Susan (Lawrence) Sherman (abt. 1545 - abt. 1610)

Born about 1545 in Moze, Essex, England [uncertain]

Wife of Henry Sherman — married 14 Jun 1568 in Moze, Essex, England

Descendants

Died about 13 Sep 1610 at about age 65 in Dedham, Lexden, Essex, England

Biography

Birth and Parents

Kay Haden observes that Michael Johnson Wood's research reveals that Susan was certainly Susan Lawrence, probably born say 1548, the daughter of John Lawrence, a minister. The span of births of John Lawrence's children suggest that he probably was twice married but the name of the wives has not been discovered. There was likely also a daughter who married Gilbert Hills.^[1]

Susan Lawrence was born about 1548 in England^[2]

Susan Lawrence was the daughter of Rev. John Lawrence, born about 1500. ^[3]

Currently there are two profiles for John Lawrence, one of which could be her father:

• John Lawrence, born 1500
• John Lawrence, born 1500

Siblings

1. John Lawrence (1525 - 1610) ^[4]
2. Alice Lawrence (1538 - ) ^[4]
3. James Lawrence (1540 - ) ^[4]
4. Margaret Lawrence (1543 - ) ^[4]
5. Thomas Lawrence (1545 - ) ^[4]
6. Susan Lawrence (1548 - 1610) ^[4]
7. [Daughter] Lawrence (1552 - ) ^[4]

Marriage

Susan Lawrence married Henry Sherman "the elder" of Dedham, Essewx, clothier, at Moze, Essex, June 14, 1568 ^[5]

The Moze parish register records that "Henry Sherma & susan Lawrance were Maryed ye 14 of Junij 1568.”

Ann, daughter of Jhon Lawrance, was baptised in Moze on 21 May 1548 and Jane 26 August 1549. This would strongly suggest that the father of Susan Lawrence was a John (Jhon) Lawrence of Moze.

It has been argued that the Gilbert Hills referred to as brother and brother-in-law in the wills was the widower of Susan's sister. ^[6] Whilst a neat solution to the conundrum I have seen no evidence of the sister or the marriage.

Will, Death, Burial

Will

Susan's will was dated August 31, 1610, and her son Nathaniel Sherman was a legatee. ^[7]

She wrote her will 31 August 1610 in Dedham. It was proved 14 September 1610 in Dedham.^[2]

Susan Sherman wrote her will, 31 Aug 1610; her will was proved 12 Sep 1610, the same day as her husband's. ^[3]

Death

Susan Lawrence died about 13 September 1610 in Dedham, Essex, England. She was buried 14 September 1610 in Dedham. ^[2]

Date: 1610^[8]

Burial

She was buried in the St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard on High Street in Dedham. ^[2]

Children

Susan named sons Harry, Samuel, Daniel, Nathaniel, John, Ezekiel, and Edmund. Daughter, Pheabe ffenne and daughter Anne Whiting. [Anne was not mentioned in her father's will] ^[3]

Siusan gave gifts to the wives of her sons Samuel and Nathaniel. She gave a cow to Robert Salmon's son, her great Grandchild. She gave a giftt to Mary Sherman, daughter of Samuel. Brother Gilbert Hills. Black mare to Mr. Rogers. Petticote to Susan Galloway, daughter of cousin [nephew?] Edmund Galloway. Son Henry Sherman to be Executor. Edmund Galloway was a witness. Susan was buried at Dedham, Essex, 13 Sep 1610.^[3]

Research Notes

Transcription of Will

In the name of God Amen, the XXXI August, 1610, I Susan Shearman of Dedham in the County of Essex, who being sick of body but of good and perfect memory (God be thanked) do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme as followeth first I bequeath my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body to be bestowed in Christian burial. ^[9]

Item: I give unto Henry Shearman my son my silver and gilt salt and my best tapestry covering.

Item: I give unto Samuel Sherman my son my six silver spoons which my husband gave to me marked E and S.

