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The book, “Genealogy of the Shumway Family in the United States of America”,
compiled by Asahel Adams Shumway of Atlantic City, NJ, first published by Tobias A. Wright
of New York City in 1909, and reprinted by George Shumway Publisher of York, PA in 1972,
is considered to be the beginning source of genealogical information for the Shumway
family tree, and is treasured by all Shumway “cousins”.
However, while doing genealogical research of my Shumway heritage, I believe I have discovered an error in the accepted Shumway family tree which actually changes a whole Shumway line at the fourth generation. I am preparing this document as a means of sharing this information to all interested. Any additional information that anyone may have, whether confirming or conflicting with my conclusions, is welcome.
 | My e-mail address is berryda@earthlink.net
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| My Shumway line is: Peter, Peter, David, Asa, Alfred, Hiram, Edwin, Fred, Mabel, who was my maternal grandmother. |
David A. Berry
The “Shumway Genealogy” shows that Lieut. Samuel Shumway, son of Peter “of
Oxford” Shumway, and grandson of the “original” Peter Shumway, was married
to Sarah Learned on Feb 19, 1735. 1 It also states that they had 10
children, who were born as follows:
Sarah - Apr. 9, 1737
Abijah - Jan. 2, 1738
Lucy - Jan 25, 1741
Lois - Oct. 22, 1743
Prudence - Feb. 26, 1745
Samuel - June 10, 1748
Hannah - Oct. 11, 1750
Miriam - Oct. 8, 1755
Moses; and, Aaron. 2
The “Vital Records of Sturbridge” records the following births for Samuel and
Sarah Shumway:
Sarah - Apr. 9, 1737 3
Abijah - Jan. 2, 1738-9
Lusa - Jan. 21, 1740-1 4
Lois - Oct. 22, 1743
Prudence - Feb. 26, 1745-6
Samuel - June 10, 1748
Hanah - Oct. 11, 1750
Meriam - Oct. 8, 1755
Moses - a twin, baptized Mar. 25, 1753; and, Aaron - a twin, baptized Mar. 25,
1753. 5
The Samuel born June 10, 1748, of which both sources agree, is the first Samuel of
concern. The Shumway genealogy indicates that this Samuel married Mary (Polly) Hooker, had
9 children, and died Oct. 2, 1842. 6 My research, however, indicates
otherwise.
The Sturbridge records list the following Shumway deaths, relating to the direct family in
question:
Hannah, daughter of Samuel and Sarah - Feb. 2, 1757
Miriam, daughter of Samuel and Sarah - Feb. 4, 1757
Moses, son of Samuel and Sarah - Feb. 6, 1757 7
Aaron, son of Samuel and Sarah - Feb. 6, 1757 8
Samuel, son of Samuel and Sarah - Feb. 11, 1757
Samuel, Lt. - Sept. 2, 1800 9
Abijah, Capt. - July 25, 1808 10
Sarah, widow - Dec. 26, 1809. 11
I believe this is clear evidence that Samuel, the son of Lt. Samuel and Sarah Shumway,
actually died at the age of 8, in close proximity to four of his siblings, all dying
within a span of 9 days. (I can only speculate at this point that perhaps a deadly
childhood disease swept the family at this time.)
To me, another clear confirmation of the fact that Samuel died at an early age would be
that in Lt. Shumway’s will, he states the following: “My only son Abijah Shumway
having received the chief of his Portion before in lands I further give to him all my
wearing apparel and after my wives decease, one Feather Bed and covering for the
same”. 12 Also mentioned in his will are his wife Sarah, and
daughters Sarah, Lucy, Lois and Prudence. 13 But no where in Lt.
Shumway’s will are the five children who predeceased him mentioned, including his son
Samuel. This omission would be highly unusual if Samuel had really lived until the year
1842, as the Shumway genealogy indicates. 14
So now the question is, if Samuel Shumway, born June 10, 1748, died February 11, 1757,
then who is the Samuel Shumway that married Mary (Polly) Hooker, had 9 children and died
Oct. 2, 1842? I believe he is the ninth child of Jeremiah and Experience Learned Shumway.
The Shumway genealogy shows that Jeremiah, brother of Lt. Samuel Shumway, and Experience
had a total of 12 children. 15 It indicates that their son, Samuel, was
born Apr. 17, 1749, and died Sep. 2, 1800. 16 Interestingly, even though
this Samuel supposedly lived 51 years, there is no further listing of him in the book,
which would suggest that no further information could be found about where he lived, who
he may have married or if he had any children. Later in my conclusions it will be apparent
why.
So why do I believe that this is the Samuel Shumway that married Mary (Polly)
Hooker?
