Wesley SEARS

Father: David SEARS
Mother: Sarah Milby WALKER

Family 1: Ellen Olivia "Nellie" LAW
  1. Arthur Wesley SEARS
  2. Clarence Howard SEARS
  3. Harold Ralph SEARS
  4. Margery Lucille SEARS
Family 2: Jane (Or_Fowler) PHILBRICK 
                       _John B SEARS ____
 _David SEARS ________|
|                     |_Achsah WHITCOMB _
|
|--Wesley SEARS 
|
|                      __________________
|_Sarah Milby WALKER _|
                      |__________________
INDEX

Notes

!S.P. May p.485 Prof Sears removed with his parents in fall of 1855 to Monticello, WI, and in Jun 1866, to Hillsdale, MI; graduated classical course Hillsdale College, 1874; taught school at Newbury, MI, during winters of 1871-74; was Superintendant Schools Eaton Rapids, MI, Sep 1874 to Jul 1876, and Principal of School at Mt Clements, MI, Sep 1876 to Jul 1885; then Superintendant Schools Flint City to spring of 1887, and of State Public School at Coldwater till Aug 1889, when he was elected Superintendant of Schools at Hillsdale, MI. !MBS possibly had two other children not listed !AFN-GVQD-4V

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I12051: Wesley Lindel SEARS (28 FEB 1878 - 14 MAR 1899)

Wesley Lindel SEARS

Father: George Washington SEARS
Mother: Sylvia Ann DAVIS 

                            _David SEARS ________
 _George Washington SEARS _|
|                          |_Sarah Milby WALKER _
|
|--Wesley Lindel SEARS 
|
|                           _____________________
|_Sylvia Ann DAVIS ________|
                           |_____________________
INDEX

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I2508: Willard SEARS (1714 - 19 AUG 1765)

Willard SEARS

Father: John SEARS
Mother: Priscilla FREEMAN

Family 1: Susannah HOWES
  1. Edward SEARS
  2. Willard SEARS
  3. Mary SEARS
  4. Willard SEARS
  5. Reuben SEARS
  6. Ebenezer SEARS
  7. Willard SEARS
Family 2: Margery HOMER
  1. Susanna SEARS 
                      _Paul SEARS ______
 _John SEARS ________|
|                    |_Deborah WILLARD _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                     __________________
|_Priscilla FREEMAN _|
                     |__________________
INDEX

Notes

! S.P. May p.93 After his marriage, Willard Sears purchased the house belonging to his cousin Joshua Sears, in HArwich, on the opposite side of the road from the old family burying-ground at Bound Brook. At his death it remained for some time unoccupied, and was said to be bewitched. Every pane of glass in the house was broken by mischievous boys. It was occupied by Miss Vienna Sears until her death in 1880, since which it has been repaired, and some additions made, andbids fair to stand for many years It was built about 1719, and is worthy of note as the birthplace of "King Sears," the "Liberty Boy." Willard Sears was adm. to the Ch. in E. Yar., Dec. 16, 1764; a few months later he was taken sick with a fever, and died after a short illness. His first wife, Susannah Howes, was a descendant of Elder John Chipman, John Howland & Gov. Thos. Prence. The inventory of his estate taken Oct. 18, 1765, was filed Oct. 22. He is styled "Yeoman of Harwich;" the estate was valued at L 425 0 10. Nathl. Sears of Yar., was app. guardian to Mary, Ebenezer, Reuben, Edmund and Willard; and his widow Margery, guardian to her daughter Susannah. John Sears of Yar., Admr.

!BIRTH: PAF GEDCOM; 1995; Marcelle Aldredge, NJ; ; ;she had his name as William SEARS and birth place as Harwich?

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I3236: Willard SEARS (AFT 1748 - 5 FEB 1826)

Willard SEARS

Father: Thomas SEARS
Mother: Elizabeth BARTLETT

Family 1: Sarah ROBBINS
  1. Eleazar SEARS
  2. David SEARS
  3. Edmund SEARS
  4. Willard SEARS
  5. Joseph SEARS
  6. Thomas SEARS
  7. Mercy SEARS
  8. Betsy SEARS
  9. Sally SEARS 
                       _Paul SEARS ____
 _Thomas SEARS _______|
|                     |_Mercy FREEMAN _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                      ________________
|_Elizabeth BARTLETT _|
                      |________________
INDEX

Notes

!S.P. May p.135 The children are perhaps not in order of birth. Willard Sears enlisted in Capt. Moses Soule's Co., in Col John Fellows' Regt. 21 Apr 1775, and went to Quebec, 9 Sep; was in Col. Whitcomb's Regt. at Boston May 1776.

