James LEAR ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

James and Hannah may well have had other children, most notably George Lear (whom I tentatively put with John Lear, Jr.), but those listed here are the only ones I can prove.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Agreement: 1760, Culpeper County, Virginia. ³

Deed between William Lyon and his wife Elizabeth and William Lear, as sellers, and James Pendleton, as buyer.

Dated 14 May 1785, Recorded as to William 20 Jun 1785, Bk N:1
This deed dealt with 100 acres of land that James Lear had agreed to purchase from William Lyon and Elizabeth his wife on 23 Nov 1760 for 15 pounds. Although the transaction was completed, James never acquired a proper deed to the land prior to his death in 1771 and bequest of the land to his son William. William (a resident of Fauquier County, Virginia in 1785) desired to sell this land to James Pendleton. Accordingly, William Lyon and Elizabeth his wife joined William in the sale to James Pendleton, for which William was paid 45 pounds. Metes and bounds description references corner of Henry String.

/s/ Wm Lyon, Eliz Lyon, Wm Lear

Wit: John Minoe, John Fell, Benjamin Douglas, John Corbin, Benj Elkin, Cow__y Neiman

2. Estate Administration: 1771, Culpeper County, Virginia. ²

Will of James Lear, Deceased
Dated 20 Feb 1771, Proved and Recorded 15 Jul 1771, Bk B:24

"In the name of God Amen. I James Lear of the county of Culpeper being sick and weak of Body, but of Perfect sense & memory do make & ordain this my last will and Testament in manner following, First & Principally I bequeath my sole into the hands of its divine author trusting that thro the merits & intercession of my blessed Savior to receive pardon & remission of all my Past sins and as to what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of the same in manner following:

Item, it is my will and devise all my Just Debts & funeral Charges be first paid.

Item, I lend to my beloved wife Hannah all my estate of what kind soever during her Widowhood to raise my small children on, but in case of her death or marriage I give the land I live on to my eldest son William and to his heirs forever & the residue of my Estate I give one third part to my wife and the remaining two thirds to be equally divided between all my children which shall then be living.

Lastly, I do appoint my loving wife Hannah and my Trusty friend Mr. Bushrod Dogget Executors to the my last will and Testament hereby revoking all wills made by me In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of February 1771."

/s/ James (his mark) Lear

Witnesses:
James Pendleton
Henry Pendleton
Henry ___ingfells

Will presented to court on 15 Jul 1771 by Hannah Lear and Bushrod Dogget, the named Executors, and proved by oaths of James Pendleton and Henry Pendleton. Recorded 19 Aug 1771.


Inventory of the Estate of James Lear, Deceased
Appraised 15 Aug 1771, Recorded 19 Aug 1771, Bk B:25

James Lear's estate was appraised at 32Lbs.11.3.


Settlement of the Estate of James Lear, Deceased
Dated 7 Jun 1777, Recorded 16 Jun 1777, Bk B:214

"We the subscribers agreeable to an order of the worshipful Court of Culpeper of this Colony have settled the account of the sale of the Estate of James Lear Deceased and find the amount to be 28Lbs.10.3 1/2 of which Shadrack Chavrie who Intermarried with the widow has a right by the will of said Lear to have one third which is 9Lbs.10.1 the amount of which we have Delivered Bonds to Capt. Richard Yancey, administrator said Chavrie given under our hands this 7th of June 1777."

/s/ James Pendleton
Samuel Clayton, Jr.

James married Hannah DARNALL.