of
St. Mary's Co, MarylandSHERCLIFFE FAMILY of
St. Mary's Co, Maryland
JOHN SHERCLIFFE was transported in 1638, but was also listed as an "immigrant" in 1646. Anne & Mary Shercliffe, his daughters, were transported in 1657.[1] He married Ann Spinke Goldsborough, sister of Henry Spinke, by 1647. He died c1668. John was the youngest of four sons of the Shercliffe family of Whitly Hall, Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, b. c1618.[2] He first came to VA c1638 on the ship "Unity" from the Isle of Wight, transported by Mrs. Mary Throughton. No land patent was found in VA for either John or Mary. Two entries, however, in Skordas reveal Mrs. Mary Throughton, widow, immigrated to St. Mary's Co. in 1638, the same year John Shercllife was transported.[3] Four children were listed in John's will: John Jr., William, Mary and Ann Shercliffe. Deposition dated 1658 stated he was 40 years old. On Oct 14, 1651, John Lewger demanded land for transporting various persons including Ann Goldsborough, Shercliffe's wife.[4] In 1657, John demanded land for transporting a servant which Robert Cole had assigned to Shircliffe's daughters.[5] John witnessed will of John Greenwell of New Town Hundred on March 27, 1658. In 1659, John Thimbelby named John Shertcliffe [sic], his wife Anne, and sons John & William Shercliffe as legatees of his estate.[6]
Photo right: Costumed interpreter at Hist. SMCity in St. Mary's Co Maryland, 1997.
WILL of JOHN SHERCLIFFE of St. Mary's Co, Dec 2, 1661/Mar 26,1663.
- To my wife ANNE, execx., "Horton Hays," plantation on Bretton's Bay.
- To eldest son JOHN SHERCLIFFE, land on n.w. side of Bretton's Bay.
- To youngest son WILLIAM SHERCLIFFE, land on St. Clement's Bay.
- To elder dau, MARY SHERCLIFFE, 100 a. of land.
"I give & bequeath unto my eldest daughter Mary, one hundred acres of land due unto me for the rights of importing of Josaphat Farazell, Eliz. Morgan, Jno. Bayly and Eliz. Abrahams."
- To daughter, ANNE SHERCLIFFE, land.
- TO COUSIN THOMAS SPALDING, land.
"I give & beq. unto Mr. Francis Fitzherbert tobacco 300-400 pounds for his good Prayers and to pastor of Catholick Church at New Town and I desire Prayers of all Catholicks. In event of death of my children, estate to pass to Roman Catholic Church and friend Peter Mills."
- Overseers: Henry Spinke, brother-in-law & friend Peter Mills.
- Witnesses: EDWARD CLARKE, Edmond Smith, Leonard Green
- Adms: ANN SHERCLIFFE & WM SHERCLIFFE, St. Mary's Co, Aug 21, 1678.[7]
The Shircliffe Family of England: A Tentative Reconstruction from Robert Barnes, "British Roots of Maryland Families," Balto: Md. Gen Pub. Co. 1999, pp. 394-95. (Go to photos on "Shiercliffe Family Tree" web page by Sharry Anne Stevens http://www.packrat-pro.com/tree/tree.htm
"The late Mrs. Spalding Lally of Baltimore believed John Shercliffe was the youngest of four sons of the family of Shiercliffe of Whitly Hall, Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, England. She based her belief on Royalist Composition Papers, Vol. 18, and The Archives of Maryland Vol. 41:590. Other references: Hallamshire, a History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield by Joseph Hunter, London: Bell & Daldy, 1869, and Chart of Shircliffe Family by Christopher Johnson (Md. Historical Society Library)
Arms: Or, a fess between three greyhounds' heads erased Sable, collars & rings Gules.
Crest: On a torse Or and Sable, a falchion erect Proper, hilt Or, having thereon a leopard's head Gules.
The arms and crest were granted by Richard St. George Norroy, King of Arms in 1614 (A:446)
1. William Shiercliffe of Ecclesfield was living 15 Henry VI. He was father of at least two sons (A:446) Thomas & Henry.
2. Thomas Shiercliffe, son of William, was Master of Game to the Lords of Hallamshire. He was admitted heir (to his father) in the Manor Court of Ecclesfield 15 Henry VI. He surrendered lands in the manor of Ecclesfield to the use of his younger sons, William & Alexander in 9 and 11 Henry VIII. He was twice married, but only first wife, Agnes, was named. Thomas was the father of (A:446): (1) Henry, had lands in Whitley, Butterthwaite & Chapel in the Manor of Ecclesfield; (2) William d. without issue; and (3) Alexander.
3. John Shiercliffe, son of William (1), was living 1 Richard III, m. Agnes Scott, dau. and co-heir of Robert Scott (Court Rolls of Manor of Ecclesfield). John was the father of one son John Shiercliffe. (A:446)
4. Alexander Shiercliffe, third and youngest son of Thomas(2) had lands in manor of Ecclesfield. He m. Isabel, dau of (N) Mounteney of Cowley. Alexander and Isabel were parents of (1) Nicholas (mar. had son Nicholas who mar. had one son who died s.p. and four daus.) (2) Thomas d. without issue. (3) James (mar. had a son Hugh, not traced, and dau Margaret); (4) Isabella m. 11 Aug 1558 at Ecclesfield Alex: Hatfield.
