Some Genealogy Charts for Shearer and Related Families

Below are sub-pages containing genealogy charts for some related families.

Descendants of James William Shearer and Nancy Allen (detailed list).

Descendants of James William Shearer, Children of Mary Catherine Shearer+ William Preston West.

67 Comments »

67 Responses to “Some Genealogy Charts for Shearer and Related Families”

  1. Cynthia Kirkley Says:
    February 18, 2011 at 1:00 am

    I descend from James William Shearer, Jesse W. Shearer, John Wesley Shearer (married Susan Rebekah Shields), Melissa Shearer (b. 1858 NC, married William N. Burger, Charles W. Burger b. 1897 NC married Gladys Louise Northrup, Jeanette M. Burger b. 1928 CA, married James E. Kirkley (my Dad). My research is on Ancestry.com (Kirkley Tree). jmkirkley38

    Reply
  2. Joy Shearer Fulgham Says:
    February 21, 2011 at 12:10 am

    I am desended from the Shearer’s of Indiana Co. Pa. Saltzburg. We have traced ourselves back to a George Shearer and Sara (Buckhouse) right after the Revolution. I have been intrigued with genealogy since middle school. I asked my father what nation ality we were and he was careful to say Scots/Irish. Well not really knowing what that meant I assumed that we were both Scottish and Irish. More recently I became aware that Scots/Irish meant Scottish Heritage that imigrated by way of the Ulster Plantation mid 15th century through late 16th century. Scottish Protestant boarderers we “encourged” to travel to Northern Ireland 1.) in an attempt clear the boarder regions of reveiers and 2). to change the political structure of Ireland away from Catholic influence. The axis of power went back and forth over the years and many of the Scots Protestants fled to the colonies with out. What I know of my family this senario totally fits however I am stuck unable find info on the Ulster Plantation.

    Reply
    • Joy Shearer Fulgham Says:
      February 21, 2011 at 12:12 am

      Left Ireland without intermarrying with the Irish.

      Reply
    • shearerblog Says:
      April 29, 2013 at 1:00 am

      Ulster Plantation was in the north of Ireland, the most Gaelic part of the country in the 16th century, lightly populated and possessing few permanent settlements. English Anglican and Scottish Presbyterian settlers came to “plant” lands owned by wealthy landowners in the late 1500s and early 1600s. You can get some good information on Ulster Plantation from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/plantation/planters/
      Scots-Irish is not in some ways a very meaningful term, since those colonial settlers with this tag were Scottish Protestants who had lived in Ireland for a few generations but had never intermarried with the Irish. If you check out a good history of Celts or of Scotland, however, you may discover than many centuries earlier it was the Celts of Ireland who emigrated northeast and settled Scotland.
      —The Editor

      Reply
  3. Stacey Says:
    March 2, 2011 at 3:02 am

    I am a decendent of Robert Shearer (born around 1802 in PA) married to I beleive Mary Ann Mundel (also born in PA). Their children were Andrew, Franklin and James. I know that Andrew was born in 1838 in Brooke County, WV. Andrew is my 3rd ggf. I don’t live to far from Indiana County, PA, Joy. My grandfather told me he believes us to still have Shearer family in PA, but we know very little about the Shearer side of the family. I have not been able to go any further then Robert Shearer. Any information and help would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • Joy Shearer Fulgham Says:
      March 2, 2011 at 3:13 pm

      Hey Stacey,
      I looked back on my shear line and found no Robert shearer at all I did not find an Andrew either. My earliest Shearer was George born est 1771 I have Ulster Ireland but there has been some rumor that he came from Virginia. his male children were George n/a, James b. 3 Mar 1797, Daniel b.11 Aug. 1800. Daniel is my line.
      Sounds like they would be cousins if anything but we cannot find anything earlier..

      Reply
    • Bill Sherer Says:
      May 20, 2019 at 11:55 pm

      My ggg-grandfather John Shearer/Sherer (I have found in documents spelled both ways) was born 1801 in PA. He married a Sally Mental in Holmes County, Ohio in the 1820s. I have wondered once in a while if “Mental” was spelling error and it should have been Mendal or Mundal. The fact that your Robert Shearer was approx. the same age and married a “Mundel” caught my attention. Not sure if any connection or not.

