The Sherman family is of German origin. The name was spelled Sherrman, Schurman, Schearmaun and Scherman. As early as 1635 the family was located in England, in Dedham, county Essex. The name is derived from the original occupation of the family, when they were cloth dressers, or "shearers" of the cloth, and the family at Dedham continued the family occupation. In New England there are two distinct families of this name. One is descended from William Sherman and the other from Henry Sherman. The arms of the Yaxley family are: Or a lion rampant sable charged on the shoulder with an amulet for difference between three oak leaves vert. Crest: A sea lion sejeant argent guttee de poix fumed or.
(I) Thomas Sherman died in 1550. He was probably at least fifty years old at the time as three of his sons were of age. His will gives among his property the manors of Royden and Royden Tuft with appurtenances at Royden and Besingham, as well as property in other parts of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, England. He lived a part of his life, doubtless, in Diss, which is on the river Waveny, between the two counties. His will mentions his wife Jane, a sister and children. He married Jane, daughter of John Waller, of Wortham, Suffolk. She was probably not his first wife. Children: Thomas, Richard, John, Henry, mentioned below, William, Anthony, Francis, Bartholomew, James.
(II) Henry, son of Thomas Sherman, wa born in Yaxley about 1530. He is mentioned in his father's will, as well as several brothers' wills. His wife Agnes was buried October 14, 1580. He married (second) Margery Wilson, widow. His will was dated January 20, 1589, and proved July 25, 1590. He died in 1589. Children, born doubtless at Colchester where they lived:
- Henry, mentioned below;
- Edmond, died 1601;
- Dr. Robert, baptized February 6, 1560, died 1602;
- Judith, married William Pettfield;
- daughter, married Nicholas Fynce;
- John, died without issue, October 15, 1576.
(III) Henry (2), son of Henry (1) Sherman, was born in Colchester, England, about 1555, and lived at Dedham, county Essex, England. He was a clothier by trade. He made his will August 21, 1610, and it was proved September 8, 1610. He married Susan Hills, whose will was dated August 31, and proved in September, 1610. Children:
- Henry, born 1571, died 1642;
- Daniel, married (first) 1601, Christian Chapman, (second) Sarah ————, died August 17, 1585 [sic];
- Nathaniel, died 1615;
- John, mentioned below;
- Ezekiel, married twice;
- Samuel, born 1573;
- Edmund, married Judith Angier;
- Anne, married Thomas Wilson;
- Phebe, married Simeon Fenn.
(IV) John, son of Henry (2) Sherman, was born in Dedham, England, August 17, 1566. He was the immigrant ancestor, and came in 1634 to Watertown, Massachusetts. Child:
- John, mentioned below.
(V) Captain John (2), son of John (1) Sherman, was born in 1604 at Dedham, England. He came to Watertown, Massachusetts, with his father, in 1634. He was made freeman May 17, 1637. He was a land surveyor and a selectman many times from 1637 to 1680. In 1648 he was town clerk, and afterwards representative to the general court in 1651-53-63-82. In 1662 he was steward of Harvard college. In June, 1654, he was made ensign of the Watertown Company, and in 1680 he was made captain. His son Joseph received his land in Watertown. He was with Governor Winthrop when the northern boundary of Massachusetts was surveyed and when the lines were established at Wier's landing, Lake Winnepesaukee. He was an educated man, and was often called upon to manage town affairs. He married Martha, daughter of William and Grace Palmer. He died January 25, 1690-91. His wife died February 7, 1700-1701. Children:
- John, born November 2, 1638;
- Martha, February 21, 1640-41;
- Mary, March 25, 1643;
- Sarah, January 17, 1647-48;
- Elizabeth, March 15, 1648-49;
- Joseph, May 14, 1650, mentioned below;
- Grace, December 20, 1653.
(VI) Joseph, son of Captain John (2) Sherman, was born in Watertown, May 14, 1650, died in Watertown, June 30, 1731. He was a blacksmith by trade; he was often chosen selectman and assessor; he was representative to the general court from 1702 to 1705. He served under Captain Jonathan Poole and Captain Thomas Brattle in King Philip's war during 1676. He was a leader in the church controversy which resulted in the final separation of Waltham from Watertown.
He married, in Watertown, November 18, 1673, Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant Edward and Elizabeth (Wilkinson) Winship, of Cambridge. Children:
- John, January 11, 1675, mentioned below;
- Edward, September 2, 1677;
- Joseph, February 8, 1679-80;
- Samuel, November 28, 1681;
- Jonathan, February 24, 1683-84;
- Ephraim, March 16, 1684-85;
- Elizabeth, July 15, 1687;
- Martha, baptized September 1, 1689;
- William, June 28, 1692;
- Sarah, June 2, 1694;
- Nathaniel, September 19, 1696.
(VII) John (3), son of Joseph Sherman, was born in Watertown, January 11, 1675, and was one of the first settlers of Marlborough, Massachusetts. He married Mary Bullen. Children:
- Mary, born August 16, 1699;
- Joseph, March 25, 1703, mentioned below;
- John, December 31, 1705, died young;
- Grace, September 13, 1707;
- Ephraim, March 3, 1710;
- John, February 17, 1713;
- Elizabeth, October 15, 1715;
- Samuel, May 12, 1718.
