Colonel John Peter Lear^[1]

1636 - 1695  (58 years)

• Name	John Peter Lear
  Title	Colonel
  Birth	15 Nov 1636	Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
  Gender	Male
  Death	9 Jun 1695	Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, USA
  Person ID	I43421	Master
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2021

  
  

  Children	1. Martha Lear,   b. 11 Mar 1656, Colchester, Essex, England d. 12 Nov 1704, , Chesterfield, Virginia, USA (Age 48 years)
  Family ID	F10008	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	4 Nov 2021

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 15 Nov 1636 - Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA Death - 9 Jun 1695 - Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Last Will of John Lear In the Name of God Amen, The twenty first day of November in ye year of our Lord, one thousand, six hundred, ninty and five. I, John Lear, of ye county of Nansemond in Virga. being weak in body and in good and perfect memory, thanks be to God, Doe make this my last will & Testament in manner and forme--following, That is to Say, first I bequeath my Soul and Spirit untu ye hands of God, my heavenly father, by whome of his mercy and only grace I trust to be saved and received unto eternal rest through ye death of my Saviour & Redeemer Jesus Christ, in whose precious blood I sett ye hope of my salvation; and my body, in hope of a joyfull resurection I committ to ye earth to be buried decently as my deare relation shall think fitt. And touching ye disposition of my worldly goods, I dispose of ye same as followeth: First, I will that all such debts as I owe shall be truely paid.Imprimis, I give to ye widow Pitt, my Sister, besides what she owes me, five pounds. Item, I give ye poor widow Perdue of ye Isle of Wight county, five hundred pounds of tobaco a yeare, so long as she lives. Item, Ye bottles of all sorts, Silk, Silver & gold fringes, as all dresses fitted and made—now in ye house w'th _____ belonging to my widow and daughter, as also New wearing linen, I Give to be Equally devided betwixt my daughter _____ Burwell and my daughter, Elisabeth Lear, widow of my deceased son, Thomas Lear. Item, I give and bequeath my Grandaughter, Elizabeth Lear, all that tract & devidend oF Land w’ch I leased to Coll. James Jewell and is now in possession of Capt. Robert Randall, for her life, and after her death to ye heirs of her body lawfully begotten, and for default of such heirs, I give ye said tract of land, being aboute two hundred & fifty acres, lying in Narrowsquick bay to John George, and ye heirs of his body; & in default of such heirs I give ye same to my grand Son, John Lear, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten for ever.Item, I give unto Charles Goremge, all my lands in Surry County w'th I was about selling to William Brown, as per pattent about three hundred & thirty acres, to him & his heirs for ever, and I also give ye said Charles Goremge, ye negro boy Charles at Kerotan, and ye negro girle Fanny there also, & Six Cows and A bull. Item, I give unto John George, ye negroes Jack & Fido & to use & plant, if he see good, only, point land whereon ye said negroes are till his own land, given by Coll. George, shall come into his hands, & I also give him what cattle is on ye said point belonging to me.Item, I give my buff suit with fringe jacket & Silk hose unto James Mountgomery, in full compensation of his trouble from first to last. All other my wearing clothes linen & woolen I desire may be devided between John George & Charles Goremge.Item, I give & bequeath unto my grand son, John Lear, all other my landes, tenements & hereditements---------nature, quality, together with what leased & for tearme of years, to him & his heirs of his body lawfully begotten.As to all other my accompts, estate, whether merchantable goods, household good, plats, money, bills, lands and accompts, or any other goods, wares, or merchandizes, of what nature soever, either here or in England, Carolina or elsewhere, my will and desire is, that it be equally shared after a true accompt taken in three parts. The first parte, I give to my grand son, John Lear, for ever, ye second third part thereof to my two grandaughters, Elizabeth & Martha, children of my only son, Thomas Lear, deceased, and in case of mortality ye survivors to enjoy ye deceased or deceases parte; & ye third and last parte I give betwixt my daughter Martha Burwell & her children she had by Col. Cole & to ye survivors of them.And ye land I bought of George Powell and adding ye plantation whereon John Mackwilliams did live, & containing aboute three hundred & fifty acres, with all houses, orchards, tenements, hereditaments to ye Same belonging, to her, her heirs for ever, anything