Godfrey Shew (circa 1734 - 1805), Northern New York State Pioneer, & his Descendants. He raised his family at Fish House, Town of Northampton in what was first Tryon Co., next Montgomery Co., & later Fulton Co., NY. Many family members also moved to Jefferson Co., NY. - Godfrey Shew Jr.

Godfrey Shew Jr.

M, b. 9 March 1771, d. 17 April 1853
To see the Original Source Document, click the icon at the end of each event. I am adding more as time permits. If you have a specific request, email me at Pete Shew & I will jump ahead & add your source requests.
Godfrey Shew Jr.|b. 9 Mar 1771\nd. 17 Apr 1853|p110.htm|Godfrey (John Godfrey) Shew Schuh Sr|b. c 1733\nd. Oct 1805|p1.htm|Katherine Catharina Phillippina Frey|b. c 1732\nd. 1804|p2.htm|||||||Johann H. Frey|b. c 1700\nd. 11 Nov 1778|p3454.htm|Maria M. Wolf|b. c 1700\nd. 11 Nov 1778|p3455.htm|
Charts:
Godfrey Shew (Jr) Descendants Chart
  • Birth: Godfrey Shew Jr. was born on 9 March 1771 at Northampton Twp., Fishhouse, Albany Co., NY, Godfrey Shew Jr was the first white person born in this village.1,2,3,4
    Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga, Vol I, page 60
  • He was the son of Godfrey (John Godfrey) Shew Schuh Sr and Katherine Catharina Phillippina Frey.
  • Note: On 10 May 1772. Tryon County formed from Albany County.
  • Christening: He was christened on 16 January 1782 at Fonda, Tryon Co., NY, At age 10 he was baptised along with his sister Sarah at the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga.5
  • Note: On 2 April 1784. Tryon County was renamed Montgomery County. The town of Caughnawaga originally embraced all that part of Montgomery county lying north of the Mohawk and east of a line extending from the "Nose" to Canada. In 1793 Caughnawaga was divided into Amsterdam, Broadalbin, Johnstown and Mayfield Townships.6
  • Marriage: He married Catherine Rose, daughter of Daniel Rose 4th and Susannah Pynder, circa 1792 Sophie Dunham Moore's 1933 book says that Godfrey Jr married Catherine Rogers (but with no evidence). I think Sophie was wrong and that he first married 19 year old Catherine Rose, as evidenced by the 1811 will of Daniel Rose, her father, naming his daughter as "Catherine Shew".7,8
    1811 Daniel Rose will abstract, Rensselaer County, NY
  • Milit-Event: In 1798 at Broadalbin, Montgomery Co., NY, He was an Ensign in a new company, in Lt Col Abraham Romeyn's Brigade in the New York State Militia.9
  • Milit-Event: On 3 February 1802 at Montgomery Co., NY, He was a Lieutenant in NYS Militia in Lt Col Henry Kennedy's Regiment.10
  • Milit-Event: On 16 February 1803 at Montgomery Co., NY, He was an Ensign, promoted to vice in the NYS Militia in Lt Col Henry Kennedy's Regiment.11
  • Residence: He lived in 1805 at Northampton Twp., Fish House, Fulton Co., NY, He received 100 acres of land by will from his father Godfrey Shew Sr. (Lot #2 of 26 - Northampton Patent).12
    1805 Godfrey Shew will
  • Politics: 27 February 1807 at Johnstown, Fulton Co., NY, Along with his brother Jacob, he was on a Committee to re-elect Republican NYS Governor .13
  • Milit-Event: In 1810 at Montgomery Co., NY, He was a Captain promoted to vice in Lt Col James Ford's Regiment of the NYS Militia.14,15
