Revised 7/27/2017. Copyright @2017; The following Documentary Timeline has been compiled and created by Paul Rhetts. It may be copied for research purposes; but it may not be reproduced for inclusion in any printed or electronic distribution of any kind without the express written permission of the author. Any requests to use this information should be sent to Paul Rhetts, LPDPress@q.com.
Johannes ZAHER (1710-1800) m. (1) _____?? (1725-1757) (2) Barbara MILLER/MUELLER (1725-1790)
s/o Johan Georg ZAHER (1675-1752) and Maria Catharina PALINKA (nd)
d/o (1) unknown; (2) Johann Michael MUELLER 1692-1771) and Susanna Agnes BERCHTOL (1688-1752)
p/o Christian SEAR (1742-1843)
1710 Johannes ZAHER born at Switzerland [German Canton of Switzerland] [Also Johannes Zaher was never Johann Georg Zere. Johann Georg Zere came in 1750 and died in 1752 York, Pennsylvania. I have seen his estate. I did not copy it. Johannes Zaher coming to America has not been found. But some ships are not listed and there is no way to confirm him even if we found it] In 1786 tax North Carolina General Assembly placed a maximum tax age of 60 on free polls, freeing a John Sears from paying poll tax. From this tax we know that Johannes Zaher was born before 1726. [The Sears Family By Grant Wright, Salem, Ind. And Prof. W. Wayne Smith, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho “The Sears family of Rowan County, NC, Nicholas, County, KY, Indiana and Missouri, is descended from Johannes Zaher, from the German Canton of Switzerland. He was a Religious Refugee, belonging to the Dunkard Church, seeking Religious Liberty in the new World. He settled with his family in Lancaster County, PA about 1740, lived at Ephrata for a while and removed thru Maryland to the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina where he died. Johannes Zaher (pronounces t a i r, and meaning 'tough' in the German language, but was generally called Sears in the English) was born in Switzerland about 1710, came to Pennsylvania about 1740 with his family, and died in the Yadkin Valley, NC leaving at least two sons, Christian and John, probably others. Christian and John Sears are the only families whose names are mentioned in the Salisbury District in Rowan County, NC. There is only one Christian Sears mentioned in the 1790 census in NC and PA. There are four John Sears and a number of others mentioned in different counties of NC and PA. The 1790 Census for NC shows Christian Sears the head of a family, has eleven children, seven girls and four boys. Allowing two years for each child we have twenty two years and subtract 22 years from 1790 and we have 1768 the probable date of his marriage. He would have been 26 years old when married. The above data, right or wrong, is submitted from my research relating to the genealogy of Christian Sears and I am quite sure he was not a myth as my father had seen him and I received a letter from people who own his old farm and she stated it was called the Christian Sears farm.” (doc) The Sears Family by Grant Wight states: The Sears Family of Rowan Co, NC, Nicholas Co, KY and Indiana and Missouri, is descended from Johannes Zaher, from the German Canton of Switzerland. He was a Religious Refuge, belonging to the Dunkard Church, seeking Religious Liberty in the new World. He settled with his family in Lancaster Co., PA, about 1740, lived at Ephrata for a while and removed thru Maryland to the Yadkin Valley in NC where he died. … leaving at least two sons, Christian and John, probably others. “ p.136 (doc)
1725 Johannes ZAHER’s wife born
1742 Johannes Georg ZAHER married Barbara Rowland. Johannes and Barbara Zaher's remaining children were born in Rowan, North Carolina. Susan was born the 9th of May 1774, according to data submitted to the Familysearch.org family file and can not be traced but seems to fit, put is not proven. Her later tombstone has her born 1769 by calculation which if true puts her born in Maryland. Her 1850 census can not be found as of yet. Unless she is a twin her brother Samuel was born in 1769 so less likely although possible. Then Jacob is born about 1773 or 1775 if we assume there is another error in his 1850 which says he was 65, more likely he is probably 75 and they lied or made a mistake. His tombstone says 1773. Either way it appears he was born in North Carolina. Johannes Zaher and wife were in Frederick, Maryland until 1773.There are two more children we do not know their births or ages. Elizabeth may be born between the years 1766-1784 based on a 1810 census of a John Martin. We know she married a Martin and he is the only Martin in the area where the family lived in 1810 but she could have moved somewhere else with her Martin husband. The last sibling is Daniel and we have his 1810 and 1820 census which makes him born between 1765-1780.
