Peter Sears & Josephine Ricard

1871 map of Ferrisburgh with Peter Sears' home labeled (in district 9)

Peter Sears (born Pierre Cyre), my 5th great grandfather and father of Margaret Cyre was born in 1799 in the Province of Quebec.  For at least 20 years Peter lived in Quebec, possibly in Point-Olivier (near the border of Maine).  Margaret was born in Quebec on Jan 4, 1820.

He married Josephine Ricard (possibly Latour) in Rouville Quebec.  Aside from Margaret they had four other children:  Julie, Joseph, Andrew (a Union civil war veteran), and John.

By 1850 they had moved to Ferrisburgh, Vermont, probably before 1846 since their youngest son John was born in Vermont in that year.  On Sept 1, 1855 Peter become a US citizen.  The last US census I have found them on is 1860, still living in Ferrisburgh.  Peter is listed as a "Farm Laborer" on that census.

Margaret died on February 20, 1869 (I found one report that she had died of Consumption (Tuberculosis)).  I believe Peter died in 1884 in Vermont.

I have not found any proof of their places of death, grave site, or any related reports.  There were so many Sears in the Vermont area it is difficult to sort through who's related to whom.  Some of this information is based on unsourced accounts.

There is some question as to Josephine's maiden name.  It is reported by one researcher as Latour, but Ricard by others.  More research will have to be done to establish her lineage.

Jonas L. Higgins & Margaret Sears

Anglican church in Dunham

Jonas Laraway Higgins, my 4th Great Grandfather and father of William Higgins was born in Dunham, Missisquoi, Quebec on April 18, 1813.  Dunham is just north of the border of New Hampshire.  He was baptized in the Church of England (Anglican) in Dunham.

In 1842 he married Margaret Sears (formerly Cyre).  Margaret was born November 24, 1820 in Canada.  I have seen a note that Jonas was married briefly to a woman named Martha before marrying Margaret.

They had seven children; William, Jonas, Almon, Susan, Jane, Mary Ann, and Emily.

Jonas lived in Canada, Essex county New York, and Vergennes, Vt.  In 1870 he was working as a Carpenter.

As a child the Cyre family lived next door to the Beliveau family ;)

Jonas passed away after falling from a barn on October 10, 1876 in Vergennes.  Margaret died two years later on December 12, 1878.