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I3274: Willard SEARS ( - 24 AUG 1754)

Willard SEARS

Father: Joshua SEARS
Mother: Rebecca MAYO 

                 _Paul SEARS ____
 _Joshua SEARS _|
|               |_Mercy FREEMAN _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                ________________
|_Rebecca MAYO _|
                |________________
INDEX

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I3310: Willard SEARS (26 MAY 1759 - 27 JUL 1852)

Willard SEARS

Father: Willard SEARS
Mother: Susannah HOWES

Family 1: Hannah SEARS
  1. Nancy SEARS
  2. Sukey SEARS
  3. Jane SEARS
  4. Ebenezer SEARS
  5. Hannah SEARS
  6. Mary SEARS
  7. Willard SEARS
  8. Harriet SEARS 
                   _John SEARS ________
 _Willard SEARS __|
|                 |_Priscilla FREEMAN _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                  ____________________
|_Susannah HOWES _|
                  |____________________
INDEX

Notes

!S.P. May p.161 Willard Sears lived near the site of the ancient tide-mill at Stony Brook, HAr., later Br., on land which he purchased of Major Nathl. Freeman; the land was known as Sachamus Neck, the residence of the Sachem of the Sauguatucket Indians. The house which he erected was taken down some years since by Mr Augustus Paine, (to whom he had sold the place) and another built in its place. He was an enterprising housewright, built many salt-works, and engaged also in shipbuilding and the manufacture of salt. During the Revolution he was in the Militia, and on alarm at Falmouth and Bedford, MA 7 Sep 1778; marched in Capt Benj. Berry's Co., 112 miles' travel, and 7 days service. Previous to his death he divided his property among his children, and left no estate to be administered upon. The births of some of his children have been incorrectly entered in Harwich town records; those given here are from the family Bible. Willard Sears and his wife were buried in the "New Cemetery," at Brewster, the latte being the first interment there.

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I3317: Willard SEARS (29 NOV 1803 - )

Willard SEARS

Father: Willard SEARS
Mother: Hannah SEARS 

                  _Willard SEARS __
 _Willard SEARS _|
|                |_Susannah HOWES _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                 _Edmund SEARS ___
|_Hannah SEARS __|
                 |_Hannah CROWELL _
INDEX

