Stephen Shearman

Stephen married Sarah Freeman Abt 1721. Sarah was born Abt 1695; died Bef Oct 1730. [Group Sheet]

Stephen married Margaret Hackstone 18 Oct 1730, North Kingstown, RI. Margaret was born Abt 1705; died 17 Nov 1748. [Group Sheet]

1. Sylvester Shearman was born 13 Jul 1731, North Kingstown, RI; died 1774.

Stephen married Giffie Kettelle 15 Jul 1749. Giffie was born Abt 1695, RI; died Aft 1772. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eber possibly married second, Sophia A. Brown.

Eber — Mary Unknown. Mary was born Between 1645 and 1655. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Some genealogies show that the wife of Eber Shearman was Mary Wilcox, b. 1639. However, genealogist Alden G. Beaman wrote that he had found no evidence that Eber's wife was Mary Wilcox (see RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 91), who probably would have been too old to be the mother of Eber's younger children. So, it may have been a different Mary, or perhaps he was married to two Marys.

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]