      Reply
    • William Sherer Says:
      April 25, 2020 at 12:03 am

      I am a ggg-grandson of a John Shearer/Sherer B:1801 PA who in the1820s married a Sarah/Sally Mental in Wayne Co Ohio. I have wondered if her name may have been Mundel ( not Mental). Do you think Robert and John could be related/brothers?

      Reply
      • Susan Jaquith Says:
        April 25, 2020 at 12:28 am

        I haven’t done any more Shearer family research after figuring out my mother (maiden name Shearer) was adopted into the Shearer family. Her birth parents surnames were Phelps’ and Large (both PA families).
        Sorry I can’t give you more info.

      • Blog Editor Says:
        April 25, 2020 at 12:45 am

        Have you checked the Holmes Co. census records for 1820, 1830, maybe even earlier or later as well, for those various spellings? Also, you might want to consider which families lived nearby, as often marriages occurred within neighborhoods, towns, or districts. One of my great uncles did Not marry his childhood sweetheart because she moved to the next county — a great distance back then.

        Shearer Blog Editor.

  4. Stacey Says:
    March 2, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    Joy,
    Thank you. I am not sure why I can’t find any information. I beleive they lived in Wellsburg, WV. I need to go there and do some reserach.

    Reply
  5. Mel Says:
    March 2, 2012 at 1:46 am

    Hi, I am a descendant of Anthony Shearer b c1787-97(census in 1841 puts him c1797, death record 1787), died in Leeds Yorkshire UK 1848. Have no info on where he is from, but I think he married Sarah Robinson in Leeds 1811. iN 1841, Anthony was on the census at St Johns Hackney, Middlesex. Children were; John Shearer, born c1826 in Middlesex, Maria Margaret Shearer, born c1826 in Middlesex, Richard Shearer, born c1826 in Middlesex, James Shearer, born c1827 in Middlesex, George Shearer, born 1831 in Middlesex, William Henry Shearer, born 1835 in Kingsland Middx and Mary Ann Shearer, born 1837 in Hackney Middlesex. There is no mother listed at the address.

    I am wondering if you have any idea/info where Anthony may fit / be from, as this is an area that has us UK researchers totally stumped! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Mel

    Reply
    • shearerblog Says:
      March 2, 2012 at 6:20 pm

      If you would like to submit a genealogy chart for this web site, please send another comment and I’ll give you instructions on how to submit it.  That would be helpful for anyone with information on the ancestor you mention in your question.

      Reply
  6. melanie Says:
    March 9, 2012 at 4:21 am

    hi stacey, i found a robert shearer married to mary ann allen….they had a daughter named jessie ann shearer born 1862, died in 1919 if this helps

    Reply
  7. Philip Tenney Says:
    October 17, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    Did James and Jennet have any daughters? I have an ancestor, Josiah Tenney, who married a Mary Shearer, in Palmer, Mass. in 1759. She must have been a relation, but I am not sure how she fits in to your genealogy.

    Reply
    • shearerblog Says:
      January 7, 2013 at 9:38 pm

      James Shearer was born in County Antrim, 1678. He divided his Massachusetts property among his male children (John, James, William, all born in Ireland). Jennet, born c. 1686 in Derry, Ireland. She died 7 Jul 1759, age 73. If Mary Shearer was 20 years old in 1759, Jennet would have been age 53 when she was born. So you can entertain a couple theories. One is that Mary Shearer was a grand daughter of James and Jennet. Another is that she was a daughter who married rather late (for the 18th century) and was born to a somewhat elderly mother. A third idea is that she might have been a Shearer widow and that Josiah Tenney was her 2nd husband.
      Do you have any more details you’d like to share?

      As to how she fits into the genealogy, some researchers believe that James was the son of “N. Shearer,” and that his son James is the ancestor of Richard Shearer, born around 1744 in Virginia. Documents to support this theory have been alleged but not shared with the public, insofar as I know. If true, it would mean that James Shearer of Palmer or his son moved from New England to Virginia. Not impossible, but Virginia was culturally quite different from Massachusetts and not as welcoming to Scot Presbyterians as other colonies. So the theory has some problems.
      – The Editor

      Reply
      • Mary Shearer Says:
        March 16, 2023 at 11:52 pm

        My husband is a direct descendant of James and Jennet, and they are buried in Palmer, Mass, along with their grandson Jonathan and his wife Nancy, who are my husband’s ggg grandparents. We have visited the cemetery, so there isn’t any evidence available that they migrated south…given 18th century burial practices, I think they remained in Palmer. Hope that helps.

