JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK

PIONEER GODFREY J. SHEW FAMILY

GODFREY J. SHEW

Birth: 8 Oct 1789 Northampton Twp., Fish House, Montgomery Co., NY; "For a long time in Dominie Van Horne's records, as far as the middle initials of names are concerned, it is impossible to distinquish between the letters I. J. and T. The custom of the son adopting his father's first name for his middle name is a survival from the Dutch patronymics. That is to say, if the father's name was John or Jacob, the middle initial of the son would be J. Apparently for a time, Dominie Van Horne wrote the letters, I, J and T exactly the same... The middle initials I and J are constantly confused in most (early) church records. For some unknown reason, many sons having fathers named John or Jacob turn up in later years with the middle initial I. Throughout Dominie Van Horne's records, wherever the middle initials I, J, or T appear, genealogists need feel no hesitancy about adopting the letter best suited to the name of the father, irrespective of the manner in which the entry has been transcribed."

Marriage: 24 Sep 1815 Northampton Twp., Montgomery Co., NY.

Religion: circa __ ___ 1820 Batchellerville, Edinburgh Twp., Saratoga Co., NY; He was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Batchellerville which was built in 1815. Abraham Beecher, his wife's father was also an elder. The first preacher in 1814 was Rev. N.M.Wells. Henry Herrick was an officer along with John Ford.

Census: __ ___ 1820 Providence Twp, Saratoga Co., NY; Farmer, age 26-45; Living with wife (16-26), 3 sons(under 10) & 1 daughter (under 10). Living on next Farm to brother Lodowick P. Shew & John Roosevelt.

Moved: __ ___ 1820 Jefferson Co, NY; It is apparent that Godfrey's was the first of the various Shew families to move to Jefferson Co. He may have acquired land directly from James LeRay. I have an original 1812 map with original script handwriting on it in French. "Pour M LeRay de Chaumont de le part de son devotte ami, David Parish". Both were big land owners & wheeler dealers in the area.

Real estate: __ ___ ____ Evans Mills, LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY; According to the Watertown Daily Times, the Godfrey I Shew Farm was located on the farm owned up until about 1912 by William Comstock.

Real estate: 28 Oct 1823 Providence Twp., Saratoga Co., NY; According to the Ballston Spa Gazette, he owned a farm in the Glen Patent.

Religion: 12 Feb 1825 Evans Mills, LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY; The Congregational Church of Le Ray, at Evans' Mills, was formed, January 13th, 1814. It soon joined the Black River Association, and February 12th, 1825, became Presbyterian. In 1841, it united with the Ogdensburgh (old school) Presbytery. In 1826, the present church was built at a cost of $2,600, of which Mr. Le Ray gave $200.

Census: __ ___ 1830 Providence Twp., Saratoga Co., NY; Living with wife, 5 sons, & 3 daughters. Neighbor to brother Lodowick P. Shew Sr.

Religion: __ ___ ____ Evans Mills, LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY; "Forty years ago Mr. Godfrey I. Shew, an intelligent and active elder in the Presbyterian church at Evans Mills, N.Y., did much to interest his friends and neighbors in religious reading. Good books were few. A single volume did service in several families, and gifts from the Tract Society were especially appreciated. Mr. Shew was often found going from house to house, talking on religious subjects, and leaving a book or a tract behind him. On one occasion a tract was given to the wife of a skeptical neighbor (the husband being away), which treated the divine character and saving work of Jesus Christ, in opposition to deism. It contained unanswerable proofs on that topic, as it seemed to Mr. Shew; and as it had greatly interested him, he thought it would be of benefit to his neighbor. But the tract was returned, with a letter in which the neighbor said he did not like "fanaticks," and did not wish to be "abused." It was written in that spirit which is often manifested when an irreligious man is made to see his ingratitude to God, and his personal guild in rejecting Christianity. This was the first instance where any opposition had arisen in the several visits of Mr. Shew, and he was not a little surprised; but he wrote a kind letter in reply, stating that he was misunderstood, and hoped that the great question of Immortality might not go unheeded, whatever indiscretion, if any, had been committed. He called attention to the change of feeling that grows out of a change of heart towards religious things, and added; "Among the instructions of Christ, we find 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, that ye may be the children of you Father which is in heaven.' Our hearts by nature abhor such sentiments, and hence the necessity of a regeneration of heart, that we may be prepared for usefulness in life, for a peaceful and happy death, and for a glorious immortality beyond this world of trial."

