Mary (2) Shearman

Notes:

Mary probably married Thomas Cook(e) as his second wife (he had a first wife Mary living 14 May 1660). See RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 9 No. 1, p. 2. This book also questions whether she ever was the wife of Samuel Wilbur, as shown in Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of RI.

The identity of Mary second wife of Jeremiah is discussed in New England Historical and Genealogal Register Vol 128 p 152ff, by Jane Fletcher Fiske. In 1678 Mary was still the widow of Thomas when she took receipt from her stepson John Cooke for his legacy (see the above-noted source). She probably married Jeremiah Brown sometime in 1679, as their first child Samuel was born March 1680. She could not have been Mary Havens, as suggested by some, because William Havens mentions his daughter Mary Cook in his will dated 13 (or 30) March 1680. Also, on 31 March 1680 Jeremiah Brown and his wife Mary took receipt from Oliver and Phebe Arnold for Phebe's legacy from her grandfather Thomas Cooke; Phebe was son of Thomas Jr. (designated as III on my tree). so it is apparent that Mary Cook(e) who married Jeremiah Brown was the widow of Thomas, and that she could not have been the daughter of William Havens mentioned in his will.

Mary married Samuel Shadrack Wilbur 1 Apr 1668. Samuel was born 1 Apr 1648; died Bef 1696. [Group Sheet]

Mary married Thomas "Butcher" COOKE, Jr. Aft 1670. Thomas (son of Thomas "Butcher" COOKE and Joanna Unknown) was born Apr 1600, Netherbury, Dorset, England; was christened 13 Apr 1600, St. Mary's, Netherbury, Dorset, England; died Abt May 1677, Portsmouth, RI. [Group Sheet]

Mary married Jeremiah Brown Abt 1679. Jeremiah (son of Chad Brown and Elizabeth Sharparrowe) was born Abt 1634; died Between 16 Sep and 30 Oct 1690. [Group Sheet]

1. Samuel Brown was born Mar 1679/80.
2. Hannah Brown was born Between 1688 and 1889.

Notes:

Philip emigrated to New England in 1633 or 1634, first settling in Roxbury, MA, near Boston. Being involved in some of the religious controversy in Massachusetts Bay Colony at the time, he and others went south to Providence Plantations, where Roger Williams advised them to purchase Aquidneck Island (Rhode Island) from the Indians. This purchase was completed on 24 March 1638. Their government was established in July 1638, with William Coddington chosen as governor, and Philip Shearman secretary.

Thus, he was the first Secretary (or General Recorder) of the Colony of Rhode Island. The early records, still at Portsmouth, show Philip to have been a very neat and expert writer.

In Rhode Island, Philip joined the Society of Friends (Quakers). He was know for being a devout but determined man. (see "The Sherman Family" by Rev. David Sherman, p. 189)

The Portsmouth Society of Friends was founded in 1658. The present meeting house was completed in 1700. Now known as the Portsmouth Evangelical Friends Church, it is the oldest active Friends' Church in the country.

Some genealogies have the following ancestry for Philip Shearman:
parents -- Samuel & Philippa (Ward) Shearman, of Dedham, Essex, England
grandparents -- Henry & Susan (Hills or Lawrence) Shearman, of Dedham, Essex, England
gr-grandparents -- Henry & Agnes (Butler) Shearman, of Yaxley, Suffolk, England
gr-gr-grandparents -- Thomas & Jane (Waller) Shearman, of Norfolk & Suffolk, England
gr-gr-gr-grandparents -- John & Agnes (Fuller) Shearman, of Suffolk, England

His son Eber may have been born in England. Possibly Philip was already married when he came to America. Philip's will mentions his wife Sarah; sons Eber, Peleg, Edmund, Sampson, Samuel, John, & Benjamin; and daughters Sarah, Mary, Hannah, & Phelep.

Philip married Sarah ODDING Between 1628 and 1634, England or MA. Sarah (daughter of George ODDING and Margaret Unknown) was born 5 Feb 1609/10; died Aft 31 Jul 1681. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register Vol 167 p 152 says that Philip and Sarah were married in Roxbury, MA, c 1633.

Samuel — Philippa WARD. [Group Sheet]

George — Margaret Unknown. Margaret was born Abt 1590. [Group Sheet]

Henry — Susan HILLS. [Group Sheet]