  • Census: He appeared on the census of August 1810 at Northampton Twp., Montgomery Co., NY, . Age 26-44, Living with his wife (26-44), 5 sons, & 1 daughter. He is listed next to the family of his older brother Jacob Shew Sr, & near Daniel Brownell. It is possible that the families of the 2 Shew brothers are living together in the same house that their father built in 1784. Their listing is the first for the Northampton Twp which would be logical since that Shew house is right on the border with Saratoga County. The house is in Northampton Twp & the barn is in Saratoga County. The 1790 -1820 census reports on the 1st monday in August.16
  • Real estate: 12 March 1812 at Northampton Twp., Montgomery Co., NY, A mortgage was given by Reverend Jacob Sickles & Lydia his wife, of Kinderhook Twp, Columbia County to Godfrey Shew [Jr] & his wife Catherine of Northampton Twp, Montgomery County for $1200 with interest. For Lot #9 in Northampton Twp, Montgomery County, containing 200 acres, being the same land granted to Cornelius Harring on May 3, 1794. Deed was written Feb 26, 1812 & recorded March 18, 1812 in Montgomery County Clerk's Office.17
  • Note: On 17 June 1812. War was declared by President James Madison against England.
  • Milit-Beg: On 19 September 1812 at Troy, Rensselaer Co., NY, He Served in the Saratoga Brigade of the NYS Militia as a Colonel in War of 1812 while a resident of Edinburgh Twp, Saratoga Co. "The Saratoga Brigade of Cavalry united with the companies formed in Rensellaer County & on Sept 19, 1812 they left Troy for the Lake Champlain region. They were accompanied as far as Waterford by the Governor in person, and proceeded from there to Plattsburg where they participated in the victory over the British on Sept 11, 1814."18
    1814 Battle of Plattsburgh
  • Milit-Event: On 31 March 1813 "Besides the before mentioned issues, several parcels of arms have been delivered upon special orders, to the inhabitants of certain towns of the eastern district, situated near the unsettled and wilderness country which stretches from Lake Champlain to the Black River country. Those inhabitants were extremely apprehensive during the last season of Indian massacres. The arms and ammunition distributed in that district upon such special orders are the following ... For the use of the inhabitants of Northampton, in Montgomery county, 40 muskets, and one box of musket cartridges, secured by the bond of John Fay, Alexander St John, Jacob Shew, Godfrey Shew, James Lobdell, Samuel Maxwell, Joseph Slocum, Joseph Van Arven, William Hammond, Jacob Gibbs, Abraham Van Arnam and Jacob Spier.19''
    State of New York: Messages from the governors, Volume 2, By New York (State). Governor, page 772
  • Milit-End: In 1814 at Montgomery Co., NY, He resigned as vice from Lt Col Tiffany Brockway's 122nd Regiment of the NYS Militia. Brockway's wife's niece later married Frank C. Shew.20
  • Note: In 1816. This was "The Year without a summer" in Northern Europe, Asia & North America. It was caused by the 1815 (April 5 – 15) volcanic eruptions of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, the world's largest eruption in about 1,600 years, a colossal event that ejected immense amounts of volcanic dust into the upper atmosphere. In May 1816, frost killed off most of the crops that had been planted, and in June two large snowstorms in eastern Canada and New England resulted in many human deaths. Nearly a foot of snow was observed in Quebec City in early June, with consequent additional loss of crops. The result was widespread localized famines, and further deaths from those who, in a hunger-weakened state, then succumbed to disease.