(VIII) Joseph (2), son of John (3) Sherman, was born at Marlborough, March 25, 1703. He settled in Shrewsbury, Worcester county, Massachusetts. He married, December 25, 1728, Sarah Perham, of Sutton, in that county. She died March 2, 1772, aged sixty-nine. Children, born at Shrewsbury:
- Joseph, baptized February 8, 1736, died young;
- John, mentioned below;
- Sarah, June 27, 1739, married Thomas Grover;
- Joseph, baptized August 15, 1742;
- Lydia, August 29, 1744, married Israel Rice.
(IX) John (4), son of Joseph (2) Sherman, was born at Shrewsbury, April 8, 1737. He settled about 1760 in Conway (History p. 672 in Conn. Valley). [possibly History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts] In 1772 he bought a pew in the First Congregational church. He married (first), in 1761, Chloe Thayer, of Bellingham, a descendant of the Thayer family of Weymouth. She died May 2, 1766, aged twenty-five. He married (second), about 1770, Gratia Allis, born 1745, daughter of Abel Allis, and granddaughter of Samuel Allis. (Deerfield History p. 27.) [possibly George Sheldon, History of Deerfield, Massachusetts] (P. 19 old history of Conway.) John was a soldier in the revolution from Conway in Captain Joshua L. Woodbridge's company, Colonel Nathan Tyler's regiment, July 22, 1779, to December 25, 1779, in the Rhode Island campaign. Also in Captain Isaac Newton's company, Colonel S. Murray's regiment, July 30 to October 10, 1780, in the continental army; also in Captain Oliver Shattuck's company, Lieutenant-Colonel Baranabas [Barnabas?] Sears's regiment, August 12 to November 8, 1781; also second lieutenant in Captain Joseph Browning's fourth company, First Hampshire regiment; also captain in Colonel Gideon Burt's regiment, commissioned July 16, 1782. In 1790 the first federal census shows that John Sherman was living at Conway and had two females in his family; John, Jr., had a separate establishment, but no family, and Caleb had three sons under sixteen and two females in his family. John Sherman lived on a farm beyond the river in Broomshire village, now known as the John B. Stearns place. Various other Grafton and Shrewsbury men also settled in this vicinity. Children of first wife, born at Shrewsbury:
- Caleb, May 14, 1762;
- John, March 27, 1764;
- Chloe, August 4, 1765.
Child of second wife:
- Ware Darwin, mentioned below.
(X) Ware Darwin, son of John (4) Sherman, was born at Conway, Massachuetts, October 3, 1771, died about 1842. When a young man he removed to Arlington, Vermont, probably as early as 1790, and he married there Anna D. Canfield, of Arlington, daughter of Ezekiel and Mary (Sackett) Canfield. They settled at Kingsbury, New York, about 1806, and subsequently removed to Luzerne. He was a farmer and lumberman. Children:
- John Sackett, born 1790;
- Lydia, 1792;
- Richard, 1795;
- Augustus, mentioned below;
- Abigail, 1807;
- Anson, 1808;
- Avery, 1810;
- Anna, 1813.
(XI) Augustus, son of Ware Darwin Sherman, was born in Arlington, Vermont, February 11, 1801, died December 3, 1884. When he was five years old his parents went to Kingsbury, and shortly afterward to Fairfield, now Luzerne, New York. About 1823 the family migrated to Pennsylvania, going in a covered wagon, and covering a distance of forty miles in a day between Schenectady and Buffalo, New York, they claiming to have the fastest team in the State. Augustus Sherman attended the winter terms of the common school, but the schools were crude and the terms short. Early in life he became familiar with the hard work of the farmer and lumberman. Before the Glens Falls feeder was constructed he used to draw lumber across from Corinth or Big Falls, raft it on cribs to the bend and thence take it across Deadman's Point above Fort Edward, and after the big dam at that place was built he had to carry the timber still farther down the river to Rogers's landing opposite Schuyler's Island, whence it was rafted to market. With the opening of the Glens Falls feeder he was among the first to place a boat on its waters for the transportation of lumber. When he was but fifteen years old he had to drive a lumber wagon alone to Albany and attend to sales and purchases, a task he performed with all the good judgment and faithfulness of a man of experience. In the following year, in consequence of his father's financial troubles, he was obliged to take entire charge of the business, and he worked early and late with untiring perseverance and energy in order to help his father out of debt. His venture in the lumber business on his own account was in operating an old English saw mill with two saws, located on a small stream which empties into the Hudson river, and at the same time he operated a grist mill in the vicinity. In addition to this laborious task, he drew and rafted his lumber to the market. Here he laid the foundation of the large fortune that he subsequently accumulated. After three years he took the Buttolph mill farther down the river. Having disposed of his property in Luzerne, in the winter of 1840-41, he made his home near the feeder-dam and resumed the manufacture of lumber on a large scale with greatly increased facilities. Two years later he went to Glens Falls, where he made a permanent home. Year by year, with increased means at his command, his lumber operations became more and more extended until they reached colossal proportions. He began to invest heavily in lumber lands by purchasing in the sixteenth township and he secured prompt and substantial profits. He had the thorough knowledge of business and values, and uncommon shrewdness in buying and selling. All his investments turned out well, and his fortune became in the end second to none in the county. His career was a notable example of the American self-made business man. He was associated with nearly all the financial corporations of Glens Falls, either as trustee, director, manager or president. He was the first president of the Glens Falls Paper Mill Company and also of the Bald Mountain Lime Company. In the early seventies he interested himself in erecting handsome business buildings in Glens Falls. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion a Presbyterian. He married (first), March 4, 1824, Nancy Weed, born March 27, 1802, died June 12, 1848. He married (second), September 1, 1856, Charlotte H. Conkling, of Martinsburg, Lewis county, New York, born March 18, 1825, died July 10, 1889. Children:
- Mercy M., born May 17, 1825, died June 17, 1856; married, July 4, 1844, Alexander Canfield.
