Individual Details

Newspaper article

"Stop Thief and Runaway Man Servant.
Whereas William Hayward, Baker, absconded himself from my Service 16th March, 1774, and took with him to the Value of Eight Pounds, L.M. and he being taken and convicted, voluntarily Bound himself, to serve me Six Months, to Pay Damages & Cost; and he last Night absconded himself again. had on an old Felt Hat, an old cloth colour'd Coat and Waistcoat, check'd Woolen Shirt, a Pair of new cloth colour'd Breeches, a Pair of old pale blue Stockings, and a Pair of singlesole shoes. - Said Hayward is about Thirty-three Years of Age, Five Feet Five Inches high, darkish short Hair, and down look like a Rogue and Thief. - Whosoever will take up said Servant and Notify me the subscriber so that I may have him again, shall have FIVE DOLLARS reward, paid by me, Marlboro' April 9, 1774. ISAAC SHERMAN.
All Bakers are hereby Cautioned against Employing said Servant."

The same advertisement also ran in the Boston Gazette on 9 May 1774.

Newspaper article

"Wanted to hire, a journeyman BAKER. Any such one, who can be well recommended, may have employ, by applying immediately to ISAAC SHERMAN of Dorchester."

Newspaper article

Advertisement. " Cash given for Pot-ash Salts un-merchantable Pot-ash by Isaac Sherman at Marlborough. March 12, 1777."

Newspaper article

Advertisement. "Mind this all you Pot-Ash Men. Cash and a good Price will be given for Potash Salts and un-merchantable Potash, at the Pearlash, opposite the Meeting-House in Marlborough.
Isaac Sherman

Newspaper article

"WANTED
Two sprightly BOYS, about 14 years of age, any such inclining to learn the Baking business, may know the terms by applying to ISAAC SHERMAN.
Marlborough, January 13th 1785."

Property Sale

Isaac Sherman to Jonathan Ward
Book 99 page 7, Worcester Co., MA

Partially pre-printed form

I, Isaac Sherman of Marlborough in the County Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts Baker For and in Consideration of the Sum of thirty pounds to me in Hand before the ensealing hereof, well and truly paid by Jonathan Ward of Southborough in the County of Worcester & Commonwealth aforesaid, the receipt [something written over this] whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and myself therewith fully satisfied and contested; and thereof and of every Part and Parcel thereof, do exonerate, acquit, and discharge him the said Jonathan Ward his Heirs, Executors, and Administrators,, forever by these Presents: Have given, granted, bargained, fold, aliened, conveyed, ,and confirmed; and by these Presents, Do freely, fully and absolutely give, grant,, bargain, sell, aliene, convey and confirm, unto him the said Jonathan Ward his Heirs and Assigns forever….
About four acres of land be the same more or less as herein bounded Namely beginning at a Walnut Tree marked being the Southeasterly corner of said conveyed land and a Corner of Mr. Stones heirs land on the Westerly side of a road leading from Southborough M—ing house toward Northborough from thence the line runs North 22 degrees East twenty two rod by said road to a Stake & ------ ---ing the Northwsterly corner of said conveyed land & from thence 73[or 75] d’s W by land of John Temple thirty four rods to a Stake & ------- being a corner of said conveyed land – from thence it runs S 12 ds W 23 rods & 19 links by land, possessed by the heirs of Samuel Sherman dec’d to a heap of Stones by a Stone Wall then it ---- & runs easterly by land belonging to Rev’d Nathan Jones heirs 32 rods & 8 links to the Walnut Tree first mentioned which land lies a little Northerly from the Muling (?)House in said Southborough.
[Two paragraphs of pre-printed form follows, then]

In witness to all the above written I hereunto oset my hand & seal the tenth day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred & eighty five & in the Tenth year of the American Independency.

Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of Tiber Ward and Stephen Phips

Signed Isaac Sherman
Middlesex – November 8, 1785. Then the abaove named Isaac Sherman personally appeared & acknowledge the above Iinstrument to be his ---- & deed before me Pet’r Wood Jus. Peace.
Recorded January 26, 1786

Court Records

Isaac Sherman vs. Samuel Blackden. Defendant - Blackden - to be held in gaol until paid. Copy in file.

Court Records

Isaac appts Moses Souther POA & assignee to obtain land from Blackden to pay judgment. The land is set off and appraised and awarded to Isaac.