    In July and August, lake and river ice were observed as far south as Pennsylvania. Rapid, dramatic temperature swings were common, with temperatures sometimes reverting from normal or above-normal summer temperatures as high as 95 °F to near-freezing within hours. Even though farmers south of New England did succeed in bringing some crops to maturity, maize and other grain prices rose dramatically. Oats, for example, rose from 12¢ a bushel the previous year to 92¢ a bushel —nearly eight times as much—and oats are a necessary staple for an economy dependent upon horses for primary transportation. Those areas suffering local crop failures then had to deal with the lack of roads in the early 19th century, preventing any easy importation of bulky food stuffs.

    Crops in the above cited areas had been poor for several years. Many historians cite the "Year Without a Summer" as a primary motivation for the western movement and rapid settlement of what is now western and central New York and the American Midwest. Many New Englanders were wiped out by the year, and tens of thousands struck out for the richer soil and better growing conditions of the Upper Midwest (then the Northwest Territory).

    The lack of oats to feed horses may have inspired the German inventor Karl Drais to research new ways of horseless transportation, which led to the invention of the Draisine or velocipede. This was the ancestor of the modern bicycle and a step towards mechanized personal transport.21
  • Milit-End: In 1816 at Montgomery Co., NY, He resigned as vice again from Lt Col Tiffany Brockway's 122nd Infantry Regiment of the NYS Militia.20
  • Census: He appeared on the census of 1820 at Northampton Twp., Montgomery Co., NY, . Godfrey Shew (over 45, working in agriculture), living with first wife Catherine (over 45) & 4 sons. Apparently their daughter Susannah had already married by this time. Their farm is near the farms of his oldest son John G. Shew & his older brothers Jacob & Stephen Shew Sr.22
  • Note: . Godfrey Shew Jr's first wife Catherine died sometime after the 1820 census and before 1822.
  • Marriage: He married Sarah Sally Hogeboom, daughter of Jacobus Hogeboom and Elbertje Van Alen, circa 1822 at Montgomery Co., NY, This was the 2nd marriage for both Godfrey Shew Jr (age 51) & Sally Hogeboom (age 43).23
  • Residence: He lived in 1822 at Champion Twp., Great Bend, Jefferson Co., NY, Along with his brother Stephen Sr.24,25
  • Real estate: 3 April 1823 at Northampton Twp., Montgomery Co., NY, Godfrey Shew Jr. & his 2nd wife Sally of Northampton Twp, deeded 100 acres of land for $700, to Joseph D. Gifford also of Northampton Twp, being the East half of Lot #9 in Harrings Patent. Recorded July 17, 1824 in Montgomery County Clerk's Office. It is possible that this was the husband of Bathsheba Morris Shew's sister.26
  • Real estate: 29 December 1823 at Montgomery Co., NY, Godfrey Jr. & 2nd wife wife Sally deeded land to Henry Wadsworth.27
  • Census: He appeared on the census of 1825 at Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, . He was living with his 2nd wife Sally Hogeboom (over 45), & 2 sons (probably Alonzo & Lyman), & 1 unmarried female (16-45) - probably not his daughter Susannah. Nearby is his son Jacob G. Shew.28
  • Real estate: 7 February 1827 at Northampton Twp., Montgomery Co., NY, Godfrey Shew Jr. & his 2nd wife Sarah of Jefferson County, deeded land for $300, to Peter Hogeboom & Cornelius Hogeboom of Northampton Twp, Montgomery County, "being the equal undivided 1/3 part of the Easterly part of Lot # 10 in Herrings Patent, containing 91 acres." Recorded Dec3, 1827 in the Montgomery County Clerk's Office. Are these the brothers of Sarah (Sally) Hogeboom?29
  • Real estate: 3 December 1829 at Northampton Twp., Montgomery Co., NY, The $1200 Mortgage for Lot #9 containing 200 acres in Northampton Twp given to Godfrey Shew [Jr] by Jacob Sickles of Columbia County was satisfied. This Mortgage cancellation was recorded in the Montgomery County Clerk's Office 4 months later on Apr 29, 1830. So apparently Godfrey Shew Jr had sold the land in 1823 and moved to Jefferson County before he finished paying off the mortgage in 1829.30