  8. John Dylan Shearer Says:
    March 18, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    I am a direct descendant of Patrick Shearer (James’ Shearers grandson) who moved to Virginia and lived the rest of his life there. His son moved to central Kentucky where tht branch of the family still lives to this day. If I remember correctly I am the 5th John on a row. Found that to be an interesting tradition

    Reply
    • shearerblog Says:
      March 18, 2013 at 9:51 pm

      Great to hear from you!

      What can you tell us about Patrick Shearer?  And do you have any genealogy charts you’d care to share with the rest of us, especially anything from Patrick on backwards to his grandfather?  You may have brought us the Missing Link.

      Please let me know.

      Many thanks.

      Shearer Genealogy Notes Editor

      >________________________________

      Reply
  9. John Dylan Shearer Says:
    March 19, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    I would love to share what I have. When I get home to my computer Ill look at the notes that I have.

    Reply
  10. John Dylan Shearer Says:
    March 20, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    my research of my ancestry has led me to the first Shearer immigrant (James Shearer born born in County Antrim, 1678). I am a descendant of his son James Patrick Shearer born in 1711 in county Armagh, Ireland. My lineage continues with James’ son Patrick Shearer whom you were asking about. He was born Sep 14 1741 in stafford county VA and died in 1794 in Mercer county Kentucky. We still live in that area to this very day. Tax records show he was employed as a farmer and owned 59 acres in Garrad county. My father John also once owned land there. I wouild like to get my tree together and submit it if I can find out how

    Reply
    • shearerblog Says:
      March 20, 2013 at 3:18 pm

      This is excellent, and it makes the connection with other information (unsupported) that I’d gotten from other Shearers.  If you want to send me a list or a chart or whatever, I’ll edit it and let you see it, and then we can publish it on the site. In the meantime, if you want, you could post another comment on the web site (or I can do it for you) including what you’ve written to me below.

      Thanks again. Shearer Genealogy Notes Editor

      >________________________________

      Reply
  11. John Dylan Shearer Says:
    March 20, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    You are more than welcome to repost anything I write. I also wonder if anyone here has come across a “Sherrow” family. They are related and the name started with a misspelling. The first I found was James Sherrow born in 1833 I’m Mercer co Ky. His father was William Shearer born in 1775 in Campbell, Va

    Reply
    • shearerblog Says:
      March 21, 2013 at 2:29 am

      Yes, actually I have.  Sherrow is a variant spelling of Shearer, and there’s a guy named (I think) Ron Sherrow who thinks he descended from Patrick Shearer, and I think that’s the Patrick who was born in VA in the 1740s.  I’d have to look around to find more info on that.

      >________________________________

      Reply
      • John Dylan Shearer Says:
        March 21, 2013 at 3:08 am

        The Sherrows do descend from Patrick Shearer, I have a pretty detailed family tree on ancestry.com which provides that information. I’d be happy to share it if I knew the best way to do that

      • shearerblog Says:
        March 21, 2013 at 4:00 am

        What is the format of your family tree?  Can you send me a Legacy file, or a graphic file, or a chart? I don’t have at the moment a membership in Ancestry, so I can’t recall how you get information into/ out of that database.  But there’s gotta be a way.

        >________________________________

      • shearerblog Says:
        March 21, 2013 at 5:00 am

        You have really piqued my interest.  How do you know that Patrick is the son of James, and how did James get to Virginia?

        >________________________________

  12. Drew Shuptar Rayvis Says:
    April 29, 2013 at 12:29 am

    Hey their , My name is Drew Shuptar- Rayvis and i have been doing Genealogy and have have found my 2nd great grandmother was of the Hager family of Nockamixon and Tinicum Townships in Bucks County PA . My second great grandmother Emma Hagers mother was Mary Cecilia Wolfinger , Her grandfather was John Wolfinger born in Bucks Penn born in 1799 and died in 1867 he married a MARY SHEARER , does anybody know who this is ? , all i have been able to find is that she was born in 1798 in Pennsylvania , any help would be greatly appreciated thank you 🙂

