by 
Augustine and Mary (Hyanno) Bearse were my 8th-great grandparents on the Crosby side. Augustine was a full-blooded Gypsy and Mary was a full-blooded Wampanoag Indian Princess. So it is written…
The legend goes that Augustine Bearse was born in Europe around 1618 and is reputed to have been a “full blooded Gypsy of the Romany race”. The British government supposedly deported Augustine to Massachusetts, in 1638, aboard the Confidence of London. Augustine was from the Heron (or Herne) tribe and only crime was being a Gypsy on British soil.
When Augustine arrived in Cape Cod he found himself ostracized due to his race and religion. He was shunned by the women of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and could find no woman to marry. Augustine was forced to move to the more distant ends of the colony and there he took an Indian maiden for his wife. In the Summer of 1639 Augustine married Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno in the Indian village of Machatache, under “Pagan Indian ceremonial rites”.
Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno was born 1625 and the daughter of John Hyanno, the Sagamore (chief) among the Indians; and the granddaughter of Highyannough, the Sachem (high Chief) of all the Cape Cod tribes. Mary’s mother, it is written, was the daughter of the Sachem at Gay Head, Martha’s Vineyard. Mary, as it goes, had lovely flaming hair — that’s right, the legend says she was a red-headed American Indian.
The legend becomes even more strange, because Augustine and Mary were permitted to join the church in 1650 and Augustine was made a Freeman of the church in 1652; a title of great distinction. Evidently the parishioners, who were really not very tolerant of other religions, overlooked the alleged Gypsy and Indian blood.
As unlikely as most of the legends surrounding Augustine and Mary sound, they still persist. No source citations are included with the writings where the legends are mentioned. With the benefit of the Internet the legends have spread and finding sites that debunk the myth, is difficult; but they do exist.
Here are the known facts:
First and foremost, there is no documented proof that Augustine ever married a woman named Mary. Further, there is no cited information anywhere that Augustine’s wife was Indian. However, there is no documented proof Mary was not his wife, or that she was not Indian. But absent proof, I believe the tale to be too fantastic. (It would be interesting if DNA testing uncovered Indian genes though.)
Augustine Bearse, also known as Austin Bearce, arrived in America in 1639 aboard the Confidence of London and he settled in Barnstable, Cape Cod. Augustine was very religious and had all of his children baptized on the first Sunday following their birth. His son Joseph was born on January 2nd and taken to be baptized the same day, a trip of about two mile and in the winter.
Augustine’s house, at 38 Church Hill Road, is the oldest dwelling in Centerville, MA. During a remodeling of the home a 1689 coin was found among the beam, and another beam was marked 1692. The custom at the time was to place a coin in newly built homes.
Augustine was a ship’s Captain and was the master of the ship Two Marys. Augustine’s date of death is not known, but he was known to be still living in 1686 and to have died by 1697.
My lineage from Augustine Bearse (and possibly Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno) is:
Priscilla (Bearse) Hall > Experience (Hall) Rider > Experience (Rider) Crosby > Edward Crosby II > Edward Crosby III > John Crosby > John A. Crosby > Roy Crosby > Maurice Crosby > Me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
- Contribution to the Genealogy of the Bearse or Bearss Family in America: 1618-1871 John Bearse Newcomb 1871.
- Centerville Shipmasters and Seafaring Days Florence Winship Ungerman, 1977
- Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, Amos Otis 1888
- Genealogical Note of Cape Cod Families Vol 5 & 24 Browson, Held & Norton, 1966
- Augustine Bearce and His Descendants, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abenaki/Augustine%20Bearce/
- “America The Great Melting Pot” http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily ; Mary Hyanno
- http://findagrave.com Presilla Bearse; Memorial #9688972
- http://findagrave.com Mary Hyanno; Memorial #28165235
- http://www.geni.com/people/Augustine-Bearse/5230183405430080701
*Note: The first 4 sources can be found at http://archive.org (for free!)
Your father would be my great uncle, my grand father was Adelbert Avery Crosby.
two questions first do you have a definitive father for Edward (married Experience), and do you have anything on Adelbert Avery”s wife Mary Elizabeth Muise. Any info would greatly appreciated.
