Shawhan Family History

Darby Shawhan

c. 1673 – 1736

Irish-born immigrant appearing in Kent County, Maryland by 1707. Husband of Sarah Meeks. Progenitor of the Shawhan/Shawn branches.

Life events

  1. 20 Nov 1707Appears in St Paul's Parish records
  2. 20 Nov 1707Marries Sarah Meeks, St. Paul's Parish, Kent Co. (Wright, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records 1648–1725, 2nd ed., p. 34)
  3. 2 Aug 1709Purchases 100 acres of a 650-acre tract, "Shad's Hole," from Francis Bellows and wife Margaret, for 3,200 lbs. of tobacco
  4. 14 Nov 1709"Darby Shehorne" on the bond of Francis Collins, administrator of the estate of Edward Carroll
  5. 27 Nov 1714Survey of 50 acres of Shad's Hole, named "Darby's Desire," north side of a branch of Morgan's Creek
  6. 10 Sep 1716"Darby's Desire" (50 acres) patented
  7. 8 Sep 1721"Darby Shehorne" again on the bond of Francis Collins, administrator of the estate of Edward Sammons
  8. 20 Nov 1733Deposition in Kent Co., MD (gave his age as 60)
  9. 16 Oct 1735Will signed.
  10. 3 Apr 1736Will proved (per 1735 Will of Sarah Meeks's citation to Prerogative Court Wills #21, p. 583).

Records

Sources

  • History and Genealogy of the Shawhan and Related Families — pp. 3-6
  • Kent County Liber Wills No2 1735-46 — primary probate register image; highest reliability, direct image of Darby's original will (pp.43-45), confirms date and land-bequest heirs
  • Darby Shawhan What We Know Research Summary — scanned research sheet, 1709–1735 land/probate timeline with citations
  • Eric Shawn Darby Shawhan and Sarah Meeks Historical Considerations — extensive: marriage, children, 1709 Shad's Hole purchase, 1736 death, estate inventory
  • The Shawhans by Ron T Shawhan 1983 — earlier (1983) precursor to the 1998 register, same author (Ron T. Shawhan); opening narrative covers the 1707 marriage and 1709 Shad's Hole purchase