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Descendants of William Shreve

Generation No. 3

3. THOMAS⁵ SHERIFF (WILLIAM⁴ SHREVE, WILLIAM³, LAWRENCE² SHERIFF, LAWRENCE¹) was born Abt. 1630 in Plymouth, MA, and died Abt. 1675 in Portsmouth, RI. He married MARTHA.

Notes for THOMAS SHERIFF:
In the Lawrence Sheriff ancestry, Thomas Shreve is the only (named) son of William Shreve who married Elizabeth (III). In the traditional ancestry, he is the son of William Shreve married Oara Oara (IV).

There has been a persistent (but unproven) family tale that has William (married Oara Oara) as the first Shreve in America, and that he had three sons, John, Caleb and William. This tale emerges in Shreve family history as early as 1895, when a Samuel H. Shreve of New York wrote in a letter to L. P. Allen that William Shreve married Oara Oara and:
After their marriage, the story of which is quite romantic, they came to Portsmouth, R. I. They had positively two sons, Caleb and John, and probably a third, William, who left no descendants (Allen, p. 8).

Recently this tale has been replicated in World Family Trees [4: 3265] with the note that William was a probable brother of Caleb and John and apparently left no descendants. The source is ascribed to Allen. Allen, however, makes no mention of a William of this generation except in the context of the Samuel Shreve letter (which Allen rejects a few pages later as an interesting family history). This tale is part of the "traditional ancestry" of the Shreves and should be disinguished from an ancestry based on detailed and painstaking research.

As far as we know there are only the two Williams of the traditional ancestry, born (if you accept the traditional genealogy) about 1560 and 1592 respectively. This third and younger "William" born circa 1620 is apparently a family fable. Thomas may have had brothers or sisters, but no mention of them appears in history; nor did Thomas, apparently, name any of his eight children William. Finally, this William could not have been the father of Thomas, as Thomas was at least eighteen to twenty-four years old, if not older, in 1635, when he was apparently indentured.

Thus, we list these individuals here as "possible" brothers of Thomas, but more likely they are "figments" of the traditional ancestry whose names are partially derived by foreshortening from individuals born a full generation later, e.g., Thomas Sheriff's second and third sons, John and Caleb.

According to The Landed Gentry, Thomas:

Went to America and settled in Rhode Island, and by Martha his wife (m. Before 1649, and who m. 2ndly Thomas Hazard, and 3rdly Lewis Hues.

At least one part of this account is clearly incorrect. There is clear documentary evidence from colonial records that Thomas Sherrif did not first settle in Rhode Island. Rather, he appears first in the records of Plymouth Colony. He is mentioned as early as 1638 and was probably in Plymouth well before that time, most likely arriving between 1633 and1636. Thus, Thomas appears to have been among the earliest residents of Massachusetts.

Some researchers have claimed that Thomas was born about 1620 - 1624; there have even been claims in some WFT (World Family Tree) genealogies that Thomas was born or christened about 1624 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island. [WFT 2:4810]. Even if the birth and/or christening date is correct, the location is doubtful. The birth or christening could not possibly have taken place in Portsmouth, as the town was not founded until1638. It was founded by William Coddington, John Clarke, Anne Hutchinson, and other associates from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, with the original name of Pocasset. If Thomas were christened in America, it would have to have been in Plymouth itself, and he would have to have arrived as an infant on one of the first few ships disembarking at Plymouth. Yet, the passenger lists for the early ships are reasonably well-known, and Plymouth Colony is justly famous for the wealth of records it generated. To date no record or documentary evidence has emerged that Thomas' s parents ever set foot on American soil.

It is more likely that Thomas came over to America as an indentured servant, as a so-called "free-willer," someone who was not a prisoner or a pauper, but took indenture to pay for the Atlantic passage. This is particularly true after 1630 when the bulk of the so-called "Great Migration" occured. Between 1620 and 1630 the population of the Plymouth colony and environs only reaches about 300. After 1630, many more ships arrive and the population swells in ten years to over 20,000.

Indenture was one of the most common ways for free-willers to pay for their passage. The practice in those days was to book passage and then allow the captain to "sell" off an indenture to another more prosperous passenger. According to the Plymouth Church Records [12:32], Thomas had apparently been indentured to John Barnes and then, "On the fourth of August 1638 John Barnes sold Robert Bartlett the remaining three years of Thomas Shreve's indenture." Robert Bartlet is mentioned in the 1627 Division of the Cattle as a member of the company of ffrancis Eaton.

