Genealogical Information
Provided by the Estill County Historical Society
William Shearer b. ca 1827 Garrard Co. Kentucky, d. Dec 1877 in FayetteCo. Kentucky Lexington Asylum of injuries related to the Civil War. Parents are believed to be ; Isaac Shearer and Elizabeth Rutledge who were married in Clark Co. Kentucky, April 18, 1810 by Lawrence Owen. Isaacs Shearer is listed on the 1820, 1830 Census of Garrard County.
General Service Archives Washington, DC
William Shearer was 5ft 9in tall, blue eyes, black hair, dark complexion. Co. B 8th Reigment Kentucky Volunteers Infantry under Capt A.D. Powell. Enlisted 23rd day of September 1861 at Estill Springs in Estill Co., Irvine, Kentucky. Mustered into service as private on the 15th day of January 1862 at Lebanon. Volunteer to serve three years or during he war. On Muster Roll Co. B of that Regiment from enrollment to February 28th 1863. Transferred to Co. A January 4, 1864. Re-enlisted as Veteran Vol January 4, 1864. Transferred February 6, 1865 to Co. E 4th Ky Vols. On Muster out roll dated August 17th 1865 at Macon Georgia. Private Shearer was mustered out with Co. E 4th Infantry.
Testimony of Adam Shepherd 60 years old: states that he lived neighbors to William Shearer for thirty-five years at Blue Banks, Estill County, Kentucky and that they had served in the same regiment together in the Civil War. Shepherd stated that in September of 1864, William Shearer was guard on a train that was wrecked between Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee. Shearer was thrown against the side of the car and hurt his head, the grain fell on him and was nearly dead when taken out. He never appeared right after the accident on the train, but gradually grew worse until his death. I am satisfied the injury he received on the train was the cause of him loosing his mind. William Shearer died December 1877 at the Asylum in Lexington Kentucky. Pension Claim for widow of William Shearer, Mary E. Shearer, Jan 29, 1891 –no means of support only daily labor, no real estate, only one horse and one cow. Where buried I do not know.
William Shearer b. 1827 Garrard Co. Kentucky d 1877 Fayette Co. Kentucky. Married 12-18-1849, Amanda (Mandy) Tipton b 5-17-1829 Estill Co d 2-6-1914 Estill Co. Buried in the Barnes Cemetery at Cow Creek, Estill Co. Grave unmarked. Daughter of William Lexius Tipton and Rebecca Cunningham.