James Wear

Family/Spouse: Margaret Sharp. Margaret was born on 22 Dec 1762 in Rockbridge Co, Virginia; died on 7 Mar 1853 in Maryville, Blount Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William J. Wear was born on 24 Apr 1790 in Blount Co, Tennessee; died on 1 Aug 1840 in Gaylesville, Cherokee Co, Alabama.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Property: 1752, Augusta Co (later Rockbridge Co), Virginia
• Residence: 1779, Washington Co (now Sevier Co, Tennessee), North Carolina

Notes:

Robert Wear was of the first generation of his family born in this country. His father was a native of Ireland, but was educated in England. A silversmith by trade, he came to America "at a very early day." Robert Wear and Rebecca Carrell were married in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Rockbridge Co, Virginia. Their three children, John, Rebecca, and Samuel were married there. In 1779 they moved to Washington Co, Tennessee.
During the time of the Cherokee War they moved with their son Samuel from Green Co to Sevier Co and made their settlement and fort on the west fork of Little Pigeon River in a cove which became known as Wears Cove. They were not more than 20 (mil?)es from the enemy Indian towns on the Little Tennessee. The Indians knew the country so well that they could easily pass through and invade the weaker settlements or ambush the hunter. John Watts, a famous Cherokee warrior, the Corntassel and other warriors harassed the settlers for several years. Finally Col John Sevier and Co. Samuel Handley raised a volunteer regiment and marched against the Indians. They made peace at a council held at Telico in 1796.
Robert Wear was a strict Presbyterian and he was true to his faith. He loved all men and was not an enemy to the Indians. John Watts could have killed him many times but did not because "he do good to everybody, and why should anybody hurt him" His wife Rebecca also was held in high esteem. She was Mama Wear to all her neighbors and friends. They died 1790-1800 and are buried side by side in the old graveyard near the old fort in Sevier County.

Info on Robert Wear through Jane Wear came from a report on the internet: GenServ Genealogical Server, Document@GenServ.Com

---
Notable Southern Families:
COLONEL SAMUEL WEAR AND THE WEARS

The father of Elizabeth Wear who married Robert Armstrong
the Third, was Colonel Samuel Wear. The first Wear whom we
know definitely is Robert Wear, the father of Samuel. The family came from Ulster Province, Ireland, and was Scotch-Irish. Robert Wear's wife was Rebecca.

The Wears reached Augusta County, Virginia, by way of Pennsylvania and Frederick County, Virginia, like many other emigrants. The name Wear was originally de Vere which betrays the Norman origin and it can be traced in that form for hundreds of years. It is variously spelled in early histories Weir, Wier, Wear, etc., and this variation causes confusion, but Robert Wear, ancestor of the Virginia -
Tennessee family and his son Samuel Wear spelled their name Wear and both were men of education and have left written proof of this spelling, though Ramsey's Annals and other volumes in giving Colonel Wear full credit for his important service in the Revolution and early history of Tennessee spell his name Weir. He was Clerk of the State of Franklin, a signer of the Constitution of Tennessee and Clerk of the County of Sevier and signed his name literally hundreds of times.

In April 1719 a Robert Weir was one of the settlers in Nutfield, near Haverhill, Massachusetts, but in New Hampshire, under the leadership of James McKeen. It is possible that this Robert Weir was the father of Robert, whom we afterwards have located in Augusta County, Virginia.

The settlement of Nuffield was thought to be in Massachusetts, but the General Court of May, 1719, decided it was in New Hampshire. James Gregg and Robert Wear, in behalf of the Scotch Irish at Nutfield, asked the Governor and Court assembled at Portsmouth, N. H., for a township ten miles square. They and others obtained a deed from Colonel John Wheelwright. Londonberry, N. H., was then incorporated June 1722. Robert Wear's name appears on petition. The
town in December, 1719, voted to grant a lot to each of the first comers "which is the number of twenty." Robert Wear is one of these.

To Robert Wear and his wife, Martha, a daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1723.