Item: I give more unto Samuel Shearman my sonne my feather bed in the parlor with the bolster a paire of blankets and a covering.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Daniel Shearman my sonne the summe of £20 of lawful English money to be paid within three months after my decease.

Item: I give and bequeath more unto my son Daniel Shearman foure of my 8 beasts which my husband gave me and are marked out for my use.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Nathaniel Shearman my sonne the sum of £20 of lawful English money to be paid within 6 months after my decease.

Item: I give unto John Shearman my son my cubbord standing in ye parlour.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Ezekiel Shearman my sonne the summe of £10 of lawful English money to be paid him within 6 months after my decease.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Ezekiel my sonne my new silver cup.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Edmund Shearman my sonne the sum of £10 of lawful English money to be paid him within one moneth after my decease.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Edmund my son my bedstead in the parlour the flocke bed upon it and the flocke bolster and the yellowe rugg.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Phebe Fenne my daughter one cow my least silver cup and one of my needlework cushions.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Anne Whitting my daughter two beasts, one needlework cushion and my Danske cheste in ye parlour.

Item: I give unto my son Daniel's wief my best gowne.

Item: I give unto my son Nathaniel's weif my Danske chest which standeth in the guest chamber.

Item: I give unto Robert Salmon's son my great grandchild one cowe.

Item: I give unto Mary Shearman my sonne Samuel's daughter my joyned chest in the parlour.

Item: I give unto Susan Shearman my son Daniel's daughter my leaved table in the parlour.

Item: I give unto my Brother Gilbert Hilles the sum of 10s.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Mr. Rogers my black mare.

Item: I give unto Susan Galloway daughter of cosin Edmund Galloway my best violet petticoat. All the residue of my goods unbequeathed shall be equally divided amongst all my children.

Item: I ordain and make my son Henry Shearman my sole Executor to see this my last Will and Testament faithfully performed, and for his paines I give him the lease of the Rayes given me by my husband.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hande and seale the day and year above written.

The mark of

Susan Shearman

In the presence of :

Edmund Galloway

John Pye

Probatum fuit apud Chelmsford before Thomas Edwards, Sept. 12, 1610.

Henry Shearman, Executor

Consistory Court of London

Pook Hamer (no. 7) Leaf 13

F.D.S 33, 34

Did Susan have a middle name Renee?

Susan is frequently listed as Susan Renee Lawrance. That comes from a will, where she is listed as "Susan Re nee Lawrance" - meaning that her MAIDEN name was Lawrence - NOT a middle name of Renee... [Art's note]

Was Susan actually Susan Hills?

Many (mostly older) genealogists say Susan was Susan Hills. Here I defer to President Bush's genealogist and others, who say it was Susan Lawrence. Those earlier 19th century genealogists report that Susan Hills made a will in 1610 and was buried Sept. 13, 1610. Her husband, Henry Sherman was buried Aug. 28, 1610.

[Gilly Wood's note]: Wife Susan and brother-in-law Gilbert Hills are named in the Will of Henry Sherman clothier of Dedham dated 31 August 1610, proved 12 September 1610.

Gilbert Hills of Moze, Essex was living in August 1610 when he was called brother-in-law and brother respectively, in the Wills of Henry Sherman and his widow Susan. He was the son of Gilbert and Agnes (Sammes) Hills who married Anne Sammes, sister of Agnes.

The Sherman Genealogy states that she was Susan Lawrence. ^[3]

Kay Haden notes that the wills of both Henry and Susan refer to "brother Gilbert Hills" and mention no one of the name Lawrence. Was Susan perhaps "the widow Lawrence?" Many popular genealogies refer to this Henry's wife as Susan Hills. However, "brother" in that time period equally meant "brother-in-law". ^[3]

Was Susan's father John Lawrence?

