More than 200 Bears in Betts genealogy -- http://www.gendex.com/users/mccown/betts/wgasurs.html. I've added my two cents where I find matches with my research. Bear, Heinrich (Henry) (1692 - <1749) - male b. 13 Nov 1692 in Albis,Hausen Parish,Canton of Zurich,Switzerland d. Bef 15 Dec 1749 in Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania (Other family tree has his death in Ittlingen, Kurpfalz) father: Bär, Hans (~1648 - ~1717) mother: Hauser, Barbara (~1656 - ~1709) spouse: Barbara Witmer (source: Spall AWT by Nancy Crawford Spallinger, last update June 2000) ?? -- will of Henry Bare Hempfield Twp Lancaster Co d. 1749 m. Barbara Witmer lists different children (Magdalena m. Henry Neif, Anna m. Peter Brubaker(1717-1796), John 1723-Apr 15 1778, Ephrata Cloister, m. in 1746 Anna Eschelman (1729-Mar 1778), occupation: Mennonite minister, Henry, Benjamin 1727-1799 m. Maria Mevlin,Barbara m. Christian Coffman(1723-1806), Fornica m. Andrew Coffman, Mary, Martin, Elizabeth m. Henry Brubaker (1729-1820) and Maria.) ----------child: Bear\Baer\Bare, Henry (~1720 - <1771) ----------child: Bear\Baer, Jacob (~1725 - ) ----------child: Bear\Baer, Daniel (*1727 - ) ----------child: Bear\Baer\Bare, Elizabeth (*1727 - ) ----------child: Bear (Baer, Bare), George (1728 - 1801) ----------child: Bear\Baer, Christian (1733 - 1795) ----------child: Bear, John (1735 - <1798)--LDS: AFN:1WBM-WZ6: d. Newbury Twp, York Co PA, m. Elizabeth Miller (1730-bef. 1751 in York Co) ??? John s/o Johannes & Anna Maria Beistein Bare 1776-1840 Newberry Twp m. Catharine Miller d. 1825 ??? John b. 1881 s/o Abraham, m. Elizabeth Miller, d. 1819 at Intercourse PA ??? ----------child: Bear\Baer\Bare, Michael (1736 - 1809) Bear\Baer\Bare, Michael (1736 - 1809) - male b. 1736 d. 4 Jul 1809 in Mummasburg,Franklin Co.,Pennsylvania (LDS AFN:1DVR-7GS: Flohr Cemetery, Franklin Twp, Adams Co, PA) father: Bear, Heinrich (Henry) (1692 - <1749) spouse: Treichler, Catharine (1741 - 1825) ----------child: Bare, Henry (~1758 - ) ----------child: Bare, Andrew (1759 - 1841) ----------child: Bare, Esther (~1761 - ) ----------child: Bare, Michael (~1763 - ) ----------child: Bare, Christian (~1765 - ) ----------child: Bare, John (~1768 - ) ----------child: Bare, Magdaline (*1772 - ) ----------child: Bare, Martin (1772 - 1842) ----------child: Bare, Mary (1781 - 1817) Groff, Veronica (1763 - 1842) - female b. Feb 1763 d. 15 Apr 1842 father: Groff, Christian (*1728 - ) mother: Snavely, Veronica (*1732 - ) spouse: Bare, Andrew (1759 - 1841) - m. 4 Dec 1781 ----------child: Bare, Christian (1783 - 1847) ----------child: Bare, Michael (1784 - ) ----------child: Bear, Esther (1785 - ) ----------child: Bear, Andrew (1788 - ) ----------child: Bear, Elizabeth (1790 - <1832) ----------child: Bear, John (1792 - ) ----------child: Bear, Anna (1794 - ) ----------child: Bear, Jacob (1795 - ) ----------child: Bear, Frances (1799 - ) ----------child: Bear, Maria (1802 - ) ----------child: Bear, David (1804 - ) ----------child: Bear, Samuel (1804 - ) ----------child: Bear, Joseph (1807 - ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My guess is my Jacob is from this line -- Bear\Baer\Bare, Henry (~1720 - <1771) - male b. Abt 1720 [AFN:1DVR-SGQ-in Lancaster Co PA] d. Bef 28 Jan 1771 in Heidelberg Township,York Co.,Pennsylvania (other source has death Dec 15 1770 in Heidelburg Twp York Co -- Will probate 1/28/1771, York Co PA -- bar-hans AWT, Matt Burnett ) York County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1749-1819 Surname: Bear Given Name: Elizabeth Title: Description: Wife Residence: Date: 15 Dec 1770 Prove Date: 28 Jan 1771 Remarks: Bear, Henry. Dec. 15, 1770. Executor and Township omitted. Wife: Elizabeth Bear. Children: Henry, Samuel, John, Abraham, Barbara, Hannah, Elizabeth, Salome, Mary, Sarah, Nancy and Michael -a child by a former wife father: Bear, Heinrich (Henry) (1692 - <1749) spouse: Moyer, Mary (~1722 - <1759) - m. Abt 1747 [AFN: 1DVR-447 - Mary Meyer] ----------child: Bear, Barbara (>1741 - ) [AFN:1DVR-45F - Abt 1748-1760] ----------child: Bear, Hannah (1750 - 1834)[AFN:1DVR-46M: Apr 18 1750, Lancaster Co - July 15 1834, Fairfield Co OH, buried Stewart Cem.; Submitter BEATRICE D. MCDONALD Microfilm: NONE 4789 W 5905 S, KEARNS UT Submission: AF95-107415 USA 84118 ] [ Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, January 