- Anner D., born March 29, 1827, died March 28, 1889; married William Wolsey Weed.
- Abby G., born September 9, 1828, died June 13, 1896; married Lemon Thompson.
- Martha Mahala, born January 21, 1831, died April 10, 1902; married, December 15, 1850, George Rugge.
- Lydia L., born February 29, 1832, died October 4, 1892; married, October, 1862, Henry G. Lapham.
- William A., born November 20, 1834, mentioned below.
- Darwin Ware, born March 31, 1832, mentioned below.
(XII) William A., son of Augustus Sherman, was born November 20, 1834, died May 7, 1883. He was educated in the public schools. For many years he was a prominent lumberman, a partner in the firm of Rugge, Sherman & Company. He was a member of the Baptist church. He married, January 13, 1862, Harriet Aurelia Newland, born March 29, 1829, died November 13, 1895, daughter of David and Mary (Billings) Newland. Her father was born June 23, 1788; married, May 4, 1814, Mary Billings, born October 26, 1792, died December 15, 1840. Children:
- Carrie Louise, born July 13, 1863, died June 4, 1875;
- Eddie Darwin, June 7, 1867, died December 19, 1867;
- Arthur William, mentioned below.
(XIII) Arthur William, son of William A. Sherman, was born at Glens Falls, February 23, 1869. He was educated in the public schools, at Glens Falls Academy and Riverview Academy of Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1905 he became vice-president and cashier of the First National bank. He is interested in numerous other enterprises. He is treasurer of the Glens Falls Portland Cement Company, vice-president of the Kendrick & Brown Company, treasurer of the Sherman Lime Company and of the Glens Falls hospital. In politics he is a Republican, and he attends the Presbyterian church. He is a member of Senate Lodge, No. 456, Free and Accepted Masons, of Glens Falls, New York; Glens Falls Chapter, No. 55, Washington Commandery, No. 33, of Saratoga Springs; Oriental Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles Mystic Shrine, of Troy, New York. He married, October 18, 1893, Gertrude Coolidge, born March 30, 1869. Children:
- Thomas Coolidge, born September 29, 1894;
- Harriet Newland, April 7, 1899, died June 26, 1908;
- Georgianna Coolidge, April 28, 1901;
- Arthur William, Jr., May 6, 1903.
(XII) Darwin Ware, son of Augustus Sherman, was born in Hadley, New York, March 31, 1837, died December 13, 1894. He was educated in the common schools of Hadley and Glens Falls, and when a young man he engaged in the lumbering business for his father, and upon the death of his father he continued to operate the industry established by his father and he became one of the representative business men and capitalists of the section. He married, October 13, 1856, Marion Robbins, born July 16, 1838, died June 28, 1890. Children:
- William A., born January 7, 1861, married, October 31, 1882, Gertrude Snow; children: Ruth and Richard;
- Henry L., mentioned below.
(XIII) Henry L., son of Darwin Ware Sherman, was born at Glens Falls, May 5, 1865. He was educated in the public schools and the Glens Falls Academy. He has been for many years engaged in the lumber and lime business and is at present secretary of the Sherman Lime Company. For sixteen years he was interested in the hotel business, conducting the Marion House on Lake George. He was trustee of Glens Falls village for two years before it was incorporated as a city, and he served on the board of education for six years and was secretary of the Glens Falls Hospital Association for ten years. He is a life member of the following Masonic organizations: Senate Lodge No. 456, Free and Accepted Masons, Glens Falls; Glens Falls Chapter, No. 55; Washington Commandery No. 33, of Saratoga Springs, New York; Oriental Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles Mystic Shrine, of Troy, New York, and Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree, of Troy and Albany. He married, May 12, 1885, at Glens Falls, Jennie Wait, born January 30, 1864. They have one child,
- Darwin Wait, born February 5, 1890, who is a sophomore (1910), Yale.