Thanks Reigh
To Reigh; Muise is a French Acadian surname that was derived from the family of Philllipe Mius D’Entremont; Baron de Pombomcoup (I think I am spelling that barony wrong); which is up in Canada. Two of Phillipe’s sons married Native American women; many lines from those sons took the Muise part of the family name over the generations; those who came from Phillipe’s children who did Not marry Natives kept the D’Entremont name; so the D’Entremont (or nowadays d’Entremont) & Muise/Muse/Miuse (and a few other variations) are all related; MANY MANY sites found online can help you to find out more about your Muise line. I myself; one of my 4th great grandmothers was Venerante D’Entremont; daughter of Joseph D’Entremont, (son of Jacques D’Entremont; son of Jacques Muis D’Entremont; son of Baron Phillipe Muis D’Entremont). Hope I have helped and good hunting!
If you need any further help I would be glad to try~
LadyAlaise at gmail dot com
Reigh,
My father had a brother named Adelbert Avery. It wasn’t until I discovered your grandfather’s name that I learned Adelbert was a family name.
Here is a link to a post specifically about Simon Crosby. At the bottom is a list of sources. The last source is a book about Simon and it is available, for free, on-line. I hope this helps.
http://epluribus.me/2011/11/23/1635-simon-crosby-and-family-come-to-america/
Also, I have Adelbert Avery’s wife as Elizabeth Muise, and nothing else about her.
Moe
P.S. 🙂
I am also a descendant of Augustin Bearce and wife; on my mother’s side; the Acadian lines come from my father’s.
Augustin is my 10th Great Grandfather; down through Hamblin/Hamblen to Hadley to Higgins line, then down to my mother 🙂
P.S.S.; Good sources for the Acadian Muise/D’Entremont lines and any other related lines you may find;
Any work by Stephen A. White (Universite de Moncton, NB, Canada)
and Lucie LeBlanc Constantino’s websites;
http://www.acadian-home.org
The Romani & Native connections to the Bearse family, were the invention of Franklyn Bearce. In 1933, he imposed himself into Schaghticoke politics, he attempted to have himself accepted as a Schaghticoke native, and pursued a land claim against the government. Neither the government, nor the Schaghticoke, accepted him as being native. 11 out of 15 of his native princess fabrications can be proved outright false. He was a charlatan and a fraud.
Any who believe the Romani & Native connections are falling for a con that the original people it was intended to fool, didn’t fall for.
Thanks, confirms my suspicions, and my negative for Native American DNA test. This Mary is my supposed 9th generation great grandmother, and I thought the whole thing seemed faked up. I’ve seen it several times now on genealogy sites, romantic notion, and fanciful desires to defendant from Royalty and such.
Very good site you have. Born, raised and still living in Barnstable, I am very familiar with these stories. Austin did marry Iyannough’s daughter. I think the thing that needs to be remembered is that the members of the Barnstable and Plymouth church were NOT PURITANS.
They considered themselves Separatists. There was a big difference that seems to have been forgotten over the centuries. If you read the writings of Rev’s Robinson, Brewster, Lothrop and Crosby one will find that they are in fact very similar to the original Baptist denomination.
I would suggest reading the books by the Rev Isaac Backus. ( the greatest hero of Massachusetts) Every time we call them all Puritans I feel the earth under my feet move as our forefathers roll around in their graves.
Do you still reside in Barnstable:? I am related to Augustine all the way down to my grandmother via the Bearse, Bears male offspring. I remember reading about Augustine (Austin) and Mary and their 8-10(?) children. The male offspring were traced all the way to my great grandfather, Philip. I have since lost all the papers on this and wondered if you had any information as to how to regain this important history. I have been to Hayannis and have had my photo taken with the chief. There’s quite a resemblance – lol. I had “23 and Me. Results and it reported 0.1% Native American. So there you go, proof as far as I’m concerned.
I look forward to hearing from you.
My DNA from 23andme also shows .1% Native American and .1% Baltic for the time frame related to Austin and Mary. I also am descended from this couple and in my mind the results confirm the legend. I have very few gaps in my ancestry up to and including that time frame and do not know where else they could have come.
I may be naive, but don’t think so! I do believe in the Romney / Wampanoag relationship, and happy to have Augustine Bearse & Mary Hyanno as my 9th Great Grandparents, if only by Adoption. I also believe that when their 2nd Great Grandson, Elisharama Elderidge, was named it was likely to preserve the Rama/Romney Ancestry. Elisharama Eldridge came from multiple Elisha’s, the name Elisha continuing uninterrupted through his paternal line for many generations. Yet, Elisharama had the “Rama” added to his name. Considering Elisharama’s Grand Mother, Martha Hall, was the Grand Daughter of Augustine & Mary and likely wanted to preserve this Family History.
