John Sherman Reverend

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ¹⁰⁸
"John Sherman was a student in Immanuel College, Cambridge, but failed of graduation, owing to his puritanic views. He came to America in 1633; remained a short time in Watertown, Mass, whence he passed, 1635, to Wethersfield, Conn., where he was magistrate. In 1640, he became one of the planters of Milford; was admitted to the church there, Nov. 20, 1640; chosen magistrate of the colony, May 27, 1641; dismissed from Milford, Nov. 8, 1647, and about the same date became pastor of the church in Watertown, where he continued until his death. He was one of the most learned men of his day, and an able and eloquent preacher.

"He was twice married; 1st to Abigail, by whom he had six children; 2nd to Mary Launce, a great-granddaughter of Thomas Darcy, by whom he had twenty children. Cotton Mather says he had twenty-six children, but it is probably several died in infancy, as we have record of twelve."

~"The Sherman Family," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Jan 1870. Vol 24, pp. 63-157

• Background Information. ¹¹⁶⁹
Rev. John Sherman, born at Dedham, Essex, England, 26 Dec 1613, died at Watertown, Massachusetts, 8 Aug 1685, married as his first wife, Mary, who died in New Haven Connecticut, 8 Sep 1644, probably Mary Gibbs, sister of John Gibbs of New Haven. His second wife was Mary Launce, daughter of John Launce and Isabella Darcy, of Penneare, Corwall, England.

Rev. John Sherman was a graduated of Cambridge University. He came to New England in the Elizabeth from Ipswich, arriving in Boston in June 1634. He was dismissed from the Watertown church, 29 May 1635, and moved to Wethersfield, Connecticut with the early settlers. He represented Wethersfield as Deputy in the Connecticut General Court, May 1637. He joined the Milford settlers, probably in 1640, and was the first minister of Branford, 1 Oct 1644 to Jan 1646/7. He was Deputy for Milford to the New Haven General Court, Oct. 1643. In 1647, he was called to Watertown, Massachusetts, to fill the pastorate there, where he continued in this office until his death.

The will of John Gbbs of New Haven, dated 27 Nov 168, named his wife and child, and remembers his "cousin" (more likely nephew) Lieut. Daniel Sherman and the latter's eldest daughter Abigail. This shows that Rev. John Sherman's first wife was named Mary Gibbs, rather than Abigail as stated in The Sherman Genealogy.

Mary's mother was Isabell Darcy, who left a will as Mrs. Isabella Simpson of London, at that time a widown of her second husband, Rev. Sydrach Simpson, Master of Pembroke Hall, University Cambridge, dated 29 May 1668 and proved 4 Aug 1669, which named, with others, her sons James Launce aand Darcy Launce, and her daughter Mary Sherman. [NEHGR, 50:399-400]

Vivian's Visitation of Cornwall, 1620 [Harl. Soc. 9:124-125], which gives John Launce, aged 23 in 1620, with bride "Isabel Da. of Sir Edward Darsie of Dartford in Kent." Sir Edward Darcy had fifteen children and he himself was one of fifteen children of Sir Arthur Darcy.

~"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

John married Mary Launce, daughter of John Launce and Isabell Darcy, about 1645 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, British American Colonies ¹⁶⁰.^,1169 (Mary Launce was born about 1625 in Cornwall, England ¹¹⁶⁹ and died on 9 Mar 1710 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts ^160,1169.)

John next married Mary Gibbs.¹¹⁶⁹ (Mary Gibbs died on 8 Sep 1644 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, British American Colonies ¹¹⁶⁹.)