The indentures were of two lengths, a shorter of five years and a longer of seven years. If we assume a five-year indenture, its term would have begun in 1635-1636. If Thomas were contracted into a seven-year indenture, then it would have begun in 1633-1634. This points to an arrival date inside a three-year window between 1633 and1636. The indenture also lends credence to a birth date earlier than 1620, as he would have been only 13-15 years of age booking passage on a ship and selling his indenture. Not impossible, but perhaps unlikely. With a birth date of 1610 he would have been 23-26 years of age.

From the early records it appears Thomas lived initially in Plymouth and then purchased land in Little Compton, now Rhode Island, but originally a part of Massachusetts. The original part of the "Old Colony" of Plymouth covered a much larger territory. At that time, Little Compton was occupied by an Indian tribe called the "Saconets" (Hills 1977, p. 82).

Thomas Shreve appears numerous times in the records of colonial America. On December 7, 1641 he was cited as a complainant in an action of trespass in Plymouth, Massachusetts (Allen, 8):
He and William Brown complained against James Laxford in an action of trespass. They attached four goats and a lamb in the hands of Samuel Eddy and Joshua Pratt, amounting to 33s, and several other sums in other person's hands (GDRI, 177).

In 1643 Thomas Shreve's name appears in a long list of those able to bear arms in the several townships. Note his name in proximity to the name of Robert Bartlett, who held his indenture from the years 1638 through 1641 [RCNP, 187-188].

The Names of all the Males that are able to beare Armes from xvj. Yeares old to 60 Yeares, wthin the seurall Towneshipps

Plymouth
. . .
Robte Bartlett,
Thom Shreeue,
. . .

In 1652 Thomas appears in the will of Webb Audey (Web Adey, Addy Webb), "probably the best-recorded antisocial pauper in Plymouth Colony [GMB; 13]" both as creditor and as beneficiary [MD XI, p. 8-9].

The last Will and Testaments of Webb Audey late Deceased exhibited at the court of asistants holden at Plym: the 4th of May 1652 and by the said court ordered to bee Recorded

Wee whose names are underwritten being p'sent with Webb Audey the 4th Day of March Anno I)omi 1651 the said Webb Audey being of Desposing memory Declared before us his last will and Testament in these words following viz That hee had sold an house to Thomas Sherive for 4 pounds and five shillings and had Received six shillings in pt of payment; and hee would have one pound ten shillings therof to bee given to Mr John Reyner the Teacher and the Rest to Defray the charges of his buriall; and being Demaunded what he would Doe wi~th his other house hee said there was poore enough in the Towne; and he gave unto goodman Pratt one bushell of corn halfe a bushell to goodnan Savory one peck to goodman Sherive all to bee paied out of Debts which hee said were then owing unto him

John Bower
Martha Sherive
Susanna Jeney

The Inventory of the estate of Webb Audey exhibbited at court abovesaid and likewise ordered to bee Recorded March the 17th 1651

On two separate occassions (May 1652 and June 9, 1653), Thomas is mentioned in connection with an Edward Holman. Holman was: "Ordered not to keep company with Martha the wife of Thomas Shrive." Holman, by all evidence was a ne'er do well who had been fined on several occasions for drunkeness and Sabbath-breaking (PCR, 3:6, 37).

On June 20, 1654 Thomas Sherive sells a house in Plymouth to John Smith. The deed is interesting in that it provides significant detail as to the location of Shreve's house [MD VII, 72-73:
Bradford Govr

Memorandum the 20th of June 1654 That Thomas Sherive Doth acknowlidge that for and in consideration of the summe of five & fiftys to him alreddy payed by John Smith senir of Plymouth; hee hath freely and absolutely bargained and sould unto the said John Smith a certaine house and garden plott on which it Standeth being Scittuate in the town of Plymouth aforsaid in the south street on the banke side next unto the brooke together with whatsoever fruit trees and all other appurtenances which are in upon or any way belonging unto the said house and garden plott and all other appurtenances privilidges and emunities belonging therunto unto the said John Smith his heires and assignes for ever the said prmises with all and singulare the said Thomas Sherive his Right title and enterest of and into the same to belong to the onely proper use and behoofe of him the said John Smith his heires and assignes for ever This sale was acknowlidged before Mr Bradford Govr by both pties the Day and yeare above written;