    Reply
  13. shearerblog Says:
    April 29, 2013 at 1:02 am

    Shearers are not necessarily related, as it was an occupational name in Scotland. Also there are German Shearers in Pennsylvania. Your other names Hager and Wolfinger are also German, so you probably should be looking into Pennsylvania Dutch sources.
    — The Editor

    Reply
    • Drew Shuptar Rayvis Says:
      April 30, 2013 at 8:30 pm

      yes the Hagers and Wolfingers are germans , they came here in the 1720s and 1740s , and huh interesting it sounded so german i would never have guessed it to be german but figures since the rest were all german. do you know any good sources to look for Mary or any good PA Dutch sources , thank you

      Reply
    • Sherry Says:
      January 8, 2022 at 11:57 pm

      How do sheares of Pennsylvania relate to Shearer? Any at all?

      Reply
  14. John Dylan Shearer Says:
    February 7, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    I posted here many months ago and forgot to follow up, I apologize. I’m wondering if there is a way to post pictures here. I’m trying to show my relation to James Shearer, I’m a decendant of his grandson Patrick Shearer. He moved to Ky and my family remains here today. We are related to the New York Shearers that I’ve seen mentioned here

    Reply
  15. Janna Carter Says:
    July 2, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    I am researching the ancestors of FOUR Shearer siblings (listed below) whose descendants are known to carry the CAPN5 gene known to cause a rare but powerful disease called ADNIV (Autosomal Dominant Neovascular Inflammatory Vitreoretinopathy) that eventually leads to blindness. My dear friend, Jerry Jackson, has ADNIV.

    It is possible that the 4 siblings descend from:
    John Shearer (Birth: 26 February 1815 in Coshocton, Ohio, US. Death: 21 January 1896 in Plymouth, Iowa, US)
    —MARRIED TO—
    Mary Ann Walters (Birth: 1812 in Guernsey County, Ohio, US. Death: 10 April 1858 Iowa)

    I hope to find other “branches” of this family tree, so that I can connect family members in this family who suffer from the disease, as well as other unrelated families who also carry ADNIV.

    ADNIV is a combination of several eye diseases that occur simultaneously over time, and always results blindness. It often initially presents as Retinitis Pigmentosis, and often cataracts can be the beginning. Many times, one eye degenerates first or at a more rapid rate than the other.

    PLEASE let me know if you have ANY information that might be helpful.

    1) Nicolas Shearer
    Birth: 29 Mar 1831 in Guernsey, Ohio, USA.
    Death: 20 Oct 1899 in Mercer, Mercer, Illinois, United States

    2) Rachael Lavina Shearer
    Birth: 1846 in Jefferson, Indiana, United States
    Death: 30 Dec 1882

    3) Martha M. Shearer
    Birth: 12 APR 1847 in Indiana
    Death: 1921 in Peru, Madison County, Iowa, USA

    4) Noah Reasoner Shearer
    Birth: 10 Dec 1852 in Indiana, United States
    Death: 11 Aug 1930 in St. Charles Town, Madison, Iowa

    Other POSSIBLE siblings include:

    • James Shearer
    Birth: abt 1830 in Guernsey, Ohio, USA
    Death: 15 Jan 1863 in Rolla, Phelps, Missouri, United States
    (born prior to Nicolas)

    • Jeremiah Shearer
    Birth: Jan 1833 in Guernsey County, Ohio, USA
    Death: 1914 in Madison County, Iowa, USA
    (born after Nicolas & prior to Rachael)

    • Francis Marion Shearer
    Birth: 1835 in Guernsey County, Ohio, USA
    Death: 7 Mar 1863 in Ft. Donelson, TN
    (born after Nicolas & prior to Rachael)

    • Lucinda Shearer
    Birth 03 Jan 1842 in Ohio
    Death 02 Mar 1911 in Lorimor, Union, Iowa
    (born after Nicolas & prior to Rachael)

    • John M Shearer
    Birth 22 Mar 1849 in Grant, Indiana, United States,
    Death 15 May 1903 in Chadron, Dawes, Nebraska, United States
    (born after Martha & prior to Noah)

    • Melissa M Shearer
    Birth 20 Aug 1850 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana
    Death 17 Mar 1936 in Chadron, Nebraska, USA
    (born after Martha & prior to Noah)