to ye contrary notwithstanding.And Lastly, I doe appoint my son in law, Maj. Lenoard Burwell, & my good friend Capt. Thomas Godwin, my absolute, whole & Sole Executo'rs of this my last will & Testament, & every parte & Clause therein contained, making null & Void all other wills & Testam'ts whatsoever, & this only to be my last will & Testament and no other.In witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand & fixed my Seale ye day & year above written. Jno. Lear (Coine Sigilli)Signed, Sealed & delivered in ye presence of: William W Coffeild, John Lowe, Elizabeth Bridgers, Ann A Coffeild, Copia Vera. Test.Andrew Ross, dept. Cl. Court At a court held for Nansemond County , Feb'y ye .12th. 1695, proved by ye oathea of mr. William Coffieid, Mr. Jno. Lowe & Mrs. Ann Coffeild, and by ye afficmation. of Mad'm Elizabeth Bridgers with order to record & it recorded.Test. Andrew Ross, dept. CL Court-Copied from Original Will, Filed in the Office of the Secretary of State. (Source: North Carolina Wills and Inventories, copied from Original and Recorded Wills and Inventories In the Office of the Secretary of State by J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, Published 1912.) Colonel John Lear, founder of the Virginia family, was born in England, either in London or Devonshire. The will of Mary Robinson, (printed in Virginia Magazine, vol. 16, p. 194) dated February 13, 1617-18, in London, bequeaths to John Lear and other children of her "Sister Leare." She was widow of John Robinson, chief searcher of customs at London, daughter of William Ramsey, of London. She left also a bequest to build a church in Virginia. She married (first) John Wanton, who died August, 1592. This record indicates that John Lear, of Virginia, was related to John Lear mentioned in this will, but it is highly probable that the London and Devonshire families were of the same stock. Colonel John Lear patented land in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, in 1691, in right of his wife Rebecca, said land formerly belonging to Colonel Leonard Yeo, who was a burgess in 1644-45, 1663-66. Both Yeo and Lear are Devonshire names. (See William and Mary College Quarterly, vol. vii, p. 309, and vol. ix, p. 124). This land was near Point Comfort. Colonel John Lear came to Virginia about 1650 and settled in Nansemond county. As early as 1662 he was captain, according to the colony records, and was a member of the assembly. He was appointed to the King's council in 1683 and served until 1687, and probably until he died. He married four times. The name of his first wife is not known. He married, before 1678. He married (second) after 1678, Ann, widow of Colonel John George, of Isle of Wight county. He married (third) after 1688, Rebecca, widow of Colonel Charles Moyson and Colonel Leonard Yeo, of Elizabeth City county. He married (fourth) Ann Willis, of Ipswich, Massachusetts, widow of Seth Sothell, governor of North Carolina, and she died in 1695. Various cases in which he was a litigant are preserved in the court records. He died June 27, 1696. His will is preserved at the Henrico county courthouse. (See copy in Virginia Magazine, vol. 20, pp. 5, 122). It is dated November 21, 1695. He bequeaths to sister Widow Pitt and sister Widow Perdue; to daughter Martha Burwell; and to Elizabeth, widow of deceased son Thomas; to granddaughter Elizabeth Lear, and grandson John Lear; grandchildren Elizabeth and Martha, children of son Thomas. The will was proved December 12, 1696. Children by first wife: Thomas, mentioned below; Martha married (first) Colonel William Cole, and (second) Major Lewis Burwell, member of the council. Col. John Lear, of Nansemond County From "William & Mary Quarterly" Vol. 10, second series, we quote: "THE ARMORIAL ENSIGNS OF THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY IN VIRGINIA. Whereas FRANCIS NICHOLSON, WILLIAM COLE, RALPH WORMELEY, WILLIAM BIRD, and JOHN LEARE, Esquires. JAMES BLAIR and other Clerks: THOMAS MILNER and others, Gentlemen being nominated Trustees for Founding and Establishing a certain place of Universal Study or perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy and other good Arts and Sciences, to the end that the Church of Virginia may be furnished with a Seminary of Ministers of the Godspell, and that the Youth may be piously Educated in good Letters and manners, to the Glory of God, as by Letters Patents under the great Seal of England bearing date the Eight day of February in the Fourth year of the Reigne of Our Soveraigne Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary may more at large appear, have made application to me by the Rt Reverend Father in God Henry Lord Bishop of London Chancellor of the said Intended College, and prayed that a Coat