Property Sale

Know all Men by these Presents That I Isaac Sherman of Marlborough in the County of Middlesex Baker in Consideration of five pounds lawful money paid by Moses Sherman of said Marlborough Yeoman the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give grant sell and convey unto the said Moses Sherman a certain Bake house being and standing in Marlborough aforesaid nigh the house of Col. Cyprian How. To have and to hold the same to the said Moses and to his Heirs and Assigns & to his and their Use and Behoof forever. And I do covenant with the said Moses his heirs and assigns I lawfully seized in Fee of the Premises, that they are free of all Incumbrances, that I have good Right to sell and convey the same

Pg. 260

To the said Moses And that I warrant and defend the same to the said Moses his Heirs and Assigns forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all Persons. The condition of the above Deed is such that if the subscriber shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid and take up a certain lease that the said Moses with the subscriber hath this day Signed of the house and the garden belonging to the same where the sd Isaac now lives, on or before the first day of April 1788 for the payment of five pounds then this deed to be void otherways to remain in full force and virtue. Signed this 2d of April 1787, Isaac Sherman and seal in Presents of Robert Hunter, Sam’l Curtis. Middlesex ss 17th April 1787 Personally appeared the within named Isaac Sherman & Acknowledged the within Instrument to be his free act and deed. C???? me Sam’l Curtis Just Pacis Midlesex Cambridge January 19th 1796. Received and Entered
By Samuel Bartlett Reg’r

Newspaper article

List of Letters at the post office in Boston included Isaac Sherman.

Court Records

Slavery court case transcription:
 
RG 21
USDC – MA
Case Files, 1790-1917
 
[September 1803 – September 1804 box 17]
 
December 1803 Term
 
 
Cover sheet  [Note:This appears to have dates and numbers interlined with the title listing the parties:
CA 16  -  6  -  18
            Isaac Sherman, Libellee
Dec 1803
C.A.18  -  16
            Vs.
Dec. Term 1803
            Charming Sally
 
Filed 9th July 1803
Attr N. ___________
Wt issued same day
 
Recorded
P 200 – 1
 
 
 
Massachusetts}
District, ss.         } The President of the United States of America,
                                    To the Marshal of said District, or either of his Deputies,
                                                                                                                                                Greeting.
We Command you that you give notice to all persons concerned that a Libel is filed before the Honourable John Davis Esquire, Judge of the District Court for said District, by Isaac Sherman, Boston in said District,Distiller, against a certain Vessel called the Charming Sally & her tackle apparel & furniture for having been employ’d as is alleg’d, in the transportation of slaves contrary to law – the said Vessel & appurtenances,if found within your District are to be arrested & taken into custody -;And that trial will be had on said Libel at the District Court to be held at Salem in said District of Massachusetts, on the second Tuesday of September next. And you are to give this notice by advertising the same in the Independent Chronicle printed at  [space left blank], and by posting a copy  of the same notice at the Court-House in said Salem, fourteen days at least before said day of trial.
And make due return hereof, with your doings herein. –Witness, the Honourable John Davis Esquire, at Boston, this Ninth day of July A.D. 1803.
N. Goodale, Clerk
 
 
 
 
United States
Massachusetts District__ }  To the Honorable John Davis Judge of the District Court of the United States for the District of Massachusetts; Be it remembered that on the ninth day of July in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & three, Before the Honorable John Davis Judge of the District Court of the United States for the District aforesaid; comes Isaac Sherman of Boston in the said District Distiller and Libels _______ & gives the said court to understand & be informed that on the first day of January last past and from that time until the last day of April last past, a certain citizen or citizens of the United States or other person or persons residing within the same to the Libellant unknown, directly or indirectly held and had all the right & property in and unto a certain Vessel and her Tackle apparel & furniture, called the Charming Sally, and that said Vessel belonging as aforesaid _________ between the said first day of January and the last day of April aforesaid, was by the said person or persons who had &held her as aforesaid, employed and made use of in the transportation or carrying of Slaves from one foreign country or place to another, that is ____from the foreign country or place called Africa to another foreign country or place called Saint Bartholomew in the West Indies – Contrary to an Act of the United States made and passed on the tenth day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred – Instituted an Act in addition to the Act Instituted an act to prohibit the carrying on the slave trade from the United States to any foreign place or country – whereby and by force of said act, all the right and property belonging to the said person or persons citizens of the United States as aforesaid, in the said Vessel as aforesaid, hath become forfeited to the said Sherman who Libel as aforesaid – And the said Sherman who Libels as aforesaid doth aver that the said Vessel is of more than Ten tons burthen and that she is now in the port of Boston in the District aforesaid and is duely libeled in this Honorable court – Wherefore the said Isaac Sherman who Libels as aforesaid prays the advisement of this Honorable Court in the premises and that said Vessel together with her Tackle apparel and Furniture may be decreed to be and remain forfeited & appropriated to the uses specified in the said Ack [?]
Signed  -  Isaac Sherman [NOTE: this is Isaac’s actual signature and it appears to be by the same Isaac who signed the guardianship papers in Marlboro in 1784 for brother, Jeduthan Sherman.]
 
