Isaac Shreve (1750 - abt. 1829)

Born 19 Aug 1750 in Mansfield Township, Burlington, New Jersey

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (Thorne) Shreve — married 17 Apr 1784 in Mansfield, Burlington, New Jersey, United States

Descendants

Died about 1829 at about age 78 in Mansfield Township, Burlington, New Jersey, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Melissa McLaughlin [send private message]

Biography

Isaac Shreve, the second child/son of Caleb and Abigail (Antrim) Shreve, was born about 1750; m. Abigail Thorn 25 Apr 1784, in Burlington Co., NJ. He died in 1829 in Mansfield, Burlington Co., NJ.

Isaac Shreve and his wife, Abigail, attended the Friends' meeting at Mansfield; they are buried in the Friends' graveyard, there, as are many others of the Shreve family. She survived him, living with her sons Charles, Isaac and Thomas. The former purchased a part of the homestead, on which he built a new home. The following is based on the recollections of a descendant, Mrs. Caroline Bridge:

"The 'Isaac Shreve homestead' consisted of one thousand or more acres of land, two miles south of Bordentown, NJ. The family residence was about one-fourth of a mile south of a place called 'the square.' The soil was very good and the financial condition of the family was excellent." "Originally, some Indian families continued to occupy part of the old place and were allowed peaceable possession of their lands until they died. They were regularly fed in winter by the Shreve family and the doors at night were not locked," sometimes the "Indians would enter the farm house. The Indians, in accordance with previous permission, would put wood" in the fireplace "and make a good fire, then go to the larder and get what was in sight, cook what they wished to eat, make some hot coffee, eat and drink in silence, put the remainder away carefully, sweep the floor, cover up the fire, shut the doors carefully and then retire to their wigwams in peace." Sometimes the Shreve family would check to see "if they had enough to eat... The last Indians to live on the property were two women named Tryphemia and Moll — no other name — who were taken care of while they lived."

"Isaac Shreve alwavs kept in his stable a horse which would pull the stages on their way from Philadelphia and New York out of the clay slough when the four stage horses were taken out after they had in vain tried it." The stage drivers and their passengers always "stopped on their way to partake of Mr. Shreve's hospitality."

"I was present (a child of five or six years) when grandmother was buried. The love, sympathy and patience of her and her children I never expect to see again on earth. I could appreciate them, although so young. I stayed awhile after the funeral, and was taken to the different homes on little visits. Everywhere it was the same. Peace and rest seem to have pervaded every home. No jarrings, no disputings, no complaining. I must give this tribute to the Shreve family. They were known everywhere for their peaceful traits and hospitality." Mrs. Caroline Bridge, the writer, continues  : "It is rather remarkable that in all my acquaintance with the Shreve family, of course very extensive, I have met with none who have not been either a Whig in the past or a staunch Republican in later times."

Children all born near Bordentown, NJ:

1. William b. 8 Dec 1784; m. Sarah Bryant; d. 16 Oct 1841.

2. Caleb b. 4 Sep 1786; unmarried; d. 5 May 1838

3. Zeriah b. 6 Nov 1788; m. John L Hancock, Mansfield 9 Jan 1816; d. 4 Apr 1855, Mansfield.

4. Hannah b. 24 Oct 1790; m. Caleb S Robbins, NJ 1818; d. 26 Jun 1864, Marlboro, PA.

5. Mahlon b. 2 Aug 1792; m. Eliza Bryant; d. 10 Dec 1850

6. Abigail b. 20 Aug 1794; d. quite young

7. Jane b. 5 Nov 1796; m. Peter R Carty, 1821/2, Lumberton; d. 12 Feb 1874, near Florence.

8. Isaac b. 4 Dec 1799; m. Rebecca Barton, 20 Oct 1842, Burlington Co.; d. 31 Jan 1865

9. Sarah b. 1 Apr 1801; m. Wm. R. Braddock, 30 Jan 1823; d. 17 Feb 1877, Medford.

10. Rebecca b. 22 Jan 1804; m. Thomas Gilbert, 6 Mar 1834; d. 1 Sep 1856

11. Charles D b. 29 Jul 1806; m. Julia A Foster, 28 Feb 1834, Camden; d. 9 Feb 1883, Bordentown.

12. Thomas b. 5 Oct 1808; unmarried; d. early life.

Sources

• "New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VKMZ-D4K : 4 April 2020), Isaac Shreeve and Abigail Thorn, 17 Apr 1784; citing Monmouth, New Jersey, United States, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton; FHL microfilm 802,941.
• Allen, Luther Prentice; The genealogy and history of the Shreve family from 1641;"; pp. 71-2; Greenfield, Illinois; 1901.