GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-003103
NameJohn Sherman
TitleRev.
Gendermale
Denomination
Livedb. 1613-12-26 - d. 1685-08-08 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsSermon on 1 Peter 2:11 -- preacher (autograph: no)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesDedham -- HomeHarvard College (University) -- Place of BusinessMilford -- Place of BusinessWethersfield -- Place of BusinessSt Catharine's College (Katharine Hall) -- Place of StudyWatertown -- Post
Source of DataCatherine Evans
Biographical Sources ConsultedACAD (Venn) (Person ID: SHRN631J2); "The Sherman Family," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Jan 1870. Vol 24, pp. 63-157; "The Family of Rev. John Sherman of Wethersfield, Milford & Branford, Connecticut, and Watertown, Massachusette", Complied by Donald Lines Jacobus, The American Genealogists, Vol. 20, pp. 129-131
Other NoteThe son of Edmund Sherman, the master of Dedham School, he was born in Dedham, Essex. He matriculated from St Catharine's College in 1631 but declined to subscribe for his degree due to his religious beliefs. Notes in "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register" give his college as Emmanuel, but ACAD Venn differs. There are several John Sherman's who attended Cambridge around this time, including several who were likely his cousins or other relatives. Sherman travelled to the USA in the Elizabeth from Ipswich, arriving in Boston in June 1634. He began preaching in Watertown but was dismissed from the church there on 29 May 1635 and moved to Wethersfield, Connecticut. He represented Wethersfield in the Connecticut General Court in 1637. He was the first minister of Branford from October 1644 to January 1646/7. He was one of the planters of Milford, and was the Deputy for Milford at the New Haven General Court in 1643. In 1647, he was called to Watertown, succeeding Rev. George Phillips as pastor. He was an overseer of Harvard College from 1647 and Fellow from 1678 until his death. He also gave fortnightly lectures at Watertown to Harvard students, who walked over to the town to attend them. He was a moderator of a general reforming synod which was held in 1679 at Boston. He compiled several almanacs and was a well known astronomer. He married twice, first to Mary Gibbs (d. 8 September 1644) with whom he had six children, and secondly in c. 1645 to Mary Launce (1625 - 9 March 1710) daughter of John Launce and Isabell Darcy, born in Cornwall. With his second wife he had 20 children many of whom likely died in infancy. There are records of 12 of Sherman's children surviving to majority.
GEMMS record createdSeptember 16, 2020
GEMMS record last editedSeptember 16, 2020