Massachusetts District ss. July 9th 1803,
__ the above Libel ordered that a Warrant issue to the Marshall of said District or his Deputy to arrest and take into Custody the aforesaid vessel called the Charming Sally and her appurtenances and to give notice in due form  ______ to all persons concerned in said Seizure, that Trial will be had on said Libel at the next District Court to be holden at Salem in and for said District on the Second Tuesday of September next.
Signed – J. M. Davis
Judge Dist Court, Massachusetts
 
 
I Phinehas Dean residing in Boston in the County of Suffolk Mariner, testify and say, that I was at the Island of Goree in February last past which Island is on the Coast of Africa, and when I was there, I saw at that place the Schooner Charming Sally and this the same vessel which I have this day seen in the Harbour of Boston and now is at Mill Creek Wharf the said Schooner was, when I first saw her at Goree, under French Colours, and I went on board said Schooner, and there saw Captain William Robbins who said he was Master of said Schooner, and I understood him to be an American – and I also saw on board said Schooner a person by the Name of George Horn, and he appeared to act as Mate, but whether he was in that capacity or not I know not – and I saw a number of Slaves on board said Schooner, but how many there were on board at that time I cannot tell – and I think said Schooner is not far from one hundred tons burthen – she had no name on her stern when in Africa – and I saw on board said Schooner at Goree Mrs. Johnson, widow of Captain Johnson who died on the Coast of Africa some time before I was on board said vessel – and while I was on board, I saw her kick two of the naked Slaves that were handcuffed and she damned them and I heard her give directions to some sailors to put some of the Slaves in Irons, that were without them – and I heard her say to some of the Slaves that were in Irons that, they would not come out of Irons again very soon – and I understood she was owner of the said vessel, which she appeared to be, from her behaviour on board – [signed] Phineas Dean
 
Question by Mr. Blake – Where was you born?
Answer – In the town of Bedford in the County of Middlesex in this state – [signed] Phineas Dean
 
July 14, 1803
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk SS on the fourteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three, Phineas Dean the aforesaid Deponent was carefully examined and duly cautioned to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him published is true – taken at the request of Isaac Sherman of Boston in said County deposition to be used in the trial of a Libel at the District Court of the United States next to be holden at Salem in and for the District of Massachusetts District, on the second Tuesday of September next which Libel then and there to be tried as aforesaid is filed in said Court by Isaac Sherman aforesaid against the Schooner Charming Sally – Not knowing any person or persons having the agency possession or interested in the said Schooner or their Agent or Attorney living within one hundred miles of the place of Caption and not knowing of any person or persons interested  in the event of the trial of said Libel or their Attorney, within one hundred miles of said place, no individual person was notified of the time of and place of the taking of this Caption but a notification directed to all persons concerned or interested in the property of the said Schooner, was duly left on board said Schooner by the Deputy Marshall of said District which notification gave timely notice of the time and place& intention of this Caption – but no person interested appeared – the said Deponent being bound on a Voyage to Sea is the cause of the taking of this Deposition – taken ___??___ before me and in my hand writing – William?? Domion?? Judge of the Court of Common Pleas –
Notifications and Summons
Service of Notification and Summons
Deponents Attendance
Taking & returning Deposition
Caption and direction $2.00
 
 
 
Lewis Ferris dep. Sherman 1803
[Deposition]
 
