Individual Details

Henry Sherman, clothier of Dedham, had two sons, his eldest - Henry and Edmund - that between them had 15 grandchildren who settled in New England either as young adults or with their parents. Most left issue.

11 Oct 1574, depositions were taken in Dedham for a suit between Thomas Seckford, lord of the Manor of Dedham Hall and Robert Forthe. One of the deponents was Henry Sherman "age 62 years of thereabouts" He had lived in Dedham "for the space of 40 years".

Henry married his first wife about five years after moving to Dedham and she was likely the mother of most, if not all, his children. Certainly she was the mother of Henry and Edmund from whom all the New England Shermans descend. There is some circumstantial evidence she was a daughter of Robert Perpoynt of Dedham.

The Perpoynt family was for several generations in Dedham. 5 Oct 1573, John Stone was required "to scour his ditch to the land of Henry Sherman where is the house of Perpoynt widow" A number of quite complicated land transfer reviewed in the NEHGS article reveal that in all probability Henry Sherman lived on land given to him by Laurence Richardson - land that had once been that of the Perpoynts. The author conjectures that Henry Sherman's mother might have been a Perpoynt, but the line of succession favors his wife instead.

Agnes, wife of Henry Sherman the elder was buried Dedham, 14 Oct 1580. It is not absolutely certain that she was his first wife.

He married (2) Marion Smythe Willson, widow of Edmund Willson. Their marriage recorded Dedham, 5 Jun 1581.

Henry moved from Dedham to Colchester, about 1584.

His wife named in his will in 1590 was Margerye. She could have been Margaret Shearman, of Colchester, widow, who testified in a law suit of 11 Jan 1594 that she was aged three score and sixteen years [born about 1518].

Henry Sherman's will was dated 20 Jan 1589/90 and proved 25 Jul 1590. He described himself as Henry Shearman the elder of Colchester in the county of Essex. He named Margerye his wife and stated she should have all her househoule stuffe which she brought to the marriage and that which they had renewed since the marriage. He named his son Henry Shearman and his children; Henry, Samuel, Daniell, John, Ezechiell, Phebe, Nathaniell, and Anne. He named son Edmunde Shearman and the son of his son Edmunde, also named Edmonde. The other children of son Edmunde being Richarde, Bezaliell, Anne, and Sara - all underage. William Petfeilde, son in law and to his children Richard, Susan and Elizabeth Petfeilde - all underage. Son Robert named and his daughters Jane & Anne Shearman, underage. Mentioned wives of three sonnes, Henry, Edmonde & Robert. Judith Petfeilde, daughter. Son in lawe Nicholas Ffynnce. he gave a bequest to the poor of All Hallows (All Saints, Colchestor) and the poor of Dedham and the free school of Dedham. Henry & Edmonde Shearman, sons, to be Executors. A Codicell dated 16th Feb added some additional bequests to the above.

This author of Sherman Genealogy believed Henry to be the same as a Henry Sherman named in the will of Thomas Sherman of Yaxley, dated 20 Jan 1551. Thomas Sherman gave a legacy to Henry when he finished his appreticeship. Henry was believed to be in Dedham learning the trade of "shearman" or clothier. Even though an apprenticeship lasted for seven years, it seems a bit odd that Henry would still be serving as such at approximately age 30.

And indeed, Mrs. B. L. Stratton conclusively proved in New Light on Henry Sherman, published in 1954 that Henry was NOT the son of the above Thomas Sherman. However, the Internet and most recent books have failed to take note of Mrs. Stratton's work. The Henry who was son of Thomas Sherman of Yaxley was still under age in 1551 and has a son Thomas who in 1587 was living in Diss, Norfolk. Henry, father and grandfather of immigrants was born about 1512 and by the 1540's was fathering children and had no son named Thomas.

At a Court, Easter week, 1548, a precept was issued to Henry Sherman to remove rubbish from the foot way against his door. Henry Sherman was taxed at Dedham in 1557. He took the pledge of homage to the Lord of the Manor in 1559, 1561-1564. By 1567, he appears in the Dedham records as Henry Sherman Senior. Henry Junior was excused for non-attendance at court on Sept 1570, indicating he was of full age by that date, or born as early as Sep 1549.

20 Mar 1590/1 Henry Sherman, the elder, a tenant of the manor, had died since the last court.

Birth	Abt 1512
Marriage	Ca 1539	AGNES ?Perpoynt
Marriage	5 Jun 1581	Dedham, Essex, England - Marion Smythe
Marriage	Aft Aug 1584	Colchester, Essex, England - Margery [Sherman]
Death	Bef Jul 1590	Colchester, Essex, England

Spouse	AGNES ?Perpoynt ( - 1580)
Child	Alice SHERMAN (1540 - 1580)
Child	Judith SHERMAN (1543 - 1601)
Child	Henry SHERMAN the Younger (1545 - 1610)
Child	EDMUND SHERMAN (1548 - 1600)
Child	John SHERMAN (1551 - 1576)
Child	Thomas SHERMAN (1555 - )
Child	Dr. Robert SHERMAN (1559 - )

Spouse

Marion Smythe ( - 1584)

Spouse

Margery [Sherman] ( - )