An interesting notation in the minutes of an April 16, 1657, hints at certain domestic difficulties [ERTP, 1656]:

At a toune meeting Aprill the i6 (1657)
it is Consented unto by Voate that Thomas sshreiff hath libertie to sitt doune for the present upon that house plott that John Porter hath giuen him libert[] to sitt doune upon for present: upon his wifes peacabl and good behauiour towards hir neighbours: untill he Can more Conueniently prouide for himself or the toune take further order Concerning them:

mr William Balston Philip Shearman and mr John Briggs are apoynted to speake With shreifs wife and William Charles and George Lawtons Wife and to giue them the best advise and Warning for ther own peace and the peace of the place

William Core is receiued a Tounesman amongst us: Richard Bordin william Almy John Porter william ffeborn John Sanford Jeames Sands are Chosen Commitioners for this toune to meet with
th[ ] Commitioners of the rest of tounes of the Collonie

In 1660 Thomas bought six acres of land in Plymouth at the "New Field" from Josias Cook [MD, 30]:
Prence Govr:

A writing appointed to bee Recorded
This is to testify to whom It may Conserne that I have sold to Thomas Sherive six acres of land that was mine that lay in the New feild att Plymouth; and Doe further promise by this bill that I nor any of mine neither my heires exequitors nor adminnestrators shall ever trouble or molest neither Thomas Sherive nor any that hee shall make sale of this land unto; and this was sold with the Consent of my wife
Dated this 25 of the 3d month by mee Josias Cooke

On December 10, 1666 he was a grantor in a conveyance in Portsmouth [GDRI, 177].
He deeded Thomas Hazard a quarter of a share in Misquamient and also paid him ,20, receiving in exchange therefor 30 acres in Portsmouth, and house, orchard, &c, all to belong to Thomas Hazard for life, and at decease of Thomas Hazard to be for Thomas Sheriff and wife Martha for their lives, and at death of both of them to go to 2d son John Sheriff and heirs, and for want of issue of John to go to 3d son Caleb Sheriff, &c.

Thomas Sheriff's inventory was made 11 June 1675:
House and land 15 pounds, horse and mare 7 pounds, two cows, three calves, five ewes, five lambs, eight shoats, a feather bed, six pillows, two bolsters, six blankets, ring, flock bed, fifty-six pounds of pewter, warming pan, silver dram cup, looking glass, etc. Total 218 pounds and 12 shillings (LCF).

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 17; Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volume I, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 1995; Austin, John Osborne, Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 177; Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth, E. L. Freeman & Sons, Providence, Rhode Island, 1901, p. 1656; Hills, Leon Clark, History and Genealogy of the Mayflower Planters, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1977; Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, The Mayflower Descendant, Volume VIII; Boston, 1906, p. 72-73; Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, The Mayflower Descendant, Volume XI; Boston, 1909, p. 8-9; Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, The Mayflower Descendant, Volume XV; Boston, 1913, p. 30; Order of Founders and Patriots of America, Founders of Early American Families, Cleveland, Ohio, 1985, p. 283; Plymouth Church Records 12:32; Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, William White, Boston, Massachusetts, 1857, p. 87-88; Wilbour, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 567.

The order of birth of the children of Thomas and Martha is a traditional one, established from reputable secondary sources, including Allen's Genealogy and History of the Shreve Family, Little Compton Families, Vital Records of Rhode Island and the Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island. An analysis of marriage dates and the dates of birth of first-born children can be used determine approximate dates of birth. Still, it may be that the traditional order of birth would have to be revised if new primary documents were to emerge. This genealogy uses the following birth order:

1. Thomas
2. John
3. Caleb
4. Mary
5. Susannah
6. Daniel
7. Elizabeth
8. Sarah

Ancestry.com/The Great Migration Begins 1)On 4 March 1651/2 [the day of his death] "Webb Audey" made a nuncupative will, in which he noted that he had sold a house to Thomas Sherive for �4 5s., of which only 6s. had been paid, and asked that of the remainder left due, �1 10s. go to Mr. John Reyner, teacher, and the rest be used for funeral expenses; then, "being demanded what he would do with his other house, he said there was poor enough in the town"; finally, out of the debts due him, he bequeathed one bushel of corn to Goodman Pratt, and a half-bushel of corn each to Goodman Savory and Goodman Sherive

