Individual Details

Agnes was likely a daughter of Robert Perpoynt of Dedham. Agnes, wife of Henry Sherman the elder, was buried in Dedham 14 Oct 1580.

Her name is sometimes seen as Butter - certainly an error. The Butter and Sherman families were closely associated in Dedham by 1551. Agnes is believed to have been a Butter because:
Pierce Butter of Colchester, will dated Aug 1599 and proved 20 Nov 1600, named his "cousin Harry Sherman" and appointed "loving friend Henry Sherman the elder" as one of executors.

However, John Wood of Dedham, clothier, also left a will dated 8 Mar 1576/7 and proved 2 Apr 1577, that was witnessed by Henry Sherman the elder, and named "cousin Henry Sherman the younger". These two similar relationships will be solved later.

14 May 1553, Thomas Butter surrendered a house and 20 acres of land held by the manor of Dedham Hall to Henry Sherman, which on 12 Apr 1581, Henry the elder in turn surrendered the same to his son and namesake.

20 Aug 1555, Thomas Butter made his will - his executors were his eldest son William Butter and Henry Sherman. He gave "Henry Sherman's wife a silver pot" which may have been christening present for her new-born, or expected, child. There was no kinship stated to the Shermans. When Thomas Butter transferred that parcel of land it was a sale and took place probably about 12 years after Sherman's first marriage. He named the given names of other females listed in the will.

17 Jun 1607. John Stokes of Colchester and Frances his wife filed a bill of complaint in Chancery again Henry Sherman of Dedham, clothier. Frances was the sister of Robert Wood, dec'd and administratrix of his estate and Henry Sherman was executor of the will of John Wood, father of Frances and Robert. In reference to John Wood, it was shown that Mary, wife of John, shortly after the will was proved married Pierce Butter of Dedham. Pierce Butter & Mary and Henry Sherman were accused of using the estate only to enrich themselves, not caring for the fatherless children. The courts later determined that Sherman did not "intermeddle" with the estate and was not to be charged. So both John Wood and Pierce Butter described in their wills, the same Henry Sherman as their "cousin" since they had married the same woman. Dedham parish register describers John and Henry Wood as "sons-in-law" (stepsons) of Pierce Butter when they were buried together 15 Nov 1587.

John Wood's first two children were born by a first wife named Ann. The first child by Mary was apparently Henry born about 1559, just before the Dedham parish record begins in 1560. Seven children were baptized between 1561 and 1575. After Mary married Pierce Butter about 1758, she had six more children, baptized between 1579 and 1588. She likely died soon after the birth of the last child, James. Pierce Butter was soon married to Thomasine, widow of John Thompson.

Found in FamilyTree on Ancestry.com, the transcript of the following:
From "English Origins of New England Families", Ser. I, Vol. I, "Gridley / Butter and Origin of the De Greys of Oxfordshire", pg. 744: "From Chancery Proceedings"
"24 July, 1601. The Petition of William Butter, executor of the last will and testament of Pierce Butter of Colchester [co. Essex], his father, represents that his father, about 40 Elizabeth [1597-8], made his will, and made the orator and Henry Sherman the Elder his executors, and died about this time in Colchester. Henry Sherman hath refused to act. The said Pierce Butter in his lifetime, i.e., on 19 November, 34 Elizabeth [1591], became bound to William for L600, to pay L400 to the children of John Tompson, deceased, i.e., to John Tompson and William Tompson, two of the sons of said John Tompson, deceased, to each of them L100, and to Ann, Elizabeth, Thomasin and Sara Tompson L50 at a certain day already past. The L50 due to Tomasin was paid on the day appointed, but the L50 due to Ann was not so paid, because for one and a half years after said Pierce's death your orator could not obtain a sight of the will or learn whether he was executor or whether the said Pierce had made the said indenture, which was concealed from your orator by the sinister practice of William and Ann Tomsom, in order to obtain the forfeit. When he learned thereof, your orator offered the L50 to William and Ann, and is willing and ready to pay it, but they refused and still refuse to receive it, and have confederated to obtain the forfeit, and your orator prays for a writ of subpoena against William and Ann Tomson."

"The Answer of William Tomson states, that long before Pierce Butter made the recognizance, John Tomson by his will gave the said sums to his children, and made the defendant and Tomasin, his wife, the executors of his will, and the defendant refusing to act, said Tomasin became the sole executor, and did intermarry with the said Pierce Butter, she having, as the defendant thinketh he shall prove, goods to the value of L1000 in the hands of the said Pierce Butter, and he gave a bond to pay the said legacies given by the said will to the children of the said John Tomson, his brother, and Pierce Butter made his will and made the orator and Henry Sherman his executors, and died about to years ago, and shortly aftr his death the said Sherman desired to take order with the defendants about their portions, as he knew their father had a great care of it as a matter of great weight, but the complainant would not agree, and so trifled with the said Sherman that he had refused to join as coexecutor..."

Marriage	Ca 1539	HENRY SHERMAN the Elder
Death	Oct 1580	Dedham, Essex, England
Burial	14 Oct 1580	Dedham, Essex, England

Spouse	HENRY SHERMAN the Elder (1512 - 1590)
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 - )