The first actual record of Johannes Zaher in North Carolina is the Geo Soell record of the Baptist Churches which included Ewharrie Church even though it was a Reform Baptist where Jacob Stutzmann is the minister. The settlement of John Hahn estate in 1768 may have contributed to Johannes Zaher family being able to buy the following indenture in Maryland. This document confirms that Johannes Zaher listed as John Zear had a wife Barbara and a son Christian. It also tells us that Johannes Zaher is an apple farmer. By land records the Zaher's were in Maryland from 1768-1773. A Mary Hunsacker born about 1721 married Casper Roland (Rowland)* (Stepfather-in-law of Jonas) and had the following children: Jacob, Isaac, and John. Casper Rowland arrived at Philadelphia on 12 Oct 1741 on the ship "Friendship" at age 20 from the Palatine. Land documentation for Casper have been found in Manheim and Paradise townships, York, Pennsylvania in 1760 and 1762 and in Frederick, Maryland in from 1762 to 1766. There is also a reference to Rowland as owning land along the Big Conewago in 1757 in a deed to Gerber family. In 1760 he is listed buying land in Paradise from Noel, 100 acres. Casper and Mary apparently joined the Dunkards under Michael Danner (later Donner) in Manheim Township, York County. So this connects them to other Frederick County, Maryland families of Rowland, Hon, Sears, Danner, Gerber (Garber), Leatherman, Stutzmann, Welty and Cocgenhower. The story of the Hon and Sears family line begins, in Manchester Township, County of York, Province of Pennsylvania, on September 22-23, 1758, two days when officialdom and bonded others conducted their formal inquiries into the estate of John Hahn, deceased, and ended on one day in 1768, with the settlements paid to John's heirs in the county's Orphans Court. In these settlement papers below it lists John Zere (Johannes Zaher) the new husband of Barbara Hon.
"I Barbara Hahn widow of John Hahn later of Manchester Township York county deceased do hereby renounce my right of administration of the estate of my said husband and do request the administration of the said estate of my said husband and do request the administration of the said estate may be granted to Henry Miller my brother witness my hand and seal at York the 23 Sept. 1758."
Ten years were to pass before the estate came to the Orphans Court of York County for settlement. The hearing was held "… the twenty ninth day of November in the ninth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the Third by grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith de anno 1768 …" The clerk entered the following into the record:
Settlement of John Hahn's estate came ten years later. Book B, pages 204-205, the Orphans Court, records the event this way:
"At an Orphans Court held at York, the County of York the twenty ninth day of November in the ninth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George the third by the grace of God of Great Britian, France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc, Anno Domini 1768 before David Jameson Martin Eychelberger and Michael Swoop esq. Justices & cassigned & c.—
"Came into court Henry Miller Administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels rights and credits which were of John Hahn deceased and produced the accompt of his administration of the estate of the deceased as settled by the Register of this county whereby there appeared to be a balance of forty seven pounds eleven shillings three pence in his hands to be distributed which being examined by the court they do approve of and confirm the same whereupon it is ordered and decreed by the court that the said Henry Miller do pay unto John Zere and Barbara his wife which said Barbara is the late widow of the said deceased the sum of fifteen pounds twelve shillings and ten pence in full for her third part of the said balances that the said Henry Miller also pay unto Jonas Hahn the only child of the deceased the sum of thirty one pounds five shillings and eight pence in full for his share of the said ballances that which with the costs of this court makes the full amount of the said sum in the hands of the said administrator." Johannes and his Swiss wife also had two more children, daughters. One was Barbara, we do not know where she was born but it is reported she married Mark Shuls (Shultz, Shulse). The other sister name is not known but Stutzmann researchers say her name is Ann and she married John Helm (s) or John Stutzmann or both. Nothing more is known of these two sisters. Records are scarce for this area and time but we do have a few that appear to be Johannes Zaher. Records for the Zaher (Sears) family have been found under the following names: Zaher, Zehr, Zere, Zear, Zehe, Zeher, Sawyers, Sares, and Sears. It appears that Johannes Zaher's wife died before 1758. This left Johannes Zaher without a wife to raise his young children, he soon married again a widow named Barbara Miller whose first husband was named John Hahn (Hon). Barbara Miller and John Hahn (Hon) had only one son Jonas Hahn (Hon). Jonas is the ancestor for many future Brethren ministers, especially the well known Peter Keithley Hon who was his son. Johannes Zaher, (Sears) a sheep herder in Switzerland and his wife (name unknown) had a son named Christian about the year 1742. Christian told his children later in life that they herded sheep so high on the mountains that they could wash their hands in the mist of the clouds. This means that Christian was old enough to herd the sheep and remember this.
