Hello,
I am also researching this family... but I don't know for sure if James and Robert were brothers... I am assuming they were as James was born in PEI and other families from this area arrived at PEI, some of them moved on to Miramichi and St. John but some settled here at Richbucto as well. I haven't done much looking for this family in PEI yet, but if you are looking for parents of Robert and James my guess is that the Island Register might be able to help you... Robert has children born in PEI 1818 and then in Ford's Mills in 1823 plus Robert was born 1790 in Surry, England so that gives you quite specific years to look for the parents having other children born in England or PEI. Some of the older records show the surname spelled Bears. Hope this helps, please feel free to email me! Thanks, Elaine