Born: Ireland

Married: Before 1837 
Record on Helen Blair says she married at age 18.

Died: Bet 18 Jul 1855 - 1 Apr 1856 Innisfil, Simcoe Co, Ontario, Canada

FATHER

Unknown Shaw

WIFE

Helen (Ellen) Blair

CHILDREN

1. Mary Ellen Shaw b. 1837

2. Agnes Shaw b. Abt.1841

3. William Shaw b. Aug 1842

4. John Shaw b. 04 Aug 1844 Innisfil, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

5. David M Shaw b. 02 Mar 1846 Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

6. Elizabeth Shaw b. 1850 Innisfil, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

John Shaw
by Chase Brooke
Oct 2023

In "A History of Simcoe County" by Andrew F. Hunter, 1909, shows there are three men named Shaw listed as settlers in Innisfil Before 1837.  (1)  John, Robert and Joseph Shaw were listed in Concession 8 with John on lot 19 and Robert and Joseph on lot 20.  They are most likely three brothers. The History of Simcoe County also states that the southwest part of Innisfil was settled by "Protestant Orangemen from the North of Ireland." They were mostly from Ulster. (2)  John's son, William Shaw, in 1891 census says his father was born in Ireland.  And in the early census records, all of John's children give their nationality as Irish.

By 1846 John Shaw had possession of all three lots which he mortgaged in deed #6211, and he was quite active in the land records of Innisfil until 1855. (3) Walter Moore of Innisfil  had mortgaged to John Shaw, yeoman, of Innisfil on 20 Jan 1854. In record #16599 the mortgage of £225 was paid back by Joseph Hodgson of West Gwillenbury on 18 Jul 1855.   John Shaw signed with his mark.  He died sometime after this transaction and before 1 April 1856.  In record #20683  Ellen Shaw of Peel County is acting as executrix of the estate of her husband, John Shaw of Innisfil.  (4)

Sources

(1) Settlers of Simcoe County. Vol 2 pg 288

(2) A History of Simcoe County pg 63

In West Gwillimbury there was a settlement of Highland Scotch refugees from Lord Selkirk's colony on the Red River; while in the northern part of the same township, in Tecumseth, in the eastern portion of Essa, and in the southwest of Innisfil -- spread over parts of four townships with Cookstown as a centre-- was a large settlement of Protestant Orangemen from the North of Ireland.  In Southeast Innisfil, and in West Essa, were small settlements of Lowland Scotch.

Irish (begun in 1830). Protestants from Ulster. Extensive settlement West Gwillimbury, Tecumseth, Innisfil, Essa, Tossorontio. 

While in the southeast of Innisfil there was a distinctly Scotch immigration, in the west and southwest parts of the township there was a large influx of Irish settlers from Ulster.  The two settlements were separated from each other by the "big Swamp," which almost amounted to isolation, and on this account they have ever since largely retained the distinctive social features impressed upon them by the first settlers. These Irish settlers in the southwest arrived by way of Perry's Corners, (Cookstown), to the south of which, at a short distance, was the only road across the "Big Swamp," which extended far up into Innisfil.

Early settlers: Thomas R. Ferguson, Thomas Bathers, two brothers from the North of Ireland, John and William Lennox, John Scroggie, Matthew Gray, John Sharp, James McCormack, Stewart Wright

(3) Index of Innisfil, Simcoe Co, Ontario, Canada  Land Records
familysearch film # 178808 image 142

(4) Innisfil, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada Land Record # 20683

Refers back to deed #12436 written 23 Jun 1853 in which Thomas and Ann Smith mortgaged 50 acres to John Shaw for £125 to be paid off in installments.

Record # 20683

Discharged by memb No 20683.  Recorded the 17th day of Feby A D 1857 at 12:00 noon singed by James Edwards

To the Registrar of the County of Simcoe, we William Molloy and Ellen Shaw, both of the township of Peel in the County of Wellington and Province of Canada, executor and executrix of the state John Shaw of the township of Innisfil, Yeoman, deceased, do certify that Thomas Smith of the township of Innisfil in the County of Simcoe and Province of Canada, Yeoman: hath satisfied all money due upon a certain mortgage made by the said Thomas Smith to the said John Shaw deceased bearing date the twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty three and registered at 12: of the clock noon in the twenty third day of June 1853: and that such mortgage is therefore discharged as witness our hands this first day of April A D 1856.

Signed William Molloy
             Ellen Shaw

witnesses
             Garret Molloy, township of Peel
             George Allan, township of Peel