(VII) Henry William, fifth son and tenth child of Elijah and Lydia (Pope) Hamlin, was born in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, New York, October 20, 1807, died there November 30, 1881. He was a leading citizen and prominent business man of Ontario county and for many years was engaged in various lines of activity; was farmer, trader, merchant, banker and successful in all his undertakings. He established a character for rectitude and uprightness that stands unsurpassed in any community. Of him the well-worn saying that “His word was as good as his bond” was literally true. His advice and counsel were liberally sought by all and were always followed with confidence, as from his wide and varied business experience he was eminently qualified to advise. He was an attendant of the Congregational church and in politics a Whig and Republican. He married in Sharon, Connecticut, October 5, 1841, Sibyll Blackman Sears, born in Sharon, September 22, 1813, died in East Bloomfield, July 15, 1870. Dr. John Sears, her father, was born in Sharon, Connecticut, in 1784, was a physician in Sharon for forty years, then removed to East Bloomfield, where he died in 1866. He was a descendant of Captain Samuel Sears, born in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, January, 1663-1664, son of Stephen and grandson of Benjamin Sears. Captain Samuel, one of the earliest settlers of Harwich, Massachusetts, was constable in 1702; lieutenant 1706, later captain. He married Mercy, daughter of Deacon Samuel Mayo. They had eleven children, of whom Benjamin was the youngest, born June 16, 1706. He married (first), Lydia Ryder, of Yarmouth. He married (second) Mercy, daughter of Prince and Hannah Snow, and removed to Joe’s Hill on the Oblong, Dutchess county, New York. He had a third wife, Abigail Snow. widow of Stephen Sears; by three wives he had ten children, of whom Captain Stephen Sears was the seventh and the fourth son by his third wife. Captain Stephen Sears was born in Harwich, May 20, 1738, died of yellow fever in New York City in 1i91. He was a carpenter; he removed to southeast New York, with his father, later to Sharon, Connecticut, where he superintended the erection of a meeting house in 1768. He was sheriff, captain and commissary of the revolutionary army. He married (first) Elizabeth Hyde, (second) Sarah Hunter, (third) Mrs. Sybil Pardee, daughter of Daniel and Hannah Hunt. There was no issue by first marriage, three by second, and six by third wife, of whom Dr. John was the youngest. He married December 2, 1812, Almira, daughter of David and Mary Brewster Gould, a lineal descendant of Gov. Wm. Bradford and Elder Brewster of the “Mayflower.” She was born December 15, 1789, died January 1, 1872. They had eight children of whom Sibyll was the eldest, and she married Henry William Hamlin. Children, born at East Bloomfield, New York: I. John Sears, born July 14, 1842; merchant and banker of East Bloomfield; married (first), September 13, 1865, Elizabeth, daughter of Hiram and Eliza C. (White) Holcomb, of Watertown, New York, who died December 14, 1879. He married (second) Minnie, daughter of George S. and Sarah (Scott) Howell. Children by first wife: William Henry and Frederick Holcomb. Children by second wife, Marion and Sarah Hollister. 2. Agnes Downes, born July 28, 1844, married. September 11, 1872, Charles E. Steel, born July, 1845, died March 28, 1885. One son, Frank Hamlin. 3. Frank Harwood, of whom further. 4. Anna Beach, born February 18, 1851, married, October 2, 1878, William Adsit, son of George and Catherine Ann (Adsit) Higinbotham, born November 20, 1852, banker of Victor, New York. Children: Jessie, Robert George, Agnes, Annie and George William. 5. Sarah Atwater, born January 28, 1852, graduate of Vassar College, class of 1874; married, June 5, 1878. Edwin 0., soil of Nathan Edwin and Margaretta A. (Wortendyke) Hollister, born April 4, 1846, died October 8, 1857; physician and surgeon, of East Bloomfield, New York; no issue. 6. George Wright, born July 1, 1854, produce dealer, of East Bloomfield, and supervisor of the town; he married, October 8, 1879, Susan E. Wendall, born November 14, 18J4, daughter of George Amos and Eunice T. (Wood) Wendall. One child, Sibyll W.