  • Census: He appeared on the census of 1830 at Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, . Godfrey Shew (indexed as "Tdfrey", (60-70) was living with wife (40-50) & 2 youngest sons (both 20-30). Nearby related families are Francis, Peck, Pennock, Paddock & Babcock.31
  • Residence: He lived in 1833 at Great Bend, Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, He built a 16 room house (Georgian Architecture) 1 mile south of the village on Champion Rd. This house replaced one that had been built the year before also by Godfrey Jr., also which burned in 1832.32
  • Census: He appeared on the census of 1835 at Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, . Indexed as "Godfrey Shue" There are 2 males in the household "subject to militia duty" & 3 males eligible to vote. He is living with his wife (under 45) the only married female, & 3 sons, & 1 daughter under 16, 1 unmarried daughter between 16-45 with 1 of those sons being born in the last year.33
  • Taxes: He was listed on the tax rolls Land Owner from Tax Rolls listed with 100 acres. in 1838 at Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY.34
  • Census: He appeared on the census of 1840 at Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, . Aged 70-80, living with his wife (60-70), son Lyman (20-30), 1 unknown male (15-20), & 2 unknown females(10-15, 20-30). These 2 females are the correct ages to be the 2 daughters of Godfrey's son Jacob G Shew whose wife Phoebe Baker died in 1833. The unknown male could be Jacob G Shew's son Charles A Shew listed with the wrong age. Godfrey Shew Jr. is living next to his grandson Philo Shew (20-30) on one side, and next to Thomas & Sally Youngs Shew Francis on the other side, & down the road from his son Alonzo Shew (30-40). The census shows all these households engaged in farming. This is also near several Babcock families & the Nathan Francis family.35
  • Will: He left a will on 2 December 1845 at Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY, He wrote his Will which was was witnessed by Gurdon P. Francis (husband of his granddaughter Abigail) & Charles E. Clarke.36
  • Census: He appeared on the census of 1 June 1850 at Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, . "Godfrey Shue" had 50 improved acres & 50 acres unimproved with a real estate value of $4000; implements & machinery worth $150; 2 horses, 8 milch cows, no other cattle, 2 sheep, & 5 swine with total livestock value of $360; 50 bushels wheat, 100 bu indian corn, 50 bu oats, 150 bushels of Irish potatoes, 1000 lbs butter, 400 lbs cheese, 30 tons hay, 400 lbs maple syrup, $5 worth of homemade manufactures, and $65 of slaughtered animals. LIving near the families of his son Alonzo Shew, Thomas P & Nathan Francis, Elias, William P. & Christopher Babcock, John Peck, & Wilson Pennock.37
  • Census: He appeared on the census of 4 October 1850 at Champion Twp., Jefferson Co., NY, . Indexed as "Godfrey Shire", but spelled "Sheu", (79, farmer, $4000 value), living with his 2nd wife Sarah (70), grandson Albion (8), & Sally Hogeboom's grandaughter Mary E. Clark (but listed as "Sheu" (18). They are 10 farms down the road from his son Alonzo's farm. Also neighbor to Christopher & Sarah (Shew) Babcock family. And next door to Methodist Preacher Jesse Jr. (60) & Charry 59) Penfield.38
    1850 census Godfrey Shew Jr Champion Twp, Jefferson County, NY
  • Death: He died on 17 April 1853 at Champion Twp., Great Bend, Jefferson Co., NY, at age 82 At the Family Homestead.24,4
  • Burial: He was buried Sunnyside Cemetery, Champion Twp., Great Bend, Jefferson Co., NY, on 19 April 1853 "Godfrey Shew 1771 - 1853" He is buried with his 2nd wife Sally, & other Shews.39,40,4
    1853 Godfrey Shew Jr gravestone (courtesy NNYgenealogy.com)
    Sunnyside Cemetery
  • Probate: His estate was probated on 5 September 1853 at Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY, Probate of Will in the Surrogate's Office. $500 & home to his wife Sally; the remainder to his son Lyman.41
Last Edited: 5 Oct 2012

