Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Shaw, Thomas, Sr. August 28, 1813 - 
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 18, 2009, 1:35 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

THOMAS SHAW, SR., Circuit Court Officer and Deputy Sheriff of Mecosta County, 
residing at Big Rapids, was 

born in Manchester, Eng., Aug. 28, 1813.  He is the third son of John and 
Eleanor (Robinson) Shaw, the 

former a native of Radcliffe, Lancashire.

Mr. Shaw passed the years of his youth in the manner common amoung the people 
of his nationality, and at 

the usual age learned the craft of decorator of paper hangings.  He was 
married Jan. 31, 1835, to Nicolas, 

daughter of James and Nicolas Stott, Oct. 23, 1811, at Alnwick, 
Northumberlandshire.  The family came to 

America in 1851 and landed at Boston, going thence to Lynn, Mass., where he 
worked at his trade a few 

months.  He went successively to Hanover Society, Conn., and New Bedford, 
Mass., where he was similarily 

employed a short time, and then Lawrence, Mass., for several years.  In 1855 
he came to Mecosta County and 

pre-empted a quarter sec. (17) of land in Green Tp., the year previous to its 
being taken out of market.  

His experiences differed in no material sense from the oft repeated but never 
wearisome history of the 

average pioneer settler, until the clouds of war hung like a pall over the 
land and disunion seemed 

immenent.  The promptness with which foreign-born citizens flocked to the 
Union standard was significant of 

two things:  first, the sense of obligation awakened by the privileges they 
enter upon at once under the 

regulations of this Government; and, secondly, the value of discipline in 
early training.  Mr. Shaw felt 

that the emergency demanded his aid, and himself and two sons enlisted at Big 
Rapids.  He enrolled in 

August, 1863, in Co. A, Tenth Mich. Cav., and was assigned to the position of 
Hospital Steward, and 

afterward was promoted to the post of Assistant Surgeon.  The regiment went to 
the Department of East 

Tennessee and was first in action May 20, 1864, at Greenville, followed by the 
fights at Morristown, 

Kingsport, Carry Branch, New Market, Morrisburg, William's Ford and Dutch 
Bottom.  These engagements 

covered the service of the regiment in the months of July and August.  The 
work entitled "Michigan in the 

War" gives an interesting account of the wounding and and subsequent 
interviewing by Gen. Wheeler 

(Confederate), of a farmer named Griggs, who with six others had exhibited 
singular bravery.  Mr. Shaw was 

ordered to go to Griggs, which he did, with an escort of one, brought him 
within the Union lines and 

attended him until he was well.  The regiment was in the famous calvary raid 
of Gen. Stoneman, which 

covered a period of 72 days.  The initial movement was made about the middle 
of March, 1865.  One result of 

the expedition through the western part of North Carolina was the capture of 
Salisbury and a large quantity 

or rebel stores.  The Union prisoners were removed in time to prevent their 
liberation, but the prison pens 

and arsenal wee destroyed.  In this the Tenth Mich. Cav. participated.  On the 
28th, Mr. Shaw was injured 

by his horse falling on him.  Hernia of a painful type was the result, but he 
did not report himself ill 

and continued to discharge the duties of his post until the mustering out of 
the regiment Nov. 11, 1865, at 

Memphis.  He was discharged from the service at Jackson, Mich.

On returning to Green, Mr. Shaw entered upon the practice of medicine, which 
he pursued two years, but was 

obliged to abandon it from ibability to perform the necessary duties of the 
profession at night, and he 

resumed farming.  He held most of the local offices of Green Tp., and after a 
few years moved to Big 

Rapids.  Later, he sold his farm.  He has been Deputy Sheriff eight years, and 
was appointed to his 

position in the Circuit Court in January, 1881.

Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaw in England, and one in America.  
An infant died before their 

removal to the New World.  Eleanor, eldest child, and Mary Ann, fifth child 
and second daughter, are 

deceased.  James Scott Shaw, eldest son, is a popular physician in Boston.  
John and Thomas were soldiers, 

enlisting respectively in the Infantry and Cavalry service and passed their 
terms of enrollment in safety.  

Annie Howard Shaw is an ordained minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 
and preaches at East Dennis, 

Cape Cod.  She is now pursuing a course of medical studies preparatory to 
filling the post of a missionary 

where the competent services of a Christian woman are in most urgent demand.  
Henry Charles, fourth son, is 

deceased.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/shaw607nbs.txt

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