GEORGE E. SHAW BIOGRAPHY AS RECORDED IN: COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES. PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 670
GEORGE E. SHAW. This name introduces the reader to one of the prominent citizens and representative business men of Putnam, Windham county, who has for a number of years conducted one of the leading jewelry establishments in the city. He is a descendant of one of the most honorable of the early New England families, while his wife traces her ancestry in both the paternal and maternal lines back to the heroes who fought and died in the struggle for the establishment of religious and civil freedom in America. Names are derived from occupations, peculiarities, places of birth, and various other agencies. The name of Shaw is accounted for in this manner. In a glossary in "Burn's Works" the word "shaw" is defined as "a small wood in a hollow," i.e., a grove in a valley, the people living there being called "Shaw." There are numerous families of the same name in no way connected, but trace any Shaw far enough and you will find he came from Scotland. George E. Shaw jocularly relates an incident concerning the name. One of the family, being told that "Shaw" came from "a grove in a valley," said, "Light timber," but added, "a match for any one;" and the present members accept the amendment. Edward Shaw of Scotland married Mary Ann Chalmers, and their family consisted of seven sons and four daughters, namely: David, who died June 30, 1779, in Jamaica; William, deceased in London, December of 1799; John, deceased in 1804; Edward, who also died in Jamaica, in 1806; James, the grandfather of our subject; George, deceased in Jamaica, 1819; Thomas, deceased in London, subsequent to 1838; Nellie, who became the wife of Mr. Baxter, and died in Dundee, Scotland, Nov. 3, 1796; Mary Ann, the wife of Mr. Spink, who died in Dundee, Dec. 30, 1819; Allison, wife of Alexander Derwood, who died in Arbroath, May 30, 1823; Margaret, who became the wife of John Ogg, and died in Arbroath, Aug. 11, 1838. Of this family, Captain James Shaw, grandfather of George E., was born Jan. 20, 1773, in Arbroath, Scotland. He became the founder of the Shaw family in America. He was a skilled navigator, before coming to America had sailed to all parts of the world, and in the later years of his life was sailing master for the large importing houses of Brown & Ives, and Edward Carrington, of Providence, R.I. He died in Providence, March 15, 1812. The following is an excerpt from the Providence Gazette of March 21, 1812, in an article concerning his career: "He was a native of Scotland, and
came to this country in early life. Possessing all those traits of honesty,
industry, and steadfast resolution Captain James Shaw married Elizabeth
Westcote, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hoppin) Westcote. She was sixth in
descent from Stukeley Westcote, who came to Rhode Island with Roger Williams.
They had five children. James was born July 30, 1801, in Providence, where
he died March 27, 1880. He married Eliza Field Godfrey. He was popularly
known as General Shaw, and was for many years of the mercantile firm of
Shaw & Earle. He was a captain of the First Light Infantry in 1831 at
the time of the memorable "Olney Lane" riot, and by order of the
sheriff promptly dispersed the mob with ball cartridges when the power of
the civil authorities had proven ineffective. He commanded the second brigade,
R.I. militia from 1844 to 1850. His children were: James; Richard Godfrey;
John Preston; Frank Herbert, deceased in infancy; Mary Elizabeth; Anna Frances;
Frederick; Mary E.; Charles Ogg; and Charles Edward, the three last named
dying in infancy. George W. Shaw was born Oct. 15, 1806,
in Providence, and died June 25, 1875, in Thompson, Conn. He married May
31, 1843, Abbey Carpenter, who was born Feb. 5, 1816, in Thompson. Her father
was Richard Carpenter, her mother Cynthia Walker. She died April 21, 1890,
aged seventy-four years, and is buried in Putnam, Conn. Her oldest child,
Rosamond, was born Aug. 19, 1844, in Thompson, and died July 10, 1847. Emma,
born Sept. 3, 1846, married May 19, 1893, Frederick William Colcleugh of
Selkirk, Manitoba; Mrs. Emma Colcleugh is an authoress and writer of note
and is at present (1902) on the staff of the Providence Journal, as special
writer, on a tour through Central Africa. Her writings have attracted widespread
attention. Julia, born May 19, 1850, has been a teacher for many years in
Thompson and The father of this family was a shell
worker by trade, making combs, jewelry, etc., from tortoise shells. He worked
for several years for George E. Shaw is the fourth child of
his parents. His birthplace was Thompson, the date Jan. 20, 1853. He passed
his childhood in his native May 4, 1875, was the date of the beginning
of the family life of Mr. Shaw, as on that day he married Miss Ellen S.
Sharpe, of Abington, the officiating minister being Rev. Thomas M. Boss.
A daughter, Ruth Elizabeth, was born to them March 10, 1876. Ruth was given
every advantage that a refined home and superior educational institutions
could furnish, her literary education being acquired in the Putnam high
school and Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Mass., where she graduated in the
class of 1895. She early developed musical talent of a high order and for
four years after leaving school taught that branch successfully in the Putnam
and Willimantic schools. On Oct. 18, 1899, she was joined in marriage to
Silas Mandeville Wheelock, son of Eugene A. and Sarah Smith (Taft) Wheelock,
of Putnam, and is the mother Both Mr. And Mrs. Shaw and their daughter are active and helpful members of the Second Congregational Church, in which he has for two years been identified in an official way with the Sunday-school as superintendent, holding that responsible position at the present time. Mrs. Shaw is an active worker in the different societies of the church, the Ladies' Aid finding in her a strong supporter. In the public life of the community
Mr. Shaw has been a leading factor. He was the originator and subsequent
prime mover in the Business Men's Association, an organization to which
can be credited many of the successful enterprises of Putnam, notably the
Putnam Water Company and Putnam Foundry and Machine Corporation. Of the
latter company he is a director and is also one of the incorporators and
present directors and secretary of the Water Company. Mr. Shaw has the credit
of being one of the first agitators for a pure and adequate water supply
for Putnam. He was manager of the Electric Light and Power Company for a
year, and one of the incorporators of the Putnam Box Corporation. He has
always taken an active interest in the Putnam Library Association, and is
one of the board of managers. The fire Mr. Shaw belongs to several of the best fraternal societies, and is active in promulgating the principles for which they stand. He is a member of Quinebaug Lodge, No. 106, F.& A.M., and of Putnam Lodge, No. 19, A.O.U.W.; Putnam Council, No. 340, Royal Arcanum, in which he has passed through all the chairs, and has also served as a member of the committee on Laws of the Grand Lodge.
Reproduced by:
Linda D. Pingel - great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.
Biographies of Tolland County |