This is my line:
Augustine Austin Bearse 1618 (Mary Little Dove Hyanno)
James Bearse 1651 (Experience Howland)
Shuball Bierce 1685 (Thankful Ford)
Hezakiah Bierce 1730 (Deborah Sturtevant)
William Bierce 1753 (Abigail Bell) (Revolutionary War Vet)
William Whiting Bierce 1793 (Lucinda Culver 1st wife)
Joseph Bierce 9/1831 (Alice Hogaboom) (Civil War Vet)
Elmer Bierce 1/1884 (Catherine Proffitter)
Robert Elmer Bierce 1910 (Bertha Elizabeth Jackson 1st wife)
Kenneth Robert Bierce 11/1934 (Jane Chapel)
Lynnora Bierce 11/1964 (me)
We also have an oral tradition about the Roma/Native American connection of our family. I don’t think that that tradition comes from Franklin Bearse, but that he probably took some liberties with the story, therefore it’s difficult to know what is fact or fiction. However, this word of mouth is all we really have. And why does it seem so important to note? There are plenty of interesting facts I have found out while looking into the family line which didn’t make it into the oral tradition. I think we’re supposed to remember. One of our forefathers thought it was important to remember our heritage. Fact or fiction I hold onto it because the oral tradition is a personal gift. The Wampanoag accept us.
Although we had communicated by email some years back, I have lost touch with the cousins group doing geneology for BeArca/Bearse/ Bierce etc. I remember you. My father said your father,Kenneth Bierce, worked in same office with my father’s sister in Tampa. Her name was Francis-Bierce/Stearns-Riley. She probably used her mother’s maiden name of Stearns. At any rate I am still 8th Great Grand Son in tripple James Bierce line from Augustine and Mary. I reciently connected with 4th cousin on my Mothers line to the Moore name via 23&Me doing geneology research for myself and my wife. I would like to reconnect with you and your brother? AKA Frustrated Pilot. Respectfully, William M. Bierce SunCity Center FL
I HAVE NOT HAD A REPLY TO MY LAST RESPONSE TO YOUR 23 AND ME ENTITLED “MY LINE”. IS YOUR BROTHER NOT KNOWN AS FRUSTRATED PILOT? MY BROTHER IS ROBERT FREDRICK BIERCE AND MY COUSIN ONCE REMOVED IS JANE BIERCE GROVE. ANY RESPONCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. RESPECTFULLY, WILLIAM MILES BIERCE OF THE TRIPPLE JAMES BIERCE LINE. SUPPOSEDLY ELDEST SON OF ELDEST SON DOWN TO ME. WOULD LIKE TO COMPLETE MORE DATA REGARDING MARY HYANNO CONNECTION SINCE I AM NOW ON THE PLUS SIDE OF 80 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NO GRANDCHILDREN, ONLY 2 CHILDREN, 2 STEP CHILDREN, 9 STEP GRANDS, 9 GREAT GRANDS. STEP CHILDREN STILL INTERESTED IN BIERCE LINEAGE.!!
Unlike Ancestry, or other sites, WikiTree is trying to stick to what is provable.
Augustine Bear(s)e: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bearse-3
Franklyn Bearce: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bearce-45
Franklyn was quite the charlatan. Some 13 Indian Princesses, and a Gypsy one for good measure, in his fake genealogy. He couldn’t even keep his own family tree straight after a couple generations.
Great. It’s nice to know the Internet can self-correct!
I am a descendant of Pracilla Bearse. My DNA has no native American genes. Others in this line have any either.
Great! Thank you for confirming what I believed. My DNA shows no signs of Native American genes either, which puts to rest legends on both sides of my tree.
Native American DNA is not detectable after a couple generations.
This Mary is my 9th generation back great grandmother. Both my sister and I have had DNA testing, and show zero Native American. It is a fanciful romantic notion that this early English settler married an Native Indian maiden, makes a lovely story, but it is obviously not true.
Mary “Little Dove Hyanno” married William Cornell.
The first known union of an English settler to an American Indian.