of Arms may be Devysed for the Granted to the said Trustees, and their Successors, to be used as their Common Seal. Now in consideration of the Premisses and for the Encouragement for so good an Undertaking I, HENRY, Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshall of England etc. Do hereby Order and appoint Gaeter and Clarence Kings of Arms as the Trustees of the said Intended College and their Successors may from time to time lawfully beat and use as a Common Seal [as in like cases of Bodies Politique] And I require the Register of the College of Arms to Enter the said Grant together with these Presents as is usually: And for you and his so doing, this shall be a sufficient Warrant. Given under my hand and the Seal of my Office of Earl Marshall the 2d day of May 1694 in the Sixth year of their Maties Reigne. Signed: NORFOLKE and MARSHALL”. JOHN LEAR was appointed a member of the Council in 1683, serving until he died on 27 June 1696. His birth date is unknown, but it is probable he was born ca 1625-35 in England. He was married four times. The first marriage was to MARY OLDIS. All of his children are from his first marriage. JOHN LEAR mentions his sister in his Will, the widow Pitt. "Wm & Mary, Volume 7, page 240, mentions that this sister was probably MARTHA PITT, wife of Robert Pitt. He was no doubt the son of Col. Robert Pitt of Isle of Wight. The first marriage for JOHN LEAR was to MARY OLDIS, daughter of Thomas Oldis, a member of the House of Burgesses [William & Mary Quarterly Volume 9, page 84]. Also from “Virginia Historical Magazine” Volume 8, page 393 is a record of a Court Order in the case of LEAR and STREETER, 1 April 1658. A Mistresses STREETER, referred to as LEARE’S wife’s mother, was ordered to make delivery of Goods & Chattels that a were due to MARY LEAR from the estate of her father, THOMAS OLDIS, de’d former husband of Mistress STREETER. The legacy consisted of “Eight neat Cattle, one thousand acres of Land, one Negro man called ABRAHAM.” CAPTAIN STREETER, husband of Mistresses STREETER, was ordered to pay Mr LEARE damages of six hundred pounds of tobacco and costs. Col. John Lear, born 1636 in England. He died about 1696 in Nansemond County, Virginia, since his will was dated 21 Nov 1695; was married possibly as many as four times; was a member of the Governor's Council and the House of Burgesses; and was one of the founders of William & Mary College. Moved to Virginia in 1656. Married prior to 1663. House of Burgess Oct. 28 1666. Governor's Council 1683. Colonial Council 1688. From Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I - III--Colonial Councillors of State Probably came to Virginia about 1656, as in that year he had a grant of 100 acres of land on the "Oquiah River, in Westmoreland County." He soon removed to Nansemond county, which he represented in the house of burgesses from 1666 to 1676. During Bacon's rebellion, he was a staunch supporter of Gov. Berkeley, and remained with him until the rebellion was suppressed. He was the first to meet the commissioners, sent to suppress the rebellion, and give them an account of the condition of affairs, and by them was reported to have suffered heavily during the trouble. In 1676 a petition was sent the commissioners from some of the people of Nansemond county, complaining of the number of offices held by Col. John Lear and Mr. David Lear, probably his brother, the first of whom was county clerk, escheat master, notary public and surveyor, and the other "Sheriff superior." As relating to Col. Lear, remonstrance seems to have had no effect, for in 1680 he was presiding justice and colonel of militia. On May 23, 1683, Gov. Culpeper appointed him a member of the council, and the nomination was confirmed by the King. He continued in this office until his death. He was also one of the first trustees of William and Mary College in 1693, and, at the time of his death, was collector of the lower districts of James river. His death occurred in Nov. or Dec., 1695. notes Apparently Martha, widow of Robert Pitt, Sr. was his sister. From his 1695 will: "All debts to be truly paid; to widow Pitt (Martha, second wife of Col. Robert Pitt Sr.) , my sister, besides what she owes me 5L ..." From Seldens of Virginia and Allied Families, Volume 1 By Mary Selden Kennedy page 24-25 "Col. John Lear was for many years an active resident of Nansemond County, member of the Council, etc. He died June 27, 1696. He married, at least, four times, the first marriage being prior to 1678. The name of his first wife is not known. His children by her were Martha, who married, first, Col. William Cole, and, second, Major Lewis Burwell (see Burwell Family, Number 2), and a son, Thomas. After his first wife's death, he married, second, after 