    Reply
    • Bill Sherer Says:
      May 21, 2019 at 12:02 am

      Below is a link to my ggg-grandfather John Sherer/Shearer who settled in and was one of the founders of Clarke County, Iowa and the City of Osceola, IA within. John had a son Francis Marion Shearer who’s grave D: 1908 is in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola, IA. He was born 1836 in Holmes County, OH. The fact that one of the folks in your tree above has exactly the same name, was born in Ohio and a birth year only a year apart from the Francis Marion Shearer in my tree caught my attention. Not sure if there is a connection or not…..perhaps to a common ancestor for both with that name??? LINK:https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/50667579/person/13091879409/facts

      Reply
  16. Editor Says:
    July 2, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    Editor’s Reply:
    Researchers please note:
    (1) Some Shearers are descendants of German Shearers (various spelling, including initial SCH). It is not clear from the comment by Ms. Carter whether the listed persons are of German or Scottish ancestry. Persons concerned about the genetic factor mentioned in that post might want to know whether these people’s ancestors came from Germany. Many German Shearers settled in Pennsylvania.
    (2) Otherwise, Shearer is primarily a Scottish name, but it is an occupational name, not a family name. Shearers may or may not be linked ancestrally, so other family groups with the surname Shearer would not necessarily be receptors of the CAPN5 gene.
    (3) It is likely that many American Shearers emigrated from Ireland. This category of person is sometimes called Scots-Irish. Scots-Irish, however, are actually not Irish. They were Scots who left Scotland for economic reasons or were encouraged by the British government to move to Ireland. They moved mostly into Ulster, retained their Protestant religions and cultural traditions, and intermarried among themselves, not among the Irish, for the most part. So when they came to America they were still Scottish. Of course, all Celtic groups (Irish, Scots, Cornish, Welsh, etc.) descended from a group of people — Celts — who moved westward from Europe many centuries earlier.

    Editor, Shearer Blog

    Reply
    • James R. Soto-Jackson-Shearer Says:
      July 2, 2014 at 8:43 pm

      dear editor…Ms Carter has mentioned the Shearer family with ADNIV desendants of John
      Shearer an Mary Ann Walters… according to family oral history we were of Scots/Irish ancestry on the Shearer side of our family who setteled in Ohio then migrated to Illinois and Iowa…does that help with the research..?

      Reply
  17. Stacey James (Shearer) Says:
    August 28, 2014 at 2:54 am

    Doubt it is a help, but there are several Shearer’s in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.(Williamsport, Muncy, Montoursville area) Joanne Hill married Roy Shearer who was a descendant (grandson i believe) of Sterling

    Reply
    • David Shearer Says:
      July 13, 2015 at 1:09 am

      I am a direct descendant of Jeremiah Shearer in the Williamsport area there are Shearers there but have not been able to connect, Fran Highlands is my cousin David Shearer

      Reply
  18. John Shearer Says:
    August 28, 2014 at 10:10 am

    These may be my distant relatives, but I only know of my Shearers in Ky at that time. Sorry, I wish you luck in your search

    Reply
  19. Sir John Shearer kt Says:
    March 13, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Not sure if you all are aware of this or not but, there is a Shearer family DNA project. There are 71 members. We have several lines represented also. http://www.familytreedna.com/public/The_Shearer_Family_DNA_Project/

    Reply
  20. Sandra. Says:
    June 10, 2015 at 8:11 pm

    Sandra e Sheared daughter of Robert c Shearer born 1930 and Irene (nee Swaffield) northern Ireland .
    Grand parents James and Mary Davis (nee Carlisle) parents to 10 children 5 boys Alex, Jimmy, Bobby(my dad), Gerald, Willie 5 girls Mary, Elizabeth (died as a child) ,Margaret, Isabel and Maureen.
    Uncle Alex moved to America and I believe he married again after getting divorced he lived in Detroit . He was the eldest being born around 1926. Just wondering if anyone may know of him or his children (my cousins)

    Reply
  21. Frank R. Shearer Says:
    November 19, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    I am a descendant of Albert Shearer who was born in 1825 in Kentucky. He was married to Narcissa Blount of Virginia.
    He lived much of his life in Madison, Owsley, and Lee county. He is mentioned along with his family in the US Census in 1850-1880. He died in Lee County in 1898. In the censuses he says his mother and father were born in Kentucky but I have not been able to make a absolute connection with his parents which there is much evidence to believe they were James Shearer and Mary Rhodus although by name I have not made the connection and he is not listed in James’ obituary. There were many Shearer families (most related) in the counties of Garrard, Madison, and Lee counties from 1800 to 1900 and present.