1987: Born in Redstone, Fayette Co., PA; in 1780 lived in Rockingham County, VA, moved back to Fayette Co. In 1803 moved to Fairfield Co., Ohio; married Christian Stehman in Fayette Co PA -- sou: Crawford Stemen Hilyard Downing Snyder Faunce AWT, contact Nancy Crawford Spallinger 1770 - ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bear\Baer, Jacob (~1725 - ) - male b. Abt 1725 in ,Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania [d. Aug 18 1778 in German Twp, York (now Adams Co) PA -- source: 45598.ged, Descendants of Hans II Bar, by Loretta Ryan] father: Bear, Heinrich (Henry) (1692 - <1749) spouse: , Elizabeth (*1729 - ) - m. Abt 1754 ----------child: Baer, Anna Margaret (1755 - ) ----------child: Baer, Mary Margaret (1759 - ) ----------child: Baer, John (1761 - ) ----------child: Baer, Daniel (~1765 - 1834) Baer, Daniel (~1765 - 1834) - male b. Abt 1765 in ,Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania d. Nov 1834 in Heidelberg Township,York Co.,Pennsylvania father: Bear\Baer, Jacob (~1725 - ) mother: , Elizabeth (*1729 - ) spouse: Gerber, Maria (>1833 - ) ----------child: Baer, Nancy (*1826 - ) ----------child: Baer, Polly (*1826 - ) ----------child: Baer, Barbara (*1826 - ) ----------child: Baer, Samuel (*1835 - ) ----------child: Baer, Daniel (*1835 - ) ----------child: Baer, Susanna (*1835 - ) ----------child: Baer, Jacob (*1835 - ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bear (Baer, Bare), George (1728 - 1801) - male b. 1718/1728 in ,,,Germany [1716/1727 per Baer family file at Frederick MD Historical Society] d. 21 Jul 1801 in ,Frederick Co.,Maryland [1807/1809 per above] father: Bear, Heinrich (Henry) (1692 - <1749) spouse: Kimball, Magdalena (1736 - 1768), d/o John Kimball (son-in-law in his will 1776) - m. 1753 ----------child: Bare\Bear, Susanna (1754 - 1828) ----------child: Bear (Bare), Johannes (John) (1755 - 1818) ----------child: Bare\Bear, Johannhes (1756 - ) ----------child: Bare\Bear, Heinrich David (b1758 - 1848)[IGI: Chr 16 Apr 1758 in German Reformed Church, Frederick, MD] ----------child: Baer, Wilhelm (1759 - ) [---------child: George Jr (1763 - Apr 3 1834) per Fred Co MD Hist Socy] ----------child: Bär, Magdalena (1766 - 1839) Bear (Bare), Johannes (John) (1755 - 1818) - male b. 1755 in Earl Township,York Co.,Pennsylvania d. 10 Apr 1818 in ,Rockingham Co.,Virginia father: Bear (Baer, Bare), George (1728 - 1801) mother: Kimball, Magdalena (1736 - 1768) spouse: Thomas, Mary (*1764 - ) - m. 25 Dec 1788 in German Reformed,Frederick Co.,Maryland ----------child: Bear, John (1789 - ) ----------child: Bear, Jacob (1790 - 1832) ----------child: Bear, Samuel E. (*1791 - ) ----------child: Bear, Sophia (*1791 - ) ----------child: Bear, Hannah (*1791 - ) ----------child: Bear, Mary (*1791 - ) ----------child: Bear, Henry (*1791 - ) ----------child: Bear, Sarah (*1791 - ) ----------child: Bear, Benjamin (*1791 - ) ----------child: Bear, Abraham (1800 - 1869) Baer, Heinrich (Henry) David 1758-1848 spouse: Anna Elizabeth Shellman 1759-1829, m 1779 Frederick MD father: George Bear (1728-1801) mother: Mary Kimball (1736-1768) ch: John(1783), Dr. Jacob Shellman Baer (1785-1866), William(1788), Susanna(1790), Catherine(1792), Dr. Michael Shellman Baer(1795-1854) Dr. Jacob Shellman Baer (1785-1866) spouse: Charlotte Chinoweth m. 1810, d. 1811; Elizabeth Dorsey m. 1813, d. 1865 d/o Caleb Dorsey father: Henry(1758-1848) mother: Anna Elizabeth Shellman (1759-1829) ---------child: Dr. Caleb Dorsey Baer d. Aug 30 1863 age 36 in Rebel Army at Helena, Ark, wartime letters to his family copied in family file at Historical Society of Fred Co MD -------- child: Dr. Charles J. Baer m. Margaret Springer of Baltimore in 1846 -------- child: Sallie Ann Baer Baer, George Jr (1763-1834) father: George Bare (1728-1801) mother: Mary Kimball(1736-1768) spouse: Catherine Hauer (1769-1853) d/o Daniel & Catherine Boileau Hauer, first cousin to Barbara Fritchie no children, but adopted niece Catherine Springer d/o Mary Hauer & Wm Springer George Jr was a member of the state house of delegates in 1794, elected as Federalist to 5th & 6th Congresses 1797-1801, Judge of Orphans' Court of Fred Co 1813, the second mayor of Frederick, MD (1820-1823), a state senator, and a US congressman for 6 years; he delivered a famous welcoming speech to Lafayette at Jug Bridge above