Bearse in 2012, photo by Prphotos.com
Place of Birth: Winter Park, Florida, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 9, 1958
Ethnicity: English, smaller amounts of German, Irish, Cornish, Welsh, Scottish, possibly French Huguenot, possibly 1/1024 Romani, possibly remote Native American
Amanda Bearse is an American actress, director, and comedian. She is known for her role as Marcy Rhoades/D’Arcy in the sitcom Married… with Children, and for starring in the 1985 film Fright Night.
Amanda is the daughter of Ann and Danforth Parker Bearse. She was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were all born in Georgia. Amanda is married to Carrie Schenken, and has a daughter.
Amanda’s paternal grandfather was Asa Taylor Bearse (the son of Asa Bearse and Minnie Smith). Amanda’s great-grandfather Asa was the son of Francis/Frank D. Bearse, whose mother was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and of Lucy Josephine Parker. Minnie was the daughter of James Washington Smith and Emily Harriett Wynne.
Amanda’s paternal grandmother was Mary Wingo (the daughter of William T. Wingo and Callie M. Gibson). William was the son of Thomas W. Wingo and Elizabeth W. Baldwin. Callie was the daughter of Thomas E. Gibson and Susan S. Horrell.
Amanda’s maternal grandfather was Jesse Warren Armistead, Jr. (the son of Jesse Warren Armistead and Mary/Lizzie Elizabeth King). Amanda’s great-grandfather Jesse was the son of Joel Colley Armistead and Sarah/Sallie E. Sparks. Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of Benjamin F. King and Cornelia Amelia Simmons.
Amanda’s maternal grandmother was Margaret June Beauchamp (the daughter of Charles Croghan/Crogan Beauchamp and Lucia P. Jackson). Charles was the son of John C. Beauchamp and Ella Gregg. Lucia was the daughter of John L. Jackson and Margaret W. Allen.
Amanda’s patrilineal line can be traced back to her eighth great-grandfather, Augustine Bearse/Austin Bearce. According to a tale written down by Franklin Bearce, Augustine was a Gypsy (Romani) who was deported from England to Massachusetts and married Mary “Little Dove” Hyanno, a Wampanoag Native American woman. Many people have questioned the credibility of Franklin and regard the tale as a legend. There is no proof, beside Franklin’s writing, that Augustine married a woman named Mary or a Native American woman. However, their son Joseph Bearse, Amanda’s ninth great-grandfather, was buried in a Native American cemetery, which might add credibility to the tale. It is also not clear whether Augustine was really of Romani descent.
The surname Wingo is likely to be an anglicized version of the French Huguenot surname Vigneron/Vigneau, meaning “winegrower.”
Sources: Genealogy of Amanda Bearse –
Amanda’s father on the 1930 census –
Amanda’s father on the 1940 census –
Obituary of Amanda’s father –
Information about Amanda’s ancestor, Augustine Bearse –
Amanda’s mother on the 1940 census –
Obituary of Amanda’s mother –
Genealogy of Amanda’s maternal grandfather, Jesse Warren Armistead, Jr. (focusing on his father’s side) –