Bolton gives the settlers of Londonderry, N. H., in 1722, and among the names are several of interest to people reading this volume, for instance, Robert Armstrong, James, John and Robert Doak, Robert Wear, etc.

[note ~ss: These Doaks of N.H. do not appear to be of the same line of Doaks represented in this file who immigrated to Pennsylvania and later to Augusta Co. More about the N.H. Doaks here:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jacquelinesr&id=I21338 ],

Robert Weir, or Wear, probably this same Robert, was Commissioner in Antrim County, Antrim, Ireland, in I717.

In 1752 a deed is recorded to Robert Wear and John Cunningham, of eight hundred and thirty-three acres in Borden's Tract, Augusta County, Virginia, and in 1754 Borden's executors deeded two hundred and forty acres to Robert Wear. So we have the family of Robert Wear and his wife Rebecca settled in Augusta County close to the year
1750. There their children were born, including Samuel Wear, who was destined to become a distinguished pioneer of the new state of Tennessee, John Wear and probably other children whose names have not been preserved. Robert Wear was still living in the year 1789. Samuel Wear was born in Augusta County, Virginia about the year 1753.

http://archive.org/stream/notablesouthern00frengoog/notablesouthern00frengoog_djvu.txt


Property:
In 1752 a deed is recorded to Robert Wear and John Cunningham, of eight hundred and thirty-three acres in Borden's Tract, Augusta County, Virginia, and in 1754 Borden's executors deeded two hundred and forty acres to Robert Wear. So we have the family of Robert Wear and his wife Rebecca settled in Augusta County close to the year
1750.
Southern Notable Families

Robert* married Rebecca* Carrell about 1740 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania. Rebecca* (daughter of James* Carrell, Jr. (eldest) (immigrant) and Diana* Van Kirk) was born on 25 May 1725 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania; died in 1790 in Sevierville, Sevier Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Other-Begin: 1717, Co Antrim, Ireland; commissioner
• Immigration: Bef 1719, Ireland
• Residence: Apr 1719, Nutfield, near Haverhill Massachusetts (New Hampshire)

Notes:

Born in Ireland but was educated in England. A silversmith by trade. Came to America in "at very early day."

In April 1719 a Robert Weir was one of the settlers in Nutfield, near Haverhill, Massachusetts, but in New Hampshire, under the leadership of James McKeen. It is possible that this Robert Weir was the father of Robert, whom we afterwards have located in Augusta County, Virginia.

The settlement of Nuffield was thought to be in Massachusetts, but the General Court of May, 1719, decided it was in New Hampshire. James Gregg and Robert Wear, in behalf of the Scotch Irish at Nutfield, asked the Governor and Court assembled at Portsmouth, N. H., for a township ten miles square. They and others obtained a deed from Colonel John Wheelwright. Londonberry, N. H., was then incorporated June 1722. Robert Wear's name appears on petition. The
town in December, 1719, voted to grant a lot to each of the first comers "which is the number of twenty." Robert Wear is one of these.

To Robert Wear and his wife, Martha, a daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1723.

Bolton gives the settlers of Londonderry, N. H., in 1722, and among the names are several of interest to people reading this volume, for instance, Robert Armstrong, James, John and Robert Doak, Robert Wear, etc.

[note ~ss: These Doaks of N.H. do not appear to be of the same line of Doaks represented in this file who immigrated to Pennsylvania and later to Augusta Co. More about the N.H. Doaks here:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jacquelinesr&id=I21338 ]

Robert Weir, or Wear, probably this same Robert, was Commissioner in Antrim County, Antrim, Ireland, in I717.

http://archive.org/stream/notablesouthern00frengoog/notablesouthern00frengoog_djvu.txt


