George Pearis

It is possible that Henry William Paris is a descendant of George Pearis, born about 1680 in England, although one researcher lists his birth as 1685 in Westmoreland County, Virginia and another researcher lists his birth as 1685 in Ireland. He apparently died and was buried in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia, 1752. A large number of Colonial Records can be found at The Library of Virginia.

George and his wife, Sarah, immigrated to America from England/Ireland in 1735 and were reported to have had three children: Richard, Robert and Christian. Another researcher reported that George and Sarah had four children: Christian, George, Richard and Robert. Still another researcher adds Jonathan to the list of children. Jonathan was not listed as an heir in George's will (see below). However, he may have met an untimely death prior to his father's will. The will indicates George, at the very least, had four children. Christian was born after 1715 and died after 1749. Jonathan was born between 1716 and 1720. George was born about 1722 and died about 1781. Richard Pearis was born about 1720 in England and died in Abaca, Bahama Islands, 1804. Although at least two other researchers list his death in 1794 (7-November). Robert was born in 1726 and died in 1781. George and his family apparently migrated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and from there to Winchester, Virginia.

I gleaned a copy of George Pearis' will from Holly Hofmann's data at WorldConnect http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com.

WILL OF GEORGE PEARIS VIRGINIA
Dated: Nov. 15, 1749. Proven Sept. 14, 1752
In the name of God Amen. I George Pearis Senior of the County & parish of Frederick in the colony of Virginia, being through the abundant mercy and goodness of God, though weak in Body, yet of a sound & perfect memory & understanding, do constitute this my last will and testament and desire it may be received by all as such revoking & disallowing all other will or wills testimony or testaments heretofore by me made or declared either by word of mouth or by writing and Imprimis, I most humbly bequeath my soul to God my maker, expecting his most gracious acceptance of it through the all sufficient merits & mediations of my most compassionate Redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be the atonement for my sins and is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them & who I trust will not reject his God fearing penitent sinner when I come to him for mercy. In this hope & confidence I render up my soul in death, humbly beseeching the most Blessed and Glorious & only one God most Holy, most mercyful and gracious for the time of my dissolution and then to receive me to himself unto that peace and rest and in Incomparable Felicity which he has reserved for all that love and fear him. Amen Blessed by God. Imprimis, I give my body to the Earth from whence it was formed and order it to be buried at the Presbyterian meeting house in the county aforesaid in faith awaiting its Resurrection form thence at the last day. As for my burial, I desire I may decrease without pomp or state at the descretion of my executors hereafter named who I doubt not will attend with all requisite care and prudence as to my wishes. I will and positively order that all my lawful debts be paid and fully discharged. Then I give and bequeath to my Daughter Christian Neally one English Crown by reason I gave her a childs part already. Item I give and bequeath to my eldest son George Pearis one English Crown, Item I give my second son Richard Pearis that tract of land I bought of Peter Nelson whereon he now dwells to him, his heirs and assigns forever together with my best riding horse and my wearing apparel. Item I give and bequeath to my third and youngest son Robert Pearis that tract of patent land which I bought of William Hoge whereupon I now dwell for the use of him and his heirs forever, Item I give and bequeath to my dear and loving wife Sarah, one end of my dwelling house ever which end she thinks best to choose during her lifetime or widowhood and also I do order and allow her twenty bushels of wheat and twenty bushels of Indian corn to be paid to her year by year by my said son Robert Pearis during her life or widowhood together with one third part of all my movable estate not disposed of yet. All bonds and bills and book debts what so ever accepted the remainder whereof shall fall to my son Robert after all my debts be discharged. Item I do leave that tract of land which I bought of Richard Morgan in the care of my son Robert for the space of seven years ensuing the date hereof and at the expiration of seven years I order it be sold and the price thereof lett out on interest and principal sum together with the interest shall be paid to my grandson George Pearis’s oldest son called George at the age of twenty one years. But if in case said grandson should not live till the age of twenty one years then I order said tract of land to my second son Richard Pearis and his heirs and assigns forever. Item I do give to my grandson John Neally the sum of twenty five pounds current money to be paid and discharged to him in horses and mares by my son Robert at the age of 21 years and lastly I do nominate and appoint my dear and loving wife Sarah to be executrix and my son Robert Pearis to be executor of this my last Will and Testament together with the assistance of Col’s James Wood and Lewis Neally to join with them in the administration and to see this my last Will and Testament in every article performed and perfected to the full intent and meaning thereof. In witness whereas I have herewith set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord 1749.
George Pearis
Sealed Signed and Published
In the presence of us
John Sherer
Hugh Lyle
Richard Pearis

At a Court held for Frederick County on Tuesday the 1st day of Sept. 1752

The last Will and Testament of George Pearis Dec’d was exhibited in Court by Sarah Pearis and Robert Pearis the Executrix and Executor therein named and being proved by the ? Hugh Lyle Ordered that the will lay for further proof.

At the Library of Virginia Digital Collections, Land Office Patents and Grants, I found a land transfer records for George Pearis:

Land Office Patents & Grants/Northern Neck Grants & Surveys

Library of Virginia Archives

Beverley Randolph Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, to all whom these presents shall come Greeting: Know ye, by virtue and in consideration of part of a Pre-emption warrant, number two thousand three hundred and fifty seven, issued the tenth day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto George Pearis a certain tract or parcel of land containing six hundred acres by survey bearing date the twenty fifth day of February one thousand seven hundred eighty five. Lying and being in the county Montgomery on the right hand fork of Brush Creek a branch of New River and joining his settlement rights and bounded as followeth, towit, beginning at a white oak on a branch that emptied into the same and runneth thence South fifty two degrees East one hundred and sixty poles to a white oak, South sixty five degrees East forty two poles crossing the right hand fork, thence down the same, North thirty three degrees East eighty poles, North seventy seven degrees East sixty poles, crossing the left hand fork above the fork Sick to a Buckeye, north twenty four degrees East forty poles to a white oak, North seventy one degrees East, two hundred and ten poles to two hickories, South sixty four degrees East ninety poles to a sugartree, North twenty degrees West forty poles crossing the main branch to a double pine, South eighty nine degrees West one hundred and thirty six poles to a red oak and two white oaks, north fifty eight degrees west two hundred and seventy poles to a bunch of white oaks on a ridge. South thirty five degrees West three hundred and forty three poles to the beginning. With its appurtenances to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to the said George Pearis and his heirs for ever, in witness who is of the said Beverley Randolph Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath here unto set his hand and caused the ? Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the fourteenth day of September one thousand seven hundred ninety one and of the Commonwealth the sixteenth.
            Beverley Randolph

Page Updated On December 23, 2006