Abiel Shearman

James married Penelope Franklin 8 Sep 1748, Jamestown, RI. Penelope (daughter of Abel Franklin and Sarah Remington) was born 26 Jul 1730, Jamestown, RI; died 1752. [Group Sheet]

Abiel married Dorcas Gardner 20 Oct 1712. [Group Sheet]

Abel married Sarah Remington Between 1713 and 1714. Sarah (daughter of Stephen Remington and Penelope Parker) was born Abt 29 Aug 1688, Jamestown, RI; died 10 Dec 1778, Jamestown, RI; was buried 12 Dec 1778, Narragansett, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)
Her exact date of birth is not legible in the Jamestown records. It says "Sarah Rementon 2nd daughter of Stephen & Penellopy born __ August 1688 at Jamestown."

Notes:

James and his wife (or wives) had seventeen children.

One online genealogy says he was born c1655, at or near Dartmouth, MA. He supposedly married Elizabeth c1681, and had three children: James, Lydia, & Abel. He may have married second to Elizabeth Hammond, 17 Apr 1695 ar Swansea, MA. He is probably related to the other Franklin families of Swansea, but no precise connection has been found.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)
The RI Cemetery Database lists the grave of a Capt. Stephen Remington in the Friends' Cemetery on Eldrid Ave. in Jamestown. It says he lived from c. 1661 to 19 Feb 1739. Is this the same individual? Probably. However, his brother Daniel was born in Oct 1661, so that makes it less likely that Stephen was born that year, unless he was a twin.

The old records at the town hall in Jamestown, "Proprietors Records, Vol. I, 1672 - 1859," contain clerks' notes on the town meetings over the years. Many of these proprietors' meetings, convened quarterly (at least), were held at "Stephen Remmentun's house." For example, on the following dates the meetings were at his house: 18th day of 1698, 19 July 1698, 18 July 1699, 17 Oct 1699, 16 July 1700, 15 Oct 1700, 20th of May 1701, 15 July 1701, 21 Oct 1701, and possibly others. Meeting notes also show that Stephen was listed as present and a member of the Town Council in May 1702 (unclear date?) and 20th day of 5th month 1703 (this would have been 20 July).

On 15 March 1697/98, Stephen Rementon was chosen Grand Juryman. Stephen Remmgtun was chosen one of the foremen of the Town Council on 20 April 1703, along with Joseph Morey, John Hull, and John Weeden.

The notes for 20 July 1697 record that "Stephen Reminton is licensed to keep a house of Entertainment for Strangers & Town dwellers for one whole year." Besides telling a lot about this individual, these various notes mentioned above show the many creative spellings of the name, and also provide clues as to how it was pronounced.

On 27 Oct 1708, Jahleel Brenton, as executor of the will of William Brenton, deceased, filed an appeal with the RI General Assembly against Stephen Remington. At issue were 256 acres on Jamestown. The decision was in favor of the appellant, allowing him to redeem the mortgage of this land. However, Stephen appealed to The Crown and -- although the wording is somewhat obtuse -- was favored by the outcome. An official royal document (probably the original) is on file in the RI Historical Society Library manuscript archives, giving the details of the royal decree: "at Court of Kensington 31 July 1710 . . . Present, The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty and six others named . . . the petition and appeal of Stephen Remington in the Colony of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, from a Decree given against him at a General Assembly in the Colony in Oct. 1708 in favor of Jahleel Brenton & it appearing that the proceedings in the applicant's cause hath been erroneous & that the Court had no jurisdiction therein. Her majesty with the advice of the Privy Council is pleased to order as it is hereby ordered that the government . . . of the Colony take notice & govern themselves herein as to them shall respectively appertain."

Angela Cosby's data indicates that Stephen was born in 1659 at Rowley, Essex, MA. She is a descendant. Other info from Angela: 1688, Grand Jury; 15 July 1695 elected Ensign and subsequently was Captain.

Boyd Scott Remington's ancestry chart says Stephen became a freeman in 1696, and was a Captain in the Jamestown militia.

Alden G. Beaman gives his year of birth as c. 1666, and says he administered his estate 2 March 1738. He and his family lived in Jamestown, RI, according to "Representative Men of Old Families of Southeastern MA," V. I, p. 173.

More information on Stephen and his family can be found in John O. Austin's "The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island."

Stephen married Penelope Parker Abt 1685. Penelope (daughter of Peter Parker and Sarah Cooke) was born 1666, England or Shrewsbury, NJ; died Aft 1740, Jamestown, RI; was buried , Historical Cemetery 6, Jamestown, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)
The will of Thomas Cook, dated 6 Feb 1674 at Portsmouth, mentions a Penellope Parker under age 18, daughter of Peter & Sarah (prob. Cook) Parker. She would have been born after 1656. Also, an estate settlement of Peter Parker, d. 3 Oct 1727 Westerly, mentions a daughter Penelope.