I Lewis Ferris now residing in Boston in the County of Suffolk Mariner, testify and say that, I am Boatswain of the Schooner Charming Sally, now in the Harbour of Boston; I arrived in Boston in her about three weeks ago – that, I signed the articles on board said Schooner at St. Bartholomews about two months ago, as nearly as I can remember – and George Horn was or appeared to be the Captain of the said Schooner, and said Horn came Master of her to Boston at least he appeared to be the Master of her – I was only a passenger sharing the care[?] of some Slaves on freight in said Schooner from Goree to Saint Bartholomews from the Coast of Africa and William Robbins was Captain of said Schooner from Goree to St. Bartholomews and there were one hundred and six slaves on board when she arrived at St. Bartholomews (all brought from the Coast of Africa in said Schooner) except two that died on the passage - & Captain Robbins was Master of said schooner when I shipped onboard & I signed articles under him at St. Bartholomews – I was, before the time aforesaid, at Sennigall, and the said Schooner Charming Sally was there, and I went passenger in her to Goree & from Goree on the coast of Africa to St. Yago and from thence to St. Bartholomew as aforesaid – Mrs. Johnson widow of a Captain Johnson, who died up on the Coast of Africa, owned a Quarter or half the said Schooner, as I understood and believe – and I understood that part of the Vessell was owned at Philadelphia and a French Gentleman by the name of Polly, put on board said Schooner on freight, on an agreement with Captain Robbins who was then Captain of her, forty six or forty seven Slaves, and all the rest of the slaves onboard were owned by Mrs. Johnson except two or three, as I believe – one of which was a boy belonging to Mr. Robbins, and one woman belonging to Captain Horn – Mrs. Johnson was in said Schooner on the Coast of Africa when I first knew her and she came out in her to Saint Bartholomews, and from thence to Boston, and Captain Robbins also came in her to Boston but whether he or Horn was Captain I cannot say with certainty – Mrs. Johnson lost one or two slaves on the passage to St. Bartholomews, and M. Polly lost one slave – the said Schooner, when on the Coast of Africa was called the Petit Victoire, and when at St. Bartholomews, her name was altered to the Charming Sally – the said Schooner Charming Sally was on the Coast of Africa and Captain Johnson was there in a small Schooner from Philadelphia and he died there, I think it was at Senegal; the Schooner Charming Sally was bought by W.[?] Johnson in Africa before he died, and all the Slaves were put on board of said Schooner Charming Sally – The Schooner Charming Sally was under French colours until she arrived at St. Bartholomews – I understood that Captain Johnson, with Mr. Horn as his mate, went from Philadelphia in a small schooner to Africa, and Captain Johnsons wife went with him – Mrs. Johnson is sister to Mr. Horn
 
Question – Did Mrs. Johnson bring a negro Girl to Boston which was one of the slaves she brought out from the coast of Africa in the Charming Sally?
                                                   his
Answer – Yes – [signed] Lewis (X) Ferris  July 11 1803
                                                  Mark
 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk SS on the eleventh day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three – Lewis Ferris the aforesaid Deponent was carefully examined and duly cautioned to testify the whole truth and nothing but the truth and made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him signed is true – Taken at the request of Isaac Sherman of Boston in the County of Suffolk Distiller [?] to be used in the trial of a Libel by said Sherman against the Schooner Charming Sally, filed by him in the District Court of the United States next to be holden at Salem in and for the District of Massachusetts District on the Second Tuesday of September next – and not knowing of any person or person having the Agency or possession of the same or interested in the said Schooner, or their Agent or Attorney, living within One hundred miles of the place of this Caption, and not knowing of any person or persons, or their Agent or Attorney, interested in the event of the trial of said Libel living within one hundred miles of the place of the taking of this Caption, no individual person except George Horn was notified of the time and place of the taking of this Deposition – but a notification directed to George Horn and to all persons concerned or interested in the property of said Schooner was duly and _____ably left onboard said Schooner by the Deputy Marshall of the District, giving notice of the time place and intention of the taking of this Deposition – but no person appeared –the said Deponent being bound on a Voyage to Sea is the cause of the taking of this Deposition – taken by and before me and in my hand writing –
Wm?? Dommian?? Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Notification & Summons
Service of Notification & Summons
Deponents attendance –
Taking & returning Deposition
Caption and Direction $2 dol & 50/100
 
 
 
U. S.District Court Salem14 Sept’r 1803
Isaac Sherman Libell. Vs. Schooner Charming Sally
 
It is agreed by George Blake Attorney for the Libell and& John Taylor Attorney for the Claimant of the Schooner called the Charming Sally against which a Libel is now pending in the District court of the United States for the District of Massachusetts for an alledged breach of the Act prohibiting the Slave Trade, that said vessel & appurtenances may be forthwith sold by the Marshall pursuant to the order of court in that behalf passed at the recent Session in Salem and that the proceeds of said sale shall be retained by said Marshall or be lodged in court, subject of said Libel in the same manner as the Vessel would have been liable were the _______ unsold until final Judgment on the Libel aforesaid.
Geo. Blake, Attny  to Libell
John Taylor, Atty to Claimant
 
 
 
