Person:William Deering (5)

William killed his wife Mary with an axe about two months after the birth of their last child, and buried her body, but was caught. Boston Weekly Post Boy in one of its July 1749 issues: 'At the Court of Assize and general Gaol Delivery held at York on the 13th of June past William Deering was tried for the murder of his wife on the 8th of February last, and found guilty, and had Sentence of Death passed on him accordingly. He is to be executed on Thursday the third of August next.'

The execution was delayed in response to a petition filed on behalf of William by his cousin Sir William Pepperell, and in the interim, William Deering escaped from jail. One version of the incident says he was so filled with remorse that he then proceeded to commit suicide (he endeavors to escape execution only to commit suicide?) A more plausible version alleges that his escape and probable flight to England was arranged and aided by Sir William. A detailed account of this may be found at Descendants of Roger Deering.

The orphaned children were raised by their grandparents, Family:Charles Pine and Grace Balster (1). Whether William literally died in 1749, or only in official records, in 1752 his mother deeded land to her "only surviving son" Clement.

1. ↑ Anderson, Joseph Crook, and Lois Ware Thurston. Vital records of Kittery, Maine : to the year 1892. (Camden, Maine: Picton Press, c1991)
   28.

   William their [Joseph Dearing & Mary his wife] Son born Sept'm 17th 1708.

2.   Source:Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Old Kittery and Her Families, p. 338, shows the William Deering who married Mary Pine as a son of Person:Roger Deering (2), even though the father's will of 1741 mentions no children, and the husband of Mary (Pine) Deering was obviously still alive (see the Personal History). As a result, Stackpole has to show the William Deering born to Joseph and Mary (Bray) Deering as "died young". This appears wrong on both counts.
   
   William named one son "John Bray Deering" would suggests he was indeed the son of Joseph Deering and Mary Bray. The involvement of Sir William Pepperell in William's escape, is predicated on their being "Bray" cousins. Descendants of Roger Deering says there are probate documents showing him inheriting land from his father, along with Bray, Clement and John, his brothers. In 1736 he was sued by his own brother Bray Deering. Further, a William Dearing is mentioned in probate documents for his brother John in 1744 as a creditor, which is probably him also.