William LEAR ³

  General Notes:

This is the late Clifford Radcliff's ancestor. Since his research is no longer online, set forth below are his notes for his William Lear:

"William Lear served with George Rogers Clark, under Captain Rodgers, on his expedition against the Shawnee in Indiana. This was a special group of 100 riflemen who endured harsh physical conditions of forced marches in wet, cold weather and still overcame the enemy. It is said some never fully recovered from the physical strain of the expedition. William was gone for about 3 years according to his brother James in a deposition made in Kentucky, for William's children, who filed for a land grant William never received while living. The petition, filed for in 1837 in Fauquier Co., for soldiers' lands was denied probably due to lack of living or attainable witnesses at the late date, but the fact remains, William served. It is in this petition we gain the name of his living children and we gain the complete list of Harrison and Elizabeth (Lear) Creel's children. His service was also confirmed by his brother, James, in Kentucky, by deposition. William returned home from his adventures in Ohio and Indiana and soon married Hannah Bailey. It appears he leased in Fauquier Co., and sold his share of his father's estate on his return from the Indian Wars. This makes it difficult to trace exactly what happened to all the family. A good number of Lears settled in Kentucky, but some also migrated south. William's will is extremely brief, indicating his death was sure and probably occcured that day, which is my assumption of his death date. Obviously, he did die that day or the next, allowing for funeral services and than a court appearance all in 7 days time."

My comments:

1. The deposition or affidavit by James Lear of Garrard County, Kentucky is a critical document connecting the Lears of Garrard County to the Lears of Culpeper County, Virginia, and to establishing my William Lear of Garrard County was not the brother of the other Lears in Garrard County. Set forth below is the relevant text from Virginia Soldiers of 1776, an online database at Ancestry.com:

William Lear, Soldier. A Rejected claim, Archives Dept., State library. Fauquier Co., Court, Mar. 1st, 1837. Certified that William Lear, a Soldier of the Rev. died in the year 1786 [sic], leaving the following children:--Elizabeth, Lucy, Mary, Nancy, James and William Lear. That said Elizabeth married Harrison Creel, and died subsequent to her fathers death, leaving the following children:--Sophia, Marvin, John, Patsey, Harrison, James, Hannah, Elizabeth and Jane Creel.

On motion of said James Lear, the same is ordered to be certified. Copy teste, A. J. Marshall, Clerk.

Garrard Co., Ken. Before Lewis Landrum, J. of P. James Lear, aged 72 years, made oath that his brother William Lear, enlisted in the Rev. army, in the county of Culpepper, Va. for three years and served out his term; that he was in the company of Captain Rodgers. Affiant was not in the regular service himself, but his brother served his three years and longer, and did not come home for some length of time, until after expiration of three years. Signed, Lewis Landrum, J. of P.

A petition to his Excellency, the Governor of Va. James and Nancy Lear of Fauquier Co., I represent that they are entitled to land and money for the services of their father, William Lear, during the Rev. war; that their father enlisted in Culpepper Co., in the company of Capt. Rodgers, one of those companies composing the command of Col. Rogers Clark, known as the Illinois Regt. That he served longer than three years, etc. (Here they recited the names of his children as given above). Signed, [p.419] James Lear and Nancy Lear. Sworn to before W. H. Gaines, J. of P. Fauquier Co. Dec. 22, 1837.

2. Cliff seems to have gotten confused about William's date of death. His will is clearly dated 20 Mar 1811 and it was clearly proved 27 Mar 1815. Thus, William's death was not contemporaneus with the writing of his will as Cliff suggested. It is this author's opinion that William probably died 15 Feb 1815, based on the day and month provided in Hannah's declaration for pension benefits and the year his will was proved.

3. Cliff seemed to have been unaware that a pension was granted to William's widow, Hannah Lear, on account of his Revolutionary War Service. See Events for Hannah for details.
⁵

  Death Notes:

Although the pension application of Hannah Lear states that her husband, William, died 15 Feb 1816, since his will was proved 27 Mar 1815, he probably died 15 Feb 1815.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Deed: 1785, Culpeper County, Virginia. ⁶

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. Will: 1811, Fauquier County, Virginia. ⁴

Will of William Lear, Deceased
Dated 20 Mar 1811, Proved 27 Mar 1815, Bk 6:81

"I, William Lere, of the county of Fauquier and State of Virginia by the grace of God, Amen. 1811 March 20th, I, William Lere, do grant and devise to my beloved wife Hannah Lere and do will to my wife Hannah Lere the two leeses that I am now possessed of with all the personal property that is now in my possession. Being weake of body but sound in mind do make this my last will and testatment. Given under my hand and seal the date above."

/s/ William Lear

Witnesses:
William D. Darnall
Alexander Welch
George Bastable
Thomas Hudnall

Proved 27 Mar 1815.

William married Hannah BAILEY on 8 Aug 1787 in Fauquier County, Virginia.^{1 2} (Hannah BAILEY was born circa 1767 ² and died after 1848 in Fauquier County, Virginia ².)