John Shearin, Sr., ca (1710 – Nov 1795)

John Shearin, Sr. was born in about 1710, probably in Virginia. In 1730, John Shearin, Sr. and Lucretia Rivers married in Virginia (1214, 1219).

On 27 Jan 1734, John V. Shearing received a land grant of 640 acres on both sides of the Three Creeks in Brunswick County, Virginia (1230, Page 412, Page 413). On 6 Mar 1739, John Shearin and his father Joseph Shearin were appointed to assist in clearing roads in Brunswick County, Virginia (1237). On 20 Aug 1740, John Shearing received a grant of an additional 400 acres on the north side of Maherrin River and on the south side of the Beaverpond Branch (1231).

By 25 Mar 1749, John Shearin was living in Granville County, North Carolina when he received a grant of 640 acres of land, beginning on both sides of Lyons Creek (969, 1218). He appears on a 1755 list of taxables in Granville County, North Carolina (1216).

In Bute County, North Carolina, on 16 Sep 1768, John Shearin witnessed a deed by David Megee and his wife Cresy to Anthony Street of Northampton County (1232). David Megee acquired 242 and 1/2 acres for £80 Virginia money. The land was at the south end of a tract on Lyons Creek adjacent to land held by John Shearin, Samuel Jones, and an Anderson family member. Joseph Shearin also witnessed the deed and proved it in Bute County Court in Nov 1768. The land was described as a tract taken up by Jinens Thompson and John Shearin as partners and sold by said Jinens Thompson to William Bell.

On 7 Nov 1771, John Shearin, Sr. witnessed the Will of Joshua Dawson in Bute County, North Carolina (1233). John and Lucretia Shearin’s daughter, Elizabeth Shearin, also witnessed this will. John Shearin, Sr. appears on a 1773 tax list for Bute County, North Carolina (1235). On 15 Apr  1776, John Shearin, Sr. and two sons, William and Charles Shearin, participated in a sale to settle the Estate of Henry Foote (468).

The 1786 Colonial Census of the Moses District of Warren County, North Carolina enumerates the John Shearin, Sr. household (1234) as does the 2 Aug 1790 federal census (1217). At the 1790 census, John Shearin was more than 15 years old. An additional male living in the household was also more than 15 years old.

In about 1794, John Shearin, Sr. made a will in Warren County, North Carolina (1223, Page 1, Page 2). He died in Warren County before Nov 1795 when his will was proved.

Notes and Comments

In his will, made in about 1794, John Shearin, Sr. names nine daughters: Mary Cimbrill, Elizabeth Thompson, Agnes Acree, Bekky Reggan, Curtice Kirk, Susanna Durham, Frances Bell, Sarah Crutchfield (1223). Bekky Reggan was Rebecca Shearin who married Jonathan Ragan, Sr. before 15 Oct 1761 in Granville County, North Carolina (465). Dates and places of birth for most of these children remain uncertain.

Geographical Boundary History

Warren County, North Carolina was created on 12 Feb 1779 from parts of Bute County. John Shearin, Sr. likely resided within the area of Bute County that became Warren County.

Sources

468. John Shearin, Sr., Charles Shearin, and William Shearin. Sale to Settle the Estate of Henry Foote. Bute County, North Carolina. 15 Apr 1776. Record Book 2, Bute County, North Carolina. (Bute County, North Carolina Gen Web 1764–1779.

URL: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncstate/historical/Bute/recbk2/page49.htm

969. Patent 640 acres. John Shearin, Sr. Granville County, North Carolina. 25 Mar 1749. Microfilm S.108.160.4N, Frame 55. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina. (Images: North Carolina Land Grant Images and Data. Image on file.)

URL: http://www.nclandgrants.com/home.htm

1214. Shearin Family Monument, Shearin/Harris Cemetery, Halifax County, North Carolina. Find A Grave Memorial 18545268. (Images: Find A Grave. Image on file.)

1216. 1755 Tax List, Granville County, North Carolina. Granville County, North Carolina NCGenWeb.

URL: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncgranville/other/1755-tax.htm

1217. John Shearin, Sr. Household, 1790 U.S. Federal Census, Warren County, North Carolina, USA, 1790. Records of the Bureau of the Census, National Archives, Washington, D.C. Record Group 29, Series M637, Roll 7, Page 82, Image 58, Family History Library Film 0568147.

1218. Land Grant to John Shearin, Granville County, North Carolina, 25 Mar 1749, 640 acres. Grant 24, Book Number 14, Page 62, Number 915. North Carolina Land Grants, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)

1219. Marriage of John Shearin and Lucretia, Virginia, 1730. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560–1900, Yates Publishing, 2004. (Database: Ancestry.com)

1223. Will of John Shearin, Warren County, North Carolina, 12 May 1794. (Images and transcript on file.)

1230. Land Grant, John V. Shearing, Brunswick County, Virginia, 27 Jan 1734, 236 acres. Land Office Patents Number 15, 1732–1725, Volumes 1 and 2, Reel 13, Page 412. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. (Images: Library of Virginia. Image on file.)

1231. Land Grant, John Shearing, Brunswick County, Virginia, 20 Aug 1740, 400 acres. Land Office Patents Number 19, 1739–1741, Reel 17, Page 763. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. (Images: Library of Virginia. Image on file.)

1232. Deed by David Megee and Cresy, his wife to Anthony Street of Northampton County, Bute County, North Carolina, 16 Sep 1768, 242 and 1/2 acres. Deed Book 2, Page 127, Bute County, North Carolina. (Abstract: Bute County, North Carolina GenWeb.)

URL: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncstate/historical/Bute/dbook1-5/db2-1.htm

1233. Will of Joshua Dawson, Bute County, North Carolina, 7 Nov 1771. Bute County, North Carolina Record Book A, 1764–1774. Page 212. (Abstract: Bute County, North Carolina GenWeb.)

URL: http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncstate/historical/Bute/recbka/page32.htm

1234. John Shearin, Sr., 1786 Colonial Census, Moses District, Warren County, North Carolina, Page 1. North Carolina Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790–1890. (Database: Ancestry.com.)

1235. Tax List, Bute County, North Carolina, 1773. North Carolina Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790–1890. (Database: Ancestry.com.)

1237. Pawlett, Nathaniel Mason. “Brunswick County Road Orders 1732–1746.” Charlottesville,Virginia: Virginia Transportation Research Council, July 1988.