This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hMB.2ACI/862 Message Board Post: The following information is re: Willis Shearer (b. 1805 in Madison co., Ky), son of Matthew Shearer (b. 1767, VA). He married Sarah Ann Vaughn, also of Madison, Ky. They md. in Clay Co., Mo. If you are related to Mathew, Enos, Martha or James Shearer of Clay/Clinton/Gentry Counties, Missouri (born bet. 1833-1841), PLEASE read on-- Thanks to some correspondents from extended family members, I've been able to find the parents of four Shearer orphans! The following is a very interesting story that I've been trying to piece together through historical/court documents. I consider it a miracle to have even found this and bit by bit it's coming together. I haven't seen this anywhere on the internet, so I'm assuming there are few who know about it: Willis and Sarah Shearer were married in June, 1832 in Clay Co., Mo. They had 4 children, Mathew (b. 1833), Enos V. (b. 1834/1835), Martha (b. 1836), and James (b. 1838-1841). Willis and Sarah are documented as inheriting land from Sarah's deceased father, Enos, in 1837. However, on 1 Nov 1841 Eppe Tillery (Sarah's brother-in-law) is listed as executor of the last will and testament of Willis Shearer, "deceased," and sold at public auction 120 acres on his behalf. An 1846 court record lists Eppe Tillery as the guardian for the "orphan children of Willis and Sarah Shearer, namely: Mathew, Enos V., Martha, and James," where he sold land owned by the children, "for their best interest" to Thomas Arnold. This land was included as part of the Little Shoal Baptist Church and graveyard. I'm sure there is more to this story, as Eppe had previously sold the land to someone else but only collected partial pmt. for the sale and mortgaged the remaining amt. due--did the children ever se! e any of the money collected? I don't know very much about real estate law, but the deal seems very shady. If you have any further information about this family or the event of their parents' death, or would like more details, please email me. If you are related to the children of Willis and Sarah Shearer, I would especially like to hear from you. Please email me nonetheless if you are in any way interested in this information. Thank you, Amy.