Stephen S. Sears, 12th West Virginia Infantry, Civil War

STEPHEN S. SEARS, Company "K"

service

Enrolled Aug 22, 1862, and mustered into service August 30, 1862. On muster out roll dated June 16, 1865, soldier is reported "died of epilepsy at Point of Rock, Va. January 11, 1865."
Stephen S. Sears, also spelled as "Scears," was born about 1830 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Stephen and Elizabeth, and the family resided in Marshall County, (West) Virginia at the time of the 1850 census.

1850 Census, Marshall County (West) Virginia
SEARS (833*)
Stephen...67-M...PA
Elizabeth...57-F...PA
James...Laborer...25-M...PA
Stephen...20-M...PA
Catherine...18-F...PA
Mary...16-F...PA
William...8-M...PA

Living not far from the SEARS family in Marshall County, and found on the same 1850 census sheet, was Amos Hardy, a Blacksmith, his wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter, BARBARA HARDY, age 14.

HARDY (826*)
Amos...$500...Blacksmith...65-M...VA
Elizabeth...56-F...PA
Barbara...14-F...VA

Stephen Sears married Barbara Hardy on October 21, 1858 at West Middleton, Washington County, Pennsylvania. This information from her pension file is presented below.
Stephen and Barbara have not been located in the 1860 census. The fate of Stephen's father, Stephen Sears, Sr., is not known, nor is the location of his mother, Elizabeth, in 1860.
According to Barbara's pension application, she and Stephen had one child, William Edward Sears, born in Washington County on May 23, 1864.
The widow's claim also states that she was "the widow of Stephen Sears, late of the County of BROOKE and State of Va." And it was at Wellsburg, Brooke County, that Stephen enlisted in the 12th W.Va. Infantry. His older brother, James Sears/Scears, age 43, enlisted at Wellsburg in August 1864 to serve in Battery "H" 1st West Virginia Light Artillery. In 1868, in Brooke County, James Sears, 42, a widower, born in Washington County, Pa., parents stated as "Stephen & Elizabeth," married Margaret Sears, a widow, 24. - It is also known that sister, Catherine Sears, married Abner Clemens soon after 1850, and they are found in the 1860, 1870 & 1880 census records of Wellsburg, Brooke County.
At the time of the 1870 census, Stephen Sears' widow, Barbary Scears, 36, was residing in Independence Twp., West Middleton, Washington County, Pa., with Elizabeth Hardy, 82, and two children, surname Scears, George, 15, and William, 6. Barbara must have had George about 1855.
Also in 1870, Elizabeth "Seirs," age 77, probably the mother of the soldier, was residing with George Hardy, 45, and Sarah Hardy, 44, in Buffalo Twp., West Middleton, Washington County, Pa. Two young "Seirs" children, Stephen, 9, and Sarah, 6, were also in the home.

National Archives Widow's Pension File

STEPHEN S. SEARS was enrolled on the 22nd day of August, 1862, at Wellsburg Va. in Company K, 12th Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, to serve three years, or during the war, and mustered into service as a Private on the 30 day of August 1862 at Wheeling..... On the Muster Out Roll of Co. K of that Regiment, dated June 16 1865, he is reported "Died of Epilepsy at Point of Rocks Va. January 11, 1865..
WIDOW'S CLAIM FOR ARMY PENSION
State of Pennsylvania
County of Washington
On this 13th day of June 1865 personally appeared before me Prothonotary of Common Pleas for said County and State, Mrs. Barbara Sears of Independence, County of Washington, and State of Penna aged 28 years; who being first duly sworn according to law, doth. on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress July 14th, 1862; That she is the widow of Stephen Sears late of the County of BROOKE and State of Va. [W.Va.] who was a Private in Company K commanded by Captain White in the 12 regiment of W Virginia Vols. (Infy) in the War of 1861, and died on the 11 day of January 1865, at Petr's Run near Petersburg, Va that his death was caused by Epilepsy.
She further declares she was married to the said Stephen Sears deceased, on or about the Twenty first day of Oct 1858 at West Middleton, County of Washington, State of Penna, by Rev. Jos. Alberton, as evidence she submits -----; that her husband the aforesaid Stephen Sears died on the day above mentioned, and she has remained a widow ever since.
She has ONE child by her said husband, of whom the following are living and are all under 16 years of age - WILLIAM EDWARD SEARS.... born May 23, 1864.

Claim for Widow's Pension, With Minor Children
Brief in the case of Barbara Sears, widow of Stephen Sears, Private Co. K, 12 W. Va. Vols.
Resident of Washington County, and State of Pennsylvania
Post office address: West Middletown, Washington Co, Penna.
Proof Exhibited.
Service. Adjutant General reports enrollment Aug 22, 1862, and muster into service August 30, 1862. On muster out roll dated June 16, 1865, soldier is reported "died of epilepsy at Point of Rock, Va. January 11, 1865."
Death. Surgeon General reports him as having "died January 11, 1865 at Post Hosp'l. Point of Rocks, Va. of Epilepsy" Admitted to Hosp'l. Jan 7, 1865 with chills & diarrhea. The affiants of Regt'l Surgeon & 1st Serg't of his Co show that soldier was taken with epelepsy & sent to hosp'l where he died as stated - that soldier was in good health (up to Jan) - that disease was contracted in the service &c.
Marriage. Stephen Sears & Barbara Hardy October 21, 1858 shown by affidavit of the officiating minister.
Names and dates of birth of children: William E., born May 23rd, 1864, who will be 16 years old May 22nd, 1880
Proof: Shown by affidavits of credible witnesses present at the birth.

Declaration
State of Pennsylvania
County of Mercer, ss:
On the 29th day of July 1865, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, Rev. J. S. Albertson, to me well known as a respectable and credible person, who being duly sworn says that on the 21st day of October 1848, Stephen Sears and Barbara Hardy, at Washington Co., Penna, were by him joined in lawful marriage; of which marriage there is no public or church record evidence; that he has no interest in this application.
State of Pennsylvania
County of Washington, ss:
On the tenth day of April 1867, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace, Mrs. Elizabeth Hardy and Sina Asberry whom I certify to be persons respectable and entitled to credit who being duly sworn that on the 23" day of May 1864, at Independence Township, Washington Co., Pa. they were present with and attended upon Barbara Sears, wife of Stephen Sears, dec'd late private Co. K 12" Reg W. Va. Vols. who then and there was delivered of a male child who as they believe was afterward called William Sears and they have no interest in this claim.
Elizabeth Hardy
Sinah Asberry