the Monocacy River in 1825 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bear\Baer, Christian (1733 - 1795) - male b. 10 Jun 1733 in ,Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania d. 17 Apr 1795 in Heidelberg Twp.,York Co.,Pennsylvania (bur. Bear Cem [AFN:1DVR-7DD]) father: Bear, Heinrich (Henry) (1692 - <1749) spouse: Danner, Elizabeth (*1737 - ) spouse: , Elizabeth (1736 - 1798) - m. Abt 1756 ----------child: Bear\Baer, Michael (~1757 - ~1846) ----------child: Polly) -Bear\Baer, Anna Maria (Mary (~1765 - ) ----------child: Bear\Baer, Anna (*1768 - ) ----------child: Bear\Baer, Female (*1768 - ) ----------child: Bear\Baer, Female (*1768 - ) Bear\Baer, Michael (~1757 - ~1846) - male b. Abt 1757 in Heidelberg Township,York Co.,Pennsylvania d. Abt 16 Mar 1846 in Heidelberg Township,York Co.,Pennsylvania father: Bear\Baer, Christian (1733 - 1795) mother: , Elizabeth Danner (1736 - 1798) (surname from AWT) Acc to AWT, Christian and Elizabeth are buried in the Baer Meeting House Cemetery, Hanover Rd., York Co PA spouse: Catherine -, Catharina (*1764 - >1846) ----------child: Bair, Elizabeth (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Barbara (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Mary (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Catherine (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Samuel (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Magdalena (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Sarah (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Jacob (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Daniel (*1794 - ) ----------child: Bair, Michael (~1810 - <1846) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bear, John (1735 - <1798) - male b. 1728/1735 d. Bef 9 Nov 1798 in Newberry Twp.,York Co.,Pennsylvania father: Bear, Heinrich (Henry) (1692 - <1749) spouse: , Elizabeth (*1728 - ) - m. Bef 17 Nov 1751 in ,,Pennsylvania ----------child: Baer, Elizabeth (1752 - ) ----------child: Baer, Anna Maria (1754 - ) ----------child: Baer, Catherine (1756 - ) ----------child: Baer, Jacob (1759 - 1787) Baer, Jacob (1759 - 1787) - male b. 27 Aug 1759 in ,Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania d. Nov 1787 in Millersville,Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania father: Bear, John (1735 - <1798) mother: , Elizabeth (*1728 - ) spouse: Quickel, Catharine (1755 - 1833) - m. Abt 1774 ----------child: Bear, Jacob (1775 - 1872) ----------child: Bear, Moses (1782 - 1869) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources to check: Primary Surnames In Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Genealogical Articles, 1978-October 2001 Consider all spelling variations of the following surnames. Only the most common variants in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, were included in this list. Bear/Bär Oct. 1981 Jan. 1984 Oct. 1986 Jan. 1987 Apr. 1988 Jan. 1991 Jan. 1993 Oct. 1994 July 1998 Oct. 1998 Jan. 1999 Mayer/Meyer Jan. 1989 Oct. 1994 Apr. 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rockingham Bare researchers: Wilton Thomas (wilton@rica.net):"I think you will find Bare came from Switzerland. There was a Hans Bare, b. Jan 23, 1646/47 in Hausen, Zurich, Switzerland who came with his wife, Barbara Hauser and their 9 children to Lancaster, PA in 1717. Their son Jacob and his wife Barbara came to Rockingham Co., VA with their two sons, Jacob and John and settled in Brocks Gap. These are my ancesters...My info from the internet is that a group, Hans Bare, wife and family, came to Phila., PA in 1717 and settled near Lancaster, PA. Jacob later came to the Shenandoah Valley of VA. His son, Jacob, had two sons, Jacob and John and they settled in Brocks Gap of Rockingham Co., VA. The two sons, Jacob and John married the daughters of Adam Mueller of east Rockingham. (Adam is recorded as the first settler in the valley). Later descendants went from VA to OH, IN, etc" Barbara Lawson (bdlawson@pwrtc.com:"Mr. Thomas: I am attempting to trace my great grandfather, Benjamin Bare. Information I have was he ws born in Rockingham Co., Va, in 1807, married Amanda Burns in Rockingham Co. on May 3, 183l. They moved to Indiana shortly after the birth of their frst child and can trace them from then on. Any information on Benjamin's family would be appreciated. Thank you."