Residence:
The settlement of Nuffield was thought to be in Massachusetts, but the General Court of May, 1719, decided it was in New Hampshire. James Gregg and Robert Wear, in behalf of the Scotch Irish at Nutfield, asked the Governor and Court assembled at Portsmouth, N. H., for a township ten miles square. They and others obtained a deed from Colonel John Wheelwright. Londonberry, N. H., was then incorporated Jime, 1 722. Robert Wear's name appears on petition. The town in December, 1719, voted to grant a lot to each of the first
comers "which is the number of twenty." Robert Wear is one of these.
NOTABLE SOUTHERN FAMILIES
http://archive.org/stream/notablesouthern00frengoog/notablesouthern00frengoog_djvu.txt

Robert* married Mrs. Martha* (...) Wear before 1720. Martha* was born about 1690; died after 1723. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John W. Wilkinson, "Autobiography and Historical Reminiscences," (a copy in Salt Lake Library), tells us that Robert Wear married a "Holland dutch" woman, or at least her mother was from Holland and her father was an Englishman kidnapped from his country when a small boy by a sea captain and turned loose lonely, penniless, and friendless on the then almost wild shores of the Chesapeake Bay. When Olda Edwards found out that Robert Wear married Rebecca Carrell, her search took her to Diana Van Kirk whose forefathers had served the West Indian Company and traded beads for Manhattan. The family must have been very proud of this connection for the story has been carried down six generations.
The story of James Carrell is just as amazing. Wilkinson states that William Carroll/Carrell, a sheep and wool merchant adopted the friendless abandoned boy and raised him as his own. The boy grew to manhood and followed the sea managings father's affairs. James Carrell married Diana Van Kirk and was the father of Rebecca Carrell. When he died his adopted mother placed the coat "of curious construction" he had on when he came to them in his coffin. An old woman observed the coat and said, "If it were possible, I should claim some remembrance of that coat. Many years have passed since, but if I am not mistaken, I made that coat with my own hands for a little nephew of mine in old England. He was lost directly after the coat was made with the coat on, and all the search and inquiry we could make, we never could learn anything of him. His mother died of grief and his father would have paid thousands for his return." Mrs. Carroll explained how she and Mr. Carroll had adopted a homeless boy and they compared dates until both were satisfied that this was indeed the woman's nephew. The old woman took the coat back to the father in England as a testimonial of what had happened to his son.
It has been proven that William Carrell was indeed James Carrell and his adopted son, James Carrell, Jr. James Carrell, Sr., settled in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania about 1700 and possibly came from Rhode Island in 1683 with Rev Thomas Dungan. s Carrell, Sr., married Sarah Dungan, the daughter of Rev Thomas Dungan and Elizabeth Weaver. (Rev.Thomas Dungan was the son of William Dungan and Frances Latham. He died in 1687 in Bucks Co, PA. Elizabeth Weaver was the daughter of Clement Weaver and Mary Freeborn, granddaughter of William Freeborn, and she died in 1697 in Cold Springs, PA.)
Tradition relates that James Carrell, Sr., was a weaver and had a mill or loom in Philadelphia here he wove linen and linsey-woolsey. He purchased 100 acres of land in Southhampton in 1704 and lived there until his death about 1730. This Cll homestead (Carrelton) was a tract of land purchased from Thomas and Clement Dungan, it being a tract of land purchased by the Dungans of the widow of Arthur Cook in 1699 for a sum of five shillings lawful money. It was originally part of a tract of 1,000 acres purchased by Arthur Cook from James Claypool and Robert Turner, commissioners for William Penn in 1686.
James Carrell and his wife Sarah Dungan had six children:
1. (adopted) James, who married Diana Van Kirk
2. Benjamin Carrell who died in 1733
3. Elizabeth Carrell, m Samuel Gilbert of Warminster
4. Sarah Carrell, m Silas McCarty
5. Lydia, m Robert Thompkins
6. unnamed daughter
In 1732 the other heirs of James Carrell, Sr., conveyed the homestead in Southhampton to the eldest son James and in 1731 he also purchased the Northampton homestead on which he settled and lived until his death in 1750.
The family were of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock and are supposed to have emigrated from Scotland or Ireland in the 17th Century. Tradition relates that James Carrell, Sr., was imprisoned in Londonerry during that memorable siege of 105 dand soon after came to America.
James Carrell, Jr., was a man of great energy and drive and accumulated a large amount of property and wealth. He left three farms and about $4,000 in money. He and his wife Diana Van Kirk had eleven children, though John Wilkinson mentioly one; Rebecca born 25 May 1725, who married Robert Wear.
______
Land sale: 19 Aug 1732 100 Acres, Warminster Township, Bucks County, PA

Indenture clearly states that James Carrell, eldest son of James Carrell, late of the James place, deceased.

