The Tears Family

    The Tier or Tears family of New York descends from several Waldensian emigrants from Wurttemberg, Germany to Philadelphia about 1750-55. The Waldensians were an ancient French Protestant group that dated to ca 1100 A.D., predating the Reformation by almost 400 years. They lived in an area of the Alps on the border of France and Italy. After hundreds of years of persecution and warfare, many found refuge in the German province of Wurttemberg, around the villages of Dürrmenz, Schönenberg and Gran Villars.

    Jacob Tier or Tears was born 1746 of undetermined parents probably near Dürrmenz-Schönenberg, Wurttemberg, Germany and died about 1804 in Orange County, New York. He is credited with being a soldier in the American army duing the Revolutionary War.

    He married about 1766 in Orange County, New York, Anna Butters, born about 1748 in Orange County, New York, possibly the daughter of Isaac Butters and Rachel Gardens.

Children of Jacob and Anna (Butters) Tears:

  1. Rachel, christened 23 Jan 1768 in Dutch Reformed Church, Montgomery, N.Y. She married on 29 Apr 1790 in Shawangunk Dutch Church, Ulster County, New York, Daniel Millspaugh.
  2. Isaac, christened 15 Apr 1769 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church, died 3 Oct 1845 in Troy, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. He married 29 Dec 1791 in Shawangunk Dutch Church, Mary Tidd, born abt. 1770 and died abt. 1804 in Orange County, New York. He married second 14 May 1805 in St Andrews Presbyterian, Walden, Orange County, New York, Betsy Hammond.
  3. David, born 28 Feb 1771 in Orange County, New York; christened 29 Apr 1771 in Hebron Lutheran Church, Walkill, New York.
  4. Jacob, born Oct 1772 in Orange County, New York; christened 21 Mar 1773 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church; died 30 Nov 1842 in Orange County, New York; buried in Goodwill Presbyterian Cemetery, Orange County, New York. He married on 13 Dec 1808 in Goshen Presbyterian Church, Goshen, Orange County, New York, Jane Graham, born 1781; died 1842.
  5. Maria, born 10 Jun 1774 in Orange County, New York; christened 31 Jul 1774 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church. She married abt. 1800, Matheus Gillespie.
  6. Abraham (twin), born 2 Apr 1776 in Orange County, New York; christened 19 May 1776 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church.
  7. Anna (twin), born 2 Apr 1776 in Orange County, New York; christened 19 May 1776 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church.
  8. Elizabeth, born 23 Apr 1778 in Orange County, New York; christened 10 May 1778 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church. She married on 1 Mar 1797 in Shawangunk Dutch Church, William Owen.
  9. Jenne (Jane), born 7 Apr 1780 in Orange County, New York; christened 7 May 1780 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church; died in Milo, New York. She married on 5 Jan 1802 in Shawangunk Dutch Church, David Millspaugh.
  10. Esther (Hester), married Abraham Traphagan.
  11. John, christened 15 Aug 1784 in Montgomery Dutch Reformed Church.