Parents:

Father: Godfrey (John Godfrey) Shew Schuh Sr b. c 1733, d. Oct 1805
Mother: Katherine Catharina Phillippina Frey b. c 1732, d. 1804

Family:

Catherine Rose b. c 1773, d. c 1821

Children:

John G. Shew+39 b. 1795, d. 7 Dec 1834
Jacob G Shew+42 b. 1799
Susan Susannah Shew+ b. 1800
Daniel Shew Sr.+ b. 28 Dec 1802, d. 12 Dec 1872
Alonzo Shew+ b. 12 Mar 1807, d. 21 Apr 1890
Lyman Shew+2,43 b. 11 Feb 1809, d. 12 Oct 1859

Citations:

  1. "Records of Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga" (Now Fonda), Vol 1, page 60. Published 1917 Reel/Fiche Number: Genealogy and local history ; LH5286

    www.heritagequestonline.com
    ancestry.com.
  2. 1890.
  3. 1850 census, series M432, roll 516, pg 384 heritagequest.com.
  4. Sunnyside Cemetery is on the east side of Champion Road approximately 1/2 mile south of the center of Great Bend, Champion Twp, Jefferson Co, NY. There are 3 Shew plots here, this one is to the right of the entrance near the road.
  5. "Records of Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga" (Now Fonda), Vol 1, page 60. Published 1917 Reel/Fiche Number: Genealogy and local history ; LH5286
    www.heritagequestonline.com.
  6. The History of Montgomery Classis, R.C.A.
    by W.N.P. Dailey,
    Recorder Press, Amsterdam, NY 1916
    http://www.threerivershms.com/rcafonda.htm
  7. Page 52.
  8. Abstracts of wills of Rensselaer County, New York : in the office of the Surrogate at Troy, New York, 1791-1850; Ancestry.com.
  9. "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of NY 1783-1821" pub 1901
    page 422
    heritagequest.com.
  10. "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of NY 1783-1821" pub 1901
    page 582
    heritagequest.com.
  11. "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of NY 1783-1821" pub 1901
    page 640
    heritagequest.com.
  12. Godfrey Shew.
  13. The Morning Chronicle (NYC) Feb 27, 1807, page 3, issue 1312 Newsbank collection of Early American Newspapers Godfrey Library website http://news.nnyln.net/
  14. "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of NY 1783-1821" pub 1901, page 1117, heritagequest.com.
  15. 1911 book.
  16. Series M252, Roll 29, Page 85.
  17. Montgomery County Mortgage Book 7, page 293 & 294
    Montgomery County Deed Book 13, pages 88, 89, 90.
  18. "Our County & It's People, a descriptive & Biographical Record of Saratoga County, NY"
    By Geo Baker Anderson 1899, published by the Boston History Company; page 174, 175.
  19. State of New York: Messages from the governors, Volume 2, By New York (State). Governor, page 772, pub by J. B. Lyon company, state printers, 1909, googlebooks.com.
  20. "Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of NY 1783-1821" pub 1901, page 1479.
  21. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_Without_a_Summer
  22. Series M33, Roll 63, Page 272.
  23. Will of Sally Shew, Recorded in Surrogates office in Watertown, Jefferson County, NY, NY-23-book 9 , page 327, www.sampubco.com.
  24. 1890 edition.
  25. "Old Watertown and Vicinity in Pictures", no 58, Mar 25, 1938
    photo & article about house built by Godfrey Shew Jr in 1833, and burned 1938
    Flowers Memorial Library, Genealogy Dept, Watertown, NY.
  26. Montgomery County Deed Book #19, pages 135, 136, 137 Fonda County Clerk's Office.
  27. Montgomery County Deed Bk 5-296.
  28. 1825 census, Jefferson Co, Champion Twp., Page 9
    Flowers Memorial Library, Genealogy Room, Watertown, NY.
  29. Montgomery County Deed Book #24, pages 66 & 67 in the Montgomery County Clerk's Office in Fonda, NY.
  30. Montgomery County Deed Book #20, pages 106 & 107 in the Montgomery County Clerk's Office in Fonda, NY.
  31. 1830; Census Place: Champion, Jefferson, New York; Roll: 92; Page: 137. Ancestry.com.
  32. 1938 Watertown Dailey News with photo.
  33. 1835 New York State Census, Champion Twp, Jefferson Co, Flowers Memorial Library, Genealogy Dept, Watertown, NY
    Jefferson County Clerk's Office.
  34. http://www.nnygenealogy.com/pages/directories/…
  35. 1840 census, series M704, roll 292, pg 447 line 18
    heritagequest.com ancestry.com.
  36. Recorded in Surrogate office in Watertown, Jefferson County, NY NY-23-2-497
    www.sampubco.com.
  37. 1850; Census Place: Champion, Jefferson, New York; Archive Collection Number: A4; Roll 4; Page: 771; Line: 8; Schedule Type: Agriculture. Ancestry.com.
  38. 1850 census, series M432, roll 516, pg 384 heritagequest.com ancestry.com.
  39. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~aliecor/Cemeteries/…
  40. http://www.nnygenealogy.com/pages/cemetery/burialdetail.php
  41. Recorded in Surrogate office in Watertown, Jefferson County, NY NY-23-2-497
    www.sampubco.com.
  42. 1850 census, series M543, roll , page 461
    heritagequest.com
    ancestry.com.
  43. 1855.