Whether this skeptical neighbor was greatly benefited by the tract and the Christian letter of Elder Shew, I am not now able to state; but the work of spreading religious reading in that region has not lost its effect to this day."

Religion: 29 Jun 1834 Evans Mills, LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY; Received by Letter from Galway, NY with wife Betsey Shew into the Evans Mills Congregational Church.

Census: __ ___ 1835 Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY; Living with wife, 3 sons, 2 daughters.

Census: __ ___ 1840 LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY; Living with 3 sons, 5 daughter & wife. (Indexed as "Godfrey I Show").

Real estate: 1 Apr 1848 Fulton Co., NY; Godfrey I. Shew & his wife Betsy Beecher deeded land in Fulton Co. to his sister Catherine Shew & her husband Leman Beecher & 6 other Beecher families (possibly siblings of Betsy Beecher Shew?).

Census: 23 Jul 1850 LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY; Indexed as "Sherr", age 60, farmer ($4000 farm value) Living with wife Betsey (52), son Abram M (10), 5 daughters, & 2 Canadian servants.

Moved: __ ___ 1851 Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY.

Religion: __ ___ ____ 403 Washington Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY; The First Presbyterian Church: In 1820, a site was obtained at the corner of Washington and Academy Streets, and a church structure of stone was erected. It was dedicated on January 1, 1821 and received into the St. Lawrence Presbytery. The building cost $9,000 to build. It was two stories tall, with a dome-like tower over the entrance. The interior was lit by two tiers of windows, above and below the galleries which occupied the two sides and rear.

The present brick church was built in 1851 on this same site when the congregation outgrew the stone church and no suitable plan was devised to enlarge it. It was dedicated on April 10, 1851. The building was 102 feet long, 63 feet wide, and the walls were 16 inches thick. The total cost was $17,000. In 1852 a new chapel was built as an addition.

Real estate: 1 May 1852 218 Academy Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY; Godfrey I. Shew, a retired farmer, purchased the house at 218 Academy St from Ray G. & Marsha Vaughn, and resided there with his family 11 years until his death. The day after he bought it, May 2, 1852, Godfrey transferred title to the property to his 4 daughters H. Elizabeth, Lydia D., Frances L. and Emily D. Three of the daughters later married, Elizabeth's husband being [Zephaniah] Cary Eddy, while Lydia's was Benjamin Barbour, & Emily married a Goulding and moved to Glens Falls. Anna married a [William] Sherman and went to Oakland, California, and Frances L. Shew also went there. Mrs. Eddy however was the one who continued to live in this house after her parents died. On Sept 26, 1892 all of the girls sold the house after 40 years of ownership.

Religion: 31 Dec 1854 Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY; He joined the Watertown Congregational Church and was dismissed by Letter from Evans Mills Congregational Church, NY with wife Betsy Shew.

Census: 9 Jul 1860 Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY; Godfrey "I" Shew, Farmer (value $2000) Living with his wife Betsey, 3 daughters, 2 sons.

Death: 5 Oct 1863 Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY; He died Monday at his home, 24 Academy St at age 74.

Father: Jacob SHEW Sr. (15 Apr 1763-23 Jan 1853)

Mother: Hannah (Annatje) Margaretha Lodowyck PUTMAN (9 Dec 1764-5 Oct 1849)

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Spouse: Elizabeth Betsey BEECHER

Birth: 1 Apr 1798 Connecticut.

Death: 12 May 1876 Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut; Aged 78 years, 1 month, & 12 days.