Johannes Zaher was most likely a member of an Anabaptist religion such as the Mennonites or German Baptist. In America these religions called their fellow Christians Brethren and others called them Dunkers. The Dunker name was based on the German word Tunker which meant to soak. The Dunkers believed in tri-immersion baptism at time of belief. This caused the conflict with state religions of Catholic and Lutheran because they baptisted babies. Dunkers were not well favored in the communities so many migrated to Holland which was more tolerant.
1742 son Christian Zaher Sears born in NC and died on 19 Sep 1843 in Pee Wee Valley, Oldham, KY about age 101. Christian married Hannah R. Dawkins on 19 Sep 1834 in Oldham, KY. Christian next married Catherine Barbara Stutzman about 1768 in Rowan, NC. If we look at this list we can see that Johannes Sears family and John Sears were all except Susan in Kentucky before 1800. Christian Sears family are all present in 1800 Rowan, North Carolina. This confirms the story of Esther's father was in Kentucky with her. We are not sure if the man John Seers listed in 1797 Bourbon, Kentucky tax is Johannes Zaher or his son John. It could be either. Johannes Zaher could have been over the age limited to be taxed at this time and so not listed. More research is needed. There is a story he died in North Carolina in area of Yadkin River but it appears this is an old assumption based on no record 1790 census and they could not find records of him later on. A 4 August 1798 Rowan County deed from Christian Sears to a Moses Lambeth. Christian signed with a mark and "Barbary his wife" signed with an X. This makes it clear at this time that Christian was married to a Barbara. Her last name is not known for sure but Stutzmann researchers believe it is Stutzmann, daughter of Jacob. During this period, incidentally, both John and Christian had land dealings with a Mark Shultz, a known Dunkard and probably the husband of their sister Barbara. "Uwharrie German Baptist Brethren Church, NC, located in present-day Randolph and Davidson Cos. The largest settlement of Brethren in colonial North Carolina, the area became the residence for Brethren from Maryland and Pennsylvania. The minister, Jacob Stutzman (1727-1813), arrived in 1764. Other family names included Huber (Hoover), Fouts (Pfautz), Schwartz (Black), Yount, Sheets, Rhoads, Wolfe, Sears, Waymire, Mast and Varner. Christian Sears remembers living in Holland. There is another story that they had to go near 1000 miles down the Rhine River to Holland from Switzerland. One story says they sailed for America and landed in Pennsylvania one year before the birth of John Sears (1749).