1678, Anne, Widow of Col. John George. His third marriage was after 1688. His third wife was Rebecca, widow of Col. Leonard Yeo and Charles Moryson. He married, fourth, Anne Willis, of Ipswich, Mass., widow of Seth Sothel, Governor of North Carolina. She died before 1695. Thomas Lear, son of Col. Lear, by his first wife, married Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Joseph Bridges of Isle of Wight County, another member of the Council. He died before his father, leaving issue, named in Col. John Lear's will (see William and Mary Quarterly, VII, page 309), Thomas, John, Elizabeth, and Martha. Of these, John was living in 17 12. He married Elizabeth, the executrix of Isabella Haveild of Nansemond, who was the executrix of Luke Haveild of Nansemond. He was Sheriff of Nansemond in 1723." Madam Anna LEAR died before 1695, and Col. LEAR died 27 June 1696. Virginia Historical Magazine, vol. 17, p. 228; William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 8, p. 171, vol. 9, pp. 83-131. From page 18 The Lincolnshire origin of some Exeter settlers by Sanborn, V. C. (Victor Channing), 1867-1921; Hall, Virginia S Published 1914. Hall, Virginia, "The Daughters of Balthazar Willix of Exeter." The following records and notes relate to the daughters of Balthazar Willix* of Exeter and may be regarded as a continuation of the article by Mr. Frank W. Hackett in Register, vol. 50, pp. 46-48. " Whereas Hon. Seth Southell, Esqr. and James Blunt, both of North Carolinah, did by their Last Wills give and bequeath unto Anna: first wife of said Blunt and afterwards the wife of said Southwell and her heirs, afterwards wife of Col. John Lere of Vergenea and so Died. Whose Sisters and Brother-in-law, Hazelpony Wood of Ipswich in the Province of Massachusetts in New England, and Francis Jones and Suzana his wife of Portsm in the Province of New Hampshire, said Hazelpony and Suzannah own sisters both by father and mother's side to the above said Anna and so right heirs, in consideration of £250 sell unto our kinsman Thomas Pickeringe of Portsm° formerly our attorney, all the estate given to our sister Anna Lere by said Blunt and Southell in North Carolina." Dated 4 June 1697. Witnesses: James Allen, John Pickeringe. Recorded 6 Sept. 1709. (N. H. Province Deeds, vol. 1, p. 343.) The estate conveyed by the deed given above is described in a deed, dated 15 July 1709, from Thomas and Mary (Gee) Pickering to William Partridge and Pelatiah AVhittemore, all of Portsmouth, as " a certain estate in North and South Carolina, more particularly the estate of Seth Southel, Esq. in the Province of North Carolina adjoining Salmon Creek, Kendrick Creek, Little River, Peatty Creek and the River Pasquatank, consisting of 12000 acres excepting 4000 acres formerly sold by said Pickering to William Duckenfield." (N. IL Province Deeds, vol. 7, p. 344.) http://www.martygrant.com/genealogy/familydata/grpf3405.html http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=thamm&id=I13598&ti=%2C http://arlisherring.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I046752&tree=Herring&PHPSESSID=ad24e87580 bd37f665d28a453bf27f94 "The Colonial Virginia Register" http://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I060552&tree=Tree1&sitever=tabl et URL (Click on link) http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=59&last=&g_p=P4&col lection=LO Patent Title Lear, John. Publication 4 October 1656. Other Format Available on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Patents 1-42, reels 1-41. Genealogies of Virginia Families from the William and Mary College Quarterly. Vol. V. Thompson-Yates. Elizabeth City County Families: Col. John Lear was for many years an active resident of Nansemond county, member of the Council, etc. He died June 27, 1696. He married at least four times: first a lady not known, before 1678, by whom Martha, who married (1) William Cole, and (2) Major Lewis Burwell and Thomas; Second, after 1678, Anne, widow of Col John George; third after 1688 Rebecca, widow of Col. Leonard Yeo and Col. Charles Moryson; fourth Ann Willis, of Ipswich, Mass., widow of Seth Sothel, governor of North Carolina. She died before 1695. Thomas Lear, son of Col. John Lear by his first wife, married Elizabeth daughter of Col. Joseph Bridger, of Isle of Wight County, another member of the Council. He died before his father, leaving issue named in Col. John Lear's will (Quarterly VII, p. 309), (1) Thomas, (2) John (3) Elizabeth (4) Martha. Of these John ws living in 1712, married to Elizaeth the executrix of Isabella Haveild, who was executrix of Dr. Luke Haveild, of Nansemond. He was Sheriff of Nansemond in 1723. After this I have found no mention of the Lear family.

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree.