Sarah (Unknown) Shaw (abt. 1737 - bef. 1805)

Born about 1737 in Connecticut Colony [uncertain]

Wife of John Shaw — married before 1757 in Hartford, Connecticut Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 5 Dec 1805 before about age 68 in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Honi Kleine [send private message]

Biography

Note: This Sarah Shaw made a will dated 1 October 1805 in Hamilton County, Ohio, naming her children, Albin Shaw, Sallie Shaw, Huldah Rood, Knoles Shaw, & John Shaw, which indicated her husband was already deceased. Her will was proved during the Dec. Court of 1805. There is proof she was not Sarah Cole, who married John Holdershaw is 1760, and that these were totally separate families, with completely different children. SEE THAT HERE. Conversely, the widow of John Holdershaw, Sarah Shaw, made a request dated 4 May 1807 to the Probate Judge in Frankfort, Hancock, Mass., relinquishing her right of administration of the estate of her deceased husband John Holdershaw, requesting the appointment of Asa Bean.

Sarah, the subject of THIS profile, was the wife of John Shaw, Esq. The couple appears to have married by 1756, by the birth of a son, Knowles Shaw, at Wilbraham, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay. He was named as her son in her 1805 will. She was mother to the following children:

1. Knowles Shaw, b. 18 May 1757
2. Siana Shaw, b. 1758 d. 16 Nov 1789, age 31, m. Phinehas Newton, Jr. in 1776
3. Hulda Shaw, m. Reuben Rood in 1788
4. Albin Shaw, b. 3 Apr 1764
5. Sallie Shaw
6. John Shaw

Sarah's last name at birth, and the date of her marriage, have not been found. She could have been born in Connecticut or Massachusetts. She has been "assigned" the middle name "Albin" which does not appear to be supported by documentation. She DID have a son named Albin, suggesting this may have been a family name. She also had a son named Knowles, suggesting this could also have been a family name. There is no documentation supporting the LNAB of "Cole" for Sarah. She, and her brave pioneering family, have been horribly conflated with another, and they deserve better.

Some time prior to August of 1799, about 1791 as near as can be estimated, John Shaw, Esq. and his wife Sarah moved to the unincorporated town of Cincinnati in the County of Hamilton in the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio. The conflict between civil authority and military authority in the infant settlement is well documented, and Knowles Shaw was an unfortunate party in this conflict. A letter from John Cleves Symmes, dated 15 August 1791, complains of "a very decent citizen by the name of Shaw, from New England" having been put in irons and his house burnt, which was built outside the bounds of the current Symmes Purchase, but well outside the military district. Symmes letter of 15th June 1792, identifies "Knoles" Shaw, as a settler who's house was burnt by Capt. John Armstrong, acting under the direction of then Gov. Gen. Arthur Sinclair.^[1] Several of Sarah's grandchildren claimed to have been born in Ohio, as early as 1794, in later census records. There is also specific proof son Albin Shaw and wife, and their daughter Huldah, then wife of Reuben Rood [Rude], between January 1791 and April 1791, bought and sold property located in Ohio County, Virginia in the newly incorporated Town of Charlestown (now Wellsburg, WV), just prior to coming to Ohio. Whether John and Sarah Shaw were also there, has not been determined, but it makes sense the family may have rendezvoused there. This location would have given the family access to float the Ohio River to Cincinnati, formerly and briefly Losantiville, first settled as Columbia by Benjamin Stites in 1788, where Fort Washington was constructed in 1789. What is known, is their family all congregated at this place with the exception of daughter Siana Newton, who had died in Hartford, Connecticut in 1789. John Shaw's family were among the first settlers of Crosby Township in Hamilton County.

This Indenture made the fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven-hundred and ninety nine between Aaron Cadwell of the Town of Cincinnati in the County of Hamilton and Territory north west of the River Ohio Esq of the one part and John Shaw of the same County & Territory Esquire of the other part witnesseth that the said Aaron Cadwell for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred sixty dollars to him in hand paid by the said John Shaw...all that certain lot tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and six acres and two thirds of an acre (strict measure) situate and being in the County aforesaid being a part of and in the North East corner of a Section of land containing six hundred and forty acres and numbered in the plan of the Miami Purchase the Twentieth Section in the Third Township East of the Great Miami and the second entire range of Townships North of the Ohio according to the plan of the said Miami Purchase as aforesaid...

[signed] Aaron Cadwell

Acknowledged in the presence of

Arthur St. Clair, Junr

John S. Wills.^[2]

The will of widow Sarah Shaw was dated 1st October 1805. It identifies her deceased husband John Shaw, and indicates that his estate was not yet settled. The will was witnessed by Israel Willey and Elias Hedges and presented for probate 5th December 1805 in Hamilton County Court. She named their two daughters; Sallie Shaw [also transcribed as Salla] and Huldah Rood, sons; John Shaw, "Knoles" Shaw, and Albin Shaw, and named Judah Willey [Justice of the Peace in Hamilton Co.] her sole executor. ^[3]

The following deed, dated 26th November 1804, identifies all of the children named in Sarah's will, and an apparent daughter, who had died in Hartford, Connecticut sometime prior.

This Indenture made this Twenty sixth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight-hundred and four between Albin Shaw of the County of Hamilton and State of Ohio of the one part and Knowles Shaw, John Shaw, Salla Shaw, Rueben Rood and Huldah Rood his wife [m. 8 June 1788 at Wilbraham] all of the County of Hamilton aforesaid and heirs at law of John Shaw, esquire, late of Hamilton County aforesaid deceased and the heirs at law of Sinai Newton [m. Phinehas Newton, Jr. int. pub. 21 Dec 1776 at Wilbraham], late of the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut, deceased, who was an heir at law of the said John Shaw, deceased, of the other part Witnesseth that the said Albin Shaw for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred dollars to him in hand well and truly paid to him by the said John Shaw, Esq, in the lifetime of him the said John Shaw...Wit: Hartman Vantress & Judah Willey. ^[4]

Will

In the name of God I Sarah Shaw of Colerain in the County of Hamilton and State of Ohio being far advanced in years and in a low state of health not knowing the date nor hour of my death and being of sound memory blessed be almighty God for the same. Do make publish and declare this my last Will and testament in manner and form following that is to say Firstly, that all my lawful debts and funeral charges be paid out of my Estate not otherwise disposed of. Secondly, I give my gold beeds unto my daughter Sallie Shaw. Thirdly, I give my stone nubbs unto my Daughter Huldah Rood Forthly, I give all my wearing apparel unto my two daughter Salla Shaw and Huldah Rood to be equally divided between them. Fifthly, I give my mare and colt unto my son John Shaw. Sixthly, I give unto my daughter Salla Shaw Ten dollars and to be by her at her discretion paid unto my daughter Huldah Rood. Seventhly, I give unto my son Knoles Shaw Thirty dollars to be paid unto him by my Executor within Eighteen months after my my decease. Eightly I give unto my son Albin Shaw Thirty Dollars to be paid unto him by my Executor within Eighteen months after my my decease. And Lastly, I give all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate goods or chattles, with what may be due to me towards my right of dower in the Estate of John Shaw my deceased husband unto my son John Shaw and daughter Salla Shaw to be equally divided between them. And I do hereby constitute and appoint Judah Willey to be my lone and sole Executor on this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former and other wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the first day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five.

Sarah (her X Mark) Shaw

Signed sealed and delivered and declared by the testatrix to be her last Will and Testament in the Presence of us, Elias Hedges, Israel Willey

Sources

1. ↑ [1] Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens by Charles T. Greve. Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co., 1904. pp. 171, 191 & 224.
2. ↑ [2] 5 Aug 1799 Indenture from Aaron Cadwell Esq, of Cincinnati to John Shaw, Esq. of Cincinnati...106 2/3 acres in S20 T3 of Miami Purchase. Rec: 14 Feb 1800. Hamilton Co., Ohio Deed Book 2, p. 235.
3. ↑ Will of Sarah Shaw, widow of John Shaw, dated 1 Oct 1805, proved 5 Dec 1805. Re-recorded from original probate record. Hamilton Co., OH Will Book 9, p. 487-489.
4. ↑ [3] 26 Nov 1804 Deed from Albin Shaw to heirs of John Shaw, dec'd. Hamilton Co., OH Deed Book F1, p. 101.

