Alamance, beginning at a black jack at William Mear's corner, adj. Peter Waggoner, John Forbes, Brown.
wit: William MEARS, Jesse Barnes
signed Purnal Chance

*Purnell Chance is believed to have been born in Kent Co., DE., he married Starling Barnes a daughter of John Barnes. Purnell is mentioned in John Barnes will along with Jesse and Elijah in Guilford, NC. If researching the Chance or Barnes family, please write Robert Neveaus

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Vol. 10, p. 199 (Book K, p 199) - dated Feb. 18, 1811
Andrew Bala to William Mears, both of Guilford County, North Carolina, Consideration $118, 100 acres on Buffalo Creek, beginning at John Jordan's corner, west on Betty Mears" line 137 poles, north on Waggoner's line.
Witness: Hez Walker
Test: John Barnes

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Vol. 10, p. 326 - Feb Term 1812
Abner Weatherly, Sheriff, of Guilford County, N.C. to William Mears, for taxes 3 Lyre, 6s. land 48 acres on Alamance Creek in said county.
Test: James Gray

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Vol. 10, p. 326 (Book K, p 326)- Feb Term 1812
William Mears paid 3 pds 10 sh back taxes on a tract of 48 acres. Sheriff Abner Weatherly left the State before conveying the land to William. Sheriff James Deming made the conveyance. Waters of Alamance

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Vol. 10, p. 327 - Feb Term 1812
John Mills to Benjamin Ross, indenture, June 15, 1811, 98 lyre, land on waters of Rock Creek beginning at Andrew Laws.
Signed: William Mears
Test: Elijah Mears

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Book K, p. 336 - dated Feb 15, 1812
Purnal Chance to Nathaniel Kerr, John Montgomery, William MEARS, Purnal Chance and Andrew Law, 2 acres 44 poles, on the waters of Alamance, near Peter Waggoner. for a house for the Worship of God, free for all approved ministers of the Gospel or any Christian denomination approbated by the said trustees listed above.
wit Obed Macy, John Paisley

Muster Rolls - Soldiers of the War of 1812
- Detached from the militia of North Carolina 1812 and 1814

Sixtth Regiment, First Company
- detached from the Second Guilford Regiment -
William Mears,Captain

*Other names in this same regiment included David Storey, Andrew Law, Thomas Elkins, Robert Elkins, Levi Sullivan, George Montgomery, Samuel Montgomery.

I really believe that the deed below in Caroline Co., MD refers to this William. When you check the 1810 Caroline Co., MD census, you do not find William listed but you do find Sovern Dawson listed and the Wrights. I have found many of the same surnames mentioned with this Dawson family, the Jacob Wright family and the Connaway families. Related family members of these families can be found in Guilford Co., NC also. Presently,it is my opinion, that William inherited these lands - possibly through his mother, the Sharpe family. Further research is still going on to find the connection.

Caroline County Land Records, TR-S-552
On August 29, 1816, Garey Hitch "of Sussex County, Delaware" brought a Deed of Mortgage with two endowments to have enrolled in the records of Caroline County. They concerned a mortgage bond dated January 11, 1816 that bound William MEARES of Caroline County to Garey Hitch for $311. Meares used for collateral 129 acres of land in Caroline County that adjoined Sovern Dawson, heirs of Jacob Wright and Minous Connaway et al.

*After the War of 1812, this William would quite ofter have .esq written after his name.

Deeds of Guilford Co., NC, Vol. 12, p. 381 (Book M, p 381) - Nov Term 1816
Indenture, October 8, 1816 between William Mears, Esq., Elizabeth Mears, and Elijah Mears, of Guilford County, North Carolina, to Robert Fleming, of some consideration $500, land in Guilford County, on which the said William Mears now lives corner to James Mears. 248 acres
Signed: William Mears, Elizabeth (X) Mears, Elijah Mears
Test: Jos. Gibson

Move to Warren - Cannon Co., TN

We are not positive when this William Mears came to Warren Co., Tn - though the Bible of his son states that they came to the farm on Jan 13, 1831. This does not mean that they had already lived in the county or nearby. We do know for sure that at least 2 of his childre, William F., and Mary (Mears) Preston had lived in the vicinity of present-day District 6 - sometime around 1827.

I also have this census record:

1830	-Warren Co., TN 

William MEARS	1760-1770
(F)		1770-1780	(Christinia b. 1775)
(M)		1810-1815	(Elijah)
(M)		1810-1815	(G. B. - Goldsberry)
Now we must remember when this William arrived in Warren Co.,TN, Cindy's family, 'the other Mears' as I call them for now (the ones who descend from Joel Mears who fought in RW) had already been living in this vicinity for at least 15 years. They also had a couple of William Mears who were appearing on records at this same time.