2)

Notes for MARTHA:
SHERRIF, MARTHA (Maiden Name Unknown)
Born: ca. 1635
Died: ca. 1691
Married: Thomas Sherrif ca. 1649, 2nd Thomas Hazard, 3rd Lewis Hues

Martha's second husband, Thomas Hazard made a declaration (just after her first husband's death 1675, May 29):

this is to satisfy all men, whom it may anyway concern, whereas there is a promise of matrimony betwixt Thomas Hazard and Martha Sheriff, yet I the foresaid Thomas Hazard do take the said Martha Sheriff for her own person, without having anything to do with her estate or with anything that is hers, &c (GDRI, 177).

According to Allen, Lewis Hues:
Absconded within seven weeks of their marriage, taking with him much property belonging to his wife, which occasioned her to transfer her remaining property subject to certain provisions for her maintenance during her lifetime to her son John.

Austin provides further information:
Martha Hues, wife of Lewis Hues, made agreement with her son John Shrieff, which she had by her former husband. Whereas said Lewis Hues was lawfully married to his above named wife Martha, took an occasion privately to go away within six or seven weeks after he was married, taking away great part of her estate that was hers in her former husband's time. She now surrenders all her estate real and personal to her son John, excepting provisions, bedding, &c., and such things as she formerly gave her daughter Susanna Sheriff, John Sheriff to pay his mother ,6, on Dec. 25th yearly for life, and thirty pounds good cheese and two barrels cider, to barrels apples, firewood, foom at north east end of house she now lives in, east part of garden, and keep of a horse or mare, &c (GDRI, 178).

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 27; Austin, John Osborne, Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 177; Wilroth, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 568.

Children of THOMAS SHERIFF and MARTHA are:

THOMAS⁶ SHREVE, b. September 02, 1649.

Notes for THOMAS SHREVE:
SHREVE or SHERIFF, THOMAS
Born: September 2, 1649 in Plymouth, Massachusetts [GDRI; LCF; RPC;TOMO]
Died:
Married:

Thomas's date of birth is one of the few birth, or even more likely, christening dates, that appears in multiple records. Significantly, an entry in the Plymouth Regester of the Beirth of theire Children mentions that a:

Ths Sherive, the sonne of Ths Sherive, was born on the 2cond of September.
No other information is apparently available.

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 27; Austin, John Osborne, Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 178; Hornor, William S., This Old Monmouth of Ours, Polyanthos, Cottonport, New Jersey, 1974, p. 348; Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., Records of the Plymouth Colony, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland, 1979, p. 7; Wilroth, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 567.

ii.

JOHN SHREVE, b. Abt. 1650; d. October 14, 1739; m. JANE HAVENS, Abt. August 1686, Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Notes for JOHN SHREVE:
SHREVE or SHERIFF, JOHN
Born: Probably in Plymouth, Massachusetts or Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Died: October 14, 1739 [GDRI; LCF; TOMO]
Married: August 1686 to Jane Havens in Portsmouth, Rhode Island by John Lawton, assistant [GDRI;LCF;TOMO;VRRI]

A birth or christening date of September 02, 1649 in Portsmouth, Rhode has beein claimed for John [WFT 2:4810]. There is no documentary evidence of this that we have found. A question is raised relative to such an early birth date by looking at John's 1686 marriage to Jane Havens. He would have been thirty-seven at the time of marriage if he were born in 1649. It is a possibility that John was born later, perhaps closer to Caleb (if one maintains the traditional birth order), or that he was born after Caleb and the traditional birth order would need to be revised. Assuming he was twenty-one to twenty-five at the time of marriage, then a range of birth dates between 1661 and 1665 seems reasonable. These speculations, of course, await further documentary support.

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 27; Arnold, James, N., Vital Records of Rhode Island 1636-1850, Naragansett Historical Publishing Co, Providence, R.I., 1893, p 40; Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 178; Hornor, William S., This Old Monmouth of Ours, Polyanthos, Cottonport, New Jersey, 1974, p. 348 ; Wilroth, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 567.