Land Sale 22 Oct 1748 100 Acres And 50 Acres Land, Northampton Township, Bucks County, PA [3]
On July 21, 1749, Dinah, appearing after James death, stating that the she was Administrator of the mortgage for James Carrell's estate.
____________________________
From: John Reedy
Date: 04/05/09 10:14:29
To: 'Sherry'
Subject: James Carrell

Sherry,
I seem to recall that I owed you a response to an item that came up on your gedcom from last year.

It was on James Carrell Jr. ? remember, you had a story that from a Wilkinson book that he was really adopted and I had never heard that.

I doubt that the story is true for several reasons.

I got to do firsthand research in Bucks County, PA as it was only an hour from where we lived and Sandy and I went there several times. They have a really nice genealogy center there. A number of people had done Carrell, Dungan and Wear research before us. One of those was named Ezra P. Carrell and we were able to view his work while there. Also, more work by a John Beans Carrell, Ezra's son.

Your story says that "It has been proven that William Carrell was indeed James Carrell." ??

I have never seen that. Every bit of material that I have seen or read says that his name was James Carrell Sr. and that he emigrated about 1695 and first took up business in Philadelphia.

Also, I doubt that the Wilkinson story is true for another simple reason. An adoptee would very likely never be named after the father and be known as Jr.

Certainly, that name would go to his own flesh and blood son.

Your story also mentions "Olda Edwards" and her name is really Olga Jones Edwards and she and Ida Wear Roberts wrote a book entitled "East Tennessee Pioneers" and either I have that book or I have seen it and it is about the Wear families and others, but is thin on Carrell, Van Kirk and Dungan items. It does not mention the Wilkinson story that I recall. Olga may have also written another book and if so, the title escapes me.

My guess is that this is a case of a hand-me-down story that made a wrong turn somewhere with confused facts. For instance, it says "The boy grew to manhood and followed the sea managing his father's affairs." Neither James Sr. or James Jr. were seamen. James Sr. was in the weaving business and James Jr. lived on the family estate; the inventory after his death shows weaving items and farm implements and sheep, cattle, etc.

As confusing as this might be, I found that the Wear or Weir family was just plain ridiculous.

Olga got confused on that one too. You have whole families of Hugh, John and George Wear right next to another with the exact same names, most all of these in Virginia.
John
_____________
Sources (John Reedy)
...History of Bucks County, PA, William H. Davis, (Lewis Publishing Co., New York, NY - Chicago, IL, 1905), Volume III, pp. (Reliability: 3).