Research Notes

• [4] 3 Jan 1791 Indenture from Charles & Ruth Prather of Charls Town, Ohio Co., VA to Albin Shaw of the same place...5 messuages & Lots in the Town of Charls Town...Wit: Elzey Swearengin James Griffith. & Ohio Co., VA Deed Book 2, p.114.
• [5] 3 Jan 1791 Indenture from Charles & Ruth Prather of Charls Town, Ohio Co., VA to Reuben Rood of the same place...4 messuages & Lots in the Town of Charls Town...Wit: Elzey Swearengin James Griffith. & Ohio Co., VA Deed Book 2, p.112.
• [6] 7 Feb 1791 Indenture from Reuben Rood & Huldah his wife of Charls Town, Ohio Co., VA to William McKinley of West Liberty in the County aforesaid...two lots of ground in Charls Town...Wit: Charles Prather, Richard Spear & Joseph Wells. Ohio Co., VA Deed Book 2, p. 225.
• [7] 4 April 1791 Indenture from Albin Shaw & Eunice his wife of Charls Town in the County of Ohio and Commonwealth of Virginia to Andrew Snider of the same place...one messuage & Lot in the Town of Charls Town...Wit: William McMachan & James Griffith. Ohio Co., VA Deed Book 2, p. 153.
• [8] 16 April 1791 Indenture from Reuben Rood & Huldah his wife of Charls Town, Ohio Co., VA to Alexander Wells of the County of Washington and State of Pennsylvania...two messuages and lots of ground in Charls Town...conveyed by Charles & Ruth Prather to said Reuben Rood by deed dated 3 Jan 1791.
• Reuben Rude was in Hamilton County in 1799. [9]
• One Reuben Rude died of Cholera in Butler County in 1834.[10]

NONE of the following records, previously placed on this profile, appear to pertain to Sarah and her family.

• American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI): Gen. Column of the " Boston Transcript". 1906-1941.( the Greatest Single Source of Material For Gen. Data For the N.e. Area and For the Period 1600-1800. Completely Indexed in the Index.): 22 Aug 1910, 1309. Vol. 32, Pg 196. Sarah Albin Cole, Bn: 9 Sep 1738. Tertiary source. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/29775063?h=659867.
• Massachusetts, Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850: New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1850: Page 289. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61401/images/dvm_primsrc000028-00288?pId=30242598. (pp 289). and https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61401/images/dvm_primsrc000028-00913?pId=45258651 (pp 554).
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988: Sarah Cole Married, Dec 4, 1760 in Orleans, Massachusetts, Spouse: John Holder Shaw. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2495/images/40369_271431__0002-00055?pId=58777081.
• Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol. 1 and 2: Roser Susan E. iMayflower Births and Deaths: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants/i. Volumes 1 & 2. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992. “Decedents of John Cole and Ruth Snow: Sarah Cole, pg. 40. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/3718/images/mayflowerbdii-002073.41?pId=1939.
• FindaGrave: Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219610882/sarah-cole?_gl=1*d3demo*_ga*Mjk0MTc0NzM3LjE2ODE4NDcyODE.*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*N2I2ODZkYmQtNjI1NC00MzcyLTgxNmMtMzU1ZGEwMDdhM2NlLjEwLjEuMTY4MjAyNTgwNS4zNy4wLjA.
• Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812: Surrey History Centre; Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: EG/1/3: Baptism Dec 4, 1744, Egham, St John, Surrey, England: Sarah Cole. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/4790/images/40761_311953-00230?pId=369885.