    Reply
  22. Isobel Says:
    March 14, 2016 at 3:44 am

    I don’t usually respond to things I read about others, but I too have the Shearer connection. A relative of mine on my mothers side (Shearer) of the family has composed a family tree. It goes back quite far. The earliest he has recorded is composed in a family book he gave me titled:
    The Family and Decendants of Archibald Shearer of Mossbank, Ayrshire, Scotland, Born 1720.

    Archibald’s wife …. Ann Wilson

    The children of Archibald Shearer II and Ann Wilson
    1. Archibald III Immigrated to Canada
    2. Andrew ” ”
    3. Gavin ” ” in 1842
    4. Mathew ” ”
    5. Alexander ” ”
    6. Helen (Davidson) ” 1842
    7. Janet (Yatts)
    8. Angus ” ”
    9. James Immigrated to U.S.A. 1870 Marshall County, Kansas
    10. Christina remained in Scotland
    11. Peggy remained in Scotland
    12. Ann remained in Scotland
    13. William remained in Scotland
    14. Sandy remained in Scotland
    15. ???
    15. ???

    I hope this is of interest to you. Perhaps the James you have been communicating about is #9.

    Isobel

    Reply
  23. Vicky siler (born King) Says:
    February 4, 2017 at 3:20 am

    I am looking for information about my relative Elizabeth Marian Jacobs (born Shearer) in Massachusetts. She was married to Edward Jacobs, who came from

    BIRTH 11 JUN 1894 • Massachusetts
    DEATH FEB 1981 • Rawson, Hancock, Ohio, USA

    Any help would be grateful. I hit a road block.

    Vicky

    Reply
  24. Susan Jaquith Says:
    July 6, 2017 at 5:56 am

    I am a descendant of John A and Mary Ann Shearer of Duncannon, Perry Co, PA. At some point, the family moved to Washington DC. Some of their children were Joseph, Langhorn Wister Shearer, Sallie Wister Shearer, Bertha. I descend from Langhorn Wister Shearer – would love more info about this line. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Ruth Bretzman Says:
      November 7, 2019 at 11:08 pm

      I am a Shearer descendent from Duncannon PA, Perry County. I have most of my family tree as far back as my great grandfather was Albert (1889-1968) married to Katherine Elizabeth Owen. I do not know if Albert had any siblings. My ancestors stayed in Duncannon. I recently learned about a Reuben Shearer who fought with the 9th Pennsylvania Calvary during the Civil War. (His name was listed on the flag in the Duncannon, PA) I believe he also has ties to Shippensburg area. Would like to learn more about Reuben and to determine if he is also a relative.
      Thanks,

      Reply
  25. Devin Rice Says:
    July 16, 2017 at 12:56 am

    my grandfather was preston john shearer.. we never met and I have zero information on his parents.. preston was born on sept. 7 1922 and was married to bonnie ague at one point. I would love any information since that side of my family has always been a mystery

    Reply
    • Susan Says:
      July 16, 2017 at 11:41 pm

      Was your grandfather’/ family from Duncannon, PA, or Washington, DC?

      Reply
      • Devin K Siple Says:
        July 17, 2017 at 1:23 am

        So far the only info i have on him is he was from ohio, born in 1922 died 1986 and remarried i believe a mary and had 2 or 3 daughters.. I believe he was preston john jr so i assume his father was preston john from franklin pennsylvania. Unfortunately im not sure on anything as far as my great grandfather cause im not finding a link between jr and sr so far. I would love any information especially since this is my grandfather.

      • Susan Says:
        July 17, 2017 at 4:14 am

        Sorry, Devin, I don’t have any info on your line

      • Devin K Siple Says:
        July 17, 2017 at 5:07 am

        Thank you so very much for checking.

