Jessa....
My son-i-law is also the gr/gr/gr grandson (redid the math)

I agree Jessa,

I've checked my research on Virginia and all Census reports relate that she was born about 1858 or 1859. That would match the 1860 Census and make her the daughter of Robert Shears. Strange ---- that's who I spent hours working years ago and dropped it thinking maybe John (Juan) was his brother. Now I need to find out why Virginia ended up with the Garlands instead of Robert and his new wife.

I studied the Cortina War quite a bit while I was in the area. It's quite interesting. Rice Garland (my grandfather) fled to Matomoras from New Orleans after getting caught writing a fraudulent bank draft They lived in Matamoras and then moved to Brownsville when it was created n 1851. He was a lawyer and had a part to play in the development of the City. I believe he lawyered some for Charles Stillman. Contact between Garland and Shears would have been easy since
Garland was the second Judge of Cameron County.

Wayne,

I've been told there is a book of my Shear line's history floating around somewhere within the family. I'm in the process of tracking it down, but if I find something about Virginia, I'll definitely let you know.

Thanks, I'd appreciate that.

Hello Marian,

You threw in a new twist with William Shears of Brownsville. What year was he born?

My understanding is this is where I descended on my paternal grandmother's side.

Robert Shears - (born 1825) wife Delores
Roberto Shears - (born 1877) Wife Petra Cortez
Rosa Shears Betancourt - Husband Aniceto Betancourt Sr.
Aniceto Shears Betancourt - (1932 - 1996) Wife Maria Elena Ortiz
Jesus Ortiz Betancourt - (born 1963)

Corrections to my last post:

Robert Shears (born 1825) - wife Dolores ??? (born 1830)

Rosa Shears (born 1912)

I received William F Shears SS-5. There is VERY little information on it. It is entirely typed showing the request date of 4/13/(19)62. It reports his DOB as: 12/02/(18)99, SS# 449-01-2776. There is no familial information.