4.	iii.		CALEB SHREVE, b. Abt. 1652; d. Abt. 1741, Burlington County, NJ.
	iv.		MARY SHREVE, b. Abt. 1654; d. Abt. 1706; m. JOSEPH SHEFFIELD.

Notes for MARY SHREVE:
SHEFFIELD, MARY (SHREVE or SHERIFF)
Born: Probably Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Died: After 1706 [GDRI] 1706 [LCF]; After March 17, 1718/1719 [RIHS]
Married: February 12, 1685 [GDRI; LCF; TOMO] February 12, 1684 [VRRI] to Joseph Sheffield ;

WFT 2:4810 claims Mary Shreve born about 1655 , died 1707. There is no independent evidence of a birth date to substantiate this claim. Mary and Joseph Sheffield were married in 1685. If, indeed, she was born in 1655, she would have been thirty years old. This is a rather late marriage date in the context of 17th Century colonial society. Further, her husband Joseph Sheffield was born in 1661. It seems probable that she was at least as old as, if not younger, than her husband. Thus if we assume Mary was about the same age as her husband, and if we assume the birth order is correct, and it possibly is not, then Mary should be born after 1660.

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 27; Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 178; Hornor, William S., This Old Monmouth of Ours, Polyanthos, Cottonport, New Jersey, 1974, p. 348 ; Rhode Island Historical Society Collection, vol XXI, p. 132; Wilroth, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 568.

SUSANNAH SHREVE, b. Abt. 1656; d. Abt. 1714; m. UNKNOWN THOMAS.

Notes for SUSANNAH SHREVE:
THOMAS, SUSANNAH (SHREVE or SHERIFF)
Born: Probably Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Died: After 1714 [GDRI] 1719 [LCF]
Married: ( ) Thomas [GDRI; TOMO]

WFT2:4810 claims a birth date circa 1657 and death date about 1714-1715. No documentation to substantiate this claim is available.

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 27; Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 177; Hornor, William S., This Old Monmouth of Ours, Polyanthos, Cottonport, New Jersey, 1974, p. 348; Wilroth, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 567.

vi.

DANIEL SHREVE, b. Abt. 1658; m. JANE UNKNOWN; d. Abt. 1737.

Notes for DANIEL SHREVE:
SHREVE or SHERIFF, DANIEL
Born: 1660 [VRRI] Little Compton, Rhode Island [GDRI; VRRI]
Died: 1737 [GDRI; LCF; TOMO]
Married: 1687 [TOMO] 1688 to Jane ( ) [GDRI; LCF]

WFT 2:4810 reports death date of June 08, 1737 in Rhode Island; this is, in fact the date of Daniel's will. Daniel Shreve's will was made June 8, 1737 and proved December 20, 1737. Recorded in the Taunton Probate Book 8.

Daniel Shriff of LC, husbandman, being very aged...To wife Jane Shriff one third of all estate both real and personal. Executor son Daniel Shriff... (Wilroth, 1967).

He also left 10 shillings each to his three sons two daughters and a grandson.

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 27; Arnold, James, N., Vital Records of Rhode Island 1636-1850, Naragansett Historical Publishing Co, Providence, R.I., 1893, p 40; Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 177; Hornor, William S., This Old Monmouth of Ours, Polyanthos, Cottonport, New Jersey, 1974, p. 348; Wilroth, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 568.

vii.

ELIZABETH SHREVE, b. Abt. 1660; d. June 15, 1719; m. EDWARD CARTER.

Notes for ELIZABETH SHREVE:
CARTER, ELIZABETH (SHREVE or SHERIFF)
Born: Probably Little Compton, Rhode Island
Died: June 5, 1719 [GDRI; LCF;TOMO]
Married: Edward Carter [GDRI;LCF;TOMO]

WFT 2:4810 claims a birth date circa 1660 and christening about 1661. No documentation to substantiate this claim is available. [GDRI] claims no issue. If Daniel is born about 1660, and the birth order holds, then Elizabeth must have been born after this date.

References: Allen, Luther P., History and Genealogy of the Shreve Family p. 27; Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, New York, 1937, p. 177; Hornor, William S., This Old Monmouth of Ours, Polyanthos, Cottonport, New Jersey, 1974, p. 348; Wilroth, Benjamin Franklin, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, Little Compton, Rhode Island, 1967, p. 568.

viii.

SARAH SHREVE, b. Abt. 1666; d. June 24, 1732.

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