John Cears Kear

John Cears Kear, son of John Cears, was born around 1763 [note 1], possibly in Norfolk, Virginia. John died in Licking County, Ohio, around 30 November 1820 [note 2]. On 31 July 1798 he married Mary Reed in Anne Arundel County, Maryland [note 3]. His name was recorded as John Ker. Mary's mother was Eleanor ---- and Mary may have been born on 28 January 1773 in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to William Reed [note 4] (See footnote). She died in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana (possibly Leo, Indiana), and was buried in Van Wert, Ohio, in the old cemetery. She was re-buried in an unknown location, when the old cemetery was abandoned [note 5].

John is believed to have had two brothers named Robert and William, and is known to have had two sisters. Mary, known as Polly, married Robert Basil on 4 December 1802 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland [note 6], and they lived in Licking County, Ohio, in 1820-1831 [note 7]. The second sister, Nancy, married a man with a name similar to PUSSELY [note 8].

Family tradition has him as a sea-going man, and then working in the shipyard of his wife's family. In this tradition he is said to have sailed between London, Annapolis and New Orleans. Maryland records name a John Ker and a John Kerr as being the captain of the ship ELIZABETH [note 9]. Lading records for this ship show cargo being transported between London, Baltimore and New Orleans. A letter identifies a Mr. Ker as owning land in Annapolis, Maryland [note 10]. With John Kear's marriage license having been recorded in Annapolis, Maryland, and the name having been spelled Ker, one might assume the families are connected [note 11].

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Footnote: Not proved as our Mary Reed

John and Mary Kear had six children:

1. Eleanor Kear

2. Mary Ann Kear

3. Thomas Reed Kear

4. Amelia Kear

5. John Reed Kear

6. William Reed Kear

Notes:

1. Unpublished papers, Wiley McDonald Kear, 1931. [Return to text or Go to papers]

2. Journal, Licking County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court, 1819-1823, p. 119. The will was destroyed in an 1878 courthouse fire. [Return to text]

3. Marriage Records, 1777-1813, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, p. 70. Her name is believed to be Mary Ann as a note signed by her was signed M.A. and one of her daughters was named Mary Ann. [Return to text]

4. Birth Records, 1711-1857, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, p. 64. [Return to text]

5. Wiley Kear's papers. [Return to text]

6. Marriage Records, p. 82. [Return to text]

7. Federal Census, Ohio, 1820, and Land Records, 1808-1836, Licking County, Ohio. [Return to text]

8. Wiley Kear's papers [Return to text]

9. Maryland Historical Magazine, Vol. X XII, 1927, p. 296. [Return to text]

10. Ibid, Vol. 2, 1907, p. 109. [Return to text]

11. Marriage Records, 1777-1813, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, p. 70. [Return to text]

Copyright

Information on this site related to the Kear family is from The John Cears Kear Family compiled, written and edited by Donald L. Kear, copyright © 1984. Copyright © 2000 - 2006 by Donald L. Kear. All rights reserved. Portions of the pages on this site may be reproduced for nonprofit use only. Credit shall be given to the source.