The “Vital Records of Oxford” states that a Samuel Shumway was born to Jeremiah
and Experience on April 18, 1749. 17 So far there seems to be agreement,
as a one day difference between sources is not uncommon. However, the Oxford records do
not list any death record of a Samuel Shumway. 18
The Sturbridge records, on the other hand, list the deaths of three Samuel Shumways:
Samuel, the son of Samuel and Sarah, on Feb. 11, 1757; Samuel, the Lieutenant, on Sept. 2,
1800; and a third Samuel, who died on Oct. 2, 1842, at the age of 93. 19
Just above these three Samuels is a listing for the death of Polly, wife of Samuel, on
Apr. 19, 1821, along with a note that a source also lists her name as Mary. 20
I have personally seen Samuel and Mary’s gravesites in Sturbridge, MA. Both
headstones confirm that Samuel died Oct. 2, 1812, at the age of 93, and Mary, wife of
Samuel, died April 19, 1821, at the age of 54. The death date of this Samuel matches the
third Samuel of the Sturbridge records 21, and the death date of the
Samuel who married Mary (Polly) Hooker in the Shumway book. 22 The only
thing that doesn’t match is his birthdate.
In the Shumway genealogy, this Samuel’s birthdate is June 10, 1748. 23
But as I illustrated earlier, the Samuel who was born on June 10, 1748, died at the age of
8 on Feb. 11, 1757, according to the Sturbridge records. 24 So to at
least find the 93 year old Samuel’s true birthyear, we subtract his age of 93 from
his death year of 1842, and we get his birthyear of 1749. Note that this is also the year
that Samuel, son of Jeremiah and Experience was born. 25
But what about the death date of Sep. 2, 1800 that the Shumway genealogy attaches to this
Samuel? 26 The only Samuel Shumway that died on that date, according to
the Sturbridge records, was the Lieutenant. 27 I believe that somehow
the Lieutenant’s death date was also erroneously given to Samuel, son of Jeremiah, by
either the compiler of the Shumway genealogy, or his sources.
So with the erroneous death date removed, Samuel, son of Jeremiah and Experience, has a
correct birthdate of April 17, 1749, but no death date.
Samuel, husband of Mary (Polly) Hooker, has no birthdate, but does have a correct
deathdate of October 2, 1842.
Put the two together, and you have a single Samuel, son of Jeremiah and Experience, born
April 17, 1749, who married Mary (Polly) Hooker and had 9 children, and died on October 2,
1842, at the age of 93.
This explains why the compiler of the Shumway genealogy could not find any
“life” information on this Samuel, son of Jeremiah. This Samuel’s marriage,
children and lineage had been erroneously attached to Samuel, son of Lt. Samuel Shumway,
who actually died as a child. And by doing so, Samuel’s lineage was erroneously
attached to the branch of Peter, Peter, Samuel of the Shumway tree, instead of the correct
Peter, Peter, Jeremiah branch.
SUPPORTING MATERIALS AVAILABLE AS JPEG FILES
”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year 1850”, pg 117
”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year 1850”, pg 118
”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year 1850”, pg 119
”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year 1850”, pg 374
”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year 1850”, pg 375
“Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts, To the End of the Year 1849”, pg 103
“Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts, To the End of the Year 1849”, pg 307
Pictures of headstones of Samuel and Mary (Polly)
Shumway
SOURCES:
1“Genealogy of the Shumway Family in the United States of
America”, by Asahel Shumway, George Shumway Publisher, York, PA, 1972, pg 319
2 ibid
3 ”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year
1850”, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1906, pg 119
6 “Genealogy of the Shumway Family in the United States of
America”, by Asahel Shumway, George Shumway Publisher, York, PA, 1972, pp 324-325
7 ”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year
1850”, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1906, pg 375
12 “Genealogy of the Shumway Family in the United States
of America”, by Asahel Shumway, George Shumway Publisher, York, PA, 1972, pg 320
13 ibid
14 ibid, pg 324
15 ibid, pg 150
16 ibid
17 “Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts, To the End of
the Year 1849”, Franklin P. Rice Publisher, Worcester, MA, 1905, pg 103
19 ”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The
Year 1850”, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1906, pg 375
20 ibid
21 ibid
22 “Genealogy of the Shumway Family in the United States
of America”, by Asahel Shumway, George Shumway Publisher, York, PA, 1972, pp 324
23 ibid
24 ”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The
Year 1850”, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1906, pg 375
25 “Vital Records of Oxford, Massachusetts, To the End of
the Year 1849”, Franklin P. Rice Publisher, Worcester, MA, 1905, pg 103
26 “Genealogy of the Shumway Family in the United States of America”, by Asahel Shumway, George Shumway Publisher, York, PA, 1972, pg 150
27 ”Vital Records of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, To The Year 1850”, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 1906, pg 375