  26. Frank R. Shearer Says:
    July 21, 2017 at 9:54 pm

    My branch of the Shearer family hits a dead end in Owsley Co., Ky in 1849 when Albert Shearer and Narcissa Blount were married. He resides in the county of Oswley until 1870 and Lee until his death in 1899 in Lee County (never moving). It is said by some of his children he was born in Estill Co. One said Madison. I have not been able to find his father or mother and have found no one in Estill Co who was of the age to be his parents. In 1880 he says his mother and father were born in Ky. In Bourbon Co, Wayne Co., Garrard County, Butler Co. and in Madison there were Shearers who could have been his parents. Some say Jacob Shearer (Sharer) of Bourbon Co., was his father but there is no record of such. I’ve searched the records of Wolfe, Lee, and Owsley but no results. A search is going on in Estill as I write. Albert’s name during his life was spelled at least three different ways in records (Shearer, Sharer, Sherer). Any help would be appreciated. I see that in Estill Co in the 1840s there are 5 different Shearers in their 20s who are married and wonder if there is a connection.

    Reply
  27. James Shearer Says:
    September 14, 2017 at 6:11 pm

    I know almost nothing about my family history. I am James E Shearer II, Born in Portland OR.
    Son of James E Shearer of Rockaway OR.
    Son of Marion A Shearer of Rockaway OR.
    Have been told the family came from Mass and Maine.

    Reply
  28. Russell DeVenney Says:
    August 8, 2019 at 2:41 am

    Until I found this blog the only Shearer history reference I had read was of 2 Brothers from Northern Ireland who ran afoul of the British in the 1700’s and explelled from Ireland.
    My Fathers’ Great Grandfather Thomas Shearer was born 21 Nov 1817 at Cumbernauld, Dunbatonshire, Scotland. He married Mary Gardner or Gardeur and they had children Margaret, John & Mary. Thomas and his family were at Fallsbrook, PA by 1870. My Fathers’ Grandfather John Shearer born 1846 at Cumbernauld or Glasgow. He married Jean Wilson White born 1846 at Cumbernauld, Dunbatonshire, Scotland. John & Jean were at Fallsbrook, PA by 1865 ahead of his parents.
    John & Jean had (10) children all born in PA.
    I have connected with some Shearer descendants, but to a limited extent and no one in Scotland.
    Russ DeVenney

    Reply
    • Jon Cumming Says:
      September 17, 2023 at 7:10 pm

      am a Shearer in Scotland – I believe my 3x great grandfather John was a brother of Thomas Shearer! Our line remained in Cumbernauld where I grew up. A sister of Thomas and John got married in Cumbernauld then went to the US too and settled.

      Reply
  29. Tammy Says:
    December 17, 2019 at 11:45 pm

    I am researching my grandfather’s mother’s family. She was Eva May Shearer Hunter 1883-1909. Married Levi Albertson Hunter. She’s the daughter of William Shearer 1851-1911 and Lydia Taylor Shearer of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. William was the son of Anthony Wayne 1827-1897, a shoemaker, and Mariah Shearer of Springfield Township, Delaware, PA. William Shearer moved his family to Shamong, Burlington New Jersey. The others may have followed. I have a hint that Anthony Wayne’s father is a James but am insure of the sources. Does anyone have any information on this line of the Shearer family? Thank you.

    Reply
  30. timdaugherty Says:
    June 10, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    I have seen some information posted at various sites about one Hugh Shearer who died in York County, SC(circa 1792) and was married to a Lydia (Acres/Akers) died circa 1802? Does anyone know how reliable that information is.

    Thanks
    Tim L. Daugherty
    Lincolnton, NC

    Reply
  31. S Rawles Says:
    February 14, 2021 at 11:16 am

    I am trying to find information about a cabinetmaker/ joiner John Shearer who was probably born between 1755 – 1765 and arrived from Edinburgh in 1775. He was last recorded in northern Virginia in 1818 – in the region of Winchester or Leesburg. He may have a connection to Mary Piles. As an itinerant artisan, he could easily have moved further west to Ohio or elsewhere. Any help would be appreciated.

    Reply
    • William Sherer Says:
      February 15, 2021 at 1:51 am

      There is a John Shearer B: 1755 D: 1832 Nashville, Holmes County, OH. His wife, I suspect a second as 20 years younger, was Sarah Cochran-Shearer. Both of there graves are in the Drake’s Valley Cemetery near Nashville, OH.