1749 son John Sears born. John married Catherine Margaret Conrad about 1773 in Rowan, North Carolina. John next married Anna Margaret Grimes on 6 Oct 1831 in Nicholas, KY. Died 1839. Served in Rev War. John Sears entered four hundred acres of land and his certificate 338 granted by the county court of Muhlenberg at their September term 1802 and located as follows To Wit on the waters of Green River Beginning at a beech corner of Philip Graves two hundred and survey running thence with the said line S50 W 126 poles to a beech Graves corner thence 127 W 4 poles to a hickory Hams corner then with said Hams line N70 E 88 poles to a beech Hams corner thence with said ine S20 E 204 poles to an ash and gum thence S75 E 32 poles to a white oak thence N75E 120 poles to a beech and sugar tree and the bank of Green River thence down the river with the meander N5 W 80 poles & N5 E 40 poles N20 860 poles and ? 110 poles & N 31 W 100 poles & N 75 W 100 poles to a beech on the bank of the river thence S 21 E 140 poles to the beginning Recorded October 3rd 1807. Muhlenberg County Sct to the office March 21st 1803. This power of attorney was proved to be the act and deed of John Sears a party thereto by the oath of William Wooton William Roark, two of the subseribing Witnesses thereto and the same is truly recorded. Johannes Zaher (John Sears) last known record is the following where the land in Muhlenberg is recorded as improved and therefore John Sears land. But it appears by the above document John Sears had John Sanders Graves take care of the land and when he died his nephew Philip Graves Jr. inherited his estate which included taking care of land. The next time the land was discussed was two documents down in 1844 where ownership had to be established. Muhlenberg, KY, Land Claims photocopied by Gayle R. Carver Indexed by Brenda Collier Doss V1 1801-1806 pg 94-95. Deed Book No. 1 page 72 Sears to Graves: Know all men by these presents that I John Sears of the State of Kentucky and County of Muhlenberg for divire consideration and good causes me hereunto moving have made +ordained constituted and appointed and by these precents do make and ordain constitute and appoint my trat and truety friend John Sanders Graves for net and in my name to make a deed (or assign over a certificate viz my headright of 400 acres lying on Green River obtained at the court of Muhlenberg in September 1801 to Philip Graves provided the said Graves shall pay the state price and other charges that may be here thereon and I do hereby ratify + confirm whatever my said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done me in about the premises about or concerning said land. In witness where of I have hereunto let my hand and affixed my seal this 28th of Sept 1802. Teste Wm Wooton Isaac Davis Wm Roarke Jacob Sears (his mark) (signed by) John Sears (his mark) seal
John Sears purchased land in Muhlenberg 27 Sep 1802 "John Sears this day claimed a right to four hundred acres of land on the waters of Green River agreeably to entry filed which is granted him accordingly." pg 263. The rest of the family except Christian Sears, including Johannes Zaher appear to have gone to the area of Warren County, Kentucky or Logan or Muhlenberg County Kentucky. These counties were changing during this time and it appears the Sears might be close to the borders at one time so their records go across the counties. They moved to Drakes Creek Area and this is where a big community of Brethren Dunkards moved which included the Hendricks and Keithley who started Drakes Creek Church. From this location they used the River ways and some of these families members went into Missouri by 1798 and established Brethren church there. David Conrad family owned land in this area in the early years. This land was under the control of the Spanish during these years and they were encouraging settlement. John Sears in tax list 1799 Bourbon County, Kentucky. John Sears sold his land in 1796 North Carolina was in Bourbon County by 1799 next door to Clark. So going by tax records and land records we have the following of when the family members left for Kentucky. The first was presumed half brother Jonas Hon who left in early 1786 and is on tax records of the County of Kentucky in Viriginia 1787. This is in Fayette County, Kentucky and he is there in 1788 also. He is there until 1790 and 1791he is listed on Bourbon County Tax list until 1793 he is listed in Clark County, Kentucky. Samuel Sears appears in 1791 Fayette County, Kentucky and is in Clark County, Kentucky in 1795. By the wedding of Esther on 23 November 1796 all most all of the Johannes Zaher second family are in Kentucky. John Sears the son appears to have also sold his land in North Carolina by this time 1796 but does not appear in the tax records so not sure he is there yet or where. The Sears besides the timely incentive of more and better land moved to Kentucky for these better opportunities but things were also changing in North Carolina. Many non-Brethren wanted the special treatment for Brethren to be changed since the they did not serve in the Revolutionary War and in the church the West Coast Brethren did not follow Universalism which was become popular with the North Carolina Brethren. So all these factors together led the Sears to move on to Kentucky. Also a "Treaty of Greenville" was signed by the Kentucky Indian tribes. In 1796 they widen the wagon road to Kentucky. The following children arrive in Clark County by the following chart (Clark is Montgomery in 1797 and all records except tax were destroyed). The next child born to the Zaher family is John between 1749-1755 in York County, Pennsylvania.