299-301 James CARRELL, Jr., married Diana VAN KIRK, of Holland descent, daughter of Bernard and Rachel (VANDEGRIFT) VAN KIRK, and granddaughter of Jan Janse VER KIRK or VAN KIRK, who emigrated to Long Island in 1663 from the little town of Bueer Maetsen, in Gelderland, Holland, and settled at New Utrecht, where he died in 1688. His wife was Maykje GYSBERTS and they were the parents of the following children; Roelof Janse, born 1654; Aert Janse, born 1655; Geertje, married Jan Dirckse VAN VLIET; Barentje, married Nicholas VANDEGRIFT; Cornelis Janse; Jan Janse, Jr. and Bernard or Barnet, the father of Diana, above mentioned, who married Rachel VANDEGRIFT. The maternal ancestor of Diana (VAN KIRK) CARRELL is given in full in this work under the head of "The VANDEGRIFT Family." James and Diana CARRELL were the parents of eleven children, viz; Rebecca, born May 25, 1725, married Robert Weir, of Warrington, and their descendants later migrated to Kentucky. Sarah, born September 25, 1726, married Robert PATTERSON, of Tinicum, whose descendants settled in Virginia, from whence they migrated to Ohio and Missouri. Bernard married Lucretia McKNURE and settle d on one of his father?s farms in Warminster purchased of the heirs of Rev. William TENNENT, and including the site of the famous log college of which TENNENT was the founder, and which remained in the tenure of the descendants of Bernard until quite recently. James, born March 26, 1730, married Sarah ----- and settled in Tinicum township, Bucks county, in 1765, on land purchased of his brother Solomon and died there leaving four children who have numerous descendants scattered over the whole union. He was a private in the associated company, of Tinicum, Nicholas PATTERSON captain, during the revolution. Jacob and Rachel (twins), born April 27, 1735; Rachel became the second wife of Robert STEWART, of Warwick, Bucks county, and after her husband's death settled with her son Robert in Tinicu m, from whence the family migrated to New Jersey. Phoebe, born August 20, 1837, married Andrew SCOUT, of Warminster. Solomon, born May 25, 1740, died 1777, married Mary VAN KIRK, and in 1761 purchased a farm of three hundred and five acres in Plumstead, one hundred and forty-three acres of which he conveyed to his brother James in 1765 and the balance of which he sold in 1774, and then settled in Kensengton, Philadelphia; he went with WASHINGTON to New York, dying of the fever on Staten Island, whence his body was never removed; his widow married Charles RYAN, and died in Wallingford, Chester county, in 1821. Descendants of Solomon now reside in Chester, Pennsylvania, and in Delaware. Elizabeth, born May 16, 1742. Diana married Elias DUNGAN, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and has left numerous descendants; her daughter Rachel married Jesse JOHNSON.


--- Deed, from James Carrell Jr. (Reliability: 3).
and Dinah, his wife, of Northampton to Gideon DeCa mp 100 acres, including houses, barns and buildings in Warminster Township for the sum of 132 pounds, lawful money of Pennsylvania. Recorded Oc t 14, 1756. Bucks County Court records, Book and pages unknown.

--- Deed, Bucks Co. Book pages 487, 488 James Carrell and Dinah, his wife, selling two separate parcels of land totalling 150 acres to William Atwood, merchant of Philadelphia or three hundred pounds. Mortgage given for 150 pounds. (Reliability: 3).
_________________

James* married Diana* Van Kirk on 17 Aug 1723 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania. Diana* (daughter of Bernard* (Barent Verkirk) Van Kirk and Rachel Jacobse Vandegrift) was born in 1697 in Bensalem, Bucks Co, Pennsylvania; died after 1761 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania (possibly). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Between 1690 and 1695, Ireland/Pennsylvania
• Residence: 1707, Bucks Co, Pennsylvania

Notes:

Records indicate his name as "James," - Sr. and then James Jr. However the story related about the coat said his name was William. Could he have been William James or James Williams? However, the story does not seem to have credibility when comparing various facts. (See notes for James Jr.)
____
(from John Reedy)
residence: 16 Nov 1707 100 Acres, Bucks County, PA
The colonial home built here by James Carrell Sr. is on the Bristol Road about midway between the villages of Ivyland and Richboro and is part of an elevated plateau of land which extends from the Schuylkill River to the Delaware.

Residence 1709 Southampton Township, Bucks County, PA
Residence 1722 Northampton Township, Bucks County, PA
__________________
Tradition seems to indcate that the Carrell family has traced their roots back to Biblical times.
__________________

James Carrell, Sr. (16xx - 1720) was one of thousands of Presbyterians in the north of Ireland who took part in the religious wars of the period. He was one of those imprisoned within the walls of Londonderry during the famed siege of 105 days. Family tradition tells us that James Carrell was a linen weaver and came to America sometime between 1690-95. Soon after his arrival he married Sarah Dungan, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Thomas Dungan, the first Baptist preacher in Pennsylvania, and his wife, and Elizabeth Weaver. No record of this marriage has been found and the date is not known but is believed to have been about 1697.