5. John Shiercliffe, son of John (3)and Agnes Scott, married and had at least one son, Richard.
6. Richard Shiercliffe, son of John (5), was buried at Ecclesfield on 11 April 1566 leaving a will proved at York the same year. He mar. Margaret (N) and was father of Nicholas who mar. Isabel Rodes and had daus Isabella & Alice, sons Robert & Alexander Shiercliffe.
7. Robert Shiercliffe, son of Richard (6) and Margaret, purchased land at Whitley in Parish of Ecclesfield in 1599. On 4 May 1572, he mar. Mary Carr at Ecclesfield. Robert was father of (1) Thomas, (2) Nicholas m. had son Robert; (3) Henry settled in Ireland, and (4) Richard of Chapeltown mar. and had two daus.
8. Thomas Shiercliffe, Gent. son of Robert (7) and Mary Carr, died 19 Nov 1636 and was buried in South Chancel of Ecclesfield Cathedral, the burial place of the Shiercliffe family. On 3 Dec 1601 at Ecclesfield he mar. Mary, d/o Thomas Pawson, aunt and co-heiress of Nicholas Pawson of Windmill Hill. Mary was buried at Ecclesfield 25 Sept 1647. He purchased Whitley Hall from one Parker in 1616; he also held Hole House in Ecclesfield. Thomas and Mary Pawson were parents of (1) Elizabeth bapt. 31 Aug 1702, bur. 1628; (2) Nicholas bapt. 20 Jan 1603; (3) William bapt. 21 Aug 1606; (4) Anne bapt. 6 Aug 1609 mar. Thomas Wright of Unthank; (5) Margaret bapt. 8 Sept 1614 d. unm; (6) Mary m. 13 Oct 1631 Wm Savage; (7) Thomas of Whitley Hall bur 14 June 1661; and (8) *John Shiercliffe.
9. John Shiercliffe, son of Thomas (8) and Mary Pawson, was born some time after his parent's marriage in 1601. He is possibly the John Shercliffe who was transported to Maryland c1638, or the one who immigrated to Md. c1646 (MPL 1:18; 2:418, 425) He brought his daughters, Anne and Mary c1657 to Maryland (MPL 4:29). John Shercliffe of Md. deposed he was born c1618 (Prov. Court Proceedings, from Lalley Notes ARMD 51:590) John Sherclifef mar.Anne Goldsborough, sister of Henry Spinke. Mrs. Lally believed John Shircliffe came first to MD from VA in 1638 brought in by Mrs. Mary Throughton on ship "Unity" from Isle of Wight (MHM 5:167, 369). By 1647, he was mar. to Ann, sister of Henry Spinke, for on 22 Nov 1712, Mrs. Mary Dant, age 65, gave a deposition naming her father John Shercliffe, her mother Ann Shercliffe, and her uncle Henry Spink (MCHR PC:862). On 14 Oct 1651, John Lewger demanded land for transporting various persons including Ann, now wife of Richard Nevill, Deborah Towers, and Ann Goldsborough, now wife of John Shircliffe some 12 years hence ( i.e. earlier) (MPL ABH:150).
In his will dated 11 Dec 1651, Joseph Cadle ment. Ann, young dau, and an unnamed son of John Shercliffe (MWB 1:36) John Shircliffe's daus, Anne and Mary, were ment. in 1657 when John Shircliffe demanded land for the transportation of one maid servant which Robert Cole had assigned to Shircliffe's two daus. (MPL 4:29)
John Shircliffe died testate, will written 2 Dec 1661, proved 26 Mar 1663, naming wife Anne, son John, son Wm, eldest dau Anne, cousin Thomas Spalding, and bro-in-law Henry Spink. He specified if he died without heirs, his land to pass to Roman Catholic Church. He named his bro-in-law Henry Spink and friend Peter Mills. (MWB 1:172)
John and Ann Shircliffe had following children: (1) Anne living in 1681 m. (1) Lt. Wm Evans by 8 Jan 1651 and (2) by 1666 Edward Clarke (MPL 10:474); (2) John, (3) Wm d. 1707; and Mary b. c1647, age 65 in 1712 m. (1) Peter Mills (MPL 10:477) and (2) Thomas Dant."
Footnotes:
1. Skordas, "Early Settlers of Md," I p. 18; II pp. 418, 425.
2. "Royal Compositon Papers," Vol 18 and Md. Archives 41:590.
3. Skordas, op. cit., I pp. 18, 65-68.
4. Ibid., p. 12.
5. Carr, Lois & Menard, Russell & Walsh, Lorens, "Robert Cole's World,"
Chapel Hill & London: Univ. of NC Press, 1991, p. 170-173.
6. Cotton & Wright, "Md. Calendar of Wills," Vol 1, p. 11.
7. Ibid., Vol III, p. 9.