(NB: John Lawrence of Fressingfield Suffolk married FIRST Anne Sammes, sister of Agnes)^[10]

[SImon Clarke note]: It would seem very unlikely that Susan Lawrence was the daughter of John Lawrence of Rumburgh, which is a long way from Moze - it has long been the custom for a marriage to be based on the bride's father's house.

Rev. John Lawrence was born about 1500. ^[4]

John may have married a relative of John Burward of Debach, Suffolk, who in his will of 12 Apr 1572, left lands in three parishes to the preacher's son John. ^[4]

There seems to be a long interval between the birth of the son John and the other children. Perhaps Rev. John was married more than one time.^[4]

The NEHGS Register's series of articles on the Sherman family, also noted the Lawrences. The Rev. John surely had a brother, James, born about 1505, of Dedham. James married Joan Thorpe, widow of William Thorpe who was buried at Dedham 3 Jan 1575/6 and then Barbara, surname unknown, who became guardian of William Thorpe's only granddaughter, Rose Havelocke, in 1576. ^[11]

Children

1. John Lawrence (1525 - 1610) ^[4]
2. Alice Lawrence (1538 - )^[4]
3. James Lawrence (1540 - )^[4]
4. Margaret Lawrence (1543 - )^[4]
5. Thomas Lawrence (1545 - )^[4]
6. Susan Lawrence (1548 - 1610)^[4]
7. [Daughter] Lawrence (1552 - )^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Michael johnson Wood. The Earliest Shermans of Dedham, Essex, and 4their Wives. NEHGB Register, Vol 167, Jan 2013, p. 325. Cited by Haden.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Family Search Susan Lawrence Accessed 3 September 2023 jhd
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Kay Haden. Our Family Profile for Susan Lawrence. Accessed 3 September 2023 jhd
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16} Kay Haden. Our Family Profile for Rev. John Lawrence Accessed 3 September 2023 jhd
5. ↑ Reg 67, p. 154, cited by Sherman, 73
6. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117802209/susan-sherman
7. ↑ Reg 50, p. 286, cited by Sherman, 97.
8. ↑ Source: #S15524 Data: Text: Date of Import: 5 Oct 2005
9. ↑ Will of Susan Sherman, widow of Henry Sherman of Dedham, Essex, England.
10. ↑ Source: #S6
11. ↑ Michael johnson Wood. The Earliest Shermans of Dedham, Essex, and 4their Wives. NEHGB Register, Vol 1`67, Jan 2013, p. 325. Cited by Haden.

Bibliography of Frequently Cited Works

• Sherman, Thomas Townsend (1920) Sherman Genealogy, including Families of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, England. Some Descendants of the Immigrants, Captain John Sherman, Reverend John Sherman, Edmund Sherman and Samuel Sherman, and the Descendents of Honorable Roger Sherman and Honorable Charles R. Sherman New York: Tobias.A. Wright, 1920. Digitized by Archive.com.
• Wood, Michael Johnson. (2012) “The Earliest Shermans of Dedham, Essex, and Their Wives,” Part I, Vol 166, page 245. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018);
  • https://www.americanancestors.org/DB202/i/13206/245/0 (subscription)
  • The Earliest Shermans of Dedham, Essex, and Their Wives", Part I (free to view)

See also:

• S6 The Earliest Shermans Of Dedham And Their Wives. by Michael Johnson Wood: Part 2: Henry Sherman The Younger And His Wife; Refer 7 & 8 pages 43; 44 and 45. Also for John Lawrence & Anne Sammes Refer 3; page 39. NEHGR Vol 167, January 2013, Whole Number 665; Page 35.
• S614 Cohan, Art. The Tallman Family (Rootsweb) -- Note: Author was dedicated Sherman family researcher, uses thorough references in database.
• S-778140540 Ancestry Family Trees. Tree #1, Tree #2.
• Wood, Michael Johnson. The Earliest Shermans of Dedham, Essex, and Their Wives, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 2013) Vol. 167, WN 665, Page 35.
• Source: S15524 Title: Phebe Bowman.ged.FTW