Notes

!S.P. May Willard Sears received an ordinary "district school" education in his native town of Brewster, and grew up pretty much like other Cape Cod boys, working on the farm, helping at the salt-works, and at his father's trade of carpenter, and early learning the lesson of self-reliance. At the age of 9, wishing to visit his brother who was learning a trade in Boston, he embarked on board the packet,and worked his passage by cooking for the crew, viz., captain and mate. 26 Mar 1822, he left the old homestead, and became aan apprentice with Mr Wm. Goodrich, an organ-builder on Harlem place, Boston, next to the "Lion Theatre," who failed in the course of a year. Young Sears then worked for a few months on looking-glass frames, and later on gas-meters in the shop corner of Washington and Bromfield streets; there was on the premises a steam-engine, the first in Boston, which blew up one fine day, and scared the neighbors out of their wits, and in the consequence the owner was forbidden to use it again. This failed the man, a good Baptist,and the first Christian whose acquaintance Mr Sears had made in Boston; however, he recovered and went on with his business. Mr S. then left, and went to work for his brother in putting up the organ in the Old South Church; it was made in London, and as the builders in this country were opposed to its importation, they refused to put it up. A Mr Cory was, therefore, engaged to come over and erect it, and keep it in tune for a year; he remained and went into business here. During the winter of 1824, Mr C. and Eben Sears went to New York to set up the Trinity Church organ. Christmas eve the boss invited all hands to his house to celebrate; they drank and sung until pretty drunk, and at 10 PM the brothers Sears went home, leaving the rest to make a night of it. Upon his departure for New York, his employer left with Willard checks to make weekly payments to the men, and with which to buy stock. The rest of the men were foreigners, and kept up their carouse for three weeks until delirium tremens set in. Their poor wives came to Mr Sears for money with which to buy food, which he gave them, without authority, and was much perplexed what to do. He then made a vow that he would never take alcholic drinks, and this resolution he has adhered to, except in two instances; first, when urged by his pastor in Brewster while calling on him; and second, when about to join Essex st. Church, Boston, he called upon the Deacon, an Englishman by birth, who would take no refusal. In 1826, while building a block of brick houses on Haymarket place, he wished to break up the custom of furnishing grog to the men at 11 and 4 each day. About Jul 3 the ridgepole was to be raised, and the usage then was what the men were at liberty to drink as often and as much as they pleased. The day was hot, and the men drank all the more; the staging was insecurely built and broke doen, and some of the men had broken bones as well as bruises. Mr Sears' brother had his collar-bone broken, and received other injuries which confined him to the house for several weeks. During his illness Willard offered the men ten cents more per day to give up their rations, and about one-half agreed to do so. In three days he had a full gang of young, smart and good men at work, and the next month's pay, for an equal amount of work, was one-third less than in grog days. Seeing this result, the brothers nefver after furnished any liquor or drank any themselves. The same year that the municipal government was established, Mr Sears came to Boston, and soon became prominent in a series of events which resulted in a complete revolutionizing of the city fire department. He was at that time a member of "Young Men's Moral Association," devoted to exposing and breaking up gambling, dance-houses, etc. As a Mayor's detective, young Sears discovered the weakness of the department, and its remarkable strength also. There was a body of 1,500 young, snart, athletic men, organiuzed in such a way as to be scarcely at all under the control of the city government. The city furnished the engines, and kept them in repair, and then the companies did about as they pleased, except when at fires, they were nominally under the control of the fire wardens, and even this was more by sufferance than discipline. The volunteers worked well at a fire, and were prompt in getting there. Cash presents, gifts of liquors and eatables, were freely donated to the firemen by grateful persons whose property had been in fanger; then followed the inevitable carousal, which did not cease so long as thematerials lasted. The firemen represented every social degree, each having its own company, and none had more elegant, luxurious and prolonged carousals than the swell company of Beacon Hill. Needless to say, fires were frequent. One Sunday morning in 1828, Mr Sears entered an engine-house. The members of that company were not graded low in the social scale, but were all the sons of reputable parents. It was the morning after a fire, and sitting round, in a dazed condition, were half a dozen members, just recovering from their debauch, while more than 20 young men lay helplessly drunk on the floor, and among them several women, also stupefied. Such was the condition of thinfgs when Mr Sears joined the Boston fire department. His principles having become known, he was refused admission to the existibngorganizations, but procured leave to form a company,a nd became the Captain of it. No. 8, as it was called, was the entering wedge that finally split, and broke up the existing system. Mr Sears organized with young men pledged to reform. On the wall if the engine-house hung the roll of membership, at the topp of which were these words: "No drinking of liquor,""No using of tobacco,""No profanity while on duty." Each pledge had its vertical column, and list of members underneath. Every name must be in the first column, and most of them were in all. In consequence of this innovation all the old companies were down on No. 8, and it was annoyed in all possible ways, and systematically obstructed whenever it started for a fire, and the bitterness was not softened by the fact that No.* was the most efficient conpany in Boston. Capt Sears resolved to bring things to a head, and on the next alarm of fire, No.12 purposely obstructing his path, he gave his men ordersto pass them at all hazards, and as the result, No.12 was a wreck. He was arraigned before the Mayor, who was very wroth, and threatened to disband the company. In reply, Mr Sears referred to the ordinance: "You will proceed at once to the fire, and break down all obstructions." "There, Mr Mayor, is the law, and we only obeyed it, and now I will resign; I have had trouble and annoyance enough, and will have nothing more to do with it." At the Mayor's request he finally consented to continue in the department, but the annoyances did not cease, the city government would not repair the engine, and the work was done athis own expense. He finally disbanded the company. For a few years thereafter, the fire department went from bad to worse, until it came to a crisis brought on by the efforts of the municipal government to bring about a reform, and all the companies were disbanded, leaving the city without a single company to protect property in case of fire. At this juncture Mr Sears was called upon by the presidents of the insurance companies, and requested to take charge of a company they had organized, composed of leading men of Boston, such as Capt Williams, Dr Hayward, Hon Mr Wheeler, Dea Charles Scudder, and other gentlemen from Beacon street and Colonnade Row. After some demur he finally consented, but at the first trial satisfactorily convinced them that they were not the right material for such dirty and laborious work, and that the only true, and the cheapest system for the insurance companies and property holders was a paid fire departmetn, and this, too, out of regard for themorals of the youth of the city. A committee was thereupon raised to wait upon the Mayor and Aldermen, and state their views upon the subject, and as a result the city established the paid fireman's system in 1838, the