Augustus Shears

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The Reverend Augustus Shears was the sixth and youngest son of Daniel Towers Shears (1784-1860), a partner of James Shears and Sons, and Frances Spurrell (1788-1834), daughter of John Spurrell of Bessingham, Norfolk. Born on 28 July 1827 in Wimbledon, he was educated at Rugby and St John's College, Cambridge, and in 1851 was ordained a deacon in the Church of England.

After serving as Curate of the parishes of Lutterworth, Leicestershire (1851-1853), Escrick, Yorkshire (1853-1855), and Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire (1855-1859), he worked as a missionary in Burma (1859-1862).

Augustus Shears is best remembered for translating part of the Book of Common Prayer into Burmese.

Having returned to England he became Curate of Ardingly, Sussex (1862-1864), Heathfield, Sussex (1864-1866), Southover, Sussex (1866-1868), and then St. Bartholomew's, Chichester, Sussex (1868-1873). He then went on to become Vicar of Sileby, Leicestershire (1873-1894), and later Rector of Black Notley, Essex (1894-1907).

He died at Southsea on 25 May 1911.

On 2 May 1861 Augustus Shears married Annie Williams, daughter of the missionary Rev. Jackson Muspratt Williams (who died in Madras in 1832 aged 30) and sister of Major General Jackson Muspratt-Williams (1831 - 1901), and had three children, the eldest of whom, Augustus Jackson Shears, went on to become a barrister at the Middle Temple.

Augustus Shears was a cousin of Rev. Ernest Henry Shears and Rev. Frederick Spurrell.