Father: Deacon Abraham BEECHER Jr. (20 Jun 1771-27 Aug 1845)

Mother: Lydia Day FULLER (9 Jun 1770-11 Oct 1847)

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Eleven Known Children

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?/M Dr. Joel SHEW

Birth: 13 Nov 1816 Providence Twp., Saratoga Co., NY.

Marriage: 14 Apr 1839 Marie Louise BARNEY (21 Dec 1821-3 Sep 1877); NYC, NY; (Or Apr 14, 1838) This was the first marriage for both of them.

Marriage: 14 Apr 1839 Marie Louise BARNEY (21 Dec 1821-3 Sep 1877); NYC, NY; (Or Apr 14, 1838) This was the first marriage for both of them. She was age 16. or West Union, NY.

Daughter: __ ___ 1843 Maria Mary Louise SHEW (Jr)

Daughter: 16 Sep 1845 Alma Cecilia SHEW; New York City, NY.

Son: 14 Apr 1849 Henry Chapin SHEW; New York City, New York Co., NY; Apparently he was named after Henry D Chapin. According to a letter owned by Ann Beneduce, Henry was the son of Joel Shew, but legally adopted by Roland Houghton, thus accounting for the 1849 birth prior to Marie's 1850 marriage. This was also implied by a letter from Sophie Barney to her brother Hiram.

Marriage: __ ___ 1850 Mary Marietta Kirkwood KENT (27 Aug 1827-31 Dec 1907); This was the 1st marriage for Mary (age 23), & the 2nd marriage for Joel Shew. Mary was the younger sister of Rev Oliver Wellington's wife Augusta.

Son: __ ___ 1853 William Kent SHEW; New York City, NY.

Death: 6 Oct 1855 Oyster Bay, Queens Co., NY; Death due to enlarged liver damage from chemical exposure while producing daguerreotype photographs 15 years earlier.

Daughter: __ Mar 1856 Bessie Beecher SHEW; Long Island, Kings Co., NY.

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?/M Truman B. SHEW Birth: __ ___ 1817 NY; He died in 31st year according to gravestone. Probably B in middle name is for Beecher & he was undoubtably named after his mother's brother Truman Beecher.

Death: 30 Aug 1848 Spelling is Truman B. according to gravestone. "Died in 31st year". According to obituary of Truman's brother Joel, both of them died of chemical poisoning from producing daguerreotypes.

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?/M William J. SHEW

Birth: 23 Mar 1820 Jefferson Co., NY; William was born on a farm "near Watertown". Died aged 82 years, 10 months & 10 days.

Marriage: circa __ ___ 1848 Elizabeth Marie N. STUDLEY (28 Apr 1819-11 Oct 1889); Boston, Massachusetts; This was the 1st marriage for William. Daughter: __ Feb 1848 Theodora "Dora" Alice SHEW; Boston, Massachusetts.

Marriage: __ ___ 1891 Annie Katherine HAVEN (1849-1930); San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California; This was 2nd marriage for William & 2nd marriage for Annie. She was 29 years younger than William.

Death: 5 Feb 1903 San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California; Aged 82 years, 10 months & 10 days.

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?/F Elizabeth H. SHEW; (Watertown Daily Times article);

Birth: __ ___ 1822 Saratoga Co., NY.

Marriage: __ ___ ____ Zephaniah Carey EDDY (12 Mar 1825-18 Mar 1868); This was the 2nd marriage for Zephaniah.

Son: 8 Sep 1860 William EDDY; Evans Mills, LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY.

Death: __ ___ ____

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?/M Myron SHEW

Birth: __ ___ 1824 Leray Twp., Jefferson Co., NY.

Marriage: __ ___ ____ Mary E.H. (--?--) (1827-)

Death: 27 Dec 1890 San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California; "In the 87th year of his age."

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?/M Jacob SHEW

Birth: __ ___ 1826 Watertown, NY.

Death: 3 Feb 1879 Market Street, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California; Business was poor & by his own report, very dull. then, on February 3, 1879, Jacob shot himself with a revolver.