It is also reported but not documented that the Zaher family lived in York, Pennsylvania and were members of Ephrata Church. The Ephrata group was a strict brethren group that built a monastery-like commune where they practiced a rigid discipline and lived in a completely independent but elemental fashion in a self-contained community. They sought no contact with the outside world but freely provided hospitality to any traveler who requested shelter. The men and women lived in separate buildings. It was run by Conrad Beisel.
24 Aug 1750 Johannes ZAHER [Johann Georg Zerr?] arrived on the ship Brothers arrived at Philadelphia PA. Moved to Yadkin Valley, NC. Resided in 1750 Lancaster, PA Johannes Zaher is identified as John Zear of York Co PA and Pipe Creek Brethren Church, Frederick/Carroll Co MD. [Per Bath Co, KY researcher: Came to America in 1740, settled in PA first, then to Yadkin, N.C.. 2 wills of Christian's dated 1833 &1843, Will Bk 2 pg 4 14 & Bk 3 pg 202 - (?-KY rcds). [Genealogy of the Wright Family, by Lillie Elizabeth Wright Lane White, F# 1313191 item #4 SLFHL.] [He was a Religious Refugee, belonging to the Dunkard Church (German Baptist)] [Occupation: blacksmith] John Sears (Johannes Zaher) in Muhlenberg Tax 3 Apr 1801 Not Chargable (this is probably due to age)
1750 Johannes ZAHER resided in Lancaster, PA; later moved to Yadkin Valley, N.C
1757 Johannes ZAHER’s wife died (Barbara Rowland or is she the same as Barbara Miller?) [NOTES ON THE SEARS FAMILY and errors from the past that need to be corrected By Pamela Stage: I did look at your site and you have Jacob Sears in the stories as child of Johannes Zaher and Barbara Rowland. Some fantastic cousins did research on Barbara Rowland and Johannes Zaher and found he never married a Barbara Rowland. This came from researchers back in the day when it was impossible to get records and they assumed because the Rowland family was close to Zaher family. They knew he married a Barbara. The Barbara was Barbara Miller who first married John Hahn (Hon) who died before 1758 (per his estate papers). Then she married Johannes Zaher listed as John Zere in the estate papers. She died when a tree fell on her while hanging out the wash and it has to between 1778-1790 since had child about 1778 and in 1790 census she is not there and Johannes Zaher and his children are living with Christian Sears this is where confusion came for many years.
1758 Johannes ZAHER married Barbara Miller (she first married John HAHN (HON) 1750s-1839 born in Germany. She had one son with John HAHN/HON.
aft 1758 dau Anna Sears born; married John HELM
aft 1758 dau Barbara Sears born; married Mark SHULSE
17 Oct 1759 dau Frances (Fanny) Sears was born on 17 Oct 1759 in North Carolina, died on 2 Aug 1858 in Novelty, Knox, Missouri at age 98, and was buried in Novelty, Knox, Missouri. Frances married William Imbler on 15 Mar 1794 in Rowan, No. Carolina (one source says 1761) (one source says Frances Sears (1773-1775 NC-1858). Frances Sears husband William Imbler is in Muhlenberg 14 Dec 1798. Francis Sears married William Imbler in Clark by 1793
1762 The only other record that appears to be Johannes Zaher in Pennsylvania is the tax list of 1762. There is a John Zear in the Mannheim Township tax list of 1762. There are many other future ancestors of the lines that married the Sears and Hon's so here is abstract of some of the list.