      I believe my ggg-grandfather John Shearer/Sherer B: 1801 PA D: 1866 CA to be either a son or a grandson of the older John and wife Sarah. He sold his farm in Knox Township, Holmes County, OH in 1849 and moved to Iowa where my ggg-grandfather was one of the founders, first of three county commisoners, first Justice of the Peace for Clarke County, IA and one of the founders of Osceola, Clarke County, IA. Now here is the interesting part, I have receipts for furniture my ggg-grandfather John made for the fist Clarke County Court House (desks, chairs, etc.). I have always wondered if he learned that craftsmanship from the older John Shearer/Sherer B: 1755.

      Reply
      • S Rawles Says:
        February 15, 2021 at 11:25 am

        Thank you for this information. Very compelling. Is any of the furniture made by your ggg-grandfather John Sherer for the Clarke County, IA, court house still around? It would be interesting to look at it.

        I have also seen the John Shearer/Sherer 1755-1832 listed as having been born in Pennsylvania. Is that confirmed or just speculative based on residential information?

        I actually wonder if he was a deserter from the British regulars from Burgoyne’s army who became part of the Convention Army that crossed from Massachusetts to Virginia after the Battle of Saratoga. I don’t know if any of that could ring a bell.

      • William Sherer Says:
        February 16, 2021 at 2:31 am

        I have not been able to track down any of the furniture constructed by my ggg-grandfather John Shearer/Sherer (he spelled both ways) for the Clarke County Court House. That original court house is gone now. All I have is a few of the receipts he received for the furniture he made and sold the county. I did, a few years ago reach out to the Clarke County, IA Historical Society to see if they could be of help on the furniture search, but to no avail.

        I think it is speculative on where John Shearer B: 1755 was born. I have also seen trees that indicate Scotch/Irish. There was also a John Sherer B: 1755 who was the son of a David Shearer/Sherer who D: 1790 in Washington County, PA.

        David’s Will Information:
        David Shearer of Washington County, dated March 2, 1790, proved
        May 15, 1790; children, James (lands adjoining Thomas McDowcle
        and James Miller), William (lands adjoining Ann Merchant and Robert
        Thompson), David, John, Margaret Miller, Agnes Work, Mary Mercer,
        Jenet, Hannah Camron, Martha Brownlee and Elender (daughter);
        grandson David Miller; executors, Thomas Merchant, James Shearer
        and Thomas Brownlee; witnesses, Samuel McKinney and Hugh McNaught.
        Link to above:
        https://archive.org/stream/publicationsofgev6gene/publicationsofgev6gene_djvu.txt

  32. Blog Editor Says:
    February 17, 2021 at 5:00 pm

    One clue on ancestral origins from your list is the number of Scottish names in the will: Thompson, Shearer/Sherer, McNaught, Cameron, McKinney. The vast number of Scottish immigrants in early America mostly embarked from counties in Northern Ireland, where they had lived after leaving their homelands in Scotland. They brought their Scottish culture and religion to America with them. A smaller percentage emigrated directly from Scotland, and some early 17th cent. Scots went to islands like Barbados and thence to American shores.
    — Blog editor.

    Reply
    • William Sherer Says:
      March 30, 2021 at 1:50 pm

      Dear Editor – The citation of the surnames in the will is an insightful catch. Thanks for mentioning. A few years ago I did a Y-DNA 64 test which showed that matches to my Y DNA (male lineage) is ~80% from Ireland.

      Reply
  33. sevenstarsrise Says:
    April 20, 2021 at 1:40 am

    I am a descendant of Charles last name Shearer, whose mother was enslaved by his father and was born and lived in Virginia. The story I have been told is that Charles was left tied in the his barn durning the Civil War when plantation owners fled. Charles was found by Union Soldiers and was able to act as a great resource to them as he knew the territory well.
    Charles went on to teach at an HBCU. Married Henrietta had three children. The Shearer Cottage is the first stop on the African American Heritage Trail in MV. The cottage and family meme eta are features in the Smithsonian African American History Museum in DC. I am a descendent of his son, Charles Shearer.

    Reply
  34. Benjamin Clinton Shearer Says:
    January 18, 2023 at 9:49 pm

    My name is Benjamin Shearer. I have family in Cabot,AR. If you know anything about Shearers in Arkansas please respond to this message.

    Reply

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