first in the United States. About the year 1837, Rev Sylvester Graham lectured in Boston, on Temperance, Physiology and Hygiene, advocating a vegetable diet, and the use of unbolted flour, now so popular under the name of "Graham flour." The bakers and rummies became much incensed, mobbed him, and drove the ladies, to whom he was lecturing, into the street. The ladies then applied to Mr Sears for the use of the hall attached to the Marlboro Hotel, owned by him, and a day being set for the lecture notice was printed in three papers that Graham would bemobbed. The Mayor sent the City Marshall to Mr Sears, ordering him forthwith to appear at the City Hall. Mr S. was at the time employed with his men in pulling down some old plastering in the hotel, and was covered with mortar and dirt. He told the Marshall he was busy, had violated no law, and would not go. The Marshall then left, but shortly returned with a carriage, and the Mayor's compliments, requesting the favor of an interview, to which Mr S then consented. An account of the interview may be found in the "Liberator" of 24 Mar 1837, under the head of "Mob Law." The result was that the Mayor told him the building would be mobbed, and he could not protect him with the force at his disposal, and if he persisted in letting it be used by Graham he must take the consequences. Mr S, seeing that little was to be expected from city officials, decided to protect his property himself at all hazards. He directed his workmen to place all the old plaster in heaps by the windows, together with a quantity of old lime,and await orders which he would transmit through his clerk. After parleying some time with the mob which was assembled outside the barricade that had been erected to protect passers-by during the alterations, and finding they were bent on mischief and could no longer be delayed, he retired through a small door and gave a preconcerted signal. At once the workmen commenced shoveling out hte lime and mortar from the upper windows. The mob, looking up to see what was to pay, in a moment had their eyes and mouths filled with the pungent dust, there was a strong wind blowing, and the street was presently filled with a cloud of lime. Flesh and blood could not stand this; the mob broke and retired, and Mr Sears had won a bloodless victory. The papers discussed the matter thoroughly, and the public finally decided for the right of free speech. In a few eeks the Mayor called upon Mr Sears and said: "If you will stop Garrison from writing any more about me, when you dedicate your chapel, I will protect you and you property, if I have to call in the State and navy soldiers, with all the police. Sir, I was wrong, but do stop Garrison; he is ruining my character, and bringing me to disgrace." At the dedication of Marlboro Chapel, he, without solicitation, put 30 police inside, 40 outside, and held the military in reserve. Of course, Mr Sears was one of the earliest abolitionists and free-soilers. In 1834, Geo Thompson, an English emncipationist, on his return from the W.I., came to Boston to deliver a lecture. The use of "Faneuil Hall" was granted , but permission revoked by city authorities. Mr Sears and Amasa Walker then hired "Julien Hall" for the purpose, giving their bond for $17,000 to pay any damage that might be done by a mob. This also was revoked, and the only place that could be procured was "Ritchie Hall," over Dea Gulliver's carpet store, corner of Temple place. The entrance was soon surrounded by an armed mob of Southerners and their sympathizers, and Thompson was finally taken out through a hoisting scuttle in the rear, placed in a carriagewith J S Withington, and driven to the house of J G Whittier in Amesbury. He did not dare to return, but embarked shortly for England. During the disturbance Mr Sears was on guard at the door; was struck several times, but not materially injured, and held the fort until Thompson had retired. In 1836 Mr Sears and Dea Charles Scudder fitted out the first missionary to Jamaica (an Oberlin student), and established the first station there. He was the first to take a colored apprentice, later procuring for him a commission as Justice of the Peace, guaranteeing his good conduct. He was intimately connected with the "Underground Railway," and aided many fugitives on their way to Canada and freedom. The "Marlboro Hotel" was opened by him as a temperance house, the first in this country. No liquor was to be sold in it, and a t first no smoking was allowed, but his latter was conceded later. The ladies and gentleman's parlors were thrown open morning and evening for religious services. Grace was said before every meal, and for twenty-six years the observance of the services was continuous and uninterrupted. The chapel in the rear was a free hall for lectures and discussions on all moral and social questions. It was opened in May 1838, and was run as a free hall and chapel for fourteen years. It was afterward let for the "Lowell Institute" Lectures. The house was patronized by a class of quiet, religious people who wanted such a stopping place when they came to the city. John G Whittier, Mr Longfellow and Henry Wilson were frequent guests. During a long life, Mr Sears has contracted for and built inumerable edifices, both public and private, among them the Fitchburg Depot, Boston, and all stations and freight-houses to Fitchburg; eastern railway stations and old ferry-houses; Boston & Worcester Depot in Boston, and stations and freight-houses to Worcester; Old Colony Depot and stations to Sandwich; and much other railroad work in the east and west; some thirty churches, among them, the Swedenborgian, Dr Kirk's, and Essex St., Boston; Catholic Ch., S Boston; Cong. Ch., Bunker's Hill, Charlestown; Dr Thompson's Roxbury; Dr Langworthy's, Chelsea; West Newton and Brookline churches, etc.; built and owned Marlboro Hotel and Chapel, and reconstructed the State's Prison at Charlestown. He was one of the petioners and obtained the charter for the Female Medical College, Boston, and a Trustee; put up the first sixty buildings in San Francisco, but lost by fire and shipwreck $250,000, being uninsured. He owned the ship "Rowland" and cargo, and the cargo in bark "Henry Ware," both of which were lost upon the voyage. Mr S obtained the charter, and called the forst meeting to organize the Northern Pacific R.R., and was in the board of direction for five years. For some years he has done little business beyond supervising the Alburgh Springs Hotel, VT, and the Mineral SPrings connected therewith, which he purchased after having himself experienced their marvelous curative powers. Mr Sears is as we have seen by nature a radical reformer, a teetotaller, and anti-tobacconist, abolitionist and free-soiler; for a time a vegetarian, but this did not hold; he early took the anti-mason infection, and has never got over it. He is a strict Sabbatarian, and a perfect type of the old Puritan; of downright and combative dispostion, had he lived in Cromwell's time, he would doubtless have fought at his side. Charitable by nature, his benefactions have been large and constant. Oberlin College long found in him a liberal patron, and it is estimated he gave in all $100,000 to that institution; as a trustee, he took the place of Ossawattomie Brown, and served may years. Many other religious, educational and charitable institutions have partaken of his bounty. The poor and oppressed have ever found his heart and purse open, and many a fugitive from oppression has had cause to bless him. Of a large and muscular mould, Mr Sears has possessed great strength and endurance; dark in complexion, his jet black hair has only become an iron-gray; quick spoken, and decided in manner, he has great success in managing large gangs of men. Soon after his marriage he went to reside in Brookline, removing thence to W Newton, and later to the banks of the winding Charles at Watertown. His pleasant estate there being absorbed by the government as a portion of the arsenal grounds, he removed to Newtonville, and now, (1887,)in his old age, resides in Newton with his wife and his only surviving sister, a wonderfully smart and active maiden lady of 88.