Massachusetts   }
District                 }   The President of the United States of America,
To the Marshal of the District of Massachusetts, or either of his Deputies,
Greeting,
Whereas at the District Court, held at Salem, for and within said District, on the second Tuesday of September instant it was ordered tht the Schooner Charming Sally and her appurtenances be sold at public auction provided Isaac Sherman the Libellant & the Claimant of said Schooner file an agreement to this effect in the Clerks Office – which has been filed. These are, therefore, to command you to sell to the highest Bidder, at Public Auction, at Central Wharf on the first day of October at twelve o’clock, at Noon the said Schooner Charming Sally first giving fifteen days notice, at least, of the time and place of sale, by advertising the same in the Columbian Centinel and Massachusetts Federalist and Independent Chronicle printed at Boston, and by proclamation of the Town Crier, in the usual form, on the day of sale; the money arising from the sale to be paid into Court subject to the further order of court and disposed of as the Law in the case directs.
And make due return hereof, with your doings herein. Witness, the Honorable John Davis Esquire, at Boston, this sixteenth day of September, A.D.1803.
N. Goodale Clerk.
 
 
 
No. 468
Warr’t for Schooner
Charming Sally
 
 
Massachusetts District Boston October 1, 1803
 
In obedience to this warrant on the Day of the above Date I exposed to Sale at Auction the Schooner called the Charming Sally & appurtenances within named having given previous notice of the time & place of sale by causing advertisements to be published in the Columbian Centinel & Massachusetts Federalist – also in the Independent Chronicle as within directed & likewise having caused Proclamation to be made by the Town Crier on the day of Sale and at the said sale Daniel Howes of said Boston being the highest bidder became the Purchaser of said Schooner & appurtenances for the sum of“Nine hundred & seventy Dollars.”
Sam’l Bradford,
Marshall
 
 
 
Nathan Goodale Esquire
    As Clerk of the Dist. Court
 
To Sundry Marshals Fees & Expenses on Libel vs: Schooner
            Charming Sally filed by Isaac Sherman -----
            W. 460 Serv; warrant for Notice                                                      $2.00
                                    Travel 20 Miles                                                            1.00              $3.00
            W. 468 Service of Warrant for Sale                                                                          2.00
            Auctioners Commission on $500.00 2-1/3% Cs                          12.50
                                                               470.00 1/25% Cs                            5.87              18.37
                        Amt of Sale                   970.00
            Custody from July 9 to October 1   84 days @ 1.50                                          126.00
            W. 1035 Service Summons R. Fisher & others  2 S____           1.00
                  1036 ditto all persons concerned Service& Copy                    .75
                  1038 ditto                       ditto                                                         .50                2.25
            Advertisements for Notice in Chronicle & Centiniel                      2.50
            Advertis’s for Sale & Crying               ditto                         2.50               5.00
            Paid Jacob Eustis Bill Wharfage June 15 to
                        July 16  - 31 days --  @33-1/3                                            10.33
                        1 Spare Fender [?]                                                                   .50               10.83
            Paid proprietors of Central Wharf dockage from July 17th
                        To October 1st 77 days  -                                                      15.41
            Paid removing Vessell to Central Wharf                                          2.91
            Paid Russell & Portter Bill Storage Sales ___
                                                            4 months  -                                        10.00              38.32
 
                                                                                                                                              $205.77
 
Received of Nathan Goodale Esqr, Clerk of the District Court
Two hundred & five Dollars 77/100 in my of my [sic] Fees& Expenses as above stated.
Sam’l Bradford
Marshall
 
[In lower left in a different hand]
 
 970
 205.77
$764.22
 
Boston 15 Dec 1803
Rec’d of Nathan Goodale Seven hundred forty four Dollars 11 cents being nett [sic] Amt of proceeds of the Schooner Charming Sally Libelld in the Dist. Court of condemned [?] –
Geo Blake
Atty to the Libell’t.

Newspaper article

"Massachusetts District.
By order of the Hon. John Davis, Esq. Judge of the District Court for the Massachusetts District - Notice is hereby given to all persons concerned, That a Libel is filed in said Court, by ISAAC SHERMAN of Boston, in said District, Distiller, against a certain Vessel, called the Charming Sally, and her Tackle, Apparel and Furniture, for having been employed as is alledged, in the Transportation of SLAVES, contrary to Law.
And that Trial will be had on said Libel, at the District Court to held [sic] at the Court House in Salem, on the second Tuesday of September next, at 11 o'clock A.M.
SAMUEL BRADFORD, Marshal.
Dated at Boston, July 23, 1803.

Note that in the court case in Middlesex County in April, 1803, Isaac was listed as being "of Marlborough", but he was also noted as being a distiller. As of 8 Nov 2010, I have received copies of the entire court case. One page contains Isaac's original signature, which appears to be the same as the signature in the earlier case for brother Jeduthan's guardianship, allowing for approximately 25 years difference in his age.