Alice (Unknown) Shaw (abt. 1604 - 1656)

Born about 1604 in England [uncertain]

Wife of John Shaw Sr — married 1618 in England

Descendants

Died 6 Mar 1656 at about age 52 in Plymouth Colony

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No Evidence Surname is Phillips Although some genealogies show that Alice's last name is Phillips, this likely a confusion with the Alice, wife of John Shaw of Hallifax, England and Weymouth, MA. That John Shaw married Alice Phillips the daughter or Nicholas Phillips in Weymouth, (referred to Alice Shaw in his will). The Great Migration Begins refers to John Shaw of Plymouth's wife as "Alice_____ ."

Biography

Alice was the wife of John Shaw who immigrated from England to Plymouth in about 1627. The first known record of Alice appears to be an agreement signed by John and his wife Alice 3 Nov 1653 for Benjamin Savary (son of Thomas and Annis Savary) to live with them until he was twenty-one. Andersen estimates their marriage by this date (or by 1622 if Alice was the mother of his children.)

John Shaw of Middleborough is in the book: "John Shaw of Plymouth, Massachusetts, The descendants of John Shaw of Plymouth, Massachusetts" and his wife Alice UNKNOWN who died in 1654, by Margaret Johnson Drake (1972). From that book: [Their known] 4 children are (all born England?):

1. John Shaw b. 1622 England. (went to RI nothing known of him since)

2. Abigail Shaw b. 1624 England. d. 10/24/1694 ", m. 1643 Stephen Bryant. [The New England Historical and Genealogical Register ran a series on descendants of Stephen Bryant Abigail Shaw, beg. 153;434 - 1999

3. James Shaw b. 1626 England. d. 1679 Middleboro, MA, m. 12/24/1652 @ Plymouth, MA, Mary Mitchell, b. Plymouth, d/o Experience Mitchell Jane ____ . James Shaw settled in CT.

4. Deacon Jonathan Shaw b. about 1629 MA. d. Plymouth bef 7/30/1701 (will proved 9/25/1701), m. 1/22/1656/57 in Plymouth, Phebe Watson b. 1637 Plymouth, d/o of George Watson Phebe Hicks. He m. (2) Aug. 1683 in Plymouth, Persis (Dunham) Pratt, widow of Benajah Pratt, dau of Deacon John Dunham Abigail _____ (no ch. by 2d wife; she had ch. by Benajah)

Arrival to Plymouth was 1627 - According to New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635

Alice, wife of John Shaw of Plymouth: The earliest known mention of a named wife for John Shaw of Plymouth occurs in a 1653 Plymouth Colony indenture which speaks of "John Shaw senior Inhabitant of the towne of New Plymouth and Alice Shaw his wife."

The identity of Alice, wife of John Shaw of Plymouth, is not known; though many genealogists identify her as Alice Philips, daughter of Nicolas Philips. If Alice Philips was the wife of John Shaw of Plymouth, then she was a second or third wife who was not the mother of his children. Evidence: All of the known children of John Shaw of Plymouth were already born by 1632; whereas Alice Philips, daughter of Nicolas Philips, was not herself born until about 1632.

Mar. 6, 1654, John Shaw's wife, Alice, died. In poor health John returned to England to die. On Jan. 30, 1663, a deed of gift was recorded in Plymouth whereby he distributed his land to his heirs. This deed reads as follows: "Know all men by these presents that I, John Shaw, of Plymouth in New England, Senior have and do by these presents give unto my son-in-law Stephen Bryant of Plymouth all that, my whole share of land allotted unto me near unto Namassaket both upland and meadow, with all and singular, the appurtenances there unto belonging to the said Stephen Bryant and his heirs and assigns forever. Also, I do give unto my son-in-law, Stephen Bryant, another portion of land called by the name of Rehoboth, which land was formerly granted unto me lying on the south-side of Smelt River according as it is bounded and set out with all appurtences there unto belong to the said Stephen Bryant, his heirs, etc. I do declare by these presents that I do give unto my son, James, one-half my purchase lands at Cushena and one-fourth to son Jonathan and one-fourth to Stephen Bryant. Me daughter, Abigail Bryant, my bed, etc., also my chest."

Research Notes

Abigail Sewell-5 removed as mother of Alice, as sources do not support her being the mother, and Phillips as an other last name. (Thomas-7679 02:03, 7 July 2018 (UTC))

Sources

• Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, vol. 3: P - W, (Boston: NEHGS, 1995). View with NEHGS Subscription
• Shaw, Jonathan A., John Shaw of Plymouth Colony, Purchaser and Canal Builder, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1997) Vol. 151, Page 261.