I am a 12th generation Bearce on my Fathers side. My aunt has been doing a lot of family History Is Augustine’s house still standing? i look on google maps and cant find it!! it looks like it may have been torn down, or is tucked back in the woods a ways. Any ideas? My family has also thought his house was on Bearse’s Way in Barnstable, MA as that is where he and Mary settled.
I am also researching Augustine Bearce as my direct ancestor. DNA testing does not always reveal native ancestors it can be a hit or miss. Of my husbands two brothers only one showed that there is native DNA and the other didn\t. Also my sister-in-law knows for a fact her 5ggrandmother was East Indian and that did not show up either so really DNA testing may not prove where some of your ancestors were from as it just didn’t show up with you.
Putting that aside, I find all these stories fascinating and wish everyone the best of luck searching back through our family tree.
I had my DNA done, and it says I have Native American DNA. The only reference I have to any is Augustin Bearse and Mary Hyanno. I descend three times , twice on my grandmother and once on my grandfather. Sisters Rebecca and Sarah Bearse.
DNA that far back does not always show unless you descend more than once which increases the chances of Native American showing up.
I have “Broadly East Asian or Native American” DNA according to 23andMe, and Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno is the only potential source according to my family tree. Augustine Bearse and Mary (Hyanno?) are my 10th great grandparents. I’m descended through their daughter Priscilla Bearse, who married John Hall.
I think the thing to keep in mind is that all of the “admixtures” and ethnicity estimates available through autosomal DNA testing companies are just that–estimates–and the absence of an ethnicity in your reports doesn’t prove a negative, so to speak. This is especially true when you go that many generations back. It’s pretty hit or miss which genes got dropped and which made it into you. Remember, you only have 50% of each parent’s DNA, and a pretty random assortment at that (e.g. after 8-10 generations, one sibling could have Native American DNA while his or her brother could have none).
I’m not saying any of the “legend” is true, but I’m not saying some or all of it is false, either. Unless someone has DNA samples of both Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno and Augustine Bearse, it’s pretty hard to confirm or deny a genetic connection to either of them.
I’ve seen nothing to suggest the Cornwells have a stronger claim to the Hyanno line than the Bearses. In both cases isn’t the claim based on “Native American marriage rites” and oral tradition about the childrens’ paternity? Could she have had a sister, and thus both families are Hyanno descendants? Getting enough folks DNA tested ought to be a step toward answering some of these questions.
Thanks for the reply. The information is very interesting and its great to see people are researching this branch.
I had my DNA test done. NO Native American result was found. Mary would be my 10th Great Grandmother Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno (1623 – 1678)
10th great-grandmother
Sarah Bearse Biers (1646 – 1712)
daughter of Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno
Benjamin Hamblen Hamblin (1686 – 1709)
son of Sarah Bearse Biers
Hannah Hamblin (1711 – 1791)
daughter of Benjamin Hamblen Hamblin
Rebecca Crosby (1755 – 1796)
daughter of Hannah Hamblin
Deacon Jonathan Raymond I (1780 – 1869)
son of Rebecca Crosby
James D. Raymond (1815 – 1842)
son of Deacon Jonathan Raymond I
Helen Augusta Raymond they were also second cousins once removed. (1840 – 1915)
daughter of James D. Raymond
William W Parry (1869 – 1893)
son of Helen Augusta Raymond they were also second cousins once removed.
Gladys E. Perry (1892 – 1962)
daughter of William W Parry
Roberta Helen Filleul (1915 – 1997)
daughter of Gladys E. Perry
Robert William Filleul (1940 – )
son of Roberta Helen Filleul
Joanne M Filleul
You are the daughter of Robert William Filleul
Augustine Austin Augustine Bearse, also known as Austin Bearce Bearse Beirse (1618 – 1686)
10th great-grandfather
Sarah Bearse Biers (1646 – 1712)
daughter of Augustine Austin Augustine Bearse, also known as Austin Bearce Bearse Beirse
Benjamin Hamblen Hamblin (1686 – 1709)
son of Sarah Bearse Biers
Hannah Hamblin (1711 – 1791)
daughter of Benjamin Hamblen Hamblin
Rebecca Crosby (1755 – 1796)
daughter of Hannah Hamblin
Deacon Jonathan Raymond I (1780 – 1869)
son of Rebecca Crosby
James D. Raymond (1815 – 1842)
son of Deacon Jonathan Raymond I
Helen Augusta Raymond they were also second cousins once removed. (1840 – 1915)
daughter of James D. Raymond William W Parry (1869 – 1893)
son of Helen Augusta Raymond they were also second cousins once removed.
