Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

February 24, 1853, in Greenwich, daughter
of Silas Merwin and Elethea (Rey-
nolds) Mead, and a descendant of one of
the earliest Colonial families (see Mead
line). Mr. and Mrs. Brush were the par-
ents of the following children: 1. Alexander
Augustus, born April 8, 1875; mar-
ried Grace McLean, of Danbury, and is
now a resident of Houston, Texas, where
he is engaged in the real estate business.
2. Ella Mead, born September 20, 1876.
3. Anna Louise, born August 1, 1878, lives
in Greenwich. 4. Emma Rilla, born April
27, 1881 ; graduated from the State Normal
School ; taught school four years, and
resides in Danbury, where she follows the
occupation of milliner. 5. Ruth, born
September 4, 1883 ; married John Theo-
dore Rogers, and resides in Sherman.
Children : Burton Brush, Malyn, Kenneth
Wilson. 6. George Merwin, born Septem-
ber 2, 1885 ; attended Connecticut Agricultural
College; served in the American
Expeditionary Forces, and is now engaged
in practical farming; married Alma Wil-
liams, of Brookfield, and has three children
: Hubert W., Lois Alma, and Allan
Davis. 7. Mary Elizabeth, born April 22,
1887, died in March, 1917. 8. Elethea
Reynolds, born June 1, 1890, is a nurse,
stationed in Asheville, North Carolina.
(The Bearse Line).
(I) Augustine Bearse, the immigrant,
was born in or near Southampton, Eng-
land, in 1618, and sailed from there in the
ship "Confidence," April 24, 1638. He
came to Barnstable, Massachusetts, with
the first company in 1639. He was ad-
mitted a freeman, May 3, 1653, and the
same year served as grand juror. He also
held this office in 1662, and was a surveyor
of highways in 1674. Augustine
Bearse died before 1697.
(II) Joseph Bearse, son of Augustine
Bearse, was born January 25, 1652, and
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351
was baptized the same day. He was a
soldier in King Philip's War, 1675-76. He
married, December 3, 1676, Martha Taylor,
of Yarmouth, daughter of Richard
and Ruth (Wheldon) Taylor, born December
18, 1650, died January 27, 1728.
Joseph Bearse died after February 13,
1717-18.
(III) Josiah Bearse, son of Joseph and
Martha (Taylor) Bearse, was born in
Barnstable, Massachusetts, March 10,
1690, and died August 31, 1753. He mar-
ried at Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard,
November 2, 1716, Zerviah Newcomb,
born 1689-90, died September 5, 1789,
daughter of Lieutenant Andrew and Anna
(Bayes) Newcomb. Josiah Bearse
lived in East Barnstable until 1734, in
which year he removed to Greenwich, and
four years later to New Fairfield, Connec-
ticut, where he died.
(IV) Thomas Bearse, son of Josiah and
Zerviah (Newcomb) Bearse, was born in
Barnstable, Massachusetts, March 10,
1729, and died December 29, 1814. He
was a boy of eight years when he was
brought with his parents to New Fairfield.
He married (second), December 9, 1756,
Widow Esther (Lyon) Smith, of Redding,
and she died in 1797. Thomas Bearse
was a farmer, successful and well-to-do.
He was the father of Hannah Bearse,
who became the wife of Amos Brush, as
above mentioned.
(The Mead Line).
The earliest traces of the Mead family
are to be found in a history of "The Norman
People and their Descendants in
British Dominions and the United States
of America." In 1180-1195 there is found
in Norman records the names of William,
Robert, Matilda, Roger and Reginald De
Prato. In 1199 the name Roger De Prato
is found in Essex, England. The Norman
"De Prato" was translated into the