Individual Details

Augustine or Austin Bearse

(Abt 1618 - Bet 1686 and 1697)

The birth data and maiden name of Augustine (Austin) Bearse's wife is unknown. There is a myth that he was married to Mary "Little Dove" Hyanno of the Mattachee Sagamore tribe, but that has been disproved. So, it looks like we lose out on our one chance for a Native American connection in our ancestry. There is also a myth that Augustine was a gypsy, but that has also been soundly refuted.
Donald Lines Jacobus, "Austin Bearse and His Alleged Indian Connection," (The American Genealogist, Vol. 15, 1938/9), pp 111-118.

Augustine Bearse came over in the ship Confidence, of London, from Southampton, 24 Apr 1638, at age 20. He settled in Barnstable in 1639. It is said that his wife was named Mary. Among the passengers of the Confidence on the voyage when he came was Mary, daughter of Martha Wilder, and it has been conjectured that she may have become his wife. His houselot of twelve acres of very rocky land was in the west part of the east parish; bounded west by John Crocker's land, north by the meadow, east by Goodman Isaac Robinson's land, and southerly into ye woods; he owned six acres of meadow adjoining his upland on the north, and two thatch islands, known as Bearse's Islands. He had about six acres in the Calve's Pasture, esteemed to be the best land in town; eight acres of planting land on the north side of Shoal pond, and bounded by Goodman Cooper's, called Huckins' Neck; and thirty acres at the Indian pond lot, bounded east by Herring river. His house stood on the north side of the road; the cellar and some remains of his orchard existed a hundred years ago. A road from his house to Hyannis is known as Bearse's Way.
He was made freeman on June 3, 1752. Goodman Bearse did what he honestly believed to be his duty; and was one of the very few against whom no complaint was ever made, which speaks well for his character; a farmer, lived on the products of his land; and brought up his large family to be like himself, useful members of society.
Augustine and his wife Mary had 11 children.

Events

BirthAbt 1618England
Immigration1638Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay
DeathBet 1686 and 1697Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay
Occupationfarmer

Families

SpouseMary Bearse mnu ( - )
ChildMary Bearse (1640 - )
ChildMartha Bearse or Bearce (1642 - )
ChildPriscilla Bearse (1644 - 1712)
ChildSarah Bearse or Bearce (1646 - )
ChildAbigail Bearse or Bearce (1647 - )
ChildHannah Bearse or Bearce (1649 - )
ChildJoseph Bearse or Bearce (1651 - )
ChildHester Bearse or Bearce (1653 - )
ChildLydia Bearse or Bearce (1655 - )
ChildRebecca Bearse or Bearce (1657 - )
ChildJames Bearse (1660 - 1728)