Gladys E. Perry (1892 – 1962)
daughter of William W Parry
Roberta Helen Filleul (1915 – 1997)
daughter of Gladys E. Perry
Robert William Filleul (1940 – )
son of Roberta Helen Filleul
Joanne M Filleul
You are the daughter of Robert William Filleul
Hi. I descend from the Bearse line- directly from Chief Iyannough through Augustine and Mary “Little Dove”. I have a full family record to prove that they were, in fact, living as man and wife. There is no marriage record as it was a Native American ceremony. Please do not forget that Euro-Christian records are not the only valid proof of a fact. So, no, is not a “fantastic” story. This, and many other such marriages did occur between early male settlers and Wampanoag women. If you want another “fantastic” story, look the Wampanoag story of Thanksgiving and the enslavement and slaugher of our people by the settlers, cousin.
Summer,
Thank you for sharing this information! The family record that you speak of, is it something you would be willing to share (in full or part)? I would very much like to have a confirmation and do not need the Euro-Christian record for that.
I too have connections, on the Bearse, Bearce, Bears lineage. My grandmother was Fanny Elizabeth Bears Cruff, her father, Philip Bears. Just had results from 23 and me and showed 0.1% Native American. I guess you believe what you want to believe. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
I too am a descendent of Augustine Bearse. We heard about the connection to chief Hyanno
Most of the Barss family over generations moved
To nova scotia
I am a descendant of Augustine Bearse. Augustine is my 12th Great Grandfather. I also did my DNA test and have NO Native Indian in my DNA. So now I am trying to figure out who my Great Grandmother is. I would love to find the proof. (or close to it)
Augustine had two Mary’s in his life and maybe one of them is my Great Grandmother.
I am from the Buffalo, NY area and drove to Barnstable to search for the truth of my or our Great Grandfather Augustine and to “hopefully” find who my Great Grandmother really is.
I will be going back to Barnstable to do more investigating.
Any information anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
A long lost Cousin
I am also a descendant of Augustine Bearse and … his wife (was her name even Mary?), through Priscilla Bearse and John Hall. Unlike an earlier commenter, I’ve had zero Native DNA show up in my tests (I’ve done 23andMe and Ancestry DNA), although (unlikely related to Augustine Bearse) I DID have a very small percentage of West African show up on both tests!
However, the lack of DNA in my own personal testing is not necessarily why I don’t believe the “Indian Princess” myths; I don’t believe them because there is no evidence to support them, and because the person who first shared these claims was proven to be a fraud.
To those who say that your tests show Native ancestry and that it can’t come from anybody else in your tree — do you really have the names *along with evidence* of each and every one of your (hundreds of) ancestors, up to your 9th, 10th, or 11th great-grandparents? Do you really have no “brick walls”? I have absolutely no idea which of my ancestors came from Ghana/Côte d’Ivoire; I can tell you which didn’t, but there are many, many, many gaps in my tree that still need to be filled/proven.
Augustin and Mary were my 10th great-grandparents on my mother’s side. Both of my parents were born and raised in Western New York near Buffalo. I have taken both the Ancestry.com and 23andMe.com DNA tests and both tests showed that I have some Native American DNA. It’s a small amount (~1%), but it’s there.
I have spent the past three years doing extensive genealogical research for admission to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, so I have a very complete tree. I can establish clear European ancestry for all of my great-grandparents going back 400 years except for Mary. So, I have no idea where the Native American DNA comes from if not from Mary. (I have pale skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, so it’s no surprise that the rest of my DNA shows English, Irish, Welsh, Western European, and Northern European ancestry.)
I agree that the story of Augustin and Mary sounds a bit like a “tall tale”, but even with tales there is often a kernel of truth. The fact that our relative who brought this information to light was “discredited” doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot (you should question the bias and ulterior motives of those doing the discrediting).
And the funny thing with DNA is that, while it’s true you inherit 25% of your DNA from each of your first grandparents, the combination you inherit will be different from the one your direct sibling inherits. You and your siblings aren’t going to get the SAME 25%. For example, even if I have 25% Irish DNA, my sister may have more or less than this.
