PM Lieut Silas Sears lived in that part of Yarmouth known as the East precinct, now East Dennis; was propounded to take up Freedom, Jun 6 1682; comd Ensign, Oct 28, 1681; Lieut. Jul 7, 1682; chosen representative to the General Court at Plymouth 1680-82. 25 Dec 1689, "Silas Sears and others fined 20s for not appearing and attending at court, or disorderly departing therefrom;" - fines remitted later, "it being first offense of the kind." 1694, "Lt Silas Sears on Com. to seat men, women and others in the meeting house;" an onerous duty in those days. 1 Nov 1676, Emott Bursell and Silas Sears were appointed administrators of the estate of James Bursell of Yarmouth. He left no will, and letters of administrationwere granted to his widow Anna, May 5, 1698, a copy of which is annexed, mentions sons Silas, Richard, Joseph and Josiah; and daughters, Hannah, Elizabeth and Dorrity. Rev E.H. Sears states in his "Sears Genealogy," that Lieut. Silas Sears had a son Thomas, born Yar., 1664, who removed to Newport, R.I., and died there 1707 leaving issue. Freeman Hist Cape Cod II p.205, says Lt. Silas Sears d. ae. 60 and it is said came form Yar. NE but the entry is now lost. About 1860, a gravestone was erected by Hon. David Sears in the old burying ground on Thames street, Newport, which bears the following inscription. [Copy of epitaph in N.E.Gen. Reg., communicated by Hon. D.S.] "Here lyeth the body of Thomas Seares, Son of Lt. Sylas Seares, of Yarmouth, P.C. And grandson of Richard the Pilgrim. Born in 1664, and died August ye 16th 1707, Aged 43 years. Beneath this stone the empty casket lies, The polished jewel brightens in the skies." P.Stevens & Sons. [Stone-cutters] This stone is surmounted by the arms of "Sears of Chatham." The name of Thomas Sears is not found in town or church records of Yarmouth or Newport, nor in the Probate records of Barnstable county, or of Newport, R.I; and the fact that he is not mentioned in the settlement of the estate of Lieut. Silas Sears, nine years previous to his alleged death, should be considered good evidence that Silas Sears had no son of that name then living, if he ever had such. Silas Sears, Jun., did have a son Thomas, born in 1702-3, named for his maternal grandfather, Rev. Thomas Crosby.

MD 32, p.165 Abstracts of Barnstable County, Mass Probate Records Settlement of Estate of Lt Silas Sears p.70 "The Invintory of Liut Silus Sears of yarmouth Lately deceased" was not dated. It was sworn to, 2 May, 1698, by "Anna Sears vid Relict of Liut Silus Sears". The real estate was: "Houses lands and meadow" £130. The estate was indebted to: "mr John xxxx, mr Isaac Chapman, Nathaniel Cole, Thankful Boarman, Samuel Taylor, Seth Taylor, James Sturgis, mr Jonathan White, John Paddack, mr Barnabas Lothrop." p.71 On 5 May, 1698, Anna Sears, the widow, was appointed administrix of Lt Silas Sears, "deceased Intestate". p.72 On 5 May, 1698, Barnabas Lothrop, Judge of Probate, settled the estate as follows: May ye 15th, 1698, by Barnabas Lothrop, Judg of Probate and granting administration in ye county of Barnstable, a settlement of ye Estate of Liut. Silas Sears late of Yarmouth deceased Intestate: and to be devided as hereafter exprest.

SPM The widow Anna Sears shall have when debts are paid, one third of ye personal Estate to herself forever: to be at her dispose. And for her dower she shall have one third of ye housing and Land that was her Late husbands sd Silas Sears or ye Improvement thereof During her Natural Life. The Rest of ye Estate shall be equally divided amongst ye sd (said) deceaseds children, only his eldest son to have a dubble part, at ye Death of ye widow her Dower to be like divided as aforesaid. There is to be added to ye Inventory of ye sd personal estate fifty four pounds which sum of sd deceaseds children own that they have all Redy Received of their father as portion, so that ye widows thirds of ye personal Estate when debts are paid coms to thirty three pounds, ye childrens part of ye personal and Real Estate beside ye widows Dower with what thwey have allRedy had is as followeth: The eldest son Silas Sears hath as he owned, had alredy, two pounds, and must have more nine pounds. (The word "thirty" before "two" was doubtless omitted by mistake of the Register in 1698.) Richard Sears hath allRedy four pounds and seven shillings, and must have more, sixteen pounds and three shillings. Hannah Sears hath had allRedy fifteen pounds, and is to have more five pounds and ten shillings. Joseph Sears hath had allRedy three pounds and is to have more seventeen pounds and ten shillings. Josiah Sears is to have twenty pounds and ten Shillings. Elizabeth Sears is to have Twenty pounds and ten shillings. Dorrity Sears is to have twenty pounds and ten shillings. only if debts should appear morethan ye doth due from sd Estate, then widow and children according to what they have or shud Receive must pay their proportions thereof. Barnabas Lothrop, Judg of Probate. (Seale) Barnstable, ss. Oct. 8, 1885. A true copy of the record, Attest, Freeman H Lothrop, Register of Probate Court.

The Inventory of Liut. Silas Sears of Yarmouth, Lately deceased and his estate prized and ye prise of each particleer set down as followeth:

Anna Sears wid Relict of Lieut. Silas Sears late of Yarmouth deceas’d made oath to ye truth of this Invintory before Barnabas Lothrop Esq Judg of Probate and granting administration May ye 2d. 1698. Examined and entered May ye fourth 1698. Attest, Joseph Lothrop, Regist. Barnstable,ss. Oct. 8,1885. A true copy of the records. Attest, Freeman H. Lothrop, Register of Probate Court. [Sears Homepage]

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