May's Hand Notes- During the War of 1812, he with other boys watched for approaching English vessels which blockaded Boston and Salem during winter at Provincetown.

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I3597: Willard SEARS (8 NOV 1748 - 18 DEC 1748)

Willard SEARS

Father: Willard SEARS
Mother: Susannah HOWES 

                   _John SEARS ________
 _Willard SEARS __|
|                 |_Priscilla FREEMAN _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                  ____________________
|_Susannah HOWES _|
                  |____________________
INDEX

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I3599: Willard SEARS (7 JAN 1751/1752 - 4 JUL 1752)

Willard SEARS

Father: Willard SEARS
Mother: Susannah HOWES 

                   _John SEARS ________
 _Willard SEARS __|
|                 |_Priscilla FREEMAN _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                  ____________________
|_Susannah HOWES _|
                  |____________________
INDEX

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996 I4820: Willard SEARS (ABT 1776 - 22 MAY 1796)

Willard SEARS

Father: Willard SEARS
Mother: Sarah ROBBINS 

                  _Thomas SEARS _______
 _Willard SEARS _|
|                |_Elizabeth BARTLETT _
|
|--Willard SEARS 
|
|                 _____________________
|_Sarah ROBBINS _|
                 |_____________________
INDEX

Notes

!S.P. May p.134 His bro. Eleazar, a chair-maker, was boiling varnish, when it took fire; he threw the pot of varnish out of the window on to his bro. Willard as he was passing unseen by him, and he died from the injuries.

Created by GED2HTML v2.4a-UNREGISTERED (1/1/96) on Thu Jul 25 12:39:14 1996