Thomas Shedd

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁶¹⁹
Thomas Shed was baptized at Great Easton, Essex, 13 Mar 1574/5, but when he was an infant, he was taken by his parents in their removal into the adjoining town of Thaxted, where he was brought up, and like his father and grandfather, he became a husbandman or yeoman or farmer. Soon after he became of age, he married and settled in Finchingfield in Hinckford Hundred, Essex, as rural parish of which the church lies five miles east of Thaxted Church, the two parishes being separated only by the parishes of Little Sampford and Little Bardfield. The parish records before 1617 have been lost, so the record of Thomas's marriage and children have to supplied by his will.

Finchingfield is about forty-five miles northeast from London. The parish is rather flat & low and covers over eight thousand acres. The church, located on a slight hill, is a large ancient structure of flint, consisting of chancel with side chapels, long nave with aisles, north and south porches and a square western tower with embattled parapet, formerly surmounted by a loft spire which was blown down in 1702. In the tower there is a chime of eight bells requiring restoration. In the chapels are several fine altar tombs of families who were lords of the manors in ancient times. There are several manors in the parish, of which Spains Hall and Cornish Hall are the most important. Finchingfield was the birthplace of the Emigrant Daniel Shed, and the home of his father and grandfather.

Thomas Shed was the first of the family to locate in Finchingfield, and all the Sheds there in the seventeenth century were descended from him. As "Old Thomas Shed" he was buried there 9 Sep 1636.

Thomas Shed's will:

"In the name of God, Amen, the fowertene daye of August 1637, I Thomas Sheade of Fychingfield in Countie Essex, Husbandman, beinge of good & perfect remebrance, thankes be to Almightie God therfor, Do make and ordayne this my Laste will and testement in maner and forme followinge. First, I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of God and who gave it me, hopinge and trusting throw the merittes of Jesus Christe my onye Saviour to have forgiveness of my synnes and Lyffe everlastinge in Hevene. Secondly, concerninge my goodes, I dispose them as hereafter: First, I give and bequeath unto Kathren my wyff xx s. of good and lawfull money of England to be payed by my Executor within one yeare after my Decesse. Itm. I give Thomas Shede my sonne and unto Suzan my Daughter and Elizabeth my Daughter xijd apece within one weeke next after my Decese. All the rest of my goods and chattels and moveables, goods within howsse and without howsse whatsoever, I give and bequeath unto Danyell Sheed my sonne, to be ordered and Dispossed at the Discrission of my executor. And I Doe ordayne and apoynt my sonne Danyell Shead my sole Executor of this my Last will and testement, prayinge and desieringe hime to Deale truly as I hoope he will. Memaru'. I doe give unto Suzan Kenty my grayndchilde the Beed and beddings she lye on, and a whele and rele. Sealed, delivered, acknowledged, and published this to be the Last will of me the said Thomas in presence of us, Robert Cracknell, Francis Mascall, William Mascall, John Mascall (Signed) The mark of H. Thomas Shead. Proved 15 Oct 1640 [Archdeconry Court of Middlesex, Essex and Herts, Bundle "Brown" No. 52]

Thomas Shedd married Katharine in abt. 1596, who survived him.

~Daniel Shed Genealogy, pp. 19 - 20

Thomas married Katherine.⁶¹⁹