The first public record of James Carrell is a deed dated 16 November 1707 when he purchased 100 acres in Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The property was located on the Bristol Road about halfway between the villages of Ivyland and Richboro.

The next record of James Carrell is a curious entry in the minutes of the Court of general Quarter Sessions held, June 13, 1710, at Bristol. James Karrell was held in 20 pds. bond on the condition, "that he should appear September 13, next ensuing to answer such matters and things as shall be then and there objected against him on the queen's Majesties behalfe." Clement Dungan and Jeremiah Dungan each contributed to the bond in the amount of 10 pounds each. We can only guess what "matters and things" were "objected against him".

In 1711 James Carrell bought an additional 100 acres of land from his brother-in-law, Clement and Thomas Dungan. This land was located across the road from the property he bought four years earlier.

The death of James Carrell, Sr. probably happened early in January in 1720. His wife, Sarah Dungan Carrell was granted letters of administration on 16 Jan 1720, with bond by her brother Clement Dungan and Bartholomew Longstreth. The inventory of the estate was filed on 17 December 1720 by John Hart and Cephas Child, showing an estate of 224 pounds, 17 shillings:

Wearing apparel 5 pounds, 10 shillings
Riding Horse, saddle and bridle 10 pounds
Debts 6 pounds 4 sh. & 6 d.
200 acres of land and improvements 145 pounds
4 horses, 1 mare and 2 colts 26 pounds
Cattle 28 pounds
(http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mabry&id=I1061)
_________

James* married Sarah* Dungan in 1697 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania (possibly). Sarah* (daughter of Thomas* Dungan, (immigrant) and Elizabeth* Weaver, (immigrant)) was born in 1678 in East Greenwich, Kent Co, Rhode Island; died on 20 May 1760 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Although Sarah Dungan is not in this blood lineage, she was the adoptive mother of our ancestor. The following information has been obtained about her family:
(adoption claims are disputed and not consistent with known facts -- therefore, it is believed that Sarah Dungan is the birth mother of James Carrell, Jr. -- see notes of James Carrell, Jr.)
_________________
The Rev Thomas Dungan was born in London in abt 1632. His father William Dungan was a merchant of London and was of the cadet branch of the Dungans of Dublin, Ireland, enobled by Queen Elizabeth. William Dungan died in 1636 leaving four chien: Barbara, William, Frances and Thomas. Their mother was Frances Lathan, daughter of Lewis Lathan, sergeant falconer to Charles I. She married first Lord Weston and second William Dungan and soon after his death married Captain Jeremiah Clarke and emigrated with him and her children to settle in Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Clarke was prominent in the community, serving in various official positions. After his death in 1651 she married Rev. William Vaughan, pastor of the first Baptist church in America. She died in 1677.
Thomas Dungan was reared and educated in Newport and probably received his education in a school established by Roger Williams. He followed in his stepfather's footsteps and became an eminent Baptist preacher. He married Elizabeth Weaver, dhter of Sergeant Clement and Mary (Freeborn) Weaver in Newport, Rhode Island. Clement Weaver was a member of the colonial assembly in 1678 and his father-in-law William Freeborn served in the same assembly in 1657.
In 1862 Thomas Dungan moved with a group of Welsh Baptists from Rhode Island to Cold Springs Falls, Bucks Co, Pennsylvania. He died in 1688.
___________

After the death of James Carrell, Sarah married Nicholas Fitroy, but had no children by him. Her will was dated 16 Sep 1759 and proved 29 May 1760.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Bef 1688, Holland

Notes:

3 Dec. 1739 date of probate

Bernard* married Rachel Jacobse Vandegrift in 1689 in New York (possibly). Rachel (daughter of Jacob Lendertsen* Vandegrift, (immigrant) and Rebecca F* Lubbersten, (immigrant)) was born on 20 Aug 1664 in New Amsterdam, New York; died before 29 May 1736 in New York (possibly). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]