John Shearman Sr. (1710 - aft. 1784)

Born 28 Mar 1710 in Stafford, Stafford County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine Shearman — married 1736 in Bertie, North Carolina

Descendants

Died after 4 Apr 1784 after age 74 in Oxford, Granville County, North Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karen Goss [send private message]

Biography

John Shearman Sr. performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.

John Shearman Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A006020.

John was born 28 March 1710 in Bertie, North Carolina. John married Catharine in 1736.

Their children:

1. John Shearman
2. Frances Sherman
3. Eleanor Shearman
4. Sarah Sherman
5. Michael Shearmon
6. Francis Shearman
7. Mercy Shearman
8. Lucretia Shearmon
9. Daughter Shearman

Granville, NC 1755^[1]

John supported the American Revolution by signing the Oath of Allegiance.^[2][3]

In the state census of North Carolina in 1784, John's household was in Granville and comprised of:^[4]

• 1 White Male 21-60
• 2 White Male under 21 & over 60
• 4 White Female all ages
• 2 Blacks 12-50
• 3 Blacks under 12 & above 50
• 12 Total

He died in 1784 in Granville, North Carolina. John's estate passed probate on 24 March 1784.^[5][6]

Will John Shearmon, Senr.-1784

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Shearmon Senr. of the County of Granville and State of North Carolina, being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, but calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make, ordain, constitute and appoint this my last will and testament revoking all other wills heretofore made -

That is to say, first of all I recommend my soul into the Hands of God that gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried at the descression of my Exctr. hereafter named and as Touching my worldly estate that it has pleased God to bless one with, I give and Bequeath in the following manner, To Wit:

Item - I Give to my Beloved Wife, Catherine Shearmon, to be her own property and to be by her given to whom she pleaseth, one negro girl named Debey, about two years old, three feather Beds & furniture and all my Earthenware & likewise, I lend to my said wife, during her natural life or widdowhood the residue of my whole Estate.

Item - I give to my son, Michael Shearman, after the death or marriage of my said wife Catherine Shearmon, the land on the South East side of Little Creek a fork of Stoney Creek whereon I now live including my dwelling house and plantation to him and heirs forever. Also 4 Negroes to wit; Joe, Dorcas, George and Sue. Also my house clock and two work horses which he may choose out of all my stock and 1 case of bottles, fire logs and my large iron pot, one pewter dish and basin, one cart together with all my working tools and books, 2 books excepted and one iron pot rack.

Item - I give to my son, John Shearmon, one silver watch and two books of Bunyan works. One large and the other a small one.

Item - I give to my daughter, Ellenor Meadows, my riding chair and all the geer thereunto belonging.

Item - I give to my son in law, Phillip Lewis, one Negroe woman named Bet with her increase if any. He paying 2/3 of her value to my sons, John Shearmon and Mishael Shearmon. Viz One third part to each of them after the wench is valued by 2 honest men.

Item - I give to my son in law, John Cash, one Negroe girl named Nan which is now in his possession to him and his heirs forever.

Item - I give to my granddaughter, Mercy Lewis, wife of Thomas Lewis, one Negroe girl named Amey to her and her heirs forever.

"Item - I give to my granddaughter Sarah Lewis daughter of Philip Lewis one Negroe named Jane to her & her heirs forever.

Item - I give, after the death or marriage of my said wife Catherine Shearmon all the rest of my stock, household goods and estate whatever that has not yet been given away to my sons John Shearman and Mishael Shearmon to be equally divided between them two and lastly I do nominate and appoint my son in law Phillip Lewis and Mishael Shearmon executors of my will.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 24th day of March A.D. one thousand Seven hundred & eighty four. Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of

William Gill

Elizabeth (x) Parker

Priscilla (x) Badget

James (x) Brinkley

John n (his mark) Shearman {seal}

Whereas, I, John Shearmon, Senator of the County of Granville and State of North Carolina made the above will on the 24th day of March last and therein did not leave nor give anything to my son in law, Thomas Goss, and am not fully satified with that part of my will and it is my desire that the before mentioned and former will as far as it respects my wife Catherine, Mischael, John, Ellenor Meadows, Phillip Lewis, John Cash, Mercy Lewis, Sarah Lewis, and John S. and Mischael S. remain in full force but I do give and bequeath to the above said Thomas Goss 5 shillings current money to him and his heirs forever and it is my desire that this be esteemed a codecil or an amendment to the former will this 4th day of April Seventeen Eighty Four.

Signed and acknowledged in presence of

John Shearmon

William Gill Priscilla Badget

Elizabeth Parker

James Brinkley

Granville County, May court A.D. 1784, this will and codecil of John Shearmon, Senator, was duly proved by the oaths of Wm Gill, Priscilla Badget and Elisabeth Parker and ordered to be recorded. Then Phillip Lewis and Mishael Shearmon qualified as Executors to said will.

Reuben Scarey C.C."^[7]

Slaves

• 1784: 2 Blacks 12-50, 3 Blacks under 12 & above 50
• Shearman-Debey
• Shearman-Joe
• Shearman-Dorcas
• Shearman-George
• Shearman-Sue
• Shearman-Bet
• Shearman-Nan
• Shearman-Amey
• Shearman-Jane

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. North Carolina Census, 1790-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
2. ↑ DAR: Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 8 Jan 2022), "Record of John Sherman, Sr.", Ancestor # A006020.
3. ↑ Colonial Records: "Index to the colonial and state records of North Carolina covering volumes i-xxv"
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 15793 #1674 (accessed 8 January 2022)
4. ↑ 1787 Census: "North Carolina, U.S., State Census, 1784-1787"
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3005 #2986 (accessed 8 January 2022)
   John Shearmon in Granville.
5. ↑ Probate: "North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998"
   Wills, 1746-1943; Index, 1749-1943; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Granville County), North Carolina. Superior Court (Granville County); Probate Place: Granville, North Carolina
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9061 #2447635 (accessed 8 January 2022)
   John Shearman Sen probate on 24 Mar 1784.
6. ↑ Abstract: "North Carolina, U.S., Will Abstracts, 1760-1800"
   Ancestry Record 3945 #4152 (accessed 8 January 2022)
   Name: John Sr. Shearmon; Probate Year: 1784; Estimated Death Year: Abt 1784; Inferred Place of Death: North Carolina, USA; Full Abstract: 1784 http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncgranville/wills/wl-misc_granv.htm#shearmon
7. ↑ Probate: "North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998"
   Wills, 1746-1943; Index, 1749-1943; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Granville County), North Carolina. Superior Court (Granville County); Probate Place: Granville, North Carolina
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9061 #2447635 (accessed 22 May 2023)