1762 dau Mary SEARS born at Rowan, NC; died 1861; married Matthias HUNSINGER. 1st of May 1788 Matthias Hunsinger is selling his land in Rowan, North Carolina. Matthias is the husband of Mary Sears. There is an early story that says the Sears, Shulse, Ockermanns go to North Carolina in 1788. They arrive by 1 Dec 1788 in Fayette County, Kentucky in time to be taxed on the same day as Honis Hon (Jonas Hon) Mary's half-brother. This is the group of Sears that left in 1788. It may have included Mary's brother Samuel because he is in the tax records in 1791 there the first year he was 21. They are still in Fayette County, Kentucky in 1790.
1767 dau Catherine Sears was born in 1767. Catherine married George W. Harmon about 1778 (one source says 1765 Maryland-1860) married George W HARMON) Catherine Sears husband George Harmon is in Logan 8 May 1805
1768 Although the land purchase is in 1768 if appears according to the births of Johannes next children that they were in Maryland as early as 1762. Johannes and Barbara's daughter Mary born between 1762-1764 by her 1850 and 1860 census. In 1850 in Edgar County, Illinois page 154 age 88 and 1860 Edgar County, Illinois age 96 pg 613 say she was born in Maryland. Her sister Catherine in her 1850 census Sangamon County, Illinois pg 215 says she was born in Maryland in 1765 also. We also must assume that the next child Samuel was born in Maryland since Johannes and Barbara are still in Maryland on the 11th August 1769 when Samuel's tombstone says he was born. Finally sister Frances was probably born before 1773 which would make her born in Maryland although no document has been found for her exact date of birth. Francis was born between the years 1770-1775 by her census 1810-1840. We know she married William Imbler because this marriage is available in Rowan County Records, the date was 15 Mar 1794 so we can confirm these are her early census. Her 1850 census has not been found. It is said by her tombstone she was born 1759 but this must be an error because she does not marry until 15 March 1794 and that would make her very old and her census say born after 1770's. Later in Census records of these peoples children they often say born in North Carolina. This is most likely an error based on the Sears many years in North Carolina and their children did not know they lived in Maryland before.
11 Aug 1769 son Samuel Sears born at Rowan, NC and died on 6 Nov 1846 in Donnellson, Lee, Iowa at age 77. Samuel married Anna Christina Conrad. Samuel Sears is in Warren 1799 and in Logan 1801. Samuel Sears in Clark 25 May 1795 and in Bourbon 1797, John Sears and Jacob Sears (under Seers)
3 Nov 1773 John Zear of Frederick Co, MD signed an indenture to Alexander Thomas Hawkins of Prince Georges Co, MD for £60 - Liber U page 78 Nov 3, 1773 (doc)
Liber U Folio 78-81 Family History Film 0139511 (source no. 391)
Because recording of land records in Rowan was not done from 1765-1789 because of legal disputes we don't know the precise year anyone moved to North Carolina. Since Johannes Zaher sold his land in Maryland 1773 we know it would have come after this and the first record of the family in Rowan North Carolina is 1778 when both Christian and his brother John as well as their future brother-in-law William Imler and other Brethren are signing a non-alliance document.
9 May 1774 dau Susan Sears born at Rowan, NC; married Joel T White. With Susan Sears in Tennessee and Daniel is with step brother John in Bourbon. Susan Sears married Joel White they went to Tennessee with his brothers.
