Capt. Paul Sears, I (02/20/1637 Est.-02/20/1707 Est.)
Spouse: Deborah Willard (Sears) (14 Sep 1645 - 13 May 1721 (B:Scituate, Plymouth Colony, D: Yarmouth,Barnstable co,Plymouth Colony)) Children: Son: Mercy Sears () Daughter: Bethia Sears (1639-17 Aug 1732 (MA)) Son: Samuel Sears (13 Jan 1697-?) Son: Lydia Sears () Son: Paul Sears, II (06/15/1669 Est.-02/14/1739 Est.) Son: Mary Sears () Son: Ann Sears () : John Sears () Son: Richard Sears () Son: Daniel Sears () Parents Father: Richard Sears (01/01/1590 Est.-08/26/1676) Mother: Dorothy Unknown? (Sears) (Abt. 1608 (Eng.)-19 Mar 1678) Siblings Sister: Deborah Sears (Sep 1639 - 17 Aug 1732 (B:Yarmouth,Plymouth Colony D:Yarmouth,Barnstable Co., MA) Brother: Lieutenant Silas Sears (? - 13 Jan 1697 (Yarmouth,Barnstable Co., MA)
Paul's Personal Information
Born in Marblehead, Plymouth, Massacusetts (MA), USA on February 20, 1637 (Estimated)	Died in Yarmouth, Massachusetts (MA), USA on February 20, 1707 (Estimated) (Age 70)
Marriage to Deborah Willard (Sears) on January 1, 1658 (Age 21) - in Yarmouth, Massachusetts (MA), USA - Married in 1658
Comments: Born - 20 FEB 1637/1638, Died - 20 FEB 1707/1708 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 Narragansett war, but I find no record of his services. October 30, 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 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 April 16,1677, recorded at Plymouth. The early town records of Yarmouth were destroyed by fire at the burning of the town clerk's house in 1674, and from the succeeding volume the first twenty- six pages are gone, and others mutilated and worn. The names and dates of birth of his children have been supplied from various sources, and are believed to be correct. I annex copies of the will and inventory of Paul Sears;- the will is signed with his mark, as is also the inventory of John Burge's estate, rendered by him and recorded Barns. Rec II, 1701, p130. He left property valued at L 467 03 03, 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 to his daughters, (whose names are unfortunately omitted) "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, surmounted by a cherub's head and scroll work: Here lyes the Body of Paul Sears, who Departed this life February ye 20th 1707, in ye 70th year of his age." It is the oldest dated memorial in the cemetery. 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) W., of Horsmonden, Kent, Eng., where he was bap. Dec. 4, 1614. he settled at Scituate for a time, removing thence it is said to Maryland or Gorgeane Maine. There is some reason to believe that his wife was Dorothy Dunster, dau. of Henry D., of Baleholt, near Bury, Lanc., sister to Eliz'h D., who m. his bro. Simon Willard; and to Rev. Henry D., Pres. of Harvard College. [See Willard Mem., 1858, p. 339] Paul Sears was the first to adopt the present spelling of SEARS. Last Will and testament omitted but can be found on the Sears Family Association Website	Source: Sears Family Association Continued Notes from Comments Section... April 8th, 1708 Samuel Sears Executor to the last Will and Testament of Paul Sears of Yarmouth his deceased father, before Barnabas Lothrop, Esq., Judge of Probate and granting letters of Administration, within this County of Barnstable, made oath that the above written is a true Inventory of ye Estate of ye sd Paul Sears so far as he knows, and that if any thing else that is material shall yt farther come to his knowledge he will bring it to this Inventory. Attest Wm. Bassett, Reg. Peter Thacher Kenelm Winslow, Jun. Barnstable, ss. April 14, 1883. A true copy of the record. Attest, Freeman H. Lothrop, Register of Probate Court !MD 25, p.49 Maj William 2 Bradford's Confirmation of his mother's deed to Richard Sears with an autograph of John Alden. Widow Alice Bradford sold land on 23 November 1664 to Richard Sears of Yarmouth -To all people to whom these prnts shall come Major William Bradford of Plimoth in the Govrment of New Plimoth in New England Esqr... in consideration of ye sume of Twenty pounds to her in hand payd, by Richard Seers, his heires & Assigns for ever, two Allotments, of Land conteyning forty acres be they more, or be they lesse, lying and being at a place, comonly called Sesuit between a brooke comonly called & knowne, by the name of Bound Brooke,[boundary bewteen Dennis & Brewster ed.] and a brooke called Saquetuckett brooke, as also a crtyn tract of meadow to ye foresd Lotts appteyning, and are abutalled as p a deed of Feofement