Would like to make contact with anyone familiar with the Shears family history which centered in Fayette County, Ky in the early 1800's. The family moved to Boyle County and evidently still had members in that county recently. I am trying to find a connection between the Shears family and the Garland family of Virginia

I have found that my son-in-law's family is related to the Shears of Fayette Co., KY. Robert Shears went to Brownsville, Texas and has MANY descendants on both sides of the boarder. I believe a brother may have come with him, William (there's a surprise) as, if I recall correctly, there is another Shears in Brownsville at the same time.

I would like to make contact with you. My Garland family adopted a Virginia Montez G. Shears in Brownsville, Texas. There is a trunk of her belongings still in existence as well as descendants. You can email me at waynegarland@att.net.

I come from the aformentioned Robert Shears line. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think that the other Shears in Brownsville at that time is related to Robert's line as Robert's brother William H. stayed in Ky. There is another William Shears in Brownsville at that time though [b. 1869, Texas (1930 Census)] and there was a Virginia attached to that record.

Hopefully that helps you!

Thanks for jumping in. My remembrance was that I could not connect Virginia to the Shears family who were dwelling in Brownsville at the time. The Frank Cushman Collection that includes the baptism records of the church in Matamoras states that Virginia was baptized in 1863 and that she was the daughter of Juan Shears and Carmen Montez. I was just provided a 1860 Census for Cameron County listing Robert Shears with a 22 year wife C. Shears and a 1 year old daughter V. Shears. Do you happen to know who they are? I realize that it could be Virginia but if would mean that she was 4 when Baptized in Mexico and her father's name does not match.

Virginia Montez G. Shears also carried that G in her name. We thought that perhaps Shears had a tie to the Garland family that would explain the adoption but I have not been able to find it. We also have a record that she wrote family in Kentucky.

Wayne

Where do you fit in the Shears family. My daughter's husband is the gr/gr grandson of Barbara Shears Alvear.

You're welcome! It's possible we may have a match. I was never able to find out what the initials stood for, but I believe Robert and his wife C. Shears ended up divorced shortly after their marriage as he remarried.

It wasn't uncommon in Mexico for the baptism records to be incorrect when it came to the parents, especially the father's. Carmen may have possibly said any name for propriety [in this case if she stated Juan, it's quite funny considering Robert started the Juan Cortina wars in Brownsville].

As far as I'm aware, I haven't found any Garland family members in my tree. It's possible that the G was part of the mother's last name [as they usually have about three to four last names in Mexico].

Jessa.

That's what I'm attempting to find out. My 3 great grandparents adopted Virgina Montez G. Shears prior to 1870. She lived with them until she married in 1890 in Galveston. Her descendants still have much of the Garland relics as well as their own. It's a great history and I'm attempting to piece it back together.

Wayne

Let me start by saying that I live in California and have since I was 3.....What is the Cortina wars?

"Where do you fit in the Shears family. My daughter's husband is the gr/gr grandson of Barbara Shears Alvear."



I am the gr/gr/gr granddaughter of Robert Shears.