1774 son Jacob Sears born at Rowan, NC, died on 18 Apr1859 in Vermillion, IN at age 85, and was buried in Apr 1859 in Carmack Cem, Newport, Vermillion, IN. Jacob married Mary Huffstutter on 16 Dec 1802 in Bourbon, KY. Jacob next married Mary Harmon. Jacob Sears on the list next to Johannes Zaher 3 Apr 1801 Muhlenberg Tax (Jacob was in the tax from 27 Jun 1799). So this is Johannes Zaher family in this area of Kentucky and his last record is 1802. It maybe he got sick and died and that is why Jacob Sears goes to Bourbon County at end of 1802. This might be why he gave up rights to his land shortly after he took out his right to it. This land was then given up on 28 Sep 1802. The following deed tells the information. Jacob Sears is signing this deed. Jacob Sears is in Bourbon, Kentucky this same year by 16 December 1802. Jacob Sears is in Bourbon 1797
1774 dau Elizabeth SEARS born in NC; married Martin
1776 son Daniel Sears born about 1776 in Rowan, NC and died on 18 Apr 1859 about age 83. Daniel married Elizabeth MARTIN. Daniel Sears in 1810 Census of Bourbon, Kentucky. Daniel Sears too young to appear until 1798 no tax was taken.
1781 dau Esther Sears was born in 1781 in Rowan, NC and died in1864 in Jefferson, IA at age 83. Esther married Michael David Peebler (one source says 1768 Maryland – 1863. Esther Sears husband Michael David Peebler is in Logan 12 Jul 1799 in Clark, Kentucky by 1796 to get married
1784 On the 1784 Rowan, North Carolina tax there is John Sares (Sears) with 200 acres and Cristance Sares (Christian Sears) with 200 acres and John Sares (Sears) with 140 acres. This appears to be Johannes Zaher with 200 and his oldest two sons Christian and John. His next oldest son was Samuel who was only 15 in this year
Bef 1790 Barbara MILLER died; killed by tree
1790 Federal Census lists Christian SEARS as head of household with 11 children (7 girls and four boys) No mention of Johannes ZAHER (doc)
bef Nov 1794 Johannes ZAHER: Rowan, NC Book 13, page 802 John Sears, a blacksmith, lets Christian Sears both of Rowan, NC have 152 acres on Hamby creek next William Embler for 25 pds, witnessed by Adam Conrad and Moses Spiva and proved by latter in Nov. 1794
5 Oct 1796 John Zears signed an indenture in Rowan Co, NC for £150 with Caleb? Grimes? (doc)
1800 Johannes ZAHER died age 90 at Yadkin Valley, Rowan, North Carolina; buried in Rowan, NC.
1800 Federal Census for Salisbury, Rowan, NC lists Christian Sears with 1 male 16-25; 1 make 26-44; 1 female 16-25 (doc)
3 Apr 1801 Jno Sear (Sears) not chargable must be Johannes Zaher to old to be taxed his son Jacob Sears with 150 acres on Pond Creek both 3 (doc)
28 Sep 1802 John Zear of Muhlenberg, KY signed Power of Attorney: Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Deed Book 1 pg 72 Sears to Graves Know all men by these presents that I John Sears of the State of Kentucky and County of Muhlenberg for divire consideration and good causes me hereunto moving have made +ordained constituted and appointed and by these precents do make and ordain constitute and appoint my treat and truety friend John Sanders Graves for net and in my name to make a deed ( or assign over a certificate viz my headright of 400 acres lying on Green River obtained at the court of Muhlenberg in September 1801 to Philip Graves provided the said Graves shall pay the state price and other charges that may be here thereon and I do hereby ratify +confirm whatever my said attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done me in about the premises about or concerning said land .In witness where of I have hereunto let my hand and affixed my seal this 28th of Sept 1802 Teste Wm Wooton Isaac Davis Wm Roarke Jacob Sears (his mark) (signed) John Sears seal Muhlenberg County Scs Clks office March 21st 1803 This Power of attorney was proved to be the act and deed of John Sears a party thereto by the oathe of William Wooton & William Roark two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and the came is truly recorded TesteC F Wing CC (doc)
7 Aug 1820 Federal Census for Jefferson, KY lists Christian Sears with 1 male 45+; 1 female 45+; 2 male slaves under 14; 1 male slave 26-44; 1 female slave under 14; 1 female slave 26-44; 1 person engaged in agriculture (doc)
27 Jun 1844 Johannes Zaher John Sears Deed 1844 proof of children (2doc)