Therefore, after just a few generations, the absence of Native American ancestry in a descendant of Augustin and Mary Bearce does NOT prove that Mary was not Native American. By the same token, the fact that I have Native American ancestry does not prove that Mary was the source. However, as I am able to establish direct European ancestry for all of my other great-grandparents giong back 400+ years except for Mary — Augustin came from Europe, which is documented, so despite not knowing exactly where he came from, we do know he had European origins — it does present some interesting food for thought and make for an interesting family story. We may never know.
I, also show no connection to native americans, however we forget the word of mouth legend that Augustine’s chosen mate was of “Flaming red hair and blue eyes” whether or not her name was Mary. She may even have been adopted by the tribe as a consequence of the known Viking conquest of the area who allegedly “Spread their seed among the women of the region”. This could explain the lack of native genes. It is evident there is a connection, as the rumor of Augustine’s dowery from the native chief, or Sachem, Hyanno, who as the Chief would have been considered Mary Hyanno’s father. Augustine received as dowery, good part of Barnstable,Mass. Documented!
I am not in possession of hard facts as there was never any formal record by the tribe of the marriage. There was, however, 12 children of the marriage.
My line to Augustine is the triple James line of sons and grandsons straight down to me on my father’s side.
Respectfully, William Miles Bierce
I also have Blond hair, blue eyes and a family story of Augustine BeArce,Bearss,Bierce,etc. being sent here to “The Colonies” from Southhampton, England as a judicial consequence of being a Romani Gypsy!
William M. Bierce
I also am a descendant of Augustine and his wife. They are my eighth great on my paternal grandmother and ninth great on my Paternal grandfather making my grandparents cousins. My grandmother mentioned many times that she had Indian blood. There are also claims that Augustine’s mother was “princess” Matchowitch. This would be a good reason why he was able to marry a full blooded Indian. “Little Dove”. The ceremony was a Native American ceremony so apparently no record exists.
Hi Ken Bearce, I am also looking to fill the unknown Grandmother spot. I am convinced that the story is false about Mary Hyanno and further believe it was done for an attempt to get money and benefits. Everyone who claims to have their own records, one even saying they had a complete independent record, fail to supply the record or some description. I checked the descendancy path and the people who claim Little Dove are not honest. Summer has a lot to say about Euro Amer records which is so funny because Natives who track the generations are often annoyed with these pretendians who have 1/64th IF IT WERE REAL want to claim this as their “people” and join websites to pretend with other folks. Don’t they see that most of them (the pretend ones) all seem to come from the same fake stories. The woman is always a princess, and has flaming red hair. There is a Cherokee story that has the same following. People like you and I get stuck on our genealogy when these myths hide the truth. I have both of these false stories in my tree. I contacted a person who is an expert. She was happy to agree until I mentioned that I was not believing a find a grave reference to the woman. She assured me that it was a true grave. I already knew it is not a body buried there. There is a memorial erected by the same people who made the story.
Let me know if you fill in the blanks as to Augustine (Austin) Bearce wife and mother of Sarah Bearce. I’ll do the same.
I am aware of at least two individuals who are supposedly mtDNA descendants of Hannah, wife of Jonathan Nye. If this Hannah was the daughter of (Capt.) Augustine Bearse, then their mtDNA would supposedly be the same as the mtDNA of Augustine’s wife.
These two individuals have DNA tested at 23andMe and they fall under mtDNA H1, which is NOT a Native American haplogroup, but rather a Western European haplogroup. Thus, if these two individuals are actually mtDNA descendants, it proves the legend must be false.
According to my research, Augustine and Mary did have a daughter named Hannah (b. 16 Nov 1649).
However, I have no other information on her.
I have a Wing line in my tree too. It begins at Matthew Wing (b. bef 1567, d. bet 1585-1614) and then goes > Rev. John Wing > Stephen Wing > Nathaniel Wing > Keziah Wing (m. John Handy, 1704, Sandwich, MA).
Love your story on Austin Bearse. I’m also a descendant, and my Ancestry DNA shows 1% East Indian, and I don’t know where else it could have come from. No American Indian though. That far back, it’s surprising any DNA would show up. But for me, that solves a mystery as to where my lily- white DNA got some South Asian mixed in.