The John D. Rutherford Family Home Page:Information about Augustine Bearce
Augustine Bearce (b. April 24, 1618, d. Abt. 1697)
Notes for Augustine Bearce:The origin of the Bearce (Bearse, Barss, Bierce) surname is unknown, it's earliest form is said to be BeArce.Legend says that Augustine Bearce was of Romany (gypsy) extraction of the Heron tribe of Gypsys.He came to the new land at Plymouth, MA on the "good Shipp, the confidence of London, of two hundred tonnes," from Southampton, England April 23, 1638 at the age of 20.
He went to Barnstable, MA in 1639 with the first company of settlers. His settlement at Barnstable placed him in the midst of the Wampanoag villages on the Cape.He soon married in the summer of 1639 Mary Hyanno at the Mattachee village of Cummaquid (Barnstable).Mary was a Mattachee Wampanoag Indian girl of 15; daughter of Iyannough, Sagamore at Cummaquid and Granddaughter of Highyannough, Sachim on the Cape.With this special relationship he gained accession to large amounts of land in that area.
Some of the best land in the Barnstable area was ceded verbally by old Highyannough to Augustine and Mary and held by the family for three generations without written deed.
His home which still stands is believed to be the oldest in what is now Centerville, MA.During remodeling of the home a coin dated 1689 was found as well as a beam marked 1692.It was a custom in early times to place a coin in a new home.A road from his house to Hyannis is still known as "Bearse's Way."Two thatch islands off the coast are still known as "Bearse's Islands."
He became a member of Lothrop's Church April 29, 1643; his name stands at the head of the list, - - - the first person admitted.He joined the Puritan Church in 1650 for the protection afforded.His wife Mary also joined the church that year.He was proposed to be admitted a freeman, June 3, 1652 and admitted the May 3rd of the following year.
His name rarely occurs in records.He was a grand juror in 1653 and 1662 and a surveyor of highways in 1674.He was a farmer and also mastered as Captain the ship "Two Marys."His marriage to Mary Hyanno which produced eleven children all born at Barnstable is not on record. The only reference to the marriage is "by Indian Ceremony at Mattachee."Many decend from this union both white and Indian Bearce.There appears to be no record of his death, nor settlement of his estate on probate records.He was living in 1686, but died before 1697.
[Bearce.FTW]
The origin of the Bearce (Bearse, Barss, Bierce) surname is unknown, it's earliest form is said to be BeArce.Legend says that Augustine Bearce was of Romany (gypsy) extraction of the Heron tribe of Gypsys.He came to the new land at Plymouth, MA on the "good Shipp, the confidence of London, of two hundred tonnes," from Southampton, England April 23, 1638 at the age of 20.
He went to Barnstable, MA in 1639 with the first company of settlers. His settlement at Barnstable placed him in the midst of the Wampanoag villages on the Cape.He soon married in the summer of 1639 Mary Hyanno at the Mattachee village of Cummaquid (Barnstable).Mary was a Mattachee Wampanoag Indian girl of 15; daughter of Iyannough, Sagamore at Cummaquid and Granddaughter of Highyannough, Sachim on the Cape.With this special relationship he gained accession to large amounts of land in that area.
Some of the best land in the Barnstable area was ceded verbally by old Highyannough to Augustine and Mary and held by the family for three generations without written deed.
His home which still stands is believed to be the oldest in what is now Centerville, MA.During remodeling of the home a coin dated 1689 was found as well as a beam marked 1692.It was a custom in early times to place a coin in a new home.A road from his house to Hyannis is still known as "Bearse's Way."Two thatch islands off the coast are still known as "Bearse's Islands."
He became a member of Lothrop's Church April 29, 1643; his name stands at the head of the list, - - - the first person admitted.He joined the Puritan Church in 1650 for the protection afforded.His wife Mary also joined the church that year.He was proposed to be admitted a freeman, June 3, 1652 and admitted the May 3rd of the following year.
