From David Hunter dhunter@atlantic.net
Son of Abiel Shurtleff Sr. of Plymouth, MA and Mary LeBaron.
Abiel Shurtleff SR, b 1733, d. 1826 Carver, Plymouth, MA
Sergeant Abiel Shurtleff served with Plymouth County Militia, Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolution.
Per Daughters of the American Revolution, Abiel Shurtleff is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A103362. He died in Carver, Plymouth, MA
Abiel Shurtleff JR , b 1776 in Carver, Plympton Plymouth, MA, d. 1861 in Philadelphia, Jefferson Co, NY, and buried in Shurtleff Cemetery, Theresa, Jefferson County. He married Catharine Churchill on Mar 12, 1802 in Little Falls, NY, moved to LeRay, Jefferson NY before 1804.
Their children include:
Town of Philadelphia was formed from part of LeRay Township in 1821. Per 1840 records, Abiel owned a 265 acre farm in Philadelphia, NY. valued at $573. Later, iron ore discovered on his farm on the Ore Bed Road, was used at Carthage, Redwood, Antwerp and Sterlingville blast furnaces.
Abiel was elected first Commissioner of Highways for the Town of Philadelphia on April 3, 1821. He also was chosen 'assessor' at their first town meeting March 5, 1822. He is buried in the Shurtleff Cemetery, Theresa, Jefferson Co, NY Find a Grave #74148169
Abiel's daughter Sophia Shurtleff m. James Merrill; who had daughter Nancy Jane Merrill b 1836 who m. William Blevins; who had daughter Ida Blevins b 1865 who m. Alvaro Jay Hunter (my great grandfather). BTW: Abiel Jr had a brother James Shurtleff, who was the first 'town supervisor' or mayor of LeRay Township.
Here is his biodata
James Shurtleff was born on 7 April 1768, in Carver, Plymouth, MA Colony, son of Abiel Shurtleff SR, and Mary LeBaron. He m. Nov 7, 1795 Mary 'Polly' Atwood. By 1800 he and Polly with children had moved to LeRay (or LeRayville), Jefferson Co, NY where in 1807 he was LeRay's first town supervisor. Polly died 1814, and by 1817 James had moved to Theresa (town named for James LeRay de Chaumont's daughter, wife of the Marquis de Gouvello, in France) and built large stone house in 1821, used as an 'inn' as part of a 223 acre farm. He died on 1 August 1846, in Plessis, Alexandria, Jefferson Co, NY age of 78, and is buried in Plessis Brookside Cemetery, Jefferson, NY. He and Polly had 10 children
Both Abiel JR and his brother James Shurtleff descended from early immigrant to America, William Shurtleff who arrived in Plymouth MA about 1640 from England. Here is brief bio on him:
William Shurtleff, b May 16, 1624, Hallanshire, Ecclesfield, W. Riding, Yorkshire, was of the 'Shiercliffe' family from Ecclesfield, England. His name was changed to 'Shurtleff' in America. Came to the colonies on an unknown ship in 1634, indentured as a carpenter's apprentice to Thomas Clark. He later worked as house builder in Plymouth MA area.... in 1643 William enrolled for military service for the colony beginning Jun 5 1644 . On June 7, 1659 William Shurtleff was chosen 'Constable for Plymouth' and on a list of names of "such as stand propounded to take up their freedom".
David W. Hunter, Vero Beach, FL
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