In the following deed, one cannot be positive which William Mears this actually is:

William MEARS 25 acres surveyed 1831 east fork Stones river line of Benjamin Pendleton granted to Charles Ready. James MEARS and Mark MEARS (SCC)

We then have these records from Cannon Co. TN:

Cannon Co., Court Minutes (1836-1841), page 196
James MEARS, William MEARS, Elijah MEARS appointed a jury to view and change the ____Woodbury, up Jones Valley (thats part near Mrs. Brownfields Spring), make report to the next term of this court

Cannon Co., TN Deeds Index (1836-1840), Book B, page 465
William MEARS to Goldsborough Mears

Cannon Co., Tn Tax List
William Mears, Esq. -58 acres

Cannon Co., TN Deed Abstract, Book A, p. 427-428 (registered April 17, 1838
William PRESTON to William MEARS (1-20 -1838) $400 67 acres east fork of Stones River, line of Henry Ford, Allens line wit: George Willard

Cannon Co., TN Deed Abstract Book B, p. 288-290 (registered April 27, 1839
Wm MEARS to Thomas T. Turner 200 acres, District 6, Allen K. Smithson line
Witnesses: Solomon Long and Daniel Finley

Cannon Co., TN Deed Abstrct Book B, page 465-467 (registed Nov 22, 1839)
William MEARS to Goldsborough MEARS
1-2-1839 $400 67 acres on East fork, line of Henry Ford, Allens line
wit: Ass Neely, Robert Walkup, Jackson Wharry

1840	-Cannon Co., TN, page 123

William MEARS	1770-1780	(William b. June 1770)
(F)		1770-1780	(Christinia )
(f)		1825-1830	
(f)		1825-1830	
*He was living 1-2 pages between his sons, G. W. and William F. Mears and right next door to his son, Goldsberry 'G. B.' Mears. At this time, I don't know who the teen age girls are that are listed with the family.

Other nearby neighbors included: John H. Miller, Henry Marks, Henry Ford, Jesse Lawrence, Joseph Moore, Geroge T. Ford, Robert Walkup, Isaiah Neely, Hardy Wimley, Midford Caffey, John Barrett, and Thomas Thompson - to name a few of the cloest ones.

According to the Bible Record, William died Nov 10, 1849 on the homeplace in Cannon Co., TN and more than likely that is where he was buried.


Christina - Several Years as a Widow

By the 1850 census, we find Christina, age 72, listed with her son, G. B. Mears in District 6 of Cannon Co., TN. In 1859, we find this mention of Christinia in the will of her son, Goldsborough 'G. B.' Mears:

"my elderly mother Christa to be comfortably supported from estate."

On the 1860 Cannon Co., TN census, District 6, Christinia is now listed as 'Charity', age 85, and she is living with Melvina (Stone), d/o William Stone and Ruth Lawing, and widow of Goldsborough. According to the Bible, Christinia died April 12, 1863 and she is persumed to have been buried on the 'old homeplace'.


Children of William Mears and Christinia Melton

  1. Infant Daughter
    -- (abt 1798 Guilford Co., NC - bef 1800 Guilford Co. NC)

  2. Mary 'Polly' (Mears) Preston
    --(Aug 18, 1801 Guilford Co., NC - 1885 Cannon Co., TN)

  3. William F. Mears
    --(March 5, 1805 Guilford Co., NC - 1870 Marion Co., AR

  4. Daughter Mears
    --(1800/10 Guilford Co., NC - Unknown)

  5. George Washington 'G. W.' Mears
    --abt 1811 Guilford Co., NC - aft 1860 Pontotoc Co., MS)

  6. Elijah Mears
    --(1812/15 NC or TN - aft 1850 probably TN)

  7. Goldsborough 'G. B' Mears
    --(Feb 6, 1816 TN - 1859 Cannon Co., TN)


Actual Records


Special Thanks

First must thank Cindy Mears for copying the marriage record several years ago and sending me the details! Also, Helen Rogers for her research on the Preston and also the Youngs (1998). Then must thank V. Brian Anderson for some of the research in Guilford Co., NC and in Carolind Co., MD. Also, thanks to Mrs. L. A. Klingamon (Feb 1979, Ruth Peavy (1970), letter from Minnie/Tom Mears to Ruth in 1958, Nancy Nolan (1999), Craig Mears (1970's), Geneva Williams (1970's), Zada Sharp (1960's) and the wonderful research of Eva Lancaster.


Continue to - William Mears and Christinia Melton's Children

for

Mary 'Polly' (Mears) Preston


Last modified 5 May 2006

Ann (Jobe) Brown ***Contact US*** Cindy (Cantrell) Mears

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