His name rarely occurs in records.He was a grand juror in 1653 and 1662 and a surveyor of highways in 1674.He was a farmer and also mastered as Captain the ship "Two Marys."His marriage to Mary Hyanno which produced eleven children all born at Barnstable is not on record. The only reference to the marriage is "by Indian Ceremony at Mattachee."Many decend from this union both white and Indian Bearce.There appears to be no record of his death, nor settlement of his estate on probate records.He was living in 1686, but died before 1697.
[Reed1.FTW]
The origin of the Bearce (Bearse, Barss, Bierce) surname is unknown, it's earliest form is said to be BeArce.Legend says that Augustine Bearce was of Romany (gypsy) extraction of the Heron tribe of Gypsys.He came to the new land at Plymouth, MA on the "good Shipp, the confidence of London, of two hundred tonnes," from Southampton, England April 23, 1638 at the age of 20.
He went to Barnstable, MA in 1639 with the first company of settlers. His settlement at Barnstable placed him in the midst of the Wampanoag villages on the Cape.He soon married in the summer of 1639 Mary Hyanno at the Mattachee village of Cummaquid (Barnstable).Mary was a Mattachee Wampanoag Indian girl of 15; daughter of Iyannough, Sagamore at Cummaquid and Granddaughter of Highyannough, Sachim on the Cape.With this special relationship he gained accession to large amounts of land in that area.
Some of the best land in the Barnstable area was ceded verbally by old Highyannough to Augustine and Mary and held by the family for three generations without written deed.
His home which still stands is believed to be the oldest in what is now Centerville, MA.During remodeling of the home a coin dated 1689 was found as well as a beam marked 1692.It was a custom in early times to place a coin in a new home.A road from his house to Hyannis is still known as "Bearse's Way."Two thatch islands off the coast are still known as "Bearse's Islands."
He became a member of Lothrop's Church April 29, 1643; his name stands at the head of the list, - - - the first person admitted.He joined the Puritan Church in 1650 for the protection afforded.His wife Mary also joined the church that year.He was proposed to be admitted a freeman, June 3, 1652 and admitted the May 3rd of the following year.
His name rarely occurs in records.He was a grand juror in 1653 and 1662 and a surveyor of highways in 1674.He was a farmer and also mastered as Captain the ship "Two Marys."His marriage to Mary Hyanno which produced eleven children all born at Barnstable is not on record. The only reference to the marriage is "by Indian Ceremony at Mattachee."Many decend from this union both white and Indian Bearce.There appears to be no record of his death, nor settlement of his estate on probate records.He was living in 1686, but died before 1697.
More About Augustine Bearce:
AKA (Facts Pg): BeArce, Bearse, Barss, Bierce.30, 31
Emigration: April 24, 1638, "Confidence" of London.31
Immigration: April 24, 1638, "Confindence" of London.
Nationality: Romany/Gypsy.32, 33
Occupation: Farming & Fishing.34, 35
TRIBAL: Romany, Heron/Herne.36, 37
More About Augustine Bearce and Mary Hyanno:
Marriage: 1639, Mattachee Village, Cummaquid, Barnstable, MA.38, 39
Children of Augustine Bearce and Mary Hyanno are:
- Mary Bearce, b. 1640, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA40, 41, d. date unknown.
- Martha Bearce, b. 1642, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA42, 43, d. date unknown.
- Presilla Bearce, b. March 10, 1643/44, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA44, 45, d. date unknown.
- +Sarah Bearce, b. March 28, 1646, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA46, 47, d. date unknown47.
- Abigail Bearce, b. December 18, 1647, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA48, 49, d. date unknown, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA49.
- Hannah Bearce, b. November 16, 1649, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA50, 51, d. date unknown.
- +Joseph Bearce, b. January 25, 1650/51, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA52, 53, d. February 13, 1716/17, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA53.
- Hester Bearce, b. October 02, 1653, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA54, 55, d. date unknown.
- Lydia Bearce, b. September 29, 1655, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA56, 57, d. date unknown.
- Rebecca Bearce, b. September 26, 1657, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA58, 59, d. date unknown.
- +James Bearce, b. July 30, 1660, Barnstable, Barnstable, MA, d. 1728, Plympton, Barnstable, MA59.