By William Kearns (1859-1928) as he dictated to Pearl Kearns McCauley in 1922.

Thomas Kearns, of Scotch ancestry was born (1779), raised and spent his early life in western Pennsylvania on the Allegheny river. He was noted for his integrity and personal kindness. As far as known, no one ever saw him angry. By occupation he was a farmer, and a cooper by trade. In our second war with Great Britian, the War of 1812, he served in a company of riflemen. After the war in he removed to Wayne County, Ohio, later removing to the town of Edgerton, Williams County, Ohio where he died in the fall of the year 1854. His wife, of whom we know little, was born of Irish parentage. She was noted principally for her great industry. She survived her husband
Data from records of Pearl KEARNS McCAULEY

Of Scotch ancestry, Thomas KEARNS spent his early life in western Pennsylvania on the Allegheny River. He was noted for his integrity and personal kindness. As far as is known, no one ever saw him angry. By occupation he was a farmer, and a cooper by trade.

In our second war with Great Britain, the War of 1812, he served in a company of riflemen. After the war in 1819 he removed to Mohican Township, Ashland County, Ohio, remaining there until 1848, and then settled in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, Ohio, where he died 13 May 1854.

Of Irish parentage, his wife Mary was noted principally for her great industry. She survived her husband by a few years. Her father, William GREER , served in the War of 1812. Her brother Thomas was born about 1807; another brother, James married Mary KEARNS, a sister of her husband.


MILITARY RECORD OF THOMAS KEARNS 1779-1854
NATIONAL ARCHIVES - WAR OF 1812

State of Ohio
ss:
County of Williams

On this second day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four personally appeared before me Alexander Kearns, a Justice of the Peace duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the county and state aforesaid, Thomas Kearns aged seventy-six years, a resident of said William County in the State of Ohio, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Thomas Kearns who was a voluteer in a company of riflemen commanded by Captain Thomas Douglas in Elizabeth Township in Allegheny County and State of Pennsylvania. Was drafted in said company and went into service under the command of Joseph Elrod, Lieutenant, and under command of Major Johnson in the War with Great Britain, declared by the United States June 18, A.D. 1812. That he was drafted at Elizabeth Township in the State of Pennsylvania on or about October the first A.D. 1814 for the term of six months and continued in actual service in said war, for the term of seventeen days. And was honorable discharged at Somerset in the State of Pennsylvania after the British army left Baltimore as will appear by the muster rolls of said campaign, said Thomas further states that he had a regular discharge made by said Joseph Elrod, which discharge was deposited in the Paymasters Office in Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania.

He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the "Act Granting Bounty Land to Certain Officers and Soldiers who have been engaged in the Military Service of the United States" passed September 28, 1850.

Sworn to and suscribed before me this day and year above written and I hereby declare that I believe the said Thomas Kearns to be the identical man who served as affore said, and that he is of the age above stated.

Signed - Alexander Kearns, J. P. (seal)

KEARNS CEMETERY, St. Joseph Twp, Williams Co., OH
(Kearns or Skelton cemetery in a field southeast of the intersection of County
Road 2-50 and County Road C-60 NW of Edgerton. U. S. deed to Eli Farnham and later acquired by Joseph Skelton. Supervised by St. Joseph Twp trustees

Information given from Dave Morris's database: as follows,

Thomas Kearns witnessed Joseph Norris' will in Wayne Co., Ohil 1836. Another source lists Thomas's death as 13 May 1854-Williams Co. gravestone is hard to read in 2000. He is said to ebe the oldest child of John Michael Kearns (Carns). 1850 Williams Co., Ohio census lists birthplace as Ohio-not correct. Another source says he was born 1779 in Pa. He was a farmer and a cooper, served in the War of 1812 from Elizaabeth Twp., Allegheny Co. Pa, the move to Wayne Co., Ohiio and later to Edgerton, Williams Co., Ohio. It's interesting that his application for 1812 related benefits (only 17 days in Oct. 1814 due to Wae's end) was filed on 02 May, 1954, just 11 days before his death. Alexander Kearns, both son and J.P., filed the paper. Mohican Twp., Ashland Co., Ohio land records for Section 20 indicate Thomas and Mary got land from William Goudy after 1819, sold 77.08 acres to James Greer in 1829, and in 1847 sold 40 acres each to George Botdorf and Peter Leididh- this must be when they moved to Williams Co.