"Jacob Shew, a well known photograper of San Francisco committed suicide monday morning at his gallery by blowing his brains out. Cause: pecuniary embarrassment."

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?/F Anna Margaret SHEW

Birth: 4 Apr 1829 Fulton Co., NY.

Marriage: 9 Nov 1858 William SHERMAN (9 Apr 1823-12 Sep 1884); 805 Stockton Street, near Sacramento Street, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California; They were married in the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco by Rev R.P. Cutler. This 1st church building was built in 1853. Thomas Starr King , who came from the East, was an exceedingly popular minister from 1860 -64. The congregation grew and a new church was built at 133 Geary Street, the present site of the Neiman-Marcus department store across from Union Square. King was a tireless worker in raising money for the American Sanitary Commission (which later became the Red Cross), and lectured statewide to keep California in the Union. He preached only seven sermons in the new church before he died at the age of 39.

Daughter: 5 Sep 1859 Elizabeth Mitchell SHERMAN; San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California; (rootsweb).

Son: 3 Jul 1863 William Beecher SHERMAN; San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California; (rootsweb).

Son: 28 Jun 1866 Francis Harvey "Frank" SHERMAN; San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California.

Death: 23 Apr 1904 Oakland, Alameda Co., California; or 28th, of pneumonia. Survived by one daughter & her sisters Laura & Lydia, both of Oakland.

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?/F Lydia D. SHEW; (Watertown Daily Times article);

Birth: __ Oct 1831 NY.

Marriage: 4 Dec 1860 Benjamin Cory BARBER (1 Jan 1807-19 Feb 1879); Terra Haute, Indiana; OrNov 4, marriage performed by Rev. F. Snyder. Marriage: 27 Jan 1869 Elizabeth Collins PALMER (Sep 1843-19 Jan 1874); Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY; This was the 1st marriage for Abram; at the This was the 3rd marriage for Cory & first for Lydia.

Death: 8 Jan 1914 Oakland, Alameda Co., California; or 1919 Age 85. Died at home after a weeks illness.

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?/F Laura Frances SHEW

Birth: __ Sep 1836 Evans Mills, LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY.

Death: 9 Oct 1923 California; She outlived all of her siblings.

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?/F Emily D. SHEW; (Oswego Daily Palladium);

Birth: 17 Jun 1838 Evans Mills, LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY.

Marriage: 22 May 1866 Loren E GOULDING Jr (11 May 1833- )

Daughter: __ ___ ____ Fannie GOULDING

Daughter: __ ___ ____ Gertrude GOULDING

Death: 9 Sep 1894 Watertown, Jefferson Co, NY; Died of neuralgia of the heart 2 weeks after the death of her daughter Fannie.

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?/M Dr Abram Marvin SHEW

Birth: 18 Sep 1841 LeRay Twp., Jefferson Co., NY.

Marriage: 27 Jan 1869 Elizabeth Collins PALMER (Sep 1843-19 Jan 1874); Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY; This was the 1st marriage for Abram; at the First Presbyterian Church.

Son: 26 Feb 1870 Lewis Palmer SHEW; Connecticut.

Daughter: 27 Dec 1873 Alma Elizabeth SHEW; Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

Marriage: 12 Jun 1878 Clara L. BRADLEY (22 Apr 1854-22 Sep 1879); 306 Genessee St, Auburn, NY; This was the 2nd marriage for Abram, at residence of bride's parents.

Marriage: __ Nov 1884 Clara BROWN (Apr 1852-8 Mar 1915); Staten Island, NY; This was the 3rd wife for Abram.

Death: 14 Apr 1886 Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut; Death caused by appoplexy from a fall 2 months ago. Illness only came on 10 hours before death. He had fallen on the front steps of the hospital.

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Printed on: 24 Apr 2009
Prepared by:
Pete Shew
3915 S. Elliott Rd
Stockport, Ohio 43787
shewpm@gmail,com
740 557-3032
WWW.GodfreyShew.com
For further information, contact: Pete Shew